I really liked the premise of this one and it kept my overall interest, but I felt like there was something missing to give it that “WOW” factor. It could have also been because I was listening to the audiobook vs reading the physical/digital copy. The narrator had far too many pauses which caused me to have to turn the speed up to 1.45 just so it was easier to listen to.

This book was dark and erie, which was fantastic for setting the tone for the spooky tale. The sharp edge of Red Rigg Fell looming over the house was the perfect setting.

After Ashley somehow survived being burned alive at Red Rigg House, she became a psychic. No, not a real psychic, though she can see some shadow people. It doesn't matter, the people love her. So much so that she agrees to go back to the house where she almost died tragically and is still missing chunks of time. If this were a movie, every single person at the theater would be yelling.

Ashley has a terrible relationship with her family. Not estranged, just utterly terrible. They all live off her and demand more. Well, except for her mother who really needs psychiatric help, but that can be ignored. It's fine.

Ashley is actually a very charming and likable protagonist, despite (of maybe because) of the stupid choices she makes and her utter devotion to her family. She complains, but she stays.

I loved this book and would love to read more from this author! Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Dreamscape Media for my copy of this fantastic audiobook.

This one has an incredibly eerie setting and a hauntingly atmospheric vibe!

Told through dual timelines, this serial killer thriller features intriguing unreliable protagonists, and I was completely captivated by the psychic and podcaster duo.

Although this wasn’t exactly my favorite, I was still deeply fascinated by the psychic and the 'Heedful Ones.'

3.5 stars rounded to 4 for Goodreads

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so creepy and scary at points. I enjoyed the supernatural elements in this book and Ashley’s abilities really added a lot to the book overall. The idea of real evil and a curse over the area was very well done and was so good. This was a great thriller.

I really loved the story i the beginning, i loved the aspect of magic and supernatural and when the main character was pretending to be a medium, but unfortunately after a while the story started to drag a lot and lost my interest, i really wanted to love this book since the plot had so much potential but alas, it fell flat for me

In "The Hungry Dark" by Jen Williams, there is no other way for readers but to get involved in a dark mystery that will leave everyone on tenterhooks. The action goes with Ashley Whitelam, a woman in possession of a rare ability that enables her to see enigmatic figures known as the Heedful Ones, floating around her against the eerie Lake District setting.

Williams whisks the reader right into a world of dark secrets and chilling revelations while Ashley gets deeper, closer to the core of a case involving ghastly child murders. As the press frenzy and police suspicions increase, Ashley forms an unlikely relationship with a podcaster named Freddie Miller, who is reporting on the crimes, and undertakes an investigation into the killings.

Ashley is a strong, multidimensional character, making her a very compelling heroine to follow in her journey of self-discovery, as much as it's unnerving. In plumbing the depths of the murders, she has to turn her own attention inwardly to her residing darknesses and haunting entities that plagued her since childhood.

Williams' prose fizzes with a vivid sense of atmosphere, and it captures haunting Lake District landscapes and sinister forces in their dark recesses. Views of disquietude and foreboding ooze from the pages, keeping one turning to discover the darkness buried.

"The Hungry Dark" is really a master class of tension and suspense; Williams raises the ante wisely at each turn. The pace never relents: every next chapter brings new reveals, shiver-at-the-bone moments, and leaves each reader to keep on guessing till the very last page.

This one was just okay. It didn't really get me invested into the storyline. The audiobook was also just okay. The narrator was fine.

Jen Williams is an author who first came to my attention with her fantasy novels, but I have to say I’m thoroughly enjoying her recent foray into horror-tinged crime thrillers. The Hungry Dark is her latest work which once more serves as a testament to her versatility.

The book begins with an introduction to protagonist Ashley Whitelam, not your typical dodgy psychic. Sure, she may be a part of a family of con artists running sham seances, relying on an earpiece and her brother Aidan doing social media research to whisper details in her ear when performing her readings for the audience. But Ashley also has a secret. When she was a young girl, she could see shadowy “people” in the world around her that no one else knew were there. Calling them the Heedful Ones, Ashley learned to keep these visions a secret, especially after a traumatic event altered her family life forever. The ghostly figures stopped appearing, and Ashley kept a low profile in order to play her part in her father’s scams.

Eventually though, Ashley begins to chafe at the role, especially as the schemes become increasingly more questionable and ambitious. To drum up more publicity for their psychic business, Ashley’s father has volunteered her services to the local police, who are investigating a string of brutal killings dubbed the “Gingerbread House” murders due to the fact that all the victims are children found to have been generously fed with delicious treats before their deaths. Nothing was supposed to come out of it; the police were desperate enough and Ashley was simply running through the motions. But on her ride-along with the officers, Ashley catches sight of the Heedful Ones for the first time in years, which leads her to a discovery which blows up the case, landing her in the public eye.

Like it or not, Ashley has now become involved in the murder investigation, attracting both admiration and suspicion. She has also drawn the attention of an American podcaster, Freddie Miller, who tracks her down with an offer to team up on a true crime show about the Gingerbread House murders. As Ashley wrestles with how much she should reveal to Freddie, terrible memories begin to resurface, of an idyllic time spent in the mountains abruptly cut short by a deadly incident.

There is a lot happening here—one could even say too much, which might be this novel’s only drawback. Breaking the plot down into its major parts, we have no less than half a dozen threads to follow. First, we have the main storyline in the present, which focuses on Ashley and her family’s part of an active but tightknit group of charlatans running the psychic grift. Next, we have the Gingerbread House murders and the investigation. Then an element of romance is introduced once Freddie enters the picture. All the while, we also have Ashley’s struggles with her overbearing father, an issue which frequently comes in conflict with her obligation to her family as well as her desire to achieve more independence. Flashbacks are used to fill out her backstory at Red Rigg House, where Ashley spent some time as a child in their underprivileged charity program, which ended in disaster. And then of course, there is the mystery of the Heedful Ones.

Once all these elements are thrown together, the result is a tense thriller full of twists. But in getting there, we encounter some pacing and balance issues. Each thread vies for the reader’s attention, and in the process, we have a few ideas that are left feeling incomplete or underdeveloped. The tension builds, but occasionally, it feels like we’re juggling too many balls at once. For instance, the atmosphere is great, but the setting isn’t quite as immersive as it could be. Similarly, character development falls short of its full potential from the crowded narrative. I loved Ashley’s journey, but her motivations felt elusive at times, and her interactions with family members often had a baffling quality.

Still, I found The Hungry Dark a compulsive and entertaining read—everything I could ever ask for in a thriller. Several times the book’s ambition would cause it to stumble under the weight of its own complexity, but the suspense and intrigue makes up for it. The tensions are palpable, and I loved the blending of mystery, horror, and supernatural elements. If you enjoy dark thrillers, this is a journey worth exploring.

This book has the elements I love in a story, with someone taking advantage of gullible people pretending to be psychic. It's more modern than the stories I read when I was younger, with a podcast and social media. Unfortunately, the characters made the story fall flat for me. I think this story has great potential but it just didn't work. The narrator is talented but I felt she was melodramatic. I did enjoy this enough to decide to read more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen to this audiobook and give my feedback. This story is a dark and twisty thriller. We follow the main character who makes a living as a psychic/medium. We discover early in the book that she is conning people for money. She is a fraud. Or is she??... There was some good build-up of suspense and the natural/supernatural elements were blended well together. The narrator was good and had a pleasant voice to listen to. Sometimes the book dragged in places, but overall the story was interesting and the loose ends were tied up nicely. 3.5

This book was so good! I enjoyed it a lot, the characters were well thought out, and I felt the narrator did a wonderful job. I can be so picky with my audio but this one was good, I'd gladly read another book by this narrator and author as well.

Wow! So much happening is in this book and to Ashley. Her family is a total bag of dicks and uses her for her "ability" to make them money regardless of what she wants. I love that she finally got her backbone in place, stood up to her family, and did what she wanted to - living life on her own terms, finally!

This was my 1st read by Jen Williams but it will not be my last, I am adding all of her books to my TBR!


#TheHungryDark
#NetGalley

What a fantastically dark twisty thriller. We follow the main character who makes a living as a medium and as we find out early in the book that she is swindling people out of money to talk to their dead loved ones. She is a fraud. Or is she? This book walks the line between the natural and Supernatural or maybe just superstitious. I loved the gloomy landscape which added to the whole feeling of suspense and possible spiritual connections. The characters were lovable and the villains were numerous. This is an enjoyable Thriller that I can't wait to share with my book club.

The narration of this book we really good. I throughly enjoyed the reader's voice and whole to book was read. For the book, I struggled staying interested throughout the book. The storyline was good, I just felt that it dragged in a lot of places. The end tied up nicely, leaving you glad you kept on with the book.

"The Hungry Dark" by Jen Williams is an electrifying journey into a world where darkness reigns and secrets lurk in every shadow. Set in a hauntingly atmospheric landscape, Williams weaves together a tale of suspense, mystery, and the supernatural that will leave readers spellbound.

The story follows our protagonist, Ellie, a young woman with a troubled past who finds herself drawn into a sinister conspiracy that threatens not only her own life but the very fabric of reality itself. As Ellie delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding the enigmatic town of Blackstone, she discovers dark forces at work and must confront her own inner demons in order to survive.

One of the book's standout features is its richly drawn characters. From the brooding detective with a haunted past to the eccentric occultist with a penchant for the bizarre, each character leaps off the page with their own unique quirks and motivations. Readers will find themselves drawn into their struggles and rooting for them as they navigate the treacherous landscape of Blackstone.

Williams' writing is atmospheric and evocative, painting a vivid picture of a world shrouded in darkness and uncertainty. Her prose is both lyrical and haunting, drawing readers in with its poetic beauty while keeping them on the edge of their seats with its spine-tingling suspense.

At its heart, "The Hungry Dark" is a story about the power of fear and the resilience of the human spirit. As Ellie confronts the horrors of Blackstone, she must confront her own fears and doubts in order to uncover the truth and save herself and those she loves.

"The Hungry Dark" is a masterfully crafted tale that will appeal to fans of horror, mystery, and the supernatural alike. With its compelling characters, atmospheric setting, and spine-chilling plot twists, Jen Williams has delivered a gripping read that will linger in the mind long after the final page is turned.

I'm not sure how to review this book...it was somewhat dark, a little predictable, and meandering. It was also interesting enough for me to push toward the end.

I think part of the big problem was the main characters relationship to her parents (mostly her father). I get it, he's overbearing, but it was SO unbelievable how much she pandered to him. There were other family dynamics that I didn't appreciate either - they just felt disingenuous.

However, the "heedful ones" sightings were interesting. I like a bit of paranormal flair to my books at times and I think it worked and it didn't in some cases. She's "psychic" (supposedly - which is not a spoiler since it's in the description) but she's afraid people won't believe that she sees these creatures....uh, how does that work?

I did want to like it, I did push to the end and was slightly surprised at who the "bad guy" was, but at the same time it was such a small part of it at the end that I felt a little cheated.

My rating: 3*

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Thanks to NetGalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

What a strange and yet good book. I had a hard time stoping because I wanted to know what was going to happen next.

Ashley can see the dead and the horrible past of the haunted house on the hill side. They are showing her how to find the dead and how to help break the cure that her ancestor put on the land.

Going into The Hungry Dark, I was excited to see how it would balance out the thriller elements with the horror aspects. On the one hand, Ashley Whitelam is making a living off of being a psychic, but it’s all a sham. She agrees to help the local police find a missing kid, the latest victim in the Gingerbread House murders, all as a ploy to get more business for herself. But on the other hand, there are legitimate supernatural beings—the “Heedful Ones”—that Ashley can see, even if no one else believes her. This is how she was able to find the missing child, and indeed, how she got into the unsavory business of being a fake psychic. Eighteen years ago, she survived a horrific event that left her traumatized, and she hadn’t seen a Heedful One since… until now, that is. How much of The Hungry Dark would be a realistic thriller about bloodthirsty killers? How much would be about the supernatural and the curse over the local community?

This novel is mainly divided into two narratives: The present-day story in 2022, in which Ashley is helping a true crime podcaster solve the Gingerbread House murders. In between, we get a look into what happened back in 2004, when Ashely survived a tragic event that she was somehow able to predict but not prevent. In addition to these chapters, we also get excerpts of the Murder on My Mind podcast hosted by Freddie Miller, whom Ashley is helping during his series on the Gingerbread House murders.

The Hungry Dark weaves in a lot of elements to great effect. There’s the fake psychic business Ashley has with her dad and brother, her secret ability to see Heedful Ones, the case of the Gingerbread House murders, Ashley’s traumatic past in 2004, her troubled relationship with her family, her tentative romance with the true crime podcaster, and an old curse that may have some bearing on it all. While that may seem like too much to juggle, I thought it all came together well here. It kept the story engaging throughout, even with a slightly slower pace through most of the book.

Audiobook
Emma Fenney is a great narrator in The Hungry Dark, with a tone that lends itself well to the spooky, harsh atmosphere of the novel and main character. She doesn’t put on drastically different voices for the characters, so they’re not always as easily distinguished by timbre or accent, but that doesn’t detract from the story at all. I listened to the audiobook at 1.5x speed and found that to be a good pace; otherwise it felt a bit too slow.

Final Thoughts
The Hungry Dark is an eerie and engrossing novel that merges thriller and horror equally. With its stunning yet severe backdrop, characters who aren’t always likable, and a tale that gets more complex as it unfolds, this is a book that would appeal to a wide variety of readers and could work really well as a film or series adaptation. It’s my first time reading Jen Williams, but I’m definitely curious to read more from her soon.

This is a spooky, fun, horror thriller mystery that kept me listening straight through to the end. Ashley is a medium/psychic who is being used by her family as a con artist to help her family financially. Her father is her agent and her brother does the research and feeds it into her earpiece as she does group readings. She hates it and it makes her feel dirty, but she cannot seem to pull herself away from her dysfunctional family. As children from the area keep disappearing the police are baffled, there is a serial killer on the loose. Ashley offers up her services to help find the serial killer - mainly for the publicity it will bring the family business. But the truth is that Ashley does have paranormal gifts. Since childhood she has seen shadows which she calls the Heedful Ones and when the shadows point her to the body of a missing boy she receives all kind of media attention. The police question how she could have known this information. Ashley teams up with an American podcaster to try to solve more of murders of lost children and as they get closer and closer to the truth danger is present everywhere. This is a very fun read full of old time folklore and ghostly apparitions. I very much enjoyed it.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for a chance to listen to an audio version of this ARC novel.

3.5 stars

The Hungry Dark by Jen Williams - I was so excited for this book, but sadly, it wasn't what I was hoping for. However, I honestly don't know exactly what I was hoping for, and it was a decent read, so I can't be too mad. I think maybe the supernatural elements threw me off when I was expecting a normal thriller.

This audiobook is narrated by Emma Fenney

•Thank you to @dreamscape_media & @crookedlanebooks