Bottling His Ghosts

Selected Papers from the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena #8

by S.H. Cooper

After a tragic accident leaves her widowed, Netta flees home to Daunderhead hoping for the space to process her grief. Instead, she finds her cousin, Thorn, once like a brother to her, swimming at the bottom of every bottle he can find. Her parents, unable to break him from his alcoholic stupor, have grown despondent and resigned to his fate; and her once beautiful childhood home has fallen into the grasp of nefarious ghosts whose goals remain unclear. Refusing to allow another tragedy to befall her family, Netta takes it upon herself to help her cousin and–hopefully–stop the hauntings.

Genres: Horror

130 pages, Paperback

Published July 15, 2025

About the author

S.H. Cooper is a Florida based, multi-genre author with a focus on horror and fantasy. Her titles include the Victorian gothic novella, INHERITING HER GHOSTS, the cosmic horror novella, THE FESTERING ONES, and the YA fantasy novel, THE KNIGHT'S DAUGHTER, in addition to three short story collections and the horror comedy podcast, Calling Darkness. She is also a regular contributor to the award winning anthology series, The NoSleep Podcast. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband, pets, and a cup of Earl Grey.

Reviews

[Rebecca White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so happy SH Cooper returned to the world of Inheriting Her Ghosts! While this can definitely be read as a stand alone, I highly suggest checking out that one, as well.

At the root of this gothic novella is grief horror. It is so well done in such a short amount of pages. A man haunted by decisions not his own and his newly widowed sister make for quite the pair. The spirits in this read had some pretty skin tingling appearances. And the return of Black Shuck and Cerberus is always welcomed!

Thank you to the author for the ARC & I hope we get to journey back to this setting, again!

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

S.H. Cooper has written an intriguing Gothic mystery, about a man being haunted by strangely acting spectres, and his female cousin coming back home and trying to save him. Although it goes full supernatural very fast, it never degenerates into a typical story of this sort. The author makes it very difficult to put the book down, especially towards the last third, when we're on the verge of discovering what's causing the weird events transpiring. That said, the tale's strength is not so much plot as characterization: the man tormented by guilt, seeking to find solace in alcohol, occasionally behaving totally irrational and violent, the female cousin, a widow who's still mourning her husband's loss, who loves her cousin and never backs down from conflict, no matter how frustrated or threatened she may feel; they're all portrayed with such great empathy and attention to psychological detail, it sometimes felt like the story was filled with cruel honesty and cold sincerity to the point of despair. That said, I found the supernatural elements very much underwhelming, and wouldn't have been surprised if they'd all turned to be solely the product of hereditary mental issues or an overactive imagination. In fact, I'm convinced the supernatural was mostly a pretext to introduce another interesting character in the story, namely Edora, some sort of witch or psychic with a very mysterious past. Perhaps the author will return to her in due time.

[Michael Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grief, despondency, and alcoholism mix together to wake the dead in S.H. Cooper's Victorian gothic, Bottling His Ghosts. Smartly told through the eyes of widowed Henrietta, who returns home to her family estate to find her cousin in dire straits, Cooper concocts a wicked cocktail of hauntings with plenty of spirited ghost action. The end result is potent and heady, best paired with a smooth dram.

[Gildergreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really love this series, and I believe I've read four or five of them by now; of them all, I'd say Bottling His Ghosts is the best entry-level supernatural horror for someone wanting to try out the genre. It isn't my favorite of the series, but it's well done, and historic settings are my absolute favorite for horror.

[Norman Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to see S.H. Cooper revisiting this world. "Inheriting Her Ghosts" was amazing and one of my favorite books of the year. And this is a worthy follow up. Great characters and fun stories. Without giving too many details, I love the idea behind the haunting in this story.

It was also great to see my favorite characters return - I mean the dogs of course! Definitely worth a read!

This was an ARC provided by the author.

[Lanie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the inheritance she receives from her husband's untimely death Netta Ward flees to her family home Daunderhead to grieve in the arms of her family. Almost as soon as she arrives though she discovers her adopted brother, Thorn, has started drinking, heavily destroying the peace in their family home. Everyone, except Netta, is at their wits end with Thorn and within weeks her sister in law and her niece leave as well as her parents and their maid. At first Netta sees this as not just an interesting opportunity to have the family home to herself but to also confront Thorn about his drinking. Hell bent on saving her brother from himself she confronts him only to find that he isn't alone; something is haunting him, haunting all of Daunderhead and if Netta doesn't find a way to stop these ghosts her brother my be lost to them forever.

I loved Inheriting Her Ghosts, it was such a well written story and Eudora quickly became a new favorite character, so I had high hopes for this. Cooper not only met them they smashed through them with this terrifyingly beautiful tale of grief.

When I first started reading this I just assumed it would be about Netta's grief. I mean she's newly widowed so it makes sense and while I believe it still would have been a good book had Cooper went that route I am so very grateful they opted to make this about men's grief and how society expects them to deal with it. There is a scene at the end of this that is a poignant reminder that while is may not be the Victorian Era men are still expected to deal with grief by expressing as little outward emotion as possible by "bottling it up". By peppering the beginning of the story with very pointed remarks to this effect a tension builds up that you don't even really notice until that last scene with Thorn and its just explosive, a release you didn't even know you needed. Brilliantly executed and I definitely shed a tear or two for him and for Netta who hadn't realize how much she had contributed to Thorn's misery.


Okay enough of the serious stuff. I, of course, got super excited when Mr. Bentley says "We're going to see a woman" because who else could he possibly have been talking about!? I also will give one tiny spoiler away and say that I'm super glad that the book ends with Netta bugging the hell out of Eudora because that gives me hope for a Netta/Eudora Supernatural Agency! Seriously that would be so cool.

And just in case you were wondering: Of course the dogs save the day. No way could there be a book with Black Shuck and Cerebrus in it and they aren't the heroes.

Thank you so much To S.H. Cooper for the ARC!

[Cat Treadwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a huge fan of SH Cooper for a while now (see my review of ‘Threads of Ash’ on that book's page). Yes, their books are marketed as ‘horror’, but while they all contain monsters, supernatural peril and highly-lethal threats, they also have some of the most human protagonists I’ve ever read.

I was a little nervous about approaching ‘Bottling his Ghosts’, in actual fact, because I knew that the story wouldn’t shy away from what is pretty tough subject-matter. Grief, family division, alcoholism… it didn’t sound like an entertaining read!

I’m glad to say that I trusted Ms Cooper and was absolutely right to do so. This book does contain those elements, but as threads within a wonderfully evocative Gothic tale. It reminded me of several Bronte classics, if only the Mad Wife in the Attic had been a man. And allowed to speak for himself.

This is a powerful story of sorrow and connection, in ways that society (both now and in the Victorian era during which this book is set) finds difficult to deal with. While our narrator Netta is permitted - nay, instructed - to spend time in mourning after the accidental death of her husband, her cousin Thorn isn’t allowed similar space post-trauma. Netta knows that it’s not like him to crawl into a bottle and hide, but getting to the root of what caused his ‘affliction’ isn’t as simple as offering a listening ear (although she does go far beyond what many Proper Ladies would do!). This is a ghost story, after all.

I love that not a page is wasted. Where other books (especially in the gothic tradition!) would draw out tension by having Netta question her sanity, or not be believed and struggle to find help, this ignores such tricks, getting to the heart of the truth dripping in the shadows before everyone’s eyes.

I’m not going to say any more; let it be enough to know that this is a fast-paced novella that picks up its skirts and runs through a rapidly-escalating adventure, heading in directions that I never could’ve predicted. The aforementioned tension is top-notch, and I defy anyone to put the book down after the halfway point. Oh, and it absolutely sticks the landing.

I’m happy to learn that there are more stories in this universe, as certain characters definitely resonated with me and I absolutely want to know more about them (and the ghost-sniffing dogs!).

The perfect quick read for a stormy night in with a glass of something comforting. Just in case.

I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the author, but the above opinions are entirely my own.

[MoonlightCupOfCocoa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must first say thank you to RDS Publishing and Netgalley for the advance copy. As always all opinions shared below are 100% my own.

I am so glad I came across this book! Let me explain why. "Bottling his Ghosts" by S. H. Cooper is a novella that's part of the 'Selected Papers from the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena' series, which features novellas curated by editor, R. J. Joseph. There are currently eight books in this series, including this one, each written by a different author and all covering the peculiar and uncanny.

In this book, we are introduced to the recently widowed Henrietta who goes back to her family home to process her grief and put some distance between herself and those that knew her and her husband. Instead of peace and quiet however, she finds her cousin, Thorn, far removed from the man she once considered her brother. In an effort to help him escape the hold liquor has of him, she finds herself facing a terrifying haunting that threatens her and everyone she cares for.

The novella is very atmospheric and the author is very good at not just painting a dark, gothic setting, but explore in depth the emotional scars society inflicts on the individuals. What starts with Netta's grief (which I found to be one of the most realistic and honest portrayals of grief I've read so far) reveals much more about the dark side of humanity in a beautifully gothic ghost story.

I can't say that it left me terrified beyond the last page, but I did find myself tensing up sometimes during the read. What can I say, the paranormal will always be my obsession and weakness. I did feel that the ending was somewhat abrupt, but I can't decide if it's because I expected something darker and bigger or if I simply enjoyed the novella too much and wished for more.

All in all, I loved this novella and do plan on reading all the others in the series. I'm very curious to find out if any of the characters may be recurring.

If you're looking for a gothic exploration of grief, humanity and family, this is the novella for you!

You can also find me on: Instagram

[Helen Whistberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this (dare I say cozy?) horror novella, newly-widowed Netta returns to her family home only to discover that her beloved cousin Thorn has taken to drink and seems intent upon driving everyone he cares about away. Melancholic herself from her recent loss, she soon finds she has an unsettling bond with Thorn that threatens both their lives. Written very much in an old-fashioned literary style (which is a thing I adore but if you do not, this may not be your cup of tea), the author does a skilled job of establishing the characters and setting in an efficient fashion before plunging poor Netta into inexplicable and terrifying ghostly shenanigans.

This is an entertaining Gothic ghost tale set in the same world as one of the author's previous books, Inheriting Her Ghosts. While it is not necessary to have read that story to enjoy this one, if you have, you may be thrilled when some old friends pop up midway through the supernatural events unfolding here (and loyal animal companions always lift any tale in my estimation.) I enjoyed that Netta was a bit of a hapless—though very brave—heroine, bumbling through an unprecedented situation in what seems a very human way when suddenly confronted by such terrors, and I also appreciated the sensitive exploration of grief and guilt which is at the heart of this story.

As in the other book set in this world, the spirits here are not misty and insubstantial but have a definite physical presence. This puts the characters into real danger and ups the stakes considerably from your garden variety hauntings of vague shapes seen in the distance, down dark corridors. An engaging, shorter read for fans of classic Victorian literature and scary tales told in hushed voices round the fireplace.

[Alison Faichney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written gothic novella. I’ve enjoyed the last few entries of this series from RDS Press and this is another great one. In Bottling His Ghosts we follow Netta shortly after the abrupt death of her husband, Victor. She travels home to her family and discovers her parents in good health although her cousin, Thorn, with whom she was raised has become a severe alcoholic at the expense of everything he loves. There are significant elements of grief, trauma, addiction and what happens when our minds are unable to cope with life and we turn to substances to switch it all off for a bit. The supernatural elements were more muted than I anticipated and the ending felt a bit hurried. I appreciated the ambiguity surrounding Thorn’s ghosts, but expected a bit more to unfold in the last bit of the story to cinch the preternatural vein to Eudora or the ghosts.

Henrietta and Thorn were great but I would’ve loved some more detail with Eudora. She was fabulous and I feel like she could easily have her own story to tell. The author has done an excellent job at showing the significant weight of trauma on the psyche in Bottling His Ghosts. The familial bonds are strong within the Alden family, and the gothic nature of the setting added a bit of appreciated texture to the story. This is one of those tales that is universal in the sense you can envision it happening in virtually any setting of time and place. Another well done novella in the Selected Papers from the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena series.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bottling His Ghosts is a novella in the Selected Papers From the Consortium for Anomalous Phenomenon series.
Henrietta is a grieving young widow who returns home to her family at Daunderhead Hall. Instead of the comfort she expected, she finds her parents tormented by their concern for Thorne, the nephew they raised as a son. Leaving a good job as a coroner's constable, he has brought his wife and daughter to live in one of the family's decaying cottages while he drinks himself into an alcoholic stupor. Henrietta is determined to figure out the cause of her cousin's degradation and help overcome it.
Bottling His Ghosts is a ghost story set in Victorian England. The author depicts the ghosts and their effect on the living vividly. The problem I had is that the novella form is too brief to allow for the characters' development but it is also too long to sustain the the impact that a good short story could have.
I requested this title based on the description, not realizing that it was part of a series of novellas.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Raw Dog Screaming Press for the opportunity to access a free advance copy of this novella in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the author, RDS Publishing, and Netgalley. This review is my own.

Bottling His Ghosts is a breathtaking work of Gothic horror. Newly widowed Netta returns home to find that all is not as it should be with her cousin, Thorn. Thorn has been drinking to excess, causing his wife and daughter to leave, and Netta is determined to snap him out of it. But after confronting Thorn, Netta finds herself the target of Thorn’s quite literal ghosts.

This was a properly chilling book in the tradition the great Gothic horror writers. There’s a damsel in distress, a haunted rogue, and a supernatural specialist with two very good boys. It had everything I wanted from this book.

And like the best stories, Bottling His Ghosts is more than that. It is a reflection on grief and grieving. Yes, the tale is about a widow dealing with the death of her husband and having to adjust to his loss, but that’s just the surface. It is about how we respond to those who are grieving and how those responses, however well intentioned, can make things worse. It also forces us to reckon with the consequences of not allowing the space and time to feel that grief. I’m glad to have had the opportunity to read this story.

[Maria 𐔌՞. .՞𐦯 · Rating 4 out of 5]

''𝑯𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑫𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔."

Thank you to Netgalley, Raw Dog Screaming Press and S. H. Cooper for the ARC. 🖤

A gothic victorian setting with ghost? I was deeply in from the very start.

Having read nothing from S. H. Cooper previously, I didn't know what to expect going in but I'll absolutely be on the lookout for anything and everything they publish in the future - I'll read their shopping list if need be.

"Bottling His Ghosts" was a gorgeous victorian horror novella that explored the themes of guilt, grief and the toxic societal expectations of men beautifully.

I loved the cast of characters, specifically Eudora and her two faithful canine companions, and I loved to finally meet Thorn properly towards the end of the novella.

My only gripe with this book was that I wished the ending sequence was a bit more fleshed out, it felt a bit rushed at times. But that could also be just me yearning for more time with these characters.

Bravo Cooper, bravo!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bottling His Ghosts by S.H. Cooper is a tidy little tale with a tight plot and a brisk pace, part of the Selected Papers from the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena line of novellas curated by R.J. Joseph. I appreciated that the story didn’t overstay its welcome. Cooper delivers a full narrative arc in under 150 pages, where many authors might have dragged it out over 300. If that had been the case, I likely wouldn’t have finished.

That said, the Regency/Victorian setting just isn’t my thing, and that preference definitely colored my experience. For readers who enjoy that era, this may land better. The theme centers around the idea that “family is a complicated, bloody beast,” but it didn’t quite hit with the emotional weight I think the author was aiming for.

Overall, a solid quick read with a clear beginning, middle, and end. It didn’t resonate with me personally, but I can see the appeal for others, especially fans of moody, compact horror grounded in historical settings.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Emi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Publishing date: 15.07.2025 (DD/MM/YYYY)
Thank you to NetGalley and RDS Publishing for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

We are back with bangers from RDS in the Selected Papers series. I really enjoyed this one.

While it takes a little while to get into the horror of the book, I find the buildup to be important for this specific story. Exploring the downfall of two people, how bad it can actually get, and the eventual being alone part of it sets up a great scene for horrible things to happen.

I didn't find this scary-scary, more of a "oh this would be scary in a movie setting, but I could read this in the dark" kind of scary. The jumpscares would work wonders on the silver screen.

How the ghosts work in this book is also a brilliant exploration of how traumatic events stick with you. Literally.

I will continue to recommend these books to those already reading the series, but also to anyone wanting a quick horror novella.

Giving this 4 stars, I'm already looking forward to the next entry.

[Josie Reiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great little gothic ghost story!

The vibes were spooky and I was initially drawn in by the promise of ghosts, but there ended up being so much heart to the story! My favorite aspects were the gothic setting and Eudora and her canine companions! I would have loved to see more of Eudora in this story, but alas, a short story can only be so long!

I do think the ending felt a little rushed. Coming up to the ending, we have already learned much about what is truly going on with these ghosts, but the resolution felt a bit incomplete.

Overall, this was a very solid gothic read!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Raw Dog Screaming Press for the arc!

[Dawnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

like the title suggests a story about a character losing himself into alcohol and others trying to stop that decline.

overall this story was good but it’s not my favorite from this collection of short stories/ novellas.
the other had a bit more of a thrilling or horrific twist that didn’t feel as realistic and because of that made it very good little horror stories - this story felt just realistic and real in ways that if someone is an alcoholic that’s just what happens and while this story had gothic tones overall it didn’t give me horrific moments.

could just be me and as i said overall this was a good story and i do recommend this and the entire collection this is part of.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Victorian story about grief and being haunted?! Sign me up. This book was so, so great. Moody and atmospheric, you could feel the gloom coming through the pages. S.H. Cooper dives into grief and how hard it can be to come out of the other side from it.

The relationship between Netta and Thorn is beautiful and how she never gives up on him, even when others have. She knew there was more going on and refused to stop until she found answers.

Even in the midst of her own grief, Netta is able to be there for Thorn and help piece him back together again.

[Ky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henrietta, a recently widowed young woman, heads back to her family home for a time. Once there, she realizes something is going on with her adopted brother. Everyone thinks it's a sudden bout of alcoholism, but Henrietta begins seeing things, and realizes there is something otherworldly haunting her brother. 
This was a solid little gothic ghost story about grief and family. The pacing and plot were good; the characters and setting well done. I enjoyed it a lot.

I rated it 4/5.
Thank you to NetGalley and RDS Publishing for the ARC!

[Victoria Fairchild · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bottling His Ghosts by S.H. Cooper is a haunting, atmospheric tale that blends grief, guilt, and the supernatural in a way that lingers. The writing is sharp and evocative, with a slow, creeping sense of dread that builds beautifully. The emotional undercurrent hits hard, and the characters feel grounded even as the story veers into eerie territory. A few moments felt a little too quiet, but overall, it’s a chilling, thoughtful read that sticks with you long after the final page.

[Katrina G]

Special thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review

DNF at 22%
The prose/writing style is just really dry and not working for me at all. I've been bored from the beginning, and I kept checking that percentage in the corner every time I clicked to the next page hoping I would be much further along than I actually was. I keep waiting for something to happen, but nothing really does. This just isn't the story for me

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some reason, I expected Bottling His Ghosts to be more of a paranormal fantasy than a horror book but author S. H. Cooper fully delivers the horror book they promised. If you want to stay awake all night, read this book as you are going to bed (like I did). If you need to feel like you're never alone, this is the book for you. And if you've ever wondered how brave you really are, pick up your copy of Bottling His Ghosts as soon as possible. You won't be disappointed!

[Erica Robyn Metcalf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bottling His Ghosts by S.H. Cooper is an emotional journey that captures the pain of watching someone you love disappear into their bottles of alcohol and the strength and determination it takes to bring them back.

Plus, there are some seriously terrifying ghosts!

Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/bottl...

[Jessica Long · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wish that I could have gotten more into the book than i did. While the plot was good, the book was just too fast paced and it feels like there could have been more details given rather than quick summaries that were given about the ghosts.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy another great read in this series. Started slow, but ending up just right. Will need to read more from S H Cooper. #BottlingHisGhosts #NetGalley

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the main character but didn't realize this was deep in a series so the storytelling felt incomplete

[Iseult Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC

[A. Hadessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAT a shame this was way too short. There waa good stuff in it and I enjoyed it

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I am very honoured to call S.H. Cooper a friend. Not only is she an excellent writer, but she’s a warm presence within horror. I became friends with her through fangirling so hard over her work she took notice, and she’s supported me and DHR ever since. I present this up front to explain that if I didn’t trust this book was going to be good, I wouldn’t have asked for a review copy. The fact is, I don’t often get the chance to review S.H. Cooper’s work as a reviewer, so I jumped at the chance with this one.

Netta, recently widowed, returns to her family home, Daunderhead, but she’s not the only one who’s come home. Her cousin, Thorn, is living nearby, his drinking growing too much for his wife and child. When Netta confronts the man she’s come to call brother, strange things happen, and soon Netta is seeing ghosts everywhere.

This is a standalone, but I’d suggest also picking up Inheriting Her Ghosts by S.H. Cooper, because it’s also a fantastic book and Bottling His Ghosts works as a spiritual sequel. Plus the two books go really, really well together.

Here, S.H. Cooper does what she does best – crafts compelling characters who drive the plot. The gothic atmosphere nicely reflects Netta’s grief, and the mystery around the ghosts keeps you firmly hooked. Cooper’s characters really are her strength, with emotional depth and ensuring every action and reaction fits with the characters themselves. We can understand why Netta takes the steps she takes, and why she reacts to circumstances how she does, we can see the extent of her grief. There are a few others who pop up who originally appeared in Inheriting Her Ghosts, and it gives a wonderful ‘moreness’ to this world, linking these two together in ways that work brilliantly.

It would be easy to go on about how much I loved this book, but if you’re looking for gothic fiction with compelling characters and ghosts who haunt more than just the pages, you’ll find it in Bottling His Ghosts.

[Adam Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, look at that cover. All the covers in this series by have been beautiful, but Bottling Ghosts by @
s.h.cooper is next level. And the novella inside is just as good.

Grief, trauma, and addiction collide in a gothic setting filled with haunted places and people. Recently widowed, Netta returns to her parents home to reset and while there discovers her adopted cousin, who was more like a brother has become a reclusive alcoholic, alienating his wife, child, and Netta’s parents. But Netta knows there’s more to the story and that story is creepy as hell.

I love a good ghost story and this is a very good ghost story. Definitely check it out when it releases in July!