First of all, can we all just agree that this is one of the best debuts - nay books - I’ve ever read.

However you can get hold of a copy - buy it, rent it, borrow it, read it over someone’s shoulder, steal it (don’t do that) - you must read this book before 2021 is out. It’s not out until October but I was lucky enough to receive an early copy and I’m so glad I did, I’m not sure I could wait another two months to receive what I now know to be an absolutely stupendous book.

For someone who hates scary movies, I’ve never found myself being frightened by a book before. So when reviews said you should only read this during the day and with never alone, I thought that was an exaggeration. I tell you now - it definitely wasn’t. For someone who believes in ghosts and spirits, it takes a very special writer to get under my skin with them, but AJ does just that with his debut novel.

It may be the e-book version I had, but the illustrations in it are so gorgeous and so clever, I can only imagine what they look like in a hardback copy, and I may have to buy one for myself just so I can hold them in my hands.

The characters that AJ has created feel so familiar, and yet so new and fresh. They feel like friends, but ones we haven’t seen for many years. Whilst it’s not a main plot point, the infrequent mentions of WW1 and the horrors and injuries experienced are done so with sensitivity and respect, avoiding using them as mere entertainment devices.

Considering this is set 100 odd years ago, it is amazing how little things have changed in the world of ghosts and spiritualism. Yes it may be more accepted to believe in it now, but you still get the skeptics determined to damn anyone who dare believe anything different.

Once the twists and turns start coming, they come thick and fast, they are mind blowing and mind boggling, and that epilogue! Wow. I can’t see a sequel happening so I will read this again and again, wishing it was the first time again. And the fact it’s based on a true story just adds to the mystique.

Oh, one more thing. When this is inevitably made into a film, please can Tom Hiddleston be cast as the main protagonist as I saw him from page one. Oh and obviously with me playing his wife, for reasons I don’t really need to get into here, but you know why.

It’s no secret that this book has been one of the most anticipated reads of the year. There has been a frenzy building around this book with some very clever marketing. Naturally this makes you excited to read it but also worried it’s just hype; I’m happy to report it most certainly is not hype - it’s beautiful.

Based on a true story we begin in Belfast post the demise of the Titanic where we meet Professor William Jackson Crawford, a man of science, his wife Elizabeth and their three children. Although a clever man the Crawford’s are not exactly the wealthiest family with financial sponsorship from Aunt Adelia, (not an Aunt at all) poking her nose in and being a perfect snob - some brilliant exchanges between William and Adelia! What was interesting to learn was that a lot of people turned to seances post titanic with the huge loss of life. This was taboo and often thought to be going against god. Being a man of science William sets out to disprove ghosts and to debunk Mediums with experiments of his own making. What he discovers is the biggest surprise of all.

The writing style was fluid, sympathetic to the time period and well researched. The author managed to use humour appropriately without ruining an otherwise serious story. There was sadness, pity and tragedy to contend with. Clever writing providing clues throughout the book that all came together at the end magnificently.. It was a perfect penny drop moment where everything became crystal clear and left you paused in your own thoughts while you cast your mind back over the story to piece everything together - genius!

The author has documented his research and I would urge you to watch this along with the book, it’s fascinating to see the institute where William worked along with other pieces of evidence that appear in the book.

Anyone who follows me will know that more often than not I’m let down or left deflated by an ending. Impatient with a need for closure that I often don’t get…I am thrilled to say this ending took me by the hand, slapped me round the face several times only to give me a gentle kiss goodbye. An absolute dazzler of an ending.

Please pre-order this book. The author has created a masterpiece and one which I think will be talked about for a long time to come.

I initially chose this book based on it description. In the description, Sir Author Conan Doyle is mentioned and I was instantly intrigued, although his role in the story is very small. I have been reading another book which talks about his fascination with the spirit world, and this book drew me in very quickly,

I started this book unsure of what to expect but was not disappointed at all! Set in 1914 Belfast, Ireland, two years after the sinking of the famed ship, the Titanic. Spiritualism has captivated the high society of the time. William Jackson Crawford, a man of science, an engineer, a skeptic. When he follows his wife one night suspecting her of an affair, he is transported into a world of voices and shadows, is it real or is it all just one big con?

After following his wife and discovering what she was up to, he is immersed into the world of spiritualism, even donning the name The Spirit Engineer, his name a marriage of his two sides. The once skeptic is determined to show others the proof he has of the spirit world being real. Can he prove his theories or will he discover more than he bargained for before all is said and done?

This book was beautifully written, immersive with vibrant descriptions that transport you directly to the 1900's. I even found some era appropriate music to stream while reading to complete my immersion. The story flows well and I found that I was dying to see what would happen next. I absolutely did not see the ending coming. I love a good twist ending! I cannot wait to see more from this author!

Belfast, 1914. Two years after the sinking of the Titanic, high society has become obsessed with spiritualism. In their collective grief they are attempting to reach their departed through séances.

William Jackson Crawford is a man of science and a sceptic, but one night with everyone sitting around the circle, voices come to him seemingly from beyond the veil, placing doubt in his heart and a seed of obsession in his mind. Could the spirits truly be communicating with him or is this one of Kathleen's parlour tricks gone too far?

Based on the true story of William Jackson Crawford and famed medium Kathleen Goligher, and with a cast of characters that includes Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini, West conjures a haunting tale that will keep you guessing until the end.

All I can say is this author has gained a forever reader with me!

AJ West’s The Spirit Engineer is an uncomfortable read in places. William Crawford is a Professor of Engineering at the Municipal Technical institute in Belfast, living with his wife Elizabeth and their children: Margaret, Helen and Robert. Despite his (presumably well-paid) job, the family struggle for money. The novel is narrated by William and I cringed at his refusal to admit they’re slowly starving. Elizabeth is in mourning for her brother, who was on the Titanic. William thinks he was probably locked away below decks – primarily because William sent a telegram to the authorities, alerting them to William’s criminal activities.

There is mystery from the start of the novel: why did the housemaid, Hazel, leave so suddenly? Why don’t they eat well? Why don’t William and Elizabeth share a bedroom anymore? Why is William so self-absorbed and wilfully blind? He doesn’t help his wife; he doesn’t take the children off her hands, claiming that he’s busy with his work. I really felt for his wife, with her sad drudgery. She seeks solace at her church but then we overhear another woman saying to her, “We have missed you at our church meeting these last few weeks”.

William finds out where Elizabeth has been going and becomes acquainted with Kathleen Goligher, a young medium. William’s world is all precision engineering and facts. Surely all mediums, spiritualists, etc. are fakes, aren’t they? You just need to find out how they perform their tricks, don’t you? And if a Professor of Engineering with access to precision instruments and with a scientific method can’t find a trick, doesn’t that imply the spirits are real? Hence the world’s first Spirit Engineer.

I didn’t enjoy this book, but I don’t think it was meant to be “enjoyed”. I did, however, find it gripping, enthralling, shocking and, in one episode prior to the gala dinner, funny. Don’t read this book if you like your world cozy, innocent and where everything has a happy-ever-after story.

#TheSpiritEngineer #NetGalley

The Spirit Engineer is a ghost story that revolves around a skeptical engineer who after losing his child, begins to attend seances where the lines between life and death become blurred implicating the engineer in a web of danger and deceit.

I thought the beginning and ending were suspenseful and creepy but the middle dragged a bit which made it difficult for me to finish it. The last 100 pages made up for the boring bits but it negatively affected my reading experience to the point where I googled the main character for a quick overview of his life. I liked the sketches that were used in the book and overall the author is a great storyteller who successfully evoked a supernatural atmosphere. I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by A.J. West.

Interesting story, but the pacing could have been faster and the eerie mood was a bit inconsistent.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book!
Amazing. Phenomenal. Astounding. Fantastic and all the other words!

Until a couple of weeks ago I had no idea that this book was coming out this year. I hadn't heard anything about, I hadn't seen anything about it. When I saw it available on NetGalley I just thought it sounded interesting and thought it was worth requesting.
Best thing I have ever done! This book is my favourite book of 2021 so far and honestly might be one of my favourites of all time!

I actually finished this book a couple of days ago but didn't write my review straight away because I wanted to give myself some time to find something, ANYTHING, wrong with it... and I failed. This book is a 5 out of 5 in all aspects.

The scene was perfectly set. Every single character in the book managed to be completely fleshed out and beautifully written even if they only appeared a couple of times!
The suspense and the horror involved were amazing as well and I actually found myself a bit creeped out at night sometimes while reading it, which is just perfect.
This is one of the best debut novels I have ever read and I can't wait to see more from A.J.West!

3 things that happened after this book that just prove its excellence:
1. I gave it 5 stars. Extremely rare for me, I never rate a book as being 'perfect' ... I will nitpick until the cows come home, but here we are.
2. It scared me! I've been reading horror for the better part of 2 years now and I'm constantly complaining that I'm bored and not scared enough but this managed to get there.
3. I ORDERED A PHYSICAL COPY! - I never do this if I've already read the e-book but I just need to have this on my shelves!

This review is all just one big ramble but I have a lot of feelings about this book and no idea how to get them all out.

No notes! If you do anything this year, read this book!

Very much a mixed bag for me.
At times creepy, others amusing,others a little slow.
Definitely full of atmosphere.
Comes to a crashing finish that was dramatic and unexpected.

1914, Belfast, two years after the sinking of the Titanic, spiritualism seems to be taking off amongst high society. William Jackson Crawford is an engineer, a man of science, a sceptic.
When Elizabeth, Williams wife, joins Kathleen Goligher's circle, William is drawn in only to hear voices that appear to come from nowhere. William doubts himself and soon an obsession to find the truth takes over. Is it simply parlour tricks or....is it real?

Wow, wow, wow, what a debut from AJ West!

This was one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year and I am so glad it didn't disappoint.

The Spirit Engineer had me hooked from the first page. I was totally captivated by the style of the writing, I felt like I was taken back in time so much so, I could smell the smells and kept checking over my shoulder. This book is spooky, it gets inside your head but not only that, there are some one liners that had me chuckling.
I absolutely loved this book, it kept me reading long into the night. Its engaging, spooky, funny and I will thinking about that ending for a long time.

I can't wait to read more from AJ West.

I was nervous to read this, as I loved the sound of it so much, I thought there was no way it could fully live up to my expectations. But not only did it surpass them, its at the top of my books of the year. It goes from giving you chills, to checking over your shoulder, to heart palpitations, to choked up with tears, to full on spit your tea out laughing. All of the emotions!

The story of The Spirit Engineer is so fascinating and rich with gorgeous lines, but for me the strength are its characters, particularly William Jackson Crawford. I loved him from the first page. He made mistakes and went about some things in questionable ways, and I did find myself wanting to shake him and give him a bit of a talking to! But it was clear his intentions were always good, and it was all to seek approval and respect from his peers, and the love of his wife and family.

There are ghosts, there are plot twists, and there are some of the funniest one liners I have ever read. It's a perfect Halloween read. I can't wait to re read it during spooky season. And I'm so excited to read more from this talented debut author

Many thanks to Duckworth and Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review