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Ghost Mother
Win a free print copy of this book!
1 day and 00:30:54
10 copies available
U.S. only
Ghost Mother is a mesmerizing psychological ghost story that blurs the thin line between reality and delusion. Lilly Bly desperately wants to have a baby. She is struggling with infertility and bad spending habits when her husband, Jack, gets a new job that moves them from Chicago to a small town in Wisconsin. Impractical Lilly falls in love with a decrepit mansion well out of their price range—she is convinced that she will finally get pregnant and have a baby in this house—and Jack reluctantly agrees to buy the wreck. But when Lilly learns that her dream house was the site of a gruesome triple homicide/suicide in the 1950s, she begins to experience strange occurrences that soon lead her to believe the house is haunted. Are her ghostly encounters real, or is this a cascading mental breakdown? As Lilly learns more about the deaths and her visions become increasingly vivid, her relationship with Jack deteriorates, leading to a dramatic and irreversible climax.Perfect for fans of classic, gothic horror fiction, like Henry James’s The Turn of the Screw and Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, as well as contemporary suspense and horror fiction by everyone from Stephen King to Ruth Ware.
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2024
About the author
Kelly Dwyer
3 books147 followersHello! I'm Kelly Dwyer, and I'm the author of GHOST MOTHER, published by Union Square & Co., August 2024, as well as two other novels. GHOST MOTHER asks the question, "Is the house really haunted? Or is the narrator losing touch with reality?" (After you read the novel, please let me know what you think!)
A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and Oberlin College, I grew up in San Pedro, California, and now divide my time between Baraboo (near Madison) Wisconsin, and Los Angeles. Please visit
http://www.kellydwyerauthor.com/
and let's connect here on Goodreads and on Instagram!
https://www.instagram.com/kellydwyera...
A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and Oberlin College, I grew up in San Pedro, California, and now divide my time between Baraboo (near Madison) Wisconsin, and Los Angeles. Please visit
http://www.kellydwyerauthor.com/
and let's connect here on Goodreads and on Instagram!
https://www.instagram.com/kellydwyera...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
September 28, 2024
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Ghost Mother was an engaging and heart-filled story. It's highly-readable, simply told and feels like it could be enjoyed by a wide-variety of Readers.
I would especially recommend it to Supernatural Horror (Light) Readers, who may be looking more for vibes, than anything too scary, or disturbing.
This story follows Lilly Bly, who is married and desperately wants to have a baby. She's suffered losses in this area already and it's a sensitive topic for her.
Her husband, Jake, has just gotten a new job and they are moving from Chicago to a small town in Wisconsin because of that. Lilly is okay with it. She's ready for a fresh start and when she sees the decrepit mansion that could be their potential new home, she falls in love.
It's well out of their price range, but Lilly is able to convince Jack to purchase the dilapidated property. She swears she'll get a job to help make the payments. It's worth it to her, she just knows she'll finally become a mother in this house.
After they move in though, Lilly has a tough time getting herself together and motivated. Jack travels a lot for work, so she's on her own quite a bit.
It's not long after they move in that Lilly learns their new home was the site of a gruesome triple homicide in the 1950s. They don't call it the Murder House for nothing...
As she experiences more unexplained phenomenon at the house, she's led to believe it could be haunted. It would make sense, right? Terrible things have happened there.
She begins to research the house and its dark past, determined to get to the bottom of what she is experiencing.
While she is doing so though, the rest of her life is being neglected. Her husband, the household, she's making poor choices, she's losing time. Is the house really haunted, or are these all signs of an escalating mental breakdown?
As mentioned above, I really enjoyed my time with this story. I felt for Lilly. She wanted to be a mother so badly, and as things were spiraling, I wanted to just give her a hug, to tell her that everything was going to be okay.
At the same time, she was making choices that simultaneously made me want to shake her back into reality. I think the fact that I felt so much for this main character, who was going through something that I've never personally experienced, but felt so much for, is a sign of great writing.
I've never read from Kelly Dwyer before, but she's found a fan in me, and I hope to get more from her.
I was impressed with how quickly I became immersed and attached to this story. There's been a few other 'expectant or want to be' mother books that I've read in the past year or so that have driven me absolutely batty.
Full disclosure, I have no children, by choice, and have never, ever had that want. So, for me, it's generally hard to connect with the characters who that is their sole desire.
I didn't feel that with Lilly. Even though she was wanting to be a mother more than anything else, it was presented in such a way where she didn't lose her identity to that want. I could connect to her and feel for her, even though our lives are vastly different.
Again, I think this is due to the quality of Dwyer's writing; the way she created this character. Lilly wasn't just pigeon-holed into the fact that she wanted to have a child. She had layers, which I appreciated.
Additionally, this novel has my favorite thing, atmosphere. That's my number one. The thing I look for most in my Dark Fiction. I want atmosphere, a true sense of place, I want to feel like I'm there, to see everything in my mind's eye and that was definitely the case here.
With this being said, and this doesn't negate from anything the author has done here, but I do feel like this will work best for Readers who are either newer to the Horror genre, or who want the vibes, but to not actually feel scared.
I'm not saying I need Horror to be scary, because I completely recognize that there is so much more to this nuanced genre than that one parameter, however, this did feel way more about the vibes to me than anything else.
With this being said, I would recommend this to anyone who loves a Supernatural Mystery with a lush Haunted House setting. I would also recommend the audiobook format, fabulously narrated by Renata Friedman.
Thank you to the publisher, Dreamscape Media, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
I had a lot of fun with this story and look forward to more from Kelly Dwyer. I hope she stays in this wheelhouse, because it was really well executed!
Ghost Mother was an engaging and heart-filled story. It's highly-readable, simply told and feels like it could be enjoyed by a wide-variety of Readers.
I would especially recommend it to Supernatural Horror (Light) Readers, who may be looking more for vibes, than anything too scary, or disturbing.
This story follows Lilly Bly, who is married and desperately wants to have a baby. She's suffered losses in this area already and it's a sensitive topic for her.
Her husband, Jake, has just gotten a new job and they are moving from Chicago to a small town in Wisconsin because of that. Lilly is okay with it. She's ready for a fresh start and when she sees the decrepit mansion that could be their potential new home, she falls in love.
It's well out of their price range, but Lilly is able to convince Jack to purchase the dilapidated property. She swears she'll get a job to help make the payments. It's worth it to her, she just knows she'll finally become a mother in this house.
After they move in though, Lilly has a tough time getting herself together and motivated. Jack travels a lot for work, so she's on her own quite a bit.
It's not long after they move in that Lilly learns their new home was the site of a gruesome triple homicide in the 1950s. They don't call it the Murder House for nothing...
As she experiences more unexplained phenomenon at the house, she's led to believe it could be haunted. It would make sense, right? Terrible things have happened there.
She begins to research the house and its dark past, determined to get to the bottom of what she is experiencing.
While she is doing so though, the rest of her life is being neglected. Her husband, the household, she's making poor choices, she's losing time. Is the house really haunted, or are these all signs of an escalating mental breakdown?
As mentioned above, I really enjoyed my time with this story. I felt for Lilly. She wanted to be a mother so badly, and as things were spiraling, I wanted to just give her a hug, to tell her that everything was going to be okay.
At the same time, she was making choices that simultaneously made me want to shake her back into reality. I think the fact that I felt so much for this main character, who was going through something that I've never personally experienced, but felt so much for, is a sign of great writing.
I've never read from Kelly Dwyer before, but she's found a fan in me, and I hope to get more from her.
I was impressed with how quickly I became immersed and attached to this story. There's been a few other 'expectant or want to be' mother books that I've read in the past year or so that have driven me absolutely batty.
Full disclosure, I have no children, by choice, and have never, ever had that want. So, for me, it's generally hard to connect with the characters who that is their sole desire.
I didn't feel that with Lilly. Even though she was wanting to be a mother more than anything else, it was presented in such a way where she didn't lose her identity to that want. I could connect to her and feel for her, even though our lives are vastly different.
Again, I think this is due to the quality of Dwyer's writing; the way she created this character. Lilly wasn't just pigeon-holed into the fact that she wanted to have a child. She had layers, which I appreciated.
Additionally, this novel has my favorite thing, atmosphere. That's my number one. The thing I look for most in my Dark Fiction. I want atmosphere, a true sense of place, I want to feel like I'm there, to see everything in my mind's eye and that was definitely the case here.
With this being said, and this doesn't negate from anything the author has done here, but I do feel like this will work best for Readers who are either newer to the Horror genre, or who want the vibes, but to not actually feel scared.
I'm not saying I need Horror to be scary, because I completely recognize that there is so much more to this nuanced genre than that one parameter, however, this did feel way more about the vibes to me than anything else.
With this being said, I would recommend this to anyone who loves a Supernatural Mystery with a lush Haunted House setting. I would also recommend the audiobook format, fabulously narrated by Renata Friedman.
Thank you to the publisher, Dreamscape Media, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
I had a lot of fun with this story and look forward to more from Kelly Dwyer. I hope she stays in this wheelhouse, because it was really well executed!
July 24, 2024
Do you like your books to have a palpable sense of never-ending dread and disquiet? Do you like positively infuriating unreliable narrators that cause you great anxiety? Then get your claws on GHOST MOTHER, The Haunting of Hill House X AHS Murder House in this haunting psychological ghost story steeped in love, grief, mystery and supernatural horror.
A young woman becomes enamored with an ancient mansion, only to discover that her ideal home was the scene of a triple murder/suicide in the 1950s. She starts encountering strange events, leading her to suspect that the house is haunted. And so, the timeless question remains for the reader to ponder, is this woman experiencing a mental breakdown, or is she actually seeing dead people.
I found myself unable to look away from our train wreck of a protagonist as she hurtles headlong into bad decisions and questionable behavior, the characterization was crafted with care, a complex character who was both deeply flawed and her struggles, painfully relatable, keeping the reader in a maelstrom of conflicting emotions, which only adds to the mounting tension and suspicion.
Incredibly atmospheric and chilling the author does an amazing job of blurring the lines of reality and creating constant unease. Overall this was a great haunted house story with a twist!
Thank you so much to the author for sending me an eArC
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.
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A young woman becomes enamored with an ancient mansion, only to discover that her ideal home was the scene of a triple murder/suicide in the 1950s. She starts encountering strange events, leading her to suspect that the house is haunted. And so, the timeless question remains for the reader to ponder, is this woman experiencing a mental breakdown, or is she actually seeing dead people.
I found myself unable to look away from our train wreck of a protagonist as she hurtles headlong into bad decisions and questionable behavior, the characterization was crafted with care, a complex character who was both deeply flawed and her struggles, painfully relatable, keeping the reader in a maelstrom of conflicting emotions, which only adds to the mounting tension and suspicion.
Incredibly atmospheric and chilling the author does an amazing job of blurring the lines of reality and creating constant unease. Overall this was a great haunted house story with a twist!
Thank you so much to the author for sending me an eArC
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February 7, 2024
Just left my review on Edelweiss. Final review on Monday for Patreon.
Recommendation:
I was entertained the whole time. The author does a remarkable job of building suspense, tension, and suspicion. I had fun collecting breadcrumbs and developing theories. There are a lot of fun surprises. Around the 65% mark, I sat up a little straighter and appreciated the dark direction this story was headed. Please be aware of those triggers.
CW: suicide and suicidal ideation, topics and feelings surrounding motherhood and pregnancy; loss of. Child death
Comps: The Push by Ashley Audrain, The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Recommendation:
I was entertained the whole time. The author does a remarkable job of building suspense, tension, and suspicion. I had fun collecting breadcrumbs and developing theories. There are a lot of fun surprises. Around the 65% mark, I sat up a little straighter and appreciated the dark direction this story was headed. Please be aware of those triggers.
CW: suicide and suicidal ideation, topics and feelings surrounding motherhood and pregnancy; loss of. Child death
Comps: The Push by Ashley Audrain, The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
July 31, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up - thank you the the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This book reminded me of almost every haunted house book I have come across and that’s not necessarily a bad thing and in this particular case I ate it up. There were times I felt it got a little repetitive and drawn out, but overall I stayed invested throughout. While the storyline itself isn’t very unique, I did find it to be very enjoyable and entertaining. With the dark vibes of the home, the hiding of the truth from the husband, and crippling debt catching up to the couple, there is a pretty quick descent into madness and I couldn’t look away. There was one aspect to the storyline I had a little trouble getting on board with and found slightly cringe, but with the conclusion of the story turning out the wild way it did I do think it made a lot of sense and could look past it.
Video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNXf16CH/
This book reminded me of almost every haunted house book I have come across and that’s not necessarily a bad thing and in this particular case I ate it up. There were times I felt it got a little repetitive and drawn out, but overall I stayed invested throughout. While the storyline itself isn’t very unique, I did find it to be very enjoyable and entertaining. With the dark vibes of the home, the hiding of the truth from the husband, and crippling debt catching up to the couple, there is a pretty quick descent into madness and I couldn’t look away. There was one aspect to the storyline I had a little trouble getting on board with and found slightly cringe, but with the conclusion of the story turning out the wild way it did I do think it made a lot of sense and could look past it.
Video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNXf16CH/
July 26, 2024
Let me blame myself for this one. The synopsis straight out told me this book wasn’t for me in the very first line, mentioning that the book blurs the line between reality and delusion. How did I miss that? I guess I got excited about a haunted house story and I blocked out the rest. I can see why some might find the book trippy, but as someone who finds the handling of mental illness and delusions this way distasteful, I was not impressed.
But I cannot completely blame myself. Even if this story hadn’t encompassed the very thing I despise, I would have still encountered other issues with it.
What was obvious to me from the start was the lack of subtlety. I hate to sound like a broken record, but telling me everything instead of letting it surface naturally in a story only stifles my enjoyment. So much is laid bare very early on, and I was quickly annoyed with this.
The way the characters felt flimsy and inauthentic didn't help matters. I do especially wonder why the author chose to shape Lilly using countless stereotypes regarding women without any hint of nuance. She had a history that helped her look sympathetic, and this ultimately explained some of her irresponsible choices, but why not give her some redeeming qualities, as well? She should not have been only the product of her trauma and mental illness. We are all more than that.
The themes addressed in Ghost Mother are relevant ones, however, there isn’t anything in this story that is remotely original or unpredictable. It’s full of familiar tropes that lack genuinely creative development. While some may appreciate the familiarity of other stories mashed up within this one, I really wanted a fresher examination of the ideas it aimed to convey, and I don’t think the author proved anything positive through her dissection of potential madness. It is sad that Lilly lacked proper support, and my heart hurts for her in that respect, but I truly do not think this is how that topic should be managed.
I am immensely grateful to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.
But I cannot completely blame myself. Even if this story hadn’t encompassed the very thing I despise, I would have still encountered other issues with it.
What was obvious to me from the start was the lack of subtlety. I hate to sound like a broken record, but telling me everything instead of letting it surface naturally in a story only stifles my enjoyment. So much is laid bare very early on, and I was quickly annoyed with this.
The way the characters felt flimsy and inauthentic didn't help matters. I do especially wonder why the author chose to shape Lilly using countless stereotypes regarding women without any hint of nuance. She had a history that helped her look sympathetic, and this ultimately explained some of her irresponsible choices, but why not give her some redeeming qualities, as well? She should not have been only the product of her trauma and mental illness. We are all more than that.
The themes addressed in Ghost Mother are relevant ones, however, there isn’t anything in this story that is remotely original or unpredictable. It’s full of familiar tropes that lack genuinely creative development. While some may appreciate the familiarity of other stories mashed up within this one, I really wanted a fresher examination of the ideas it aimed to convey, and I don’t think the author proved anything positive through her dissection of potential madness. It is sad that Lilly lacked proper support, and my heart hurts for her in that respect, but I truly do not think this is how that topic should be managed.
I am immensely grateful to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.
August 5, 2024
The nitty-gritty: A haunted house story with literary flair and unexpected emotion, Ghost Mother is the must-read ghost story of summer.
Ghost Mother turned out to be a big surprise and was much different than I expected—in a good way. This is a haunted house story, but it’s also an emotional tale about the main character’s struggle with infertility, mental illness and a deteriorating marriage. Kelly Dwyer has a wonderful literary writing style that I absolutely loved, and she knows how to create a creepy, suspenseful ghost story as well. I want to mention a couple of trigger warnings up front, though. Readers sensitive to discussions of abortion, miscarriage and suicide may want to proceed with caution. The author doesn’t sugar coat anything, mostly because Lilly, the main character, is an open book when it comes to her past experiences.
Lilly and Jack have just bought a house in Haven, Wisconsin, an old 1920s mansion with a colorful history. Jack was reluctant to buy it, especially since it needs so much work, not to mention the couple is in debt and can’t really afford it. But Lilly fell in love the moment she saw it and is sure this will be the house where she finally has a baby. As the two start to settle in, Lilly begins to hear strange noises and even thinks she sees a woman standing at the nursery window. After doing some investigating, she discovers that their house has a tragic history. A circus performer named Birdy Lawrence supposedly shot her husband Billy, killed their eight-year-old daughter Amelia, and then jumped off a nearby cliff to her death. Could the ghostly presence she senses be Birdy? And if so, why is Birdy trying to communicate with her?
Lilly is determined to unearth the truth about the Murder House—the name locals have given their house—and so she begins to hunt for clues. As Lilly learns more about Birdy and her family, past traumas rise to the surface, and Lilly begins to wonder if she’s really seeing ghosts, or if it’s all in her head.
There’s nothing better than a good haunted house story, and Dwyer’s Murder House is full of atmospheric Gothic details, like peeling wallpaper, water damaged floors, crumbling walls and more. The book cover is absolutely perfect for this story. The ghostly elements are subtle but terrifying at times, and I love stories that blur the lines between reality and the supernatural. Are the ghosts real? Or is Lilly truly seeing and hearing things that aren’t there? According to Jack, Lilly is nuts, and she does have a history of mental illness, so it’s up to the reader to decide.
Lilly is a fascinating character, and I ended up really sympathizing with her on an emotional level. She isn’t necessarily easy to like, though. She lies to Jack, she forgets to go into work, and she’s a compulsive spender. But her backstory is heartbreaking. She’s suffered a lot: a couple of miscarriages, the desertion of her mother and the death of her beloved father. Her struggles with infertility were devastating, and there were several emotional scenes that brought tears to my eyes. Despite her faults, Lilly is a very self aware woman who admits her mistakes and shortcomings and wants to be a good person. Because of everything she’s suffered in her past, she considers herself to be “broken,” and this alone endeared her to me.
As Lilly carries out her investigation, we learn bits and pieces of what actually happened that fateful day. Lilly discovers some distant relatives who are still alive and know the truth, but getting them to open up to her isn’t easy. The author also includes flashback scenes from the day of the murder/suicide (saying more about them would be a spoiler, so I’ll resist!) that were some of my favorite parts of the book and gave me The Shining vibes.
The title of the book has a double meaning that I found to be simply brilliant. When Lilly finally solves the mystery of Birdy, Amelia and Bobby, the reader is fervently hoping that her life will take a turn for the better. Aside from one overly dramatic event—although I realize it made everything neatly fall into place—I adored the poignant ending and the way Lilly’s story was resolved. Ghost Mother was an engaging and emotional reading experience, and I can’t wait to see what Kelly Dwyer does next.
Big thanks to the author for providing a review copy.
Ghost Mother turned out to be a big surprise and was much different than I expected—in a good way. This is a haunted house story, but it’s also an emotional tale about the main character’s struggle with infertility, mental illness and a deteriorating marriage. Kelly Dwyer has a wonderful literary writing style that I absolutely loved, and she knows how to create a creepy, suspenseful ghost story as well. I want to mention a couple of trigger warnings up front, though. Readers sensitive to discussions of abortion, miscarriage and suicide may want to proceed with caution. The author doesn’t sugar coat anything, mostly because Lilly, the main character, is an open book when it comes to her past experiences.
Lilly and Jack have just bought a house in Haven, Wisconsin, an old 1920s mansion with a colorful history. Jack was reluctant to buy it, especially since it needs so much work, not to mention the couple is in debt and can’t really afford it. But Lilly fell in love the moment she saw it and is sure this will be the house where she finally has a baby. As the two start to settle in, Lilly begins to hear strange noises and even thinks she sees a woman standing at the nursery window. After doing some investigating, she discovers that their house has a tragic history. A circus performer named Birdy Lawrence supposedly shot her husband Billy, killed their eight-year-old daughter Amelia, and then jumped off a nearby cliff to her death. Could the ghostly presence she senses be Birdy? And if so, why is Birdy trying to communicate with her?
Lilly is determined to unearth the truth about the Murder House—the name locals have given their house—and so she begins to hunt for clues. As Lilly learns more about Birdy and her family, past traumas rise to the surface, and Lilly begins to wonder if she’s really seeing ghosts, or if it’s all in her head.
There’s nothing better than a good haunted house story, and Dwyer’s Murder House is full of atmospheric Gothic details, like peeling wallpaper, water damaged floors, crumbling walls and more. The book cover is absolutely perfect for this story. The ghostly elements are subtle but terrifying at times, and I love stories that blur the lines between reality and the supernatural. Are the ghosts real? Or is Lilly truly seeing and hearing things that aren’t there? According to Jack, Lilly is nuts, and she does have a history of mental illness, so it’s up to the reader to decide.
Lilly is a fascinating character, and I ended up really sympathizing with her on an emotional level. She isn’t necessarily easy to like, though. She lies to Jack, she forgets to go into work, and she’s a compulsive spender. But her backstory is heartbreaking. She’s suffered a lot: a couple of miscarriages, the desertion of her mother and the death of her beloved father. Her struggles with infertility were devastating, and there were several emotional scenes that brought tears to my eyes. Despite her faults, Lilly is a very self aware woman who admits her mistakes and shortcomings and wants to be a good person. Because of everything she’s suffered in her past, she considers herself to be “broken,” and this alone endeared her to me.
As Lilly carries out her investigation, we learn bits and pieces of what actually happened that fateful day. Lilly discovers some distant relatives who are still alive and know the truth, but getting them to open up to her isn’t easy. The author also includes flashback scenes from the day of the murder/suicide (saying more about them would be a spoiler, so I’ll resist!) that were some of my favorite parts of the book and gave me The Shining vibes.
The title of the book has a double meaning that I found to be simply brilliant. When Lilly finally solves the mystery of Birdy, Amelia and Bobby, the reader is fervently hoping that her life will take a turn for the better. Aside from one overly dramatic event—although I realize it made everything neatly fall into place—I adored the poignant ending and the way Lilly’s story was resolved. Ghost Mother was an engaging and emotional reading experience, and I can’t wait to see what Kelly Dwyer does next.
Big thanks to the author for providing a review copy.
September 15, 2024
Ended up skimming the last half . . . it’s a no from me. Predictable plot, insufferable main character.
September 23, 2024
Ghost Mother is hauntingly beautiful and will not let go of you until the chilling conclusion. Dwyer weaves a narrative that is atmospheric and unsettling drawing you into the "murder mansion", blurring the lines between the living and the dead with eerie precision.
This is a psychological ghost story with elements of grief, suspense, and supernatural horror. The setting of the house serves as a character in it's own right, similar to The Haunting of Hill House.
Every creaky floorboard, or cold draft through the windows adds to the sense of dread you feel through the pages.
I would highly recommend this to lovers of gothic and psychological horror and fans of "The Haunting of Hill House." This book will be staying with me for a long, long time!
Thank you to Kelly Dwyer and Union Square & Co. for the ARC of this book, publishing August 6th, 2024. All opinions are my own.
This is a psychological ghost story with elements of grief, suspense, and supernatural horror. The setting of the house serves as a character in it's own right, similar to The Haunting of Hill House.
Every creaky floorboard, or cold draft through the windows adds to the sense of dread you feel through the pages.
I would highly recommend this to lovers of gothic and psychological horror and fans of "The Haunting of Hill House." This book will be staying with me for a long, long time!
Thank you to Kelly Dwyer and Union Square & Co. for the ARC of this book, publishing August 6th, 2024. All opinions are my own.
August 6, 2024
Ghost Mother, by Kelly Dwyer, is a first person POV of a woman, mid+ 30’s, and her experience moving into her dream house. This haunted mansion has a dark history that captures her attention and is pushing the MC to uncover its secrets.
While moving in, Lily and Jack seem to be in way over their heads- already dealing with mountains of debt, one income, and lots of maintenance needed is a cause for friction between the two. Lily is also on an all too familiar journey of trying to conceive while mourning the loss of previous pregnancies. I think that this is super important in MY personal life- talking about mourning loss while others disregard it.
The more she learns about the history of the previous owners, the farther away she pushes her husband. With no supportive family, debt, no personal income, and an invisible tie to the house, she stays.
This story does have a paranormal aspect to it, but in a very easy to accept way. I’m not typically a reader of paranormal, but this hit all the places. I listened to the audiobook (Thank you NetGalley and DreamScape Media for this ALC), and I found the narrator to be easy to listen to. Overall a really great read/listen that I will highly recommend! Pub Date: 8/6/24
While moving in, Lily and Jack seem to be in way over their heads- already dealing with mountains of debt, one income, and lots of maintenance needed is a cause for friction between the two. Lily is also on an all too familiar journey of trying to conceive while mourning the loss of previous pregnancies. I think that this is super important in MY personal life- talking about mourning loss while others disregard it.
The more she learns about the history of the previous owners, the farther away she pushes her husband. With no supportive family, debt, no personal income, and an invisible tie to the house, she stays.
This story does have a paranormal aspect to it, but in a very easy to accept way. I’m not typically a reader of paranormal, but this hit all the places. I listened to the audiobook (Thank you NetGalley and DreamScape Media for this ALC), and I found the narrator to be easy to listen to. Overall a really great read/listen that I will highly recommend! Pub Date: 8/6/24
July 25, 2024
You have heard this synopsis before—a woman falls in love with a house that has a dark history, buys it, and begins to experience unexplainable phenomena—but you haven’t read this story yet. Weaved in to Lilly’s haunting experiences with her new mansion is her deep desperation but inability to have a child.
I always love stories like this: is the woman spiraling and losing her mind? Is the house really haunted? Maybe a little bit of both? Who knows. Lilly’s flaws and actions often made her difficult to sympathize with but she was layered, incredibly compelling, and I couldn’t stop following her down the rabbit hole.
Crawling with dark, gothic descriptions; well-executed pacing throughout with suspenseful paranormal scenes to drive the plot forward; an ending that is so deliciously chilling and satisfying; this propulsive narrative exploring the depths of one "troubled" woman’s mind is sure to satisfy readers. All with a wonderfully executed narration by Renata Friedman.
Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review! Available 08/06/2024!
I always love stories like this: is the woman spiraling and losing her mind? Is the house really haunted? Maybe a little bit of both? Who knows. Lilly’s flaws and actions often made her difficult to sympathize with but she was layered, incredibly compelling, and I couldn’t stop following her down the rabbit hole.
Crawling with dark, gothic descriptions; well-executed pacing throughout with suspenseful paranormal scenes to drive the plot forward; an ending that is so deliciously chilling and satisfying; this propulsive narrative exploring the depths of one "troubled" woman’s mind is sure to satisfy readers. All with a wonderfully executed narration by Renata Friedman.
Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review! Available 08/06/2024!
July 24, 2024
“Ghost mother” is a modern gothic thriller that follows Lilly and Jack as they purchase a run down mansion in Wisconsin.
Lilly is struggling to have a baby and is convinced this is the home she needs to get pregnant. Jack begrudgingly agrees to take on this home project but soon regrets his decision as things begin to crumble around them.
Lilly soon finds out their new home was the site of a triple homicide in the 1950s and things go from bad to worse when she starts to believe the house is haunting and she is seeing things. This puts a large stressor on their already damaged relationship as events reach a climax.
This book is sufficiently spooky with all the interesting components you would wish for in a potentially haunted house thriller.
There is lots of creepy events and aesthetics throughout leaving plenty to the readers imagination. Is Lilly really being haunted or is she losing it?
Triggers:
Lots of discussion based on infertility topics. Thank you to Dreamscape Media, Kelly Dwyer and Netgalley for the ALC!
Publish date: August 6th
Lilly is struggling to have a baby and is convinced this is the home she needs to get pregnant. Jack begrudgingly agrees to take on this home project but soon regrets his decision as things begin to crumble around them.
Lilly soon finds out their new home was the site of a triple homicide in the 1950s and things go from bad to worse when she starts to believe the house is haunting and she is seeing things. This puts a large stressor on their already damaged relationship as events reach a climax.
This book is sufficiently spooky with all the interesting components you would wish for in a potentially haunted house thriller.
There is lots of creepy events and aesthetics throughout leaving plenty to the readers imagination. Is Lilly really being haunted or is she losing it?
Triggers:
Lots of discussion based on infertility topics. Thank you to Dreamscape Media, Kelly Dwyer and Netgalley for the ALC!
Publish date: August 6th
August 4, 2024
2 Stars
This started off really interesting to me - I related to Lilly a lot with her fertility struggles and her strong desire to be a mom and even how she worked at a circulation desk lol, but as it went on it was harder for me to understand the choices she was making and I was sad to see her spiralling instead of finding growth. I don’t love how this ended at all, I feel like her husband really did his best with what he had and Lilly really did not help at all and I don’t think he (or she) deserved that ending. This was a little bit gothic but I would say it was more of a psychological thriller than anything.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC!
This started off really interesting to me - I related to Lilly a lot with her fertility struggles and her strong desire to be a mom and even how she worked at a circulation desk lol, but as it went on it was harder for me to understand the choices she was making and I was sad to see her spiralling instead of finding growth. I don’t love how this ended at all, I feel like her husband really did his best with what he had and Lilly really did not help at all and I don’t think he (or she) deserved that ending. This was a little bit gothic but I would say it was more of a psychological thriller than anything.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC!
July 29, 2024
What would you do for the life you always wanted?
That’s the question for our main character, Lilly; she wants a child and believes that that will happen in this new, and potentially haunted, house. Seemingly a large and beautiful yet rundown home is up for sale, and a bit beyond their budget, but something is drawing Lilly Bly to this house. Sounds like an open and shut case, but the history of the house brings even more questions…
This was a fun audiobook to listen to. The anxiety of the main character really got to the listener and it makes you really think about yourself and how you portray yourself to others. What’s real and what’s not?
It was interesting to have it be non-linear and slightly multiple-pov so you could have more insight and better understanding into everyone’s story.
This was a slowly unraveling mystery that made you think you knew what was happening, but did you really?
Thank you so much to the author, Kelly Dwyer, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the arc audiobook of Ghost Mother!
That’s the question for our main character, Lilly; she wants a child and believes that that will happen in this new, and potentially haunted, house. Seemingly a large and beautiful yet rundown home is up for sale, and a bit beyond their budget, but something is drawing Lilly Bly to this house. Sounds like an open and shut case, but the history of the house brings even more questions…
This was a fun audiobook to listen to. The anxiety of the main character really got to the listener and it makes you really think about yourself and how you portray yourself to others. What’s real and what’s not?
It was interesting to have it be non-linear and slightly multiple-pov so you could have more insight and better understanding into everyone’s story.
This was a slowly unraveling mystery that made you think you knew what was happening, but did you really?
Thank you so much to the author, Kelly Dwyer, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the arc audiobook of Ghost Mother!
August 5, 2024
There are many ways to become a mother, and Dwyer really delves into that in this eerie haunted house story. My headphones were absolutely glued into my ear holes while I was listening to this one, and the narrator, Renata Friedman knocked it out of the park as well.
Ghost Mother felt like it danced around the edges of a lot of different horror tropes (think Rosemary’s Baby meets Amityville Horror) BUT it was wholly its own story. I genuinely didn’t see some of the twists coming and went “okayyyyy then” multiple times while listening to this one.
This one is PERFECT for spooky season, or if you’re like me and can’t wait - this one releases tomorrow. Check this one out if you like haunted houses, ghosts, circuses, and creepy children!
**Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and Union Square & Co. for the ALC of this haunting title!**
Ghost Mother felt like it danced around the edges of a lot of different horror tropes (think Rosemary’s Baby meets Amityville Horror) BUT it was wholly its own story. I genuinely didn’t see some of the twists coming and went “okayyyyy then” multiple times while listening to this one.
This one is PERFECT for spooky season, or if you’re like me and can’t wait - this one releases tomorrow. Check this one out if you like haunted houses, ghosts, circuses, and creepy children!
**Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and Union Square & Co. for the ALC of this haunting title!**
August 1, 2024
I don't usually go for the ghost story type genre but this book really hooked me, scared me a little and delivered a very satisfying end. Lily and her husband Jack buy a dilapidated old mansion with the intention of renovating it and hopefully starting their family there. Right away things start to go wrong. Ceilings crumble, strange sounds and cold icy breezes whoosh by Lily's ankles and she begins to think perhaps the house might be haunted. As she researches the houses history she discovers the towns occupants have nicknamed their house 'The Murder House' because of a double murder suicide that occurred there over fifty years ago. The more Lily delves into the past the more she feels a strong connection to the house and cannot entertain the idea of selling even though they truly cannot afford it. If you like spooky, ghostly stories with a murder mystery thrown in for good measure this book is for you. I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator was very good. Highly recommended for spooky fun.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for a chance to listen to an ARC version of this audio book. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for a chance to listen to an ARC version of this audio book. All opinions are my own.
July 31, 2024
Ghost Mother was super creepy and unsettling. Lilly’s interest in the history of her new home very quickly spiraled into obsession and author @kellydwyerauthor did a really good job of showing the reader how her obsession was taking a toll on her life. This wasn’t a scary book but definitely gave me chills at times, and the end was not expected at all! I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Renata Friedman. I’ve never listened to her before and found her voice very soothing! 👻
June 27, 2024
“Love was a tunnel; love was a feather bed; love was a shackle.”
📚
Aging former actress Lilly Bly struggles with out-of-control spending, devastating infertility, crippling trauma, and deteriorating mental health, and after her husband, Jack, moves them to Wisconsin, she immediately latches on to a dilapidated mansion. Though it’s a money pit, she’s convinced she’ll become a mother there and insists on buying it, only to learn that it was the scene of a grisly 1950s murder/suicide. And when she begins experiencing inexplicable phenomena, Lilly becomes obsessed with uncovering the sinister truth, even as she questions her own sanity and whether the house may be haunted. Is she delusional, or is something legitimate going on?
Ghost Mother is a captivating gothic horror novel that exudes tension and disquiet, building a wonderful sense of anticipation, suspense, and suspicion throughout. Lilly is a veritable trainwreck; everything she does is frustrating and stressful. She’s intensely unlikable and plagued by shame and self-loathing, as well as pathologically dishonest, obsessively distracted, incapable of communication, and constantly making mistakes, bad decisions, and empty promises. Her history is as harrowing as the mansion’s, the unsolved mysteries of which gradually unfold as the narrative progresses, producing an intricate and engrossing narrative riddled with information, clues, and enigmas that barrel toward a dramatic climax.
The past and present interplay is riveting, the couple’s strained marriage gripping and believable. Jack is a neglectful, enabling, gaslighting, patronizing husband, while Lilly’s incessant falsehoods, failures, and cascading issues are equal parts destructive and exasperating. Is Jack an enabler or protector? Is Lilly irresponsible or mentally unwell? Did they ever really know and love each other, and who (if anyone) is ultimately the villain?
Some of the most memorable moments are incredibly terrifying, both because of excellent writing and nagging wonder. Contradictions and uncertainties abound, including those surrounding Lilly’s motherhood fixation. Does she want to be a mother, or is she seeking her next (elusive) dopamine hit, searching for affection and comfort in all the wrong places?
The end is chilling and disturbing, capping off a haunting and unforgettable read that would make a fantastic book club selection. Thank you to Kelly Dwyer for sending an eARC of this forthcoming release for review consideration. Ghost Mother is currently slated for publication on August 6th via Union Square & Co. and is a compelling page-turner sure to delight fans of gothic/psychological/historical horror.
📚
Aging former actress Lilly Bly struggles with out-of-control spending, devastating infertility, crippling trauma, and deteriorating mental health, and after her husband, Jack, moves them to Wisconsin, she immediately latches on to a dilapidated mansion. Though it’s a money pit, she’s convinced she’ll become a mother there and insists on buying it, only to learn that it was the scene of a grisly 1950s murder/suicide. And when she begins experiencing inexplicable phenomena, Lilly becomes obsessed with uncovering the sinister truth, even as she questions her own sanity and whether the house may be haunted. Is she delusional, or is something legitimate going on?
Ghost Mother is a captivating gothic horror novel that exudes tension and disquiet, building a wonderful sense of anticipation, suspense, and suspicion throughout. Lilly is a veritable trainwreck; everything she does is frustrating and stressful. She’s intensely unlikable and plagued by shame and self-loathing, as well as pathologically dishonest, obsessively distracted, incapable of communication, and constantly making mistakes, bad decisions, and empty promises. Her history is as harrowing as the mansion’s, the unsolved mysteries of which gradually unfold as the narrative progresses, producing an intricate and engrossing narrative riddled with information, clues, and enigmas that barrel toward a dramatic climax.
The past and present interplay is riveting, the couple’s strained marriage gripping and believable. Jack is a neglectful, enabling, gaslighting, patronizing husband, while Lilly’s incessant falsehoods, failures, and cascading issues are equal parts destructive and exasperating. Is Jack an enabler or protector? Is Lilly irresponsible or mentally unwell? Did they ever really know and love each other, and who (if anyone) is ultimately the villain?
Some of the most memorable moments are incredibly terrifying, both because of excellent writing and nagging wonder. Contradictions and uncertainties abound, including those surrounding Lilly’s motherhood fixation. Does she want to be a mother, or is she seeking her next (elusive) dopamine hit, searching for affection and comfort in all the wrong places?
The end is chilling and disturbing, capping off a haunting and unforgettable read that would make a fantastic book club selection. Thank you to Kelly Dwyer for sending an eARC of this forthcoming release for review consideration. Ghost Mother is currently slated for publication on August 6th via Union Square & Co. and is a compelling page-turner sure to delight fans of gothic/psychological/historical horror.
July 25, 2024
(( audiobook))
A lady (Lily) falls in love with a falling down old mansion that is way outside her means and her dumb husband (I seriously just finished listening to this and cannot remember his name, so I will call him Chad) agrees to buy it even though he’s the financially responsible one? Chad then proceeds to act like a giant man-baby when stuff is broken and the house is drafty and leaky and unpleasant to live in. Lily is wildly inept and very, very annoying. She grew up rich, which apparently makes her unable to function as a human in the world, especially now that she’s in debt up to her eyeballs. There are also maybe/probably some ghosts, and Lily goes off the deep end investigating what really happened to the last family that lived in the house.
I think I need to never read anything described as “Gothic” again bc I’ve finally realized that it’s code for an EXTREMELY slow burn. I did like the very end, but getting there was much more of a slog than I’m usually up for - but there was *just enough* going on to keep me listening. I honestly would have liked to hear more about Birdie - she was much more interesting than hot-mess Lily.
Anyway, I think people who loved September House and We Use to Live Here and Mexican Gothic would be into this one too.
HOWEVER: if dead babies and miscarriages and infertility are not ok topics for you to read about, definitely do not read this.
* thanks to Dreamscape Media for the NetGalley ALC. Ghost Mother publishes August 6.
A lady (Lily) falls in love with a falling down old mansion that is way outside her means and her dumb husband (I seriously just finished listening to this and cannot remember his name, so I will call him Chad) agrees to buy it even though he’s the financially responsible one? Chad then proceeds to act like a giant man-baby when stuff is broken and the house is drafty and leaky and unpleasant to live in. Lily is wildly inept and very, very annoying. She grew up rich, which apparently makes her unable to function as a human in the world, especially now that she’s in debt up to her eyeballs. There are also maybe/probably some ghosts, and Lily goes off the deep end investigating what really happened to the last family that lived in the house.
I think I need to never read anything described as “Gothic” again bc I’ve finally realized that it’s code for an EXTREMELY slow burn. I did like the very end, but getting there was much more of a slog than I’m usually up for - but there was *just enough* going on to keep me listening. I honestly would have liked to hear more about Birdie - she was much more interesting than hot-mess Lily.
Anyway, I think people who loved September House and We Use to Live Here and Mexican Gothic would be into this one too.
HOWEVER: if dead babies and miscarriages and infertility are not ok topics for you to read about, definitely do not read this.
* thanks to Dreamscape Media for the NetGalley ALC. Ghost Mother publishes August 6.
July 31, 2024
I enjoyed Ghost Mother. The author built lots of tension and kept us in suspense. It had a really creepy vibe and I couldn't wait to find out what happened. I did find the main character slightly annoying. She kept spending money when she couldn't afford it, living beyond her means but justifying it constantly. It was a running theme throughout the book. She wouldn't give the house up that she bought - but we didn't find out until the end why she was so attached to it. She just seemed a bit whiney and immature to me. But being a frugal person, perhaps this is a personal pet peeve.
The main plot of the story happens towards the end of the book, so there is a lot to get through until then. Most of the book is based on real life and then at the end we are taken into the spirit world. The ending just seemed a little improbable as we were just slapped with it at the end. I would have preferred the creepy action throughout instead of a slow build up.
All in all, I did enjoy it and I would consider reading more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for my copy.
The main plot of the story happens towards the end of the book, so there is a lot to get through until then. Most of the book is based on real life and then at the end we are taken into the spirit world. The ending just seemed a little improbable as we were just slapped with it at the end. I would have preferred the creepy action throughout instead of a slow build up.
All in all, I did enjoy it and I would consider reading more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for my copy.
July 31, 2024
Desperate to have a child, Lilly convinces her husband to buy a dilapidated mansion in small-town Wisconsin. However, their dream home soon becomes a nightmare as Lilly experiences unsettling events she believes are connected to a gruesome murder-suicide from the past. As Lilly falls deeper into the house’s dark history, her grip on reality loosens, threatening her marriage and sanity.
This is a compelling mystery with a (possibly) unreliable narrator. It’s never clear what’s real and what’s not. The story is atmospheric and emotional. I enjoyed the audiobook narration.
CW: child death, miscarriage, suicide, suicidal ideation
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This is a compelling mystery with a (possibly) unreliable narrator. It’s never clear what’s real and what’s not. The story is atmospheric and emotional. I enjoyed the audiobook narration.
CW: child death, miscarriage, suicide, suicidal ideation
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
August 11, 2024
Anyone who knows me know I don’t stay up past eight thirty for anything. This book kept me up several hours past bedtime because I couldn’t put it down, and now here I am, almost eleven just having finished and coming down from this story. It is a beautiful compilation of loss, humanness, regret, motivation, love, and hate. The ending felt inevitable, but also completely surprised me. If you are a lover of classic Gothics, thrillers, ghost stories, or novels that explore the rawness of being human, this is a great choice!
August 3, 2024
Ghost Mother is a gripping psychological ghost story, complete with a mouldering mansion and an unreliable narrator at its core.
Former actress Lilly is suffering from the combined traumas of her father's suicide and multiple miscarriages. When her husband Jack gets a new job in a small Wisconsin town, Lilly convinces him that they should buy a decrepit old house that was once owned by a circus family. But she soon discovers that their new home is not only a money pit, but the site of a double homicide and suicide, known to the locals as the "Murder Mansion".
Lilly is an infuriating character through most of the book, hell bent on making bad decisions and skirting the truth with her husband. But the author gradually lays bare the demons that are at the root of Lilly's unraveling.
No spoilers here, other than to say that there are some genuinely chilling scenes as the house reveals some very dark secrets.
Thanks to the publisher for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my opinion.
Former actress Lilly is suffering from the combined traumas of her father's suicide and multiple miscarriages. When her husband Jack gets a new job in a small Wisconsin town, Lilly convinces him that they should buy a decrepit old house that was once owned by a circus family. But she soon discovers that their new home is not only a money pit, but the site of a double homicide and suicide, known to the locals as the "Murder Mansion".
Lilly is an infuriating character through most of the book, hell bent on making bad decisions and skirting the truth with her husband. But the author gradually lays bare the demons that are at the root of Lilly's unraveling.
No spoilers here, other than to say that there are some genuinely chilling scenes as the house reveals some very dark secrets.
Thanks to the publisher for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my opinion.
May 22, 2024
loved it. lilly is SO FRUSTRATING but so absolutely compelling to read about, her struggles are painfully real at times (shh this says nothing about me personally hush) and the more i learned about her the more sympathy (and even more frustration) i felt. reading this book is a bit like watching a mystery starring one of the three stooges, you see chekhov's pie and go NO LILLY NOT THE PIE and then she's covered in pie, because of course she is, DAMMIT lilly. and then you have to keep reading to find out what's going on, sure, but more importantly to see just how bad it's going to get for her.
by the second half i couldn't put the book down. it got very dark in places, but never just for the sake of darkness or spectacle. i found the writing style very engrossing and think the author chose a setting that plays to her strengths. also much of the characterization skillfully walks the tightrope between sympathetic and deeply (DEEPLY.) flawed, and i am so here for that messiness.
bravo, excellent, I'm going to be thinking about this one for a while.
by the second half i couldn't put the book down. it got very dark in places, but never just for the sake of darkness or spectacle. i found the writing style very engrossing and think the author chose a setting that plays to her strengths. also much of the characterization skillfully walks the tightrope between sympathetic and deeply (DEEPLY.) flawed, and i am so here for that messiness.
bravo, excellent, I'm going to be thinking about this one for a while.
August 5, 2024
WHY AREN'T THERE CONTENT WARNINGS IN THIS AUDIOBOOK?!?! Please stop doing this, publishers. I beg you. Audiobooks need content warnings just as much as print books! I cannot say if the print book does indeed have content warnings, but I'll never know because I got an ALC, not an ARC.
Content Warnings: Miscarriage GRAPHIC, abortion, suicide, child death
Lilly is desperate for a baby, and she and her husband have just moved into a rundown mansion. Oh and it's probably haunted.
To me this book didn't feel like horror, unless you consider mental illness to be horror. Lilly isn't very likable and very untrustworthy. And while I do enjoy an unreliable narrator, I did not enjoy her. I also didn't enjoy her husband Jack, who read as borderline abusive at times. I wasn't scared by this book, but I was horrified to read GRAPHIC miscarriage scenes without any warning that they were coming.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. Renata Friedman was a fine narrator, but this book definitely wasn't for me, and I should have DNF'd it after the miscarriage scenes.
Content Warnings: Miscarriage GRAPHIC, abortion, suicide, child death
Lilly is desperate for a baby, and she and her husband have just moved into a rundown mansion. Oh and it's probably haunted.
To me this book didn't feel like horror, unless you consider mental illness to be horror. Lilly isn't very likable and very untrustworthy. And while I do enjoy an unreliable narrator, I did not enjoy her. I also didn't enjoy her husband Jack, who read as borderline abusive at times. I wasn't scared by this book, but I was horrified to read GRAPHIC miscarriage scenes without any warning that they were coming.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. Renata Friedman was a fine narrator, but this book definitely wasn't for me, and I should have DNF'd it after the miscarriage scenes.
July 24, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
4 stars
Lilly Bly and her husband Jack move to a small town in Wisconsin. She falls in love with an old mansion that is out of their price range and in horrible shape. She feels this is the place where she will become a mother. They buy the house only to discover it was the scene of a triple murder/suicide in the 1950s. Lilly starts hearing and seeing things...is the house haunted or is she going mad.
Very good ghost story. Lilly is a former actress and I enjoyed how she would change her persona like getting into character for different roles. Is she lying or playing a role?
Excellent narration by Renata Friedman.
4 stars
Lilly Bly and her husband Jack move to a small town in Wisconsin. She falls in love with an old mansion that is out of their price range and in horrible shape. She feels this is the place where she will become a mother. They buy the house only to discover it was the scene of a triple murder/suicide in the 1950s. Lilly starts hearing and seeing things...is the house haunted or is she going mad.
Very good ghost story. Lilly is a former actress and I enjoyed how she would change her persona like getting into character for different roles. Is she lying or playing a role?
Excellent narration by Renata Friedman.
July 27, 2024
A super creepy and sad ghost story. Reminds me of classic stories like The Haunting of Hill House and The Yellow Wallpaper. The author does an amazing job of delving into the psyche of a very troubled woman. Builds to a really interesting climax and ending.
August 8, 2024
Want a scary, sexy, original supernatural thriller that will keep you up tonight? Read Ghost Mother!!! Loved the unusual twisty plot and historical ghostly backdrop!! Best thriller I’ve read in ages!! The Audible version rocks, too!! Would make an amazing movie!!!
August 12, 2024
I received this for review. I absolutely loved everything about this book. It had a high focus on the paranormal and a creepy old house. I loved that so much of this book left me unsettled and I didn’t know if I could trust the narrator. In the beginning Lilly, our main character, is really annoying and insufferable but stick with it. It’s worth it to dig more into her story. The writing was simple and easy to follow. Every chance I got I picked this back up. When I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. Yes, I will definitely read more by this author.
July 25, 2024
An extra star for an excellent ending.
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