A gripping paranormal thriller simmering with suspense, loss, and the supernatural.

📓Brief Description (Spoiler-Free):
- Olivia Becente was never meant to have the gift of communicating with the dead — that was her sister, Naiche’s ability.
- After her sister dies, Olivia starts hearing spirits and is drawn to the Brown Palace Hotel where a girl is found dead every few years in room 904.

❤️ What I Loved:
- Indigenous Representation.
- Very unique story, enjoyed the depth of the characters and the plot.

🤔 What I Would Change:
- I found it a bit hard to follow as an audiobook, specifically remembering who certain characters are.
- I felt like the story was lacking something — but couldn’t put my finger on what that was.

📚 Recommended For:
- Fans of Stephen Graham Jones, Simone St. James, and C.J. Tudor
- Readers who enjoy the blend of paranormal investigations, family secrets, cults, and supernatural suspense.

💭Final Thoughts & Rating:
- I’m so appreciative of NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

The storyline was unique. The main character, Olivia, embodies Native American culture while undertaking a paranormal investigation tied to a dark historical past. The secondary cast surrounding her plays a vital role in moving the suspenseful plot forward while showing us her flaws and strengths. Fans of paranormal thrillers or horror will enjoy this book.

I'm a big fan of thrillers, and adding in the paranormal element; I'm sold!

I loved the multiple levels of representation, appropriate discussions of current "hot button" topics, and the major twist at the end!

Highly recommend!

After unexpectedly inheriting her late sister Naiche’s ability to commune with the dead, Olivia Becente becomes Denver’s top paranormal investigator, though the loss still haunts her. When the historic Brown Palace hotel seeks her help to solve the recurring, unexplained deaths of young women in room 904, Olivia’s search for answers entangles her with a dangerous cult, a vengeful journalist, betrayals from those she trusts, and shocking truths about Naiche’s hidden life.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this digital audio e-arc.*

This book feels like it is trying to be many things all at once and it makes it feel choppy and hard to read in places. The transitions between characters and perspectives do not feel smooth. I did, however, really love the BIPOC perspectives and the vintage aesthetic given to the paranormal aspects. The narrator was excellent! She captured a range of ethnicities, accents and ages in her vocal range including accurate pronunciation of Spanish. Which I very much appreciate. For me, this is a 3\5. With a little more polish, it could absolutely be a 5\5.

I believe I enjoyed her first book slightly more, but I still found this one enjoyable. I appreciate stories where families grapple with the paranormal and similar themes. While the storyline could have been developed a bit further, it didn’t detract from the overall experience.

The Haunting of Room 904 written by Erika T. Wurth and narrated by Ina Barrón was a five star experience. Ina Barrón narrated beautifully through the mix of languages and incantations. Erika T. Wurth masterfully allows the reader to peek behind the curtain of someone connected to the paranormal without feeling ignorant. The character of Olivia is well thought out. The plot does not miss a beat. The surrounding characters give the story so much more flavor. The research and respect put into the book regarding paranormal activities, multiple religions, and Native American culture was beyond what I’ve read elsewhere. I would recommend this to fans of paranormal suspense, such as The Conjuring.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc.

This is a story about a Native American woman called Olivia Becente who uses her ability to communicate with the dead to investigate paranormal phenomena. She is hired to investigate a room that is presumably haunted at The Brown Palace Hotel in Denver.

What the staff of this hotel is saying is that women are dying at room 904 of this hotel every couple of years, under mysterious circumstances. Somehow Olivia’s deceased sister is related to these hauntings. The audiobook is narrated by Ina Barrón who creates believable characters and keeps the tension of the story going.

The Haunting of Room 904 reflects on colonialism, genocide of Native Americans, grief, and guilt. There is a lot going on in this story so it might feel a little bit convoluted, however Wurth keeps the pace, delivering a creepy and entertaining novel. I’m looking forward to what the author comes up with next.

The Haunting of Room 904" by Erika T. Wurth is a captivating paranormal thriller. Set in the landmark Brown Palace in Denver, this tale unfolds in Room 904, a place shrouded in mystery where women have tragically taken their lives every few years. As someone who enjoys stories set in familiar locations, I found this backdrop intriguing.

At the core of this tale is Olivia, a Native American paranormal investigator whose own struggles are deeply intertwined with the haunting history of the hotel. The author has opened the door to a world rich with potential for an enthralling series, and Olivia shines as a truly relatable and captivating character. The blend of indigenous folklore and captivating legends elevates the narrative and invites readers into a rich tapestry of culture and the supernatural.

This isn't your typical ghost story filled with jump scares; it's akin to a slow-simmering chili at a barbecue—seemingly harmless at first but packing a punch later on. I opted for the audiobook version, and I can’t recommend it enough for those looking to immerse themselves fully.

So, grab a cozy blanket, pour yourself a stiff drink, and prepare for a spine-chilling journey. If you’re feeling particularly daring, try reading it alone in a hotel room—it’s perfect for those who crave a touch of the spooky! If ghosts and chilling tales are your thing, this paranormal party is one you don't want to miss!

Thank you to the author and Macmillan Audio for providing this captivating audiobook through Google Play. As always, all opinions are my own and given freely.

#TheHauntingofRoom904 #ErikaTWurth #MacMillan2025 #GooglePlay #audiobookreview ##ARC #capcut #lefttoread #reader #read #honestreview #thriller #bookreviewer #thrillerbooklovers #thepulse #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerobsessedbookishclub #lovetoread #lovebooks #booknerd #readaholic #bookstagrammer #booktok #bookish

I feel bad that I didn’t enjoy this and could not even fully finish the book. Too much is going on and I’m just genuinely confused.

TW/CW: LANGUAGE, DEATH Of PARENT, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, DEATH OF SIBLING, CANCER, DRINKING, SMOKING

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Olivia Becente was never supposed to have the gift. The ability to commune with the dead was the specialty of her sister, Naiche. But when Naiche dies unexpectedly and under strange circumstances, somehow Olivia suddenly can’t stop seeing and hearing from spirits.A few years later, she’s the most in-demand paranormal investigator in Denver. She’s good at her job, but the loss of Naiche haunts her.

That’s when she hears from the Brown Palace, a landmark Denver hotel. The owner can’t explain it, but every few years, a girl is found dead in room 904, no matter what room she checked into the night before. As Olivia tries to understand these disturbing deaths, the past and the present collide as Olivia’s investigation forces her to confront a mysterious and possibly dangerous cult, a vindictive journalist, betrayal by her friends, and shocking revelations about her sister’s secret life.
Release Date: March 18th, 2025
Genre: Horror
Pages: 320
Rating: ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Writing style was good
2. Synopsis sounded interesting
3. Loved that there was a lot of learning when it came to Indigenous people and Mexican culture

What I Didn't Like:
1. Too many plots going on
2. Annoyed at the over the top focus of her sister in every page
3. Middle of book drags and becomes so boring

Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}

Alejandro announcement that he is gay was so random. I had to laugh because what did that have to do with anything? Also not liking how author makes me him stereotypical "gay man".

I thought this book would focus more on hauntings that are going on but we continue to go back and back and back to Olivia's sister. And I get mourning definitely, but it all becomes so redundant hearing it over and over and over. And it's not just sprinkled here or there we have full blown chapters where she's just talking about her sister. Then we jump into another chapter talking about her sister again and how much she misses her. Not downplaying the death of someone but we are in a book so we do need to progress and it's not a very big book.

In a book that is this hyper fixated on one subject AKA her sister I hope that the ending isn't going to be like the ghost is attacking Olivia but her sister comes back to save her in some kind of ghost showdown.

Too much happening and not sure what I am supposed to care about. Now she has a stalker but why? Why throw that in the book??

I'm done. I'm bored.

Final Thoughts:
There just felt like there was a lot going on with this book.
• In one story we have that she's a ghost hunter and she's trying to solve all these ghost hauntings.
• But in the next plot we have that she's trying to find out what happened to her sister in this haunted hotel room that women die in every couple years - her sister included.
• Then we have her being stalked by a man named Josh.
• And then sprinkle in that her sister was actually involved in a cult.
• Also have her mother who went to the hotel room and is now 3 weeks out from being killed too.
It's all just too much. I started to care about certain storylines and less about others. I think if the author had focused on maybe two story lines it would have done better for me as a reader. I don't need every pot in the house to be on every burner on the stove to enjoy a story. I really just lost a lot of focus as I was reading.

Ended up dnfing this one at 144. I wanted to care but in the end I found myself not reaching to finish this book. The characters are flat and the story seems to drag on and on.

IG | Blog

Thanks to Netgalley, Flatiron Books, and Macmillan Audio for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hey there, you freaky fuckers, welcome back. Today, we’re trudging through The Haunting of Room 904, the latest from Erika T. Wurth, a Native American writer who’s got some chops but didn’t quite bring the heat this time. Wurth’s White Horse was a gut-punch debut that had me hooked, but this follow-up? It’s a lukewarm ghost story that won’t haunt your dreams—or your bookshelf. Let’s break this down.

Erika T. Wurth’s a legit talent—mixed Apache/Chickasaw/Cherokee, Colorado-bred, and rocking a PhD. She’s a creative writing prof with a knack for weaving Indigenous identity into dark tales, as seen in her short stories, poetry, and White Horse, a debut that hit hard with its raw grief and barroom grit. She’s not afraid to tackle history’s ugly side, and that’s her calling card. The Haunting of Room 904 is her second crack at a novel, aiming for paranormal thrills with a cultural twist. Spoiler: it’s got heart, but it’s missing the spark that’d make you give a damn.

Here’s the deal: Olivia Becente’s a Denver paranormal investigator who ditched her shrink gig after her sister Naiche offed herself five years ago. She snagged Naiche’s knack for chatting with the dead, and now she’s the chick you call when your eBay mirror starts whispering creepy shit. The plot kicks in when the Brown Palace Hotel—a real Denver joint—rings her up. Every few years, a woman checks in, winds up dead in Room 904 (no matter her booked room), and Naiche was the last casualty. Olivia’s got baggage, so she’s on it.

Cue a muddled mess of a cult, a pissy journalist, some backstabbing pals, and vague hints about Naiche’s secret life. The hauntings supposedly link to the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864—where U.S. troops slaughtered Cheyenne and Arapaho folks—but it’s more background noise than backbone. Olivia’s trying to break the curse before another gal croaks, but it’s a slog that feels like chasing a ghost who forgot why they’re mad.

Wurth’s tossing some weighty stuff in here, but it lands like a wet fart. Grief’s the biggie—Olivia’s moping over Naiche, and it’s supposed to hit deep, but it’s more whiny than wrenching. There’s a sisterhood vibe, blood and found family, that could’ve tugged heartstrings if it wasn’t so half-assed. The Sand Creek Massacre ties in, hinting at colonial vengeance, but it’s a footnote, not a fire. Room 904’s a cursed trap, sure—past sins on repeat—but it’s more confusing than chilling.

Symbolism’s there if you squint. Mirrors and haunted trinkets (dybbuk boxes, eBay junk) nod at trapped trauma, but they’re props without punch. The golem’s a cool idea—protection gone rogue, like history’s fuckups—but it’s barely fleshed out. The cult’s a power grab metaphor that fizzles, and the Indigenous, Jewish, and Mexican spiritual mashup feels like a neat trick that forgot the payoff. It’s all “ooh, deep,” but it’s shallow as a kiddie pool.

Wurth’s got a rough edge to her prose—think barstool banter meets ghost story. The Brown Palace starts off eerie, and her dialogue’s got sass, fitting Olivia’s ragtag crew. But it’s a mess that can’t find its footing. Pacing’s a slogfest: a quick hook, then a middle that drags like a hungover Monday, and a climax that’s more “eh” than “oh shit.” Transitions are nonexistent—you’re here, then there, good luck keeping up. She drowns you in details—history, rituals, random eBay ads—until you’re bored, not immersed. The writing’s raw, sometimes juvenile, and while Olivia’s voice has grit, the rest feels like a rough sketch that didn’t get finished. It’s not awful, just uninspired—like Wurth had ideas but forgot to glue them together.

Credit where it’s due: the premise isn’t terrible. A haunted hotel room tied to a massacre, with a Native heroine? That’s got potential to grab you by the throat. Olivia’s a decent lead—tough, flawed, carrying her sister’s ghost like a backpack—but she’s stuck in a story that doesn’t care. The Indigenous angle’s a fresh twist in a sea of basic ghost tales. There’s a flicker of something here, but it’s dim as hell.

This book’s a snooze, plain and simple. It’s overstuffed—cults, ex-boyfriend bullshit, a pointless blogger, historical asides, a whiny friend named Sarah who’s dead weight. Wurth’s juggling too much and drops it all into a pile of “who gives a fuck?” The middle’s a bore; you’re wading through trivia while the plot naps. The hauntings should spook you, but they’re a jumbled mess—too many spirits, no focus. The cult’s a yawn, the ex-drama’s a waste, and the Sand Creek tie-in? Barely there. The ending’s a shrug—ties up some loose ends, leaves others flapping, and feels like Wurth just wanted out. Characters like Sarah and the journalist are filler; cut ‘em, and nothing changes. The “she suicided” phrasing is still weird as fuck—someone, anyone, edit this shit. It’s got the makings of a decent yarn but settles for mediocrity, leaving you wondering why you bothered.

So, The Haunting of Room 904 is not a trainwreck, but it’s not worth your time either. There’s a kernel of a good story—Olivia’s cool, the premise has legs—but it’s buried under a pile of meh execution and wasted chances. Wurth’s got talent, and I’ll still check her next swing, but this? It’s a ghost that doesn’t haunt, a thriller that doesn’t thrill. Skip this one, you freaks—you’re not missing a damn thing. Go re-read White Horse or watch The Conjuring instead; your spooky soul will thank you.

Stay scared, you lazy bastards.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this audiobook. I found it to be too confusing to follow along and I was losing the story trying to figure out who was talking and if it was a present or past discussion. I'd love to return to this book again but I'll stick to the ebook.

A soul searching book centered around a paranormal investigator who gets caught up in the incident that took the life of her sister. I enjoyed the exploration of the MC’s relationship with her family and friends, though we only hear the “voice” of her sister at the very end of the narrative. This was probably a device choice, but I felt it missed the mark on endearing her to the reader. There were a lot of moving parts, which made some elements seem superfluous until they did eventually roll into the resolution, but they slowed the pace along the way. The sheer number of characters was also a bit overwhelming. I felt like they could have been combined with some editing and not lost cohesion.

My main critique was with the title and cover. This book was heavily influenced by the author’s Native American background and traditions and I felt like some nod to that would have been nice in the marketing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my copy. These opinions are my own.

I did not like this book that much. It started off just too intense and almost got a little confusing! I did like the narrator

Thank you Flatiron and Macmillan Audio for my free ARC of The Haunting of Room 904 by Erika T. Wurth — available 3/18!

» REVIEW «
Sadly, this book was a miss for me. I really loved White Horse, Erika's previous novel, but I feel like the quality of story and writing in Room 904 took a wild departure from that previous work. I don't have much to say about this novel except that for me, it felt disjointed, unpolished, chaotic (and not in a fun way) and poorly dev-edited. I think there were just too many disparate components mixed in here, so I never found myself immersed in the story of the main character. Enjoyed the narrator of the audio version, though!

The Haunting of Room 904
Erika T. Wurth
Pub: Macmillan Audio
Format: ARC audiobook from @macmillan.audio
#MacAudio2025
Expected Publication: March 25, 2025
2/5

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC!

I have heard many good things about White Horse, Wurth’s 2022 publication, so when I had the chance to listen to this book early, I jumped on it! Unfortunately, it did not pan out how I hoped it would. The premise is fantastic: A native woman who has a supernatural gift, and uses that gift to help others. On the five year anniversary of her sister’s mysterious death, though, Olivia needs to figure out how to stop a ghost that is haunting the Brown Hotel to keep her from killing other women. I was so pumped. Not only did I love the representation of a Native woman as a main character, flashbacks to a Two-Spirit person who was murdered in a brutal massacre (and is taking their revenge), AND have it wrapped in horror? I’m so in.
What I actually read was a different story though. The characters were more sketched out rather than fleshed out, leaving me feeling no connection to really anyone in the story. I also feel like Wurth felt she needed to put in certain characters, and instead of feeling like a natural flow to the narrative, they felt more like a square block getting jammed into a circular hole. Olivia’s friends were confusing to me, because they didn’t really add much throughout the story (plot or otherwise), except the very end, and even then I don’t think they were necessary. Other characters were also written in a stereotypical way: spoiled-rotten rich and abusive ex-boyfriend, mysterious occult bad boy, and snarky and funny main character who doesn’t need anyone (but actually super cares). While these are all good jumping off points, they didn’t have depth to them and because of that, I frankly didn’t care what happened to anyone.
I also felt like the story had a number of scenes that kind of felt like a total 180 to the point of the book. There were a few times I wanted to shake everyone and yell “You have a deadline and you need to finish this job! Stop flirting with everyone and work on saving the lives you claim you care about!” Needless to say I had to take a few breaks because I was getting frustrated. Overall, this story felt less like a horror and more like a story about… honestly, I’m not really sure, it kind of felt all over the place. So, this book sadly goes onto my two-star pile, and I will continue on my quest to find my first solid horror novel for the year.

CW: suicide, racism, sexism, stalking by ex, loss of a parent.

5 stars to the audiobook; Ina Barrón's narration is amazing!
The story, though, left me with mixed feelings.

I'm going to start with the things I liked.
The diversity was great.
Strong but not abnoxions main female character is something I want to see more of in all sorts of books.
Thoughtful discussions about grief (though I wished for more depth, especially in Olivia's conversation with her mother).
The paranormal scary moments were scarce, but their atmosphere was on point.

Now, to the things I didn't like.
I think some of my disappointment came from incorrect expectations. I went into it expecting paranormal horror, something akin to Stephen King's Room 1408 movie. And it was absolutely not it. It is a paranormal thriller (as the description states, I wish I had read it earlier).
A big part of the story revolves around the main character's sister's suicide, but I didn't feel connected enough to care about that plotline.
I was curious enough about the mystery to finish the book, but the ending felt underwhelming.
Some of the twists were very predictable. Some of the characters felt redundant, like that friend who was afraid of the paranormal but was coming to seances anyway. Not sure what her role was in all of this.

If you're looking for a spooky time, this is not it. If you're looking for a paranormal thriller/mystery, you might enjoy this story. If you're thinking about getting an audiobook, it's a strong yes.

Thank you to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook arc!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for the book #TheHauntingOfRoom904 by #ErikaTWurth. This creepy and spooky book literally sucked me in until the final chapter. Olivia has a gift that allows her to communicate with the dead. Her sister, Naiche, also had the gift before she died. When she is contacted about a new job at a hotel where every few years a woman dies in room 904. As she investigates this case she starts to see similarities to her sister’s death. Is it all related?

4/5 Stars
I would describe this story as a thriller, horror and a mystery. Typically, these are not the main genres I consume, but I was very intrigued by the premise. Thanks to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the early access to this audiobook.

To start off with, the production was flawless and I loved our narrator, Ina Barrón. I also really appreciated the representation of Native American culture and the queer community. The reality of racism and the vile rhetoric surrounding immigration were also handled with such care and carry even more significance in today’s political climate.

I enjoyed the production and the surprise ending. I felt the pacing was off at times and the story moved a bit slowly, but overall, I really enjoyed this one and I’m going to convince my friends to read/listen so I can discuss it with them in more detail!