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Buried Women Speak
Maggie survived attempted murder a decade ago. Her killer is dead, but true crime superfans have ruined Maggie’s life. Moving to the Briarwood Estate in rural New Hampshire was supposed to be a fresh start for Maggie and her wife Wren.
When Maggie and Wren start experiencing paranormal activity in estate, they struggle to find connections to one another. Maggie discovers she is clairvoyant and starts communicating with the ghost of a young woman named Laura whose murder in the estate remains unsolved. Maggie’s own experience as a victim motivates her to bring Laura’s killer to justice by being the voice that Laura never had. Struggling to maintain her sobriety and her marriage, Maggie must help Laura while discovering herself.
If Maggie fails, she could lose everything––her wife, her sobriety, her life.
When Maggie and Wren start experiencing paranormal activity in estate, they struggle to find connections to one another. Maggie discovers she is clairvoyant and starts communicating with the ghost of a young woman named Laura whose murder in the estate remains unsolved. Maggie’s own experience as a victim motivates her to bring Laura’s killer to justice by being the voice that Laura never had. Struggling to maintain her sobriety and her marriage, Maggie must help Laura while discovering herself.
If Maggie fails, she could lose everything––her wife, her sobriety, her life.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 17, 2023
83 people are currently reading
551 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
November 14, 2023
I feel like I need to give a disclaimer here: I'm not here to bully new and/or small authors, I'm just trying to review what I read honestly. So I'm aiming to be at least somewhat constructive here.
The issues I had with this book just felt neglectful. I can acknowledge some of my smaller critiques will be solved as the author gains more experience and a stronger sense of personal style, so I'm not going to harp on those. But even outside of that, the editing was abysmal, the plot was lackluster at best and nonexistent at worst, and the characters were not worth caring about.
There are certain things I can forgive when it comes to editing mistakes. In fact, it's almost kind of fun to see little mistakes in books. But this was shockingly bad in multiple aspects. Buried Women Speak was riddled with typos, incorrect words (I'm pretty sure the word "walking" was used instead of Wren's name at one point), and missing words. And that's not to mention the grammar mistakes, generally consisting of incorrect tense use. I'm trying to make this point with the awareness that not everyone can afford a fancy and expensive editor, but there are so many options for proofreading that don't cost a lot. Finding an independent editor who doesn't cost as much, using a website grammar-checker, or even getting a friend to read your novel can go a long way, and in this case it was necessary. One or two typos is forgivable, but to have as many grammar or spelling issues as I found is just outright neglectful.
There were bigger mistakes that would've been solved by better editing as well. Often times there was no continuity, as we would see characters do things multiple times in one paragraph. It was often unclear who was speaking and in what order. Whole explanations or thoughts seemingly never made it to the page, and I was forced to rely on my memory of the book description to remind me of what was happening. Genuinely, it seemed like the author wrote the book stream-of-consciousness style and then immediately uploaded it. Another couple of rereads would've gone a long way with this book. I can forgive a rough plot if the story is well-written, but sloppy writing can ruin even the best of stories.
That being said, I really was disappointed in the lack of plot. The concept for Buried Women Speak is fascinating, but unfortunately it's really just a concept. Things happen, but we're never given an explicit goal that we're working towards; we're just generally "helping Laura" (the ghost that Maggie connects with — it's not a spoiler if it's in the Goodreads description). But it's never clear what that means, and Maggie doesn't do anything besides research the case and fight with her wife. In fact, if you've read the Goodreads summary, you've basically read the whole story. I found myself repeatedly looking at the percentage of the book and wondering when we'd get a call to action that results in actual action, and it never occurred. The conflict was exclusively found within Maggie and Wren's fighting, which was wildly repetitive and rarely made sense anyway.
I was particularly frustrated because the seeds of a plot were there. We had the why: bring justice to Laura. All we needed was the how. Are we meant to be fighting the guy? Or just getting him arrested again? We needed to pick a direction and commit to it instead of just letting Maggie deliberate for the entire book.
This was made worse by the fact that Maggie and Wren were not characters that I ever really cared about. I'll start with Wren, since she was a whole lot of nothing. She never should have had a POV. In fact, I believe that focusing on Maggie's experience and feelings while not allowing the reader to see Wren's perspective would've helped a lot. It would almost add a Hill House sort of vibe to things: is Maggie going crazy, or is Wren just not getting it? Instead, we were forced to watch Wren pick fights, be overly judgmental and rude at every opportunity, and generally despise her wife for the entire book while also knowing that she was seeing the same stuff and just ... not believing it, for some reason? It made the plot seem more contrived, it made Wren borderline irredeemable, and it made the book worse. Her perspective didn't add anything and should've been cut.
Maggie had the real story here, yet she was never given the depth that she deserved, making her disappointingly unlikable. She had a lot going on between the trauma from being an attempted murder victim, a recovering alcoholic, and apparently a medium, but none of those things ever felt like they were handled correctly. Maggie's trauma is just used to give a reason for her empathy towards Laura, which is unnecessary. I was interested by the True Crime angle, but that never truly came into play. Her alcoholism was just annoying. It was something else for her and Wren to fight about, and despite Wren usually being right, I got the impression I was supposed to be on Maggie's side. I'm not an expert on good or bad alcoholism representation, but Buried Women Speak never seemed to take it as seriously as it should have. There was just no reason to root for Maggie. Instead of "morally grey and nuanced" she just came across as annoying. Sympathizing with a character's trauma can only take readers so far.
Both characters (but particularly Maggie, as the main character) lacked real development. Maggie was unstable and unwell when we met her, and she stayed the exact same throughout the entire book. Her reactions to things were the same and she always made the exact same points in her arguments. Additionally, while the whole thing was centered around her, she felt like an afterthought. Slight spoilers here, but the climax wasn't even from her point of view. Instead of just loading her with character traits, I wish we could've picked just a couple and focused on really building her character out.
I was really disappointed by the book. That much is clear. But I genuinely hope that the author takes the good ideas she has and builds on them, because there is potential here. With a little bit more editing and a little bit more of a focused direction, Buried Women Speak would've been good. Unfortunately, it ended up being just a mess of ideas all thrown together.
The issues I had with this book just felt neglectful. I can acknowledge some of my smaller critiques will be solved as the author gains more experience and a stronger sense of personal style, so I'm not going to harp on those. But even outside of that, the editing was abysmal, the plot was lackluster at best and nonexistent at worst, and the characters were not worth caring about.
There are certain things I can forgive when it comes to editing mistakes. In fact, it's almost kind of fun to see little mistakes in books. But this was shockingly bad in multiple aspects. Buried Women Speak was riddled with typos, incorrect words (I'm pretty sure the word "walking" was used instead of Wren's name at one point), and missing words. And that's not to mention the grammar mistakes, generally consisting of incorrect tense use. I'm trying to make this point with the awareness that not everyone can afford a fancy and expensive editor, but there are so many options for proofreading that don't cost a lot. Finding an independent editor who doesn't cost as much, using a website grammar-checker, or even getting a friend to read your novel can go a long way, and in this case it was necessary. One or two typos is forgivable, but to have as many grammar or spelling issues as I found is just outright neglectful.
There were bigger mistakes that would've been solved by better editing as well. Often times there was no continuity, as we would see characters do things multiple times in one paragraph. It was often unclear who was speaking and in what order. Whole explanations or thoughts seemingly never made it to the page, and I was forced to rely on my memory of the book description to remind me of what was happening. Genuinely, it seemed like the author wrote the book stream-of-consciousness style and then immediately uploaded it. Another couple of rereads would've gone a long way with this book. I can forgive a rough plot if the story is well-written, but sloppy writing can ruin even the best of stories.
That being said, I really was disappointed in the lack of plot. The concept for Buried Women Speak is fascinating, but unfortunately it's really just a concept. Things happen, but we're never given an explicit goal that we're working towards; we're just generally "helping Laura" (the ghost that Maggie connects with — it's not a spoiler if it's in the Goodreads description). But it's never clear what that means, and Maggie doesn't do anything besides research the case and fight with her wife. In fact, if you've read the Goodreads summary, you've basically read the whole story. I found myself repeatedly looking at the percentage of the book and wondering when we'd get a call to action that results in actual action, and it never occurred. The conflict was exclusively found within Maggie and Wren's fighting, which was wildly repetitive and rarely made sense anyway.
I was particularly frustrated because the seeds of a plot were there. We had the why: bring justice to Laura. All we needed was the how. Are we meant to be fighting the guy? Or just getting him arrested again? We needed to pick a direction and commit to it instead of just letting Maggie deliberate for the entire book.
This was made worse by the fact that Maggie and Wren were not characters that I ever really cared about. I'll start with Wren, since she was a whole lot of nothing. She never should have had a POV. In fact, I believe that focusing on Maggie's experience and feelings while not allowing the reader to see Wren's perspective would've helped a lot. It would almost add a Hill House sort of vibe to things: is Maggie going crazy, or is Wren just not getting it? Instead, we were forced to watch Wren pick fights, be overly judgmental and rude at every opportunity, and generally despise her wife for the entire book while also knowing that she was seeing the same stuff and just ... not believing it, for some reason? It made the plot seem more contrived, it made Wren borderline irredeemable, and it made the book worse. Her perspective didn't add anything and should've been cut.
Maggie had the real story here, yet she was never given the depth that she deserved, making her disappointingly unlikable. She had a lot going on between the trauma from being an attempted murder victim, a recovering alcoholic, and apparently a medium, but none of those things ever felt like they were handled correctly. Maggie's trauma is just used to give a reason for her empathy towards Laura, which is unnecessary. I was interested by the True Crime angle, but that never truly came into play. Her alcoholism was just annoying. It was something else for her and Wren to fight about, and despite Wren usually being right, I got the impression I was supposed to be on Maggie's side. I'm not an expert on good or bad alcoholism representation, but Buried Women Speak never seemed to take it as seriously as it should have. There was just no reason to root for Maggie. Instead of "morally grey and nuanced" she just came across as annoying. Sympathizing with a character's trauma can only take readers so far.
Both characters (but particularly Maggie, as the main character) lacked real development. Maggie was unstable and unwell when we met her, and she stayed the exact same throughout the entire book. Her reactions to things were the same and she always made the exact same points in her arguments. Additionally, while the whole thing was centered around her, she felt like an afterthought. Slight spoilers here, but the climax wasn't even from her point of view. Instead of just loading her with character traits, I wish we could've picked just a couple and focused on really building her character out.
I was really disappointed by the book. That much is clear. But I genuinely hope that the author takes the good ideas she has and builds on them, because there is potential here. With a little bit more editing and a little bit more of a focused direction, Buried Women Speak would've been good. Unfortunately, it ended up being just a mess of ideas all thrown together.
February 23, 2023
⭐️Buried Women Speak⭐️ was a fabulous read! The storyline kept you turning the page until it was finished! I read this pretty quickly and I thank Mia so very much for trusting me with her book!
Maggie was assaulted in her college years and was tormented by all the publicity the trail got. Besides the fact is messed with her head, it also took a toll on her marriage. Wren did everything she could to bring her back up including getting her sober. After a break in and the weird looks given to Maggie and Wren they decided, on a whim, to move to a gothic house left by previous owners to start anew in New Haven. Everything seems fine and dandy until Maggie starts seeing things and questioning if it’s real or her imagination. Her wife doesn’t believe her and is telling her she’s losing it, but Maggie is just trying to fight for a women that was murdered in her house many years prior. Upon meeting Brian, Maggie feels something deep down that he is trouble. Maggie goes through some tough challenges with understanding her new “gift”, fighting in her marriage and trying to figure out Laura’s murder to bring justice for her and her family. Does Maggie come to terms with everything and figure an old murder or does she let her marriage and sobriety fall again?!?
Maggie was assaulted in her college years and was tormented by all the publicity the trail got. Besides the fact is messed with her head, it also took a toll on her marriage. Wren did everything she could to bring her back up including getting her sober. After a break in and the weird looks given to Maggie and Wren they decided, on a whim, to move to a gothic house left by previous owners to start anew in New Haven. Everything seems fine and dandy until Maggie starts seeing things and questioning if it’s real or her imagination. Her wife doesn’t believe her and is telling her she’s losing it, but Maggie is just trying to fight for a women that was murdered in her house many years prior. Upon meeting Brian, Maggie feels something deep down that he is trouble. Maggie goes through some tough challenges with understanding her new “gift”, fighting in her marriage and trying to figure out Laura’s murder to bring justice for her and her family. Does Maggie come to terms with everything and figure an old murder or does she let her marriage and sobriety fall again?!?
May 20, 2023
Thank You Mia Faller
Are you looking for Haunted House with a Dark History then Read Buried Women Speak by Mia Faller.
This book reminds me of the Ghost Whisper TV series 2005 - 2010.
This is my first time reading this author. Her writing style is strong. You begin to feel for the some of the characters more then others.
This paranormal story dives into how people who survive traumas life changes. The trauma effects every part of their lives.
The book examines Atelophobia which
is an obsessive fear of imperfection.
If Maggie fails, she could lose everything––her wife, her sobriety, her life.
A house with a death in it can never again be bought or sold by living. It can only be borrowed from the ghost that stayed behind.
Book Description:
Maggie starts communicating with the ghost of a young woman murder in her new home. Maggie’s own experience as a victim motivates her to bring the ghost's killer to justice.
Yes there are Triggers
Supernatural 5 👻 s
Crime. 5 👻 s
Graphic. 4 👻 s
New Haven, New Hampshire
LGBTQ +
Are you looking for Haunted House with a Dark History then Read Buried Women Speak by Mia Faller.
This book reminds me of the Ghost Whisper TV series 2005 - 2010.
This is my first time reading this author. Her writing style is strong. You begin to feel for the some of the characters more then others.
This paranormal story dives into how people who survive traumas life changes. The trauma effects every part of their lives.
The book examines Atelophobia which
is an obsessive fear of imperfection.
If Maggie fails, she could lose everything––her wife, her sobriety, her life.
A house with a death in it can never again be bought or sold by living. It can only be borrowed from the ghost that stayed behind.
Book Description:
Maggie starts communicating with the ghost of a young woman murder in her new home. Maggie’s own experience as a victim motivates her to bring the ghost's killer to justice.
Yes there are Triggers
Supernatural 5 👻 s
Crime. 5 👻 s
Graphic. 4 👻 s
New Haven, New Hampshire
LGBTQ +
June 5, 2023
This haunted house book was excellent. The story was well written, the characters were well developed and dealing with the LGBTQIA discrimination was handled really well. Maggie was such a likable character and I felt really awful for her for having gone through such a terrible situation. Wren had such a difficult time dealing with Maggie’s continuous struggles. She just could not bring herself to believe the strange going’s on in their home. as I read through the story. I could visualize the constant cracks in their relationship. Brian was just…just awful. He definitely got what he deserved. I like how the book ended. I hope there will be more books about Maggie.
November 22, 2024
I am so sorry to say, but I could not finish this book. After a certain point, it’s so repetitive it’s actually unbelievable. I really tried to power through it, but between the repeats, the grammar mistakes and the absolute carelessness that was put into the editing, I can’t take any more.
May 30, 2025
It needs a good editing. I am not OCD about books as I understand the struggle of being an indie author myself and I can bypass most mistakes but it was distracting in this one and took away from a story I believe could be good.
October 9, 2024
As another reviewer stated - the idea was there and this has potential to be great - however countless errors and huge plot holes just made this hard to read unfortunately
February 28, 2023
Absolutely love this one so far! I'll update this review once I'm done.
October 15, 2024
Had a lot of potential. Was a bit disappointed. Needed more focus on the storyline and correcting mistakes throughout the book. Felt rushed towards the end.
April 16, 2023
A promising start of an indie author!
Buried Women Speak is a chilling horror novel by indie author Mia Faller. Not usually the type of book I read, it is still a solid entry in the genre and definitely worth a read for fans of supernatural thrillers.
Faller paints a vivid picture of day-to-day life, and the characters feel authentic and relatable. The tension builds slowly but surely, leading to some truly spine-tingling moments that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
It's clear that Buried Women Speak is just the beginning of a larger series, and the groundwork laid in this first book promises even more terrifying adventures to come. If you're a fan of horror and enjoy a good supernatural thriller, then this book is definitely worth checking out.
Overall, while not perfect, Buried Women Speak is an engaging and well-crafted horror novel that showcases the talent of a promising indie author.
Buried Women Speak is a chilling horror novel by indie author Mia Faller. Not usually the type of book I read, it is still a solid entry in the genre and definitely worth a read for fans of supernatural thrillers.
Faller paints a vivid picture of day-to-day life, and the characters feel authentic and relatable. The tension builds slowly but surely, leading to some truly spine-tingling moments that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
It's clear that Buried Women Speak is just the beginning of a larger series, and the groundwork laid in this first book promises even more terrifying adventures to come. If you're a fan of horror and enjoy a good supernatural thriller, then this book is definitely worth checking out.
Overall, while not perfect, Buried Women Speak is an engaging and well-crafted horror novel that showcases the talent of a promising indie author.
June 23, 2023
I enjoyed the storyline and the characters who were so realistic and relatable that I found myself looking forward to returning to them each time I picked up the book. In the last half, however, the writing started to feel long-winded and some scenes redundant, stunting the buildup to the climax (I felt similarly to Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell). I’d read Mia’s work again and would love to see what she writes next.
June 10, 2024
Unexplained ending
The ending was disappointing, so much left unsaid!!??? How was Brian convicted postpartum? What did he see, did Wren finally see her as well ?
Wren just never took responsibility for abandoning Maggie and not trusting her
The ending was rushed all that build up and Maggie still didn't technically solve her murder
The ending was disappointing, so much left unsaid!!??? How was Brian convicted postpartum? What did he see, did Wren finally see her as well ?
Wren just never took responsibility for abandoning Maggie and not trusting her
The ending was rushed all that build up and Maggie still didn't technically solve her murder
June 13, 2023
Buried Women Speak, a gripping novel by Mia Faller, takes readers on a haunting journey where past traumas and supernatural encounters collide. In this chilling tale, Maggie, a survivor of attempted murder, seeks solace and a fresh start with her wife Wren at the Briarwood Estate. However, their new beginning quickly becomes entangled with the paranormal as Maggie discovers her clairvoyant abilities and begins communicating with the ghost of a young woman named Laura, whose unsolved murder haunts the estate.
Faller masterfully weaves together themes of crime, the supernatural, and personal redemption. As Maggie delves deeper into her connection with Laura, her own past as a victim drives her to seek justice for the voiceless young woman. The author's exploration of trauma and the lengths one will go to find closure and healing is both poignant and gripping.
The emotional depth of Buried Women Speak is further heightened by the challenges Maggie faces in maintaining her sobriety and her marriage. Faller delves into the complexities of addiction and the strain it places on relationships, adding layers of tension and authenticity to the story.
The atmospheric setting of the Briarwood Estate adds to the book's sense of foreboding. Faller's vivid descriptions and skillful pacing create an immersive reading experience, allowing readers to feel the chilling presence of the paranormal alongside the characters.
Buried Women Speak is a thought-provoking exploration of resilience, justice, and self-discovery. Mia Faller's gripping storytelling will keep readers on the edge of their seats, rooting for Maggie as she navigates her own demons while fighting for the truth. With its blend of supernatural elements, mystery, and emotional depth, this novel is a must-read for fans of dark, atmospheric thrillers. Prepare to be captivated by the haunting world of Buried Women Speak.
Faller masterfully weaves together themes of crime, the supernatural, and personal redemption. As Maggie delves deeper into her connection with Laura, her own past as a victim drives her to seek justice for the voiceless young woman. The author's exploration of trauma and the lengths one will go to find closure and healing is both poignant and gripping.
The emotional depth of Buried Women Speak is further heightened by the challenges Maggie faces in maintaining her sobriety and her marriage. Faller delves into the complexities of addiction and the strain it places on relationships, adding layers of tension and authenticity to the story.
The atmospheric setting of the Briarwood Estate adds to the book's sense of foreboding. Faller's vivid descriptions and skillful pacing create an immersive reading experience, allowing readers to feel the chilling presence of the paranormal alongside the characters.
Buried Women Speak is a thought-provoking exploration of resilience, justice, and self-discovery. Mia Faller's gripping storytelling will keep readers on the edge of their seats, rooting for Maggie as she navigates her own demons while fighting for the truth. With its blend of supernatural elements, mystery, and emotional depth, this novel is a must-read for fans of dark, atmospheric thrillers. Prepare to be captivated by the haunting world of Buried Women Speak.
March 4, 2023
Laura could not speak for herself, but Maggie would not let her voice die. She knew she needed to help Laura find justice in whatever way she could.
What I liked most about Mia Faller's debut novel Buried Women Speak was the idea of turning a trope on its head. Two main characters experience the horror, but each respond differently. Maggie and Wren aren't trying to solve the mystery together, they are trying to fix the problem separately. Instead of one character concealing the horror from the other or the horror being focused on one character they both get a dose of the haunting. Faller then paired the difference of their response to differences in their marriage, adding another sense of misery to her dark debut.
Some passages were truly chilling! In fact, at one point I was reading in my hotel room and--I kid you not--there was a mysterious knock at the door. I did NOT answer! I can't guarantee that will happen to you, but it happened to me!
It was like her whole body was activated to the pain she was in. Her body throbbed singularly. As she pulled her face off the ground, her cheek peeled up from the asphalt like masking tape, slowly releasing the adhesive of pain she was still puzzling together.
With equal doses of horror, thriller and mystery this debut won't disappoint! Highly recommend!
What I liked most about Mia Faller's debut novel Buried Women Speak was the idea of turning a trope on its head. Two main characters experience the horror, but each respond differently. Maggie and Wren aren't trying to solve the mystery together, they are trying to fix the problem separately. Instead of one character concealing the horror from the other or the horror being focused on one character they both get a dose of the haunting. Faller then paired the difference of their response to differences in their marriage, adding another sense of misery to her dark debut.
Some passages were truly chilling! In fact, at one point I was reading in my hotel room and--I kid you not--there was a mysterious knock at the door. I did NOT answer! I can't guarantee that will happen to you, but it happened to me!
It was like her whole body was activated to the pain she was in. Her body throbbed singularly. As she pulled her face off the ground, her cheek peeled up from the asphalt like masking tape, slowly releasing the adhesive of pain she was still puzzling together.
With equal doses of horror, thriller and mystery this debut won't disappoint! Highly recommend!
February 7, 2024
Oh, this story!😍
Maggie is an SA and attempted murder survivor. She is a recovering alcoholic.
Wren is her wife just trying to keep her on track.
On the 10 year anniversary of Maggie's attack, someone breaks into their house. Maggie is a mess (obviously), and Wren tries to help calm her down. They decide to take a weekend trip to the mountains.
For whatever reason (Maggie needs a getaway from the city, Wren wants to make her wife happy), they decide to sell their house and buy an EXTREMELY AFFORDABLE estate in a small mountain town. (If it were me, I would 100% know this house was haunted😅)
Things get creepy, stressful, and dangerous.
This was such a good read! I was worried if I would like it because it took a little bit to get going, but man, did it deliver!
I loved Maggie's character, and seeing her transition from an anxious, scared person to someone who has so much confidence was great!
Wren made me want to punch her so many times, but I could also see things from her side.
Sweet Sweet Mocha! 🐈 😻
This one will definitely be getting a vote from me! Thanks, Mia!
Maggie is an SA and attempted murder survivor. She is a recovering alcoholic.
Wren is her wife just trying to keep her on track.
On the 10 year anniversary of Maggie's attack, someone breaks into their house. Maggie is a mess (obviously), and Wren tries to help calm her down. They decide to take a weekend trip to the mountains.
For whatever reason (Maggie needs a getaway from the city, Wren wants to make her wife happy), they decide to sell their house and buy an EXTREMELY AFFORDABLE estate in a small mountain town. (If it were me, I would 100% know this house was haunted😅)
Things get creepy, stressful, and dangerous.
This was such a good read! I was worried if I would like it because it took a little bit to get going, but man, did it deliver!
I loved Maggie's character, and seeing her transition from an anxious, scared person to someone who has so much confidence was great!
Wren made me want to punch her so many times, but I could also see things from her side.
Sweet Sweet Mocha! 🐈 😻
This one will definitely be getting a vote from me! Thanks, Mia!
Read
February 18, 2025A woman with PTSD from an attempted murder when she was in college is thrust into the public eye as the anniversary of the event occurs. To escape the “true crime” enthusiasts, she and her wife buy an estate in a quiet New England town. She’s alone there with the ghosts of her past - and the ghosts of her new home! Buried Women Speak by Mia Faller tells of Maggie, a recovering alcoholic and survivor who discovers she’s a psychic medium with an emotional connection to a young woman who was murdered in her new home. Despite her wife’s derision and disbelief, Maggie researches the incident, attracting the attention of the accused murderer. There’s some uneven editing involved with this novel, but the primary lead POV, carries the narrative, and I can see other adventures in Maggie’s future, if the author feels so motivated. After all, the title promises a voice to many buried women, so here’s hoping.
June 29, 2025
Well Wren is simply the worst wife can we get that out of the way? Their relationship was so toxic and I really disliked how every morning they woke up fine as if wren hadn’t said the worst things in the world.
I didn’t like the Claire side story for .2 seconds of also being clairvoyant and using mind speaking abilities and to never be touched on again.
There are good bones to this story. It was recently rereleased and I think it has promise. I love a good haunting story but it felt like there were plot holes like the kids talking about what would go on in the house as if there was a bigger back story.
It was on the cusp of going ammityville and I think that would be the way to go. The briarwoods did something, that energy remained which led to Laura, and then have wren go that way too instead of the Nancy drew angle which didn’t really work to its benefit especially given Maggies back story.
I didn’t like the Claire side story for .2 seconds of also being clairvoyant and using mind speaking abilities and to never be touched on again.
There are good bones to this story. It was recently rereleased and I think it has promise. I love a good haunting story but it felt like there were plot holes like the kids talking about what would go on in the house as if there was a bigger back story.
It was on the cusp of going ammityville and I think that would be the way to go. The briarwoods did something, that energy remained which led to Laura, and then have wren go that way too instead of the Nancy drew angle which didn’t really work to its benefit especially given Maggies back story.
February 13, 2024
For a new author this book has some good bones, the story isn’t a new one but the idea is there and has potential. The gaps come from the writing with the pacing feeling a little off and Mocha the cat being the only likeable character in the whole book.
The main characters feel like they’re constantly at maximum emotion without any levels or exposition to really justify why they’re yelling at each other for the hundredth time. A lot of moments this felt almost like a screenplay instead of a story from a characters point of view.
All this being said a lot of these are skills that come with development and experience in writing with the hard part of finding a good story idea already achieved.
The main characters feel like they’re constantly at maximum emotion without any levels or exposition to really justify why they’re yelling at each other for the hundredth time. A lot of moments this felt almost like a screenplay instead of a story from a characters point of view.
All this being said a lot of these are skills that come with development and experience in writing with the hard part of finding a good story idea already achieved.
February 25, 2023
The story centers around Maggie and Wren a seemingly strong couple who thought they had faced adversity through Maggie's past and both are seeking a fresh start.
They decide on a whim to purchase an old estate after a whirlwind weekend visit to New Haven. Their relationship is put through many tests that only the strongest could survive once the many ghosts of the past surface for Maggie, Wren, and the house they live in.
Fast paced and an enjoyable read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
They decide on a whim to purchase an old estate after a whirlwind weekend visit to New Haven. Their relationship is put through many tests that only the strongest could survive once the many ghosts of the past surface for Maggie, Wren, and the house they live in.
Fast paced and an enjoyable read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 28, 2023
Ehhhh…. Its ok. Lots of typos and added or missing words that didn’t make sense.
The story ended super abruptly with what was obviously going to happen so not a lot of suspense. I read this slowly before bed for about a month and was happy to finally be done with it.
I’m glad that at the end Maggie and Wren broke up. Wren was emotionally and mentally abusive. I would read a chapter and be so mad at how she talked to Maggie. That is not a partner. Felt like I was reading a CIS-Het relationship honestly with how Wren was talking to her wife.
The story ended super abruptly with what was obviously going to happen so not a lot of suspense. I read this slowly before bed for about a month and was happy to finally be done with it.
I’m glad that at the end Maggie and Wren broke up. Wren was emotionally and mentally abusive. I would read a chapter and be so mad at how she talked to Maggie. That is not a partner. Felt like I was reading a CIS-Het relationship honestly with how Wren was talking to her wife.
October 24, 2024
DNF at page 139
I've been going back and forth about finishing this, and reached the conclusion that I could tough it out. I thought this would be an okay-ish read, but I reached my limit. I can look passed most of the typos and missing words, those aren't necessarily dealbreakers, even if it's a bit annoying. But the story doesn't flow very well in places, those parts could have done with some better editing.
I was also expecting way more tension, and for this to be more creepy.
Anyway, I'm disappointed. I thought this would have been a book I really would have liked.
I've been going back and forth about finishing this, and reached the conclusion that I could tough it out. I thought this would be an okay-ish read, but I reached my limit. I can look passed most of the typos and missing words, those aren't necessarily dealbreakers, even if it's a bit annoying. But the story doesn't flow very well in places, those parts could have done with some better editing.
I was also expecting way more tension, and for this to be more creepy.
Anyway, I'm disappointed. I thought this would have been a book I really would have liked.
November 13, 2024
Lacking
I liked the main story, but unfortunately, it fell flat because the characters grated on my nerves so badly. We follow Maggie and Wren, a lesbian couple, who, after some trying times, decide to move. Once they move, Maggie starts being haunted by a ghost named Laura.
My biggest issue with this book was the huge plotholes and storyline that were left unfinished, as well as Maggie and Wren just seeming to hate each other through the whole book. I genuinely wondered more about their interactions as a couple than I did about Luara's mysterious death.
I liked the main story, but unfortunately, it fell flat because the characters grated on my nerves so badly. We follow Maggie and Wren, a lesbian couple, who, after some trying times, decide to move. Once they move, Maggie starts being haunted by a ghost named Laura.
My biggest issue with this book was the huge plotholes and storyline that were left unfinished, as well as Maggie and Wren just seeming to hate each other through the whole book. I genuinely wondered more about their interactions as a couple than I did about Luara's mysterious death.
June 12, 2023
Suspenseful and sad, but good. I vacillated between being supportive of both the main characters and being frustrated with both of them at different stages. The plot was solid till around the end where an ill thought out attack on one of them when both of them were present kind of muddled the waters for me. Given the intended victim was often on her own, it seemed out of place. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the overall story.
January 2, 2024
Excellent Horror Story
Mia wrote a fantastic dark fantasy story that resonates with NHs own historical paranormal stories. I love how a small nh town is her main setting and how her characters interacted with it and each other. I could not stop reading the story and would recommend it to anyone interested in the paranormal and murder mysteries. Can not wait to see what her next story will be.
Mia wrote a fantastic dark fantasy story that resonates with NHs own historical paranormal stories. I love how a small nh town is her main setting and how her characters interacted with it and each other. I could not stop reading the story and would recommend it to anyone interested in the paranormal and murder mysteries. Can not wait to see what her next story will be.
July 17, 2024
I enjoyed this haunted house story. Two women trying to put a traumatic past for one of them behind buy an old house in a small town. The town knows the horrible history of the house but don't offer much explanation to the new owners. One of the fmcs seeing and hears things happening and feels compelled to help the spirit that haunts. The other fmc is very skeptical and not supportive of her wife.
Overall I liked the idea but it fell short in some areas.
Overall I liked the idea but it fell short in some areas.
March 3, 2025
Overall I really liked the concept of the book! The only thing I had a hard time with was some of the writing. The use of the same names over and over in the same small paragraph seemed excessive and there was so many spelling, grammar and overfall sentence mistakes that it took me out of the story.
May 3, 2025
Terrible! The storyline was okay, so much more detail could’ve been added! I don’t know if it was my kindle or what, but the amount of writing errors was wildly insane. Many sentences were confusing and not well written. I think the author could’ve done more with the storyline without the writing being as confusing as it was.
October 30, 2023
Mia Faller is an author to watch. This is my second read by her, the first being Human Glamours which I LOVED. Buried Women Speak is incredible. Her prose is strong and her characters are rich and interesting. Highly recommend. Mia is an insta-buy author for me.
January 10, 2024
Found this book at a thrift shop and honestly read it for the cover. Was pleased that it turned out to center a lesbian couple. Enjoyed the mystery of the main character being haunted by past home's ghost.
January 29, 2024
The story line was good but not scary tbh. I think they glossed over a few points and still not really sure what happened with Wren and Maggie in the end but I still enjoyed it and it was a nice easy holiday read
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