I really like this book. I'm not one for horror books but this one has the right amount of spookiness. It is fast paced, the first chapter has you hooked. I love Kelley Armstrong's writing so much.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

I've enjoyed Armstrong's other work, but this one was slightly different than the others I've read. I'm not mad at that. I don't think it's her strongest work, though. I guessed some plot elements about halfway through, and they weren't revealed until the end. I thought the cystic fibrosis angle added to the plot (and made me remember an old college neighbor that had CF - I didn't realize all that she had to go through just to breathe, something I take for granted). I liked it, though it's far from the scariest or creepiest thing that I've read.

I really loved this story. As a chronically ill reader, i like to see illnesses represented without making the character defined by it the whole time. The story shows ycus every two sentences on it. I really connected to this story as I’ve always wondered where we go when we die after losing a loved one, like the MC of the story.
I also have to add the warning not to read I’ll be waiting alone at a lake front cabin or lake house alone, like i did. Every creak and noise makes you wonder since the story feels so real and summerces you into all. this is one of my favorite reads of 2024 and a perfect spooky season read.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

What should have been a private moment between a dying husband and his new wife ends up splashed across social media and the news. One spectator says they saw his ghost speak to Nicola and the onslaught of grifters and charlatans appear, all saying that they can connect Nic with her late husband. Months go by and still Nic can’t help herself and she listens to the fakes because maybe just maybe Anton is out there. Her friends say give it one last chance and then move on and Nic agrees.

The setup is perfect and isolated. The medium is a respected educator. It all seems to be under control, except Nic has done this before. Over two decades ago, she was known as someone else, reached out through magic to connect with the dead, and someone actually ended up dead. Is she doomed to repeat the experience because the past isn’t done with her yet.

I think I have said this in a previous Kelley Armstrong review, but I have been reading the author for a long time and they still manage to surprise me. I’ll Be Waiting For You reminds me of a Mary Higgins Clark story in all of the great ways. I used to be a huge fan of Clark too and Armstrong has given us an old-fashioned scare with heart.

I usually get impatient with the beginnings of these types of books, but I didn’t here. Armstrong kept me engaged and interested from the first incident. The past is intermingled with the present perfectly. The characters are all interesting and there is even an interesting backstory for a triad.

The mystery itself is solid. Everything fits and connects exactly where it should. I love the ending. I do have to say that the insects remind me of Maine’s black fly season, so I was so cringed out during the insect scenes. Yup, Armstrong totally got me there.

I cannot say how much I enjoyed being thrilled by I’ll Be Waiting For You. Armstrong has done it again and given us another solid scare just in time for Halloween.

I've been a huge Kelley Armstrong fan for years. I've enjoyed every book of hers I've ever read in all genres, and this one also delivered for me. I loved the creepy Canadian setting in a lakeside home with a history connected to the main character, widow Nicola. She spent happy times in this picturesque home vacationing with her dead husband Anton, and the home also belonged to his grandparents at one time, making it extra special. Nicola has cystic fibrosis and she never expected to outlive her husband. In her grief, she resorted to seances trying to connect with him even though she'd experienced a few disastrous seances in her youth. I loved Nicola, the plotting, and the creepy atmosphere and I highly recommend this book to fans of paranormal, ghosts, and horror.

Kelley Armstrong is a favorite author for me. If I see she has a book coming out, then I'm grabbing it!

The story is based on three teenage girls trying to perform their own seance in the woods. It goes horrifically wrong with one girl ending up dead and another mentally hindered for the rest of her life. Years late, the 3rd girl, Nic, is trying to decide exactly what happened out there is the woods. Her husband passed away recently, and she's decided to hire a seer to try to get in contact with her deceased husband.

She goes for a week long trip with her friend Shania, her bro in law Jin, herself and the professor who is their leader for the seance. Things are being revealed that is sending Nic into terrifying nightmares...but is someone trying to tell her something through those dreams?

It kept me riveted throughout the entire thriller! Definitely will give you the creepy haunted house vibes that we look for in October!

Thank you to NetGalley, Kelley Armstrong and St Martin's Press for allowing me this arc version in exchange for m opinion.

I’ll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong brings us another supernatural tale perfect for fall. Narrated by Jennifer Pickens, listeners will travel to a haunted house. Get ready for things that go bump in the night, as Nicola tries to contact her lost love. But Nicola has secrets, and this isn’t her first encounter with the dead.

Nicola Laughton, who was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a child, never expected the norms life offers like falling in love and growing old. When she turned thirty, thanks to medical advances, she met Anton, who promised to love her until the end.

A tragic accident ripped him from her, as he told her he’d be waiting. Those last moments went viral and now spiritualist are hounding her, offering closure. To thwart their efforts, she agrees to have a seance with a parapsychologist. Her friends and family rent a beach house on Lake Erie. A home Anton’s family once owned.

The tale that unfolds delivered a creeptastic haunting with strange events, eerie sounds, and dead bodies. Armstrong built the story well, grabbing me from the onset. What unfolds is an atmospheric tale with supernatural events, strange sounds, and heart-pounding suspense. Nicola has secrets, secrets that make her more sensitive to things happening in the house.

Jennifer Pickens captured Nicola and the atmospheric tension of the story with her narration. I loved listening and found it enhanced the suspenseful, spine-tingling moments.

It was nice to see representation for someone suffering from a rare genetic disease. Armstrong brought attention to the disease and its conditions, while strengthening the character and her story.

I enjoyed Hemlock Island her first foray into horror, and I’ll Be Waiting, delivered a supernatural ghost story that will have you leaving the lights on. This one is perfect for fall. Grab your flashlight and your earbuds for this ghostly tale!

I was heavily anticipating I’ll Be Waiting and I went into it with high hopes that it was going to be a good spooky season read, and it did not disappoint!

First, I loved that this was a proper haunting book. I enjoy books that are ambiguous or have explanations behind creepy occurrences that turn out to be not really a ghost, but this book had GHOSTS, and they meant business.
The idea of holding seances to reach Nicola’s husband who was tragically killed young was intriguing, especially adding in the events of the beginning of the book where Anton’s last words are captured and made viral.
The pacing was alright. I was decently bored at some points, but the end more than made up for it, especially with the massive twist.
Cystic fibrosis is not a condition I have ever seen represented before in a book, so I thought that was really interesting and enjoyed that addition.
The back and forth timeline we get from Nicola as she dreams of or is caught in a memory of the past was a great way to include relevant events so we got the full picture.

This was a great ghost story and genuinely creeped me out at times, which I love in horror. I’d be interested in reading more of the author’s work after this.

Thank you so much NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for this eARC copy.
Publication date 10/1/24

Newlyweds Nicola and Anton know that death is always lurking nearby. Her cystitis fibrosis is already overdue to kill her. However, neither expect the auto accident that kills Anton first. His final words to her, “I'll Be Waiting for you”.

Nicola misses Anton desperately and goes to medium after medium trying to speak to him again. However, all the seances are easily determined by Nicola to be fake. Her family tries to help by finding a legitimate parapsychology professor to conduct one last weekend of seances. If Anton doesn’t appear, Nicola agrees to stop wasting her money on frauds.

The weekend is held at a rural house where Anton’s relatives once lived. In addition to the parapsychologist, Nicola brings a young friend and her brother’s husband to act as skeptical observers. Nicola soon hears Anton’s voice. But other disturbing actions seem malevolent. Has calling for Anton brought forth other entities too? Why is Nicola having nightmares about an earlier traumatic experience revolving around a seance?

I'll Be Waiting begins as a mystery, quickly evolves into two mysteries, and then becomes a horror novel all in 336 pages. The mysteries are intriguing. What did Anton mean by his penultimate words of apology? What happened in high school to Nicola that led to a quick family move and a name change? Are ghosts real? Can a seance contact them? What else can seances summon?

Now that I’ve finished this book, I can see why it has such mixed reviews. Fans of mysteries will not want to suspend reality enough to enjoy the melodramatic conclusion. Horror fans will feel the mysteries drag the pacing down to a crawl. Readers will really have to like both genres equally to enjoy I'll Be Waiting. Luckily, I fit within that small box so I loved it! I hope you will too. 5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced review copy.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley but am providing an honest and unbiased review.

Firstly, If goodreads gave .25 stars, this would likely be a 4.25. I should begin by saying I'm not a huge horror fan, but I would never knock a star off for someone writing in a genre I'm not into- their aim is to write to an audience that isn't me. I can still appreciate good story-telling and writing, and could definitely see that here. What I will do is round up generously when I get pulled into a story and can't stop reading it when it isn't my genre, and that's what happened here. I would have given it a 4.25 on merits alone but 5 because a horror story that gets 4.25 deserves extra credit.

I hadn't read Kelley Armstrong for forever and never got into bitten, but I read the rip through time series and loved it, especially because she doesn't ignore the somewhat disgusting realities of 19th century living. So when I saw something of hers available as an ARC, I jumped at it. It wasn't until later that I realized it was horror, but I'm always game to rest my limits, and I'm really glad I did that here. Also I have to say that a horror author who has someone like me unable to put her book down is a good author.

I really did like this book. I knocked off about a quarter of a point for the slowness in the middle and another half because there was some predictability; I knew the villain in the story and guessed at quite a bit of it early on, but that doesn't mean it was not a lot of fun to read. 4.25 stars is a fast and engaging read and I'm definitely exploring more by this author.

There is some gore, but it's easy to skim over if you're not a fan. The beginning is great and so is the last 35ish percent, which I couldn't put down. There is a point about halfway at which I felt things were dragging, but that part is short and does set up some things that explain people's motivations and actions. And that's one of the things that I loved about this book is that the characters do make sense. From beginning to end, their actions never cause me to suspend belief. Which is weird to say in a paranormal horror book which is horror. It's not a mystery; sure there's a whodunit element to it, but there is also a slasher element and a supernatural element.

If you're OK with a paranormal story with some gore, even if you've never had the slightest desire to watch Saw or Chucky, give this a try. And explore more by this author because she knows how to tell a very good story.

Oh Kelley, is there anything you cannot do? This was a messed up story and I was not expecting how dark it would get or that ending.

I felt so sad for Nicola when Anton died, I felt her sadness as she came to grips with the fact that she had outlived him, something that never should have happened. I completely understood her desire to speak to him one last time to find out what his last words meant. Looking forward to reading more of Kelley Armstrong's stand alone novels and of course Cold as Hell when it is released in February 2025.

Keeps you on your toes.

A good horror thriller that had surprise after surprise coming from the pages. I really liked the lead character, Nic. She has had a bit of a rough life, but still manages to persevere. The opening chapter engages you quickly, and the rest of the book moves at a great pace. The author did a good job of getting across the spooky, supernatural aspects to the plot. Several times I had chills up and down my body. It’s the perfect book for this time of year. I highly recommend.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are
my own.

All of the bones for a good, spooky story are here. We have a MC with a harrowing past, the tragic death of a loved one, and a missing person all based in a semi isolated location. Oh, and they are trying to speak to the dead... What could possibly go wrong? Quite a bit apparently.

When trying to summon her deceased husband, Nic and company get a little more than they bargained for. The main event is primarily jump scares, but it does get a little sinister as the end nears. The flashbacks were a little more gritty too.

The last quarter of the book is JAM PACKED with revelation and intensity. While it ticks all the right boxes for horror/suspense wrap up, it happened very, very quickly.

As always, K.A does a wonderful job at creating real, full characters with pasts and ambitions that make sense to the story. Nicola has cystic fibrosis, which I feel was represented tastefully.

Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for the ARC. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

At the start I really got swept up in this book. I loved the gothic vibe it had, set in modern & realistic times. It’s heart wrenching, the loss the character feels for Anton, and I think the author really pulls off how grief can feel sometimes. It goes some surprising directions as things in Nic’s past are slowly revealed. Things I definitely didn’t see coming by the book blurb. The story does get a little slow in the middle, but then picks up again & gets really good. This is a good ghost story for autumn.

And as a Canadian it was delightful reading about my home.

Read if you like:
* The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
* Bag of Bones by Stephen King

🌙 ARC Rҽʋιҽɯ 🌙

Title: I'll Be Waiting
Author: @kelleyarmstrongauthor
Release Date: October 1, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much, @netgalley, @stmartinspress, and @kelleyarmstrongauthor for the eARC copy of I'll Be Waiting. I have read some of Kelley Armstrongs books before, so I was super excited to get an early copy of this one, and it did not disappoint.

This was such a good spooky read. The backstory of Nic was so good. I was on the edge of my seat, constantly guessing throughout this book what was going to happen, and I could never get it each time. I love when books absolutely leave you flabber gasted. The twist at the end was wild, and I loved it! If you like the tropes below, then I'd suggest reading this one. Please mind the content warnings before diving in.

Tɾσρҽʂ:
🌙 Mediums
🔮 Seances
👻 Hauntings
✨️ Murder
🔮 Possession
👻 CF Rep
🌙 Haunted House
🔮 Demonic Spirits
👻 Wild Twists

Perfect spooky season read. I was lucky enough to be able or both read and listen to this book. To start the narrator did an amazing job and kept me engaged throughout the whole book. This is a bit of a ghost story, more than a horror. I enjoyed the character development and just a warning that the story has some gore. I will sure be checking out this authors backlist.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an ALC of this audiobook.

Nicola Laughton never expected to see adulthood, being diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a child. Then medical advances let her live into her thirties and she met Anton, who taught her to dream of a future… together. Months after they married, Anton died in a horrible car crash, but lived long enough to utter five words to her, “I’ll be waiting for you.” That final private moment became public when someone from the crash scene took it to the press—the terminally ill woman holding her dying husband as he promised to wait for her on the other side. Worse, that person claimed it wasn’t Anton who said the words but his ghost, hovering over his body. Since their story went public, Nicola has been hounded by spiritualists promising closure. In the hopes of stopping her downward spiral, friends and family find a reputable medium—a professor of parapsychology. For the séance, they rent the Lake Erie beach house that Anton’s family once owned. The medium barely has time to begin his work before things start happening. Locked doors mysteriously open. Clouds of insects engulf the house. Nicola hears footsteps and voices and the creak of an old dumbwaiter…in an empty shaft. Throughout it all she’s haunted by nightmares of her past. Because, unbeknownst to the others, this isn’t her first time contacting the dead. And Nicola isn’t her real name.

I am a huge fan of this author's books, but this one was not one of my favorites. It was a bit of a slow burn for most of the book. I think I was expecting more of a spooky ghost story from the premise, but it wasn't really scary at all, unfortunately. The writing was solid, and it delved into the world of debunking hauntings, which was interesting. Overall, it was a good read, just not great.

A solid 3.5 stars, rounded up.

I'll Be Waiting is a creepy, twisty, supernatural read with intense scenes and interesting characters.
I don't want to spoil any of the plot, so I won't add details. The first part of the book is really interesting and draws you in quickly. The last part gets a little crazy, you have to keep in mind it's a paranormal thriller, and nothing really ended up the way I thought it was going to. There's tons of misdirection, some confusing parts, and a lot of creepy vibes, just to round it out. I do wish the second half had moved faster. There were a few times it got a bit repetitive.

I didn't really love any of the characters, but I think that might have been on purpose. It's a lot more fun to be stuck in a haunted house when no one seems trust worthy. I do have to say, Nic got on my nerves a lot. Her inner monologue, personality and actions seemed to constantly be at war with each other, and while that lead to the confusion of the situation, it also took away from the character.

I always enjoy Kelley Armstrong books, and this one has the perfect vibes to start the spooky season.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC. My opinions are shared freely.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

I love a spooky story and Kelley Armstrong delivered just that. While not very fast paced, I never found myself bored or not invested in what was happening.

The main character, Nicola was likeable and competent. And, the story was believable (if you believe in ghosts). My point is, the story was not so far-fetched as to have me rolling my eyes.

Loose ends were tied up and while there was the tiniest bit of gore, it was not over the top nor put in for seemingly no reason.

I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

Holy moly this book scared the bejeezus out of me! I couldn’t read it alone at night. I was a little bit disappointed in the ending, but it definitely wasn’t what I’d expected and I appreciate the twist. Definitely recommend.