What do you think?
Rate this book
We Should Not Have Come Here
Not yet published
Expected 1 Feb 26The host of paranormal reality show Phantom Files, Ash built their massive following on fake hauntings, possessions, and passing off special effects as honest-to-god spirit activity. When the team arrives at Crenshaw Castle to shoot the first episode of their new season, the dilapidated former reform school turns out to be more than they bargained for. The team’s exploration of the grounds leads to the discovery of horrific documentation detailing medical and psychological experiments performed on the institution’s wards.
The action begins to unfold violently as the crew clamors for a way out—only to find they’ve been sealed inside. Over the course of one harrowing investigation turned survival mission, Ash reckons with his own queer rage as he sees himself mirrored in the institution’s wards. Coming face to face with things he never thought possible—deadly spirits, an end to his own skepticism, and an ex-boyfriend he’d thought to be long-dead—Ash must overcome the past in order to ensure he has a future.
The action begins to unfold violently as the crew clamors for a way out—only to find they’ve been sealed inside. Over the course of one harrowing investigation turned survival mission, Ash reckons with his own queer rage as he sees himself mirrored in the institution’s wards. Coming face to face with things he never thought possible—deadly spirits, an end to his own skepticism, and an ex-boyfriend he’d thought to be long-dead—Ash must overcome the past in order to ensure he has a future.
Paperback
Expected publication February 1, 2026
9 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 31, 2025
Arc reader review.
Firstly I would like to apologize for hearing Zak Bagans' voice every time Ash was in front of the camera. It's my bad for spending a little too much time watching Ghost Adventures.
Secondly, I loved the concept. There is so many lies one can take before the truth comes to bite one in the ass. And this was introduced so heartbreakingly well.
Thirdly, the writing was good, really good. You can see the place, hear the creaks, feel the temperature lowering.
As a queer person myself, it hits deep. Thank you for this, and for the resources.
Firstly I would like to apologize for hearing Zak Bagans' voice every time Ash was in front of the camera. It's my bad for spending a little too much time watching Ghost Adventures.
Secondly, I loved the concept. There is so many lies one can take before the truth comes to bite one in the ass. And this was introduced so heartbreakingly well.
Thirdly, the writing was good, really good. You can see the place, hear the creaks, feel the temperature lowering.
As a queer person myself, it hits deep. Thank you for this, and for the resources.
dnf
January 13, 2026Dnf @ 44%
I’m gutted that I couldn’t get into this one because the premise sounded really intriguing. I was excited to join the crew of Phantom Files as they explored this seemingly haunted castle.
I found enjoyment in the setup as the Phantom Files group actually fabricates all of their hauntings for clicks but this is the one time they end up actually being haunted. A lot of the filming and production side of things were touched upon which I appreciated. It was nice to see it utilized throughout what I’d read in the first half beyond just filming with a camera.
This story still unfortunately lacked for me mostly in the atmosphere and the characters.
Especially for horror books I like to feel unsettled. I wasn’t really creeped out by any aspects of the castle and the body horror bits (that I read) could’ve been explored a bit more.
Character wise I really could not stand Ash at all. I understand some charm in unlikeable characters but he was just next level insufferable. After a certain plot point I couldn’t believe he wanted to continue filming the episode, let’s just say I was heavy side eyeing.
Although I didn’t like this as much as I hoped, if you like found footage stories it might be worth a try for you!
Thank you so much to the author for providing me with this eARC.
I’m gutted that I couldn’t get into this one because the premise sounded really intriguing. I was excited to join the crew of Phantom Files as they explored this seemingly haunted castle.
I found enjoyment in the setup as the Phantom Files group actually fabricates all of their hauntings for clicks but this is the one time they end up actually being haunted. A lot of the filming and production side of things were touched upon which I appreciated. It was nice to see it utilized throughout what I’d read in the first half beyond just filming with a camera.
This story still unfortunately lacked for me mostly in the atmosphere and the characters.
Especially for horror books I like to feel unsettled. I wasn’t really creeped out by any aspects of the castle and the body horror bits (that I read) could’ve been explored a bit more.
Character wise I really could not stand Ash at all. I understand some charm in unlikeable characters but he was just next level insufferable. After a certain plot point I couldn’t believe he wanted to continue filming the episode, let’s just say I was heavy side eyeing.
Although I didn’t like this as much as I hoped, if you like found footage stories it might be worth a try for you!
Thank you so much to the author for providing me with this eARC.
November 16, 2025
I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and BookSirens for receiving an advanced copy of this book for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are mine alone. This review will be cross-posted to Instagram and StoryGraph.
I was intrigued by the premise of We Should Not Have Come Here: a group of paranormal investigators arrive at a haunted location, hoping to revitalize their show and boost ratings. They didn’t bargain for the terror that they go through during their investigation.
I watch paranormal-themed shows regularly (I’m a big fan of Paranormal Witness, Destination Fear, and The Holzer Files), so my attention was quickly kept by the book. I found the writing evocative and I felt like I was right there with the characters.
The book is fast-paced, kept me riveted, and I had to put it down for a few minutes several times as the descriptions of what the team goes through during their investigation rattled me a bit.
Several hours after finishing We Should Not Have Come Here, I’m still unsettled by it.
If you’re a fan of paranormal or horror fiction, this book is worth reading.
I was intrigued by the premise of We Should Not Have Come Here: a group of paranormal investigators arrive at a haunted location, hoping to revitalize their show and boost ratings. They didn’t bargain for the terror that they go through during their investigation.
I watch paranormal-themed shows regularly (I’m a big fan of Paranormal Witness, Destination Fear, and The Holzer Files), so my attention was quickly kept by the book. I found the writing evocative and I felt like I was right there with the characters.
The book is fast-paced, kept me riveted, and I had to put it down for a few minutes several times as the descriptions of what the team goes through during their investigation rattled me a bit.
Several hours after finishing We Should Not Have Come Here, I’m still unsettled by it.
If you’re a fan of paranormal or horror fiction, this book is worth reading.
December 7, 2025
3 ⭐️
I was so excited for this one. I found the writing was a bit clumpy and I had to reread sentences and it took me out of the story. (probably just me thing) but I love the idea of this one, definitely reccomend if you're into unique horror
I was so excited for this one. I found the writing was a bit clumpy and I had to reread sentences and it took me out of the story. (probably just me thing) but I love the idea of this one, definitely reccomend if you're into unique horror
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this book and am leaving a voluntary review.
We Should Not Have Come Here, by JD Mills, is a found-footage inspired horror novel about a paranormal investigation team getting more than they bargained for. The team comprises five investigators: Ash, the lead investigator, his brother, Parker, their mutual friend Colt, Embry, and Rhett. What started off as a throwaway bid for fame had launched them into financial success. With one season left before Phantom Files is eligible for syndication, Ash knows there’s a lot of pressure riding on the fifth season of the show. With the very common tips and tricks of the trade (i.e., falsifying entities and supernatural encounters), Ash and his team explore the infamous Crenshaw Industrial Reformatory, only to realize, much too late, the dangers that lurk inside the castle.
This book is a mixture of the Grave Encounters series, Nefarious, and the video game Outlast. From the building existing outside our reality and it having borderline supernatural powers, to the entities making it so that the crew can’t leave, to even the somewhat spiritual lobotomy that Ash goes through; it’s like I’m watching Lance make the same bullshit mistakes all over again. Only this time, the spirits are much more malevolent. There’s no big corporation to target, and the ones responsible for the death and destruction have long since passed away. Mills offers no closure, only a path for more pain and misery along the way.
Although it is a bit unfair to put all the blame on Ash, a lot of the blame is on Ash. He doesn’t take Rhett’s warning seriously, and though he does everything he can to protect his brother, he is so inundated with the trauma his father inflicted on him that he can’t process the danger in front of him. And by the time he’s processed it, all his friends are dead, their meat suits being used clearly by something that isn’t them. Despite all his efforts, Parker’s right; he wants to be a leader but doesn’t know how to be one. And though I read about characters whose sexualities have helped them navigate complicated situations and have allowed them to build resilience in the face of adversity, unfortunately, that isn’t the case for Ash. Well, Ash does grow into something, but it’s not anything good.
That being said, peel back the world’s treatment of those who have struggled with mental illness (and identifying with the wrong sexuality was considered one of them), and you’ll find places like Crenshaw all over. People like Archibald Elwood have gotten away with so much, to the point where Mills has placed resources for advocacy groups catered to protecting the LGBTQ+ community. Even today, the community remains heavily stigmatized; the loss of their rights is the loss of everyone’s rights, but many don’t see it like that. It’s far too easy to ostracize someone nowadays for something they can’t control, and if you push a rat into a corner, the rat could make a demonic deal and become a semblance of the antichrist.
So yeah, love your kids.
The reason I’m not giving this book a higher rating is that it's too similar to the aforementioned video game and movies. Don’t get me wrong; I’m a big fan, but it makes the plot more predictable than it needs to be. I wasn’t outright expecting a particularly gruesome ending, but it was a bit of a letdown. Because of this, I would give this book a 3.0 out of 5 stars, and would recommend the book to fans of, again, Nefarious, Grave Encounters, and Outlast.
We Should Not Have Come Here, by JD Mills, is a found-footage inspired horror novel about a paranormal investigation team getting more than they bargained for. The team comprises five investigators: Ash, the lead investigator, his brother, Parker, their mutual friend Colt, Embry, and Rhett. What started off as a throwaway bid for fame had launched them into financial success. With one season left before Phantom Files is eligible for syndication, Ash knows there’s a lot of pressure riding on the fifth season of the show. With the very common tips and tricks of the trade (i.e., falsifying entities and supernatural encounters), Ash and his team explore the infamous Crenshaw Industrial Reformatory, only to realize, much too late, the dangers that lurk inside the castle.
This book is a mixture of the Grave Encounters series, Nefarious, and the video game Outlast. From the building existing outside our reality and it having borderline supernatural powers, to the entities making it so that the crew can’t leave, to even the somewhat spiritual lobotomy that Ash goes through; it’s like I’m watching Lance make the same bullshit mistakes all over again. Only this time, the spirits are much more malevolent. There’s no big corporation to target, and the ones responsible for the death and destruction have long since passed away. Mills offers no closure, only a path for more pain and misery along the way.
Although it is a bit unfair to put all the blame on Ash, a lot of the blame is on Ash. He doesn’t take Rhett’s warning seriously, and though he does everything he can to protect his brother, he is so inundated with the trauma his father inflicted on him that he can’t process the danger in front of him. And by the time he’s processed it, all his friends are dead, their meat suits being used clearly by something that isn’t them. Despite all his efforts, Parker’s right; he wants to be a leader but doesn’t know how to be one. And though I read about characters whose sexualities have helped them navigate complicated situations and have allowed them to build resilience in the face of adversity, unfortunately, that isn’t the case for Ash. Well, Ash does grow into something, but it’s not anything good.
That being said, peel back the world’s treatment of those who have struggled with mental illness (and identifying with the wrong sexuality was considered one of them), and you’ll find places like Crenshaw all over. People like Archibald Elwood have gotten away with so much, to the point where Mills has placed resources for advocacy groups catered to protecting the LGBTQ+ community. Even today, the community remains heavily stigmatized; the loss of their rights is the loss of everyone’s rights, but many don’t see it like that. It’s far too easy to ostracize someone nowadays for something they can’t control, and if you push a rat into a corner, the rat could make a demonic deal and become a semblance of the antichrist.
So yeah, love your kids.
The reason I’m not giving this book a higher rating is that it's too similar to the aforementioned video game and movies. Don’t get me wrong; I’m a big fan, but it makes the plot more predictable than it needs to be. I wasn’t outright expecting a particularly gruesome ending, but it was a bit of a letdown. Because of this, I would give this book a 3.0 out of 5 stars, and would recommend the book to fans of, again, Nefarious, Grave Encounters, and Outlast.
Review of advance copy
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a 3.5 rounded up to 4
Overall I liked a lot about this book until I didn't, and I cannot put my finger on exactly where or why this fell away. I love the setting of the Crenshaw Castle itself, and their is a good initial tension of the area and it's history, and the way it ties indirectly to Ash themselves with some of the LGBTQ themes around rejection and discrimination (to put it mildly) add a stongly needed personal connection between the past and present.
The team as well are a good mix of characters, who are less a team and more a group of convenience in many ways, adding an extra layer of tensions to the story.
The horror elements are overall well done and creepy, with a lot of the imagery and established horror mainstays represented, which are overall used to great effect.
But that puts me to the things I can put my finger on. The first one directly ties to the points above, in that despite being done well and effectively, I feel like I have seen all these elements before, but with more singular focus elsewhere in works, where as a result they were more impactful because of that individual focus.
The second point is the cast, overall I liked the dynamic, however a couple of reactions to events by characters made literally zero sense and had the fell of 'things happen because plot needs it', their is an especially egregious example of this after the first majorly impactful event, and Ash's reaction did not fit the character as presented to the point of it being an immersion breaker.
My final criticism is the ending, in one way I really like the way way this end's thematically, but I feel like I missed something major earlier on in Ash's story that made the last act feel slightly off, but that might just be me missing a major plot point or foreshadowing/
Those 2 Criticisms aside though, I did have a good time with this one, its a sub-genre of horror I rarely dive into. This is an easy recommend for me to people who like the more ghosthunter/found-footage esq side of horror books, or haunted location horror in general.
This is a 3.5 rounded up to 4
Overall I liked a lot about this book until I didn't, and I cannot put my finger on exactly where or why this fell away. I love the setting of the Crenshaw Castle itself, and their is a good initial tension of the area and it's history, and the way it ties indirectly to Ash themselves with some of the LGBTQ themes around rejection and discrimination (to put it mildly) add a stongly needed personal connection between the past and present.
The team as well are a good mix of characters, who are less a team and more a group of convenience in many ways, adding an extra layer of tensions to the story.
The horror elements are overall well done and creepy, with a lot of the imagery and established horror mainstays represented, which are overall used to great effect.
But that puts me to the things I can put my finger on. The first one directly ties to the points above, in that despite being done well and effectively, I feel like I have seen all these elements before, but with more singular focus elsewhere in works, where as a result they were more impactful because of that individual focus.
The second point is the cast, overall I liked the dynamic, however a couple of reactions to events by characters made literally zero sense and had the fell of 'things happen because plot needs it', their is an especially egregious example of this after the first majorly impactful event, and Ash's reaction did not fit the character as presented to the point of it being an immersion breaker.
My final criticism is the ending, in one way I really like the way way this end's thematically, but I feel like I missed something major earlier on in Ash's story that made the last act feel slightly off, but that might just be me missing a major plot point or foreshadowing/
Those 2 Criticisms aside though, I did have a good time with this one, its a sub-genre of horror I rarely dive into. This is an easy recommend for me to people who like the more ghosthunter/found-footage esq side of horror books, or haunted location horror in general.
Review of advance copy received from Author
𝗝.𝗗. 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀, 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸!
You’ll have to give me a moment to type, because I’m still picking my jaw up off of the floor. Boy, did I pick the right book to start this year with! As an avid fan of Ghost Adventures, I absolutely loved the “ghost-hunting TV show team” premise of this book. Unlike Ghost Adventures, this story instilled such a strong sense of fear and creep factor that I found myself scared to walk to the bathroom in the dark after staying up far too late binge-reading this psychologically warped book. I loved the casual, down-to-earth, and conversational writing style throughout this book. The character development was a highlight for me, as I appreciated each unique connection the side characters shared with Ash, along with their own backstories filled with trauma that helped shape who they became.
From the detailed accounts of each decrepit room within the walls of Crenshaw Castle to the gruesome portrayal of unexplainable paranormal activity, each facet was perfectly described, bringing the story to life in the most harrowing way. As I furiously devoured the pages, nearly driving a thumbhole through my Kindle, I felt this suffocatingly spooky book pulling me in farther and farther, until I felt as if I were trapped alongside them, my heart racing and my desperation growing to know what would happen next. The storyline was nothing short of incredible (in the most traumatizing way). The treatment of the wards within Crenshaw Castle was horrific, adding depth to the emotion-fueled plot, particularly alongside the all-too-real abuse of those within the queer community. I felt the parallel between Ash and the queer community shackled within the deadly reform school delivered a strong, somber message that the mistreatment of those in the LGBTQ+ community remains a common occurrence, even after all these years.
You’ll have to give me a moment to type, because I’m still picking my jaw up off of the floor. Boy, did I pick the right book to start this year with! As an avid fan of Ghost Adventures, I absolutely loved the “ghost-hunting TV show team” premise of this book. Unlike Ghost Adventures, this story instilled such a strong sense of fear and creep factor that I found myself scared to walk to the bathroom in the dark after staying up far too late binge-reading this psychologically warped book. I loved the casual, down-to-earth, and conversational writing style throughout this book. The character development was a highlight for me, as I appreciated each unique connection the side characters shared with Ash, along with their own backstories filled with trauma that helped shape who they became.
From the detailed accounts of each decrepit room within the walls of Crenshaw Castle to the gruesome portrayal of unexplainable paranormal activity, each facet was perfectly described, bringing the story to life in the most harrowing way. As I furiously devoured the pages, nearly driving a thumbhole through my Kindle, I felt this suffocatingly spooky book pulling me in farther and farther, until I felt as if I were trapped alongside them, my heart racing and my desperation growing to know what would happen next. The storyline was nothing short of incredible (in the most traumatizing way). The treatment of the wards within Crenshaw Castle was horrific, adding depth to the emotion-fueled plot, particularly alongside the all-too-real abuse of those within the queer community. I felt the parallel between Ash and the queer community shackled within the deadly reform school delivered a strong, somber message that the mistreatment of those in the LGBTQ+ community remains a common occurrence, even after all these years.
November 1, 2025
Adrenaline inducing. Heart pumping. Hauntingly devourable!
What an amazing and concise story! This story follows a paranormal investigation team but the kicker? They are skeptics and psych up their episodes to keep the fans in their hold. The lead Ash, has a history of his own and one that not even his own brother is aware of and anyone in the paranormal community knows that secrets, pain and anger make you susceptible to entities! What should've been a routine episode cloaks the team in darkness and fumbling around the Crenshaw Industrial Reformatory; not following the rules of survival, the team is split up and become puppets to the unseen malevolent forces that haunt the Reformatory. What turns from mere dismissal of believing in the unseen has them questioning the true nature of the other side and all the darkness it entails as they fight for survival and the forces that have them in their claws.
What happens to the Phantom Files and the team as they try to survive the night? What happens to the mind when it's met with the inconceivable, eerie truths that have inhabited Crenshaw? What reckoning is bound to be unveiled and exposed and at what cost?
Amazing story built around the supernatural, the unbelievable, and gives way to the history of the treatment of the queer community in young adults during a time where institutions like Crenshaw operated without regard - performing inhumane, torturous, vile acts on children for merely being different. Not only eye opening to the queer community but several other institutions that also did the same to those who suffered from mental illness/disabilities and making you truly wonder about the cruelty of man and the inability to accept diverse, unique individuals across the board.
What an amazing and concise story! This story follows a paranormal investigation team but the kicker? They are skeptics and psych up their episodes to keep the fans in their hold. The lead Ash, has a history of his own and one that not even his own brother is aware of and anyone in the paranormal community knows that secrets, pain and anger make you susceptible to entities! What should've been a routine episode cloaks the team in darkness and fumbling around the Crenshaw Industrial Reformatory; not following the rules of survival, the team is split up and become puppets to the unseen malevolent forces that haunt the Reformatory. What turns from mere dismissal of believing in the unseen has them questioning the true nature of the other side and all the darkness it entails as they fight for survival and the forces that have them in their claws.
What happens to the Phantom Files and the team as they try to survive the night? What happens to the mind when it's met with the inconceivable, eerie truths that have inhabited Crenshaw? What reckoning is bound to be unveiled and exposed and at what cost?
Amazing story built around the supernatural, the unbelievable, and gives way to the history of the treatment of the queer community in young adults during a time where institutions like Crenshaw operated without regard - performing inhumane, torturous, vile acts on children for merely being different. Not only eye opening to the queer community but several other institutions that also did the same to those who suffered from mental illness/disabilities and making you truly wonder about the cruelty of man and the inability to accept diverse, unique individuals across the board.
Review of advance copy
We Shouldn't Have Come Here is a horror-thriller that follows Ash & his paranormal reality show crew as they head to the infamous Crenshaw Castle, a dilapidated reformatory with a dark history, to shoot their season 5 premiere episode. As the team of sceptics begin investigating, a series of violent and supernatural occurrences force them into a game of survival, and to persuade them that some things just can't be explained.
This book started off really strong - engaging plot, fun banter between characters, and beautiful prose throughout. There was almost always an impending sense of dread.
However, there was a lack of depth to the characters, Ash was quite intolerable, and the plot fell apart by the end.
Some plot points never got ironed out, like why Ash's father was trying to reach out to him, and what exactly happened to Teddy all those years ago.
Towards the end it became a bit repetitive and odd, and all the moving around various crawl spaces and other areas of the castle made it really difficult to get a feel of the layout. The ending itself was lackluster and aggressively political, I'd find it hard now to even explain what the point to the story was.
Beautiful writing style, and I really liked the characters of Rhett & Colt and would have liked to see them explored a little further. Overall, not for me but started off super strong. If you're a fan of mind-bending/fever dream/portal horror and politically left-leaning, you'll enjoy this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book started off really strong - engaging plot, fun banter between characters, and beautiful prose throughout. There was almost always an impending sense of dread.
However, there was a lack of depth to the characters, Ash was quite intolerable, and the plot fell apart by the end.
Some plot points never got ironed out, like why Ash's father was trying to reach out to him, and what exactly happened to Teddy all those years ago.
Towards the end it became a bit repetitive and odd, and all the moving around various crawl spaces and other areas of the castle made it really difficult to get a feel of the layout. The ending itself was lackluster and aggressively political, I'd find it hard now to even explain what the point to the story was.
Beautiful writing style, and I really liked the characters of Rhett & Colt and would have liked to see them explored a little further. Overall, not for me but started off super strong. If you're a fan of mind-bending/fever dream/portal horror and politically left-leaning, you'll enjoy this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
We Should Not Have Come Here contains triggering situations such as violence, abuse and death.
I rated this book 5* this book gave me that spine-tingling feeling, and this one delivered with its creepy scenes and unsettling vibes. I loved the concept, it was so raw and honest. There are so many twists before the truth hits you like a ton of bricks. The way it was portrayed was heart-wrenching.
The writing was incredible, you could almost smell the atmosphere and feel the chill in the air, and this building's got some serious creepy vibes, and Ash is walking right into it. Same old Ash, making the same mistakes with way higher stakes. His dad's trauma is like a weight on him, and it's hard to watch him and his friends get pulled in. Ash's all about protecting his brother, but he's not thinking clearly. By the time he figures it out, it'll be too late. And honestly, Ash's growth? Not exactly what you'd call positive. Although the main character can be tough to root for sometimes, the premise is really intriguing. The atmosphere is wonderfully creepy and detailed, making it easy to visualize what the characters are going through. There are some moments that are both heartbreaking and terrifying.
I'd recommend this book to those who like TV shows or games that are ghost hunting/paranormal...
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I rated this book 5* this book gave me that spine-tingling feeling, and this one delivered with its creepy scenes and unsettling vibes. I loved the concept, it was so raw and honest. There are so many twists before the truth hits you like a ton of bricks. The way it was portrayed was heart-wrenching.
The writing was incredible, you could almost smell the atmosphere and feel the chill in the air, and this building's got some serious creepy vibes, and Ash is walking right into it. Same old Ash, making the same mistakes with way higher stakes. His dad's trauma is like a weight on him, and it's hard to watch him and his friends get pulled in. Ash's all about protecting his brother, but he's not thinking clearly. By the time he figures it out, it'll be too late. And honestly, Ash's growth? Not exactly what you'd call positive. Although the main character can be tough to root for sometimes, the premise is really intriguing. The atmosphere is wonderfully creepy and detailed, making it easy to visualize what the characters are going through. There are some moments that are both heartbreaking and terrifying.
I'd recommend this book to those who like TV shows or games that are ghost hunting/paranormal...
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 10, 2026
When I first read the description of this book, I was so excited to read it! I love supernatural books, and looked forward to reading about what was haunting the house and what would happen to the characters.
The slow build with the creaky floors and strange noises was great, and reading about the monsters quickly emerging with each character’s death was well done. I enjoyed the fear that was lingering with each page.
With that said, I feel like there were certain things that happened that didn’t make sense. Like the whole thing with Luther. Why was he trying to contact Ash? Why was Teddy at the house at the end? Did he die there? Was he related to Oliver Klein? Was he Oliver Klein reincarnated? What was the reasoning behind him being the final monster and not Oliver Klein? Was Maura even a real person or was it Teddy playing her?
I also didn’t get the ending. At all. So Teddy possessed Ash, I guess, but why did he bring him out of Crenshaw? To restore the show and bring a new team somewhere? It felt like such a strange way to tie everything together and I wish there were more connections made.
I don’t know. I enjoyed about 90% of the book but the ending left me wanting a lot more. I’m leaving this honest review in exchange for an ARC copy, and I thank you so much for that!
The slow build with the creaky floors and strange noises was great, and reading about the monsters quickly emerging with each character’s death was well done. I enjoyed the fear that was lingering with each page.
With that said, I feel like there were certain things that happened that didn’t make sense. Like the whole thing with Luther. Why was he trying to contact Ash? Why was Teddy at the house at the end? Did he die there? Was he related to Oliver Klein? Was he Oliver Klein reincarnated? What was the reasoning behind him being the final monster and not Oliver Klein? Was Maura even a real person or was it Teddy playing her?
I also didn’t get the ending. At all. So Teddy possessed Ash, I guess, but why did he bring him out of Crenshaw? To restore the show and bring a new team somewhere? It felt like such a strange way to tie everything together and I wish there were more connections made.
I don’t know. I enjoyed about 90% of the book but the ending left me wanting a lot more. I’m leaving this honest review in exchange for an ARC copy, and I thank you so much for that!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
I really, really, REALLY wanted to love the heck out of this book. Ghost Hunters? Fun characters? Awesome plot summary? Check, Check, check.
But ... Sometime around the, I think, 30% mark, it stopped being about ghosts. I don't really know what the heck it was. I kept reading, hoping it would all just turn out to be an entirely different ending and it never really got better.
The MC is an asshole, like a literal, unlikeable asshole. The plot completely fell apart, in my opinion, around maybe the 65/70% mark?
I mean, objectively speaking, it IS a good book, but it wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I finished it hoping to get some resolutions to certain plot points and to figure out what the heck was actually going on but ... It left me with more questions than answers.
It was a good book, otherwise. It just didn't vibe well with what I thought it was going to be. Again, though. It was a good book, which is why I'm still giving it 3 stars, but I didn't much care for it in the end.
[I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.]
But ... Sometime around the, I think, 30% mark, it stopped being about ghosts. I don't really know what the heck it was. I kept reading, hoping it would all just turn out to be an entirely different ending and it never really got better.
The MC is an asshole, like a literal, unlikeable asshole. The plot completely fell apart, in my opinion, around maybe the 65/70% mark?
I mean, objectively speaking, it IS a good book, but it wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I finished it hoping to get some resolutions to certain plot points and to figure out what the heck was actually going on but ... It left me with more questions than answers.
It was a good book, otherwise. It just didn't vibe well with what I thought it was going to be. Again, though. It was a good book, which is why I'm still giving it 3 stars, but I didn't much care for it in the end.
[I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.]
November 9, 2025
What a fun and spooky read!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the copy!
Ash, along with his team Parker, Colt, Rhett, and Embry, are at Crenshaw Castle to investigate for their paranormal t.v. show, Phantom Files. What their audience doesn't know is that none of the team believes in ghosts and they do their best to make their staging look real. It's all fake. But Crenshaw Castle feels different right away. Soon the team are fighting for their lives against unseen forces and things get very, very real.
There were a few scenes in this book that had the hair on my neck standing up and that creepy crawly feeling going up my spine. This is what I look for in horror/paranormal books! I don't get it often enough. Mills' writing was fantastic and the story was built up quite well. There were a few scenes I didn't understand why it was being brought into the story but by the end I understood and loved it!
This was a quick and creepy read that will live in my mind for a while.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the copy!
Ash, along with his team Parker, Colt, Rhett, and Embry, are at Crenshaw Castle to investigate for their paranormal t.v. show, Phantom Files. What their audience doesn't know is that none of the team believes in ghosts and they do their best to make their staging look real. It's all fake. But Crenshaw Castle feels different right away. Soon the team are fighting for their lives against unseen forces and things get very, very real.
There were a few scenes in this book that had the hair on my neck standing up and that creepy crawly feeling going up my spine. This is what I look for in horror/paranormal books! I don't get it often enough. Mills' writing was fantastic and the story was built up quite well. There were a few scenes I didn't understand why it was being brought into the story but by the end I understood and loved it!
This was a quick and creepy read that will live in my mind for a while.
January 7, 2026
There’s a limited amount of legwork put in to either create or maintain the spooky atmosphere the story so desperately needs. A fake haunted house tv crew in an actual haunted house? It’s known but that’s what makes it fun, but this falls flat as the characters as cracking jokes and generally being emotionally flat as the story and horror progresses.
There’s the aim of what this book is going for with the victims being children at an institution as well as the treatment of queer children, but it’s cheapened by the carefree attitudes of the majority of the characters. Any intrigue or mystery is developed in a monologue style in dedicated sections and this should have been worked on to add both atmosphere and to hook the reader in more.
There’s a smidgeon of foreshadowing but it’s left too little, too late for it to have an impact for horror.
Thank you to the author and to BookSirens for the ARC.
There’s the aim of what this book is going for with the victims being children at an institution as well as the treatment of queer children, but it’s cheapened by the carefree attitudes of the majority of the characters. Any intrigue or mystery is developed in a monologue style in dedicated sections and this should have been worked on to add both atmosphere and to hook the reader in more.
There’s a smidgeon of foreshadowing but it’s left too little, too late for it to have an impact for horror.
Thank you to the author and to BookSirens for the ARC.
November 29, 2025
“The downside to living and working with your sibling is that they know where all the bodies are buried—figurative and otherwise. They might be your deepest confidant, but at the end of the day the potential for betrayal still lurks beneath the surface. Even if you know they’d never pull that trigger, the barrel of the gun stays rested at the nape of your neck, cold and metallic and unwieldy.”
This is one of the reasons I liked this book, the metaphors and descriptions are detailed and not lengthy. You can easily visualize Crenshaw Castle and everything happening with the crew. The authors tone building helps with the suspense in this book. The characters are likable in their own way. The dialogue is like any set of work friends. It kept the book rolling. Reminds me of the old paranormal shows/movies. I would definitely recommend.
This is one of the reasons I liked this book, the metaphors and descriptions are detailed and not lengthy. You can easily visualize Crenshaw Castle and everything happening with the crew. The authors tone building helps with the suspense in this book. The characters are likable in their own way. The dialogue is like any set of work friends. It kept the book rolling. Reminds me of the old paranormal shows/movies. I would definitely recommend.
Review of advance copy
I did not like the book mainly for two reasons. First, the characters do not react in a believable way, which breaks the sense of immersion in the story. It is not plausible that, after the experiences they are going through, they continue to interact as if nothing were happening, even making jokes as if they were living a normal day.
The second reason is that the ending does not make sense, even within the context of the suspension of disbelief expected in a fantasy or supernatural novel. Everything that happens throughout the story is not justified by the goals of the supernatural entity that acts as the antagonist.
In this case, it felt to me that trying to force a message or moral works against the story’s ability to keep the reader engaged.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The second reason is that the ending does not make sense, even within the context of the suspension of disbelief expected in a fantasy or supernatural novel. Everything that happens throughout the story is not justified by the goals of the supernatural entity that acts as the antagonist.
In this case, it felt to me that trying to force a message or moral works against the story’s ability to keep the reader engaged.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed this read, I loved the mystery of what the hell is happening in this building to what happened back then.. I felt myself screaming nooo run so many times lol
I LOVE the characters within this book and I love all their individual qwerks and banters. I like Ash the best I felt his character development throughout the book was just pure strength..
Its so sad that so many of these kind of places existed..
I felt like it's a true eye opener to how people treated those who loved the same sex. how they were experimented on. I'm glad the world is not like that now and I do hope that one day everyone can be treated the same no matter who they find attractive or love - as long as they are not hurting or abusing anyone..
I LOVE the characters within this book and I love all their individual qwerks and banters. I like Ash the best I felt his character development throughout the book was just pure strength..
Its so sad that so many of these kind of places existed..
I felt like it's a true eye opener to how people treated those who loved the same sex. how they were experimented on. I'm glad the world is not like that now and I do hope that one day everyone can be treated the same no matter who they find attractive or love - as long as they are not hurting or abusing anyone..
December 30, 2025
First: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I am a paranormal fanatic & this book sucked me in hook, line, and sinker! I had a hard time putting it down.
From what I read, I believe the author is either also a fan or did some outstanding research prior to writing this. The characters were believable as Paranormal Researchers and the haunts were described perfectly - the way you would expect to see on a Paranormal Research tv show.
After finishing this, I created a list of haunted places that I want to visit in 2026. I hope you get a chance to read this, you won’t regret it
I am a paranormal fanatic & this book sucked me in hook, line, and sinker! I had a hard time putting it down.
From what I read, I believe the author is either also a fan or did some outstanding research prior to writing this. The characters were believable as Paranormal Researchers and the haunts were described perfectly - the way you would expect to see on a Paranormal Research tv show.
After finishing this, I created a list of haunted places that I want to visit in 2026. I hope you get a chance to read this, you won’t regret it
Review of advance copy received from Author
Paranormal reality show? I'm in!
As a firm believer in all things supernatural, you probably shouldn't walk into a Castle with an extremely dark past thinking it's going to be rainbows and sunshine. And when shit hits the fan, you might want to start taking things more seriously. I'm looking at you Ash!
Ash was INSUFFERABLE! I spent the entire book wanting to smack him upside the head. He made the WORST decisions and had zero empathy. I sure do love to hate these types of characters.
Rhett gets my vote for favourite character! A true believer.
We Should Not Have Come Here is out on Feb 1st. My thanks to the author for this gifted review copy!
As a firm believer in all things supernatural, you probably shouldn't walk into a Castle with an extremely dark past thinking it's going to be rainbows and sunshine. And when shit hits the fan, you might want to start taking things more seriously. I'm looking at you Ash!
Ash was INSUFFERABLE! I spent the entire book wanting to smack him upside the head. He made the WORST decisions and had zero empathy. I sure do love to hate these types of characters.
Rhett gets my vote for favourite character! A true believer.
We Should Not Have Come Here is out on Feb 1st. My thanks to the author for this gifted review copy!
November 25, 2025
“A cool breeze scratched across the back of Ash’s neck,” is the first phrase of this book and as soon as I read ‘scratched,’ I knew I was going to enjoy this author. What an uncommon, creepy description of a cool breeze. No cliché, instead a spark of something new.
At times, the POV switches left me a little muddled — but the cast of characters is engaging and I quickly found myself engrossed in the storyline.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
At times, the POV switches left me a little muddled — but the cast of characters is engaging and I quickly found myself engrossed in the storyline.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 7, 2025
I really enjoyed the concept of a fake paranormal crew going somewhere that is really haunted and how it uses the horror concept perfectly in the storyline. I was invested in what was happening and how well the characters were written in this, I cared about what was happening and enjoyed the overall haunted house concept. J. D. Mills was able to weave something engaging and enjoyed the overall package and glad I read this.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 5, 2026
This was a ghost hunting team that pretty much had faked it up to this point and going into their next project it was all scripted until things started go bump for real. I liked this it was fast paced and full of spook and gore. The character Ash was a bit of an of a dick and he kinda started to really annoy me. Overall a good read the ending was kind of strange so with that and Ash it brought me down to a 3 star.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
The description of this book gripped me. I used to watch shows like Ghost Hunters all the time when I was younger, so I was excited about this premise. The writing of this book was so well done. I felt like I was there with the investigators. The scares were so well done and the comments about the treatment of queer people really hit home.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 19, 2025
arc reader here!
spoilers!!
full transparency, I'm very picky with paranormal mysteries but this was done so well. it takes a lot to creep me out when it comes to reading but this one had me reading with the lights on.
I loved the ending of this book, reminded me of the Smile movie. I will definitely be looking into the authors other works. 👻
spoilers!!
full transparency, I'm very picky with paranormal mysteries but this was done so well. it takes a lot to creep me out when it comes to reading but this one had me reading with the lights on.
I loved the ending of this book, reminded me of the Smile movie. I will definitely be looking into the authors other works. 👻
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2025
A group of paranormal investigators go to an old reformatory to tape an episode of their show and things go horribly wrong.
I enjoyed this book a lot, the build up to the major ghost happenings was paced out very well and there were no slow bits in the story. The ending was very powerful and satisfying. Excellent haunting story.
I enjoyed this book a lot, the build up to the major ghost happenings was paced out very well and there were no slow bits in the story. The ending was very powerful and satisfying. Excellent haunting story.
Review of advance copy
It was like an episode of Ghost Hunters, but with A LOT MORE ACTION! Ash and friends explore Crenshaw Castle, a former reform school and they are soon in the middle of a night of terror! Great read, kept me on the edge of my seat!
Review of advance copy
I would rate this 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I had a hard time getting into until about 40% in. But, it picks up if you hang in there. If you’re a fan of ghost hunting and paranormal shows this will be right up your alley. I like the premise of the story, but the main character is kind of unlikable at times. Other than that, I enjoy the well-detailed, creepy atmosphere. The author does a great job of describing, in great detail, what the characters are experiencing. There are moments that are genuinely heartbreaking and terrifying. The last 20% of the book, I was on the edge of my seat until the end.
Thanks to the author and BookSirens for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to the author and BookSirens for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
January 9, 2026
This story follows a team of skeptic paranormal investigators as they check out an infamous reformatory that is ACTUALLY haunted. Chaos ensues! However, this story is so much more than just the typical haunted location trope....it manages to be absolutely terrifying while still tackling heavy topics. Great read!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews