Loved this dark and twisty spin on a thriller! I was hooked throughout and the ending was perfectly done. This is my first read by this author and I look forward to looking up more of her work. Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for my review copy!

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of The Hungry Dark by Jen Williams in exchange for an honest review. This was a beautiful haunting story. It combined a murder mystery with a tragic history and a ghost story. I loved the feeling of the story and Ashley was a great main character.

I really wanted to loved this book, but there was just too much going on. I can totally understand wanting to have a book that keeps the reader's attention, but I felt like I was being pulled in too many directions with this one

In the hungry dark by Jen Williams Ashley Lilton is a psychic scammer and it’s a family business her brother Aiden comes up with the idea to help the police to get publicity and they decide to start with the gingerbread killer while out with the local police looking for the latest missing boy she starts seeing the heedless, somethings she hasn’t seen since the horrible event in her past. Surprisingly to everyone including Ashley she find the missing boys body and the police want to know who she is covering up for. This is when the book gets even better because she contacts Freddy a podcaster from Maine Ashley‘s dad Logan is controlling and despite her being 32 tries to tell her what to do but it seems Ashley is coming to the end of her rope with his controlling tactics and wants to do what she wants to do. This is why she teams up with Freddy and investigates the gingerbread killer with him. The only issue is Freddy doesn’t know Ashley and her family are scammers and she does her best to hide it from him even after they start falling for each other. Unfortunately she has her detractors who want nothing more than to prove she is a fake. The book goes from present to past when she received the scholarship to go to a holiday retreat it was too Reed Rick House in the country it is the incident that hauntser. Will Ashley and Freddie solve the case or just put their self on a murderers radar soon the two POV‘s come together and make for a great awesome read! I don’t know why but I love books with podcasts or journalist in them I don’t know why but can’t get enough of these books and add in a scamming psychic that soon really has abilities and I am hooked this was a great read and I love that Ashly who was a serious person laughed a lot in the book I find Jen Williams has a great talent for writing characters and although I didn’t at all like her father Logan but that is how the author wrote him to be disliked and I certainly did. From the very first page with the little boy in a dark room with candles I didn’t want to put the book down and wish I had another. That was an awesome read and one I highly recommend. I want to thank crooked Lane books for my free arc copy via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

If you want to try a spooky and intense thriller, The Hungry Dark is for you. I was completely enthralled with the premise of the book and Williams followed through with creating a fascinating story.

Ashley is a psychic but she is a fraud. Pressured by her family they use the internet to provide fake readings to people for money. But Ashley sees things that other people can not and when some children go kissing and Ashley finds the body is she a fraud, are her abilities real or is she a murderer. Ashley teams up with a podcaster to investigate when she realises there is no way she can distance frok the murders and that maybe something or someone is after her too.

I initially had trouble getting into this book and liking the characters but I was hooked in enough by the story to continue. I am glad I did as the book had a great ending with some jaw dropping twists. Definitely worth a go as so many positive reviews for this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Jen Williams for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is what thrillers should be. There are so many "popcorn thrillers" out there now, which I love. I love the psychological suspense of them, but, in my opinion, they're more mystery or suspense. They're not true thrillers, at least the way I think of them, but The Hungry Dark meets all the requirements. It's dark and gritty. It's not a one-sitting binge read, even though the desire to know what has and will happen is real. For true thriller lovers, I can't recommend this one enough!

Another Jen Williams novel for me. It's not my first, and the plot premises always are so unique that I am excited to give them a read! A Dark And Secret Place and Games For Dead Girls are two previous books that I've read by the author, and both I gave around 3 stars. I hate to say that this one was no different.

There were interesting concepts of this book, but for some reason nothing meshed well together. This was a very slow moving story as well. For a thriller, I need to be wowed here and there, and this just didn't do that. I found myself skimming paragraphs quite regularly through this entire book.

This did have a creepy, eerie vibe, which was enjoyable. The best parts of the story are the glimpses into Ashley's past.

I am sure there are those who will enjoy this book much more, but this was not for me.

2.5 stars is what I give this.

The Hungry Dark is out today, April 9, 2024 here in the U.S. so get your copy today.

Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me an advanced digital copy to read and give my honest review.

Happy Reading!

Ashley Whiteham was an unusual child. She had her own personal paranormal phantoms who followed her everywhere, which she named The Heedful Ones. But it's been a long time since anything supernatural has touched Ashley's life, and she now makes her living as a scam artist psychic. Ashley and her family fleece grieving customers out of their money using research on the Internet and reading body language. When a series of gruesome child deaths comes to town, Ashley offers her psychic skills to the police, as a way to drum up publicity. Ashley never expected to actually find the latest body, or see the reappearance of The Heedful Ones, but both lead her into a complicated situation with law enforcement. The police aren't sure if Ashley is responsible for the murders, or if she really is psychic, but they are definitely skeptical of everything Ashley does. Ashley teams up with a true crime podcaster to try and uncover the truth, before another child is taken.

I actually did not finish this book. I made it to 41% before I gave up. The subject matter is very interesting, especially the faux psychic and the real manifestation, but the pace just wasn't working for me. I found myself skimming page after page, trying to get to the action. I think people who prefer a slower burn, and piecemeal reveals, will find much to enjoy here. Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the gifted copy.

Another amazing book by Jen Williams!! I honestly love everything she puts out and this book is no different. I can't even tell you if I'm a bigger fan of her fantasies or her thrillers, they're all equally entertaining.

Here we follow Ashley, who, after being the sole survivor of a tragic event during her childhood, became a famous (scam) psychic. She used to see spirits that she called The Heedful Ones leading up to said event, then they disappeared for eighteen years. But now they're back, just as a bunch of kids are turning up dead. Coincidence? You'll have to read to find out.

I loved the premise so much, and the fact that Ashley actually found a body, the police were all like "MA'AM HOW???". That was probably my favourite chapter, it was so well written. The whole book is, but yeah, that one was extra spooky.

We have a dual timeline going on, the present one and the 2004 one where the "event" occurred. I'm trying really hard to not mention what happened because it was so fun learning about it bit by bit. I couldn't wait to get to the past chapters to get some more crumbs.

The present chapters were interesting too, we not only got to see how a lot of fake psychics make their money, but also Ashley's family drama, her attempts to solve the murders, dealing with seeing the Heedful Ones again, and falling for Freddie.

The inclusion of romance isn't something I was expecting, but I don't mind it. Freddie seems very nice and like the exact kind of person Ashley needs to help her get away from her controlling family. I don't understand why he did what he did at 87% instead of defending Ashley, but well...nobody is perfect.

The romance also isn't distracting, it's very minimal, and the two spend most of the book as friends. I think they make a good team when it comes to investigating.

I did see the ending coming, something about the villain(s) just screamed they were in on it. And I liked the supernatural element to it all. If you ask me, every thriller ought to have a dash of paranormal.

The atmosphere was on point, as expected. There's a haunted mountain, a big spooky house where the tragedy happened, and the Heedful Ones are weird enough on their own. What's not to like?

I feel as if this book passed by in a flash, but I can also see why someone might feel it's a bit slow at the start. It takes a while for the story to get going, but I was instantly hooked, just like I am every time when it comes to this author. I can't wait for her next thrilling read, I hope we won't have to wait too long for it.

*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

The book starts with a bang. We have a kid or a person trapped in a cave, in the dark, and he/she is hungry. They find a pomegranate, but when they are about to eat it, they are attacked.


Then we have Ashley, who is a psychic, and helps people who have lost someone communicate with them. But she believes she is living a lie. Because she is conjuring stories with the help of her brother. But murders are happening in her community, and her father and brother think it would be good for their business if Ashley decides to help the police with her "powers". They want to fool the police for some cheap publicity. Only Ashley's "fake powers" lead her straight to the dead body.


The story takes place in two timelines. One is current, and the other is from 2004 when an incident in childhood led Ashely to believe she had special powers. The characters keep referring to this incident from the past, and it creates a sense of mystery for the readers.


I loved the creepy haunted vibe the whole story had. The dementor-like Heedful Ones added a paranormal element to the story. But it was a slow-paced narrative for a horror/thriller novella. I took an obvious guess as to who might be behind the killings, but of course, the author always had someone else in mind.

Overall I'd say I enjoyed the book, but a shorter book with some omissions could have served the purpose equally well.

I recommend this to readers who love thrillers with a spooky vibe and are okay with some gore.

A podcast crime mystery with a paranormal element, The Hungry Dark (2024) by Jen Williams is a dark tale of ghostly shadows. Ashleigh Whitelam and her family run a business, providing a show where she speaks with the audience’s dead relatives. Her brother suggests they work with the local police to discover a missing, presumed dead boy, to generate publicity and raise Ash’s profile. When approached by an American podcaster to join his show on the Cumbria children killings, known as the Ginger House murders, Ash is happy to assist. Ash sees dark shadows she calls the Heedful Ones, which lead her to the dead boy, yet her family's medium business is revealed as a scam. A supernatural murder mystery with gothic undertones, it has an increasingly oppressive feel and well-drawn, if unlikeable characters. An enjoyable enough story, if a little gothic, with three and a half stars read rating. With thanks to Crooked Lane Books and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without inducement.

The Hungry Dark was one I could not seem to put down. I loved that it actually had a
paranormal aspect to it, without being cheesy or over done. The twists were great and it was spooky enough that you will be double checking shadows you see out of the corner of your eye. Definitely recommend!

The Hungry Dark by Jen Williams

Creepy scary compelling beginning to the story with the death of a young boy imminent had me thinking – I might really like this – only to then end up with a shyster family act preying on those who are grieving. As I got to know the Whitelaw family a bit better I kept hoping I might end up liking them…but never warmed to them. The tragic mother, rather dominant overbearing father, the brother that was and wasn’t there for Ashley and then Ashley… Ashley seemed lost and rather mired in nightmares resulting from a childhood event. She may have some paranormal skills – or not – she definitely sees things others do not.

I have to admit that I ended up skimming the book to get the gist of it and did not read it word for word. There were scenes that were dark and disturbing and characters that were worthy of fear and trepidation. There was a myth surrounding the Red Rigg House and its environs but I had trouble believing that those living there would truly buy into it and do what they did.

I am sure that many will love this story and yet either it was not the right time for me to read it or it was not a book meant for me. That said, thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3 Stars

Games For Dead Girls was my favorite read of 2023 and Jen Williams’ newest thriller novel, The Hungry Dark, did not disappoint! The story follows “psychic” Ashley Whitelam and the children that are missing in the area of Green Beck. The story is atmospheric and chilling. I loved the supernatural elements and the twist at the end!

I highly recommend this book especially if you love to read atmospheric supernatural mysteries.

Thank you Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

(This same review was shared on the Barnes & Noble website)

My thanks to Crooked Lane books, Jen Williams and Netgalley.
I've noticed how mixed the reviews are with this book, but I'm here to tell ya' that I kinda thought of this was the bomb-diggity!
As usual, I'm just going to let y'all know how I felt and not a review.
Okay! Ha! Just kidding.
I'm typing with 2 fingers and a thumb, and even if all my digits weren't encased in a god awful cast, and I wasn't high on painkillers.... I doubt I'd leave a coherent review!
Honestly? I was a bit weirded out by the heedless ones. Nobody needs that in their lives.
I liked everything about this story, except for the people. I just wanted the MC to get real. Being a breadwinner and also a stepping stool? Urgh! I'm
Still, I had a great time with this story. Honestly? The Heedless Ones were a bit freaky.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jen Williams and Crooked Lane Books for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a bit slower paced to start than I would have liked, but once it picks up - you are in for a wild ride. I loved the paranormal aspects of this one and the twists were phenomenal!

A spooky one that's not only a mystery but also a look at toxic family relationships. Yes, Ashley is a scam artist but she does have psychic abilities. This has haunted her throughout her life and now she's the one who found a child dead in the woods. She's not the villain but who is? She joins forces with Freddie, a pod caster to look for answers. I'm growing weary of the pod caster character in crime novels but Freddie is well drawn. I liked the setting (the Lake District!) and the story telling is good. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. No spoilers from me.

What is not to like? The scene is set under a large dooming fell in the Lake District, a charming little village next to it; an ancient curse and a mystery of disappearing children. To top it off, the main character - Ashley - is a bogus fortune teller with a very controlling family and a complicated history of her own. It made me hungry in the dark, gobbling up pages when I should have been sound asleep !

Ashley is a very likable character, despite being a despicable crook. She robs the grieving and mourning from their money who naively hope to get a message from their deceased loved ones, but she is mainly doing it to get love from her parents, something she has always been denied. She craves what she has always been missing and it is her way of getting some attention from the people who should have raised her to be an independent woman, but instead kept her being a child in order to line their own pockets. If anyone, I despised her parents way more than Ashley herself for her fraudulent behaviour.

The disappearing children and Ashley's involvement were very well narrated, and the side characters living in Green Beck were all very well portrayed. But the main character next to Ashley certainly was the house on Red Rigg fell, breathing and gurgling with its own life and history and as it turned out its own curse as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book as a whole and I will certainly keep the author on my radar, as she has a very fluent writing style and narrates a story just as I like it. I wish to express a heartfelt thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I freaking loved this book! It was fabulously eerie, dark, gruesome, thrilling and super suspenseful! The female protagonist was very likeable as was her partner in crime, some other characters not so much. The storyline is solid, told with alternating timelines, bringing it all together in a climatic end.

So if you're in the mood for something spooky and a little bit gory that will keep you in the edge of your seat, look no further!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an eARC of The Hungry Dark. Expected publication date 9/4/24.