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Seeing Things: A Novel of Dark Suspense, Complex Twists, and Paranormal Elements
A psychic who doubts her own gifts. An elderly woman convinced she's being haunted. And a truth darker than any fortune could predict…
On the weathered boardwalk of a New Jersey shore town, Maggie Romanelli reads fortunes to make ends meet while pursuing her true passion as an artist. Though convinced her frightening childhood visions are behind her, Maggie still struggles with memory issues—and money issues. So when elderly Addie Mercurio seeks her help, Maggie is happy to take her on.
But in Addie’s presence, Maggie’s psychic abilities begin manifesting in terrifying new ways; her visions return, vividly and with a vengeance. Strange occurrences escalate, religious symbols take on ominous meanings, and as Addie's paranoia proves increasingly justified, a sinister presence begins stalking both women.
Then Addie dies suddenly, and Maggie suspects someone has profited from her client’s death. Who was gaslighting the elderly woman? The charming art curator whose interest in Maggie extends to her late client? The home health aide who earned Addie’s trust and possibly an inheritance? Or is there another bad actor pulling strings from behind the scenes?
But when she investigates the old lady’s death, Maggie finds contradictions, not answers. Unable to trust those around her or even her own memory, there’s only one thing she’s sure She’s seeing things again—and some of them are deadly.
If you love a paranormal mystery, complex characters, and dark psychological twists, this gripping tale will keep you on the edge of your seat!
- GenresAmazonParanormal
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 18, 2025
28 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Rosie Genova
10 books350 followersProud Jersey girl Rosie Genova is a multi-genre author. Her work includes a Jersey shore cozy series, The Italian Kitchen Mysteries, and the upcoming Tess Mancini Time Travel Mysteries, set in 1955 Atlantic City. She is also the author of standalone suspense and a couple of rom-coms that presently live in her computer files (but are longing to be released into the wild). A former teacher and journalist, Rosie’s non-fiction has appeared in Entrepreneur magazine and The New York Times. The mother of three sons, Rosie still lives in her favorite state with her husband, too many dusty antiques, and a charming mutt named Lucy.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 24, 2025
Maggie is a fortune teller and artist on the NJ shore boardwalk. Mostly she reads cards and palms, but sometimes gets disturbing visions. She used to do parties, but after a confrontation with a bereaved mother, she stopped. An elderly woman, Addie, wants private readings and she pays well, but there is something more to this woman that makes Maggie wonder. Is she being gaslighted? A handsome man who says he runs an art gallery and wants to show her work, an angry home health aide, her friend Dennis the busker--when Maggie puts everything together, the answer to who is being deceived is more horrifying than she imagined.
November 3, 2025
Once a true seer, Maggie Romanelli eeks out a living telling fortunes to tourists on the boardwalk. A life on the verge of being a conwoman weighs heavily, especially when an elderly woman hires her for private sessions. Ensnared in the desperate world of someone looking for answers where none exist, Maggie is sorrowful when the lady dies. But the woman's death brings more questions, leading Maggie to wonder if something more nefarious is afoot.
The first chapter of Seeing Things captured my imagination, dragging me into the intrigue of the rest of the novel. Characters who coaxed me to continue reading are to blame for many tasks set aside. It was completely worth the dereliction of duty, though, as the story led me on a thought-provoking yet uncomfortable journey.
Despite being a suspense thriller, the mystery elements spoke to my inner Sherlock as I tried to unravel the finer points of the plot ahead of the denouement. I failed, and the author kept me transfixed with clever storytelling and an ability to create unforeseeable twists.
Do carve out time for this fascinating book, whose appeal is in both the excursion and the destination.
Thank you to Rosie Genova for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. As always, my opinions are my own, honest and true.
The first chapter of Seeing Things captured my imagination, dragging me into the intrigue of the rest of the novel. Characters who coaxed me to continue reading are to blame for many tasks set aside. It was completely worth the dereliction of duty, though, as the story led me on a thought-provoking yet uncomfortable journey.
Despite being a suspense thriller, the mystery elements spoke to my inner Sherlock as I tried to unravel the finer points of the plot ahead of the denouement. I failed, and the author kept me transfixed with clever storytelling and an ability to create unforeseeable twists.
Do carve out time for this fascinating book, whose appeal is in both the excursion and the destination.
Thank you to Rosie Genova for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. As always, my opinions are my own, honest and true.
October 30, 2025
I finished this book pretty quickly, but I have waited a little while to write my review. I wasn't quite sure how I felt about this story.
Maggie is a middle aged woman with a rather complicated past, and several things happened in her life that she blames herself for. Namely, the death of a young classmate and the death of a mother who killed herself because of something that Maggie did... Or rather, didn't do.
Maggie is psychic, but it doesn't seem to be a regular occurrence. She also reads palms and tarot cards on a Jersey boardwalk. She doesn't have a lot of money and is often late with rent and other bills.
She befriends an older woman named Addie who has Maggie over every week to read the cards for her, as she feels that something negative is affecting her. She pays Maggie VERY well. None of the readings seem to be positive for Addie.
Maggie's best friend is kind of a bum type person who plays guitar for dollars on the boardwalk.
Quite a bit happens in this story, from people that Maggie meets, to someone who's bent on revenge. And it's the revenge part that catches me up here.
Without detail (no spoilers!) I felt that the revenge plot was far too elaborate and intricate to have been believable. I also felt that the reason behind all this elaborate revenge was rather weak. The real plus was that I had no clue as to who was actually whom in this revenge set-up (read the story and you'll understand what I mean)...
And then the kicker at the end was who else was involved in this plot and what all this person did to achieve something that they wanted. I felt it really all was a bit much.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, up until the last bit when all the revenge stuff was explained. As I said, it was a bit too over done.
That said, I give this story a solid 4 stars.
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving my voluntary review.
Maggie is a middle aged woman with a rather complicated past, and several things happened in her life that she blames herself for. Namely, the death of a young classmate and the death of a mother who killed herself because of something that Maggie did... Or rather, didn't do.
Maggie is psychic, but it doesn't seem to be a regular occurrence. She also reads palms and tarot cards on a Jersey boardwalk. She doesn't have a lot of money and is often late with rent and other bills.
She befriends an older woman named Addie who has Maggie over every week to read the cards for her, as she feels that something negative is affecting her. She pays Maggie VERY well. None of the readings seem to be positive for Addie.
Maggie's best friend is kind of a bum type person who plays guitar for dollars on the boardwalk.
Quite a bit happens in this story, from people that Maggie meets, to someone who's bent on revenge. And it's the revenge part that catches me up here.
Without detail (no spoilers!) I felt that the revenge plot was far too elaborate and intricate to have been believable. I also felt that the reason behind all this elaborate revenge was rather weak. The real plus was that I had no clue as to who was actually whom in this revenge set-up (read the story and you'll understand what I mean)...
And then the kicker at the end was who else was involved in this plot and what all this person did to achieve something that they wanted. I felt it really all was a bit much.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, up until the last bit when all the revenge stuff was explained. As I said, it was a bit too over done.
That said, I give this story a solid 4 stars.
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving my voluntary review.
November 1, 2025
I was asked to review this book before publication and this is my honest opinion.
This is the second book I've read by Rosie Genova and I have enjoyed both. In this book, the principle character, Maggie is a woman in her 40s with ADHD, barely scraping a living by telling fortunes on the boardwalk, palm reading and using Tarot cards. Even though she has had visions she tries to deny to herself and everyone else that she doesn't anymore. Unfortunately for her though, visions come to her unexpectedly. And they are unwelcome. She is also an artist who makes small amounts selling her work. Until a number of things start to happen. The author skilfully builds up the story by going back and forth between events in her past and present. Things continue to get stranger until a horrifying climax and betrayal I did not see coming. This was a good read
This is the second book I've read by Rosie Genova and I have enjoyed both. In this book, the principle character, Maggie is a woman in her 40s with ADHD, barely scraping a living by telling fortunes on the boardwalk, palm reading and using Tarot cards. Even though she has had visions she tries to deny to herself and everyone else that she doesn't anymore. Unfortunately for her though, visions come to her unexpectedly. And they are unwelcome. She is also an artist who makes small amounts selling her work. Until a number of things start to happen. The author skilfully builds up the story by going back and forth between events in her past and present. Things continue to get stranger until a horrifying climax and betrayal I did not see coming. This was a good read
December 14, 2025
On Edge!
Great book, kept me guessing from start to finish. Rosie kept me in suspense.
She has a great style of writing. She’s my new favorite writer.
Great book, kept me guessing from start to finish. Rosie kept me in suspense.
She has a great style of writing. She’s my new favorite writer.
January 8, 2026
I read this because I am a huge fan of the author and have read all her previous books. I found this book very depressing and hope the author returns to her delightful cozy mysteries.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews