I am all for re-purposing old buildings for businesses or apartments but after reading this book, I would definitely think twice about suggesting any building that had been an asylum or home for unwanted children. The pasts of these buildings would be to filled with anguish, pain and death to not have some kind of residual effect on anyone living there. Abby thought she was leaving an abusive p, drug addict to start over. Little did she know what she was headed for when she contacted her friend from high school. The building she moved into just needed the energy from Abby’s emotions to open up the revenge the spirits feel they need to extract.
The author was very good at making you feel the dread and trepidation of being in the halls of Harper’s Grove. Reading the stories about the children that were basically abandoned was heartbreaking. I cannot believe some of the stories that come from author’s research about these places. As always children and women are always the most vulnerable and easy to exploit. It is no wonder these type of buildings contain such hateful and angry energy. And even though Abby wanted to help the angry spirits, the anger was too strong for even her good heart. This book was very frightening and eerie.

I want to begin by saying I love how creepy the cover is and how intriguing the cover is. The story is great too! There are a good amount of creepy moments and it's unique. I think the story moves at a good pace. Special Thank You to Robert Ford, Cemetery Dance Productions, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.08 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 3.75/5
-Cover: 5/5
-Story: 3.75/5
-Writing: 4/5
Genre: Horror, Paranormal
-Horror: 3/5
-Paranormal: 5/5
Type: Ebook
Worth?: Meh

Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.

This was a pretty darn good horror book, had my stomach turning. The story itself wasn't too bad. From start to finish there was a clear run through and it was basically an easy read, pretty quick. The problems I had was the Hayden's backstory. It really added nothing to the story and just was an ICK factor.

Overall this one was just okay. Felt disjointed at times and didn’t scare me as much as I’d expected. The writing was good for what it was. I also Think maybe I’m not the right audience.

"The Dead Pennies" delves into a chilling world where the supernatural intertwines with human evils, creating a narrative that explores themes of escape, addiction, abuse, and vengeance. Abby, the protagonist, flees an abusive relationship and finds herself at Harper's Grove, a building that holds a dark history as a home for unwanted and infirm children. With a unique opportunity to live in the building as its caretaker, Abby becomes entangled in a web of mysterious events that lead her to confront both spectral and human malevolence.

The story is a compelling exploration of the intersection between the supernatural and human nature, drawing readers in with a captivating build-up. Abby's journey from escaping her tormentor to uncovering the truth behind the restless spirits creates a sense of anticipation and unease. The narrative maintains a steady pace as Abby, along with her friend Hayden, delves into the secrets of the building's past.

The writing style effectively captures the eerie atmosphere of Harper's Grove, heightening the tension as strange occurrences intensify. The author skillfully builds suspense and intrigue, weaving together the threads of paranormal elements and human vulnerabilities. However, that while the story held my attention, the build-up seemed to falter in the lead-up to the climax, becoming somewhat predictable.

One of the strengths of the book lies in its portrayal of the characters' emotional struggles. Abby's escape from an abusive relationship and her subsequent battle with her traumatic past are sensitively portrayed. However, the reviewer does mention feeling a disconnect with Abby's characterization, finding her portrayal as a female protagonist somewhat stereotypical and not fully realized.

The novel's portrayal of supernatural horror is balanced with explorations of psychological horror, addiction, and the ripple effects of abuse. Trigger warnings are recommended, as the book addresses heavy themes such as neglect and abuse of children. creating a somber and unsettling atmosphere.

Despite the book's strengths, the ending seemed to fall short for the reviewer. I found the resolution rushed and the main twist less impactful due to its hurried execution. This left me feeling unsatisfied with the conclusion, wishing for a more rounded and satisfying ending that tied up the various storylines more cohesively.

The narrative structure, split into three books with different highlighted sections of the story, offers a unique approach to storytelling. However, at times, the transitions between these sections felt disjointed, potentially impacting the flow of the overall narrative.

In summary, "The Dead Pennies" presents an engaging narrative that weaves together supernatural horror and human complexities. While the writing adeptly captures the eerie atmosphere and emotional struggles of the characters, the ending as a weaker aspect that detracts from the overall impact. This book serves as a thought-provoking exploration of the interplay between supernatural and human evils, ultimately leaving readers questioning the nature of salvation and damnation in a world filled with darkness.

I enjoyed the book, even if the story was sometimes poorly plotted. I would have liked the characters to have been a little more developed. Some characters appear only once, for the sole purpose of giving a piece of information, a clue, and then are never mentioned again. Certain events that seem important, that should have had repercussions, are left unexplained and unresolved. Abby is a likable character, but she too lacks substance, especially for a protagonist. The ending also felt a little rushed. Still, I found the story interesting. The reality described is terrifying because it's real. The book succeeded in arousing chills, disgust, and anguish. All in all, a good novel, but read the trigger warnings before diving in. The descriptions are graphic and do not spare the reader.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy of the book.

Thank you to Net Galley and Cemetery Dance Publications for the opportunity to read, rate and review this arc which is an available on Sept 1,2023!!

This is a story about Abby on the run from an abusive ex. She stops by an old friend’s and finds out that Hayden’s Uncle Jack is renovating an old building into high end apartments. Abby become the the caretaker of the entire place and stuff gets spooky. Shadows moving, voices, etc haunt this building and that’s when she learns from the last living employee of Harpers Grove that it used to be a home for unwanted children aka the Dead Pennies of society. But there is also another evil at play, a human one in the form of Nick her abusive ex who is hunting Abby down to show her the error of her ways.

This book scared the unholy crap out of me. The atmosphere of this book was hide under your blanket jump at every sound creepy. I had to read it with the light on and during the day time because I am a wuss. I freaking loved this book.

This is a story of escape for one, and addiction for another. Starting over, granted a new life…but death…so much death where you planted your new roots. Is your salvation going to lead to your damnation?
There are so many evils in this world; what we do to ourselves, what we do to others, and what others do to us. When you combine addictions, negligence, mental and physical abuse, with the supernatural…that’s how you get a book like The Dead Pennies.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Cemetery Dance Publications for this e-arc.*

This book was filled with horror which is right up my alley. The main character was poorly written and just didn’t do it for me. Thank you to the publisher for the arc.

A really great and intriguing read and truly creepy. I loved the characters and the story. Will look out for more from this author.

I received this book as an ARC and want to give my honest thoughts. The main character was a poorly written woman who read more like a man’s idea of a woman. The twist at the end and the resolution were so far fetched even for a horror novel that it seemed like a parody of itself. Also, the author clearly thought the nickname Hayseed was very important as it was repeated around a hundred times.

I enjoyed the majority of this book but the ending ruined it a little bit for me.
Abby runs away from her abusive boyfriend and ends up staying with her longtime friend Hayden. He happens to set Abby up in an apartment overseeing the building. Immediately moving there something is off and the locals do their best to warn her.
The writing is good and the build up of the story kept me captivated, but leading up to the big finale it fell a bit flat for me. Almost too predictable. I also feel the ending didn't round off the whole story well and has left me wanting to rewind and have a different ending.
Mostly enjoyable story!

“By lunchtime, the corridor smelled of flower blossoms, orange sanitizer spray, and death.”
This is a story of escape for one, and addiction for another. Starting over, granted a new life…but death…so much death where you planted your new roots. Is your salvation going to lead to your damnation?
There are so many evils in this world; what we do to ourselves, what we do to others, and what others do to us. When you combine addictions, negligence, mental and physical abuse, with the supernatural…that’s how you get a book like The Dead Pennies.
Sorry about the vague post but you don’t want spoilers for this one.
“I’ve seen evil in my life. I know what it is, and what it isn’t. That thing, Hayden, what you showed me on the video footage, that is real darkness.”

This is my first Robert Ford read. It certainly will not be my last. This book starts off spooky and continues to spiral down. The setting could definitely be a place where you would expect a haunting. Those poor children who lived, existed, in Harper's Grove. Now it's being turned into luxury apartments. What could go wrong? Wonderful read for the upcoming Halloween season.

This was so horrific and the story played out amazingly by the last few chapters I was screaming my head off. There were twists that I didn't even see coming which added to the suspense of the plot.

The first three quarters of this I really liked. It was creepy, yet sad and I was flying through the pages dying to see what happens next. But then when it got to the point after an elderly lady was done telling her story, it kind of fell through. Everything felt rushed and all over the place just to get to the end. I lost interest and didn't like the direction the final pages took. Which really sucks because like I said, the first three quarters of this were amazing and told such a great story. Three Stars.

Thank you Netgalley and Cemetery Dance Publications for this ARC.

This was an okay read, but I wasn't invested in the story or the characters. The whole cast was unlikable and the plot was so confused, unsure of where it was going. I just couldn't get into this. It was an airport read to pass the time.

received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. This is the fifth book I've read by Robert Ford and unfortunately I did not enjoy it as much the other books of his that I have read. Ford is an excellent writer and I'm having a hard time pinpointing specific things about this book that didn't work for me. It is well written and took a couple of unexpected turns which I enjoyed, but I just didn't find it as gripping as his other novels. This book was good, but I don't think I'll be revisiting it in the future. I will however, continue to read everything Ford writes that I can get my hands on.

"The Dead Pennies" pulled me into its eerie world successfully. The supernatural horror premise delivers on the creepy factor, but the character connection could've been stronger. Nevertheless, the writing and gripping storyline make it a worthwhile read, especially for those seeking a quick paranormal horror fix. Thanks to Cemetery Dance Publications for the eARC via NetGalley. My honest review reflects my personal experience.

This is the first time I have read anything by this author and it will definitely not be the last. An atmospheric ghost story with so many layers. It starts off slow then it grabs you by the throat and only let's go when you have turned the last page. Harper's Grove used to a children's home but was better known as a dumping ground. It was finally shut down with rumours about abuse, unexplained injuries and deaths were common place. In places it was a harrowing read. Now Harper's Grove has been turned into luxury apartments. The first one is finished and needs a sitting tenant as the building work has stopped. Enter Abby who has her own problems . A reallygood read and almost four stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the Arc in return for an honest review.