Of all the Irina Shapiro books I’ve read so far, The House on the Hill is without a doubt my favorite. I initially read it about a year ago, but felt compelled to revisit it for its beautiful, eerie, atmospheric vibe – it’s exactly the kind of cozy, haunting read that feels perfect for this time of year.

The novel tells the stories of two women across centuries, unfolding concurrently in a hauntingly charming crossover of ghost story and romance. Set in the historic Holland House on a hill overlooking the sea in Cape Cod, the present-day narrative follows Lauren, who forms a quiet, poignant bond with the ghost of Sophie, a woman who lived there centuries earlier.

Lauren has just moved into the house seeking a change of pace from her life in Boston, where she recently lost the love of her life. Not long after settling into her antique rental, she begins to sense that she’s not truly alone. As her paranormal experiences begin to multiply, she also strikes up a friendship with Ryan, a local with a deep interest in history who is grieving losses of his own. Together, they embark on a journey to uncover the house’s tragic past.

In the colonial-era timeline, Sophie Holland is the mistress of the house – trapped in an unhappy marriage to Mr. Holland. Since childhood, she has shared an on-and-off relationship (only “off” because of circumstance) with her true love, Teddy Mercer, a pirate known as “Mad Ted.” Their romance is marked by longing, secrecy, and heartbreak, shaped by the rigid confines of colonial society.

Lauren can see Sophie’s specter lingering in her bedroom, watching out the window for her love to return. Is Sophie and Teddy’s story lost to time, or can Lauren piece together the mysterious puzzle of a forbidden love that unfolded more than 300 years ago?

Chock-full of suspense, this ghostly historical tale of resilience and love is a true page-turner that kept me hooked from start to finish. Like several of Shapiro’s other novels, The House on the Hill is available on Kindle Unlimited. Shapiro is a master at blending the best elements of multiple genres – ghost stories, historical fiction, romance, and mystery – and if you haven’t explored her work yet, I truly recommend doing so. She’s a prolific writer with something for everyone. You can also check out another review I’ve written for her Victorian-era mystery The Highgate Cemetery Murder.