Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I should have DNF'd when a trans character was used as a plot device... Made me feel icky. Can't look past it, tbh. I guess it falls into the category of "male authors who can't write women."

This is a novel filled with ghastly entities, a high body count, and a story of friendship and betrayal betrayal.

Eric and Michael have been like brothers since they first found each other at the orphanage they both grew up in. They've done everything together and have made a highly successful career of being paranormal investigators.

When an incident at a haunted forest leaves a trail of bodies, Michael leaves for parts unknown as Eric continues his work. Looking for a comeback after some negative publicity, Eric is lured to the titled house in England which promises a lot of supernatural experiences because of its bloody past.

That's when things are going to take a dark turn. Because behind it all is Michael, now a trans woman named Michelle, and....well....it becomes a bit convoluted at that point. Eric's once close as a brother friend is now an uncaring person who has set up fake encounters for ratings. Yet true evil spirits lurk within the walls and property and, much like a slasher, people begin to get slaughtered.

There's nothing inherently bad about this book. Lots of gruesome kills and memorable supernatural entities abound. But there's a witch who owns a billion dollar company, another being who prophecys to Eric at one point, and the characters just didn't resonate with me. Most were fodder for the massacre and even Eric was a bit one dimensional. He is the good guy, Michelle is the bad person, and that's that.

I enjoyed the overall story but some of the extras which didn't really add anything were confusing at the end. But I would still recommend it if you want a bloody haunted house story with some truly frightening spirits.

This is not at all the gothic horror I was looking for when I read the summary. That isn't to say it's bad, but it simply wasn't for me.

The themes felt very jumbled together, the two major twists in this book didn't do much in the way of propelling the story forward, it felt, so much as a way to cobble together every typical horror trope you could think of.

The bare bones of this story are fascinating, and I think if it continues into a second book, it could definitely improve upon it's initial experience. Overall, not the worst but certainly not the best gothic horror I've come across.

This novel kept me on my toes the whole time however I feel like I have unanswered questions and I’m left unsure of how certain elements fit into the story as it progressed.
I did find this to be a novel that I was able to read through pretty quickly, and after reading the epilogue I really hope that there’ll be a sequel possibly to answer some questions and I’d love to see Eric take on more cases

The Haunting at Morsley Manor by George Morris De'Ath is a spooky and satisfying horror read that had me hooked from start to finish. I loved the complex protagonist, Eric Thompson, a paranormal investigator with a troubled past. The way the author weaves together Eric's story with the supernatural events at Morsley Manor is masterful.

The plot is well-paced, with unexpected twists and turns that kept me guessing. The horror elements are unapologetically graphic, with a dash of camp that adds to the fun. The author's use of creepy settings and supernatural elements creates a chilling atmosphere that's perfect for fans of horror.

What really stands out is the way the book balances horror and suspense with character development. Eric's relationships and backstory add depth to the story, making it more than just a typical haunted house tale.

If you're a fan of supernatural horror, you'll likely enjoy The Haunting at Morsley Manor. Just be mindful of some heavy themes. Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC!

I’m still gathering my full thoughts, but I think I loved this book.

The atmosphere is so tense and you almost dread reading further because you don’t know what’s coming. It’s felt almost like a found footage horror movie, which is absolutely a good thing.

Is the protagonist amazing? Not by any means. But he’s absolutely perfect for this setting.

It’s gory, it’s haunting, and it leaves you feeling itchy and just a little nauseous.

Thank you very much to Rising Action Publishing Co. for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was easily one of my favorite reads of the year. Gory, supernatural, and deliciously campy, this haunted manor horror novel is the perfect treat for fans of The Haunting of Hill House and The Woman in Black.

Eric Thompson, a once-famous paranormal investigator, finds himself in professional ruin after a tragic investigation leaves most of his team dead. His career and friendships are in tatters until a mysterious woman offers him a second chance. She hires him to investigate the legendary Morsley Manor, a place long considered off-limits to ghost hunters.

What begins as a publicity stunt quickly unravels into something far darker. As Eric steps inside the manor’s decaying halls, he finds himself face-to-face with horrors that defy explanation. With every shadow and sound, the lines between the living and the dead blur into a terrifying reality.

Equal parts grotesque and atmospheric, this book is packed with frights and twisted fun. But beware: it is not for the faint of heart.

Content warnings: violent and graphic deaths, clowns, insects, spiders, child death, and paranormal violence.

A bloody good time. Highly recommended.

**First Person ARC Review: *The Haunting at Morsley Manor* by George Morris De’Ath**

*The Haunting at Morsley Manor* is exactly the kind of gothic ghost story I love to lose myself in—moody, immersive, and just the right amount of unnerving. From the moment I crossed the threshold of that crumbling old estate alongside the protagonist, I knew I was in for something deliciously eerie.

This book doesn’t rely on cheap scares. Instead, it lets the dread build slowly, like fog rolling in through the cracks of a house that’s been holding its breath for a century. The manor itself is beautifully rendered—decaying grandeur, secrets in the wallpaper, and a presence that you can never quite see, but always feel. It gave me that creeping sense that something was watching, waiting, just out of view.

What elevated this for me was the emotional weight behind the haunting. This isn’t just a story about ghosts—it’s about the grief, guilt, and history we inherit whether we want to or not. There’s a real sadness woven through the horror, and it gave the story depth I didn’t expect.

By the time the final revelations came, I felt like the house had gotten under my skin too. If you enjoy gothic fiction that’s more psychological than bloody, more atmospheric than action-packed, *The Haunting at Morsley Manor* is a chilling, beautifully written descent into the past that lingers like a whisper in the dark.

Such a fun and eerie read! Haunted manor, ghost hunter with baggage, and a creeping sense of dread that doesn’t let up. The twists hit, the pacing was tight, and I was fully locked in from start to finish.

This book absolutely had a lot of different elements and some fantastic twists. It started off with a bang and sucks you into the story quickly. The main character is super likable and intriguing with his special “gift”. The opening chapters pack a punch and there is definitely lots of good spooky vibes in this book.

With that said, this kind of missed the mark for me. After a strong start, I felt like the middle third of this book lulled. I do appreciate all the different horror elements but I felt like it was trying to do too much at once: ghosts, creatures, covens, possession, and slasher stuff? It didn’t all seem coherent for me, and seemed a bit jumbled at times. And randomly suggesting some “apocalypse” type event? It felt disjointed.

I also feel like some key elements were kind of just glossed over any never resolved. Leaving readers to try and understand what seemed like was an integral part of the story (Eric’s “gift” for one) were just not well explained or understood.

The bones of the story were there, but it was the execution and sometimes jumbled themes that made it less enjoyable for me.

3.75 stars

Eric is a famous paranormal investigator with some major tragedies in his past. After a case they were investigating got many on his crew killed, Eric has faced immense backlash. Even his best friend and partner has abandoned him.

Now, he has the opportunity to investigate a place he had never been given permission to visit: Morsley Manor. A strange woman offers him the opportunity and knowing he won’t get another chance at a comeback, Eric finds himself at the Manor, with a new partner.

He has no idea what he is stepping into. I really enjoyed the haunting aspects. Morsley Manor is wild and its inhabitants are ghastly. Eric discovers more than he expects during his time there and it’s a great time.

I really liked Eric as a character. He gets dealt some pretty poor hands and mistakes are made, but he is full of caring and compassion. I thought this was a solid haunted house horror with some wacky characters and spooky scenes.

I got this arc for review on Netgalley.

3.5 stars rounded. I liked it, it held my attention and it got suspenseful and spooky. Intruiging plot and well written characters.

Thank you to the publishers and author for allowing me an e-ARC via NetGalley!

I needed a little cleanse from heavy books/series, so I thought I’d try this as it sounded like a good horror book! This book follows the journey of Eric, a paranormal investigator who is recruited to explore and film in a known haunted house. The context and background we are given about Eric is really interesting, and it really helps to humanise him. We explore his relationships with those around him, and how these are impacted by his career choice.

There is some good LGBTQ+ representation in this story, and it felt really inclusive and diverse. There were unexpected events which were interesting and helped keep the reader on their feet. It was also great on the ‘spooky’ factor as I found I was constantly looking around myself when I was in the dark!

This book flowed pretty well and it was a good pace consistently throughout, although I did find that it didn’t really ‘hook’ me in sometimes. There were also parts that ventured into the ‘fantasy’ genre, but I found that this made things appear less scary for me as I tend to find ‘real life’ things scary. I feel more afraid about ghostly apparitions and possessions that I do about demon children and spiders. But generally it was a good horror book and good for those who enjoyed Goosebumps as a child!

Rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up to 4) (⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)