The Stroke of Winter: A Novel

Written by Wendy Webb

Narrated by Xe Sands

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Nov 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781713670193

Wendy Webb

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.

Reviews for The Stroke of Winter

[Billie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Stroke of Winter
by Wendy Webb
Fantasy Ghost Cozy
Goodreads Giveaway
Scribd (Everand) Audio
Ages: 14+


Tess decides to renovate her family home on the coast of Lake Superior into a bed and breakfast, knowing the tourists coming to Wharton during the summer months would allow her to be her own boss in the hospitality business, and to cook for people.

All that is left to do is convert the back half of the house into her own small apartment, but that large room has been locked tight by her grandmother for years after the death of her husband, Tess's grandfather, the celebrated artist Sebastian Bell. After hearing the sounds of animal scratching coming from the room, Tess enlists the help to trap the animal.

Upon breaking into the room they found no animal, but instead discovered an art studio with paint-soaked rags and broken glasses and wine bottles strewn about the room. In the bathroom, paint was splattered on the walls, and hidden in the corner were four paintings, but these paintings depicted a darker side of the artist.


Even though this is a ghost story, I would not call this horror. It was more suspenseful, (wondering if something scary was going to happen) than scary, so I feel this is in the cozy genre realm. The characters were relatable, (the dog was a nice touch) the plot was typical, and the mystery wasn't that hard to guess who and what.

Easy read, not graphic or violent (but violence is part of the mystery) so it's suitable for readers 14 and older. (And while the title may sound like it's porn, it is not.)

Almost reached the next star!

3 Stars

[Holly Luffman Hutchens · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So well written! I enjoyed the story, the development of the characters and the way the author creates an intense feeling of suspense!

[bellefae9 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Seriously, this is my favourite book by Wendy Webb. It hits all the right notes: warmth, fear, sadness, compassion, wonder, suspense, everything. And I applaud her wholeheartedly for the way she discusses dementia and gives voice to what a lot of us feel as carers of loved ones suffering this cruel illness. And that isn’t even the main part of the story! The characters are relatable and finely drawn. My only gripe, and it’s small, is that the wonderful, wonderful narrator Xe Sands, didn’t get the Scottish/Irish accent very well for Hunter’s voice. But it was minimal. She’s a fantastic narrator! I loved this so much.

[krau0098 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.