Ivy Rowan has seen a ghost before and knows that these
uninvited guests are harbingers of a loss. She sees the
ghost of her Granny Letty on October 4, 1918, as she is
just recovering from the flu. Unfortunately, her father
and brother have also just killed a man and Ivy's world
is about to be turned upside down as she flees her
parents' home and seeks solace with a German man.
Cat Winters takes readers into a dark part of American
history, shedding light into a time when simply being
German left one open to persecution. I particularly like
the historical tidbits offered at the beginning of some
of the chapters as they helped set the stage for the time
period of THE UNINVITED. I was previously unaware of the
American Protective League and horrified to learn that
this organization really did exist during World War I.
Ivy is an ethereal character, flitting from one moment to
the next. I like seeing her find her identity while
providing solace to those in need, disregarding things
others valued highly such as nationality. Her quick
relationship with Daniel bothered me initially as it felt
like it was motivated solely on guilt. However, Cat
Winters has quite the twist in store for readers that
made me rethink everything about their relationship.
THE UNINVITED is a fascinating historical fiction tale
with a decidedly supernatural twist. Cat Winters lulls
readers with this slow building tale before pouncing on
them with a very unexpected twist. Readers who like
getting immersed in a historical setting will relish Cat
Winters' ability to create an almost mesmerizing
atmosphere.
From the award-winning author of IN THE SHADOW OF
BLACKBIRDS comes a stunning new novel—a
masterfully
crafted story
of love, loss, and second chances. Set during the
fear
and panic of the
Great Influenza of 1918, THE UNINVITED is
part
gothic ghost-story,
part psychological thriller, perfect for those who
loved
THE THIRTEENTH
TALE by Diane Setterfield or THE
VANISHING
by Wendy Webb.
Twenty-five year old Ivy Rowan rises from her bed
after being struck by
the flu, only to discover the world has been torn
apart
in just a few short
days.
But Ivy’s life-long gift—or curse—remains. For she
sees the
uninvited ones—ghosts of loved ones who appear to
her,
unasked, unwelcomed,
for they always herald impending death. On that
October
evening in 1918 she
sees the spirit of her grandmother, rocking in her
mother’s chair. An hour
later, she learns her younger brother and father have
killed a young German
out of retaliation for the death of Ivy’s older
brother
Billy in the Great
War.
Horrified, she leaves home, to discover the flu
has
caused utter panic
and the rules governing society have broken down. Ivy
is
drawn into this
new world of jazz, passion, and freedom, where people
live for the day,
because they could be stricken by nightfall. But as
her
‘uninvited guests’
begin to appear to her more often, she knows her life
will be torn apart
once more, but Ivy has no inkling of the other-
worldly
revelations about to
unfold.
THE UNINVITED is an atmospheric,
haunting,
and utterly
compelling novel.