I just finished reading The Invited by Jennifer McMahon, and what a fantastic supernatural mystery!
I’ve really come to appreciate books that combine a good mystery with something a little supernatural, and this one certainly delivered.
Between the hauntings, the complicated family history, and two mysteries unfolding at the same time, I had so many questions I wanted answered.
And I loved how everything eventually came together.
If you enjoy supernatural mysteries, you might want to add this one to your reading list. You can also explore my other Jennifer McMahon book reviews for more from this author.
Amazon Book Summary
Helen and Nate leave their comfortable suburban life behind to build their dream home on forty-four acres of rural land.
But the property has a disturbing history.
Helen, a former history teacher, becomes fascinated by Hattie Breckenridge, a woman who died there a century earlier. As Helen investigates, she uncovers the stories of three generations of Breckenridge women whose lives ended under suspicious circumstances.
Meanwhile, Helen begins incorporating materials from old buildings into their new home, including a schoolhouse beam, bricks from a mill, and a farmhouse mantel.
As construction continues, the property becomes increasingly unsettling. The past refuses to stay buried, and the house begins to feel less like a dream home and more like a place where unfinished business is waiting to be resolved.
My Thoughts
I absolutely loved this book!
What made it so interesting to me was that there were really two mysteries happening at once.
On one hand, I wanted to know everything about Hattie Breckenridge and the generations of women who came after her.
On the other, I was just as invested in figuring out what happened to Olive’s mother, Lori.
And the more I read, the more I wanted to understand how everything connected.
Two Mysteries That Kept Me Guessing
I think one of the things Jennifer McMahon did especially well was give readers just enough information to keep them curious without revealing too much too soon.
There were so many little pieces of the story scattered throughout the book.
Something would happen in the present, and then another detail about the past would make me question what I thought I knew.
I loved that!
I was constantly trying to figure out what had happened to Hattie, what had happened to Lori, and whether the two mysteries were connected.
And the Breckenridge family history was fascinating. What a complicated, tragic history those women had!
The Hauntings Were One of My Favorite Parts
I really enjoyed the supernatural elements of this book.
It wasn’t just that ghosts were appearing. I wanted to know why they were appearing.
Why were certain people seeing them? What were they trying to communicate? And what did they want from the living?
Those questions made the hauntings even more interesting to me.
I was fascinated by the idea that the past was still reaching into the present and that the spirits might have unfinished business.
And I loved how Helen became so determined to understand what was happening.
Her fascination with Hattie and the history of the property made perfect sense to me, especially considering her background as a history teacher.
I could understand why she couldn’t simply walk away from the mystery.
Helen, Nate, and Olive
I had some strong feelings about these three characters!
I really liked Helen and how completely invested she became in uncovering the truth.
But I was also worried about her.
As more of the Breckenridge family history came to light, I started wondering whether Helen might somehow end up like the women who had lived and died before her.
Nate, on the other hand, frustrated me at times.
I really didn’t like how angry he became, especially when Helen was trying to understand what was happening around them.
I could understand that he was dealing with plenty of stress, but I still found myself wishing he’d be more supportive.
And then there was Olive.
I honestly wasn’t sure what to make of her at first.
But I’m so glad I gave her a chance because I ended up really liking her.
I especially loved how she gradually developed a friendship with Helen and Nate.
Watching that relationship grow was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The Pacing Was Outstanding
One thing I really appreciated was how well the story moved along.
I never felt like I was waiting forever for something interesting to happen.
I think a lot of that had to do with the different perspectives and the way the story intertwined the present with pieces of the past.
Just when I was getting deeply involved in one mystery, another detail would emerge somewhere else.
And rather than feeling confusing, it made me even more interested.
There was always another question I wanted answered.
I think that’s one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much.
Let’s Talk About the Ending
SPOILER WARNING: The rest of this review discusses major revelations from the ending of The Invited. If you haven’t read the book and want to experience the mysteries for yourself, you may want to stop here!
I thought the ending was incredibly satisfying.
Not necessarily because I was completely stunned by every revelation, but because everything finally made sense.
All those little details and connections came together so neatly.
I had suspected Riley was somehow responsible for Lori’s disappearance, so that part didn’t entirely surprise me.
But finding Lori in the bog was heartbreaking.
I felt so terrible for Olive.
She’d spent so much time wondering what happened to her mother, and while she finally got answers, they certainly weren’t the answers she’d hoped for.
And can we talk about Lori being Gloria?
I feel like I should have caught that connection!
Looking back, it made sense, but I didn’t put it together while I was reading.
I love when a book manages to do that. The clues are there, but you don’t necessarily recognize their importance until everything is revealed.
Nate Finally Came Around!
One of my absolute favorite moments was when Nate read Helen’s journal.
I was convinced he was going to fly off the handle.
Considering how angry and frustrated he’d been earlier, I expected another argument.
But instead, he admitted that he’d seen Hattie, too!
I loved that moment.
It completely changed how I felt about him.
And when he and Helen agreed to help Olive together, I was so happy.
After everything those characters had been through, it felt like they were finally on the same side.
I especially loved that Olive had become someone they both genuinely cared about.
That relationship made the ending even more meaningful.
Final Thoughts
The Invited is easily one of my favorite supernatural mysteries I’ve read.
I loved the double mystery, the complicated history of the Breckenridge women, the hauntings, and the way the characters’ stories gradually became connected.
The pacing was excellent, and I never lost interest in finding out what would happen next.
I also appreciated that the ending didn’t feel like a collection of random surprises thrown in just for shock value.
Everything fit together.
And while some of the revelations were heartbreaking, particularly for Olive, I thought the story reached a satisfying conclusion.
If you enjoy books that combine family secrets, ghostly encounters, and mysteries that unfold across generations, I definitely recommend giving this one a try.
This is exactly the kind of supernatural mystery I love reading, and it’s going to be a hard one to top!