This historical novel set in early 20th-century Belfast. It follows psychic investigator Harry as he delves into the case of a woman haunted by spirits. The book blends science and the supernatural so well, and has very strong character development and a chilling atmosphere, The novel is both thought-provoking and engaging but very slow. I definitely had a hard time keeping my interest focused on this book.

The Spirit Engineer offers an intriguing premise with its blend of historical fiction and supernatural elements. Set in early 20th-century Belfast, it follows a spiritualist medium and a skeptical scientist who clash over the existence of the supernatural.

While the concept has potential, the execution falls short. The plot often feels uneven, and the character development lacks depth, making it difficult to fully engage with their struggles and motivations. The historical and supernatural elements, though interesting, sometimes seem underexplored and don’t fully come together in a compelling way. It may leave some readers wishing for a more cohesive and richly developed story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for arc.

This is a powerful, gripping and atmospheric novel that drags you into a world of spiritual emporium.

I highly recommend this book.

I haven't read the full book yet as Netgalley wouldn't allow me to download it however, I have read snippets and have bought the book. AJ is a fantastic author and this book is something special. I have enjoyed what I've read so far.

Want the ideal, chilling with just the right amount of levity, Halloween any time read?
Get this book! I really, really enjoyed it. Dark, riveting, but there's some really funny one liners too. Absolutely loved this book, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to this book.

This story was definitely not what I was expecting.

The Spirit Engineer is a fictinalisation of the life and story of William Jackson Crawford, an engineer who converted to spiritualism. This takes place in the years that follow the sinking of the Titanic, when people searched for means to reach out to their lost loved ones.

I was expecting 100% fiction, only to discover that the main protagonist was actually a real person. I researched a bit about him and was quite surprised with what I found. A.J.West did a wonderful job in putting everything together in a masterful way, adding fiction elements to a real story.

We witness the transformation of Crawford, going from being a man of science and a skeptic to someone who is obsessed and paranoiac. It's not an easy read, as I was aware that this is based on a true story. His transformation and ultimate fall were a bit hard to read. As the single narrator, Crawford is an unreliable character as his paranoia and obsession grow throughout the book.

A.J.West created the perfect atmosphere in this book. It's realistic but with gothic elements, that quiet horror, the slow build-up of tension, and not truly knowing what's real and what's not.

A great book!

A.J. West's outstanding first book, The Spirit Engineer, is captivating. This intriguing and eerie tale, which is based on a true narrative with connections to the Titanic catastrophe and The Great War, is an enduring work of gothic fiction.

1914 Belfast, Professor William Jackson Crawford, a skeptic of science, starts looking into a spiritual medium Kathleen Goligher. William is dragged down a path that he might never leave as the lights fade and the voices jumble.

With William, A.J. West has produced a flawed anti-hero. You'll have a hard time liking him. At other times, you'll admire him, feel sorry for him, be amazed, perplexed, annoyed, and horrified! A diverse ensemble of characters who thrill, horrify, and are cloaked in mystery, much like spirit medium Kathleen Goligher, has also been brought to life by the author.

AJ writes in a beautiful, lyrical style. Describe gruesome, vivid situations that leap off the page. The author's approach is a masterful fusion of warmth, comedy, and dark material that can arouse either melancholy or horror.

Ghost encounters are eerie and upsetting. This book is like a spiral staircase, full of surprising turns thanks to AJ's mastery pace and suspense.

The author's research into Belfast, historical characters, and the subject demonstrates an astounding attention to detail. Harry Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are mentioned, and their presence has a big impact on the story's narrator and plot.

A fantastic debut book from a writer I, for one, look forward to learning more about.

I absolutely loved this! Ive read much fiction about spiritualism and this was definitely an original take. This book was quite sinister in its slow descent into madness. I loved the twists right at the end too.

This was, unfortunately, a "DNF - Did Not Finish" for me. Basically I found the overall tone a little too close to the horror genre for me. I like a good supernatural historical fiction, but there was just something in this one I found too creepy. I am clearly a huge wuss! 🤣

I liked the concept, the historical details entwined into the story, and the style of writing and pace of the narrative very good. It was just a touch too dark for me. Sorry.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I read this earlier this month as well in between some chunky fantasy books, and I thought this would be a nice palette cleanser before jumping into another. And that is where I think this book went wrong for me personally as a reader. Looking over the star rating for this novel that has long since been published, I can see that I am in the minority here, so take what I have to say with a grain of salt.

I don't often pick up "historical" anything. It's not that they don't appeal to me, it's just that I am a more fantasy driven reader, and I love complex magic systems, morally grey characters and a really dense plot that takes time to unravel. With that being said, I thought that even though I knew nothing about the real life person this story is based on, that this could potentially work for me.

Here's where I think that I went wrong and that this may get better ratings from a different audience- If I am being honest, I am also not the biggest lover of lyrical or atmospheric writing. I think the pacing was also super weird and I constantly considered dnf-ing because I just couldn't get into what was happening. The last quarter of this book was much better and the ending almost made the entire boring middle worth it though.

Another thing that is usually hit or miss for me in books is humor. When it works, it REALLY works, but unfortunately for me, I just didn't vibe with it here. Instead, it almost made our main character seem even MORE unlikable in my personal opinion. Again, that's just me though and I can see how someone else may enjoy it.

This was spooky, dark and unsettling and the perfect mystery to read at this time of year. The author has created a fantastic plot that you can completely lose yourself in.

This gothic suspense/horror is based on a true story and real people.

The first section of the book, leading up to the tragic family crisis, is a distressing drama of hubris and pomposity – I was reminded of George Banks from Mary Poppins, but without the happy change of heart. And once William Crawford receives his terrible lesson about his misplaced values, things take a dark turn and keep getting darker.

William, his family, and the reader are plunged into a world of seances and spirits, which he initially doubts and challenges, but eventually allows himself to be persuaded into, in an attempt to salvage something positive from his own personal horrors. Alas, an initial upturn in his fortunes feels like the last big climb of a rollercoaster whose loops hold only madness, delusion and despair, and the reader can only watch helplessly as William plunges blindly onto every ill-conceived path set before him.

By the end, we come full circle, from rocks to rocks, and a final hint that perhaps there is always hope after all, and maybe a drop of truth in every ocean of deceit. It’s a neat touch that leaves it up to the reader how far they want to believe.

Very cleverly constructed, this is a deeply upsetting and utterly compelling read that sent me rushing to research how much was fact and how much fiction. I always feel the mark of a good historical fiction read is in the blurring of lines between the two!

Thank you for the Arc from Netgalley, and apologies for the late review.
I was excited to read this book as i live in Northern Ireland close to Belfast, and it is always fun to read about your own area.
The book was fine enough, the characters likeable or dislikeable as expected. I enjoyed reading about the well known names in it too. I don't think it brought a lot of new ideas, but it was a solid read.

The Spirit Engineer by A.J West

Based loosely on the true story of Professor William Jackson Crawford and renowned Medium Kathleen Goligher, The Spirit Engineer is set in Northern Ireland in the period just after the sinking of the Titanic.
This period (and during and after WW1) was a boon time for interest in Spiritualism, particularly amongst High Society who often employed Mediums to perform at social events, almost as a party piece.
So The Spirit Engineer has many divisions throughout - those who believe in communication from the dead and those who don’t; the divide between the rich audience and the (mostly) lower class Spiritualist practitioners; the ‘gullible’ (working classes)and the sceptic (academics).

What an amazingly clever, captivating and well written book! It’s hard to believe that this is A.J West’s first novel, it’s so perfectly plotted and paced.
The protagonist, William Crawford is a horror of a man, with very little to make you warm to him. But I thought that actually worked in the plot’s favour. Crawford’s initial scepticism followed by his complete immersion in belief (and his bloody-minded route towards gaining proof) wouldn’t have been anywhere near as compelling had we had a soft spot for the ol’ curmudgeon!
Anyway, brilliant book - one of the best I’ve read all year.

The Spirit Engineer, by A.J. West
Published: NOW.
Rating: 5/5
“Certain men are liable to be duped, and there is no creature so gullible as the certain man.”
― A.J.West, The Spirit Engineer
This book is brutally clever. Set in Victorian Belfast, 1914, two years after the sinking of Titanic, West thrusts you into a world where spiritualism and occultism have become the focus of high society. William Crawford is a sceptic academic, who believes in scientific reason alone. However, the passing of his young son forces him to reconsider. He discovers that his beloved wife has been attending seances in a questionable area of the city, where she has been convinced that her son is trapped in the underworld and in need of saving. Crawford decides to expose the séance for what it is – a cruel ploy to extort money from vulnerable people. It is not plain sailing. William’s scientific mind is tested when he begins to experience supernatural phenomena himself, and he is forced to navigate a world where nothing is as it seems. This debut novel is simply astonishing. West’s ability to weave a gothic tale full of twists and turns is incredible. I cannot believe that this is his first novel, because his storytelling and world-crafting is brilliant. I loved his portrayal of William Crawford, and the scene with Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle is beautifully crafted. I don’t think I’ve ever come across such a unique portrayal of Houdini, or the spiritual world in general. I did not realise that it was based on the true story of William Jackson Crawford and the famed female medium, Kathleen Goligher either, so that was a very pleasant surprise. This book is going to win awards by the bucketload, I’m sure.

The Spirit Engineer is based on the true story of William Jackson Crawford and his relationship with medium Kathleen Goligher. I’ve never read a story set in the aftermath of the Titanic sinking. So I thought that angle is pretty interesting and made it more harrowing. I appreciate how much research the author had done for the book, including meeting Crawford’s descendants.

This book is driven by William so your enjoyment depends on how much you like him as the protagonist. I found him to be a tricky character that unfortunately treats everyone around him badly. A large part of that is due to societal expectations at the time and the way men viewed their position at home and at work.

The book tries to balance both sides of the spiritualism argument by providing substantial evidence and enough skepticism on the other side. The séances scenes are pretty chilling. What felt unconvincing is why the characters kept letting William do whatever he wants with them, including using physical restraints. I wish the book had shown more of the Golighers’ motivations. This is a disturbing, morally complex historical horror for fans of spirits and séances.

I am always very humbled to have the opportunity to read books from Netgalley with the promise of a review. It has also helped me broaden my taste in books and read things I wouldn’t normally pick up. Because of this I always feel a little guilty for writing a review for a book that just didn’t sit well with me. This is one of them. It felt like a slog to get through despite it being really well written and I just did not enjoy the plot, the premise, or the characters. I persevered not so much because I wanted to know what happened at the end but more because I wanted to try and figure out what was going on. As I say, the story is well written, there’s plenty of depth to the characters and if supernatural is your thing then this is likely going to be enjoyable for you!

I struggled with this one a little, just because I found the main character a bit insufferable, and I know he's sheet of supposed to be but it made me roll my eyes so much at him that I nearly strained myself

I tried to get into this one, I really did. But, right from the first chapter I knew this wasn’t a book that would grip me. It was written well but I often felt confused and didn’t find myself getting absorbed by the story. I admit to not finishing the entire book. It could’ve been a right book, wrong time kind of moment.

The Spirit Engineer is an atmospheric and creepy historical fictionalization very roughly based on real events in the early 20th century. Released 7th Oct 2021 by Duckworth Books, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is undeniably a competently written book. A.J.West's prose flows well, the characterizations are believable, and there's a creepy aura of threatening dread throughout, nevertheless I struggled to finish it in a timely manner. I found myself actively loathing the main protagnonist; he's a fussy, pedantic, sexist (even considering the time period), mean spirited braggart and I grew tired of him about 12 pages into the read.

By the time Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini showed up, I didn't much care anymore. I do understand that all books are not for everyone, all the time and as such, fans of historical spiritualism/seance investigation will likely find a lot to enjoy here.

Three and a half stars for me; the writing quality brings it up to four. For fans of this niche subgenre, it should be a high four stars. The chapter and section engraved illustrations are also gorgeously rendered.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.