annieb123
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Haunting of Oak Springs is the third book in a paranormal mystery series by Crin Claxton. Released 12th Sept 2023 by Bold Strokes Books, it's 254 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.
This is a very well written and engaging mystery with a protagonist who can communicate with ghosts. She's drawn into investigating a suspicious disappearance by the recently departed partner of a woman who is one of the two last members of a women-only collective farm. From the beginning, the story is atmospheric, from the creepy, downtrodden, hopeless farm setting to the poignant (sometimes surprisingly humorous) dialogue with Bryony, the ghost of the recently departed.
It's emphatically not a cozy mystery. The author deeply explores some disturbing themes: elder abuse, child abuse, deeply objectionable homophobia (which is maybe more disturbing for being so realistically depicted), emotional trauma, gender violence, psychological trauma. It's depressing in places.
Despite being the third book in the series, it works fine as a standalone. The author is quite adept at providing the necessary backstory without info-dumping. That being said, there are numerous subplot elements which happen concurrently, and some of them are not resolved completely, and the overall impression is sometimes quite chaotic and confusing.
Four stars. Strong narrative, good pacing, very disturbing in places.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.