I think this book is well layed out thought out well. The pacing was great and as I have not read anything from ej Dawson before I was a little sceptical but I enjoyed the book although not my usual genre and I very much will look into more books created from her. I felt attached to the characters and immersed in the story

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a great read. Meet Letitia Hawking, an English war widow who moves to Los Angeles in the 1920s for a fresh start after a very traumatic time in her life. She is a medium and has the ability to experience the last moments of a person’s life. She uses this skill to give closure to families who have lost loved ones. But Letitia sets her own limits: she won’t accept any murder cases or cases when death was sudden. Enter A. Driscoll, a well known, rich lawyer who desperately needs Letitia’s help for his niece, Finola, whose dreams are quite literally haunted. When he asks for her help, he goes about it in the worst possible way, with the arrogance of the rich, for whom everyone and everything can be bought.

This story was at times sad, at times scary. Probably the scariest part for me was the realisation that not all monsters live in the realm of the supernatural. Some are living, breathing people. But this was also a story about how we can let go of our own ghosts and allow hope and light back into our lives. Letitia, whose name means joy, is not exactly unhappy at the beginning of the book. She is not happy either. She seems to be settled on “content”, keeping what feels like a tenuous inner peace, a truce with herself, by fulfilling her penance for past errors and helping people. But she doesn’t allow herself getting too close to anybody. She is a complex woman, with a past that weight very heavily on her life and all her decisions. Seeing her grow as a character and overcome her fear and her past was a beautiful experience. I loved all the characters in the book, but Letitia Hawking is the one that will stay with me the longest.

The story is well paced, the culmination is not rushed, in accordance to a time when life moved a bit slower than now, even in a busy city like Los Angeles. This pace goes very well with the gloomy time after the Great War. So many dead. Letitia’s flat is quiet, tidy, very few of her possessions are superfluous. Her clothing reflects the more subdued English dress code, not the freer and noisier American fashion. Her life, her habits, her work have to do with death, grief, sadness and the need to comfort. The whole book has this quiet quality to it, even when it turns into a ghost story, even when romance begins to be a possibility. I have to say, it is beautifully written.

Trigger warning: (not explicit but alluded to or talked about) Rape, kidnapping, pedophilia, murder, possession, miscarriage, suicide.

Praise for the way this book started. It had me right away. Meet Letitia, a young woman from London and now in the US for a fresh start. She is a medium and can see one's death after it happens. She eases the pain of the loved ones left behind and answers their questions. However, she does not do murder cases. She is very sensitive to those and could cost her life as well.
Letitia was an amazing main character. She was complex and not perfect by any means which made it easy to relate and sympathize with her. She showed amazing and realistic growth throughout the story. The chemistry and romantic plotline was perfect. I loved the banter and relationship between Alasdair and Letitia.

This cover intrigued me while searching in NetGalley so decided to download it. Although, it didn’t wow me, it was an enjoyable read with a mix of romance, mystery, and horror.
Thanks to NetGalley, Author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Straight away I knew I was going to absolutely ADORE this book, and I was right! I wasn't sure whether to categorise this as a horror or thriller, because it had aspects of both - which definitely added to my love of this book.

We start off by meeting Letitia, who I could not fault as a character, she was deep and interesting and was the perfect main character for a story of this much mystery and intrigue. The other characters just fit perfectly with the story too, Alasdair, Mrs Finch, Imogen and Finola were all integrated into the story wonderfully and added so much value.

The only character I had an issue with was Abby, I felt the way she was written was in complete contrast to the other characters and their nature, it seemed a bit odd to me.

And talking of things adding value to the story, the atmosphere of Behind The Veil was impeccable. Whilst I was reading it felt as though all my senses were heightened, waiting for something to go bang and disturb the tension of the book.

It was the same with the intrigue that the author built up, I couldn't fault it, at no point did the book become boring or feel like I was trying to hurry it along to get to another part of the story, it just kept that pace right through to the end.

To top everything off the writing and the plot were out of this world!

The writing was incredible, so descriptive, I felt as if I was in the story alongside our characters. The author formed the most amazing sentences and paragraphs, whether it be while Letitia was dealing with her families looking for closure, or when she was trying to help Finola, or when Alasdair and Letitia were flirting. It seemed no matter what the nature of the chapter or topic, the author was pulling it out of the bag with truly excellent writing.

And the plot, OH MY GOD it was amazing. Behind The Veil was an interesting and well-balanced read, it had everything you could want from a horror/thriller/mystery book.

I couldn't fault any part of the story, but the last 15-20% where we reached the crescendo and ending of the book was just impeccable. A combination of plot and writing meant we finished Behind The Veil feeling fulfilled, thrilled, and full of enjoyment from what was an amazing book.

On the whole, I can't fault Behind The Veil by E J Dawson, it had everything I could want from a book!

Again, thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC of this book to read and review.

I was granted complimentary access to Behind the Veil in exchange for an honest review as part of my participation in a blog tour for this title with Bewitching Book Tours. Thank you to all involved in affording me this opportunity! My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

I was immediately drawn in to this concept of a woman with legitimate scrying powers who uses her ability to bring peace and closure to the families of those who have been lost. The mechanics of how her abilities work, and how horribly wrong everything can go if she's not careful, are so well planned out and surprisingly unique despite this not being the most unique concept ever covered in occult fiction.

Letitia is a great main and POV character to read! I love her complex inner turmoil, her genuine warmth, and her desire to make the world a better place. It's easy to get swept up in a story when this is the voice you're reading and the hero you're rooting for!

The reason this book didn't quite blow me away and earn an even higher rating is because I feel like about 45-50% through I blinked, missed a line, and found myself in a different book. I can't quite put my finger on what changed, specifically, that made me feel that way. Pacing, perhaps? Maybe the pacing changed? I do feel like we got a whole bunch more names to keep track of at around that point. This book also really asked us more and more as the book went on to care about Abby, but unlike wonderful Letitia and unreliable Alasdair, I don't feel like we were ever given a reason to truly care about Abby independent of Letitia's feelings about her.

Overall this is an interesting book and definitely something I would recommend to fans of occult fiction. It also helped me tick a 50-point task off my list for the Spooktober Readathon this year, so that's a bonus!

At this time of the year especially I always look for chilling stories, book to countdown the days to Halloween in style. Behind the veil, by E.J. Dawson was the perfect book to send shivers down my spine while at the same time intrigue me with some romance anche mystery.
Downside: this story was too short!

This novel has the kind of atmosphere and main character that intrigues me. We have spirits and a lady in a veil. The synopsis of the story interested me immediately.
I wanted to rush through the novel and find the answers to the mystery. I couldn’t. The main character is introspective in the extreme. The introspection is an important part of the story but it grows repetitive and convoluted. It wore me out as a reader and I would have to put the story down for awhile.
I liked the novel well enough that I would read another about this character, or another by this author who I believe will grow better as time goes on.
I received a free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

What lies behind the veil? Literal and supernatural things that can harm or heal a human's psyche, and only Leticia Hawking knows what to do to help. She's a widow living in an early 20th century LA who is making a living as a medium. Her skills allow her to bring peace to the relatives of the dead, and she's very particular about who she will help. That is until a man demands she help his niece. From there the rest is easy to glean.

If you're looking for surprises or twists, then this is not your novel to read. It's pretty straightforward, but it doesn't mean it's a bad read. I really enjoyed the characterizations and the female lead isn't some damsel in distress.

As for everything else, well, it was ok. It's a short, entertaining read that anyone will enjoy if they like historical mysteries with a supernatural bent and a dash of romance.

Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this.

Behind the veil by E.J. Dawson.
Can she keep the secrets of her past to rescue a girl tormented by a ghost?
A very good read with some good characters. Letitia was my favourite though. I loved the cover that's what drew me to read this book. 5*.

Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the eARC.
This was a fun read, some horror, mystery and romance.
Letitia Hawking is a young woman who has fled England to LA where she is able to help clients by telling them the last moments before a love one died. She is a true psychic who wants to give her clients peace. When Alasdair Driscoll comes to her to ask for help to find out why his beloved niece has such terrible night terrors, the relationship starts off badly, she doesn't want to take the case because it would put her in danger from the horrid past she's tried to escape. Eventually she gives in though, bringing a terrible spectre into being.
I wasn't as into the book as I thought I would be, but on the whole it was interesting as well as mildly enjoyable.

Do you believe in psychics and mediums?

Letitia is a psychic in 1920s Los Angeles, giving her clients peace of mind by revealing their deceased loved ones’ last moments with her scrying bowl. Letitia chooses her clientele carefully, as there is danger in seeing another’s death. Word of mouth brings Alasdair Driscoll to her door looking for help she doesn’t feel safe providing. A web of serial killings and otherworldly possessions bring Letitia and Alasdair together to untangle the mysteries casting darkness upon their lives.

This book has all the makings of a great period gothic suspense story. The skillful writing pulls you into the supernatural aura surrounding Letitia in her rented rooms. Darkness envelopes you as Letitia reaches into her past looking for answers to bring the current evil to heel. Your heart will pound as she and Alasdair race to confront the maleficent spirits together before it’s too late. The suspense will have you breathless right up until the very end.

You will turn the pages of this masterful novel! It’s a great period story with lots of paranormal action, suspense, and romance. The writing is immersive and the story will send shivers up your spine!

It is the 1920s and Letitia Hawking has moved from England to Los Angeles. She has a gift to help others see the last moments of their loved ones lives. Life becomes complicated when Alasdair Driscoll shows up needling her help.

I couldn’t put this down. The descriptions of the locations made me feel like I was there. Letitia seemed cold at first, but it became clear why she was so protective of herself and had her rules. This story was spooky and contains some heavy subjects.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This paranormal/mystery novel is quite dark. The romance lightens it somewhat.

The first few chapters are on mainly how Lelitia help those grieving for their loved ones. She has the ability to see and talk to the decreased. She has a dark past that she is running from. She has made a fairly settled life, here in the US, until Alasdair appears to demand that she helps his niece with her recurring, disturbing nightmares. Are they nightmares though? There is something sinister going on, and once she gets involved into solving the problem, she puts herself in danger. Her relationship with Alasdair is not pleasant at the begenning, but as the story develops, their hearts become involved.

It's a good concept. Lelitia is a strong character. Alasdair is more caring than what he portrays. There are some gruesome contents, but ends on a good note.

I received an eARC from Netgalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

This book was everything I wanted it to be and more. Letitia was an amazing main character. She was complex and not perfect by any means which made it easy to relate and sympathize with her. She showed amazing and realistic growth throughout the story. The chemistry and romantic plot line was perfect. I loved the banter and relationship between Alasdair and Letitia. I was really happy that the book turned out as good as it did.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing an e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Behind the Veil treats readers to some rich world-building. The author immerses readers in the post-war lives of Americans in Los Angeles in the 1920s. It’s a time for optimism, but also a time of change, and that resonates in the pages in multiple ways. The author draws from real-world events, such as the Spanish Flu, to inform the story, making it feel anchored. Dawson also draws on the sentiments of the era, using attitudes about people with psychic gifts to create real tension for Letitia.

One thing that stands out in Behind the Veil is the author’s efforts to develop rich characters. Both Letitia and Alasdair have rich backstories that are both plausible and compelling. It’s easy to accept their motivations and actions because of the painstaking character development. It was also easy to like them. They’re both flawed, but driven by good intentions, making it easy to champion their causes. And when their objectives were at odds, it was tough to know who to root for.

It was, perhaps, a little tougher to accept Abby at times because we didn’t know her as well, and sometimes she seemed to react unpredictably. With Letitia, there was the sense of a strong woman who was not caught up in all of the gender conventions of her time; she was as tough as any man and capable of confronting trauma and taking care of herself. However, with Abby, it seemed like the slightest thing turned her into an irrational woman in need of her smelling salts.

This is a historical paranormal horror story with a criminal investigation and romance. Dawson shows her skill at weaving multiple genres together, which isn’t always easy to do. Dawson strikes me as an author with tremendous potential and I look forward to seeing her grow in her craft. The thing with this story, for me, was that it lingered on my brain for days after I finished. To me, that tells me the author did a great job of building a compelling world and telling an engaging story with characters that feel real.

I am in awe of E. J. Dawson’s writing.
Behind the Veil, the story of a woman that can sense the supernatural, and the dire situations she sees herself involved in, especially after some girls start disappearing without a trace, is a great supernatural horror book.
The writing style was gripping and made me want to read more and more each time. The plot and the characters were intriguing, and their development was a mix between fast paced action scenes, tainted with a creepy spine tingle horror, and slow burn discovering of the many secrets of each character.
However, make no mistake, not only for the Victorian feel to it, this book IS a dark book. It has some difficult topics, such as self-harm, suicide, miscarriage, loss of a loved one, violence against women, among others, so should be approached with care.
If you do like supernatural horror and hadn’t seen a well done spirit/medium horror novel in a while, this one is for you!

An English woman works as a spiritualist in 1920's California, bringing closure to relatives of those who have passed and occasionally helping solve crimes and possessions (and falling in love).

First off, concept rules, and there are some genuinely spooky moments in here. For my personal taste, I think this book would either have to lean in to either the thriller genre or the slower paced version of
haunting occult horror. There were times when it was one or the other but it never truly became cohesive for me and I felt my interest waning.

For a bit of fun, though, not bad.

Coming out 01 Oct 2021, Behind the Veil by E.J. Dawson is a horror novel with a slice of romance in it. It was set in America but the writing is more to British English.

Letitia Hawking is a woman with a tortured past. She is convinced to live the rest of her life alone. She left London for Los Angeles to leave her past behind. About 6 months settling in just fine or so she thought, enter Alasdair Driscoll. He believed Letitia was the one who can save his niece, Finola from her haunting nightmares. The ever so persistent and charming lawyer stormed his way into her life and he made it very clear that he doesn’t take no for an answer.

I’m forever a fan of horror movies but for as long as I can remember, this is the first horror novel that I have read. I guess it’s true that there’s always a first time for everything.

So glad I picked this book up as I’m experimenting for a new genre because it does not dissapoint. I have zero complaint about the story as everything falls perfectly just to my liking. Seriously, it was horrifyingly entertaining!

Triggers warning for miscarriage, suicide, pedophilia, death, murder, rape, and possession.

This is a voluntary review in exchange for the e-ARC I received. I’m truly grateful to the NetGalley team and BooksGoSocial for the chance. Thank you.

A very well written book that flows really nicely. It was a short mystery and paranormal mix that was enjoyable, mixed in with a little bit of history since it is set in the past. Would recommend.