This was my first JP Smith book and now I’ll be looking for THE DROWNING as I’m hearing that’s another good book of his. (Apparently he has seven novels out? Had no idea!)

I typically am skeptical of paranormal books because nine times out of 10, I can’t stand them. Case and point, I did not like BEHIND HER EYES at all. HOWEVER, I really enjoyed THE SUMMONING!

It told a story of love and loss and tied it to a real, tragic event. It explained why Kit was where she was at in her life and I felt for her and I also understood why she was doing what she was doing.

There were times in the book I got so angry with how some of the characters were treating her, but truly appreciated the ending. Also, one twist in there that I was shocked and didn’t like because I absolutely did not expect it.

Yes, this book has paranormal/ghostly aspects, but it wasn’t over the top and eye-rolling. It was done with a nice subtlety to it (if that is even a thing).

I definitely recommend THE SUMMONING and can’t wait to get my hands on THE DROWNING.

Would love to hear if you’ve read THE SUMMONING and what you thought? 👇🏼

**THE SUMMONING publishes Sep 7, 2021. A HUGE thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for my gifted copy!**

The Summoning is a story of grief & loss as much as it is about the paranormal. I wasn’t really expecting the story to take this direction; I was expecting more of an eerie supernatural tale and even though the spooky element was there, there were other themes going on. I’m okay with this because I loved the intertwining of elements and how well they worked together.

The main character Kit has suffered much since 9/11 and she’s doing whatever she can to make ends meet. This includes ‘summoning’ the dead to ease the suffering of their living loved ones – it’s not quite on the up and up until one day, it is. Kit hears a disembodied voice asking for help and the story goes from there. It is suspenseful, twisty with great pacing and the interwoven elements gave it a depth that I really enjoyed.

I listened to this on audiobook in one day! The narrator is spectacular; she really drew me in to the story and kept me invested. An absolute pleasure to listen to!

My thanks to Dreamscape Media for the ALC and to Poisoned Pen Press for the gifted ARC.

I expected this to be something else entirely. I thought spooky and ghostly. But it was only slightly. I wasn’t bothered tho by that. I actually really liked the mystery in this. I didn’t know what was going on. Or what the deal was with the officer. He was fishy but i couldn’t figure out why, it did come to me before the reveal but it was a great read and i really enjoyed it. Kit was such an interesting character and i loved following along to see where this wild story was going to go. The ending was a bit bittersweet. Overall, a great book.

This was a tough title for me. I was very intrigued by the premise which is why I requested to listen to the audiobook arc.

Despite that strong idea and what was objectively good writing, I just could not get hooked by this title. As I listened I kept drifting away, and having to re-listen to parts of the book which just made the whole experience less enjoyable.

As I said, the book seems well written, there weren’t major character construction flaws I disliked, I just couldn’t get hooked. So if you’re intrigued by the premise, I would still give it a chance, because I would imagine a large number of readers would find this enjoyable.

I wasn’t exactly sure how I would feel about a book where someone played on the hearts of 9/11 victims, but really I felt like it just contributed to me feeling that Kit was an unlikable main character. Though the book does touch on paranormal activities, it wasn’t too far out there. There was quite a bit of mystery build up leading the book to be more of a slow burn. The ending felt so fitting. Overall, I felt the book was good, just not really my favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance audiobook copy!

What I liked: I really liked the premise of Kit, the 9/11 widow and medium. The plot had a lot of promise.

What I didn't like: The narrator was a little too dramatic for me personally. The book often felt disjointed and I felt there were parts that could have been left out (for example, the part when they try to link Kit to other cases throughout the country). I kept trying to figure out what was actually going on but not in a good "whodunit" thriller kind of way. I was just confused and couldn't get into it.

I tried very hard to get into this book. I tried to both listen to it and read it. I just could not get at all interested in the characters or the story. The description got my hopes up and the reality dashed them back down.

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬:
An actress named Kit is trying to make ends meet and becomes a medium to help bring closure to families who have lost loved ones. Seances are held and strange things begin to happen. While Kit was originally pretending, maybe she can really talk to the dead.

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
The Summoning was a great audiobook narrated by Ann Marie Lee who did an awesome job. This is a perfect read for the spooky Halloween season. The story is a slow build but definitely worth it in the end. I enjoyed the development of the characters. The story is haunting, spooky and clever. Many twists that keep you guessing the whole time and the ending is mind blowing. Highly recommend it.

Once I got into this story it was hard to turn off, I finished it in three sittings it was so good. I really liked how complex Kit was, even though she was defrauding grieving people you still wanted to root for her. I initially disliked her for being a phony medium but at some point became clear that she was genuinely helping people, and her story was so tragic that it was hard to really blame her for doing whatever it took to make ends meet. Once she started actually communicating with spirits things got real weird. I really enjoyed this story and the narrator was especially engaging. Its great listen and I highly recommend it!

I really enjoyed this short paranormal story. Kit's husband died on 9/11, and she has been struggling with grief ever since. When tragedy strikes again 14 years later, she puts her acting skills to use as a medium in order to make ends meet. Eventually, though, she begins to feel that she may actually be communicating with those who have passed.

I really enjoyed the thriller aspect of this book. I'm often on the fence about paranormal books because I want them to have a real-world explanation (and I'm not saying either way whether this one does). I liked how the mystery played out and was pleased with the ending.

This book was a very quick, creepy read that will definitely make you double-check your locks before bed. I enjoyed the narration--it definitely made the story even creepier, and the narrator was a perfect fit.

As a lover of psychological thrillers, I really enjoyed this one! The tension between not knowing if the culprit is among the living or dead kept me hooked. This book is suspenseful while also posing some deep ethical questions about how people's grief might be manipulated. If you are one who loves paranormal/ghost stories, this one will probably frustrate you. There are definitely those elements present but not to a incredibly spooky degree. On the other hand, if you're like me and you love suspense without getting too far into the paranormal this one is perfect for you. If you're working on your Halloween TBR, this is a good pick!

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

Kit Capriol is a 9/11 widow with a daughter in a coma. An underemployed actor, Kit uses her skills to be a medium. Kit seems to start communicating with ghosts for real. The theme really is a medium getting ghosted.

Ann Marie Lee did a good job narrating the book.

3.5⭐!.This was really good on audiobook, narrated by Ann Marie Lee who did a fantastic job. This a short, fun, spooky book. A good one to read during fall/halloween! I love a book with paranormal elements to it. It's a slow burn, and the tension builds as it progresses.

Kits husband died in the towers on 9/11. After that she found out she was pregnant. Her daughter Zoey, 14 years later, winds up in a coma after an accident. She's been in a coma for 3 years, and as Kit us an actress not getting much work, she is having trouble getting by. She becomes a medium, thinking since acting comes easy, she can earn money this way. Then she meets David, who is making her feel happy again, but now, as she's holding seances with him...the voices and spirits start to feel very real. I don't think this was an edge of your seat read, but it was entertaining enough, and I liked the way it played out in the end.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy/audiobook. All opinions are my own!

I went into this book pretty blind to what it was about. Sometimes, I like to do that and see if the book captures me and pulls me in. I got the audiobook version, the narrator for me was not catching. She almost made me not care about what happens with the characters,

Kit has had a lot of bad things happen to her. She is a struggling actress, her husband went down in the North Tower on 9/11, her daughter saw something in the subway and went into a coma. Money is tight, she is lonely.

I found myself trying to figure out what was real and what was going on. Kit for me was pretty annoying. She seemed so wishy washy.

The story has moments where a lot happens and then nothing much happens. I found it hard to get through but I did care enough to finish it. I really wanted to understand what was going on.

What I liked:
-- The premise - Kit (a New York-based actress, single mom and 9/11 widow) has to "fake" being a medium with 9/11 families to make ends meet; gets found out, and ends up connecting with the dead.
--Plot twist at the end.
--Short chapters.

What I didn't love:
-- The narrator of the audiobook. She's a bit too dramatic and "breathy" for me.
--Not creepy enough. :) This is more of a thriller/mystery vs. a ghost story.

Special thanks to Dreamscape Media for an advanced listener copy of The Summoning via the NetGalley app.

I went into this book blind. It was about Kit, a medium, who lost her husband in 9/11. Her daughter has been in a coma for 3 years after falling in front of a train. Kit isn’t aware that she is being investigated by the police for being a charlatan. Kit never excepts money on the first visit and only accepts donations after. Kit is an out of work actress and she is indeed a fraud. However, when doing a reading to a client she somehow performs a real summoning and sees a dead child. Now, she isn’t sure which is real life and which is afterlife.
This book has super short chapters and it’s a very quick read. I was hopeful that this book would be more spooky but it was a solid thriller.
I enjoyed the narrator in this book

I REALLY enjoyed this book! I chose the audio version and I was extremely happy with this story!

Creepy and nerve-wracking, this story follows Kit as she portrays herself as a psychic to those who have lost family members in the World Trade Center attack as well as other people who have been referred to her. She spends time researching and finding small details to assist in making the spirits come alive for those she is reading.

Kit's daughter Zoe saw something in the subway while waiting on a train with her mom. She passes out and falls into a 3-year coma. Kit struggles to cover the bills to keep her daughter alive.

David just happens across Kit in a bar. He tells her the story of his wife who died too early, a love lost too soon.

Suddenly, Kit finds herself involved in a series of odd sequences and then Zoe awakes. Kit goes to see her and introduces her to David. Zoe's heart rate spikes as she tries to back herself up in the hospital bed. Still unable to talk, her mom considers her reaction and goes into investigation mode. What she finds is completely shocking!

I found this story riveting and the narrator was absolutely AMAZING! I will say the ending, though shocking, felt rushed. I felt it ended too soon but the writing was done very well and it kept me guessing throughout.

I really appreciate netgalley giving me this opportunity to listen to this book but I could not finish it it. A good narrator really makes the listener want to stay involved and I didn't have that. Her voice was all wrong! I didn't care leaving me to abandoned the story.

I'm torn about this book.

I downloaded it because it sounded like something spooky, so I was looking forward to read-it-with-the-lights-on type experience. Unfortunately, it never quite got there BUT I did think it was written well and it kept me engaged.

The thing that I struggled with for this book was that it went in too many directions--- is she just a good person trying to pay her bills? Is she a complete fraud? Is the detective setting her up? Is she crazy? Is the detective crazy? Was her husband involved in illegal things or was he legit? Is something sinister breaking through her readings or is she just nuts? The back half of the book was just a little all over the place.

That being said, the writing was good and the overall story was good, so I would definitely try more from this author.

Thank you Net Galley for an audio copy of The Summoning by J.P. Smith. This was a good audiobook. The story was good And so was the narrator. Ghost story!