The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall - A Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

Review

THE BELL TOLLS AT TRAEGER HALL 
By Jaime Jo Wright

Traeger Hall is a mansion haunted by the past, perhaps even cursed by its cruel and vindictive owner. In 1890 Leopold Traeger had a stranglehold on Newton Creek, Wisconsin. He owned the sawmill, the bank, as well as several other endeavors. Then he and his wife were brutally murdered inside the home. His will decreed his ward, Waverly Pembrooke leave the house with only the clothing with which she arrived and Traeger Hall be sealed for one hundred years. Over a hundred years have passed and Newton Creek is no longer a vibrant community and the Hall remains sealed. Jennie Phillips has arrived in town, inheriting Traeger Hall, one of her father's acquisitions. But a skeleton on the property and a unique codicil thwart Jennie's plans. Has the evil of two men passed down into the house? Will opening Traeger Hall mean the discovery of treasure or will it open the world to the evil trapped inside?

Subtle unease, unspoken danger that makes the hair on your arms raise, knowing that things just aren't right infuse this atmospheric novel. What is it that haunts Traeger Hall and Newton Creek itself? Ghosts are real, but are they just the impressions left by the evil of men?

Traeger Hall is itself an allegory. What will you find if you dare to enter? Hidden secrets, lost masterpieces, should it be sealed forever, opened up, or razed to the ground? What does that mean for the people involved, including the reader? 

I really enjoyed the period detail, manners, and stifled repression of the historical portion of the book. However, I did feel a bit cheated when I discovered one trope used as its resolution, although it did explain a lot and brought things full circle. The 1950 interviews added a unique perspective. As for the modern aspect, I appreciated how the repression continued and how it slowly released, just as it did in the 1890. I liked the modern day ending, which served also as a beginning.  

THE BELL TOLLS AT TRAEGER HALL is a winding journey of self discovery where emotions and secrets boarded up, just like Traeger Hall itself.

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THE BELL TOLLS AT TRAEGER HALL

by Jaime Jo Wright

October 20 - November 14, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

An abandoned estate encased in stagnant darkness . . .
A haunting legacy intent on silencing all within reach . . .

In 1890, the ominous tolling of the bell announces that death has come to Traeger Hall, leaving orphaned Waverly Pembrooke to piece together the puzzle behind her uncle's and aunt's murders. Bound by the terms of her uncle's eccentric will, Waverly finds herself alone in a manor shrouded by death and questioning the reasons for her uncle's paranoia. A madness hovers over Traeger Hall, and Waverly--as well as the people of nearby Newton Creek--are ill-prepared for the woe that has descended.

In present day Newton Creek, whispers of a family curse still cling to the century-old, abandoned property of Traeger Hall. When Jennie Phillips takes possession of the estate after her mother's passing, she is intent on solving the mystery of the Traeger murders. Yet a modern cold case suggests that untimely deaths and mysterious occurrences still plague the property. And as thorny truths surface, Jennie realizes the dark legacy threatens not only the town and the Traeger descendants . . . but also, chillingly, Jennie herself.

Book Details:

Genre: Dual Timeline Gothic Suspense
Published by: Bethany House Publishers
Publication Date: October 21, 2025
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 9780764243806, paperback
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Baker Book House

Read an excerpt:

 

 

Author Bio:

Jaime Jo Wright is the author of thirteen novels, including Christy Award-winner and ECPA bestseller The Vanishing at Castle Moreau, Christy Award and Daphne du Maurier Award-winner The House on Foster Hill, and Carol Award-winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. Jaime has also written two Publishers Weekly bestselling novellas. She lives in Wisconsin with her family and fabulous felines.

Catch Up With Jaime Jo Wright:

JaimeWrightBooks.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads - @JaimeJoWright
BookBub - @JaimeJoWright
Instagram - @JaimeJoWright
Threads - @JaimeJoWright
YouTube - MadLit Musings
Spotify - MadLit Musings

 

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THE BELL TOLLS AT TRAEGER HALL by Jaime Jo Wright (book + gift card)

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Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! On this rainy All Hallow's Eve I thought I'd share some favorite spooky reads.

 

I don't read horror, but I do enjoy a spooky read once in a while. If you want something spine tingling good you need to read the Pluto Snitch Mystery series by Carolyn Haines. THE BOOK OF THE BELOVED is the first book in the series. While Carolyn does write cozy mysteries, this isn't one of them! I'd classify it as Southern Gothic. Speaking of Gothic, I just finished reading THE BELL TOLLS AT TRAEGER HALL by Jaime Jo Wright.You can check out my review Sunday!

If you're looking for a book set at Halloween you could try SHUDDER PULP by Vanessa Westermann, FRENCH QUARTER FRIGHT NIGHT by Ellen Byron, GHOST AND THE HAUNTED HOUSE by Carmen Radtke, ONE OF YOU by Lorie Lewis Ham, FATAL FUDGE SWIRL by Meri Allen or MINESTRONE MISCHIEF by Rosie Genova. You could also try TROUBLE BREWING by Heather Day Gilbert, DEATH RANG THE BELL by Carol Pouliot, MRS. MORRIS AND THE VAMPIRE by Traci Wilton, or MIDNIGHT SPELLS MURDER by Mary Angela.

If you enjoy reading about the Headless Horseman you're sure to appreciate THE LEGEND OF ACORN HOLLOW by Maureen Klovers.  

If you want to mix Halloween and Christmas try MRS. CLAUS AND THE HALLOWEEN HOMICIDE by Liz Ireland.

Of course any paranormal mystery would fit the bill, but especially one set at Halloween like the sixth Ghostly Fashionista Mystery, CORSETS AND CASUALTIES by Gayle Leeson. 

What about a whole series set in a town that is devoted to this holiday? CHAOS AT THE LAZY BONES BOOKSHOP by Emmeline Duncan is the first book in the Halloween Bookshop Mystery series.

There are so many wonderful books out there, books with ghosts, witches, and vampires, books set at Halloween, spooky books, funny books! No matter what kind of books you enjoy I hope you're able to curl up with a great one this Halloween!

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright. This standalone novel was published last week.

Traeger Hall is a mansion haunted by the past, perhaps even cursed by its cruel and vindictive owner. In 1890 Leopold Traeger had a stranglehold on Newton Creek, Wisconsin. He owned the sawmill, the bank, as well as several other endeavors. Then he and his wife were brutally murdered inside the home. His will decreed his ward, Waverly Pembrooke leave the house with only the clothing with which she arrived and Traeger Hall be sealed for one hundred years. Over a hundred years have passed and Newton Creek is no longer a vibrant community and the Hall remains sealed. Jennie Phillips has arrived in town, inheriting Traeger Hall, one of her father's acquisitions. But a skeleton on the property and a unique codicil thwart Jennie's plans. Has the evil of two men passed down into the house? Will opening Traeger Hall mean the discovery of treasure or will it open the world to the evil trapped inside?

Death on Dickens Island - A Guest Post. Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Delia Dickens to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Delia on the pages of the Books on the Beach Mystery series by Allison Brook. DEATH ON DICKENS ISLAND is the first book in the series and was released last week.

Hi, Everyone. My name is Delia Dickens. Yes, I'm one of the Dickens family that founded Dickens Island in the Long Island Sound between Long Island and Connecticut. I'm thirty-eight, divorced, and I've just moved back to the island to live with my fifteen-year-old son Connor in the beautiful Victorian house that Helena, my grandmother, left me. Connor has discovered a small secret room lined with bookshelves. Here, unknown to anyone but Riley, our Bearded Collie, Helena appears to me in ghostly form and reveals secrets that help me solve two murders fifty years apart.

My parents live nearby. My father sees himself as the family's patriarch and responsible for the island's residents' peace of mind and well being. However, Dad dislikes confrontation, and so he usually relies on my mother to resolve conflicts. Dad runs the Dickens General Store. Mom has moved into my Manhattan apartment to take a break from Dad's depending on her to resolve problems and his refusal to accept her suggestions to modernize the store, and has taken up writing a novel. Sales have improved since Dad's agreed to let me order new merchandise. I'm doing my best to work around his stuck-in-the-mud attitude about making changes that the general store sorely needs if its going to survive.

My brother, Wayne, a well-known author, lives with his partner on the island part-time. He owns and edits the island's weekly newspaper, for which I've been writing articles.

Right now my aunt and uncle, who love each other dearly are having one of their public squabbles. Aunt Reenie, my mother's younger sister and Dickens Island's manager (mayor), is all for more housing and a ferry line to Connecticut while Uncle Brad, Dad's younger brother and the town council's president, wants to keep the island the same way it's been for years. Also suspecting him of having an affair with Missy Faraday, Aunt Reenie has thrown Uncle Brad out and he's staying with my dad. With Mom away, Dad expects me to convince my aunt and uncle to make nice and stop squabbling. An impossible job.

Riley came into our lives when he followed Connor home one afternoon and seemed to adopt us. While I was happy to have him live with us, I knew that, despite his badly matted coat, a wonderful dog like Riley had to belong to someone. And so I contacted our local vet, Jack Morrison. Reluctantly. Jack and I were an item years ago when I was sixteen and he was nineteen. Then he broke my heart. Believe me, I had no intention of rekindling our relationship, but one thing led to another . . .

And so you see, my life is rather full at the moment. Even more so, when Uncle Brad brought Missy Faraday to dinner at Dad's and the next morning she was found dead in her house. Of course Uncle Brad became Suspect Number One and I felt obliged to prove his innocence. So much goes on in a supposedly sleepy island, and I, being a Dickens, am right in the middle of everything.

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Review

DEATH ON DICKENS ISLAND by Allison Brook
The First Books on the Beach Mystery 

After years living in Manhattan Delia Dickens has returned to Dickens Island living with her 15 year old son, Connor, in the house her grandmother left her. All is not peaceful on the island however. Her mother, claiming she needs a break from Delia's dad, is living in Delia's Manhattan apartment. Delia's aunt and uncle are leading members of the town with diametrically opposed views on what's best for the island. Their contentious behavior has divided the town and Aunt Reenie has thrown her husband out! Then, of course, there's the drama of living with a teenaged boy. But things come to a head when Missy Faraday is found shot to death in her own home. Missy was manipulative, at least in regards to men on the island, but why would anyone want to kill her? As Delia tries to deal with her family, she can't help but be interested in solving the murder, especially as both her aunt and uncle make good suspects. Unexpected help comes in the form of her grandmother's ghost who help her uncover secrets from the past that just may be impacting the present.

I enjoyed meeting Delia Dickens in the first Books on the Beach Mystery. I appreciate how she has taken past trauma, and while it still affects her, she learns and evolves from it. Delia has a solid supporting cast too, my favorite being Helena, her ghostly grandmother. I also love Riley, who shows how dogs can bring people together and help mend hurts.  

The mystery was satisfying. I particularly enjoyed how the past played a big part in the present with a pirate log, Helena's youth, and family drama adding to the mystery. As for the present, who would want to kill Missy? And why? I admit I figured it out the motive well before Delia, but it was fun seeing her catch up. 

With likeable characters and a well thought out mystery DEATH ON DICKENS ISLAND is a charming start to a new series.

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 Death on Dickens Island: A Books on the Beach Mystery by Allison Brook

About Death on Dickens Island

Death on Dickens Island: A Books on the Beach Mystery
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - On Dickens Island, a fictional island in the Long Island Sound between Long Island & CT.
Publisher: ‎ Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: ‎ October 21, 2025
Hardcover Print Length: ‎ 320 pages

A divorced sleuth in her thirties must bring peace back to her small town after a murder tears neighbors and family members apart in this series debut from Agatha Award nominee Allison Brook, perfect for fans of Cynthia Riggs and Eva Gates.

Delia Dickens has come home to Dickens Island, a small island in the Long Island Sound, after a twelve-year stint in Manhattan. She’s looking forward to helping her father revitalize the general store that the family owns as well as curating a small book nook. Most importantly, she wants to reunite with her fifteen-year-old son. But Dickens Island isn’t the peaceful town Delia remembers–and she might be in more danger here than she ever was in the big city.

Delia’s Aunt Reenie and Uncle Brad, both prominent community leaders, are at odds over the sale of a farm and its future use. This has created friction, not only in their marriage, but amongst the citizens of the town. When a young woman, new to the town council and friendly with Brad, is found murdered, everything escalates and reaches a new boiling point.

With Reenie and Brad both suspects in the case and at each other’s throats, the townspeople start to take sides. When the ghost of her grandmother visits her, Delia learns how past events have impacted the present, and it is up to her to expose the farm’s sordid secrets in order to catch a murderer and restore peace to her beloved island.

About Allison Brook

A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries, novels of suspense, and books for kids. Her books have received many accolades. As Allison Brook she writes the Haunted Library series. Death Overdue, the first in the series, was an Agatha nominee for Best Contemporary Novel in 2018. Other mysteries include the Golden Age of Mystery Book Club series, the Twin Lakes series, and Giving Up the Ghost. Her suspense, Come Home to Death, was released in April 2024, and her suspense, Dangerous Relations, will be republished in 2025. Death on Dickens Island is the first book in her Books on the Beach series.

Marilyn's juvenile novel, Rufus and Magic Run Amok, was an International Reading Association-Children's Book Council Children's Choice and has recently come out in a new edition. Rufus and the Witch's Drudge, the second book in the series, has been released, and the third, Rufus and the Dark Side of Magic, will be out later this year. And Don't Bring Jeremy was a nominee for six state awards. Her YA horror, The Devil's Pawn, came out in a new edition in January 2024.

Marilyn lives on Long Island, where many of her books take place. She loves traveling, reading, doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku, chatting on FaceTime with her grandkids, and playing with her kittens, Romeo and Juliet.

Author Links: 

Website/Newsletter Sign Up: http://www.marilynlevinson.com  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/161602.Marilyn_Levinson  

X: https://twitter.com/MarilynLevinson  

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marilyn-levinson  

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/allison-brook  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marilynlevinsonauthor/  

Purchase Links: Amazon B&N Bookshop.org PenguinRandomHouse

Deadly Secrets at Ballyford Castle - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

DEADLY SECRETS AT BALLYFORD CASTLE by Ellen Butler
The Second Ariadne Winter Mystery 

 

After a week reporting on fashion in 1950s Paris Ariadne Winter is pleased to stop over in Ireland. Invited by her cousin, she's attending the house party at Julia's boyfriend's ancestral home. The annual party is about to become something more when Cormac O'Connell announces his engagement to Julia. While Julia's parents are happy, Lady Aisling, Cormac's mother, has a more stoic reaction. That first evening at Ballyford Manor proves interesting as Ariadne witnesses more than one argument and plenty of furtive behavior. The next morning a visit to the cliffs turns into a tragic discovery when Julia, Ariadne, and Shane, Corman's dissolute brother, find the body of Brian Byrne, the estate manager, crumpled dead below the castle. A tragic accident? Ariadne isn't so sure. Nor is the inspector. Ariadne will look, listen, and hunt for clues in order to uncover O'Connell secrets and find a murderer! 

 

Although set in 1958 DEADLY SECRETS AT BALLYFORD CASTLE reads as almost a modern tale, just with a lot more smoking and no cell phones. I really enjoyed the story and the mystery. Ariadne is a wonderful protagonist, clever and just nosy enough to discover truths others would rather left hidden. I love that Gavin made an appearance, inadvertently bringing answers that ultimately led to the solution. The O'Connell family is a hot mess. From the drunken second son and moody teenaged daughter to the demanding mother, all have secrets. I even got unpleasant vibes from Cormac,

 

I appreciate how Ariadne didn't take anything at face value. How she investigated herself and with Julia or Gavin, but always kept the inspector involved, at least once she's had a good look at whatever clue she found or theory she had. While I generally dislike stories told from multiple points of view, it works here. Each chapter is labeled with the character combined with the fact that everything is told in third person, it works. We get detailed information we wouldn't know if solely told from Ariadne's point of view. 

 

DEADLY SECRETS AT BALLYFORD CASTLE is a delightful mystery that uncovers long held secrets in 1958 Ireland.

 

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 Deadly Secrets at Ballyford Castle: Ariadne Winter Mystery by Ellen Butler

About Deadly Secrets at Ballyford Castle

Deadly Secrets at Ballyford Castle: Ariadne Winter Mystery
Historical Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series
Setting - Ireland, near the Cliffs of Moher
Publisher: ‎ Power to the Pen
Publication Date: ‎ October 1, 2025
Print Length: ‎ 312 pages

From Paris runways to country manors, danger is always in fashion.

When intrepid journalist Ariadne Winter leaves behind the glittering cafés and haute couture of 1958 Paris for the misty hills of rural Ireland, she expects champagne toasts and countryside charm at her cousin's engagement celebration. But amidst party prep excitement the festive mood at Ballyford Manor is shattered when a body is discovered among the ruins of the ancient castle grounds.

The local inspector suspects an accident—but Ariadne knows better.

Armed with her sharp wit and a reporter’s determination, Ariadne peels back the polished façade of the O’Connell family, uncovering simmering tensions and long-held grudges that refuse to stay buried. As she navigates a world of crumbling aristocracy, whispered scandals, and dark family legacies, Ariadne realizes someone will do anything to keep the past hidden — even if it means making her the next victim.

Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Jacqueline Winspear, this stylish, atmospheric mystery captures the glamour and shadows of 1950s Ireland, blending intrigue, secrets, and a sleuth you won’t forget.

About Ellen Butler

Ellen Butler is the international bestselling author of the Karina Cardinal mystery series. Her experiences working on Capitol Hill and at a medical association in Washington, D.C. inspired the mystery-action series. Publishers Weekly called the Karina Cardinal mysteries, “intelligent escapism.” Butler also writes the Ariadne Winter historical mysteries as well as historical spy fiction. The Brass Compass has won multiple awards for historical fiction including: a Speak Up Talk Radio Firebird Book Award, Indie Reader Discovery Award, and a Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal. The second book in the duology, Operation Blackbird: A Cold War Spy Novel, is inspired by true events, and won a Next Generation Indie Book Award gold medal for historical fiction.

Author Links:

Website ~ www.EllenButler.net  

Facebook ~ www.facebook.com/EllenButlerBooks  

Instagram~ https://www.instagram.com/ebutlerbooks/  

Bookbub~ https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ellen-butler  

Goodreads ~ www.goodreads.com/EllenButlerBooks  

Purchase Links: Amazon B&N Kobo Apple

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Giveaway

Follow this link for a chance to win  $25 Amazon Gift Card & Signed Book 

At Death's Dough - A Review

 Review

AT DEATH'S DOUGH by Mindy Quigley
The Fifth Deep Dish Mystery 

The winter cold and snow makes the offseason difficult for businesses in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. Restaurant owner, Delilah O'Leary is evening struggling to get reservations for the Valentine's Day holiday. That's one reason she jumps on board the town council's idea of a Gangsters of Geneva Bay tour, although she knows her boyfriend Capone, yes, related to that Capone, will not be happy. She has staff to pay, however, and if that means highlighting the fact that her restaurant was a mob front for Rocco Guanciale and featuring Rocco's Guanciale on the menu, so be it. But slow business isn't the only thing worrying Delilah. Several women are aglow with new mysterious romances, even Great-Aunt Biz. And then, of course, there's the dead body she, Sonya, and Biz found while ice fishing. Not to mention Capone's ne'er do well cousin whose visit Capone's mom wants to keep quiet. Will Delilah be able to make it through the offseason without losing her business or her boyfriend? 

Pride, hope, and love make the gears grind and shift in the fifth Deep Dish Mystery. I love how the Delilah and Son family is just that, a family. They may bicker, but ultimately will do anything for each other. I love how they work together like a well oiled machine, whether it's dinner service or solving a mystery. I loved the historical aspect, a favorite subject of mine, if not Delilah and especially loved how everything came together. 

AT DEATH'S DOUGH runs the gamut from romantic, family, and business problems, community involvement, and social class treating each with varying degrees of humor and gravitas. When one of the family is taken hostage I was horrified; it's a personal nightmare for me. Thank goodness for the resourcefulness, bravery, and determination of everyone!

There's also food. I loved the descriptions, even Harold's feast of reconciliation and am pleased that there are recipes included, though not for Harold's feast. Even if you have no intention of making any of the recipes found at the end of the book, you still need to read them! Written from the point of view of different characters each recipe is a story in itself...and a very funny one at that! 

A wintry mystery filled with gangsters, good food, and great friends AT DEATH'S DOUGH is a laugh out loud mystery with heart and a special cat named Butterball. 

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading At Death's Dough by Mindy Quigley. This book is the fifth book in the Deep Dish Mystery series and will be released next week.

The winter cold and snow makes the offseason difficult for businesses in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. Restaurant owner, Delilah O'Leary is evening struggling to get reservations for the Valentine's Day holiday. That's one reason she jumps on board the town council's idea of a Gangsters of Geneva Bay Tour, although she knows her boyfriend Capone, yes, related to that Capone, will not be happy. She has staff to pay, however, and if that means highlighting the fact that her restaurant was a mob front for Rocco Guanciale and featuring Rocco's Guanciale on the menu, so be it. But slow business isn't the only thing worrying Delilah. Several women are aglow with new mysterious romances, even Great-Aunt Biz. And then, of course, there's the dead body she, Sonya, and Biz found while ice fishing. Not to mention Capone's ne'er do well cousin whose visit Capone's mom wants to keep quiet. Will Delilah be able to make it through the offseason without losing her business or her boyfriend?