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The Last Spirits of Manhattan
Based on a true story, this sparkling and witty novel whisks you to 1956 Manhattan, where famed director Alfred Hitchcock is hosting a star-studded party in an allegedly haunted house…only for the soiree to be interrupted by a ghostly party crasher.
After fleeing her mundane life in the Midwest, Carolyn Banks finds herself in her enigmatic great-aunts’ eerie mansion on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Inside its crumbling façade, suspense director Alfred Hitchcock is throwing a party, gleefully informing his celebrity guests that the venue is supposedly haunted. It all seems like a fun gag, but Carolyn knows that the line between reality and the supernatural is dangerously blurred here.
Soon, the paranormal entities are mingling with guests like Charles Addams and Henry Fonda. As Carolyn grapples with romantic entanglements and ghostly encounters, she discovers long-buried family secrets, challenging her understanding of love, loyalty, and legacy. A striking mix of the haunting and the heartwarming, The Last Spirits of Manhattan is an unputdownable novel about a family reunion unlike any other, set against the bewitching backdrop of 1950s New York City.
After fleeing her mundane life in the Midwest, Carolyn Banks finds herself in her enigmatic great-aunts’ eerie mansion on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Inside its crumbling façade, suspense director Alfred Hitchcock is throwing a party, gleefully informing his celebrity guests that the venue is supposedly haunted. It all seems like a fun gag, but Carolyn knows that the line between reality and the supernatural is dangerously blurred here.
Soon, the paranormal entities are mingling with guests like Charles Addams and Henry Fonda. As Carolyn grapples with romantic entanglements and ghostly encounters, she discovers long-buried family secrets, challenging her understanding of love, loyalty, and legacy. A striking mix of the haunting and the heartwarming, The Last Spirits of Manhattan is an unputdownable novel about a family reunion unlike any other, set against the bewitching backdrop of 1950s New York City.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
June 23, 2025
Excitement, immersion, waning interest, finally resulting in abandonment. Billed as a mystery set in Manhattan (love it), initially told by a young woman chafing at societal and familial expectations (tell me more!), and including ghosts (interesting), Alfred Hitchcock (less interesting) and Charles Addams (who?), I was intrigued. Unfortunately, plotting never gained traction and the multi-viewpoint narrative hindered character depth. I can see returning to it at some point, hopefully focusing on it during a single reading or two.
The story begins with Carolyn Banks fretting during a potential engagement dinner with her boyfriend Malcolm. She thinks she hears her dead mother’s voice:
“Then, in the quiet dark, she heard a voice by her ear, as clear as a radio. Her mother’s voice, hushed but strong, urging, ‘Go.'”
We cut to Pete Donoff, a young adman on Madison Avenue who is tasked by his boss to find a haunted house for a cocktail party hosted by Alfred Hitchcock, the great movie and tv man. He’s a go-getter and he’s in the very location Carolyn is heading to, so we get the idea their paths are going to connect.
The introduction of Pete is followed by Isabella, nicknamed Snug (a fact that will prove helpful, as there are a multitude of Isabellas in the family), a young woman who died some time ago. Snug is full of unfulfilled potential and has quite literally been ghosting around her family’s house, exploring and reliving memories.
It’s a truly lovely beginning for those chapters, steadily building the feel of each of the three characters and their setting. The writing is lovely, a nice mix of description and dialogue that keeps it flowing. Before long, Pete and Carolyn meet–the house he’s found to rent is owned by Carolyn’s aunt, last occupied by her grandaunts.
Before long, we are at the night of the party. Carolyn meets Snug in a surprisingly mundane encounter:
“Snug extended her hand, a graceful move, a dancer’s arm, her shadowy form undulating. She was never completely still. There was always an ebb and flow to her silhouette, like water in a pool brushed by a soft breeze. ‘A pleasure to meet you, ‘ she said. ‘I am Isabella. Well, Snug. And you are?'”
Pete is rattled, but Carolyn and Snug aren’t. But before too long, we cut to the grand arrival of the Hollywood crew, and that’s when things start to go sideways. A reporter steps into the narrative to give us an overview of the guests, but once the guests are inside, the story slips into a third-person omniscient to witness the arch dialogue between the Barbara and Charles Addams, and Alma and Alfred Hitchcock. The story is then interrupted by an imagined screenplay by Igor. Who is Igor? One of the acting extras, who would really prefer to direct. Why the screenplay format? I’m sure I don’t know why McDermott chose this awkward device. It will reappear a number of times.
We continue with Carolyn and Pete’s viewpoints, Carolyn musing on what she sees and the ghosts, while Pete becomes increasingly worried about the potential for things to go wrong. Malcom returns to the picture, determined to seek out Carolyn. Thoughts are had by the extras, as well as Hitchcock, Addams, Henry Fonda. The vibe is very much a busy, glittery party, with guests roaming and being entertained by the ‘fake’ haunted house, and the characters in the know busy mitigating for the real ghosts. But yet, nothing really happens. At 60%, there’s a search for Hitchcock, who has wandered off to eat cake.
“No one at the party knew anything about the people who had lived here. Not even Carolyn. Not really. She was embarrassed and annoyed, at all of them, cavorting in a house that must have once held so much more than this.”
I enjoyed what I read, but there was no drive to finish as the conflicts are all character driven. The inclusion of multiple viewpoints added confusion instead of depth, but perhaps it was worse for me because I don’t know anything about Hitchcock, Addams, or Fonda and felt like the celebrity appearances were more distraction than feature. Discussions about their relationships, other acquaintances or projects felt extraneous and certainly not germane to the history of the house and the ghosts. I felt like Carolyn and Pete’s story got lost during the party, and the epilogue is equal parts resolution to Carolyn and Pete’s story and those of Hitchcock and Addams, which is rather odd, I think, given that they weren’t part of the beginning of the story. I think the ideal audience would enjoy a narrative amalgamation along with wink-wink of vintage Hollywood references.
Two and a half cocktails.
Many thanks to Atria Books at Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. Clearly, all opinions are my own. Quotes subject to change in final edition.
The story begins with Carolyn Banks fretting during a potential engagement dinner with her boyfriend Malcolm. She thinks she hears her dead mother’s voice:
“Then, in the quiet dark, she heard a voice by her ear, as clear as a radio. Her mother’s voice, hushed but strong, urging, ‘Go.'”
We cut to Pete Donoff, a young adman on Madison Avenue who is tasked by his boss to find a haunted house for a cocktail party hosted by Alfred Hitchcock, the great movie and tv man. He’s a go-getter and he’s in the very location Carolyn is heading to, so we get the idea their paths are going to connect.
The introduction of Pete is followed by Isabella, nicknamed Snug (a fact that will prove helpful, as there are a multitude of Isabellas in the family), a young woman who died some time ago. Snug is full of unfulfilled potential and has quite literally been ghosting around her family’s house, exploring and reliving memories.
It’s a truly lovely beginning for those chapters, steadily building the feel of each of the three characters and their setting. The writing is lovely, a nice mix of description and dialogue that keeps it flowing. Before long, Pete and Carolyn meet–the house he’s found to rent is owned by Carolyn’s aunt, last occupied by her grandaunts.
Before long, we are at the night of the party. Carolyn meets Snug in a surprisingly mundane encounter:
“Snug extended her hand, a graceful move, a dancer’s arm, her shadowy form undulating. She was never completely still. There was always an ebb and flow to her silhouette, like water in a pool brushed by a soft breeze. ‘A pleasure to meet you, ‘ she said. ‘I am Isabella. Well, Snug. And you are?'”
Pete is rattled, but Carolyn and Snug aren’t. But before too long, we cut to the grand arrival of the Hollywood crew, and that’s when things start to go sideways. A reporter steps into the narrative to give us an overview of the guests, but once the guests are inside, the story slips into a third-person omniscient to witness the arch dialogue between the Barbara and Charles Addams, and Alma and Alfred Hitchcock. The story is then interrupted by an imagined screenplay by Igor. Who is Igor? One of the acting extras, who would really prefer to direct. Why the screenplay format? I’m sure I don’t know why McDermott chose this awkward device. It will reappear a number of times.
We continue with Carolyn and Pete’s viewpoints, Carolyn musing on what she sees and the ghosts, while Pete becomes increasingly worried about the potential for things to go wrong. Malcom returns to the picture, determined to seek out Carolyn. Thoughts are had by the extras, as well as Hitchcock, Addams, Henry Fonda. The vibe is very much a busy, glittery party, with guests roaming and being entertained by the ‘fake’ haunted house, and the characters in the know busy mitigating for the real ghosts. But yet, nothing really happens. At 60%, there’s a search for Hitchcock, who has wandered off to eat cake.
“No one at the party knew anything about the people who had lived here. Not even Carolyn. Not really. She was embarrassed and annoyed, at all of them, cavorting in a house that must have once held so much more than this.”
I enjoyed what I read, but there was no drive to finish as the conflicts are all character driven. The inclusion of multiple viewpoints added confusion instead of depth, but perhaps it was worse for me because I don’t know anything about Hitchcock, Addams, or Fonda and felt like the celebrity appearances were more distraction than feature. Discussions about their relationships, other acquaintances or projects felt extraneous and certainly not germane to the history of the house and the ghosts. I felt like Carolyn and Pete’s story got lost during the party, and the epilogue is equal parts resolution to Carolyn and Pete’s story and those of Hitchcock and Addams, which is rather odd, I think, given that they weren’t part of the beginning of the story. I think the ideal audience would enjoy a narrative amalgamation along with wink-wink of vintage Hollywood references.
Two and a half cocktails.
Many thanks to Atria Books at Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. Clearly, all opinions are my own. Quotes subject to change in final edition.
August 12, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria for the pre-release copy of The Last Spirits of Manhattan. Below is my honest review.
I was super excited about this one when I saw it on Netgalley. Alfred Hitchcock? Haunted House? Ghosts and supernatural stuff? Heck yeah! Alas, the excitement ended at the blurb.
The story took a long time to get going, and then it didn't really feel cohesive to me in the right ways. I was just... bored? Uninterested?
Overall, I feel like it was a decent book that just wasn't for me. I did really enjoy Snug's character, I liked Pete and Carolyn just fine, and I enjoyed the little side story glimpses of Igor and Renfro.
If you like historical fiction with just a touch of otherworldly, and you don't mind a plot that's mostly "watch these people prepare for a party and then throw the party" with not a lot of actual action, then you'll probably enjoy this one.
Two and a half stars, rounded to three.
I was super excited about this one when I saw it on Netgalley. Alfred Hitchcock? Haunted House? Ghosts and supernatural stuff? Heck yeah! Alas, the excitement ended at the blurb.
The story took a long time to get going, and then it didn't really feel cohesive to me in the right ways. I was just... bored? Uninterested?
Overall, I feel like it was a decent book that just wasn't for me. I did really enjoy Snug's character, I liked Pete and Carolyn just fine, and I enjoyed the little side story glimpses of Igor and Renfro.
If you like historical fiction with just a touch of otherworldly, and you don't mind a plot that's mostly "watch these people prepare for a party and then throw the party" with not a lot of actual action, then you'll probably enjoy this one.
Two and a half stars, rounded to three.
September 22, 2026
While the premise of this novel was intriguing, I struggled to connect with the characters and the story and after awhile, it felt like the author was simply namedropping old celebrities. While by no means a terrible read, this book just wasn't for me.
November 24, 2025
Wonderful! Old-fashioned in a great way. It made me miss NYC so much. McDermott perhaps kept the story going a little longer than it needed to. However, the short chapters make the pages and action move quickly, and he really excels at dialogue that feels natural and keeps the pace zippy as well. What starts as a seemingly simple bit of historical fiction surrounding a party, quickly becomes a witch’s brew of comedy, romance, grief, love. It’s magic. Like a mash-up of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Bewitched and the madcap 60s romances with Doris Day and Rock Hudson.
October 17, 2025
An intriguing tale based on a party iconic director Alfred Hitchcock threw in a haunted Manhattan mansion in 1956. Could not put this down!
September 9, 2025
Imagine a party where the dead mingle with the living, and every whisper carries decades-old secrets. John A. McDermott’s “The Last Spirits of Manhattan” is a portal to a 1950s New York where reality bends, blurring memory and mystery into something hauntingly irresistible.
Carolyn Banks is no passive protagonist. Her profound yearning extends beyond escaping a mundane life to a deeper connection with her past. The hope of encountering her mother’s ghost reveals a poignant undercurrent of grief. Multiple perspectives become the novel’s narrative strength, exploring intricate emotional landscapes.
The audiobook transforms the experience. Distinctly rendered character voices create an intimate journey through 1950s Manhattan, with subtle audio design that breathes life into spectral encounters.
Snug’s story adds compelling complexity to the supernatural narrative. Her character becomes a focal point of curiosity, drawing readers into an intricate web of family secrets and ghostly revelations.
McDermott captures mid-century Manhattan with razor-sharp authenticity. Iconic figures like Charles Addams and Henry Fonda become conduits to a deeper narrative of human connection and unresolved emotions.
Carolyn’s journey is a mesmerizing exploration of generational secrets, with each ghostly appearance peeling back layers of family history. For readers seeking narratives that transcend genre boundaries, this book is an irresistible time machine: resurrecting forgotten whispers that linger between worlds.
Grateful to Atria Books and Simon & Schuster Audio for my advance copies for review. All opinions are my own.
Carolyn Banks is no passive protagonist. Her profound yearning extends beyond escaping a mundane life to a deeper connection with her past. The hope of encountering her mother’s ghost reveals a poignant undercurrent of grief. Multiple perspectives become the novel’s narrative strength, exploring intricate emotional landscapes.
The audiobook transforms the experience. Distinctly rendered character voices create an intimate journey through 1950s Manhattan, with subtle audio design that breathes life into spectral encounters.
Snug’s story adds compelling complexity to the supernatural narrative. Her character becomes a focal point of curiosity, drawing readers into an intricate web of family secrets and ghostly revelations.
McDermott captures mid-century Manhattan with razor-sharp authenticity. Iconic figures like Charles Addams and Henry Fonda become conduits to a deeper narrative of human connection and unresolved emotions.
Carolyn’s journey is a mesmerizing exploration of generational secrets, with each ghostly appearance peeling back layers of family history. For readers seeking narratives that transcend genre boundaries, this book is an irresistible time machine: resurrecting forgotten whispers that linger between worlds.
Grateful to Atria Books and Simon & Schuster Audio for my advance copies for review. All opinions are my own.
October 23, 2025
“Encores were outlawed, but that didn’t mean they didn’t happen.”
The author of this book, John McDermott, has been one of my professors at Stephen F. Austin State University for a few years now. As someone who has always received sage advice for my own writings, I was excited to see how those teachings would manifest in a long work from their originator.
I’m happy to say that The Last Spirits of Manhattan is a fun and hopeful first novel that has me excited to see where John’s writings take him next.
Set in (where else but) Manhattan in 1956, the story imagines a version of the real-life party Alfred Hitchcock hosted on East 80th Street, albeit with some spectral surprises. Many of the book’s characters are real, or based on real people, as revealed in the Author’s Note at the end of the novel. The writing excels in giving each of these characters a distinct voice that feels true, or at least believable, to the historical figures present. Even the “original” characters are enjoyable, and keep the reader engaged in the happenings of the party.
This is good, because this novel is incredibly character focused. There are no high-speed chases here, no mind-rending plot twists, no dramatic character deaths (if you don’t count the forementioned “Last Spirits” who passed many years before the novel’s start.) But I don’t think I’d have it any other way.
The story takes a more reflective lens, focusing more on the state of the characters, and their internal strife. Each line feels poetic in nature, wonderfully sewn together to give you a complete sense of how each character is feeling and how they see the world. Whether it’s Carolyn, who wants to find her own place in the world, outside of familial and societal expectations of where her life should go. There’s also Pete, who balances his own career ambitions with his own ideals. And then there’s Snug, a highlight of the book, a ghost who passed in life at the young age of 20, who laments the life she was never able to have or the chance to find out what that might have been. Even the more famous figures in the book, such as the comic artist Charles Addams or the legendary actor Henry Fonda, also have to deal with their own ghosts of the past.
These characters and their internal conflicts bounce off each other well, helped that they’re all confined to the premises of the old house where the party takes place. While the majority of the story takes place in this one location, the setting never feels cramped, aside from when that’s the feeling intended. The language used to describe the house makes even the same room feel new each time a character enters. Pictures of the real-life party and the house are available online and the book’s attention to detail is fun to see if you want to compare.
This is a hard book to review, partly because of my personal knowledge of the author, partly because so much of the novel’s enjoyment comes from the actual experience of reading it. That’s something that no review can properly relegate. I believe that if the book’s premise interests you, you should jump right in and join the party. Take some souvenirs with you if you can. I know I have.
The author of this book, John McDermott, has been one of my professors at Stephen F. Austin State University for a few years now. As someone who has always received sage advice for my own writings, I was excited to see how those teachings would manifest in a long work from their originator.
I’m happy to say that The Last Spirits of Manhattan is a fun and hopeful first novel that has me excited to see where John’s writings take him next.
Set in (where else but) Manhattan in 1956, the story imagines a version of the real-life party Alfred Hitchcock hosted on East 80th Street, albeit with some spectral surprises. Many of the book’s characters are real, or based on real people, as revealed in the Author’s Note at the end of the novel. The writing excels in giving each of these characters a distinct voice that feels true, or at least believable, to the historical figures present. Even the “original” characters are enjoyable, and keep the reader engaged in the happenings of the party.
This is good, because this novel is incredibly character focused. There are no high-speed chases here, no mind-rending plot twists, no dramatic character deaths (if you don’t count the forementioned “Last Spirits” who passed many years before the novel’s start.) But I don’t think I’d have it any other way.
The story takes a more reflective lens, focusing more on the state of the characters, and their internal strife. Each line feels poetic in nature, wonderfully sewn together to give you a complete sense of how each character is feeling and how they see the world. Whether it’s Carolyn, who wants to find her own place in the world, outside of familial and societal expectations of where her life should go. There’s also Pete, who balances his own career ambitions with his own ideals. And then there’s Snug, a highlight of the book, a ghost who passed in life at the young age of 20, who laments the life she was never able to have or the chance to find out what that might have been. Even the more famous figures in the book, such as the comic artist Charles Addams or the legendary actor Henry Fonda, also have to deal with their own ghosts of the past.
These characters and their internal conflicts bounce off each other well, helped that they’re all confined to the premises of the old house where the party takes place. While the majority of the story takes place in this one location, the setting never feels cramped, aside from when that’s the feeling intended. The language used to describe the house makes even the same room feel new each time a character enters. Pictures of the real-life party and the house are available online and the book’s attention to detail is fun to see if you want to compare.
This is a hard book to review, partly because of my personal knowledge of the author, partly because so much of the novel’s enjoyment comes from the actual experience of reading it. That’s something that no review can properly relegate. I believe that if the book’s premise interests you, you should jump right in and join the party. Take some souvenirs with you if you can. I know I have.
October 14, 2025
If you are a fan of the t.v. series “Ghosts”, this is a must-read!
In 1956, Alfred Hitchcock was considered the master of the horror genre. The movies he produced and his television show, “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, were huge hits. That year, he decided he wanted to host a party in Manhattan. As was typical, he requested that the planners play up the spooky elements; the more macabre, the better. Guests like Charles Addams and other invited celebrities would expect nothing less from a Hitchcock soirée!
As the plans begin to take shape, complete with cobwebs, unexplained noises, and creepy hor deuveres on the menu, it becomes a bit of a contest to see how creative (and dark) they can become. But the party planners receive unexpected “assistance” with their ideas from those who know the venue, a huge mansion, very well…
As the author explains in the end notes, the plot was based on an actual Hitchcock party thrown in the 1950’s. Mostly historical fiction, but some famous real characters were definitely invited guests!
Thoroughly enjoyable! A perfect read for October.
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*
In 1956, Alfred Hitchcock was considered the master of the horror genre. The movies he produced and his television show, “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, were huge hits. That year, he decided he wanted to host a party in Manhattan. As was typical, he requested that the planners play up the spooky elements; the more macabre, the better. Guests like Charles Addams and other invited celebrities would expect nothing less from a Hitchcock soirée!
As the plans begin to take shape, complete with cobwebs, unexplained noises, and creepy hor deuveres on the menu, it becomes a bit of a contest to see how creative (and dark) they can become. But the party planners receive unexpected “assistance” with their ideas from those who know the venue, a huge mansion, very well…
As the author explains in the end notes, the plot was based on an actual Hitchcock party thrown in the 1950’s. Mostly historical fiction, but some famous real characters were definitely invited guests!
Thoroughly enjoyable! A perfect read for October.
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*
July 16, 2025
Thank you to Atria Books and Goodreads for sending this ARC to me. The book is set to go on sale 10/14/25. Sadly, I cannot recommend it. I was bored to tears and had to make myself read it daily in order to finish it. The storyline sounded good, but the relating of the tale was just not enjoyable. Perhaps it was just me. If you are interested in reading this book, please look for other reviews to see if I am way off base.
October 12, 2025
Come for the surreal fun, stay for the soul-searching (Manhattan, 7 East 80th Street on March 7, 1956, primarily): PARTY INVITATION: a Mad Men era cocktail party hosted by Alfred Hitchcock at a haunted Gilded Age mansion. OFFERINGS: ridiculously witty and original historical fiction. On the menu: “morbid” appetizers, “tormented” entrees, devilishly iced cakes, cocktails flowing. STEEPED IN: realities and nostalgia, shadowed by spooky illusions. LOOK FOR: hidden meanings.
The abandoned five-story Beaux-Arts limestone residence a block from the Metropolitan Museum of Art was old and ghostly. Perfect for throwing a phantasmal extravaganza, pulling out all the props and sound effects to suggest the “spectral activity” the legendary movie and TV director Alfred Hitchcock, nicknamed “Hitch,” envisioned. What happens even spooks him.
Among the many classic movies Hitchcock directed is North by Northwest (1959) starring Cary Grant, a New York advertising man believed to be a spy. Who knew the addictive Mad Men TV series that first aired some forty years later was inspired by this film?
Hitchcock directed truly scary movies like Psycho and The Birds. He also filmed more playful films. To Catch a Thief (1956) is one, featuring Grace Kelly who was invited to this party of stars, associates, and friends of Hitchcock but couldn’t make it as she was headed to Monaco to become a princess.
Bear this in mind, then: Hitchcock “liked to play with the audience.” So, consider The Last Spirits of Manhattan John A. McDermott’s literary way of playing with us. He must have had the merriest of times penning this wickedly inventive novel. Amazingly, the “weird fun” was sparked by a true story connected to the author’s family we learn in the acknowledgements.
More than one ghost will keep you on your toes. Seven by my count. They float in and out, making their presence known. Besides spoofing and amusing us, what else is the Texas professor of creative writing at Stephen F. Austin State University and advisor to the Texas Writers’ League after?
Did he channel all his creative juices into this one novel that relentlessly dazzles farcically? How could this be his only novel? Behind all the stunts, there’s nuanced substance, sprinkled with a few transparent messages (political jabs, for instance). McDermott was once a copywriter for an ad agency. Did he learn the tricks of the trade from the “creative management” firm Young & Rubicam? The advertising agency hired to scout out the party location and deliver the “unexpected”? Still “a beacon of creativity and invention” after 100 years and several iterations, according to the Museum of Advertising in New York City.
This historical novel is an extreme version of magical realism, skirting fantasy and paranormal tales because it’s grounded in realities. Heavy on the history, with just enough fiction to propel the party plot.
Yet even the fictional protagonist – head-turning, rich, Midwestern Carolyn Banks – was inspired by a real person in the author’s mother’s life.
Carolyn is said to look like Joan Fontaine, who starred in Hitchcock’s Rebecca (1940) and Suspicion (1941). The leading man is Laurence Olivier, who just so happens to pass for Dorothy’s suitor at home in Wisconsin: fictional Malcolm Tower.
Carolyn is a likeable, dignified, admirable soul. A feminist ahead of her time, she stands up for herself against the prevailing societal norms of the fifties essentially rejecting a marriage of comfort to protect her independence and wish to continue to work outside the home. THE reason she impulsively flees to Manhattan to visit her beloved Aunt Isabella and ends up at the party instead of Bella, an artist who can’t bear to go. She knows too much.
Isabella Banks Markell was an artist. “Best known for her New York City scenes,” her artworks are held by several museums. She was also the author’s “grandfather’s niece.”
Another fictional character is the Y & R advertising man given the opportunity to shine or fail at delivering the goods and the scares for the entire shindig – Peter Donoff. He and Carolyn have an instant, old-fashioned chemistry. He wants to make a good impression to further his career. That he does so with down-to-earth sincerity and appreciation for Carolyn’s help is refreshing. “Kindness not to be discounted.”
Citing the seven phantoms would give away too much. Except for one who steals the ghostly show. Also named Isabella, nicknamed Snug. She’s Dorothy’s niece, who died at twenty from the Spanish flu. An affecting element of the ghoulish reading experience, her backstory is tender and heartbreaking making a compelling reason for ghosts: they’re not ready to fully leave earthly life for the afterlife. Unfinished business. Resolutions to unfold.
Snug yearns for love. For life. For sugar, sweetness a fleeting fix. Hitchcock also had a sweet tooth that made its way into ten of his films. The gauzy vision and the distinct historical figure are both seen in outlandish scenes that scream insatiable desires.
Two more historical characters are noteworthy. Charles Addams, New Yorker cartoonist whose work inspired the fiendish 1964 TV hit The Addams Family was good friends with Hitchcock. The other, Dorothy Kilgallen, the investigative reporter on the scene of the party, a fascinating character choice. Apparently, she was pursuing a story on JFK’s assassination when she mysteriously died; the circumstances causing speculation (conspiracy theory?) that her demise wasn’t coincidental.
All the more intriguing googling, discovering a movie titled Assassination starring Jessica Chastain as Kilgallen has been in the works but it may never make it to the screen. Disappointing having just learned about the famed journalist and panelist on the long-running TV guess-my-occupation game show What’s My Line. She, once called “the most powerful female voice in America,” is part of this trip down memory lane.
Of the many takeaways is how much and how long we miss significant people in our lives, who may have left us reaching closure on painful issues. The ghosts bring them back to those tormented souls, too late for them but maybe not us?
Another lesson the spirits show us is that all the money in the world can’t ward off human weaknesses and life’s calamities. Treasure what you have.
Five times the writing style switches from narrative prose to screenwriting. Both catchy and awfully clever, one descriptively detailed and flowing, the other clipped and emphasized to more quickly visualize. For example, in the “imagined” screenplay “The Husband’s Legacy” Alfred says, “You underestimate imaginative reach. One doesn’t need direct experience of a thing to become an expert.” Do you agree?
McDermott doesn’t seem to miss a trick. For the highly creatives, there’s always an “angle.” His to make sure: “Mayhem’s always a bit of fun.”
The abandoned five-story Beaux-Arts limestone residence a block from the Metropolitan Museum of Art was old and ghostly. Perfect for throwing a phantasmal extravaganza, pulling out all the props and sound effects to suggest the “spectral activity” the legendary movie and TV director Alfred Hitchcock, nicknamed “Hitch,” envisioned. What happens even spooks him.
Among the many classic movies Hitchcock directed is North by Northwest (1959) starring Cary Grant, a New York advertising man believed to be a spy. Who knew the addictive Mad Men TV series that first aired some forty years later was inspired by this film?
Hitchcock directed truly scary movies like Psycho and The Birds. He also filmed more playful films. To Catch a Thief (1956) is one, featuring Grace Kelly who was invited to this party of stars, associates, and friends of Hitchcock but couldn’t make it as she was headed to Monaco to become a princess.
Bear this in mind, then: Hitchcock “liked to play with the audience.” So, consider The Last Spirits of Manhattan John A. McDermott’s literary way of playing with us. He must have had the merriest of times penning this wickedly inventive novel. Amazingly, the “weird fun” was sparked by a true story connected to the author’s family we learn in the acknowledgements.
More than one ghost will keep you on your toes. Seven by my count. They float in and out, making their presence known. Besides spoofing and amusing us, what else is the Texas professor of creative writing at Stephen F. Austin State University and advisor to the Texas Writers’ League after?
Did he channel all his creative juices into this one novel that relentlessly dazzles farcically? How could this be his only novel? Behind all the stunts, there’s nuanced substance, sprinkled with a few transparent messages (political jabs, for instance). McDermott was once a copywriter for an ad agency. Did he learn the tricks of the trade from the “creative management” firm Young & Rubicam? The advertising agency hired to scout out the party location and deliver the “unexpected”? Still “a beacon of creativity and invention” after 100 years and several iterations, according to the Museum of Advertising in New York City.
This historical novel is an extreme version of magical realism, skirting fantasy and paranormal tales because it’s grounded in realities. Heavy on the history, with just enough fiction to propel the party plot.
Yet even the fictional protagonist – head-turning, rich, Midwestern Carolyn Banks – was inspired by a real person in the author’s mother’s life.
Carolyn is said to look like Joan Fontaine, who starred in Hitchcock’s Rebecca (1940) and Suspicion (1941). The leading man is Laurence Olivier, who just so happens to pass for Dorothy’s suitor at home in Wisconsin: fictional Malcolm Tower.
Carolyn is a likeable, dignified, admirable soul. A feminist ahead of her time, she stands up for herself against the prevailing societal norms of the fifties essentially rejecting a marriage of comfort to protect her independence and wish to continue to work outside the home. THE reason she impulsively flees to Manhattan to visit her beloved Aunt Isabella and ends up at the party instead of Bella, an artist who can’t bear to go. She knows too much.
Isabella Banks Markell was an artist. “Best known for her New York City scenes,” her artworks are held by several museums. She was also the author’s “grandfather’s niece.”
Another fictional character is the Y & R advertising man given the opportunity to shine or fail at delivering the goods and the scares for the entire shindig – Peter Donoff. He and Carolyn have an instant, old-fashioned chemistry. He wants to make a good impression to further his career. That he does so with down-to-earth sincerity and appreciation for Carolyn’s help is refreshing. “Kindness not to be discounted.”
Citing the seven phantoms would give away too much. Except for one who steals the ghostly show. Also named Isabella, nicknamed Snug. She’s Dorothy’s niece, who died at twenty from the Spanish flu. An affecting element of the ghoulish reading experience, her backstory is tender and heartbreaking making a compelling reason for ghosts: they’re not ready to fully leave earthly life for the afterlife. Unfinished business. Resolutions to unfold.
Snug yearns for love. For life. For sugar, sweetness a fleeting fix. Hitchcock also had a sweet tooth that made its way into ten of his films. The gauzy vision and the distinct historical figure are both seen in outlandish scenes that scream insatiable desires.
Two more historical characters are noteworthy. Charles Addams, New Yorker cartoonist whose work inspired the fiendish 1964 TV hit The Addams Family was good friends with Hitchcock. The other, Dorothy Kilgallen, the investigative reporter on the scene of the party, a fascinating character choice. Apparently, she was pursuing a story on JFK’s assassination when she mysteriously died; the circumstances causing speculation (conspiracy theory?) that her demise wasn’t coincidental.
All the more intriguing googling, discovering a movie titled Assassination starring Jessica Chastain as Kilgallen has been in the works but it may never make it to the screen. Disappointing having just learned about the famed journalist and panelist on the long-running TV guess-my-occupation game show What’s My Line. She, once called “the most powerful female voice in America,” is part of this trip down memory lane.
Of the many takeaways is how much and how long we miss significant people in our lives, who may have left us reaching closure on painful issues. The ghosts bring them back to those tormented souls, too late for them but maybe not us?
Another lesson the spirits show us is that all the money in the world can’t ward off human weaknesses and life’s calamities. Treasure what you have.
Five times the writing style switches from narrative prose to screenwriting. Both catchy and awfully clever, one descriptively detailed and flowing, the other clipped and emphasized to more quickly visualize. For example, in the “imagined” screenplay “The Husband’s Legacy” Alfred says, “You underestimate imaginative reach. One doesn’t need direct experience of a thing to become an expert.” Do you agree?
McDermott doesn’t seem to miss a trick. For the highly creatives, there’s always an “angle.” His to make sure: “Mayhem’s always a bit of fun.”
October 28, 2025
Too many characters and way too many of them are named Isabelle. Why in the world are there four Isabelle's? Make it make sense.
Good idea, poor execution.
Good idea, poor execution.
October 8, 2025
If you’ve ever dreamed of a ghost story set among martinis and movie stars in mid-century Manhattan, this one’s for you. It plays out like something Hitchcock might have directed…eerie with a hint of the macabre, a storyline that could have come straight out of one of his films.
It’s 1959, and Alfred Hitchcock is on the hunt for a haunted mansion in NYC to host a party. Amid all the champagne and conversation is Carolyn Banks, a young woman who’s left the Midwest hoping for more out of life-with a supernatural nudge from her late mother, whose voice she swears tells her to go. So she does, and everything changes.
What follows isn’t horror so much as atmosphere-it seeps through everything. There’s meaning in the interactions between the living and the dead. It feels part ghost story and part melancholy memory playing back in black and white. That’s why the cover is spot on and so perfect for this book. It’s where historical fiction meets the supernatural, and somehow, it all ends on just the right note. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s 1959, and Alfred Hitchcock is on the hunt for a haunted mansion in NYC to host a party. Amid all the champagne and conversation is Carolyn Banks, a young woman who’s left the Midwest hoping for more out of life-with a supernatural nudge from her late mother, whose voice she swears tells her to go. So she does, and everything changes.
What follows isn’t horror so much as atmosphere-it seeps through everything. There’s meaning in the interactions between the living and the dead. It feels part ghost story and part melancholy memory playing back in black and white. That’s why the cover is spot on and so perfect for this book. It’s where historical fiction meets the supernatural, and somehow, it all ends on just the right note. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 9, 2025
If only cool air could clear the mind of alcohol and phantoms… Tonight, the guests will be haunted in the dark corners—by very different kinds of spirits.
Alfred Hitchcock announces he'd like to throw a party, but insists it be held in a haunted house. He has no idea just how real the terror will be—far beyond anything portrayed in his films.
With a star-studded guest list and interwoven stories, we come to discover who is haunted, by whom, and why. Are these spirits seeking redemption—or revenge?
Unfolding mostly over the course of a single evening, the narrative offers the reader a chance to see the party from many perspectives—almost as if we, too, are guests.
Based on a true party, with generous poetic license, I found this story thoroughly enjoyable. As a fan of both Hitchcock and Charles Addams, I especially loved seeing them haunt these pages.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Alfred Hitchcock announces he'd like to throw a party, but insists it be held in a haunted house. He has no idea just how real the terror will be—far beyond anything portrayed in his films.
With a star-studded guest list and interwoven stories, we come to discover who is haunted, by whom, and why. Are these spirits seeking redemption—or revenge?
Unfolding mostly over the course of a single evening, the narrative offers the reader a chance to see the party from many perspectives—almost as if we, too, are guests.
Based on a true party, with generous poetic license, I found this story thoroughly enjoyable. As a fan of both Hitchcock and Charles Addams, I especially loved seeing them haunt these pages.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
September 24, 2025
The Last Spirits of Manhattan is an imaginative blend of history, mystery, and the supernatural, where the city itself becomes a living character. The novel explores hidden corners of New York, weaving in forgotten legends and restless ghosts who linger beneath the surface of modern life. With a balance of suspense and melancholy, it asks what it means to carry the weight of memory—both personal and collective—in a place that is always reinventing itself. Readers who enjoy atmospheric storytelling, rich setting, and a touch of the uncanny will find themselves haunted long after the final page.
October 29, 2025
I loved this book. The characters, the style of writing, the way the plot unfolded. I really enjoyed each surprise guest and feeling like I got to know all the celebrities. The book definitely gave me an old New York feeling and that I was back in time watching the party unfold.
February 8, 2026
Lots of fun!
August 11, 2025
I was intrigued by this book from The very beginning! As soon as the lights went out right before the big “ask” Carolyn heard the whisper “go” and than had the urge to go to New York , I was hooked!!
The entire 1950s vibe set with historical figures and the glamour of cocktail party’s makes you feel as though you yourself are set back In time !
My Review
This book draws you into a richly drawn 1950s New York, where a haunted Upper East Side mansion plays host to an Alfred Hitchcock cocktail party. With that being said, I believe that there should’ve been more expanding on who Alfred Hitchcock was for the readers who don’t already know .It all begins with great promise. Three compelling characters Carolyn, Pete, and the Snug “the ghost” . It’s a setting for both glamour and chills. But as the night unfolds, the focus ends up blurring.. multiple celebrity roles Hitchcock, Charles Addams, Henry Fonda are fun at first, yet often pull attention away from the central ghost story.
The shifting viewpoints and screenplay style inserts sometimes stall the momentum, and Carolyn and Petes arc gets lost amid the party’s glitter and gossip. Even then , McDermott nails the vintage atmosphere and offers a stylish mix of supernatural intrigue and Hollywood sparkle. If you enjoy historical ghost stories laced with Golden Age name drops, this book might just be your kind of haunting 👻 !!!
4/5 stars ⭐️ really a great promising book!
Thank you to the publishing agency for the book! All my reviews are thought out and genuine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2025
I was pleasantly surprised by just how much I enjoyed reading The Last Spirits of Manhattan by John McDermott. The premise of this novel immediately caught my attention when I read the synopsis of it as it sounded very unique. The cover of this book is also stunning as well. In The Last Spirits of Manhattan, the author takes the reader on an adventure filled with macabre surprises and conversations with ghosts. It takes place on a night in 1956 in which the famous director Alfred Hitchcock throws a party for guests who are in for a big surprise after several ghosts make appearances during the party. The main character, Carolyn Banks, has left Wisconsin and returned to New York after being proposed to and finds herself as a guest at the party that is taking place in an eerie house previously owned by her great aunts. I really loved Carolyn’s chapters from her point of view and I liked how her relationship with another character, Pete, progressed throughout the novel. A lot of readers have pointed out that most of the story seems to be small talk that takes place between the rich guests, but I enjoyed this aspect of the novel and found it endearing. I especially liked the parts of the novel that featured the ghosts and their experiences being “stuck” in New York City and being unable to move on. I am really looking forward to reading more from this author in the future as he is a great writer in my opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
September 5, 2025
I LOVE the premise of this book! Mixing some reality in with lots of fun fictional storytelling made it an extra fun read. I really enjoyed the main characters (living and not) and the overall atmosphere. This is such a multi-faceted story and there was never a dull moment. Ok, I take that back a little. I rounded up since Goodreads doesn't let you break down star ratings into quarters, but I would technically give this book 4.5 stars. The reason why is, first of all, there are these weird little "screenplays" that are imagined by one of the characters, and they just seem so randomly added to the book and I didn't understand the purpose of them at all. The only other critique I have is that there are SO MANY characters. I don't typically have a hard time keeping track of characters, but the sheer number of them (dead and alive) was a lot to keep track of. There were several times I had to stop and really think for a minute about who someone was. I don't mind a good amount of characters, but you can definitely have too many, and I think this was reaching that territory. Otherwise though, I loved where the story started, everything that happened in between, and where it ended. Everything wrapped up nicely, and didn't leave me feeling like I needed anything more, and that's a great feeling when you come to the end of a book. I am so thankful to Goodreads and Atria Books for this giveaway win. I think a lot of people are going to like this book. It's absolutely perfect for this time of year!
October 1, 2025
A fun, slow moving tale filled with ghosts and history in a turn-of-the-century upper East Side Manhattan townhouse.
The ghosts are active characters in the tale, telling their stories, interacting with the guests at the party. They are more corporeal than expected which adds to the fun.
You'll have to read or listen the tale to enjoy the surprise ending.
As I listened to the book, I found the shifts in time a surprise and there are screen plays interspersed which probably make more sense in the print version.
The performance is marred by narrator's mispronunciation of polysyllabic words on multiple occasions, so a good edit is needed before this one goes to 'print.' for a review of the performance see AudioFile Magazine http://www.audiofilemgazine.com
Synopsis: Based on a true story, haunted house tale of 1956 upper East Side Manhattan party of Alfred Hitchcock and his actor friends. Sweet Midwesterner Carolyn Banks, escaping an engagement, finds herself renting out her great-aunts’ eerie mansion, which, unbeknownst to her, is inhabited with familial ghosts including her audacious great-aunt Snug, neé Isabella.
NOTE: This review, as always, is my personal opinion of the story (without ever seeing the print), and not necessarily reflected in my review of the performance at AudioFile Magazine
The ghosts are active characters in the tale, telling their stories, interacting with the guests at the party. They are more corporeal than expected which adds to the fun.
You'll have to read or listen the tale to enjoy the surprise ending.
As I listened to the book, I found the shifts in time a surprise and there are screen plays interspersed which probably make more sense in the print version.
The performance is marred by narrator's mispronunciation of polysyllabic words on multiple occasions, so a good edit is needed before this one goes to 'print.' for a review of the performance see AudioFile Magazine http://www.audiofilemgazine.com
Synopsis: Based on a true story, haunted house tale of 1956 upper East Side Manhattan party of Alfred Hitchcock and his actor friends. Sweet Midwesterner Carolyn Banks, escaping an engagement, finds herself renting out her great-aunts’ eerie mansion, which, unbeknownst to her, is inhabited with familial ghosts including her audacious great-aunt Snug, neé Isabella.
NOTE: This review, as always, is my personal opinion of the story (without ever seeing the print), and not necessarily reflected in my review of the performance at AudioFile Magazine
July 27, 2025
I like your style!
What an imagination! Or, was it?!
I love the short quick chapters - my favorite kind of read!
You led me to believe something in particular would happen, and then it didn't - which I was glad on that one aspect (no spoilers...). Some things I did not predict or see coming - which gives a thrill!
There is much that comes to my mind, but I cannot spoil it for the reader.
I was very awed and impressed by your "Author's Notes" at the end. This made it so personal for me, as I was dang attached to the characters - especially the special one in blue :)
PEOPLE, DO NOT READ the Author's Notes first!
John, I believe you left this open to a sequel - hope, hope!
Thank you for the opportunity to win and read this Advance Reader's Edition.
Much appreciated!
What an imagination! Or, was it?!
I love the short quick chapters - my favorite kind of read!
You led me to believe something in particular would happen, and then it didn't - which I was glad on that one aspect (no spoilers...). Some things I did not predict or see coming - which gives a thrill!
There is much that comes to my mind, but I cannot spoil it for the reader.
I was very awed and impressed by your "Author's Notes" at the end. This made it so personal for me, as I was dang attached to the characters - especially the special one in blue :)
PEOPLE, DO NOT READ the Author's Notes first!
John, I believe you left this open to a sequel - hope, hope!
Thank you for the opportunity to win and read this Advance Reader's Edition.
Much appreciated!
May 18, 2026
A party thrown by Alfred Hitchcock in a haunted house, yes please!
I really wanted to like this book but it was so boring that I just wanted it to end. The ghosts were far too eloquent and not spooky at all. The dialogue was flat and unrealistic, and nothing really happened.
The format reminded me of a play; numerous characters, a great deal of dialogue, and ,mainly, set within the rooms of one house.
The only thing that I found interesting was the addition of historically accurate information regarding some of the party guests (Charles Addams, Hitchcock, Henry Fonda).
I really wanted to like this book but it was so boring that I just wanted it to end. The ghosts were far too eloquent and not spooky at all. The dialogue was flat and unrealistic, and nothing really happened.
The format reminded me of a play; numerous characters, a great deal of dialogue, and ,mainly, set within the rooms of one house.
The only thing that I found interesting was the addition of historically accurate information regarding some of the party guests (Charles Addams, Hitchcock, Henry Fonda).
December 17, 2025
This book wasn’t what I expected but I liked it all the same.
The setting is 1950s manhattan, and Hitchcock wants to throw a party with real ghosts, a seemingly impossible task.
This story folds in 1950s glamour with some light haunting. It was a fun read.
The setting is 1950s manhattan, and Hitchcock wants to throw a party with real ghosts, a seemingly impossible task.
This story folds in 1950s glamour with some light haunting. It was a fun read.
October 29, 2025
Very entertaining.
September 28, 2025
At first I thought that maybe The Last Spirits of Manhattan didn’t make any sense because I had consumed a spirit myself and was reading it while feeling pretty tired. But nope, I picked it up again wide awake without any alcohol in my system and it didn’t make any more sense.
It’s cool that the book is based on a party hosted by Alfred Hitchcock in a home that belonged to the author’s family, but there is no substance to the book.
At first I thought it might be about Carolyn Banks escaping a life she didn’t want in Wisconsin and pursuing new opportunities in New York City. I guess technically she does, but there really isn’t any development of it as a plot.
Then I thought maybe there would be a murder or a mystery at the party and ghosts would be a part of solving it. Hard no.
Maybe there would be some unresolved conflict between a party goer and a ghost that would culminate in resolution. Also no, unless you’re counting Henry Fonda’s ex-wife making a spiritual appearance and him thinking he imagined it.
Basically a house owned by Carolyn’s family is haunted by one of her ancestors and having the party there attracts more ancestors plus some other ghosts in the mood for a party. Most of the book consists of live people interacting with dead people in various ways, though who was interacting with who felt mostly pointless and confusing.
Plus thrown in was the story as it was being experienced in the form of a screenplay by one of the actors pretending to be a waiter that evening.
And let’s not leave out the beau from Wisconsin who doesn’t seem all that interested in Carolyn but yet feels the need to follow her to New York to show up at the party dressed up as a knight to get an answer from her on his non-proposal even though she’s planning to be back home in a few days, only to get mistaken for a ghost that’s bringing items he acquired during his life back home from the New York Public Library, where they were donated.
If none of this makes sense to you join the club, but don’t read the book. This is only a small part of the mish mash of nonsense you’ll be trying to follow if you attempt to read it.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It’s cool that the book is based on a party hosted by Alfred Hitchcock in a home that belonged to the author’s family, but there is no substance to the book.
At first I thought it might be about Carolyn Banks escaping a life she didn’t want in Wisconsin and pursuing new opportunities in New York City. I guess technically she does, but there really isn’t any development of it as a plot.
Then I thought maybe there would be a murder or a mystery at the party and ghosts would be a part of solving it. Hard no.
Maybe there would be some unresolved conflict between a party goer and a ghost that would culminate in resolution. Also no, unless you’re counting Henry Fonda’s ex-wife making a spiritual appearance and him thinking he imagined it.
Basically a house owned by Carolyn’s family is haunted by one of her ancestors and having the party there attracts more ancestors plus some other ghosts in the mood for a party. Most of the book consists of live people interacting with dead people in various ways, though who was interacting with who felt mostly pointless and confusing.
Plus thrown in was the story as it was being experienced in the form of a screenplay by one of the actors pretending to be a waiter that evening.
And let’s not leave out the beau from Wisconsin who doesn’t seem all that interested in Carolyn but yet feels the need to follow her to New York to show up at the party dressed up as a knight to get an answer from her on his non-proposal even though she’s planning to be back home in a few days, only to get mistaken for a ghost that’s bringing items he acquired during his life back home from the New York Public Library, where they were donated.
If none of this makes sense to you join the club, but don’t read the book. This is only a small part of the mish mash of nonsense you’ll be trying to follow if you attempt to read it.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 30, 2025
My rating: 2.5 stars
This quick historical fiction with a side of ghosts was a nice palette cleanser in between some of my heavier reads. It follows the lives of several ghosts and their families/friends in the present time all coming together for a party of the lifetime... or afterlifetime.
McDermott explores a fun era of horror movies with Alfred Hitchcock and other creatives at the time. I loved seeing how Hitchcock was portrayed and imagined in this story.
Unfortunately, the prose felt a bit clunky and I got lost in between the ghosts' POVs and their real life counterparts. The plot of the story was lost for me by the end.
Thank you Atria Books for an ARC and finished copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This quick historical fiction with a side of ghosts was a nice palette cleanser in between some of my heavier reads. It follows the lives of several ghosts and their families/friends in the present time all coming together for a party of the lifetime... or afterlifetime.
McDermott explores a fun era of horror movies with Alfred Hitchcock and other creatives at the time. I loved seeing how Hitchcock was portrayed and imagined in this story.
Unfortunately, the prose felt a bit clunky and I got lost in between the ghosts' POVs and their real life counterparts. The plot of the story was lost for me by the end.
Thank you Atria Books for an ARC and finished copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 11, 2026
An interesting novel, based on an actual people and an event attended by Hitchcock, Henry Fonda and Charles Addams, and written by a relative of one of the purported ghosts in the story. The ghosts are treated with more than a bit of whimsy; if you can get past the idea of ghosts doing relatively human things (reading the newspaper, eating a bit of cake offered up by none other than Alfred Hitchcock), than you might enjoy it. If that sounds ridiculous, than maybe this is not for you. I thought it was clever and entertaining.
Here's a link to the author's web site, with some images and back story that you might enjoy seeing as you read: Creating Spirits
Here's a link to the author's web site, with some images and back story that you might enjoy seeing as you read: Creating Spirits
July 22, 2026
I found this on the "new books" shelf at my local library and was intrigued by the very attractive cover. I was even more intrigued when I read the synopsis. Alfred and Alma Hitchcock, Charles and Barbara Addams, Henry Fonda and a bunch of ghosts at swank NY party. That sounds good.
And it was good. I loved the ghostly character Snug and the references of her (while living) watching the Fatty Arbuckle, Buster Keaton short Coney Island. I'm a big Buster fan, so I appreciated that.
McDermott really seems to have a love of history and old Hollywood, and I think he conveyed it all really well. I found it to be a quick read because I couldn't resist picking up any chance I got.
And it was good. I loved the ghostly character Snug and the references of her (while living) watching the Fatty Arbuckle, Buster Keaton short Coney Island. I'm a big Buster fan, so I appreciated that.
McDermott really seems to have a love of history and old Hollywood, and I think he conveyed it all really well. I found it to be a quick read because I couldn't resist picking up any chance I got.
April 16, 2026
3.5 ⭐️. When Alfred Hitchcock says he wants to throw a party in a haunted house in Manhattan, the folks at Young and Rubicam struggle to find the perfect place. But what if, after setting up various feints and spooky visuals and sound effects, it turns out the house really is haunted? What if you could meet your deceased relatives and learn to understand them? What if they could be set free or not? Well written. A little slow but worth the time.
January 5, 2026
Lovely! Haven't stopped thinking about it since I put it down! I loved the way the story unfolds and that we get other character's perspective of the night! Also, "Igor" ended up being one of my favorite side characters lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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