Twisty, atmospheric grief horror that kept me on the edge of my seat. I love how atomospheric her writing is and the plot kept me invested.

4.75 rounded up to 5.

Thank you to NetGalley and FlatIron Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've been hearing many positive things about Erika T. Wurth's work, but I haven't had the chance to read anything until now. I was thoroughly impressed by this story. The exploration of multiple religions, how each view spiritual/demonic entities, and the different rituals each has were fascinating. I loved that the focus wasn't on the Christian/Catholic verison, which is more common and, frankly, overdone at times. This was definitely a more refreshing take on the topic.

I also loved the diverse characters - they were truly diverse in all ways, as Olivia was multiracial, and her background also included several different Native American tribes. There was also LGBTQIA+ representation for a few of the other characters, and overall, I felt like there was a great representation of many different types of people. Most of the characters had deep connections to one another, which added a layer of complexity to the story, and it helped me stay truly invested in them all.

The story itself was riveting and covered many heavy topics. The story touched on racism and brought up how isolating it can be for someone who is multiracial. I was also really drawn to the flashbacks of the massacre, which was influenced by true events (the Sand Creek Massacre). I honestly only remembered learning about the "whitewashed" version in school, so seeing it through another perspective was very eye-opening and thought-provoking. I feel like it's important for these stories to be told.

On the other hand, this story was a really exciting look into paranormal investigators. I loved the inclusion of the spooky supernatural elements and how everything tied together in the end (including all of Olivia's separate paranormal jobs).

I felt that the entire story was well-thought out and executed perfectly. I look forward to reading more from Erika T. Wurth, and highly recommend checking this one out if you liked anything in the Conjuring Universe.

A paranormal investigator walks into a haunted room what’s going to happen next? I’ve seen a lot of people talk about this book as if it is Whitehorse (which I honestly have not read so I can not do a comparison) with many being disappointed that it is not like white horse and more just straight horror, but I personally prefer a good horror novel inbetween my other reads!

This book has a lot of monsters specifically of the paranormal variety, obviously, but it also highly focuses on the investigative portion, and I personally really enjoyed that as it kept my attention and really made me want to just start and finish this book in one setting!

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was a lot and not in a good way. The writing style was nice and easy, but there was just too much going on. Like, there were several separate stories happening one after another, leading to what the book was actually about. I had a hard time following it, actually. About halfway through the book, I was just wishing it was over. I like a good paranormal story. But this was not it.

“The Haunting of Room 904” is by Erika T. Wurth. This book started off really strongly - Dr. Oliva Becente is a paranormal investigator, who excises spirits from items but also wants to solve the mystery around her sister’s suicide. There’s some Denver history thrown into this book - along with the Sand Creek Massacre (which I believe were handled wonderfully by the author). I found the characters diverse in many good ways. Where this book failed for me was that there’s a lot going on and I don’t know if it was the time jumps or just odd transitions, but I wondered why information was repeated. Also, for lack of a better word, this is a very angry book - there’s anger with things haunting items, there’s anger at immigration, there’s anger at the past, there’s anger with past lovers … there’s just a lot of anger, which I found a bit too much at times. I do think if I’d listened to this I might’ve found it better - as other reviewers have commented positively on the audio book. If supernatural books are your jam, this might be one to pick up.

I felt like this book didn't flow easily and was left forgetting what was going on. I love the supernatural aspect and learning the history, but I just couldn't connect.

I do not read many paranormal books, but when I do, I want to be as captivated as I was while reading The Haunting of Room 904.
Olivia uses her gift(or maybe it’s a curse) to investigate paranormal activity. The author seamlessly blends horrific events from native American history with Olivia’s recognized ability to help the living deal with seemingly unexplainable events and death.
The Brown Hotel is one such place that reaches out to Olivia for help. Room 904 is a place where girls die, even if that is not the room they booked.
I started this book at 8 PM and read until my eyes were too tired to stay open. When I woke up, I immediately finished the remaining 10%. An intriguing mystery, a great main character, and also the sad history of the way our ancestors treated Native Americans. I’m not going to say much more about the plot, because I think it’s best discovered with as little potential spoiler information as possible, the way that I did.4.5 stars.

Erika Wurth’s The Haunting of Room 904 is a chilling and atmospheric ghost story that lingers long after the final page. Blending supernatural horror with sharp social commentary, Wurth delivers a novel that is as unsettling as it is thought-provoking, steeped in eerie tension and psychological depth.

At the heart of the novel is the titular Room 904, a place where the past refuses to stay buried and where every creaking floorboard and flickering light signals something lurking just beyond perception. Wurth’s prose is both evocative and precise, crafting a setting that feels claustrophobic and alive with spectral presence. The hotel, much like the ghosts that inhabit it, holds secrets that slowly unravel, revealing a history marked by tragedy and injustice.

What sets The Haunting of Room 904 apart from standard ghost stories is its layered storytelling. Wurth seamlessly weaves together past and present, personal trauma and supernatural horror, making the novel as much about the weight of history as it is about hauntings. The protagonist’s journey is deeply compelling, adding emotional stakes that heighten the terror.

If there’s one drawback, it’s that the novel’s slow-burn pacing might not appeal to those looking for more immediate scares. But for readers who appreciate a creeping sense of dread and horror that is as psychological as it is spectral, The Haunting of Room 904 is an engrossing and rewarding experience.

Eerie, intelligent, and deeply atmospheric, The Haunting of Room 904 solidifies Erika Wurth’s place as a standout voice in contemporary horror. This is a ghost story that doesn’t just frighten—it lingers, whispering its truths long after the book is closed.

Erika T. Wurth's latest novel starts with a compelling concept: a paranormal investigator probing the mysterious deaths occurring every five years in room 904 of the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver. Olivia Becente, still grieving her sister's death, takes on an investigation that's deeply personal and potentially dangerous. The book throws a lot into the mix—indigenous history, supernatural elements, cult mysteries, and personal trauma. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The historical and cultural elements feel scattered, with indigenous, Jewish, and South American references competing for attention instead of creating a cohesive narrative. There's something really good buried in here. The Brown Palace setting is perfect, and Olivia's backstory could have been amazing. But the narrative just falls apart, jumping between timelines and perspectives without any real flow. It's like Wurth had all these great ideas that never quite came together. While the book doesn't quite deliver on its initial promise of a truly haunting experience, there's still something that keeps you reading. The story wrestles with grief, family, and hidden histories, even if it doesn't always nail it.

This book has lots of supernatural elements, a good pace, and was interesting from the very start to the very end. I appreciated the inclusion of various cultures and beliefs from Indigenous cultures to Judaism. There was so many interesting aspects of the supernatural woven in, and I had fun seeing where the story would go.

I would definitely recommend the audio, which I also recieved early from the publisher. The narrator was spectacular and made the listening experience so enjoyable. And if you enjoy paranormal stories and haven't read the author's previous work, White Horse, get on that. It's great.

So, woof. I immediately DNF'd this one after learning some really fucked up things about the author. Left a bad taste in my mouth.

The Haunting of Room 904 by Erika T. Wurth, author of White Horse, is a chilling, atmospheric horror thriller that kept me on edge from start to finish. Creepy, intense, and deeply unsettling, this novel masterfully blends paranormal investigation, indigenous folklore, and supernatural horror into a gripping mystery.

Olivia Becente has always had the ability to commune with the dead, though her sister Naiche was the stronger of the two. But Naiche’s gift became a curse, haunting her until her sudden and tragic death. Ever since, Olivia has been unable to silence the voices of spirits calling out to her. Now a well-known paranormal investigator in Denver, she is drawn back into her sister’s past when she receives a case involving Room 904 at the infamous Brown Palace Hotel—the very room where Naiche died. As Olivia digs deeper, she uncovers more information regarding her sister's suspicious cult and a network of dangerous figures looking to exploit supernatural forces for their own gain.

What sets this book apart is its rich indigenous representation and complex outsider characters. Olivia is a fierce and compelling protagonist, navigating grief, power, and the supernatural in a way that feels both raw and authentic. Wurth builds a dark, immersive atmosphere, balancing psychological terror with supernatural horror in a way that lingers long after the last page.

If you love spine-chilling paranormal mysteries with deeply developed characters, this book is a must-read. Highly recommended for fans of horror-thrillers with a unique, cultural edge. #FlatironBooks #TheHauntingofRoom904 #ErikaTWurth #IndigenousHorror

Every 5 years a woman dies in room 904. It doesn’t matter if she is in another room. She still shows up in room 904.
It’s paranormal with a Native American vibe.
It was slow paced at the beginning but picks up quickly.
I had a hard time following some of the events and connecting them together.
I enjoy a good ghost story and this book made me want more.
Overall it was just an ok read for me. I am interested in reading other books by this author.
Thanks Net galley for an early read of this one!
3 stars for me

Even with the one-star rating, I feel I am being very generous. I honestly wanted to love this book as it has everything in it that I liked; ghosts, paranormal investigators, sibling relationships and an overarching mystery. But the author fails to capture your attention as all the plot points have been joined together quite haphazardly without following a proper structure. The characters feel like a parody and not at all real or relatable. As it was in first person pov, I got really annoyed with the main character, Olivia, because of my goodness, none of things she did for the most part felt sensible or even something that a real person would do. I cannot connect with her grief over her sister because that is how shallow the writing is coming off as. And honestly, what exactly did the author mean by the term "Asian looking" in the middle of Chapter Twelve? Being a woman of colour herself, does she not know what a vast and diverse continent Asia is? This sort of offhanded comments and other irritating and unnecessary drama (like the deal with the ex-boyfriend Jake) made this book the worst thing I have read in a long while. If it wasn't an ARC, I totally would have DNF'ed it. The only part that was good about this book was the cover.

Wow. What a great read. Could not put it down. Thank you for letting me read this in advance. I stayed up way to late trying to get to the end.

really well done paranormal story about the aftermath of past injustices to native americans. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

I really wanted to love this book, but the writing felt very juvenile and superficial at times, which took me away from the story.

If you love your ghost stories with a side of heartache, history, and hard truths, this one’s for you. Olivia Becente never wanted her sister’s gift of seeing the dead. But after Naiche’s sudden death, she gets more than visions—she gets questions. Years later, Olivia is Denver’s top paranormal investigator, but one case at the Brown Palace Hotel brings her face-to-face with something far darker than just spirits.

This book owns its space as a paranormal thriller, balancing chills with cultural depth. The spooky vibes hit you right away and never fully let up. But what I loved most was how Wurth weaves in the deeper reasons for those hauntings—colonialism, white supremacy, and the violent erasure of Native lives. It’s the kind of horror that stays with you because it’s rooted in real history.

The blend of spiritual practices also stood out to me. It felt like those underdog dance movies where the winning routine mixes styles—only here, it’s ceremony and belief coming together in a way that feels both raw and beautiful.

And Olivia? She’s everything I want in a main character—tough, sharp, and real. Her hyper-independence makes sense once you see her pain, and it makes her resilience hit even harder. I also found her connection to her heritage especially relatable. I know my family’s Yaquí roots, but like Olivia, the edges are fuzzy, and sometimes that leaves me questioning my place. It’s rare to see that nuance explored so well.

Pacing-wise, it’s mostly medium with a few slower stretches, but the tension never fades. You’re always bracing for the next chill—or the next truth. If you want a thriller that haunts you and makes you think, this one belongs on your shelf.

There’s a reason that I always read the author’s notes at the end of a book. They give me an insight into the author’s thoughts, and I almost always come away with a deeper understanding of what I read, but rarely do they make me get teary-eyed. This is what Erika Wurth wrote; “This last part is dedicated to every Native person who felt that they didn’t belong, and to every nerd who was told that what they loved was silly. You belong. What you love isn’t silly. And art is everything. It makes us able to love the world.”

That spoke to me, because Haunting is a true piece of art. Although there are descriptions of terrible things, specifically involving the Sand Creek Massacre, the character of Olivia gave me hope, and, even though this book is classified as horror, it’s also uplifting, which I realize is probably a bizarre feeling to have, but isn’t that what great art does? It gives you all the feels. All the stars to Haunting of Room 904.

This is a classic case of loving the concept but being disappointed by the execution. Bottom line is that there is just too much going on and the transitions were not smooth. It's a shame because the book started off by immediately grabbing my attention. There are definitely creepy elements, but its like it couldnt figure out where it wanted to go and overly detailed where it went.