Absolutely in love with this series! This book is so well written and the narration for the audiobook was excellent. This dual timeline paranormal book ticked off all my boxes for a bingeworthy read. I listened to the audiobook in less than a day!

Great, unique story kept me on the edge of my seat! Loved the characters and the mix of sci-fi with mystery with thriller!

Rating: 5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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I am a huge sucker for a good paranormal read every once in a while and wow did this one hit the mark for me. I loved every second of it.
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The second in the Detective Miller series, we once again follow Maria and Frankie as they investigate another odd case of a girl named Riley Holt gone missing in a long abandoned psychiatric hospital. I love the relationship of Maria and Frankie as well as a ew of the other characters.
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This story takes place in the past and in the present as Maria and Frankie try to figure out just what happened to Riley. Right from the start Phifer introduces the supernatural elements so you won’t be thrown off by the direction the book takes. I have to say, the past timeline was so fun for me, especially because there is mention of a very famous bombshell actress, that I love..
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Once again, Phifer uses a bunch of different elements in order to make such an addictive and cohesive story. It is super fast paced, addictive, thrilling and downright suspenseful as Maria and Frankie navigate the case. I loved it so much! I devoured this in one sitting.
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I listened to this one on audio and Stephanie Canon narrates this (as well as the first) and she was absolutely phenomenal. I loved how she brought this one to life for me.
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Her Lost Soul releases on 2/28 - I highly recommend you check it out this series. You will not regret it. Huge thank you to NetGalley, Helen Phifer and Dreamscape Select / Storm Publishing for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

The past and present converge in a tale of mystery and the paranormal.....…..

Book Information

Her Lost Soul by Helen Phifer is a 236-page mystery/thriller novel with a planned publication date of February 28, 2024. Stephanie Canon narrates the audio version which spans 6 hours and 23 minutes. Thank you to Storm Publishing and Dreamscape Select for providing me an Advance Readers Copy for review.

Summary

Late one night, four teenagers break into an old, abandoned hospital, but only three come out, leaving Riley Holt, the police chief's daughter, missing. Detective Maria Miller and her partner Frankie Conroy take on the case and discover the hospital's dark past, once hiding the remains of a notorious killer's victim. With no leads from Riley's friends and suspicions surrounding her father, Maria digs into the hospital's history and Riley's family to find answers. As she gets closer to the truth, danger mounts, and Maria risks everything to locate Riley before it's too late.

My Thoughts

"Her Lost Soul" by Helen Phifer is the second installment in the Detective Maria Miller series, following the success of "The Haunting on West 10th Street." Fans of the first book will be pleased to reunite with familiar characters such as Maria, Frankie, Emilia, and Missy, although newcomers can easily delve into this follow-up as a standalone.

While Phifer's latest work maintains a supernatural undercurrent, it leans more towards a police procedural with supernatural elements rather than delving into outright horror. The story unfolds across two timelines, a technique effectively employed in the first book, offering readers glimpses into ongoing events and investigations. This structure lends an atmospheric and tense quality to the story.

However, I felt that the execution fell short at times. There are lots of instances of dubious decision-making by characters and stilted, occasionally sophomoric dialogue that may evoke comparisons to young adult thrillers. I also felt as if the pacing of this book was too brisk, resulting in a read that feels rushed and less nuanced compared to its predecessor.

In addition, the majority of the book is buildup, culminating in a relatively brief and underwhelming resolution. I found myself wishing for a longer, more substantial payoff after investing in the story's tension and suspense.

Stephanie Canon, the audiobook narrator was good at setting the right tone and handling the diverse range of male voices within the narrative.

Recommendation

"Her Lost Soul" by Helen Phifer presents an intriguing continuation of the Detective Maria Miller series, offering a blend of police procedural elements with a supernatural twist. It is a light paranormal mystery that might appeal to those seeking a suspenseful yet not overly scary read.

Rating

3 Haunted Hospital Stars

A spooky time traveling book with ghosts and demons? What more could I ask for? Oh—maybe a haunted asylum and Marilyn Monroe? *Stefan voice* this book has EVERYTHING.

I didn’t even realise this was a sequel book, it is absolutely perfect as a standalone from beginning to end but I am absolutely THRILLED to know there are more books in this world!

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Her Lost Soul is the 2nd-installment to Helen Phifer's Paranormal Mystery series, Detective Maria Miller. As the name suggests, this series follows Detective Maria Miller and her partner, Frankie Conroy, as they investigate possible paranormal cases, in and around NYC.

I really enjoyed the first book in the series, The Haunting on West 10th Street,, so was looking forward to being reunited with Maria and Frankie. Just to be clear, this is actually a Paranormal Mystery series. I know a lot of Readers enjoy the feel of, 'is it paranormal, is it not', but then when it comes right down to it, they don't actually enjoy a paranormal conclusion, or explanation. This isn't a Scooby-Doo situation, where the mask is pulled off at the end to reveal the old librarian, who has been tricking everyone with mirrors and lighting effects.

The case in this novel is the disappearance of 17-year old, Riley Holt, daughter of a local Sheriff, who went missing while exploring an abandoned asylum with some friends. Inspired by media such as Ghost Adventures, the four teens entered the asylum to explore and have some fun. Things start getting creepy though and in a sudden panic, they all flee, only noticing once they are outside that Riley is no longer with them.

Since the asylum is believed to be haunted, and after vigorous searching, no signs of Riley are found, Maria and Frankie are called in to take over the case. As known experts in all things unexplainable, they seem like the right people for the job. Maria and Frankie are forced to dig into the dark history of the asylum, leaving no stone unturned in their desperate search for Riley.

As with the first book in the series, this one also contains a historic perspective that is in some way connected with the current investigation.
In this case, we follow a patient at the asylum in 1960. We go back and forth between her experiences at the asylum, including the people she interacts with, and Maria and Frankie's investigation.

I did really enjoy this. It didn't hit as hard for me as the first book, I think because I didn't find the mystery as creepy as that first one. Also, it almost felt too short. I would have enjoyed a longer build-up to the final showdown and some more explanation as to how this was all resolved. I know what the results of the resolution are, but am unclear how we got there really.

With that being said though, I still found the back-and-forth perspectives intriguing and loved learning more about Maria. She's a fun protagonist. I feel like I can relate to her and I enjoy the chemistry that she has with Frankie. I am absolutely planning to continue on with this series. I hope there are a lot more future installments. They're fun, light reads, that can help you forget about life for a while. Finally, two thumbs up for the audiobook format.

Thank so to the publisher, Storm Publishing and Dreamscape Select, for providing me with copies to read and review. I am looking forward to more Maria Miller!

This is a paranormal thriller. I didn’t realize that coming in, though that is on me because the title makes it pretty obvious in hindsight. It is book two in the series, and I did go read the first book before reading this one, but I don’t think you need to do that in order to understand this book. There are some references to the first book, but you won’t miss out on any important info having not read the first.

That said, I do think I enjoyed reading the first just so I had some background into the world this book takes place. I am not sure how I feel about the fact that Maria and Frankie are a part of a special police unit that covers cases that aren’t “normal.” It makes sense for the book, but they also don’t seem to be super thrilled doing this particular job.

The thriller aspect into this book was interesting, and there’s a time split and portal type aspect. My favorite old ladies from book 1 make an appearance as well. There’s an unusual surprise guest too, which is fine but also a tad odd (admittedly, I don’t know a lot about any celebrities so maybe it’s super fun for other people!).

The ending wasn’t my favorite. It felt like *almost* everyone got a happy ending, but they totally ignored a large traumatic event that happened to one of the side characters. I just didn’t love it and felt like it didn’t have to end that way, and it was added just to add something from keeping it from having a happily ever after. I’ve read some books with great unhappy endings, so this part fell flat for me unfortunately.

I would read a book 3! I liked the characters and enjoyed the audiobook. Check this book, as well as the author’s first in the series, “The Haunting on West 10th Street” if you want something that will remind you of the new Nancy Drew series on the CW!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to listen to an early copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

She moves her flashlight around the dark, empty ward. How could her friends have left her alone in a place like this? But she isn’t really alone. Someone is watching. And he won’t let her leave this place alive.

Welcome to my new addiction. This series is everything I have ever wanted in a nice and cosy detective series. While being a quick and easy read, Phifer creates great relationships and such likable characters - Maria and Frankie along with Emilia and Missy have such brilliant banter. They make the perfect team. Set in an abandoned hospital, the atmosphere is creepy and chilling and the added edge of time travel in this one was a nice nod to a scifi-esque style haunting.

This series is an absolute delight, and I can't wait to get my hands on more of it as it comes around. I highly recommend this one to fans of Darcy Coates' "Gravekeeper" series and Kyra Davis' Sophie Katz Mysteries. Her Lost Soul releases February 28th, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Select, Storm Publishing and Helen Phifer for an advanced copy in exchange for review. I read both formats (eARC, ELC). The narrator was great at setting the right tone for the read, very clear and concise, definitely recommended for fans of audio reads.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio 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 was my first Heather Graham novel. I absolutely loved the cover, but the story itself fell flat for me. I love books about ghosts and demons, but the time traveling element really didn’t do it for me in this one. I listened to the audiobook and also read the digital arc. I did like the audiobook narrator so that was a positive element.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #DreamscapeSelect for the book #HerLostSoul by #HelenPhifer. This book has paranormal happenings, a very evil demon and an old hospital built on burial grounds. What more can you ask for?? It’s an awesome book and I loved the “secret” Hollywood actress thrown into the mix. I highly recommend this book!

Her Lost Soul is a cozy horror novel. Skip the first book in this series unless you like your paranormal crime with a heavy dose of romance. I did not like the romance storyline in the first book and was glad that it was not featured in this book. This book had a great premise and was much better executed than the first book. I loved the focus of the paranormal aspects of a missing teenager case and the specialized squad that is sent to investigate.

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook version of this novel. It was well narrated, held me attention, and I listened to it in one day!

Thank you @stormbooks_co for allowing me to listen to this audiobook ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

(This same review was shared on the Barnes & Noble website)

I’m really sorry but I could not get into this story. The writing felt one-dimensional. A lot of phrases were repeated over and over, and that was frustrating for me (i.e. Maria released the breath she was holding). While I realize that this is a work of paranormal fiction, the story just didn’t seem believable. Riley disappears, goes back in time 60 years and everyone just accepts it with very little skepticism or disbelief. I also struggled with this narrator. All of the characters sounded exactly the same to me, with the exception of Maria.

I will not be writing a review on my IG or TikTok for this title.

Thank you Netgalley, Storm Publishing & Helen Phifer for the audiobook ARC of this book.

To say I'm obsessed with this series and characters is an understatement. My friend told me about this series and I started the first book earlier this week, fast forward to receiving the second book as an ARC, I've managed to binge both books and I'm now sad that I have no more to read.

The author did an incredible job at creating characters we love and the relationship between all the main characters is so strong and loving that I feel like I'm part of the crew. You become invested in their journey and there are some heart stopping moments because of the connection you build with the protagonists.

This book was pretty fast paced and it's the perfect book that is thrilling, emotional & spooky with supernatural elements.

Say hello to my new comfort series! I am already on the countdown for book three and NEED more from this extremely talented author!

4.5/5

Not a book I recommend reading at night. This is a paranormal mystery, I went in not knowing and glad I did because it’s not something I’d usually read. If you are a fan of Morbid’s Listener Tales it gives that vibe. I’ll be listening to the first and the rest now (I do hope there are more), just maybe with headphone on. I’m easily on edge with paranormal stuff so don’t use me as a guide for how scary this is.

Thanks Dreamscape and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a fun book for people who like ghost stories with a bit of time travel. Four teens enter a decrepit house that had been a hospital years before. Only three teens left.

Maria and Frankie, police from NYC but they've been assigned this missing person's case. It appears that there is an evil presence and many ghosts are in the hospital. Along with two elderly friends with special skills, they decide to rescue the teenager from the grasp of an evil being.

This is not too scary, but an interesting ghost story with some interesting elements. I really enjoyed it!

I listened to the audio version of the book. The narrator was excellent, using many voices for the characters.

Four teens break into an old asylum, run into a spooky creature and run out of the building, terrified. Then they notice there are only three of them...

This is the second book in the Detective Maria Miller series, and I've gotta say, for a book with both a haunted asylum and time travel, it's incredibly boring. I don't know why, but it didn't grab me at all. I wasn't invested in the ghosts, the rescue mission, or Maria and her partner Frankie's friendship. I could have done with a whole story about the movie star "Faye Miller" and her days in the asylum. Now THAT would be a cool read.

Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and the author for an advanced audiobook copy in exchange for a fair review.

Publish date: Feb 28

Her lost soul is a dual timeline paranormal thriller, the second book in the detective Maria miller series, though can be read as a stand-alone.

The plot follows four teens who break into an abandoned psychiatric hospital in Beacon Hill, only three of them make it out.

The daughter of the local police chief, Riley, seemingly goes missing. Unbeknown to them she has somehow transported back in time to when the hospital was running, and now finds herself trapped as one of the mistreated patients.

The chapters swap back and forth between POV and timelines, showing what is happening at the same time across both timelines as the police race to find Riley.

The plot definitely had a unique and interesting concept. I enjoyed the narrator. I will say it read more like a YA thriller, and you have to take unrealistic events with a grain of salt due to the paranormal and time travel aspects. I would recommend this to younger audiences who are starting out in the thriller genre and want something a bit quirky without many jump scares.

Thank you to Dreamscape Select, Helen Phifer and NetGalley for the ALC.

I absolutely loved this follow up to Helen's previous Maria Miller novel that combines police procedural with a supernatural / horror element.

In Maria and Frankie's latest case a young girl Riley has gone missing while her and her friends were investigating an old abandoned psychiatric hospital. It's good against evil with a little time travel and a celebrity appearance thrown in for good measure. Fantastically narrated I sped through this and can't wait for Helen's next instalment.

If Her Lost Soul was a movie, I would have been hiding under my blankets! Such a great creepy thriller, with a touch of supernatural, suspense, and crime.
A group of young teens sneak into an old mental hospital, and one of them never leaves. Yet no one can find her.....

Jumping back and forth between 1960s and present day, the reader gets a glimpse into the past and lies deep in the attic.

I truly enjoyed listing to this audiobook. The narrator did a great job at keeping up the suspense and hype, and had me on the edge of my seat while listening.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for this advanced audio copy in return for my honest opinion.

Pub Date: 23 Feb 2024