Right from the beginning, Bradley pulls you into a story that feels both familiar and a little bit spooky or mysterious. She writes in a beautiful and clear way, making it easy to picture the scenes and creating characters who are complex and easy to care about.
The events of The Inheritor take place in 1983. The main character is Leslie Barnes, psychologist who moves into a new house in San Francisco with her younger sister, Emily, a talented musician. This house seems like a perfect fit at first. However, almost immediately after they move in, really strange and unsettling things start to happen. It turns out the house has a dark history, connected to previous owners who had met bad ends. Leslie soon realizes she's living in a place with powerful magical energy, and she's suddenly thrown into a battle against dark forces trying to control this power for evil.
Leslie, being a psychologist, is completely out of her depth with these supernatural events. But she gets help from a charming psychic medium named Claire Moffatt and Claire's mentor, a famous psychic investigator named Colin MacLaren. Together, they help Leslie tap into abilities she didn't even know she had, all to protect the house and herself from the evil that lurks there.
A key part of the story also involves Simon Antsey, an acclaimed musician who becomes Emily's mentor. Simon has a dark past, and his influence over the sisters becomes increasingly unsettling. He's connected to the house's mysterious history and is willing to use black magic for his own gain, even if it means doing terrible things. Leslie finds herself in a difficult and even dangerous relationship with him, struggling to see and understand his true nature.
Bradley really focuses on the emotional side of things. She deeply explores what her characters are feeling—their fears, their hopes, and their often-difficult relationships. You don't just read about what happens; you actually feel it, celebrating their small victories and hurting during their struggles. The story gradually builds tension, leading to an ending that makes you think deeply and stays with you long after you've finished reading.
If you enjoy science fiction that has strong characters and explores big ideas like identity, the power of legacy, and the nature of consciousness, The Inheritor is definitely worth picking up. It's a powerful and moving story that shows Bradley at her best, offering a read that's both smart and emotionally impactful. It's more than just a book; it's an experience I highly recommend.
Carolina Dean
12th House Books
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