Ashwood's Girls: A Troubled Spirits Novel

Troubled Spirits #4

by J.R. Erickson

The Troubled Spirits series are stand-alone paranormal murder mysteries inspired by true crimes.

Fifty years ago, a diabolical plan was set in motion. It ended in murder.

In present day, Adam Tate is in a rush to build his wife’s dream home. She’s ill, and he lives with the looming fear that her days are numbered in months rather than years. As he digs the foundation for their new home, he makes a chilling discovery - long-buried skeletons. On impulse, he hides the grave and pushes it from his mind.

When Adam and his wife, Holly, move into their new home six months later, it becomes clear that Adam has awoken something that will not be silenced.

Step into a story of betrayal, murder, and voices from beyond the grave.

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Mystery, Ghosts

Audible Audio

First published December 31, 2021

About the author

J.R. Erickson writes novels that blend murder mysteries with haunted houses. Her Northern Michigan Asylum series are novels of paranormal suspense inspired by a real former asylum in Traverse City. Her current books, the Troubled Spirits series, are all inspired by real crimes, which she covers in her true crime podcast, Bitter Endings.

Jacki is a lifelong lover of all things spooky, and started penning scary stories in childhood. She grew up in Mason, Michigan and is a graduate of Michigan State University with a B.A. in Psychology. These days, Jacki resides near Traverse City, Michigan with her husband, son, and three cats.

Reviews

[Miriam still reading! HIATUS from GR · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 stars audio
4 a bit drawn out but creepy stars story!

[Bronwyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 81% so this gets a rating. I’ve had this book on my “to read” shelf for a while. It’s got all the elements I like in a spooky story. Or, at least, I thought it did. Because honestly, this was one big 🥱 😴 snooze fest.

The book starts with Adam and Holly walking a plot of land where they’re going to build their dream house. Holly has a heart condition so Adam wants to get the house built as soon as possible so she can enjoy it. It turns out that while Adam was digging their foundation he came across human remains. I’m not giving anything away here. You can download the sample and read this because it happens on page 4. Does he call the authorities? No, because that would stop the process of getting his house built. So he digs them all up, 5 sets of remains, and buries them elsewhere on his property. Then weird stuff starts happening.

The whole book Adam is worried about Holly dying. BUT, once they’re in their house, he spends all his time exploring this abandoned house on a lot through the woods next to their land. SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOUR WIFE!!!

The story didn’t flow for me. It had weird chapter breaks and then you’d get the odd chapter about the people who used to live in the abandoned house next door who mysteriously disappeared and were never found. Adam spends all his time researching to find out what happened to those people.

I got bored. 😑 To throw in the towel at 81% is pretty telling. I DID NOT CARE!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are absolutely great!

Murder mystery with a paranormal aspect. Creepy ghosts are the bomb!

All stand alones so I'm reading them completely out of order.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashwoods girls by J.R Erickson is a spooky ghost story and who dunnit mystery rolled into one.

When Adam and Holly build their dream house, they believe it's almost perfect. One day Adam goes through the woods and discovers an abandoned house. Making the decision to go and explore some more, he sets in motion a series of events that haunt him, literally. He stumbles upon a mysterious story about the family that lived there, Mr. And Mrs. Ashwood along with five of their wards. Mrs. Ashwood and the girls all went missing, presumed dead in a sailing incident.

This was such a cosy mystery, sprinkled with some chilling moments as the story unfolds. I enjoyed how the author did this, through diary entries and Adam's point of view.

The moments that made me get a chill were described enough to make the hair stand up on the back of your neck. A great ghost story, weaving in some paranormal moments but it's not over done.

Both Adam and Holly are such loveable characters, which makes you root for them as the suspense ramps up. They also have a dog called Marshmellow, how cute is that?

This story has great pacing, already moving forward and keeping you interested. This has been one of the stories I've most enjoyed by the author, 5 stars.

I received a ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I thank the author for letting me have this opportunity.

[Ryann Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who do I send my therapy bill to? The ANXIETY in this book. My goodness.

This story was WOW!!!! It was so intense and filled with intrigue and suspense. I legit jumped quite a few times (something that has never happened in a book) and screeched from shock and surprise to the point I scared my family and dogs. 🤣

When Adam and Holly build their dream home they never expect the house next door to be haunted. But as Adam investigates the suspicious circumstances related to the deaths of the previous owners things start to get crazy!

This is such a cool premise I’m for a thriller. …it mixed ghosts with a murder mystery and told the story in real time from Adams POV and the gave you the history of what happened through the Ashwood girls POV so the story unfolded beautifully and unexpectedly. 👻🪦

This was also an educational read….things I learned from this book:
1. Always charge my phone
2. It’s a good idea to befriend your neighbors
3. Don’t wear other peoples jewelry
4. Basements and lakes are creepy AF
5. When you find dead bodies buried in your yard-CALL THE COPS!

This keeps you guessing from start to finish, the anxiety and intensity is off the charts and just when you think you know, you don’t know.
⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️
Highly highly recommend! 4.5⭐️

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

I really enjoyed this! It was creepy and even scary! I decided I couldn’t read it at night in the dark lol. It was a quick read which I love and it creeped me out which was even better! We solved a mystery while he haunted and it was fantastic!

[Dale Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more a murder mystery with a sprinkling of supernatural, which to be honest, could have been left out. It didnt really add much to the overall story apart from a few creepy moments.

I did like the two timelines, so you got the context of what exactly happened back in 1956 with the girls. It was a pretty standard story though, the mystery of the fateful sail is easily dismissed once Adam starts poking about the Ashwood House. And the culprit is then pretty easy to identify.

For me, Adam made two mistakes which could have saved him loads of grief- yes, i understand this is fiction but even so, i doubt it would have happened in real life. One- he moved the bones (this isn't a spoiler, it happens in the first chapters), i can understand why he did it but still, the amount of bones there would make you think to call the sheriff. And two- he confronted the culprit, even knowing what they did. What did he expect to happen? Just a stupid decision.

Overall though, i did enjoy the story. It was an easy read with fairly short chapters which meant i could breeze through them quickly. I also liked how they are loosely based on true events, with info at the end of the book as to what that event was.

[Julie Valdez · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.R. Erickson never disappoints. I just discovered her books a couple of months ago. I’m so glad I did! She quickly moved up the list of my favorite authors.
I had the privilege of getting an advanced copy of this particular book.
Ghosts mixed in with some true crime, two of my favorite book genres. This story was inspired by an old true crime story.
This book has twists and turns. Definitely give this book a read! You will not be disappointed!

[Leigh Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ashwood's Girls continues the Troubled Spirits series of supernatural mysteries based on true events. Enjoyed the story.

[John Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written ghost story!

I suspect that this story was written with a female audience in mind but, nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The author must have accidentally activated my feminine side! Joking apart, this was an addictive murder mystery with a supernatural backdrop. I heartily recommend this story to everyone who enjoys crime fiction and, the supernatural.

[Terry and dog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets man, they're killers. An excellent haunting story with a sweet couple, living their dream in a newly built house in a spot that sounds heavenly. A tale from the past and a tale from the present are told simultaneously but both are very easy to follow and you don't feel disappointed or lost when you switch from one to the other. Just a great read.

[Bonnye Reed]

Author's discount 99
4th? in series, series available on KU

[Nicole Aka Grave doll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked it better than still falling. Wish the ghosts revenge was more engaging.I will try flowers in her bones next time.

[Alexis Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very eventful and lots of twist and turns.

[❀ Crystal ✿ - PEACE ☮ LOVE ♥ BOOKS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ashwood Girls was another creepy addition to the troubled spirits series and boy are these ghosts mad. Anyone who knows anything about horror should recognize finding bones and moving them is a big huge No No. Of course doing so can really bring a whole lot of unnecessary strife to your life especially when you’re not the one responsible for taking their lives. It just screams bad idea and when hero Adam builds his wife’s dream house on a makeshift graveyard, Adam sets off a series of events that will threaten both his and his wife’s lives. Worse is his wife already suffers from a weak heart and the two live each day as if it’s her last because it very well could be after two heart transplants. Not only does Adam find and move the bones, he slowly begins to put together a decades old murder mystery that took place at the Ashwood property next to his own. From very early on I was creeped out and as things escalated it became pretty tense at times. The book reads very much like a horror movie with a somewhat more predictable plot than normal but a HEA most horror/thriller reads cannot deliver. Not to say Adam and his wife have an easy road to happiness, that is of course until they set some ghosts free. Revenge never gets old!!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this eerie ghost story. Adam built a dream home for his wife, Holly, but he did something that bothers him. He doesn't realize that he has taken something back with him. When Adam and Holly move into their new home, Adam finds a house that looks like someone left in a hurry. As he learns more and more about the Ashwood girls, he becomes obsessed with finding out the truth of what really happened. I liked the way the story unfolds through research and the diary entries, and I loved the way the ghosts got their revenge. I felt for Adam and his suffering because of his mistake. This story will have you leaving the lights on. I would recommend anything this author writes and this book is no exception. I received an advance copy of this book an this is my honest review.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book was so suspenseful. The first three books were too, but this one made me want to read ahead, which I didn’t do, but I wanted to. I liked the format of this one, where there was the new house that Adam and Holly had built, and the other location where Adam experienced all that he did. If you’re prone to nightmares, don’t read this at night.

[Kathleen Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

ASHWOODS GIRLS is an eerie tale that spans several decades. Michael and Alice Ashwood open their home for girls who need extra help and support that their parents or guardians could not give them during the early 1950's. They are not delinquents, and each one has her own secrets. Michael & Alice have been married nearly 25 years, and they have not been happy ones.
In the current world, Adam and Holly have bought a plot of land and are building their dream home. Holly is on her 2nd heart transplant, and Adam wants to get the house done as soon as possible. He is helping the contractor, and starts digging in an area. Unfortunately, he finds bones of girls not far under the surface. He knows if he reports this, the construction will be delayed and Holly may not have extra weeks or months to enjoy their home.
There are varying stories about disappearance of the girls and Alice. The general consensus is that Alice, who was a very experienced sailor and had taught all of the girls how to manage a sailboat, had problems and even in good weather with no wind gusts , the boat sank and all drowned. The bodies and sailboat were never found.
So Adam reburies the bones and figments of his imagination, so he thinks, begin to prey on his mind. He is fascinated and is drawn to the Ashwood house that has been left to ruin. It is as if someone left in a big hurry, and he finds items from the girls and Alice that further intrigue him. Clothing, make-up, books, a diary and pictures all point to lives that were tragically cut short.

This was an ARC copy and I have read all of J.R.'s Michigan Asylum series. She has a fascinating way of mingling the past and present and describing the beauty of Michigan with the twist of the macabre...what if! Looking forward to her next book.







This was an ARC copy.

[Randi Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly Tate has had 2 heart transplants and is not well. She and Adam sell their business in Grand Rapids to move to Northern Michigan where Holly has always wanted to live. In his rush to build her dream house Adam does a stupid thing that they will pay for. As the other books in this series this book is somewhat based on a true event. Like all this author's books this is a book I couldn't put down. Her characters are always well developed and real. My favorite character was Marshmallow, the 100lb Pyrenees with soft white fur I wanted to sink my fingers into. Ghosts and a dog. What more could I want? Even the ghosts are well done and seem realistic. I don't want to go into more detail in fear of ruining the story. It is fast paced and comes to a satisfying conclusion, although I did have the bad guy figured out ahead of time. It would make a great movie. Thanks to the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy. I look forward to more from you.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ashwood’s Girls is the fourth paranormal murder mystery in the Troubled Spirits series. Adam Tate needs to build his wife’s dream house before her heart gives out. Unfortunately, while digging the foundation, he uncovers long buried bones and relocates them. Though done out of love for Holly, he will come to regret the decision that has awoken something that has been waiting for their revenge for fifty years. Adam will come face to face with evil as he solves the mystery of the dead. The storyline is unstoppable, and the well-fleshed characters are fantastic in this compelling thriller. Erickson has given us another incredible read inspired by true crimes. I am looking forward to the next book by this talented author. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really loved the Troubled Spirits series. A little paranormal with a really good mystery. These books could easily be read as standalones but often you'll see other characters briefly pop up in them. They are also all on kindle unlimited I believe so free if you subscribe.

Strangely this was probably my least favourite of the books till it got around 50% in. Adam's constant worry for his wife because of her heart kind of over took the story line and the mystery became a little pushed back I felt. But once I hit the half way point it seemed to pick up and flow by.

I really liked hearing about the Ashwood girls and their life with the Ashwoods. Some things were a little predictable but I liked her JR (Author) threw me with what had happened, or should I say who was responsible.

A solid read though read over 2 days, 4 stars.

[Sarah Hughes]

So I haven't seen this yet in a review- Adam is AWFUL. He is the worst. 1. He desecrated some bodiee- sure, fine, for the sake of some stakes and drama of course characters make mistakes. 2. But he hates until 90% of the book to confess to his wife. 3. He figures out its murder 3 HOURS before the book ends and spends the interim bemoaning the mistake he CONTINUES to make by not letting the police know. 4. He is propped up to be this guy who is waters such a good husband, he doesn't tell his wife ((who is also in danger)).

There are so many other things that just add up I'm actually cheering the murderer on and they are despicable evil. He does not deserve Holly.

The mystery was excellent and laid out. Had Holly been the protag, it qould have been better. Had Adam not existed at all in the narrative, it would have been a better story-

[blueyed_cntry_girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dream turned chaotic to relaxation. What a great story…sad and kinda strange but good. Adam done a very dumb thing (but thought it was good) and later regretted it deeply. What started out wrong became very very creepy for him but what happened at the end was nice. I loved Adam and how he was deeply devoted to his wife and wanting to make her dream come true. His dedication to finding the truth when no one else seemed to really care or didn’t have probable cause to look further was die hard.

Do you believe in ghosts? Some may say no but then have an event take place and realize that they are very real. Others may just brush it off as something altogether different.

I received this as an arc and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Stefanie Silvestri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ashwood girls by J. R. Erickson is a ghost story mixed with mystery.

I really enjoyed the fact that you got the read from the present characters and from the past characters. This was a pretty easy book to breeze through once you got going. There were times that as I’m reading a book especially at night that I thought something was going to move in my house or someone was gonna jump out and scare me. The fact that it was book was inspired by a true crime is intriguing. I’m always up for learning something new. This was my first book by her and only read it first, because it was the only one I had out of the series, but it was a book I really wanted to read it but now I need the rest of the series and her other series that is based on some asylum

[Heather McGough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holly and Adam sold everything the build their secluded dream house. Holly's time is running out. She's on her third heart and there's no telling how long it will last. Adam starts digging the foundation and makes a grizzly discovery. Fearing it will put a stop to their dream he hides what he's found. Which sets into motion a series of events that are enough to have them questioning their decision.

The paranormal aspect of this way on point. I wish there was more interaction.
The mystery was just ok. I was able to "guess" fairly early what had happened and who did it.
This was an ok read. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a nice paranormal mystery.
My one question is... Why would you leave your wife with a heart condition alone and you not have a working phone.

[Doreen Fernandes]

Wraiths of Ashwood House

When Adam and his wife Holly move to a quiet locale to help Holly's convalescence, he did not anticipate finding the bones of five corpses on his property. Who are they and why is he so obsessed with visiting the abandoned Ashwood House? Are their spirits driving him to do so? I was totally glued to the book as the plot was well crafted. The author describes in vivid detail the life of the girls and their caretaker as well as the machinations of an evil and conniving killer. I liked the cover of the book which portrays the eeriness surrounding the house. Highly recommended

[Kadlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read!

He contemplated the stain and then stood and grabbed the edge of the rug. He dragged it to the corner and folded it in half. A dozen or more of the discolorations mottled the hardwood. He leaned closer, thinking they were burns, but no, they looked like spilled red wine that had left a blackish residue in its wake. One spot appeared crusted over. When Adam got close, the scent of blood and vomit washed over him. He recoiled. The smear had likely been dried for decades. It made little sense that it smelled, and when he sniffed at it again, no trace of the odor remained.

[Mary Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great ghost mystery with a disappearance mystery tied on too! Adam builds his wife's dream home on land that he purchases. He focuses on the house instead of the fact that her illness is getting worse. Upon exploring he discovers things that have long been buried. And there is a house he finds not far from his own he is drawn to. Soon he is seeing ghosts, discovers things that have been forgotten, and becomes entangled in a mystery long unsolved. That's all I can say without giving it away. But wow what a great story. This had a more disturbing edge, but I really enjoyed it overall. Mystery fans won't be able to put it down!

[Barbara J. Gore]

Excellent series. This book was the 4th in the series. I have read each one and they just get better and better. The story line moves along at a nice pace. I enjoy this author’s writing style. I feel like I know the characters when the story ends. I find that I am anxiously moving forward to read the next book. I got a little frustrated with Adam. He presents as a very moral character and yet he postpones what he needs to do until it is almost too late. I almost costs him everything that he and Holly have been working towards. The story has some unexpected turns that keeps the reader guessing. I will continue to read more from this author.

[Sheri Corriero · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the story. It starts out sweet with Adam building a dream home in the country for his ailing wife Holly. They can spend the rest of her time together in bliss. But wait…Adam finds some skeletons in the yard as he is digging and decides to rebury them somewhere else. Then, as he wanders through the property, he comes across an abandoned house with a terrible backstory. It all comes together – the abandoned house, the reburied bones and the past that won’t quite let go. I loved it.

I received a free copy in exchange of an honest review.