Melisandre (Melissa) Roberts is a new homeowner of a wonderful house on a decent-sized lot. Her best friend, Alexandra, sends over a handsome man, Ryan, to help her move in. Ryan is not only handy around the house, he’s friendly. In addition, Melissa’s acing her classes at college and enjoying her rides on her horse, Tori. Melissa’s life is looking up…
…until she starts to experience the haunts in her new home.
Straw Girl’s take on haunted houses has a protagonist who knows a thing or two about the preternatural because she had experience as being a member of a paranormal team. Though, her stint being on the team ends near the start of the novel. The leader “encourages” her to resign, believing her to be too skeptical. They may be right. Melissa experiences quite a bit of unusual phenomenon to get her to admit she has ghosts.
But does she live in an old Victorian mansion or a house that was abandoned years ago and flipped? No. Melissa lives in a new house with no prior owners. A new house raises eyebrows with the first paranormal group she invites out to investigate. She describes the mysterious lights on her bedroom ceiling and the footsteps on the porch with nobody there, but they find nothing unusual. The second group is more accommodating, and they find evidence, mostly in the form of whispers and other sounds. They inform Melissa that she has more than one spirit on the grounds. From there, the novel proceeds into scenes about Melissa’s life, her friends, and more investigators who both help and hinder her in her quest to eradicate the uninvited intruders.
Straw Girl is the first published novel by Brigid Barry, and the writing grips the reader and brings them into Melissa’s world. The combination of sounds and shadowy encounters make for effective sequences, perfect for those seeking horror. The terror factor is especially noticeable in two scenes with a dog Melissa is babysitting. While I had hoped for more concerning the titular character, the numerous ghosts satisfied this horror fan. Just when the reader thinks Melissa is safe, events turn dangerous. The tension builds to an exciting conclusion, one often not seen for a haunted house tale.
Straw Girl is a creepy, thrilling horror story of mysterious phantoms that will keep the reader engrossed well into the night.