Kelley Armstrong is an auto-buy for me, and The Haunting of Payne Hollow is her newest horror novel. It’s a blend of suspense, curses, mythology, mystery and terror. It’s the perfect novel to curl up with this spooky season.
by Kelley Armstrong
Genres: Horror
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm *affiliate
From New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong comes a nail-biting supernatural horror about a haunted lakeside property and twisted family secrets.
When Samantha Payne’s grandfather dies, she figures she won’t even get a mention in the will. After all, she hasn’t seen him in fourteen years, not since her father took his own life after being accused of murdering a child at their lakefront cottage. Her grandfather always insisted her father was innocent, despite Sam having caught him burying the child’s body, his clothing streaked with blood.
But when she does attend the reading of the will at the behest of her aunt, she discovers that her grandfather left her the very valuable lakefront property where the family cottage sits. There’s one catch: Sam needs to stay in the cottage for a month. To finally face the fact she was wrong and her father was innocent, in her grandfather's words.
Traveling to Paynes Hollow, Sam is faced with the realities of her childhood and the secrets kept hidden in the shadows of her memories. When her aunt goes missing a couple days into their stay, Sam begins to question everything again. Plagued by nightmares and paranoia, she begins hearing sounds in the forest and seeing shapes crawling from the water as the rippling waves of the lake promise something unspeakably dark lurking just below their surface.
Samantha Payne has been estranged from her grandfather since her father took his own life after being accused of murdering a child at their lakeside cottage. With her grandfather’s passing, Sam’s aunt convinces her to go to the funeral and reading.
At the reading, Samantha learns her grandfather has left her the very lakeside property where her father died. The property is worth millions, and to claim it, all she has to do is stay at her parents’ cottage for one month. Samantha would love nothing more than to walk away, but her mother’s dementia care is expensive, and this could be life-changing for them both.
Armstrong knows exactly how to build an addictive, atmospheric tale with slow-building suspense, doubt, horror and twists. I quickly slipped into the story and loved the twists involving lore and mythology. She balances the dark with light as Samantha and the brother of the boy who was murdered all those years ago try to understand what is happening. I loved how the author made the events feel surreal and the edge of doubt both Samantha and the reader felt as we tried to grasp what was unfolding.
The Haunting of Paynes Hollow will stay with you long after you’ve closed the book. It’s the perfect spooky tale to enjoy this fall.
About Kelley Armstrong
Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed. Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature)
I really need to start reading more of this author’s adult novels. This one sounds so good. Great review!
Sophie
When I read your review I am wondering why I don’t read her books already!
Katherine
I really enjoy what I’ve read from this author and this sounds really good. I’m also a big fan of anytime a character is forced to stay in a location. You know it’s going to be a good read when that happens!
Ethan
I just read Rachel from Waves of Fiction’s review for this, and now yours just seals the deal. Adding this one to my TBR!
Rachel @Waves of Fiction
I’m listening to this one right now and enjoying it. Happy to see you loved it, Kimberly!
Sophia Rose
Nope! Haha! Glad you loved it. 🙂
Breanna L Dalton
This sounds super interesting! Adding to my TBR.
Teresa Broderick
Nice review! I’ll recommend this to my daughter who likes this type of book.
Jessica @ a GREAT read
Oooh nice! I am SOOO far behind on Kelley’s books but I love that she has some standalones too! I am *hoping* I can read this one shortly after I get it in the mail but will have to see how things go! Lol. Definitely looking forward to reading it though. Great review!
Ashley
Super excited to read this book…in the daylight hours.