Ghost. Camera. Mask. Scream.: Everhart Series - Fall

by C.K. Franziska

Caspian built the perfect haunted house—where screams are choreographed, fear is curated, and no one ever gets hurt.
Until she walked in.
Mara signs up for the tour at Whispermoor Manor with no online presence or past he can trace. She’s not like the thrill-seekers or influencers Caspian is used to, and a mystery he can’t shake. When Mara gets into a fight with the man she came with and flees Caspian’s house without using the safe word, it should’ve been over.
But something about her lingers.
Caspian tracks her down, watching her through cameras, shadows, windows... he tells himself it’s for her safety. He installs himself at the edges of her routine, but the deeper he digs, the more twisted things become.
Then the games begin.
Not his. Hers.
Mara starts leaving him clues. Daring him. Turning his obsession back on him. Caspian thought he was the one running the house.
He was wrong…
And there’s no safe word for what’s coming next.

Genres: Halloween

317 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 22, 2025

About the author

C.K. Franziska is the author of the finished A Speck of Darkness Series, The Crymzon Chronicles, Wish for it Duet, and the Veil of Fire Series. She is the wife of a traveler, as well as the mother of two mini versions of herself and way too many pets. In her spare time, she is also a photographer, traveler, full-time entertainer, and animal lover. She does her best writing at night, at the beach listening to the waves, or while camping. C.K. loves to play make-believe, transporting readers to a place where heroes must step out of the seemingly endless cycle of family curses, where magic is as beautiful and untamable as we think, and where every person deserves to be celebrated.

Reviews

[Scarlett Kouyou · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ and 4🌶️

🖤Spicy Dark Romance meets psychological thriller
🖤Halloween Haunted House 🪾
🖤He’s usually in control- but now she is and she’s haunting him 😈
🖤Masks.. wigs…
🖤Obsession and st@lk1ng
🖤The banter is *chefs kiss*

To say I am obsessed with this book is a vast understatement. I was introduced to this author by a previous series that was a slow-burn spicy romantasy- I saw she was coming out with a contemporary spicy dark romance and I JUMPED on the opportunity to ARC read this and I am SO. FREAKING. GLAD. I. DID. The PERFECT read to kick off spooky season.

(REMEMBER this is a dark romance, double check those trigger warnings before hopping in 🖤)

Thank you so much to @c.k.franziska for the gifted ARC 🖤

[Leigha Lennon · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.K. Franziska’s Ghost. Camera. Mask. Scream. is a razor-sharp psychological thriller dressed as a haunted house horror story, and it delivers on every level. What begins as a tale of orchestrated fear inside Caspian’s carefully constructed Whispermoor Manor quickly morphs into something far more dangerous—an exploration of obsession, control, and the terrifying games people play when they refuse to be prey.

Caspian, the mastermind behind the perfect haunted house, is a fascinatingly complex character. His world thrives on control—every scream rehearsed, every terror scripted. But the moment Mara walks in, his illusion of mastery begins to unravel. Mara isn’t like his typical guests. She’s a mystery without a past, and her very presence sparks something dark inside him. When she flees without the safe word, it should have ended—but instead, it begins.

What follows is a chilling descent into obsession. Caspian convinces himself he’s watching Mara for her safety, but Franziska deftly peels back those layers, revealing the razor-thin line between protector and predator. And just when you think you know who’s in control, the story twists: Mara starts to play her own game, leaving clues, daring Caspian, and flipping the power dynamic. The hunter becomes the hunted, and the haunted house becomes a metaphor for the trap they’ve built around each other.

The prose is taut, atmospheric, and laced with unease. Every camera, every shadow, every window feels alive, pressing down on both characters and reader alike. It’s not just horror—it’s intimacy turned sinister, trust warped into a dangerous gamble. The tension is unrelenting, and the slow dance of predator and prey simmers with an undercurrent of chemistry that makes every interaction all the more intoxicating.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ rounded up

This book was a little different from my normal reads: a Halloween-flavored, stalkery cat-and-mouse romance that walks a fine line between unsettling and sweet. It’s not a dark romance, but there’s a definite edge to it, along with a bit of spice. The haunted house concept was a fun backdrop, with that mix of eerie ambiance and adrenaline that perfectly matched the tension between the characters.

Caspian and Mara are both deeply wounded in their own ways, and while I didn’t fully love either of them, I understood how their messy, obsessive connection made sense. Their relationship is strange, charged, and slightly unhinged but somehow it works. The stalker vibes threw me off at first, but I came around once I realized the game wasn’t one-sided. When Mara started flipping the script on Caspian, it added a sharp, clever twist that made me more invested in where things were headed.

The pacing kept things moving from start to finish. It definitely got me curious about the other Everhart brothers, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for their stories.

[Kyla Sixkiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.K. Franziska’s Ghost. Camera. Mask. Scream. is a haunted house horror with a heartbeat, and it’s beating way too fast.

Caspian built Whispermoor Manor to control fear. Every scream is calculated, every shadow choreographed. But when Mara walks in, unreadable, unscripted, his perfect system starts to crack. She breaks the rules, and instead of ending the game, she rewrites it.

What follows is obsession disguised as protection. Franziska doesn’t flinch as she peels back Caspian’s delusions, exposing the thin line between guardian and hunter. And then it’s Mara's turn, leaving clues, shifting the power, daring him to follow. The haunted house becomes a mirror, and they both understand what they see.

The writing is sharp, entertaining, and intimate. Every camera hums with tension. Every silence feels like a dare. It’s not just terror, it’s a slow, seductive unraveling, where control is the most dangerous illusion of all.

[Cuukie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghost. Camera. Mask. Scream. (Everhart Series – Fall) is a haunting, slow-burning romance that plays with the lines between fear and fascination. At its core, Caspian the owner of a meticulously crafted haunted house meets Mara, a mysterious visitor unlike any thrill-seeker. Their dynamic unfolds through a game of cat-and-mouse across haunted corridors, blending obsession, emotional depth, and eerie intimacy.

the pace felt a bit sluggish at times, but that’s the kind of tension this story leans into it gives readers space to connect with Caspian and Mara as distinct, compelling characters. Caspian’s haunting environment and Mara’s quiet defiance create an immersive, emotionally charged setting.

it delivers on atmospheric romance and gothic allure, with enough spice and intrigue to leave you wanting more (especially about the other Everhart brothers).

4.25/5 ⭐️

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mara and Caspian both have guarded hearts. They have been hurt before and now take precautions against it. But when Mara gets dragged along to a haunted house, she really has no idea what she’s getting into. Caspian is obsessed. He will do anything to make sure she stays safe, even watching her through a neighbor’s camera. Little does he know that she is ready to match his energy.
This was a captivating read. I was hooked from the first chapter. I could feel everything the characters were feeling, and it was thrilling. I had fully imagined Caspian as a dark, broody, creepy guy that was showing all red flags, but as the story went on he showed a vulnerable, human side that I wasn’t expecting, and I could see why Mara was hooked. I would definitely recommend.

[Gabbie Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was lights out meets haunting Adeline in the best way possible. I loved every single minute of it. The tension, the atmosphere, the obsessive pull between Caspian and Mara… it had me hooked from page one. I stayed up all night just to finish because putting it down wasn’t an option.

Franziska masterfully balances horror and psychological suspense with an addictive, binge-worthy writing style. Whispermoor Manor is the kind of haunted house that crawls under your skin, and Caspian and Mara’s cat-and-mouse dynamic had me questioning who was really in control until the very end.

This is the perfect fall spooky season read! It's dark, chilling, and laced with just the right amount of spice. One of my favorite ARC reads this year!

[Kimberly Cowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.K Fransika NEVER disappoints, she gives us plots for days and the spice is always on point 🤗 This book was no different. I initially started this book on a different day, but I do have crotch goblins so I was not able to finish it 🤣 I did restart it this morning and finished it by lunch 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 —— I’m officially OBSESSED with the Everhart brothers ✨🖤✨


Being that Halloween is my favorite holiday. As of right now Caspian would have to be my favorite character 🤗 but I can’t wait to dig deeper into the other three Brothers especially because I’m always down for some chaos & who doesn’t love a cute bunny IYKYK 💁🏻‍♀️

[Andrea Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need more!!! I loved this story and how Caspian and Mara just clicked in all the right ways! “And then, soft, almost broken he says “because you looked like someone who’s used to being hunted. And I-I didn’t want it to be by the wrong person.” How this line just made my expectations higher for my husband lol. I can’t wait to read more of the rest of the Everhart brothers and their stories. Thank you for always giving us such amazing stories and characters. 🖤

By the way those steamy moments… yes please!

[Victoria Floyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS NOT A DARK ROMANCE! I just wanted to start my review this way because some people assume that it is.

Each character faces their own trauma, but come together to help each other through it. Mara, the FMC, faces fears in a haunted house run by Caspian. Caspian, the MMC, becomes enfatuated with Mara at first sight. He begins a game of cat and mouse, but Mara is always one step ahead of him. The book was fast paced, kept me entertained, and was and HEA.

I would also like to thank the author for giving me the chance to read this one for her!

[Becci Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I live C. K. Franziska’s writing but wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy this as much as I don’t really do horror but wow oh wow this was a wild read.
This is a mix of dark romance, psychological thriller all wrapped up in a haunted Halloween house and I loved it.
I read this book so quickly I literally couldn’t put it down.
This story literally had me on the edge of me seat desperate to know what happened. The spice is spicing but still with a storyline.
As this is dark romance please check your trigger warnings

[Katie Gordert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC and C.K. Does it again for me! I freaking love her writing style no matter if it’s fantasy or romance. I can’t wait to see what the seasons have in store for the Everhart boys and learn more about their back stories! I truly enjoyed how the FMC and the MC of this book stood as damaged equals and didn’t try to fix each other. It was refreshing to not just see flaws as damage but as part of a persons story and not something that needed to be fixed.

[Printessan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read several of Franziska’s books, but Ghost, Camera, Mask, Scream is by far the best one. It’s thrilling with a darker edge that pulled me in right away. I really enjoyed how the characters developed and how the story kept me on edge the whole time. It also made me really curious about the other brothers’ stories, and I’m excited to read more about them in the future.

Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your team.
And write more books like this. I really enjoyed reading it.🌺❤️

[Gigi_ljones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely enjoyed my read. the experience, the writing, the characters, the story, phenomenal. five stars. C K. Franziska you have done it again~>
as a October/ fall/ spooky season girlie- this is just up my alley and then some. if you need more info: the book includes:


Obsession and stalking, Masked man, He's usually in control- but now she is, and she's haunting him, Forced Proximity,Trauma and Betrayal.

I most definitely will be doing a reread when October hits~

[Mrs Holm Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caspian a delicious haunted house owner break all his rules when he meets Mara against his own moral conscious he starts to stalk Mara. The cat a mouse chase and the dangerous attraction to one another is very intense. And he has 3 other delicious brothers.. Both Mara and Caspian are perfect for each other both Dark in their own way yet loving with a steamy dark twist.

[Elin Storm · Rating 5 out of 5]

My goodness! I did not think i was a stalker romance kind of girl.

But i am, at least when C.K Franziska wrights it. This was so good! Loved this so mutch.

I read the last half of the book in one sitting! The heat, the longing, the tall darkt and dangerouse man 👏🏼 wow just wow! One of the best books i read so far this year 😍

[Lian Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haunted House ✔️
Stalker ✔️
Badass FMC ✔️
Absolutely obsessed MMC ✔️✔️

Quite literally the perfect book to read during spooky season. Especially if you like unhinged, in the best possible way!

Also is it just me or is there just something about Raymond that I just 😍. Yup definitely chomping at the bit for his book….

[Heather Shower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghost. Camera. Mask. Scream. is a haunting, slow-burn story where Mara and Caspian’s cat-and-mouse dynamic blends gothic atmosphere, emotional depth, and intrigue, leaving me eager for more of the Everhart brothers.

[Amber Kuykendoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic, this book takes you though two different lives of Caspian and Mara they meet at a haunted house and both are undoubtedly immediately obsessed with each other, you get some stalking, some spice, and some heartbreak! The end nearly broke me! 10/10 do recommend

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every one needs to read this book! It had me interested throughout the whole book! I’m excited to read about the other brothers.

[Mybookish.odyssey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Devoured this book!!!! You must meet the Everheart Brothers!!! This is the first in book the series, introducing you to Caspian Everheart!!! 😏😏😏.
Caspian built the perfect haunted house called the Whispermoor Manor, a very cool “safe” attraction full of fears and screams.
Mara (FMC) signs up for a tour of the Whispermoor Manor and Caspian is intrigued with this mystery guest. He starts tracking Mara, for her “safety” and the series of events thereafter keeps you glued into the plot!
This Dark Romance includes Forced proximity, Stalker vibes, morally grey MMC, betrayal, MH representation.
Thank you CK Franziska for this amazing eARC.

[Harley Audette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me on a whirlwind of emotions. I loved the plot and while I normally don't read a Contemporary Stalker Romance, this one did not disappoint because it was as dark as most stalker romances I've seen.

Caspian, an owner of a successful Haunted House business finds himself entranced by Mara, a girl that came into Whispermoor Manor on a date that went wrong.

I loved this, and I loved that Caspian felt guilt when he started stalking her and didn't find pleasure in doing it. Well as much. The emotions that Caspian felt were real and he was open about things, other than his life but I understand that.

Mara had her own background and enjoyed the chase Caspian gave her. Sure close to the end it hurt when she used the safe word and a lot of things happened that lead up to Halloween night. But I'm so happy with the ending and how they finally got together with no secrets or lies to keep them apart anymore.

I'm hooked and honestly, I want more.

[Soraya · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. (4.5 rounded up to 5)
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Caspian built Whispermoor Manor to control fear. Every scream, every shadow, every heartbeat, perfectly designed. But when Mara walks in, unreadable and unpredictable, everything starts to crumble. She breaks his rules. And instead of ending the game, she starts her own.

What begins as obsession disguised as protection quickly spirals into something darker. It masterfully blurs the line between desire and danger, hunter and prey, control and surrender. Mara doesn’t just survive the house, she becomes the one haunting it… and him.

The writing is sharp, eerie, and addictively intimate. Every camera hums with tension, every silence feels like a dare. It’s not just fear, it’s seduction wrapped in shadows.

I loved this book from the very first page and devoured it in just a few hours. It had everything I wanted: tension, obsession, a perfectly hot and tattooed MMC, and spice that delivers 🔥. The story kept me on edge the entire time, and those twists? So, so good.

Perfect for fans of dark romance with a psychological edge and a haunted, intoxicating atmosphere.

[Kelly Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very different than what CK usually writes and I’m hear for it
Stalker that runs a haunted house……say no more !
Caspian is determined to have Mara and figure out what she is hiding
And the spice was nice 😉

[Louise McPadden · Rating 5 out of 5]

NO SPOILERS!!!

OMG C K Franziska has done it again….

Great book, fantastically written.

Couldn’t put it down, 24 hour read.

I love this will they won’t they.

I can’t wait for the rest of the series, I need to read them now!!

Again I have been very lucky to have an ARC copy sent.

Thank you so very much C K Franziska.