Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others.

Ashley, a psychic medium in her family's business has a somewhat "difficult" relationship with her parents. A coercive, subtle yet, not so subtle abusive controlling relationship. Throw in a childhood trauma, a big old creepy house nestled within some ancient fells. Some sinister characters known as The Heedful Ones and a string of child murders in the local area and what you get is this mysteriously chilling tale!

This one is a now and then timeline horror thriller with a punch! I've seen a lot of mixed reviews for this book but, I'm definitely on team "I loved it" the perfect blend of fictional thrills with a spooky thread throughout.

I really liked this one and there was something truly satisfying about the ending. Characters were strong, the story was highly entertaining and bingeworthy. I loved the high stakes, heart racing thrill of this one! I simply needed to know how it would end!!

Who are these Heedful ones and what do they want?

So many questions which were seamlessly answered as the book went on. If your looking for a creepy, page turning book for spooky season then this one is perfect!

I really love when I read a book's description and think "that sounds really interesting" and then the actual book is even better than I was expecting. This was one of those reads. The premise was intriguing and Williams builds on it expertly to draw me in. The main character had such a strong voice from the start and we can really feel her internal struggle between her 'job' and her identity/morals. But we don't sit in the status quo for long, instead getting thrust into the Gingerbread House Murders by literal supernatural forces. This is one of those books where the premise pays off in dividends.

i loved the dual timeline aspect and how it was used to give the reader answers to something the characters were all mentioning (or trying hard to not mention). The reader can piece together some clues from these half-mentions but it would have been a little out of place to suddenly have one character info-dump the whole story. Plus, being able to see the events as they were happening in real time also gave insight to Ashley's character. There is also a true crime podcast element that is looking into the current murders that gives some more background info on the area and the history. Both of these elements I felt worked with the narrative and didn't feel out of place or like that author was taking the easy way out of plot/character development.

The characters in this were fantastically complex and intriguing. Williams does a great job at quickly introducing them to the reader in a way where we really get to the essence of that character. Sure, we'll get more details about them later, but I loved that each character comes onto the page fully developed so I had an instant understanding of them. The main plot takes place over only a few weeks so there isn't a whole lot of time for 0-100 character development which is why I loved the choice to have Ashley already thinking/doubting her place in the world. she's ready for a change and this plot will take her there.

The horror aspect of this is mostly supernatural with some body horror pertaining to the child murders. We also get touches of folk horror tied to the murders. I did find myself wanting more from the murder investigation aspect, it felt a little under-utilized and used more as a convenient way for information to get to Ashley. I loved the supernatural elements in this, especially the description in both timelines. I think it really highlighted the differences between children and adults when it comes to the unknown. Ashley's own growth when it came to accepting what she was seeing vs her profession and all the skepticism that comes with it. I didn't find this book scary, but it was unnerving at times. I think this could have been a very different, more gruesome book if it wanted to be but I liked the more understated horror elements.

Where this book lost me was the ending reveal and the aftermath. I found in the first 75% of the book, the breadcrumbs of clues were laid out expertly. I loved the feeling I'd get when I just knew a certain character was 'off' and I'd wonder to myself how they'l fit into the resolution. Then, on the pages lading up to the actual reveal, those breadcrumbs felt more like an entire loaf of bread the author was using to hit me over the head. All subtly was lost and then when the reveal came, it was more like "well duh, you basically told us 5 pages ago". I also thought the aftermath of the reveal wrapped up way too quickly and there were some key conversations I would have loved to see and these were completely skipped over. I read an ARC, so maybe some of this changed for the final version.

Overall, this was an entertaining read with a great setup and great pacing. However, I felt lit got a little heavy handed at the ending reveal which lessened the surprise. Also, I wanted more of a resolution to some of the interpersonal drama/issues presented throughout the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC. Publication date was April 9, 2024.

I had high expectation for this one, you know, for obvious reasons. But … let’s just say it wasn’t something that I wanted.
The beginning was brilliant, and I was instantly hooked, but the further it went, the less appealing it bacame.

Since she was a child, Ashley has been seeing dark figures she calls the Heedful Ones. They scare her, but her mother is convinced they are angels, protecting her. When the figures lead Ashley to a body of a murdered child, her psychic abilities come under scrutiny.

This was a great slowburn psychological thriller. I enjoyed the supernatural touch, similar to author's last novel Games For Dead Girls. Dual timeline was great for providing insight into Ashley's own childhood, her psychological trauma and a survivor's guilt she has experienced. Even though the story, by design, moves at a slower pace, this read kept me on the edge of my seat and wondering, whether the monsters were real or just the fruit of Ashley's imagination. Guessing the killer was a tough quest with so many shady dark characters present in the book. Needless to say, the reveal surprised me, and the pace of the narrative picked up quite a bit at the end.

I would definitely recommend this read if you enjoy the supernatural thriller subgenre and serial killer novels. It's dark and spooky, so keep your lights on!

When supposed psychic Ashley is called upon by the police to help with a spate of missing children cases, no one is more surprised than Ashley when she stumbles upon the body of one of the kids. But someone from Ashley's past is out to get her - can she find out what's going on before it's too late.

Wow! I didn't expect to enjoy this one as much as I did. The premise was exciting with the scam artist psychic. I felt for Ashley with the way she was treated by her family and understood her need to run free occasionally. This was such a page turner, I was literally on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen. I love my thrillers and this one was different to what I'm used to which was a very pleasant change.

This is a book you can love or hate and I'm on the fence because I don't know if I want to read it 5 or 4 stars.
Let's say 4.5.
I like novels featuring con people with psychic power and this is a gripping, atmospheric and creepy novel featuring one.
This is the type of cathartic novel you can read when you want something to keep you on the edge and ready to jump for any unexpected sound
Read it and have fun, highly recommended
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Ashley is a con woman, posing as a psychic (even though she did have visions as a child). However, when children keep getting murdered in a town, she offers her services, hoping to actually help. I liked the premise and setting here! However, I thought the author tried to do too much with the main character, as in there were too many storylines around Ashley. I also did not get the suspense I was looking for!

Loved this dark and twisty spin on a thriller! I was hooked throughout and the ending was perfectly done. This is my first read by this author and I look forward to looking up more of her work. Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for my review copy!

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of The Hungry Dark by Jen Williams in exchange for an honest review. This was a beautiful haunting story. It combined a murder mystery with a tragic history and a ghost story. I loved the feeling of the story and Ashley was a great main character.

I really wanted to loved this book, but there was just too much going on. I can totally understand wanting to have a book that keeps the reader's attention, but I felt like I was being pulled in too many directions with this one

In the hungry dark by Jen Williams Ashley Lilton is a psychic scammer and it’s a family business her brother Aiden comes up with the idea to help the police to get publicity and they decide to start with the gingerbread killer while out with the local police looking for the latest missing boy she starts seeing the heedless, somethings she hasn’t seen since the horrible event in her past. Surprisingly to everyone including Ashley she find the missing boys body and the police want to know who she is covering up for. This is when the book gets even better because she contacts Freddy a podcaster from Maine Ashley‘s dad Logan is controlling and despite her being 32 tries to tell her what to do but it seems Ashley is coming to the end of her rope with his controlling tactics and wants to do what she wants to do. This is why she teams up with Freddy and investigates the gingerbread killer with him. The only issue is Freddy doesn’t know Ashley and her family are scammers and she does her best to hide it from him even after they start falling for each other. Unfortunately she has her detractors who want nothing more than to prove she is a fake. The book goes from present to past when she received the scholarship to go to a holiday retreat it was too Reed Rick House in the country it is the incident that hauntser. Will Ashley and Freddie solve the case or just put their self on a murderers radar soon the two POV‘s come together and make for a great awesome read! I don’t know why but I love books with podcasts or journalist in them I don’t know why but can’t get enough of these books and add in a scamming psychic that soon really has abilities and I am hooked this was a great read and I love that Ashly who was a serious person laughed a lot in the book I find Jen Williams has a great talent for writing characters and although I didn’t at all like her father Logan but that is how the author wrote him to be disliked and I certainly did. From the very first page with the little boy in a dark room with candles I didn’t want to put the book down and wish I had another. That was an awesome read and one I highly recommend. I want to thank crooked Lane books for my free arc copy via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

If you want to try a spooky and intense thriller, The Hungry Dark is for you. I was completely enthralled with the premise of the book and Williams followed through with creating a fascinating story.

Ashley is a psychic but she is a fraud. Pressured by her family they use the internet to provide fake readings to people for money. But Ashley sees things that other people can not and when some children go kissing and Ashley finds the body is she a fraud, are her abilities real or is she a murderer. Ashley teams up with a podcaster to investigate when she realises there is no way she can distance frok the murders and that maybe something or someone is after her too.

I initially had trouble getting into this book and liking the characters but I was hooked in enough by the story to continue. I am glad I did as the book had a great ending with some jaw dropping twists. Definitely worth a go as so many positive reviews for this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Jen Williams for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is what thrillers should be. There are so many "popcorn thrillers" out there now, which I love. I love the psychological suspense of them, but, in my opinion, they're more mystery or suspense. They're not true thrillers, at least the way I think of them, but The Hungry Dark meets all the requirements. It's dark and gritty. It's not a one-sitting binge read, even though the desire to know what has and will happen is real. For true thriller lovers, I can't recommend this one enough!

Another Jen Williams novel for me. It's not my first, and the plot premises always are so unique that I am excited to give them a read! A Dark And Secret Place and Games For Dead Girls are two previous books that I've read by the author, and both I gave around 3 stars. I hate to say that this one was no different.

There were interesting concepts of this book, but for some reason nothing meshed well together. This was a very slow moving story as well. For a thriller, I need to be wowed here and there, and this just didn't do that. I found myself skimming paragraphs quite regularly through this entire book.

This did have a creepy, eerie vibe, which was enjoyable. The best parts of the story are the glimpses into Ashley's past.

I am sure there are those who will enjoy this book much more, but this was not for me.

2.5 stars is what I give this.

The Hungry Dark is out today, April 9, 2024 here in the U.S. so get your copy today.

Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me an advanced digital copy to read and give my honest review.

Happy Reading!

Ashley Whiteham was an unusual child. She had her own personal paranormal phantoms who followed her everywhere, which she named The Heedful Ones. But it's been a long time since anything supernatural has touched Ashley's life, and she now makes her living as a scam artist psychic. Ashley and her family fleece grieving customers out of their money using research on the Internet and reading body language. When a series of gruesome child deaths comes to town, Ashley offers her psychic skills to the police, as a way to drum up publicity. Ashley never expected to actually find the latest body, or see the reappearance of The Heedful Ones, but both lead her into a complicated situation with law enforcement. The police aren't sure if Ashley is responsible for the murders, or if she really is psychic, but they are definitely skeptical of everything Ashley does. Ashley teams up with a true crime podcaster to try and uncover the truth, before another child is taken.

I actually did not finish this book. I made it to 41% before I gave up. The subject matter is very interesting, especially the faux psychic and the real manifestation, but the pace just wasn't working for me. I found myself skimming page after page, trying to get to the action. I think people who prefer a slower burn, and piecemeal reveals, will find much to enjoy here. Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the gifted copy.

Another amazing book by Jen Williams!! I honestly love everything she puts out and this book is no different. I can't even tell you if I'm a bigger fan of her fantasies or her thrillers, they're all equally entertaining.

Here we follow Ashley, who, after being the sole survivor of a tragic event during her childhood, became a famous (scam) psychic. She used to see spirits that she called The Heedful Ones leading up to said event, then they disappeared for eighteen years. But now they're back, just as a bunch of kids are turning up dead. Coincidence? You'll have to read to find out.

I loved the premise so much, and the fact that Ashley actually found a body, the police were all like "MA'AM HOW???". That was probably my favourite chapter, it was so well written. The whole book is, but yeah, that one was extra spooky.

We have a dual timeline going on, the present one and the 2004 one where the "event" occurred. I'm trying really hard to not mention what happened because it was so fun learning about it bit by bit. I couldn't wait to get to the past chapters to get some more crumbs.

The present chapters were interesting too, we not only got to see how a lot of fake psychics make their money, but also Ashley's family drama, her attempts to solve the murders, dealing with seeing the Heedful Ones again, and falling for Freddie.

The inclusion of romance isn't something I was expecting, but I don't mind it. Freddie seems very nice and like the exact kind of person Ashley needs to help her get away from her controlling family. I don't understand why he did what he did at 87% instead of defending Ashley, but well...nobody is perfect.

The romance also isn't distracting, it's very minimal, and the two spend most of the book as friends. I think they make a good team when it comes to investigating.

I did see the ending coming, something about the villain(s) just screamed they were in on it. And I liked the supernatural element to it all. If you ask me, every thriller ought to have a dash of paranormal.

The atmosphere was on point, as expected. There's a haunted mountain, a big spooky house where the tragedy happened, and the Heedful Ones are weird enough on their own. What's not to like?

I feel as if this book passed by in a flash, but I can also see why someone might feel it's a bit slow at the start. It takes a while for the story to get going, but I was instantly hooked, just like I am every time when it comes to this author. I can't wait for her next thrilling read, I hope we won't have to wait too long for it.

*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

The book starts with a bang. We have a kid or a person trapped in a cave, in the dark, and he/she is hungry. They find a pomegranate, but when they are about to eat it, they are attacked.


Then we have Ashley, who is a psychic, and helps people who have lost someone communicate with them. But she believes she is living a lie. Because she is conjuring stories with the help of her brother. But murders are happening in her community, and her father and brother think it would be good for their business if Ashley decides to help the police with her "powers". They want to fool the police for some cheap publicity. Only Ashley's "fake powers" lead her straight to the dead body.


The story takes place in two timelines. One is current, and the other is from 2004 when an incident in childhood led Ashely to believe she had special powers. The characters keep referring to this incident from the past, and it creates a sense of mystery for the readers.


I loved the creepy haunted vibe the whole story had. The dementor-like Heedful Ones added a paranormal element to the story. But it was a slow-paced narrative for a horror/thriller novella. I took an obvious guess as to who might be behind the killings, but of course, the author always had someone else in mind.

Overall I'd say I enjoyed the book, but a shorter book with some omissions could have served the purpose equally well.

I recommend this to readers who love thrillers with a spooky vibe and are okay with some gore.

A podcast crime mystery with a paranormal element, The Hungry Dark (2024) by Jen Williams is a dark tale of ghostly shadows. Ashleigh Whitelam and her family run a business, providing a show where she speaks with the audience’s dead relatives. Her brother suggests they work with the local police to discover a missing, presumed dead boy, to generate publicity and raise Ash’s profile. When approached by an American podcaster to join his show on the Cumbria children killings, known as the Ginger House murders, Ash is happy to assist. Ash sees dark shadows she calls the Heedful Ones, which lead her to the dead boy, yet her family's medium business is revealed as a scam. A supernatural murder mystery with gothic undertones, it has an increasingly oppressive feel and well-drawn, if unlikeable characters. An enjoyable enough story, if a little gothic, with three and a half stars read rating. With thanks to Crooked Lane Books and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without inducement.