What do you think?
Rate this book
Maddy
Ellis Cooke and her mother, Jo, have just purchased an old farmhouse from an online auction, sight unseen. When they arrive, the place is not what the auction advertisement described. The property is rundown, overgrown, and in need of a slew of repairs.
Ellis and her mother begin work on the house, hoping to turn it into a bed and breakfast.
But as the work begins, rumors around town start to pour in. The locals believe the place is haunted.
Soon, Ellis and Jo start to hear disembodied voices, as knocks and thumps reverberate throughout the house.
One day, while clearing bushes from the side of the house, a mysterious doll is found, buried under a window. The doll’s appearance is disturbing. It’s painted white, with red eyes.
Then, a mentally disabled neighbor shows up, claiming that the doll is Maddy. She admits to disfiguring the doll to resemble her imaginary friend, who reportedly lives in Ellis’s and Jo’s new house.
It isn’t long before Ellis has an encounter with the entity.
Though Maddy claims Ellis is not allowed to see her, a friendship ensued through vocal communications only.
But the question remains...who is Maddy? And why is she haunting the house? And what’s with the doll?
The mystery deepens the more Ellis digs for answers.
But what she discovers will haunt you.
Ellis and her mother begin work on the house, hoping to turn it into a bed and breakfast.
But as the work begins, rumors around town start to pour in. The locals believe the place is haunted.
Soon, Ellis and Jo start to hear disembodied voices, as knocks and thumps reverberate throughout the house.
One day, while clearing bushes from the side of the house, a mysterious doll is found, buried under a window. The doll’s appearance is disturbing. It’s painted white, with red eyes.
Then, a mentally disabled neighbor shows up, claiming that the doll is Maddy. She admits to disfiguring the doll to resemble her imaginary friend, who reportedly lives in Ellis’s and Jo’s new house.
It isn’t long before Ellis has an encounter with the entity.
Though Maddy claims Ellis is not allowed to see her, a friendship ensued through vocal communications only.
But the question remains...who is Maddy? And why is she haunting the house? And what’s with the doll?
The mystery deepens the more Ellis digs for answers.
But what she discovers will haunt you.
420 pages, Paperback
Published August 12, 2025
7 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Carol Hall
11 books92 followersCarol Hall is an American author who was born and raised in Chester, West Virginia, but currently resides in southern West Virginia with her husband and three cats.
Her writing career began with her first book, Disappeared, in November 2019. Since then she has written several more books including The Journey North, The Inheritance, Full Moon Rising, The Witch of Broenwyck, Saving Grace and A King's Ransom.
Carol's love of writing has spread across several different genres including, action/adventure, mystery, horror, and drama.
When she's not writing, Carol enjoys hiking, reading and hanging out with her friends and family.
Her writing career began with her first book, Disappeared, in November 2019. Since then she has written several more books including The Journey North, The Inheritance, Full Moon Rising, The Witch of Broenwyck, Saving Grace and A King's Ransom.
Carol's love of writing has spread across several different genres including, action/adventure, mystery, horror, and drama.
When she's not writing, Carol enjoys hiking, reading and hanging out with her friends and family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 22, 2025
HIGHLY recommend!!!
August 22, 2025
Wonderful Story!
Maddie by Carol Hall was absolutely wonderful. I just loved it from beginning to end. The characters were so well-written that I felt connected to them right away. The story pulled me in, and I truly didn’t want to put it down. What made it even better was the ending—it completely surprised me in the best way. A truly enjoyable read that I highly recommend
Maddie by Carol Hall was absolutely wonderful. I just loved it from beginning to end. The characters were so well-written that I felt connected to them right away. The story pulled me in, and I truly didn’t want to put it down. What made it even better was the ending—it completely surprised me in the best way. A truly enjoyable read that I highly recommend
October 26, 2025
Maddy is such an amazing and unique story. I fell in love with Maddy and her story. I love the maun characters and how the story came together. I highly recommend this book. Carol Hall did an amazing job with this story.
October 27, 2025
This is such a good haunted house story. I definitely recommend it.
December 2, 2025
Not what I expected at all, but I ended up loving the story. Hopefully the Kindle formatting gets fixed because...that was difficult to deal with.
August 21, 2025
This story was incredible! I completely fell in love with the characters from this book, and I really enjoyed the unexpected twist at the end! I highly recommend this book and this author to everyone!
August 23, 2025
Absolutely Chilling and Beautiful – Couldn’t Put It Down
Wow. *Maddy* by Carol Hall completely took me by surprise—in the best way. I wasn’t expecting to get so emotionally wrapped up in a ghost story, but this book is so much more than your typical haunted tale. It’s eerie, yes, and had some genuinely spine-tingling moments (I may have slept with a light on one night…), but it’s also *hauntingly* beautiful. The writing is lyrical without being overdone, and the atmosphere Hall creates is just *chef’s kiss*—moody, immersive, and full of tension.
Maddy herself is such a compelling character. You feel for her, fear for her, and can’t help but want to unravel the mystery surrounding her. There’s a real emotional depth here that caught me off guard in the best way. The pacing was perfect—every chapter pulled me further in, and I ended up reading the whole thing in two sittings.
If you're into ghost stories that are creepy but also deeply human, *Maddy* needs to be at the top of your list. Carol Hall knocked it out of the park. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.
10/10 recommend! 👻📚
Wow. *Maddy* by Carol Hall completely took me by surprise—in the best way. I wasn’t expecting to get so emotionally wrapped up in a ghost story, but this book is so much more than your typical haunted tale. It’s eerie, yes, and had some genuinely spine-tingling moments (I may have slept with a light on one night…), but it’s also *hauntingly* beautiful. The writing is lyrical without being overdone, and the atmosphere Hall creates is just *chef’s kiss*—moody, immersive, and full of tension.
Maddy herself is such a compelling character. You feel for her, fear for her, and can’t help but want to unravel the mystery surrounding her. There’s a real emotional depth here that caught me off guard in the best way. The pacing was perfect—every chapter pulled me further in, and I ended up reading the whole thing in two sittings.
If you're into ghost stories that are creepy but also deeply human, *Maddy* needs to be at the top of your list. Carol Hall knocked it out of the park. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.
10/10 recommend! 👻📚
November 4, 2025
Sometimes in life one of those rare books come along that will grab your soul and never let go. Maddy is one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking stories I’ve ever read. The writer captured the essence of what it means to be unwanted and misunderstood simply because you’re different. At times, Maddy’s story will make your blood boil at the treatment she receives and other times your heart will be blessed with the beauty of the friendship between two kindred spirits. Oh and the twists this writer takes you on….Is Maddy real or a ghost? The guessing game goes on throughout. This book was written with such depth that took you on a journey of self discovery, beautiful friendships , found family, and a unique twist on a “classic” ghost story, what it means to truly belong and encounter unconditional love. The conclusion of Maddy left me with a heart full of love and hope for those who are different
November 25, 2025
I picked this up when I saw it on Facebook, and was anxious to read it. Ghost story, haunted house, creepy? I’m so in !
The story itself was good, and I enjoyed the ending. However, the formatting really took me out of the story. The constant breaks
in sentences
and paragraphs made me cry!
It completely distracted me from the story, and I couldn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to.
Another minor issue I had was the overuse of the word “said.” If you’re missing this word, I found it! You could even have enough left over to give out as Christmas gifts!
Overall, I enjoyed the story and will read more from the author if they can fix the formatting issues. It was worth the read.
The story itself was good, and I enjoyed the ending. However, the formatting really took me out of the story. The constant breaks
in sentences
and paragraphs made me cry!
It completely distracted me from the story, and I couldn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to.
Another minor issue I had was the overuse of the word “said.” If you’re missing this word, I found it! You could even have enough left over to give out as Christmas gifts!
Overall, I enjoyed the story and will read more from the author if they can fix the formatting issues. It was worth the read.
December 17, 2025
My oh my —what a roller coaster of emotions.
Buy this now, you won’t regret it !
The first few chapters gave me chills—everything you’d hope for from a ghost story. Then came a stretch that was cute but so frustrating in the best way: no answers, nothing making sense, and constant “HOW??” moments. Aaaghh , I needed to know !!!
After that? Sad. Angry. Fully emotionally wrecked.
And then—happy tears.
The epilogue was a soft gut punch, the kind you know has to happen, even though it hurts. I was creeped out, I laughed, I cried, and I wanted to hug fictional characters like they were real people.
Hands down this book is absolutely incredible from start to finish. A must-read.
Buy this now, you won’t regret it !
The first few chapters gave me chills—everything you’d hope for from a ghost story. Then came a stretch that was cute but so frustrating in the best way: no answers, nothing making sense, and constant “HOW??” moments. Aaaghh , I needed to know !!!
After that? Sad. Angry. Fully emotionally wrecked.
And then—happy tears.
The epilogue was a soft gut punch, the kind you know has to happen, even though it hurts. I was creeped out, I laughed, I cried, and I wanted to hug fictional characters like they were real people.
Hands down this book is absolutely incredible from start to finish. A must-read.
September 3, 2025
“Maddy” by Carol Hall is not just a story—it’s a shadow that clings to you. The prose drips with quiet sorrow, each page heavy with loss and longing. Maddy’s journey is both fragile and fierce, like light breaking through a storm. It unsettles, it aches, and yet it’s impossible to look away. This book doesn’t just end when you close it—it lingers, haunting you in the silence that follows.
#BookReview #DarkReads #ReaderRecommendations #BookTok #IndieAuthorSupport #Maddy #CarolHall #HauntingReads #MustRead #BookCommunity
August 23, 2025
Enjoyed this story and recommend it for everyone who enjoys a creepy ghost story with an unexpected twist. Likeable, relatable, smalltown characters fill out the cast of characters who welcome a relocating mother/daughter duo hoping to restore an old farmhouse in to a B&B. Will the past of the old house come haunting and spoil their plans? Read and find out! Easy to follow, quickly paced and safe spooky fun for all audiences, with ample moral lessons sprinkled in. Good one!!
September 21, 2025
There's the mystery of who or what Maddy is that keeps you reading. You just need to know Maddy's story. There's some characters that are truly despicable while others are loving and caring. There are beautiful moments, some head scratching moments as the 2 MFC try to solve the mystery of Maddy, and some what in the world moments. This book kept me engaged the whole time and I'm glad to say Carol Hall has become a favorite indie author of mine!
December 31, 2025
Like always Carol did a great job with this story! It gave me the creeps in the beginning but then I was just curious. It was not at all what I expected and I felt really sad for Maddy. I glad she was able to have a better like towards the end but I wish she would’ve been able to live in a room like them (I do understand why she wouldn’t though). Anyway, this was a really good book and you should give it a read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2025
This book, I’m sitting here crying and a loss for words but I just finished this book. Fantastic read! It’s a must for anyone who loves ghost stories and a good mystery. Not a scary read, but a great book for fall. I felt connected with Maddy and my heart broke in so many pieces towards the end. Great read!
October 22, 2025
This was a very cute book. I enjoyed reading it very much along with my special Maddy doll from the author. The font size and word and line spacing was on point. It made it perfect to read. It starts out a little mysterious but then ends with a sweet ending. The story does take a turn that I totally wasn't expecting. I look forward to reading more of the author's books.
October 22, 2025
Maddy is one of those books where the whole time you are like "what is going on?". I finished this book in just a few hours because I needed to know what was going to happen. I fully wasnt expecting the ending. I was shocked.
This was my first book by Carol and definitely wont be my last. I truly loved this book.
This was my first book by Carol and definitely wont be my last. I truly loved this book.
December 15, 2025
Nooooooo! OMG ! boring book, it was written by a kid? more then 70% nothing interesting and she wasted too much time describing the house . ohh come oonnn she lived 70 years in those walls and the parents that hated her and wanted her dead also teached her to write and read? give me a break! Can i have my money and time back?
September 12, 2025
Ghost Mystery
A fast paced, fun, ghost mystery 👻 The story follows a Mother and her adult daughter, who travel several states to open a bed & breakfast in an old farmhouse; bought sight unseen. Upon arriving, the locals tell of rumored ghost sightings and the haunting of the house. No locals will dare go near. Soon, strange happenings begin. Are the rumors true? Does the house have ghosts?
A fast paced, fun, ghost mystery 👻 The story follows a Mother and her adult daughter, who travel several states to open a bed & breakfast in an old farmhouse; bought sight unseen. Upon arriving, the locals tell of rumored ghost sightings and the haunting of the house. No locals will dare go near. Soon, strange happenings begin. Are the rumors true? Does the house have ghosts?
September 27, 2025
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was well written and story was enjoyable. The only thing that kept it from being five stars was I was looking for a little more horror element. It was a quick and simple read . I will absolutely read more from this Author.
October 19, 2025
I took my time with this book on purpose! This book was creepy but in a good way. It was also heartbreaking, haunting and endearing! The twist was one I did not see coming at all.
Maddy will be in my thoughts for a long time!
Maddy will be in my thoughts for a long time!
September 19, 2025
Such a great book. Loved it. Couldn't stop reading it.
October 27, 2025
wow I loved this book. I didn't want it to end. this is the 2nd book I have read by Carol Hall, and I have loved both. I will definitely be looking for more books of hers.
December 3, 2025
Highly recommend! The story draws you in and then ending just melts your heart!!!
October 26, 2025
I devoured this book in four days. I went in thinking super spooky and it delivered. I was surprised by the twisting the story, which was a good twist. I have recommended this book to all my friends and even my daughter in law is reading it now.
December 2, 2025
The first time , I finished a book within 24 hours. That's how great this book is!
A mother and a daughter buy a home that they plan on turning into a bed and breakfast, but strange noises begin in the home, followed by items missing. Then Maddy finally makes herself known and starts to trust Ellis and Jo. That's all I'll say so dont give anything a way.
Go read this book now!
A mother and a daughter buy a home that they plan on turning into a bed and breakfast, but strange noises begin in the home, followed by items missing. Then Maddy finally makes herself known and starts to trust Ellis and Jo. That's all I'll say so dont give anything a way.
Go read this book now!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews