4.5 stars

The Haunting of Beatrix Greene by Rachel Hawkins, Ash Parkins, Vicky Alvear Shecter is a Historical Fiction Horror novel.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Serial Box, and of course the authors, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

Beatrix Greene is a spiritual medium, who doesn't actually believe in ghosts.  She has, however, become a quiet success in Victorian England, and has a steady stream of customers.

When James Walker offers her a substantial sum of money to perform a séance at the supposedly haunted Ashbury Manor, Beatrix can' resist.  Even though James is a scientist who is known for discrediting frauds like herself, the money is too good to pass up.

But not everything is as it seems.  James has not told her everything, and the mansion contains more than anyone bargained for.  But Beatrix, too, is more than she seems, and more than she knew.


My Opinions:   

First...I loved it.  It was a great haunted house story, that was surprisingly, really good horror.  Blood and gore and evil, plus a good plot.  What more could a horror fan want?

The writing was good, and the book moved along at a fast pace.  It is more of a novella than a full novel, but it was definitely a fast read.  For such a short book, the characters had enough depth that you could like even the secondary characters (well, maybe not Stanhope).

What I didn't like was the method the book is being delivered to readers.  The chapters were written alternately by the three authors, and it felt seamless.  That was fine.  What I didn't understand, was that each chapter was headed with "Season 1, Episode 1...Episode 2....."  There were 9 episodes (instead of chapters).  It was a short read, but it was the complete book.  When I looked up the publisher Serial Box, it appears they will release an Episode each week, until the book is finished.  I remember Stephen King releasing one of his books in this method -- I was not impressed with that, nor am I impressed with this.  That is the only reason for my missing .5 star.

However, if you can get your hands on the complete book, it is a really fun read.  Well, I say fun, but remember, it's horror....

This sure was a PAGE TURNER for me - I read it in two sittings! It had suspense, gore, a touch of romance, and a tremendously well-developed female main character. And it was super creeeeeepy. Also, it was written in such a unique way with 'seasons' and 'episodes' instead of chapters. Not to mention, having three different authors alternate writing the 'episodes'! Which, surprisingly, did not result in a disjointed story or writing style AT ALL. These three have crafted a wonderfully written story.

All I can say is that this book was the PERFECT atmospheric October read. So, when does volume 2 come out?!

Well, what an enjoyable little book this turned out to be! A quick, creepy, scary, haunted house story, perfect for this time of year (Halloween). The entire time I kept reading it thinking "this would make a most excellent Netflix show or movie!" (take the hint Netflix 😉). If you are a fan of The Haunting of Hill House, then this book would be perfect for you!

(The following review will appear on CriminalElement.com the week of publication.)

Beatrix Greene is a resourceful young woman. Orphaned young, she’s learned how to survive on her own. Independence is costly, but she pays that bill by following in her parents’ theatrical footsteps.

Not on a stage, though. No, Beatrix’s performances are far more private and genteel. For an exclusive, well-bred, grieving clientele, who believe her to be the genuine article: a psychic medium, able to converse with the spirits of the dead, possessing a talent for reaching beyond the veil to the other side.


It was so irksome when ghosts were late.
This particular ghost was meant to be one Mr. Roger Latham, late son of the woman currently sitting in Beatrix’s parlor. Her fingers convulsed around a black handkerchief.
“Perhaps he is not coming?” Mrs. Latham suggested, her voice almost a whisper, as though she were afraid of scaring off the ghost of her son, who had been lost at sea for more than a decade now.
Beatrix glanced at the parlor door, waiting, listening.
No footsteps. No low moans.
No Roger.
Bollocks.
Beatrix lowered her head. “I sense his presence, Mrs. Latham. We must simply be patient.”
And never work with bloody actors again.


Beatrix doesn’t consider herself a charlatan in the strictest sense. Yes, she’s play-acting, pretending to be in contact with the dead, in exchange for the money that funds her independence. But it’s out of necessity, and she believes she gives her clients much-needed comfort in return for their pounds sterling.

When her oldest — and only — friend Harry brings a passionate new debunker to her attention, Beatrix’s curiosity gets the best of her for once. She knows she shouldn’t risk catching such a man’s attention, not when her livelihood would immediately be on the line, but she can’t resist attending one of his lectures.

Which is how Beatrix Greene meets James Walker.


She’s here.
James was halfway through his lecture, demonstrating how a bare foot on a wood floor could sound like a ghostly knock, when he spotted her. She sat near the back, next to a dark-haired man in a rather shabby suit, a slightly mocking smile on her face. He felt a surge of satisfaction that had nothing to do with the audience’s applause.
Beatrix Greene had come to him.
Finally.
Her name was whispered in nearly every occult circle, her powers reportedly impressive. He’d tried more than once to meet her. He even went so far as to seek out her flat, where he’d seen her walking a client to a carriage, and was surprised by how… ordinary she seemed. She could’ve been a Sunday school teacher, for heaven’s sake.
James had hoped to attend one of her readings, but while the other charlatans and hucksters liked to perform for groups, she was more… selective. Beatrix Greene had remained tantalizingly out of reach.
Until now.
Finally, he thought again. It can begin.


James Walker has made a name for himself as a debunker of the paranormal, but beneath the scientific veneer is a man desperately seeking proof of its existence. The secrets of his past, the deep scars of his childhood, won’t be resolved until he can either satisfy or destroy his belief.

And Beatrix Greene could prove to be either his salvation — or his damnation.

He approaches her with a curious proposition: if she will spend a single night at the infamous Ashbury Manor with him and a small team, and attempt to make contact with the spirits of those who died there, he will reward her generously.

Beatrix can’t refuse that much generosity. So, with Harry in tow, she sets out for the grand estate. A place sumptuously furnished… Rich with history… Soaked in blood…

And steeped in a darkness more evil than anything she could ever imagine.


Something shifted out of the corner of her eye and Beatrix froze.
There was a shadow flickering amid the gloom in her hallway — a shadow in the shape of a man.
Heart pounding, she took a step in its direction.
The shape neither wavered nor became clearer, but she could hear something now… a sound like the trickle of water. And something lower, raspier. Whispering.
The same words, running together, garbled and hushed as though the speaker had a mouthful of water: Do not go, do not go, do not go…


The Haunting of Beatrix Greene takes the premise of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and transplants it to Victorian London. With each chapter presented as its own episode, the entire book unfurls like a readable miniseries.

Hawkins, Parsons, and Schecter pass the narrative back and forth smoothly like masterful jugglers; though there are three hands involved in its construction, the story is a consistent whole, without any jarring atonal shifts in voice.

And while much of the plot and the characters are familiar — there’s a beautiful, massive, extremely old, and extremely cursed house; sparks fly between the lady medium and the man of science; we see a shocking séance, possessions, and grotesque violence — this Haunting is still compelling and enjoyable. Hawkins and Co. use the tropes and Gothic setting with panache, clearly devoted fans of the genre.

The narrators, Beatrix and James, are both strong-minded, dynamic, wounded characters worth rooting for. The supporting cast, including a cameo by famous author/renowned spiritualist Arthur Conan Doyle, is equally vibrant and entertaining, giving us just enough characters to fear for when the doors begin to lock themselves.

The Haunting is an ideal spookfest for a chilly, gray day or windswept night; the October weather was most obliging while I read it, and perfectly suited the dark, ominous tale. This is a story made to be enjoyed with a thick blanket, hot drink, and rattling windows. It’s also not for the faint of heart or sensitive of stomach; some of the gore is quite intense, making even this seasoned horror-phile squeamish. The physical violence is only matched by the psychological tension, as Ashbury Manor does everything it can to force its birthright onto the next heir…

If you devoured Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House and Bly Manor… If you loved The Little Stranger, The Awakening, and The Others… If you’re anxiously awaiting the next novel from Simone St. James and looking for the perfect, fast-paced tale of supernatural horror to curl up with on Halloween, The Haunting of Beatrix Greene is sure to please.

The Haunting of Beatrix Greene is the story of a fraudulent medium who makes her living by weaving comforting stories for those who have lost someone. Beatrix Greene is a clever and independent-minded woman who is offered the opportunity to make a life-changing amount of money if she can simply agree to accompany one Mr. James Walker for a night in a mansion and prove to him whether or not it is haunted. Horror, romance and self-discovery ensue as Beatrix uncovers her own uncanny abilities and James' haunted past.

Giving this one 3/5 stars because while it was a quick and entertaining read, the plot felt a bit rushed. Great for fans of The Haunting of Bly Manor and Mexican Gothic.

Content warnings: Violence, gore, grief, suicide, loss of family members

An interesting story, one that makes you like the characters. The story itself, though, could have been fleshed out more. IT seemed like we ran quickly through it, as though we were escaping a haunted house, not trying to understand it.

I've been hearing about this all over bookstagram so I had to check it out! I'm so glad I did because I loved it! A great short story, written by 3 different authors, about Beatrix Greene, a fake medium, who is invited by James Walker into Ashbury Manor to either prove or disprove the presence of any supernatural elements within the mansion. I loved all the characters, as for a short story, they were very well developed and fit into the story line very well. This is just the right amount of suspense, fun and creepy. Highly recommend!

The Haunting of Beatrix Greene is a short story full of gothic horror and some graphic descriptions that left me cringing. Beatrix Greene is a medium, a fake medium who prides herself on being adept at reading her clients and giving them the information they seek. She is reserved and never flashing, which leads her to be a most trusted medium. James strives to disprove these so-called mediums and show they are nothing more than deceitful cons after money. Beatrix and James cross paths, and James hires Beatrix to accompany him to Ashbury Manor, which is reported to be haunted. Unbeknownst to Beatrix, James set out to identify the frauds to find a true medium to put his childhood traumas to rest. Once at Ashbury Manor, things immediately begin to go awry. James and Beatrix suddenly find themselves up against evil forces that neither of them expected.

The Haunting of Beatrix Greene is a really fun, quick, and spooky read. The atmosphere and the characters are great and the story unfolds quickly. If you love short stories, gothic tales about ghosts you should pick it up. It's also a great book to choose if you have friends who usually don't like to read but enjoy horror stories. Since it's a short read and because it's formatted like a tv show it probably will be a novel that you can all enjoy.

* Received this novel as an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you!

The Haunting of Beatrix Greene is a wonderful, light ghost story about what happens when a spiritualist fraud meets what rally haunts people. Perfect entry for October reads.

Thank you NetGalley and Serial Box for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.

I'll call this a cute little ghost story. I liked it, but it didn't really scare me. I wish there had been more character development and maybe more to the story in general, but I still liked what I read. The romantic parts did seem a bit incongruous, but the contrast was interesting. I'd recommend it for someone that wanted "light" horror.

An enjoyable ghost story that pulls you in within the first pages. Perfect for the Witching season! I look forward to the next episode.

I really enjoyed this book. It is written by three authors, but I did not notice a difference in the story. It all flowed smoothly. The characters were well developed and likeable. Beatrix is a medium in London that doesn't really talk to the dead. She is empathetic so she is able to comfort her clients. James believes that she is a real medium and asks her to determine if his ancestral family home is haunted. He also hires a photographer and a writer to help them. This is not a very long story, but it will grab you from the beginning and you won't want to put it down. The suspense builds steadily to an unexpected ending. If you like suspense with some supernatural thrown in, I would highly recommend this book.

A fun and creepy story. I'm not sure if I enjoyed the changing authors throughout the story -- it was a little jarring at times, due to the change in writing style. However, the creep factor in the story and the growing sense of unease as I read it certainly made up for it.

Beatrix Greene is a spiritual medium. Or at least that's what others believe. She's actually a fraud who knows ghosts and spirits aren't real. But when she's offered a high paying job by a Dr. James Ashbury to conduct a séance at the infamously haunted Ashbury Manor she can't say no. But James has his own secrets and motives for wanting her there.

What happens from there is literally out of a Netflix series. This story is told in one big chapter or season and episodes, 9 total, which gives it the feel of a Netflix show but in book form. The story was super fast paced and action-packed. I couldn't tell the difference between the authors or their writing styles. The writing was very atmospheric and I could very much envision myself walking through this creepy manor and hear all the creaks and groans of the floorboards. This is a really creepy, gothic haunted house story with some paranormal and romantic elements as well. The story takes place over the course of one long night. It goes from spooky to creepy to frightful all within the span of a few pages.

I would definitely recommend this if you want a spooky, paranormal gothic read! This is also displayed as season or vol. 1, so I would definitely be intrigued to pick up the next one if they came out with a follow up.

The Haunting of Beatrix Greene just in time for Halloween. This story takes you back to Englad during the Victorian Era . This was a time when so many things were changing in England and one of those changes was more and more you found Mediums who say they can talk to the other world and so many especially woman wanted to talk to their dead husbands or parents or a woman who may have lost someone before they married. This woman, Beatrix is the woman who says she has "The Gift"..This is how she makes her money!She meets James and they go to this house . James doesn't be? We will see!! In certain parts I really did get kinda spooked! Follow these two as they go through so many adventures and go with them on this discovery!! Will there be some romance with these two and the ghosts?.I don't usually read books like this I'm nut even one for Halloween but I really did enjoy this story. I like how the author as in this case authors, pull you into this very descriptive spooky story! Is there really a gift? Read for yourself and I suggest you read with the lights on..maybe in the daytime?? Received from Net Gallery and I have to say I not only enjoyed the story but all the characters.... real or not!

Oh, the perfection this book was and is! Set in Victorian London? Check.
A haunted house? Check.
Science vs True Spirits? Check.
Guest appearance by one of my favourite authors? Double-check.
I loved this book so much. I love ghost stories, especially when they're set in Victorian England and this book, this wonderful, wonderful book fulfilled every single one of my wishes, even those I didn't knew I had. I would have never expected that I could love a straight relationship-book as much as I love this one. But maybe that's because the romance in this one was very light, exactly what I need at the moment.
I was also aware from the beginning that something was off about James's friend and therefore, him turning out to be in league with the ghosts didn't come as a surprise to me. That disappointed me a bit, to be honest, but maybe I've just read too many thrillers.
Otherwise, this book was perfect. I also loved the way the authors had worked together on this book, giving the name of everyone who had written each perspective chapter which is something I have never seen before in a book.
With Halloween coming up, I can do nothing but recommend this one to each and everyone I know. It's the absolutly perfect book for the spooky season.
I received an ARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

by Rachel Hawkins, Ash Parson, and Vicky Alvear Schecter

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

It seems like I’ve been on a horror kick lately, at least in terms of my reading habits. I came across this book while browsing the horror section on Net Galley. While I’ve haven’t read much gothic horror, the description sounded good so I decided to request an ARC.


A skeptical scientist gets more than he bargained for when he invites a spiritualist to spend a night at a haunted house to determine whether ghosts are for real. At heart this is a haunted house story, and in my opinion it’s one of the better books I’ve read in that sub-genre – I liked it much better than the classic Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.

I gave The Haunting of Beatrix Greene four stars on Goodreads. While I enjoyed it, I felt that some of the plot twists were telegraphed too early. While each chapter had a different author, I wasn’t able to differentiate between the writing styles of the book’s three authors.

Beatrix Greene is a single woman trying to keep her independency in Victorian-era London. Although a sceptic herself, Beatrix claims to be a spiritual medium who, with great empathy, tries to reassure those who seek her services out that the loved ones they lost love them back and are happy and safe in the other world. But when push comes to shove and Beatrix faces a scientist, James Walker, who at the same time wants to expose her and employ her services, Beatrix risks both her reputation as a medium and her heart as an independent woman.

The book is written by not one but THREE authors, yet it is rounded up nicely in terms of coherence. A classic victorian gothic plot about a haunted house that replicates a few elements from Jane Eyre (Beatrix's plainness, Walker's affluence, a haunted house and an unlikely love story from the point of view of Victorian England), Beatrix Greene is apparently a link in a chain of upcoming ghost stories. It makes for a quick read and the main character is well-rounded. In fact, Beatrix's portrayal takes precedence over all other characters, including Mr Walker himself.

However, I agree with other reviewers who pointed out that the novella was too short to allow for an equally well-rounded plot. The authors did not explore the "Haunting" enough for a memorable ghost story. Yes, there were perfectly horrifying moments, but I'm not sure the horror lived up to the first couple of pages. One character disappeared halfway through the plot only to reappear in the final chapter. The romance was shoved into unlikely moments. Another thing that did not make sense to me was dividing the chapters into POV's. I think that the story was completely cohesive without tagging it as Beatrix or James, especially that they were together most of the time.

Thank you, NetGalley and Serial Box for my eARC.

Rachel Hawkins, Ash Parsons, and Vicki Alvear Schecter have created a masterful tale with The Haunting of Beatrix Greene. The book is written using episodes and not chapters, and each episode is written by a different author. The episodes seamlessly spill into the next. You cannot tell where one author's voice ends and another begins.. This novel, is full of colorful characters, such as the American photographer, Amanda Reynolds. It was amazing to read her character as chaos exploded all around her, and yet she kept a level head about her. Beatrix Green and James Walker will pull you in the moment you meet them on the page. And then there's Harry, the lovable best friend that you want to put in bubble warp and protect at all costs. This novel is spooky and unsettling, but it's the relationships formed between the characters that really drive this novel into one of the best ghost stories that I've read.