What the Water Remembers - by Elyse Welles (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Charmed meets Nancy Drew when modern witch Kendra Hill sets out to uncover the connections between three ghosts and the Johnstown Flood of 1889, an abandoned cemetery, and a jar of teeth - before the hauntings push her out of her home. 'Small town charm' takes on new meaning in What the Water Remembers, Kendra knows from the first swing of her pendulum that she needs to help the ghosts of her Victorian home - Clara, and the mysterious dark-haired woman. Before even closing on their new home in Newport, Pennsylvania, Kendra and her husband George encounter a malevolent male ghost in unexpected ways; but in the face of a difficult housing market and feeling confident in Kendra's witchcraft, they move in. Jarred by dreams that feel like memories, Kendra's intuition and magic guide her down a path of mystery no amount of tarot cards or pendulums could have prepared her for.

Review Quotes

What's a witch to do when there's a tight housing market, you've found your forever home, but you hear strange bumps and creaks and crying in the middle of the night? Close as quickly as possible, of course. Haunted houses don't go up for sale every day, and Kendra Hill thinks she can handle it. In What The Water Remembers by Elyse Welles, Kendra finds out just how hard it is to settle into your new home while trying to settle the ghosts of every family who has lived there before.

On reading What The Water Remembers, The Haunting of Hill House immediately comes to mind. Intergenerational complexities, new families meeting the old, vague supernatural threats, and paranormal investigations building to a crescendo, all echo Shirley Jackson's classic ghost story. Welles adds a contemporary spin that is part cozy supernatural mystery and part small town paranormal investigation.

What I appreciated most about What The Water Remembers, and what makes it stand apart from all other modern ghost stories I've read, is the sensitive and thoughtful portrayal of a practicing witch encountering a world of spirits and shadows. Though never explicitly stated, Kendra's practices seem to align strongly with Wicca, a religion that has gone "out of fashion" in some witchcraft circles. Welles treats Kendra's faith with none of the criticism that follows those beliefs, takes great care crafting her, and depicts her as someone with a deeply personal faith. At the same time Kendra is nervous that her father might criticize her beliefs, she is sifting through her spells and practices to find just the right solution for a haunting. An eclectic Wiccan sleuth who straddles the line between religion and the paranormal? Inventive, original, and satisfying in its execution.

During Spooky Season, readers are often inundated by witchy romcoms, cozy coffee shop mysteries, and dark paranormal romances where ghosts use shadow powers to seduce curious young women. What The Water Remembers is in a genre of its own; as interesting to read in October as it will be in June. If you're a fan of patient authors who craft with care, who dive deep into the faith of their leading ladies, both sensitively and authentically, and build layer upon layer of history, one natural disaster at a time, What The Water Remembers will be a book you will savor. Add a cup of hot tea, a snuggly cat, and a favorite chair with its own creaks and bumps, and you have the makings of an ideal rainy day.
-- Stephanie Kemler, author of Bloodborn, Bloodmad, and The Year of Sin and Smoke

"What the Water Remembers is a gripping mystery steeped in haunted memory and laced with magic. Written for lovers of creaky old houses and hidden histories, for the magically curious and full-fledged witches alike. This novel unfolds like a spell, with each chapter casting a wider net of enchantment. Part ghost story, part historical reckoning, part practical guide to banishing what lingers, it's the kind of book you stay up late reading by candlelight and wake thinking about in a fog. Lush, layered, and impossible to put down--it only deepens the further you go."
-- Hadas Knox, author of Dove in an Iron Cauldron and Folklore Oracle

"Nancy Drew meets Practical Magic -- Welles expertly weaves a charming small town with a tragic past, a history-sleuthing witchy heroine, and some ghosts who raise more questions than answers into a can't-put-it-down cozy mystery." -- Heather Wildflower, creator of @heather.wildflower

"Simply put, I loved this book. Elyse Welles' What the Water Remembers is my type of ghost story: thoughtful, well-written, suspenseful, yet cozy. Her characters are multifaceted and diverse, and their relationships are genuine. I was delighted that the book touches on many of my favorite things. I am with Kendra, the main character, as she juggles being a writer and needs a day job. I'm there with her, touring old houses, discovering quirky antiques, daydreaming about decorating, and cuddling cats. Although I am not a witch, Elyse Welles makes me believe in magic. She weaves it into the story gently, sharing Kendra's reluctance to overwhelm her family with her powers while ensuring readers understand the beliefs behind her actions. The story gets darker as Kendra unravels a century-old mystery linked to a deadly flood in her new, small-town home. Welles draws you in with her balance of warmth and suspense, ultimately delivering a satisfying, emotionally resonant ending. It's a wonderful escape for those who enjoy their mysteries served with new knowledge and a cup of tea." -- Sarah J Makowski, author of Bitches in Bonnets: Life Lessons from Jane Austen's Mean Girls

"What The Water Remembers is a must-read for ghostly mysteries done right! With an eerie, vividly drawn setting in an old home steeped in long-buried secrets, Welle's spine-chilling debut will keep you turning the pages well into the night."
-- Kimberly Patton, author of The Knowing

About the Author

Elyse Welles is a Greek-Egyptian American nomadic witch, author, poet, podcaster, and columnist based between Athens, Greece and Pennsylvania. A regular contributor for The Wild Hunt News, Witch Way Magazine, and Pagan Pages, she has been published in Sunflower Journal, Witchology, Myth & Lore, and Yellow Arrow Journal, among others. "What the Water Remembers" is her debut novel.