I was immediately hooked by The Haunting of Beatrix Greene. Beatrix 'communicated' with ghosts which led her to meet James, who had a huge request. Hold a seance at his manor. Once there, all kinds of unexplainable things began happening--horrifying, scary things. Throughout the night, tensions rose higher and higher. The events escalated until a final cataclysmic showdown.

I couldn't put the book down. I wanted to see what would happen next, and who would be victorious. If you are a fan of horror and mystery, you will enjoy this book.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Fun, short, spooky story just in time for Halloween. Has a gothic vibe. And a little graphic at parts. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I was excited to have the opportunity to read The Haunting of Beatrix Greene before Halloween hoping it would be the perfect, spooky read for the season.

In some ways, it did just that! Beatrix is a fake spiritualist invited to spend the night at Ashbury Manor by Lord Ashbury to help free the spirit of his mother, Lady Ashbury. The concept is great, however at times I felt that the story was rushed and at times predictable. I felt like the romance between Lord Ashbury and Beatrix came out of nowhere and wasn’t developed enough for me to be rooting for them.

By the end, certain details felt repetitive. It seemed like they battled with the spirits haunting the manor over and over again, which made me a little bored.

Overall, I felt like this could have been developed better. Especially since the book is so short, there was room for more. It did put me in the mood for spooky season!

Thanks to NetGalley and Serial Box for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Autumn is that time of year where a good, spooky story is welcome. The Haunting of Beatrix Greene, by Rachel Hawkins, Ash Parsons, and Vicky Alvear Shecter, has a lot of fun horror elements: ghosts, murder, and a mystery. Even though I expected these things, the story got sidetracked by plot holes, and an improbable romance. This was a fun horror story, but it could have been even better without the cheesy melodrama.

What I Liked:

Premise:

Women in Victorian England don't have many options to make a living, so Beatrix Greene makes the most of her theatrical background to work as a Medium. But she knows she's a fraud. When a wealthy skeptic offers her and her friend a large sum of money to conduct a seance, she can hardly say no. She is all set to fake it, but then she makes contact with REAL spirits! I loved this premise so much. It gave the reader a sense of how difficult life was for women, but also turned the tables on the "Medium". This was really fun.

Mystery:

The seance sets the stage for the central mystery of the book: why did James's mother kill his brother, and then kill herself? Why would she do it? It became an infamous murder in the universe of the novel. And why was his father so violent? The house seems to be, itself, a character. All is revealed when the seance begins and Beatrix becomes possessed by the spirit of James's mother.

Characters:

Besides Beatrix, who is a strong, independent woman (especially for Victorian England), there are several wonderful supporting characters, such as Amanda (an American photographer), and Harry, her friend and assistant. I thought they brought some normalcy to a strange situation. Amanda especially represents new opportunities for women, as another female with a career. And Harry is just a wonderfully supportive friend.

What I Was Mixed About:

Plot Holes:

At the beginning of visiting Ashbury Manor, James invites Beatrix, Harry, Amanda, and a Dr. Doyle, for the seance. Dr. Doyle is, of course, the name of the creator of Sherlock Holmes. As tantalizing as this is, this goes nowhere. He literally is gone in the next scene.

There is also a friend of James, a fellow aristocrat named Stanhope, who crashes the gathering. He later becomes important in the story, but it's never explained how he knows so much information about Ashbury Manor, and the family curse.

Romance:

The time is set in Victorian England. Yet, Beatrix and James get very familiar, very quickly. I know that Beatrix is supposed to be more modern and independent, but this would have been scandalous in those times. Given the difficultly Beatrix has supporting herself, would she have risked being branded a loose woman? Even as a Medium, no one would have wanted to associate with a wanton woman. And I just didn't think the romance was believable.

This was a fun ghost story—I guess it’s being released in serial form on Serial Box, which I hadn’t heard of but sounds like a great idea. I got a kindle version from NetGalley and read it fairly quickly. Beatrix is an effective medium—she doesn’t believe in actual spirits, but she has an uncanny ability to tell people what they want to hear, and this is how she makes her living. Everything changes when she goes to a haunted house one night to help a grief-filled man find peace. It’s creepy, a little romantic, and it’s full of ghosts—perfect for the week of Halloween.🎃


<i>Review copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review<i>

This story had a fun and interesting concept and it was a quick read, but that’s about the end of positive things I can say about it. It’s written by multiple authors (each write a few individual chapters).

There is close to zero world-building, no character development, and absolutely none of the slow build of tension that is crucial to making stories like this work. Because of this, I really didn’t find myself having any emotional investment in the characters and the story. The haunting/supernatural elements relied on overused tropes, and I rolled my eyes at a number of points. There just wasn’t a whole lot of depth to it. I actually tend to quite like fluffy, pulpy, or trashy stories, but this was a little too poorly constructed for me to enjoy it.

Some positive things I can say are that the concept was fun, and the writing flowed smoothly even with the multiple authors. The story had continuity, even if it didn’t have a lot of depth.

If you’re looking for a fun and quick read that isn’t too spooky, this might work for you. But if you’re an avid reader horror literature, this is one you can skip.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a well written faced paced book with an interesting storyline and engaging characters.
I read this in one sitting and quite enjoyed it.

Great book and reminds me a lot of Crimson Peak without the creepy sibling relationship. Well written but only 4 stars because the story is short and the pace of attraction is too fast. I really like the characters and hope the series continues. Also think the story could have been much longer and included more scenes with secondary characters.

A good fast paced book. Not a traditional horror since there aren't many scares. There is some gore though. I don't want to give anything away, but could see sequels in the future.

This follows Beatrix Greene, who is a self-made woman who has built a life as a charlatan medium in Victorian England. She meets James Walker, who is a scientist skeptic who asks Beatrix to perform a séance at a legendary manor with a grisly history, and thus the story evolves.

The first few chapters really build to the story, and I enjoyed some of the darker elements that the séance invoked.

This would have been a lot better had the superfluous romance been left out of it, and the voice remained more consistent. I hold some serious disdain for this unnecessary romance that kept breaking up the haunting/ghost story we are following. This is a perfect example of insta-love. Did we really need rushed Victorian sex in such a short book? No.

I really would have also liked this episode to be longer and show more relationship building between characters. (not the romantic kind) Most of the characters felt shallow and a little trope-y for my tastes.

Thank you to Netgalley and SerialBox for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

The Haunting of Beatrix Greene by Rachel Hawkins, Ash Parkins, Vicky Alvear Shecter is a Historical Fiction Horror novel.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Serial Box, and of course the authors, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

Beatrix Greene is a spiritual medium, who doesn't actually believe in ghosts.  She has, however, become a quiet success in Victorian England, and has a steady stream of customers.

When James Walker offers her a substantial sum of money to perform a séance at the supposedly haunted Ashbury Manor, Beatrix can' resist.  Even though James is a scientist who is known for discrediting frauds like herself, the money is too good to pass up.

But not everything is as it seems.  James has not told her everything, and the mansion contains more than anyone bargained for.  But Beatrix, too, is more than she seems, and more than she knew.


My Opinions:   

First...I loved it.  It was a great haunted house story, that was surprisingly, really good horror.  Blood and gore and evil, plus a good plot.  What more could a horror fan want?

The writing was good, and the book moved along at a fast pace.  It is more of a novella than a full novel, but it was definitely a fast read.  For such a short book, the characters had enough depth that you could like even the secondary characters (well, maybe not Stanhope).

What I didn't like was the method the book is being delivered to readers.  The chapters were written alternately by the three authors, and it felt seamless.  That was fine.  What I didn't understand, was that each chapter was headed with "Season 1, Episode 1...Episode 2....."  There were 9 episodes (instead of chapters).  It was a short read, but it was the complete book.  When I looked up the publisher Serial Box, it appears they will release an Episode each week, until the book is finished.  I remember Stephen King releasing one of his books in this method -- I was not impressed with that, nor am I impressed with this.  That is the only reason for my missing .5 star.

However, if you can get your hands on the complete book, it is a really fun read.  Well, I say fun, but remember, it's horror....

This sure was a PAGE TURNER for me - I read it in two sittings! It had suspense, gore, a touch of romance, and a tremendously well-developed female main character. And it was super creeeeeepy. Also, it was written in such a unique way with 'seasons' and 'episodes' instead of chapters. Not to mention, having three different authors alternate writing the 'episodes'! Which, surprisingly, did not result in a disjointed story or writing style AT ALL. These three have crafted a wonderfully written story.

All I can say is that this book was the PERFECT atmospheric October read. So, when does volume 2 come out?!

Well, what an enjoyable little book this turned out to be! A quick, creepy, scary, haunted house story, perfect for this time of year (Halloween). The entire time I kept reading it thinking "this would make a most excellent Netflix show or movie!" (take the hint Netflix 😉). If you are a fan of The Haunting of Hill House, then this book would be perfect for you!

(The following review will appear on CriminalElement.com the week of publication.)

Beatrix Greene is a resourceful young woman. Orphaned young, she’s learned how to survive on her own. Independence is costly, but she pays that bill by following in her parents’ theatrical footsteps.

Not on a stage, though. No, Beatrix’s performances are far more private and genteel. For an exclusive, well-bred, grieving clientele, who believe her to be the genuine article: a psychic medium, able to converse with the spirits of the dead, possessing a talent for reaching beyond the veil to the other side.


It was so irksome when ghosts were late.
This particular ghost was meant to be one Mr. Roger Latham, late son of the woman currently sitting in Beatrix’s parlor. Her fingers convulsed around a black handkerchief.
“Perhaps he is not coming?” Mrs. Latham suggested, her voice almost a whisper, as though she were afraid of scaring off the ghost of her son, who had been lost at sea for more than a decade now.
Beatrix glanced at the parlor door, waiting, listening.
No footsteps. No low moans.
No Roger.
Bollocks.
Beatrix lowered her head. “I sense his presence, Mrs. Latham. We must simply be patient.”
And never work with bloody actors again.


Beatrix doesn’t consider herself a charlatan in the strictest sense. Yes, she’s play-acting, pretending to be in contact with the dead, in exchange for the money that funds her independence. But it’s out of necessity, and she believes she gives her clients much-needed comfort in return for their pounds sterling.

When her oldest — and only — friend Harry brings a passionate new debunker to her attention, Beatrix’s curiosity gets the best of her for once. She knows she shouldn’t risk catching such a man’s attention, not when her livelihood would immediately be on the line, but she can’t resist attending one of his lectures.

Which is how Beatrix Greene meets James Walker.


She’s here.
James was halfway through his lecture, demonstrating how a bare foot on a wood floor could sound like a ghostly knock, when he spotted her. She sat near the back, next to a dark-haired man in a rather shabby suit, a slightly mocking smile on her face. He felt a surge of satisfaction that had nothing to do with the audience’s applause.
Beatrix Greene had come to him.
Finally.
Her name was whispered in nearly every occult circle, her powers reportedly impressive. He’d tried more than once to meet her. He even went so far as to seek out her flat, where he’d seen her walking a client to a carriage, and was surprised by how… ordinary she seemed. She could’ve been a Sunday school teacher, for heaven’s sake.
James had hoped to attend one of her readings, but while the other charlatans and hucksters liked to perform for groups, she was more… selective. Beatrix Greene had remained tantalizingly out of reach.
Until now.
Finally, he thought again. It can begin.


James Walker has made a name for himself as a debunker of the paranormal, but beneath the scientific veneer is a man desperately seeking proof of its existence. The secrets of his past, the deep scars of his childhood, won’t be resolved until he can either satisfy or destroy his belief.

And Beatrix Greene could prove to be either his salvation — or his damnation.

He approaches her with a curious proposition: if she will spend a single night at the infamous Ashbury Manor with him and a small team, and attempt to make contact with the spirits of those who died there, he will reward her generously.

Beatrix can’t refuse that much generosity. So, with Harry in tow, she sets out for the grand estate. A place sumptuously furnished… Rich with history… Soaked in blood…

And steeped in a darkness more evil than anything she could ever imagine.


Something shifted out of the corner of her eye and Beatrix froze.
There was a shadow flickering amid the gloom in her hallway — a shadow in the shape of a man.
Heart pounding, she took a step in its direction.
The shape neither wavered nor became clearer, but she could hear something now… a sound like the trickle of water. And something lower, raspier. Whispering.
The same words, running together, garbled and hushed as though the speaker had a mouthful of water: Do not go, do not go, do not go…


The Haunting of Beatrix Greene takes the premise of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and transplants it to Victorian London. With each chapter presented as its own episode, the entire book unfurls like a readable miniseries.

Hawkins, Parsons, and Schecter pass the narrative back and forth smoothly like masterful jugglers; though there are three hands involved in its construction, the story is a consistent whole, without any jarring atonal shifts in voice.

And while much of the plot and the characters are familiar — there’s a beautiful, massive, extremely old, and extremely cursed house; sparks fly between the lady medium and the man of science; we see a shocking séance, possessions, and grotesque violence — this Haunting is still compelling and enjoyable. Hawkins and Co. use the tropes and Gothic setting with panache, clearly devoted fans of the genre.

The narrators, Beatrix and James, are both strong-minded, dynamic, wounded characters worth rooting for. The supporting cast, including a cameo by famous author/renowned spiritualist Arthur Conan Doyle, is equally vibrant and entertaining, giving us just enough characters to fear for when the doors begin to lock themselves.

The Haunting is an ideal spookfest for a chilly, gray day or windswept night; the October weather was most obliging while I read it, and perfectly suited the dark, ominous tale. This is a story made to be enjoyed with a thick blanket, hot drink, and rattling windows. It’s also not for the faint of heart or sensitive of stomach; some of the gore is quite intense, making even this seasoned horror-phile squeamish. The physical violence is only matched by the psychological tension, as Ashbury Manor does everything it can to force its birthright onto the next heir…

If you devoured Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House and Bly Manor… If you loved The Little Stranger, The Awakening, and The Others… If you’re anxiously awaiting the next novel from Simone St. James and looking for the perfect, fast-paced tale of supernatural horror to curl up with on Halloween, The Haunting of Beatrix Greene is sure to please.

The Haunting of Beatrix Greene is the story of a fraudulent medium who makes her living by weaving comforting stories for those who have lost someone. Beatrix Greene is a clever and independent-minded woman who is offered the opportunity to make a life-changing amount of money if she can simply agree to accompany one Mr. James Walker for a night in a mansion and prove to him whether or not it is haunted. Horror, romance and self-discovery ensue as Beatrix uncovers her own uncanny abilities and James' haunted past.

Giving this one 3/5 stars because while it was a quick and entertaining read, the plot felt a bit rushed. Great for fans of The Haunting of Bly Manor and Mexican Gothic.

Content warnings: Violence, gore, grief, suicide, loss of family members

An interesting story, one that makes you like the characters. The story itself, though, could have been fleshed out more. IT seemed like we ran quickly through it, as though we were escaping a haunted house, not trying to understand it.

I've been hearing about this all over bookstagram so I had to check it out! I'm so glad I did because I loved it! A great short story, written by 3 different authors, about Beatrix Greene, a fake medium, who is invited by James Walker into Ashbury Manor to either prove or disprove the presence of any supernatural elements within the mansion. I loved all the characters, as for a short story, they were very well developed and fit into the story line very well. This is just the right amount of suspense, fun and creepy. Highly recommend!

The Haunting of Beatrix Greene is a short story full of gothic horror and some graphic descriptions that left me cringing. Beatrix Greene is a medium, a fake medium who prides herself on being adept at reading her clients and giving them the information they seek. She is reserved and never flashing, which leads her to be a most trusted medium. James strives to disprove these so-called mediums and show they are nothing more than deceitful cons after money. Beatrix and James cross paths, and James hires Beatrix to accompany him to Ashbury Manor, which is reported to be haunted. Unbeknownst to Beatrix, James set out to identify the frauds to find a true medium to put his childhood traumas to rest. Once at Ashbury Manor, things immediately begin to go awry. James and Beatrix suddenly find themselves up against evil forces that neither of them expected.

The Haunting of Beatrix Greene is a really fun, quick, and spooky read. The atmosphere and the characters are great and the story unfolds quickly. If you love short stories, gothic tales about ghosts you should pick it up. It's also a great book to choose if you have friends who usually don't like to read but enjoy horror stories. Since it's a short read and because it's formatted like a tv show it probably will be a novel that you can all enjoy.

* Received this novel as an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you!

I was intrigued by the idea of this book and loved the cover - it's just a shame it didn't live up to its promise. The story alternates between two differing viewpoints but it doesn't seem to really add any context to the narrative and just becomes slightly jarring when you're trying to follow the story.
I loved the location and premise - I'll always fall for a 'fake medium discovers true haunting' scenario - but the romance between the two main characters was too cute and obvious and the other characters were left underdeveloped as a result.