I was super excited to read The Artist of Blackberry Grange since I really enjoyed this author’s previous book, The Devil and Mrs. Davenport. This book was slower paced and took me a bit to get into, and I didn’t really like the main character. Some of her decisions didn’t make sense to me and she kind of got on my nerves. However, I loved the Gothic atmosphere and the 1920s setting. I also loved the supernatural elements in the story. Fans of Gothic historical fiction will probably enjoy this one. I do love Paulette Kennedy’s writing style and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

3.5⭐️

I must warn you - once you start reading you’ll be swept up in a fast-paced, captivating, dark story, and you won’t want to set it down until you’ve reached the end. Sadie has had her life turned upside down, and although she goes to live with her aunt afterward, it doesn’t entirely break her spirit. I was fascinated by the mystery and ghosts that haunt Aunt Marguerite, and was just as invested as Sadie in unraveling them. Kennedy does a masterful job at bringing both the historical setting and characters to life. You feel like you’re right there, wandering the halls of Blackberry Grange by Sadie’s side, and you’ll get an eerie feeling that the ghosts are standing just over your shoulder as you read. A brilliant story that gave me chills, even in the middle of the heat wave we’ve had.

This was another good book by this author!
I wasn’t too sure I liked Sadie to begin with but she changes as the book goes on. This was a nice gothic mystery with a ghostly vibe to it. It does touch on quite a few issues but all are handled really well. I couldn’t put it down!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved The Artist of Blackberry Grange! I've recently started to get more and more into gothic horror and wow, this did not disappoint! It was atmospheric and the drama was messy, which I always love! As I haven't read too many gothic books, I really enjoyed its midwest setting, that was new for me!

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

What would you do to change the past?

Set in 1925, this novel delves into a mystical world, but also explores themes of love, greed, and deception. Sadie moved to this small town in Arkansas because she had few other options. This is a time when women were set aside, not allowed to inherit things, and were at the mercy of men. However, what she discovered in Eureka Springs was family and secrets. Those secrets were hard to uncover due to her Great-Aunt's dementia. But with love, persistence, and some help from the mystical realm, the truth is exposed, and perhaps wrongs can be righted.

This is billed as horror, and I don't see it as such. To me, this had a paranormal twist that intrigued and kept me captivated. I nearly finished this book in one sitting! It wasn't Sadie who kept me enthralled with this book, but Marguerite and her past. There were so many stories to uncover the truth, and this was harder due to Marguerite's dementia. Was what she learned the truth, or were there other factors at play?

The book is dark, and if you don't read books that include spirits or otherworldly possibilities, this isn't the book for you. But if you are open to a novel that will bend reality and explore the paranormal, then this is the book for you. 

I thought this book was amazing and gave it 5 paws up.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the book drew me in but once I started reading it, I just couldn’t get into it at all.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

Let me start by saying that the cover of this book is gorgeous and I am a sucker for beautiful covers even when I read a book on my Kindle.
Since I have only read The Devil and Mrs. Davenport, it is hard for me not to compare it to that. I have to say honestly, as between the two, I may have preferred that one. It was more rooted in the contemporary and a little less hard to follow. Yes, I do know there is a family tree in this book but I confess that in a Kindle, I don't tend to refer to it much and I know that is my fault. This book was historical which is not at all a bad thing, but I may prefer my paranormal in juxtaposition to modern times. I think of historical as more "gothic" and I have not read much gothic and it may not be my preferred genre. I have not yet read enough of it to form an opinion. I would not take stars off for this because that is less about the quality of writing than about preference. And the quality of Ms. Kennedy's writing is as good here as it was in the Devil and Mrs. Davenport. I also think that this was more layered and probably a more difficult book to write.

I think I would give this 4 1/2 stars. The only thing that may have bothered me a little was there were moments that I found the main character to be a tad annoying. It is hard to put my finger on. However, as with most books written from the first perspective, I think it is a little easier for that to happen. I do admit to having, these days, a slight preference for third person narratives.
That said, I very much enjoyed this book, which I got from Amazon First Reads and NetGalley (oops), and look forward to Ms. Kennedy's next one. Thanks you to NetGalley and to Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Paulette Kennedy has done it again—The Artist of Blackberry Grange is a mesmerizing, emotionally rich gothic that swept me into its haunted hallways and never let go. I've loved her previous novels, but this one might be her most affecting and intimate yet. The blend of grief, memory, and spectral mystery is so skillfully rendered that Blackberry Grange feels like a character in its own right—its walls pulsing with regret and longing. Sadie’s journey is achingly human, and Marguerite’s unraveling is both terrifying and tender. Kennedy’s prose is as evocative as ever, and the way she weaves supernatural elements with the raw complexities of caretaking and familial legacy left me deeply moved. Five stars, easily.

I don’t know why I couldn’t get into this since it’s everything I generally like. Maybe just timing and mood. It’s not bad but I wasn’t engaged.

Historical fiction with a touch of paranormal mystery! I really enjoyed reading this unique book! It's always fun to find historical fiction novels that are NOT set in WWII- this 1920's era story takes place in rural Arkansas

Intricate & intriguing, this gorgeous Gothic novel was impossible to put down. The characters were larger than life and the chilling cliff side surrounding of historic Blackberry Grange was haunting and isolated, creating the ideal aura for a spooky setting. I haven't read many books with the magical time-slip element so this was a unique reading experience for me.

I loved the dark, moody atmosphere. It reminded me of the iconic great classics like Wuthering Heights and Rebecca.

I highly recommend this creative, one-of-a-kind work of art!

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for access to the e-copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I am not sure why but this book did not work for me. However, as I always say when I don't like a book, just because I did not like the book, it doesn't mean that someone else won't like it. It also doesn't necessarily mean that I may not like another book by the same author. Or even that I may not like the book if I try it again in the future...

An atmospheric Gothic set in 1925 Arkansas. I liked this for the relationship between Sadie and her aunt Marguerite. who is fading but who has both wisdom and secrets to impart. There's a bit of the paranormal but it never gets woo woo. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

If you could, would you change your family history?

Ozarks, 1925, Sadie moves in with her great-aunt Marguerite, who suffers from dementia and spends most of her time painting portraits.
Blackberry Grange mansion is said to be haunted, staff are never in for the long ride.
As we follow Sadie, aunt Marguerite and groundkeeper Beckett in their daily routines, we get a glimpse into a mysterious past. A secret history is revealed, the paintings playing a very special part.

I so enjoyed this story. Family, living and dead, the good times and bad, it's all here. Set in gorgeous countryside, The Artist of Blackberry Grange is in a league of its own, part historical fiction, part ghost mystery.
It pulled me in and wouldn't let go. Great storytelling, great twist, spectacular finish.

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.

The Artist of Blackberry Grange is easily one of my favorite reads of 2025, and has further solidified my love of Paulette Kennedy's writing.

I read a lot of horror. Copious amounts, actually, and it's not often that I encounter a story that I would consider "beautiful" in addition to being a little scary, but that is exactly what I found in The Artist of Blackberry Grange. Set in 1925, it follows Sadie, a young woman who has recently been dumped by her fiancé, and whom is running out of options. Desperate and in need of solution, Sadie flees to the Ozarks to live with her ailing great-aunt, but little does she know that her great-aunt's estate, Blackberry Grange, is as haunted and flawed as she is.

I am a sucker for dysfunctional family systems being represented in literature, especially horror. Horror is the one genre where families are flawed, and it's encouraging to see that happen in more stories. Kennedy doesn't hold back in putting everyone's flaws on full display very early on, and consistently reminds her readers that none of these characters are perfect, nor can they be fully trusted. It seems that everyone's got issues, even the characters who are supposed to be the better angels in the story. It's very...human, and I really appreciate how Kennedy remembered to make these characters as relatable as possible.

Still, I found myself rooting for Sadie, as she was dealt one bad hand after another, and remain largely undeserving. Her great-aunt, Marguerite, is an equally enjoyable character, even though she has her secrets as well, and she quickly becomes very protective of Sadie. I loved their dynamic, how Marguerite understood Sadie perfectly and simply accepted her, and how Sadie admired her great-aunt when the rest of the family had practically shunned her.

As was the case with The Devil And Mrs. Davenport, there aren't many "scares" in The Artist of Blackberry Grange despite its being a haunted house story, but even that part is unique, offering a refreshing take on the haunted house trope.

I very much enjoyed The Artist of Blackberry Grange, and encourage anyone who is up for a relatable ghost story to read it.

Paulette Kennedy is one of my favorite authors and I simply couldn't wait to read The Artist of Blackberry Grange, especially since the setting was my home state Arkansas. Eureka Springs, where the story takes place, is a marvelous city that is unlike anywhere else in the state, known for his eclectic gingerbread houses, more liberal residents, paranormal activity, cold springs and grottoes coming from the ground and mountains. It's simply fabulous.

Kennedy captured all of the wonder of the Ozarks within her telling of this book. What fell short for me was the development of the characters. Sadie Halloran, a single woman during the depression era, found herself on the wrong side of a love triangle with a married man. With no where to turn, she flees to home of her quirky great aunt, Marguerite, an artist living in Arkansas who requires someone to look after as she is either going mad or losing her mind to dementia. Once Sadie arrives, however, it would appear that she, too, may be losing her mind as she begins to see apparitions from the past so real that actually joins them in the past. Or does she? She know longer knows.

In Kennedy's previous novels, I was so drawn to the characters that I empathized with them, felt what they felt, feared what they feared. For some reason, unknown to me, I never quite got there with Sadie and Marguerite. Of all of her books, I really thought this would be "the one" for me and, sadly, it fell just short. That doesn't mean that I don't recommend it because I DO. Even a so-so book by Kennedy is leaps and bounds better than the rest.

What can I say, I loved every bit of this book🤩

We follow Sadie, devastated by her mother's death and a broken engagement. She finds herself drawn to her great-aunt Marguerite, a renowned artist now in the throes of dementia, who needs a live-in companion.

Though her Aunt is fading, she's compelled to paint portraits of old lovers. The painting have any eerie, haunting quality to them and as Sadie settles into life at Blackberry Grange she discovers that reality begins to blur and the portraits are going holding their own truths that need uncovering.

This book has everything Iove!

✨️Gothic mansion
✨️Art
✨️Ghosts
✨️Mystery/thriller vibes
✨️Hidden family trauma

I was completely drawn in by the eerie atmosphere of Blackberry Grange.
Following Sadie uncover the truth behind the paranormal goings-on and her family's shadowed history.
Full of twists, suspense and interesting characters.

The Artist of Blackberry Grange delivers everything a gothic reader could hope for: a haunted manor, dark family secrets, and an eerie, unsettling atmosphere that pulls you right in!

The author crafts a unique and intriguing plot, weaving together the concept of delving into the past through painting—a truly original and captivating idea.
The narrative can be intricate, with several characters and their secrets, manipulations, and dual timelines to follow. While this complexity might be challenging at times, it enriches the story and offers an engaging experience.

The book explores several compelling themes with exceptional depth, including personal loss, healing, compassion, the emotional toll of caregiving, and redemption through breaking cycles of pain.
Kennedy handles these themes masterfully, giving the story both emotional weight and thought-provoking insights.

One of the standout aspects for me was Sadie, the main character, reconnecting with her Aunt Marg while piecing together her family’s mysterious past.
It took some time to warm up to the characters, as some of them made questionable decisions. However, as their histories unravelled and their secrets came to light, I found myself understanding them better and appreciating the complexity of their journeys.

While the mystery and atmospheric elements were enthralling, Sadie’s romantic subplot felt somewhat rushed and slightly forced. I wished the story delved deeper into her love interest to give this aspect greater depth and development.

Overall, this character-driven story is beautifully written, brimming with sweet, tender, and heart-wrenching moments and richly developed characters.
Paulette Kennedy’s captivating writing style continues to amaze me with each book she wrote. I’m eagerly looking forward to exploring more of her work in the future!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: toxic relationship, grief, infidelity, pregnancy, death, brief mention of sexual content and sexual harassment

I've read every published book of Kennedy's. At this point, it feels like coming home whenever I open a page of a new book from her and The Artist of Blackberry Grange is no different at all. Kennedy's signature style and voice is all here, complete with her fantastic character development and sympathetically flawed character dynamics. This is in many ways a family saga that centers on generational trauma as viewed through a feminist lens and put into a classic haunted house story. The historical accuracy is riveting, as usual, and there's a sense of setting and place that you can't deny. The twists are aplenty and they all work well (and they truly are twists, for that matter, since I don't use that word lightly). A highly recommended read!