The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright @jaimejowright @bethany_house @sophiarose1816 @bethanyhousefiction

Posted November 5, 2025 by Sophia in Blog Tour, Book Review, Giveaway / 10 Comments

The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright

Review copy was received from Publicity team. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright @jaimejowright @bethany_house @sophiarose1816 @bethanyhousefictionThe Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright
Published by Bethany House Publishers on October 21, 2025
Genres: Historical Mystery
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Source: Publicity team
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In 1890, the ominous tolling of the bell announces that death has come to Traeger Hall, leaving orphaned Waverly Pembrooke to piece together the puzzle behind her uncle's and aunt's murders. Bound by the terms of her uncle's eccentric will, Waverly finds herself alone in a manor shrouded by death and questioning the reasons for her uncle's paranoia. A madness hovers over Traeger Hall, and Waverly--as well as the people of nearby Newton Creek--are ill-prepared for the woe that has descended.

In present day Newton Creek, whispers of a family curse still cling to the century-old, abandoned property of Traeger Hall. When Jennie Phillips takes possession of the estate after her mother's passing, she is intent on solving the mystery of the Traeger murders. Yet a modern cold case suggests that untimely deaths and mysterious occurrences still plague the property. And as thorny truths surface, Jennie realizes the dark legacy threatens not only the town and the Traeger descendants . . . but also, chillingly, Jennie herself.

Traeger Hall is a house full of secrets and a dark sinister environment starting with that ominous bell that is only to be rung when Leopold Traeger’s life is threatened.  Over a century later, Jennie Phillips arrives in Newton Creek and finds a town still spooked by the legend surrounding the bricked up Traeger Hall.  Two heroines, two harrowing tales that converge at a grand climactic moment- a Jaime Jo Wright forte that I have come to richly relish.

The Bell Tolls at Traegen Hall, an inspirational, gothic-toned romantic suspense split into two narratives, but four actual timelines.  Waverly’s story is told both in 1890’s present tense going back and forth between the time before and time after the murders, and later 1950’s interview shortly before her death.  Jennie Phillips is told as a contemporary thread.

The beginning lays out an atmospheric setting and situation that is sometimes chilling and most definitely ominous for the one living in the past and, in this case, the present when Jennie finds a body and a disappearance cold case is solved while a murder mystery is opened.

For Waverly, she’s caught up in something she isn’t entirely sure is sane.  Her aunt isn’t the warmest of women and is a stiffly, formal woman who seems cold and unaffected until Waverly realizes the lady is racked with fear.  Neither of them know what will set off her uncle and he likes to keep them both cowed to his will.  He might be the prosperous mill owner and owns half the businesses in the town of Newton’s Creek, but he is also into other, secretive business ventures.  And, what about all the pieces of art hanging about Traeger Hall? Are they priceless?  Meanwhile, Waverly has her own secrets.

Then the night-time double murder of her aunt and uncle changes her whole life.  His stunning will, the helplessness and fear she lives under while following the dictates of Leopold’s will, fending off greedy men who try to push her around, and the only bright spot?  The undertaker who wants her to trust him and get away from the danger.  He annoys her and comforts her in turn.

Jennie never wanted Traeger Hall, but her wealthy father who, when alive, abused she and her mother in ways that no one ever saw inexplicably ties it to her.  Her mother, the treasure hunter, was the one who researched and was interested in the possibility of art treasure inside bricked up Traeger Hall, but her mother is gone now.  Jennie is alone.  Half the town wants her to bulldoze the place and the other half want to see if the speculation and legends are true.  Jennie comes slowly to the knowledge that for those who cared about Alison’s death, that they need closure and she is starting to care more deeply about a certain widower, Zane, and his son, Milo, finding their answers even while she is putting to rest her own demons that her late father’s abuse have caused.

Incidentally, I appreciated the inclusion of a main character (Jennie) who is an abuse survivor with mental health issues and a neurodivergent side character (Milo)

All in all, I couldn’t have asked for a better tale for my fall spooky season reading stack.  I held my breath right along with Waverly when she lay in the dark hearing someone outside her door.  And, I figuratively bit my nails when the creak of floorboards alerted Jennie she was no longer alone.  The Bells Tolls At Traeger Hall was satisfying from cover to cover and I can’t recommend it enough.

 

Giveaway:

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Excerpt:

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About Jaime Jo Wright

Jaime Jo Wright is the author of ten novels, including Christy Award and Daphne du Maurier Award-winner The House on Foster Hill and Carol Award winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. She’s also a two-time Christy Award finalist, as well as the ECPA bestselling author of The Vanishing at Castle Moreau and two Publishers Weekly bestselling novellas. Jaime lives in Wisconsin with her family and felines.

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Posted November 5, 2025 by Sophia in Blog Tour, Book Review, Giveaway / 10 Comments

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