A truly outstanding read.

Kelley Armstrong delivers a fantastic exploration of grief, with a beautifully nuanced portrayal of chronic illness and disability. The pacing was spot-on—I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Haunting and atmospheric! What began as a ghostly tale of lost love quickly escalated into full-fledged horror, complete with chilling jump scares.

After a crash that killed Nicola’s (Nic) husband, Anton, and left her badly injured, witnesses claimed to have seen his spirit hovering over her body. Desperate to contact him, she turned to a spiritualist, leading her to a séance at Anton’s former family home—a remote, eerie estate perched on a cliff overlooking Lake Erie. Classic haunted-house elements set the stage, but as secrets unraveled, the supernatural dread deepened.

As Nic’s mental clarity wavered, the lines between the living and the dead blurred, and even the spirits couldn’t be trusted.

When I first picked up this book I had no idea it was by a Canadian author, setting in the cities I've lived in and with the main character named after one of my best friends! This book had me on my toes the whole time!

"I'll Be Waiting" is a spooky story centering on grief and loss.

Nic is a 37 year old woman who tragically loses her husband Anton and has a hard time coming to terms with that. She believes, as a chronic illness warrior, that it should have been her instead. Witnesses claim to have seen her husband's ghost hovering over her on the side of the road. She is then hounded by psychics and spiritualists all attempting to give her closure perhaps in the form of a seance. Nic has a secret. It wouldn't be her first seance and her past quickly comes back to haunt her.

This is a compelling idea but I think it may come across better as a movie. While the book is well written, it almost felt a little cheesy at times when it felt like the vibe was supposed to be more sinister. It kind of felt like it lost some of the steam in the second half.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for selecting me for this ARC.

If I could I’d give it 6 stars! Excellent mystery with lots of twists. Murder from the past haunts the present. Great characters and plenty of ghosts. Highly recommend this to YA and up.

Overall, this was a well-crafted horror novel, with hints of paranormal elements, and I would highly recommend it for anyone seeking a thrilling read. This captivating story is guaranteed to evoke a strong range of emotions—from spine-tingling chills to edge-of-your-seat tension and heartstring-tugging suspense! I had some difficulty falling into the book, and as I read on I thought the plot could have progressed faster at points. I was also unable to buy into an important plot element when it was revealed.

All in all, a solid horror story. I could see this being made into a movie one day.

As someone who has been dealing with cystic fibrosis her whole life, Nicola never expected to outlive her husband, Anton. But after a car accident, that's just what happened, and Nicola is left reliving Anton's final moments on the side of the road, whispering "I'll be waiting for you." Several months later, Nic is still haunted with grief, and has turned to spirit mediums to try to reconnect with her late husband. In an attempt to cut her off from the unhealthy relationship with fakes and cons, her friends and family convince Nic to try one last time, with a very scientific seance before calling it quits. That's how she ends up at Anton's grandmother's lake home with an American scientist, her brother-in-law, and a new friend from a grief counseling group. However, there's something from Nic's past that keeps popping up and potentially interfering with their attempts to reach Anton...

It's rare to find a horror novel featuring a character with a terminal illness that doesn't immediately become the center of the story, and it's lovely to see Nic portrayed as much more than her illness (it's more of a character trait than a definition). I loved the way Nic and her friends and family approached the seances (with a bit of dry humor and skepticism, even as they took part in the rituals), as well as the mix of easily explained and unexplained phenomena in the book. It does go a bit off the rails toward the end of the book, though that's the case in a lot of horror novels. All in all, this one was pretty decent. (However, reader beware if you don't like bugs. Bleh!)

Armstrong is an author who hit my radar in the last year or so, and she certainly writes a compelling mystery/thriller. When I saw this novel had a supernatural/paranormal angle, I was excited to see what she'd do with it.

Nicola lost Anton, her husband of three years, very suddenly in a tragic accident. His final words to her, "I'll be waiting for you," are overheard by a bystander who then takes it to the press. Nic becomes the target of "legitimate" spiritualists wanting to help her contact Anton. She gives several of the mediums a chance, but proves each of them to be a fake. In a last ditch attempt, she allows one more medium, a professor of parapsychology, an opportunity. He's a skeptic by nature but also had unexplainable encounters in his previous cases.

The lake house owned by Anton's family is a perfect setting and checks off plenty of creepy elements - a locked basement door, footsteps in the unoccupied attic, thick swarms of bugs outside, a nonfunctional dumbwaiter, and disembodied voices to name a few. My horror loving heart was all in, and my eyes widened in excitement during the séance scenes.

Characters are well-crafted, diverse, and sometimes surprising. Nic has cystic fibrosis, and I came away from this novel better educated on the genetic disease. Chapters alternate between something that happened with Nic and two friends in high school, earlier times with Anton, and present day, several months after the accident.

I had an inkling of what was happening in the house, but was only partially correct in the end. Around the 60% mark the story takes an unexpected, disjointed direction. Some reviewers mentioned the gory scenes near the end are disturbing and felt out of sync with the first half of the book. I agree with it feeling out of place, but the gore wasn't an issue for me. Be warned if that's something you prefer to avoid in your reading.

Recommended for fans of things that go bump in the night, atmospheric mysteries that veer from expected paths, and darker paranormal elements.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book. Book was fine, really good if you like the genre! I would read more from this author.

Kelley Armstrong delivers yet another gripping and chilling story that kept me hooked from start to finish. The characters were richly developed, and I found myself fully invested in their journeys. True to her style, Armstrong weaves in plenty of unexpected twists and turns that kept the suspense alive throughout the novel.

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy a mix of eerie, unsettling moments and nail-biting suspense, paired with a compelling backstory. Nicola’s struggle with a chronic, life-threatening illness was both heart-wrenching and inspiring, showcasing her resilience and determination to defy the odds.

The explosive finale was a standout for me—I didn’t see it coming, and it had me on the edge of my seat until the very last page. If you’re looking for a thrilling and thought-provoking read, this one is a must! I can’t wait to dive into more of Armstrong’s work in the future.

I'll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong is a thriller/horror story about Nicola, who lost her husband in a car accident just months after they were married. His final words to her were "I'll be waiting for you." Nicola believes that Anton's ghost is still trying to find her and speak to her, so she hires a medium to try to communicate with him again. This story drew me in from the very beginning, and it was very suspenseful. Armstrong's books are always a quick, entertaining read, and this was no exception. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

I'LL BE WAITING is a tension laden, highly atmospheric paranormal thriller. A foreboding tone is set early enhanced by the setting in a secluded beach house complete with unexplained voices and footsteps. The author slows the pace through the middle portion of the book, taking time to build the suspense while keeping characters and readers off-balance with a variety of eerie, goosebump worthy incidences only to pick up speed again as danger escalates through the final showdown. This was such an amazing, wild ride that I loved every minute of!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley.

A paranormal thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. I guessed one of the twists, but the rest were not suspected, but muchly enjoyed. If you like a good ghostly tale, you'll like this one.

When Nic’s husband died, his last words were “I’ll be waiting”. Nicola cannot get those words out of her head. What did he mean? Eight months later after seeing several mediums and attending seances, all determined to be phonies, she is headed to a bed and breakfast she and Anton frequented. A renowned medium, one that she’s sure can help her. As the weekend progresses things start to unravel and soon Nic is no longer sure about anything. Is her past coming back to haunt her? This book started strong, but soon lost its appeal for me. A bit on the graphic side and over the top. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Nicola was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at a young age, and didn't think she'd be able to live a long, fulfilling life. Until she reconnected with Anton, a schoolmate from high school. With Anton, she felt like she could do anything... and then he tragically dies in a car accident, his last words being "I'll be waiting." Now, she can't move past his death without closure, and keeps going to psychics who claim to be able to communicate with him.

Nicola is giving it one more shot, at a house they had vacationed at numerous times. Along for the trip is her best friend, Shania, who she met at a grief support group and Jin, her friend and brother-in-law. They have hired Dr. Davos Cirillo, a psychologist who investigates paranormal phenomena. When Nicola and Jin start hearing Anton's voice, they think that they've finally been able to contact him. But when other things start happening, it seems Anton may not be the only one they've brought in. Did their seance work? Is it really Anton? Or is it someone more sinister?

All in all, this was a definite slow burn. I actually had a hard time picking it back up to finish it. Although I love Kelley's Haven's Rock series, this one didn't have the pacing and suspense that the other novels have had. It was still a good read, just not as good as I had anticipated.

This was an interesting book with suspense, mystery and some paranormal things. Nicola is diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and she unexpectedly loses her husband in a car accident. She goes to mediums and is determined to connect with him. But when she finds someone who can help did she release his spirit or someone else’s?
3.75 stars

This book was so gripping! I love a haunted house story and this gave me everything I needed. I found the end a tad drawn out but I didn’t mind too much.

*2.75 rounded to a 3*

Nicola has Cystic Fibrosis, and has never been expected to make it to her twenties. With new medical advancements, she has surpassed her life expectancy and is living a great life. She has her own tech company and an adoring husband Anton. While driving home, making plans for their future, they get in a car wreck. Anton doesn't make it. Their last interaction was posted online by a someone who had stopped to help, noting Anton's last words as "I'll be waiting.". As news spreads, mediums from all over claim that they can let Nicola speak to Anton again. After many failed attempts, she decided to give it one last shot. This is where our story gets going.

I really enjoyed the first part of this book. I thought Nicola and Anton were so sweet together. I even cried when he died, and that's in the first chapter! As the story went on, I also liked the flashbacks to her teen years where something terrible had happened to her and her friends while having a seance in the woods.

Unfortunately, the latter part of the book went off the rails for me. It wasn't that it was necessarily bad, it just descended into chaos and confusion. While it was creepy and suspenseful, it also had some pacing issues for me.

Overall, not a bad book. Just wasn't the perfect it for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for in eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll Be Waiting is heartbreaking, spooky, paranormal, and twisty. I was immediately drawn into this story and easily binged it in a day. There are so many layers and the revelations at the end will leave your jaw on the floor. The main character, Nicola, has Cystic Fibrosis and Kelley Armstrong does such a wonderful job representing what it’s like living with this disease. Although Nicola is limited in certain areas, she’s still a complete badass and faces her fears head on.

I highly recommend this one for fans of haunted pasts, seances, revenge plots, and a little hint of true love.

If her tragic past is any indication, Nicola Laughton should steer clear of any involvement in seances. When a car accident takes the life of her beloved husband, she can't help herself. She needs to know what else he was going to say just before he died. "I'll be waiting, but..." But what?

Nicola is a skeptic that has gone through a good share of so-called mediums and clairvoyants, all fakes trying to make names for themselves off her newsworthy story. She thinks she's finally found the right professional to help her find the closure. What she's going to get, however, is far more than she bargained for. The secrets of her past are about to surface in a way she could never have prepared for. Was Anton who she thought he was, or, by summoning him, has she inadvertently discovered a malevolent side he was hiding from her? How much longer will he be waiting for her to join him?

I'll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong started out a bit slow for me. It took just over half of the book for Armstrong to set up the story. Once she did, though, the pace picked up steadily (in direct relation to the amount and type of paranormal activity), and I was unable to put the book down until I finished it. In fact, I read the last 142 pages in one sitting. There was some predictability to it, but it wasn't anything that truly affected my experience. You have to go into this one with an open mind and appreciate the author's imagination. Some readers will struggle with the believability factor, but when reading a book involving seances, ghosts and malevolent spirits, can we really place a box around what should or shouldn't be able to happen?

I received a copy of I'll Be Waiting from NetGalley and chose to write this unbiased review.

This magical realism/horror element that Kelley Armstrong has been exploring. Lately has been fun it brings me back to the Otherworld type series. This was interesting. The whole psychic dead husband chronically ill (is terminally ill?), Do you really believe in these psychics are you skeptic?

The whole you can never escape your past was chef kiss. I just wish the pass were more woven into the backstory instead of all drawn out. Let me have it and get it and go.