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The Montgomery Estate
High school freshman Claire is obsessed with the Montgomery Estate and the vicious torturing and killings of a prestigious family that happened within its walls nearly 100 years ago. When the last surviving member of the Montgomery family passes away, Claire decides to explore the house and uncover the truth behind the decades-old mystery.
After a negative and humiliating interaction with Claire’s idols, a ghost-hunting group by the name of The Specters, Claire and her best friend Lizzie infiltrate the estate with a plan to prank the ghost hunters. But the abandoned house may not be completely cleared of the Montgomery family. And they may not like intruders.
After a negative and humiliating interaction with Claire’s idols, a ghost-hunting group by the name of The Specters, Claire and her best friend Lizzie infiltrate the estate with a plan to prank the ghost hunters. But the abandoned house may not be completely cleared of the Montgomery family. And they may not like intruders.
- GenresHorror
220 pages, Paperback
Published September 30, 2024
4 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Alis
2 books18 followersBorn in Las Vegas, Samantha Alis always dreamed of working with books either through publishing her own or editing others'. She is the author of The Montgomery Estate and Clairvoyant. She loves stories with spooky settings, relatable characters, and plenty of ghouls, ghosts, and monsters. When she's not writing, she can be found watching horror movies, playing video games, or reading any book she comes across. She now lives in Quebec, Canada with her French Canadian husband.
For more information about Samantha's books, visit her website at: https://authorsamanthaalis.my.canva.s...
For more information about Samantha's books, visit her website at: https://authorsamanthaalis.my.canva.s...
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 16, 2025
This is a classic haunted house story with creepy vibes that send shivers down your spine. Samantha Alis proves her writing style is one of intense supernatural detail. She gives a wonderful description of the locations inside the house to add that extra mystery.
Rating 5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Rating 5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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September 30, 2024I had so much fun creating The Montgomery Estate. I say creating, and not writing, because it honestly feels like Claire wrote this story. I just followed along and typed up everything I saw. I’m sure it shows when you read it, Claire and Lizzie were my favorite part of the story, and it was so hard to let them go and finish the story. I hope you love them as much as I do, and I hope you enjoy your time inside The Montgomery Estate.
November 12, 2024
I got this book for the spooky season since I wanted to read a Horror Mystery. This book did not disappoint.
To me, the most important part of a book is always the character and how fast the author manage to make me like them or hate them at the start because i want to care for those characters as they progress through the story. This book made me able to quickly understand the personalities of each character which helped me immerse myself in the story.
The attention to details put into the description of the Montgomery Estate and of the murdered people who used to live in it made it that i could see the book as a movie in my head which made the whole experience even more spooky which was exactly what i was looking for.
So, i would recommend this book to anyone who want to read a great quick-to-read horror mystery that will make it hard to put down since the book make you want to know what will happen next, so you have to read one more chapter then one more then one more then ohh, the book is over.
Honestly, I would love a prequel to this book about what happened in that house 100 years ago.
To me, the most important part of a book is always the character and how fast the author manage to make me like them or hate them at the start because i want to care for those characters as they progress through the story. This book made me able to quickly understand the personalities of each character which helped me immerse myself in the story.
The attention to details put into the description of the Montgomery Estate and of the murdered people who used to live in it made it that i could see the book as a movie in my head which made the whole experience even more spooky which was exactly what i was looking for.
So, i would recommend this book to anyone who want to read a great quick-to-read horror mystery that will make it hard to put down since the book make you want to know what will happen next, so you have to read one more chapter then one more then one more then ohh, the book is over.
Honestly, I would love a prequel to this book about what happened in that house 100 years ago.
March 28, 2025
4.5⭐️ SPOILERS
I’m not someone who usually writes reviews but I can confidently say that this was one of the best YA horror books I’ve read in a while!! 📖
The Montgomery Estate was intriguing, fun, evoking and spooky! The description in this book gave me such a good picture of what was happening, what everything looked and sounded like and what these characters were feeling and going through.
Can I also just say how spooky these ghosts are?! They are very well described and Marcia?! Is a beast. I was definitely scared of her the most 👀
This book had many intriguing twists that were unexpected but so good!
The friendship between Claire and Lizzie captures what it’s like going into high school with a best friend and despite the differences and changes that come with this chapter in life, still caring for one another and coming together to protect each other! I loved it! 💛
All in all, the Montgomery Estate was amazing✨ I am happy that this book occupies a space on my shelf!
I couldn’t put it down and would recommend it to anyone! Especially young adults starting their journey of reading who want to immerse themselves in horror. 😱
I really enjoyed my time at the Montgomery Estate😌
I would love a prequel for this book 👀 I am dying to know what happened at the estate hundreds of years ago!
R.I.P the Montgomery’s and everyone who died at their hands🪦
R.I.P freckles, he really redeemed himself and won my heart over later on💔
I’m not someone who usually writes reviews but I can confidently say that this was one of the best YA horror books I’ve read in a while!! 📖
The Montgomery Estate was intriguing, fun, evoking and spooky! The description in this book gave me such a good picture of what was happening, what everything looked and sounded like and what these characters were feeling and going through.
Can I also just say how spooky these ghosts are?! They are very well described and Marcia?! Is a beast. I was definitely scared of her the most 👀
This book had many intriguing twists that were unexpected but so good!
The friendship between Claire and Lizzie captures what it’s like going into high school with a best friend and despite the differences and changes that come with this chapter in life, still caring for one another and coming together to protect each other! I loved it! 💛
All in all, the Montgomery Estate was amazing✨ I am happy that this book occupies a space on my shelf!
I couldn’t put it down and would recommend it to anyone! Especially young adults starting their journey of reading who want to immerse themselves in horror. 😱
I really enjoyed my time at the Montgomery Estate😌
I would love a prequel for this book 👀 I am dying to know what happened at the estate hundreds of years ago!
R.I.P the Montgomery’s and everyone who died at their hands🪦
R.I.P freckles, he really redeemed himself and won my heart over later on💔
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2024
This was SUCH a fun book! I was hooked right from the start into the mystery of the Montgomery Estate. Samantha’s writing is on point, making you not only care about our MCs but also making you feel like you are right there with them, feeling the claustrophobic cold closing you in, seeing the fresh-old blood running over the old wooden floor, seeing… well, I’m trying to keep this spoiler free, but seeing things that ought not be seen. Such an amazing read! Will be following this author!
December 17, 2024
Quick suspenseful read
The Montgomery Estate was a quick, well written, suspenseful read. The description is very accurate and those ghosts didn’t mess around.
The Montgomery Estate was a quick, well written, suspenseful read. The description is very accurate and those ghosts didn’t mess around.
December 30, 2024
Brilliantly spooky, and a splash of gore.
This book had the feel of a YA at the beginning, not too descriptive in terms of the disturbances or the goings on at the estate, but once the story really kicked in and Claire and Lizzie were thrown into the action, it really ramped up. I loved the use of a fictionalised (if dickish) version of the Ghost Adventures Crew, and the descriptions of the ghosts/entities was hauntingly visual.
Good pacing, good storyline, intriguing characters and a nice twist/ambiguous ending made for an enjoyable single-sitting read on a cold night. Thoroughly enjoyable, highly recommend.
This book had the feel of a YA at the beginning, not too descriptive in terms of the disturbances or the goings on at the estate, but once the story really kicked in and Claire and Lizzie were thrown into the action, it really ramped up. I loved the use of a fictionalised (if dickish) version of the Ghost Adventures Crew, and the descriptions of the ghosts/entities was hauntingly visual.
Good pacing, good storyline, intriguing characters and a nice twist/ambiguous ending made for an enjoyable single-sitting read on a cold night. Thoroughly enjoyable, highly recommend.
December 30, 2024
Horror is not my typical genre read—but this was such a fun and absolutely creepy read, I couldn’t put it down!
The only thing missing for me was *more* about what happened to the Montgomery family / who they were when they were alive, and the “One and Only” in the basement.
The only thing missing for me was *more* about what happened to the Montgomery family / who they were when they were alive, and the “One and Only” in the basement.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2024
This captivating YA horror novel immerses readers in the eerie history of a mysterious mansion. With vivid details, unexpected twists, and a suspenseful atmosphere, it’s a thrilling read that will keep you engaged until the final page!
February 4, 2026
I have reviewed Samantha’s work before. (See: Clairvoyant.) I don’t want to repeat myself with things I’ve already said, so summary: Samantha is an amazing writer with an amazing imagination whose stories never fail to draw you in. Editing and formatting are both great.
So, I’ll admit something. I actually bought this book on January 8th, 2025. I have a problem, okay. I go long periods where I don’t read at all or I’m swamped with Netgalley books. I’m also a mood reader and who ever knows what my mood is going to be? I also have a pretty big Kindle library at any given time, so sometimes things just get buried. Point is, I kept meaning to read this book and failing to get around to it. But I covered Clairvoyant and I liked it enough that I wanted to read more of Samantha’s work.
And here we are.
I’m not usually a fan of YA books, but this never felt like a YA book to me. It was just a horror book that happened to involve teenagers. It felt just as high stakes and gruesome as any adult horror book would. I really love when an author can do that. Like, yeah, it’s technically meant for this audience (young adults in this case) but anyone can read it and feel a connection to the story.
Anyway.
The main character in this book is a teenager named Claire. I found Claire to be very likable and very, very relatable. You see, there’s a huge estate in town where very awful things have happened over the many years that it has existed and Claire is flat out obsessed with it. (Uh, you and me both, Claire.) She wants to know everything about it, she wants to explore every nook and cranny and when the last Montgomery dies, leaving the estate empty and unclaimed…
You’d think life couldn’t get any better for Claire, right?
Wrong. She finds out that her favourite ghost hunting crew is going to be exploring the Montgomery Estate. She’s watched everything they’ve ever done, they always seem like such great guys and she is more than just a little eager not just to meet them, but to offer the wealth of information that she has on the estate. She likely knows more than anyone else in town, so that should be helpful, right?
… except the ghost hunting crew are not good guys. Well, at least their leader definitely isn’t. He can’t stop at just telling Claire no, he makes it a point to humiliate her in front of a group of others and really drive home the point that he doesn’t care about her or her knowledge. Definitely a never meet your heroes moment.
Like anyone would be, Claire is beyond devastated. All she wanted to do was help people she really admired and what did it get her?
Insert the other main character, her best friend, Lizzie.
Lizzie doesn’t really seem to understand Claire’s obsession and was on very thin ice for a bit in her pushiness about being more ‘normal’ and trying to fit in more. But when Claire is humiliated? Lizzie does not hesitate to cement herself as a very good friend who would do anything for Claire.
Anything, in this case, involves sneaking into the estate whilst the ghost hunting crew is there and playing pranks on them. It’s easy enough to get into the house since Claire knows the layout like the back of her hand and at first their idea works, but… yeah. They’re quickly caught. And if you thought the lead ghost hunter was a jerk before, just wait until he finds them in the house.
Setting that aside, it turns out that Claire and Lizzie didn’t really need to go through all the effort of pulling pranks, because the house is haunted and boy is it haunted by some characters. Samantha pulls no punches when it comes to the scares in this, from the bloody details of the ghosts to the horrific things that they do to anyone that they catch. It actually caught me off guard, which was delightful.
No spoilers here, but I think it’s obvious the quest becomes to escape the estate without getting killed. And since the place is practically dripping with ghosts, it seems like an impossible task, but Claire is really left to shine here. All the studying she’s done, everything that’s learned–this is a puzzle that no one else would be able to figure out. Reading her working through things was very enjoyable and I found myself going, “Oooh, smart!” a lot. There were a few moments where I had literally no idea how Claire could possibly figure out whatever situation they had found themselves in, but she never let me down.
I really wound up liking this book. I liked that staying alive was written like a puzzle and it wasn’t just luck or convincing the spirits to go rest or figuring out how to destroy them. It was a unique take on the haunted house story. I would absolutely love to see more of Claire (and Lizzie!) Maybe Claire should start her own ghost hunting show, hahaha. I would definitely read that.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys haunted houses but wants to see some changes from the usual formula. Or, y’know, if you just want to see the nerd girl wind up as the hero of the story.
So, I’ll admit something. I actually bought this book on January 8th, 2025. I have a problem, okay. I go long periods where I don’t read at all or I’m swamped with Netgalley books. I’m also a mood reader and who ever knows what my mood is going to be? I also have a pretty big Kindle library at any given time, so sometimes things just get buried. Point is, I kept meaning to read this book and failing to get around to it. But I covered Clairvoyant and I liked it enough that I wanted to read more of Samantha’s work.
And here we are.
I’m not usually a fan of YA books, but this never felt like a YA book to me. It was just a horror book that happened to involve teenagers. It felt just as high stakes and gruesome as any adult horror book would. I really love when an author can do that. Like, yeah, it’s technically meant for this audience (young adults in this case) but anyone can read it and feel a connection to the story.
Anyway.
The main character in this book is a teenager named Claire. I found Claire to be very likable and very, very relatable. You see, there’s a huge estate in town where very awful things have happened over the many years that it has existed and Claire is flat out obsessed with it. (Uh, you and me both, Claire.) She wants to know everything about it, she wants to explore every nook and cranny and when the last Montgomery dies, leaving the estate empty and unclaimed…
You’d think life couldn’t get any better for Claire, right?
Wrong. She finds out that her favourite ghost hunting crew is going to be exploring the Montgomery Estate. She’s watched everything they’ve ever done, they always seem like such great guys and she is more than just a little eager not just to meet them, but to offer the wealth of information that she has on the estate. She likely knows more than anyone else in town, so that should be helpful, right?
… except the ghost hunting crew are not good guys. Well, at least their leader definitely isn’t. He can’t stop at just telling Claire no, he makes it a point to humiliate her in front of a group of others and really drive home the point that he doesn’t care about her or her knowledge. Definitely a never meet your heroes moment.
Like anyone would be, Claire is beyond devastated. All she wanted to do was help people she really admired and what did it get her?
Insert the other main character, her best friend, Lizzie.
Lizzie doesn’t really seem to understand Claire’s obsession and was on very thin ice for a bit in her pushiness about being more ‘normal’ and trying to fit in more. But when Claire is humiliated? Lizzie does not hesitate to cement herself as a very good friend who would do anything for Claire.
Anything, in this case, involves sneaking into the estate whilst the ghost hunting crew is there and playing pranks on them. It’s easy enough to get into the house since Claire knows the layout like the back of her hand and at first their idea works, but… yeah. They’re quickly caught. And if you thought the lead ghost hunter was a jerk before, just wait until he finds them in the house.
Setting that aside, it turns out that Claire and Lizzie didn’t really need to go through all the effort of pulling pranks, because the house is haunted and boy is it haunted by some characters. Samantha pulls no punches when it comes to the scares in this, from the bloody details of the ghosts to the horrific things that they do to anyone that they catch. It actually caught me off guard, which was delightful.
No spoilers here, but I think it’s obvious the quest becomes to escape the estate without getting killed. And since the place is practically dripping with ghosts, it seems like an impossible task, but Claire is really left to shine here. All the studying she’s done, everything that’s learned–this is a puzzle that no one else would be able to figure out. Reading her working through things was very enjoyable and I found myself going, “Oooh, smart!” a lot. There were a few moments where I had literally no idea how Claire could possibly figure out whatever situation they had found themselves in, but she never let me down.
I really wound up liking this book. I liked that staying alive was written like a puzzle and it wasn’t just luck or convincing the spirits to go rest or figuring out how to destroy them. It was a unique take on the haunted house story. I would absolutely love to see more of Claire (and Lizzie!) Maybe Claire should start her own ghost hunting show, hahaha. I would definitely read that.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys haunted houses but wants to see some changes from the usual formula. Or, y’know, if you just want to see the nerd girl wind up as the hero of the story.
November 26, 2025
This book is the kind of book you pick up thinking, “I’ll read a few chapters before bed,” and then suddenly you’re done, sitting there like, “Oh. Okay. That’s that.” It’s a super fast novella, easily finished in one sitting, and the pacing keeps things moving enough that I never felt bored. The story itself? Decent. The plot? Also decent. The ending? You guessed it, decent. It’s like the literary equivalent of a solid, mid-tier snack: enjoyable, satisfying enough, but not exactly life-changing. The atmosphere and concept had a lot of potential, and there were moments where I felt pulled in… but overall the writing felt a little simple, like it could’ve used a bit more depth or detail to fully deliver those big “holy crap” horror moments. Nothing was bad, it just never quite broke into that “wow, I’ll be thinking about this for the next six months” level of horror. Still, it’s a fun, quick read if you want something spooky without committing to a full-blown novel, kind of like dipping your toe into haunted-house chaos instead of cannonballing in. Would I recommend it? Sure, if someone wants a bite-sized horror story that’s easy to get through. Will it haunt me forever?
…Probably not. But it did make for an entertaining hour or two.
…Probably not. But it did make for an entertaining hour or two.
December 27, 2025
Incredibly Tense. The book you're looking for.
First of all I love love loved this book. It's a tense, violent, and frightening ride from beginning to end especially for those that resent slow-builds. If you love true crime and the paranormal this is the book for you. If you loved the hit podcast 'And That's Why We Drink', this is the book for you. If you read a lot of indulgent fanfiction as a teen this is the book for you. It's hard to imagine someone reading this book, setting it down, and not thoroughly enjoying every page. This tickled my rat brain the way junk food does after a weed binge.
First of all I love love loved this book. It's a tense, violent, and frightening ride from beginning to end especially for those that resent slow-builds. If you love true crime and the paranormal this is the book for you. If you loved the hit podcast 'And That's Why We Drink', this is the book for you. If you read a lot of indulgent fanfiction as a teen this is the book for you. It's hard to imagine someone reading this book, setting it down, and not thoroughly enjoying every page. This tickled my rat brain the way junk food does after a weed binge.
December 29, 2024
The Montgomery Estate is a chilling and captivating YA horror debut. With vivid descriptions, eerie atmosphere, and unique twists, it pulls readers into the dark history of the mysterious mansion. Claire’s determination to uncover the truth and the unexpected discoveries make this a thrilling read. Perfect for fans of suspenseful, spooky tales, this novel will keep you hooked until the very last page!
March 19, 2025
I enjoyed this book! The story follows two young girls as they investigate the legend of their town’s haunted mansion, where a series of horrific murders took place. It gave me a fun mix of Ghostbusters, Stranger Things, and Nancy Drew—all of which I love. Just a heads-up: there are some intense and grisly scenes, so proceed with caution!
Wonderful debut, Samantha!
Wonderful debut, Samantha!
March 14, 2025
Need a quick read this is the perfect book for you. I felt as if I was in the book with how descriptive the author was. I felt so many different emotions as I was reading as if I was in the book fighting to survive with the characters in the book. Warning, there is some gore. A must read.
April 28, 2025
I love a book that has so much action that it can take place in a short span of time. I think it’s hard to achieve and was done great. Very scary and great gory details. Loved the characters & enjoyed.
April 5, 2025
I really enjoyed the suspense of this story. Claire and Lizzie are courageous and brave. They remind us the power of friendship as they navigate through a haunted mansion.
April 20, 2025
This was a fun. fast paced book. Who doesn't love haunted houses and the paranormal.
April 5, 2025
ok honestly i was skeptical at first,
but as i moved further into the story i got slowly pulled in until im inside that estate along with claire, witnessing all the horrors inside
overall, i like this, and if the author ever wrote something (especially if its related to TME), do summon me cuz i gotta read it
but as i moved further into the story i got slowly pulled in until im inside that estate along with claire, witnessing all the horrors inside
overall, i like this, and if the author ever wrote something (especially if its related to TME), do summon me cuz i gotta read it
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews