The Whiskey Barrel Ghost by Donna Clancy

What a fun, spooky read! Deliciously eerie, yet with a sense of comfort, this page-turner will keep you reading well into the night. Full of suspense with evil lurking in human form and spirits lingering, it’s a perfect paranormal thriller.

There is a gothic vibe to this tale, with ghosts wandering the rooms of a charming old Cape Cod mansion by the seaside. The open-air widow’s walk where seamen’s wives watched for the arrival of their husbands’ ships adds to the atmospheric setting. Rich descriptions of the house and property once owned by a sea captain had me following along with the main character, Kara, as she explored the rooms and hidden spaces. 

With a mix of the present and the past, The Whiskey Barrel Ghost intertwines the lives of two tortured women from different eras. A great start to the book sets up Kara’s story with her past trauma and her attempt to get away from an abusive ex-husband. I was totally immersed in Kara’s world and rooting for her to escape his clutches. The theme of domestic abuse and controlling spouses is one many women will relate to. Interspersed with Kara’s current trauma of fearing her ex is going to kill her is the historical background of Sorcha, a woman tortured by her lover’s wife more than a century ago. Told through diary entries, Sorcha’s story is more haunting than her spirit that has remained in the Cape Cod mansion for a century and a half. As a writer, Kara vows to tell the truth about Sorcha’s life and death, exposing the dark secrets of the original occupants of the mansion.

I loved the supporting characters of Kara’s groundskeeper, Carl, and her agent, Lisa. Along with her human friends, Kara’s canine companions and feline buddy add not only a level of security, but also a sense of well-being and nostalgia for days spent by the shore with loved ones. Enjoy a visit to a quaint historical home on the shore where the past lives side by side with the present. 

But don’t let down your guard. With threats, secrets, and surprising revelations, danger lurks at every turn. Author Donna Clancy’s chilling tale of revenge will have you checking your door locks and listening for bumps in the night.