The Winter People Audiobook By Jennifer McMahon cover art

The Winter People

A Novel

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The New York Times bestselling author of Promise Not to Tell returns with a simmering literary thriller about ghostly secrets, dark choices, and the unbreakable bond between mothers and daughters . . . sometimes too unbreakable.

West Hall, Vermont, has always been a town of strange disappearances and old legends. The most mysterious is that of Sara Harrison Shea, who, in 1908, was found dead in the field behind her house just months after the tragic death of her daughter, Gertie. Now, in present day, nineteen-year-old Ruthie lives in Sara's farmhouse with her mother, Alice, and her younger sister, Fawn. Alice has always insisted that they live off the grid, a decision that suddenly proves perilous when Ruthie wakes up one morning to find that Alice has vanished without a trace. Searching for clues, she is startled to find a copy of Sara Harrison Shea's diary hidden beneath the floorboards of her mother's bedroom. As Ruthie gets sucked deeper into the mystery of Sara's fate, she discovers that she's not the only person who's desperately looking for someone that they've lost. But she may be the only one who can stop history from repeating itself. Historical Fiction Thriller & Suspense Mystery Ghost Horror Haunted Suspense Scary Fiction Women Sleuths Exciting Detective Women's Fiction

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Compelling Mystery • Atmospheric Storytelling • Excellent Narration • Unpredictable Twists • Interconnected Timelines

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I almost stopped reading this book because the narrator was so annoying. Because it got good reviews from reviewers I respect, I bought the Kindle companion and read the book.

The narrator reads the beginning in a breathy voice that got on my last nerve. I suppose she thought it sounded childlike, but it was simply irritating.

The story hops back and forth between present and past. The narrator made it incomprehensible. I was totally lost. Once in the Kindle book, I had to begin over again to get the story sorted out.

I'm glad I did, it was a worthwhile read. The plot is novel, the characters realistic and engaging. The ending provides an interesting twist on immortality.

I recommend this book, but only on Kindle or in print.

Good Book Spoiled By Poor Narration

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I like the last chapter that Sara got disappointed by her self saying why she did all of her crime.

winter people

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If you’ve read or seen Stephen King’s Pet Sematary, this story will sound very familiar. Still, I enjoyed it.

Pet Sematary

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Creepy and confusing plot. Some things were clever - how the artist made diaramas to process her grief, for one. But overall there was too much back and forth in the timeline. I listened to the audiobook- maybe it makes more sense while reading.

Creepy

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The first half of the book comes off as bland and derivative. Old diary with missing pages, blah, blah, blah. People come back from the dead blah, blah, blah. Not quite the same as before they died, blah, blah, blah. "Pet Semetary" all over again except with people this time. By the second half of the book there is enough character development to make you actually care about how it turns out but it is a struggle to get to that point.
This is the first book I have listened to with a female narrator so it took a little getting used to. I've become accustomed to hearing male narrators struggle to do female characters and find it easier to suspend disbelief than when a female narrator tries to do a male character. The real reason for holding back 1 star for the performance however is that the portrayal of the children is just SO syrupy it is nausea inducing.
If you can get this book on sale give it a try. I wouldn't use up a whole credit on it however. Do not expect Steven King quality.

OK, not great

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