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The Stroke of Winter: A Novel Kindle Edition

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 14,072 ratings

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.

Popular Highlights in this book

From the Publisher

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

Cover image for The Stroke of Winter by Wendy Webb

The paintings in her grandfather's studio tell a disturbing story. Does she dare follow it?

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Having grown up in the mountains, there’s nothing I love more than a wintery cabin getaway: a warm fire crackling and the earth blanketed in a soft layer of snow. And yet, a strange shift begins to take place at sunset. The icy tree branches that sparkled in the day now reach out menacingly as if to grab you with their frozen fingers, and the shadows cast by the flickering flames dance across the walls like ghosts—exactly the kind of chilling setting of this novel.

In
The Stroke of Winter, Tess Bell has moved to her family’s old home in Wharton, which she plans to remodel during the off-season into an inviting bed-and-breakfast. But when her renovating unveils mysterious paintings in a boarded-up studio, paintings that portray increasingly disturbing scenes, she begins to wonder why the room has been locked up tight for as long as she can remember. And why it sounds like something is scratching at that boarded-up studio door, almost begging to be let out...

It’s no wonder to me that Webb chose to set her latest gothic novel in the dead of winter, where nearby Lake Superior may be frozen solid, but something else—something sinister—is beginning to thaw. Grab your cocoa and a warm blanket—you may need both to keep the bone-chilling creepiness at bay as you sink into Webb’s latest tale. Oh, and don’t forget to lock up. You never know what might awaken and come knocking at the stroke of winter.

—Alicia Clancy, Editor

About the Author

Wendy Webb is the #1 Amazon Charts and Indie bestselling, multiple award–winning author of seven novels of gothic suspense, including The Keepers of Metsan Valo, The Haunting of Brynn Wilder, Daughters of the Lake, The Vanishing, The Fate of Mercy Alban, The Tale of Halcyon Crane, and The End of Temperance Dare, which has been optioned for both film and television. Her books are sold worldwide and have been translated into more than ten languages. Dubbed “Queen of the Northern Gothic” by reviewers, Wendy sets her stories on the windswept, rocky shores of the Great Lakes. She lives in Minneapolis, where she is at work on her next novel when she’s not walking a good dog along the parkway and lakes near her home. For more information visit her at www.wendykwebb.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09PBJ3JML
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lake Union Publishing (November 1, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 1, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6732 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 300 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1542037603
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 14,072 ratings

About the author

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Wendy Webb
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Wendy Webb is the bestselling, award-winning author of eight novels of gothic suspense, including The Tale of Halcyon Crane, The Fate of Mercy Alban, The Vanishing, The End of Temperance Dare, Daughters of the Lake, and The Haunting of Brynn Wilder. Her stories are set in the Great Lakes region where writers haven't set gothics before, so reviewers have dubbed her the Queen of the Northern Gothic. Her books are sold worldwide have been translated into more than a dozen languages.

Wendy lives near the river parkway in her beautiful hometown of Minneapolis, where she's at work on her next novel when she's not walking one good dog and another who needs to work on leash manners.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
14,072 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the vivid descriptions and easy reading style. The characters are well-developed and likable. Many describe the story as enjoyable, engaging, and fun to read during Halloween or winter. The romance and small-town charm are also mentioned as positive aspects. Readers praise the fast pacing and beautiful setting.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

534 customers mention "Suspenseful"456 positive78 negative

Customers enjoy the suspenseful story and find it engaging. They appreciate the premise and small-town setting of the book. The book is described as a decent supernatural mystery with an interesting plot that keeps readers hooked. Readers praise the great idea of tying the stories of the founders and families of Wharton together. Overall, they describe it as a solid contemporary fiction novel with romance and family problems.

"This one is a great winter read! I couldn't put it down. The mystery of the house and the development of the characters was really good...." Read more

"...Great story,great characters, and a great ghost story. Haunted house,chilling, small town,suspenseful, romance,family secrets, and well..." Read more

"...My Summary (3.5/5): Overall this was a decent supernatural mystery read. I loved the Lake Superior shore setting and enjoyed the mystery...." Read more

"...In Wendy Webb fashion this story is told in such a way that you feel like you are seeing it unfold before your eyes while the hairs stand on your..." Read more

175 customers mention "Readability"139 positive36 negative

Customers find the book well-written and easy to read. They appreciate the vivid descriptions of a small northern lake town that make it easy to visualize everything. The book offers an engaging mix of mystery and chick lit, appealing to readers of both genres. Many enjoy reading it at night under the covers, enjoying the execution and strangeness that surround the mysterious plot.

"...The way she wrote about dementia was beautiful. Loved that part!" Read more

"...A week later I decided to start it, because the synopsis sounded so good I couldn't put it off any longer - I had to read The Stroke of Winter!..." Read more

"...The writing is easy to read, if not a bit tell-y. Story is simple, but enjoyable...." Read more

"...A nice book to sit wrapped up in a blanket and a good cup of tea and transport yourself to Wharton, Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Superior...." Read more

132 customers mention "Character development"114 positive18 negative

Customers find the characters well-developed and likable.

"...The mystery of the house and the development of the characters was really good. The way she wrote about dementia was beautiful. Loved that part!" Read more

"...I am looking forward to reading more from her. Great story,great characters, and a great ghost story...." Read more

""The Stroke of Winter" is a well written story with interesting characters some of which are well developed...." Read more

"...There are a lot of decent side characters too, although towards the end they get a bit rushed (here's looking to you Tess' dad)...." Read more

104 customers mention "Enjoyment"104 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story and find it engaging. They find it a great Halloween or winter read with creepy mystery. The setting is fun and cozy, with lovely periods of joy and peace interspersed. They love the scenes about the winter carnival on the ice, which invoke holiday magic. Readers also appreciate the heartwarming moments between the main character and her friends.

"This one is a great winter read! I couldn't put it down. The mystery of the house and the development of the characters was really good...." Read more

"...I found the mystery to be creepy and engaging and loved the setting...." Read more

"...writing is easy to read, if not a bit tell-y. Story is simple, but enjoyable...." Read more

"...I loved the scenes about the winter carnival out on the ice...." Read more

82 customers mention "Romance"76 positive6 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in the book. They find it an engaging ghost story with elements of romance, small-town charm, and dark elements. Readers appreciate the devotion and affection shown in creating a setting to revisit. The protagonist has a suitable love interest, and the exploration of relationships is appreciated.

"...Haunted house,chilling, small town,suspenseful, romance,family secrets, and well developed characters...." Read more

"...Also liked her newfound dog a lot, Storm. The love story was a sweet second-chance romance. Loved the wintry, snowy small-town setting...." Read more

"...There is also a budding romance in it and some wonderful dogs!..." Read more

"...A combo of romance, cozy cooking mystery, and general horror, this book has a little bit of everything...." Read more

61 customers mention "Pacing"47 positive14 negative

Customers find the book's pacing engaging. They appreciate the fast-paced story, even though it starts slow and suspenseful. They read the book quickly and enjoy the family secrets' revelations. The setting of Wharton is described as magical and a must-read.

"...I'm glad for that - I like a nice slow build up when it comes to horror - too much in-your-face terror kind of writing in the beginning of the book..." Read more

"...Definitely a quicker read at a little less than 300 pages. It was light on the horror, and I got more cozy mystery / gothic romance vibes from it...." Read more

"...to sit wrapped up in a blanket and a good cup of tea and transport yourself to Wharton, Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Superior...." Read more

"...Wyatt proves well-connected to Wharton’s people and history, and quickly assembles a local crew...." Read more

52 customers mention "Beauty"52 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's beautiful setting, with vivid skies and snow-covered landscapes. They find the characters engaging in exciting plans in a gorgeous old Victorian house. The winter aesthetic fits well with the gothic theme and the physical scenery descriptions are excellent.

"...I loved the Lake Superior shore setting and enjoyed the mystery...." Read more

"...The love story was a sweet second-chance romance. Loved the wintry, snowy small-town setting...." Read more

"...She’s just inherited her grandparents’ ornate mansion, beautiful but too huge for one divorced empty-nester...." Read more

"...The book also explores themes such as family, art, madness, and the thin line between reality and illusion...." Read more

42 customers mention "Scariness level"39 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the book's scariness without gore. They find the characters likable and the atmosphere of dread and fear captivating. The vivid and eerie setting with the frozen lake and snow provides an eerie backdrop for the story. However, the overtones of dark doings are mitigated by a love interest and friendly neighbors.

"...It was light on the horror, and I got more cozy mystery / gothic romance vibes from it...." Read more

"...This book will fit the bill. It's scary, but not too scary...." Read more

"...A combo of romance, cozy cooking mystery, and general horror, this book has a little bit of everything...." Read more

"...Webb creates a vivid and eerie setting with the frozen lake, the snow-covered town, and the old house full of mysteries and ghosts...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2024
    This one is a great winter read! I couldn't put it down. The mystery of the house and the development of the characters was really good. The way she wrote about dementia was beautiful. Loved that part!
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2023
    I've never read anything else by Wendy Webb (although my Kindle tells me I have a few of her other books already, so I better get reading), so I wasn't sure what to think of this one when I bought it. Amazon recommended it to me as a new release and I have to say, I was pretty intrigued - and since it's fall, I like to stock up on creepy sounding horror and thriller novels, so I ordered it and added it to my pile. A week later I decided to start it, because the synopsis sounded so good I couldn't put it off any longer - I had to read The Stroke of Winter!

    Tess has moved into her family's old home, the one that was owned by her grandparents and her parents. She has taken over, and plans to create a bed and breakfast in the sleepy, cold northern town. She decides to do this over the winter, so that when the summer rolls around and tourists visit, she will be all set.

    The first thing she wants to do is open up a shuttered area of the house that has been closed off her whole life - her grandmother closed it off and kept it that way. Tess has sworn she has been hearing scratching and sounds coming from inside that area, but how would that be possible? Was there an animal in there?

    “It was almost as if, the nearer people are to the other side, whether they've just come into the world or are close to leaving it, the more sleep they need. And she wondered, too, if it was really sleep at all. If it wasn't simply their way of touching what was behind the veil. Infants reaching back to where they had been. Seniors reaching forward to where they were soon going.”

    With the help of some local townsfolk, Tess manages to get the room open. What she finds inside is quite a surprise - an artist's studio that has remained untouched for years - since her grandfather, a famous painter, was alive. She also finds five unseen paintings (that she estimates to be worth millions). But something is different about these paintings...something that seems more disturbed and darker than her grandfather's other paintings.

    As the mystery unfolds, Tess is determined to get to the bottom of why the room was closed up, as well as what secret the paintings hold. Plagued with strange dreams and uneasy feelings in the house, Tess relies on the townsfolk to help her solve the problem, and rid the studio - and her home - of the unsettled.

    So the first thing I noticed about The Stroke of Winter is that the book starts off kind of slow. And it remains kind of slow until about after the first forty percent, I would say. It definitely has quite the slow-build. But it isn't boring or anything - just highly detailed. The author goes on to create this amazing world and describes the setting of the town in a lot of detail, so you are getting a truly fleshed-out setting. That's not a bad thing, I just kind of hoped for a bit more action (or horror, maybe?) from the start. Sure, there are some creepy bits tossed in here and there but it wasn't quite what I was hoping for. Again - not necessarily a bad thing!

    Since the pacing is slow, it allowed for quite the build-up of tension throughout the book. I'm glad for that - I like a nice slow build up when it comes to horror - too much in-your-face terror kind of writing in the beginning of the book will kind of numb you to the rest of the book, so I'm glad for a slow build. However, it was kind of like the pacing was too rushed in the end. The middle of the book was Tess going around and trying to solve the mystery, but when she finally did, the way everything fell into place seemed kind of anti-climactic. I think the story itself was too much of a budding romance novel and not enough of a horror/thriller that I anticipated it, but that's not the author's fault - like I said, I haven't read any of her other work so I'm unable to gauge her overall writing style.

    I guess I was hoping for a bit more jump scares than the book had to offer, but I must say the mystery aspect of The Stroke of Winter is quite appealing, and the author does an amazing job creating a story that draws you in.

    Overall, I'm happy to have read this one - I have such a special spot in my heart for haunted hotels/inns, so I'm always up for books with that type of setting!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2024
    4,5🌟

    This was my second book by Wendy Webb, and it would not be my last. I am looking forward to reading more from her.
    Great story,great characters, and a great ghost story.

    Haunted house,chilling, small town,suspenseful, romance,family secrets, and well developed characters.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2022
    Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got an ebook of this through Amazon First Reads.

    Thoughts: This book takes place in the town of Wharton, which is where many of Webb's books take place. Previous to reading this book I had also read "The Haunting of Brynn Wilder". I liked but didn't love that book and I feel the same about this one.

    As mentioned, this book is set on the shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota in the imaginary town of Wharton. I love going up to the North Shore in Minnesota myself and greatly enjoy the setting and reliving winter traditions of the North Shore.

    The story involves Tess, who has inherited an old house and has decided to renovate it and reopen it as an inn. When she gets there she starts hearing strange noises and finds out that something else might already be lurking in the house with her. This story ends up being mostly a haunted house/mystery with a dash of supernatural added in.

    I found the mystery to be creepy and engaging and loved the setting. I had the same issues with this book that I had with "The Haunting of Brynn Wilder". The conversations sound a bit stilted and awkward and the writing feels a bit simplistic and immature. There isn't a lot of description and I have trouble picturing my surroundings. Additionally, the characters are all "nice" but don't have a lot of depth to them. It ends up being a fine and slightly creepy mystery read that is just...well, fine.

    My Summary (3.5/5): Overall this was a decent supernatural mystery read. I loved the Lake Superior shore setting and enjoyed the mystery. I am still finding that Webb's writing style doesn't really appeal to me; it is just too stark and simple. The characters lack any real excitement in their personalities and the mystery plays out in a fairly predictable way. If you are looking for a cozy mystery with some creepy factor, this might be the book for you. Sadly, I didn't love it and don't plan on picking up more of Webb's books in the future.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2022
    My second of Kindle First Reads for October ‘22, and my first Wendy Webb book. It wasn’t quite what I expected, but I liked it anyway.

    This is the story of Tess Bell, a fortysomething woman whose moved to Wharton, near the Great Lakes in the dead of winter to renovate her grandparents’ old home, and turn it into an B&B. But there are restless spirits in the old home and a decades-old unsolved mystery, which Tess must get to the bottom of.

    The storyline is told from Tess’ POV and in third person. Definitely a quicker read at a little less than 300 pages. It was light on the horror, and I got more cozy mystery / gothic romance vibes from it. The writing is easy to read, if not a bit tell-y. Story is simple, but enjoyable.

    Still, I liked Tess’ character and how family-oriented she is. Also liked her newfound dog a lot, Storm. The love story was a sweet second-chance romance. Loved the wintry, snowy small-town setting.

    4 stars because while I enjoyed it, I wish there was deeper characterization of the side characters. I felt like they were very surface-level and many of them served simply to move the plot along. And the ending was a bit abrupt and felt like it wrapped up really fast.

    Would recommend for fans of gothic mysteries and ghost stories.
    21 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Patricia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Riviting
    Reviewed in Canada on July 5, 2023
    A riveting story. Fast paced from the first page to the last. Very difficult to put down. It was intriguing. A very good read!
  • pmichael73
    5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling winter read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2024
    Norther Noire is the term used to describe this writer's works and it's an apt description. The setting is perfect - and unusual - for a mystery with supernatural elements. The characters are good (don't do stupid things) and resourceful.

    It's well plotted so the uncanny fits right in and doesn't strain credibility. Nicely controlled.

    I will certainly read more by this writer.
  • Collsee
    5.0 out of 5 stars Got me in!
    Reviewed in Australia on October 2, 2023
    At first I was too scared to read this at night, but as I got further into it, the mystery had me in its grip! A great story with a slightly soft ending ... would like to see a sequel.
  • Shannon Whitwell
    4.0 out of 5 stars Not what I was expecting but still really good
    Reviewed in Canada on November 5, 2022
    I thought this was going to be a dark and spooky read but it was a lot lighter than I expected. It does have some creepy and dark scenes but it is mostly a romance and mystery novel.

    At first, it felt a bit fluffy but once the scratching at the door began, I was hooked. If you go into this book knowing that it is not a dark and creepy thriller, you will enjoy it.

    Overall, there was a lot to like about this book. Wendy Webb is really good at weaving multiple timelines together seamlessly. I’m really enjoying her writing so far! This was my second Webb book, the first being Daughters of the Lake.

    One thing that I didn’t love was the neatly and quickly the ending was wrapped up. I think maybe she should have left a few things unresolved or left it with a bit of a raw edge that makes you wonder what happened next. It felt like everything was tidied up rather quickly.
    Customer image
    Shannon Whitwell
    4.0 out of 5 stars Not what I was expecting but still really good
    Reviewed in Canada on November 5, 2022
    I thought this was going to be a dark and spooky read but it was a lot lighter than I expected. It does have some creepy and dark scenes but it is mostly a romance and mystery novel.

    At first, it felt a bit fluffy but once the scratching at the door began, I was hooked. If you go into this book knowing that it is not a dark and creepy thriller, you will enjoy it.

    Overall, there was a lot to like about this book. Wendy Webb is really good at weaving multiple timelines together seamlessly. I’m really enjoying her writing so far! This was my second Webb book, the first being Daughters of the Lake.

    One thing that I didn’t love was the neatly and quickly the ending was wrapped up. I think maybe she should have left a few things unresolved or left it with a bit of a raw edge that makes you wonder what happened next. It felt like everything was tidied up rather quickly.
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  • Jquinn
    4.0 out of 5 stars a good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 13, 2023
    An enjoyable read. Unusual and interesting. A light read so good for holidays etc. A bit cliched and folksy in parts.

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