Reviewed by Alex Ndirangu for Readers' Favorite

The Legend of Rachel Petersen by JT Baroni follows Christian Kane and his anticipation of being named the next chief sports journalist at The Pittsburgh Post Gazette. It doesn't go as expected so he leaves his job and starts a new career writing fiction. He takes his wife, Shelby, and moves to an old house on a two-acre piece of land on the distant outskirts of Latrobe, Pittsburgh. Christian's expectations of moving in and immediately hammering out chapters of his novel are shattered a few times, and he is just about to give up when he stumbles upon the badly weathered tombstone of a girl named Rachel Petersen, who died in 1863. He finds inspiration from why the little girl could be buried in the middle of the woods and calls his story "The Legend of Rachel Petersen." After a successful publishing, "The Legend of Rachel Petersen" climbs to the New York Times bestseller list and is adapted into a horror movie by Warner Brothers Studio, granting Christian fame and wealth. But Christian's triumph can only last for so long. Rachel's soul never departed the earthly bonds upon her death, and Christian's book might just have provided her with a gateway to the living!

Wow! What an epic ride! In a spellbinding whirlwind of events, ranging from when Civil War soldiers marched with Robert E. Lee into battle at Gettysburg with cannonballs exploding from every direction, Baroni captivates the mind from the very beginning. Things get even more tense when two young brothers from the 1950s, hunting a big old buck, jump into the scene, tracking and running over ground covered in snow and dead trees in the Appalachian Mountains. When their hard-earned prize eventually falls on Rachel Peterson's grave, an even more relentless and complex web of conflicts, tensions, and mysteries springs up to captivate you. JT Baroni did a fantastic job developing the characters. From the Tremonts, a loving family thriving in Jonesboro, Pennsylvania, to sweet Samuel, everyone will find their favorites. Even Midnight, the horse, played a significant part in the plot. And just like Rachel, I found his antics incredible. Baroni's The Legend of Rachel Petersen goes beyond nail-biting suspense and fascination that will keep you up into the wee hours of the night. The story stretches to great lengths on the implications of one's decisions, good and evil, broken family ties and their impact on a child's mental health, and much more. Anyone searching for a gripping read in the paranormal, mystery, and fast-paced action will find this one a new favorite.