Typically I cannot get enough of Helen Phifer but this one left me feeling a little mixed.

I enjoyed the story but of Annie, a police officer on sick leave who on exploring a mansion and has a strange connection to a former resident Annie, who is involved in a love affair with a nasty man.

The two storylines seemed a bit jarring mixed together but on the whole I enjoyed it.

This is an early book from Helen Phifer and her writing has improved massively, especially the Morgan Brookes and Maria Miller series. Not that this is a bad book far from it but I found some of the dialogue weak. Saying that I enjoyed this supernatural tale with plenty of twists to keep you interested. Claudia White man's narration is excellent and would listen to her again. Thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio for this review copy

I recently finished reading "The Ghost House" by Helen Phifer, narrated by Claudia Whiteman, and I have to say, it was quite a ride. However, my overall experience with the book made me feel mixed.

Annie Graham, the protagonist, is a character I wanted to root for right from the start. After years on the police force, her struggles and the haunting scars—both physical and emotional—made her relatable. I appreciated her decision to take a break and become the caretaker of a stunning but crumbling mansion. It felt like the perfect setting for someone looking to escape, but as I read, I realized that the house itself was almost a character in its own right—creepy, alluring, and filled with secrets.

As Annie starts to explore the mansion, she uncovers the diary of a former resident, Alice, and begins to unearth a dark history tied to a series of murders from over a century ago. This premise had all the makings of a chilling mystery, and there were moments when I was genuinely intrigued, especially during the diary excerpts. However, as the story unfolded, I found the narrative to be strangely convoluted. There were numerous threads, and I felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of plotlines and revelations being presented. With so many elements at play, it often felt like the story was pulling me in too many directions, leaving me with a bit of narrative whiplash.

While the pacing initially kept my interest alive, it eventually became a bit frenetic, particularly when Annie's unofficial investigation into the missing girl turned into a hunt for a serial killer. It felt like history was trying to repeat itself too many times, and I struggled to keep track of the connections and characters that flowed in and out of the story.

Claudia Whiteman’s narration was solid—her voice was engaging and suited the eerie atmosphere of the book. She did a commendable job bringing Annie to life, but I do believe that the convoluted storyline made it difficult for me to connect with the characters on a deeper level.

"The Ghost House" definitely has its moments of suspense and intrigue, but for me, it fell short in execution. I wanted a tighter narrative that would complement the spooky and mysterious setting, but instead, I found myself grappling with a story that felt overcomplicated. If you enjoy ghostly tales with a historical twist and don’t mind a few plot tangents, this book might appeal to you. For my taste, however, it just had too many elements competing for attention, leaving me longing for a clearer path amidst the shadows of the past.

It seems this title is another that’s recently been made available for audio. I really love the fact that more titles are becoming available all the time. I really do miss physical copies. So it’s nice to still feel included. This has dated though, I must say, especially given the language and relationships between the police characters.

I had a quick look at other reviews to see if it was a me thing, while I obviously didn’t see the written work and the narration really was brilliant, I could tell that there were issues with punctuation and grammar it crossed over into the audio, which was a pity. You can tell where punctuation should’ve been, but to be honest it didn’t ruin my experience of the novel. Frankly it was all a bit silly, I love a dual timeline story, and when you consider that it is a ghost story it works, not perfectly by any means, but it was a cosy listen that didn’t require a lot of thinking. I’ve no idea how the rest of the series is pitched. If it continues as a detective series I’d like it to be a bit more serious.

2.5 ⭐️ rounded up due to the narration being so well delivered.

My appreciation to Harper Collins U.K. audio and NetGalley for this ELC 🎧