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Detective Maria Miller #2
Her Lost Soul
She moves her flashlight around the dark, empty ward. How could her friends have left her alone in a place like this? But she isn’t really alone. Someone is watching. And he won’t let her leave this place alive…
Shortly before midnight, four teenagers broke into the old abandoned psychiatric hospital on Beacon Hill. Only three came out again. The missing girl – Riley Holt – is the seventeen-year-old daughter of the local police chief and she appears to have vanished into thin air. Called from Manhattan to take over the case, Detective Maria Miller and her partner Frankie Conroy uncover the sinister past of the abandoned hospital, which was once the hiding place of the notorious College Kid Killer, who never revealed the burial site of his final victim.
Then a fresh grave is discovered in the hospital’s old cemetery and Maria expects the worst. But when the remains of two young women are recovered, it appears that neither belongs to Riley. Maria and her team make the connection between the secret grave and the College Kid Killer, but with Riley still missing and her three friends unable to shed any light on her whereabouts, the case gets more complex by the minute.
Maria must delve into the hospital’s tragic past – and into the girl’s own family history – to work out what happened to Riley Holt. While the girl’s father acts the part of the distraught parent, Maria’s instincts tell her that something isn’t right. And the elderly former caretaker of the hospital seems to know more than he’s letting on. As she comes close to the terrifying truth, eyes follow Maria’s every move. She’s about to put her own life on the line but can she find Riley before it’s too late?
Perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter, Mary Stone and A. J. Rivers, this chilling second instalment in the Detective Maria Miller series from the bestselling author Helen Phifer will have you sleeping with the lights on.
Read what everyone is saying about the Detective Maria Miller
“ Omg what can I say... I devoured this book in one sitting... I had goosebumps on my goosebumps. Cancel everything and tuck into this fantastic, must read crime thriller .” Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“ Really wish that I could give more than five stars as this was so amazing .” Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“ Wow... what a book. I could not put it down .” Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“ Edge-of-the-seat, unputdownable and brilliantly terrifying .” Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“ I flew through the pages of this book! It has everything .” Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“ Thrilling and captivating... a must-read .”Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“ Addictive... I loved every moment .” Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“ Absolutely fantastic, I loved everything about it. I sat and read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down .” Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“ An exceptional read, very spooky in time for Halloween! ” Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“ The perfect spooky mystery that kept me up all night! ” Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Shortly before midnight, four teenagers broke into the old abandoned psychiatric hospital on Beacon Hill. Only three came out again. The missing girl – Riley Holt – is the seventeen-year-old daughter of the local police chief and she appears to have vanished into thin air. Called from Manhattan to take over the case, Detective Maria Miller and her partner Frankie Conroy uncover the sinister past of the abandoned hospital, which was once the hiding place of the notorious College Kid Killer, who never revealed the burial site of his final victim.
Then a fresh grave is discovered in the hospital’s old cemetery and Maria expects the worst. But when the remains of two young women are recovered, it appears that neither belongs to Riley. Maria and her team make the connection between the secret grave and the College Kid Killer, but with Riley still missing and her three friends unable to shed any light on her whereabouts, the case gets more complex by the minute.
Maria must delve into the hospital’s tragic past – and into the girl’s own family history – to work out what happened to Riley Holt. While the girl’s father acts the part of the distraught parent, Maria’s instincts tell her that something isn’t right. And the elderly former caretaker of the hospital seems to know more than he’s letting on. As she comes close to the terrifying truth, eyes follow Maria’s every move. She’s about to put her own life on the line but can she find Riley before it’s too late?
Perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter, Mary Stone and A. J. Rivers, this chilling second instalment in the Detective Maria Miller series from the bestselling author Helen Phifer will have you sleeping with the lights on.
Read what everyone is saying about the Detective Maria Miller
“ Omg what can I say... I devoured this book in one sitting... I had goosebumps on my goosebumps. Cancel everything and tuck into this fantastic, must read crime thriller .” Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“ Really wish that I could give more than five stars as this was so amazing .” Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“ Wow... what a book. I could not put it down .” Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“ Edge-of-the-seat, unputdownable and brilliantly terrifying .” Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“ I flew through the pages of this book! It has everything .” Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“ Thrilling and captivating... a must-read .”Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“ Addictive... I loved every moment .” Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“ Absolutely fantastic, I loved everything about it. I sat and read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down .” Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“ An exceptional read, very spooky in time for Halloween! ” Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“ The perfect spooky mystery that kept me up all night! ” Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
236 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2024
650 people are currently reading
496 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
December 28, 2023
Gripping, thrilling and dark! Her Lost Soul is the second book in the Detective Maria Miller series. This book can be read as a stand along but you will be missing the backstories of several of the characters, so I do highly recommend reading The Haunting on West 10th Street first. It's a fantastic book and a fast read. Speaking of fast reads, this book was fast, creepy, and hard to put down read. One thing to note, this is in the Horror category but there is no gore in it. Some horrific things happen but they are on the tame side, and I doubt readers will lose any sleep over this book. This is a creepy, sinister, and haunted feeling book. Think of it more as a supernatural crime thriller that does not disappoint.
Four teenagers enter the abandoned psychiatric hospital, but only three come out. Riley Holt never made it out of the building. Her three friends had no idea what happened to her inside the building. A search is conducted and her father, who is the local police chief, is leading the search. The teenager appears to have vanished leaving no clues behind.
Detective Maria Miller and her partner Frankie Conroy have made names for themselves solving cases that others cannot solve. Their cases have a supernatural element to them. When they begin their investigation, they investigate the facility's past and learn about some troubling things that occurred there. While interviewing former staff members, they begin to feel that one employee may know more than he is telling them.
This book was told in two timelines, each being equally engaging and interesting. The psychiatric hospital was atmospheric and spooky. In the present day it is an abandoned facility but still has a creepy and chilling feel to it. In the past, it is a functioning psychiatric facility in the 1960's. In both times, there is a sense of unease. Characters feel unsettled, the little hairs on the back of their necks sticking up. Fight or flight is kicking in, but why? What dangers does this building hold?
I loved the creepy and chilling vibe in this book. I found this book to be a gripping, atmospheric, tense, spooky and fun read. I enjoyed both Maria and Frankie. They are great characters and have fun banter and dynamic between them. I enjoy the bond that they have. Another bond to note is the friendship that forms between a Hollywood starlet and a teenage girl in the 1960's timeline.
Don't let the spooky aspect of this book scare you away. Again, this is more of a police procedural with a supernatural element. I enjoyed this book that was not only entertaining, but it also showcased relationships in many forms i.e. between friends, between family members, between co-workers and between the physical world and supernatural world.
This series is a gem. It is entertaining, spooky, captivating and a fun fast read. This book is low in pages but packs a punch. I was so excited when I saw this book was available, and it was worth the wait. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Gripping, entertaining, spooky, chilling and well written.
#HerLostSoul #NetGalley #HelenPhifer #StormPublishing
Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Four teenagers enter the abandoned psychiatric hospital, but only three come out. Riley Holt never made it out of the building. Her three friends had no idea what happened to her inside the building. A search is conducted and her father, who is the local police chief, is leading the search. The teenager appears to have vanished leaving no clues behind.
Detective Maria Miller and her partner Frankie Conroy have made names for themselves solving cases that others cannot solve. Their cases have a supernatural element to them. When they begin their investigation, they investigate the facility's past and learn about some troubling things that occurred there. While interviewing former staff members, they begin to feel that one employee may know more than he is telling them.
This book was told in two timelines, each being equally engaging and interesting. The psychiatric hospital was atmospheric and spooky. In the present day it is an abandoned facility but still has a creepy and chilling feel to it. In the past, it is a functioning psychiatric facility in the 1960's. In both times, there is a sense of unease. Characters feel unsettled, the little hairs on the back of their necks sticking up. Fight or flight is kicking in, but why? What dangers does this building hold?
I loved the creepy and chilling vibe in this book. I found this book to be a gripping, atmospheric, tense, spooky and fun read. I enjoyed both Maria and Frankie. They are great characters and have fun banter and dynamic between them. I enjoy the bond that they have. Another bond to note is the friendship that forms between a Hollywood starlet and a teenage girl in the 1960's timeline.
Don't let the spooky aspect of this book scare you away. Again, this is more of a police procedural with a supernatural element. I enjoyed this book that was not only entertaining, but it also showcased relationships in many forms i.e. between friends, between family members, between co-workers and between the physical world and supernatural world.
This series is a gem. It is entertaining, spooky, captivating and a fun fast read. This book is low in pages but packs a punch. I was so excited when I saw this book was available, and it was worth the wait. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Gripping, entertaining, spooky, chilling and well written.
#HerLostSoul #NetGalley #HelenPhifer #StormPublishing
Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
January 25, 2025
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Her Lost Soul is the 2nd-installment to Helen Phifer's Paranormal Mystery series, Detective Maria Miller.
As the name suggests, this series follows Detective Maria Miller and her partner, Frankie Conroy, as they investigate possible paranormal cases, in and around NYC.
I really enjoyed the first book in the series, The Haunting on West 10th Street, so was looking forward to being reunited with Maria and Frankie.
Just to be clear, this is actually a Paranormal Mystery series. I know a lot of Readers enjoy the feel of, is it paranormal, is it not, but then when it comes right down to it, they don't actually enjoy a paranormal conclusion, or explanation.
This isn't a Scooby-Doo situation, where the mask is pulled off at the end to reveal the old librarian, who has been tricking everyone with mirrors and lighting effects.
The case in this novel is the disappearance of 17-year old, Riley Holt, daughter of a local Sheriff, who went missing while exploring an abandoned asylum with some friends.
Inspired by media such as Ghost Adventures, the four teens entered the asylum to explore and have some fun. Things start getting creepy though and in a sudden panic, they all flee, only noticing once they are outside that Riley is no longer with them.
Since the asylum is believed to be haunted, and after vigorous searching, no signs of Riley are found, Maria and Frankie are called in to take over the case.
As known experts in all things unexplainable, they seem like the right people for the job.
Maria and Frankie are forced to dig into the dark history of the asylum, leaving no stone unturned in their desperate search for Riley.
As with the first book in the series, this one also contains a historic perspective that is in some way connected with the current investigation.
In this case, we follow a patient at the asylum in 1960. We go back and forth between her experiences at the asylum, including the people she interacts with, and Maria and Frankie's investigation.
I did really enjoy this. It didn't hit as hard for me as the first book, I think because I didn't find the mystery as creepy as that first one.
Also, it almost felt too short. I would have enjoyed a longer build-up to the final showdown and some more explanation as to how this was all resolved. I know what the results of the resolution are, but am unclear how we got there really.
With that being said though, I still found the back-and-forth perspectives intriguing and loved learning more about Maria. She's a fun protagonist. I feel like I can relate to her and I enjoy the chemistry that she has with Frankie.
I am absolutely planning to continue on with this series. I hope there are a lot more future installments. They're fun, light reads, that can help you forget about life for a while. Finally, two thumbs up for the audiobook format.
Thank so to the publisher, Storm Publishing and Dreamscape Select, for providing me with copies to read and review. I am looking forward to more Maria Miller!
Her Lost Soul is the 2nd-installment to Helen Phifer's Paranormal Mystery series, Detective Maria Miller.
As the name suggests, this series follows Detective Maria Miller and her partner, Frankie Conroy, as they investigate possible paranormal cases, in and around NYC.
I really enjoyed the first book in the series, The Haunting on West 10th Street, so was looking forward to being reunited with Maria and Frankie.
Just to be clear, this is actually a Paranormal Mystery series. I know a lot of Readers enjoy the feel of, is it paranormal, is it not, but then when it comes right down to it, they don't actually enjoy a paranormal conclusion, or explanation.
This isn't a Scooby-Doo situation, where the mask is pulled off at the end to reveal the old librarian, who has been tricking everyone with mirrors and lighting effects.
The case in this novel is the disappearance of 17-year old, Riley Holt, daughter of a local Sheriff, who went missing while exploring an abandoned asylum with some friends.
Inspired by media such as Ghost Adventures, the four teens entered the asylum to explore and have some fun. Things start getting creepy though and in a sudden panic, they all flee, only noticing once they are outside that Riley is no longer with them.
Since the asylum is believed to be haunted, and after vigorous searching, no signs of Riley are found, Maria and Frankie are called in to take over the case.
As known experts in all things unexplainable, they seem like the right people for the job.
Maria and Frankie are forced to dig into the dark history of the asylum, leaving no stone unturned in their desperate search for Riley.
As with the first book in the series, this one also contains a historic perspective that is in some way connected with the current investigation.
In this case, we follow a patient at the asylum in 1960. We go back and forth between her experiences at the asylum, including the people she interacts with, and Maria and Frankie's investigation.
I did really enjoy this. It didn't hit as hard for me as the first book, I think because I didn't find the mystery as creepy as that first one.
Also, it almost felt too short. I would have enjoyed a longer build-up to the final showdown and some more explanation as to how this was all resolved. I know what the results of the resolution are, but am unclear how we got there really.
With that being said though, I still found the back-and-forth perspectives intriguing and loved learning more about Maria. She's a fun protagonist. I feel like I can relate to her and I enjoy the chemistry that she has with Frankie.
I am absolutely planning to continue on with this series. I hope there are a lot more future installments. They're fun, light reads, that can help you forget about life for a while. Finally, two thumbs up for the audiobook format.
Thank so to the publisher, Storm Publishing and Dreamscape Select, for providing me with copies to read and review. I am looking forward to more Maria Miller!
January 24, 2024
The story starts very strongly with four teens doing a ghosthunting trip at night in a desolate mansion that used to be a hospital for mental patients. Four go in, but only three come out, and the disappearance is investigated by New York's contemporary "Fox & Mulder" duo. Enter the ghosts but also the demon who rules all demons and who has been feeding on the pour souls who died in the hospital. It is a fast paced page turner with lots of twists and turns and sidestories, and it even has a world famous actress as one of the characters.
The characters are all well crafted and are perfectly outfitted to continue playing a role in future installments. The quartet formed by Maria, Frankie and the golden girls Missy and Emilia have funny dialogues and form a strong bond and a good basis for future adventures.
I'm usually all in favor of leaving all logic behind when reading a horror novel, but that is what I struggled with here. I don't know if it is because I expected more a detective story than a pure haunted house horror tale, but I just couldn't get past some assumptions and beliefs, especially the time travel was a bit too much for me.
A sincere thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The characters are all well crafted and are perfectly outfitted to continue playing a role in future installments. The quartet formed by Maria, Frankie and the golden girls Missy and Emilia have funny dialogues and form a strong bond and a good basis for future adventures.
I'm usually all in favor of leaving all logic behind when reading a horror novel, but that is what I struggled with here. I don't know if it is because I expected more a detective story than a pure haunted house horror tale, but I just couldn't get past some assumptions and beliefs, especially the time travel was a bit too much for me.
A sincere thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 7, 2024
This story is fast-paced, gripping, haunting, and very unpredictable. This is book two of the series, but it can be read as a standalone. There was one character that I was completely surprised and delighted that they made an appearance in this intense mystery. Parts were creepy, while others were exhilarating. The narrator did an excellent job of bringing the story to life while adding a layer of emotion and high anxiety. Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for my audiobook.
February 22, 2024
Publish date: Feb 28
Her lost soul is a dual timeline paranormal thriller, the second book in the detective Maria miller series, though can be read as a stand-alone.
The plot follows four teens who break into an abandoned psychiatric hospital in Beacon Hill, only three of them make it out.
The daughter of the local police chief, Riley, seemingly goes missing. Unbeknown to them she has somehow transported back in time to when the hospital was running, and now finds herself trapped as one of the mistreated patients.
The chapters swap back and forth between POV and timelines, showing what is happening at the same time across both timelines as the police race to find Riley.
The plot definitely had a unique and interesting concept. I enjoyed the narrator. I will say it read more like a YA thriller, and you have to take unrealistic events with a grain of salt due to the paranormal and time travel aspects. I would recommend this to younger audiences who are starting out in the thriller genre and want something a bit quirky without many jump scares.
Thank you to Dreamscape Select, Helen Phifer and NetGalley for the ALC.
Her lost soul is a dual timeline paranormal thriller, the second book in the detective Maria miller series, though can be read as a stand-alone.
The plot follows four teens who break into an abandoned psychiatric hospital in Beacon Hill, only three of them make it out.
The daughter of the local police chief, Riley, seemingly goes missing. Unbeknown to them she has somehow transported back in time to when the hospital was running, and now finds herself trapped as one of the mistreated patients.
The chapters swap back and forth between POV and timelines, showing what is happening at the same time across both timelines as the police race to find Riley.
The plot definitely had a unique and interesting concept. I enjoyed the narrator. I will say it read more like a YA thriller, and you have to take unrealistic events with a grain of salt due to the paranormal and time travel aspects. I would recommend this to younger audiences who are starting out in the thriller genre and want something a bit quirky without many jump scares.
Thank you to Dreamscape Select, Helen Phifer and NetGalley for the ALC.
January 5, 2024
Riley Holt disappears when she and 3 of her friends break into an old abandoned psychiatric hospital. Detective Maria Miller investigates the case of the missing teenager. The story goes between past and present and was creepy and chilling. This is the second book in the series and I enjoyed it just as much as the first. Thanks NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC that will be released February 28, 2024!
March 3, 2024
Narrated by Stephanie Canon
I didn't realise, going into this, that it's the second in a series. That didn't change anything for me at all. There are a few references to previous weird happenings that Maria has dealt with, but aside from that this was easily read as a standalone.
Another audio listen, and it was entertaining enough. The audio didn't really impact my read - I listened mostly attentively, and aside from most of the men sounding the same it was easy enough to hear the story as it was written.
Riley and her friends are exploring an old, abandoned mental institution (one of my favourite tropes) when she goes missing. Things about her disappearance are a little strange, so Detective Miller and her partner, Frankie, are put on the case.
These two worked well together, but I was happy to ignore most of the 'no we're just friends for real' stuff in favour of the actual story unfolding. We're given a second storyline from 1960, and I found that part particularly fascinating. Faye was an unexpected character that I was happy to meet, and I'll be googling for real-life similarities later today for sure.
Pacing was great, characters were fun and dynamic, and the story was intriguing. An easy listen.
With thanks to Netgalley for an audio ARC
I didn't realise, going into this, that it's the second in a series. That didn't change anything for me at all. There are a few references to previous weird happenings that Maria has dealt with, but aside from that this was easily read as a standalone.
Another audio listen, and it was entertaining enough. The audio didn't really impact my read - I listened mostly attentively, and aside from most of the men sounding the same it was easy enough to hear the story as it was written.
Riley and her friends are exploring an old, abandoned mental institution (one of my favourite tropes) when she goes missing. Things about her disappearance are a little strange, so Detective Miller and her partner, Frankie, are put on the case.
These two worked well together, but I was happy to ignore most of the 'no we're just friends for real' stuff in favour of the actual story unfolding. We're given a second storyline from 1960, and I found that part particularly fascinating. Faye was an unexpected character that I was happy to meet, and I'll be googling for real-life similarities later today for sure.
Pacing was great, characters were fun and dynamic, and the story was intriguing. An easy listen.
With thanks to Netgalley for an audio ARC
February 6, 2024
Detective Maria Miller #2
She moves her flashlight around the dark, empty ward. How could her friends have left her alone in a place like this? But she isn't really alone. Someone is watching. And he won't let her leave this place alive....
Shortly before midnight, four teenagers broke into the old abandoned psychiatric hospital on Beacon Hill. But only three came out again.
When Riley Holt disappeared after she and her three friends broke into an old abandoned psychiatric hospital, Detectives Maria Miller and Frankie Conway were called in to investigate. The story has a dual timeline - the past, 1960, and the present day, 2023. Part ghost story and part police procedural, it's quite a creepy and chilling read. Something evil is hiding in the shadows.
The more you read, the more the pieces start to come together. The characters are well-developed, and it has been descriptively written. Helen Phifer is one of my favourite authors, she never disappoints.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #StormPublishing and the author #HelenPhifer for my ARC of #HerLolstSoul in exchange for an honest review.
She moves her flashlight around the dark, empty ward. How could her friends have left her alone in a place like this? But she isn't really alone. Someone is watching. And he won't let her leave this place alive....
Shortly before midnight, four teenagers broke into the old abandoned psychiatric hospital on Beacon Hill. But only three came out again.
When Riley Holt disappeared after she and her three friends broke into an old abandoned psychiatric hospital, Detectives Maria Miller and Frankie Conway were called in to investigate. The story has a dual timeline - the past, 1960, and the present day, 2023. Part ghost story and part police procedural, it's quite a creepy and chilling read. Something evil is hiding in the shadows.
The more you read, the more the pieces start to come together. The characters are well-developed, and it has been descriptively written. Helen Phifer is one of my favourite authors, she never disappoints.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #StormPublishing and the author #HelenPhifer for my ARC of #HerLolstSoul in exchange for an honest review.
February 25, 2024
The past and present converge in a tale of mystery and the paranormal.....…..
Book Information
Her Lost Soul by Helen Phifer is a 236-page mystery/thriller novel with a planned publication date of February 28, 2024. Stephanie Canon narrates the audio version which spans 6 hours and 23 minutes. Thank you to Storm Publishing and Dreamscape Select for providing me an Advance Readers Copy for review.
Summary
Late one night, four teenagers break into an old, abandoned hospital, but only three come out, leaving Riley Holt, the police chief's daughter, missing. Detective Maria Miller and her partner Frankie Conroy take on the case and discover the hospital's dark past, once hiding the remains of a notorious killer's victim. With no leads from Riley's friends and suspicions surrounding her father, Maria digs into the hospital's history and Riley's family to find answers. As she gets closer to the truth, danger mounts, and Maria risks everything to locate Riley before it's too late.
My Thoughts
"Her Lost Soul" by Helen Phifer is the second installment in the Detective Maria Miller series, following the success of "The Haunting on West 10th Street." Fans of the first book will be pleased to reunite with familiar characters such as Maria, Frankie, Emilia, and Missy, although newcomers can easily delve into this follow-up as a standalone.
While Phifer's latest work maintains a supernatural undercurrent, it leans more towards a police procedural with supernatural elements rather than delving into outright horror. The story unfolds across two timelines, a technique effectively employed in the first book, offering readers glimpses into ongoing events and investigations. This structure lends an atmospheric and tense quality to the story.
However, I felt that the execution fell short at times. There are lots of instances of dubious decision-making by characters and stilted, occasionally sophomoric dialogue that may evoke comparisons to young adult thrillers. I also felt as if the pacing of this book was too brisk, resulting in a read that feels rushed and less nuanced compared to its predecessor.
In addition, the majority of the book is buildup, culminating in a relatively brief and underwhelming resolution. I found myself wishing for a longer, more substantial payoff after investing in the story's tension and suspense.
Stephanie Canon, the audiobook narrator was good at setting the right tone and handling the diverse range of male voices within the narrative.
Recommendation
"Her Lost Soul" by Helen Phifer presents an intriguing continuation of the Detective Maria Miller series, offering a blend of police procedural elements with a supernatural twist. It is a light paranormal mystery that might appeal to those seeking a suspenseful yet not overly scary read.
Rating
3 Haunted Hospital Stars
Book Information
Her Lost Soul by Helen Phifer is a 236-page mystery/thriller novel with a planned publication date of February 28, 2024. Stephanie Canon narrates the audio version which spans 6 hours and 23 minutes. Thank you to Storm Publishing and Dreamscape Select for providing me an Advance Readers Copy for review.
Summary
Late one night, four teenagers break into an old, abandoned hospital, but only three come out, leaving Riley Holt, the police chief's daughter, missing. Detective Maria Miller and her partner Frankie Conroy take on the case and discover the hospital's dark past, once hiding the remains of a notorious killer's victim. With no leads from Riley's friends and suspicions surrounding her father, Maria digs into the hospital's history and Riley's family to find answers. As she gets closer to the truth, danger mounts, and Maria risks everything to locate Riley before it's too late.
My Thoughts
"Her Lost Soul" by Helen Phifer is the second installment in the Detective Maria Miller series, following the success of "The Haunting on West 10th Street." Fans of the first book will be pleased to reunite with familiar characters such as Maria, Frankie, Emilia, and Missy, although newcomers can easily delve into this follow-up as a standalone.
While Phifer's latest work maintains a supernatural undercurrent, it leans more towards a police procedural with supernatural elements rather than delving into outright horror. The story unfolds across two timelines, a technique effectively employed in the first book, offering readers glimpses into ongoing events and investigations. This structure lends an atmospheric and tense quality to the story.
However, I felt that the execution fell short at times. There are lots of instances of dubious decision-making by characters and stilted, occasionally sophomoric dialogue that may evoke comparisons to young adult thrillers. I also felt as if the pacing of this book was too brisk, resulting in a read that feels rushed and less nuanced compared to its predecessor.
In addition, the majority of the book is buildup, culminating in a relatively brief and underwhelming resolution. I found myself wishing for a longer, more substantial payoff after investing in the story's tension and suspense.
Stephanie Canon, the audiobook narrator was good at setting the right tone and handling the diverse range of male voices within the narrative.
Recommendation
"Her Lost Soul" by Helen Phifer presents an intriguing continuation of the Detective Maria Miller series, offering a blend of police procedural elements with a supernatural twist. It is a light paranormal mystery that might appeal to those seeking a suspenseful yet not overly scary read.
Rating
3 Haunted Hospital Stars
January 11, 2025
4.00 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
THANK YOU TO NET GALLEY anD STORM PUBLISHING FOR THE ARC OF THIS NOVEL!
I like a book to get to the meat of the story and not bog me down in detail about the weather, the curtains, and what they were wearing. Yes, set the stage. Yes, give me context so I can get a sense of the environment, but I don’t need to get lost in it. Her Lost Soul fits that bill perfectly.
The big bad of this novel is the Asylum (so to speak). Yes, there is an ominous presence because it was never a good place, and yes, it held souls due to an ancient evil. (Don’t go building things on indigenous grounds) The Asylum was explained in detail, and we need that context to know about this ominous place where terrible things happened and whom it catered to. The rooms, the tower, and the grounds all needed to be laid out because they’re where the story takes place.
Her Lost Soul is set in a small town outside New York, and two detectives, Maria and Frankie, are put on a missing persons case of an unusual nature. A teenage girl was missing in a nearby town, and as a favor to a fellow detective, Maria and Frankie wanted to help bring the missing teen home.
Of course, teenagers are partly to blame by entering this abandoned building in the first place and showing off. (Have they learned nothing from scary movies …LOL) WE DON’T DISRESPECT THE DEAD. Why is everyone looking to chase ghosts when they don’t have the full knowledge or background of the supernatural? They see it on TV (which we know is scripted) and think …” Hey we can do that”. These stupid actions are the cause of awakening what's been dormant for a time to come alive.
The novel does get a little dippy, going back and forth through time (from 1960, when the asylum housed patients, to the present). I guess this helps the reader to understand things a little better, but it’s in the present that we learn about the grounds where the asylum was built. However, we still don’t get the necessary details about said evil. There should have been a backstory of how it came to fruition, exactly when it started, if, in fact, it was trapped on this ground …etc.
That being said, this was a quick read that I didn’t dread. It kept me going back to it every time, wanting more and getting more into the story, so while it’s a little flawed, I still enjoyed the overall story.
THANK YOU TO NET GALLEY anD STORM PUBLISHING FOR THE ARC OF THIS NOVEL!
I like a book to get to the meat of the story and not bog me down in detail about the weather, the curtains, and what they were wearing. Yes, set the stage. Yes, give me context so I can get a sense of the environment, but I don’t need to get lost in it. Her Lost Soul fits that bill perfectly.
The big bad of this novel is the Asylum (so to speak). Yes, there is an ominous presence because it was never a good place, and yes, it held souls due to an ancient evil. (Don’t go building things on indigenous grounds) The Asylum was explained in detail, and we need that context to know about this ominous place where terrible things happened and whom it catered to. The rooms, the tower, and the grounds all needed to be laid out because they’re where the story takes place.
Her Lost Soul is set in a small town outside New York, and two detectives, Maria and Frankie, are put on a missing persons case of an unusual nature. A teenage girl was missing in a nearby town, and as a favor to a fellow detective, Maria and Frankie wanted to help bring the missing teen home.
Of course, teenagers are partly to blame by entering this abandoned building in the first place and showing off. (Have they learned nothing from scary movies …LOL) WE DON’T DISRESPECT THE DEAD. Why is everyone looking to chase ghosts when they don’t have the full knowledge or background of the supernatural? They see it on TV (which we know is scripted) and think …” Hey we can do that”. These stupid actions are the cause of awakening what's been dormant for a time to come alive.
The novel does get a little dippy, going back and forth through time (from 1960, when the asylum housed patients, to the present). I guess this helps the reader to understand things a little better, but it’s in the present that we learn about the grounds where the asylum was built. However, we still don’t get the necessary details about said evil. There should have been a backstory of how it came to fruition, exactly when it started, if, in fact, it was trapped on this ground …etc.
That being said, this was a quick read that I didn’t dread. It kept me going back to it every time, wanting more and getting more into the story, so while it’s a little flawed, I still enjoyed the overall story.
January 18, 2024
Firstly I would like to thank netgalley and storm publishing and the fantastic author Helen phifer for an early copy of her book to read.
This is the second book,I've read the first.four teenagers enter an abandoned building a psychatic hospital only three came out.what happened to the fourth girl Riley Holt?her father conducted a search of the hospital but theres no sign of her.. Detective Maire Miller and Frankie Conway investigates. This is a creepy and chilling read.I still enjoy her crime books better more of my genre..if you enjoy spooky reads you will enjoy her books as a fantastic writer...
This book will be reviewed on goodreads and Amazon uk.
This is the second book,I've read the first.four teenagers enter an abandoned building a psychatic hospital only three came out.what happened to the fourth girl Riley Holt?her father conducted a search of the hospital but theres no sign of her.. Detective Maire Miller and Frankie Conway investigates. This is a creepy and chilling read.I still enjoy her crime books better more of my genre..if you enjoy spooky reads you will enjoy her books as a fantastic writer...
This book will be reviewed on goodreads and Amazon uk.
December 21, 2023
I really enjoyed the first in this series and so was delighted to see another addition so soon after.
Her Lost Soul follows the same format, a not too long, slice of a Mulder and Scully type partnership, detectives that examine the slightly strange.
A run down, derelict “mental asylum” that a group of teenagers break into, potential spooky goings on, demons and a disappearance of one of the teenagers - yes please!
Dual time lines with the one set in the past when the asylum was open and mistreating its patients - yes please again!
This is proving to be a great little series. Fun spooky/horror detective stories that go for the shorter page count format that suits them down to the ground.
Good characters, fun plots that, let’s face it may have some holes in them if you think about it but the books are so much fun it doesn’t really matter or detract from the enjoyment.
I said at the end of my review of the first book that I hoped we’d see another one but I didn’t expect to see one so soon after. It doesn’t affect the quality at all. These really are a great slice of escapism. I wish more authors doing similar weren’t afraid to have a page count of under 300 pages. If the story can be told in that format then just do it. Don’t pad it out. The two in this series are as lean and trim as they come(hats off to the editor) but they are still full and complete novels with nothing missing.
I can’t wait for the next in the series where Maria Miller investigates the slightly weird.
Her Lost Soul follows the same format, a not too long, slice of a Mulder and Scully type partnership, detectives that examine the slightly strange.
A run down, derelict “mental asylum” that a group of teenagers break into, potential spooky goings on, demons and a disappearance of one of the teenagers - yes please!
Dual time lines with the one set in the past when the asylum was open and mistreating its patients - yes please again!
This is proving to be a great little series. Fun spooky/horror detective stories that go for the shorter page count format that suits them down to the ground.
Good characters, fun plots that, let’s face it may have some holes in them if you think about it but the books are so much fun it doesn’t really matter or detract from the enjoyment.
I said at the end of my review of the first book that I hoped we’d see another one but I didn’t expect to see one so soon after. It doesn’t affect the quality at all. These really are a great slice of escapism. I wish more authors doing similar weren’t afraid to have a page count of under 300 pages. If the story can be told in that format then just do it. Don’t pad it out. The two in this series are as lean and trim as they come(hats off to the editor) but they are still full and complete novels with nothing missing.
I can’t wait for the next in the series where Maria Miller investigates the slightly weird.
December 28, 2023
This book was entertaining enough, but it’s not one I would read again. It’d be going all secular one minute, and then in the next, the characters are busting out holy water, rosaries and Native American shaman dances. It was giving me a bit of whiplash. And then the police chief sees supernatural beings, but when another person suggests that something equally crazy is at play, he can’t or won’t believe it. Bro, you just saw a ghoul! Anything goes, clearly!!
I very much appreciate the heads up from the story itself that Maria’s previous experience with the supernatural (Book 1) is not one that I would want to read. Nope, nope, nope. Ms. Phifer is a talented writer, but I’m afraid (get it?) that I’m not her target audience, at least when it comes to her paranormal books. I’d be willing to give one of her regular thrillers a shot, though. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
My thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
I very much appreciate the heads up from the story itself that Maria’s previous experience with the supernatural (Book 1) is not one that I would want to read. Nope, nope, nope. Ms. Phifer is a talented writer, but I’m afraid (get it?) that I’m not her target audience, at least when it comes to her paranormal books. I’d be willing to give one of her regular thrillers a shot, though. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
My thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
February 26, 2024
Her Lost Soul is the second book in the Detective Maria Miller series and while he can be read as a standalone, I think it’s better if you read The Haunting on West 10th Street (the first book) to keep up with the backstories of a few characters. It is a creepy, spooky, and chilling book that’s very well written and well written.
We can feel the sinister atmosphere of the story right at the beginning where four friends go to an old mansion that was once a psychiatric hospital, and only three of them come out. There are some horrific things happening throughout the story and we follow it through different POV’s and timelines which made it very interesting.
I enjoyed this story, and I found the plot quite unique, with a great atmosphere and well-developed characters. However, I felt like it was meant for younger audiences or for those who are starting to explore the genre. I still had a great time reading it and the twists and turns made me quite invested in the book.
Thank you, Storm Publishing and NetGalley, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.
We can feel the sinister atmosphere of the story right at the beginning where four friends go to an old mansion that was once a psychiatric hospital, and only three of them come out. There are some horrific things happening throughout the story and we follow it through different POV’s and timelines which made it very interesting.
I enjoyed this story, and I found the plot quite unique, with a great atmosphere and well-developed characters. However, I felt like it was meant for younger audiences or for those who are starting to explore the genre. I still had a great time reading it and the twists and turns made me quite invested in the book.
Thank you, Storm Publishing and NetGalley, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.
April 22, 2024
This is definitely an unusual story. I will say it you like books about the paranormal, then give this book a read. It's about a girl who goes to an abandoned insane asylum to snoop around with her friends. She disappears in the process. Maria and Frankie, detectives who specialize in the paranormal, must get her back. This is the second book in the series, but I didn't feel lost not having read the first book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Helen Phifer and Storm publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley, Helen Phifer and Storm publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.
April 9, 2024
This is book two in the Detective Maria Miller series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but personally, I would read book one first. The first book gives a lot of the characters' backstories
I enjoyed the supernatural aspect of this book. The old hospital is creepy, and I liked the time travel part of the book. Unfortunately, I didn't feel like the story was developed enough, and the dialog and character interactions seemed off somehow. Also, like in the first book, there were way too many uses of British phrases for a book set in New York with American characters. Every time one came up, it would completely pull me out of the story. It also didn't seem like the ages of the elderly characters added up correctly.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I enjoyed the supernatural aspect of this book. The old hospital is creepy, and I liked the time travel part of the book. Unfortunately, I didn't feel like the story was developed enough, and the dialog and character interactions seemed off somehow. Also, like in the first book, there were way too many uses of British phrases for a book set in New York with American characters. Every time one came up, it would completely pull me out of the story. It also didn't seem like the ages of the elderly characters added up correctly.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
February 26, 2024
I was really intrigued by the premise of this book. I look a good spooky book. Unfortunately, it fell a little flat for me. I'm not sure if it was the narration or the "famous actress" at the asylum or what, but it started to feel a little cartoonish to me. Maybe I was just expecting more of a serious thriller and this gave more young adult vibes. The overall idea of the story was good and there were parts that were really spooky to me, especially at the beginning when they first entered the hospital, and at the end when they are trying to rescue Riley.
February 28, 2024
What better way to start the New Year off than finding a new author. I can't believe I've never read (that I remember) and of Helen Phifer's books or series... but fear not.. I have just downloaded quite a few (don't tell hubby) for me to devour and catch up on!
When this ARC landed in my TBR pile I OBVIOUSLY had to download book #1 The Haunting on West 10th Street (review coming)and read that first as I'm a stickler for reading the whole series, not just jumping in at any point and I am so bloody happy I did.
In book #1, we meet Detective Marie Miller and her partner Detective Frankie Conroy and start to find out their stories alongside the main storyline *no spoilers*. In book #2, Marie and Frankie now head up the Unexplained Cases Department, dealing with all things strange, unexplainable, and downright spooky.
A teenage girl, Riley, the daughter of a police Chief, goes missing whilst checking out an old derelict psychiatric hospital with three of her friends. Something spooks them, they run but somehow Riley gets left behind and can't be found.
Marie and Frankie are tasked with finding the missing girl but will this case test everything they have? Can they push through their fear and face the unknown?
Told in dual timelines of 1960 and Now, each are entirely riveting, engaging and interesting, which makes a change! The past, set in 1960 shows the hospital as it was when fully functioning, and the Now shows it as having been abandoned for many years, not only run down but completely derelict.
The characterisation is just spot on. They are relatable, credible, and authentic. Their flaws just add to their characters and make them even more readable, in my opinion.
I loved the whole sense of unease this book gave, the chilling atmosphere literally made me hold my breathe at points.
The whole story had me turning the pages so fast I'm sure I let off steam. It was amazingly atmospheric, spooky, creepy and massively unputdownable.
In all honesty I have never really been into reading paranormal style stories but my god this just blew me away. I cannot recommend highly enough.
The biggest thanks to netgalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.
When this ARC landed in my TBR pile I OBVIOUSLY had to download book #1 The Haunting on West 10th Street (review coming)and read that first as I'm a stickler for reading the whole series, not just jumping in at any point and I am so bloody happy I did.
In book #1, we meet Detective Marie Miller and her partner Detective Frankie Conroy and start to find out their stories alongside the main storyline *no spoilers*. In book #2, Marie and Frankie now head up the Unexplained Cases Department, dealing with all things strange, unexplainable, and downright spooky.
A teenage girl, Riley, the daughter of a police Chief, goes missing whilst checking out an old derelict psychiatric hospital with three of her friends. Something spooks them, they run but somehow Riley gets left behind and can't be found.
Marie and Frankie are tasked with finding the missing girl but will this case test everything they have? Can they push through their fear and face the unknown?
Told in dual timelines of 1960 and Now, each are entirely riveting, engaging and interesting, which makes a change! The past, set in 1960 shows the hospital as it was when fully functioning, and the Now shows it as having been abandoned for many years, not only run down but completely derelict.
The characterisation is just spot on. They are relatable, credible, and authentic. Their flaws just add to their characters and make them even more readable, in my opinion.
I loved the whole sense of unease this book gave, the chilling atmosphere literally made me hold my breathe at points.
The whole story had me turning the pages so fast I'm sure I let off steam. It was amazingly atmospheric, spooky, creepy and massively unputdownable.
In all honesty I have never really been into reading paranormal style stories but my god this just blew me away. I cannot recommend highly enough.
The biggest thanks to netgalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.
February 22, 2024
Her Lost Soul by Helen Phifer is the second in the Maria Miller paranormal detective series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Storm Publishing and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Detective Maria Miller lives in Greenwich Village, in an old apartment building. She occasionally dates super-rich Harrison Williams, who wants more out of the relationship than does Maria. Her police partner and best-friend is Frankie Conroy, and he too would like to further their relationship. Due to a case they solved which involved the supernatural, Frankie and Maria now head a new department looking into unusual and strange crimes. Her elderly neighbours Missy & Emilia have become friends, and are quite keen on the supernatural aspects of Maria's cases.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Riley, Drew, Noah and Ryan are teenagers on a mission. They break into the old abandoned psychiatric hospital to explore it before the crews come to demolish it. They want to explore, and maybe see a ghost or two. In addition to the rich and famous who stayed in this hospital, this place also has a nasty history, once housing the College Kid Killer.
Only three of the teenagers come back out. Riley Holt, daughter of the local police chief, has disappeared.
Frankie is called about the disappearance of Riley, so he and Maria head 90 minutes out of town to the abandoned hospital. They look into the Chief's background, as well as an elderly caretaker, and a nurse who both worked at the hospital many years ago. They have some strange tales.
Both Maria and Frankie feel the presence of something evil as soon as they arrive at the hospital, and after Maria is almost thrown out the tower window by some malevolent being, they feel the need to involve Maria's neighbours.
Maria is about to put her life on the line to save Riley Holt.
My Opinions:
Although I've had some issues with the book and series names changing, I absolutely love the books, and was excited to read this second one.
I love Maria's passion and determination. The characters are wonderful, and I love the friendship between Maria and Frankie, as well as "the girls".
The plot was really good, and there was humour, suspense, and horror in this book. A strange combination that worked really well. It was a very atmospheric read. It felt like a fun paranormal/horror novel with endearing characters.
Overall, it was a fast and entertaining read, I can't wait for the next one in this series.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
September 23, 2025
This is the second book in the Detective Maria Miller Series, and quite a different take on a conventional detective series. Here we have a dark series and book, with a mixture of detection and a strong element of the paranormal. A simple, premise to start the book with 4 teenagers going into an old abandoned and falling down mental hospital; but only three come out, the fourth not being found despite countless searches in the dark and deeply frightening building where strange noises and shadows abound! Detective Maria Miller and her close friend and colleague, Frankie Conroy, set about trying to investigate and find out what happened to her.
This is quite a chilling and creepy story, that has you hooked from the very first page. I have read the first book and if anything this is better than the first book. Ultimately it becomes a fight between good and evil, but keep your eyes open as you come across a famous Hollywood actress on your journey. I feel the dual time lines within the book were managed well, and we find out more about what went on at the hospital last century in quite different times. Throughout the book the Hospital feels like a very strong character of its own.
This all builds to a chilling climax, with some unforeseen events along the way. I loved the ending.
I am not much in to paranormal or ghosts within stories, but I have to say I really enjoyed this book, and it left me emotional at points towards the end. I would definitely recommend this book and I think it also reads well as a standalone. I look forward to meeting Maria Miller in future books in the series.
This is quite a chilling and creepy story, that has you hooked from the very first page. I have read the first book and if anything this is better than the first book. Ultimately it becomes a fight between good and evil, but keep your eyes open as you come across a famous Hollywood actress on your journey. I feel the dual time lines within the book were managed well, and we find out more about what went on at the hospital last century in quite different times. Throughout the book the Hospital feels like a very strong character of its own.
This all builds to a chilling climax, with some unforeseen events along the way. I loved the ending.
I am not much in to paranormal or ghosts within stories, but I have to say I really enjoyed this book, and it left me emotional at points towards the end. I would definitely recommend this book and I think it also reads well as a standalone. I look forward to meeting Maria Miller in future books in the series.
December 20, 2023
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this engaging eARC..
I have been enjoying books from this author writer over the past few years now (and the books are always well-written, and enjoyable mysteries/ police procedurals).
However, this is the first I have read from this series, where a pair of detectives investigate "unusual" crimes (where a well- matched pair of detectives investigate crimes which have a paranormal aspect).
I found this series a top-notch entertaining and refreshing read (thee type of read one learns to readily learns they xan expect from this talented author).
A fun series, (part "ghost story, couples with a police procedural) with a frightening, albeit engaging, subplot, Ms. Phifer continues to delight us as she redefines the typical " police procedural" novel. In this book I especially enjoy the relationship between the very well known starlette and a minority troubled teen, as they learned valuable mutually beneficial insights from each other and develop a strong bond of friendship between the two characters.
A fun an enjoyable read, one that I thoroughly enjoyed, I highly recommend this novel, written by a seasoned professional, you can trust this author will always provide solid entertainment, and I look forward to delving into this series further as this was my first foray into reading a book from this series..
A thank you and congratulations goes out to the author for supplying yet another wonderful book This novel is a unique and entertaining find, and I recommend you pick up this book from a relatively new series (one of which I will certainly be reading more of) I will look for another to purchase immediately after posting this review.
I have been enjoying books from this author writer over the past few years now (and the books are always well-written, and enjoyable mysteries/ police procedurals).
However, this is the first I have read from this series, where a pair of detectives investigate "unusual" crimes (where a well- matched pair of detectives investigate crimes which have a paranormal aspect).
I found this series a top-notch entertaining and refreshing read (thee type of read one learns to readily learns they xan expect from this talented author).
A fun series, (part "ghost story, couples with a police procedural) with a frightening, albeit engaging, subplot, Ms. Phifer continues to delight us as she redefines the typical " police procedural" novel. In this book I especially enjoy the relationship between the very well known starlette and a minority troubled teen, as they learned valuable mutually beneficial insights from each other and develop a strong bond of friendship between the two characters.
A fun an enjoyable read, one that I thoroughly enjoyed, I highly recommend this novel, written by a seasoned professional, you can trust this author will always provide solid entertainment, and I look forward to delving into this series further as this was my first foray into reading a book from this series..
A thank you and congratulations goes out to the author for supplying yet another wonderful book This novel is a unique and entertaining find, and I recommend you pick up this book from a relatively new series (one of which I will certainly be reading more of) I will look for another to purchase immediately after posting this review.
March 12, 2024
I enjoyed this story, it was not at all what I was expecting. It is more of a paranormal thriller featuring supernatural elements and conflict between good and evil. It starts with four teenagers ghost hunting one night in an old abandoned mental institution. Only three come out and the lost girl Riley Holt is lost to who knows where. There is a malevolent force within the walls of the hospital that is keeping lost souls of former patients from moving on after their deaths and Riley has been taken by this force back in time. Agent Maria Miller and her partner Frankie have been called in to help find Riley as they have had former experience dealing with the paranormal. How will they retrieve Riley from another dimension is the question of the day. The story is short and fast paced. Recommended for fun. 3.5 stars.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Dreamscape Select, Storm Publishing for an ARC of this audiobook.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Dreamscape Select, Storm Publishing for an ARC of this audiobook.
April 1, 2024
This is a really great second installment in the Detective Maria Miller series! I wasn't sure how it was going to end and it has a great level of suspense. It was fast paced and the characters are entertaining and well developed. I would recommend this and will definitely be looking forward to future installments of this series! Special Thank You to Storm Publishing, Helen Phifer and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2025
Wow! This book has quickly become one of my all-time favorites! Despite its short length, it made me feel scared, laugh, and cry. And that major plot twist—OMG! I never saw it coming. It's hard to put this book down because it’s such a page-turner. I just had the urge to keep turning the pages.
Let me give you a brief introduction to the characters. Detective Maria Miller and Frankie were on a mission to find a missing teenager in an abandoned mental asylum. Little did they know, they were about to embark on an unbelievable, nerve-wracking, and utterly terrifying journey of their lives.
If you've ever watched Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, the popular Korean web series, you might have had that same terrified look on your face as when you watched it while reading this book. However, "Her Lost Soul" is way better than Gonjiam.
"Her Lost Soul" is the second book in the Detective Maria Miller series. But don't worry if you haven't read the first book—this one can be enjoyed as a standalone. However, now that I've read Book 2, I might as well read Book 1.
While reading the book, I got goosebumps and felt chills down my spine. But I also couldn't help laughing at some of the characters, like Frankie, Emilia, and Misty. I love them all. I also love the strong friendship between Maria and Frankie. I can’t help but ship them both. They were funny and cute at the same time. Dolores and Faye Miller are also characters I adore. Every aspect of this book is beautifully written, and it will stay with me for a long time. I really hope they turn it into a movie. I think seeing Detective Maria Miller and Frankie brought to life on the big screen would be amazing!
If you're like me, someone who loves horror movies but also gets scared watching them, enjoys thrillers, crime, and mystery, finds themselves laughing while shedding a tear for certain characters, and craves an incredible, fantastic, and wild read, then this is a book you definitely shouldn't miss!
Let me give you a brief introduction to the characters. Detective Maria Miller and Frankie were on a mission to find a missing teenager in an abandoned mental asylum. Little did they know, they were about to embark on an unbelievable, nerve-wracking, and utterly terrifying journey of their lives.
If you've ever watched Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, the popular Korean web series, you might have had that same terrified look on your face as when you watched it while reading this book. However, "Her Lost Soul" is way better than Gonjiam.
"Her Lost Soul" is the second book in the Detective Maria Miller series. But don't worry if you haven't read the first book—this one can be enjoyed as a standalone. However, now that I've read Book 2, I might as well read Book 1.
While reading the book, I got goosebumps and felt chills down my spine. But I also couldn't help laughing at some of the characters, like Frankie, Emilia, and Misty. I love them all. I also love the strong friendship between Maria and Frankie. I can’t help but ship them both. They were funny and cute at the same time. Dolores and Faye Miller are also characters I adore. Every aspect of this book is beautifully written, and it will stay with me for a long time. I really hope they turn it into a movie. I think seeing Detective Maria Miller and Frankie brought to life on the big screen would be amazing!
If you're like me, someone who loves horror movies but also gets scared watching them, enjoys thrillers, crime, and mystery, finds themselves laughing while shedding a tear for certain characters, and craves an incredible, fantastic, and wild read, then this is a book you definitely shouldn't miss!
December 18, 2023
Scary occult vibes for NYC Detective Maria Miller and her partner of the Strange Crimes Unit.
The story flips between 2023 and 1960. Both perspectives revolve around the abandoned mental asylum’s story and how events in 1960 interact with the people now. The further you get into the book, the more the different pieces come together to create a creepy supernatural crime thriller.
I requested and received an EARC from Storm Publishing via NetGalley
The story flips between 2023 and 1960. Both perspectives revolve around the abandoned mental asylum’s story and how events in 1960 interact with the people now. The further you get into the book, the more the different pieces come together to create a creepy supernatural crime thriller.
I requested and received an EARC from Storm Publishing via NetGalley
August 10, 2024
3.5 stars
A fast and pretty entertaining book to listen to - even if it left me feeling quite melancholic at times.
Maybe not as good as the first one in the series though.
This one veered off towards Maria being a psychic, or something, as she had multiple flashes of insight/instinct/whatever that conveniently helped her jump to certain conclusions out of the blue.
It certainly helped the author move the plot forward without having to do ... well, basically any ground work at all. I mean, Maria could just get a feeling and that would be it. Very handy, indeed.
I believe this book would have benefitted if it had been a bit longer and fleshed out in certain areas. I often felt like I was speeding through this story, especially the closer to the ending I got. Not necessarily in a bad way, but it all moved very fast.
I must say, I would have liked more detective work and less running around in the haunted house.
In this book Maria and Frankie could have had basically any profession. Being police detectives just got them there, rather than served any sort of real purpose for the plot, or the solving of anything.
And while I do ship Maria and Frankie by now, I feel like their personal life was somehow fast-forwarded, due to the overall speed the entire book moved at. There was no real time for any depth in that department, which I really would have liked some more of.
Time-travel is always a slippery slope, and I eventually chose to actively NOT think about it as much as I possibly could, as everything came together towards the end. All because I'm pretty convinced it was something of a logical mess. Better not think too hard about it.
The entire side-story of Marilyn Monroe's tragic life left me feeling so endlessly sad through out all those chapters. That part added some much needed weight of an emotional kind to this book. Without it I don't think I would have liked it as much as I ended up doing, in spite of me finding the rest of the book somehow rushed.
Will I return for book three? Yeah! And sooner rather than later, I suspect.
I need more of the ghost-busting old ladies! They are easily the most formidable characters in this series and you really can't do anything but love them.
A fast and pretty entertaining book to listen to - even if it left me feeling quite melancholic at times.
Maybe not as good as the first one in the series though.
This one veered off towards Maria being a psychic, or something, as she had multiple flashes of insight/instinct/whatever that conveniently helped her jump to certain conclusions out of the blue.
It certainly helped the author move the plot forward without having to do ... well, basically any ground work at all. I mean, Maria could just get a feeling and that would be it. Very handy, indeed.
I believe this book would have benefitted if it had been a bit longer and fleshed out in certain areas. I often felt like I was speeding through this story, especially the closer to the ending I got. Not necessarily in a bad way, but it all moved very fast.
I must say, I would have liked more detective work and less running around in the haunted house.
In this book Maria and Frankie could have had basically any profession. Being police detectives just got them there, rather than served any sort of real purpose for the plot, or the solving of anything.
And while I do ship Maria and Frankie by now, I feel like their personal life was somehow fast-forwarded, due to the overall speed the entire book moved at. There was no real time for any depth in that department, which I really would have liked some more of.
Time-travel is always a slippery slope, and I eventually chose to actively NOT think about it as much as I possibly could, as everything came together towards the end. All because I'm pretty convinced it was something of a logical mess. Better not think too hard about it.
The entire side-story of Marilyn Monroe's tragic life left me feeling so endlessly sad through out all those chapters. That part added some much needed weight of an emotional kind to this book. Without it I don't think I would have liked it as much as I ended up doing, in spite of me finding the rest of the book somehow rushed.
Will I return for book three? Yeah! And sooner rather than later, I suspect.
I need more of the ghost-busting old ladies! They are easily the most formidable characters in this series and you really can't do anything but love them.
February 27, 2024
And Breathe!!!!
WoW.......What have I just read?!!!
Her Lost Soul by Helen Phifer is the second book in the excellent Detective Maria Miller series and what a brilliant book this was.......Once I started to read the very first pages I was hooked and found it hard to put it down..........Just like Helen's first book in this series -
The Haunting on West 10th Street.
When four teenagers enter an abandoned building which was a psychiatric hospital on Beacon Hill. In the past, it is a functioning psychiatric facility in the 1960's. But, only three came out........
Where is the fourth girl Riley Holt?
None of her friends saw what happened to her!
Riley is a 17 year old daughter of the local Police chief disappeared into thin air, there were no clues what happened to her.
Detective Maria Miller and her Partner Frankie Conroy are called to investigate they are known for solving cases that others cannot solve. All their cases have a supernatural element to them, hence why they were asked to help find Riley. When they begin to investigate they learn some shocking things about the psychiatric hospital which gave them goose bumps.............
The clock is ticking and they both need to find Riley alive......But they have to venture into the psychiatric hospital again.....will they find her?
Are they risking their lives and others that help them finding Riley?
WoW this book is Sooooo Good. I love it when you find an author that will write a book that will give you goose bumps and keep you hooked form the beginning till the very end.
If I could give this book 10 stars I would!!! Just Brilliant and I highly recommend it.
But don't start to read it when you are just about to go to sleep - This book will keep you up all night!!!! Like it did me.....
Big Thank you to Netgalley and Storm publishing for my ARC.
WoW.......What have I just read?!!!
Her Lost Soul by Helen Phifer is the second book in the excellent Detective Maria Miller series and what a brilliant book this was.......Once I started to read the very first pages I was hooked and found it hard to put it down..........Just like Helen's first book in this series -
The Haunting on West 10th Street.
When four teenagers enter an abandoned building which was a psychiatric hospital on Beacon Hill. In the past, it is a functioning psychiatric facility in the 1960's. But, only three came out........
Where is the fourth girl Riley Holt?
None of her friends saw what happened to her!
Riley is a 17 year old daughter of the local Police chief disappeared into thin air, there were no clues what happened to her.
Detective Maria Miller and her Partner Frankie Conroy are called to investigate they are known for solving cases that others cannot solve. All their cases have a supernatural element to them, hence why they were asked to help find Riley. When they begin to investigate they learn some shocking things about the psychiatric hospital which gave them goose bumps.............
The clock is ticking and they both need to find Riley alive......But they have to venture into the psychiatric hospital again.....will they find her?
Are they risking their lives and others that help them finding Riley?
WoW this book is Sooooo Good. I love it when you find an author that will write a book that will give you goose bumps and keep you hooked form the beginning till the very end.
If I could give this book 10 stars I would!!! Just Brilliant and I highly recommend it.
But don't start to read it when you are just about to go to sleep - This book will keep you up all night!!!! Like it did me.....
Big Thank you to Netgalley and Storm publishing for my ARC.
January 11, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with the opportunity to review this title. I have enjoyed Helen Phifer books in the past so when a friend recommended book one in the Maria Miller series I quickly read it. Totally not my style but ended up trying to force myself to stay awake to read more as I was completely engrossed, lol. The same held true with book 2, Her Lost Soul. Character development is great as is dialogue for the most part. Some didn't flow as well as others but that's to be expected I guess. My only pet peeve with this series is that although it is set in the USA Phifer sometimes seems to forget that and reverts to UK terminology such as bin instead of trash or garbage can, lift instead of elevator, stopping at someone's home for the night instead of staying at, etc. Small gripe in the grand scheme of things but irked me nonetheless. This installment of the series dealt with demons and time travel which at times was hard for me to wrap my head around but that's a me problem...I have that issue with time travel books in general. Love the movie star named Marilyn...made it so clear who she was without actually saying it.
February 25, 2024
Rating: 5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•
I am a huge sucker for a good paranormal read every once in a while and wow did this one hit the mark for me. I loved every second of it.
•
The second in the Detective Miller series, we once again follow Maria and Frankie as they investigate another odd case of a girl named Riley Holt gone missing in a long abandoned psychiatric hospital. I love the relationship of Maria and Frankie as well as a ew of the other characters.
•
This story takes place in the past and in the present as Maria and Frankie try to figure out just what happened to Riley. Right from the start Phifer introduces the supernatural elements so you won’t be thrown off by the direction the book takes. I have to say, the past timeline was so fun for me, especially because there is mention of a very famous bombshell actress, that I love..
•
Once again, Phifer uses a bunch of different elements in order to make such an addictive and cohesive story. It is super fast paced, addictive, thrilling and downright suspenseful as Maria and Frankie navigate the case. I loved it so much! I devoured this in one sitting.
•
I listened to this one on audio and Stephanie Canon narrates this (as well as the first) and she was absolutely phenomenal. I loved how she brought this one to life for me.
•
Her Lost Soul releases on 2/28 - I highly recommend you check it out this series. You will not regret it. Huge thank you to NetGalley, Helen Phifer and Dreamscape Select / Storm Publishing for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
•
I am a huge sucker for a good paranormal read every once in a while and wow did this one hit the mark for me. I loved every second of it.
•
The second in the Detective Miller series, we once again follow Maria and Frankie as they investigate another odd case of a girl named Riley Holt gone missing in a long abandoned psychiatric hospital. I love the relationship of Maria and Frankie as well as a ew of the other characters.
•
This story takes place in the past and in the present as Maria and Frankie try to figure out just what happened to Riley. Right from the start Phifer introduces the supernatural elements so you won’t be thrown off by the direction the book takes. I have to say, the past timeline was so fun for me, especially because there is mention of a very famous bombshell actress, that I love..
•
Once again, Phifer uses a bunch of different elements in order to make such an addictive and cohesive story. It is super fast paced, addictive, thrilling and downright suspenseful as Maria and Frankie navigate the case. I loved it so much! I devoured this in one sitting.
•
I listened to this one on audio and Stephanie Canon narrates this (as well as the first) and she was absolutely phenomenal. I loved how she brought this one to life for me.
•
Her Lost Soul releases on 2/28 - I highly recommend you check it out this series. You will not regret it. Huge thank you to NetGalley, Helen Phifer and Dreamscape Select / Storm Publishing for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
February 29, 2024
Ahhh, didn’t realise this is was a paranormal book.
Definitely needed that knowledge to get a better feel of the book, but even then, the final chapters were laughably comical and too OTT (like a Disney horror movie).
Detective Maria Miller was a good character, as was Riley and the support cast of Her Lost Soul.
I feel a little bit bad because the writing was fine, the storyline was interesting and the characters were all good too but if I could I would like a refund of my time. If you like ghost stories then definitely check this out, but if you go in looking for a “normal” mystery-thriller, then you’ll be very disappointed.
I really want to rate this as normally possible, which would be a 2 star, but “objectively” speaking, there weren’t too many bad things in the book that could impact my opinion toward a solid 2. I’m leaving this with 3 stars but this is how I really feel.
Definitely needed that knowledge to get a better feel of the book, but even then, the final chapters were laughably comical and too OTT (like a Disney horror movie).
Detective Maria Miller was a good character, as was Riley and the support cast of Her Lost Soul.
I feel a little bit bad because the writing was fine, the storyline was interesting and the characters were all good too but if I could I would like a refund of my time. If you like ghost stories then definitely check this out, but if you go in looking for a “normal” mystery-thriller, then you’ll be very disappointed.
I really want to rate this as normally possible, which would be a 2 star, but “objectively” speaking, there weren’t too many bad things in the book that could impact my opinion toward a solid 2. I’m leaving this with 3 stars but this is how I really feel.
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