Kalynn Applewhite

The overly descriptive beginning made me think twice about continuing but I’m glad I did. The story has a good balance of intrigue, romance, mystery and suspense. Maggie’s determination to forge her own path at a time when tradition dictated otherwise for women, makes for an interesting read. Even more unusual is how she occupies her time, earning a living as a medium alongside her sceptical brother, who pursues his own more traditional career as an accountant. Enter Walter, intent on gathering scientific ‘evidence’ of the otherworldly episodes Maggie is gaining notoriety for. Sounds interesting, intriguing even. What could possibly go wrong?…..… (más)

With Jack the Ripper vibes, a sprinkling of Gatsby, helpful spirits, and women’s rights all rolled into one, Maggie is back in the latest installment of the White Crow Series by Kalynn Applewhite. The story once again follows Maggie Ward as she solves mysteries by using her ability to communicate with the dead. Set in Upper East Side Manhattan during the early 1900s when spiritualism was popular and the women's suffrage movement was in full swing, Piercing the Veil tackles important feminist themes as well as taking the reader on a rollercoaster ride full of suspense and intrigue.

As Jonathan and Camila plan their wedding something sinister lurks in the shadows of New York City. When women start turning up dead, Maggie makes it her business to solve the mystery with the help of her psychic abilities. Hunting a killer turns out to be a bit more than she bargained for but with the help of a new ally, they just might find the murderer before her whole world comes crashing down.

I was so excited to have all the old characters back again in this novel. Since the characters are so relatable and their interactions with each other are so real, it was like meeting up with old friends. We are also introduced to Maggie and Jonathan’s parents in this novel, which proved to be rather interesting to say the least. Maggie’s character develops even more in this novel as she becomes more independent and more confident in her abilities. Her selflessness and determination make her a wonderful role model for all women. Maggie’s ability to stand her ground is very powerful and I can’t wait to see her strength develop in further novels.

The writing itself is easy and flawless, allowing the reader to sit back and enjoy. Mind you, I didn’t do much sitting back as I was on the edge of my seat for most of the novel. Applewhite has the ability to hold your interest throughout the entire story with multiple elements of danger and concern being thrown at you from all angles. Needless to say, there is never a dull moment when Maggie Ward is around. On top of all that, Applewhite gives the most amazing descriptions of the surroundings so that you feel transported directly into the story, seeing everything through the characters’ eyes and feeling their raw emotions.

Piercing the Veil was such a fun and exciting read, I could not put it down. Applewhite has done a stellar job at creating a new Sherlock Holmes/Nancy Drew type character and her choice of time periods for this delightful series couldn’t be more interesting. This novel is a true gem and I highly recommend you read it. You won’t be disappointed.… (más)

Thank you, Kaitlyn Applewhite and Publishers Weekly's grab-a-galley for the free ebook galley of Awakening Anne.

I noticed in the first paragraph that the writing style is like something written in the Victorian or Edwardian era. Very atmospheric.

I enjoyed the Spiritualism stuff (including the ASPR) and can see the author did plenty of research on the topic. And of course, I also enjoy the suffragist stuff. Spiritualism and suffragists—two of my favorite topics!

The novel could use another round of mild editing. For instance, in the first paragraph of Chapter 10, the first “she” should instead be “Maggie,” since it’s the first time she’s mentioned in this chapter. Chapter 15 has the word “rather” two sentences in a row.

Chapter 16 (which isn’t numbered) has a confusing lack of transition from one scene to the next. That is, suddenly they’re no longer on the street and are instead in jail. There should at least be a break.

The illustrations are a pleasant surprise, although Maggie’s fashions look more circa 1910 than 1916. Costumers and anyone knowledgeable about early 20th century costume will notice. Women’s fashion was changing quickly during that time.

Page 145: I realize it’s set in 1916, but... I’d replace “though she was colored” with “though she was Black....”

If Jonathan wants someone to obey him, he should get a dog. He’s an annoying control freak. Maggie puts up with him—but she’s young and maybe when she’s middle-aged she’ll stop having blind loyalty to him.

I’m afraid I commented on negative things more.... It’s an intriguing supernatural historical mystery novel set in an era I love. It feels like it could easily be the beginning of a series (and there’s a series title, so it is!).… (más)

Margaret Ward is a gifted spirit communicator in the 1920's. Despite her privileged station on Manhattan's upper east side, Margaret runs a small business connecting people with their deceased loved ones, much to the chagrin of her older brother, Jonathan. After a particularly distressing appointment with widower Charles Blackbourne that was sat in on by Walter Davies from The American Society for Psychical Research, Margaret becomes distressed. In the reading, Margaret connected with the particularly strong spirit of Charles' wife, Anne who had a specific message for him. After Charles also reports a haunting at his home, Margaret and Walter vow to help, but Anne's presence is even stronger in her home and Margaret is pulled into the spirit world farther than before. Margaret becomes afraid and the occurrences at Charles' home don't stop, pushing her to solve the mystery behind Anne's aggressive presence.

Awakening Anne is a fast paced, historical, paranormal mystery. I enjoyed Margaret's joy for life and finding fulfillment where she needed in contrast to her brother who seemed anxious and caught up in societal expectations. The writing set the scene firmly in the 20's and I enjoyed Margaret's involvement with the suffrage movement as well as the descriptions of her parlor and her seances. The sketches included dresses, buildings and other objects that helped to set the scene as well. The paranormal investigation of Anne's death was intriguing and while I had a suspect early on, I enjoyed Margaret and Charles' investigation into the paranormal and how she communicates with the deceased to help the living move on.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

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