What a riveting story! It had it all, ghosts, bones, suspense, love and a whole lot more.
The plot was well written and kept my attention very well. I enjoyed watching the relationship between the characters grow throughout.
This was a very good book. Many thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read and review this one.

The right amount of spooky
Kat Martin is a prolific writer who can easily transition among different genres — historical romance and contemporary romance with and without suspense woven in. So her newest title, “The Unseen,” fit perfectly into my current paranormal phase.
I thank NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for being allowed to read an ARC of this title. These opinions are my own.
In “The Unseen,” Martin deftly weaves multiple storylines that all revolve around Belle Reve, an 1870s Greek Revival mansion near a small town outside Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the Belmond family that owns it.
Along with the mysteries surrounding Belle Reve and the Belmond family, Nicole Belmond is struggling with her attraction to Lucas Devereaux. Watching their relationship grow was a delight. I also enjoyed the “supporting cast” in the book who at different times took center stage.
Above all, the resolution of the supernatural mystery that is at the heart of the book was extremely satisfying.

Small Town Scandals? Romance? A disgraced priest? A ghost story? The Unseen has all of this and more. The great thing about this title is it has a little bit of everything and I think everyone can find something that they like in the story. It doesn't lean too heavily into the romance or the ghost story. It is a good mix and match of all of the parts that made this story fun and entertaining.

In the Unseen, we meet Rachel and her niece, Nicole. Rachel is the the current owner of the historical house of Belle Reve. Rachel's family has owned the house for well over 100 years. But due to poor health and complications, Nicole has moved home. To help take care of her aunt and of her nephew, Sean, who himself has gotten into some trouble. As we begin to meet the cast of characters, you get the feel that this house isn't all that it seems. There is an atmosphere to the house that reminds you it's been standing for over 150 years and seen it's fair share of wars, tragedies, and heartbreaks. It may even be a little bit cursed. Rachel has recently been plagued by all manner of things going wrong and failing at the house. Is something nefarious afoot? Or are those who haunt the house playing tricks? Nicole through her nephew Sean meets Lucas Devereaux, an ex priest who may or may not be able to perform exorcisms. Nicole and Lucas are immediately attracted to each other and try to ignore it in the beginning. Lucas owns the boys home where Sean spends his time due a crime he committed. Nicole initially didn't want to get involved in case it would hurt Sean. And Lucas had been hurt by someone in the past. But neither one can resist the temptation. The beauty of all of these pieces coming together is that you can see how the foundation and relationships built between the characters. The time and effort it took to trust one another when everything seemed to come crashing down or was going wrong. I also feel like Kat Martin did a great job of creating an interconnected web. I didn't see parts of the web coming together until it was almost right in my face to see the answers.

I will say one of my least favorite parts of the story was how quickly some of the story lines got cleared up. I would have loved a bit more time on the scandal and maybe not have had it all tie neatly in a bow. I also wish certain aspects of the ghost story hadn't gotten resolved as quickly either. It did feel like a bit of a race to the end and it did leave me wishing I'd had a bit more time with some of the characters. I do also wish we had gotten a bit more history on our ghosts - both friend and foe. And history surrounding the house.

This is a bit of a slow build, but you don’t realize just how far you’ve ventured into the bayou and the humidity and the steaminess of love until you look back and realize that the slow burn managed to engross you pretty fast! Nicole, Rachel, Sean, and Lucas are on a path to something. It could be love or misery or mystery or mourning and nobody is quite sure how it will all end.

I truly enjoyed the wondering of who and why and how. I cackled at the immense anger of one when hearing that their palace is threatened. And I found myself wondering how Rachel could possibly find happiness. Trust me, she does find it. Even if it means bittersweetness for everyone involved, it’s sort of exactly as it should be. And out of all of this, I might like Sean the most. That kid is strong and knows right from wrong. I liked everyone, but seeing that he wouldn’t take the easy road was so admirable that you have to appreciate how it all plays out!

Don’t worry, though. As we’ve come to hope for and expect from this author, no loose ends are left. Everyone finds where they belong. And I sort of hope to return to a few of the friends at some point in the future to find them meeting their One, too.

You ever walk into a Southern Gothic mansion and think, “Huh. That hallway definitely wants to murder me”? Welcome to “The Unseen” by Kat Martin, where the ghosts are loud, the demons are petty, and the romance is hotter than a Louisiana attic in July.

We kick things off with two boys stumbling across a 100-year-old skeleton buried near Belle Reve, a mansion so haunted it practically shrieks “therapy.” Cue the slow drip of cursed vibes: footsteps in empty halls, doors slamming like a teenage girl in a CW drama, and a growing sense that someone (or something) does not want you touching the antique doorknobs. I mean, I love a creaky old house with a tragic past, but Belle Reve is straight-up auditioning for “American Horror Story: Exorcism Boogaloo.”

Nicole Belmond moves into the carriage house with her teenage half-brother Sean, who's fresh off a stint at “Oops, I Committed a Misdemeanor” Academy. Nicole’s trying to make art and keep her very sick Aunt Rachel alive long enough to maybe not be possessed by a malevolent force. Just girl things! Meanwhile, Rachel is 47, fragile, and hearing voices that sound less like a whisper and more like a demonic Yelp review.

Enter Lucas Devereaux, a sexy ex-priest (yeah, you read that right) with a tragic past, a youth center or two, and some... special skills. I don’t mean he’s handy with drywall. I mean the man has performed exorcisms, casually, like it’s part of his weekend errands. Nicole ropes him into her increasingly bonkers house situation, and together they try to solve the mystery of who’s haunting Belle Reve and why the walls won’t shut up.

Let me tell you, this house does not just creak. It participates. Belle Reve is less of a setting and more of a chaotic character, like the "Addams Family" mansion had a baby with “The Conjuring” house and gave it abandonment trauma. Between demon voices, shadowy figures, and everyone’s general refusal to move out like NORMAL people, the house becomes a full-on vibe and not the good kind.

Now, the romance. It’s... there. Lucas and Nicole have instant sparks, which is great except sometimes I wished the demon had more chemistry. Their connection is earnest and sweet, but it’s also very “trauma bonding in a high-stakes ghost house” energy. You know the type. “We can’t ignore these feelings, Nicole,” he says, while literally holding a crucifix and dodging ghost knives. And honestly, good for them.

But here’s the thing: while the story is packed with murdery spirits, secret bones, and a demon that needs to calm down, the pacing is uneven. Sometimes it's full throttle exorcism, other times it's like, "Hang on, let's talk about feelings and family legacy while the literal house is trying to eat us." I wanted more momentum, fewer monologues. And look, if you’re gonna give me a demon, I need that dude to be messy, terrifying, and the kind of evil that makes me yell “burn the whole house down” at 2 a.m. This one? A little too polite for my taste.

Also, minor note, but some of the characters felt like they wandered in from other novels. Sean had potential but mostly did the YA side character thing. Rachel, bless her terrified soul, spends most of the book being slowly possessed while people have conversations around her. Ma’am, you deserve better.

Still, I can’t lie, I ate the haunted house stuff up. Kat Martin knows how to crank up atmosphere. The walls are practically oozing dread, and the mystery of the long-dead skeleton brings just enough true-crime energy to keep you turning pages, even if you're rolling your eyes at Nicole falling for the Hot Ex-Priest mid-demonic possession.

Final vibe? A solid 3 stars. I liked it, I rolled my eyes, I whispered “girl, you in danger” more than once. It's like if “The Haunting of Hill House” got day drunk and started flirting with “The Exorcist”.

Big thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of “The Unseen”, I always appreciate a haunted house story that makes me question whether I need holy water... or just better boundaries. Y’all really said, “Here’s some ghosts, some trauma, and a hot ex-priest, enjoy!” and I did. Chaotically, but I did.

This is a truly unique book focusing on love, death, mystery, family, and the supernatural both good and evil. There are two main stories interwoven throughout the book to bring a plot that had me reading all night. The characters were ones I rooted for, and the situations they found themselves involved in were both creepy and beautiful. Lots of moving parts, but everything comes together easily. Warning - there is a lot of talk of demons and ghosts.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Unseen
Kat Martin
September 30, 2025

Nicole Belmond comes home to her Aunt Rachel’s mansion, Belle Reve. It was built in the eighteen hundreds by the extended family. Rachel’s health has deteriorated. She has allowed Nicole to develop the carriage house so that she and her step brother, Sean could live there. Rachel can benefit from their help. Nicole has also built an artist’s studio in order to continue her profession. Sean attends school weekly with other teen boys who have had legal trouble. He is doing well at the school and spends weekends at Belle Reve in St. Francesville, Louisiana.
The Unseen will be published by Kensington on September 30, 2025. I was able to read Martin’s latest novel via NetGalley. Her story is based on the Belmond history within the mansion. We are introduced to spirits who ramble within the old villa. It is full of suspense and mystical wonder. Her writing is exceptional, dealing with the Louisiana Supernatural. It’s quite a page turner and an excellent romantic adventure. I highly recommend it!

The Unseen is a chilling, atmospheric thriller that blends mystery, romance, and the supernatural into a gripping read. Kat Martin delivers spine-tingling suspense as Belle Reve’s dark secrets slowly unravel, keeping you hooked with every eerie twist. Nicole and Lucas’s growing connection adds heart and heat to the haunting backdrop. Perfect for readers who love their mysteries with a dose of ghostly danger and simmering romance.

I've never read a book like this from Kat Martin. I enjoyed it just thought that it is different. It gets into the spirit world. Both the good and bad. As story about how strong some of them can get and some vivid things that they are able to do. If you are willing to open up your mind and enjoy a great book then this is for you.

This book is set at an old mansion in an old mansion inLouisiana. Strange things are happening. This is a book with love, mystery, ghosts and a demon. Not what I would usually read but surprising I loved the book. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

This one will leave a chill going up your spine and have you looking over your shoulder for things that go bump in the night.

Nichole and her family live at Belle Reve. Some strange things have been going on.

“Sometimes the things that happen to us seem completely unfair. It feels as if the pain is unbearable.

Ghosts and much more are lurking in the every corner. Hold on because this one won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

What an interesting and unusual book. There are some intense otherworldly moments in this book. The writing is so good you don’t have the sense that this is all nonsense. Religion plays a key part. The characters are layered and deep. The book fascinated me. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

A good story overall, set in rural Louisiana, with an old plantation, ghosts and a demon. When bones are found in the woods, and an ex-priest is asked to help with the exorcism, things get complex. A touch of romance, a touch of mysticism adds to a good story. Would recommend.

This book is quite the story. Full of love and envy. Both natural and supernatural. But the love stories win in this book. I was hooked from the beginning to the end.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kat Martin’s The Unseen opens with the unsettling discovery of a long-buried skeleton near Belle Reve, a mansion layered with the weight of history and loss. This chilling event sets in motion a sequence of uncanny happenings that disturb both the mansion’s tranquility and the lives of those who live within its walls.

As footsteps echo through empty hallways and doors close on their own, a sense of threat begins to settle over Belle Reve, drawing the reader into a narrative infused with suspense, emotion, and a brush with forces beyond ordinary experience. Through the experiences of Rachel Belmond, her niece Nicole, and Lucas Devereaux, Martin crafts a story that is as much about personal courage and family bonds as it is about the shadows that linger from the past.

One of the most striking aspects of The Unseen is the way the mansion itself becomes a participant in the story. The creaking floors, the pockets of darkness, and the sense that unseen eyes are watching all build an atmosphere that enfolds the reader in a classic Southern Gothic mood. What happens at Belle Reve does not simply rely on external threats; the building’s history seeps into the present, creating a tension between remembered events and current dangers. This setting supports the plot’s supernatural elements, making the unexplainable feel natural within the bounds of the story.

Martin’s writing allows the mansion’s personality to emerge without overshadowing the human story. The eerie atmosphere enhances the growing unease while also serving as a reminder of the past’s persistence. The house does not just hold secrets; it actively unsettles those who try to ignore them.

At the heart of the novel is Rachel, whose fragility and inexplicable illness bring urgency to the events at Belle Reve. Her vulnerability makes her the emotional center of the story, as the other characters rally around her in an attempt to protect her from both physical and supernatural harm. Nicole stands out as a figure of resolve and compassion, growing from a worried relative into someone actively confronting forces that most would deny exist. Her willingness to reach out to Lucas Devereaux signals her refusal to allow fear or skepticism to hold her back.

Lucas’s presence as a former priest lends gravity to the supernatural conflict. His past, including his connection to Nicole’s family through her half-brother Sean, adds layers to the relationships at play. The slow-developing connection between Nicole and Lucas brings warmth and hope, contrasting with the coldness that haunts Belle Reve. Their partnership is defined by mutual respect and the shared goal of breaking the mansion’s hold on Rachel.

The Unseen touches on themes that resonate beyond its ghostly events. The burden of family legacy, the fear of hidden threats, and the effort to shield loved ones from harm all feel immediately relevant. The supernatural encounters become a reflection of the less obvious dangers people face in everyday life, whether interpersonal, psychological, or societal. Lucas’s personal struggle with faith and redemption deepens the novel’s concerns with belief and resilience.

The romantic thread in the book does not distract from its darker undercurrents but instead provides balance and relatability. The interaction between suspense and romance invites reflection on the nature of fear and the strength it takes to confront what is unseen rather than flee from it. While the pacing sometimes moves toward predictability, and certain characters could benefit from more detailed backgrounds, these issues are minor in comparison with the overall immersive effect.

Kat Martin manages an effective combination of tension, romance, and supernatural elements, encouraging readers to think about the ways the past continues to influence the present.

For those drawn to stories that sustain a strong mood and feature resilient figures facing the unknown, The Unseen offers a satisfying and memorable experience.

Wow! what a fantastic read.
while this is not my usual genre, I dove right in and could not put it down… romance, mystery, ghosts, past and present and so much more.
Nicole and Lucas were the entire package, both trying to move on together, and fight the ghosts of the past and save the family home and Nicole’s aunt.
I totally recommend this book!
Enjoy!!

The Unseen by Kat Martin is a spooky and slow burn thriller set in a creepy old Louisiana mansion. The story begins with a skeleton being unearthed. Between eerie footsteps and slamming doors, you’re never quite sure what’s real and what’s supernatural. I love that Nicole and Lucas’ relationship add a touch of romance without overshadowing the suspense. Read this if you want a haunted house story with a murder mystery twist!

I have mixed feelings about this book. On one side I liked it on the other I am shaking my head. It was definitely unlike anything I have read before.

Rachel Belmond is a sickly, young woman, well she’s 47 and owns a big beautiful house named Belle Reve. Rachel’s niece, Nicole Belmond, lives in the carriage house and is the guardian of her teenage brother Sean. Now Sean got in trouble and as his punishment he must stay at a troubled boys center during the week. On weekends he comes home to Rachel’s. Rachel is an artist but some of her work is a little dark. She meets Lucas Devereaux, a former priest but owner of the Baton Rouge Youth Center. Strange things start happening in the Belle Reve when a box of bones are found by two young boys. Rachel starts seeing things and hearing a voice in her mind.
The attraction between Nicole and Lucas is instant and explosive. Lucas knows about ghosts and demons. He performed exorcisms while a priest, and still does, so he agrees to help Nicole and Rachel. Rachel becomes attached to the apparition. Can they figure out what is going bump in the night?
This was a really great story. Steamy. Ghosts. Someone is trying to run Rachel out of her home. Nicole has abandonment issues. Lucas has issues with giving his heart away.

* VOLUNTARILY READ AND REVIEWED FOR NETGALLEY *