Member Reviews
Not one for the faint hearted, this book has it all murder, gore, paranormal events and twists. Did keep me interested until the end, although not my usual genre. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy
This is a teasing, tantalising, twisted story that kept me on the edge of my seat! It’s dark, atmospheric and had me glancing over my shoulder as I read. As the tension racks up, the creepiness does too, making me feel uneasy but compelled to read on. It’s a really good story, very well written, with a strong cast of characters that really drove the story on. I think that Maria and Frankie make a great team, and look forward to reading more of their adventures!
This book was different than what I normally read/listen to. I really enjoyed that it had a mix of everything from light romance to paranormal activity. One thing I did not like was that I felt that it was a bit too descriptive in a few scenes, and my weak stomach did not like that (lol). I really enjoyed the switching from the present day to the past, even though you had to pay close attention to understand what setting it was in in any given moment. The story was very well written and had me wanting more. I will be reading the rest of this series whenever it is written!
It’s not my genre - but that being said I did enjoy it - but not a book for the faint hearted to read at bed time. I spread it out over my lunch breaks at work and to be honest did enjoy it.
"The Haunting on West 10th Street" is an excellent book that skillfully combines elements of horror, the supernatural, romance, murder, thriller, and detective genres. Phifer's writing is both well-crafted and accessible, making it an easy and quick read. With its irresistible blend of supernatural intrigue and murder mystery, this book is the dark and delicious secret you'll want to share with everyone.
The story unfolds with a dual timeline, alternating between the past and the present, effectively showing how a haunting that began in the past continues to affect the present. This narrative structure adds depth and intrigue to the plot, keeping readers engaged. One of the standout features of the book is the well-developed characters who populate its pages. They are relatable and add depth to the story, making it easy for readers to connect with them.
Phifer masterfully weaves suspense and mystery throughout the narrative, keeping readers guessing with plenty of red herrings. While there are definite horror aspects to the book, it leans more towards being a paranormal thriller than outright horror. The gruesome murders and the ominous presence she creates contribute to the overall creepiness and enjoyment of the story. Phifer's storytelling prowess shines as she conjures a hauntingly vivid world where the line between the living and the dead blurs into a captivating nightmare.
The book strikes a great balance between detective and supernatural elements, offering a unique mix that keeps the reader engaged. It's a suspenseful read that also manages to incorporate moments of humor, making it a well-rounded experience. One minor criticism lies in the handling of some character reveals. Some reveals later in the story may leave readers flipping back through the pages to recall their significance. It would have been preferable for characters with a major role in the story to receive more backstory and development.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this title.
This was a quick read, but I really didn't buy in to the story. The characters were poorly developed and the romance sub plot didn't contribute to the story. The supernatural/horror was nothing new and everything seemed so rushed that it lacked any suspense.
Things I liked about this book: It had short chapters and was an overall short book. Things I didn't like: Everything else.
Book Review 📚
The Haunting on West 10th Street by Helen Phifer - 4/5 ⭐
A supernatural crime thriller that combines murder, romance and supernatural in one genre. Based through multiple POVs and timelines, it's a perfect read for October.
The story and plot was phenomenal. It kept you engaged and hooked from the very first page. There's twists and turns, drama and suspense. It's the perfect October read, right around the corner from Halloween with the spooky supernatural vibe it has going on.
Beautifully written from Phifer and I thoroughly enjoyed the multiple POVs, with great description and detail throughout so it's all laid bare. I'll always be a fan of thriller and this one is not just thriller, there are several genres to consider but they all go together so naturally it's not to much.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.
This is the perfect October read!!! Just the right amount of spooky! There has been something not right at the home on West 10th Street for many years and it’s not human!
When Maria Miller (the detective that’s assigned an old murder case) discovers way more than anyone in the last 60 years and it may just kill her!
Thank you so much to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this wonderful Paranormal thriller! My opinions are my own.
The Haunting on West 10th Street by Helen Phifer is a captivating and spine-tingling supernatural crime thriller that expertly blends horror, the supernatural, romance, murder, and detective genres. Detective Maria Miller is thrust into a chilling world where a gruesome murder in a Greenwich Village brownstone has eerie ties to the supernatural, blurring the lines between the living and the dead. With well-crafted characters, a dual timeline narrative, and a perfect balance of suspense and mystery, Phifer's storytelling prowess shines. While it leans more towards a paranormal thriller than outright horror, the story keeps readers on edge with its gruesome murders and an ominous presence. Though some character reveals may benefit from more backstory, this book offers a satisfying blend of suspense, mystery, and the supernatural, making it a must-read for fans of the genre and a promising start to a new series.
The Haunting on West 10th Street by Helen Phifer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a great occult thriller. It is told in several point of views and time periods. I was looking for a scary, spooky read for October and this delivered. The characters are amazing. They are strong women who won’t let anything stop them from getting to the truth. The story was well written and kept you engaged from the first page. Detective Maria Miller, and her partner Frankie are called to a murder at a New York brownstone. They quickly learn that an identical murder happened there in 1952. They have to find a killer of both women and that’s not an easy given all the supernatural aspects they encounter.
If you like spooky, paranormal suspense, you will love this read! Thank you NetGalley and Storm for the opportunity to read and give my honest opinion.
Absolutely loved this book!
Not my usual type of book. However it kept me hooked right till the end. If you are a fan of paranormal crime books. Then I would 100% read this book.
Will be looking out for the authors other books!
Thank you!
The Haunting on West 10th Street, by Helen Fifer. The #1 book in Detective Maria Miller series. Dual Timelines, well paced, supernatural thriller.
I rate this a 3.75 (4 stars)
This was a quick, well written read about a detective, Maria Miller and her partner Frankie Conroy. The two time lines are about a present case matching a cold case from 70 years ago, 1952. I did enjoy the mix of paranormal and mystery/murder.
My one problem is I felt like the main characters fell a little flat for me but I am hoping to see them continue to develop through the series. I did enjoy Helen’s writing so I am going to try some of her other books.
Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
*If gory is not your cup of tea I would pass on this book.
Reading Between the Wines book review #123/115(met goal in Sept!) for 2023:
Rating: 1 🍷
Book: The Haunting on West 10th Street
Author: Helen Phifer
Available Now!!
Sipping thoughts: I love Helen Phifer, especially her Detective Morgan Brooks series. I did not like this book however. I kind of feel like I must have missed something because it felt like nothing new happened after the main event. I am not a horror fan but I will read anything by Phifer. I know my opinion is one that is in the minority which I am happy about because I really want this book to do well.
Cheers and thank you to @StormPublishing and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @TheHauntingOnWest10thStreet.
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This book was a fast, fun occult thriller, a great read for October. Told from several points of view and from two different time periods, the heroes of the story are certainly the women. They are strong, brave, and dedicated to their friends and family. The majority of the male characters are good and supportive, but the (human) villain is essentially an incel. All the characters really jumped off the page, including our incel bad guy. He read very real even though I didn’t really know there were incels in the 50s, though upon reflection… it makes sense that there were! I really enjoyed the way the storylines from both time periods merged and came together and the way the story both resolved itself and set up the future books in the series, which I think I will enjoy reading!
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm publishing for the advance copy of The Haunting on West 10th Street by Helen Phifer.
I didn’t realise when I started reading this book it was a horror, thought it was crime.
Far too scary for me, give me a gruesome murder any day. But f you enjoy the supernatural this one’s for you.
Awarded 4 stars because it scared me.
This was the first book I have read by Helen Phifer and let me tel you it won't be my last!! I absolutely devoured this book. I love that this book made me get goosebumps and gave me the creeps. This was a great paranormal thriller! You will get sucked into these characters and Helen will leave you wanting more! I HIGHLY recommend this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC in advance for my honest opinion.
Whoa!!!!!
Guys I love it !!!!!
I had amazing nightmares 🤣🫣
Usually a book says that it's scary and they're not, for me, but this one totally was. And I truly enjoyed all the character and the plot!!! Loved how anything was exaggerated and how the author was able to keep the reader sitting and reading!!!! Page after page there's something happening. Could be the relationships, the friendships, the stories of the past, the demons, the mix of personalities!!!! There's so much going on but written in such a great way.
I highly recommend this one!!!!!!! Now, it is scary, it dos make you think BUT nothing imposible to read!!!!
Synopsis: When Detective Maria Miller and her partner, Frankie, arrive at a crime scene upstairs in an old brownstone in NYC, they are shocked at the brutality of the scene before them and sense that this crime goes deeper than the eyes can see. The crime is identical to the murder of an actress sixty years before, but is it a coincidence or could they be connected? Maria and Frankie are given the task to solve a case that has gone cold for many years and catch the person who is responsible for these hideous acts. As they dive deeper into the case, the questions begin to rise and they can’t help but wonder, is this the work of the typical murderer, or is there something more sinister, dark and truly evil at play?
Review:⭐️⭐️.5/5
The Haunting on West 10th Street, given the title I had high expectations going into this book, thinking it would be a spooky, horror story. However, I found it to be more of an investigation/cold case story with paranormal aspects and I did not feel that the details ever built up to be that “scary”. I feel like the plot of the story was very predictable and all conflict was quickly solved without tension and shock building. I also feel like the characters lacked development and due to this I never really felt attached to them throughout the story and wish I had gotten to know them better. I think there was an attempt to elaborate on too many plot points in an attempt to develop the characters, instead of fully developing prior plot points and in turn taking away from the story. For example, the love triangle in the story felt forced and unnecessary for the overall plot of the story, as well as the details of a marriage falling apart. I feel like there were too many characters, details and events thrown in all at once that could have been left out to focus on the main plot (the crime) instead as I feel it drew attention away from the case. I do like how the novel was written from dual timelines and I felt that the present day and past timelines were well written in a way that they flowed together. Since I enjoyed how the timelines were written, I wish that through these timelines we had gotten more build up and details involving actual aspects of the case including getting to know the suspect and victims better so we could truly feel the evil that had taken over. I feel like the resolution to the actual case was also a little rushed and disappointing, and overall the book left me wanting more!
Before I started reading, I had no idea what to expect, but as soon as I did, I became completely engrossed in the story and the characters. It’s safe to say I was hooked from the very first page. I loved the dual timeline, which flits between 1952 and present day. I felt the author hit the balance perfectly, with each timeline working seamlessly with the other. The characters are believable, likeable, and well written – I felt an instant affection for the impeccably dressed Miss Green.
NYPD Homicide detectives Maria and Frankie. They deal with the graphics and the unflinching facts. For them, catching bad guys (and girls) is nothing new. But when a murder takes place at a Greenwich Village brownstone in what appears to be a quiet neighborhood, Maria is left with more unanswered questions and a cold case. But Maria and Frankie soon learn that this isn't the only horrifying murder to take place in this brownstone. This novel does an excellent job of connecting everything together since it uses two perspectives: Maria's present-day perspective and Emilia's historical perspective. As she pursues the case, Maria becomes the killer's next victim, but will Frankie and anybody else from the past help save her in time?
I adored this book utterly. It was incredibly simple and quick to read. Maria and Frankie have a great relationship, and I hope to read more books with them in the future. I had never read anything by this author before, so I was thrilled to discover another one whose books I liked.
I will admit some of the verbiage didn't make sense to me, I found myself confused with the wording. I would send snippets to my friend to see if they understood the same thing that I did. other than this I highly recommend this book. I just assumed the phrases that were used are native to where the author is located. There was parts of this book that had me cringing and there was parts of this book that had me laughing outloud. I kept finding myself grabbing this book in the middle of the night.
For my arc, I'm grateful to Storm Publishing and Net Galley.