I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook version.
I read the first book in this series and I was very excited about the second book in the series. I am actually baffled by this book. This book feels like it was written by a totally different person. The first book felt very well written and story plot solid for adults. Apparently this series is considered YA? And I will have to say the second book felt like it is as written by a teenager. The language is absolutely awful. Way too much cussing if this is for YA. These people are supposed to be fighting ghost,demons etc. So instead of going to a pastor or priest for spiritual warfare help where do they go to? A lesbian couple who don't even believe in God. They believe in fighting the demon spirits with their love energy they have for one another. (Eye roll). Let's not forget that the main female character mentions this lesbian couple so many times during the book and how she is absolutely in aw with their love for one another. What in the world? Just because two women say they love each that is supposed to show people what true love and love energy is about. Haha the plot itself is very weak and extremely unrealistic. I feel like this story was completely rushed and the whole time travel thing was just stupid. This is probably the 3/4 book I have read where they bring Marylin Monroe in the book... (What is happening there) and this has been since the beginning of the year and it is only mid February 2024. I am very very disappointed in this book and even though I liked the first one way better this novel was a huge disappointment. I think I will drop the series after this.
Also if you are writing a novel and you say that the main demon is the devil and how are they supposed to defeat it you ask me? Well the main character seems to think that instead of asking a pastor/demonologist or a Godly person for help they get two lesbians 🙄. And they think fighting the actual devil with love energy and good thoughts is going to work in their favor.

This book was so creepy I couldn't read at night!
This book begins with a group of friends sneaking into an abandoned psych hospital that is rumored to be haunted. One of the friends sees someone that shouldn't be there and shortly after that, the friend vanishes.
Two detectives, Maria and Frankie, that investigate paranormal and things otherworldly, look into the hospital and find out that is is not abandoned. It is full of the previous patients' ghosts and a very angry spirit.
They must do everything they can to find out where the girl has vanished to and find her before it is too late.
I would recommend.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

Absolutely amazing! I read this late into the night which wasn't the best idea since to say its a bit creepy is an understatement. I read it as a standalone and it worked perfectly so I'm guessing if you read the series then you'll love it even more. It built the tension and eerie feeling perfectly. The dual timeline worked really well and the characters were so amazingly written that it's like watching a netflix show. I couldnt pht it down and the twists and turns were sheer perfection

I read the first book in this series recently and I absolutely loved Maria's character, the book was wonderful, throughout and very engaging characters, storyline etc. This book focuses on three out of four teens who entered an abandoned mental hospital building, and only one doesn't come back out. What happened to Riley Holt? As Riley's father does a search of the abandoned hospital, and can't find any signs of his daughter. What will he do next? Detectives Frankie Conway and Maria Miller, investigate the missing girl, and this book has you feel creepy, chilling vibes as you turn the pages. If you love spooky, paranormal type books then Helen Phifer is a wonderful choice for books. I can't wait for more books in this series. I absolutely adore Maria and Frankie's characters, I love their dynamic and relationship.

Wow! This book has quickly become one of my all-time favorites! Despite its short length, it made me feel scared, laugh, and cry. And that major plot twist—OMG! I never saw it coming. It's hard to put this book down because it’s such a page-turner. I just had the urge to keep turning the pages.

Let me give you a brief introduction to the characters. Detective Maria Miller and Frankie were on a mission to find a missing teenager in an abandoned mental asylum. Little did they know, they were about to embark on an unbelievable, nerve-wracking, and utterly terrifying journey of their lives.

If you've ever watched Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, the popular Korean web series, you might have had that same terrified look on your face as when you watched it while reading this book. However, "Her Lost Soul" is way better than Gonjiam.

"Her Lost Soul" is the second book in the Detective Maria Miller series. But don't worry if you haven't read the first book—this one can be enjoyed as a standalone. However, now that I've read Book 2, I might as well read Book 1.

While reading the book, I got goosebumps and felt chills down my spine. But I also couldn't help laughing at some of the characters, like Frankie, Emilia, and Misty. I love them all. I also love the strong friendship between Maria and Frankie. I can’t help but ship them both. They were funny and cute at the same time. Dolores and Faye Miller are also characters I adore. Every aspect of this book is beautifully written, and it will stay with me for a long time. I really hope they turn it into a movie. I think seeing Detective Maria Miller and Frankie brought to life on the big screen would be amazing!

If you're like me, someone who loves horror movies but also gets scared watching them, enjoys thrillers, crime, and mystery, finds themselves laughing while shedding a tear for certain characters, and craves an incredible, fantastic, and wild read, then this is a book you definitely shouldn't miss!

This paranormal crime story had me hooked from the beginning. And at first was not what I was expecting! Watching Detective Maria try to solve what seemed like multiple cases over 3 to 4 days was absolutely riveting.


I enjoyed reading Her Lost Soul by Helen Phifer.   Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I read this book in 2 days it was that good. When 4 teenagers go into an abandoned mental hospital before it was due to be demolished they soon wished that they hadn't. What should have been just high kicks trying to see if the ghost stories were true became their worst nightmare when only 3 of them left the building.
Maria and her fellow detective Frankie specialise in solving crimes that are unusual They go into the hospital to try and find the missing girl Riley and soon realise that the place is not only haunted but holds a dark force who preys on people.
I can't wait for the next book to come out to see what happens next.

Good, but a disappointing follow up to the first book. The whole tone of book two change from book one. It felt way more like a horror story than a mystery, whereas the first book felt more like a mystery with a few spooky elements to it.

Overall, the case that is followed in Her Lost Soul is a little bland. About halfway through the book, you have all the information you need. There isn't any suspense left. You're just left, waiting on a resolution that you definitely expect. There aren't any twists or turns or really exciting moments.

There is so much British English phrasing. I mentioned this as an issue with the first book, but it is way worse in this one. Because this book doesn't happen in NYC like the first one, I often caught myself forgetting that it was in New York at all.

I still really enjoy Maria and Frankie, so I will likely also read book three. I definitely won't be in any rush after this one, though!

Four go into an abandoned asylum nut only three come out. The second installment of this creepy series follow some detectives in the race to find a small town sherries daughter lost in a world leftover from the mad. Sinister backdrop and fast paced storyline . Well fleshed out main characters made for a page turner. Looking forward to more of this series.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc

While exploring an abandoned mental asylum with her friends. Riley disappears into thin air. Believing the property to be haunted, a special police team is called in to investigate.

This book lived up to the "unputdownable thriller": label as I raced through this, hesitant to put it down for even a moment. Each character felt relatable and easy to connect with. I loved the mix of genres presented here, especially mystery- where has Riley gone? What needs to happen to bring her back?- and horror- the asylum is built on ancient burial grounds and the creepiness of the shadow figure.

Easily one of the best books that I've read this month and will be looking forward to reading more from Helen Phifer.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for gifting me a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Her Lost Soul
by Helen Phifer
Pub Date: 28 Feb 2024

"Her Lost Soul" is the second book in the Detective Maria Miller series. It is very thrilling and dark! I read it as a stand alone, I had no problem and felt it was a fantastic read. I do plan on reading the first book, "The Haunting on West 10th Street" in the future.

This book was told in two timelines which is a favorite of mine. I feel the characters were very interesting, the story was well told. I highly recommend this book.

Many thanks to #HerLostSoul #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for providing me with an E-ARC of this exciting book.

This book takes place in an abandoned psychiatric hospital after a teenager goes missing. Links discovered between a local serial killer are made by the police and a caretaker seems to know too much.

Now this is the second book in the series but that doesn’t have any impact on the reading of this! The atmosphere for all settings makes it seem really eerie. The narrative absolutely flies by as it’s so fast paced.

I really enjoyed the timeline parallels of a 1960s crime spree and the present day mystery as it just provides so many “oh my god” moments!

There are some inclusions of paranormal which have been balanced with some police procedural elements which sounds like a weird combo but it works so well

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me to read an advanced copy!

And Breathe!!!!

WoW.......What have I just read?!!!

Her Lost Soul by Helen Phifer is the second book in the excellent Detective Maria Miller series and what a brilliant book this was.......Once I started to read the very first pages I was hooked and found it hard to put it down..........Just like Helen's first book in this series -
The Haunting on West 10th Street.

When four teenagers enter an abandoned building which was a psychiatric hospital on Beacon Hill. In the past, it is a functioning psychiatric facility in the 1960's. But, only three came out........

Where is the fourth girl Riley Holt?

None of her friends saw what happened to her!

Riley is a 17 year old daughter of the local Police chief disappeared into thin air, there were no clues what happened to her.

Detective Maria Miller and her Partner Frankie Conroy are called to investigate they are known for solving cases that others cannot solve. All their cases have a supernatural element to them, hence why they were asked to help find Riley. When they begin to investigate they learn some shocking things about the psychiatric hospital which gave them goose bumps.............

The clock is ticking and they both need to find Riley alive......But they have to venture into the psychiatric hospital again.....will they find her?

Are they risking their lives and others that help them finding Riley?

WoW this book is Sooooo Good. I love it when you find an author that will write a book that will give you goose bumps and keep you hooked form the beginning till the very end.

If I could give this book 10 stars I would!!! Just Brilliant and I highly recommend it.

But don't start to read it when you are just about to go to sleep - This book will keep you up all night!!!! Like it did me.....

Big Thank you to Netgalley and Storm publishing for my ARC.

Quick synopsis: Four friends go into an abandoned mental hospital, but only three come out. Then it feels like a race against the clock to figure out what happened and save the fourth friend.

This book can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading the first book in the series in order to have more backstory on the characters and how they got involved in this peculiar case. And it is a peculiar case. Helen Phifer gives you detective novels while mixing horror/thriller themes with the paranormal. You definitely have to ignore reality a bit in order to appreciate the book for what it is - I mean, there is time travel involved. But I liked the mixture - I thought it was a fun way to combine two fascinating (to me) themes.

I think the characters are good. Relatable and interesting. But I really loved the use of a very popular famous person in this book. I felt like it added a little extra something.

I enjoy Phifer's writing style and the use of dual POV. It grabbed me from the beginning and I didn't want to put it down at times.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and the author for the opportunity to receive an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Her Lost Soul is the second book in the Detective Maria Miller series and while he can be read as a standalone, I think it’s better if you read The Haunting on West 10th Street (the first book) to keep up with the backstories of a few characters. It is a creepy, spooky, and chilling book that’s very well written and well written.

We can feel the sinister atmosphere of the story right at the beginning where four friends go to an old mansion that was once a psychiatric hospital, and only three of them come out. There are some horrific things happening throughout the story and we follow it through different POV’s and timelines which made it very interesting.

I enjoyed this story, and I found the plot quite unique, with a great atmosphere and well-developed characters. However, I felt like it was meant for younger audiences or for those who are starting to explore the genre. I still had a great time reading it and the twists and turns made me quite invested in the book.

Thank you, Storm Publishing and NetGalley, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.

I would first like to express my gratitude to Helen Phifer, the amazing author, and Storm Publishing for providing me with an advance copy of her book to read.

I read the first book in this series recently and I absolutely loved Maria's character, the book was wonderful, throughout and very engaging characters, storyline etc. This book focuses on three out of four teens who entered an abandoned mental hospital building, and only one doesn't come back out. What happened to Riley Holt? As Riley's father does a search of the abandoned hospital, and can't find any signs of his daughter. What will he do next? Detectives Frankie Conway and Maria Miller, investigate the missing girl, and this book has you feel creepy, chilling vibes as you turn the pages. If you love spooky, paranormal type books then Helen Phifer is a wonderful choice for books. I can't wait for more books in this series. I absolutely adore Maria and Frankie's characters, I love their dynamic and relationship.

Four go into an abandoned asylum three come out leads to Detective Miller and her partner Conroy investigating what happened. Creepy and fast paced loved it. Good characters and a read in one sitting. Looking forward to more of this series. Thanks to Storm publishing and Netgalley for a review ARC

Thanks to netgalley for supplying this advanced copy for the purpose of review.

This was a thrilling read which kept me hooked all the way through. It was dark and atmospheric and kept me turning the pages.

What happens when four friends decide to go ghost hunting? Terror ensues when four teenagers enter the abandoned psychiatric hospital, but only three come out. Riley Holt disappears on . Her three friends had no idea what happened to her inside the building. A search is conducted and her father, who is the local police chief, is leading the search. The teenager appears to have vanished leaving no clues behind.

Detective Maria Miller and her partner Frankie Conroy have solved several cases that have a supernatural element to them. Will this case be different? Will they be able to find Riley?

This book is a fast paced page turner with lots of twists and turns. The characters are well crafted and fit the storyline perfectly. The characters' interactions make this dual storyline read fast and with some humor to lighten up the dark atmosphere.

I enjoyed the ghost story aspect with the police procedure mixed in. I liked the creepy, sinister feeling this book gives. It accomplishes this without any gore, which is a feat. This if my first Helen Phifer book and it is the 2nd in the Maria Miller series. I will be reading more of her books soon because I feel like I missed out on some of the backstories.

A sincere thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.