Horned Owl Hollow

by Karla Brandenburg

Antiques dealer and spiritual medium Elle Barclay is called to a stately Illinois mansion to appraise a figurine collection. What should be a simple assessment takes an unexpected turn when the residual energy of the deceased matriarch charges Elle with protecting the estate for Martin.

Martin who?

A violent pop-up storm brings a sailor to the front door seeking shelter. He claims to be Martin Foster, the heir who was lost in the Bermuda Triangle a hundred years ago.

Suddenly, the current owner of the estate speaks in a voice not his own—the voice of an angry spirit determined to ensure the transfer of the property to Martin—but Martin’s theoretical passage through time and space has taken a toll on his health. He may die before his identify can be verified.

Other souls who perished in the house return to reveal the mansion’s dark history of treachery and greed dating back to the Prohibition Era. Elle is running out of time to appease the vengeful spirits, putting the whole family at Horned Owl Hollow in danger.

Genres: Audiobook, Horror

Audible Audio

Published June 21, 2023

About the author

Karla Brandenburg is an award-winning author of contemporary romance novels which include paranormal elements. Now that her children have settled into lives of their own, she loves to go out into the world on adventures with her husband, from Milwaukee to the French Riviera, but the Chicago suburbs have always been “home.” She is an avid reader across multiple genres and is a card-carrying cookie-holic (we all have our vices). Sign up for her newsletter

Reviews

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5.0

It might be even better reading this in the dark with the fire going – or hiding under the blankets! Whatever the circumstances, it’s a fascinating read.

Read full review in the 2023 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Jenna Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not horrible but not super amazing. Overall it was an ok read. I did choose to go the audiobook route which could be some of my reasoning behind the 3 stars.
I love anything spooky, witchy and dark, but at the same time I am not much into reading things that are too supernatural. Coming into this book I really didn’t know what to expect. When the ghost, voices and time travel started happening I wasn’t sure if I wanted to see the book through or not.
I was pretty invested by that point though and I don’t like to DNF something unless it’s just downright awful, so I decided to continue on.
The characters are simple. I didn’t really get that connective pull to any one character.
The story itself was good, I do feel like there was a lot of potential there for a much better story though. There were good spooky vibes and I just wish some of the story would have matched it better. I think even the ghosts and all of that was doable. What really just didn’t do it for me was Martin and the whole time lapse/Bermuda Triangle thing. I think that’s where the whole story just went from interesting to odd.
The narrator is good, just not for this book! There are too many characters and ghosts that she had to narrate for and it just got bad towards the end. Especially when she tried to do the “creepy” voices.

[Richard K. Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was one of those 'just okay, wanna be ghost stories', then you get the WORST ever narration from someone who voices an adult woman to sound like a 5 year old brat!. It could have been a LOT better had this not been the situation...was surprised that I held out. Then BAM the most abrupt and dumb ending. Cannot recommend this one.....

2 big 'So What's'

[Susan-Jo Dixon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was hard to get through. The story line jumped a bit and I would lose interested

[Mr Douglas Jarvis · Rating 3 out of 5]

a decent supernatural mystery, the mystery was a little messy I felt and some characters a little flat but it's an enjoyable read.