I haven’t read anything else by this author so didn’t know what to expect. Set in NYC this is the first in a new series featuring detectives Frankie and Maria,, in a dark, twisty tale of ritual killings separated decades apart. Well constructed thriller with spooky undertones.

Summary:

Detective Maria Miller and her partner Frankie are investigating a cold case of a brutal murder that connects back to another murder from 1952. Are they looking for a killer or some presence from beyond?

Review:

That is a mystery AND paranormal. Which is just what I have been wanting to read. My more recently mystery books have been lacking in the paranormal. However, there was a lost opportunity for some truly spooky vibes. Even though the book had the feel of a haunted house, murders, and the supernatural, there weren't any intense moments that make your heart race or give you goosebumps.

I am very surprised with the character development. I found multiple characters to be very relatable, and individually thought out to each have their own personality. Young and old, I thought they were all adorable. Well, at least the good ones.

The story bounces back and forth between the past and present, while also between different characters. I would normally worry about that as things can start to get confusing. I was able to follow along however, and I thought it was a good way to really keep the plot mysterious and intriguing. I didn’t want to book down because I kept wanting to read what came next in each time period. My only note for the plot is there is a certain area I wish I had been slightly explained more, but it was not overly important to the overall story.

I assumed this would be a standalone, but it looks like it will be a series. I will be reading the rest!

Acknowledgements:

Thank you to Helen Phifer and Storm Publishing for giving me the chance to read a free copy on NetGalley.

Review has already been posted to my Goodreads!

I’ll be honest and say it took me a wee bit to get into. I almost put it down for another book. But I love this author so I stuck to it. And then I finally got into it. I like Maria but I’m not sure about all her choices. I will be definitely diving into the next book to see what’s in store for her.

The title says it all. A haunting. This is a creepy mystery. The images are lasting. The characters are realistic. I had trouble getting through this. That being said, this author weaves a thriller. Thanks Netgalley.

Perfect mix between true crime and horror/paranormal. I flew through this book and kept wanting to read more and more! Definitely will be checking out more of Helen Phifer’s books.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to read this book. It was definitely on the WTH did I just read!!! scale. Full of creepy stories, the church tells you about. I like the introduction of Maria. I may continue to read her story. I feel like I need to be bathed in Holy Water first though.

I didn’t realize going into this book that there were going to be elements of horror in this book, but I liked it. First off, I admit I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book, but the more I read, the better it became. Maria and Frankie are a great team, and they work together to solve this intriguing mystery. There were plenty of red herrings, or at least in my mind, and I kept thinking things were going to turn out differently than they did. However, I am very content with the way the story ended. I especially, though, loved the way the author weaved the past and the present to show how the past started this haunting. This did sort of run a thin line between horror and an urban fantasy, and I think it would have been better to either be one or the other, or more of both, but I am very ready to see more of this cast of characters. Well-written, interesting plot and characters, 4 ½ stars rounded up to 5. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

I love horror style books so I was expecting more horror and spooky vibes. Unfortunately the book didn't live up to that side of it for me. I would try more by the author though as I did enjoy parts of the book.

The story of a house in New York that is the scene of two satanic style murders. The first was in 1952 and the victim was the mistress of the owner of the house. The second set three years before present day, was of a young Jane Doe.

The plot flits between 1952 and present day with Maria Miller and Frankie Conroy, two of NYPD’s finest, endeavouring to discover what happened, and why the house has such a malevolent and demonic feel about it.

This book tried to be so many things to so many readers, with horror, supernatural, romance, murder, thriller et al, it really did spread itself very thin. Too many genres thrown into a mixing pot that did not work. The writing was, at times, unpolished and lacked vigour.

This is the second book I have read by this author, and like the first there are too many unexplained details and discrepancies. Where did Ryan come from? Why was he as he was? Why did Emilia stay in the house? Maria’s phone left in the limo but turned up at the “haunted” house? I could go on, but suffice to say I will consider whether or not to read this author again.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It has everything a spooky-season book needs: demons, murder, a smidge of romance.. the works! I cannot wait to see what is in store for Frankie and Maria in the next book! I am already itching to read the next one!

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance copy of The Haunting on West 10th Street by Helen Phifer in exchange of an honest review.

"Prepare for an eerie journey into the supernatural realm with 'The Haunting on West 10th Street' by Helen Phifer. In this gripping crime thriller, Detective Maria Miller takes on a bone-chilling case that leads her to the attic of an old brownstone, where she stumbles upon a crime scene unlike any other. Phifer's skill in crafting compelling characters shines through, particularly in the form of Maria and her loyal partner Frankie. Their dynamic adds depth and relatability to the narrative. As someone who enjoys Helen Phifer's other works, I can confidently say that while this book may not have fully resonated with me, it still had its merits. I believe the true fans of horror and supernatural elements will appreciate the unique blend of genres in this story. If you're looking for a supernatural thriller that keeps you guessing, 'The Haunting on West 10th Street' is worth exploring if you're into crime thrillers.

I have to start by saying, I had great expectations for this book. I want to outline to positive as well as the negative, because there was a bit of both.

The title alone sets the stage for a haunting tale, and I was pleasantly surprised by the author's dedication to character development. Helen Phifer took the time to craft multi-dimensional characters, each carrying their own share of complexities and emotional baggage. Among them, I particularly admired the handling of the protagonist, Maria, and her partner Frankie from the New York City Police Department. Their depth added a layer of authenticity to the narrative.

One notable aspect of the book was the skillful interweaving of past and present crimes. The author successfully connected historical events with contemporary mysteries, creating a sense of continuity and intrigue throughout the story.

However, where "The Haunting on West 10th Street" fell short for me was in its ability to elicit genuine scares. Despite the ominous presence of a haunted house, gruesome murders, and both human and supernatural monsters, I found myself left with a distinct feeling of "meh" after closing the book. The narrative lacked the tense moments, the shivers down the spine, the need to keep all the lights on, and the haunting nightmares that one often anticipates from a horror novel.

Am I being overly critical? Perhaps. But for me, reading a horror book that fails to deliver real scares is akin to reading a romance story devoid of love or passion – it leaves one wondering why bother?

In light of these observations, I would give "The Haunting on West 10th Street" a rating of 3 stars. While it had its merits, the absence of genuine fright left me wanting more from what should have been a spine-tingling experience.

I'd like to express my gratitude to the publisher for granting me the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy. Please note that the opinions expressed in this unpaid book review are entirely my own.

I am not one to enjoy books that contain the supernatural, but I was pleasantly delighted and surprised with this one. I honestly didn’t know what to expect before I started reading, but once I did, I was 100% involved with the characters.

Maria and Frankie are NYPD Homicide detectives. They deal with the gruesome and with hard facts. Catching bad guys (and girls) isn’t new for them. But when a murder occurs in a seemingly peaceful location at a Greenwich Villahe brownstone, Maria is left with more unanswered questions and a cold case. But Maria and Frankie quickly find out that this isn’t the first gruesome murder to occur at this brownstone location.

With dual perspectives, Maria in the present and Emilia from the past, this book does a great job in tying everything together. Maria becomes the killer’s next target as she works to solve the case but can Frankie and anyone from the past help save her in time?

I absolutely loved this book. It was such an easy and quick read. I love the dynamic between Maria and Frankie and hope to read more books with them in the future. I have never read a book from this author before so I was very pleased to find another author who I enjoyed reading.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for my arc!

DNF at 34%

I love supernatural thrillers and was intrigued by the blurb of the book. I can never say no to a good haunted house!

But this was not at all what I hoped for. The writing is unpolished and the whole stole story seems like a mishmash of a bunch of random ideas. There are alternating POVs with one story leading up to a murder in 1952 and one about a murder that happened 3 years ago. The lead detective is described as being tough and the book is more interested in telling than showing.

I did love the few pages of horror in between and would have continued to read it if it had more of it.

But overall a disappointing read and this author is not for me, sadly. Thanks to Netgalley and Storm for the e-copy.

The Haunting on West 10th Street, by Helen Phifer was a ⭐⭐⭐⭐read for me and here is why....
I really enjoyed this book and the paranormal element was just enough to keep me spooked. The characters are likable and well developed. I thought the dual timelines were done nicely and I was eager to see the stories come together. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a nice little scare while diving into a great story filled with interesting characters.
Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Helen Phifer for the ARC copy!

So, I started reading this book without paying once again to the title. And, as I’m reading I’m thinking, boy, you must suspend some believe, but I’m still enjoying it! Then, I notice the title has the word “horror” in it. And, true to the word, there are definitely some horror aspects to this book, but , hey, some people might still believe that this could happen! It was an easy, enjoyable read.The majority of the characters are very likable! And, beyond the horror, it is a good mystery, detective book! So, take a lazy afternoon and enjoy!! Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

really enjoyed this read.
Ghost of New York book one.
As we meet NYPD Homicide Detective Maria Miller and her partner Frankie Conroy, on the trail of a large Homicide at West 10th Street a suspect in the new apartments, walking up the creaky stairs, then that coppery smell hits Maria and its not a pretty sight.
This book also takes us back in time to 1952 in West 10th Street and Emilia Carter these two stories bond together.
A powerful book that I was hooked reading, excellent right through

Well first off it’s not really a haunting, as haunting are ghosts. I didn’t get into this book until all most the middle. It starts off right away with a murder and than instantly changes narrative to a different year and person. I found it hard to keep track at first and you don’t have a chance to know who’s involved with what. Once you get into the rhythm and start to know the characters it gets easier to be involved in the story. I’m not sure if I would recommend it or not. #TheHauntingonWest10thStreet #NetGalley

Although I am not a huge fan of the Horror genre, each year I choose a horror book to read during the weeks leading up to Halloween. This year I chose The Haunting on West 10th Street, written by Helen Phifer, which is set to be published by Storm Publishing in October 2023. The story line is pretty much told by the title. The author spent a good deal of time on character development, which I appreciated. Characters were complex, strong with lots of baggage. I especially love the way she handled the protagonist Maria and her partner Frankie of the New York City Police Department. The author also did a good job of interweaving the crimes of the past with those of the present.

What the story lacked however was any real ‘scare’ factor. Yeah, the house was haunted . . . yeah, there were gruesome murders . . . and of course, there were monsters both human and non, but after closing the book all I felt was “meh”. I had no tense moments or shivers, no need to turn all the lights on, and there were no nightmares. Am I being too harsh? Maybe. But reading a horror book with no real scares is like reading a romance with no love or sex – why bother?

Rating: 2 Stars

p.s. I am grateful to the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy. The opinions expressed in this unpaid book review are solely mine.

This felt really different from the other books over read by the author and I wasn't as hooked as I usually am but on saying that, her books have always been amazing so whilst this wasn't quite up there for me, it's still a really good book! I guess I just expect a lot from the author at this point lol.

I love a good creepy story that gets the hairs standing on end and this definitely I'd that! It's not scary but there's definitely creepy atmosphere but up. The characters were well written and it had a good pace, it felt quite a short book but I can't wait to see how the series plays out