I am a huge fan of Helen Phifer and her Morgan Brooks series was excited to see a new book in the offering.

So this was completely different to the usual offerings of Helen I'll call it a paranormal detective mystery.

Told in two time lines with a present case matching a cold case from 70 years ago introducing Maria and Frankie.

An entaining read with some wonderful characters, the plot was well thought out, the writing flowed and connected with a good pace.

Interested to see if there will be a follow up.

I’d like to thank Storm Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Haunting on West 10th Street’ written by Helen Phifer in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

New York Detectives Maria Miller and Frankie Conroy are called out to a homicide at West 10th Street and immediately on entering Maria feels a cold chill run down her spine, not surprising when they discover what’s in the kitchen in the apartment on the top floor. Three years later they’re trying to solve the cold case when they become aware of a similar crime that happened sixty years ago.

I’m a great fan of Helen Phifer and enjoy reading of DC Morgan Brookes and Dr Beth Adams in the Lake District so maybe it’s for that reason I’ve found it difficult to get into ‘The Haunting on West 10th Street’. I feel that the author is trying too hard to make it American and before I reached chapter five I’d lost count of the number of times ‘brownstones’ were mentioned. I don’t normally read supernatural thrillers but as it was written by a favourite author I thought I’d give it a try, and although well-written I’ve not really been able to get into the story though I liked the characters of the two detectives, and couldn’t work up enough enthusiasm to finish it. I’m sorry I haven’t enjoyed it as much as the author’s other novels but this is purely my own opinion and I’ll look forward to reading her next one.

The Haunting on West 10th Street is a thriller, horror, supernatural and police procedural that was an amazing book to read. This story was about two ritualistic murders that are 70 years apart with the same MOs that Detective Miller and her partner Frankie are trying to solve. The book does tell it in two time lines present and then back in the 50s but with this book it works so well and each era is so interesting. The characters are likeable and so well written. The author did an amazing job writing this book and I would highly recommend this book to others. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm publishing for this ARC read in exchange for my honest review.

Huge thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!

The Haunting on West 10th Street tells the story of Detective Maria Miller as she works on a case that has spanned over decades. A murder that Maria was unable to solve three years prior has just come back on her desk, and now she finds out that there is so much more to the story than she thought. I really wanted to like this book. Horror, crime, a strong female protagonist? Yes please. However, it ended up falling pretty flat for me. This is the perfect case of too much all at once. We have a fascinating story line that jumps between the 50’s and the present, but so many parts of the book had some open ends that were never closed. Some are big questions, like how Ryan came to have the book that James used in the 50’s. Others though were just strange continuity issues, like Emilia saying she was going to visit James the next morning, and then just seemed to forget all about it. (Which I was pretty miffed about because we have almost zero background on why he did it in the first place.)
I also felt like the characters were pretty flat. None of them spoke naturally, they had typical backstories, and I never felt like I was able to get into the head of any of them. For example, why was Emilia so attached to Mae after seeing her twice? I’m not saying it isn’t plausible, but I feel like they barely shared enough of a connection to warrant it, and it felt like there should be more to the story in that area.
I also felt like the ending was rushed. The whole book we are leading up to this final moment, and it was done in a matter of paragraphs. It just ended up focusing on Maria and her relationships with the two men in a “will they or won’t they?” way. I would definitely say this is more of your classic detective series book rather than a paranormal thriller.
Overall, the plot was fascinating, and it was what kept me going, but the writing just wasn’t for me. I went in wanting a paranormal horror, but instead left with a cliche “strong girl finally lets her guard down for the right man” romance story with a demon sprinkled in every now and then.

Very interesting story. I really enjoyed the dual timelines! This was a very fast-paced read & it kept me on my toes waiting for what was going to happen next. I loved different perspectives from each character. As someone who loves ghost stories and detective/true crime - this was a great mix of both of those items!

Thank You for the review copy.
This is a very enjoyable book with a haunted house that has elements of being a thriller and horror fiction.
The story is split into two timelines which is one of my favourite ways of stories being presented.
It is one of those books which you will enjoy reading without having to think too much, the best kind in my mind.

Definitely worth a read.

Cumbria based author Helen Phifer after several trips to America had enough material to write a supernatural thriller, and this book is the result. Apparently the places mentioned in the book and the haunted house do exist. A quick read but for me not scary but well written. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the to ARC this book.

I really liked this novel. It is a very interesting mix of a detective story and a paranormal tale. I don’t think I’ve ever read this sort of plot before, and I would certainly love to do it again.

I have to say the paranormal side of the plot was more appealing to me than the detective side of the story. I absolutely loved to learn about what happened in 1952 and those flashback chapters are my favorites, along with the present-time chapters following the same characters decades older. This plot was engaging and quite sinister and dark.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

A brutal murder occurs in the same house decades apart and Detective Maria Miller is tasked to investigate.
Maria discovers that both murders have their ties in witchcraft and the occult she has to question whether real evil exists.
This is an exceptional read, very spooky in time for Halloween!
Great plot and characters and really well paced - if you like a chiller then this is for you

Detective Maria Miller is tasked with investigating a brutal murder eerily similar to another murder that occurred in the same home decades prior. When Maria discovers both murders have ties to witchcraft and the occult, she is forced to confront the possibility that evil exists in many different forms. Will Maria be able to find the killer before evil prevails?

The Haunting on West 10th Street was an incredible read. I had been craving an extra spooky thriller and this book surpassed my expectations. It was Stephen King level creepy complete with satanic rituals and otherworldly hauntings. This was the kind of book that made me double-check the locks on my doors at night and I devoured every single page. The characters were layered and interesting and the plot was superb. I wished the ending packed a bit more punch, but I loved this book overall. If you’re in the mood for a dark thriller, you need to get your hands on a copy of this book!

The Haunting on West 10th Street is a gripping tale of murder, mystery, and the supernatural that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am happy to award it 4 stars.

What makes this book stand out is its clever use of multiple points of view. The seamless transitions between different timelines and characters added depth to the narrative and allowed us to delve into the backstory of a similar murder that occurred decades ago. The recurring theme of a satanic ritual and the mysterious disappearance of body parts kept me eagerly turning the pages.

The characters in the story are well-crafted and relatable, particularly Maria, who is a strong and determined protagonist. I found myself genuinely caring about her and her pursuit of the truth. I was also intrigued by the supporting characters, and I hope there will be a second book in the series to see how their relationships continue to develop.

The Haunting on West 10th Street is a well-paced and captivating thriller that seamlessly weaves together crime, the supernatural, and a richly developed cast of characters. It's a book that will keep you guessing until the very end, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a touch of the paranormal. I look forward to more from this author and this intriguing series.

Sending my gratitude and a big thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange of my honest views and thoughts!

This was an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Helen Phifer is a new author to me, but I am guessing not for long. I chose this book because I thought it was perfect for October. Lots of spooky vibes. This story has a dual timeline. It starts with a murder in 1952 in an attic bedroom of a home that later becomes an apartment building. The corpse is found beheaded with her limbs detached. It is mirrored with a similar death in the same attic apartment in current time. A police officer Maria Miller is one of the officers who investigates the death. She learns about the prior death and tries to make any kind of connection. In the meantime, she is juggling two love interests, one her unhappily married partner and a millionaire. Can the murders be connected after so many years? That was my one point with this story that I felt was weak. I don't recall how the current day murderer happened upon the evil to murder again? I guess that wasn't explained well enough for me. The writing is good, characters are interesting, and the plot was able to hold me to complete the novel. Except for that one weak (to me) part regarding the current murderer, I enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to anyone who likes horror.

Pacy, Atmospheric..
The investigation of a crime turns haunting in this pacy, atmospheric tale featuring Detective Maria Miller. From the very first moment of entering the apparent crime scene, the detective is horribly aware that the circumstances are far from usual - not simply the grotesque and grisly nature of the crime itself, but some presence that she simply cannot put her finger on. When echoes of a crime from the past begin to emerge. similarities will be drawn. With a deftly drawn and credible cast, an intriguing premise and a well executed dual timeline this is an immersive and compelling read from the off - where the atmosphere remains chilling throughout.

A clever book that appeals across 2 genres!
For those of us more skeptical about the spooky side the detective story is still an absolute cracker and for those who enjoy the supernatural stance the detective story does not detract from the building terror!
A great read with some lovely characters that really carry the flow of the story

This book had a really cool concept that I actually think would make a good movie. It was dark and creepy. Unfortunately, it didn’t really work for me, I think it could have been longer and more developed.

Murder, the Occult, demons, and 2 identical murders several decades years apart.

I read the blurb on this and it is absolutely in my wheelhouse.
It's well written with an excellent female lead and some badass OAPs too!

Definitely a great spooky season read as there is this feeling of dread and darkness running the whole way through.

I cannot wait to see where the author takes Maria & her partner & the upcoming series next! It's gonna be an auto read series for me!

Overall, this book was a good read but I don't think I'd recommend it to a friend. I felt like there were a lot of genres mixed in here between crime, thriller, horror and supernatural which just made the focus of this book all over the place. I liked the characters, especially Maria. I liked how it went between two different timelines but I did find myself way more interesting in the past timeline (1950s). I didn't find this book particularly creepy or scary when it comes to horror.

This book was written well, it just wasn’t for me.

~This book was given by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

4 stars ⭐️

As horror/thriller fan, I really enjoyed “The Haunting on West 10th Street”! The beginning feels a bit like a typical crime/mystery thriller, but then it really picks up. The dual timelines were done really well, The characters are strong, and the plot is gripping.

There is a frequent use of British vocabulary and spellings, which isn’t necessarily bad, but it did pull me out of the immersion of the story. The story takes place in NYC and I believe the main character is supposed to be American, so it was a bit jarring. As an American myself, I sometimes had to re-read a sentence here and there, to decipher the “British terms”.

I really enjoyed the paranormal elements and felt like I was watching a thrilling horror movie, curled up on my couch and peeking at the screen from behind my fingers. I fully recommend “The Haunting on West 10th Street” & the Oct 19th release date makes it a perfect spooky Halloween read! 👻

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. This book was wonderfully haunting and filled with action. A perfect read for spooky season! The characters were fairly well-developed, the plot was surprising, and the dialogue was my favorite part. I’d recommend this book!