Pitcher Plant

The fixer-upper near the beach seemed like a steal until Tawny unearthed a body.
Now she’s stalked by a killer.

Winner of a 2018 Independent Publisher Book Award
Finalist for a 2018 Next Generation Indie Book Award

When Tawny Ellis spots a fixer-upper on the Oregon coast, she and her husband jump at the chance to own a cottage near the beach. But as expensive repairs turn their dream home into a nightmare, their marriage unravels. And worse…the house is not quite vacant. Something in the house’s dark past remains.

Tawny’s daughter has a new imaginary friend, and she bears a striking resemblance to a little girl who squatted in the cottage with her drug-addicted mother. After breaking in and camping out, they vanished, and have been missing for years.

Now the house’s previous owner is enraged with Tawny. As he stalks her family, Tawny suspects she knows what happened to the last people who slept in the house. Her family might be next.

“5 Stars. Pitcher Plant…is a suspenseful tale of terror…This is a well-written story with a natural flow and plenty of action. It’s fair to say that this book starts on a high note and doesn’t drop until it reaches the end. There are lots of twists and turns and you won’t guess the ending. You might think you have, and then something else will happen to make you change your mind – I changed mine several times! The character development was excellent; it left you in no doubt as to what made the characters tick and as if they were personal friends reliving a terrible story. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes paranormal, horror and suspense stories, as well as anyone who just wants something different to get into.” –Readers’ Favorite

“A fun read that combines a classic haunted house story with romance and a very creepy serial killer.” –Hester Young, author of The Gates of Evangeline and The Shimmering Road

“Melissa Eskue Ousley draws you into a drafty, old fixer-upper on the turbulent Oregon Coast with the perfect mix of creaking floors, creepy dolls, and mysterious footprints in the unfinished basement. She’s crafted a suspenseful page turner that harkens back to childhood ghost stories with a touch of paranormal that will keep you guessing!” –Kate Dyer-Seeley, author of Scene of the Climb

“Eskue Ousley skillfully weaves a tightly plotted tale with a memorable cast of characters, including an old house with secrets that won’t stay buried–a riveting read that will keep you up at night!” –Marian McMahon Stanley, author of The Immaculate, a Rosaria O’Reilly mystery

“Seaside setting, haunted house (or is it?), creepy dolls—all the makings of a bewitching tale. Toss in a bit of romance and prepare to be up way too late, turning pages.” –Deb Vanasse, author of Cold Spell and Out of the Wilderness

 “An old house with great bones and a lot of baggage. Haunting and creepy in all the right places and terrifying exactly where it should be. There is no monster more horrible than a real one!” –Lisa Reid, Owner, Lucy’s Books

Pitcher Plant was published with Filles Vertes Publishing! Order it here.

Check out the book trailer!

© Melissa Eskue Ousley 2017