I was intrigued by the description of this book. If there is something I really like is it haunted houses and I hoped that this book would entrance me.

One thing I really liked is that the story takes place in the 60s. It was a nice change from the usual contemporary settings that I'm used to (or books that take place late or early 19-century). I love to read books where the story takes place during 50-70s and this book reminds me that I should try to do so more often. It's so nice to go back just a couple of decades, and read about a time without the technology benefits we have now.

The story starts with Jesse Graham, after having broken up with her cheating boyfriend, arriving at The Cavanaugh House that she inherited years before from her aunt. She is after a change in her life and when her best friend Sister Angelina (Maggie) tells her of a job at a private school isn't she late to jump on the chance to get away and get a new start. What she doesn't know is that The Cavanaugh House is said to be haunted by her aunt. But, why would her aunt hunt the house, she died in care accident, didn't she?

The Cavanaugh House is an engrossing book to listen to, I quite liked both Jesse and Maggie, their humor and their close friendly relationship made the book both funny and endearing to read. I love the fact that Maggie is a nun, it's not often I read about two best friends in a book where one of them is a nun. This is probably the first time. I also liked the budding romantic relationship with Joe Riley. I was worried that the book would turn into a triangle drama when Jesse started to hang out with the local deputy sheriff, but it never got that way. I also liked that she did keep it cool with Joe, she has just left a relationship and was not interested in a new one soon, despite the butterflies in the stomach that Joe gave her.

The mystery of her aunt's death and the haunted house intrigued me and I loved the twist and turns the story took. As a fan of mystery books was it a pure joy to read about Jesse discovering then the truth about her aunt. Even when I suspected things that turned out to be true where I more thrilled about being right than annoyed that it could figure it out before anyone else did in the book.

Elizabeth Meyette has really written a fabulous book and I can't wait to listen to Buried Secrets the sequel to this book!

As for the audio version of this book was I very pleased with Amy McFadden performance. She shifted between the voices with ease and I liked that she didn't exaggerate the male voices. I'm also pleased to know that she voiced the sequel in this series. ( )

Suffering from a broken engagement, Jesse Graham has left Rochester for the North Lakes area of New York, taking a job at the local nun-run school and living in the Cavanaugh house, a place left to her by her deceased aunt Helen. Arriving there, she first has to make the house livable and Joe Riley is there to offer a helping hand, and perhaps more if Jesse is interested. Secrets about her aunt Helen and her own past start to emerge and someone doesn’t want those secrets brought to light. Jesse is in danger.

This was a very slow paced book. It takes quite some time to get to any part of the mystery. Set in 1968, much of the story and phrases used are quaint. For some, this might bring up nostalgia. For me, this book felt much longer than it actually was and it took me some time to become engaged in the story. Still, it is written with skill and care.

Being equal parts mystery and romance, let’s start with the romance. It was a slow burn as well. Jesse moves to this small town and immediately more than one available man is interested in dating her. Joe is the first one to show interest and is the son of Susan, her aunt Helen’s best friend from all those years ago. Then there’s Marty, a police officer. There’s also Al, a son of the local prominent and wealthy family. It felt a little cliched to have all the local bachelors vying for the new girl’s hand at the dance. This part of the story held little interest for me.

As to the mystery, it was pretty straight forward. I almost want to say that this book wasn’t so much a mystery as it was a tale of Jesse discovering herself. It was painfully obvious what the big secret was about Helen. Also once we meet Al, it also seemed obvious what the second half of that mystery had in store. So for me, it felt that Jesse’s journey to the discovery of the truths about her family and her past were the important part.

My favorite parts of the story were Maggie, who is Sister Angelina. The nuns doing every day things like baseball and playing cards was great. Maggie’s friendship sees Jesse through the worst of her ordeals. Also, I really liked the haunted house aspect of the tale, with Helen’s ghost being the source of the haunting.

I received a free copy of this book via The Audiobookworm.

The Narration: Amy McFadden did an awesome job narrating this book. She always sounded engaged and she had distinct voices for all the characters. Her male voices were quite believable. She did a good job with the sometimes corny humor, making it seem natural and funny. ( )

My original The Cavanaugh House audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

The Cavanaugh House by Elizabeth Meyette is true to the genre, so if you want a cozy mystery with a dash of paranormal (a ghost – not a spoiler), the you’ll enjoy listening to this novel. Jesse Graham, devastated by a messy engagement breakup, retreats to a house left to her by her aunt. With the help of her childhood friend, Maggie, a nun, she tries to start a new life. However, a restless spirit, a possible suicide or murder, family secrets and several possible love interests keep stirring the pot. Layer upon layer of secrets and lies combined with an attempt on Jesse’s life kept me listening. The story line is, of course, predictable, it follows what I think is an outlined genre format and this is probably what most listeners expect. But there are enough twists and turns and interesting characters to hold your interest. Some of the cliché characters (the ‘mean beyond words’ nun, for one) was a bit annoying, but their scenes were blessedly few.

The setting, in the Finger Lakes area of New York was interesting and pleasant and well defined. I did find the climax of the mystery was unexpected, which was refreshing. Endings are often difficult and contrived, but this one wasn’t and for that I was grateful. All the ends were woven in and tidy, happy of course The inserts of women’s lib and how men should address women seemed kind of added in and seemed unnecessary, and at times I was embarrassed for the character’s trying to dance around Jesse’s demands for the proper ‘terms’ like ‘woman’ instead of the exterminator’s ‘little lady’. I know it was a different time, but insisting that every male in town change their ways when so many other scary and serious events were going on just didn’t work for me. The obligatory love interest was well done, but as always, they didn’t get off to a friendly start, and had their issues, but we get the idea that true love will follow after the dust settles. I did find the climax of the mystery was a bit of a surprise which was quite refreshing.

The narrator, Amy McFadden, has a pleasant voice and does a good job with the dialogue, but her narrative takes on a ‘valley girl’ tone that I found distracting, especially considering this story is set in the late 1960’s, when such a speech pattern didn’t exist, unless maybe you lived in that valley? But it was always easy to tell who was speaking and to follow the conversations, and with the many characters, especially male character voices, that was a coup.

Audiobook was provided for review by the author. ( )

I loved this book! It is one of those you read and hate when life tries to interrupt you before you've finished.
Every time I said just one more chapter I had to read at least two more.

This is a story about a woman who thinks she is running from something, but finds she is running towards a truth she needs to know to put her life back in balance. She is hurting and doesn't think people can be trusted, but she finds that allowing other people into your life is necessary.

It is a mystery, a book about faith, in many forms, and even a coming of age story although the main characters are closer to thirty than they are their teens. It is about trusting yourself and finding the strength to trust others.

I love the writing style. I was easily pulled into the story.
The scenes were described so well I felt as if I was standing there with the main characters.
The characters were well rounded, believeable and likeable.
When you think you have things figured out, the plot takes a detour and gives you more clues.

This is a truly enjoyable read, especially for those who love small towns and the characters who inhabit them.

I was gifted a copy of this book, and the enjoyment experienced reading it was mine. ( )

THE CAVANAUGH HOUSE
by Elizabeth Meyett

While not my normal “cozy” mystery read, THE CAVANAUGH HOUSE is a wonderful story from beginning to end. It had plenty of mystery and intrigue to keep me turning the pages. I feel most readers of my blog will enjoy it very much.

Author Meyeete set this book in the 60s, which is a nice change of pace. There are beautiful surroundings, a creepy, rundown fixer upper, and well written characters. And for readers who like a little paranormal in your stories, you’ll find this right up your alley.

Any fan of mystery and suspense will be thrilled with this book. ( )