Paula Brackston is so good at writing witches! This is the start of a new witchy series starring a young eccentric lady who can speak to the dead. It is 1881 and Hecate Cavendish is the independent-minded, bright daughter of an archaeologist. She speeds through Hereford on her bicycle, thrilled to be starting her new job as an assistant librarian at the local cathedral. There, she's enthralled not only by the collection of old, obscure books, but by the medieval map over her desk--and in it, the figures seem to move, for her eyes alone. Within the first day, she discovers that she can see and converse with the ghosts that roam the cathedral. But when evil entities burst forth from the crypt beneath the cathedral, darkness soon stalks the streets of Hereford. Hecate becomes embroiled in a battle for her friends and family and their very souls.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*

A paranormal mystery infused with magic. A lovely librarian bookish theme develops when our main lady, Miss Hecate Cavendish, becomes an assistant librarian of a fancy, old cathedral. While there she learns that she possesses some very surprising unique skills: see and speak to ghosts and other mythical beings. Ghosts become interactive characters just as the flesh and blood humans do. The setting of the cathedral provides beautiful gothic atmosphere which can be argued becomes a character altogether.
Calin’s narration performance delivers. Her voice lends credibility to the period setting and brings the diverse cast of characters to life.

"The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish" beautifully melds historical fiction with ghostly elements, creating an engaging story drenched with an atmospheric feeling. The detailed storytelling and charismatic narration make this audiobook a solid listen for fans of historical fantasy and paranormal tales.

Thank you to NetGalley, Paula Brackston, and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook ARC.

I found this book very difficult to stay interested in. I enjoyed Hecate but the story was so slow to evolve it was hard to stay focused. The synopsis was intriguing and the cover is beautiful, but unfortunately, this did not deliver for me.

Normally I don’t like to read historical pieces, but this one pleasantly surprised me.

Hecate Cavendish is a girl after my own heart, with plenty of spirit who can SEE spirits. She’s smart, witty, can see and converse with ghosts, which is a help to the murders happening in her city.

It took me a hot minutes to get into it, but this book was rather interesting and was well written.

Part 1 of a series —Hecate Cavendish is a young woman in 19th-century England who can see and speak with ghosts, which she only discovers after getting a job as an assistant librarian and touching a strange tapestry —She is more interested in her freedom, the lives of the ghosts she interacts with then marrying as her mother would wish.

4/5 for Narration — I feel the audiobook's narrator did a great job with the voicing; her reading was compelling, while making the story more interesting, and encouraged me to continue further in the story.

2/5 - Story and plot — this story moves quite slowly, I was not drawn in, or held in intrigue or fascination with the plot or any particular characters — I felt that the plot was not clear on what my focus should be—due to this I DNF at 50% due to lack of interest in the story—on a positive note the world development was great, the story has a rock-solid foundation for continued series with some work on the storyline and plot development, and the ghosts were quite interesting for me compared to the living.

Overall rating 3/5 as the Narration helped the story to move along and I would’ve given up sooner.


Thanks to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for this ALC. This is my honest review.

When our main character starts working at an old library she becomes involved in solving a mysterious crime. She enlists the help of some ghosts that she discovers she can interact with! I found Hecate to be a very likeable character and I was rooting for her but my favorite characters were the ghosts! I loved hearing their stories and why they were still there, especially the cleaning lady. The ending definitely gives first book in a series feelings which I understand but didn’t love.

In general, I really enjoyed this book. I like Hecate's sassy, independent personality, especially being a Victorian Miss. I love her relationships with her Father and her best friend, great character development there. I love how the author researched the history and the settings of her book. You felt immersed in the story. I found myself googling Hereford Cathedral's history - absolutely fascinating!

Now on to the cons. It was a slow read and tended to drag on. I was not satisfied with the abrupt ending and felt that there was no true resolution. I understand that this is going to be a series, however something should have been solved. However, I am glad that the author has a new series and I do look forward to Hecate Cavendish's next adventure.

Thank you to Paula Brackston, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I tried three times to get into this audiobook. I didn't know if it was the book or me, if the story was failing to grab me or if I just wasn't paying enough attention. After the second try, I moved on to a different audiobook and listened to that one from start to finish, totally into it. At that point I knew the problem was this book, not me. I was tempted to DNF but decided to see it through.

What put me off was a mix of the sluggish pace, the setting and topics, strange tone, and the "hauntings."

So one: The beginning lacks a strong hook. There's nothing that takes a fistful of your shirt and yanks you into the story. We start out at the breakfast table with some family chatter, then Hecate bikes off to work. For the first time, sure, but unless the voice of the narrative is exceptionally charismatic, nothing about anyone's morning grind is interesting.

Which leads to two: The story is set in a church, too many of the characters are priests, and every discussion revolves around religion and the history of the cathedral. The blurb says a cathedral is involved, but I did not expect <i>that</i> much church talk. I could not care less about religion, especially Christianity, so enthralled I absolutely was not. (Side note: The blurb is incredibly vague. No wonder I had no idea what I was getting into.)

Third: All that church made the inclusion of a pagan god and magic feel so weird. The book tried to address this but unsuccessfully. I'm sure some book out there could mix the two and do it well, but reading this narrative felt like trying to mix oil and water. That contributed to the strange tone, but the handling of the ghosts did as well. With a title like "The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish" one would expect some spooky and creepy, some dark and lurky. Some gothic. Nope, this narrative was pretty upbeat. Not rom-com upbeat, but definitely not gothic. The ghosts were friendly, helpful, and coherent. Hecate Cavendish was not haunted nor did she do any haunting, which makes me absolutely HATE the title.

Overall, this book was definitely not to my taste, which disappointed me. I'm rather astounded it's to be a series; no wonder I was so bored and the pace dragged--the storyline was being stretched. Bah humbug.

The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish by Paula Brackston

This historical fantasy mystery is in the setting of England, in 1881 following an educated young woman Hecate (Heck-a-tea) Cavendish. While most women her age are planning to find a husband to settle and start a family, she has a thirst for knowledge that holds her only interest. With a love of learning and books, she embarks on the next stage in life as an Assistant Librarian at Hereford Cathedral in her village which has an outstanding collection of ancient books. This library holds century-old books, some of which are chained, locked, and guarded with care. She is excited for the opportunity to look through them as she assists in the care and restoration of the priceless artifacts on these shelves.

The most prized artifact is a beautifully detailed map next to Hecate's desk with mythical creatures and people drawn on its page. What she did not expect however were the many lost souls within the cathedral. To her surprise and theirs, Hecate could not only sense them as she usually can, but she also could see and hear them. A gift she noticed growing up, she could always sense the presence of a ghost or see a bit of movement in her peripheral vision, but never as clear as they were now in this ancient library and cathedral.

As Hecate explores the wonders in this library with her new ghostly friends, a mysterious break-in occurs in one of the tombs and has the living people who care for the property and the souls that still live there shocked and worried since it didn't look as if someone broke into the tomb, but broke out. While the mystery unfolds and is investigated, some people in her village are found to be acting strange and attacking their loved ones for no reason. Hecate may be the only one who can stop this as it involves malevolent souls that her friends and family cannot see, but she can and those evil souls also threaten the lives of everyone she loves.

This book has been high on my 2024 anticipated new release list since the author announced it. As always, Paula's attention to detail in her storytelling pulled me into this historical tale as if I were watching a movie. In addition, having Marisa Calin narrating adds to the appeal with her calming musical voice. If you enjoy historical fantasy with mystery, and paranormal, with a dash of murder and a sprinkle of romance, I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press - Macmillian Audio for the ARC of this book before its release on July 23rd for an honest review.

I am so conflicted. I think Hecate is a very intriguing person and I really enjoyed traveling along with her as she started her new job as an assistant librarian for the library at Hereford cathedral. It is certainly an interesting library, especially that map that had been placed there just before Hecate started working there. That map introduces her to the unseen world full of magic and spirits that only she can see, blessed with the gift (and brooch) bestowed upon her by Hecate, her namesake. Unfortunately not all spirits are as nice as the ones that guard the cathedral.

And this is where is gets very exciting, with the introduction of the resurgent spirits brought back to the world by an unknown villain for an unknown reason. There is chaos and death aplenty when they join in and Hecate, along with her father and John are hard pressed to figure out the who and why of this horrible happening. I did guess the one bad thing that I knew would happen to one of the characters but that was okay, too much of an insta romance that was doomed to fail. I loved the diving into the history and artifacts that they did while trying to figure out how the resurgent spirits came to be. What I did not like was the cliffhanger abrupt ending. Not one thing was resolved or even figured out. Hecate barely escapes with her life and no answers and not evening knowing who the person is that is holding all the strings and also no way to fight the resurgent spirits. Very frustrating.

So while I did enjoy most of the story, I am afraid it lost points with that ending. I really hope the next one comes out soon!

Though, props to the narrator for making the story interesting and fun to listen to. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the audiobook to listen to and review.

What a fun book! The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish introduces us to the plucky self-reliant woman of the titles name.
Gifted with the ability to see and communicate with spirits, this isn't you everyday run-of-the-mill spiritualism book. Containing plenty of adventure, mystery and paranormal entities, this was a great read. The characters are lovely and loveable. How can I resist a well-written paranormal series about a woman working in a library ahead of her time??
The narrator took a little getting used to, as she speaks quickly. However, once I was used to it, I thoroughly enjoyed the narration. Thanks to #Netgalley #Macmillanpublishing and the author for making this ARC available.

This is an atmospheric, haunting story and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's been a few years since I've read Brackston, but this reminds me of why I started reading her in the first place.

Hecate is an engaging main character, and she has a good head on her shoulders, plus amazing support from her father. I also really enjoyed the development of her friendship with John. How Hecate so smartly brings her father, John, and the police inspector to her side with what might seem like a fantastical tale is great.

The stakes become super high, and the last few chapters are at an absolute fever pitch. I was not prepared for a tragic loss, and I definitely had tears in my eyes. There's clearly a lot more story to come (my bad for not realizing this wasn't a standalone). But I'll be eager to continue with the series.

The narrator was great for the audiobook, and I would recommend it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.

The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish is a blend of historical fiction and fantasy set in the 1880s. I was entranced in the beginning and loved Hecate, the setting, the paranormal/fantasy elements/characters, and the premise. However, my interest waned around halfway due to pacing. If you enjoy a slower pace, this book might be more up your alley.

Narration by Marisa Calin is outstanding as usual. She remains one of my favorite narrators.

I received an ARC and ALC from St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I will be withholding my review of this title in solidarity with the St. Martin's Press boycott. Once the demands have been met I will edit my review.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Paula Brackston’s "The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish" takes us to the cobbled streets of 1881 England, where we meet the eccentric and feisty Hecate Cavendish. The narrative is rich with historical detail, centered around the enigmatic Hereford Cathedral and its ancient chained library. This setting provides a wonderfully eerie backdrop for a tale that interweaves ghostly apparitions, historical artifacts, and mythical creatures.

Hecate, with her daring spirit and ability to see ghosts, is a compelling protagonist. Her new role as Assistant Librarian places her at the heart of the cathedral’s secrets, where the prized medieval world map next to her desk becomes a key element of the unfolding story. The map, and the peculiar inhabitants depicted on it, add layers of mystery and fantasy to the narrative, which is one of the book's strong points.

The array of ghosts Hecate encounters, from potential friends to dangerous adversaries, keeps the plot engaging. Their stories and the mysteries surrounding them create a tapestry of intrigue and suspense that draws the reader in. Brackston excels in creating an atmosphere that is both haunting and enchanting, with the cathedral itself almost becoming a character in its own right.

Marisa Calin’s narration brings Hecate’s world to life with a captivating performance. Her voice lends authenticity to the period setting and breathes life into the diverse cast of characters. Calin’s ability to convey emotion and maintain the story’s pace makes the listening experience enjoyable.

However, the story sometimes struggles with pacing. There are moments where the narrative feels bogged down by too much description or a slower progression of events. While the historical and fantastical elements are beautifully detailed, they occasionally overshadow character development and plot momentum.

Overall, "The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish" is a charming and atmospheric audiobook. It successfully blends historical fiction with supernatural elements, creating a unique and engaging story. Despite some pacing issues, Paula Brackston’s vivid storytelling and Marisa Calin’s delightful narration make this audiobook a worthwhile listen for fans of historical fantasy and ghostly tales.