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Turn Off the Light: A Novel
A haunting horror novel for fans of Josh Malerman and Jennifer McMahon—about two women, centuries apart, bound by the same dark secret, from Jacquie Walters, author of Dearest and "a talent to watch" (Sarah Langan).
The Devil enters through doors left open…
On the isolated Eastern Shore of Virginia, Edith is a healer, a woman of knowledge—and a woman watched. Shadows move where they shouldn't. Whispers creep through the dark. Terrified that she has opened her home to the Devil, Edith makes a desperate choice. One that will echo through centuries.
Claire doesn’t believe in ghosts—until she returns home to care for her dying father and finds her childhood house… listening. As one sleepless night bleeds into the next, she becomes convinced something is stirring beneath the floorboards. Something that has waited a long time.
Both women are plagued by visions. Waking with inexplicable injuries. Losing trust in their own minds. And both come to the same chilling Something is in the house. As the danger mounts, Edith and Claire discover they'll need each other to survive.
The only problem? They’re separated by four hundred years.And time is running out for them both.
The Devil enters through doors left open…
On the isolated Eastern Shore of Virginia, Edith is a healer, a woman of knowledge—and a woman watched. Shadows move where they shouldn't. Whispers creep through the dark. Terrified that she has opened her home to the Devil, Edith makes a desperate choice. One that will echo through centuries.
Claire doesn’t believe in ghosts—until she returns home to care for her dying father and finds her childhood house… listening. As one sleepless night bleeds into the next, she becomes convinced something is stirring beneath the floorboards. Something that has waited a long time.
Both women are plagued by visions. Waking with inexplicable injuries. Losing trust in their own minds. And both come to the same chilling Something is in the house. As the danger mounts, Edith and Claire discover they'll need each other to survive.
The only problem? They’re separated by four hundred years.And time is running out for them both.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2026
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December 27, 2025
A jump-scare horror thriller set in a haunted house where the devil himself threatens its inhabitants, blended with a gripping murder mystery, is the perfect recipe for any thriller lover looking for a page-turner to devour in one sitting. Add two timelines, two women separated by centuries yet bound to the same cursed house, both fighting an ancient evil—and you have an irresistibly intriguing premise. This heart-thrilling, nail-biting, deeply disturbing horror novel delivers exactly that, and I truly enjoyed every chilling moment of it.
The first timeline takes place in the 1600s and centers on Edith, who lives in an isolated house on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. She is a healer and herbalist—gifted, compassionate, and deeply misunderstood. The women in her community view her with suspicion, twisting her good intentions into something dark and unnatural. Edith is married to David Harris, a hardworking commissioner who desperately wants a child and pressures her to conceive. But Edith harbors deep fears about pregnancy, haunted by the tragic fate her own mother suffered after becoming pregnant.
When an apple appears mysteriously in her room, strange and terrifying events begin to unfold: hissing sounds in the night, candles relighting themselves, windows opening on their own, eerie creaks and whispers, and bruises blooming on Edith’s body without explanation. Something is in the house. Something watching. Something that wants her. As fear tightens its grip, Edith must confront whether an evil entity is stalking her—or whether the danger lies even closer than she ever imagined.
In the present-day timeline, we meet Claire, a single mother who returns to her childhood home with her four-year-old daughter, Julia. Her sister Tilly and brother-in-law Peter are caring for their father, whose dementia is rapidly worsening after a fall. Claire comes back hoping to spend what may be their final days together as a family—but it quickly becomes clear that her father’s decline isn’t the only thing wrong in that house.
He speaks in terror about something evil. He becomes erratic, even harming himself with sharp objects. Little Julia senses a presence too, claiming to see and communicate with someone unseen. Yet Tilly and Peter dismiss Claire’s fears, refusing to believe anything supernatural is happening and resisting her attempts to move their father into a care facility.
As memories resurface, Claire is reminded of another sister, Gabby, who vanished two decades earlier after claiming that something sinister lurked in the attic and near the dumbwaiter. Could Gabby’s disappearance be tied to the house? And could the same malevolent force now be closing in on Claire and her daughter?
Across centuries, Edith and Claire must each face the evil rooted within the walls of the same house. To save themselves and the people they love, they will have to uncover a truth so dark it may shatter everything they thought they knew—about the house, their families, and even themselves.
Overall, this is a gripping, fast-paced, and beautifully written horror mystery with a brilliantly clever, twist-packed ending that completely blew me away. It earned a well-deserved five stars from me, and I’m officially adding this author to my auto-approved favorites list. I cannot wait to see what terrifying story she brings us next.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company / Mulholland Books for sharing this unputdownable horror mystery’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The first timeline takes place in the 1600s and centers on Edith, who lives in an isolated house on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. She is a healer and herbalist—gifted, compassionate, and deeply misunderstood. The women in her community view her with suspicion, twisting her good intentions into something dark and unnatural. Edith is married to David Harris, a hardworking commissioner who desperately wants a child and pressures her to conceive. But Edith harbors deep fears about pregnancy, haunted by the tragic fate her own mother suffered after becoming pregnant.
When an apple appears mysteriously in her room, strange and terrifying events begin to unfold: hissing sounds in the night, candles relighting themselves, windows opening on their own, eerie creaks and whispers, and bruises blooming on Edith’s body without explanation. Something is in the house. Something watching. Something that wants her. As fear tightens its grip, Edith must confront whether an evil entity is stalking her—or whether the danger lies even closer than she ever imagined.
In the present-day timeline, we meet Claire, a single mother who returns to her childhood home with her four-year-old daughter, Julia. Her sister Tilly and brother-in-law Peter are caring for their father, whose dementia is rapidly worsening after a fall. Claire comes back hoping to spend what may be their final days together as a family—but it quickly becomes clear that her father’s decline isn’t the only thing wrong in that house.
He speaks in terror about something evil. He becomes erratic, even harming himself with sharp objects. Little Julia senses a presence too, claiming to see and communicate with someone unseen. Yet Tilly and Peter dismiss Claire’s fears, refusing to believe anything supernatural is happening and resisting her attempts to move their father into a care facility.
As memories resurface, Claire is reminded of another sister, Gabby, who vanished two decades earlier after claiming that something sinister lurked in the attic and near the dumbwaiter. Could Gabby’s disappearance be tied to the house? And could the same malevolent force now be closing in on Claire and her daughter?
Across centuries, Edith and Claire must each face the evil rooted within the walls of the same house. To save themselves and the people they love, they will have to uncover a truth so dark it may shatter everything they thought they knew—about the house, their families, and even themselves.
Overall, this is a gripping, fast-paced, and beautifully written horror mystery with a brilliantly clever, twist-packed ending that completely blew me away. It earned a well-deserved five stars from me, and I’m officially adding this author to my auto-approved favorites list. I cannot wait to see what terrifying story she brings us next.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company / Mulholland Books for sharing this unputdownable horror mystery’s digital reviewer 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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December 8, 2025
I do judge a book by its cover, and that’s one of the reasons that I wanted to read this book. Little did I know that the author, Jacquie Walters, had previously written, “Dearest”, in which I read last year. “Dearest” wasn’t one of my favorite reads, but I must tell you, the writing and storyline in this book is so much better (in my opinion anyways)! I really enjoyed this story, and it was almost a five star read for me, until things became a little too OTT towards the ending.
In this story we have Past chapters from the 1600’s that deal with one of our main characters of Edith (in which I really enjoyed reading). I think I would have been happy if the whole book was about her. Then we have our Present day chapters that deal with another of our main characters, that being Claire. I felt that I could resonate with both of their characters, and Edith was very interesting.
In our Present day chapters, Claire returns back to her childhood home after receiving a call from her sister that her father’s health is declining rather quickly. Once Claire returns home, her father has become more ill, and he claims that he is seeing the devil. Is her father’s dementia getting worse? Or is there something demonic going on inside the family home? Claire also has to deal with the grief and memories of her oldest sister Gabby, who disappeared 20 years prior. The stress starts to take its toll on Claire. Not only is her father seeing and hearing things, but so is Claire and her young daughter, Julia.
In the Past chapters, Edith is a young wife who works with herbs and plants to heal people. Edith is shunned from the community as they think she has a higher power and might be working with the Devil. How can Edith convince these people in her community that she just wants to help them, and not hurt them? And how does both Claire and Edith’s stories intertwine together 400 years later?
This was such a good story, and when I wasn’t reading this- I couldn’t wait to pick this book back up. I do feel towards the end that things became a little over the top for me, but others may enjoy that storyline and where it went more than I did. I know that after reading this book, I will definitely be looking forward to this author’s next book!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown & Co., and the author for an ARC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading, in exchange for an honest opinion.
Publication date: March 3, 2026
March 3, 2026
3.5 Stars
Claire and her daughter Julia head to her childhood hometown near the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia to help her sister care for their bedridden father. Claire left home right after their older sister, Gabby, went missing and started a new life in LA and hasn’t been back since. Upon arriving, she starts to hear and see things that she can’t explain. Rewind to the 1600s and we meet Edith who is a healer within that same village that Claire lives in during the present day timeline. Unfortunately, during this time, any woman that exhibited healing qualities or some semblance of intelligence was considered a witch. Claire discovers her house once belong to Edith and believes that maybe she is connected to Gabby‘s disappearance as well as the unexplained noises in the house.
I definitely favored Edith’s timeline more so than Claire’s. Claire had a super unlikable feeling to her and didn’t have much depth. Edith, on the other hand, was written really well. The pacing is what lowered my rating. It was too slow and not much happening for 3/4 of the novel. The last quarter however, things started moving rather quickly and how everything tied together was done really well. The only piece I wasn’t too keen on was how Gabby‘s disappearance was explained. While that sub plot was needed, it felt a bit out of place with Edith and Claire’s connection. At least it did to this reader, I’m sure others will feel differently.
This was really light on the horror aspects and would consider it more historical fiction/mystery with a bit of supernatural elements.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Claire and her daughter Julia head to her childhood hometown near the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia to help her sister care for their bedridden father. Claire left home right after their older sister, Gabby, went missing and started a new life in LA and hasn’t been back since. Upon arriving, she starts to hear and see things that she can’t explain. Rewind to the 1600s and we meet Edith who is a healer within that same village that Claire lives in during the present day timeline. Unfortunately, during this time, any woman that exhibited healing qualities or some semblance of intelligence was considered a witch. Claire discovers her house once belong to Edith and believes that maybe she is connected to Gabby‘s disappearance as well as the unexplained noises in the house.
I definitely favored Edith’s timeline more so than Claire’s. Claire had a super unlikable feeling to her and didn’t have much depth. Edith, on the other hand, was written really well. The pacing is what lowered my rating. It was too slow and not much happening for 3/4 of the novel. The last quarter however, things started moving rather quickly and how everything tied together was done really well. The only piece I wasn’t too keen on was how Gabby‘s disappearance was explained. While that sub plot was needed, it felt a bit out of place with Edith and Claire’s connection. At least it did to this reader, I’m sure others will feel differently.
This was really light on the horror aspects and would consider it more historical fiction/mystery with a bit of supernatural elements.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
December 1, 2025
4.25 thank you to the publisher for an early ebook! Creative, entertaining, and suspense filled paranormal read
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https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTrUYY8VB/
December 4, 2025
When the second novel by Jacquie Walters was announced, I was immediately elated! I was a big fan of Dearest and couldn’t wait to get my grubby little hands on this.
This is told through two different stories and timelines separated by centuries. What brings them together is the childhood home of Claire’s, that a woman named Edith lived in centuries before.
When she comes home with her daughter to be by her dying father’s side, strange things begin to happen. Even her father who is on his deathbed is acting odd.
Turn Off The Light is a completely different experience from her debut. This one is a slow burn tale that unfolds with creepy happenings and focusing on the past of Edith’s life. Why is Edith’s spirit still alive in the home?
I enjoyed the novel and will be excited for Walter’s next adventure. This is perfect for people who are curious about horror without all the gore and favor character driven stories.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub date 3/3/26
Thank you to Mulholland Books and Jacquie Walters for my gifted copy!
This is told through two different stories and timelines separated by centuries. What brings them together is the childhood home of Claire’s, that a woman named Edith lived in centuries before.
When she comes home with her daughter to be by her dying father’s side, strange things begin to happen. Even her father who is on his deathbed is acting odd.
Turn Off The Light is a completely different experience from her debut. This one is a slow burn tale that unfolds with creepy happenings and focusing on the past of Edith’s life. Why is Edith’s spirit still alive in the home?
I enjoyed the novel and will be excited for Walter’s next adventure. This is perfect for people who are curious about horror without all the gore and favor character driven stories.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub date 3/3/26
Thank you to Mulholland Books and Jacquie Walters for my gifted copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thank you Little, Brown and Company for access to the ARC!
4.25 stars
I don't know why, it should have been obvious, but I didn't know this was going to have a haunted house vibe going into it. This is one of my favorite commonly used tropes, so it was a pleasant surprise. The blend of horror and historical fiction was interesting too, I feel like it's not done often enough. This story follows two women - one in the 1600s and one in present day.
This is my second book by this author and I enjoyed it more than her debut. To be fair, the plot just resonated with me more. I liked Edith a lot, she was subject to the exact type of persecution I predicted - she is a healer, and any woman who showed an interest in anything outside of marriage and children back then was viewed as suspicious. She was tenacious though, and I was rooting for her even as I felt that slow sense of dread as the townspeople turned more and more against her. For the first half of the book I was a lot more interested in her story.
It sort of flipped in the second half though. I initially didn't care too much for Claire, she came off as uptight and controlling in my opinion. I completely understood the friction in the relationship she had with her sister and the rest of her family. However she grows a lot as a character, acknowledging certain mistakes and I found myself more hooked on her narrative as the novel progressed. Walters did a good job weaving the two storylines together; it seemed pretty unclear to me how these two women related besides their physical address but when it became clear what was going on I felt the entire thing was pretty clever.
I will say the big bad reveal was not particularly surprising, but honestly, I'm not sure if the author meant for it to be obvious or not. Hard to explain without including spoilers as I sometimes do (but not with ARCs!). Be on the lookout for this one in March, it's definitely worth the read.
4.25 stars
I don't know why, it should have been obvious, but I didn't know this was going to have a haunted house vibe going into it. This is one of my favorite commonly used tropes, so it was a pleasant surprise. The blend of horror and historical fiction was interesting too, I feel like it's not done often enough. This story follows two women - one in the 1600s and one in present day.
This is my second book by this author and I enjoyed it more than her debut. To be fair, the plot just resonated with me more. I liked Edith a lot, she was subject to the exact type of persecution I predicted - she is a healer, and any woman who showed an interest in anything outside of marriage and children back then was viewed as suspicious. She was tenacious though, and I was rooting for her even as I felt that slow sense of dread as the townspeople turned more and more against her. For the first half of the book I was a lot more interested in her story.
It sort of flipped in the second half though. I initially didn't care too much for Claire, she came off as uptight and controlling in my opinion. I completely understood the friction in the relationship she had with her sister and the rest of her family. However she grows a lot as a character, acknowledging certain mistakes and I found myself more hooked on her narrative as the novel progressed. Walters did a good job weaving the two storylines together; it seemed pretty unclear to me how these two women related besides their physical address but when it became clear what was going on I felt the entire thing was pretty clever.
I will say the big bad reveal was not particularly surprising, but honestly, I'm not sure if the author meant for it to be obvious or not. Hard to explain without including spoilers as I sometimes do (but not with ARCs!). Be on the lookout for this one in March, it's definitely worth the read.
November 7, 2025
If you read the authors previous book “Dearest” you understand how phenomenal it was, and exactly what to expect going into this one.
“Turn off the light” definitely exceeded expectations for the authors post debut book. The horror elements are so heavily present, the writing contents feel like the author did a lot of research and really put her whole heart and imagination into the characters and plot of this book.
The storyline features two timelines, 400 years apart.. which interconnect in a surprising way.
Despite being a horror there are lighter themes of humour, womanhood and female bonds sprinkled throughout which give a quiet uplifting reprieve.
I honestly have no notes on this one, it was very well done 👏🏼
Thank you for the gifted copy! All opinions are my own
“Turn off the light” definitely exceeded expectations for the authors post debut book. The horror elements are so heavily present, the writing contents feel like the author did a lot of research and really put her whole heart and imagination into the characters and plot of this book.
The storyline features two timelines, 400 years apart.. which interconnect in a surprising way.
Despite being a horror there are lighter themes of humour, womanhood and female bonds sprinkled throughout which give a quiet uplifting reprieve.
I honestly have no notes on this one, it was very well done 👏🏼
Thank you for the gifted copy! All opinions are my own
January 4, 2026
From the synopsis of this book I will expected something different from what it was. It’s marketed as a horror novel, however, in my opinion this is more a simple murder mystery type of book. This marketing most likely skews my rating somewhat as it’s not what I expected to read. The prose is good and the plot was also good. I think had I gone in expecting more of a gentle thriller this would have been more in line to meet my expectations. I did enjoy the dual timeline. The surprise wasn’t enough to make me love this book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 3, 2026
3.5/5
Jacquie Walters debut, ‘Dearest’, was a five-star read for me. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this follow-up and admittedly, my expectations were high. ‘Turn off the Light’ is a good book. I listened to the audio and like ‘Dearest’, it’s narrated by Walters herself. The pacing’s consistent and held my interest throughout. This story melds elements from four of my favorite things: historical fiction, haunted houses, witches, creepy kids, and it’s told via alternating timelines. Was a fun read but didn’t “wow me” as a memorable standout amid the genre.
Jacquie Walters debut, ‘Dearest’, was a five-star read for me. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this follow-up and admittedly, my expectations were high. ‘Turn off the Light’ is a good book. I listened to the audio and like ‘Dearest’, it’s narrated by Walters herself. The pacing’s consistent and held my interest throughout. This story melds elements from four of my favorite things: historical fiction, haunted houses, witches, creepy kids, and it’s told via alternating timelines. Was a fun read but didn’t “wow me” as a memorable standout amid the genre.
December 1, 2025
I really enjoyed this one. It hits that witchy/folk vibe you might be looking for!
The story is told in 2 timelines. While I enjoyed both, I found I preferred our historical timeline and that particular main character. I was so worried for her!
The more modern timeline is a good one, but I had trouble with our sisters. I was kind of unsympathetic to both of them so it was a little hard for me to be concerned. I was worried for the little girl and the grandpa, though.
The storytelling is atmospheric and the author does a great job of putting you into the minds of our charcters.
It's a good read!
* ARC via Publisher
The story is told in 2 timelines. While I enjoyed both, I found I preferred our historical timeline and that particular main character. I was so worried for her!
The more modern timeline is a good one, but I had trouble with our sisters. I was kind of unsympathetic to both of them so it was a little hard for me to be concerned. I was worried for the little girl and the grandpa, though.
The storytelling is atmospheric and the author does a great job of putting you into the minds of our charcters.
It's a good read!
* ARC via Publisher
January 22, 2026
I would love to say this novel is the best of the year, but considering it’s only January, we still have a lot of year left. I’m honestly a little sad I read this so early; it’s going to be a very hard novel to top. This might already be my best of 2026.
In this story, you follow two narratives, Claire and Edith. Both are beautifully written and so intricately woven together that it is an art in itself. As you read, you’re constantly trying to piece things together, thinking it has to be heading one way, when in all actuality, it is nowhere near that. The story is so much more elaborate and wonderful than I ever could have come up with given the chance. I would love a glimpse inside Jacquie Walters’ brain and writing process.
It’s not easy to pull off a story with such a large time gap between characters and still make each time period feel authentic, but this one does it flawlessly. When reading Edith’s chapters, I could clearly picture the timeline right down to the old clothing, language, and houses. I felt as if I had travelled in time. Claire’s storyline, on the other hand, I knew was current and modern. I could picture the changes and updates to the house, the differences in clothing, and the shifts in language, thoughts, and attitudes. The atmosphere in both timelines was so strong, especially the modern small-town setting in Claire’s, where everyone knows your sh*t. Growing up in a town of 1,400 people myself, that aspect rang painfully true. The gossip mill is always running. Everyone… knows… everything.
I truly enjoyed this story so much. I wanted to know everything about every character and every storyline. There was not a single thread I cared about more than another. I wanted to live in this story. Not literally, because that would be awful, but I also did not want it to end. I personally needed more pages and more time with these characters, even though the storyline was the perfect length and absolutely perfectly written. I just didn’t want the journey to end.
Six stars, reluctantly marked as five only because that is all I am allowed to give.
In this story, you follow two narratives, Claire and Edith. Both are beautifully written and so intricately woven together that it is an art in itself. As you read, you’re constantly trying to piece things together, thinking it has to be heading one way, when in all actuality, it is nowhere near that. The story is so much more elaborate and wonderful than I ever could have come up with given the chance. I would love a glimpse inside Jacquie Walters’ brain and writing process.
It’s not easy to pull off a story with such a large time gap between characters and still make each time period feel authentic, but this one does it flawlessly. When reading Edith’s chapters, I could clearly picture the timeline right down to the old clothing, language, and houses. I felt as if I had travelled in time. Claire’s storyline, on the other hand, I knew was current and modern. I could picture the changes and updates to the house, the differences in clothing, and the shifts in language, thoughts, and attitudes. The atmosphere in both timelines was so strong, especially the modern small-town setting in Claire’s, where everyone knows your sh*t. Growing up in a town of 1,400 people myself, that aspect rang painfully true. The gossip mill is always running. Everyone… knows… everything.
I truly enjoyed this story so much. I wanted to know everything about every character and every storyline. There was not a single thread I cared about more than another. I wanted to live in this story. Not literally, because that would be awful, but I also did not want it to end. I personally needed more pages and more time with these characters, even though the storyline was the perfect length and absolutely perfectly written. I just didn’t want the journey to end.
Six stars, reluctantly marked as five only because that is all I am allowed to give.
February 10, 2026
I like Walter’s writing, I think it flows really well and I fly through her books. This one didn’t really do much for me, though. The dual timeline witchy historical plots are something I’m pretty familiar with at this point. And they’re not particularly my favorite. Most of it is just a preference thing, but I did find this one pretty predictable with the exception of a few scenes. And a personal pet peeve of mine is when a troubled main character moves home, IMMEDIATELY reconnects with a picture perfect old ex, who now exists solely for her to talk to and support the plot.
List of Claire’s transgressions against me, personally.
* tried to begin sorting through her fathers belongings while he was still alive
* Used ai to research the history of her family house ..
* spread cream cheese on a brownie as icing?
3.5 stars. I don’t wanna deter anyone from checking it out, I do still think it’s good and many others seem to like it. Just didn’t align with my preferences.
List of Claire’s transgressions against me, personally.
* tried to begin sorting through her fathers belongings while he was still alive
* Used ai to research the history of her family house ..
* spread cream cheese on a brownie as icing?
3.5 stars. I don’t wanna deter anyone from checking it out, I do still think it’s good and many others seem to like it. Just didn’t align with my preferences.
February 5, 2026
Jacquie delivers yet another haunting, slow burn! The place where these two women’s lives meet and intertwine without even realizing was such a fascinating idea. At first I had no clue what direction this story was headed in, but we begin to see it flesh out slowly and deliberately in Jacquie’s superb writing style. I was honestly scared for Claire. The things she was seeing and experiencing would have been terrifying for anyone, but poor Edith had it even worse, living during a time where women with a brain were often seen as witches or touched by the devil. It’s hard to choose which POV I enjoyed more because both were so important and wouldn’t work without the other. I like that the story focused not only on the supernatural, but the science fiction realm as well. Turn Off the Light is more than a paranormal mystery - it’s about the lengths women will go through to protect one another.
October 31, 2025
Turn Off the Light by Jacquie Walters. Thanks to @mulhollandbooks for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
On the isolated Eastern shore of Virginia,
Edith lives a quiet life as a healer but the community turns against her calling her a witch. Terrified of herself, she makes a mistake that echos through centuries.
The ending of this one really made the story for me! I loved how both timelines merged together and all little mysteries were wrapped up neatly. While there was a touch of magical realism, it was light. The book was special because it is part historical fiction and part contemporary fiction; best of both genres! I loved both timelines. I especially enjoyed Edith and Violet and loved the cleverness of how they were brought into the current timeline.
“Grief creeps in when least expected, like water through a crack the moment a facade is broken.”
Turn Off the Light comes out 3/3.
On the isolated Eastern shore of Virginia,
Edith lives a quiet life as a healer but the community turns against her calling her a witch. Terrified of herself, she makes a mistake that echos through centuries.
The ending of this one really made the story for me! I loved how both timelines merged together and all little mysteries were wrapped up neatly. While there was a touch of magical realism, it was light. The book was special because it is part historical fiction and part contemporary fiction; best of both genres! I loved both timelines. I especially enjoyed Edith and Violet and loved the cleverness of how they were brought into the current timeline.
“Grief creeps in when least expected, like water through a crack the moment a facade is broken.”
Turn Off the Light comes out 3/3.
March 4, 2026
3.5 rounded up.
Turn Off the Light is a dual timeline blend of witchy horror and generational trauma. We follow Edith in the 1600’s working as a healer. The present day timeline follows Claire, a woman returning to her childhood home for her father’s final days. As the story progresses, the women’s lives become more intertwined with each other and we find that history may be replaying itself in the same haunted home.
Sometimes a dual timeline narrative suffers when one perspective is more interesting than the other, but I didn’t find that to be the case here at all. I was thoroughly invested in both women’s stories - from Edith and her suspicious neighbors to Claire and her familial dysfunction, both women are bonded through time by fear that the devil is in their lives.
I decided to pick this one up after enjoying Walters debut “Dearest” and since I enjoyed how unpredictable that one was with the horror aspects, I had high hopes for this. Though I did enjoy the unique twist that reveals how the hauntings are connected, overall this one didn’t wow me. The novel has some deeper aspects as it examines grief on multiple different levels, which I enjoyed.
I think Jacquie Walters is definitely one to keep an eye on in the horror community. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company & Mulholland Books for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to review.
Turn Off the Light is a dual timeline blend of witchy horror and generational trauma. We follow Edith in the 1600’s working as a healer. The present day timeline follows Claire, a woman returning to her childhood home for her father’s final days. As the story progresses, the women’s lives become more intertwined with each other and we find that history may be replaying itself in the same haunted home.
Sometimes a dual timeline narrative suffers when one perspective is more interesting than the other, but I didn’t find that to be the case here at all. I was thoroughly invested in both women’s stories - from Edith and her suspicious neighbors to Claire and her familial dysfunction, both women are bonded through time by fear that the devil is in their lives.
I decided to pick this one up after enjoying Walters debut “Dearest” and since I enjoyed how unpredictable that one was with the horror aspects, I had high hopes for this. Though I did enjoy the unique twist that reveals how the hauntings are connected, overall this one didn’t wow me. The novel has some deeper aspects as it examines grief on multiple different levels, which I enjoyed.
I think Jacquie Walters is definitely one to keep an eye on in the horror community. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company & Mulholland Books for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to review.
March 7, 2026
NetGalley ARC.
I loved it. Did I love it from page one? Nope. I didn't get on with Edith's POV for awhile, I was bored by it. I wanted to stay in Claire's POV. But as the story went on, as I got more invested, I didn't want to stop reading either of their POVs! Loved the way it ended. Some rough parts, some frealy parts, did I cry in the end? Yes. RUNNING to read Dearest, which I own but haven't read yet! 🏃🏼♀️
I loved it. Did I love it from page one? Nope. I didn't get on with Edith's POV for awhile, I was bored by it. I wanted to stay in Claire's POV. But as the story went on, as I got more invested, I didn't want to stop reading either of their POVs! Loved the way it ended. Some rough parts, some frealy parts, did I cry in the end? Yes. RUNNING to read Dearest, which I own but haven't read yet! 🏃🏼♀️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was a mind-bender and even better than the author’s first! I can’t stop thinking about it, and I have a feeling I’ll be talking about it for a while. WOW!
In this novel, two women, Edith and Claire, are interconnected by a dark secret across four centuries. Set on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Edith, a healer, fears she has attracted the Devil into her home, prompting her to make a frantic choice. Claire, skeptical of ghosts, returns to her childhood home to care for her ailing father, only to feel an unsettling presence within the house. As they confront the lurking darkness, both women realize they need each other to survive despite being separated by time.
The story unfolds across two timelines: one set in 1630 from Edith's perspective and the other in the present day from Claire's. If that doesn’t grab your attention, I don’t know what will! Edith is a likable heroine, but her knowledge could be considered risky in her time, so she learns to keep her insights under wraps while searching for someone to pass her knowledge to. Interestingly, the people she helped weren't particularly grateful until she saved their lives. People can be so disappointing!
On the other hand, Claire is a modern woman caught up in typical family drama, dealing with her father’s deterioration and her sister's disappearance years ago. This book offers a mix of a creepy house, terrifying encounters, and intricate mystery-solving. I strongly encourage you to pay attention, because there are subtle hints early on that won’t make sense until the end, especially the one about the apple! I can’t quite grasp how all the pieces fit together, but they really do in this story. The switch between timelines and characters gradually reveals their connections, showing how one timeline informs the other, despite the centuries that separate them. Wow, my head is spinning, and I can only imagine the planning that went into this masterpiece!
Additionally, the little girl is incredibly clever, reminding us how children, up to a certain age, often sense paranormal events more readily. I don’t want to spoil anything, so you have to add this to your TBR list!
If you've followed my reviews, you know I often get influenced by the cover or the author's previous work. I don’t read blurbs, so I either find myself pleasantly surprised by a great book or a bit let down—no judgment in that. It’s all about chance! If your cover catches my eye, I’ll dive in!
I truly believe we need more women writing horror, and it’s essential to support this unique talent, as not everyone enjoys this genre. This was brilliantly written, delivering jump-out-of-your-skin horror, and the title? It didn’t make sense until a key part lit up in my mind! Clever, fascinating, and masterfully executed! This is for anyone who enjoyed the unique elements of the movie "The Lake House," as everything is interconnected, improbable as it might seem, it could happen!
This book is perfect for anyone who appreciates a fast-paced, eerie read, especially fans of witching times and those who like solving old mysteries where the perpetrator is closer than you think. If you’re okay with themes of parenthood, grief, and unexplainable things lurking in your head, this book will definitely leave you craving more. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go rewire my kitchen sink button! Ha!
Thank you, Mulholland Books and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
In this novel, two women, Edith and Claire, are interconnected by a dark secret across four centuries. Set on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Edith, a healer, fears she has attracted the Devil into her home, prompting her to make a frantic choice. Claire, skeptical of ghosts, returns to her childhood home to care for her ailing father, only to feel an unsettling presence within the house. As they confront the lurking darkness, both women realize they need each other to survive despite being separated by time.
The story unfolds across two timelines: one set in 1630 from Edith's perspective and the other in the present day from Claire's. If that doesn’t grab your attention, I don’t know what will! Edith is a likable heroine, but her knowledge could be considered risky in her time, so she learns to keep her insights under wraps while searching for someone to pass her knowledge to. Interestingly, the people she helped weren't particularly grateful until she saved their lives. People can be so disappointing!
On the other hand, Claire is a modern woman caught up in typical family drama, dealing with her father’s deterioration and her sister's disappearance years ago. This book offers a mix of a creepy house, terrifying encounters, and intricate mystery-solving. I strongly encourage you to pay attention, because there are subtle hints early on that won’t make sense until the end, especially the one about the apple! I can’t quite grasp how all the pieces fit together, but they really do in this story. The switch between timelines and characters gradually reveals their connections, showing how one timeline informs the other, despite the centuries that separate them. Wow, my head is spinning, and I can only imagine the planning that went into this masterpiece!
Additionally, the little girl is incredibly clever, reminding us how children, up to a certain age, often sense paranormal events more readily. I don’t want to spoil anything, so you have to add this to your TBR list!
If you've followed my reviews, you know I often get influenced by the cover or the author's previous work. I don’t read blurbs, so I either find myself pleasantly surprised by a great book or a bit let down—no judgment in that. It’s all about chance! If your cover catches my eye, I’ll dive in!
I truly believe we need more women writing horror, and it’s essential to support this unique talent, as not everyone enjoys this genre. This was brilliantly written, delivering jump-out-of-your-skin horror, and the title? It didn’t make sense until a key part lit up in my mind! Clever, fascinating, and masterfully executed! This is for anyone who enjoyed the unique elements of the movie "The Lake House," as everything is interconnected, improbable as it might seem, it could happen!
This book is perfect for anyone who appreciates a fast-paced, eerie read, especially fans of witching times and those who like solving old mysteries where the perpetrator is closer than you think. If you’re okay with themes of parenthood, grief, and unexplainable things lurking in your head, this book will definitely leave you craving more. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go rewire my kitchen sink button! Ha!
Thank you, Mulholland Books and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 4, 2025
5 stars
Perhaps the best indication of my feelings on this book is that when was about halfway in, I immediately popped on Libby and queued Walters's previous book. I enjoyed this one thoroughly.
Edith and Claire live in the same house (kind of) but in entirely different timelines. That noted, their actions seem to be impacting each other. Inexplicable occurrences of all kinds plague both women, and they come to understand that somehow - 400 years apart - their choices are impacting each other.
For obvious reasons, a central feature of the novel includes jumping between timelines, and this is accomplished seamlessly. Edith is a housewife and way more importantly a healer, and she is also having some personal struggles - physical, moral, and religious - that plague her. She knows what she thinks is right. She also feels she may be being punished. Such is the plight of women forever. I absolutely loved her character and immediately felt invested in her story. As soon as I met her, I felt like she was giving _American Horror Story: Roanoake_ and _Coven_ crossover, and I am here for it.
400 years later, Claire is visiting her family home - previously Edith's home in the before times - with her very young daughter, Julia, for a terrible reason; her father is dying. Claire's sister Tilly and her husband are taking care of the father and the home, and there is clear tension among the group. it also comes to light that Claire and Tilly's sister went missing a long time ago, and the family has a lot of unexpressed pain over this horror. This even resulted in their mother leaving the country.
While both timelines deal with serious and concerning and sad issues, there are also little jolts of humor (mostly from Julia, who does the world's most kid thing in one scene that had me cracking up). There's also so much powerful messaging about resiliency and trusting yourself and the bonds of women. This is very clearly a horror novel, but it's a smart one, and I loved the setting, the characters, and the general plotting, too.
I will mention that there is an instance of SA in here that was tough to read. That noted, it's not gratuitous and it is self-contained, but it is important.
I'm literally first in line for Walters's previous book ATM, and I'll be among the first for the next one, too. This was a treat.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Perhaps the best indication of my feelings on this book is that when was about halfway in, I immediately popped on Libby and queued Walters's previous book. I enjoyed this one thoroughly.
Edith and Claire live in the same house (kind of) but in entirely different timelines. That noted, their actions seem to be impacting each other. Inexplicable occurrences of all kinds plague both women, and they come to understand that somehow - 400 years apart - their choices are impacting each other.
For obvious reasons, a central feature of the novel includes jumping between timelines, and this is accomplished seamlessly. Edith is a housewife and way more importantly a healer, and she is also having some personal struggles - physical, moral, and religious - that plague her. She knows what she thinks is right. She also feels she may be being punished. Such is the plight of women forever. I absolutely loved her character and immediately felt invested in her story. As soon as I met her, I felt like she was giving _American Horror Story: Roanoake_ and _Coven_ crossover, and I am here for it.
400 years later, Claire is visiting her family home - previously Edith's home in the before times - with her very young daughter, Julia, for a terrible reason; her father is dying. Claire's sister Tilly and her husband are taking care of the father and the home, and there is clear tension among the group. it also comes to light that Claire and Tilly's sister went missing a long time ago, and the family has a lot of unexpressed pain over this horror. This even resulted in their mother leaving the country.
While both timelines deal with serious and concerning and sad issues, there are also little jolts of humor (mostly from Julia, who does the world's most kid thing in one scene that had me cracking up). There's also so much powerful messaging about resiliency and trusting yourself and the bonds of women. This is very clearly a horror novel, but it's a smart one, and I loved the setting, the characters, and the general plotting, too.
I will mention that there is an instance of SA in here that was tough to read. That noted, it's not gratuitous and it is self-contained, but it is important.
I'm literally first in line for Walters's previous book ATM, and I'll be among the first for the next one, too. This was a treat.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
March 3, 2026
Turn Off The Light by Jacquie Walters is a new book that will appeal to those who love a little historical women’s fiction, spooky witchy vibes, with a lot of mystery.
This book has two storylines… one taking place in the 1600s and the other in present day. The connection? The house.
Edith is a healer in the 1600s, using plants to treat the ill. She begins hearing things in the basement and fears she has let the devil inside.
Claire returns home in present day to help care for her sick father. Strange sounds, unusual behavior, and a vanished sister all tie back to the same house.
I found both storylines interesting, but especially loved Edith’s. Her knowledge of herbs, and the suspicion cast on her because of it, created such tension, especially with faith playing such a strong role.
When the storylines finally tied together, I was shocked. I truly did not expect that ending.
3.5 stars rounded up.
This book has two storylines… one taking place in the 1600s and the other in present day. The connection? The house.
Edith is a healer in the 1600s, using plants to treat the ill. She begins hearing things in the basement and fears she has let the devil inside.
Claire returns home in present day to help care for her sick father. Strange sounds, unusual behavior, and a vanished sister all tie back to the same house.
I found both storylines interesting, but especially loved Edith’s. Her knowledge of herbs, and the suspicion cast on her because of it, created such tension, especially with faith playing such a strong role.
When the storylines finally tied together, I was shocked. I truly did not expect that ending.
3.5 stars rounded up.
December 6, 2025
I have officially added Jacquie Walters to my auto buy list and she deserves to be on everyone’s radar. My first read from her was Dearest, an easy five stars, so the moment I saw she had a new release I requested it immediately. Walters blends tension and trauma beautifully and always adds that silver lining of female empowerment. I wouldn’t call this pure horror since it leans more toward a slow burn thriller with a few horror elements. I enjoyed it overall, though most of the action lands in the second half. I do wish some of the characters had been more fully developed instead of feeling two dimensional, but the ending absolutely delivered and made this a very satisfying read. 3.5 stars rounded up
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for this arc.
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for this arc.
October 26, 2025
Dearest was one of my favorite books last year, so I was incredibly excited to get my hands on Turn Off the Light and it did not disappoint in the slightest. What starts as a fascinating mixture of historical witchy fiction mixed with a sad and emotional contemporary haunted house story takes a turn that is simply breathtaking and brilliant. Without giving anything away, a lot of dual or triple timeline books have come out in the past few years, but Walters brings something wholly original to this sub-genre and completely reinvigorated it for me. This book is everything you want from a horror novel and more. I can’t recommend it enough!
Read
February 24, 2026Not loving this and the dialogue in the 1630s section is far too modern. Neither the word "okay" nor "snack" - referring to food eaten between meals -were in use then. The first didn't appear until the 1830s and the second in the mid-1700s. It's a DNF for me.
March 6, 2026
"Old houses hide old stories."
Claire has come home because her sister, Tilly, has called her to tell her - their father is dying and it's going to be soon. Tilly has moved back into their childhood home, the same childhood home that Claire was all too glad to leave. Because long ago, when both of them were younger, their sister went missing from that house. Little Gabby was never seen again.
Now Claire is back with her own daughter Julia and she kept help but feel haunted. She's sleeping terribly and even on the first night, she already starts experiencing odd scratching, loud bangs, and her father telling her the devil has arrived.
This was such a great story. I was sucked in right from the start. I couldn't help but keep running through my mind, trying to figure out what was going on. The twists were amazing and I loved the two timeframes as we try to figure out why we are getting the two. A well-told, haunting story - one that is so creepy it kept me flying through the pages.
I will definitely get the audio from this one, sometime, and experience it again. Such a great story, I loved it.
Claire has come home because her sister, Tilly, has called her to tell her - their father is dying and it's going to be soon. Tilly has moved back into their childhood home, the same childhood home that Claire was all too glad to leave. Because long ago, when both of them were younger, their sister went missing from that house. Little Gabby was never seen again.
Now Claire is back with her own daughter Julia and she kept help but feel haunted. She's sleeping terribly and even on the first night, she already starts experiencing odd scratching, loud bangs, and her father telling her the devil has arrived.
This was such a great story. I was sucked in right from the start. I couldn't help but keep running through my mind, trying to figure out what was going on. The twists were amazing and I loved the two timeframes as we try to figure out why we are getting the two. A well-told, haunting story - one that is so creepy it kept me flying through the pages.
I will definitely get the audio from this one, sometime, and experience it again. Such a great story, I loved it.
February 8, 2026
Turn Off the Light by Jacquie Walters was just what I like in horror books. The storyline was so unique and I loved it! There are two storylines to follow. One takes place in the 1600’s and it follows the story of Edith who is the local town healer. She soon starts to notice strange things happening in her home. Things appear out of nowhere, she hears strange noises. She starts to really fear being in her home. It doesn’t help that the locals in town also have concerns about her and can’t help but wonder if she is more than just a healer, if she could have something sinister from within.
The second storyline takes place in the present time and it follows Claire who lives in Los Angeles but has traveled to her hometown with her daughter Julia. She returns home to visit her dad who is really sick and is in his last days. There she reconnects with her sister, Tilly. We learn that they had a sister named Gabby who disappeared years before and now that Claire is back, she starts noticing mysterious things happening in the house and she can’t help but wonder if it has anything to do with Gabby’s disappearance.
The one thing both Edith and Claire have in common is that they both live in the same house. Soon Claire starts to uncover more and more details of the people who used to live in the house. She is trying to figure out if anything that happened there years before could have anything to do with her sister’s disappearance.
This book had so many great creepy and eerie moments that both Edith and Claire experienced. Once we discover the real connection of what is going on it ties the story together in such a great way! The ending was absolutely perfect!!!
If you are looking for a unique psychological horror book, this one is definitely for you!!!
Thank you Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company-Mulholland Books. All opinions are my own.
The second storyline takes place in the present time and it follows Claire who lives in Los Angeles but has traveled to her hometown with her daughter Julia. She returns home to visit her dad who is really sick and is in his last days. There she reconnects with her sister, Tilly. We learn that they had a sister named Gabby who disappeared years before and now that Claire is back, she starts noticing mysterious things happening in the house and she can’t help but wonder if it has anything to do with Gabby’s disappearance.
The one thing both Edith and Claire have in common is that they both live in the same house. Soon Claire starts to uncover more and more details of the people who used to live in the house. She is trying to figure out if anything that happened there years before could have anything to do with her sister’s disappearance.
This book had so many great creepy and eerie moments that both Edith and Claire experienced. Once we discover the real connection of what is going on it ties the story together in such a great way! The ending was absolutely perfect!!!
If you are looking for a unique psychological horror book, this one is definitely for you!!!
Thank you Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company-Mulholland Books. All opinions are my own.
January 26, 2026
Thank you so much to Little, Brown & Company for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dearest was one of my favorite reads of 2024, so I went into Turn Off the Light with sky-high expectations— and Jaquie Walters still managed to completely blow me away.
Let me tell you… this book already has a permanent spot in my top 10 favorites of 2026, and it’s only January. That’s how hard this one hit.
Set across four hundred years, this story follows Edith, a healer on the isolated Eastern Shore of Virginia in the 1600s, where shadows move when they shouldn’t and whispers creep through the dark. Terrified she has opened her home to something evil, Edith makes a desperate choice that echoes far beyond her lifetime.
In the present day, Claire returns to her childhood home to care for her dying father— only to realize the house is listening. As sleepless nights pile up, she becomes convinced something is stirring beneath the floorboards. Something that has been waiting a very long time to rise.
What makes this book truly special is how these two women—separated by centuries—are bound together by the same looming darkness.
This story scared me, tugged at my heart, gave me hope, and nearly made me cry. I loved the dual POVs between Edith and Claire. Usually, with timelines like this, I end up favoring one perspective over the other— but here, both were equally haunting, emotional, and impossible to put down.
If you love ghost stories but want something layered, atmospheric, and genuinely unique, this is absolutely the book for you. Creepy, emotional, and beautifully written, Turn Off the Light is a haunting I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
Highly recommend for fans of ghostly suspense with heart. 🕯️👻📖
Dearest was one of my favorite reads of 2024, so I went into Turn Off the Light with sky-high expectations— and Jaquie Walters still managed to completely blow me away.
Let me tell you… this book already has a permanent spot in my top 10 favorites of 2026, and it’s only January. That’s how hard this one hit.
Set across four hundred years, this story follows Edith, a healer on the isolated Eastern Shore of Virginia in the 1600s, where shadows move when they shouldn’t and whispers creep through the dark. Terrified she has opened her home to something evil, Edith makes a desperate choice that echoes far beyond her lifetime.
In the present day, Claire returns to her childhood home to care for her dying father— only to realize the house is listening. As sleepless nights pile up, she becomes convinced something is stirring beneath the floorboards. Something that has been waiting a very long time to rise.
What makes this book truly special is how these two women—separated by centuries—are bound together by the same looming darkness.
This story scared me, tugged at my heart, gave me hope, and nearly made me cry. I loved the dual POVs between Edith and Claire. Usually, with timelines like this, I end up favoring one perspective over the other— but here, both were equally haunting, emotional, and impossible to put down.
If you love ghost stories but want something layered, atmospheric, and genuinely unique, this is absolutely the book for you. Creepy, emotional, and beautifully written, Turn Off the Light is a haunting I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
Highly recommend for fans of ghostly suspense with heart. 🕯️👻📖
November 10, 2025
Admittedly, I didn't care for the "Claire" chapters at first. I was more interested in what was going on with Edith and her situation and didn't find Claire super compelling, despite her dying father and missing sister. I didn't think Claire's four-year-old daughter Julia felt like an authentic, believable child character at times. Similarly, I thought that the character of Ethan, Claire's ex-turned-fellow-investigator, was too convenient and too agreeable, and while that opinion didn't change, over time I did start to appreciate him a little more (it was nice to see that at least ONE guy in this whole mess listened to women). And, as the author started to weave Claire and Edith's stories together more, I started to appreciate Claire more, too. Most of all, I liked that, at its core, this book was about love between siblings, and love between friends.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2026
Turn Off the Light by Jacquie Walters follows two women in two timelines, hundreds of years apart but somehow connected.
This is my second book by this author and I have to say, I think she is now an autobuy author! This book is completely different from Dearest but I was just as invested. This is a quiet horror with a mystery at its heart that slowly unravels through the novel.
I felt like I was very invested in Edith’s storyline from the past and as someone who doesn’t always love historical timelines, I was surprised. It took me a little while to have that same interest in Claire’s story but by the end, I was very attached to both characters. This book does one of my favorite things in books which would be a spoiler to say but I wasn’t expecting it so I was pleasantly surprised.
I do think you have to trust the process because it takes a little while to really get into this book but once you are hooked, it is impossible to put down! I would recommend this to thriller readers who like a bit of horror and want a book that feels unique.
This is my second book by this author and I have to say, I think she is now an autobuy author! This book is completely different from Dearest but I was just as invested. This is a quiet horror with a mystery at its heart that slowly unravels through the novel.
I felt like I was very invested in Edith’s storyline from the past and as someone who doesn’t always love historical timelines, I was surprised. It took me a little while to have that same interest in Claire’s story but by the end, I was very attached to both characters. This book does one of my favorite things in books which would be a spoiler to say but I wasn’t expecting it so I was pleasantly surprised.
I do think you have to trust the process because it takes a little while to really get into this book but once you are hooked, it is impossible to put down! I would recommend this to thriller readers who like a bit of horror and want a book that feels unique.
March 2, 2026
This isn't your typical haunted house story - it spans 400 years and connects two women in ways I never saw coming.
The way Edith and Claire's narratives wove together seamlessly despite the centuries between them was brilliant.
Edith, a medicine woman in the 1630s, struggles with her marriage and the tension of not having children. Walters captured the ominous tone of women's lack of agency in that era - practices misconstrued as the Devil's work. It's unsettling how her narrative progressed because it wasn't what I expected for her.
Claire comes home with her four-year-old daughter to care for her dying father. There's lingering grief at not knowing about their lost sister, their father's odd behavior, and the strange happenings at her childhood home. This haunted house sent shivers down my spine. I kept wondering what was haunting it. Walters' atmospheric writing made the unraveling of the truth about their missing sister gripping.
They're connected through the house - Claire's childhood home was Edith's in the 1630s. But their connection went deeper than that, in ways that affected both their fates across time.
You'll love this if you want atmospheric horror with dual timelines, haunted houses that feel alive, and stories that span centuries with genuine stakes.
Thanks to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
The way Edith and Claire's narratives wove together seamlessly despite the centuries between them was brilliant.
Edith, a medicine woman in the 1630s, struggles with her marriage and the tension of not having children. Walters captured the ominous tone of women's lack of agency in that era - practices misconstrued as the Devil's work. It's unsettling how her narrative progressed because it wasn't what I expected for her.
Claire comes home with her four-year-old daughter to care for her dying father. There's lingering grief at not knowing about their lost sister, their father's odd behavior, and the strange happenings at her childhood home. This haunted house sent shivers down my spine. I kept wondering what was haunting it. Walters' atmospheric writing made the unraveling of the truth about their missing sister gripping.
They're connected through the house - Claire's childhood home was Edith's in the 1630s. But their connection went deeper than that, in ways that affected both their fates across time.
You'll love this if you want atmospheric horror with dual timelines, haunted houses that feel alive, and stories that span centuries with genuine stakes.
Thanks to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
February 27, 2026
It seems that Edith and Claire are sharing the same house, well, kind of since their residences occur in timelines 400 years apart. Still, their actions seem to be impacting each other. Unexplained events of all sorts plague both women. Eventually they come to realize that somehow, even though 400 years apart, their choices are impacting each other.
The author unfolds this intriguing story in two timelines, and accomplishes it seamlessly. Edith, living in 1630, is a housewife and it’s important to point out, she is foremost, a healer. She struggles physically, morally, and religiously. You will absolutely love Edith.
In present day, Claire is visiting her family home, previously Edith's home in the before times, along with her young daughter, Julia. She has returned home to her father who is dying. Claire's sister Tilly and her husband, Edward, are taking care of the father and the home. Tension is high among the three. We learn that Claire and Tilly's sister went missing a long time ago, and the family still grieves for her. The loss of a daughter resulted in their mother leaving the family.
So where is their sister Gabby? That’s a mystery to be solved along with the strange occurrences.
Turn Off the Light is a horror novel filled with smartly written suspense and mystery.
The story got off on a slow start, so be patient, allowing the author to set the scene and mount the tension. The ending was satisfying and I enjoyed seeing the loose ends all tied up.
I recommend this well written book.
The author unfolds this intriguing story in two timelines, and accomplishes it seamlessly. Edith, living in 1630, is a housewife and it’s important to point out, she is foremost, a healer. She struggles physically, morally, and religiously. You will absolutely love Edith.
In present day, Claire is visiting her family home, previously Edith's home in the before times, along with her young daughter, Julia. She has returned home to her father who is dying. Claire's sister Tilly and her husband, Edward, are taking care of the father and the home. Tension is high among the three. We learn that Claire and Tilly's sister went missing a long time ago, and the family still grieves for her. The loss of a daughter resulted in their mother leaving the family.
So where is their sister Gabby? That’s a mystery to be solved along with the strange occurrences.
Turn Off the Light is a horror novel filled with smartly written suspense and mystery.
The story got off on a slow start, so be patient, allowing the author to set the scene and mount the tension. The ending was satisfying and I enjoyed seeing the loose ends all tied up.
I recommend this well written book.
January 8, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in trade of my honest review:
Wowza! This is easily one of the best horror novels I’ve read. What stood out most to me was that there wasn’t a single idiot character. From the summary alone, I was intrigued by how the timelines would eventually run parallel, and the author did an excellent job bringing everything together in a way that made sense and was done seamlessly.
While a few sections felt slightly choppy and could possibly have benefited from trimming a chapter or two, the overall atmosphere was incredibly eerie and disturbing. This book captures that clenching fear, the kind that feels like sticking your hand into a garbage disposal and hoping it doesn’t suddenly turn on 👀
A deeply unsettling and gripping horror read that stayed with me long after I finished! Highly Recommend! Comes out 03/03/26
Wowza! This is easily one of the best horror novels I’ve read. What stood out most to me was that there wasn’t a single idiot character. From the summary alone, I was intrigued by how the timelines would eventually run parallel, and the author did an excellent job bringing everything together in a way that made sense and was done seamlessly.
While a few sections felt slightly choppy and could possibly have benefited from trimming a chapter or two, the overall atmosphere was incredibly eerie and disturbing. This book captures that clenching fear, the kind that feels like sticking your hand into a garbage disposal and hoping it doesn’t suddenly turn on 👀
A deeply unsettling and gripping horror read that stayed with me long after I finished! Highly Recommend! Comes out 03/03/26
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