Ever since October I have been looking for a really enjoyable paranormal book with a focus on ghosts/hauntings. This book fit the bill perfectly and I am so glad I have been able to read it.

The Apparition Phase follows Tim, after he and his sister Abi create a fake ghost picture. Showing this picture to a classmate causes a spiralling of events with life becoming darker and more out of control. Did they manage to create a dark entity?

I really enjoyed the plot of this book, it had so many of the elements I look for in a mystery/horror/thriller. It was fast paced, and made my heart race. The scenery was vividly portrayed, at times I often felt like I was truly in an old stately home. In fact, the imagery was so well portrayed, I wouldn't necessarily recommend reading this at night time. It certainly made me a bit nervous when I made that mistake myself!

I really enjoyed the characterisation, they all had their own personalities and struggles. There was love and hate displayed between the different characters as their secrets came to light. The ending was refreshing. Maclean wasn't trying to tie everything up in a happy bow. It was an ending that was both fitting and daring. Chills ran down my body as I read the remaining sentences of the last page, it was a truly heart stopping moment.


I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and author for allowing me to read a copy of this book so that I can give my honest opinion. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves thrillers/horrors. It would be an excellent one to read to set the mood at Halloween!

trigger warning
<spoiler> child disappearance, child death, mention of miscarriage, mention of abortion, drug addiction, trauma, grief </spoiler>

Simply because they can, twins Abi and Tim fake a ghost photograph and enjoy themselves immensly, not knowing that they might have invited something.

Yes, vague description, but believe me, if I tell you more you'd be disappointed. This is about finding out what happens - and I was here for it. After inititally only reading about 30 pages, I woke in the middle of the night, couldn't go back to sleep, picked it up again and now the sun has risen and the birds chirp. About 300 pages in one go.
Mind, I am not saying this novel is without fault. It was just the right thing for me at the right time, and I've liked this hodgepodge of things a lot.

We start off with the twins, who are a unit, self contained - so much so that their parents feel the need to force them apart to teach them social skills. There are stupid decisions teenagers make, but the author shows you what happens and then let's you draw your own conclusions instead of telling you what to think about it.
Again, something I am always here for.

There appears a nagging feeling in your head that you know what this all might be about and how it'll go on, but at least for me, I read on, hoping on one side I was wrong - for the character's sake - and on the other hand I was right, because I have a huge dislike for books that seem to promise ghosts only to tell you it's all fake, or a misunderstanding, or an unreliable narrator.
Some things I did expect, others not.

Listen, I had spooky fun, and that is exactly what I came here for.
The arc was provided by the publisher.

It is the 1970's. Abi & Tim are obsessed with all things paranormal. They are into folklore, standing stones & are particularly ghosts. They work out how they can fake a photo of a ghost. The photo is enough to scare a fellow school mate to have a seizure! Time goes on. Tim is seeing a psychotherapist who takes him on a trip to Yearlings, an old house, to try & convince him that all this supernatural stuff is rubbish. There is an experiment going on there. Instead of debunking things it makes Tim even more obsessed & he ends up participating in the experiment.

I really liked the start of this book. It was creepy, atmospheric & captured the time frame. However although there ware some scary moments I began lose interest & was quite pleased to finish it. I'm sure many will love the whole thing, but it wasn't really a book for me. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

The Apparition Phase is a fun, interesting take on ghost manifestation and haunted places. I was immediately drawn in by references to things that I myself was mystified by as a teenager; reading about places like Borley Rectory and poring over photographs of spirits on stairs probably informs my interest in the horror genre to this day. I really appreciated that there are some truly chilling moments sprinkled throughout the book, though maybe because of the time period the characters do occasionally trend into Famous Five territory. Although the epilogue felt a little forced and for me the ending was too on the nose I did enjoy almost everything leading up to that point. The author can be forgiven, even Stephen King himself struggles at tying up loose ends. Recommended.

This novel didnt quite go the route I was expecting from the blurb and the initial chapter, I was expecting more of the twins before the disappearance occurred, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this.

I felt Maclean succeeded in drawing together the ghost story, mystery, haunted house story and 70s nostalgia into a creepy, clever package that poses a lot of questions about sanity/mental illness and the devastating effect of grief.

I was very happy with the ambiguity surrounding what was real/fake, what was hysteria and what was supernatural. Deliciously unsettling. I can see myself returning for a reread.

The first third of this book is spectacular - we follow Tim and his twin sister Abi through their childhood obsession with all things spooky and mysterious and watch as this manifests into a faked ghost photo prank that they play on their schoolmate. This section of the book sets up for an intriguing ghost story, and is scary and foreboding, which is not always an easy atmosphere to create in a novel. To start with, I couldn't put the book down.
However, I was disappointed in how the book progresses. It feels like nothing really comes from this prank - the girl whom they scare with the photograph, a character who seemingly holds some answers as to what haunts them, just disappears. Tim's adventures at Yarlings potentially promise some intriguing moments, but these too have no satisfying resolution, in fact being revealed to be a hoax. There is also a romantic element during this section, but it is childishly presented, despite the fact that this story is being related from the point of view of a now grown, adult TIm. It feels aimed at a young audience rather than its supposed adult demographic.
The final section of the book answers none of the supposed 'hauntings' that have occurred throughout the book, and leaves all of the mysteries disappointingly unsolved. It simply feels like the book has run out of steam and cannot bring itself to finish the ghost story that seemed so promising in the early chapters.

Maclean’s trope-infused ghost story is a great read for our winter months. It’s largely set in the 1970s, and starts in suburban southern England, in the teenage lives of twins, Abi and Tim.

The twins have a strong interest in ghosts - their parents’ attic is dedicated to such endeavours, and it’s a key part of their life. When Janice Tupp, a girl from school, is invited over, things take a disturbing turn - and when Abi doesn’t return home from school one day, it becomes very clear that sinister forces are at work.

Much of the novel takes place at a supposed haunted house in Suffolk a good few years after Abi’s disappearance. A group of young people are invited to be part of a research group and Tim, unadvisedly, becomes part of the group. Despite it seeming as if the strange goings on are part of an organised hoax, it becomes clear that there is much more to the story.

I really enjoyed The Apparition Phase. So, what holds me back from 5*? Mainly, I’d say, the fact it seems a bit rushed towards the end - and even though Tim, who narrates the story, is very aware of the apparition troubling him, it seems that such knowledge escapes him in the book’s latter pages. But, aside from this somewhat incongruous element, this is a perfect winter read, evocative and creepy.

I really enjoyed this creepy, Gothic story about twins obsessed with all things supernatural. A wonderful new novel with the feel of the old, well loved classics. Highly recommended.

This was so excellent. A really effective and evocative ghost story with wonderful characters and relationships. I will be recommending it far and wide!

Interesting story, well-constructed characters, but lacks pace.

I went into this book thirsty for the story it offered - the beginning was addictive, kept me glued to pages, and I simply couldn't put it down. But as the story moved on, it changed into something so unstable that I wasn't that hungry for this story anymore.

Although the build-up is nice, and Will Maclean constructs great characters with a great plot, this book has a terrible problem with its rhythm. It's very unstable and pushed me away too many times. I'm sad to say that this didn't happen one time -- but too many to count after we reached 40/50% of the book.

That said, I can't deny that the ending was satisfying, even though I expected more. As a horror book, it left me wanting more. It isn't scary at all. It's a good book, not worth the hype.

Playing with supernatural fire: Raising the Dead

This was a genuinely unsettling read, and for those with a modicum of imagination, may be best avoided at bedtime! Or at least, if you can’t resist just one more page, with the hairs on the back of your neck rising, and anxious whimpers beginning to happen, my suggestion is to have something bland and unarousingly realistic to turn to for a bit, before turning out the lights. Perhaps a gardening book or a car maintenance manual……………..

There were a few nights when I turned the light off, and had to turn it straight on again and find such a bland book to turn my imagination off, as otherwise I know I would have had nightmares.

No spoilers here : The narrator of this book is one of two highly intelligent adolescent twins, drawn to the macabre, and allowed an unusual amount of freedom by their parents. They engage in a somewhat typical, but rather cruel, trick on classmate, which has serious and lifelong repercussions.

The story is more or less linear, and at some point, is written ‘now’, looking back at ‘then’

I was absorbed and involved all the way through, though becoming aware (as I think the reader is meant to be) that all was not as it seemed – several of the characters in the book are naturally questioning and sceptical, and their analysis of events is a reminder that we too ought to asking ourselves what exactly is going on.

On finishing the book – with its satisfying ending – I did find myself unpicking a few not quite credible ‘coincidences’ – i.e. literary devices, for the author to get the central character into the main part of the story, - primarily a child psychologist/teacher who takes his client/patient to a somewhat suspect set-up – but for the most part, disbelief was allowed to be suspended in the pursuit of a rattling good yarn.

I will definitely read more by this author, and was delighted to be allowed a digital ARC from the publishers, via NetGalley. It was a perfect read for long nights and short days

Wow, "The Apparition Phase" by Will Maclean is like nothing else I've ever read. The story starts off with twins and their unusual and dark interests in the attic, moves through what happens with a classmate (and how this "haunts" Tim through later life), how Tim deals with tragedy and how he ends up in a ghost experiment at a country house.

It is difficult to discuss without giving too much away but it was very atmospheric and truly believable.

Wow, this is an amazing debut! Thirteen year old twins who are basically obsessed with the paranormal. Takes place in a creepy country house. Love it

Thank you, Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for providing me with a review copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Apparition Phase by Will Maclean is gothic horror fiction. I am not a big fan of horror in general because I am a wimp when it comes to the genre. But for some reason, I wanted to read this one when I saw it on NetGalley. It had similar themes to Girls Of Brackenhill and Home Before Dark. The secluded gothic-looking mansion in the countryside, surrounded by forest, ghosts, and supernatural events...Ring any bells?? So it is safe to say I was intrigued. It was spooky and dark!!

The story setting and the writing was very atmospheric and eerie. The gothic vibe was ever-present throughout the book. The dark and creepy, hair-rising moments felt very real to me, and I loved the pacing, as well. It wasn't too slow or too fast. I found that it was the right speed for a book like this. The attic, the mansion all added to the story very well. The prophecies, background ghost stories were all amazing to read about. I also loved how seances, ghost hunting exercises, spooky, and strange noises made it very real. The real-life stories included in the book were a marvelous addition to the story making it even more fascinating. The supernatural occurrences or what seemed to be part of it did keep me on the edge of my seat, and I was intrigued by the whole story. The epilogue was alone enough to unsettle me.

Overall I had a great time reading this. It was engaging, entertaining, creepy, and unsettling all in one go. The disturbing sequences of events will make you question what's real and what's a product of imagination. If you love horror stories, with creepy houses, atmospheric writing, and unnerving instances that cannot be explained by science you might want to give this a try. I gave the book 4 stars. I highly recommend checking it out. It's not a scary book, but a macabre and engrossing one.

Twins Tim and Abi Smith have always been a bit odd: precociously intelligent and obsessed with esoteric subjects such as folklore, ghosts and the macabre, in an effort to try and make their humdrum, 70s suburbia existence as exciting as possible. One day, they decide to fake a ghost photograph, to see if they can get someone to believe in it. Although successful, they then have to come to terms with the fact that their prank may have actually unleashed something after all.
Will Maclean is already an award-winning screenwriter, and this, his debut novel, shows that he's a great novelist too. Beautifully written, 'The Apparition Phase' reads like a forgotten 70s classic, or like a supernatural drama of the period, along the lines of 'The Stone Tape' (which gets a mention) or 'Children of the Stones' (I can easily see it being adapted for the screen in that style). Of course, having not been around in the 70s myself, there may be some little inaccuracies I didn't pick up on, but it definitely feels like it got the essence spot on.) The story looks at the nature of haunting, and the coincidences that might be a sign of something real or a trick of the mind, and whether there's really a difference between the two. For me, the cover quote from actress Alice Lowe ('Garth Mahrengi's Dark Place', 'Prevenge etc) sums it up best & most succinctly: "a carapace of cosy nostalgia wrapped round a solid thread of dread." Genuinely eerie & unsettling, and lingers on in your thoughts even after you've put it down. Highly recommended if you love a good ghost story (especially in time for Christmas).
(Also bonus points for references to things like 'Ace of Wands', 'Doctor Who' & Harry Price :D)
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for review.

This would have been perfect for Halloween as it seriously creeped me out. I can't believe this assured story is from a debut author. If you want a classic ghost story, you can't go wrong with this book.

Abi and Tim are 13 year old twins at the beginning of the 70's. They are fascinated by ghost stories, hauntings and the after life. When they decide to fake their own ghost photograph and show it to a girl.in their class, repercussions abound.

This is a YA coming of age tale. I loved the first one third, the twins' story and their interactions. It was pacy, engaging and had me eagerly turning the pages. Being fairly heavy on details in the following chapters though it dragged for me in the middle section and unfortunately didnt get my attention back fully.

I would read more of this author's books as I really felt the first one third of the book was exciting reading.

I loved this book – I think it's the spookiest thing I've read in a really long time. What starts as a practical joke when Tim and his twin Abi decide to fake a 'ghost photo' in their attic to trick a girl at school quickly gets out of hand, and when tragedy strikes the family a few years later, Tim navigates his adolescence learning all the different ways in which a person can be haunted. There are some proper sleep-with-the-lights-on scenes and a real Shirley Jackson vibe throughout. Can't wait to see what this writer does next.

The Apparition Phase is so perfectly attuned to my tastes it could have been written for me... evoking the banality of 1970s suburbia, the feeling of being an outsider, a rural MR Jamesian ‘haunted house’ and referencing the ghost books and TV series that a decade or two later would also indelibly mark my tastes, this book is at times a genuinely chilling tale. I went in fairly uninformed about the direction of travel and so the early shift in tone as events start to go awry was deliciously unexpected. It’s a proper page turner (with a view to TV?) and perfect for a miserable November.

I could rave for longer but i recommend other readers go in as unspoilt as possible.

There is a certain inevitability to the events that unfold after Tim and Abi sketch a ghost in chalk on the attic wall, but though the tree falls it seems impossibly difficult to predict where it’s going to land. Will Maclean weaves the grit and glue of 1970s Britain into one of most descriptive and surprising books this year.

What we have on our hands is a ghostly tale; one that rivals M. R. James for prickly creepiness. However, it’s the fluency of the narrative and intricacy of the prose that work such magic on this story. It’s immersive and three-dimensional, with a literary fizz that makes you feel each conversation, each noise, and each discovery.

Horror fans will find an intelligent blitz of everything: Premonitions, a creepy mansion, twisted dreams, and series of séances that spin events into a dangerous frenzy. The rendering of characters throughout keeps everything perfectly believable, the immaculate portrayal of normal lives grounding the book and making the impossible so very plausible.

The braiding of the plot, the horror elements, the characters, and the writing style make this book rather unique. You could enjoy it for any one of these, but together it’s a bit special. Will Maclean is the kind of writer that can’t just say it’s raining… it’s bubbling against a fence like hot fat, or descending in a drenching, cancelling curtain through a rat-black night.

Will Maclean is definitely an author you need on your radar.