You know you’ve discovered an author to watch when her debut novel is captivating, haunting, and truly holds you in frightened suspense from the first page to the last. “The House on Foster Hill”, written by Jaime Jo Wright and published by Bethany House, is just such a debut novel. Written with a spellbinding, dual-time storyline structure and filled with secrets and surprises that will keep you guessing, this story will live on in your imagination long after you’ve reached the final pages.

While “The House on Foster Hill” is a riveting novel that is also a masterful work of art – written in an emotional writing style and with compelling characters – it is not something that should be read by the faint of heart. This book tackles head-on some difficult issues of abuse, loss, grief, and tragedy. While I can’t go into much detail without giving away some major plot spoilers, I will say that some portions were troubling in their descriptions of horrible abuse. At the same time, the suspense of the mystery was enthralling and often hair-rising, making for a combination that you may not want to read while preparing for a peaceful night’s slumber!

In the end, this powerful and masterfully-written story is a bit of a conundrum. If you don’t mind some difficult issues being presented in a novel, and if you also enjoy a story that will mesmerize you from the beginning, then I highly recommend “The House on Foster Hill”. Make sure you are prepared, however, for a thrill ride of emotion and suspense. . . All combined with inspiration in the form of God’s healing in the midst of brokenness.

“Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.”