The Stroke of Winter

A Novel

By: Wendy Webb

Narrated by: Xe Sands

Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

She’s restoring the old family home on the hill. And unearthing something evil.

In the tourist town of Wharton, on the coast of Lake Superior, Tess Bell is renovating her old family home into a bed-and-breakfast during the icy dead of winter…

As the house’s restoration commences, a shuttered art studio is revealed. Inside are paintings Tess’s late grandfather, beloved and celebrated artist Sebastian Bell, hid away for generations. But these appear to be the works of a twisted mind, almost unrecognizable as paintings she and others familiar with his art would expect. The sinister canvases raise disturbing questions for Tess, sparking nightmares and igniting in her an obsession to unearth the truth around their origins.

What evil has been locked away for so many years? The ominous brushstrokes, scratching at the door, and moving shadows begin to pull Tess further and further into the darkness in this blood-chilling novel of suspense by the #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Keepers of Metsan Valo.

©2022 Wendy Webb (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Maddness

Wow! What an interesting story about family drama and mental illness or was possession? I enjoyed listening to this story. It drew me in from the beginning. I loved it!!!

Xe Sands is hands down the best narrator

Great ghost story, as always, from amazing Wendy Webb, and the narration by Xe Sands covers all ages, genders, personalities — just brilliant— both of them 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Typically brilliant…

This book is bewitching, enthralling and amazing. It has been a pleasure to listen to another one of Wendy Webb’s masterpieces. I love Wendy’s work… it is always, deep, entwining and soul searching!
Wendy offers insights into the depths of life that most people never want to face, and opportunities to see how we can grow through the worst and the best life can offer.
And, truly, I love the landscapes she paints as her backgrounds… the area of The Great Lakes… wow! And… Xi Sands is always the perfect narrator, the perfect voice for Wendy’s books.
What a absolute pleasure to listen to.
Thank you Wendy, and Xi. Thank you.

Loved it!

Such a fun book. I loved every moment of it! The narrator was awesome! I’ve heard a few of her others and she never disappoints

Brilliant

I really liked this book. I almost didn't get it because of other reviews, but I am happy that I did. I realize that this story is not hard core horror and can understand other's thoughts on that, but for myself, I just enjoyed the story. It was a nice little break and I actually really did enjoy Ms. Sand's narration. I have listened to her before and liked her voice. Don't be afraid to try this one out. It isn't hard-core, but neither is it a cozy mystery!

Phenomenal

I started this book on a Sunday when I had yard work to accomplish. Wasn’t sure how I would feel about it when I first pressed “play”, but I was immediately sucked into the story and kept finding more chores to do just so I could keep listening!! I can’t praise it enough. The narrator is fantastic and the characters are so well thought out that you forget they aren’t real people. 5 stars from start to finish!!

Creepy old house and murder story with a touch of supernatural.

I liked it. This narrator is talented but it takes me a few minutes to get past the somewhat straining of her voice. Kind of grates on me a little bit. It is part ghost story but does have a psych aspect. Not until the very end though. No cussing or vulgarity keeps me reading this author!

Great

This was a great ghost story! I could barely stop listening, I love her books and look forward to more.

Great storyline, some repetitive phrasing

I loved this mystery! The plot was honestly so thrilling and it had all the aspects of a great mystery that grabs your attention and keeps it. However, the author literally used 3-4 phrases about 20 times throughout the novel. That’s the only criticism I had.

good book

really liked the how the story was presented. it was uncovered in a great way that kept me listening. only small complaint is the ending seemed a bit rushed. would have liked to see what happened with the characters more afterward but maybe a second book could be made? apart from that the story was well written.