The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright

Synopsis:

An abandoned estate encased in stagnant darkness . . .
A haunting legacy intent on silencing all within reach . . .

In 1890, the ominous tolling of the bell announces that death has come to Traeger Hall, leaving orphaned Waverly Pembrooke to piece together the puzzle behind her uncle’s and aunt’s murders. Bound by the terms of her uncle’s eccentric will, Waverly finds herself alone in a manor shrouded by death and questioning the reasons for her uncle’s paranoia. A madness hovers over Traeger Hall, and Waverly–as well as the people of nearby Newton Creek–are ill-prepared for the woe that has descended.

In present day Newton Creek, whispers of a family curse still cling to the century-old, abandoned property of Traeger Hall. When Jennie Phillips takes possession of the estate after her mother’s passing, she is intent on solving the mystery of the Traeger murders. Yet a modern cold case suggests that untimely deaths and mysterious occurrences still plague the property. And as thorny truths surface, Jennie realizes the dark legacy threatens not only the town and the Traeger descendants . . . but also, chillingly, Jennie herself.

Book Details:

Genre: Dual Timeline Gothic Suspense
Published by: Bethany House Publishers
Publication Date: October 21, 2025
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 9780764243806, paperback
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Baker Book House

Read an excerpt:

Author Bio:

Jaime Jo Wright is the author of thirteen novels, including Christy Award-winner and ECPA bestseller The Vanishing at Castle Moreau, Christy Award and Daphne du Maurier Award-winner The House on Foster Hill, and Carol Award-winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. Jaime has also written two Publishers Weekly bestselling novellas. She lives in Wisconsin with her family and fabulous felines.

Catch Up With Jaime Jo Wright:

JaimeWrightBooks.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads – @JaimeJoWright
BookBub – @JaimeJoWright
Instagram – @JaimeJoWright
Threads – @JaimeJoWright
YouTube – MadLit Musings
Spotify – MadLit Musings

Tour Participant Reviews:

‘A great mystery and thriller! I loved the writing of the past time line with Waverly and was so engrossed in the story.’
~ Country Mamas With Kids

‘Jaime Jo Wright is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors for gothic suspense. This story is rich with atmosphere. It was every bit as devious and chilling as I’d hoped, so much so that I read it in two days.’
~ Cozy Home Delight Book Reviews

‘Wright has a gift. She is a master of her craft and every book that I read becomes my favorite. I love the switching of time lines, and how she weaves them together. I love the gothic setting, the mystery, the romance, and the description of scenes. There were many times that I closed my eyes just to see the scene unfold in front of me.’
~ Because I said so

‘The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall carries a strong whiff of gothic suspense along with a good deal of romance, and it’s very much a slow burn on both ends. Readers will be anxiously turning pages to find out the secrets that have been sealed for over a century.’
~ 5 Minutes for Books

‘Wright is a master at creating the scary atmosphere of a spooky novel, structured on a dual timeline. She builds up our anticipation of family secrets revealed as current events relate to ones over a century ago. I highly recommend this delightfully spooky novel.’
~ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader

‘The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright is a masterpiece of eerie, atmospheric mystery and cold-case murder, told through the eyes of two young women separated by more than one hundred years. I was hooked immediately by its dark, evocative descriptions, hidden secrets, and stuck to its pages all the way to its much more hopeful ending. The spooky-season timing of my reading this book couldn’t have been more perfect.’
~ Guatemala Paula Loves to Read

‘Wow! Amazing! Oustanding! Loved everything about Wright’s latest novel. Wish I could read it all over again. Wright weaves two women’s stories together to create a suspenseful story filled with danger, family secrets, and unexpected twists and turns that keep you turning page after page.’
~ The Book Connection

‘Jaime Jo Wright delivers a goosebump inducing masterpiece where time, trauma, and twisted family secrets intertwine inside the decaying halls of Traeger Hall. It lingers. Long after the final page, you’ll still hear that bell tolling in your mind.’
~ chapterswithcollins

‘Subtle unease, unspoken danger that makes the hair on your arms raise, knowing that things just aren’t right infuse this atmospheric novel. I really enjoyed the period detail, manners, and stifled repression of the historical portion of the book. THE BELL TOLLS AT TRAEGER HALL is a winding journey of self discovery where emotions and secrets boarded up, just like Traeger Hall itself.’
~ Cozy Up With Kathy

‘From the first page, I was transported back to my teenage reading years when I devoured gothic romance novels… I’ve read Wright’s earlier books and enjoyed them very much, but she rises to a new level here. Fans of gothic mysteries will burn through this one in a few hours, it’s that good.’
~ It’s All About the Book

‘I really enjoyed this one. It was atmospheric with the eerie happenings at Traeger Hall and there was a good amount of suspense surrounding it. I loved the dual timeline and how they both sort of had their own mystery but were very connected. A good one if you enjoy historical fiction and mystery.’
~ Sarah’s Bookish Reviews

‘The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright is another fabulous Gothic suspense read by this superb writer. I absolutely love Jaime Jo Wright’s novels. The stories like this one are deep, complex, and dark. Page by page, The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall is gives off an eerie puzzle for readers, like me, to solve.’
~ The AR Critique

‘Another spine tingling, gothic whodunit from Jaime Jo Wright! The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall weaves together an intoxicating story of greed, paranoia, & murder. I was on the edge of my seat reading this intriguing dual time period mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed this complex mystery! Highly recommend!’
~ Melissa’s Bookshelf

‘This book had me invested immediately. I connected so easily with the characters and the setting. The murder part of the mystery happened right away, keeping you guessing throughout. I loved how Wright was able to handle the two timelines seamlessly. The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall is an excellent atmospheric gothic mystery that keeps you guessing, both in the past and in the present.’
~ Novels Alive

‘I so enjoy gothic suspense, and Jaime Jo Wright delivers! It was very unpredictable, which really kept me guessing! Very entertaining!’
~ meloplanner

‘I couldn’t have asked for a better tale for my fall spooky season reading stack. The Bells Tolls At Traeger Hall was satisfying from cover to cover and I can’t recommend it enough.’
~ Books of my Heart

‘Wright’s books have the perfect amount of suspense and spooky moments for my liking. The way she writes the two timelines and how they work through each other are done so well. There was a certain point in the book that I couldn’t stop reading, I had to see how it would end. The way she writes always pulls me into the story with the creepy settings and excellent characters.’
~ minreads15

‘I loved this Wright book and highly recommend it for those who like eerie vibes that work out reasonably and scary stories told with faith as their bedrock.’
~ Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions

‘Jaime Jo Wright has written another book that will haunt your thoughts… This sometimes dark, dual-timeline novel will leave you guessing throughout. Jaime Jo Wright has a way of creating a seamless, immersive, and impactful reading experience. She knows how to “Paint a Picture” by engaging all of your senses by putting you right there in the thick of things. ‘
~ Why Not? Because I Said So Book Reviews

‘What a wonderfully spooky dual time story. Traeger Hall had all the atmosphere of a strange mansion with a very troubled past. Ms. Wright crafts a complex story with incredible characters, And Foo the cat is an added bonus. This might be my favorite book by Jaime Jo Wright. It definitely will not be the last . I am hooked.’
~ Inkwell Inspirations

‘Since I started reading this author’s work, I have been trying to read every book she has ever written. She never disappoints and this one is no different. I started reading about Traeger Hall at lunch one day and that was a bad idea because all I wanted to do was immerse myself in the telling of this tale. I tore through Traeger Hall’s story in two days or less, I was that intrigued.’
~ Melissa A’s Blog

‘The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright was the kind of book that made me turn on all the lights in the house and then keep reading anyway. Wright is an absolute master of dual-timeline mysteries, and this one might just be her most haunting yet. By the end, I was equal parts unnerved and awed. The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall is a beautifully written, spine-tingling exploration of faith, fear, and the ghosts we inherit.’
~ The Page Ladies

Tour Host Info:

Book Formats: Print (US), Netgalley (US)
Hosting Options: Review, Guest Post, Showcase
Giveaway: There will be a tour-wide PICT Giveaway
More: According to the publisher The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall does not include: Excessive Strong Language, Graphic Violence, Explicit Sexual Scenes, or Rape. However, readers may encounter content that is considered to be another trigger situation. Generally the content is considered to be no more than PG+-rated content. At this time, PICT staff have not yet read this book and cannot give additional information.

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