As someone who loves so many of Kelley Armstrong books, it pains me to admit that this one didn't work for me. Her books are always more character and plot focused over prose and narrative structure, but this one just felt weaker than others. The dialog really bothered me and held me back from enjoying this one.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

There’s nothing quite like watching a villain get their comeuppance, and this story delivers the goods. Another win for Kelley Armstrong, in what marks her second dive into horror fiction. Unlike Hemlock Island, which I felt flirted with ambiguity, this tale leans confidently into the eerie with clearer boundaries and all the right twists.

Armstrong builds a chilling, twisty narrative where no one is who they seem, and uncertainty lingers in every scene. It’s unsettling in the best way—a compelling follow-up that shows she’s finding her footing and voice in the genre beautifully.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and can't wait to revisit when the audiobook is available!

As always, thank you so much NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Kelley Armstrong for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review

This story started off normal for a “black sheep” inherits something by surprise, but swiftly took on its on route to something a little different. Very atmospheric, loved the ending!

The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong is a standalone supernatural thriller that takes place at the old family cottages where Samantha Payne spent many summers, except she has not returned there for fourteen years. Not since she caught her father trying to bury a local boy who he murdered. Unfortunately, Sam's grandfather passed away and left her the cottages and lakeside property (which could be sold for several million dollars), with the requirement that she spent one month on that property... meaning she could not step off the property for more than one hour or she loses it all.

While Sam disliked her grandfather, who blamed her for her father's suicide after he was caught with the boy, she really needed the money to help pay for her moms nursing home costs. She had given up school to work low paying jobs just to keep up with her moms bills. This money would change everything, and she was not going to let anything stand in the way of getting it. However, when the dreams return of the headless horseman and drowned dead, she has to decide if the money is worth her life.

This was a great story, that kept me hooked from the beginning. Kelley has a way of writing that makes me feeling like I am part of the story. She doesn't use large words just because she can and she gets right to the heart of the characters. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a spooky read.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for access to a copy for review.

Sam Payne is estranged from her grandfather and caring for her mother who is suffering from early onset dementia. When her grandfather dies, he leaves her a family property with the caveat that she must spend one month at the property to inherit. Sam used to spend summers at the cabin but has not been back since her father's suicide just days after she found him burying the body of a neighbouring child. Her grandfather never though her father was guilty of murder and wants Sam to admit she was wrong about what she saw.

Being at the old family cabin brings back a lot memories and very strange things begin happening. Family legend has it that the Legend of Sleepy Hollow was actually based on Paynes Hollow. Sam isn't sure what is real or who is trying to get her to leave. Of even if someone is trying to get her to leave.

I think this in one of Armstrong's stronger thriller. Highly recommended.

Kelley Armstrong is always a favourite, but I really loved this standalone. The premise was different and kept me invested throughout.

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Kelley Armstrong, and unfortunately I loved The Haunting of Paynes Hollow. Set in sleepy Paynes Hollow (lol), it follows Samantha Payne, desperate, down on her luck, and nearly bankrupt as she returns to her family's home town in order to receive an inheritance that will change her life. When her aunt goes missing a couple days into their stay, she begins hearing sounds in the forest and seeing shapes crawling from the water.

I won't say much more about the story, because I went into it mostly blind, and I really enjoyed it. It had thrills and chills, and a good amount of deep emotion, so a typical KA book. If you like small town sleepy horror with some folksy folklore mixed in, this is a fun one for you.

This book was SO good but SO creepy! This book had me guessing, and then guessing again what was going on! This book was SO well written and probably one of my favorite books by Kelley Armstrong now. The development to the plot in this book is totally chef kiss worthy!

Modern Day. Payne’s Hollow, a village on the shores of Lake Ontario.

We begin with a funeral. I already like it. Any book that starts with a funeral—especially a funeral where everybody agrees that the deceased was a giant pain is okely dokely with me. Even better, the reading of the will causes substantial problems for Samantha, the granddaughter of the recently deceased.

It seems Sam’s father confessed to murder over a decade ago and then killed himself. In the interim, her mother has fallen deeper into dementia. Sam dropped out of medical school and has been working double time to provide her mom with the necessary care.

Her grandfather, who just kicked the bucket, never believed his son was a murderer. To prove the point, the conditions of his will require Sam to stay one month on the property where the murder occurred. His belief is that she will come to realize that her father was innocent, though she has already made her peace with having a murderer as a father.

She hates Payne’s Hollow. It’s where she and her extended family, the Paynes for whom the place is named, spent summer vacations. It’s where she found her father digging a shallow grave. It’s where he confessed to murdering a 14-year-old boy, and it’s where her father killed himself as a result. She has repressed so many memories of that time, and she hates to allow her grandfather to control her from beyond the grave.

How much money would be enough to undergo this kind of emotional torture? A cool 10 million dollars, that’s how much. I don’t know about you, but for me, that kind of moolah could result in some very unwise choices.

That’s about all I can tell you without ruining the lovely surprises (and by now you know that when I say lovely, I mean macabre, spooky, and occasionally gory).

Let me also drop the words headless horseman, zombies, curse, and ritual murder on you. There’s a little romance and a few twists and turns. I read much too late into the night and was appropriately spooked afterward. The result is a solid 5 for this well-written, suspenseful, and wonderfully creepy tale.

I admit I’m a sucker for anything Sleepy Hollow adjacent—but this story was so much more. There was the tragic backstory of Sam and her family—and she’s tried to outrun it, but to survive she needs to confront it.
I really loved all of this story and how it slowly unfolded. I’ve already recommended it to many people—and will continue to do so.

I found this novel interesting, but it never punched as hard as I wished it would. I was intrigued by the story, and eager to get to the payoff, and while they payoff didn't shy from the supernatural, which I appreciate, it also didn't do much else. It didn't push its lead into moral good or bad, didn't culminate in romance, and didn't end the cycle it presents. It just wasn't quite there.

WOW! I could not put down this book once I got into it. The premise was incredibly interesting, kept me hooked and I couldn't stop turning the pages. This book had a little bit of everything - strong family ties, likeable/well-developed characters, mystery, suspense, paranormal aspects and a great plot. I can't wait to read more of Kelley Armstrong's catalogue! Thanks St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

Kelley Armstrong has always been such a captivating author for me, she gets characters so well. This was such a suspenseful mystery for me, and gave me everything I wanted through the plot and the characters

My Thoughts

The description given about what character Samantha Payne faces to fulfill the stipulations that her Grandfather spelled out for inheriting his lakefront property barely skims the surface of her actual experience.

Once again, I have to say that this author has penned a tale whose characters are fully developed, her story plotting is riveting and her final twists were able to realistically resolve all the issues she had created.

The mystery elements are quite interesting as are the paranormal ones that coexist within this contemporary setting.

I don’t think that returning to Paynes Hollow and learning the truth of what Sam had really inherited could have been brought to life in such a realistically spooky manner as that which this author managed to put together.

As one of the authors longtime fans I hope to see more books like this one in her future work.

I will never view an Urban Legend in the same way after reading this either.
[EArc from Netgalley]
On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

Do I hate horror? Will I pick up everything Armstrong writes? Yes, to both.

That said this was a really fun book I read in no time because I couldn't put it down. Really fun read, and a novel twist on an old tale.

Kelley Armstrong is a master story-teller! I was so caught up in this book, a co-worker walked up behind me in the break room and made me jump a mile while I was reading! I can’t say much about the plot without giving away the story’s secrets, but needless to say, the author skillfully wove a new tale around an old one and I was completely engrossed in it. Highly recommended for lovers of fairy tales and myths and horror. I received a review copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Samantha Payne hasn’t stepped foot at her family’s lake property in Paynes Hollow in over fourteen years. Summers there were once filled with childhood memories and her grandfather’s chilling tales of the headless horseman. Now, after his passing, Sam finds herself the unexpected heir to ten million dollars but there’s a catch. She has to spend one full month at Paynes Hollow, without leaving. This was such a fun and spooky read! A perfect blend of folklore, mystery, and paranormal suspense. The atmosphere gave me eerie summer night vibes that would also make this a great Halloween pick. This was my first read by Kelley Armstrong, and I really enjoyed her unique spin on a classic legend. Thanks to @StMartinsPress and @NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
📚 Pub Date: October 14, 2025
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I read this book 2 days. 2 days! I hardly ever read books that quickly, but once Sam was introduced and we get more of her backstory and what was starting to happen, I couldn’t put it down.

The book starts off with Sam getting an inheritance she wasn’t expecting. However, it comes with strings attached - she must stay for an entire month. There’s more going on here than Sam is anticipating, but her aunt goes with her as well.

This was such a gripping read and I just had to know how it would all end. There were some twists I didn’t see coming, and a few side characters I ended up really liking! It was definitely a spine-tingling suspense.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martins Press, and Kelley Armstrong for the ARC copy for review!

I liked the supernatural/folklore aspect of this. I had to re-read the ending to make sure I really understood what happened with Austin back then and all the family secrets though. For some reason, I found that to be confusing.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Samantha Paynes inherits her family’s $10 million lakefront cabin, but to claim it, she has to live there for a month. What should be a peaceful stay quickly turns nightmarish with eerie sightings and her aunt mysteriously vanishing. The story starts slow but ramps up into a chilling, intense read. The final stretch had me hooked, and the ending was super satisfying. The Haunting of Paynes Hollow is perfect for horror fans.
Thanks to Kelley Armstrong and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!