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Smiling Faceless Woman
"As we speak, many are afraid of the dark. But we don’t get to be. Lots of unspoken wickedness goes bump in the night. And we get the chance to stop that bump, and heck, every now and then bump right friggin’ back.”
--Excerpt from SMILING FACELESS WOMAN
* * *
Alex prepares to graduate, all of his burnout and overachieving finally about to pay off. But he struggles not to get distracted when strange occurrences begin to happen in his dorm room late at night. At the same time, he reconnects with old friend and fellow mall rat, April, who helps remind him to relax, lighten up, live, laugh, love, and to enjoy each day. Together, they listen to emo music, play Nintendo DS Lite, exchange Chuck Norris jokes and appreciate bad puns. He desperately tries to course correct his life becoming a love story or a ghost story when he meets paranormal investigative team, SPIRAL, finding out the bizarre truth that he is "sensitive" and is recruited to assist with an infamous, terrifying, complex case. While he attempts to walk along this tightrope of classes, friends with benefits, now hunting unseen things that go bump in the dark, there may be an ominous and overarching reason for everything, a greater mystery unfolding, plus a dangerous and unexpected twist awaiting him...
SMILING FACELESS WOMAN is a textured, nostalgic, cerebral thriller that dissects college life versus the so-called real world, crosses blurry lines between just friends or more than friends, transports readers back to the age of Sony Ericsson and the Motorola Razr and early internet culture, and explores the possibility of an afterlife through a scientific, supernatural and spiritual lens.
--Excerpt from SMILING FACELESS WOMAN
* * *
Alex prepares to graduate, all of his burnout and overachieving finally about to pay off. But he struggles not to get distracted when strange occurrences begin to happen in his dorm room late at night. At the same time, he reconnects with old friend and fellow mall rat, April, who helps remind him to relax, lighten up, live, laugh, love, and to enjoy each day. Together, they listen to emo music, play Nintendo DS Lite, exchange Chuck Norris jokes and appreciate bad puns. He desperately tries to course correct his life becoming a love story or a ghost story when he meets paranormal investigative team, SPIRAL, finding out the bizarre truth that he is "sensitive" and is recruited to assist with an infamous, terrifying, complex case. While he attempts to walk along this tightrope of classes, friends with benefits, now hunting unseen things that go bump in the dark, there may be an ominous and overarching reason for everything, a greater mystery unfolding, plus a dangerous and unexpected twist awaiting him...
SMILING FACELESS WOMAN is a textured, nostalgic, cerebral thriller that dissects college life versus the so-called real world, crosses blurry lines between just friends or more than friends, transports readers back to the age of Sony Ericsson and the Motorola Razr and early internet culture, and explores the possibility of an afterlife through a scientific, supernatural and spiritual lens.
- GenresHorror
440 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 8, 2025
About the author
Thomas J. Gebhardt III
3 books32 followersThomas J. Gebhardt III has been seriously writing for eleven years after long days in healthcare, doing occupational therapy in the hospital setting. He lives with his wife and two sons in his hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii. SMILING FACELESS WOMAN is his third book, and he did extensive research for authenticity including talking to experts, interviewing a paranormal investigator as well as a preacher, and visiting haunted locations by himself at night with a flashlight. His work is heavily influenced by pop culture including movies, music, shows, video games, comic books, anime and manga.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 23, 2025
There exists a particular kind of terror that comes not from what lurks in the darkness, but from the moment you realize the darkness has been watching you all along. Thomas J. Gebhardt III understands this intimacy of fear, weaving it seamlessly into his third novel, Smiling Faceless Woman, a work that refuses to be categorized neatly into any single genre. This is not simply a ghost story, nor is it merely a coming-of-age tale about a college senior on the precipice of adulthood. Instead, Gebhardt has crafted something far more ambitious: a textured exploration of what happens when the mundane collides with the otherworldly, when academic ambition meets supernatural reality, and when the careful architecture of a planned life crumbles under the weight of forces unseen.
The novel opens with Alex, an overachieving college senior whose meticulously constructed world begins to fracture when strange occurrences plague his dorm room at night. What he initially dismisses as sleep paralysis becomes something far more sinister, setting in motion a series of events that will fundamentally alter his understanding of reality itself. Gebhardt demonstrates remarkable restraint in these opening sequences, allowing dread to accumulate gradually rather than resorting to cheap scares or obvious supernatural theatrics.
The Architecture of Character: Alex and April's Authentic Bond
At the heart of Smiling Faceless Woman lies one of the most genuine and nuanced relationships in recent supernatural fiction. Alex's reconnection with April, described as fellow "mall rats," provides both emotional grounding and thematic counterweight to the increasingly bizarre paranormal investigations that consume his life. Their relationship evolves organically through shared pop culture touchstones—Nintendo DS gaming sessions, emo music playlists, Chuck Norris jokes, and terrible puns that somehow become endearing rather than annoying.
What makes their dynamic particularly compelling is Gebhardt's refusal to follow conventional romantic subplot formulas. The progression feels authentic to how young adults actually navigate attraction, friendship, and the murky territory between:
• Their conversations flow naturally, filled with the kind of casual banter that reveals character
• Physical intimacy develops alongside emotional vulnerability without feeling gratuitous
• The "just friends or more than friends" ambiguity mirrors real-world relationship complexities
• Their promise rings carry genuine weight precisely because the commitment remains undefined
April serves as more than a love interest; she represents everything Alex risks losing as he descends deeper into the paranormal world. Her reminder to "relax, lighten up, live, laugh, love" becomes a philosophical anchor throughout the narrative, a reminder that life exists beyond academic transcripts and supernatural investigations.
The SPIRAL Team: Where Science Meets Spirituality
The introduction of SPIRAL, the paranormal investigative team, marks the novel's pivot into full supernatural thriller territory. Gebhardt conducted extensive research for authenticity, interviewing actual paranormal investigators and preachers, and this attention to detail permeates every investigation scene. The team members—Pastor Art, Edward, Cameron, Erin, and Diedre—each bring distinct perspectives on the supernatural, creating a fascinating dialogue between scientific methodology and spiritual interpretation.
The investigations themselves are methodically crafted, featuring authentic equipment and techniques:
1. EMF detectors and infrared cameras capture quantifiable data
2. Motion sensors and laser grids provide objective measurements
3. Biblical blessings and spiritual cleansing address metaphysical concerns
4. Personal sensitivity and intuition complement technological tools
This multi-dimensional approach prevents the narrative from becoming dogmatic about the nature of the supernatural. Gebhardt wisely leaves space for ambiguity, acknowledging that some phenomena resist simple explanation. The concept of Alex being "sensitive"—possessing an innate ability to perceive paranormal activity—introduces personal stakes that transcend mere academic curiosity.
The Deeper Current: Themes That Resonate Beyond Genre
Beneath the supernatural investigation framework, Gebhardt explores profound questions about existence, identity, and purpose. The novel functions as a meditation on the transition from structured academic life to the uncertain terrain of adulthood. Alex's crisis extends beyond ghostly encounters; he grapples with fundamental questions about what constitutes a meaningful life when all your carefully laid plans suddenly seem inadequate or irrelevant.
The exploration of the afterlife through scientific, supernatural, and spiritual lenses offers genuine philosophical depth. Rather than providing easy answers, the novel sits comfortably with uncertainty, suggesting that multiple frameworks for understanding existence can coexist. This intellectual generosity elevates the material beyond typical genre fare, inviting readers to contemplate their own beliefs about mortality, consciousness, and what might persist beyond physical death.
The title entity itself—the smiling faceless woman, revealed to be a noppera-bō from Japanese folklore—represents something more than a conventional antagonist. This faceless presence embodies the unknown, the unnameable fears that haunt us in moments of transition and transformation.
A Time Capsule of Early Digital Culture
One of Smiling Faceless Woman's most charming qualities is its precise temporal setting in the late 2000s, an era that feels simultaneously recent and nostalgic. Gebhardt captures this specific moment in digital culture with affectionate accuracy—the age of Sony Ericsson phones, Motorola Razrs, early internet memes, and when social media was still novel rather than ubiquitous. References to "Numa Numa," "I can has cheeseburger," and "All your base are belong to us" will resonate powerfully with readers who came of age during this period.
The Nintendo DS Lite functions as more than a nostalgic detail; it becomes a vehicle for connection, with Alex and April maintaining a shared virtual village that mirrors their developing real-world relationship. This interweaving of digital and physical connection feels prescient, anticipating how technology would increasingly mediate human intimacy.
The Craft of Atmospheric Dread
Gebhardt's prose style deserves particular attention. His sentences carry a rhythmic quality that mirrors his characters' emotional states—short and staccato during moments of tension, flowing and meandering during contemplative passages. The author demonstrates an impressive command of atmospheric detail, building dread through accumulation rather than obvious shock tactics. Small details—a window slamming shut, drawers flinging open, the sensation of being watched—coalesce into genuine unease.
The investigation scenes showcase technical proficiency with pacing, alternating between methodical setup and sudden disturbances. Gebhardt never loses sight of his characters' humanity amid the supernatural chaos, ensuring emotional investment remains high even during the most fantastical sequences.
Final Thoughts: A Promising Evolution
As Thomas J. Gebhardt III's third novel—following Washington and Everyday Rainbows—Smiling Faceless Woman represents a confident leap into supernatural thriller territory while maintaining the character-driven focus evident in his previous work. His background as an occupational therapist in Honolulu informs the novel's compassionate understanding of trauma, recovery, and the daily heroism required simply to keep functioning when your worldview has been fundamentally shaken.
This is a novel that respects its readers' intelligence, trusting them to sit with ambiguity and draw their own conclusions about the nature of the supernatural. The cerebral thriller label fits perfectly—this is fiction that engages both visceral fear responses and intellectual curiosity. Whether you're drawn to paranormal investigation, nostalgic coming-of-age narratives, or thoughtful exploration of life's biggest questions, Smiling Faceless Woman offers rich rewards. Gebhardt has crafted a genuinely original voice in contemporary supernatural fiction, one that deserves attention from readers seeking substance alongside their scares.
The novel opens with Alex, an overachieving college senior whose meticulously constructed world begins to fracture when strange occurrences plague his dorm room at night. What he initially dismisses as sleep paralysis becomes something far more sinister, setting in motion a series of events that will fundamentally alter his understanding of reality itself. Gebhardt demonstrates remarkable restraint in these opening sequences, allowing dread to accumulate gradually rather than resorting to cheap scares or obvious supernatural theatrics.
The Architecture of Character: Alex and April's Authentic Bond
At the heart of Smiling Faceless Woman lies one of the most genuine and nuanced relationships in recent supernatural fiction. Alex's reconnection with April, described as fellow "mall rats," provides both emotional grounding and thematic counterweight to the increasingly bizarre paranormal investigations that consume his life. Their relationship evolves organically through shared pop culture touchstones—Nintendo DS gaming sessions, emo music playlists, Chuck Norris jokes, and terrible puns that somehow become endearing rather than annoying.
What makes their dynamic particularly compelling is Gebhardt's refusal to follow conventional romantic subplot formulas. The progression feels authentic to how young adults actually navigate attraction, friendship, and the murky territory between:
• Their conversations flow naturally, filled with the kind of casual banter that reveals character
• Physical intimacy develops alongside emotional vulnerability without feeling gratuitous
• The "just friends or more than friends" ambiguity mirrors real-world relationship complexities
• Their promise rings carry genuine weight precisely because the commitment remains undefined
April serves as more than a love interest; she represents everything Alex risks losing as he descends deeper into the paranormal world. Her reminder to "relax, lighten up, live, laugh, love" becomes a philosophical anchor throughout the narrative, a reminder that life exists beyond academic transcripts and supernatural investigations.
The SPIRAL Team: Where Science Meets Spirituality
The introduction of SPIRAL, the paranormal investigative team, marks the novel's pivot into full supernatural thriller territory. Gebhardt conducted extensive research for authenticity, interviewing actual paranormal investigators and preachers, and this attention to detail permeates every investigation scene. The team members—Pastor Art, Edward, Cameron, Erin, and Diedre—each bring distinct perspectives on the supernatural, creating a fascinating dialogue between scientific methodology and spiritual interpretation.
The investigations themselves are methodically crafted, featuring authentic equipment and techniques:
1. EMF detectors and infrared cameras capture quantifiable data
2. Motion sensors and laser grids provide objective measurements
3. Biblical blessings and spiritual cleansing address metaphysical concerns
4. Personal sensitivity and intuition complement technological tools
This multi-dimensional approach prevents the narrative from becoming dogmatic about the nature of the supernatural. Gebhardt wisely leaves space for ambiguity, acknowledging that some phenomena resist simple explanation. The concept of Alex being "sensitive"—possessing an innate ability to perceive paranormal activity—introduces personal stakes that transcend mere academic curiosity.
The Deeper Current: Themes That Resonate Beyond Genre
Beneath the supernatural investigation framework, Gebhardt explores profound questions about existence, identity, and purpose. The novel functions as a meditation on the transition from structured academic life to the uncertain terrain of adulthood. Alex's crisis extends beyond ghostly encounters; he grapples with fundamental questions about what constitutes a meaningful life when all your carefully laid plans suddenly seem inadequate or irrelevant.
The exploration of the afterlife through scientific, supernatural, and spiritual lenses offers genuine philosophical depth. Rather than providing easy answers, the novel sits comfortably with uncertainty, suggesting that multiple frameworks for understanding existence can coexist. This intellectual generosity elevates the material beyond typical genre fare, inviting readers to contemplate their own beliefs about mortality, consciousness, and what might persist beyond physical death.
The title entity itself—the smiling faceless woman, revealed to be a noppera-bō from Japanese folklore—represents something more than a conventional antagonist. This faceless presence embodies the unknown, the unnameable fears that haunt us in moments of transition and transformation.
A Time Capsule of Early Digital Culture
One of Smiling Faceless Woman's most charming qualities is its precise temporal setting in the late 2000s, an era that feels simultaneously recent and nostalgic. Gebhardt captures this specific moment in digital culture with affectionate accuracy—the age of Sony Ericsson phones, Motorola Razrs, early internet memes, and when social media was still novel rather than ubiquitous. References to "Numa Numa," "I can has cheeseburger," and "All your base are belong to us" will resonate powerfully with readers who came of age during this period.
The Nintendo DS Lite functions as more than a nostalgic detail; it becomes a vehicle for connection, with Alex and April maintaining a shared virtual village that mirrors their developing real-world relationship. This interweaving of digital and physical connection feels prescient, anticipating how technology would increasingly mediate human intimacy.
The Craft of Atmospheric Dread
Gebhardt's prose style deserves particular attention. His sentences carry a rhythmic quality that mirrors his characters' emotional states—short and staccato during moments of tension, flowing and meandering during contemplative passages. The author demonstrates an impressive command of atmospheric detail, building dread through accumulation rather than obvious shock tactics. Small details—a window slamming shut, drawers flinging open, the sensation of being watched—coalesce into genuine unease.
The investigation scenes showcase technical proficiency with pacing, alternating between methodical setup and sudden disturbances. Gebhardt never loses sight of his characters' humanity amid the supernatural chaos, ensuring emotional investment remains high even during the most fantastical sequences.
Final Thoughts: A Promising Evolution
As Thomas J. Gebhardt III's third novel—following Washington and Everyday Rainbows—Smiling Faceless Woman represents a confident leap into supernatural thriller territory while maintaining the character-driven focus evident in his previous work. His background as an occupational therapist in Honolulu informs the novel's compassionate understanding of trauma, recovery, and the daily heroism required simply to keep functioning when your worldview has been fundamentally shaken.
This is a novel that respects its readers' intelligence, trusting them to sit with ambiguity and draw their own conclusions about the nature of the supernatural. The cerebral thriller label fits perfectly—this is fiction that engages both visceral fear responses and intellectual curiosity. Whether you're drawn to paranormal investigation, nostalgic coming-of-age narratives, or thoughtful exploration of life's biggest questions, Smiling Faceless Woman offers rich rewards. Gebhardt has crafted a genuinely original voice in contemporary supernatural fiction, one that deserves attention from readers seeking substance alongside their scares.
December 15, 2025
The dichotomy between empirical reality and supernatural possibility has rarely been explored with such nuanced consideration as Thomas J. Gebhardt III achieves in his third novel. Smiling Faceless Woman operates within a fascinating liminal space where the quotidian concerns of late-stage academia collide with an ontological crisis precipitated by paranormal encounters. The protagonist Alex embodies the quintessential overachiever whose meticulously constructed identity architecture begins to crumble when confronted with phenomena that resist rational categorization.
Gebhardt's narrative structure deliberately mirrors Alex's psychological fragmentation. The novel oscillates between the concrete demands of college life—eighteen-credit semesters, master's program applications, honor roll maintenance—and increasingly destabilizing supernatural intrusions. This structural oscillation creates a reading experience that itself becomes disorienting, effectively translating Alex's cognitive dissonance onto the page. The author demonstrates remarkable sophistication in his treatment of sleep paralysis as both medical phenomenon and potential spiritual attack, refusing to definitively resolve this ambiguity even as the narrative progresses toward increasingly overt supernatural manifestations.
The introduction of SPIRAL as an investigative organization represents Gebhardt's most intriguing thematic gambit. By assembling a team that includes both Pastor Art's spiritual perspective and Edward's scientific methodology, the novel stages an ongoing dialogue about epistemological frameworks. This isn't mere window dressing; Gebhardt conducted actual research with paranormal investigators and clergy, lending authenticity to technical procedures involving EMF detection, infrared imaging, and cleansing rituals. The noppera-bō—a faceless entity from Japanese folklore—functions as more than atmospheric menace. It embodies the unknowable itself, that which resists both scientific measurement and spiritual interpretation.
April's role as emotional counterweight deserves scholarly attention. Her function extends beyond typical romantic subplot; she represents an alternative value system that prioritizes present experience over future achievement, being over becoming. Their relationship's evolution through friend zone ambiguity to "engaged to be engaged" status charts a parallel journey of Alex accepting uncertainty and rejecting rigid categorization. Gebhardt's prose occasionally veers toward the workmanlike, but his thematic architecture and structural audacity mark this as genuinely ambitious genre fiction.
Gebhardt's narrative structure deliberately mirrors Alex's psychological fragmentation. The novel oscillates between the concrete demands of college life—eighteen-credit semesters, master's program applications, honor roll maintenance—and increasingly destabilizing supernatural intrusions. This structural oscillation creates a reading experience that itself becomes disorienting, effectively translating Alex's cognitive dissonance onto the page. The author demonstrates remarkable sophistication in his treatment of sleep paralysis as both medical phenomenon and potential spiritual attack, refusing to definitively resolve this ambiguity even as the narrative progresses toward increasingly overt supernatural manifestations.
The introduction of SPIRAL as an investigative organization represents Gebhardt's most intriguing thematic gambit. By assembling a team that includes both Pastor Art's spiritual perspective and Edward's scientific methodology, the novel stages an ongoing dialogue about epistemological frameworks. This isn't mere window dressing; Gebhardt conducted actual research with paranormal investigators and clergy, lending authenticity to technical procedures involving EMF detection, infrared imaging, and cleansing rituals. The noppera-bō—a faceless entity from Japanese folklore—functions as more than atmospheric menace. It embodies the unknowable itself, that which resists both scientific measurement and spiritual interpretation.
April's role as emotional counterweight deserves scholarly attention. Her function extends beyond typical romantic subplot; she represents an alternative value system that prioritizes present experience over future achievement, being over becoming. Their relationship's evolution through friend zone ambiguity to "engaged to be engaged" status charts a parallel journey of Alex accepting uncertainty and rejecting rigid categorization. Gebhardt's prose occasionally veers toward the workmanlike, but his thematic architecture and structural audacity mark this as genuinely ambitious genre fiction.
December 15, 2025
Thomas J. Gebhardt III's third novel represents a significant evolution in his craft, demonstrating increased confidence in pacing and thematic complexity while maintaining the character-driven focus evident in his previous works. Smiling Faceless Woman belongs to that particularly challenging subgenre where supernatural thriller meets coming-of-age narrative, a territory that demands delicate balancing to avoid tonal whiplash or thematic incoherence.
Gebhardt largely succeeds through rigorous structural discipline. The novel's two-part architecture—"Kindred" and "Living Dead"—effectively partitions Alex's journey from skeptical academic to reluctant paranormal investigator. Part One establishes the protagonist's baseline existence while introducing destabilizing supernatural elements gradually enough to maintain plausibility. Part Two pivots into full investigation mode while never losing sight of the personal stakes driving Alex's involvement. This structural clarity prevents the narrative from collapsing under the weight of its dual ambitions.
The author's research foundation proves invaluable. Contemporary paranormal fiction often stumbles when depicting actual investigative procedures, either oversimplifying for dramatic convenience or drowning readers in technical minutiae. Gebhardt navigates this terrain adeptly, incorporating authentic equipment and methodology—EMF detection, infrared thermography, EVP analysis—while maintaining narrative momentum. The SPIRAL team reads as competent professionals rather than genre archetypes, each member contributing distinct expertise that serves both plot and thematic purposes.
Comparisons to similarly structured works prove instructive. Leigh Bardugo's Ninth House shares the academic-supernatural fusion, while Stephen Graham Jones's The Only Good Indians demonstrates comparable skill in weaving cultural folklore into contemporary horror. Gebhardt distinguishes himself through the temporal specificity of his setting. The late 2000s details—Motorola Razrs, early internet memes, Nintendo DS—create precise cultural nostalgia without overwhelming the present-tense narrative.
The noppera-bō functions as inspired central antagonist, drawn from Japanese folklore but deployed with cross-cultural effectiveness. Facelessness as horror concept taps primal fears about identity and recognition, themes that resonate throughout Alex's arc. His journey toward accepting his "sensitive" abilities parallels broader questions about selfhood and predetermined destiny versus chosen purpose. This thematic cohesion elevates material that could easily have fragmented into disconnected genre elements.
Gebhardt largely succeeds through rigorous structural discipline. The novel's two-part architecture—"Kindred" and "Living Dead"—effectively partitions Alex's journey from skeptical academic to reluctant paranormal investigator. Part One establishes the protagonist's baseline existence while introducing destabilizing supernatural elements gradually enough to maintain plausibility. Part Two pivots into full investigation mode while never losing sight of the personal stakes driving Alex's involvement. This structural clarity prevents the narrative from collapsing under the weight of its dual ambitions.
The author's research foundation proves invaluable. Contemporary paranormal fiction often stumbles when depicting actual investigative procedures, either oversimplifying for dramatic convenience or drowning readers in technical minutiae. Gebhardt navigates this terrain adeptly, incorporating authentic equipment and methodology—EMF detection, infrared thermography, EVP analysis—while maintaining narrative momentum. The SPIRAL team reads as competent professionals rather than genre archetypes, each member contributing distinct expertise that serves both plot and thematic purposes.
Comparisons to similarly structured works prove instructive. Leigh Bardugo's Ninth House shares the academic-supernatural fusion, while Stephen Graham Jones's The Only Good Indians demonstrates comparable skill in weaving cultural folklore into contemporary horror. Gebhardt distinguishes himself through the temporal specificity of his setting. The late 2000s details—Motorola Razrs, early internet memes, Nintendo DS—create precise cultural nostalgia without overwhelming the present-tense narrative.
The noppera-bō functions as inspired central antagonist, drawn from Japanese folklore but deployed with cross-cultural effectiveness. Facelessness as horror concept taps primal fears about identity and recognition, themes that resonate throughout Alex's arc. His journey toward accepting his "sensitive" abilities parallels broader questions about selfhood and predetermined destiny versus chosen purpose. This thematic cohesion elevates material that could easily have fragmented into disconnected genre elements.
December 15, 2025
There are books you read, and then there are books that read you—that somehow reach into the quiet spaces of your psyche and illuminate fears you didn't know you carried. Thomas J. Gebhardt III has crafted something haunting in the truest sense: a story that lingers like morning fog, refusing to burn away even in daylight's full glare.
Smiling Faceless Woman unfolds like a fever dream where academic rigor and supernatural terror dance an increasingly frantic waltz. Alex moves through his final college semester as a man caught between worlds, suspended in that terrible moment before everything changes irrevocably. Gebhardt captures the peculiar loneliness of the overachiever, that isolating drive toward excellence that simultaneously propels and imprisons. The prose carries a melancholic weight, sentences stretching like shadows at dusk, perfectly mirroring Alex's gradual unraveling.
The supernatural elements arrive not with theatrical flourish but with whispered menace. Sleep paralysis episodes build from unsettling to terrifying through meticulous detail—that crushing pressure on the chest, the inability to scream, the suffocating darkness that seems somehow sentient. When Alex finally glimpses the translucent mist hovering above his bed, Gebhardt's restraint makes the moment devastating. Less is more in horror, and this author understands that truth deeply.
April emerges as salvation and complication both, her presence a reminder of life's softer rhythms. Their scenes together shimmer with nostalgic warmth—bookstore browsing, mall wandering, that secret spot where they stare at cloud shapes. These moments provide breathing room within the mounting dread, making us care desperately about Alex's fate. The promise rings they exchange carry genuine emotional heft because Gebhardt earns every feeling through patient character development.
The noppera-bō herself—blank-faced, implacable—represents something beyond mere ghost story antagonism. She is absence made manifest, identity erased, the void that swallows certainty. Gebhardt weaves Japanese folklore seamlessly into contemporary American setting, creating cross-cultural horror that feels both ancient and immediate. This is fiction that respects mystery, that understands not everything requires explanation. Sometimes terror simply is.
Smiling Faceless Woman unfolds like a fever dream where academic rigor and supernatural terror dance an increasingly frantic waltz. Alex moves through his final college semester as a man caught between worlds, suspended in that terrible moment before everything changes irrevocably. Gebhardt captures the peculiar loneliness of the overachiever, that isolating drive toward excellence that simultaneously propels and imprisons. The prose carries a melancholic weight, sentences stretching like shadows at dusk, perfectly mirroring Alex's gradual unraveling.
The supernatural elements arrive not with theatrical flourish but with whispered menace. Sleep paralysis episodes build from unsettling to terrifying through meticulous detail—that crushing pressure on the chest, the inability to scream, the suffocating darkness that seems somehow sentient. When Alex finally glimpses the translucent mist hovering above his bed, Gebhardt's restraint makes the moment devastating. Less is more in horror, and this author understands that truth deeply.
April emerges as salvation and complication both, her presence a reminder of life's softer rhythms. Their scenes together shimmer with nostalgic warmth—bookstore browsing, mall wandering, that secret spot where they stare at cloud shapes. These moments provide breathing room within the mounting dread, making us care desperately about Alex's fate. The promise rings they exchange carry genuine emotional heft because Gebhardt earns every feeling through patient character development.
The noppera-bō herself—blank-faced, implacable—represents something beyond mere ghost story antagonism. She is absence made manifest, identity erased, the void that swallows certainty. Gebhardt weaves Japanese folklore seamlessly into contemporary American setting, creating cross-cultural horror that feels both ancient and immediate. This is fiction that respects mystery, that understands not everything requires explanation. Sometimes terror simply is.
December 15, 2025
Look, I'm just going to say it right up front: this book totally wrecked me in the best possible way. I picked up Smiling Faceless Woman expecting a straightforward ghost story and instead got this deeply personal meditation on what happens when your whole carefully planned life gets hijacked by forces you never believed in. As someone who also pulled eighteen-credit semesters and basically lived in the library during undergrad, I felt Alex's exhaustion in my bones.
What really hooked me was how Gebhardt nails that specific anxiety of senior year—you know, when everything you've been working toward is finally about to pay off, and suddenly you're questioning whether any of it even matters? Alex is grinding himself into dust trying to maintain his GPA and prepare for grad school when weird stuff starts happening in his dorm. At first he tries to rationalize it as sleep paralysis, which honestly I would have done too, but things escalate in ways that force him to completely reconsider his understanding of reality.
And then there's April. Their relationship feels so authentic it hurts. The way they reconnect as "mall rats," bonding over Nintendo DS games and Chuck Norris jokes and terrible puns—that's exactly how actual people fall for each other. None of that love-at-first-sight nonsense. They have real conversations. They help each other through rough patches. When things get complicated between them later in the book, it feels earned rather than manufactured for drama.
The paranormal investigation stuff is incredibly well-researched. Gebhardt apparently interviewed actual ghost hunters and preachers, and you can tell. The SPIRAL team uses legitimate equipment and techniques—EMF detectors, infrared cameras, motion sensors, the whole deal. Pastor Art becomes this fascinating philosophical anchor who acknowledges both scientific and spiritual explanations without privileging either one. The faceless woman herself, the noppera-bō from Japanese folklore, is genuinely unsettling. Gebhardt builds dread through accumulation rather than cheap jump scares. This is horror that gets under your skin and stays there, making you question every shadow in your peripheral vision.
What really hooked me was how Gebhardt nails that specific anxiety of senior year—you know, when everything you've been working toward is finally about to pay off, and suddenly you're questioning whether any of it even matters? Alex is grinding himself into dust trying to maintain his GPA and prepare for grad school when weird stuff starts happening in his dorm. At first he tries to rationalize it as sleep paralysis, which honestly I would have done too, but things escalate in ways that force him to completely reconsider his understanding of reality.
And then there's April. Their relationship feels so authentic it hurts. The way they reconnect as "mall rats," bonding over Nintendo DS games and Chuck Norris jokes and terrible puns—that's exactly how actual people fall for each other. None of that love-at-first-sight nonsense. They have real conversations. They help each other through rough patches. When things get complicated between them later in the book, it feels earned rather than manufactured for drama.
The paranormal investigation stuff is incredibly well-researched. Gebhardt apparently interviewed actual ghost hunters and preachers, and you can tell. The SPIRAL team uses legitimate equipment and techniques—EMF detectors, infrared cameras, motion sensors, the whole deal. Pastor Art becomes this fascinating philosophical anchor who acknowledges both scientific and spiritual explanations without privileging either one. The faceless woman herself, the noppera-bō from Japanese folklore, is genuinely unsettling. Gebhardt builds dread through accumulation rather than cheap jump scares. This is horror that gets under your skin and stays there, making you question every shadow in your peripheral vision.
August 30, 2025
A cinematic adventure!
Hawaii author Thomas J. Gebhardt III served as an occupational therapist and has written three books to date – WASHINGTON, EVERYDAY RAINBOWS and now SMILING FACELESS WOMAN – and continues to fascinate and entertain with themes of pop culture in many forms. He now adds horror and paranormal themes that expand his repertoire quite successfully. One of the many reasons this novel succeeds is the author’s ability to blend coming of age with mystery and thriller themes that encourage the reader to relate to the primary character on many levels.
A master at capturing attention and staging a mood, Gebhardt opens this immersive novel with a preacher leading primary character Alex and friends into a haunted Demon House of Lower Bloom Hill, and the dialogue combines wit and mystery to the story that follows. College life, romance, paranormal concepts, and nostalgia meld in a story that succeeds on many levels. A terrific book to keep at the bedside….!
Hawaii author Thomas J. Gebhardt III served as an occupational therapist and has written three books to date – WASHINGTON, EVERYDAY RAINBOWS and now SMILING FACELESS WOMAN – and continues to fascinate and entertain with themes of pop culture in many forms. He now adds horror and paranormal themes that expand his repertoire quite successfully. One of the many reasons this novel succeeds is the author’s ability to blend coming of age with mystery and thriller themes that encourage the reader to relate to the primary character on many levels.
A master at capturing attention and staging a mood, Gebhardt opens this immersive novel with a preacher leading primary character Alex and friends into a haunted Demon House of Lower Bloom Hill, and the dialogue combines wit and mystery to the story that follows. College life, romance, paranormal concepts, and nostalgia meld in a story that succeeds on many levels. A terrific book to keep at the bedside….!
August 21, 2025
Great paranormal book!
This is the first time I read a paranormal book, and I simply loved it. To be honest, I didn’t have high expectations, since I’ve always been a fan of horror, thriller, or paranormal movies, and I never imagined that a book could make me feel the same way as a movie does. However, I’m glad to say that this book exceeded all my expectations and changed my perspective about books in this genre.
The way the story develops, with detailed descriptions and a rhythm that builds a real sense of fear, along with the narration throughout the book, allows the story to fully deliver on its mysterious and paranormal essence.
If you’re the kind of person who enjoys books you can’t put down until you know what’s going to happen, then this one is definitely for you.
This is the first time I read a paranormal book, and I simply loved it. To be honest, I didn’t have high expectations, since I’ve always been a fan of horror, thriller, or paranormal movies, and I never imagined that a book could make me feel the same way as a movie does. However, I’m glad to say that this book exceeded all my expectations and changed my perspective about books in this genre.
The way the story develops, with detailed descriptions and a rhythm that builds a real sense of fear, along with the narration throughout the book, allows the story to fully deliver on its mysterious and paranormal essence.
If you’re the kind of person who enjoys books you can’t put down until you know what’s going to happen, then this one is definitely for you.
August 23, 2025
Smiling Faceless Woman is a refreshingly strange and nostalgic blend of ghost story, coming-of-age drama, and paranormal mystery. Readers who grew up on emo music, Nintendo DS, and early internet culture will feel a deep tug of recognition as Alex, the burnout genius, faces ghosts literal and emotional. The dialogue is sharp, the throwbacks are fun without being forced, and the story delivers suspense with a side of humor and heart. The inclusion of SPIRAL, a paranormal team, adds an X-Files-style thrill that blends surprisingly well with the dorm-room angst. At times, the plot twists feel intentionally disorienting—but that’s part of its charm. It's a story about haunting—of places, people, and memories. Equal parts spooky and sincere, this book doesn’t just entertain—it lingers. A cerebral, emotional ride for readers who like their thrillers with a splash of heart.
December 11, 2025
Incredible book
This book is perfect for escaping the daily routine and diving into a unique and exciting story. I truly enjoy books that keep me alert, curious, and even a little nervous about what might happen next. Nothing in this story feels predictable, and that makes the experience even more engaging. As a reader, you feel actively involved, imagining possible outcomes and trying to solve each situation before it unfolds.
The book combines several genres, including thriller, drama, suspense, and even action, creating a dynamic and entertaining rhythm from beginning to end. The descriptive language makes it easy to visualize every moment, which adds to the overall immersion.
I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone who loves fast-paced and captivating stories.
This book is perfect for escaping the daily routine and diving into a unique and exciting story. I truly enjoy books that keep me alert, curious, and even a little nervous about what might happen next. Nothing in this story feels predictable, and that makes the experience even more engaging. As a reader, you feel actively involved, imagining possible outcomes and trying to solve each situation before it unfolds.
The book combines several genres, including thriller, drama, suspense, and even action, creating a dynamic and entertaining rhythm from beginning to end. The descriptive language makes it easy to visualize every moment, which adds to the overall immersion.
I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone who loves fast-paced and captivating stories.
December 11, 2025
After reading a couple of pages, this novel draws you to understand Ale’s emotional and psychological world. This is a book that will give you chills and will make you feel a lot of emotions from the first page. How you will start to understand Alex’s fears, doubts, and memories is a surreal reading experience, making you feel what the character feels, creating a deep connection. The Smiling Faceless Woman is not just a haunting figure; it’s a force that pushes characters into a deep transformation, triggering old wounds, hidden truths, and internal conflicts that you’ll understand even more in a new chapter you read. This is really a psychological novel where horror is connected to personal meaning and thoughts. Beyond the paranormal context, it will make you reflect on fear, memory, and the things we try to avoid facing.
March 19, 2026
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Smiling Faceless Woman has a solid, intriguing core story that keeps you turning pages with its mix of mystery and quiet unease. The premise is clever, and there are some genuinely affecting moments that stick with you.
That said, the execution often feels quite juvenile with simplistic dialogue, fairly predictable character arcs, and a tone that leans heavily on obvious emotional beats rather than trusting the reader to feel things more subtly. It reads like something aimed at a younger or less experienced audience, almost adolescent in its approach to tension and resolution.
If you’re in your early teens or just want a quick,
straightforward supernatural-ish read, it’s perfectly enjoyable. For anyone looking for more depth or sophistication, it falls a little flat. Decent effort, but not quite there yet.
Smiling Faceless Woman has a solid, intriguing core story that keeps you turning pages with its mix of mystery and quiet unease. The premise is clever, and there are some genuinely affecting moments that stick with you.
That said, the execution often feels quite juvenile with simplistic dialogue, fairly predictable character arcs, and a tone that leans heavily on obvious emotional beats rather than trusting the reader to feel things more subtly. It reads like something aimed at a younger or less experienced audience, almost adolescent in its approach to tension and resolution.
If you’re in your early teens or just want a quick,
straightforward supernatural-ish read, it’s perfectly enjoyable. For anyone looking for more depth or sophistication, it falls a little flat. Decent effort, but not quite there yet.
August 21, 2025
An unputdownable novel
What a story! “Smiling faceless woman” offers readers a travel to the past where things seemed to be easier. Thomas J. Gebhardt III has penned a captivating novel that revolves around Alex, a young boy who is about to graduate and go to university. One night, he starts experiencing some strange and scary occurrences. April, his friend, tries to distract him with some music and small talk. That day was calm but later on, things got complicated and those occurrences became more frequent.
It’s a captivating story that talks about the great change between college and real life, where fears and doubts flourish throughout the way. I liked the way characters are portrayed and the author's writing style.
What a story! “Smiling faceless woman” offers readers a travel to the past where things seemed to be easier. Thomas J. Gebhardt III has penned a captivating novel that revolves around Alex, a young boy who is about to graduate and go to university. One night, he starts experiencing some strange and scary occurrences. April, his friend, tries to distract him with some music and small talk. That day was calm but later on, things got complicated and those occurrences became more frequent.
It’s a captivating story that talks about the great change between college and real life, where fears and doubts flourish throughout the way. I liked the way characters are portrayed and the author's writing style.
August 22, 2025
It deserves a good movie
This book took me back to my adolescence, when stories like this captivated me for hours. I read many books of this type and longed for them to be made into good movies. Well, this excellent story gave me the same feeling. It has an interesting character, full of pending internal discoveries and, at the same time, an active life motivated by love and the events that occur around him. Fear is present, but so is adrenaline and the anticipation of understanding how Alex will proceed in the face of each new event that arises in his life. Reading this story made me very, very happy. I must admit that it made me nervous on several occasions, even though I'm no longer a child! Recommended.
This book took me back to my adolescence, when stories like this captivated me for hours. I read many books of this type and longed for them to be made into good movies. Well, this excellent story gave me the same feeling. It has an interesting character, full of pending internal discoveries and, at the same time, an active life motivated by love and the events that occur around him. Fear is present, but so is adrenaline and the anticipation of understanding how Alex will proceed in the face of each new event that arises in his life. Reading this story made me very, very happy. I must admit that it made me nervous on several occasions, even though I'm no longer a child! Recommended.
December 6, 2025
This is a thriller that answers the question of what happens when things go bump in the night. Alex is just a stone’s throw from graduation, and he feels certain that the degree he has worked so long and hard for will be well worth it. However, when mysterious events begin to occur around him, he must face the truth: it appears that he is psychically sensitive. That’s why he is soon contacted by SPIRAL, a team of paranormal investigators who can potentially make use of his gift, or perhaps curse.
Now, Alex’s life has been turned upside down, and he’s unsure of what the future has in store for him. This novel is an introspective look at college life, a ghost story, and a romance rolled into one. It’s provocative, frightening, and funny by turns.
Now, Alex’s life has been turned upside down, and he’s unsure of what the future has in store for him. This novel is an introspective look at college life, a ghost story, and a romance rolled into one. It’s provocative, frightening, and funny by turns.
December 10, 2025
Nostalgic Mystery Book
Well, this book really generated a lot in me. On one hand, for those of us who are millennials, it instantly takes us back to the 2000s era. It brings us back to the ways we communicated, the devices, the sounds, the video games, the music. While reading it, I could imagine every chapter musicalized with a playlist full of memories from my adolescence.
On the other hand, regarding the plot, the author truly succeeded with an absolutely gripping narrative that will keep you glued to the pages from start to finish. It’s a fast-paced, captivating novel for those who love books that talk about mystery and paranormal situations, but which also complement every page with themes of friendship, love, and the search for identity on the road to becoming an adult.
Well, this book really generated a lot in me. On one hand, for those of us who are millennials, it instantly takes us back to the 2000s era. It brings us back to the ways we communicated, the devices, the sounds, the video games, the music. While reading it, I could imagine every chapter musicalized with a playlist full of memories from my adolescence.
On the other hand, regarding the plot, the author truly succeeded with an absolutely gripping narrative that will keep you glued to the pages from start to finish. It’s a fast-paced, captivating novel for those who love books that talk about mystery and paranormal situations, but which also complement every page with themes of friendship, love, and the search for identity on the road to becoming an adult.
December 11, 2025
Smiling Faceless Woman was seriously creepy, magical even
Smiling Faceless Woman was seriously creepy, magical even. It all starts with Alex, who is a college senior with a normal dorm life and studies. Even though strange things start happening in his room at night, at first felt like a bad dream, but it then became definitely paranormal. What I really dug was how the book went through the horror, taking its time building the tension. That slow dread, got to me, unease but I was curious, I couldn’t put it down to see what was real and what was all in Alex's head. However, the reason why the book resonates with me is that it transcends mere monster stories, it's perfect for those loving tales starting normal then evolving to dark, spooky things.
Smiling Faceless Woman was seriously creepy, magical even. It all starts with Alex, who is a college senior with a normal dorm life and studies. Even though strange things start happening in his room at night, at first felt like a bad dream, but it then became definitely paranormal. What I really dug was how the book went through the horror, taking its time building the tension. That slow dread, got to me, unease but I was curious, I couldn’t put it down to see what was real and what was all in Alex's head. However, the reason why the book resonates with me is that it transcends mere monster stories, it's perfect for those loving tales starting normal then evolving to dark, spooky things.
December 12, 2025
A book that will get into you, give you chills, and will also be very engaging, a love story with a sense of terror. The book is fantastic, and the characters are well developed. You will be next to Alex and see how life comes with tons of unexpected situations and also a great love story. His life is like that of a normal young person, managing to balance social life and academics, but never expecting to be part of this chaotic life, with strange and horrific situations. These are tense moments in the book and will connect with you. Luckily, April comes into the story and becomes a buffer. April is an amazing character who will add joy and fun to this story. Take the time for a plot twist and an amazing book to spend your time with.
August 21, 2025
A really nice taste of the 2000s, the story is about college life mixed with ghost stories. It is a very funny and creepy story at the same time which, personally, I think was what kept me flipping pages.
I enjoy reading about the everyday struggles, friendship and this unknown creeping around. It is quite a unique combination, but it works wonders for me. You have characters growing up, learning about themselves and then all the supernatural uncertainties, all the late-night disturbances happening for Alex.
Overall, I think it was an entertaining read, perfect for young adults and anyone who enjoys thrillers with a different condiment, very good!
I enjoy reading about the everyday struggles, friendship and this unknown creeping around. It is quite a unique combination, but it works wonders for me. You have characters growing up, learning about themselves and then all the supernatural uncertainties, all the late-night disturbances happening for Alex.
Overall, I think it was an entertaining read, perfect for young adults and anyone who enjoys thrillers with a different condiment, very good!
August 21, 2025
When I started reading Smiling Faceless Woman by Thomas J. Gebhardt III, I was not sure what to expect. The title felt mysterious and a little strange, and that made me curious. The book mixes feelings of fear, sadness, and hope in a way that made me stop and think. Sometimes, I even had to close the book for a moment just to reflect on what I had read.
I liked how the author writes about darkness and beauty at the same time. It reminded me of when I was a child and used to make scary stories with my cousins during summer nights, half afraid but also excited. This book felt a little like scary, but also full of meaning.
I liked how the author writes about darkness and beauty at the same time. It reminded me of when I was a child and used to make scary stories with my cousins during summer nights, half afraid but also excited. This book felt a little like scary, but also full of meaning.
August 22, 2025
I really enjoyed Alex’s story because it mixes everyday things like friendships and college life with strange paranormal events that kept me hooked. I also liked how his inner struggles were shown, especially as everything around him got more complicated. It all felt believable and easy to connect with.
The mix of mystery, friendship, and romance makes the plot feel relatable and exciting at the same time. Plus, the final twist surprised me greatly and brought the story to a powerful close. I highly recommended Smiling Faceless Woman to my nephew, who is a fan of this type of genre, because I'm sure he'll enjoy it as much as I did!
The mix of mystery, friendship, and romance makes the plot feel relatable and exciting at the same time. Plus, the final twist surprised me greatly and brought the story to a powerful close. I highly recommended Smiling Faceless Woman to my nephew, who is a fan of this type of genre, because I'm sure he'll enjoy it as much as I did!
December 8, 2025
Mystery...
This is an original and nostalgic thriller that skillfully blends the paranormal with the real tensions of college life. The story follows Alex, an exhausted student who is about to graduate, just as disturbing events begin to invade his nights. Between distractions, ambiguous friendships, and a humorous reunion with April, the plot charmingly combines mystery, romance, and 2000s pop culture.
The novel takes a darker and more intriguing turn, while maintaining an emotional and reflective tone. It is an entertaining read that surprises and leaves you wanting to discover the secret behind that faceless presence.
This is an original and nostalgic thriller that skillfully blends the paranormal with the real tensions of college life. The story follows Alex, an exhausted student who is about to graduate, just as disturbing events begin to invade his nights. Between distractions, ambiguous friendships, and a humorous reunion with April, the plot charmingly combines mystery, romance, and 2000s pop culture.
The novel takes a darker and more intriguing turn, while maintaining an emotional and reflective tone. It is an entertaining read that surprises and leaves you wanting to discover the secret behind that faceless presence.
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