Thank you so much to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC; it is greatly appreciated.

I was really into this book until about the 60% mark. From here it feels like it jumps the rails, gets a bit too ridiculous, and feels rushed. The last 40% has a different vibe in the writing compared to the rest, and it just feels off.

The characters were great, and it was refreshing to actually have a character that has a solid support system that he can confide in in a horror novel. Often times the MC is left to their own devices, so I appreciated the active side characters.

I don't mind how this book ended, but with the build up of the first half I think that last third can be done better. It really feels like the author was on a time crunch, and maybe was not able to give that section of the book as much attention.

Overall, it's an easy and quick read that will certainly deliver if you're in the mood for ghosts.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

I love horror books, so I had high hopes for this book. While It was a good book overall, I don't think haunted house horror books are my ... desired trope in the horror genre I suppose.
It was well-written. The storyline was solid with some great twists.
The world-building was great.... but I think the character development left something to be desired. We mostly only saw David's POV, which was the main point I suppose.

Again, overall a good book. technically a well-written novel. I just didn't LOVE it as much as I wanted to.

I did enjoy this read, and I'll be looking for more books by the author!

WE ARE MANY

I am always searching for more books about haunted houses. I’m not sure why I love them so much but I can’t get enough. If a book has “ghosts” in the title I will immediately add it to my TBR.

Straight out the premise reminded me of the BBC show Ghosts which I love. David begins to see things after a near death experience. Problem is he can’t tell if it’s all in his head or actually ghosts. And if it is ghosts, what do they want from him?

One thing I noticed in the storytelling is that some chunks are missing. For instance, we aren’t told that David has a doctors appointment where they are doing testing. We simply have him receiving a call saying he doesn’t have much time left. Some readers may enjoy that because it keeps the interest and pace fast but others may feel like they aren’t fully getting the story. You don’t have the thought or lead up just the action.

All ghosts aside, I love how David was trying to live life to the fullest. I really liked David’s point of view because it was comical, self deprecating at times and realistic.

Did some research on the author, Steven Hopstaken, and looks like this is his first standalone book! I really enjoyed my time reading A Man Among Ghosts. The characters are relatable and funny. The ghosts are spooky and downright scary. There are some interesting twists and complex take on ghosts/hauntings that was cleverly done!

I would definitely read more from the author and I suggest this to reader who want a unique take on a haunted house story. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it. I have written this review voluntarily.

I used to love watching horror films when I was younger and the gripping, cleverly structured A Man Among Ghosts took me back to those days. Steven Hopstaken's novel is a chilling ghost story, peppered with humour and although set in the present, it evokes those classic movies so well, particularly the Amityville Horror, Poltergeist and Nightmare on Elm Street series of films. The premise is decidedly unsettling and there's a rising sense of tension throughout this imaginative paranormal tale, resulting in a compelling haunted house thriller which left me desperate for more.
It's obvious to readers right from the start that when David wins an old house in an auction, he is taking on more than a roof in need of repair and a heating system requiring immediate overhaul. There are signs even here that let the reader in on something which takes David much longer to realise. As the storyline progresses and this tale of terror becomes increasingly dark, the reason why he is unable to just cut his losses and sell up is easily explained. David's encounters with what seems to be spirits, apparently trying to seize his attention, range from the brief and almost inconsequential to the grim, gruesome and terrifying. Despite some humour lightening proceedings, there's an underlying sense of danger and ominous foreboding which becomes ever more frightening during the latter part of the book.
David is an engaging protagonist and is an interesting combination of being self-aware and yet understandably concerned about his mental and physical health. Even as he realises that all is not as it should be in the house, he is torn between different explanations – none of which are particularly comforting. He strikes a rather tragic figure at first but it becomes evident that despite his troubles, he is a likeable man who has people who care deeply for him. His best friend Gary might be leaving with his girlfriend to pursue his career as a magician but their friendship is always shown to be an enduring constant. I loved Gary – his magic tricks are horrifically gory and he definitely oversteps the boundaries as to what is decent in one scene in particular but he is determined to help his friend find out whether he is hallucinating, being haunted or hoaxed.
While David's confusion about what is happening to him makes perfect sense, the reader is shown throughout that his visitors cannot be explained away by science. Quite what they want from him isn't revealed until much later in the book; it's not easy to discuss here without giving away any spoilers but I can say that while it is always obvious that the mystery behind the names Fitz and Kang holds the key as to what is happening to David, I was genuinely surprised by the direction the story takes. The conclusion suggests there is more to come and if that's the case, I'm eagerly anticipating the sequel. A Man Among Ghosts is a deliciously dark, fresh and witty take on one of the most revered themes in horror fiction. A complex, compulsive read from start to finish, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I stopped reading when the main character was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Using cancer as a plot point is cheap and I hate it. This book had so much potential, but it fell flat. The writing was terrible and all the characters sounded the same. I won’t pick up anything by this author again. Zero stars

At the insistence of this best friend Adam goes to an auction for a beautiful Victorian home and is totally surprised when he wins with the bid. While in the living room waiting to sign the paperwork a man comes in with the little girl and tells him to leave that this is his house he is so surprised by that when the realtor comes back he tells her what happened and her and the auctioneer look all over but can’t find anyone. Little did Adam know this was just the first of many ghostly visitation tea would get and not all his visitors would be nice and not all or deceased. Soon after moving in though he has other problems to worry about having suffered from migraines for a while his doctor did a few tests and found out he has a big tumor in his brain and may only have six months to live and no yes biscuit also be why he saying apparitions. he is so depressed and cannot think of a future that he could fit in to six months so he decided to take his own life while laying in the tub with his arms slipped he sees a woman in the bathroom telling him you’re not going to die today you’re going to be OK today and instantly Adam wants to live he quickly calls 911 and then passes out he’s only company in the darkness is the woman from the bathroom and another man when he wakes up in the hospital he is surprised to see his dad there with tears in his eyes. When Adam was a teenager he lost his mom and older sister and was never close to his dad so he is surprised to see him not only at his bedside but apologizing for all he did wrong. Adam is happy to make nice with his dad and the timing couldn’t be more perfect his dad belongs to a church that believes in good ghost and demons and after he spends the night at Adam‘s new home he insist on sending the pastor another prayer warriors to read the home of the evil ghost. Spiritual health is not the only help you get though his neighbor is a professor and hooked him up with a ghost hunting expert it seems the aperition are getting worse and eventually they will get physical I haven’t even mention he keeps seeing kill Fitz Chang on his mirrors and he has no clue what that means… Until he does. I haven’t even come close to telling you the whole story this is one crazy tale eventually it will be left to Adam weather to the side is he really the only one who can save mankind or is he still losing his mind? This was a great book and when I thoroughly enjoyed a read that’s all it at one time and it isn’t a short book but it’s one you will not want to put down. I received this quote from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

At first I wasn't sure about this one. The initial set up and introduction to the main character didn't feel polished, or something. But as the book goes on, the action builds and it just gets better and better. Lots of ghosts, lots of what is going on moments. I don't want to add any spoilers, so I'll just say I like the idea of where the ghosts were coming from.
I definitely recommend this to readers who enjoy ghost and haunted house books.

A Man Among Ghosts is a darkly funny, paranormal adventure through the eyes of one poor tormented individual.

This novel is like a book version of the paranormal activity movie packed full of satirical humour. Throughout the entire story you are subjected to moments that make you feel deep frustration for David, all he wants is his life and blow by blow, life takes its toll on him.

The beginning of the book is supremely ominous, there is a major trigger warning for suicide which is continuously referenced throughout. This scene is integral to the story though and sets the novel up in a brilliant way.

David is a fantastic protagonist who grows immensely throughout the read. Steve Hopstaken has done an outstanding job of creating a relatable, deep character with a rich set of character growth situations.

The stories prowess is cemented in its scenes of paranormal craziness. Steve Hopstaken is extremely talented when it comes to these scenes and I absolutely adored reading them, no matter how dark they may be!

A Man Among Ghosts is another fantastic instalment from Flame Tree Press and paranormal thriller fans are sure to have a blast with this one!

I'm obsessed with haunted house stories, and the haunting in this book satisfied all my cravings for eerie atmosphere and grotesque surprises.

The protagonist, David, is an affluent depressive with few friends who decides to invest in a house to give his life a bit of direction. He buys a somewhat dilapidated turn-of-the-century house in a run down neighborhood, planning to restore it, but he immediately sees signs of the house's dark history. Soon, ghastly apparitions follow him everywhere, not just in the house. With the help of his friends and neighbor, David sets out to figure out whether these visions are the result of genuine supernatural activity, a complex hoax, or his own neurological illness.

Many of the ghosts appear to David as people he recognizes - both friends and virtual strangers - and David starts to believe that they are sending him a specific message.

This book was a really fun ride, but I'm almost not sure how to rate it. The scares were excellent, and the concept was very fun, but character development left something to be desired. Since the narrative focuses on David's perspective, I don't expect to have a clear window into the side characters' minds, but there were definitely moments where I was completely at a loss as to their motivations, and I'd have liked to see them fleshed out more as people rather than plot devices. Along the same lines, some side plots (like with David's father, or with Cassy and Fitz) felt largely extraneous to the overall plot, which could have been moved forward more concisely through other means.

That said, I definitely had fun reading it and will recommend it to other horror lovers (if only so I can have someone to talk through my book feelings with!)

I'd absolutely be down to read more of this author's work.

A Man Among Ghosts by Steven Hopstaken brings us a scary ordeal of a man who encounters ghosts in his house. Foe the first few pages nothing much happens. But after few incidents the plot picks its pace and the real terror starts. The most exciting part of the plot is that we are left to figure out that is it our character's schizophrenia or real ghosts he is seeing. It was really an enjoyable read.

I would like to give 4 stars to the book. Thanks to Random Things Tours for providing me with an opportunity to read and review the book.

An old Victorian house is being actioned off and David’s best friend urges him to bid on it. David is tired of living the bachelor life in a too small apartment with Star Wars posters adorned to the walls and milk crates for furniture.

Shortly after moving in, he experiences terrible migraines that leave him with blurred vision. He swears he can see people walking around but he cannot make out their faces. After a brain cancer treatment, David starts seeing ghosts throughout the house.

The ghosts are sending him messages urging him to “Kill Fitz and Kang”. David must decipher this information because the ghosts aren’t talking.

Steven Hopstaken is an incredible author that executed the most chilling haunted house story. The unforgettable twist at the end was a complete mind f*ck and I cannot stop thinking about it. 👻

I really wanted to love this book.
It had all the components I like, an old, haunted house, ghosts that could or could not be liars, an interesting protagonist, a fast pace… Alas, it somehow did not manage to fulfil the story that was brewing in my mind.
Let me explain: when I read something, I like to go inside the world with no expectations at all: I love to be surprised by the twists and to get to know the characters (maybe love them, maybe not, maybe think they should have been out of the house after the first night). I want it to feel natural.
In A Man Among Ghosts, however, David seems to change but not really evolve, everyone around him seems to be resorted but do not really do anything apart from being there and say/ do just the thing needed to advance the plot.
By the way, about the plot: it started as something really simple but got overwhelmed by more and more details that felt like they simply appeared from nowhere. And I will not say anything about the ending, but we all know there is a big discussion to have after finishing the book.
(I received this book from Flame Tree Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

I received this book from Flame Tree Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This statement is always true. I’m not given compensation to discuss a book and I’m not told how to rate a book. I am given a book in exchange for my opinions on it, and I am truthful in all my reviews whether I loved them or not.

I love paranormal and ghost stories, and this book did not disappoint at all. There was definitely a creepy tone and some unimaginable horror scenes that were greatly executed. I really took to the hauntings and multiple ghosts throughout the whole book. I enjoyed that the paranormal activity started early and continued to the end of the book.

David is a single man who, by recommendation of his best friend Gary, bought an old Victorian House at an auction. Unfortunately for David, he is diagnosed with cancer. Visions and hallucinations haunt David. He seeks to find answers from Gary, Gary's girlfriend Shannon, his girlfriend Cassy, and a few other people that he meets along the way. David is run ragged by the hauntings and he cannot separate reality from fiction. He is asked to do an unthinkable act. He resists, but does his resistance lasts, or does he all under the pressure of un-living corpses? This book will make you question how far would you go to save innocent souls?

Mr. Hopstaken develops the story very well, the characters are intriguing and each one plays a significant part in David's journey. This is a masterpiece of a paranormal thriller, suspense, and a sense of horror. After reading this, if you don't believe in ghosts, you very well may begin to.

Thank you Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and rate this book.

What a refreshing read. A bit ghost story, a bit gothic story, a few sci-fi notions. I found the plot and in general, the whole idea quite interesting. The beginning of the story seemingly quite straightforward, however as follow the main character along... The story keeps the reader on their toes, as up until the last chapter it is not entirely clear where the truth lies. And even the ending is open for interpretation.
It's a horror story with a modern twist and lots of possibilities which excellent subject for further discussion.
Short, concise, fun and serious and the same time. Even spooky. I enjoyed it immensely!

After a near death experience in his newly acquired Victorian house, David finds himself haunted by ghosts. The weirdest part? The ghosts don't just stick to his old house and some of the ghosts are people who are still alive. Is he losing his mind or are there really ghosts trying to get an important message to him?

This was a haunted house story, but not as you know it. The premise and how the story unfolds was definitely unique., It was genuinely very creepy and I was definitely scared at some points, which doesn't happen often for me (growing up reading Stephen King, when I was way too young for his books, made me pretty difficult to scare in a book). I enjoyed the nod to King's The Dead Zone without it trying to imitate it.

This book had so much promise and I wanted to love it, but in the end it just didn't deliver. The writing style was not for me, it was written more like statements and didn't flow well, and the dialogue was very clunky and unnatural. I don't need my horror to be written in prose, but I also don't want to be walked through every step - show, don't tell. Despite that, I was enjoying it and it kept me turning pages. Until the end, which felt flat and rushed. I was left thinking "oh, was that it?". I rarely say this, but it could have done with being a little longer to really flesh out the ending.

I'm rating this a 3.5 overall (rounded up), because despite the writing style and the disappointing ending, it was a unique and mostly unpredictable ghost story that did have me scared multiple times. It was a quick read as well, so while it won't go on my favourites list I wouldn't necessarily shy away from recommending it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

A Man Among Ghosts | Stephen Hopstaken
4 ⭐️

After acquiring an old Victorian house at auction, David hopes his life has taken a turn for the better. Unfortunately there is something is his new house that has other plans.

Haunted house stories are my absolute favourite, and this story did not disappoint.
It was definitely not what I expected. This is horror but with so much more. Sadly, It lost me a little bit at the end. This was a 5 star read for me up to about 80%.

This story is fast paced and full of twists and turns. It kept me interested and I could not predict what was going to happen at the end!
I'm unsure if there will be a sequel, but there is a setup for one. Fingers crossed

Read this if you like:
- A Haunted House, with a twist
- Ghosts with a message
- Uncertain Realities

I went into this book not knowing what to expect - I thought it would be a ‘person buys new house and bad things happen until they leave screaming’, which it is to a point. There’s elements of Jacobs Ladder in this, along with typical ghost stories but there is a big twist later on which almost sticks the landing. For me, it was a fun read - not scary enough to keep me from sleeping but paced enough I stayed up to finish it. Who’s it for? Hard to say; those who want an easy reading ghost story will be entertained.

👻 The story follows David who has bought an old Victorian style house. Soon he finds himself haunted by ghosts. There are many begging for his help to kill someone named Fitz. Are the ghosts real? Is David hallucinating or is someone playing tricks with his mind?

👻 Pick this up if you like/don’t mind:
📌 an old haunted Victorian house
📌 fast paced plot
📌 not a typical ghost story
📌 supernatural elements with a hint of sci fi
📌 unexpected turns and twists
📌 a very likeable and funny MC
📌 binge worthy read

👻 The plot got me hooked from the very beginning and I had a hard time putting it down. Things did sound repetitive at times but the mystery behind ghost sightings kept me going. I had zero clue that this wasn’t like typical ghost books, so the ending twist kind of didn’t work out for me. It may work for others specially those looking for logical explanation for everything.

👻 Thanks NetGalley for the ebook.

This book was fast-paced, well-written, and the characters were each vivid in their own way. I didn't find the story scary... it was more mysterious. It kind of reminded me of Stephen King's The Dead Zone. I didn't care for the ending of A Man Among Ghosts... I can't quite tell if there will be a continuation in another book or not (there should be).

This plot moves from the beginning. David wins the bid on a gorgeous home up for auction - people quickly abandoning after hearing past events. Let me tell you - it just adds to the house's character.
David's migraines seem to increase upon moving in - only to be told of a major health issue.
The house's spirits don't hold back - making David question everything.
Lots of creep factor. Very enjoyable read!