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Find Them
LOT 16 WAS NEVER TO BE SOLD.
Generations pass and the estate's directive is overturned.
Situated on a grassy hilltop overlooking a lake and wildlife preserve, the 30-acre parcel is perfect for Nora and Dex. They'll escape their city's rising crime, build a home with an amazing view, work remotely, and start a family.
Only, their idyllic sanctuary becomes anything but.
A troubled spirit haunts the land, forcing Nora to find clues to an unsolved mystery. Clues, which have been hidden for 70 years.
Nora must find them or risk the lives of those she loves.
Generations pass and the estate's directive is overturned.
Situated on a grassy hilltop overlooking a lake and wildlife preserve, the 30-acre parcel is perfect for Nora and Dex. They'll escape their city's rising crime, build a home with an amazing view, work remotely, and start a family.
Only, their idyllic sanctuary becomes anything but.
A troubled spirit haunts the land, forcing Nora to find clues to an unsolved mystery. Clues, which have been hidden for 70 years.
Nora must find them or risk the lives of those she loves.
314 pages, Hardcover
First published July 17, 2023
115 people are currently reading
964 people want to read
About the author
Julia Ash
5 books322 followersJULIA ASH’S fifth published book is FIND THEM (2023), her second in ghost fiction. This novel and MYSTIFIED (2022) were inspired by growing up in a haunted house in Pennsylvania.
MYSTIFIED earned Honorable Mention from Writer’s Digest in its 2022 Self-Published E-Book Awards.
Julia has also authored a dark fantasy series: The ELI Chronicles. This series includes THE ONE AND ONLY (2018), THE TETHER (2019), and THE TURNING POINT (2020).
THE TURNING POINT earned Honorable Mention from Writer’s Digest in its 2020 Self-Published E-Book Awards and was a Semi-Finalist for the 2020 BookLife Prize competition, sponsored by Publishers Weekly.
Julia lives with her husband and pups on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and also calls the Pocono Mountains “home.”
MYSTIFIED earned Honorable Mention from Writer’s Digest in its 2022 Self-Published E-Book Awards.
Julia has also authored a dark fantasy series: The ELI Chronicles. This series includes THE ONE AND ONLY (2018), THE TETHER (2019), and THE TURNING POINT (2020).
THE TURNING POINT earned Honorable Mention from Writer’s Digest in its 2020 Self-Published E-Book Awards and was a Semi-Finalist for the 2020 BookLife Prize competition, sponsored by Publishers Weekly.
Julia lives with her husband and pups on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and also calls the Pocono Mountains “home.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
October 22, 2023
A woman gets pushed off a platform at a train station, right in front of a train. The near-death experience changes her. So she and her husband decide to move to the safety of the countryside.
After they purchase their land, the woman finds the words “find them” carved into a flagstone. She sees a ghastly-looking girl. And the spooky situations start to escalate from there.
It becomes clear their countryside paradise isn’t as safe as they thought it would be. To be able to enjoy the next chapter of her life in peace, the woman realizes that she needs to dig into the land’s past and solve the mystery of the girl.
It’s much more of an atmospheric paranormal mystery story, rather than the scary ghost horror story I was expecting it to be. There are a few spooky scenes in here, but it’s not the core of the story. The mystery plot takes a bit of time to get going. But once it does, it’s quite gripping and keeps you hooked. And there’s a couple of good twists to be found here. The short chapters also allow you to fly through the pages, making this quite an enjoyable and fast-paced read.
It’s a bit weird that the protagonist is more distraught by something happening to her chickens than to her loving husband though. And the ending is solid and satisfying, though it can feel a bit underwhelming compared to the rest of the story.
Overall, a fast-paced and entertaining paranormal mystery story with some horror influences.
After they purchase their land, the woman finds the words “find them” carved into a flagstone. She sees a ghastly-looking girl. And the spooky situations start to escalate from there.
It becomes clear their countryside paradise isn’t as safe as they thought it would be. To be able to enjoy the next chapter of her life in peace, the woman realizes that she needs to dig into the land’s past and solve the mystery of the girl.
It’s much more of an atmospheric paranormal mystery story, rather than the scary ghost horror story I was expecting it to be. There are a few spooky scenes in here, but it’s not the core of the story. The mystery plot takes a bit of time to get going. But once it does, it’s quite gripping and keeps you hooked. And there’s a couple of good twists to be found here. The short chapters also allow you to fly through the pages, making this quite an enjoyable and fast-paced read.
It’s a bit weird that the protagonist is more distraught by something happening to her chickens than to her loving husband though. And the ending is solid and satisfying, though it can feel a bit underwhelming compared to the rest of the story.
Overall, a fast-paced and entertaining paranormal mystery story with some horror influences.
August 14, 2023
Haunting, gripping, tense, chilling and atmospheric. Find Them had so many elements that I love in books.
Nora and Dex decide to leave the city behind after a frightening event that left Nora shaken. They decided to leave the hustle and bustle of city life behind in lieu of building a home on a relaxing and scenic parcel of land overlooking a lake. It is the beautiful and idyllic refuge they are looking for. But Lot 16, which they bought, was never meant to be sold.
Small towns have long memories, and the locals claim the land is haunted. Then things begin to go bump in the night, the daytime, heck things go bump at any time! It appears that locals were right, their home/land is indeed haunted. A ghostly apparition (Isabelle) and the words FIND THEM begin to appear.
This was a chilling and atmospheric mystery that had me turning the pages and checking to see how much salt I had on hand (just in case). Julia Ash did a fantastic job setting the stage for this haunted mystery. Tension and dread flowed throughout this book. The mystery about what happened to the one woman was riveting. I enjoyed how the timeline in the past was told through diary/journal entries. Plus, the interactions with the ghosts were spooky and intense.
There were quite a few twists and turns in this book which kept the book moving and me fully invested in what was going to be revealed.
Well written, chilling, haunting and atmospheric!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own!
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Nora and Dex decide to leave the city behind after a frightening event that left Nora shaken. They decided to leave the hustle and bustle of city life behind in lieu of building a home on a relaxing and scenic parcel of land overlooking a lake. It is the beautiful and idyllic refuge they are looking for. But Lot 16, which they bought, was never meant to be sold.
Small towns have long memories, and the locals claim the land is haunted. Then things begin to go bump in the night, the daytime, heck things go bump at any time! It appears that locals were right, their home/land is indeed haunted. A ghostly apparition (Isabelle) and the words FIND THEM begin to appear.
This was a chilling and atmospheric mystery that had me turning the pages and checking to see how much salt I had on hand (just in case). Julia Ash did a fantastic job setting the stage for this haunted mystery. Tension and dread flowed throughout this book. The mystery about what happened to the one woman was riveting. I enjoyed how the timeline in the past was told through diary/journal entries. Plus, the interactions with the ghosts were spooky and intense.
There were quite a few twists and turns in this book which kept the book moving and me fully invested in what was going to be revealed.
Well written, chilling, haunting and atmospheric!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own!
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
August 17, 2025
4 stars ⭐️
“𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐈 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝.
𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙡.
𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚.
𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙚.”
𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛
Find Them follows Nora Davis, who, after a tragic incident decides to settle, build her forever home and start a family. And LOT 16 was perfect for that. Situated on the grassy hilltop overlooking a lake, it was the perfect sanctuary. A perfect sanctuary with dangerous secrets…
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
A chilling and thrilling, hauntingly mysterious story about a woman who struggles to save her family from a vengeful spirit, and to find the truth hidden for centuries!
I really love it! From the get-go, the dreadful situations start creeping in. One by one, the layers started unfolding and I couldn’t stop reading.. it was an intense page-turner that kept me hooked till the end..
The dual nature of Nora’s life was so amusing - one moment she’s feeding the chicken and the next fighting for her life from a deadly ghost👻 I loved her character immensely!
She tackled things head-on.. didn’t shy away from showing how scared she was of the situation. Her research and actions showed her persistence and courage. Love that her character development was so spirited (pun intended😉).
Moreover, I really loved the plot, the different timelines and the connections in them. From the supernatural to the mystery to the characters, everything was perfectly placed. And the story keeps you on edge with its intensity..
The action scenes were thrilling and I loved Nora’s defence mechanism against the ghosts. The salt bomb necklace is so innovative😆. Plus, there were some twists and turns, which I guessed easily but it didn't hamper my reading experience.
But, that ending! I mean, it was good and satisfactory but it could’ve been better. Because “How is the ghost defeated so easily with the kind of dangerous power it had??“
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐓𝐋;𝐃𝐑)
Overall, an extremely entertaining, fast-paced and captivating horror/mystery.. that’s cosy and incredibly thrilling! With an intense atmosphere and amazing character development, the ending could have been more intense and impactful..
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲, 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐈𝐁𝐏𝐀) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐀𝐬𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞-𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.
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“𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐈 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝.
𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙡.
𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚.
𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙚.”
𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛
Find Them follows Nora Davis, who, after a tragic incident decides to settle, build her forever home and start a family. And LOT 16 was perfect for that. Situated on the grassy hilltop overlooking a lake, it was the perfect sanctuary. A perfect sanctuary with dangerous secrets…
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
A chilling and thrilling, hauntingly mysterious story about a woman who struggles to save her family from a vengeful spirit, and to find the truth hidden for centuries!
I really love it! From the get-go, the dreadful situations start creeping in. One by one, the layers started unfolding and I couldn’t stop reading.. it was an intense page-turner that kept me hooked till the end..
The dual nature of Nora’s life was so amusing - one moment she’s feeding the chicken and the next fighting for her life from a deadly ghost👻 I loved her character immensely!
She tackled things head-on.. didn’t shy away from showing how scared she was of the situation. Her research and actions showed her persistence and courage. Love that her character development was so spirited (pun intended😉).
Moreover, I really loved the plot, the different timelines and the connections in them. From the supernatural to the mystery to the characters, everything was perfectly placed. And the story keeps you on edge with its intensity..
The action scenes were thrilling and I loved Nora’s defence mechanism against the ghosts. The salt bomb necklace is so innovative😆. Plus, there were some twists and turns, which I guessed easily but it didn't hamper my reading experience.
But, that ending! I mean, it was good and satisfactory but it could’ve been better. Because “How is the ghost defeated so easily with the kind of dangerous power it had??“
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐓𝐋;𝐃𝐑)
Overall, an extremely entertaining, fast-paced and captivating horror/mystery.. that’s cosy and incredibly thrilling! With an intense atmosphere and amazing character development, the ending could have been more intense and impactful..
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲, 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐈𝐁𝐏𝐀) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐀𝐬𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞-𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.
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August 8, 2023
Haunted mystery
Julia Ash has a very entertaining writing style. I've read all her novels and loved them all.
What more can you want from a haunting and a murder mystery.
Excellent character development. Positively a thrill ride from beginning to end.
Julia Ash has a very entertaining writing style. I've read all her novels and loved them all.
What more can you want from a haunting and a murder mystery.
Excellent character development. Positively a thrill ride from beginning to end.
August 25, 2023
So, I am definitely a sucker for stories about things that go Bump in the night. I'll take stories about the supernatural over anything else horror any time. This story definitely fits the bill, and my interest was piqued from the moment I read the blurb on the back cover - 'A troubled spirit...'; 'an unsolved mystery...'; 'clues that have been hidden for 70 years...' - I'm in!
I've read multiple books by this author now, and I feel a certain comfort in the writing style. I find that the story flows by and I'm easily caught up in the telling of the tale. The scenery is dark and plays its part, while the characters are all believable and easy to support or despise, whatever the case may be. And I'll repeat something I said in a review for another book by this author, I enjoy the good feelings that I get from reading these books, a welcome change of pace to the majority of grimdark that I read elsewhere (and certainly not to say this book doesn't have its dark moments - it does!).
As to the story itself, I quite enjoyed the mystery and found myself turning pages faster hoping to get to the resolution. And the ending is satisfying, in a good way.
Overall, for me, I'm going with 4.5/5.0 stars as I quite enjoyed the emotional ride. Looking forward to the next book by this author.
I've read multiple books by this author now, and I feel a certain comfort in the writing style. I find that the story flows by and I'm easily caught up in the telling of the tale. The scenery is dark and plays its part, while the characters are all believable and easy to support or despise, whatever the case may be. And I'll repeat something I said in a review for another book by this author, I enjoy the good feelings that I get from reading these books, a welcome change of pace to the majority of grimdark that I read elsewhere (and certainly not to say this book doesn't have its dark moments - it does!).
As to the story itself, I quite enjoyed the mystery and found myself turning pages faster hoping to get to the resolution. And the ending is satisfying, in a good way.
Overall, for me, I'm going with 4.5/5.0 stars as I quite enjoyed the emotional ride. Looking forward to the next book by this author.
September 24, 2023
Solid 3.5 stars rounded up. Enjoyed the ghost descriptions and felt they were done well, easily visualized. Didn’t really creep me out, explained well without the chilling aspect. Didn’t keep my from sleeping at night. Did find some of the Ouija board stuff silly, use of shit de la shit and f*uckity f*uck odd or out of place. I’d definitely check out more of the authors work and would recommend a read!
Thanks to netgalley and independent book publishers association for my advanced electronic reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to netgalley and independent book publishers association for my advanced electronic reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 26, 2023
Gorgeous visuals, classic chilling encounters, and a heart wrenching mystery are at the heart of this well told supernatural novel. This is what a good ghost story looks like! From the very beginning I was pulled into Nora and Dex's story. Their decision to move to the rural countryside set up the plot nicely as they begin to discover all is not as it seems at Windy Hill Farm. Nora begins to experience unsettling but small encounters that slowly grow into more and more alarming incidents that she and even the pragmatic Dex cannot ignore. As things start happening in their day to day lives, Nora finds herself racing against the clock to research the mysterious haunting surrounding lot 16.
Ash sets an excellent tempo to her book that builds the stakes ever higher as the story proceeds. I found myself rather jumpy while I was reading this at midnight last night, absolutely unable to put the story down. As Nora gradually uncovers the truth about the history of the lot and her new home, it was simply impossible not to be sucked in by Ash's storytelling. A few twists and turns along the way will keep readers invested in Nora's journey and the final outcome of the haunting at lot 16.
Adding to the fun is the fact that in her notes, Ash discloses that she actually grew up in a haunted home. Knowing that the author likely drew on relevant life experiences added to the heart pounding moments of the novel. Overall, the pacing is great and the attention to detail really made this one an easy read. Her ability to plant hints at where the story *might* head while also throwing in enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing makes me excited to see what else Ash will write in the future.
Ash sets an excellent tempo to her book that builds the stakes ever higher as the story proceeds. I found myself rather jumpy while I was reading this at midnight last night, absolutely unable to put the story down. As Nora gradually uncovers the truth about the history of the lot and her new home, it was simply impossible not to be sucked in by Ash's storytelling. A few twists and turns along the way will keep readers invested in Nora's journey and the final outcome of the haunting at lot 16.
Adding to the fun is the fact that in her notes, Ash discloses that she actually grew up in a haunted home. Knowing that the author likely drew on relevant life experiences added to the heart pounding moments of the novel. Overall, the pacing is great and the attention to detail really made this one an easy read. Her ability to plant hints at where the story *might* head while also throwing in enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing makes me excited to see what else Ash will write in the future.
September 6, 2023
4-4.5 stars
Nora was traumatized by an attack in the city and is now trying to get away from sources of anxiety that manifest fear. Like so many, she chose nature and a rural existence away from city life's stresses with her husband to get back to being happy. Having a custom farm in Pennsylvania near a lake and so much natural beauty seemed ideal; but things begin to happen. This land was never meant to be sold and the reasons why begin to haunt Nora and Dex. The danger is real and becomes worse as time goes by. Dex is hurt; leaving a newly pregnant Nora to face the danger coming her way. Can she do this alone?
What does this ghost want from her? Can she withstand any dangers until her husband is well? Can she find logs to grip onto when it feels like she is awash in drowning rapids?
I received a copy of this title from the author in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed seeing the character of Nora transform and realize she not only had to ask for help, but she had to take action herself and stay aware. She could not "be an ostrich". I loved her bond with Biddy and I was glad to see that she did not give up. Anything worth it is going to be a helluva fight.
I also enjoyed reading the journal entries until they got icky. The book told a story that is hard to tell, even harder to hear, but that needs to be in awareness. Predators are everywhere. So is mental illness.
Nora was traumatized by an attack in the city and is now trying to get away from sources of anxiety that manifest fear. Like so many, she chose nature and a rural existence away from city life's stresses with her husband to get back to being happy. Having a custom farm in Pennsylvania near a lake and so much natural beauty seemed ideal; but things begin to happen. This land was never meant to be sold and the reasons why begin to haunt Nora and Dex. The danger is real and becomes worse as time goes by. Dex is hurt; leaving a newly pregnant Nora to face the danger coming her way. Can she do this alone?
What does this ghost want from her? Can she withstand any dangers until her husband is well? Can she find logs to grip onto when it feels like she is awash in drowning rapids?
I received a copy of this title from the author in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed seeing the character of Nora transform and realize she not only had to ask for help, but she had to take action herself and stay aware. She could not "be an ostrich". I loved her bond with Biddy and I was glad to see that she did not give up. Anything worth it is going to be a helluva fight.
I also enjoyed reading the journal entries until they got icky. The book told a story that is hard to tell, even harder to hear, but that needs to be in awareness. Predators are everywhere. So is mental illness.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2023
While this book didn't quite reach a solid five-star rating for me, there were some standout elements that I genuinely appreciated. The author's adept portrayal of the setting and the overall atmosphere of the book was truly commendable. I found myself completely immersed in the story, walking alongside the characters on their journey.
However, the plot of the story left me somewhat underwhelmed, and I couldn't help but feel that it could have been condensed or streamlined. It's worth noting that another reader with a particular interest in this genre may not share the same sentiment.
In summary, this book was well-executed, with a notable focus on setting and atmosphere. While it didn't reach the pinnacle of a five-star rating for me, it certainly had its merits and is likely to be enjoyed by those with a penchant for this type of storytelling.
However, the plot of the story left me somewhat underwhelmed, and I couldn't help but feel that it could have been condensed or streamlined. It's worth noting that another reader with a particular interest in this genre may not share the same sentiment.
In summary, this book was well-executed, with a notable focus on setting and atmosphere. While it didn't reach the pinnacle of a five-star rating for me, it certainly had its merits and is likely to be enjoyed by those with a penchant for this type of storytelling.
September 25, 2023
Like your Horror implacable? Like ghosts with Juggernaut energy who just.won't.stop? Looking for long-unsolved unfinished business holding spirits back from finally entering the Afterlife?
FIND THEM has all this maximally, in addition to an anxiety-ridden protagonist who experiences a near-life-ending event, only to discover she and her beloved husband are unwanted in their newly constructed "forever home." No, not by neighbors; they haven't any. Not by Wildlife. By GHOSTS! FIND THEM is wonderful, simultaneously heartwarming, heartbreaking, and terrifying. I fell for Nora, Dex, Nora's sister Madeleine, and in-the-past characters Isabelle and Victoria. Author Julia Ash pens villains who will turn your hair white; while the character evolution is plausible and super-appreciated.
Caution:
February 12, 2024
Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Find Them by Julia Ash in exchange for an honest review. This was a deliciously spooky book that was a fun read. I always love finding new authors and new writing styles. I've already looked for more books by Julia Ash.
September 1, 2023
I really liked this book. It was a fast read and I was invested in the main character. The story was gripping and kept me guessing. Will definitely read more from this author.
November 15, 2023
Firstly thank you NetGalley for approving this title for me. Being the first time reading a book by Julia Ash I was very surprised how much I enjoyed this book. It kept me intrigued the whole time. Find Them is a hauntingly themed mystery. Julia keeps us guessing the whole time what was going to happen around every corner. Nora and Dex were, dare we to say, city hipsters when a traumatic event pushes them to get away from the city. They find a rural farm in the hills, one with a deeper history than they could ever imagine. One tragedy after the next kept happening to them at the farm. Nora felt things were off when finally a ghost appears. Nora fights for her family and to get to the bottom of the ghost's story and wants. Nothing can prepare them for what transcends on their "slice of heaven". Nothing is what you would expect.....
October 27, 2023
'The living versus the dead'
in an edge of the seat haunted house whodunit of the best kind.
I kid you not people.
Find Them is everything a good ghost murder mystery should be like!
Chilling... atmospheric... gripping... unputdownable. From the very first chapter to the very last.
It starts with a bang and doesn't let up till the last page. Something that's quite difficult to achieve with any book, but Julia Ash does it in style.
Here, she gives us the story of Nora and Dex, who want to escape their city's rising crime and build a home on a grassy hilltop overlooking a lake and wildlife preserve in Pennsylvania.
"But sometimes people didn't get what they wanted. Trouble sought them out. At no fault of their own."
Life has a twisted sense of humor after all, and Nora's once normal world is slowly but surely turned upside down. Because her forever home is haunted.
I'm not gonna give you any details about the why or how, because it's best you go into this blind and discover it all alongside Nora. But I will tell you what to expect.
An excellent page turner that ticks all the boxes of a well-crafted paranormal murder mystery.
The pace is excellent, with stakes set higher at every step. The mystery intriguing to the point of addiction and the setting so well described that you can easily picture every nook and cranny.
The characters are the perfectly imperfect kind who could be your neighbour next door, both main and side cast included. Each with their own individual voice and specific quirks, practically leaping from the page. But my favourite was Nora. Your average freeze on the spot afraid of your own shadow kind of girl who could actually be me. Her growth and transformation from that frozen-in-fear young woman to the scared-but-determined-to-kick-ass lady with a purpose .... masterfully done!!
I LOVED Nora.
And the best part of it all... the atmosphere! Ash manages to convey such a vivid atmospheric picture that you literally get that eerie need to look over your shoulder where something might be lurking in the shadows. Goosebumps included. I'm going to have to tip my hat to her for that.
This novel doesn't read like fiction. It feels so damn real that you leave and breathe the story alongside Nora.
And since the author herself grew up in a haunted house in Pennsylvania, I do have to wonder how much of Find Them was based on real life experience. Most of it I'd presume.
Find Them is the best ghost mystery I've read this year.
A must read if you're a fan of the genre.
Happy reading everyone
and remember:
"When you fuck with karma, it'll high side you on the asphalt"
And sometimes you might just need to grab it by the horns and point it in the right direction.
Find this review and more over at The Magic Book Corner
I kid you not people.
Find Them is everything a good ghost murder mystery should be like!
Chilling... atmospheric... gripping... unputdownable. From the very first chapter to the very last.
It starts with a bang and doesn't let up till the last page. Something that's quite difficult to achieve with any book, but Julia Ash does it in style.
Here, she gives us the story of Nora and Dex, who want to escape their city's rising crime and build a home on a grassy hilltop overlooking a lake and wildlife preserve in Pennsylvania.
"But sometimes people didn't get what they wanted. Trouble sought them out. At no fault of their own."
Life has a twisted sense of humor after all, and Nora's once normal world is slowly but surely turned upside down. Because her forever home is haunted.
I'm not gonna give you any details about the why or how, because it's best you go into this blind and discover it all alongside Nora. But I will tell you what to expect.
An excellent page turner that ticks all the boxes of a well-crafted paranormal murder mystery.
The pace is excellent, with stakes set higher at every step. The mystery intriguing to the point of addiction and the setting so well described that you can easily picture every nook and cranny.
The characters are the perfectly imperfect kind who could be your neighbour next door, both main and side cast included. Each with their own individual voice and specific quirks, practically leaping from the page. But my favourite was Nora. Your average freeze on the spot afraid of your own shadow kind of girl who could actually be me. Her growth and transformation from that frozen-in-fear young woman to the scared-but-determined-to-kick-ass lady with a purpose .... masterfully done!!
I LOVED Nora.
And the best part of it all... the atmosphere! Ash manages to convey such a vivid atmospheric picture that you literally get that eerie need to look over your shoulder where something might be lurking in the shadows. Goosebumps included. I'm going to have to tip my hat to her for that.
This novel doesn't read like fiction. It feels so damn real that you leave and breathe the story alongside Nora.
And since the author herself grew up in a haunted house in Pennsylvania, I do have to wonder how much of Find Them was based on real life experience. Most of it I'd presume.
Find Them is the best ghost mystery I've read this year.
A must read if you're a fan of the genre.
Happy reading everyone
and remember:
"When you fuck with karma, it'll high side you on the asphalt"
And sometimes you might just need to grab it by the horns and point it in the right direction.
Find this review and more over at The Magic Book Corner
December 17, 2023
It’s books like these that truly make me love this genre. I love sitting down and reading a book that makes me question EVERYTHING.
This book from the very first page actually gave me an American Horror Story: Roanoke vibe and I loved it.
I loved the use of diary entries to give us the answers and insight into the past to help solve the problems in the present. It was so much fun learning along with Nora what was happening. I admit I was way off with my assumptions on the killer but I am glad I was because it made reading the reveal more fun for me.
I found that too often when authors write a paranormal thriller they give too much away but Find Them left me guessing from the very last page.
This is an author I am definitely going to read more works from.
Thank you to NetGalley and Julia Ash for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book from the very first page actually gave me an American Horror Story: Roanoke vibe and I loved it.
I loved the use of diary entries to give us the answers and insight into the past to help solve the problems in the present. It was so much fun learning along with Nora what was happening. I admit I was way off with my assumptions on the killer but I am glad I was because it made reading the reveal more fun for me.
I found that too often when authors write a paranormal thriller they give too much away but Find Them left me guessing from the very last page.
This is an author I am definitely going to read more works from.
Thank you to NetGalley and Julia Ash for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 22, 2023
This book was a haunting mystery that I was excited to get lost in.
After growing tired of the crime and hectic pace of the city, Nora and her husband Dex decide to move to a remote piece of land next to a beautiful lake. But oddly, the lot they purchased was never supposed to be sold.
Soon after they begin building their dream home, bad things start to happen. First a sinkhole in the backyard, then a horrible wailing in the wind that blew off the lake.
One day Nora sees a mysterious figure by the lake, and she gets pulled into a mystery that could destroy her dreams of a happy life in her new home.
I enjoyed the haunting tones of this book and watching the clues of the murder mystery come together. My only issue was that I had a hard time connecting with the characters. But overall, it was an enjoyable read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
After growing tired of the crime and hectic pace of the city, Nora and her husband Dex decide to move to a remote piece of land next to a beautiful lake. But oddly, the lot they purchased was never supposed to be sold.
Soon after they begin building their dream home, bad things start to happen. First a sinkhole in the backyard, then a horrible wailing in the wind that blew off the lake.
One day Nora sees a mysterious figure by the lake, and she gets pulled into a mystery that could destroy her dreams of a happy life in her new home.
I enjoyed the haunting tones of this book and watching the clues of the murder mystery come together. My only issue was that I had a hard time connecting with the characters. But overall, it was an enjoyable read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2023
Nora and Dex leave the city behind after an accident occurs suddenly. They trade their city life to live a quiet life in the new home of their dreams. Things look promising until issued plague their build and strange things start happening around the house.
After coming off of a book I didn't find to be creepy at all, I had high hopes for this paranormal thriller, and it did not disappoint. The paranormal elements start off small and build on each other, getting more unsettling as they go.
I really enjoyed the writing and character development. It was great to see Nora, an already likeable character, become more likeable as she faced the paranormal in her new homestead. I also enjoyed the added diary elements to get more insight into the other pivotal characters. Unfortunately for me, the twist wasn't as surprising as I would have hoped, though I did enjoy the overall end of the book.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Independent Book Publishers Associstion, and author Julia Ash for allowing me the pleasure of reading this ARC.
Publication Date: July 18, 2023
After coming off of a book I didn't find to be creepy at all, I had high hopes for this paranormal thriller, and it did not disappoint. The paranormal elements start off small and build on each other, getting more unsettling as they go.
I really enjoyed the writing and character development. It was great to see Nora, an already likeable character, become more likeable as she faced the paranormal in her new homestead. I also enjoyed the added diary elements to get more insight into the other pivotal characters. Unfortunately for me, the twist wasn't as surprising as I would have hoped, though I did enjoy the overall end of the book.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Independent Book Publishers Associstion, and author Julia Ash for allowing me the pleasure of reading this ARC.
Publication Date: July 18, 2023
August 14, 2023
Find Them by Julia Ash.
LOT 16 WAS NEVER TO BE SOLD.
Generations pass and the estate’s directive is overturned.
Situated on a grassy hilltop overlooking a lake and wildlife preserve, the 30-acre parcel is perfect for Nora and Dex. They’ll escape their city’s rising crime, build a home with an amazing view, work remotely, and start a family.
Only, their idyllic sanctuary becomes anything but.
A troubled spirit haunts the land, forcing Nora to find clues to an unsolved mystery. Clues, which have been hidden for 70 years.
Nora must find them or risk the lives of those she loves.
Although slow I did like the story. It had promise. Slow but readable. 4*.
LOT 16 WAS NEVER TO BE SOLD.
Generations pass and the estate’s directive is overturned.
Situated on a grassy hilltop overlooking a lake and wildlife preserve, the 30-acre parcel is perfect for Nora and Dex. They’ll escape their city’s rising crime, build a home with an amazing view, work remotely, and start a family.
Only, their idyllic sanctuary becomes anything but.
A troubled spirit haunts the land, forcing Nora to find clues to an unsolved mystery. Clues, which have been hidden for 70 years.
Nora must find them or risk the lives of those she loves.
Although slow I did like the story. It had promise. Slow but readable. 4*.
January 9, 2024
I really wanted to love this book. It just seemed to drag and the main character frustrated me. I guessed the ending about 40% of the way through.
September 1, 2023
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🏞️ A story about spectral justice that I found a little too predictable.
I received this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
💬 “Find them” (2023) by Julia Ash was available under Read Now on NetGalley, and the spooky blurb piqued my interest. Our protagonist is Nora, a graphic designer living in D.C. who has a near death experience on her way to work. This leads her and her husband Dex to decide to move out of the city, and they buy a lot with an amazing view where they build a farmhouse.
But strange things happen in the area from the start, and Nora wonders if it has anything to do with the recently overturned estate's directive: that lot was never to be sold. When the ghost of a girl shows up and paranormal activity puts Nora’s family in danger, she knows she only has two options: find out what the ghost wants from her, or give up on her forever home.
📝 This was just okay for me. There were some spooky scenes and the descriptions made the story feel very atmospheric. The plot seemed interesting enough, but the resolution was very predictable. And while this isn’t always necessarily bad, because finding out that you were right after following the right clues can be very satisfying, that wasn’t the case here. The author is very clear in saying that the, let’s say villain, can be A, B or C, all of whom are obvious choices. But she takes too long to reveal it was C, for the exact motivations you imagined. It was very easy to figure out exactly what happened to that ghost, which just made me frustrated with the MC!
🤔 Overall, I felt very underestimated by this book. It's like the author didn’t trust me to put 2+2 together, or even to remember things. There are a lot of very unnecessary repetitions, and the protagonist spells *everything* out for you! It also felt too long: there were a lot of descriptions of chores and the farmhouse and every step Nora took that I think could have easily been cut. Even after the mystery was solved, there were too many chapters that could have been summed up in one.
There was also a subplot about real human danger that I thought was unnecessary and mostly included as a pro-gun message 🙄 All of this to conclude that farm life isn’t necessarily safer than city life; you just have to learn how to save yourself!
tl;dr: With some thorough editing, this could have been a better story, but it felt too meandering to me.
🏞️ A story about spectral justice that I found a little too predictable.
I received this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
💬 “Find them” (2023) by Julia Ash was available under Read Now on NetGalley, and the spooky blurb piqued my interest. Our protagonist is Nora, a graphic designer living in D.C. who has a near death experience on her way to work. This leads her and her husband Dex to decide to move out of the city, and they buy a lot with an amazing view where they build a farmhouse.
But strange things happen in the area from the start, and Nora wonders if it has anything to do with the recently overturned estate's directive: that lot was never to be sold. When the ghost of a girl shows up and paranormal activity puts Nora’s family in danger, she knows she only has two options: find out what the ghost wants from her, or give up on her forever home.
📝 This was just okay for me. There were some spooky scenes and the descriptions made the story feel very atmospheric. The plot seemed interesting enough, but the resolution was very predictable. And while this isn’t always necessarily bad, because finding out that you were right after following the right clues can be very satisfying, that wasn’t the case here. The author is very clear in saying that the, let’s say villain, can be A, B or C, all of whom are obvious choices. But she takes too long to reveal it was C, for the exact motivations you imagined. It was very easy to figure out exactly what happened to that ghost, which just made me frustrated with the MC!
🤔 Overall, I felt very underestimated by this book. It's like the author didn’t trust me to put 2+2 together, or even to remember things. There are a lot of very unnecessary repetitions, and the protagonist spells *everything* out for you! It also felt too long: there were a lot of descriptions of chores and the farmhouse and every step Nora took that I think could have easily been cut. Even after the mystery was solved, there were too many chapters that could have been summed up in one.
There was also a subplot about real human danger that I thought was unnecessary and mostly included as a pro-gun message 🙄 All of this to conclude that farm life isn’t necessarily safer than city life; you just have to learn how to save yourself!
tl;dr: With some thorough editing, this could have been a better story, but it felt too meandering to me.
September 13, 2023
Now this for one was really hard to put down once you got right into it.
Find them had me hooked from the very beginning of meeting the characters and what can a say. A great choice of characters indeed.
The book was well written and I finished it in one setting, that just shows how hooked a was into it.
Cannot wait to read more from this author. Until next time
Find them had me hooked from the very beginning of meeting the characters and what can a say. A great choice of characters indeed.
The book was well written and I finished it in one setting, that just shows how hooked a was into it.
Cannot wait to read more from this author. Until next time
August 29, 2023
I really enjoyed this! I 1didn't see the ending coming and it moved at a good pace. This was an enjoyable mystery with likable characters. Special Thank You to Julia Ash, the publisher (if applicable), and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2023
Main character named Nora and her husband move to a new place they look for a place to live and find one an the lot is quick to be sold so they want to buy it right away an get the land. then she hears rumors later on that its haunted an nobody wanted it an there was always these holes appearing in the land. Then she hears from someone at a grocery store that where she is living its haunted. The writing was very creepy and I liked how it was scary when your reading it like a perfect little ghost story with a lot of chapters.
So when I was reading this book I thought it was a little too quick written when they were going to say that the place they had moved was haunted. I wish it was a little slower in talking about the haunting. It would of made the book more interesting to read. I did like about the haunting though an the clues on who this Isabelle is and how the girl was trying to find out information.
it was really good over all and I kept reading to find out the mystery. Also you couldn’t tell if it was a ghost or fugitives broken out of their jail cell since they lived next to a jail. I did love the little mystery on that one also her husband not believing her at first then being pushed and after he decided to believe her. Plus she was pregnant during the story.
So when I was reading this book I thought it was a little too quick written when they were going to say that the place they had moved was haunted. I wish it was a little slower in talking about the haunting. It would of made the book more interesting to read. I did like about the haunting though an the clues on who this Isabelle is and how the girl was trying to find out information.
it was really good over all and I kept reading to find out the mystery. Also you couldn’t tell if it was a ghost or fugitives broken out of their jail cell since they lived next to a jail. I did love the little mystery on that one also her husband not believing her at first then being pushed and after he decided to believe her. Plus she was pregnant during the story.
March 21, 2024
This is an excellent ghost story and more! It is creepy and intense with a protagonist to root for. At the beginning Nora has an encounter where she freezes like a deer in headlights and is nearly killed. This propels Nora and her husband to move to a rural farm away from the dangers of the city. But the experience also sparks a determination in Nora to be stronger and more prepared to protect herself in the future. I admired her character's growth and bravery as she encounters threats from both the real world and the supernatural. Such a well written book with so much for the readers (like me) who love a good ghost story. I will seek more by this author.
September 13, 2023
I enjoyed this book, but I felt it was a bit longer than it needed to be and the ending rushed. I did like the whole premise and the haunting side of the story. Will definitely try this author again.
January 13, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. I'm taking off a star only because some of the phrases used in the diaries weren't things in 1955. To wit: "to die for", "whatever" and "barf." And in places, it was sophomoric and read like a YA book and some of the stuff was REALLY over the top. But still, I really liked it. I hardly ever read ghost stories, so this was a nice departure.
October 29, 2023
I’m not one to believe in ghost but this book had me nervous at times! I enjoyed the short chapters and was glad this pick turned out to be good!
October 25, 2024
3.5 ⭐. This starts with a woman being pushed onto the tracks at a D C. commuter train station. After recovery from her injuries, Nora and her husband decide to move out of the city build their own place. From the beginning, strange things start happening. A very aggressive ghost girl is trying to get Nora's attention to solve mystery of her murder. A bit scary, but not too much, which is good because I'm a chicken. I also enjoyed the murder mystery part of it. This was a good spooky season read.
September 15, 2023
Find Them
By Julia Ash
5 stars
I am all about ghost stories, and this one was awesome. From start to finish, I was gripped by the writing and storyline. The characters were so neat to watch, adapt, and change throughout the story. The ghost portion was simply awesome. Isabelle was such a fascinating specter. One that was well described.
I am hard to scare when it comes to books, but this one did just that. I caught myself with goosebumps more than once. It was spooky, well written, and kept me on the edge of my seat.
I hated putting this book down. It was completely gripping. This is the first book I have read by this author, but it will not be the last.
*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*
Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews
By Julia Ash
5 stars
I am all about ghost stories, and this one was awesome. From start to finish, I was gripped by the writing and storyline. The characters were so neat to watch, adapt, and change throughout the story. The ghost portion was simply awesome. Isabelle was such a fascinating specter. One that was well described.
I am hard to scare when it comes to books, but this one did just that. I caught myself with goosebumps more than once. It was spooky, well written, and kept me on the edge of my seat.
I hated putting this book down. It was completely gripping. This is the first book I have read by this author, but it will not be the last.
*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*
Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews
September 1, 2023
Checkout the full review in my blog-
https://thatbookwasbetterb.wixsite.co...
Living versus the dead.
A ghost story with a twist of whodunit. Can you even ask for more.
Unputdownable from the very beginning.
This story literally kept me on the edge throughout. Definately a page turner. Some scene were so spooky that I had to close my eyes and relax for a while.This is exactly how a horror mystery looks like. Even the paranormal felt so real like I was there myself. I loved the fact that the author tried to keep things simple and that is what made it so real and believable.
https://thatbookwasbetterb.wixsite.co...
Living versus the dead.
A ghost story with a twist of whodunit. Can you even ask for more.
Unputdownable from the very beginning.
This story literally kept me on the edge throughout. Definately a page turner. Some scene were so spooky that I had to close my eyes and relax for a while.This is exactly how a horror mystery looks like. Even the paranormal felt so real like I was there myself. I loved the fact that the author tried to keep things simple and that is what made it so real and believable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews