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I'll Be Waiting
From New York Times Bestselling author Kelley Armstrong comes a spellbinding new tale of supernatural horror involving a haunted-house, seances, lost loved ones, and a sinister spirit out for blood...
Nicola Laughton never expected to see adulthood, being diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a child. Then medical advances let her live into her thirties and she met Anton, who taught her to dream of a future… together. Months after they married, Anton died in a horrible car, but lived long enough to utter five words to her, “I’ll be waiting for you.”
That final private moment became public when someone from the crash scene took it to the press—the terminally ill woman holding her dying husband as he promised to wait for her on the other side. Worse, that person claimed it wasn’t Anton who said the words but his ghost, hovering over his body.
Since their story went public, Nicola has been hounded by spiritualists promising closure. In the hopes of stopping her downward spiral, friends and family find a reputable medium—a professor of parapsychology. For the séance, they rent the Lake Erie beach house that Anton’s family once owned.
The medium barely has time to begin his work before things start happening. Locked doors mysteriously open. Clouds of insects engulf the house. Nicola hears footsteps and voices and the creak of an old dumbwaiter…in an empty shaft. Throughout it all she’s haunted by nightmares of her past. Because, unbeknownst to the others, this isn’t her first time contacting the dead. And Nicola isn’t her real name.
That’s when she finds the first body....
In this atmospheric, thrilling new ghost story, Kelley Armstrong's full talents are on display to thrill, chill and leave the reader guessing how Nicola escapes with her life--if she can.
Nicola Laughton never expected to see adulthood, being diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a child. Then medical advances let her live into her thirties and she met Anton, who taught her to dream of a future… together. Months after they married, Anton died in a horrible car, but lived long enough to utter five words to her, “I’ll be waiting for you.”
That final private moment became public when someone from the crash scene took it to the press—the terminally ill woman holding her dying husband as he promised to wait for her on the other side. Worse, that person claimed it wasn’t Anton who said the words but his ghost, hovering over his body.
Since their story went public, Nicola has been hounded by spiritualists promising closure. In the hopes of stopping her downward spiral, friends and family find a reputable medium—a professor of parapsychology. For the séance, they rent the Lake Erie beach house that Anton’s family once owned.
The medium barely has time to begin his work before things start happening. Locked doors mysteriously open. Clouds of insects engulf the house. Nicola hears footsteps and voices and the creak of an old dumbwaiter…in an empty shaft. Throughout it all she’s haunted by nightmares of her past. Because, unbeknownst to the others, this isn’t her first time contacting the dead. And Nicola isn’t her real name.
That’s when she finds the first body....
In this atmospheric, thrilling new ghost story, Kelley Armstrong's full talents are on display to thrill, chill and leave the reader guessing how Nicola escapes with her life--if she can.
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2024
447 people are currently reading
23460 people want to read
About the author
Kelley Armstrong
292 books33.5k followersKelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,194 reviews
September 1, 2024
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This book started off really well and I was enjoying it very much. Nic lost her husband Anton eight months ago so she decides to go to a bed and breakfast that she and Anton frequently visited. They visited there often because the house used to belong to Anton's family. Nic visits there with a professor/medium to try to contact Anton. It was wonderful getting to know Nic and finding out about her secret from twenty years ago. She has cystic fibrosis and I really got an education about the disease.
I was so hoping for a spooky read to recommend to fellow Halloween/Paranormal book lovers like myself for fall. And it was that for about three-quarters of the book. Where it lost me was the last twenty-five percent when went completely off the rails with disembowelled bodies and outrageous demonic possessions...and not in the good (The Exorcist) kind of way. So, for the exciting beginning and middle, four stars for sure but that ending is a two-star read at best so I'm going to go with the average of three.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Book Review Crew Blog
This book started off really well and I was enjoying it very much. Nic lost her husband Anton eight months ago so she decides to go to a bed and breakfast that she and Anton frequently visited. They visited there often because the house used to belong to Anton's family. Nic visits there with a professor/medium to try to contact Anton. It was wonderful getting to know Nic and finding out about her secret from twenty years ago. She has cystic fibrosis and I really got an education about the disease.
I was so hoping for a spooky read to recommend to fellow Halloween/Paranormal book lovers like myself for fall. And it was that for about three-quarters of the book. Where it lost me was the last twenty-five percent when went completely off the rails with disembowelled bodies and outrageous demonic possessions...and not in the good (The Exorcist) kind of way. So, for the exciting beginning and middle, four stars for sure but that ending is a two-star read at best so I'm going to go with the average of three.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
September 30, 2024
A supernatural horror involving a haunted house, seances, lost loved ones, and a sinister spirit out for blood...
Say less...
ೃ⁀➷ ⋆˚࿔✻˙∘ 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ
We follow our FMC, Nicola Laughton who was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a child. Thanks to modern medicine, she has been able to live much longer than predicted, have a job and get married - essentially, a normal life.
But soon after getting married, Nicola's husband Anton is killed in a car accident, which he ominously says "I'll be waiting for you" to Nicola. 🤨
To make matters worse, this final moment between the couple was witnessed and photographed and then made public. Basically a circus show of one of the most traumatic moments of her life.
Now, in the midst of her grief, Nicola has come to Anton's family's home to meet with a professor/medium in order to contact Anton. She's been hounded by mediums for months, saying they were able to connect her with Anton.
Just as the medium is beginning, the house comes alive. Locked doors are unlocked, insects surround the house and voices are heard. Then the bodies start showing up.
Obviously she is terrified and for a multitude of reasons, both obvious and secret. To start...Nicola isn't her real name...
ೃ⁀➷ ⋆˚࿔✻˙∘ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ
I was really invested in this story for about the first third of it and then it veered off in a direction that really didn't hold my attention.
I think this is a great book to pick up for spooky season, it does get a little outlandish in the second half but if you want something creepy and not super serious - this makes for a perfect choice for an autumnal read.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audio copy - all thoughts are my own. ✨🔮🎃
Say less...
ೃ⁀➷ ⋆˚࿔✻˙∘ 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ
We follow our FMC, Nicola Laughton who was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a child. Thanks to modern medicine, she has been able to live much longer than predicted, have a job and get married - essentially, a normal life.
But soon after getting married, Nicola's husband Anton is killed in a car accident, which he ominously says "I'll be waiting for you" to Nicola. 🤨
To make matters worse, this final moment between the couple was witnessed and photographed and then made public. Basically a circus show of one of the most traumatic moments of her life.
Now, in the midst of her grief, Nicola has come to Anton's family's home to meet with a professor/medium in order to contact Anton. She's been hounded by mediums for months, saying they were able to connect her with Anton.
Just as the medium is beginning, the house comes alive. Locked doors are unlocked, insects surround the house and voices are heard. Then the bodies start showing up.
Obviously she is terrified and for a multitude of reasons, both obvious and secret. To start...Nicola isn't her real name...
ೃ⁀➷ ⋆˚࿔✻˙∘ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ
I was really invested in this story for about the first third of it and then it veered off in a direction that really didn't hold my attention.
I think this is a great book to pick up for spooky season, it does get a little outlandish in the second half but if you want something creepy and not super serious - this makes for a perfect choice for an autumnal read.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audio copy - all thoughts are my own. ✨🔮🎃
November 8, 2025
I was honestly so close to enjoying this sinister, spiritual, and spellbinding installment, which waltzes with haunted house and missing young man mystery themes.
It started strong: an unexpected and tragic accident results in the death of a beloved husband, leaving behind his 37-year-old wife who suffers from a terminal disease (cystic fibrosis). She has already battled death, extending her life by at least a decade. Her attempts to connect with her late husband Anton, after his cryptic message "I’ll be waiting," lead her to seek out charlatan spiritualists. She bonds with young Shania, who recently lost her sister, and they team up with her brother-in-law Jin to attend a special seance at a Lake Erie beach house, where she shared memories with her late husband. These parts of the book intrigued me the most.
I genuinely enjoyed the first half, with its building tension and the presence of entities in the house that might be Anton or something darker. The house itself, with its foreboding atmosphere, giant old-style furnace, locked attic room, creaking floorboards, and the voice of Anton repeating his love for his wife, along with creepy porcelain dolls, enhance the horror elements, making you bite your nails harder. The addition of the missing boy mystery and a past murder in the woods pushes the reader to form new theories about what is happening in this house! I was even ready to give this book five full creepy paranormal activity stars!
However, as I reached the second half, the repetition of events, boring seance sequences, and creepy house sounds, combined with Nicola's spiraling theories about new perpetrator candidates, tested my patience. I wished this book were shorter, with some repetitive and dragging parts edited or omitted, which would have helped return the balanced pace experienced in the first half.
The last third of the book, with its easily foreseeable revelations, turned into something far-fetched. The scenes involving the perpetrator were a bit long, making me wish the author would wrap things up faster so I could finish the book, write my review, and move on with my weekend.
The last action-packed paranormal parts felt a little exaggerated for my taste, but at least the author addressed all the loopholes in her own way, which is fair. By the end, there were no stones left unturned, and we understood the why, when, and how.
Overall, this book has great potential with an intriguing plot that gave me high hopes. Unfortunately, I had some issues with the story’s execution and Nicola’s constantly changing opinions and overly suspicious mind, which made me scream “Come on!”
I decided to give this book a neutral three stars. It didn’t meet my expectations, but it’s still a good piece of paranormal fiction that will interest genre lovers. The first half was truly gripping, enough to keep me from putting it down and adding it to my “DNF” list, but I wished it had been executed at a faster pace and with less far-fetched elements.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this paranormal mystery’s digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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It started strong: an unexpected and tragic accident results in the death of a beloved husband, leaving behind his 37-year-old wife who suffers from a terminal disease (cystic fibrosis). She has already battled death, extending her life by at least a decade. Her attempts to connect with her late husband Anton, after his cryptic message "I’ll be waiting," lead her to seek out charlatan spiritualists. She bonds with young Shania, who recently lost her sister, and they team up with her brother-in-law Jin to attend a special seance at a Lake Erie beach house, where she shared memories with her late husband. These parts of the book intrigued me the most.
I genuinely enjoyed the first half, with its building tension and the presence of entities in the house that might be Anton or something darker. The house itself, with its foreboding atmosphere, giant old-style furnace, locked attic room, creaking floorboards, and the voice of Anton repeating his love for his wife, along with creepy porcelain dolls, enhance the horror elements, making you bite your nails harder. The addition of the missing boy mystery and a past murder in the woods pushes the reader to form new theories about what is happening in this house! I was even ready to give this book five full creepy paranormal activity stars!
However, as I reached the second half, the repetition of events, boring seance sequences, and creepy house sounds, combined with Nicola's spiraling theories about new perpetrator candidates, tested my patience. I wished this book were shorter, with some repetitive and dragging parts edited or omitted, which would have helped return the balanced pace experienced in the first half.
The last third of the book, with its easily foreseeable revelations, turned into something far-fetched. The scenes involving the perpetrator were a bit long, making me wish the author would wrap things up faster so I could finish the book, write my review, and move on with my weekend.
The last action-packed paranormal parts felt a little exaggerated for my taste, but at least the author addressed all the loopholes in her own way, which is fair. By the end, there were no stones left unturned, and we understood the why, when, and how.
Overall, this book has great potential with an intriguing plot that gave me high hopes. Unfortunately, I had some issues with the story’s execution and Nicola’s constantly changing opinions and overly suspicious mind, which made me scream “Come on!”
I decided to give this book a neutral three stars. It didn’t meet my expectations, but it’s still a good piece of paranormal fiction that will interest genre lovers. The first half was truly gripping, enough to keep me from putting it down and adding it to my “DNF” list, but I wished it had been executed at a faster pace and with less far-fetched elements.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this paranormal mystery’s digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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October 23, 2024
Well that was more gruesome than I was expecting. This started out as a kind of spooky story involving grief, ghosts, and a plague of midges that kept me wondering where this story was really going. Unfortunately I didn’t like what it led up to. Certain actions still don’t make sense to me. The first half was great, but the second half felt rushed and unnecessarily gory. So 3 stars is my final rating.
I received an ARC of the audiobook for free via NetGalley but this did not impact my rating/review.
I received an ARC of the audiobook for free via NetGalley but this did not impact my rating/review.
August 2, 2024
Atmospheric, spooky, creepy, and well written. I'll Be Waitingis a chilling ghost story.
Nicola Laughton felt she hit the jackpot when she married Anton. Nicola was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a child and thanks to the advances in medicine, she has been able to live longer, have a job, and get married. After being happily married for only a short period of time, Anton dies in a car accident after uttering “I’ll be waiting for you” to Nicola.
Their final moments together were captured on film, and the psychics have come out of the woodwork with claims of being able to connect them once again. Hoping to get closure, Nicola, some friends/family, and a reputable medium gather at a Lake Erie beach house that Anton's family once owned. There she must not only look to the past when she attended a séance in high school, but to the present, try and cope with the things that go bump in the night.
I loved the atmospheric vibe in this book. The home on Lake Erie was the perfect setting for a séance. I enjoyed the creepy vibe but could have done without the insects. UGH! This book had a very strong beginning and an interesting premise. I was fully invested in the plot and wondered if Nicola would in fact get closure with Anton. But then the book lost some of its magic for me.
The middle and later part of the book goes into territory that I did not see coming. I am still trying to wrap my mind around how I feel about the revelations. I did enjoy the missing person story line and the not so welcomed blast from the past.
Although I found this book to be enjoyable, it did not wow me as I had hoped that it would. I had a hard time connecting with Nicola. I felt quite ambivalent towards her for the entire book. But I was invested in the possibility that she could be connected again with her dead husband. The chilling atmosphere was a huge plus of this book. I just wished the middle part of this book would move at a faster pace.
3/3.5 stars
Thank you to St. Martin's Press 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 📖
Nicola Laughton felt she hit the jackpot when she married Anton. Nicola was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a child and thanks to the advances in medicine, she has been able to live longer, have a job, and get married. After being happily married for only a short period of time, Anton dies in a car accident after uttering “I’ll be waiting for you” to Nicola.
Their final moments together were captured on film, and the psychics have come out of the woodwork with claims of being able to connect them once again. Hoping to get closure, Nicola, some friends/family, and a reputable medium gather at a Lake Erie beach house that Anton's family once owned. There she must not only look to the past when she attended a séance in high school, but to the present, try and cope with the things that go bump in the night.
I loved the atmospheric vibe in this book. The home on Lake Erie was the perfect setting for a séance. I enjoyed the creepy vibe but could have done without the insects. UGH! This book had a very strong beginning and an interesting premise. I was fully invested in the plot and wondered if Nicola would in fact get closure with Anton. But then the book lost some of its magic for me.
The middle and later part of the book goes into territory that I did not see coming. I am still trying to wrap my mind around how I feel about the revelations. I did enjoy the missing person story line and the not so welcomed blast from the past.
Although I found this book to be enjoyable, it did not wow me as I had hoped that it would. I had a hard time connecting with Nicola. I felt quite ambivalent towards her for the entire book. But I was invested in the possibility that she could be connected again with her dead husband. The chilling atmosphere was a huge plus of this book. I just wished the middle part of this book would move at a faster pace.
3/3.5 stars
Thank you to St. Martin's Press 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 📖
June 5, 2024
This book was so good! I had a really hard time putting it down. It was scary, it was sad, it was mysterious. There were secrets that had you anticipated for basically the whole book. This was such an engaging and fast paced read. I read this over a few days before bed, and would have scary dreams each night, so the scare factor was definitely there and left me thinking about it until I could read some more. I highly recommend this one to all Paranormal lovers. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 19, 2024
First and foremost, I’m a bit of a Kelley Armstrong fangirl. This is the 15th book (three series and several standalones) of hers that I have read. Suffice it to say. I think she’s an excellent writer and storyteller. Secondly, I love scary, ghost and supernatural stories, and when I came across this one, I just had to have it. With ghosts, a haunted house, a séance, and even swarms of bugs that surround you every time you walk outside, all of which makes for a great story for the upcoming Halloween season.
The book summary basically lays out the start of the story and introduces the MC, Nic, a Cystic Fibrosa sufferer who has lasted long past her expiration date. However, her healthy and fit husband, Anton, hasn’t. Fast forward seven months, and Nic is volunteering as a mentor for a grief counseling facility. It comes across as a kind of 12-step facility where newbies can partner up with mentors, supposedly those who have succeeded in moving through the stages of grief. Lol😂 While Nic is nowhere near getting through the grieving stages, she does have a lot of experience in getting duped by a slew of charlatans who target the newly grieved in scamming them into thinking they can help them “communicate” with their loved ones. This is the type of mentoring she provides to Shania, a woman grieving her sister.
However, Nic’s brother, Keith, and his ex-wife, Libby, and his current husband, Jin, all think that the reason Nic can’t move on is because she truly believes that spirits can be summoned, because of her own past experiences. So, they’re all, including a “reputable” medium, off to a lake house where Nic and Anton loved to visit, with hopes of conjuring up Anton’s spirit once and for all. It’s not long before creepy and scary things start happening. There is also a secondary storyline of the missing son, Brodie, of the woman down the road, Mrs Kilmer, who provides the meals to Nic and the rest of the guests. The son is a drug addict and has a history of not coming home sometimes, but the woman believes that something is wrong.
Most of the story revolves around all the creepy stuff happening around the house and the creepy occurences of a few seances. They realized that at some point, Brodie, was in the basement of the house because they find his drug kit. They even start to suspect that Brodie might be involved in some of the creepy stuff going on in the house and that he’s trying to get them to leave. It's not long before they discover that is not the case. It isn’t until deep into the second half that we discover what Nic has been hiding about her past and how it may be connected to her present. Some of the chapters flip back and forth from Nic’s present and past.
The character development of Nic, and even Anton to some degree, was pretty good throughout the story. She kind of started out as this troubled and grieving widow who couldn’t move on and by the end…..wow!!! Unveiling the fact and fiction of Nic’s memories, real and imaginary, as well as her past was a shocker. The pacing was steady, the storyline was very interesting, and the writing was crazy, bizarre, good too. Classic Armstrong with an outrageously, creepy and super scary scenes. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.1 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #MacmillanAudio #IllBeWaiting
The book summary basically lays out the start of the story and introduces the MC, Nic, a Cystic Fibrosa sufferer who has lasted long past her expiration date. However, her healthy and fit husband, Anton, hasn’t. Fast forward seven months, and Nic is volunteering as a mentor for a grief counseling facility. It comes across as a kind of 12-step facility where newbies can partner up with mentors, supposedly those who have succeeded in moving through the stages of grief. Lol😂 While Nic is nowhere near getting through the grieving stages, she does have a lot of experience in getting duped by a slew of charlatans who target the newly grieved in scamming them into thinking they can help them “communicate” with their loved ones. This is the type of mentoring she provides to Shania, a woman grieving her sister.
However, Nic’s brother, Keith, and his ex-wife, Libby, and his current husband, Jin, all think that the reason Nic can’t move on is because she truly believes that spirits can be summoned, because of her own past experiences. So, they’re all, including a “reputable” medium, off to a lake house where Nic and Anton loved to visit, with hopes of conjuring up Anton’s spirit once and for all. It’s not long before creepy and scary things start happening. There is also a secondary storyline of the missing son, Brodie, of the woman down the road, Mrs Kilmer, who provides the meals to Nic and the rest of the guests. The son is a drug addict and has a history of not coming home sometimes, but the woman believes that something is wrong.
Most of the story revolves around all the creepy stuff happening around the house and the creepy occurences of a few seances. They realized that at some point, Brodie, was in the basement of the house because they find his drug kit. They even start to suspect that Brodie might be involved in some of the creepy stuff going on in the house and that he’s trying to get them to leave. It's not long before they discover that is not the case. It isn’t until deep into the second half that we discover what Nic has been hiding about her past and how it may be connected to her present. Some of the chapters flip back and forth from Nic’s present and past.
The character development of Nic, and even Anton to some degree, was pretty good throughout the story. She kind of started out as this troubled and grieving widow who couldn’t move on and by the end…..wow!!! Unveiling the fact and fiction of Nic’s memories, real and imaginary, as well as her past was a shocker. The pacing was steady, the storyline was very interesting, and the writing was crazy, bizarre, good too. Classic Armstrong with an outrageously, creepy and super scary scenes. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.1 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #MacmillanAudio #IllBeWaiting
February 3, 2025
Nicola Laughton has had a raffle death ticket from the day she was born with the horrible, unrelenting illness of cystic fibrosis. Nicola never thought she would ever marry but she did meet the love of her life and sadly he died shortly after their marriage in a horrific traffic accident. Anton's last words to her as he died in her arms was "I'll be waiting" and some witnesses claimed to see his spirit hover over his body for a few moments. Ever since then Nicola has visited mediums and attended seances seeking to prove or disprove of life existing after death.
Nicola rents a summer house by the sea and brings her best supporters, her brother-in-law who is a sceptic and another friend whom she met at one of her seances and who definitely believes in the afterlife and hopes Nicola will find her answers. The medium she hires is also a scientist who comes well recommended.
Shortly after they arrive strange and bizarre occurrences begin to descend upon the group, subtle in the beginning but when swarms of black insects hover outside the house where Nicola can't even go for a walk due to her breathing and the insects flying in her mouth and eyes whenever she steps outside. It is a very strange phenomena to be sure and now Nicola wonders if she's made some very bad decisions about needing to have contact with Anton since all the paranormal experiences seem aggressive and dark so maybe she's made contact with something else and how will she make it all come to an end without any harmful entity attacking her and her friends. Something at this beach house has gone very, very wrong!
Kelley Armstrong has written another suspenseful and terrifying novel that I hated putting down and coming to an end. I enjoyed all the characters and felt they were well developed and I also loved all the twists and turns that K.A. always include in her books. This novel was so enjoyable and entertaining and I am so looking forward to reading many, more books by this author.
I recommend this book to any reader who wants something spooky, unsettling, suspenseful with some tense horror that never lets up and yet a great, back and present story concerning Nicola's chronic,deadly illness and her
courage and stamina of beating the odds of her life expectancy by never giving up! I also loved the fantastic, explosive ending that I never saw coming which kept me on the edge of my seat through the last few chapters!
I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 4 1/2 SUSPENSEFUL AND NERVE SHATTERING 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 STARS!!
Nicola rents a summer house by the sea and brings her best supporters, her brother-in-law who is a sceptic and another friend whom she met at one of her seances and who definitely believes in the afterlife and hopes Nicola will find her answers. The medium she hires is also a scientist who comes well recommended.
Shortly after they arrive strange and bizarre occurrences begin to descend upon the group, subtle in the beginning but when swarms of black insects hover outside the house where Nicola can't even go for a walk due to her breathing and the insects flying in her mouth and eyes whenever she steps outside. It is a very strange phenomena to be sure and now Nicola wonders if she's made some very bad decisions about needing to have contact with Anton since all the paranormal experiences seem aggressive and dark so maybe she's made contact with something else and how will she make it all come to an end without any harmful entity attacking her and her friends. Something at this beach house has gone very, very wrong!
Kelley Armstrong has written another suspenseful and terrifying novel that I hated putting down and coming to an end. I enjoyed all the characters and felt they were well developed and I also loved all the twists and turns that K.A. always include in her books. This novel was so enjoyable and entertaining and I am so looking forward to reading many, more books by this author.
I recommend this book to any reader who wants something spooky, unsettling, suspenseful with some tense horror that never lets up and yet a great, back and present story concerning Nicola's chronic,deadly illness and her
courage and stamina of beating the odds of her life expectancy by never giving up! I also loved the fantastic, explosive ending that I never saw coming which kept me on the edge of my seat through the last few chapters!
I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 4 1/2 SUSPENSEFUL AND NERVE SHATTERING 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 STARS!!
May 20, 2024
As a fan of Kelley Armstrong I couldn't wait to read I'll Be Waiting. I love her ability to hook you and keep you wanting more, and
I'll Be Waiting was no exception.
Nicola Laughton has always known her life will be cut short, since her diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis she didn't dare to hope or dream for love or a future. But then came Anton who has promised to love her and be there until the very end, little did she know that the end would be his as her beloved dies before her in a car crash. As if that wasn't enough witnesses claim to see him hovering over her promising her he will be waiting for her, making headlines of terminally ill woman holding her dying husband as he promises to wait on the other side. Suddenly she is hounded by psychics and spiritualist promising her closure. Trying to help her friends and family hire a reputable medium in the hopes of helping Nicola. But they do not realize that this isn't her first time contacting the dead, and when her nightmares are unleased and they discover a dead body, their only concern is how to get out alive themselves.
I really loved the characters in this book, the story was creepy and unexpected, I couldn't wait to see how this story would play out
I'll Be Waiting was no exception.
Nicola Laughton has always known her life will be cut short, since her diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis she didn't dare to hope or dream for love or a future. But then came Anton who has promised to love her and be there until the very end, little did she know that the end would be his as her beloved dies before her in a car crash. As if that wasn't enough witnesses claim to see him hovering over her promising her he will be waiting for her, making headlines of terminally ill woman holding her dying husband as he promises to wait on the other side. Suddenly she is hounded by psychics and spiritualist promising her closure. Trying to help her friends and family hire a reputable medium in the hopes of helping Nicola. But they do not realize that this isn't her first time contacting the dead, and when her nightmares are unleased and they discover a dead body, their only concern is how to get out alive themselves.
I really loved the characters in this book, the story was creepy and unexpected, I couldn't wait to see how this story would play out
October 6, 2024
Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorites when it comes to storytelling. I adore her novels so much, and this ghost story was just amazing!
The mystery surrounding Nic's history was intriguing, and the plot was as well-written and clever as any Armstrong book. A combination of flashbacks to a few significant historical moments and the current day are used to tell the story. The plot was really exciting and tense, and I really enjoyed seeing it all come together! The story takes so many unexpected turns that it becomes even more engaging.
I was astonished at how much I enjoyed the characters. Nicola is the best character, which I appreciate given that she is our narrator. Her personality is extremely endearing to me. She is a real cynic when it comes to seances, but I liked that she genuinely wants to communicate with her husband, Anton.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and I'm eager to read more of Kelley Armstrong's work! For fans of horror, ghost stories, and, of course, Kelley Armstrong, this stand-alone is well worth reading.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The mystery surrounding Nic's history was intriguing, and the plot was as well-written and clever as any Armstrong book. A combination of flashbacks to a few significant historical moments and the current day are used to tell the story. The plot was really exciting and tense, and I really enjoyed seeing it all come together! The story takes so many unexpected turns that it becomes even more engaging.
I was astonished at how much I enjoyed the characters. Nicola is the best character, which I appreciate given that she is our narrator. Her personality is extremely endearing to me. She is a real cynic when it comes to seances, but I liked that she genuinely wants to communicate with her husband, Anton.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and I'm eager to read more of Kelley Armstrong's work! For fans of horror, ghost stories, and, of course, Kelley Armstrong, this stand-alone is well worth reading.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
October 14, 2024
Author Kelley Armstrong's newest release, I'LL BE WAITING, is the perfect book to put readers in the mood for the spooky season. A grieving wife's desperate attempt to connect with her deceased husband beyond the grave turns deadly in this highly atmospheric tale of supernatural horror. Make sure you have all the lights turned on before starting this one!
Terminally ill Nicola Laughton considers herself to be a fortunate woman. While she's lived with cystic fibrosis since childhood, modern medicine has improved her quality of life as well as her life expectancy. Married to Anton, the man of her dreams, she's enjoying life to the fullest until the day a car crosses the center line claiming her husband's life. As Nicola kneels on the pavement cradling her husband in her arms, Anton's dying vow is to wait for her. Captured by cell phone cameras, the scene soon goes viral with rumors that Anton's ghost or spirit appears hovering over them while whispering to Nicola. The news is all it takes to bring self-claimed psychics out of the woodwork telling Nicola they can facilitate her reconnection to her dead husband only to leave Nicola disappointed and disillusioned. In one last desperate attempt, friends and family step in to set up one final seance with a reputable parapsychologist to take place at Anton's family's Lake Erie beach house where Anton spent a great deal of time. Soon after their arrival, mysterious events occur indicating the possible presence of entities residing in the old house. Is Anton reaching out? Or has something darker, more sinister been awakened?
I'LL BE WAITING is a tension laden, highly atmospheric paranormal thriller. A foreboding tone is set early enhanced by the setting in a secluded beach house complete with unexplained voices and footsteps, doors opening and closing, a creaking dumbwaiter, a room full of creepy porcelain dolls watching . . . and a history that includes a missing boy and murder. As the story progresses, short flashbacks give readers insight to past events raising more questions while leaving readers to decide what's real and what's not. The author slows the pace through the middle portion of the book, taking time to build the suspense while keeping characters and readers off-balance with a variety of eerie, goosebump worthy incidences only to pick up speed again as danger escalates through the final showdown. Some readers may find it hard to connect with characters who appear illusive due to the mysterious, ever-changing aura and circumstances surrounding them. Readers are challenged with uncovering the truth while figuring out who to trust in this tale of things that go bump in the night.
Author Kelley Armstrong has expertly rendered another paranormal page turner, a smoke'n'mirrors mystery, perfect for fans who enjoy a good ghost story without crossing over into full-blown horror. Armchair detectives will also enjoy the challenge of solving this one.
Special thanks to St. Martins Press and Author Kelley Armstrong for a gift copy of this title. Opinions expressed are my own. My review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is now available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
Terminally ill Nicola Laughton considers herself to be a fortunate woman. While she's lived with cystic fibrosis since childhood, modern medicine has improved her quality of life as well as her life expectancy. Married to Anton, the man of her dreams, she's enjoying life to the fullest until the day a car crosses the center line claiming her husband's life. As Nicola kneels on the pavement cradling her husband in her arms, Anton's dying vow is to wait for her. Captured by cell phone cameras, the scene soon goes viral with rumors that Anton's ghost or spirit appears hovering over them while whispering to Nicola. The news is all it takes to bring self-claimed psychics out of the woodwork telling Nicola they can facilitate her reconnection to her dead husband only to leave Nicola disappointed and disillusioned. In one last desperate attempt, friends and family step in to set up one final seance with a reputable parapsychologist to take place at Anton's family's Lake Erie beach house where Anton spent a great deal of time. Soon after their arrival, mysterious events occur indicating the possible presence of entities residing in the old house. Is Anton reaching out? Or has something darker, more sinister been awakened?
I'LL BE WAITING is a tension laden, highly atmospheric paranormal thriller. A foreboding tone is set early enhanced by the setting in a secluded beach house complete with unexplained voices and footsteps, doors opening and closing, a creaking dumbwaiter, a room full of creepy porcelain dolls watching . . . and a history that includes a missing boy and murder. As the story progresses, short flashbacks give readers insight to past events raising more questions while leaving readers to decide what's real and what's not. The author slows the pace through the middle portion of the book, taking time to build the suspense while keeping characters and readers off-balance with a variety of eerie, goosebump worthy incidences only to pick up speed again as danger escalates through the final showdown. Some readers may find it hard to connect with characters who appear illusive due to the mysterious, ever-changing aura and circumstances surrounding them. Readers are challenged with uncovering the truth while figuring out who to trust in this tale of things that go bump in the night.
Author Kelley Armstrong has expertly rendered another paranormal page turner, a smoke'n'mirrors mystery, perfect for fans who enjoy a good ghost story without crossing over into full-blown horror. Armchair detectives will also enjoy the challenge of solving this one.
Special thanks to St. Martins Press and Author Kelley Armstrong for a gift copy of this title. Opinions expressed are my own. My review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is now available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
September 28, 2024
Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors through several series and standalones I have enjoyed everything she’s written and this book did not disappoint me. I will admit I didn’t read the description of this book at all because of the author and I was a little surprised by the amount of grief it punched me with (I shouldn’t have been, it’s clear in the description, this was my stupidity). It was well written, but perhaps a little too close to reality of grief and this is a tough time of year for me, I might have waited a bit but I still enjoyed it.
Nicola lost her husband in a car accident which wasn’t how it was supposed to go, she has had CF her entire life and achieved so much she was told she’d never have, but she always knew she would die and leave her healthy husband behind. After his death she is desperate to communicate, but she knows all of the mediums and clairvoyants she went to were scam artists feeding off her grief and taking advantage. She and her closest supports, her brother Keith, his wife Jin, and Keith’s ex-wife Lori all decide she needs to give it one last attempt. I did find the plot of the story to be fairly predictable, but it was very creepy and a fun ride. I was completely surprised by the midges!! While they seemed bigger than what I’ve seen clouds of bugs that cover everything is accurate and they are completely creepy. Definitely upped the atmosphere for me. Overall I gave this 4.5 stars rounded up because the story was very fun.
Nicola lost her husband in a car accident which wasn’t how it was supposed to go, she has had CF her entire life and achieved so much she was told she’d never have, but she always knew she would die and leave her healthy husband behind. After his death she is desperate to communicate, but she knows all of the mediums and clairvoyants she went to were scam artists feeding off her grief and taking advantage. She and her closest supports, her brother Keith, his wife Jin, and Keith’s ex-wife Lori all decide she needs to give it one last attempt. I did find the plot of the story to be fairly predictable, but it was very creepy and a fun ride. I was completely surprised by the midges!! While they seemed bigger than what I’ve seen clouds of bugs that cover everything is accurate and they are completely creepy. Definitely upped the atmosphere for me. Overall I gave this 4.5 stars rounded up because the story was very fun.
January 5, 2025
2.5 Stars
I genuinely like the concept of the story; it shows a lot of promise. However, I found the pacing to be slow, and there were moments where it felt like the story dragged on a bit. Because of that, it was hard for me to connect deeply with the narrative. Overall, I think it had potential, but it left me feeling like it was just an okay read.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Kelley Armstrong, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
I genuinely like the concept of the story; it shows a lot of promise. However, I found the pacing to be slow, and there were moments where it felt like the story dragged on a bit. Because of that, it was hard for me to connect deeply with the narrative. Overall, I think it had potential, but it left me feeling like it was just an okay read.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Kelley Armstrong, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
August 7, 2025
Wow! What a surprise, and not in a good way.
This plot just made zero sense to me.
It seems like it’s going to be very creepy, and granted, a few parts are. The seance in the forest when the characters are kids is damn freaky.
The rest of the story just drags on, and on, and on, and on. For some reason midges are a central point. The main character is an expert at debunking mediums/spiritualists but can’t stop going to them. Somehow everyone is related and the spell stuff was never actually explained further?
Wayyy too many loops not closed in this book and it seems like the author just hopes readers will ignore these and be content with the subpar ending.
This plot just made zero sense to me.
It seems like it’s going to be very creepy, and granted, a few parts are. The seance in the forest when the characters are kids is damn freaky.
The rest of the story just drags on, and on, and on, and on. For some reason midges are a central point. The main character is an expert at debunking mediums/spiritualists but can’t stop going to them. Somehow everyone is related and the spell stuff was never actually explained further?
Wayyy too many loops not closed in this book and it seems like the author just hopes readers will ignore these and be content with the subpar ending.
October 18, 2024
dnfing… i don’t have the patience for all the rambling 😭
October 1, 2024
I’ll be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong
Supernatural horror.
Nicole Laughton never expected to live long enough to love someone, but now she’s a widow. News of the auto accident and photos of a supposed ghost, makes his death into a public interest nightmare for Nicole by psychics and spiritualists. Nicole is now using her skepticism to expose the fakes.
In hopes of closure, family and friends find a reputable medium and they rent the Toronto Lake Erie beach house that Anton’s family once owned.
The goal is three sessions but unusual things start happening almost immediately. Locked doors mysteriously open, a neighbor is missing, clouds of insects engulf the house, footsteps overhead, and the creak of an old dumbwaiter from an empty shaft. And then a body is found.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook. The performance is done by Jennifer Pickens and is compelling as the main character goes through skepticism, a little hope, and terror and takes the reader along for the wild ride.
Both the ebook and audiobook are gripping. There are a lot of extended family names and characters which may be slightly easier to follow in the ebook but the pure horror, especially in the last quarter of the story is absolutely riveting.
Nicole works through possible suspects one by one, sure she knows, until something else happens. Riveting horror.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.
Supernatural horror.
Nicole Laughton never expected to live long enough to love someone, but now she’s a widow. News of the auto accident and photos of a supposed ghost, makes his death into a public interest nightmare for Nicole by psychics and spiritualists. Nicole is now using her skepticism to expose the fakes.
In hopes of closure, family and friends find a reputable medium and they rent the Toronto Lake Erie beach house that Anton’s family once owned.
The goal is three sessions but unusual things start happening almost immediately. Locked doors mysteriously open, a neighbor is missing, clouds of insects engulf the house, footsteps overhead, and the creak of an old dumbwaiter from an empty shaft. And then a body is found.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook. The performance is done by Jennifer Pickens and is compelling as the main character goes through skepticism, a little hope, and terror and takes the reader along for the wild ride.
Both the ebook and audiobook are gripping. There are a lot of extended family names and characters which may be slightly easier to follow in the ebook but the pure horror, especially in the last quarter of the story is absolutely riveting.
Nicole works through possible suspects one by one, sure she knows, until something else happens. Riveting horror.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.
September 27, 2024
Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors and so I stepped out of my comfort zone to read her latest book, I’ll Be Waiting. I’m not generally into horror or whatever genre this might fall under, but I figured I’d give it a try because of the author. And it was really quite good!
This is more of a ghost story than horror, although there are some pretty gruesome things that happen along the way. Nicola has cystic fibrosis and wasn’t expected to live to adulthood but here she is, married to Anton and in relatively good health. She has a new medication and some fancy gear that combine to help her handle the CF. I didn’t know that much about this illness so this was quite informative. Because of her CF, she and Anton never figured that she would outlive him, but she does, because of a terrible car crash. As he’s dying, he tells her “I’ll be waiting”, which is where the title of the book comes from. Bystanders video all of this, and her story goes viral.
Everyone grieves in a different way and Nicola becomes obsessed with Anton’s last words. She consults mediums and go to seances and tries to contact Anton. I enjoyed the first seance described and how Nicola figured out how the charlatan was doing things.
The later sections got a bit convoluted and left my head spinning. The bulk of the book leads you through a multi-day retreat in an effort to reach Anton, guided by a professor who she believes is the real thing, not a charlatan like so many others. In addition to Nicola, a younger woman from her grief group comes along, as well as Nicola’s brother-in-law Jin. There are a lot of weird and spooky things that go on - including a massive swarm of midges, which sounded absolutely disgusting - and we gradually learn about something tragic that happened when Nicola was in high school.
If you enjoy ghost stories and don’t mind some violence and gore, you should definitely pick this one up!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. It was beautifully narrated by Jennifer Pickens. All opinions are my own.
This is more of a ghost story than horror, although there are some pretty gruesome things that happen along the way. Nicola has cystic fibrosis and wasn’t expected to live to adulthood but here she is, married to Anton and in relatively good health. She has a new medication and some fancy gear that combine to help her handle the CF. I didn’t know that much about this illness so this was quite informative. Because of her CF, she and Anton never figured that she would outlive him, but she does, because of a terrible car crash. As he’s dying, he tells her “I’ll be waiting”, which is where the title of the book comes from. Bystanders video all of this, and her story goes viral.
Everyone grieves in a different way and Nicola becomes obsessed with Anton’s last words. She consults mediums and go to seances and tries to contact Anton. I enjoyed the first seance described and how Nicola figured out how the charlatan was doing things.
The later sections got a bit convoluted and left my head spinning. The bulk of the book leads you through a multi-day retreat in an effort to reach Anton, guided by a professor who she believes is the real thing, not a charlatan like so many others. In addition to Nicola, a younger woman from her grief group comes along, as well as Nicola’s brother-in-law Jin. There are a lot of weird and spooky things that go on - including a massive swarm of midges, which sounded absolutely disgusting - and we gradually learn about something tragic that happened when Nicola was in high school.
If you enjoy ghost stories and don’t mind some violence and gore, you should definitely pick this one up!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. It was beautifully narrated by Jennifer Pickens. All opinions are my own.
October 2, 2024
I’ll Be Waiting is perfect for spooky season reading!!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?
I absolutely loved the idea of possessions and all things going bump in the night in a creepy old mansion. Then, add in a past timeline mystery, a few twist, and you have a ghost story that is a must for Spooktober!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
Dealing with grief and loss
Mystery
Ghosts
Seances
Spooky House
Layered and developed supporting characters
CF Rep
Pinch of magical realism
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
Oh my gosh! Jennifer Pickens brought the haunting atmosphere to life with her narration.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?
Fast! I was so thankful I had both the audio and physical book so I could alternate back-and-forth since I had to know what was going to happen next.
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
Yes! Overall, this is an edge of your seat story that makes the hairs on your arms stand up, keeps you up late reading, and has intricate storytelling. Go grab a copy and get sucked into this alluring story!
Thank you Minotaur Books and MacMillan Audio for this gifted copy.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?
I absolutely loved the idea of possessions and all things going bump in the night in a creepy old mansion. Then, add in a past timeline mystery, a few twist, and you have a ghost story that is a must for Spooktober!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
Dealing with grief and loss
Mystery
Ghosts
Seances
Spooky House
Layered and developed supporting characters
CF Rep
Pinch of magical realism
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
Oh my gosh! Jennifer Pickens brought the haunting atmosphere to life with her narration.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?
Fast! I was so thankful I had both the audio and physical book so I could alternate back-and-forth since I had to know what was going to happen next.
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
Yes! Overall, this is an edge of your seat story that makes the hairs on your arms stand up, keeps you up late reading, and has intricate storytelling. Go grab a copy and get sucked into this alluring story!
Thank you Minotaur Books and MacMillan Audio for this gifted copy.
September 19, 2024
I don't know where to begin with I'll Be Waiting! When Nic was a child, she was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Although she wasn't expected to live many years, thanks to a new medication she was able to reach adulthood and marry the love of her life. Then he passed in an auto accident, while she survived. What did Anton mean when he whispered "I'll be waiting"? Nic desperately turns to seances to contact Anton.
I enjoyed the first part of the book but then it became too farfetched and too far outside of the type of book I most like to read. I tried to stay with it but found myself skimming. I'm sure I'll Be Waiting will be loved by people who are into paranormal but I'm just not one of them. (I usually love everything Ms. Armstrong writes!!)
Many thanks to both #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of I'll Be Waiting. This book has an expected publication date of October 1, 2024.
#Ghosts #Paranormal #Possession
I enjoyed the first part of the book but then it became too farfetched and too far outside of the type of book I most like to read. I tried to stay with it but found myself skimming. I'm sure I'll Be Waiting will be loved by people who are into paranormal but I'm just not one of them. (I usually love everything Ms. Armstrong writes!!)
Many thanks to both #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of I'll Be Waiting. This book has an expected publication date of October 1, 2024.
#Ghosts #Paranormal #Possession
May 28, 2024
Okay, I loved this.
Whenever I read a Kelley Armstrong book, I’m reminded of what a GOOD writer she is. Her characters are so engaging and the plots so riveting that I never want her books to end.
And in this one – the grief! Oh my goodness! Our main character has so much going on in her life and mixing that with mourning and fear just gives you all the emotions when reading her.
I didn’t trust anyone around her (I’ll leave you to figure out if I was right about that) and I was just on edge while reading.
An absolutely terrific book full of surprises!
• ARC via Publisher
Whenever I read a Kelley Armstrong book, I’m reminded of what a GOOD writer she is. Her characters are so engaging and the plots so riveting that I never want her books to end.
And in this one – the grief! Oh my goodness! Our main character has so much going on in her life and mixing that with mourning and fear just gives you all the emotions when reading her.
I didn’t trust anyone around her (I’ll leave you to figure out if I was right about that) and I was just on edge while reading.
An absolutely terrific book full of surprises!
• ARC via Publisher
June 8, 2025
I struggled to rate this book. I’m a big fan of Kelley Armstrong and love paranormal stories, and the narrator, one of my favorite, did an excellent job bringing it to life. I was entertained, but the predictable ending left me a bit let down.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through Edelweiss for an honest review!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through Edelweiss for an honest review!
May 22, 2024
This was such an amazing, wild ride that I loved every minute of! Not Armstrong's usual book for sure and maybe that is also what made it so much fun. I loved being kept on the edge of my seat, not always knowing what was happening and wavering back and forth between what I thought to be true with what was actually true. This was just so engaging and I couldn't get enough. Truly, another wonderful read by this author.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
October 15, 2024
3.5⭐️ solid paranormal thriller but way OTT ending. Full review to come.
October 11, 2024
So this one was really creepy. It's an atmospheric, paranormal, horror ghost story and I was definitely entertained. Nic has cystic fibrosis and has met the love of her life, Anton. She ends up losing him in a horrible accident. While dying, he says to her “I'll be waiting for you”. A witness at the scene photographed that moment and it became public. Eight months later she rents a house that used to belong to Antons family to meet with a medium to contact Anton through a seance. Once there, unexplained things start to happen. It gets pretty damn crazy I'll tell you. You'll have to just roll with it and suspend some disbelief here. If you're good at doing that, then you will like this one. A great read for Halloween and spooky season for sure.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
October 7, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the pre-release copy. Below is my honest review.
I really enjoyed Armstrong's I'll Be Waiting, but it wasn't as near perfect as so many of Armstrong's books usually are. This one had some predictable twists, and there were some parts that dragged and felt a little repetitive.
Overall though, this one built good tension, set up an interesting plot, threw some entertaining characters at us, and threw some fun twists at us. I give it four stars and recommend it to Armstrong fans and horror fans. :)
I really enjoyed Armstrong's I'll Be Waiting, but it wasn't as near perfect as so many of Armstrong's books usually are. This one had some predictable twists, and there were some parts that dragged and felt a little repetitive.
Overall though, this one built good tension, set up an interesting plot, threw some entertaining characters at us, and threw some fun twists at us. I give it four stars and recommend it to Armstrong fans and horror fans. :)
January 1, 2025
They kind of book you finish because you might as well keep listening. The kind of book that makes a much more compelling movie than novel. One that will get a review from AmandaTheJedi.
August 4, 2025
3.5 stars
A gripping story that was well paced throughout the book. Enjoyed the characters and the backstory that went with it. Lots of twists and turns. They ending took a bit to wrap up though and by then I had guessed who did it before it was revealed. A fun read though that kept me at the edge of my seat.
A gripping story that was well paced throughout the book. Enjoyed the characters and the backstory that went with it. Lots of twists and turns. They ending took a bit to wrap up though and by then I had guessed who did it before it was revealed. A fun read though that kept me at the edge of my seat.
October 23, 2024
Recently Kelley Armstrong has become one of my go-to authors for several genres from romance to mystery, time travel, paranormal, and horror. I enjoy her stories, settings, characters, etc. and her latest entry into what I would call a mystery/paranormal/horror mashup is just another example of my growing love for her stories. I find them enjoyable, accessible, and relatable. I quickly switched between the ebook and audio for this one because I was too intrigued to put it down. The audiobook is narrated by Jennifer Pickens who smoothly led me through the story and gave great voices to the characters and suspenseful setting.
Nicola drew the interest of the media when her late husband, Anton, was caught on video in their final moments expressing his sentiments that he would be waiting for her. The drama drummed up by the media implying she is a dying woman is a far cry from her daily life as a cystic fibrosis patient and results in all sorts of spiritualists and frauds soliciting her business to hold seances to provide closure. Nicola’s friends and family are concerned by the way she is coping with her grief. They all agree to one last final attempt at contact with Anton with a reputable professor of parapsychology in an isolated Lake Erie beach house previously owned by Anton’s family.
The story is told in first person by Nicola. I’m not very familiar with cystic fibrosis or how to manage living with it, so I found this aspect of Nicola’s life very educational. The opening accident and subsequent seances quickly drew me into the story fascinated and questioning exactly what was happening. It’s implied early that there are secrets in Nicola’s past that are contributing to the strange events from the seances despite the obvious fraud.
The story alternates between the strange happenings in the rental house and Nicola’s memories of events from high school when something tragic happened in her group of friends keeping me on the edge of my seat. My only quibble is that I figured out a major twist early on, but I still enjoyed the ride and was surprised by quite a few of the later revelations.
Recommended to readers who enjoy ghosts and séance type stories.
Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for a copy provided for an honest review.
Nicola drew the interest of the media when her late husband, Anton, was caught on video in their final moments expressing his sentiments that he would be waiting for her. The drama drummed up by the media implying she is a dying woman is a far cry from her daily life as a cystic fibrosis patient and results in all sorts of spiritualists and frauds soliciting her business to hold seances to provide closure. Nicola’s friends and family are concerned by the way she is coping with her grief. They all agree to one last final attempt at contact with Anton with a reputable professor of parapsychology in an isolated Lake Erie beach house previously owned by Anton’s family.
The story is told in first person by Nicola. I’m not very familiar with cystic fibrosis or how to manage living with it, so I found this aspect of Nicola’s life very educational. The opening accident and subsequent seances quickly drew me into the story fascinated and questioning exactly what was happening. It’s implied early that there are secrets in Nicola’s past that are contributing to the strange events from the seances despite the obvious fraud.
The story alternates between the strange happenings in the rental house and Nicola’s memories of events from high school when something tragic happened in her group of friends keeping me on the edge of my seat. My only quibble is that I figured out a major twist early on, but I still enjoyed the ride and was surprised by quite a few of the later revelations.
Recommended to readers who enjoy ghosts and séance type stories.
Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for a copy provided for an honest review.
October 10, 2024
4.5/5
My first Kelley Armstrong, but most certainly enough to make me want to go right back and read every single thing she's written, and to keep an eye out for all future releases. This was the best kind of horror there can be as far as I am concerned - as careful and tender in its approach to the horrors of real life as it is unflinching in its approach to the horrors of a world beyond. I'LL BE WAITING starts off quiet, mellow in its grief, but it slowly becomes an unhinged rollercoaster that makes it nothing short of unputdownable. I find it rare for horror to manage to get a physical reaction out of me, but this made my skin crawl and my hair stand on end on quite a few occasions, and it kept me tense and on edge more often than not.
I cannot recommend it enough.
My first Kelley Armstrong, but most certainly enough to make me want to go right back and read every single thing she's written, and to keep an eye out for all future releases. This was the best kind of horror there can be as far as I am concerned - as careful and tender in its approach to the horrors of real life as it is unflinching in its approach to the horrors of a world beyond. I'LL BE WAITING starts off quiet, mellow in its grief, but it slowly becomes an unhinged rollercoaster that makes it nothing short of unputdownable. I find it rare for horror to manage to get a physical reaction out of me, but this made my skin crawl and my hair stand on end on quite a few occasions, and it kept me tense and on edge more often than not.
I cannot recommend it enough.
September 30, 2024
Nicola Laughton, who was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a child, never expected the norms life offers like falling in love and growing old. When she turned thirty, thanks to medical advances, she met Anton, who promised to love her until the end.
A tragic accident ripped him from her, as he told her he’d be waiting. Those last moments went viral and now spiritualist are hounding her, offering closure. To thwart their efforts, she agrees to have a seance with a parapsychologist. Her friends and family rent a beach house on Lake Erie. A home Anton’s family once owned.
The tale that unfolds delivered a creeptastic haunting with strange events, eerie sounds, and dead bodies. Armstrong built the story well, grabbing me from the onset. What unfolds is an atmospheric tale with supernatural events, strange sounds, and heart-pounding suspense. Nicola has secrets, secrets that make her more sensitive to things happening in the house.
Jennifer Pickens captured Nicola and the atmospheric tension of the story with her narration. I loved listening and found it enhanced the suspenseful, spine-tingling moments.
It was nice to see representation for someone suffering from a rare genetic disease. Armstrong brought attention to the disease and its conditions, while strengthening the character and her story.
I enjoyed Hemlock Island her first foray into horror, and I’ll Be Waiting, delivered a supernatural ghost story that will have you leaving the lights on. This one is perfect for fall. Grab your flashlight and your earbuds for this ghostly tale! This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
A tragic accident ripped him from her, as he told her he’d be waiting. Those last moments went viral and now spiritualist are hounding her, offering closure. To thwart their efforts, she agrees to have a seance with a parapsychologist. Her friends and family rent a beach house on Lake Erie. A home Anton’s family once owned.
The tale that unfolds delivered a creeptastic haunting with strange events, eerie sounds, and dead bodies. Armstrong built the story well, grabbing me from the onset. What unfolds is an atmospheric tale with supernatural events, strange sounds, and heart-pounding suspense. Nicola has secrets, secrets that make her more sensitive to things happening in the house.
Jennifer Pickens captured Nicola and the atmospheric tension of the story with her narration. I loved listening and found it enhanced the suspenseful, spine-tingling moments.
It was nice to see representation for someone suffering from a rare genetic disease. Armstrong brought attention to the disease and its conditions, while strengthening the character and her story.
I enjoyed Hemlock Island her first foray into horror, and I’ll Be Waiting, delivered a supernatural ghost story that will have you leaving the lights on. This one is perfect for fall. Grab your flashlight and your earbuds for this ghostly tale! This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
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