What walks these halls

One of my favorite types in the haunted house genre is when a paranormal investigation goes wrong, I don't know why but it's always well done in my eyes. I enjoyed how good the story was and was hooked in what was happening with Raven and her brother. I loved the way Amy Clarkin wrote this and was glad it was done so well. It left me wanting more and I found a new author that I can enjoy. It was a great mystery and supernatural novel.

"‘Thanks for coming. Should we fill you in?’ Cordelia asked. ‘No,’ Éabha said firmly, cutting across Raven before she could answer. Éabha quickly continued, her voice shaking as though her assertiveness had taken her by surprise. ‘It’s better if I don’t know anything: it means no one can say that what I pick up on was suggested to me.’"

Éabha is empathic clairvoyance, she can feel the emotion on things, people, place also see what people cant see. She strugle with her ability and her parents disapprove. She try to find answer and join PSI – Paranormal Surveyance Ireland. Archer try restarting PSI. It is family business, when his father death during investigate in one case, everything change. He crosspath again with case his father try to solve, together with Éabha, Raven, David, Fionn they find the answer.

There are many POV in this book not only from main character other character share POV too. The good thing is when move to other POV, author explain whose POV it is. I love how author describe Éabha feeling when see face the emotion and paranormal. Sometime not ghost haunted people, their emotion haunted them. The lady really creapy tho, the crawling thing.. oh god! I jope there are more book in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.

#Whatwalksthesehalls #AmyClarkin #BooksGoSocial #TheObrienPress #NetGalley #ARC

The characters are all expertly developed, and the plot moves along at a breakneck pace. Teens who love a good scare will adore this fantastic piece of writing!

What Walks These Halls is a great ghost story that kept me up at night. I loved how all the characters weaved together. This is a great horror story and I loved every minute of it. You will care instantly about each character and hope for a happy ending. I really enjoyed this story and the characters I can’t wait to read another book by Amy.

Archer and Raven are the children of a popular ghost hunter who has recently retired due to a ghost hunting expedition that is steeped in mystery and one the mother will not talk about. It all happened at Hyacinth house and when archer decides to take up the family business a local real estate agent gets tasked with trying to sell it. Initially Raven wants no part of this house and when the new girlEabha comes to them insecure and feeling plagued by her psychic ability the team takes her in but will the most haunted house in Ireland be too much for the new psychic? I don’t want to get much away because this book was so good I’m going to be honest and say I love haunted house books and also enjoy cheesy haunted house books but this book is totally bona fide, credible, awesome if it had a Twitter account it would have a blue checkmark next to it this book is so good! I can only hope they’ll be a second book because the characters are likable and some or even lovable and I’m looking right at Arthur when I say that! This was a smart intelligent haunted house story that really delivers the promise of spooky but also as high on kindness caring and emotional support of each other I love this book so much! I highly recommend it if you love haunted house ghostbusting teams you don’t want to miss What Walks These Halls by Amy Clarken you will not be disappointed. I received the book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

What walls these halls is a brilliant horror/thriller book. It’s genuinely creepy enough that you’re forced to keep reading just to try and move past the images it paints in your head at points.

Once I got into the story I couldn’t stop, the characters are all engaging and refreshing and all their relationships seem realistic.

In terms of writing style it’s an enjoyable and easy read, definitely one I will recommend to others. Thank you Amy Clarkin for the nightmares ha!

Thanks to the publisher, author and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book.

Five years ago, Archer and Raven O'Sullivan's parents' firm conducted a paranormal investigation into the mysterious and forboding Hyacinth House. Raven doesn't remember much about what happened that night, only that her father died, and that she has a sinking feeling she is responsible for what happened. She has vowed never to return to ghost hunting or that house. But when Archer restarts the family business and stumbles across an opportunity to once again investigate Hyacinth House, she finds herself pulled in. Along with their group of electric friends, including newcomer Éabha, an empath who can fell emotions attached to people and places, the pair are determined not only to find out what happened that night, but unlock the secrets of Hyacinth House once and for all.

I love a good ghost story. There's something just really special about a genuinely creepy supernatural tale that makes you feel like a little kid huddled under a blanket with a flashlight reading spooky stories past your bedtime. And there are plenty of creepy, spooky happening in this book to keep you up all night in this book trust me!

Not only is there the legend of the house itself, but there's the stories of those who have come after, both trying to live in the house and those that have tried to investigate the ghosts (like Raven and Archer's parents, etc.). As the story unfolds, we learn more about all of these stories and there's plenty of twists as the group learns more and more about the house's history and, well, quite frankly, what they're hiding from each other. It really makes for some great suspense.

The ending was good, the final confrontation being an amazing culmination of everything - I think it would make for a great scene in a movie to see, but alas, we just have to picture it for now.

The only thing I didn't like was there was one thing that kept being brought up and it could have been cleared up with communication - but they didn't talk to each other. And I was so frustrated! I don't want to give anything away, but it involves something from the house's past. And I was like - "ASK ABOUT IT! ASK!!!" And they didn't until almost the end of the book. Sigh. You'll pick up on it when you read easily.

Anyway, I still loved this book and recommend it to anyone searching for a good ghost story. It was a great spooky tale!

What walks these halls
By Amy Clarkin

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book to review!

Paranormal investigation of a very haunted mansion with a spirit that has killed more then once.

The adult children of a notorious paranormal team are granted the opportunity to investigate the house that their father was killed at his final ghost hunt.

This was an enjoyable and well written novel. Kept me reading until the end. Had some pretty tense and chilling moments that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC.

The characters are all superbly crafted, and the plot moves along quickly. In general, I thought it was a fairly good book. Teens who enjoy a good scare will love this fascinating book!

I LOVE a good spooky ghost book and this one didn't disappoint especially as my main reading time is when I go to bed so best time to read a ghost book!

I really enjoyed this one, it had a great story and the characters were well written, I really liked Éabha as like me she is hard of hearing and wears hearing aids and I don't read much that includes this so it was nice to be represented!

I hope that there will be a book two as this would make a fantastic series to see the characters all develop even more!

Where do I start, from the beginning this book had me hooked. As someone who has always been a fan of paranormal shows I thought this book was certainly up my alley.

I love how each character had a different part to play within the team PSI, but I also like how in the end they were all connected to Hyacinth House due to various reasons.

What Walks These Halls by Amy Clarkin was the perfect spooky book to start off my year! Raven and Archer are a sibling duo who worked together ghost hunting with their parents before tragedy struck. Now Archer is reopening the family business and Raven has to decide between her safe boring present and her tumultuous past. The author did a fantastic job of exploring the chaotic dynamic of siblings with past trauma. My favorite character was Éabha, a clairvoyant with a hearing disability (like me!!! Representation yay!) who yearns to discover the truth behind her mysterious gifts. Her character growth through the series was phenomenon! All of the characters were easy to root for and had such a cool way of fitting together. I loved the different relationships and the queer rep was nice to see so seamlessly included. The mystery of Hyacinth House was a twisted dark thing and it was so much fun to see it unravel and come to light through PSI's investigation. I'd say this book is more spooky than scary but there were definitely some scenes that gave me goosebumps. In the end the found family vibes and shy romances made the book so much more than a ghost story!

A spectacular spook for the young readers! This book had me holding my breath to the last page, so it's good that I couldn't put it down! Young adult readers will be scrabbling to get their hands on this copy when it comes into the library. Ideal for kids looking for a horror read.

A dark, chilling book with plenty of twists to keep readers interested, engaged, and on their toys. Would recommend to most of my YA readers but at times this did feel a little too dark for that audience.

Such a great spooky read. Right from the start it lures the reader with that visual of the house. I enjoy paranormal investigation and shows and it had that with that firsthand creepy encounters. My reading experience was spooky because I was usually reading this at night under covers. Haha. Loved the horror aspect. The characters and their history was also sufficiently packed and were handled wonderfully. The ending was also justified. A pretty short read. If I had time I think I would have taken 3-4 hours and be done with it because it is readable and intriguing.

Oooh I REALLY loved this one! I've been on a kick of haunted houses and ghost stories lately, and each one has been better than the last. This one so far is definitely my favorite. Clarkin has done a fantastic job creating a cast of characters and an environment that are eerie and disturbing and enthralling. Hyacinth House is practically a character in its own right, and I really love the way she imbued both the building and the people who travel in and out of it with such rich and imaginative history.

The book was creepy without being gruesome, a combination I personally find far more disturbing than when the pages are full of blood and guts and body parts. I really loved the relationships between the friends and family members, and the fact that those relationships were as essential to the ongoing storyline as the hauntings and mysterious events.

This was a fantastically enjoyable story and I am definitely going to be on the lookout for more from Amy Clarkin...

Very interesting read, I loved the characters and the plot, It had me guessing what would happen next. A great read.

A gripping story, fast paced and compelling. I loved the characters and the solid plot kept me on the edge
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Lots of fun! Loved the creepiness and the ghosts. A good ole fashioned haunted house story with some fun characters.

4/5 stars! This book had a haunted house angle mixed with YA horror, so I was pumped to read this story. I think this really works as a YA thriller. The characters were well-developed, and the story had depth. I felt like I was there with Raven. Fans of more mature horror themes may night find this dark enough, but I enjoyed it.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

What Walks These Halls is disturbing, thrilling and ultimately, I couldnt put it down! I could imagine myself in the book scared to death, but had to know what was going to happen next!

Pacing, character development, setting wise - was good. It was not too slow or even rush, just nice to fit the whole setting. Every chapter will makes you dying to know what happen next. It is not scary or creepy as I hoped it is, but that's okay.

If there is a sequel to this book, I will definitely read it.

I have so many thoughts.
This book starts off brilliantly, the supernatural aspect is SCARY! Much more than I would expect from YA horror so I thought this would be a 5-star read from the get-go.
The first thing that bothered me was the dialogue, especially between Archer and Raven. I felt like it was a bit cringy, but hey, I don't have any siblings so maybe that is how siblings talk to each other and I just don't know.
The characters were all brilliant and very distinctive, the author does an amazing job at developing them without overwritten paragraphs about their traits. I truly believe that this author will achieve great things, the writing has room for improvement but it's already of high quality.
Now, unfortunately, I was very much disappointed with this story and didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. What I thought would be a horror book eventually became a romance. The supernatural aspect was still there, but I feel like at some point it switched to the back seat. I did enjoy the couples, it was not unexpected at all - but I didn't expect or want it to be the main plot. When the book was reaching the end and we still hadn't gotten to the meat of the horror, I panicked. 'how will you have time to wrap the horror plot up?' ran through my head at every page turn, and the answer was 'you won't have time'. It was RUSHED, and the ending was not an ending per se - unless there's a second book. If there is, I hope we get more horror.
In summary, too much love, and not enough ghosts.
In this situation, I would usually settle for 3 stars, but the writing deserves much more credit than that so I settled for 4.

I was sent this arc from the publishers to read. This book was really good. There was some pretty good parts and the YA horror in it was exciting to read. I liked the character development throughout it. The only thing was the ending felt a little rushed, but overall I really enjoyed the book.

This went down well with the teen/ young adult members of our family and was seriously creepy. We enjoyed the characters who were well written and rounded.

From the very beginning I became invested in the story, thanks to the brilliant writing style and cast of characters. The dialogue in this book felt natural, matching the age of the characters, and the jokes and sarcastic comments were genuinely entertaining for me. The interactions between the siblings, Raven and Archer, felt a bit cringy at the beginning but got better and more realistic as the story went on. The descriptions, especially in scary moments, were well crafted and allowed me to picture the scene in my brain, to the point were sometimes I had to take a look around my room to make sure that nothing is lurking in the corners. The book is definitely in the YA age range so it doesn't include any gruesome descriptions but still managed to have some chilling moments.

In my opinion, the story had a good balance of tension and amusement, with some enjoyable romance as a bonus. I quickly became attached to the characters and interested in the relationships between them. One thing that bothered me a little was the convenient way everyone was connected to the case - but it didn't affect my overall enjoyment too much. Another, more technical issue was that while I appreciated seeing multiple POVs, it would be great to mention whose POV we are currently reading, as it was a bit confusing at times.

Overall, it was an incredibly fun experience for me and I would love to read more about this team and their other haunted adventures.

I think this is the first time I really like a horror novel. Umm… the fact that it has scary side, but also has romantic and heartwarming side.

What Walks These Halls tells the story of a haunted house investigation called Hyacinth House in Ireland. Told from multiple POVs, it makes this book feel rich in detail because I felt I can connect with each of them easily.

I like how the author makes each character have a strong background story. Raven with her bitter past that eventually made her walled up, Archer (Raven's brother) who feels lonely and keeps looking for answers because he also ‘lost’ his sister after their father's death. I think Raven and her brother’s relationship is quite similar to mine, so I felt relatable. There’s a scene where their mom asks Raven for help to advise Archer because Raven's words are often heard more than her mother, and that was often the same with me and my bro. Then there’s Eabha, with a heartbreaking background because her parents would rather not accept her gift and even worse, they think it’s a mental illness. The last one, Cordelia, she was accepted in the real estate agent as a fresh graduate and being the only woman in her work environment made her frequently belittled by her co-workers.

Generally speaking, the horror part isn’t too scary. In the first half, it's hardly some spine-tingling scenes that successfully made me shiver. The Ghost—which typically referred to as The Lady—with a figure wearing a veil, reminds me of 'Ibu' (Mother), a ghost in the famous Indonesian horror film, Satan's Slave. So, the image of 'Ibu' as The Lady really haunts me throughout the story. However, in the second half, the story shift into highlighting more personal stories, building bond between characters, and the investigation process. One thing to note here: I love how the author describes each horror scene. I can’t describe it precisely, but it kinda feels very cinematic.

I said formerly, this book also has a romantic and heartwarming side. Yes, you read that right. I liked that the romantic side is slow-burn, light, but also swoon-worthy. The heartwarming feels is because of its found-family trope. In my opinion, this book has the potential to be continued as a series. Because it feels like there are still exciting things to follow, such as how Raven is progressing with that new things she got. And I think it will be fun to see them investigate together again as a solid team.

This book was not what I expected and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s about relationships and grief with a dash of spooky. The descriptions made me feel like I was there, in Ireland. I’m definitely interested in reading more books by this author.

Paranormal investigations, dark hallways, goosebumps galore! What is there more to love in a book? Amy Clarkin's debut novel is a hit!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I'm not the target audience so initially had a little trouble with how capable and independent these 19-21 year olds are but apart from that (and it needs more editing for typos), it was excellent! A really good, gripping plot that keeps moving forward, all strands brought together, and really well-drawn characters who were all distinctive but very real. Yes, there were a few scenes that made me lose sleep but overall don't let the creepiness scare you off! It was a great read. And possibly the makings of a sequel?!

WHAT WALKS THESE HALLS is a truly chilling spooky upper YA about found family, hauntings, and the ghosts we carry within ourselves.

Five years ago, tragedy struck the O’Sullivan family on a routine paranormal investigation job at Hyacinth House. Raven bolted as soon as she was old enough, while her brother Archer stayed behind and tried to pick up the pieces, re-starting the family business where it left off – picking up newly-minted psychic Éabha as a new team member along the way. When estate agent Cordelia is tasked with the sale of Hyacinth House and she experiences something that can only be described as paranormal, she reaches out to Archer for help. At her brother’s insistence, Raven is pulled back into a world she tried to leave behind, returning to Hyacinth House to finish the job her family started and find out, once and for all, what walks those halls…

This is a brilliant debut YA from Irish talent Amy Clarkin with gorgeous friendships, found family, grief, queer relationships, humour, religious trauma and a literally terrifying ghost at the centre of it all. The Bent Neck Lady has *nothing* on this ghost, I think this book has serious crossover audience appeal for general horror fans. Out in April!

What Walks These Halls is a great ghost story that kept me up at night, captivating me with its intricate web of characters. This truly gripping horror story had me hooked from the very first page, and I couldn't help but become invested in each character and hope for a happy ending. I was thoroughly enthralled by this story and its characters, and I am eagerly awaiting another book by Amy.

The book follows Raven and Archer, siblings who after the death of their father during a paranormal investigation, grew apart. Now Archer is determined to reboot the family business and their mother insists Raven get involved to talk her brother out of it. They are assisted by Éabha (the newest addition to the team) and childhood friends Davis and Fionn they are asked to investigate Hyacinth house. The very house their father died in, will Archer and Raven finally face the past and get the answers Archer so desperately wants or will the house be their downfall?

This book was a very entertaining, spooky read. I love the disability and queer representation. It's obvious to me that the author has done her research and is vert respectful about the representation in her book, that includes the mentions of a closed indigenous practice, which is something many authors would skip over.

The way Éabha's clearvoyance is described and explained also feels very respectful. The bickering and sassy comments between the characters are very funny and ease the tension that is present during many events in the book. Out of all the character Éabha has the most growth from a well managed insecure girl to a loyal and trustworthy friend who embraces who she is and what she's capable of.

3.5 rounded up
Spooky young adult book. Perfect for a Halloween read. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

What Walks These Halls by Amy Clarkin

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4 stars!

What a debut from Amy Clarkin! This spooky YA book was such a delight to read. This book, set in Ireland, follows several young adults who have their own paranormal investigation company, following in the footsteps of many of their relatives. There’s one 👻 haunted 👻 house in particular that it seems none of these characters can escape from - The Hyacinth House.

This read was really layered in ways that I did not expect- it felt like the perfect blend of coming of age all wrapped up in a spooky, ghostly package. Family dynamics, queer characters, disabled characters, humor, crystals — this book really had it all.

I think this would be an absolutely delightful read around Halloween, but if you’re itching to get your hands on it sooner - it comes out in April 🕷️🔮

Thank you NetGalley, Amy Clarkin, and for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own

I was given a free arc for review and feed back.

So let me first say that I rated this 4 stars. It is a slow paced haunted house Irish story. Writing was good. Story was okay. I felt no connection and still enjoyed bits and pieces from it. Would I buy this? No but if you dig spooky haunted house books then I def recommend it.

I really enjoyed What Walks These Halls. I thought it was the perfect ghost story with strong characters and even a bit of mystery thrown in. The ghost itself was pretty scary and violent which made the creepy haunted house even creepier. The ghost chasers were a great bunch with my faves being Archer and Éabha. The only one that I disliked was Raven, she came across as an entitled jerk most of the time. I will say that the end fell a bit flat for me. It just kind of ended predictably and without any drama. All in all, this a great ghost story and I look forward to reading more by this author.

Haunted house - very aggressive ghost who attacks anyone trying to move in or sell it. Historic efforts to help said ghost move on turned out badly. It's now the turn of the children of the last unsuccessful attempt, and their friends, to try to bring closure. There is quite a lot, eventually, about the history of the house and its former occupants but the main thrust really seems to be the developing relationships between these 18-20 years olds. To a much older person a lot of these seem predictable but it deals with various aspects of relationships sensitively and, I hope, would help some youngster who might be struggling. There's genuine affection, tension between siblings, uncertainty and anger as well as some deceit. The house and ghost are sufficiently nail biting to enjoy and everything comes to a suitable, if abrupt, end leaving me faintly disappointed. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

What Walks These Halls was not a bad ghost story. I found it a bit slow moving because there was a lot of family back story behind the main plot of the haunted house. It was a good read though, I enjoyed the little bit of romance and the camaraderie of the friends trying to start up their own paranormal investigation services.

Thank you Amy Clarkin, NetGalley and OBrien Press for the ARC in exchange for a review.

Thanks to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for this spine-tingling read. What happened to Raven? You will find out as you read and experience her memories of Hyacinth House. Which are true? Secrets exist. Can they be uncovered?

Oh, wow! I adored this ghostly tale, although, it’s so much more than that.

A spooky, ghostly mystery based in Ireland that involves a group of young people investigating paranormal activities. The characters are so incredibly well written and their relationships complex and interesting and this book had me in it’s grip throughout.

Hyacinth House holds terrible memories for one family and then, without warning, they are approached to investigate it as a haunted house. What follows is a mixture of friendship, young relationships, family, secrets and ghosts and I loved it.

A stunning debut and I really hope there are more adventures for this fantastic group.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to preview.

If you are looking for a book that has ghosts, complicated family dynamics, and friends to lovers, this is the book for you. The ghost scenes were throughly creepy and the character development was engaging. Clarkin will transport you to Ireland and a murderous haunted mansion.

The book follows Raven and Archer, siblings who after the death of their father during a paranormal investigation, grew apart. Now Archer is determined to reboot the family business and their mother insists Raven get involved to talk her brother out of it. They are assisted by Éabha (the newest addition to the team) and childhood friends Davis and Fionn they are asked to investigate Hyacinth house. The very house their father died in, will Archer and Raven finally face the past and get the answers Archer so desperately wants or will the house be their downfall?

This book was a very entertaining, spooky read. I love the disability and queer representation. It's obvious to me that the author has done her research and is vert respectful about the representation in her book, that includes the mentions of a closed indigenous practice, which is something many authors would skip over.

The way Éabha's clearvoyance is described and explained also feels very respectful. The bickering and sassy comments between the characters are very funny and ease the tension that is present during many events in the book. Out of all the character Éabha has the most growth from a well managed insecure girl to a loyal and trustworthy friend who embraces who she is and what she's capable of.

Super creepy, intriguing and I absolutely enjoyed every minute! Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for access to this book

One crazy haunted house, a family torn apart by tragedy, and a new found family are all things you will find in this book. I enjoyed the story and how you found out bits and pieces throughout the whole thing. I look forward to reading more investigations this team goes on and I hope we get to see more of side characters as well. 3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This started out slow, but the ending was so exciting, I'm going to bump this up just for that. I loved the variety of characters, the romance, even the YouTuber who had the severely real supernatural experience. I thought this was a clever paranormal read with an exciting cast with great backstories. I was thoroughly entertained by the dreadful atmosphere once I hit that halfway point.

This was such a fun read and definitely scary enough even for a horror buff like me. There were moments where I jumped while reading this.

I was very invested in the characters and they are such a fun bunch. The plot and pacing had me engaged the whole time wondering what’s going to happen next.

Highly recommend! Thank you Netgalley and Books Go Social for the arc.

Five stars,period. Stop all that you are doing and just go read this book,for your own sake. It have everything-ghosts,folklore,badass girls and even ghost hunters in a eerie Irish landscape. Perfect.

Overall, I gave this book a 4.2/5. This is because it was marketed as a horror and there were very minimal horror aspects. Another reason is that the ending was predictable and while in certain aspects, I do enjoy being able to guess what happens at the end, this was not one of those times. I really wanted to be surprised about what was to come.  I enjoyed reading this book, and can’t wait to see what Amy Clarkin comes out with next.

In the story we follow a family who has become a estranged. Their father used to run a paranormal investigation team until he unfortunately passed away and this caused the family to kind of separate.

Well Archer the sun has decided that he wants to open up this paranormal investigation again and they go back to the site where their father passed. Raven the daughter she is not exactly on board but she goes along to look out for Archer basically.

We also follow Eabha who is a medium but her family doesn't believe in the paranormal so she is confused about what she sees. She contacts the team wanting to learn about her abilities and so she becomes a valuable asset to the team as well.

This was good for a YA book there was some scary moments but it was nothing over the top overall it was an enjoyable read. For a debut I think the author did great.

This was a netgalley arc on read now. All my opinions in this review are my own

Oh my gosh. Completely terrifying. Amy has managed to tap into a few different kinds of terror here. I'm definitely in for some sleepless nights. (And, if you've read this you'll understand, I was reading it in Tramore!)
The characters are all wonderfully Irish without being over the top, and I love the idea of PSI ... I'd love to work for them myself, but they'd probably fire me for being a complete scaredey cat!
I sincerely hope this isn't the last book we read from Amy...more PSI would be great, but anything by her will be fantastic!

Absolutely riveting. I can’t put into words how enjoyable this book was. I was captivated writhing the first few pages and couldn’t put it down. The house itself holds secrets and twists that really engage the readers. I recommend this one!

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
Hyacinth House is haunted. Raven and Archer's parents have already investigated it, with fatal results. Now they are back with a new ghost-hunting team to investigate the house and resolve their unanswered questions.
The book was interesting and full of suspense. The relationship of the team was interesting and left me wanting more.

What Walks These Halls
by Amy Clarkin
Pub Date: 04 Jan 2023
Ooooooh! This was a good haunted house tale!
Raven's family is a part of paranormal investigation team. At least, they were until her father was killed during one particularly tough (and found to be truly paranormal) investigation. That is when her family fell apart.
Hyacinth House is now beckoning her back along with her brother and his upstart paranormal investigation team. She can't let her baby brother face that house alone. It's time to face her demons and find out the truth about what really happened to her father.
#netgalley
#Whatwalksthesehalls
#AmyClarkin

Don't underestimate this book! I went into reading this thinking it can't be that scary, and I WAS WRONG! I still have a vivid picture in my mind about the lady of Hyacinth House crawling towards me. I loved that this book was set in Ireland and will say this is the first book where I liked all the characters. The book follows a group of young adults in their paranormal investigation of Hyacinth House and all of their attachments to the house itself.. The house's description is painted in such a way I wish I could see it myself. The author describes it as a living being saying that the vines gleam black like poisoned veins creeping across the body of the house which made the story that much better thinking of the house as a living being. Read this book You'll love it!

This book is really well-written. It provides enough of a fear factor to keep you wanting to read more to find out what happens next. I loved the characters and the solidarity between them. This mixed with the usual teen angst about life. The story revolves around the unsolved cause of death of the father of the main characters and their pursuit for the truth. Who doesn’t love a haunted house story.
This would certainly appeal to teens/YA and the story is engaging and interesting. The characters are completely relatable to young people. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery and it’s cleverly written so that you can’t guess the ending

I didn't know much about this book before starting it except "haunted house" and "gays" so that's all you're getting as a summary. I loved jumping into this book not knowing much about it.

I absolutely loved this book. It read so amazingly well, I loved the structure, the different points of view, the characters. The characters were very layered and so captivating. I got into the story from the very first sentence to the last one. I did not want to stop reading ever. I also loved the setting. And I don't usually do horror cause I'm a coward but this was perfect, truly an amazing balance of great characters, great plot, the right amount of spooks and romance.
I honestly couldn't recommend this more. Amy Clarkin was a true revelation for me, I might actually like horror now! And I cannot wait for the sequel, I just want so much more from this great group of characters.

This was the first book I've read from this author and I enjoyed it very much. It was very well written and the characters were well thought out.

I actually fell right into this book. I am usually not much of a scary story type of reader, but this seems to be the exception to that rule. I loved this book. The characters felt real and experienced feelings as I would (and did). It is a mix of refinding yourself in your family and paranoia.

Despite being scared witless at parts, I really enjoyed "What Walks These Halls" by Amy Clarkin, which I read ahead of its publication. I've since been thrilled to find out that Clarkin has been contracted to write a sequel for The O'Brien Press. "What Walks These Halls" is about young adult ghost hunters in Ireland, which in itself is a great premise. Estranged siblings Raven and Archer come from a family of ghost hunters, but whole Raven turned away from the family business after her dad died as they were investigating a haunted house, Archer is eager to get the company going again, with the help of a few friends.

My favourite character, however, was Éabha, who meets Archer and the gang when they are in first year of university, because she wants to finally use her secret gift: she is clairvoyant. Her parents treat this as a mental illness, and though the novel proves that Éabha is right, and she really can see ghosts, the way in which she is gaslit by her own family, and the stigma against mentally ill people, is very real. For me, the most interesting part of the novel is Éabha finally discovering a side of herself and her family that her parents hid her from, and how she comes to accept herself and her worth, and how that in itself could be read as an allegory for coming to terms with a condition She also uses a hearing aid, and this comes up a bit throughout the book but always in quite organic ways, and was a really nice representation without being either pandering or incongruous with the rest of the story.

This book has some really, really good scares, and the best written scenes are definitely the horror sections, but underpinning that is an earnest love letter to found family, and finding yourself.

Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for allowing me to read this book!

Every part of this book was beautifully developed. From the plot, to the setting, to the characters. Every aspect of this books makes the reader feel like the author truly put their time and thought every aspect through. This to me is such a good horror/thriller as well, there may be a lot coming out in the YA world but I personally feel like this one is special.

5/5

I love ghost stories, haunted houses, and paranormal investigations so I was excited to come across What Walks These Halls by Amy Clarkin. With it being in the young adult genre I wasn't expecting the same level of thrills and chills as would be in an adult market novel. However, I was surprised by the level of creepiness Clarkin attains while still keeping the writing suitable for younger readers.

The cast of characters is varied, and there's a touch of romance peppered throughout the story that seems a little forced or out of place. The standard teenage/young adult angst is in full swing among the characters. I did appreciate the inclusiveness of the author by representing LGBTQIA+ people among the romance. However, that doesn't make up for the seemingly forced nature of said romances. It's as though the romance angle was an afterthought rather than an organic byproduct of the story itself.

As for the characters, I struggled with them from time to time. Sometimes they read a well-defined and other times they seemed underdeveloped. This inconsistency made it hard to fully connect with the characters, but as for the plot of the story, I was all-in. The plot was intriguing and the pacing was good because it kept my interest. I wanted to know what happened next, and that's the hallmark of a good plot.

Overall, What Walks These Halls is a good book and definitely a positive step for a debut author. I'm curious to see what comes next from Amy Clarkin.

This book had me holding my breath to the last page, so it's good that I couldn't put it down! Young adult readers will be scrabbling to get their hands on this copy when it comes into the library. Ideal for kids looking for a horror read.

I love dark/gothicy fiction and one of my favourite tropes in these genres is the haunted house trope. One of my favourite video games atm is phasmaphobia where ghost hunters go into haunted houses/buildings to find the ghost and so this was right up my street.
I enjoyed this read it hooked me straight away and I couldn't put it down, I read it in one sitting. I will definitely be looking for more from this author

Raven O’Sullivan doesn’t remember what happened in Hyacinth House five years ago. When her father died during a paranormal investigation there, everyone said it was an accident, but she’s pretty certain it’s her fault.

Her brother, Archer, wasn’t there that night. When asked to investigate the supposed ghost of Hyacinth House, he can’t resist saying yes. Even if his sister wants nothing to do with it.

Éabha McLoughlin has grown up seeing and hearing things no one else does. Now that she’s starting college, she finally has the freedom to find out why. The daring Archer and his eclectic team seem like a good place to start.

But everyone has their secrets, and they all lead back to Hyacinth House …

This was an atmospheric slow burner that I absolutely adored. A perfect example of a speculative fiction YA novel that partners coming of age tropes with the paranormal.

For me however, it was Clarkin’s characterisation that won the day as she has written a band of unlikely comrades whom I was rooting for, crying with and literally on the edge of my seat worrying for.

Filled with atmosphere, emotion and spooks and thrills, Clarkin’s book is a must read for any ghost/paranormal horror reader fans.

Raven O'Sullivan doesn't remember what happened in Hyacinth House five years ago, but she knows her father’s death was her fault even though everyone says it was an accident. Raven's parents were paranormal investigators with Paranormal Surveyance Ireland (PSI), and Raven was eager to work cases with them.

Her brother, Archer wasn't in Hyacinth House that day but he won't stop searching for answers. Hell bent on reopening their parent's business, Archer jumps at the chance to head to Hyacinth House when a new case lands on his desk.

Raven wants to say no, but as she is drawn deeper into the mystery she knows there is only one way of getting answers. By confronting whatever inhabits Hyacinth House.


Éabha McLoughlin hears and sees things no one does. When a late night internet search leads to Archer and co at PSI, Éabha thinks she might finally get some answers. But at what cost?

With What Walks These Halls (WWTH), Amy Clarkin has created a captivating cast of characters full of LGBTQ+ and disability representation. Given that WWTH is a YA novel, I wasn’t expecting to be as freaked out as I was by the novel’s conclusion. Overall, I really enjoyed it and look forward to WWTH 2.

*Rating: 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4)

This book starts off pretty strong on the paranormal aspect. We have an evil entity called The Lady, a group of young paranormal investigators and a haunted house with a cruel past.

What surprised me the most was the fact the author went with a mix of character and plot driven story. Through different perspectives, we witness what the main characters go through, how strongly they feel, which makes their growth really enjoyable to watch. That being said, I do believe there came a certain point in which the characters took relevance over the plot and the story started moving at a slower pace.

The climax was tense enough but the conflict was easily and very conveniently resolved. It makes for a satisfying ending, but not a completely heart pounding one.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely enjoyed my time reading this book and I’m glad I read it this close to Halloween. The characters are pretty much all likable, the romance is very sweet and I finished the book wanting to read the sequel. Which I’m very glad is happening because I want to see how much darker the author can go.

What Walks These Halls
By: Amy Clarkin

4 Stars

This was a pretty good ghost story that had many different elements. It wasn't just about a house. It was about the people. The character's themselves made this story. I have always been a ghost story reader and this one offered that. I rated it a 4 because it took me coming back to it twice before I was able to really get into it. It started a bit slow. I'm so glad I gave it another chance. It was filled with mystery, ghosts, drama, and even hints of romance. It was written well and despite the slow start, it kept me engaged. Overall, it was a good story.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews

This was really really fun!! It took a bit of time to get into, but once I did and the story started going I really enjoyed it. It was really tense and quite spooky at times which was nice as often you don’t get super spooky scenes in YA books. I loved the characters and seeing how they developed, was very inclusive and I loved the romantic relationships that grew as well.

I am a horror story/paranormal girlie and this book didn't disappoint from the first chapter you were pulled in. I read this with my younger son and we both loved it. He had a couple of jump scares thanks to mom lol but we both loved it. I loved how the Author developed the characters and environment giving them their own little part in the book. It was a very interesting read and we enjoyed it.

This wasn't just a chilling read, but I also loved the cast of diverse characters. We get to know the characters well and see them develop throughout the story, which I find is often lost in the horror genre. The plot was intriguing, frightening in places, and I'd love to see more from these characters again.

Delving into the haunted house genre, I've discovered a particular fondness for narratives where paranormal investigations take an unexpected turn. There's an inexplicable allure to the unpredictability that ensues when the supernatural meets human curiosity.

In Amy Clarkin's work, the enthralling tale featuring Raven and her brother, the execution is nothing short of brilliant. The story's grip on my imagination was unwavering, as Clarkin skillfully blended mystery and supernatural elements. The characters, especially Raven, were compelling, drawing me into their world with each twist and turn.

Amy Clarkin's storytelling prowess has not only provided a gripping mystery but has also introduced me to a new favorite author, leaving me eagerly anticipating more from this captivating realm of the supernatural.

In this story we follow a small cast. Theure trying to reboot the families paranormal research business, with focus on a case that has quite literally haunted this family for years.
In this book we get haunted house, we get gay rep, we get spookiness, all wrapped in a lovely ya horror ribbon.

From the first page, I was gripped and thoroughly enjoyed this books. The story is really good, the writing is lovely, and the characters are loveable. This wad a fantastic debut by this author and I cannot wait to see what she does next. I would recommend this book :)