In a strange twist of fate, I’m reviewing Part Three of The Haunting of Hattie Hastings by Audrey Davis from the same location as Part Two. Hosted by Rachel’s Random Resources I’m thrilled to be part of the publication day push.
No elephant pictures for this post, but we’ve seen some crocodiles in the river, and heard baboons. Entering the park last night, we were fortunate enough to see one of the rarest sightings in Africa: the honey badger!
Add to that the fact that all my cousins are spending time together for the first time in 20 years, and I’m in a happy place.
But now, onto the review:
Nothing lasts forever … Gary’s time on earth seems to be coming to an end. His visits are less frequent and his visibility is fading fast. But he still has a mission to accomplish, which involves Hattie and her ability to pass on a heart-rending message.
Best friend Cat’s ex-husband is determined to prove that he deserves another chance, but do leopards really change their spots?
Times are tough for Hattie’s mother Rachel, but where there’s life, there’s hope …
Meanwhile, is there someone already in Hattie’s life who can help her move on when it’s finally time to say goodbye?
Get your tissues at the ready – both for laughter and tears – with the final instalment of a trilogy that has been hailed ‘brilliant’, ‘hilarious’, and ‘a great feel-good read’.
Part three of The Haunting of Hattie Hastings did not disappoint. It was at times heartwarming and funny, devastatingly sad, and overwhelmingly real.
I loved how human the characters were: they weren’t heroic, they weren’t stunningly good looking, they didn’t try to save the world. They were just average people living their lives (or deaths in Gary’s case), and trying their best to be happy despite the obstacles thrown at them.
Dealing with themes of grief, love, betrayal and healing, the author tells a story that culminated in a feel-good ending. It tied up the story neatly, but left the impression that it was far from the end for the characters.
The Haunting of Hattie Hastings Part Three gets four out of five feathers.
Purchase the novel from Amazon UK.
*I received a free copy of the book from Rachel’s Random Resources in exchange for an honest review.
About the Author
Audrey Davis survived secondary school on the West coast of Scotland. Rubbish at science but not too bad at English, she originally wanted to be an actress but was persuaded that journalism was a safer option. Probably wise. She studied at Napier College in Edinburgh, the only place in Scotland at that time to offer a journalism course.
Her first foray into the hard-nosed newspaper world was as a junior reporter in Dumfriesshire. Duties included interviewing farmers about the prize-winning heifers to reporting on family tragedies. She persuaded her editor to let her launch an entertainment column which meant meeting the odd celebrity – or just the downright odd. From there, she moved to the loftier rank of senior reporter back in her home patch. Slightly more money, less farm animals but a higher crime rate. As Taggart would say: ‘There’s been a murrrrder!’
After a stint in London on a video magazine – yes, she is that old – Audrey moved to Singapore with her fiancé. She tried valiantly to embrace the stinking heat, humidity and lack of jobs, although she did work briefly on a magazine which was banned by the government for ‘artistic’ use of naked men’s bottoms.
Next on her adventures was a land Down Under where her main focus was raising Cost Centre One (aka firstborn) and coming to terms with the imminent arrival of Number Two. Still, she loved the Aussie way of life – BBQs, beaches and bring your own booze to restaurants – so it came as a blow when OH announced a move back to the UK. Not a job between them, the climate a possible deal breaker and an Exorcist-style vomiting infant on the flight home didn’t bode well …
Always a survivor, Audrey sought out similar-minded friends (i.e. slightly bonkers), got the children into a good school and thought about taking up writing again. Sadly, thinking about it was as far as she got, unless you count shopping lists. Then, hubby drops another bombshell. Switzerland. As in – it’s packing time again. Off to the land of cheese, chocolate, scarily efficient trains and a couple of teeny, tiny issues. Like driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road and speaking a foreign language (French). The former was conquered fairly quickly (we’ll skip over the wall demolition in week two), the latter remains an ongoing battle of the hopeful against the hopeless. At least she provides amusement for the local workforce.
It wasn’t until 2016 that Audrey rediscovered her writing mojo with an online Writing Fiction course. From there, her first novel – A Clean Sweep – was born, although it took a bit longer than nine months from conception. A short, darker prequel – A Clean Break – followed, and in November 2017 she published the first in a novella trilogy, The Haunting of Hattie Hastings Part One. Part Two is published on 21 March 2018, with the conclusion following in May/June. After which she might have a wee lie down …
Social Media Links
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/audreydavisbooks
Twitter- https://twitter.com/audbyname
Today I’m fortunate to be reviewing the novella The Last Plantagenet? written by Jennifer C. Wilson. Hosted by 
I’m shaking things up with a promo post for a blog blitz hosted by 
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Chasing Dreams Publishing 