I loved this as an Ebook so I needed to experience it as an audiobook. The narration was perfect! I loved Ashleigh. I do not to reveal anything but I will tell you that I love the heedful ones!
The setting is perfection too and you cannot top the ending!
I love this narrator. She did a great job.

This was a creepy and weird one... I really liked the atmospherics and the way that I never knew who or what to believe. I think the narrator did a fabulous job setting the stage in that regard, making the characters' lies, secrets, and misdirection resonate with a genuineness that really helped sell the story. I liked the way the family dynamics played into the overall sense of confusion and eerieness, and found the consideration of the interpersonal relationships to add layers to the underlying "ghost story" in a way that capitalized on the creepy factor.

Wow! This was an amazing read, full of a curse, missing children, sacrifices, and the ability to see spirits. Ever since a traumatic childhood event when Ashley was younger, her parents used her possible abilities to make money for the family. She would read tarot cards and act as a medium to rooms full of people. Not all of it was real. Then, as children go missing, her family persuades her to work with the police to find a missing boy. Her spirits from childhood come back. Are they to be feared or are they trying to help her? I absolutely loved this novel because it combined ghosts/spirits, with a haunted area of England. The backstory of the hauntings was intriguing and made the novel even spookier!

Thank you Jen Williams, Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio arc of The Hungry Dark.
Narrated by Emma Fenney

I really enjoyed this book as a whole. It's a great twisty thriller regarding Ashley, a Medium who offers her services to the police after a spate of child murders. Is she genuine? Or will she get caught out that her Dad is running more of a business ?

I really enjoyed the mystery thriller aspect of the book with a good dose of the supernatural. It did start off sloe at the beginning but gathered speed once the character/area building. The setting of the book, in the Lake District, UK, was spot on and had a feel of being out in the open and desolate.

Emma Fenney did a great job narrating and had nice pacing, building suspense and bringing the characters to life.

4 stars

I received a free audiobook copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

This book is bad vibes put on paper. Or audio. Whatever. Places that just give you a weird feeling, or put you on edge for no real reason. And Red Rigg House, in the English Lake District, gives off all the bad feelings to Ashley, a young girl visiting on a charity trip. She sees "Heedful Ones" or ghostly spectres all around the building, and when a tragic event happens during her stay, Ashley discovers that the Heedful Ones may be harbingers of disaster that will follow her forever.

In the present day, Ashley and her family use her "psychic gifts" and notoriety from the Red Rigg House events to promote her persona of The Spirit Oracle at psychic fairs and séances. Her brother thinks they could raise her profile by assisting the police solve the gruesome murders of children in the area- and surprising even herself, the Heedful Ones hover around where the body of one of the victims lays. She's drawn deeper into the dark history of Red Rigg House and it's horrible past.

This was a book that had a lot of potential but got bogged down with too many plot elements, when streamlining the story would have been beneficial. There's the incredibly dysfunctional family (which somehow rings false), the Heedful Ones, the house and its inhabitants, the séances, the Gingerbread House murders, and a unbelievable romance with an American podcaster. It's all just a bit too much, yet not quite enough- none of the threads are fleshed out enough, but the book is still an interesting read. If you like spooky, atmospheric tales, you may enjoy this one!

3.5 ⭐️ kind of a slow start for my taste but once it got going I really enjoyed it. Really liked the spooky bits, wish there was a little more of that. Narration was good.

Narrated by Emma Fenney
Presented by Dreamscape Media

Some excellent creepy vibes, though a bit long and meandering for my tastes.

I liked the setup, with the kids going missing and the Heedful Ones haunting our sham psychic. It was an interesting idea and it had me instantly intrigued.

Sadly, I lost interest very fast. There's a lot of family issues that I didn't care for, and didn't fully understand, to be honest. I felt it was unnecessary and slowed the story down considerably.

Freddy with his podcast was pretty predictable and again, didn't make too much sense to me. It seemed a thin excuse to get Ashley working on the case of the missing kids.

It just seemed like there were a lot of threadbare ideas holding this one together, and it never quite delivered. There were some cool spooky ideas but then it was back to mundane things; the storytelling just didn't have the consistency we needed to be properly impressed by all the eerie happenings.

I did enjoy the backstory of the setting, and there were still some great moments that held me captivated. But ultimately this one fell short of fully sucking me in.

The narration was fine, but again I was reading at 2x speed without any issues because it was so slow and full of pauses. There wasn't a huge amount of characterisation in the voices, and at times Freddy sounded a lot like Ashley. It wasn't a deal breaker, but it didn't add much to the story for me.

This may read better on paper, but it's slow in places which takes away from the creepiness this should have held well throughout. The setting and story is perfect for horror vibes, but the story wastes time with people drama, slowing things down to a more mundane pace.

If you're into crime stories with a supernatural twist, this one could work for you, but be prepared to wait patiently for the best stuff.

With thanks to Netgalley for an audio ARC

The Hungry Dark
By Jen Williams

Ashley Whitlam is part of a family business where she is a medium. She enjoys bringing peace to people who have lost someone special to them.
One day everything changes, she starts to see images, “heedful ones” as she called them have returned. She hasn’t experienced them since she was a child but these heedful ones directed Ashley to one of the missing children from the “Gingerbread killings”. With this knowledge, word spreads and Ashley’s world begins to spiral.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC of this title. I appreciate the opportunity to review this story.

I loved the mystery and crime premise as well as the supernatural elements. The characters though, I usually avoid anything with child jeopardy but this one kind of surprised me. Narration, spot on,

This book was pretty good, just not in the top books for me. It's about a lady who is giving psychic readings. Her family all works together to help. It does have references to some true crimes as well. It was well written, the narration was great. It's hard to say too much without giving away too much. I think if your more into slightly dark books that include psychic references, crime, with some mystery then you should give it a try.

This book was super creepy and a great read. It is a mix of horror and psychological thrillers, with some classic tropes and new writing mixed in. I really liked how the main character's story progresses, and the creatures she can see that no one else can. There are some unrealistic aspects to this book, such as how trusting the main character is after being abused by her family her whole life. I wish there had more of a focus on the gingerbread killer aspect and less on the whole horror, as I think it would have made the story a bit more interesting. But, overall, it is another great horror book that reveals humanity is the worse evil out there.

Thanks Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC!

Firstly thank you NetGalley, Jen Williams and Dreamscape media for this arc in exchange for my honest review in audiobook format.

The Hungry Dark is a thriller that starts as a slow yet interesting and engaging burn. The plot about a young psychic who sees shadow, and finds a young child’s body had me hooked and is a great and interesting start to the novel. As the story went on I became more and more intrigued and anxious to find out what happened next. I found myself finishing this book in two days, staying up till the wee hours of the morning because the suspense was so intense.

As for the main character- I liked Ash, though a little immature/ naive , I couldn’t understand why she put up with her dad’s bossy attitude for so long, and her mums continuous guilt trip. I think her parents irritated me a bit that’s why I dropped one star, otherwise a great read.

If you enjoy eerie, dark, suspenseful and thriller reads then this is definitely a great read for you.

I enjoyed this at the start and in the middle. I was excited to see how the creepy paranormal story played out. By the time the story reached the climax, and what should have been thrilling build up and ending, I was bored. I was really looking forward to more of a wow factor. It had potential. I was left feeling like part of the story was missing. I liked the writing and narrator, but didn’t connect enough with the characters.

This won’t be for everyone. Please note it includes death/murder of children.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing this ARC. This review is being shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date 09 Apr 2024

I liked the crime mystery element as well as the spooky supernatural component but had a hard time connecting with the characters and writing style for some reason. I also don't tend to do well with stories that revolve around the gruesome deaths of young children and that was a big part of this storyline.

The story includes a series of child deaths that have been labeled as the Gingerbread House killings because various sweets and foods were found in the victim's stomachs post mortem. A woman who sees paranormal entities and was a survivor of a attack during childhood teams up with an American podcaster to investigate the crimes.

Although the writing itself was good, the storyline just wasn't for me although it had many elements that I usually like, it just didn't come together for me. I ended up DNFing at 82% and just wanted enjoying it. The narrator for the audio was fine. Not my favorite, but also did well creating different voices and vibes while reading.

Rating: 4/5 Stars
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After reading and absolutely loving Games For Dead Girls, when I saw this one I was like yupppp I need it. Thankfully, I was granted the ALC and then immediately dove in. This one is once again a very unique storyline. Jennifer finds a way to incorporate horror/romance/mystery/family drama all into one really fun story.
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The Hungry Dark is told in dual timelines - Ashley’s past at Red Rigg House where tragedy struck and in the present where Ashley works as a psychic medium. There is also a bit of an epistolaryish edge to this one Ashley and Freddie record a podcast together. It is a bit of a slow burn but the pay off is most definitely worth it!
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Not every character in this one is likable; that being said, some are downright terrible. I enjoyed reading of the different dynamics of each character. The mystery of the Genderbread Murders and how Ashley can see the “heedful ones” and also the tragedy of Red Rigg House all converged and was so interesting to read about. I did have a suspicion about the ending and was correct (helll yes) but I loved where Williams went with this one and how everything was connected and came together, it all made so much sense. This one wrapped up perfectly and I was so very happy with how this story came together.
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I listened to this one via audio and Emma Fenney was phenomenal. I loved listening to her tell this story. It was super easy to follow. I highly recommend this one on audio.
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The Hungry Dark is being released on 4/9, highly recommending to my mystery/thriller/horror fans! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Williams and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Name of Book: The Hungry Dark
Author: Jen Williams
Narrator: Emma Fenney
Format: 🎧
Genre: Horror- Mystery Thriller
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Pub Date: April 9, 2024
My Rating: 2.5
Pages: 352

When Ashley Whitelam was young she could often see odd things nobody else quiet, watchful figures she called the ‘Heedful Ones’ kept a strange vigil wherever she went.
Now as an adult, she has a business as a “psychic”.
When the small town of Green Beck has a series of child murders, Ashley offers her services to the police for the free publicity.

When I started this audiobook, I found the excessive f-bombs annoying and something I did not like or wanted to hear- I was sure I made a mistake in picking this story. . I don’t like to be a quitter or admit I was wrong- So I hung in there.
I did like the narrator and she kept me interested.

Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this early Audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 9, 2024.

This definitely sounded like such a great read, I do believe that this one for me would've been better as a physical, I could not get into the accent unfortunately. It is a me problem. I had to DNF I could not get into it at all.

I screamed with excitement when I saw this on my shelf for review and it was the AUDIOBOOK!! I absolutely LOVED LOVED this book as a physical read but the audio enhanced it and amplified my experience!

This book did not disappoint me at all. I want to just make it very clear that this storyline/plot and the characters…all so unique. I love Ashleys character and loved her all the way up until the ending. I loved the twists within this book as well as the eerie mystery throughout.

I don’t want to give much away about this book because I think it’s one you should go into blind with an open mind, but this book was so great and I have the perfect bookish girlfriends who would eat up this book. I will be keeping an eye out for more by Williams. I enjoyed her writing style and as for narration—i will be on the lookout for more by Emma Fenney. BRAVO!!!!

The Hungry Dark written by Jen Williams and narrated by Emma Fenney is a fantastic story of scenery, seances, a serial killer and a slimy ex and not necessarily in that order.

Ashley Whitelam has always seen things that others cannot see, so much so, she called them the "Heedful Ones" believing they were there for her alone. As an adult, she is in the performing psychic game, using pre-show research and earpieces connected to her brother Aiden to update her in real time on what he finds on social media and google. A complete scam that is not bringing in quite enough money, and so Aiden suggests branching out into "helping" the police

Ashley returns to Green Beck in the Lake District, a house she has not been back to since a holiday she had as a disadvantaged child and here she reunites with her friend and her friend's brother, her ex. Ashley is here for the Moon Festival at Green Beck, a convention of psychic performances with her as the star. At the same time, she gets the opportunity to assist the police in finding children who have been kidnapped and unalived in what has been dubbed "The Gingerbread Murders"

Emma Fenney does a great narrating job, shifting the ambience seamlessly to suit the narrative which enhances an already strong storyline further

Jen Williams has the perfect blend of comfortable relatability and suspense, stirring in the paranormal and precarious. I know the Lake District very well and Jen Williams' descriptions are perfection, capturing the Lake District in all aspects, creating a consistent foundation to the fast-paced narrative. The dialogue was well balanced and as a whole, I really enjoyed this audiobook. Highly Recommended

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Audio, the author Jen Williams and the narrator Emma Fenney for this incredibly immersive ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Ashley Whitelam saw strange things as a child, things that no one else could see. Things she called the 'Heedful Ones'. As an adult, she works as a psychic. When children begin being murdered in horrific ways, she offers her services in exchange for free publicity. Soon the 'Heedful Ones' are back and Ashley finds the body of the last missing child.
The press goes into a feeding frenzy as the police look at her with suspicion in their eyes. She teams up with Freddie Miller, a podcaster covering the crimes. Is this place/town haunted? Is Ashley haunted as well?

I did enjoy the eerie and creepy vibe in this book. I couldn't help but visualize the 'Heedful Ones' as looking like dementors (from Harry Potter). I like the spooky feel that they provided to the book. I also enjoyed the look at psychics and how they operate. Plus, the setting provided an atmospheric read.

I had both the e-book and audiobook versions on The Hungry Dark and thought the narrator of the audiobook did a good job. Having said that, this book felt unnecessarily long and slow at times. I found my attention wavering and myself turning to other books.
Others have enjoyed this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well to determine if this is the right book for you.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.