Guest Appearance with author Jaime Jo Wright

I asked Jaime Jo Wright: What kind of research went into writing this book?

Researching for The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall was very intriguing. Because an actual cold case inspires the story, I went on the hunt to learn what I could about George Harry Storrs from Cheshire, England. He was, after all, the model for Leopold Traeger, whom you’ll meet in the pages of this book.

I listened to some podcasts and YouTube videos referring to the original crime. There is also a book that I used as a reference to help establish some of the structure of the crime, but it also gave me the leeway to fictionalize certain aspects where I wanted, for the sake of Leopold’s story.

Aside from researching the actual cold case from 1909, I also had to do some research to learn about the law. I wanted to have a will written in such a way that it would prevent anyone from being allowed to open the house until the passage of a century. But how was that even possible? I conducted some research, and, with the help of my editor, we devised a way to make it plausible and make it work. Who knew! I also discovered that I am not naturally bent toward studying law, so I’ll leave that bit to the more intelligent people in the world.

And then, of course, I had to research art. Because there are quite a few threads of classical art woven through this story, it was great fun to pull some names of artists famous in the classical art world, but maybe not so famous if you don’t study art. I also enjoyed developing some of my own artistic concepts and portraits in this novel and incorporating them into a story in a way that art isn’t often used in mysteries. So with a Gilded-Age real-life cold case, a study of the legal system, and a dash of classical art, The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall was born. I hope you enjoy it! I know I certainly enjoyed researching it!

Wow, how fascinating to learn that an actual cold case from 1909 inspired the story! I think that’s part of what makes this book so eerily believable — the way fact and fiction blur together until you’re not sure where history ends and imagination begins.

Knowing that Leopold Traeger was modeled after a real person adds a whole new layer of intrigue to the book. Wright not only studied the real case but also explored law, inheritance loopholes, and classical art to build this story and that says so much about her dedication as a storyteller. You can feel that research in the pages — every detail of Traeger Hall, every shadowed corridor, every portrait that seems to hold its own secret.

I especially love how she used art as both a visual and emotional element in the book. It wasn’t just a background detail; it became a thread of meaning that tied the story together.

It’s special to find a writer who can take something as complex as a cold case, combine it with law and art, and turn it into a story that feels timeless, chilling, and suspenseful. Knowing all of that makes me appreciate this book even more.

Read my full book review for: The Bell Tolls At Traeger Hall

Synopsis:

The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright

An abandoned estate encased in stagnant darkness . . .
A haunting legacy intent on silencing all within reach . . .

In 1890, the ominous tolling of the bell announces that death has come to Traeger Hall, leaving orphaned Waverly Pembrooke to piece together the puzzle behind her uncle’s and aunt’s murders. Bound by the terms of her uncle’s eccentric will, Waverly finds herself alone in a manor shrouded by death and questioning the reasons for her uncle’s paranoia. A madness hovers over Traeger Hall, and Waverly–as well as the people of nearby Newton Creek–are ill-prepared for the woe that has descended.

In present day Newton Creek, whispers of a family curse still cling to the century-old, abandoned property of Traeger Hall. When Jennie Phillips takes possession of the estate after her mother’s passing, she is intent on solving the mystery of the Traeger murders. Yet a modern cold case suggests that untimely deaths and mysterious occurrences still plague the property. And as thorny truths surface, Jennie realizes the dark legacy threatens not only the town and the Traeger descendants . . . but also, chillingly, Jennie herself.

Book Details:

Genre: Dual Timeline Gothic Suspense
Published by: Bethany House Publishers
Publication Date: October 21, 2025
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 9780764243806, paperback
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Baker Book House

Tour Participants:

Author Bio:

Jaime Jo Wright is the author of thirteen novels, including Christy Award-winner and ECPA bestseller The Vanishing at Castle Moreau, Christy Award and Daphne du Maurier Award-winner The House on Foster Hill, and Carol Award-winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. Jaime has also written two Publishers Weekly bestselling novellas. She lives in Wisconsin with her family and fabulous felines.