The Children’s Book Review | November 6, 2014
The After House
Paperback: 212 pages
Adult Fiction: Suitable for Teens
Publisher: CreateSpace (September 30, 2014)
ISBN: 978-1500600365
What to expect: Paranormal Activity, Romance, Historical Fiction
In his own familiar style, Michael Phillip Cash has weaved a new paranormal story that intertwines multiple lives from the past and present. In The After House, a gruff whaler from the 1800’s who is lost between worlds, and a recently divorced single mother from 2014, are the protagonists.
In the prologue, readers are introduced to the adventurous and emotionally challenged whaler, Eli. With a strong character and sense of plot direction, Cash’s prologue offers a rewarding start to the book and sets a page-turning tone for a suspenseful, sorrowful, mysterious and romantically mild thriller. Fast forward a few centuries, Remy’s recently disintegrated marriage has left her to rebuild her life with her young daughter Olivia. Emotionally broken but determined to find her own way and not burden her over supportive parents, Remy rents an old home in Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, which comes with a secret history of its own—a spirit resides there, too. The title, The After House, begins to serve a dual purpose as the intertwining lives and stories combine with mysterious and often dangerous events. Each chapter builds and unravels toward a sentimental closing, which provides restitution for both the whaler and Remy.
Michael Phillip Cash makes good use of the sentinels from his earlier novel The Flip, Sten and Tessa. These two supporting characters ground this new story with a gentle sense of purpose that guides readers to pay attention to each of the characters and believe that each person encountered could play an important role in the lives of Remy and Eli.
This is a well-developed and relatively quick read with solid characters. Cash fans will no doubt love this latest chiller that also manages to warm the heart.
Add this book to your collection: The After House
About the Author
Award winning author Michael Phillip Cash adds The After House to his growing list of titles. Within two years, this prolific writer has published eight novels and four screenplays. When not writing, he loves being with his wife and two children exploring the small villages along the North Shore of Long Island.
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