3.5 ⭐️ | If you’re a fan a movies like The Conjuring, this book is for you! Me being a fan of horror movies, I enjoyed this story! It follows Olivia, that has the ability to communicate with the dead. It seems to run in the family as her sister also had this gift prior to her untimely death. Now that Olivia has jumped into her role as a paranormal investigator, she receives the task of investigating distributing occurrences in room 904 at a hotel. She soon realizes her sisters’ secret life intertwined with these occurrences & now that her own mother is in danger, she’ll stop at nothing to save her from this curse that claims the life of a different woman every few years. Always being found in room 904. The narration in this audiobook was amazing.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I tried so hard to like it as the reviews are amazing but I couldn’t get into it.
I didn’t connect with the story or the characters
Not a book for me unfortunately

While this book explored intriguing themes, I had a hard time connecting with the story. However, that is obviously on me and not the book. I recognize that it has great potential to appeal to other readers and I encourage others to try it out! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

From the very first page, this gripping paranormal thriller hooks you with its intense opening, plunging you directly into the chaos of Olivia’s world as she attempts to help a woman grappling with a mysterious possessed item. The author masterfully weaves in subtle details about Olivia’s background and her relationship with her now departed sister, slowly revealing her complexities and making her a deeply relatable and compelling protagonist. The first case she tackles feels intricately connected to the next, suggesting a larger, interwoven narrative that ties the possessions to individuals from the same tribe. This clever threading of cases hints at a looming, central haunting that Olivia must ultimately confront, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

The audiobook narration elevates the experience, with the narrator skillfully breathing life into each character, adding depth and nuance to their personalities. Fast-paced and full of twists, this story is a rollercoaster of suspense and intrigue, constantly keeping you guessing. The seamless blend of paranormal elements with a thrilling plot ensures this book is a must-read for fans of the genre. A captivating start to what promises to be an unforgettable read!

This book was just what I needed to start off my horror reads for 2025! 4.5 ⭐️
I haven’t read anything by this author but I will be reading the rest of her books. Her writing style is so easy to read and to follow. The narrator also did an amazing job with all the different voices and emotions through this story.
My heart broke for Olivia because I know there’s pain of losing a sibling to suicide and the longing to see or have them back is so strong.
The Native American history woven through this story was written so beautifully and with dignity. I love the lore of that culture especially in horror novels.
The only thing I didn’t like was that the person who orchestrated it all didn’t pay more but at least they are trying to give back.

I read White Horse and loved it so I had high hopes for this, and it was a pretty good time. I loved the idea of how the haunting actually occurs. The idea was unique and it delivered really well. I didn't love how prominent the social media aspect of this was, but I get why it was written in. Reading about Twitter posts just felt a little strange. But outside of that, the commentary on modern racism was spot on and very well done. Overall I like her writing style and the narrator did really well, Would recommend and I will be getting a physical copy when it releases.

Book review 🌟🌟🌟.5
The Haunting of Room 904 by Erika T. Wurth 🎧

The book started off strong, but got a little lost in the many details and information from the characters. I really wanted to enjoy this book, but the transitions from one situation to another was very choppy. There was loads of information presented at one time and it overwhelmed me for quite a bit of the audiobook.

I did enjoy some parts of the book, after I kept listening. I understood what the author wanted us to feel about the characters and their culture as well.

Synopsis
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.

Thank you to NetGalley and Erika T. Weigh for this arc in exchange for my honest review ❤️

Pub Date: Mar 18 2025   |   Archive Date: Mar 25 2025

Honestly I wanted to like this one more than I did. I was confused a lot of the time and I wish I hadn’t been. Maybe I was the wrong audience for this one.

The narration by Ina Barrón was well done.

2 ½ stars

I received this audiobook from the publisher Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

Olivia Becente unexpectedly gains the ability to communicate with spirits after her sister, Naiche, dies. Years later, Olivia becomes a popular paranormal investigator in Denver. She is haunted by her sister's death when she is called to investigate a series of mysterious deaths at the Brown Palace Hotel. As Olivia delves into the case, she uncovers a dangerous cult, betrayal by her friends, and shocking secrets about her sister.

There is something truly magical about books that compels me to sit down and dive into some research. This particular book may not be everyone's cup of tea but let me tell you - it's my first time reading anything by this author, and I am absolutely hooked!

I am enamored by the author's writing style and the way they seamlessly weave different cultures, traditions, and historical events into the narrative. I was fortunate enough to receive an audiobook version, and let me tell you, the narrator did an outstanding job of conveying the emotions and feelings of the characters. I was immediately drawn into the story, hanging on every word with bated breath.

The main character's journey of redemption, as she grapples with past mistakes and tries to make amends, had me on the edge of my seat. The eerie and dark environment, tinged with a hint of the paranormal, added an extra layer of intrigue to the story.

If you're a fan of books that make you want to Google more information, that give you gothic paranormal vibes, and that evoke intense emotions, then this book is must-read. It's the kind of story that you just can't put down, as you eagerly await the next twist and turn. Trust me, the ending couldn't come fast enough, so you can finally exhale. This book is a clever and binge-worthy read that will leave you wanting more.

Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Unfortunately, I didn’t love this book.

I felt there was almost too much information at times, the content was messy at times, it was sometimes confusing yet other times interesting, but unfortunately the negatives outweighed the positives for me.

I didn’t love the storyline, didn’t connect to the characters, and didn’t love the writing.

⭐️⭐️

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Truly sad it wasn’t for me.

2.5/5 stars

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

There’s just a reason that I don’t normally read horror, and this reminded me of that.

NOTE — I don’t think this book was bad and I do think that for horror fans, it might be great! Just not my type of book.

I had no clue what was going on for much of it. There were lots of characters from lots of places and it was hard to keep track. The ghost/spirit thing just doesn’t do it for me. What I will say, is that I was intrigued the entire time. Kept listening out of curiosity, even if I wasn’t super impressed by the story itself.

Would be curious to know what horror fans think!

I really enjoyed parts of this book—some chapters were incredible, capturing the best of paranormal horror. However, at times, the details felt overwhelming, and I found my mind wandering. That said, the premise was strong, and I loved experiencing this story from an Indigenous perspective. The themes of grief and mystery were compelling, and while this wasn’t my favorite, I see so much potential in Erika T. Wurth’s writing. I’d definitely read more from her!

A huge thank you to macmillan.audio for this ARC! The Haunting of Room 904 is set to be published on March 18th—if you love paranormal thrillers with rich themes, you might want to check this one out!

Cursed objects sold on eBay are not just for entertainment purposes. It is a good thing Olivia can see beyond these objects, ghosts, and curses and help those who enjoy the paranormal and get caught by these curses.
Olivia has to help with a haunted house, but at the same time, she's called to the hotel where her sister (Naiche) died because paranormal activity related to room 904 is happening, cannot be stopped, tragedies, memories, and many apparitions connected to her sister. Olivia discovers there's more to her sister's death.
My favorite parts are the well-described paranormal activity and séance sessions. The tension, haunting, and the undercover all related to her sister, who is communicating with Olivia now. The fact that it's not trying to say any curse, object, or reference to the paranormal belongs to just one lore but comes from more than one single culture, more like a global mysticism including different religions and cultures.

Native Nations vs. colonialism, patriarchal, social media and media abuse and distortion of truth, hate for immigrants, racism, suicide, horror.

I recommend the audiobook version.

Olivia Becente is a paranormal investigator. She pivoted from psychologist to paranormal when Olivia’s gift to speak with the dead began to develop. And she’s really good at it. Five years ago, after her father died, her sister Naiche was in a rough place mentally. She fell victim to a cult who somehow convinced her to investigate a haunted room in the Brown Palace, room 904. That was the end of her sister. Three weeks later Naiche had killed herself. When Olivia’s cases all seem to connect to the awful night her sister died, she finds herself back at the Brown Palace, unlocking secrets to her sisters past life and working to find a stop to the curse that surrounds the room, before anyone else can die.

This book is brimming with culture along with spooky scenes. The characters use Native American, Jewish, and Mexican beliefs to combat these experiences of Olivia’s clientele. I really enjoyed the story line and how the cases and plot all weaved together.

That being said there is A LOT going on in this story. So much so that timelines blur and the details can muddy up the main story. However, I wouldn’t let that stop you. I thoroughly enjoyed this read. I think this would be a great series and would love to see more of these characters. In my opinion if things dragged out into multiples I think this would’ve been perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley, Erika T. Wurth, and MacMillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

White Horse was one of my top books of 2022. That was a book I recommended to just about anyone who would listen. The Haunting of Room 904 has such an interesting premise, and I was so excited to start this book.

At first, I struggled to get into this book. It had a slow start for me compared to White Horse. Once I finally did get into it, I was hooked and had to race to the conclusion.

This is a thriller mostly dealing with the supernatural, but there is so much going on. Olivia has the ability to talk to the dead. She uses this ability to try to find out what happened to her sister. Her sister died unexpectedly under mysterious circumstances. Once Olivia starts investigating, it really gets wild. Even though this deals with ghosts, this still feels like a grounded investigation.

With Olivia, you dive into some creepy settings and the world of a deadly mysterious cult. This was a wild ride that I definitely recommended.

I was so excited to listen to this one as White Horse was one of my favorite new horror books when I got it through BOTM. I even liked The Haunting of Room 904 better than White Horse. Wurth's book uses Native American, Jewish and American mysticism to solve the murder of her sister, in a hotel that takes women every several years after they check into the hotel. I really liked how this was tied back to a historical event and how the aftermath affects us in the present. I liked the narration as well.

Great story, plots of twists and turns that kept me interested and captivated.

Narration was good and brought story to life passionately.

I throughly enjoyed this audiobook by Erika Wurth. Her characters were engaging, complex, believable & diverse. What enjoyed most was while the book was definitely horror it also told the story of a family dealing with complex problems. The narrator was fantastic as well.

This was clearly a very personal book for Erika T Wirth. Another interesting horror mystery with a prickly protagonist (in the best way) from her.

Thanks to Flatiron and NetGalley for the advance audiobook.

3/5 Stars. Thank you to Erika Wurth, the publisher, and Netgalley for the audio arc!

Olivia Becente, an indigenous person, has gone from PhD psychologist to paranormal investigator due to a series of life events (and choices) that lead her down that path. Because of that, she's become one of the top paranormal investigators in Denver, where she works and lives. Her roommate and assistant, Alejandro, take on all manner of cases but lately, they all seem to be connecting to one thing: the death of Olivia's sister, Naiche, in room 904 at the Browne Palace. And when the Browne Palace calls her to investigate the haunting, she can't say no.

I found this one a little hard to wrap my head around, maybe because it was audio. From the opening of the book until the Browne Palace was introduced, I was wondering how everything was going to be tied together. Parts seemed disjointed, and near the end, when everything was being tied up in a bow, it seemed out of place. Especially with the events happening with Olivia's mother. Having a long expository section between Olivia and another character made me question the urgency of the situation.

There were a lot of characters involved that I felt we only scraped the surface of really understanding. Olivia and Alejandro had the most time, which makes sense, but then there are friends involved, ex-husbands, ex-boyfriends, and reporters out for blood that were a little harder to keep track of during the middle. Again, there's a good attempt to tie it all up in the end, but it made the middle a little harder to follow.

What I really did enjoy was how the indigenous history was brought in, weaving through the novel. There's so much about it I don't know, but it did pique my interest to look further into some of the things referenced. And it did play a major part in the book in a way that felt natural, not forced.