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Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
The Haunting of Hawk’s Ridge Hall by Maighread MacKay is a delightful mystery that has a 1920s aesthetic with ghosts, charm, and an abandoned house. Eve is excited at the new opportunities coming her way after she and her sister are gifted an abandoned mansion where strange noises and odd lights have been seen during the night. These have given the mansion a reputation for being haunted. Eve is eager to put her contractor know-how to work and bring the house back to its past beauty by converting it into a unique blend of B&B and museum. As she sets her plans for restoration in motion, she quickly becomes frustrated as the site is plagued with one accident after another. Determined to get to the bottom of it and beginning to fear for her safety, Eve seeks outside help and even brings home a lovable Rottweiler.
The setting is an important and necessary part of the mystery with the majority of events occurring within and around the house. The descriptions are crucial for getting a sense of its importance and these majestic details allow you to see it in all its grandeur. It creates a connection to history - particularly the 1920s - and this helps bring the past into a modern setting. Two distinct pairings drive the mystery forward and give the story plenty of heart and humor. The first of these is the ghostly duo, which provides comic relief while adding a supernatural element to the mystery. Gladys and Martha being ghosts is not a secret as the mystery instantly introduces you to the ghostly residents of Hawk’s Ridge Hall. Maighread MacKay uses these characters to put a unique spin on the idea of ghosts and hauntings, creating well-rounded personalities and delightful banter. The two certainly add a bit of spice to the afterlife with their curiosity and attitudes. The other duo is sisters Eve and Cissy who enter the house with plans to renovate and restore it to its former glory. The sisters mirror the ghostly pair with a similar banter and genuine relationship, which they use to navigate accidents, murder, sleuthing, and ghosts. The Haunting of Hawk’s Ridge Hall is a unique mystery that blends history, ghosts, friendship, murder, and charm.
