This is my book #2 in the Detective Maria Miller series by Helen Phifer. I was not disappointed by this mystery. It’s a must read😉

Detective Maria Miller and her partner, Frankie Conroy are called to an abandoned psychiatric hospital when a teen goes missing while investigating with her group of friends. Famous for being the burial site of the final victim of the College Kid Killer, the hospital has a notorious history.

The team ends up finding a new burial site with victims, but they are not the missing team. Can they find her before it’s too late?

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Her Lost Soul by Helen Phifer

Rating: 3 Stars

Helen Phifer's "Her Lost Soul" takes readers on a chilling journey through the dark corridors of an abandoned psychiatric hospital, where secrets and mysteries lurk in the shadows. The story follows Detective Maria Miller as she investigates the disappearance of Riley Holt, a teenage girl who vanished after exploring the haunted hospital with her friends. As Maria delves deeper into the case, she uncovers a connection to the sinister past of the hospital and a notorious killer, leading her on a suspenseful hunt for the truth.

One thing that really stands out about the book is its awesome cover., which draws readers in with its eerie and enticing design. The supernatural element woven into the plot adds an extra layer of intrigue, keeping the reader hooked as they navigate the twists and turns of the investigation. The setting of the abandoned hospital is vividly depicted, creating a haunting atmosphere that enhances the suspense of the story.

Phifer's writing is solid, maintaining a good pace throughout the narrative and keeping the reader engaged from start to finish. While the characters may not be particularly memorable, they help move the story along and keep things interesting.. The author effectively sets up the story as a standalone novel, making it accessible to readers who may be new to the series.

Overall, "Her Lost Soul" is a decent read that offers a blend of mystery, suspense, and supernatural elements. While it may not be a standout in the genre, it provides an engaging story that will appeal to fans of thrillers and detective fiction.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book two in the Detective Maria Miller books
Another great read
A fabulous thriller
You will keep turning them pages
Thanks NetGalley

Four friends enter the grounds of Beacon Hill psychiatric hospital for a little ghost hunting before it's to be torn down but it turns out to be a nightmare and by the time they leave there are only three of them. The missing girl just happens to be the police chiefs daughter and he will not give up. Detective Maria Miller and her partner Frankie Conroy are asked to investigate due to their special skills of investigation and dealings with evil. The hospital is filled with ghosts and restless souls but Maria is determined to find Riley even if it costs her, her own life.
I was not expecting this rollercoaster of a ride and made sure to read this during daylight hours so I could sleep. I'm not usually into supernatural books much but I was so excited to read this and I was not disappointed., definitely on my list of authors to read.

This is definitely an unusual story. I will say it you like books about the paranormal, then give this book a read. It's about a girl who goes to an abandoned insane asylum to snoop around with her friends. She disappears in the process. Maria and Frankie, detectives who specialize in the paranormal, must get her back. This is the second book in the series, but I didn't feel lost not having read the first book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Helen Phifer and Storm publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

My personal tastes don't go towards psychics and mediums so this was a bit disappointing for me, personally but that doesn't mean it's not a really good book in that genre. I'm going to leave it at that at of consideration for those who enjoy that sub-genre

This is book two in the Detective Maria Miller series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but personally, I would read book one first. The first book gives a lot of the characters' backstories

I enjoyed the supernatural aspect of this book. The old hospital is creepy, and I liked the time travel part of the book. Unfortunately, I didn't feel like the story was developed enough, and the dialog and character interactions seemed off somehow. Also, like in the first book, there were way too many uses of British phrases for a book set in New York with American characters. Every time one came up, it would completely pull me out of the story. It also didn't seem like the ages of the elderly characters added up correctly.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is a new to me author and this book was recommended by a colleague. Creepy, fun and immersive, I have to say this book was right up my street. I love my paranormal/ghost stories and this did not disappoint. It is easy to read and pretty scary in parts, particularly the opening chapters. I loved Maria and Frankie as a duo and the dynamic between them. I didn't realise that this was Book 2 of a trilogy and, while you can read it as a standalone, there is a lot of mention of book 1, so I immediately went to Amazon and bought it. Eagerly now awaiting Book 3!

Four high school friends enter the abandoned hospital as a dare. It has been boarded up for years. As the four move around the corridors, they separate and Riley hears a noise upstairs, but when she investigates there is nothing there. Reunited again, the four friends see something that makes them run for their lives. Outside, there is now only three of them, Riley is nowhere to be found.
Detective Maria Miller and partner Frankie are called in with her experience in the supernatural. They discover they need to address an issue in the last to help with the present dilemma and time ticking quickly, a true race against the clock.
Another compelling and eerie tale with a supernatural twist. I love this series, which is refreshing but completely gripping. Can’t wait for the next instalment.

Book two in this paranormal crime series told in two timelines, four friends break into an abandoned psychiatric hospital over three come out.

Case assigned to Maria and Frankie the dynamic between these partners is fab.

A suspenseful and entertaining read which was atmospheric in-depth and detailed in the writing style.

This is a really great second installment in the Detective Maria Miller series! I wasn't sure how it was going to end and it has a great level of suspense. It was fast paced and the characters are entertaining and well developed. I would recommend this and will definitely be looking forward to future installments of this series! Special Thank You to Storm Publishing, Helen Phifer and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

A fun read with a fast paced style. Great setting. I enjoyed it. The characters were interesting, and I love the abandoned building trope.

Helen Phifer is a genius. This is another brilliant book.
This book is addictive and brilliant. I was pulled in instantly and unwilling to put this down. Phifer is an author who gets better and better with every book. I already cannot wait to see what’s coming next from Phifer.

This is another brilliant book by a brilliant author. I highly recommend.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝑪𝒐𝒑𝒚

Her Lost Soul is the second book in the Detective Maria Miller series. This book can be read as a stand along but you will be missing the backstories of several of the characters, so I do highly recommend reading The Haunting on West 10th Street first. It’s a fantastic book and a fast read. this is in the Horror category but there is no gore in it.

Four teenagers enter the abandoned psychiatric hospital, but only three come out. Riley Holt never made it out of the building. Her three friends had no idea what happened to her inside the building. A search is conducted and her father, who is the local police chief, is leading the search. The teenager appears to have vanished leaving no clues behind.

It's an atmospheric story with immersive and powerful sensory imagery. The characterisation is good, and the setting is impactful. The fast pacing suits the plot. It's an engaging blend of gothic horror and detective-led suspenseful mystery with a supernatural twist.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Ghosts. An old mental hospital. A serial killer. A mental patient graveyard. Time travel. This book really had everything going for it, but maybe it was all a bit too much. A girl disappears while exploring a creepy old abandoned mental hospital where a serial killer used to hang out, and some investigators are called in, and that's really about it.

There are some neat flashbacks to when the hospital was operational and Marilyn Monroe checks in as a patient. You soon discover these flashbacks are related to a time travel thread that also seemed interesting. As with most of this low key paranormal mysteries, there's either too much going on or the secondary characters are much more easier to connect to than then leads. That holds true with Her Lost Soul.

I didn't really care about the investigators at all and just felt like they were in the way. The secondary characters were much more interesting. Overall, the plot is a bit predictable after a while and I found myself skimming through parts just to be done with it. Not a bad read; some others new to the genre might enjoy it. But if you've been reading paranormal mysteries for a while, there's nothing here you haven't read before.

Four teens enter an abandoned psychiatric hospital, but only three came out. This is a gripping story of a missing girl and the unexplained circumstances around her disappearance. This is a dual timeline story with one perspective set in the 1960's when the asylum was open, and present day when it's abandoned. The hospital, from past and present, provides a spooky, supernatural atmosphere that will give you chills. The history of the hospital and the stories of things that happened there was intriguing. The book also gives off detective mystery vibes, as there are detectives doing research and interviewing people. I enjoyed the relationship and banter between the two out of town detectives. All of the town characters are well developed and were enjoyable to read about.

This was a really fast paced book and I found myself not wanting to put it down. I did not realize this was the second book in a series when I requested the ARC, however, I did not feel like I was missing out on anything by not having read the first book. I will definitely pick up the first book and will also read more books from this author in the future.

This is a unique, ghostly, detective thriller!

Thank you NetGalley & author for an ARC of this book! #netgalley #herlostsoul

This was a gripping read and I was intrigued by the characters. I will look out for more by this author.

Her Lost Soul by Helen Phifer

4/5⭐⭐⭐⭐
Detective Maria Miller Series

Detective Maria Miller and his police buddy/partner Frankie Conroy were both called in Beacon Hill by Deputy Walker to aid in a recent case of disappearance. A ghost hunt in an abandoned hospital had gone bad, the very same abandoned location where an infamous College kid killer Malcolm Collins hid, before he got arrested.

Riley, A beautiful young 17 year old teenager had gone inside the abandoned hospital along with her three friends, hoping to encounter ghosts or any paranormal activity. Although, they ended up getting more than what they were hoping for. Being attacked by a malignant and dark entity made them all run for their lives. Realization struck them in the gut when Riley was nowhere in sight, frantically they called the police after a failed attempt to search for her.

Arriving at the scene, local police seemed reluctant to go inside the hospital, Detective Maria Miller's sixth sense tells her that they are being watched. Riley's family history makes her father Chief Duane suspicious. Rumours have been going around town since the disappearance of Riley's mother and her boyfriend. Conjectures are being made whether Riley ran away or was she taken? An attempt to kill Detective Maria inside the hospital's tower made her believe that this is not an ordinary case. Some digging has led to reveal the current hospital's tragic and horrific past. Freshly dug graves have made the case even more complicated, everything seems to be taking a drastic turn.

A hospital built on a land that has been rumoured to have been haunted, have terrorized the locals and the natives since ages. Is it really haunted or some kind of sex offender or psycho killer have taken refuge in the shadows of the abandoned building? They have found two more people of interest who may have some intel on Riley's disappearance or her whereabouts.

Chief Duane is restless, So is Maria Miller. Time is running out, will they be able to find Riley before it's too late? Or will Riley disappear like the victims of College kid killer, never to be found?

It was an amazing, fast paced, action packed, mysterious read. I sat on the edge of my seat the entire time. Helen Phifer has beautifully executed and narrated the story. Every element that needs to be in a Horror Mystery Thriller plot is there, it leaves you anticipating what's about to happen next. The best part is, the story didn't drag. Every piece of information led to something and ended up being part of the puzzle. The vocabulary is simple and moderate, and the introduction of unexpected twist made my day. Her lost Soul is A Young Adult, Horror, Mystery Thriller and appropriate for a vast range of readers. I definitely recommend reading it, it doesn't require extreme attention to details and was lighter at times to ease up the intensity that kept building up.

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Helen Phifer

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.