Historical fiction meets paranormal fantasy, with a touch of adventure and romance.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I picked up this book, but I can say that it was definitely intriguing enough that it kept me turning the pages as more and more unexpected events took place.

The story follows H.G. Wells as he tries to find inspiration at the frontlines of WWI to write home to encourage loved ones about the heroic actions of their soldiers. Instead, Wells collects stories of men living as ghosts in the trenches. These stories and men haunt him for the rest of the book.

Wells' story is intertwined with that of his' lover, Rebecca West, and her endeavours to uncover and unravel a secret society's evil plot that threatens to turn the outcome of the war.

It was very interesting to read how the two stories progressed and gradually became more tangled. I was hoping for a bit more haunting, but once I finished the book and thought on it a bit, the title did fit, in a somewhat deeper way.

The author's writing was lovely and imaginative, and lent a unique perspective into what Wells' story may have been like...with some added supernatural elements. I will definitely be taking a look at more books by this author in the future!

Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ½
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ½
Writing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ½, rounded up

The Haunting of H.G. Wells was a mixed bag for me. Some parts were fantastic, other parts I could leave. I found the title of the book to be a little misleading, but the secret plot worked well and was enough to keep me engaged. My favorite character in the book was Jane, Wells' wife.

I've read few books by Robert Masello he creates an interesting fictional story around a non-fictional character. He peppers in facts about the time period and the character while building the plot line. That is exactly what happens with this book. You get a few tid-bits and facts about the famous author and WWI. The book was mostly okay for me the speed was a bit slow but I did like the facts that were given throughout the book. This book, like his others are quick and easy reads. I like the author and the book enough that I'll still read other books by him.

An entertaining and interesting mix of historical fiction and fantasy, I liked it.
The plot kept me hooked and the characters, both fictional and historical are well thought.
I like the style of writing of this author, his storytelling and hope to read another one soon.
It's recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

this was a really good read, I loved the use of H.G. Wells and the scifi elements throughout the book. It was a fun read that I would read again.

The Haunting of H.G. Wells follows Wells into WWI trenches where he is looking for morale building stories for the folks back in England. What he finds are ghosts of the war dead that follow him back into his life.

And what a life that is. Good ol’ HG had both a wife and a girlfriend in separate homes. Much of Wells’ real life story is captured here. The book also spends much time setting the period.

Basically, the book is a romance, biography, war story, paranormal, and historical fiction tale. There is always a danger of turning off readers if you mash too many genres into a single story. I felt it while reading the book. I went in expecting a ghost, or at least paranormal, plot set during WWI. But this felt more like a historical fiction biography. I didn’t need to know that much about Wells or about life in 1915. I felt the paranormal story was more of an afterthought, which is contrary to the publisher’s book blurb. For these reasons, The Haunting of H.G. Wells receives 3 stars.

Thanks to 47North and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

THE HAUNTING OF H. G. WELLS by Robert Masello (47North, ISBN 978-1-
542-09378-1) is an odd mixture of historical fiction, romance, and
the supernatural. Well, maybe to others it would not seem odd; I
realize there are lots of supernatural historical romance novels.
But it is not something of which I have read a lot.

The romance is the relationship between Wells and Rebecca West, as
well as his relationship with his wife Jane.(whose real name was
Amy Catherine, in case any of you TIME AFTER TIME fans was
wondering). The historical part is World War I and the social
movements of the time. And the supernatural ... well, that's a bit
trickier. [SPOILERS] Masello keeps throwing red herrings at us,
starting with the "Angels of Mons", a genuine story/urban legend of
a supernatural event during the war. After pretty much dismissing
that, he hands us another possibility in the "ghouls" of the
battlefield. And so on. He does eventually get to genuine
supernatural happenings, but only after several "false starts."
You will either find this clever, or you will want to strangle him.

I found the historical aspects of far more interest than the
romance, and the supernatural aspects of interest only insofar as
they served the historical part. Masello does have Arthur Machen
and Alistair Crowley as characters, along with Wells and West, and
Winston Churchill, but since one cannot tell how much of their
characters are fictionalized, there's always the possibility of the
unreliable narrator. Well, okay, we *know* the main plot is
fiction. But it is the sort of "enemy agent" plot that one can
accept in an historical fiction novel.

After a strange story appears in newspapers about a platoon of soldiers in the trenches of France being saved from certain death by the appearance of ghosts, the British government recruits celebrated science fiction author H.G. Wells to go to the front lines of WWI to find out if this strange story has any merit. In the trenches, Wells meets doomed soldiers and living dead men, but no ghosts. Or does he? Meanwhile, back in London, Wells’s young lover Rebecca West investigates a mystery of her own, which leads her to a den of occultists and a conspiracy that could lead to England’s defeat in the war.

“The sight was so transfixing, the night air so refreshing compared to the stultifying atmosphere in the dugout, that he remained there, lost in thought until the dawn broke, and he became aware of the soldiers, roused by their officers to take up their positions, beginning to fix their bayonets and ready themselves for battle. A pair of them, one holding a bucket and the other a ladle, went up and down the line, dispensing a spoonful of rum to each soldier in place. Wells passed on his own– better it should go to one of the lads about to go over the top…”

It is a requirement of thrillers and mysteries that they be tightly plotted, with nothing extra to slow down the action or take away focus from the primary plot. And so it’s frustrating that The Haunting of H.G. Wells takes too much on– too many points of view, and an extra sub-plot that adds very little to the story save to give Jane Wells something to do in her country home, far from London or the front lines where the bulk of the action takes place. For all that Jane’s situation is complicated, it serves as more distraction than intrigue, taking attention away from H.G. and Rebecca’s respective investigations.

Still, The Haunting of H.G. Wells is an engaging story, leaving the reader to wonder– along with the characters– if the ghosts of the opening story were real or not, even if that mystery is stretched out a little too long, pushing the mechanics of the plot to the second half and the most exciting parts to the last quarter. The first half of the story is loaded with the human element. There, the reader encounters life on the home front during German zeppelin bombardments, discovers the rampant anti-German sentiment in England at the time, and meets a plethora of soldiers from all sides. It’s as though Masello couldn’t decide if he wanted to write a human interest story or a thriller and so wrote both.

But if a reader is fascinated by historical detail– particularly that of England in 1914– there is more than enough to go around. Almost too much, if one is looking for an exciting thriller to pass the time. And while The Haunting of H.G. Wells doesn’t have the breathless pace of something like The DaVinci Code, it is a book that knows precisely what it is– a fun and exciting book, and even if it stretches itself out overmuch, even the unnecessary sub-plot has its charms and tension.

So while The Haunting of H.G Wells is not top-shelf literature, it was really never meant to be. It is escapist fun that manages not to take itself to seriously. It gives us real historical figures engaging in actions that are believable enough to think that they could actually have happened, while brushing up against other real and notorious figures. Fans of historical thrillers will find it to be an exciting race through WWI-era England, while general fans will find it to be a fun way to spend a few hours, whether on the beach or curled up with a blanket in a favorite chair.

Thank you to NetGalley and 47North for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion in any way.

“The Haunting of H. G. Wells” by Robert Masello attracted me by its creativity and inventiveness. The novel also challenged me due to its over-the-top creativity and inventiveness. I suspect that this book would have “jazzed” me in my teens and twenties; however, as an old codger having just reached senior citizen official status I found myself first picking up then putting down then again picking up this Advanced Readers Copy supplied by NetGalley.
Masello has written a fast-paced novel of suspense and takes some famous folks out of history, namely Winston Churchill and H.G. Wells, and puts them into the horror of the front lines of World War 1. While in the midst of the war Wells witnesses the nightmares of battles and these trigger ghostly premonitions that follow him upon his return to London. I shan’t give away the major plot points: there is a young lover who comes alongside Wells to help decipher a notebook with mysteries within. Enjoy the read and strap in for the wild ride!

Slow reading, Robert Masello has create an interesting story for a leisurely read. A young woman seeks to become a journalist in Victorian England which is quite unladylike for a woman. She sets out to interview H.G. Wells and begins a lasting friendship as she builds her career.

A fast paced novel of intrigue with a plot worthy of the great H G Wells. During World War I Winston Churchill sends H G Wells to the front line in an effort to boost morale through his writing. While there he witnesses the horrors of war, causing him to have premonitions. The "ghosts" follow him to London and with the help his witty young lover Rebecca guide him in deciphering a notebook entrusted to him containing a plot against England. I received a copy of this novel through net galley and am happy to give my honest opinion . I highly recommend this haunting, thought provoking novel.

The Haunting of H.G. Wells wouldn't be a typical book for me, however, "haunting" was in the title (Yes I'm a sucker for the supernatural).  Even though the book was well written, it moved like molasses for me.  The point was to set the story and the scene for that period, as Wells was haunted by his transgressions and time spent on the Western Front.

When the story moved towards the war my receptors kicked in and my eyes glazed over as the book moved even slower for me.  It did pick up towards the end, as the real plot emerged, but there were other areas that I was unsure about or wondered why they were included, as they didn't help to connect the story for me.  

All in all this is a good story and a great read if you like period pieces about the war.

Another of those odd tales that take a real life character and plunge them into a fictional scenario, and a successful tale apart from one thing - you are never truly convinced that this is <i>the</i> HG Wells, and not just someone who happens to share the same name and ideas as his better-known namesake... having read a lot of Wells in my youth, and reread a fair amount thereafter, I found it hard to accept Masello's characterisations as being oe and the same person. Which is my problem more than the book's, I'll admit, but it was still a little off-putting.

Still, I did enjoy the story, which was spooky and thoughtful in equal doses, and I guess that's good enough...

Well-researched fictional story involving true-to-life elements of the main character, H.G. Wells. Set during WWI, it explores PTSD and plot that must be stopped—a pandemic to end all pandemics. Oddly resonant during this spring of 2020.

The writing and story development were excellent, the fictional elements blended seamlessly. A nice author's note at the end helps to sort out facts from fiction.

I already knew this writer because years ago, I read another of his books, "333 - Dante's secret formula", which, of course, I couldn't let go of as a good #dantista.
⠀
For those who do not know him, Robert Masello is known to mix in his novels real characters and fictional events, trying to respect as much as possible the context and the historical period of reference.
⠀
In "The Haunting of H.G. Wells" Masello of the English author of timeless classics such as "The War of the Worlds" and "The Time Machine": H.G. Wells.
⠀
In a London ravaged by World War I and where morale is getting lower, H.G. Wells is called by his friend Winston Churchill to write stories from the front that can somehow lift the spirits of the English, especially those at the front. To do so, he must experience in his hand what it means to fight in the trenches.
⠀
Back safely in London, Wells will have to fight with another threat: a German on English soil has found a way to develop a bacteriological weapon capable of exterminating the entire population.
⠀
Helped by his mistress, author Rebecca West, Wells must try to prevent the attack, also trying not to succumb to his visions, those of ghosts that make him lose the grip of reality.
⠀
Unlike his earlier works, "The Haunting of H.G. Wells" is not as incisive as I had hoped: little suspense, little action (if not in the final part), and Masello gives readers few reasons to side with the protagonist.
⠀
Interesting, however, are the descriptions of the trench and soldiers forced to fight in far from natural conditions and the parallel adventure of the wife. She rescued a German soldier, hiding him in the house.
⠀
A rather slow novel, but I don't feel like advising thoroughly.
⠀
Final grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have very mixed feelings about this book. There are parts I loved, and parts I really did not like.

We follow HG Wells as he travels to the front to write a morale boosting story during WWI. There he discovers a plot against the British, and back home gets himself quite involved in saving king and country. We also follow Jane, his wife, who together with the local doctor hides a young German soldier in her attic.

And I adored these parts of the book. Jane is just wonderful and I could easily read a book just about her. I also feel Robert caught HG very well (comparing it to other books I have read featuring the author). He has definitely done his research and you can feel that in many aspects of the story. The secret plot was sufficiently threatening and scary and cleverly linked to HG Wells. An excellent and very enjoyable read, if it had stayed with these plot lines.

But then we get to the things I didn't like... Rebecca. Yes, I am well aware that HG had an, let's call it open marriage, and that Rebecca was a real person he had a relationship with. However, I don't feel why this needs to be such a big part of the book, overshadowing more interesting plot points. Adding to that, I really didn't like Rebecca. She was annoying, and I didn't find her relationship with HG believably written (even though I again know it is based on truth, I felt no chemistry). I ended up skimming her chapters, and could still follow the story just fine. 

I would have preferred that her page time was given to the 'haunting', because as it is the title of this book is incredibly misleading. The actual haunting is a very small part of the book, and not explained at all. It left me incredibly confused. I would have been fine with it if it was PTSD. But then what are these ghouls? And what about the prologue? I am so confused!

So I don't quite know if I would recommend this book. I really liked parts of it, but I have also never been so annoyed by a POV that I just skipped that character. The writing was good though, and some of the other books by this author sound very interesting to me so I might give those a go. I just don't quite know what to think of this one...

It was interesting timing when this came up for review because I had just finished an excellent new resource on Wells: Adam Roberts' H.G. WELLS: A LITERARY BIOGRAPHY. I recommend it if you have any interest in the man or his work.

There was an unfortunate backlash to reading the bio and the Masella books back to back, however. I now know a little too much about Wells to allow for too many errors. For instance, Masella has Well's wife calling him "H.G." in private conversations at home, rather than "Bertie". It was things like this that distracted me from true enjoyment.

The story itself hinged on one of Wells' affairs, with the young Rebecca West. Wells had no interest in ghosts or the occult; it may sound like a fun premise and if it does, this might be for you.

H.G. Wells is sent to the trenches of the First World War by his friend Winston Churchill, then First Lord of the Admiralty, to write morale-boosting reports on the war effort. He witnesses the horrors of the war firsthand, is nearly killed by an explosion, but is saved by a group of multinational deserters living in abandoned tunnels. One of them, a former German officer, gives him a notebook that details a bioterror plot against London.

Returning to London, he and Rebecca West, a feminist journalist and his latest extramarital paramour, try to figure out the plot and identify the terrorist. He is helped along the way by premonitions provided by periodic visits from the ghosts of soldiers he met in the trenches who have since died. Meanwhile, back at his country house, his wife is hiding an injured German soldier who survived a Zeppelin crash.

Robert Masello specializes in these kind of historical novels with supernatural elements, some of his other novels centering on Albert Einstein and Robert Louis Stevenson. Wells is well known, as of course is Churchill. Rebecca West was also a real-life person who had an affair with Wells and was an accomplished writer in her own right. Also among the cast of supporting characters are other historical personalities, like the notorious Aleister Crowley (although the real-life Crowley had relocated to America by the time World War I broke out).

The device of having Wells's PTSD manifest itself in the form of ghosts of soldiers works well. It is in fact the best thing about the story, since their premonitions invariable steer Wells in the right direction. The Haunting of H.G. Wells is a rewarding read, a quick and entertaining read. It even manages to hit upon some deeper issues about gender equality, the horrors of technological warfare, and in the current environment of a viral pandemic (even though it was written well before this outbreak), the terror of biological agents.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for access to an advance reading copy.

Robert Masello seems to choose a famous individual to fill the pages of his novels that come across in an entertaining and fast paced format. I have picked up a few of Masello's other works and have enjoyed those also. H.G. Wells is the highlight in this story and has just the right amount of action, romance, and historical facts. "A copy of this book was provided by 47 North via NetGalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."

The more you read the book and get acquainted with all the characters, you just cannot believe your luck ! I wish that the story would not end , that I could go back to more adventures ... The introduction sets the action during the first world war, and next we embark on a journey through fears, love, adventures, spiritism, and heroism. We learn about great figures and we see the everyday combat of people like you and me. The baddies are highly convincing. I just enjoyed reading every single sentences and wish for more. Prepare to sit on the edge of your seat ... I'm definitely going to read more books from Robert Masello, I am so happy to have discovered this book and author thankfully to Net Galley.
I have already highly recommended this book and author.