The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family: A Novel

by Lorien Lawrence

An action-packed, spine-tingling ghost story about twins with supernatural powers—perfect for fans of Five Nights at Freddy’s and the Goosebumps series

Thirteen-year-old twins Gabby and Trent Manning are Connecticut’s youngest paranormal investigators. Both have inherited “the gift” from their grandparents, the Mannings, whose legendary ghost hunts inspired several books and movies—but whose names have been nearly forgotten since their untimely deaths years ago.

Armed with EMF machines, flashlights, and recording equipment, the twins’ mom drags them all over New England in an attempt to bring their family back into the limelight. Never mind that Gabby is tired of being known as a Ghost Twin, and Trent finds most of the haunts to be pretty frightening. Their mom thinks their latest destination is exactly what the family needs to go the abandoned Majestic Theater, the site of the late Mannings’ infamous failed exorcism.

However, nothing about this investigation goes according to plan. After a terrifying séance-gone-wrong on the stage, their mother goes missing in the building, and it’s clear that a powerful demon is haunting the theater. Will the twins be able live up to their grandparents’ legacy and vanquish the demon—before it’s too late?

Featuring articles, interviews, and other found media throughout, The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family is packed with scares that will leave readers sleeping with the lights on.

Don't miss the spooky and scary Fright Watch series by Lorien Lawrence!
The Stitchers
The Collectors
Unmasked

Genres: Middle Grade, Horror, Audiobook, Ghosts, Young Adult, Demons, Supernatural

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 18, 2025

About the author

Lorien Lawrence is a writer and middle school English teacher from Connecticut. When she's not reading or writing, she can be found hunting ghosts with her family. THE STITCHERS is her debut novel.

Reviews

[Aisvarya [back ig] · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐

Huge thanks to Tantor Audio & Recordedbooks for the ALC through NetGalley!!

This definitely delivered what I wanted - a quick read, was fun & interesting throughout & had a dash of realistic sibling relationships!!

What can you expect
- high school kids as MCs
- ghost hunting duo
- Goosebumps & The Conjuring vibes
- sibling dynamics
- infamous theatre with a murder case
- a look into the rules of ghost hunting through the eye of their grandparents

13 year old twins, Gabby & Trent have inherited the gift/the sight that was possessed by their grandparents and can now see ghosts & other paranormal entities. While their mom didn't inherit the gift, she grew up watching their parents do the only thing that their family was well-known for - ghost hunting & she chooses the same path for her kids! And when they decide to take on the last incomplete haunt by their grandparents, the abandoned Majestic Theatre as their next big haunt, they fail to realise that they may have signed up for exorcising something more sinister than just a normal entity!!!!

Gabby is the rebellious twin & she wants nothing to do with ghost hunting but she's the bravest of the two & her mom wouldn't let her do anything else she wants! On the other hand, Trent is meek and is scared of ghosts but he feels like he can keep doing this if Gabby always stays by his side & this definitely creates a rift between the two as he always takes his mother's side.

And things definitely get crazy during their big haunt but it also makes them both understand how much they care for one another thereby leading to them talking out & clearing the air between them! And I also liked the growth of both of these characters by the end, and even the mom redeemed herself imo.

Even though this was a short read, it definitely had a lot of creepy moments & jump scares in it, and the person who voiced the entity deserves a huge applause cuz I kept hearing the voice even after I completed listening to it🥶 and all three narrators did their job perfectly imo as their narrations fit the characters aptly & it isn't an easy job to bring out the voice of teenage kids but they really did it right!!

I also liked the way everything was sorted by the end with everyone getting their own kind of happy ending!!! And I'm also kinda curious as to what awaits next for Trent & the gang👀

Overall if you're looking for a paranormal read with equal parts suspense & horror, you gotta check this out!! And this one's a perfect gift for any child you know who loves to read as well.

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lorien Lawrence would be my RL Stein if I was a kid now. All of her books are 5 stars and I need more!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happens when your mom is living vicariously through you and your sibling and making questionable parental choices by creating a YouTube channel focused on your ghost detection abilities? And what happens when one sibling wants out? Thirteen-year-old twins Gabby and Trent Manning live in Connecticut with her mom and while their mom is your average human, Gabby and Trent inherited "the gift" from their famous ghost hunting grandparents. Gabby wants to be a normal teenager and doesn't want to start high school as the local ghost hunter, but she doesn't know how to tell her mom or brother about that. But then their mom sets up an appointment at the abandoned Majestic Theater (the sight of a failed exorcism that was the downfall of their grandparents) and the twins will really need to work together to make it out alive.

Outside of mom's motives, this was a fun paranormal read. I really enjoyed the different types of ghosts the twins encounter and how they still behaved like average teens even though they have special skills. The ending was a nice touch too.

The location of the main event in this book is based on a real place too. The Palace and Majestic Theaters in Bridgeport, Connecticut were designed by noted theater architect Thomas W. Lamb and built in 1921-22. This venue was unique because it consisted of two separate theaters and The Savoy Hotel. Sadly, both theaters closed in the 1970s, but they are on the national historic register and some developers have been looking at potentially renovating them.

Justis Bolding, Robb Moriera, and T Ryder Smith do a good job with the audiobook narration. In the print version there are some graphics to show text messages, etc. But I didn't feel like I missed out on by listening to the audiobook.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley and Tantor Audio in exchange for an honest review.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Many Hauntings Of The Manning Family by Lorien Lawrence and narrated by Robb Moriera, T Ryder Smith and Justus Bolding, who in my opinion all did a phenomenal job. In the book we meet 13-year-old twins Gabby and Trent and the grandchildren of people like the warrants if they were actually credible people. Trent isn’t as bold as his sister Gabby and lately their popularity has been lagging, their stage mom tries to remedy this by bringing them to the Majestic theater which was their grandparents biggest failure. unfortunately during the séance their mom goes missing and Trent‘s biggest fear becomes reality. This book was so good I really enjoyed it I enjoyed the multiple narrators who all did a great job I thought the rules for ghost hunting was a nice touch I liked that Gabby was spiky just like a real teenager and Trent seem to be so loving there’s so much I enjoyed about this book I would’ve loved to done a better review but there is a lot going on in the book and it is a book so worth listening to. I definitely recommend the audiobook as I thought all the narrators really gave a great mood to the story. #NetGalley, #TantorAudio, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #LorienLawrence, #TheManyHauntingsOfTheManningFamily,

[lexactuallyreads [surviving off vibes ftm] · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is up to these paranormal investigating twins to vanquish the evils to save themselves and their mother...

"I can't shake the feeling that there is even in this place."

AH, its perfect! Marketed for fans of Goosebumps and FNAF, this is an extremely accurate comparison. I felt like a kid again--because this gave me the same feeling of excitement and edge-of-my-seat suspense that the Goosebumps series did. This is what I would call a perfect stepping stone for middle school kids (and is still good for those of all ages)
What I really love about middle grade stories, such as this, is that there is always a clear message to the readers-not hard to convey or understand. Here, that message is that you can be whomever you want to be; that you don't have to fit the mold someone else (especially a parent) has assigned to you. It is okay to say no and be who you want to be. I'll stop here in order to avoid spoiling anything!

I will be exploring more of what Lorien Lawrence has created because like I said... it's perfect.

[WhippedStitchReads (J.A.Y) SEMI-HIATUS · Rating 3 out of 5]

ALC REVIEW

I didn't think this book would have an actual story in all honesty. And I'm not saying it in a bad way. I liked it! I came in thinking it'd be like Ghostbusters but you know in a Middle Grade way. Turns out not just Ghostbusters, but a few TBSPs of Phasmophobia vibes.

I really liked the narrators, they did an amazing job. I requested this *because* of Robb Moreira who is the voice actor for Ridoc in Fourth Wing Graphic Audio. I think it would have been better as a duet than Dual narration. I personally felt it would have been more of a creepy, suspense factor.

I received the ALC through Netgallery approved by the publisher/

[Damien Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Conjuring - The Monster Squad

As always, Lorien Lawrence packs as much fun, creepy moments, and heart into a book as possible. Her books remind me of the best gateway horror of the 80’s. There’s always a solid spooky storyline mixed with a ton of atmosphere and emotion. It’s near impossible to read her work and not connect to the young people she writes about in some way. I think we were all like her characters at some point. The Mannings reads like a Saturday morning show based on the Warrens. It rulz. K thx.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 rounding down to 4. Loved this book, super fun, fast paced, with fantastic Ghostbusters and Grave Encounters vibes of a pair of twins who are mediums as they explore a haunted theater where their grandparents, who were also mediums, once tried to release an evil spirit.

[Dan Poblocki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one. The family dynamics are real and emotional and they ground the fantastical and truly creepy elements. Put it on your list and share it with young fans of very scary stories.

[Mackenzie Janssen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacted my opinions.

I love a good haunting story, and ‘The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family’ delivers a fun and spooky read perfect for middle-grade audiences. While it leans into classic ghost story tropes, it brings a fresh perspective with engaging characters and eerie mysteries.

Plot: ★★★★☆
The plot is well-crafted, weaving together supernatural elements with a compelling family drama. The story keeps a good pace, revealing eerie happenings at just the right moments to keep readers hooked. There’s a nice balance of mystery and light horror, making it an enjoyable read for young readers who like spooky stories without anything too terrifying. Some moments felt a little predictable, but overall, the book does a great job of keeping you engaged and curious about what’s truly haunting the Manning family.

Character: ★★★★☆
The characters are well-developed and relatable, especially for a middle-grade audience. Each family member brings something different to the story, making the dynamics feel realistic. The twin’s curiosity and determination drive the plot forward, and the interactions between them add both warmth and tension to the story. While I would have liked a bit more depth in some of the side characters, they all play their roles well in building the eerie atmosphere.

Setting: ★★★☆☆
The haunted setting is a staple of ghost stories, and while it certainly provides a spooky backdrop, I didn’t feel fully immersed in it. The atmosphere could have been more vividly described to truly bring the haunted theater to life. While there are some great eerie moments, I found myself wishing for even more sensory details and a deeper exploration of the house’s history to heighten the tension.

Listenability: ★★★★☆
The audiobook is narrated by Justis Bolding, Robb Moriera, and T. Ryder Smith, and this team does a fantastic job bringing the story to life. Each narrator adds personality to the characters, making the dialogue engaging and the eerie moments more immersive. The different voices help distinguish the perspectives, making it an enjoyable listen.

Engagement: ★★★★☆
This book is definitely engaging, with a steady pace and well-placed twists that keep you intrigued. There are moments of genuine suspense and some fun surprises along the way. While I wasn’t completely glued to the story at all times, I found myself eager to see how everything would unravel.

Enjoyment: ★★★★☆
Overall, I really enjoyed ‘The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family’. It’s a solid ghost story that’s both accessible and entertaining for younger readers. While it didn’t fully blow me away, it has plenty of charm, spooky moments, and heartwarming family dynamics that make it a worthwhile read. If you love haunted house stories with a fun, eerie twist, this is a great pick.

While ‘The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family’ didn’t completely captivate me in every aspect, it was an enjoyable and engaging read with great characters and a solid mystery. The audiobook narration adds to the experience, making it an excellent choice for fans of light horror and supernatural mysteries. I’d recommend it to middle-grade readers who enjoy spooky but not too scary stories.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Gabby and Trent Manning have inherited the family ability to see ghosts and release them that their grandparents had. While things didn't end well for the grandparents, the twins' mother is devoted to the idea that they will continue the family legacy, and is obsessed with posting videos of them dispatching ghosts on YouTube, worrying about the number of views they get. Gabby is sick of it; the black clothing, the dramatic flair, and the fact that everyone at school knows that she is involved in something rather odd. She'd rather devote herself to soccer, which is hard, since dealing with ghosts is very physically draining. Trent doesn't care as much, and seems to want to make his mother happy. When the anniversary of an ill-fated seance at the local Majestic theater approaches, the mother makes a deal with the owner, Dale Prescott, that the twins' will figure out a decades old mystery and send the ghosts on their way if she can film in the theater. The Majestic has been abandoned since 1965, when there was an unsolved triple murder. In 1995, the grandparents visited it, but were unable to send the spirits on their way. Upon entering the building, Gabby and Trent can tell that there is real evil afoot, but they hope that by dealing with it, their mother will put less pressure on them to ghost hunt. This is especially important to Gabby, since she is missing a crucial soccer game to humor her mother. There are rats, spiders, creepy marionettes, and a demon who possesses Gabby in the same way that her grandfather was possessed back in 1995. Her grandmother managed to save him, but wasn't able to do anything else. Will the twins' finally be able to solve the mystery and find a way to release the ghosts and return the demon?
Strengths: Middle grade readers are often obsesses with being YouTube or TikTok stars, but don't know how much work it is to create content. Gabby's weariness at having to constantly perform for her mother is a very realistic look at how a young person might feel if they had powers that a parent wanted to exploit. The family connection was interesting, and I could just about believe that a building had been abandoned since 1965. Both Gabby and Trent were well versed in the essentials of dealing with ghosts and demons, thanks to a book written by their grandparents, and were fairly cautious and more prepared than their mother. There were plenty of creepy things that will keep horror readers turning the pages.
Weaknesses: There is just a passing reference to the twins' father, and I was a bit curious as to what happened to him. Since the mother really annoyed me, maybe the answer's obvious. There was also some mention of friends at school, and it wouldn't be a surprise if this became a series. The cover is okay, but might age badly.
What I really think: Theaters seem to be especially haunted places! Add this to a playbill that includes Freeman's Noah McNichol and the Backstage Ghost, Gonzalez's Fearless, Key's Twelfth, Parris' Stage Fright, Shepherd's The Twilight Curse, and Schusterman's Olive and the Backstage Ghost.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This duel POV Middle Grade book was delightful start to finish! Younger readers will eat this up while their parents can also enjoy the story.

First, the narration as I consumed the audiobook. This was a multi narrated booked performed by Justis Bolding; Robb Moriera; T Ryder Smith

It was very well done and the three voice actors used effectively. They each did a good job sounding a bit more age appropriate without sounding cringy.
Justis Bolding in particular did a great job sounding playful but confident as the FMC Gabby and easily transitions into the other characters she has to voice in her chapters. Robb Moriera also was well cast as Gabbys Twin, Trent.

What makes it stand out is that the main plot of kid ghost hunters is entertaining as well as well researched. Young individuals that are interested in ghost hunting and the paranormal will love the adventures the young protagonists go on. The author delves into various aspects of ghost hunting but made it appropriate for middle schoolers.

However, underneath it all the book is about family dynamics and growth along with some coming of age aspects. It also shows young folks who have a large presence on social media but it highlights just how much work goes into that along with how much the young content stars miss out because of their life style.

Lastly, I appreciated all the back story of the family business and the contribution their grandparents left by way of a journal that allowed the kids to be full of knowledge and not having them do things out of left field.

I highly suggest this for middle grade readers and beyond!

I am thankful to have gotten the audio ALC for free from Tantor Media through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system for Middle Grade and children’s books

⭐️ Significant problems and would never recommend to the audience.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea but may have some appeal.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ an ok book which I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend but it has some value for young readers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! I would recommend for the age or reading level appropriate for the book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Would recommend highly, especially to school programs as a wide spread reading opportunity.

[Mindi Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Lorien and Abrams Kids/Amulet Books for sharing the ARC through NetGalley.

I absolutely loved this book! The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family by Lorien Lawrence is a captivating middle-grade supernatural tale that blends mystery, adventure, and a touch of spookiness. The story follows the Manning family, 13 year old twins Trent and Gabby, and their mother. The twins have inherited their grandparents' "gifts" to help ghosts find peace (or to send demons away). These teen paranormal investigators are trying to live up to their family name, pushed by their social media obsessed mother, while trying to balance middle school.

Gabby is over it! She just wants to be able to hang with her friends and play soccer. She is so annoyed that her mother won't support her playing on the soccer team and even more annoyed that her brother is just so passive about everything their mother wants to do for their social media channel.

Trent is trying to find his voice and where he fits into everything. While once Gabby shared everything with him, he feels her pulling away. He just wants to keep the peace with his mother, so he agrees to whatever she asks of him, to the annoyance of Gabby.

Gabby decides she wants to stop, but commits to one last haunt at the abandoned Majestic Theater. The Majestic infamy stems from the Manning's grandparents failed exorcism, which the twins mom is trying to prove the twins can succeed where her parents failed. But what really happened there? What exactly is haunting the Majestic? Can two teens really succeed in doing something that terrified their grandparents?

Lawrence skillfully creates a suspenseful atmosphere while grounding the story in family dynamics and personal growth. Gabby and Trent's journey's of courage, self-discovery, and trust adds an emotional depth to the supernatural elements, making the book more than just a ghost story. The pacing is engaging, and the characters are well-developed, with a strong sense of heart.

With its mix of eerie moments and relatable family struggles, The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family is a delightful and thrilling read for young readers, perfect for those who enjoy a good mystery with a supernatural twist. Perfect mix of RL Stine and Supernatural for middle grade readers.

#TheManyHauntingsoftheManningsFamily #NetGalley

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

A well-intentioned kids’ haunting book that feels like a more tech-heavy copy of Jonathan Stroud’s Lockwood & Co books.

I didn’t mind the premise for this and I don’t know that the kids vs ghosts theme necessarily needs to be all that original in its execution to make for a good read, but this one just doesn’t give you much that you likely haven’t already seen elsewhere, nor is it a particularly superior version of those things.

Two kids have essentially become YouTube stars for their ghost battling prowess, propelled along by their idiot stage mother, who is kind of half Lynn Spears and half Gilderoy Lockhart, insisting her children (whose talent she lacks) skip things like school and soccer (and occasionally sleeping and eating) to fuel the family business.

It feels important to note that even after much mayhem and danger ensues, mom is basically like “oops sorry about that, I guess you can quit,” and the kids are like “sure sure, totally fine.” Sigh. I don’t think I need to tell you that young readers can handle more nuance about child-adult power dynamics than this and can also reasonably confront adults about horrible behavior while continuing to, y’know, love their parents and not run away to join the circus or whatever.

The demon who is the central adversary in the story is frustratingly hammy and prone to spouting clumsy dialogue and ham-fisted threats. It’s kind of annoying and it’s certainly not scary. Which is too bad since what it was doing there and how it connected to the Manning family was actually one of the better written parts of the book.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Rachael Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not expecting this book to hit as hard s it did. Even though this is considered probably YA or middle grade, I had a great time exploring the theater where their grandparents held their own last investigation.

Gabby and Trent are twin, 13 year old, mediums who have inherited their grandparents gifts to see and speak to spirits. However, their mom is their "manager" and seems to be the one rolling the cameras and trying to maintain the famous name of the Mannings. In many ways, I could see Gabby and Trent like the grandchildren of Ed and Loraine Warren. There's no direct reference to them, but with the idea their grandparents were famous in their day, took on a lot of spooky cases, and had "gifts", by brain made the connection.

I watch a lot of spooky ghost content on Youtube for entertainment and this was the same level of entertainment. The being they encounter is dark and ominous. One twin is outgoing and wants to get out of the "ghost" business and have her own life. The other twin is more of a researcher and introverted so he just tries to keep his mom happy even it it means not standing up for his sister who needs him, at times, to be on her side.

The investigation quickly go awry once the twins and their mom are locked inside the theater, so it's going to take all of their knowledge and know how to try and get ride of the dark force before one of them becomes the next victim.

Such a good book. I was utterly engaged until the end.

[Richard K. Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually had a fun time listening to this latest YA spook ghost story by Lorien Lawrence.

13 year old 'Ghost Twins' Gabby and Trent Manning are the youngest paranormal investigators in Connecticut......and they are about to go viral; well, they think they are. They both have always known that they inherited their 'special powers' as Trent calls them from their grandparents, so they are used to being able to 'see and talk' to those no longer with us. When they realize that their Youtube channel is slipping in ratings after a big fail of an Exorcism/Cleansing, they take on their biggest 'releasing of a ghost' ever......the haunting of the famously haunted Majestic Theater. When they realize that it is haunted supposedly by Harry Houdini; all things change......for the fun and spooky!

I had a blast with these two twins and their trying to release a famous ghost of the worlds most FAMOUS Magician. And then their Mother goes missing in the building, they realize that they could possibly never see her again; that is unless they prove to be REAL and authentic Ghost Hunters!
I would recommend this to anyone who just likes a fun and NOT graphically gory ghost story.
Not as much fun as this authors "The Stitchers" books.....but I still liked it.
3.5 Screams

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirteen-year-old Gabby just wants to be done with filming episodes of the Ghost Twins. She just wants a normal life, to be able to hang out with friends and play soccer. She is completely over carrying on her deceased grandparents' business of releasing ghosts from the Earth. Her twin Trent just wants peace between Gabby and their mom, and really, he doesn't know what else to do with his time other than hunt ghosts. While Trent and Gabby grow apart, Trent begins experiencing strange sensations, where it appears that items around him are moving. On the night when Gabby would finally get to be Captain of the soccer team, their mom insists on going to the abandoned Majestic Theater, site of their grandparents' final, and failed, release. Nothing goes according to plan, and the theater is much more dangerous than anyone could have imagined. The author paints truly creepy scenes, while allowing Gabby, Trent, and their mom to confront their greatest fears. The action of this book kept me reading until the end.

[Irene MacLennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family is about a pair of twins, Gaby and Trent, who inherited the ability to see ghosts from their grandparents, a legendary pair of paranormal investigators. Their mother, who didn't inherit the gift, has them regularly exorcise ghosts for the sake of their Youtube channel and to keep her parents' legacy alive. This negatively effects her children - especially Gabby, who is forced to choose the family business over her passion for soccer. Hoping to go viral, Trent and Gabby's mother arranges for them to exorcise the Majestic Theatre where their grandparents made a failed attempt thirty years prior. Things, unsurprisingly, go very wrong.

I like how character arcs and story are set up, even if they're a bit rushed. Because this book is intended for young readers, there isn't much mention of blood or gore. But, that doesn't take away from how utterly nightmarish the villain is.

[Neidy Romero]

Conflict
Trent and Gabby have their differences. Such as Gabby is tired of getting put in the spotlight constantly by their mom. But Trent is eager to please their mother. Who is constantly trying to get more famous. This causes a rivalry between the two siblings.
Theme
The dangers of seeking validation from social media. Their mother exposes them to social media and depends from social media because they get payed from social media. Also family expectations how they are excepted to carry on the legacy because they gained this special ability. They inherited their grandparents ghost hunting legacy. Even though Gabby is tired of being seen as a “. Ghost twin”.
Weaknesses
Gabby flaws are Gabby’s lack of self control and rage. Trent’s fearfulness. The lack of communication between the two siblings. The demon targets Gabby’s rage and Trent’s fears. Which weakens them both.

[Jenn Hopp · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We pass a broiler room that is no longer operational. The metal parts are large and ominous, like monsters in the dark. I keep sweeping, but it's been a minute since a rat appeared. For some reason, this makes me even more nervous. I hate them, but is it a bad sign that they've fled? What are the rats afraid of that we're walking towards?"

Verdict: Delightfully creepy and just enough terrifying scares - spiders, rats, demons, marionettes, basements, and plenty of things that go bump - to keep your MG horror fans entertained.

Each chapter begins with a rule relevant to ghost hunting, and the narrative bounces between the twins - Trent and Gabby. Highly recommended for G6/7 horror readers.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a twin from Connecticut, so how could I not love this? Seriously, I am not a horror fan, but this reminded me just a little of Jonathan Stroud--and that's high praise. I also loved the shifting relationship between the thirteen-year-old brother and sister, Trent and Gabby. The mixture of deep friendship and love, resentment, and frustration rang very true. As a colleague said, the twins' mom was pretty useless, which is something of a cliche. But there is a solid in-story reason for that, and she, too, grows up quite a bit. Good fun for young horror fans who like a touch of emotional realism with their thrills.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of Lorien Lawrence's "Fright Watch" books, I was super excited to get my hands on her new spooky middle grade book: THE MANY HAUNTINGS OF THE MANNING FAMILY. It has everything I love in a fun yet spooky (okay, definitely creepy -- no spoilers but there are puppets!) story. It features two ghost hunting twins who have ghost hunting in their blood. There's a ton of action, some fantastic sibling moments, ghoulish ghosties (the Thing gives me shivers!), and a story that you won't forget. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and am hoping that the story might continue in another one. I definitely read more Trent & Gabby books.

[Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun, fast pacced middle grade horror fun of super naturally goodness! I really enjoyed the creative take on ghosts and mediums in this one and I loved the two main characters. It was interesting getting the dual POV's and getting to see the same events processed by Gabby and Trent. I found their mother's focus on their YouTube channel and ghost hunting to be a bit "much" at times. Though, that is part of the plot- coming of age and the siblings figuring out their dynamics/ want and needs as individuals. Over all this was an engaging spooky read and I look forward to reading more by this author.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabby and Trent are twins who have inherited their famous grandparents' instincts for ghost hunting. Their mom books them at various haunted locations so that they can video their contacts with ghosts and their efforts to help the ghosts cross over. However, the twins are moving apart and don't feel the same about these events anymore. One night they enter the site of their grandparents' last ghost hunt, and things start to go wrong.

This is a delightful read capturing the feel of various ghost hunting shows with a twist. It is something that middle grades readers will enjoy, and it's deliciously spooky.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. All opinion are my own.

[Magdalena Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The latest from Lorien Lawrence, the author of the Fright Watch series (which I really enjoyed!), is like The Conjuring for kids with a sprinkle of Goosebumps! I really liked the rules for paranormal investigations that kicked off each chapter, and the relationship between our main characters and twins, Gabby and Trent, felt really genuine too. It was a fun, quick, spooky read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Abrams for sending me this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great YA book. It encourages finding your inner strength and voice. By learning what’s important you can stand stronger. I love the spooky background story!

While I would 100% recommend it for teens and tweens this book would be a great in between book for adults, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to all adults. And that’s okay it wasn’t written for us anyways.

The narrators added to this book.

NetGalley provided this as a free ARC in exchange for a review.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded

I honestly loved this book. I feel like I haven't read a good ghost story in quite a while and this book was a perfect read to bring back those goosebumps. Not only was this book terrifying, I connected with the characters as fast as chapter 2, and it was really easy to understand them and where they're coming from. Overall, this is an amazing book, any fans of ghost stories will love it.

[S.B. Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun and spooky story about twins who share a family gift for ghost hunting and their mother who exploits them for social media fame. I really enjoyed this book. The writing was punchy, the plotting was tight and the characters were fantastic. The larger mystery with ties back to the twins grandparents was twisty and kept me guessing. Awesome story!

[Cristy (Quinnbook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lorien Lawrence has done it again, she has created another amazing and chilling middle grade tale. If you love Goosebumps and Are you Afraid of the Dark, this is the perfect book to add to your to be read pile. It has the perfect mixture of supernatural elements, spooky ghosts and family dynamics.

We meet thirteen year old twins Gabby and Trent Manning, and they are the youngest paranormal investigators in Connecticut. Their grandparents were the leading investigators back then, so now it’s the twins turn. They have everything they need, special cameras, flashlights and recording equipment, but Gabby and Trent have “the gift” and they help ghosts cross over. Gabby definitely wants to start living a normal life but her mother refuses to let her live a normal life. On their next show, they’ll go to the famous Majestic Theater where their grandparents did their last job as well. What happens next, will take the twins to dark and unexpected places where they’ll have to work together and find out what is the mystery behind this place.

Lorien has created a cast of fascinating characters, full of jump scares and twists where you wish we’d still be in October. Absolutely go check out Lorien’s books, they are absolutely amazing.

[Crystal - BooksBrewsMKE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this spooky middle grade ghost story.
I loved the family dynamic and how the main characters, twin siblings, are trying to navigate their family's ghost hunting heritage as well as their abilities. The spooky levels were great and I found myself rooting for the twins all the way. If you have kids that love spooky middle grade books this is for them!