Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

Good spooky read, it did feel a little slow at times then all of a sudden bam everything is happening! Enjoyable overall though and the narrator did a good job.

2.5 Stars

I genuinely like the concept of the story; it shows a lot of promise. However, I found the pacing to be slow, and there were moments where it felt like the story dragged on a bit. Because of that, it was hard for me to connect deeply with the narrative. Overall, I think it had potential, but it left me feeling like it was just an okay read.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Kelley Armstrong, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

Nicole didn't expect to live to see adulthood but she did and found love and was married and then widowed much too early when she and her husband were in a car accident and her husband uttered words to her that he would be waiting for her with his last breath. Now she is traveling seeing mediums trying to contact him and prove they are fakes and she has a woman along with her. The latest foray is to a lake house and the medium has invited guests. Things not only go bump in the night but there is an infestation of insects and then a murdered body. This story is part thriller and part paranormal. There are many twists and turns and it kept me guessing right to the end.

Spooky with twists I didn’t see coming, especially at the end, I’LL BE WAITING BY Kelley Armstrong, with the audio read by Jennifer Pickens, would be doubly scary if listened to in the dark. There were a couple of “what just happened” moments and I am still trying to digest the ending. Pickens did a great job conveying the atmosphere of the novel and I was very happy listening to this book. There was a an unexpected bit of gore near the end, but if you like scary stories, ghost, and haunted houses…this one is for you!
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.
#MacAudio2024

This was a quick read that kept me on the edge if my seat. The plot had enough balance between supernatural elements and real-world mystery to keep things from getting too cliche. I liked the writing style and the characters were well-developed.

This magical realism/horror element that Kelley Armstrong has been exploring. Lately has been fun it brings me back to the Otherworld type series. This was interesting. The whole psychic dead husband chronically ill (is terminally ill?), Do you really believe in these psychics are you skeptic?

The whole you can never escape your past was chef kiss. I just wish the pass were more woven into the backstory instead of all drawn out. Let me have it and get it and go.

I absolutely loved this book! It had a great combination of spooky vibes in the plot and personal, emotional touches to make the reader feel invested in the main character and her mission to hear from her late husband. There were also just so many twists in this story, in the best way. The author was skillful in presenting these twists so that there was foreshadowing leading up to it, rather than pulling unfair twists out of nowhere. All the characters had their motives and perspectives on the events playing out, but the main twist at the end had me totally shocked. This was an excellent read and I'm looking forward to reading more of Armstrong's books in the future.

The book has great potential, and its intriguing plot initially drew me in. However, I found some aspects of the story's execution less effective than I had hoped. Nicola’s frequently shifting opinions and overly suspicious nature created moments of frustration for me.

While it didn't fully meet my expectations, it remains a solid piece of paranormal fiction that should appeal to fans of the genre. The first half was engaging and kept me invested enough to push through. However, the pacing could have been improved, and some elements felt far-fetched. With a few adjustments, this story could be genuinely captivating.

I’ll Be Waiting is heartbreaking, spooky, paranormal, and twisty. I was immediately drawn into this story and easily binged it in a day. There are so many layers and the revelations at the end will leave your jaw on the floor. The main character, Nicola, has Cystic Fibrosis and Kelley Armstrong does such a wonderful job representing what it’s like living with this disease. Although Nicola is limited in certain areas, she’s still a complete badass and faces her fears head on.

Jennifer Pickens has a perfect voice for narrating spooky tales. If you really want to immerse yourself into this one, Jennifer’s sultry voice really takes it to the next level!

I highly recommend this one for fans of haunted pasts, seances, revenge plots, and a little hint of true love.

I usually enjoy suspense/horror that centers on a seance, and this was a refreshingly clever take on that.

The protagonist, a chronically ill woman in her late 30s, loses her husband in a freak accident, raising questions about what happens when the person who was “supposed to die first” outlives their partner.

I loved that Armstrong gave us a protagonist with Cystic Fibrosis, and that she worked this into the story so well. It’s a sympathetic but also empowering portrayal, which especially resonates if you or someone you love has long term health issues.

The haunting of it all is satisfyingly creepy and Armstrong gives us an excellent gothic slow build. It’s not terribly difficult to figure out a lot of what’s really going on, but the story adds up and there are a few surprises along the way.

Fair warning, this does definitely veer into true horror toward the end. I don’t think it’s an especially upsetting series of events, but if you’re squeamish, you should know the more gothic, eerie hauntings that move through most of the book give way to a bit of gore in the end.

In all, solidly plotted, really well paced, and fun to read.

Every now and then you listen to a narrator that sounds a little too scripted. Unfortunately that’s what I felt listening here. The story was fantastic and I couldn’t put it down which helped overlook the narrator, but not the whole time. I’d find myself focusing more on HOW the story was being told vs what was being read. She definitely sounded more like a news reporter/anchor or a presenter than a storyteller.

Narrator aside, the story was so unique and fun. As a fun of psychics and mediums and connections with the other side, this story was just my kind.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Macmilla Audio the ALC.

What an interesting premise to a book. I loved the darker Gothic side to the story, mixed with the very contrast of present times and technology. When our main character is getting involved in the final seance for contacting her husband, the professor bringing all of the scientific background in provides a good opposition to the traditional thoughts of woo woo spirituality. Although both are present obviously in the story, mixed with teenaged pranks and shenanigans, small town tragedy and folklore, and loss and grief, the author is able to put together a story which although the reader knows is fiction, could come off as a true experience. This might not have been a true story but my Goosebumps were real. The characters were all interesting, and even though the main character had some somewhat unreliable narrator times, I was able to empathize and cheer for her and the ending really satisfied all my questions. A perfect book for coming into spooky season. As a bonus a Canadian author is something I'm always interested in reading and I absolutely wasn't disappointed in my choice. I'm already recommending this book to some people I know.

This was a great haunting read. I enjoyed Nic as the main character as she was both vulnerable for wanting believe she could connect with her recently dead husband but also tough and skeptical when she is constantly revealing these mediums as frauds. This one last attempt and they may have turned their lake house rental into a haunted house.

I was less interested in the dark childhood incident Nic was flashbacking to, but obviously it tied into everything at the end.

I definatly will read more from Kelley Armstrong.
Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an advanced audiobook for review.

I’ll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong was perfect for spooky season. The book was creepy from start to finish. I never knew what was going to happen next.

I really enjoyed the first half of the book but the second half gets a little out of control. The first half is full of tension and suspense. The last part is full of over the top paranormal. I would have liked the book more if it continued the same pace and tone throughout. Also, parts of the big twist I guessed early on.

While I will always be a huge fan of this author and continue to read everything she writes, this was not my favorite. I picked this up expecting a scary read, and while it had its creepy moments occasionally, overall it was basically just an angsty story of a woman missing her dead husband. Without giving anything spoilery away, the plot took a great turn and I was excited about the twist- but then it veered a different way and just left me feeling very meh about what happened. Also, the ending was too HEA for me, especially since I wanted a good, twisty horror. I am sure others will enjoy this, especially if you like the paranormal mystery romance vibe the story has.

Special thanks to @stmartinpress & @macmillian.audio #MacAudio2024 for my advanced listening copy‼️

This book started off so perfect it was creepy and gave all the right vibes for a ghost story. However, the last 20-30% of it fell flat and changed my rating. Nicola spent the past year or two visiting different spiritualist and mediums trying to connect with her deceased husband. His last words before dying were “I’ll be waiting for you.”

When she’s connected with a parapsychologist it doesn’t take long for Nicola to get more than what she asked for. The whole time I just knew her husband’s spirit had become something demonic or she connected with someone evil that wasn’t him. Probably would’ve made the book better had she stuck with the husband narrative. I felt the plot twist was meh it was unexpected but not surprising. If you’re looking for a book with a haunted-house, seances, lost loved ones, and a sinister spirit out for blood you found it.

Rating: 4/5⭐️

I must begin by saying how impressed I am by Armstrong’s versatility—she navigates various genres with such ease and skill!

This one’s a blend of horror and a haunting thriller with a ghost story that’s incredibly atmospheric and a staple for #SpookySeason

This is a compelling mix of horror and a haunting thriller, featuring an atmospheric ghost story that’s perfect for #SpookySeason.

It offers seances, plenty of gore, and countless twists and misdirections to keep you hooked. Although the final quarter felt a bit over the top for me, it remains an engaging and intriguing read overall.

Lastly, I appreciate Armstrong for the well-executed representation of cystic fibrosis, which I thought was handled exceptionally

3.5 stars rounded to 4 for Goodreads

This was good, and I'm glad I listened to it as the audio elements definitely added to the story. I found the story itself a bit repetitive and found myself ready for it to be over - but still, not bad!

I listened to the audiobook and loved the narrator, very clear voice with emotions that made the story even better. Very interesting start and it got even better as the story went on and we learned more details. Great, creepy read for the spooky time of year!

I’ll Be Waiting is a paranormal horror that covers many topics. Nic has Cystic fibrosis and never expected to out live her husband. When he passes, he has some famous last words that turn his death into a media frenzy. Nic is determined to see it hear him again, but at what cost. The heaviness of grief is palpable as you read. The atmosphere was tight with an eerie feeling and a determination.This is such a binge able audiobook, the narration just added to the whole experience.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for my #gifted copy.