Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Really great mystery with some supernatural elements to it. It was a little bit confusing because there is back and forth with timelines and characters but it was all around a good book. It held my interest, had some surprises and some interesting character development. Good narration as well.

I’ll Be Waiting promises all kinds of spookiness for this October. It certainly gives off chills and provides some much needed haunted house vibes for October, but the synopsis gives a different kind of impression than the experience readers will get in the book. There’s a mystery somewhere in the book to be puzzled, but the plot doesn’t so much twist and turn as much as bounce around zig-zag trying to make up its mind what it wants to be. The ending comes out of left field, much like a 90’s R.L. Stine book, and I’m not really sure how well the overarching conflict resolves itself in the end.

My biggest peeve has to be a synopsis that does not give an accurate representation of what readers will get from the book. It happens frequently, and when it does, I always point it out because many times it feels like a false advertisement/expectation setting for the book. First, spiritualists do not hound Nicola. Nicola actually has a problem constantly going to them. She desires desperately to speak to Anton again and understand what he meant by his final words. It becomes an addiction for her. Second, the synopsis gives the false impression that this is some kind of slasher horror with, “That’s when she finds the first body.” This I won’t debunk too in depth—it will spoil the story—but bodies don’t just drop like flies here.

At its heart, I’ll Be Waiting is a ghost story, but it’s also a story about grief, loss, and the desperate attempt to find out if there is an afterlife—and what it is if there is one. I quite like this aspect of the story, as it shows compelling emotional depth. If Nicola’s journey through mourning were the only aspect of the story, I would rate it 5 stars. Armstrong shines with dramatic writing.

But the drama isn’t the only part of the story. I’ll Be Waiting is a supernatural horror novel. It’s supposed to be scary, malevolent, and creepy; it is—up until the end. All the twists and turns and bumps in the night lead readers to a conclusion that just takes all the scary out of it. The dénouement reminds me of the endings of Stine’s Fear Street series. Ultimately, the force Nicola and her friends find themselves up against comes from out of nowhere. There’s no foreshadowing or buildup. It just gets dumped on readers and left there. And the conclusion to all the searching she’s done for Anton? Anticlimactic.

Jennifer Pickens provides excellent narration for Armstrong’s novel—the pacing and cadence match the theme perfectly. Pickens’ voice gives a great impression of Nicola, deep and somber, pulling listeners in with sadness and chilling them for the horror. I highly recommend listening to this one for those who love spooky stories. Bonus points for putting the headphones on/earbuds in at night and giving it a go.

Overall, 3.5/5 for the story and 5/5 for the narration. I’ve read too many haunted house and ghost stories for this to stand out among the crowd.

My thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC, for which I willingly give my own, honest opinion.

I'll be waiting follows a women who didn't think she would see adulthood due to cystic fibrosis. As an accident and her final moments with her husband are aired publicly, Nicola becomes hounded by spiritualist.
This book starts out great, and goes along quickly for about 50%. Then it becomes slightly unbelievable and Nicola becomes infuriating. I wanted to yell "come on" multiple times throguht the last 40% of the book. The plot is a little far fetched in the ending.
Gave it 3 stars, as a neutral in the middle. Wasn't a bad paranormal read.

I'll Be Waiting is a story nightmares are made of. Nic's husband dies in a high profile car accident they were in together, she wants closure, so she invests in seance after seance. Following many failed attempts with phony mediums who had heard her story and wanted in on it, Nic finds a professor of psychology whose work centers around supernatural experiences and contacting those who have passed. It's through this final attempt at contacting her husband that we learn that Nic is no stranger to death or seances, and things in the present day seance get a little crazy.

Listen, I'm the biggest wimp when it comes to spooky things, thrillers, etc. I ate this up but also wanted to hide under a blanket. 😅 The supernatural really freaks me out. Woof. I don't know if I would have been as spooked by reading the text... But the audio narration really did me in!!

Also, really funny to go from reading romance to horror with the same author! @kelleyarmstrongauthor

A great option if you're looking for something scary to ring in the season, this book releases October 1!

MY FAVORITE AUDIOBOOK OF THE YEAR🎧📚

I knew when I started this audio I was going to like it, but I didn’t know just how much I would love it!!! The narrator was literally perfection and the story was soooo engaging and entertaining!!!

⭐️I’LL BE WAITING, out OCT 1st⭐️

(Thank you for the free audiobook @macmillan.audio ) #MacAudio2024

Recording and narrator is great. Great pronunciation and voice changes with each character. Story needs a lot of working and editing.

I’m still new to the horror/paranormal genre, so this one was a bit different for me.. pub date 10.01.24

I really enjoyed the first half of the book! Chapter one was so intense- Nicola and her husband Anton are in a car crash and just before Anton passes say, he tells Nicola “I’ll be waiting for you”

A witness to the accident states his ghost actually said those words, and the story ended up going public. Nicola seeks out mediums in order to try to connect with Anton one last time to get some closure.

Spooky house vibes, seances, dead bodies, all come together for the perfect spooky season read. I think it was even spookier listening on audio. I do think horror and will love this one - it was a bit too gory in parts for my personal preference which is why my rating is simply : I liked it. Horror fans will probably love!

Narrated by Jennifer Pickens who did an incredible job- I’ll be seeking out more audio done by her.

3⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for my ALC!

#MacAudio2024

This book is good for this upcoming spooky season. I was scared at many parts of this book. The plot twist was great! It does get a bit repetitive which I personally didn’t like. I also personally didn’t like the ending.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

Nicola is still reeling from loosing her beloved husband. Now, she goes back to a place of meaning to them with her brother in law and friend to meet with a ghost expert who will perform a seance.

Kelley Armstrong is a queen of modern day horror novels and this one is no exception! Here's what I loved:

The premise: There is so much to love in this one. It's a ghost story, a thriller, a heartbreaking drama, all in one. The idea that Nicola and Anton's last moment is shared with so many really broke my heart. But that's what leads her to wanting to find out more.

The creepiness: This book has such a good unsettling feeling to it. From the bugs to the noises, there is always something to really get you in the creepy mood. This is a perfect Halloween read!

The characters: You get to see not only the present day characters but some past characters, This dual timeline really gets you into the myster of what is really going on.

The audio: Jennifer Pickens does such a good job with this one. She built the tension with her voice alone. Bravo.

All in all, this is a great ghost/horror story!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

I always look forward to a new release by Kelly Armstrong and this one was definitely worth the wait. This story starts out sad. Nicola Laughton has always known her life would be cut short, since her diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis so when she fell in love with Anton she thought he would one day be living without her. Life unfortunately had other plans and she lost him when they get into a car crash. He promised to wait for her so she is hounded by psychics and spiritualist promising her closure. When a reputable medium decides to help they rent the Lake Erie beach house that Anton’s family once owned. Things start getting really weird and creepy fast. This was a fast paced book that will take you on a wild ride. Jennifer Pickens was the narrator and I thought she did a fabulous job telling this story. She kept me entertained and held my attention. The characters and the story are well written. I would definitely recommend this book and anything else Kelley Armstrong writes.


Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this ALC for my honest opinion.

This book is a tender and emotional examination of grief with inclusion of the supernatural and ghost stories throughout. It was definitely on the slow side but I liked the eerie aspects and the narrator did a great job!

Content warnings: bodily possession, blood, car accident, physical violence, drug use, psychological abuse

I'LL BE WAITING started off with such a strong concept - the reasoning, the hints that Nicola is an unreliable narrator which encourages readers to question everything they're being told, the "final" seance setup... all great. Even as things start to go sideways for Nic and her guests at at the beach house, I was still riding with the plot. But then Armstrong jumps the shark and the plot becomes so unrealistically convenient and interconnected that it totally lost me as a reader. I would have DNF'd this around the 40% mark but chose to stuck with it to see if the ending was worth the nonsense... for me, it wasn't, YMMV.

Jennifer Pickens does a decent job with the audiobook narration though the flashbacks were particularly confusing since there was no audible clue (tone change, chapter title) to let listeners know the flip from present to past. Hopefully there is in the print version, but I can't confirm that. Either way it made for a clunky reading experience during the transitions.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.

Nicola Laughton has survived against all odds due to medical advancements in treating her Cystic Fibrosis. The novel begins with her husband, Anton, last words to Nicola after a car accident. Her terminal illness and her grief over losing Anton are the emotional anchors of the story, but it becomes clear she is hiding a more profound secret about her past. Nicola's grief over losing Anton and her inability to move on increases her desperation for closure, and her fear of living without Anton drives her to participate in the séance at a beach house. From the moment the séance begins, strange and unsettling things happen, like doors that open on their own, swarms of insects, and the sound of footsteps in an empty house. Nicola's nightmares begin to mirror the strange occurrences in the house, blurring the line between reality and the supernatural. Nicola must confront her past, revealing that this isn't her first time trying to contact the dead. The discovery of a body midway through the novel shifts the story into darker territory, transforming it from a ghost story into a murder mystery. Nicola and her friends try to unravel the mystery before it's too late.

The flow of the story sets an eerie, atmospheric tone. The paranormal element of the story is where the novel truly shines, making the reader question what's real and what might be a manifestation of Nicola's trauma, which enhances the fear factor. You will feel the dread and panic of what is lurking and wanting to harm Nicola. The last fourth of the book speeds up the pacing, and it loses some of the prominent horror elements in the story. The book combines a ghost story with lost love, delivering a compelling mystery. Nicola's story is one of survival and the psychological scars left by her childhood. Fans of paranormal thrillers and psychological mysteries will enjoy the story.

I received an ARC audiobook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and McMillan Audio.

A supernatural horror involving a haunted house, seances, lost loved ones, and a sinister spirit out for blood...

Say less...

ೃ⁀➷ ⋆˚࿔✻˙∘ 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

We follow our FMC, Nicola Laughton who was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a child. Thanks to modern medicine, she has been able to live much longer than predicted, have a job and get married - essentially, a normal life.

But soon after getting married, Nicola's husband Anton is killed in a car accident, which he ominously says "I'll be waiting for you" to Nicola. 🤨

To make matters worse, this final moment between the couple was witnessed and photographed and then made public. Basically a circus show of one of the most traumatic moments of her life.

Now, in the midst of her grief, Nicola has come to Anton's family's home to meet with a professor/medium in order to contact Anton. She's been hounded by mediums for months, saying they were able to connect her with Anton.

Just as the medium is beginning, the house comes alive. Locked doors are unlocked, insects surround the house and voices are heard. Then the bodies start showing up.

Obviously she is terrified and for a multitude of reasons, both obvious and secret. To start...Nicola isn't her real name...

ೃ⁀➷ ⋆˚࿔✻˙∘ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

I was really invested in this story for about the first third of it and then it veered off in a direction that really didn't hold my attention.

I think this is a great book to pick up for spooky season, it does get a little outlandish in the second half but if you want something creepy and not super serious - this makes for a perfect choice for an autumnal read.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audio copy - all thoughts are my own. ✨🔮🎃

I’ll Be Waiting takes place following the tragic death of Nic’s husband. A combination of Nic’s chronic illness, her husband’s last words, and a bystander catching a photo of her husband’s final moments causes her story to go viral and sends a flood of fraudulent mediums flocking to her doorstep. After Nic meets a professor promising his interest in her story is purely scientific, Nic agrees to host a seance at her deceased husband’s family lake house along with two close friends.

I’ll Be Waiting is very atmospheric, leaning on its setting to cultivate a feeling of isolation and horror. Lake Erie, combined with the annual descent of midge flies, sets the stage for the rest of the story. The haunting to follow leaves the reader questioning what is real until the very end.

While a majority of the story was engaging and kept me reading until the end, I wish it had a stronger conclusion. I found it a little lackluster and wished the main character had a stronger/more satisfying confrontation with the horror she was running from.

Ultimately, this book lands at a solid 3.5 stars for me. It’s great if you’re looking for a good ghost story. I did not expect some of the turns this story takes and there were times where I was genuinely shocked by what was happening. It was a great story to read to kick off the fall season.

4 ☆
-
The beginning of this story started with a bang and caught my attention! Nicola never expected to see adulthood, as she was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a child. Then, medical advances allowed her to live into her thirties, and she met Anton. Antonio taught her to dream again, and together, months turned into years together until an unfortunate event occurred. Nicola and Anton were in a car accident, and Anton died in that horrible accident, but he lived long enough to utter five words to her, “I’ll be waiting for you.”
Like I said, the beginning started with a bang and held my attention, but once we hit the middle, the pace started to slow down a little. Honestly, this book could have been shorter.
The audiobook was good, and the narrator did a good job with this story. She was easy to listen to.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬
•Mystery
•Supernatural Horror
•Haunted-House
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 Oct.1
-
Thank you, Netgalley, and MacmillanAudio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Kelley Armstrong for the ALC and ARC of this book.

If you love Simone St. James I really think you would enjoy this book. Kelley Armstrong blends paranormal, a smidge of horror, and mystery together beautifully in this.

We follow a woman who loses her husband tragically too soon and as he is dying he tells her he will be waiting. But he wasn’t only heard by her, others around them saw him tell her this in his spirit form. From this point on our main character is contacted by mediums and other paranormal investigators to pray on her grief.

When she’s approached to do a seance in her late husbands family cabin she goes along with it in hopes maybe she will get to hear from her husband one last time. Only she’s not haunted by her husband, she’s haunted by her past and what unfolds in the cabin is a horror no one expects.

I really loved this one. It was different than I expected in the best way. My only complaint is it was a little slow in the beginning and I wish there was more of that ending!
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a paranormal mystery that shines a light on grief and terminal illness. That not only is a good time but really hones in on serious topics as well.

I read and listened to this one and I highly recommend the audio to this.

I enjoyed how this book kept me guessing until the end as to how it would turn out. Each time I started to suspect how the story would end it would change again. The main character was enjoyable, and the cast of characters in the house was enjoyable while nodding towards the traditional people included into a seance.

Holy crap this one had me hooked from the very beginning and had me hooked the entire time. I literally did not want to stop!

I'll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong
Narrated by Jennifer Pickens

Nicola Laughton was never supposed to outlive her husband, Anton. She wasn't even supposed to live into her thirties but her ongoing medical treatments have allowed her to deal with her Cystic Fibrosis in such a way that she is able to plan her life for five years at a time. Having gotten together with Anton, her high school friend of years ago, Nicola and Anton fell in love quickly and before they even got through their first five years together Anton is gone. But as he died Nicola heard him speak to her, “I’ll be waiting for you”.

Eight months later, Nicola is about to stop with her attempts to contact Anton. Now, in one last attempt, a professor of parapsychology is meeting with Nicola and her friends the Lake Erie beach house that Anton’s family once owned. This is a place that has meaning to Anton, a place that he is likely to appear, if such a thing is possible.

Hang on to your Ouija Board because things are going to get creepy, crazy, and chaotic. Summoning the dead may not be a gimmick after all and may be be too dangerous for the living. Jennifer Pickens narrates and helps to enhance the scary, seance on crack, mood of the story. This is not a ghost story for sissies and Nicola, a woman who has beat the odds in life already, is not about to let whatever is coming at her beat her now.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for this ARC.