Hestor Fox’s latest novel, The Widow of Pale Harbor was a mind-boggling mystery that kept me guessing until the very last page. The connection to the famous and controversial poet, Edgar Allan Poe and his numerous stories gave a dark and disturbing spin to the town of Pale Harbor and it worked seamlessly with this small coastal town. It had great imagery throughout and even better writing to accompany this well-thought out mystery. Its spooky, chilly and takes place in a town perpetually stuck with overcast which makes this the perfect read to welcome the new season!
I want to thank Harlequin and and the publishers at Graydon House Books for giving me the opportunity to review an early copy.
This is a story about a shunned widow rumoured to have murdered her beloved husband. She’s the source of all the gossip in Pale Harbor and many have settled opinions that she is a dangerous and powerful witch who got away with murder. But it’s only after Gabriel Stone, the new minister arrives in town that this otherwise small and sleepy town starts to awaken and what better way to do that than a string of seemingly random acts and the occasional murder or two. The people still believe it to be the infamous widow and continue to blame her despite her homebody behaviour. I was astonished to see no one blame this new stranger, Mr. Stone and it only became more suspicious when he would bend over backwards to defend this Widow and town scapegoat in Sophronia Carver.
“It would be so easy to let her guard down with a man like this. A man who looked at her with eyes as warm as cinnamon, a man who did not judge her or ask anything of her.”
I loved this surprise romance between Mrs. Carver and Mr. Stone. It was nice and unexpected. They were skeptical of one another and with just cause but they formed their own opinions, unbiased from town gossip which was a great touch!
“Proper? Proper? Is that all that matters to you? A man is dead, a man who worked for me. What need have I for propriety and manners?”
This quote was the epitome of who Mrs. Carver is. She is not one to be stuck by society’s rules of what a lady should be and how they should act. She had her own mind, and for some that made them think less of her but she didn’t care. She has a high moral code and she never let the rumors stop her from doing what she thought to be right. She was determined to figure out what happened to someone she knew because they deserved that.
“Men were experts at showing one face to the world, and another behind closed doors. Whatever his motives were, she must be on her guard.”
There is no secret that some men are forceful and abusive to their wives and women in general and for the late Nathaniel Carver, he was one of the worst. Sophronia Carver was verbally, emotionally and physically abused by her husband and yet she persevered and only became stronger because of it. There are scenes in here that directly showcase her abuse.
“It was like trying to shield herself from a tumbling boulder with a veil of lace.”
It is harsh, it is unsettling and it’s not for everyone. These scenes are written with emotionally scarring accuracy and are poetically graphic.
“Funny how money has the power to erase everything from prejudice to contempt.”
Remarkable observation that remains true, even today.
One thing that still gets me is how much they treated Gabriel as a detective. He was called in every time a body dropped and he became a stand in for the real police. And when Sophronia was targeted he channeled a seasoned cop of 10 years I swear. I’m not sure if that was the intention but I liked that direction all the same. To me, Gabriel was never a minister. If you panic and sweat at the smallest and common of jobs associated with a role like a minister delivering a sermon, then it’s not something for you. I like how he does figure this out but for me it seemed to take him too long to realize it. I saw it almost immediately and his guilt overrode his brain. His thoughts take a patient reader because of his obliviousness. However, this made his character show growth which is hard for stand-alones to do.
“There had been something comforting and cozy about the room, not to mention the enigmatic woman who had sat across from him, her silver eyes trained on him as if he were the most interesting person in the world, her smile as warm and honey-mellow as the late afternoon light. And those hands, those lovely hands.”
I absolutely loved reading this romance between Gabriel and Sophronia. Seeing how they feel and observe one another in their perspectives was adorable and so respectful. They valued the very things that society would shun and could see their true strength, whether it be muddled by rumors or of guilt. There’s a raw attraction you can see immediately upon meeting that shows an emotional bond that they can’t deny. I especially loved how cute they were with trying to be formal, you know not using their Christian names because of the sheer scandal it would produce. They tried to be so professional and refuse their feelings and it only made the chemistry between them grow stronger! It was unexpected but a really great addition all the same!
“A writer doesn’t share his first draft with the world.”
I loved this quote too much not to include, even if it was said by the murderer! No spoilers I promise, this is a twist that was gratifying to read and made the plot complete. It rounded out the whole idea of using someone famous like Poe and manipulate it to something so grotesque just to best him was ingenious! It all came down to written words and the stories that will make one famous and remembered.
“Writing stories would mean she could banish her demons to the page, render them harmless in black and white. Once set in ink, perhaps they could no longer haunt her.”
Although I haven’t read her first novel, The Witches of Willow Hall, I would strongly recommend giving it a chance because her writing is incredible and it seems to be another worthy fall read!