A party hosted by Hitchcock itself, in a haunted mansion in NYC in the 50's, filled with family secrets that was based on an actual event and life. What's not alluring about that? Well, there were parts that I enjoyed and parts that I didn't. For instance, there were too many characters (and too many ''Isabellas'') that I had a hard time following them all. I also felt that it was too long and some parts didn't add up anything interesting at all. On the other hand, some characters were very intriguing and interesting (such as Snug). I also liked the characterization of the many celebrities that attended the party. And, by reading, one can feel the grief, loneliness, sadness of some characters, but also the sense of closeness in a family. You can tell the connection of the author with the mansion and his own family.
Congratulations to the author and Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for sending me this ARC.

As a Hitchcock fan I was intrigued by the books premise. I found this to be entertaining and endearing. What a family reunion!!

If only cool air could clear the mind of alcohol and phantoms… Tonight, the guests will be haunted in the dark corners—by very different kinds of spirits.

Alfred Hitchcock announces he'd like to throw a party, but insists it be held in a haunted house. He has no idea just how real the terror will be—far beyond anything portrayed in his films.

With a star-studded guest list and interwoven stories, we come to discover who is haunted, by whom, and why. Are these spirits seeking redemption—or revenge?

Unfolding mostly over the course of a single evening, the narrative offers the reader a chance to see the party from many perspectives—almost as if we, too, are guests.

Based on a true party, with generous poetic license, I found this story thoroughly enjoyable. As a fan of both Hitchcock and Charles Addams, I especially loved seeing them haunt these pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

A fun blend of mid-century glamour, family drama, and the supernatural! The Last Spirits of Manhattan drops readers into a 1956 Manhattan mansion where none other than Alfred Hitchcock is throwing a party... and as you would expect, its in a haunted house.

The premise? A-mazing.
Carolyn Banks, a a young midwesterner has fled to New York to find a life that doesn't consist solely of marriage and children. She stays with her Aunt Bell and coincidentally takes her place at a grand party. This is the grandest party of all as it happens to be held in her Grand-aunt's mansion. The party is more of a publicity stunt than anything as Alfred Hitchcock's crew has rented it out for an upcoming film - his crew specifically seeking haunted homes. As Carolyn has some supernatural awareness she quickly finds the ghosts in the room and the story takes off!

The writing is so clever and charming, especially in its imaginative historical touches. There was a lot to keep track of - too many spirits in one séance. Readers who enjoy historical fiction with a supernatural twist will absolutely die for it!

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Last Spirits of Manhattan by John A. McDermott is a good book with a creative premise and a lot of heart. The writing is engaging and the story has some really intriguing moments. That said, it wasn’t fully to my liking. I found the plot a bit too busy at times, with a lot going on all at once, and it jumped around more than I would have preferred. It made it harder for me to stay connected to the story and characters. Still, I can see how others might really enjoy its unique style and pacing—it just wasn’t quite the right fit for me.

DNF at 50% because the entire book was rich people small talk dialogue. I didn't get a sense that any of the characters had strong motivations or desires for anything. It was just pages upon pages of small talk. I think maybe with a few editing passes the actual story will start to become clearer but in the book's current state I would consider it unreadable.