Haunted

by Patrick Wallace

Ellie Hawthorne doesn’t believe in ghosts. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t haunted…

A young physics professor fighting to keep her lab afloat, Ellie is one funding cut away from losing everything she’s worked for. So when a paranormal society offers her a generous grant in exchange for a three-night investigation of the mysterious Bruker House in northern Maine, she reluctantly accepts.

At the secluded estate, Ellie’s skepticism clashes with the investigators’ unorthodox beliefs. As they uncover the house’s dark history together—the unexplained disappearances, the occult symbols carved into its walls, and a malevolent presence that blurs the line between reality and nightmare—Ellie remains in denial.

Until she’s the only one left.

Alone in Bruker House, Ellie discovers the darkness not only surrounds her but has taken root within her, forcing her to confront memories she’s long kept buried. To escape, she must face both the evil that stalks the halls and the ghosts of her own past… or share the fate of those who entered before her.

In his debut novel, Patrick Wallace weaves a chilling tale of science clashing with belief, wounds that won’t stay closed, and the things we carry into the dark. A gripping psychological horror with suspense, dread, and a haunting finale. Fans of The Haunting of Hill House and A Head Full of Ghosts will be obsessed.

230 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 12, 2025

About the author

Patrick Wallace is a writer with a lifelong passion for horror, drawn to the strange, the unsettling, and the stories that linger long after the last page. His imagination has always thrived on curiosity — about people, about the unseen, and about the questions science can’t answer. His scientific background informs his fiction and brings a rational edge to the eerie and unexplained.

Reviews

[Haly Hoards Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5☆
Haunted by new author, Patrick Wallace has some heart pounding suspense and terror. A good read during the spooky season!

This book will be available 12 December 2025. I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am voluntarily leaving my opinions of this novel. Thank you to the author, publisher and Booksirens for this opportunity.

Ellie, a physicist and skeptic of anything paranormal, agrees to be part of a team that will explore the haunted mansion, Bruker house. Initially, Ellie is a very hard character to like. She is curt, condescending and dismissive of anyone who holds belief in the paranormal. As the story unfolds Ellie does become more accepting and likeable.

The other team members come from various walks of life. David Washington is a military veteran, college instructor and president of The New England Paranormal Research Society. Lou Thomas is an older gentleman and former preacher. Charlotte Bertrand is an expert in cryptids and seasoned paranormal investigator. Alaina Cross is a young clairvoyant. And, then there is Hux, Ellie's blue heeler, and my favorite character!

Wallace did an excellent job of introducing each character and unfolding the characters histories. This deep character development helps to create the tone of the story as well as explain each person's motivation.

The only complaint I have about the book is the amount of missing words and wrong words in many sentences. In a few instances the entire meaning of the sentence is completely different than if the missing word had been included. These errors also interfered with the cadence of reading.

[PlotTwist&Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, imagine you’re a broke physics professor who says yes to ghost-hunting for cash. That’s Haunted by Patrick Wallace—a slow-burn academic horror that smells like stale coffee, frost, and regret. Dr. Ellie Hawthorne doesn’t believe in ghosts—until one starts poking at her trauma harder than tenure review. The writing is sharp, unsettling, and occasionally too real. It’s not about what’s hiding in the dark—it’s about what you’ve buried there. Four and a half stars for atmosphere, intellect, and emotional carnage. Read it with the lights on and your therapist on speed-dial.

[Milt Theo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the premise of this book, and eagerly picked it up for review. It turned out that the synopsis describes the last third of the book, and it takes a looong time to get there! To put it bluntly, "Haunted" is a decent haunted horror story, with an interesting main character - but unfortunately that's all. No real explanation of the haunting, not enough supernaturally inflected scenes, and a rather unsatisfying ending (though realistic, all things considered) - not to mention the rather excessive focus on trauma: Ellie suffers from childhood trauma, Charlotte suffers from her experiences of being bullied as a trans woman, Alanai suffers from being poor, Lou carries memories of CA, and so on and so forth. I would have liked the book more if this introspective direction was combined with some actual supernatural horror, a couple of horrifying scenes at least. But alas, it was not to be.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Karen "The nice one" Y · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you ever had a paranormal experience and shared it with someone who doesn't believe in what you saw or felt?

Well that's Ellie Hawthorne a physics professor who needs funding for a physics lab. When approached by a paranormal team of investigators, investigating a mysterious house called The Bruker house.
This would be a great opportunity for Ellie to get the money for her lab and prove the house is not haunted and the paranormal doesn't exist.

Ellie and her dog Hux, (I love him) meet the rest of the team and there's some clashing because she's the skeptic...until someone goes missing.

This was a love/very hard read for me.

I did like all the characters. Their back stories were well written.

While parts of the book were down right scary and asking myself why am I reading this alone and in the dark? And WHY isn't Ellie running away especially when her beloved dog Hux is like oh hell no I'm not going in there!

While other parts were long winded but only when it came to describing things like the wall paper in one of the rooms or a chair in the library, it felt right until the 3rd or 4th sentence about the same thing.
The action or scary parts didn't start until chapter 9. I wish it would have started sooner because it was really good.

They found some things in the house I wish they would have tried to figure what they were and what they meant.

Overall it did have a great storyline.
I hope to read more from Patrick Wallace.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksiren and am leaving this review voluntarily

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick Wallace’s debut novel Haunted is a chilling blend of psychological suspense and supernatural dread, set against the eerie backdrop of Bruker House in northern Maine. At its heart is Ellie Hawthorne, a young physics professor whose skepticism is tested when she accepts a grant from a paranormal society to investigate the estate’s dark history.

What begins as a clash between science and belief quickly spirals into something far more unsettling. The house itself becomes a character—its walls etched with occult symbols, its corridors echoing with the weight of unexplained disappearances. As Ellie resists the idea of ghosts, the narrative tightens around her isolation, forcing her to confront not only the malevolent presence stalking the halls but the buried memories she has long avoided.

Wallace writes with a deft hand, weaving atmosphere and tension into every page. The story balances intellectual skepticism with raw fear, creating a haunting exploration of what we carry into the dark. Fans of The Haunting of Hill House and A Head Full of Ghosts will find themselves captivated by the slow build of dread and the finale that lingers long after the last page.

A gripping debut that proves the most terrifying ghosts are often the ones within. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A group of people go to a reported haunted house. The much needed skeptic also goes along if only to prove there is nothing supernatural in her world because she is a scientist. As soon as the group enters the manor there are some strange signs. Ellie does her best to prove that there must be a scientific solution to the mysterious sounds and shadow figures showing up within the manor. As Ellie finds historical information about the house, more things begin to happen. When a tragedy strikes, Ellie stays behind to continue looking for a missing member of the group. She endures the worst night of her life. Her whole thought about the supernatural changes and she becomes a believer. This is hard for her after consistently denying the existence of the supernatural. After reading what she experienced in the house while she was alone would be enough to change my mind. I think had she have not been so adamant about there being a scientific explanation for the strange things that happened; she might not have been so thoroughly terrified. I have always believed in the supernatural/paranormal so I cannot speak to being a skeptic. I found this book very believable. Had I experienced the things that happened in the manor……I would have left also.

[Katie Nuss · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good old fashioned haunted house story, “Haunted” by Patrick Wallace tells the tale of a skeptic on a paranormal investigation. It really races to the finish and I enjoyed the suspense! I stayed up late finishing this one.

I found myself wishing for more explanation at the conclusion - I would have loved to have some of the mystery unraveled a little more. That was a little disappointing, actually, because I really wanted to know what it meant! I also think the book could use some more editing, as the frequent errors in spelling, grammar, and repeated/edited words sometimes got in the way and took me out of the story a little bit. Lastly, some of the violent backstories were a bit too violent for me, particularly the story of another haunting told by one character to another over breakfast. That disturbed me but not at all in a fun way.

Thanks to BookSirens, Patrick Wallace, and Rook & Raven press for providing this free advanced copy, to which I willingly gave an honest review!

[Shree G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haunted is a novel that is chilling and at times tepid, but I found too many grammatical errors and fragmented sentences that made me re-read parts of the book - rewind and fast forward to follow the right thread. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily, and I will stick to my promise of an honest review.

This novel, in the hands of a different editor, would have come out really well. The story is promising, and fans of spooky novels will not be disappointed. The author has talent, and the science-meets-supernatural is always a winning theme. I look forward to reading the author's next thriller!

[Diane Richmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

This truly was a haunting novel, that gave me a few shivers along the way. I loved the balance of characters, the scientist and the ghost hunters. You must read to the very end, as there is a final twist….enjoy!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[Aura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc reader review.

Honestly apart from the editing it needs for the missing words, I think it really was a great book. I liked the characters, the development of Ellie. Having Hux really brought a shining light in the darkness of Bruker's house.
I had a really good time reading, it was nicely written and I'm happy to have been part of this adventure!

[Robert Foland · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Haunted" takes readers on a gripping journey from denial to belief. Patrick Wallace masterfully weaves a chilling horror tale about a scientist’s awakening to mysteries she can’t explain. Denial is no longer possible, making this story engrossing, compelling, and entertaining from the very first page.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Emily Haynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie excepts a job she really does not want. She believes that there is nothing in the house. What if she is wrong? What ever lurks there wants people.

[YADUD3 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy to read. But the ending sucked. I’m glad the dog made it through.