"You'll love this if you like the movie Jacob's Ladder, Stephen King's The Dead Zone or Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House.

After surviving a near-death experience, David finds himself haunted by ghosts in the old Victorian house he is renovating. These tortured souls beg for his help and offer him protection from a demonic presence that wants David dead for a crime he doesn't remember committing. Even more surprising, he soon learns these are spirits of people who are not yet dead. Is this real, is he hallucinating, or is someone trying to drive him insane? As his paranoia ramps up, he discovers the truth is even more bizarre. The haunting won't stop until he kills a man named "Fitz.""

Oh, insanity or haunting or both?

I really wanted to like this book. I always end up being one of the odd people that didn't enjoy it as much amongst a sea of five star reviews, and end up wondering what they got out of it that I seemed to have missed. It had a really compelling plot with a lot of potential, but I think my biggest issue was with the fact that it felt more like I was being told the story instead of being shown. I also felt like the characters ended up a bit flat and I had a bit of trouble continuing. If I wasn't so curious to find out the ending, which felt a bit forced and had a very soft, but decent twist, I'm not sure if I would've continued reading.

Thank you for this ARC that was generously provided by the publisher and author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this ghost story.
A Victorian house, a troubled man - what could possibly go wrong?
The story was well paced and the plot interesting. It had a good dark atmosphere which i find really important. At times light and funny, other times creepy and dark, it was well balanced. I think i should check out other books by the writer.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the arc provided.

A Man Among Ghosts is a horror story about a man (duh) who moves into an old house and finds himself surrounded by ghosts (DUH) - the book certainly keeps what it promises on the title in that regard!

After fiding himself accosted by ghosts - some benevolent, some less so - David has to figure out what they want - and why they don't want him to leave the house behind, while simultaneously balancing a slew of other problems.
With the help of his friends, he tries to solve the riddle before the increasingly violent ghost attacks may end up costing him his life.

Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of the writing style, and thought it could have profited from some more thorough editing to smoothe out the sometimes sketchy grammar.

A Man among ghosts is an engaging and fast-paced read, not too high on the horror- and gore scales. I would recommend it to people who are looking for a gateway book into horror that isn't too scary.

I want to thank NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here expressed are my own.

This was my first Steven Hopstaken read and I can safely say it won’t be my last. I was invested fromthe first chapter, and the pacing of the story was just perfect for me.

I went in thinking that this would be the usual haunted house ghost story, but it was so much more! I was left second guessing what was real and what was in David’s mind after most chapters.

The ending hints that another book might follow, so fingers crossed we have not herd the last from David. 🤞🏼

Thank you to netgalley and Flame Tree Press for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Amazing book! I was drawn in from the very beginning. There was a good variation in action and storyline. It seems almost like something that could actually happen with todays political climate. The book is set up for there to be a follow up and I cannot wait! I

Steven Hopstaken’s debut Stoker’s Wilde (2019) and sequel Stoker’s Wilde West (2020) were positively received upon release and his third novel A Man Among Ghosts is a clever change of pace, abandoning the adventurous historical world of Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde for contemporary America, featuring one of the weirdest of haunted houses.

There are a lot of ghosts featured in A Man Among Ghosts, so many in fact that they fail to have much in the way of a scare factor, even if some are aggressive and unpredictable. This is partly because the ghosts have their own agenda and motives, which is integral to the main longer arc of the novel which is revealed nice and slowly. Ultimately this makes A Man Among Ghosts a very unorthodox, haunted house novel, as it does not include many of the usual type of “Boo!” moments or much in the way of atmosphere. However, it is far from predictable and where the plot ends up is a million miles from where it begins, so much so I would avoid spoilers. Much is crammed into its 240 unpredictable pages.

The novel begins with David buying a dilapidated Victorian house after becoming tired of renting. Working in computer programming, he feels that it is time to settle down and live a more adult lifestyle. However, he is also slightly depressed as his best friend Gary (and girlfriend Shannon) will soon be moving out of the area and he hopes to make new friends but feels his best years might be behind him. Disaster then strikes and a brain tumour means he only has three months to live and around the same time he starts to see ghosts in his new house.

Mentally David finds himself in a very fragile state and calls of his old friend Gary to help, who is a successful magician/illusionist, but does not believe in ghosts and is sure he can prove what Gary is seeing is not real. It is difficult to say much more about A Man Among Ghosts without heading into spoiler territory, but I found myself seriously invested in figuring out what was going on. David makes friends with Gus, his next door neighbour, and even finds a new girlfriend, but can’t shake off the sense of paranoia that somebody is messing with him, but why. Strangely, many of the characters accepted very easily the fact that David saw ghosts and there are even a couple of exorcisms thrown into the mix courtesy of David’s estranged evangelical Christian father. Even more surprising, he soon learns that some of the spirits he sees are of people who are not yet dead and so pretty difficult to exorcise! When he sees ghosts (or whatever they are) in locations other than the house things get even wackier.

The advance blurbs namechecked the film Jacob’s Ladder, Stephen King’s The Dead Zone and Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House. The latter is probably overreaching slightly, but I could see snatches of Jacob’s Ladder and more significantly The Dead Zone which the book owes a larger debt to. It must also be said that there was also a very cool (unnamed) cat in this novel which made me smile. Even though the book was built around David I did not find him to be particularly likable, but not did I dislike him, and felt it could have been a stronger read if he been a slightly deeper character.

A Man Among Ghosts was a solid horror thriller which what it lacked in scares more than made up with a clever and wildly outlandish plot. It was also a very easy to read novel and I had fun speeding through it in not time at all.

Whattt i hope for usual ghost story, but this one was ghost from the future woww. It feel real, every headache I can feel it, David so calm meet many kind of ghost. I wonder if they is next book about Kang.

Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.

#AManAmongGhosts #StevenHopstaken #FlameTreePress#NetGalley #ARC

👻a man among ghosts 👻

🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

this was such a good book!! david buys an old victorian house with rumours of being haunted, but he doesn't believe in ghosts, until he sees them. we follow him trying to figure out whether the ghosts he sees are in fact ghosts, or if they're hallucinations caused by his recent brain damage. the maybe-ghosts crop up in different parts of his life, giving him mixed messages that he can't fully make sense of. we go for a wild ride in davids mind as he tries to figure out whether the ghosts are really there, and which ones he should believe.

this was a fun book and it ends in a way that hints at a sequel and I SO hope there is one !! I definitely recommend getting a copy when it's out if you're into horror and want a modern haunted house story!!

tw: suicide attempt

I have read and loved Steven Hopstaken's Stoker's Wilde series so I was interested to read A Man Among Ghosts. This is a totally different piece of horror fiction compared to the Stoker's Wilde series, it's set in the present, it's not populated by real characters and at it's heart is a haunted house tale. I'm surprised that Hopstaken remains relatively unknown, his previous two novels are great and this modern haunted house story works just a well, the humour is there and there are plenty of unnerving moments. An author to look out for.

Such a good book! For me this book felt like a cross between Stephen King's The Shining and Blake Crouch's Dark Matter. Right in line with my favorites!

After purchasing an old Victorian home and surviving a near death experience, David begins seeing ghosts. Some are out to kill him while others seem to be trying to help him. He starts to realize these are ghosts of people he knows and worries he may be hallucinating or worse, someone is doing this to him on purpose. David realizes the hauntings won't stop until he does what they are asking, "Kill Fitz." But who is Fitz??

I read this book pretty quickly even though the chapters were pretty long. Every time I put it down I found myself going back to the story and wanting more. I couldn't decide if David was actually seeing ghosts or if he was hallucinating. And I didn't know who was real and who was a ghost so I was skeptical of all characters at all times.

The only reason I didn't give it 5 starts was because I felt like there needed to be one more chapter that explained a little more. The ending felt a little rushed. Also, I didn't really understand the Alice in Wonderland themed chapter titles. But maybe I missed the obvious on that one?

What an absolute delight to read – this was such a unique premise and gave me all of the psychological thriller fun I want from a horror along with well-placed and well-timed humour to add some lightness. I think it’s important to know that this isn’t a typical ghost or horror story, and the characters aren’t your typical ghosts – however, the characters are all wonderfully written, and the entire plot is captivating
Hopstaken is incredible. There’s a reason the early reviews are as high as they are.

If you’re looking for a book that will keep you guessing, on edge and invested from the first chapter, this is the one for you. The pacing felt perfect, leaving the perfect amount of time and space to process the story and question what comes next. So many eerie moments! This is a five star read that kept me hooked from the minute I booted up my kindle.

As usual, I read this initially as an ARC through NetGalley, but I’m genuinely excited for this to be released so I can add it to my shelves and revisit Hopstaken’s writing again and again.

Thank you to both NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book for my honest review.
A Man Among Ghosts follows David, who buys his first home in the Bay Area for ridiculously cheap due to the repairs that need to be done and the killing of a drug dealer that took place inside. No big deal for David, he’s looking forward to taking on this project. Soon after moving in, he starts to see people breaking into his home. The weird thing is that he can’t figure out how they’re getting in or out. David learns some unfortunate news about his health and has a very traumatic experience. The people he sees in his home and out of it are not what they seem.

This book was a really fun read! It is categorized as horror and has a good amount of terrifying descriptions for ghost encounters. There is still a bit of levity in the dialogue among characters that keeps the story from being to horror-filled. For the length of the book, I think the pacing was appropriate. The intent of the ghosts was really interesting and I wish we could have had more time with area.

I wouldn’t say this is the scariest book, but if hearing weird noises in your house while you’re all alone spooks you, then I would recommend this book!

TW for suicide attempt and drug use

After buying a house that needs many repairs and upgrades, David finds out that the migraines he is experiencing isn’t migraines. With a trial treatment he is cured of the disease but one of the side effects is that he now sees ghosts. These ghosts have a plan and need David to carry it out.

This is my first book of 2023 and it’s going to be hard to read anything better this year. The characters are wonderful. I like David and I empathize with him. Gary, Shannon and Gus were also very likable. The cat too and I wish I knew more about him. Cassy I’m not sure about.

This isn’t your typical haunted house story. It’s so much more. The reason why is something I will not spoil for you. It’s a perfect read for horror fans. I will definitely be looking for more to read from Mr. Hopstaken.

What a fabulous story this was! Hopstaken is definitely on my list of people to watch after this one... He has crafted an incredible universe and populated it with fantastic characters, alive and dead, and used them to present a story that is engaging, creepy, and wholly entertaining. As each chapter unfolds more weirdness is revealed, but it all comes together beautifully through the author's wonderful use of language.

I love a good haunted house tale, and this is that in spades - as well as a complex story about coming to terms with your own life, warts and all. There is tragedy pouring out of every page, yet the story never devolves into self-pity or sympathy. Rather, it's a tale about survival - on many fronts, in many contexts - and that unusual emphasis (for a ghost story) is part of what made it so dynamic and unusual (in the best possible way).

This was a super-fast read for me. I finished it in a day - literally. It held me in thrall from the first pages. Hopstaken has a magnificent ability to craft a deliciously dark and twisty world that draws you in and refuses to let you go. And that ending! I wonder if we might see more of the delightful David - and I truly hope we do!

Shortly after David buys an old Victorian fix-er-up he has a medical close call that leaves a small part of his brain changed. When he begins to see and hear ghosts he fears brain damage, insanity or even paranoia. He should be so lucky. The many spirits that haunt David are trying to get an urgent message across. “Kill Fitz”. Who is Fitz? David has no idea and he also has no plans to kill anyone anyway. Like most people receiving messages from the dead David is also frustrated with their cryptic communication methods. If you, Ghost, can do all 0f these creepy, spooky things and show me all these creepy visions why can’t you simply complete one sentence like, what’s up with this Fitz guy and why should I kill him?” When David finally thinks he’s solved.the entire puzzle he faces a terrible dilemma. He has a choice to make. Neither option is appealing, and both are terrifying and either way David knows he’s about to lose what’s dearest to him.

This books takes you on a wild ride as a passenger in David’s mind. What is real? What’s in his mind? Is someone just messing with him? Is it demonic, evil, spiritual? Is the house haunted, or is David haunted, or hallucinating? This wild ride reached a satisfying destination and we realize, finally, the whole truth and we know if David made the right choice after all.
#AManAmongGhosts

I am so lucky to have stumbled upon A Man Among Ghosts by Steven Hopstaken! This book was weird and awesome, a true hidden gem. I was hooked by the first page and couldn't put the book down. The storyline was intriguing and truly terrifying. Do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK!

This was such an original and interesting read that gave me chills and made the hairs stick up on the back of my neck. I didn't know what ti think or who to believe. I loved it.

Don't you just hate it when ghosts are irritating you constantly, but they won't come right out and say what they want? Poor David, the protagonist, has a Victorian house full of ghosts and all they do is bleed all over him and leave cryptic messages. When the ghosts finally spill the beans, David is all, "Why me?"

Which are the lying ghosts? Which ghosts can he trust? Which are dangerous? Who among the spirits want to help him? And can an average guy, a computer programmer living in a haunted, run-down Victorian, change the future? Why, OH why, of all the people in the world, did they pick David?

Choose lovers carefully. That's all I'm going to say about that.

Thanks to Netgalley and Flame Tree Press for allowing me to read and review an eARC of A Man Among Ghosts.

A Man Among Ghosts
by Steven Hopstaken
After surviving a near-death experience, David finds himself haunted by ghosts in the old Victorian house he is renovating. These tortured souls beg for his help and offer him protection from a demonic presence that wants David dead for a crime he doesn’t remember committing. Even more surprising, he soon learns these are spirits of people who are not yet dead. Is this real, is he hallucinating, or is someone trying to drive him insane? As his paranoia ramps up, he discovers the truth is even more bizarre. The haunting won’t stop until he kills a man named “Fitz.”
David buys an old HAUNTED by ghost as he buys an old Victorian house .This is more than a haunted story of ghost.He is cured from a tumor. All the ghost are encouraging him to kill a man named Fitz. The why, and how will chill you. It was a very good read.