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The Séance Garden
After a cheesy ghost tour in one of California’s oldest towns stumbles upon an actual haunting, a skeptical historian of the occult becomes entangled in solving a murder case.
When Professor Harper Grae loses a bet with a friend, she finds herself on a local nighttime tour of “haunted” locations in Monterey. Harper’s a lifelong non-believer in the occult, though her academic career is devoted to the historical and societal significance of witchcraft, ghosts, and medicinal poisons of all sorts. But her skepticism immediately gets tested when the tour stumbles on the body of local artist Delilah Mason—who’s found murdered on the grounds of a nearly two-hundred-year-old mansion, once home to the infamous Perles family.
On the night Mason’s body is found, Harper catches sight of something in the house that she can’t shake, something that’s impossible to explain, at least not rationally. Soon the murder investigation reveals that this is the second time a woman has been found murdered beneath a sprawling cypress tree in the gardens of the Perles Mansion. And when Harper’s closest friend is questioned by the police, Harper fears the authorities will fail to uncover the real killer.
As Harper asks questions around town and digs deeper into the supernatural speculation and rumors surrounding the murders—two women killed in similar circumstances, separated by nearly two centuries —she sees evidence she can’t ignore that the notorious mansion truly is haunted by the ghost of Isabel Perles.
What will it cost Harper to rethink everything she’s always believed to admit that the veil between the living and the dead might actually be crossed?
When Professor Harper Grae loses a bet with a friend, she finds herself on a local nighttime tour of “haunted” locations in Monterey. Harper’s a lifelong non-believer in the occult, though her academic career is devoted to the historical and societal significance of witchcraft, ghosts, and medicinal poisons of all sorts. But her skepticism immediately gets tested when the tour stumbles on the body of local artist Delilah Mason—who’s found murdered on the grounds of a nearly two-hundred-year-old mansion, once home to the infamous Perles family.
On the night Mason’s body is found, Harper catches sight of something in the house that she can’t shake, something that’s impossible to explain, at least not rationally. Soon the murder investigation reveals that this is the second time a woman has been found murdered beneath a sprawling cypress tree in the gardens of the Perles Mansion. And when Harper’s closest friend is questioned by the police, Harper fears the authorities will fail to uncover the real killer.
As Harper asks questions around town and digs deeper into the supernatural speculation and rumors surrounding the murders—two women killed in similar circumstances, separated by nearly two centuries —she sees evidence she can’t ignore that the notorious mansion truly is haunted by the ghost of Isabel Perles.
What will it cost Harper to rethink everything she’s always believed to admit that the veil between the living and the dead might actually be crossed?
Audible Audio
First published July 28, 2026
About the author
Juliet Blackwell
41 books2,984 followersJuliet Blackwell (aka Julie Goodson-Lawes, aka Hailey Lind) started out life in Palo Alto, California, born of a Texan mother and a Yankee father. The family soon moved to what were, at the time, the sticks of Cupertino, an hour south of San Francisco. Walking to and from kindergarten every day she would indulge in her earliest larcenous activity: stealing walnuts and apricots from surrounding orchards.
By the time she graduated middle school, the orchards were disappearing and the valley at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay had become the cradle of the silicon semi-conductor. A man named Steve Jobs was working in his garage in Cupertino, just down the street. Juliet's father advised his daughters to enter the lucrative and soon-to-flourish field of computers.
"Bah" said Juliet, as she went on to major in Latin American Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz (they had, by far, the best parties of any department). Rather than making scads of money in computers, she read, painted, learned Spanish and a little French and Vietnamese, lived in Spain and traveled through Europe, Mexico, and Central America. She had a very good time.
Juliet pursued graduate degrees in Anthropology and Social Work at the State University of New York at Albany, where she published several non-fiction articles on immigration as well as one book-length translation. Fascinated with other cultural systems, she studied the religions, folklore and medical beliefs of peoples around the world, especially in Latin America. Juliet taught the anthropology of health and health care at SUNY-Albany, and worked as an elementary school social worker in upstate New York. She also did field projects in Mexico and Cuba, studied in Spain, Italy, and France, worked on a BBC production in the Philippines, taught English as a second language in San Jose, and learned how to faux finish walls in Princeton, New Jersey. After having a son, moving back to California, and abandoning her half-written dissertation in cultural anthropology, Juliet started painting murals and portraits for a living. She has run her own mural/faux finish design studio in Oakland, across the bay from San Francisco, for more than a decade. She specializes in the aesthetic renovation of historic homes.
Finally, to round out her tour of lucrative careers, Juliet turned to writing. Under the pseudonym of Hailey Lind, Juliet penned the Art Lover's Mystery Series with her sister Carolyn, about an ex-art forger trying to go straight by working as a muralist and faux finisher in San Francisco. The first of these, Feint of Art, was nominated for an Agatha Award; Shooting Gallery and Brush with Death were both IMBA bestsellers, and Arsenic and Old Paint is now available from Perseverance Press.
Juliet's Witchcraft Mystery series, about a witch who finally finds a place to fit in when she opens a vintage clothes shop on Haight Street in San Francisco, allows Juliet to indulge yet another interest—the world of witchcraft and the supernatural. Ever since her favorite aunt taught her about reading cards and tea leaves, Juliet has been fascinated with seers, conjurers, and covens from many different cultures and historic traditions. As an anthropologist, the author studied and taught about systems of spirituality, magic, and medicine throughout the world, especially in Latin America. Halloween is by far her favorite holiday.
When not writing, painting, or haranguing her funny but cynical teenaged son, Juliet spends a lot of time restoring her happily haunted house and gardening with Oscar the cat, who ostensibly belongs to the neighbors but won't leave her alone. He started hanging around when Juliet started writing about witches...funny coincidence.
By the time she graduated middle school, the orchards were disappearing and the valley at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay had become the cradle of the silicon semi-conductor. A man named Steve Jobs was working in his garage in Cupertino, just down the street. Juliet's father advised his daughters to enter the lucrative and soon-to-flourish field of computers.
"Bah" said Juliet, as she went on to major in Latin American Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz (they had, by far, the best parties of any department). Rather than making scads of money in computers, she read, painted, learned Spanish and a little French and Vietnamese, lived in Spain and traveled through Europe, Mexico, and Central America. She had a very good time.
Juliet pursued graduate degrees in Anthropology and Social Work at the State University of New York at Albany, where she published several non-fiction articles on immigration as well as one book-length translation. Fascinated with other cultural systems, she studied the religions, folklore and medical beliefs of peoples around the world, especially in Latin America. Juliet taught the anthropology of health and health care at SUNY-Albany, and worked as an elementary school social worker in upstate New York. She also did field projects in Mexico and Cuba, studied in Spain, Italy, and France, worked on a BBC production in the Philippines, taught English as a second language in San Jose, and learned how to faux finish walls in Princeton, New Jersey. After having a son, moving back to California, and abandoning her half-written dissertation in cultural anthropology, Juliet started painting murals and portraits for a living. She has run her own mural/faux finish design studio in Oakland, across the bay from San Francisco, for more than a decade. She specializes in the aesthetic renovation of historic homes.
Finally, to round out her tour of lucrative careers, Juliet turned to writing. Under the pseudonym of Hailey Lind, Juliet penned the Art Lover's Mystery Series with her sister Carolyn, about an ex-art forger trying to go straight by working as a muralist and faux finisher in San Francisco. The first of these, Feint of Art, was nominated for an Agatha Award; Shooting Gallery and Brush with Death were both IMBA bestsellers, and Arsenic and Old Paint is now available from Perseverance Press.
Juliet's Witchcraft Mystery series, about a witch who finally finds a place to fit in when she opens a vintage clothes shop on Haight Street in San Francisco, allows Juliet to indulge yet another interest—the world of witchcraft and the supernatural. Ever since her favorite aunt taught her about reading cards and tea leaves, Juliet has been fascinated with seers, conjurers, and covens from many different cultures and historic traditions. As an anthropologist, the author studied and taught about systems of spirituality, magic, and medicine throughout the world, especially in Latin America. Halloween is by far her favorite holiday.
When not writing, painting, or haranguing her funny but cynical teenaged son, Juliet spends a lot of time restoring her happily haunted house and gardening with Oscar the cat, who ostensibly belongs to the neighbors but won't leave her alone. He started hanging around when Juliet started writing about witches...funny coincidence.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
May 24, 2026
Harper Grae is a historian and folklorist specializing in the history of the occult at a college in Monterey, California. After losing a bet with her friend Tariq, she reluctantly goes on a ghostly walking tour of the town. One of the tour stops is the historic, haunted Perles Mansion, where the shocked tour group stumbles across the body of the homeowner and local artist, Delilah Mason. As the police investigate, Harper has chilling experiences she cannot explain. Will the police get to the truth of Delilah Mason’s murder? Is Harper endangered by supernatural forces or does someone associated with Delilah or the mansion have it in for her?
The title and description for this suspense novel hooked me and I had to read it. It checks so many boxes for me.
√ Haunted historic gothic mansion
√ Dark academia
√ Mad scientist basement
√ Poisonous plants
√ Ghostly mirrors and visitations
√ California coastline
The action moved at a steady pace and I can honestly say that I was never bored while reading this. The setting is perfect and I loved the descriptions of the mansion. Harper is a very likeable protagonist and there is an abundance of suspicious characters with potential motives for her to scrutinize. My only complaint would be that I wish the author had written a little more about the various suspects and their backstories because they were well conceived and interesting.
Overall a cracking read! Thank you to Berkeley.
The title and description for this suspense novel hooked me and I had to read it. It checks so many boxes for me.
√ Haunted historic gothic mansion
√ Dark academia
√ Mad scientist basement
√ Poisonous plants
√ Ghostly mirrors and visitations
√ California coastline
The action moved at a steady pace and I can honestly say that I was never bored while reading this. The setting is perfect and I loved the descriptions of the mansion. Harper is a very likeable protagonist and there is an abundance of suspicious characters with potential motives for her to scrutinize. My only complaint would be that I wish the author had written a little more about the various suspects and their backstories because they were well conceived and interesting.
Overall a cracking read! Thank you to Berkeley.
August 4, 2026
Enjoyable with a very rushed ending.
As much as I began to like the main character, I ended up frustrated. The ending was INCREDIBLY rushed. Additionally, certain details are left out of the plot that I believe would have helped flesh out the story a bit more.
Without engaging in spoilers, I would say that the author really didn't know how to end this book or where it was going. It was incredibly plodding and slow, and then, abruptly ended. I also find it incredibly hard to believe that the ending was as tidy as it was.
Lastly, on a smaller note, the references to being "old" at just 40 was a bit irritating. I don't really ever read this from male characters, and it's a bit sad when an author plays into this same old patriarchal trope.
All in all, an entertaining read, but not really something I would highly rate. It needed more nuance and less lag.
As much as I began to like the main character, I ended up frustrated. The ending was INCREDIBLY rushed. Additionally, certain details are left out of the plot that I believe would have helped flesh out the story a bit more.
Without engaging in spoilers, I would say that the author really didn't know how to end this book or where it was going. It was incredibly plodding and slow, and then, abruptly ended. I also find it incredibly hard to believe that the ending was as tidy as it was.
Lastly, on a smaller note, the references to being "old" at just 40 was a bit irritating. I don't really ever read this from male characters, and it's a bit sad when an author plays into this same old patriarchal trope.
All in all, an entertaining read, but not really something I would highly rate. It needed more nuance and less lag.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2026
The Séance Garden by Juliette Blackwell is a story about a historian professor Harper Gray who recently moved to Monterey California and after losing a bet to her college friend Tariq is on a tour of local ghost. It isn’t long after the tour begins that they find a local artist buried in her own front yard. The tour guide Joel is devastated in Harper is in shock but everyone has to speak to the police. on the tour Joe talked about a witch hunt in Monterey and while looking for proof of that she inadvertently also starts looking in to the murdered woman’s life in the life of previous owners of the home. as the official investigation goes on Harper is hearing more and more that they believe Tyreak did it despite the fact she knows there is no way he could’ve done it but is there friendship has only become close since moving to Monterey Harper does leave room for doubt. As someone who doesn’t believe in ghost it seems every time she turns around something spooky is happening from seeing someone in the artists home when no one should be there to finding strange people dancing in her yard. someone doesn’t appreciate the historian digging up the past but this doesn’t stop Harper. It isn’t until someone else is murdered that she starts to believe her own life may be in danger.
OK let me just say this was an awesome mystery but I was not at all happy with the suspect I mean OK I get it but I felt as if I barely knew anything about them they were mentioned previously in the book once or twice and then damn their the perpetrator… I guess. I still give this book four stars for such an interesting premise storyline in a great execution of the story but wish someone else would’ve been the perpetrator. I know that is weird but I don’t like when the perpetrator turns out to be someone barely mentioned in the book. I also didn’t like that she was someone with such a high level of education and yet was still so certain there is no such thing as ghost. I am absolutely going to read the next book if this becomes a series because I really dig her writing style and found the book to be so readable even with the flaws I’ve mentioned which are all my opinion I still absolutely recommend this book. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
OK let me just say this was an awesome mystery but I was not at all happy with the suspect I mean OK I get it but I felt as if I barely knew anything about them they were mentioned previously in the book once or twice and then damn their the perpetrator… I guess. I still give this book four stars for such an interesting premise storyline in a great execution of the story but wish someone else would’ve been the perpetrator. I know that is weird but I don’t like when the perpetrator turns out to be someone barely mentioned in the book. I also didn’t like that she was someone with such a high level of education and yet was still so certain there is no such thing as ghost. I am absolutely going to read the next book if this becomes a series because I really dig her writing style and found the book to be so readable even with the flaws I’ve mentioned which are all my opinion I still absolutely recommend this book. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
August 12, 2026
Professor Harper Grae teaches at a college in the area of Monterey, California, and her area of research is “historical and societal significance of witchcraft, ghosts, and medicinal poisons”. She loses a bet to a friend and so finds herself on a ghost tour. Everyone is shocked when they hear sounds leading them to Delilah Mason on the grounds of her mansion. A mansion with stories of strange things in the past. They try to help her, but she soon dies.
Harper’s friend is questioned because he knew the victim. As Harper begins asking questions, she discovers that there was a similar murder on the same mansion grounds almost two hundred years ago. Could the mansion be haunted by the woman who was killed so long ago?
This was an interesting story and I enjoyed the characters. 3-1/2 stars rounded to 4.
Harper’s friend is questioned because he knew the victim. As Harper begins asking questions, she discovers that there was a similar murder on the same mansion grounds almost two hundred years ago. Could the mansion be haunted by the woman who was killed so long ago?
This was an interesting story and I enjoyed the characters. 3-1/2 stars rounded to 4.
July 28, 2026
This was an easy-to-read, supernatural mystery that kept me turning the pages.
What worked for me:
- The murder was genuinely interesting/unique
- Very atmospheric, would be a great October read
- I liked the history professor protagonist
- It's an actual ghost story
What didn’t work for me:
- It felt pretty surface level/shallow. There's not much to think about now that I'm done
- The humor didn't quite land with me, but it might be your taste
- I love romance in my crime—I didn't buy into it this time
- Pretty cut-and-dry mystery, but I had little emotional investment before and after learning the truth
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!
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⚠️ Content Warnings ⚠️
Spice level: Off page sex, some on-page talk
Graphic: Supernatural/paranormal content, murder, suicide
Minor: Animal death, incest (none on page)
What worked for me:
- The murder was genuinely interesting/unique
- Very atmospheric, would be a great October read
- I liked the history professor protagonist
- It's an actual ghost story
What didn’t work for me:
- It felt pretty surface level/shallow. There's not much to think about now that I'm done
- The humor didn't quite land with me, but it might be your taste
- I love romance in my crime—I didn't buy into it this time
- Pretty cut-and-dry mystery, but I had little emotional investment before and after learning the truth
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!
Bookstagram
Let’s Connect
---
⚠️ Content Warnings ⚠️
Spice level: Off page sex, some on-page talk
Graphic: Supernatural/paranormal content, murder, suicide
Minor: Animal death, incest (none on page)
July 19, 2026
I stuck with this book because I needed to know what happened, not necessarily because I enjoyed it. Some parts were spooky and fun; others just felt repetitive and dragged. I felt like we got to the point where, as a reader, I could predict what the next sentence was going to be before it came. We get it: the main character was only on the ghost tour because she lost a bet. She's a professor at a college where her field of study is in the minority, which was repeated so many times I lost the actual plot. The actual plot of the cursed family was spooky and fascinating. It held my attention, and I wanted to know more. Like, what is this Sirius Black-type dog that keeps popping up, and why was this person buried alive? Why are we returning bones to a dead mother... this is what kept me reading.
For what it's worth, I'm a harsh critic of horror and thrillers. Lately, the ones that don't disappoint are those with a fresh concept. This one, while it had its moments, felt cookie-cutter. But overall, it gets three stars.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy for my honest review
For what it's worth, I'm a harsh critic of horror and thrillers. Lately, the ones that don't disappoint are those with a fresh concept. This one, while it had its moments, felt cookie-cutter. But overall, it gets three stars.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy for my honest review
June 26, 2026
The Séance Garden by Juliet Blackwell
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5. stars (rounded up due to the rule of halves!!)
I was happily wandering through a delightfully creepy Bay Area mansion, muttering, “Yep, definitely don’t look behind the haunted mirror.” The author clearly did their homework because the history, folklore, and California coastal lore felt incredibly authentic and on point. As a West Coaster myself, I fully appreciated all the Bay Area details. West Coast really is the best coast, and this book absolutely leaned into its eerie coastal charm. Add in a witch tree, a supposedly haunted estate and an atmosphere dripping with gothic vibes and I was SOLD.
Harper might have one of the coolest jobs I’ve come across in fiction. She’s a historian and professor specializing in the history of witchcraft and belief in the supernatural. (How is that NOT cool?) Her investigation into what happened to Delilah kept me turning pages, especially once the mysterious ancient journal and that unsettling shrouded mirror entered the picture. Because obviously if a mirror is covered with a cloth in an old mansion, the correct response is to uncover it Immediately. 🤣🤣 Horror protagonists continue to make bold life choices on behalf of the rest of us.
The mystery was engaging and the creepy atmosphere stayed strong throughout, even if the scares were more spooky than outright terrifying. My only real complaint was the ending. It was undeniably sweet but it felt like it wandered in from an entirely different novel. After spending so much time wrapped in gothic gloom and supernatural unease, the ending felt a little too cozy, warm and feel goodish for the haunting journey that came before.
Overall, this was an enjoyable mix of history, folklore, ghostly mystery and California gothic. If you like haunted mansions, mysterious journals, witchy lore and a FMC who’s smarter than most horror protagonists, this is worth a visit. Just, maybe leave the creepy mirror covered. Some home décor choices exist for a reason.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the digital advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Expected publish date: July 28, 2026.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5. stars (rounded up due to the rule of halves!!)
I was happily wandering through a delightfully creepy Bay Area mansion, muttering, “Yep, definitely don’t look behind the haunted mirror.” The author clearly did their homework because the history, folklore, and California coastal lore felt incredibly authentic and on point. As a West Coaster myself, I fully appreciated all the Bay Area details. West Coast really is the best coast, and this book absolutely leaned into its eerie coastal charm. Add in a witch tree, a supposedly haunted estate and an atmosphere dripping with gothic vibes and I was SOLD.
Harper might have one of the coolest jobs I’ve come across in fiction. She’s a historian and professor specializing in the history of witchcraft and belief in the supernatural. (How is that NOT cool?) Her investigation into what happened to Delilah kept me turning pages, especially once the mysterious ancient journal and that unsettling shrouded mirror entered the picture. Because obviously if a mirror is covered with a cloth in an old mansion, the correct response is to uncover it Immediately. 🤣🤣 Horror protagonists continue to make bold life choices on behalf of the rest of us.
The mystery was engaging and the creepy atmosphere stayed strong throughout, even if the scares were more spooky than outright terrifying. My only real complaint was the ending. It was undeniably sweet but it felt like it wandered in from an entirely different novel. After spending so much time wrapped in gothic gloom and supernatural unease, the ending felt a little too cozy, warm and feel goodish for the haunting journey that came before.
Overall, this was an enjoyable mix of history, folklore, ghostly mystery and California gothic. If you like haunted mansions, mysterious journals, witchy lore and a FMC who’s smarter than most horror protagonists, this is worth a visit. Just, maybe leave the creepy mirror covered. Some home décor choices exist for a reason.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the digital advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Expected publish date: July 28, 2026.
September 10, 2026
I really wanted to like this one but it just had so many problems. There were so many inconsistencies. The main character met her friend/love interest in grad school, but they were in totally different departments (history and marine biology)? Having been to grad school (two different programs, actually), it's very insular. I didn't really hang out with anyone not in my own program, simply because I didn't have time. But the author makes it seem like a friend group of people from wildly different departments somehow naturally formed and that, between classes, teaching, research, and field work, all for different fields, they still had time to hang out regularly? The heroine is also described early on as having a "page boy haircut" but later puts her hair up in a bun secured with pencils. This is not possible - I dance and wear buns regular. I literally can't cut my hair that short because it wouldn't leave me with enough hair for a bun! The romantic subplot was also annoyingly predictable, and at times the writing was just plain cheesy. I suppose I was somewhat entertained, and I will say that the excerpt for another one of her books at the end did seem intriguing. But this was not one of my favorites.
July 18, 2026
After discovering a woman buried alive beneath a “witch tree” in front of an old Monterey mansion on a cheesey ghost tour, Harper becomes embroiled in a murder mystery that may or may not involve the ghost of a previous owner.
This was a mix of a murder mystery and a bit of gothic, supernatural horror mixed in. I love a supernatural thriller so I was really excited about the ghosts and history of the old mansion! I do wish we’d gotten a little more of the haunted house and ghosts because it was a really great part of the story!
The murder mystery portion was great! I wasn’t really sure of the whodunnit until the story started unfolding at the end!
If you enjoy a supernatural mystery with some horror aspects mixed in then I highly recommend this one!
This was a mix of a murder mystery and a bit of gothic, supernatural horror mixed in. I love a supernatural thriller so I was really excited about the ghosts and history of the old mansion! I do wish we’d gotten a little more of the haunted house and ghosts because it was a really great part of the story!
The murder mystery portion was great! I wasn’t really sure of the whodunnit until the story started unfolding at the end!
If you enjoy a supernatural mystery with some horror aspects mixed in then I highly recommend this one!
July 28, 2026
I was with the character the entire time, caught between believing the supernatural or suspecting something more sinister was at play. The constant tension between superstition and whodunit was what kept me riveted. A gripping mix of mystery, paranormal, and history that I couldn't look away from. Xe Sands brought out the academic in the character as well as her constant doubts — a performance that matched the uncertainty of the story perfectly.
Thank you Penguin Random House Audio for my free audio copy for review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you Penguin Random House Audio for my free audio copy for review. All opinions are my own.
August 14, 2026
Love reading books by this author and it takes place in Monterey! I actually experienced my first odd event as a kid in Monterey when we were staying in an old house near town. So much history in that area, and the potential for so many ghosts stories to be told. Keep it up Blackwell, you have a fan for life. Your stories take me to where I grew up every time!
August 19, 2026
The Séance Garden is a fantastic story to start off your pre-spooky season reading with! (Or anytime reading) with equal parts spiritualism and history of folklore, murder mystery, and a little cute friends to lovers romance I found myself lost in the pages and utterly intrigued.
Thank you to Berkley for the gifted eARC on NetGalley!
Thank you to Berkley for the gifted eARC on NetGalley!
September 3, 2026
This one reminded me of the Gothic novels I loved reading when I was in high school and my 20s! It had everything you need ... creepy house, dead body, sketchy characters, suspicious actions, and spooky happenings! It had a compelling story ... and it kept me guessing! Ms. Blackwell did not fail to deliver!
August 31, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!
My rating is a reflection of my personal preferences in combination with the story's overall narrative.
This is outside my usual genre, but I love other works by Blackwell and was interested in exploring some of her other work.
HEAR ME OUT! WHY DON'T WE LEARN MORE ABOUT HARPER'S MIRROR VISITORS?
There was actually quite a lot of different plot lines given that the book feels oddly slow paced. However, this was one bow I was really hoping to fawn over. Without spoiling anything, I feel like this particular plotline left me a bit bereft and hoping to learn more or at least provide a somewhat open ending.
I stand my ground; however, the book does feel slower. There is so much that actually happens in the few short chapters, but there is a lot of time with Harper on her own, in her heard or just the act of doing her research. Those moments could have been shortened or culled in it's entirety. Otherwise, there is a ton of very illicit activity happening across a menagerie of characters. I kept waiting for someone to get in trouble for having access to confidential information, that the police should absolutely not be sharing outside the confines of their case. Everyone had an ulterior motive and was harboring illicit desires. Definitely the kind of "Who dun it?" vs "Wrong Place, Wrong Time" vibes.
My rating is a reflection of my personal preferences in combination with the story's overall narrative.
This is outside my usual genre, but I love other works by Blackwell and was interested in exploring some of her other work.
HEAR ME OUT! WHY DON'T WE LEARN MORE ABOUT HARPER'S MIRROR VISITORS?
There was actually quite a lot of different plot lines given that the book feels oddly slow paced. However, this was one bow I was really hoping to fawn over. Without spoiling anything, I feel like this particular plotline left me a bit bereft and hoping to learn more or at least provide a somewhat open ending.
I stand my ground; however, the book does feel slower. There is so much that actually happens in the few short chapters, but there is a lot of time with Harper on her own, in her heard or just the act of doing her research. Those moments could have been shortened or culled in it's entirety. Otherwise, there is a ton of very illicit activity happening across a menagerie of characters. I kept waiting for someone to get in trouble for having access to confidential information, that the police should absolutely not be sharing outside the confines of their case. Everyone had an ulterior motive and was harboring illicit desires. Definitely the kind of "Who dun it?" vs "Wrong Place, Wrong Time" vibes.
September 18, 2026
Mesmerizing gothic thriller with a very likeable MC in Prof. Harper Grae, who finds herself in an eerie mansion and it's equally eerie past inhabitants.
The setting in old Monterey, California is perfect, and narrator Xe Sands is excellent, as always, in her nuanced delivery.
The setting in old Monterey, California is perfect, and narrator Xe Sands is excellent, as always, in her nuanced delivery.
September 5, 2026
The premise of this book hooked me but there are some real structural issues and it just didn’t work. Too repetitive and too many red herrings. Genuinely interesting plot lines that didn’t pan out.
July 24, 2026
Thank you for the free ebook @penguinrandomhouse and @berkleypub #penguinrandomhousepartner #berkleyIG #BerkleyBookstagram.
If you love the creepy mirrors and ghosts combo, this one’s for you!! 😂
I really enjoyed this paranormal murder mystery! It was the perfect blend of supernatural and whodunit vibes!
Here’s the plot:
Harper is an occult history professor BUT she doesn’t believe in ghosts. When she lost a bet, she agreed to participate in a late-night ghost tour. Their last stop? The Perles Mansion. First she sees a figure by the window and then the group somehow stumbles upon a body that was buried alive!
Even creepier? The crime scene is an exact replica of an unsolved murder that happened on the very same grounds nearly 200 years ago!
And that’s pretty much what the plot is!
For my creepy loving friends, you’d definitely enjoy it! It brought back my fear of mirrors at night 😂 i love all the haunted history surrounding the small town and I love the eeriness of the haunted house!!
Highly recommend if you love a good scare with some whodunit mystery!!
If you love the creepy mirrors and ghosts combo, this one’s for you!! 😂
I really enjoyed this paranormal murder mystery! It was the perfect blend of supernatural and whodunit vibes!
Here’s the plot:
Harper is an occult history professor BUT she doesn’t believe in ghosts. When she lost a bet, she agreed to participate in a late-night ghost tour. Their last stop? The Perles Mansion. First she sees a figure by the window and then the group somehow stumbles upon a body that was buried alive!
Even creepier? The crime scene is an exact replica of an unsolved murder that happened on the very same grounds nearly 200 years ago!
And that’s pretty much what the plot is!
For my creepy loving friends, you’d definitely enjoy it! It brought back my fear of mirrors at night 😂 i love all the haunted history surrounding the small town and I love the eeriness of the haunted house!!
Highly recommend if you love a good scare with some whodunit mystery!!
September 7, 2026
This book honestly had me spooked a little bit, I kept thinking I was seeing someone out of the corner of my eye lol. It doesn’t help I’m also kind of scared of mirrors because of playing Bloody Mary as a kid. But this was really good and I didn’t even suspect the culprit!!!
August 4, 2026
So good!
July 31, 2026
I loved this. It felt as though I was reading a mix of Lily and Mel from Juliet Blackwell’s two series.
July 5, 2026
Juliet Blackwell
The Séance Garden by Juliet Blackwell was my first book by this author, but it definitely won't be my last.
Blending psychological suspense, the supernatural, mystery, and a touch of romance, The Séance Garden is an atmospheric novel set in beautiful Monterey, California. When Professor Harper Grey loses a bet with a friend, she reluctantly joins a local ghost tour that introduces her to the infamous Perles Mansion. A lifelong skeptic, Harper has devoted her academic career to studying the historical and societal significance of witchcraft, ghosts, and medicinal poisons, but she has never believed in the supernatural.
Her skepticism is immediately challenged when the tour stumbles upon the body of local artist Delilah Mason, who has been murdered on the grounds of the nearly 200-year-old mansion. That same night, Harper witnesses something inside the house that defies all logical explanation. As the investigation unfolds, she learns this isn't the first murder connected to the estate. Nearly two centuries earlier, another woman was found murdered beneath the same sprawling cypress tree in the mansion's gardens.
When Harper's closest friend becomes a suspect, she takes it upon herself to uncover the truth. As she digs deeper into the history of the Perles family and the rumors surrounding the mansion, Harper begins to question everything she's always believed. Could the ghost of Isabel Perles truly be haunting the estate?
This book had me turning pages and staying up well past my bedtime. The mystery kept me guessing, the supernatural elements were woven seamlessly into the story, and the slow-burn romance added depth without ever overshadowing the plot. Juliet Blackwell's research is evident throughout, enriching the story without ever feeling like an information dump.
This is a definite five-star read for fans of psychological suspense, ghost stories, and atmospheric mysteries. I'll be adding Juliet Blackwell to my auto-buy list without hesitation.
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
July 27, 2026
When a skeptic professor of the occult loses a bet and finds herself on a cheesy ghost tour, of course, they find a body buried under a witch tree in the yard of a house with a dark history where she sees something inexplicable. I’ve seen Juliet Blackwell’s books around and had every intention of trying one, but I found one set in old Monterey, California and oozing gothic atmosphere was just the book for me.
Professor Harper Grae teaches at the local college on supernatural and folklore subjects, but personally, she doesn’t think the like exists. The ghost tour she is on due to her friend Tariq isn’t a complete wash when she learns from the guide there is a historical witch connection. Then, they discover the body of the home’s owner buried alive in the same location a woman two centuries before found her death.
And, just as unsettling, Harper sees something in the Perle mansion that she can’t reason and argue as a hoax. This, and the murder, drive her to investigate the dark history of this home. Her friend Tariq somehow is situated at the top of the police suspect list so that ups the ante on getting to the truth.
Inexplicable things continue to happen in that haunted house from a mad scientist’s laboratory, a mirror that should never have been unshrouded, a tattered journal, and the evil that has always been there. Outside the property, Harper’s investigation has stirred things up and after another murder and incidents to others, she realizes she’s a target. She can’t walk away now even when in acute danger.
The Séance Garden is thrilling without the thriller pacing. It lavishes on with the setting of the Monterey Bay area in details I found interesting. There is also that atmospheric tone that raises the hairs on one’s neck a few times. There’s that is it or isn’t it feeling as one wonders if human or supernatural agency is behind certain events. It’s a mystery at the heart of the story and I stood no chance whatsoever of coming to the right conclusion.
The ending was cozy and the overall book stays just the paranormal mystery side of the line though horror fans would probably enjoy this for light ‘cozy horror’ reading. I wish the side characters were more fleshed out, but over all was really into The Séance Garden.
Now, I am glad there is a backlist by the author for me to relish and I look forward to more of her efforts. Those who like haunted house stories, supernatural folklore, loads of atmosphere, a well-painted local setting, and a solid main character, look no further for an excellent spooky season read.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at That's What I'm Talking About on 9.10.26
Professor Harper Grae teaches at the local college on supernatural and folklore subjects, but personally, she doesn’t think the like exists. The ghost tour she is on due to her friend Tariq isn’t a complete wash when she learns from the guide there is a historical witch connection. Then, they discover the body of the home’s owner buried alive in the same location a woman two centuries before found her death.
And, just as unsettling, Harper sees something in the Perle mansion that she can’t reason and argue as a hoax. This, and the murder, drive her to investigate the dark history of this home. Her friend Tariq somehow is situated at the top of the police suspect list so that ups the ante on getting to the truth.
Inexplicable things continue to happen in that haunted house from a mad scientist’s laboratory, a mirror that should never have been unshrouded, a tattered journal, and the evil that has always been there. Outside the property, Harper’s investigation has stirred things up and after another murder and incidents to others, she realizes she’s a target. She can’t walk away now even when in acute danger.
The Séance Garden is thrilling without the thriller pacing. It lavishes on with the setting of the Monterey Bay area in details I found interesting. There is also that atmospheric tone that raises the hairs on one’s neck a few times. There’s that is it or isn’t it feeling as one wonders if human or supernatural agency is behind certain events. It’s a mystery at the heart of the story and I stood no chance whatsoever of coming to the right conclusion.
The ending was cozy and the overall book stays just the paranormal mystery side of the line though horror fans would probably enjoy this for light ‘cozy horror’ reading. I wish the side characters were more fleshed out, but over all was really into The Séance Garden.
Now, I am glad there is a backlist by the author for me to relish and I look forward to more of her efforts. Those who like haunted house stories, supernatural folklore, loads of atmosphere, a well-painted local setting, and a solid main character, look no further for an excellent spooky season read.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at That's What I'm Talking About on 9.10.26
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
1.5 stars. Fair warning for the review to come - I'm from Monterey.
The pros: Despite my issues with the setting (see the cons), I admit it was kind of fun to read about Monterey in a genre story. It made me want to write about it, and I hate writing about the real world. The most important thing for a good murder mystery is an interesting case, and I did find this interesting! There's more to it than meets the eye, and I think the mirroring of past events is very neat. The supernatural aspect took a while for me to come around to, as I somehow missed this was a paranormal mystery, but I found it interesting, and I liked the different ways we saw people interact with it. I also liked the ending, I thought everything was wrapped up well, and I especially liked the bit with Pearl.
The cons: Alright I have to start with the more personal-taste things. As I said at the top, I'm from Monterey (or at least, I consider myself such. I finished high school and started college there, learned to drive there, had my first job there, met my fiance there (who IS a lifelong native), my family still lives in the area, etc). Maybe it's because I've never lived in a place that anyone has cared to write about, or maybe because I've had a general aversion to books that take place in real cities in the real world, or maybe it's just dumb luck, but I've actually never read a book that takes place in a town I've lived in (besides some Steinbeck, but I'll talk more on that in a second). In fact, I've long believed people's reactions to reading about their hometown were exaggerated, or people being too sensitive - surely, it's not that big a deal. And overall, I do still stand by that - but boy oh boy if I did not get annoyed reading about Monterey here. And it's not like it's inaccurate! The county was very familiar aside from the few fictional places (the Perles mansion, of course, but also Monterey College, which I assume is a blend of CSUMB and MPC). It's in the details. The author seems to have visited Monterey somewhat frequently but not lived there, I'm not expecting her to know about Candy Cane Lane being such a major place for trick-or-treaters that families from all over the county go there, but I am expecting things like calling Monterey Bay Aquarium by the correct name (literally no one calls it Monterey Aquarium???) or Spanish Beach Bay???? (it's Spanish Bay). Maybe I'm being pedantic, maybe I'm falling into the exact trap everyone else who reads about their hometown is, that's why I'm putting this first. There are two specific instances of Monterey-based irritation that I have bigger and more valid complaints about.
The first is right in chapter one. Harper's on the ghost tour, it starts at the Customs House at Old Fisherman's Wharf. The next location is the Monterey Hotel, off Alvarado St. This is fine, these are both common locations on ghost tours - but they're about a ten minute walk apart, and we cross that distance in maybe a paragraph. It's treated as if it's across the street. At base, that's not a horrible issue, but there was truly just no indication of time passing, no telling what's happening during that ten minute walk with no ghost stuff, not even just a "we walked for a while" or something. This is indicative of a bigger issue throughout the book, which is pacing, especially in the small-scale. Things happen with little transition, the passage of time is often shaky at best, and honestly it gets worse when real-life locations get involved.
The other Monterey-based issue is the infodumping. People love to talk about this town and the random lore they know. Maybe it's more fun for people who don't know the town, but I already know about the history of Monterey Jack cheese, and Fort Ord, and the aquarium's conservation efforts, and so on. I actually don't have an issue with this conceptually, but good god was the execution annoying! Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE has something to loredump about. People do not talk like this. Not even to someone new in town. Maybe if they asked, then people would probably have specific things they know, or things they learned in school, or whatever, but most of the time Harper doesn't even prompt people. They just start infodumping to her, and to us the readers. There is a better way to do this. For example - Steinbeck! Monterey is Steinbeck Country, he and his work get mentioned several times. Part of it is the century-or-so difference between when he was writing and now, but when Steinbeck starts expositing about Monterey County, he's not just namedropping places or giving fun facts. He's painting a picture of the area, giving you an idea of what it's like there not just from facts and locations, but from feelings and atmosphere. There's a purpose to it. Here, it's like the author doesn't know how to put the county's identity into the story, and thus feels the need to have the crutch of Tourist Fun Facts and namedrops and so on. Not to mention that the same goddamn facts/rumors about the fictional lore of the Perles family gets mentioned by every goddamn character.
Now, I got very annoyed at all of the above and considered DNFing - when I tell you nothing related to the mystery happens between the first like three chapters and the 40% mark, that is. only a very slight exaggeration - but I pressed on, because I was interested in the murder! And honestly, while there are aspects of it I liked as I mentioned before, I don't think it was worth all of the headache that was the rest of this book. There were too many aspects to the case and we did not spend enough time on any of them. Truly the least suspicious suspect is the one the police decide to pin it on initially and we never ever hear why, we have really no indication of a suspect at all until more than halfway through, we never really go searching for clues or doing any detective work about the actual case, and just. Harper is a very bad lead for a murder mystery. I understand the book was trying to be realistic, have her focus on other things while the police investigate the murder, but that's just not how the genre works! And it makes it feel like nothing is happening. Also, I did not like the romance subplot. As a matter of fact, I only liked one character at all, and that was Ellen. And even she got on my nerves sometimes.
Also, sorry, last thing that's vaguely Monterey-related but not really, I hate how the college works. Even the name. Maybe I'm crazy, but colleges in California are always either [county] State University, or Cal Poly [county], or University of California [county], never just. [county] State. Sometimes for community colleges, but community colleges don't have student housing. It just irked me, and furthermore, you're telling me a college big enough to have student housing doesn't have a history teacher? I have to assume they mean that there's no full-time faculty and it's all adjuncts, because I think that might even be just impossible, even if it's a science-oriented school, because at least one history class is required to get a degree in California. I also didn't get the rivalry between Harper and Naomi - hell, Harper's got some weird ideas about female friendship in general that I didn't like.
Overall, augh.
1.5 stars. Fair warning for the review to come - I'm from Monterey.
The pros: Despite my issues with the setting (see the cons), I admit it was kind of fun to read about Monterey in a genre story. It made me want to write about it, and I hate writing about the real world. The most important thing for a good murder mystery is an interesting case, and I did find this interesting! There's more to it than meets the eye, and I think the mirroring of past events is very neat. The supernatural aspect took a while for me to come around to, as I somehow missed this was a paranormal mystery, but I found it interesting, and I liked the different ways we saw people interact with it. I also liked the ending, I thought everything was wrapped up well, and I especially liked the bit with Pearl.
The cons: Alright I have to start with the more personal-taste things. As I said at the top, I'm from Monterey (or at least, I consider myself such. I finished high school and started college there, learned to drive there, had my first job there, met my fiance there (who IS a lifelong native), my family still lives in the area, etc). Maybe it's because I've never lived in a place that anyone has cared to write about, or maybe because I've had a general aversion to books that take place in real cities in the real world, or maybe it's just dumb luck, but I've actually never read a book that takes place in a town I've lived in (besides some Steinbeck, but I'll talk more on that in a second). In fact, I've long believed people's reactions to reading about their hometown were exaggerated, or people being too sensitive - surely, it's not that big a deal. And overall, I do still stand by that - but boy oh boy if I did not get annoyed reading about Monterey here. And it's not like it's inaccurate! The county was very familiar aside from the few fictional places (the Perles mansion, of course, but also Monterey College, which I assume is a blend of CSUMB and MPC). It's in the details. The author seems to have visited Monterey somewhat frequently but not lived there, I'm not expecting her to know about Candy Cane Lane being such a major place for trick-or-treaters that families from all over the county go there, but I am expecting things like calling Monterey Bay Aquarium by the correct name (literally no one calls it Monterey Aquarium???) or Spanish Beach Bay???? (it's Spanish Bay). Maybe I'm being pedantic, maybe I'm falling into the exact trap everyone else who reads about their hometown is, that's why I'm putting this first. There are two specific instances of Monterey-based irritation that I have bigger and more valid complaints about.
The first is right in chapter one. Harper's on the ghost tour, it starts at the Customs House at Old Fisherman's Wharf. The next location is the Monterey Hotel, off Alvarado St. This is fine, these are both common locations on ghost tours - but they're about a ten minute walk apart, and we cross that distance in maybe a paragraph. It's treated as if it's across the street. At base, that's not a horrible issue, but there was truly just no indication of time passing, no telling what's happening during that ten minute walk with no ghost stuff, not even just a "we walked for a while" or something. This is indicative of a bigger issue throughout the book, which is pacing, especially in the small-scale. Things happen with little transition, the passage of time is often shaky at best, and honestly it gets worse when real-life locations get involved.
The other Monterey-based issue is the infodumping. People love to talk about this town and the random lore they know. Maybe it's more fun for people who don't know the town, but I already know about the history of Monterey Jack cheese, and Fort Ord, and the aquarium's conservation efforts, and so on. I actually don't have an issue with this conceptually, but good god was the execution annoying! Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE has something to loredump about. People do not talk like this. Not even to someone new in town. Maybe if they asked, then people would probably have specific things they know, or things they learned in school, or whatever, but most of the time Harper doesn't even prompt people. They just start infodumping to her, and to us the readers. There is a better way to do this. For example - Steinbeck! Monterey is Steinbeck Country, he and his work get mentioned several times. Part of it is the century-or-so difference between when he was writing and now, but when Steinbeck starts expositing about Monterey County, he's not just namedropping places or giving fun facts. He's painting a picture of the area, giving you an idea of what it's like there not just from facts and locations, but from feelings and atmosphere. There's a purpose to it. Here, it's like the author doesn't know how to put the county's identity into the story, and thus feels the need to have the crutch of Tourist Fun Facts and namedrops and so on. Not to mention that the same goddamn facts/rumors about the fictional lore of the Perles family gets mentioned by every goddamn character.
Now, I got very annoyed at all of the above and considered DNFing - when I tell you nothing related to the mystery happens between the first like three chapters and the 40% mark, that is. only a very slight exaggeration - but I pressed on, because I was interested in the murder! And honestly, while there are aspects of it I liked as I mentioned before, I don't think it was worth all of the headache that was the rest of this book. There were too many aspects to the case and we did not spend enough time on any of them. Truly the least suspicious suspect is the one the police decide to pin it on initially and we never ever hear why, we have really no indication of a suspect at all until more than halfway through, we never really go searching for clues or doing any detective work about the actual case, and just. Harper is a very bad lead for a murder mystery. I understand the book was trying to be realistic, have her focus on other things while the police investigate the murder, but that's just not how the genre works! And it makes it feel like nothing is happening. Also, I did not like the romance subplot. As a matter of fact, I only liked one character at all, and that was Ellen. And even she got on my nerves sometimes.
Also, sorry, last thing that's vaguely Monterey-related but not really, I hate how the college works. Even the name. Maybe I'm crazy, but colleges in California are always either [county] State University, or Cal Poly [county], or University of California [county], never just. [county] State. Sometimes for community colleges, but community colleges don't have student housing. It just irked me, and furthermore, you're telling me a college big enough to have student housing doesn't have a history teacher? I have to assume they mean that there's no full-time faculty and it's all adjuncts, because I think that might even be just impossible, even if it's a science-oriented school, because at least one history class is required to get a degree in California. I also didn't get the rivalry between Harper and Naomi - hell, Harper's got some weird ideas about female friendship in general that I didn't like.
Overall, augh.
July 31, 2026
The Séance Garden is the first book I've ready by Juliet Blackwell. I would definitely read more of her work. This haunted house/mystery and thriller kept me on the edge of my seat for most of the story. Do you find that mirrors make you feel uncomfortable at times? Were you one of those kids (I'm probably showing my age here) who had friends who stared into the mirror saying "Bloody Mary" 3 times? I remember avoiding the bathroom when I was a Brownie because some of the girls would go in the bathroom and try it. Not me. No way. Did I believe in it? Not really...but why risk it?! You never really know what may happen, do you?
When Professor Harper Grae loses a bet with a friend, she finds herself on a local nighttime tour of “haunted” locations in Monterey. Harper’s a lifelong non-believer in the occult, though her academic career is devoted to the historical and societal significance of witchcraft, ghosts, and medicinal poisons of all sorts. But her skepticism immediately gets tested when the tour stumbles on the body of local artist Delilah Mason—who’s found murdered on the grounds of a nearly two-hundred-year-old mansion, once home to the infamous Perles family. On the night Mason’s body is found, Harper catches sight of something in the house that she can’t shake, something that’s impossible to explain, at least not rationally. Soon the murder investigation reveals that this is the second time a woman has been found murdered beneath a sprawling cypress tree in the gardens of the Perles Mansion. And when Harper’s closest friend is questioned by the police, Harper fears the authorities will fail to uncover the real killer. As Harper asks questions around town and digs deeper into the supernatural speculation and rumors surrounding the murders—two women killed in similar circumstances, separated by nearly two centuries —she sees evidence she can’t ignore that the notorious mansion truly is haunted by the ghost of Isabel Perles. What will it cost Harper to rethink everything she’s always believed to admit that the veil between the living and the dead might actually be crossed?
This description is a bit misleading. The tour members didn't come across a murdered Delilah Mason. They saw a hand coming up out of the ground, and they dug her out. She was still alive! That's actually way more creepy, isn't it? She did die shortly after; it was discovered later that she was stabbed before being buried. It was quite a start to the book! Harper Grae didn't want to be on the cheesy "ghost tour" to begin with, but she lost a bet with Tariq, her best friend. Harper was an interesting character. She was 40 years old, recently divorced and lost her last job when she did not get tenure. She is now a professor at a school in Monterey, California. Her academic work is devoted to the historical and societal significance of witchcraft, ghosts, and medicinal poisons. She doesn't believe in any of that stuff, mind you. But after seeing an unexplainable vision in the window of the Perles mansion where Delilah was found, she had to begin to question her beliefs. Between chapters, there were some journal entries from Soren Perles, who lived in the mansion with his sister Isabel almost 200 years before. They were quite disturbing. Not only was he digging up bodies to study (he was a doctor), but he was way closer to his sister than siblings should ever be. The relationship between Delilah and her brother seemed to be a reflection of Soren and Isabel's. (With the exception of digging up dead bodies, of course.) Harper is determined to find out what actually happened to Delilah. Every time she was in the Perles mansion, unexplainable things happened. She got her hands on a journal written by Soren, which Delilah had written in as well, making notes and writing recipes (microdosing of poisons to make cures for illnesses). Strange things began to happen when Harper was in her home at night: Why did the door open at night even though it was locked, and who was the woman outside dancing in the dark? When she heard some things that her friend Tariq had done in the past, she began to wonder a bit about him. Just who could she trust? Let's not give any of the surprises away; I don't want to ruin the book for you. The only thing I found wrong with the book is that the ending seemed a bit, well, old-timey ghost story, not the horror I was expecting. Yet it was well worth reading, as your apprehension will increase as the story goes on. I definitely recommend this story.
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
When Professor Harper Grae loses a bet with a friend, she finds herself on a local nighttime tour of “haunted” locations in Monterey. Harper’s a lifelong non-believer in the occult, though her academic career is devoted to the historical and societal significance of witchcraft, ghosts, and medicinal poisons of all sorts. But her skepticism immediately gets tested when the tour stumbles on the body of local artist Delilah Mason—who’s found murdered on the grounds of a nearly two-hundred-year-old mansion, once home to the infamous Perles family. On the night Mason’s body is found, Harper catches sight of something in the house that she can’t shake, something that’s impossible to explain, at least not rationally. Soon the murder investigation reveals that this is the second time a woman has been found murdered beneath a sprawling cypress tree in the gardens of the Perles Mansion. And when Harper’s closest friend is questioned by the police, Harper fears the authorities will fail to uncover the real killer. As Harper asks questions around town and digs deeper into the supernatural speculation and rumors surrounding the murders—two women killed in similar circumstances, separated by nearly two centuries —she sees evidence she can’t ignore that the notorious mansion truly is haunted by the ghost of Isabel Perles. What will it cost Harper to rethink everything she’s always believed to admit that the veil between the living and the dead might actually be crossed?
This description is a bit misleading. The tour members didn't come across a murdered Delilah Mason. They saw a hand coming up out of the ground, and they dug her out. She was still alive! That's actually way more creepy, isn't it? She did die shortly after; it was discovered later that she was stabbed before being buried. It was quite a start to the book! Harper Grae didn't want to be on the cheesy "ghost tour" to begin with, but she lost a bet with Tariq, her best friend. Harper was an interesting character. She was 40 years old, recently divorced and lost her last job when she did not get tenure. She is now a professor at a school in Monterey, California. Her academic work is devoted to the historical and societal significance of witchcraft, ghosts, and medicinal poisons. She doesn't believe in any of that stuff, mind you. But after seeing an unexplainable vision in the window of the Perles mansion where Delilah was found, she had to begin to question her beliefs. Between chapters, there were some journal entries from Soren Perles, who lived in the mansion with his sister Isabel almost 200 years before. They were quite disturbing. Not only was he digging up bodies to study (he was a doctor), but he was way closer to his sister than siblings should ever be. The relationship between Delilah and her brother seemed to be a reflection of Soren and Isabel's. (With the exception of digging up dead bodies, of course.) Harper is determined to find out what actually happened to Delilah. Every time she was in the Perles mansion, unexplainable things happened. She got her hands on a journal written by Soren, which Delilah had written in as well, making notes and writing recipes (microdosing of poisons to make cures for illnesses). Strange things began to happen when Harper was in her home at night: Why did the door open at night even though it was locked, and who was the woman outside dancing in the dark? When she heard some things that her friend Tariq had done in the past, she began to wonder a bit about him. Just who could she trust? Let's not give any of the surprises away; I don't want to ruin the book for you. The only thing I found wrong with the book is that the ending seemed a bit, well, old-timey ghost story, not the horror I was expecting. Yet it was well worth reading, as your apprehension will increase as the story goes on. I definitely recommend this story.
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
June 6, 2026
I appreciated the storytelling in this book, but hate to say I’ve been a little disappointed in Blackwell’s last two books. While I love her Witchcraft series, and a couple of her other stand-alone titles, her ghostly-murder-mysteries just seem to not be my thing.
I liked Harper’s character, and the story was interesting, but the ending felt completely anticlimactic to me.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC!
I liked Harper’s character, and the story was interesting, but the ending felt completely anticlimactic to me.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC!
May 26, 2026
Loved it! The Séance Garden is a perfect mix of paranormal creepiness, murder mystery, and life. A history professor specializing in ghost stories and all things creepy is starting her life over after a divorce but ends up involved in a murder investigation. A creepy house with history, ghosts in mirrors, new friends, potential love, overall a great read!
ARC received from NetGalley
ARC received from NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an early copy of The Séance Garden by Juliet Blackwell.
Harper Grae is a folklore historian of the occult, which immediately made her such an interesting main character to me because despite spending her academic career studying witchcraft, ghosts, folklore, poisons, and the historical significance of the supernatural, she does not actually believe in ghosts herself. She is a skeptic surrounded by the very subjects she has devoted her life to studying, and I really enjoyed that contrast.
After losing a bet with a friend, Harper ends up on a nighttime ghost tour in Monterey, California. What should have been a cheesy evening of local legends and supposedly haunted locations turns very real when the tour comes across the body of local artist Delilah Mason on the grounds of the old Perles Mansion. The mansion already carries its own dark history, but things become even more unsettling when Harper learns that another woman was found murdered beneath the same sprawling cypress tree nearly two hundred years earlier.
And then Harper sees something she cannot explain.
That was where this book really grabbed me.
I thought the pacing was perfect. This never felt painfully slow to me, but it also did not rush through the atmosphere or the mystery just to keep throwing twists at the reader. The story gave everything enough room to build. The present day murder investigation, the history surrounding the Perles family, the earlier death, and the possibility that Isabel Perles may still be haunting the mansion all slowly begin pressing against one another.
The gothic feeling was one of my favorite parts of the entire book. I love gothic stories, and even though this is also a contemporary mystery and thriller, there were moments when it absolutely gave me that dark, old, haunted atmosphere I crave. The descriptions of the mansion especially worked for me. The old house, the grounds, the cypress tree, and the history surrounding everything created this sense that the past was never completely gone.
I also really appreciated the amount of description throughout the book. Sometimes heavy description can slow a story down for me, but here I thought it helped build the atmosphere. I could picture the mansion and feel the uneasiness surrounding it. The setting was not just somewhere the characters happened to be. It felt connected to the mystery itself, and that made the story much more immersive for me.
Harper was also a great choice for this particular story because her skepticism gives the supernatural elements more weight. If she had entered the story already believing every ghost story and rumor, I do not think her experience would have been nearly as interesting. Instead, she keeps trying to find rational explanations for what she sees and feels, even as the evidence becomes harder to dismiss. Watching someone whose entire career revolves around the occult begin questioning the line between academic knowledge and actual belief was fascinating.
The mystery itself kept me invested. I liked the connection between two women killed under similar circumstances nearly two centuries apart, and I enjoyed watching Harper dig into the rumors, history, and supernatural speculation surrounding the mansion. Once someone close to her becomes caught up in the investigation, the stakes become much more personal, giving Harper a real reason to keep asking questions instead of leaving everything to the police.
My one real complaint is that I wanted more information and depth when it came to some of the characters. I was interested in them, but there were times when I wished I knew them better. A little more character development would have made certain relationships and moments hit harder emotionally for me. The atmosphere and mystery were strong, but I think deeper character work could have pushed this even higher.
Still, I got completely sucked into this story. I loved the pacing, the gothic atmosphere, the creepy mansion, the historical connections, and the constant question of whether something supernatural was truly happening. This was a really enjoyable thriller with mystery, history, and ghostly elements woven together in a way that kept me reading.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely. Especially if you enjoy atmospheric mysteries, creepy old mansions, historical secrets, skeptical main characters forced to question what they believe, and stories where the past refuses to stay buried. The Séance Garden gave me the gothic feeling I love while still delivering a compelling modern mystery, and I had a great time reading it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an early copy of The Séance Garden by Juliet Blackwell.
Harper Grae is a folklore historian of the occult, which immediately made her such an interesting main character to me because despite spending her academic career studying witchcraft, ghosts, folklore, poisons, and the historical significance of the supernatural, she does not actually believe in ghosts herself. She is a skeptic surrounded by the very subjects she has devoted her life to studying, and I really enjoyed that contrast.
After losing a bet with a friend, Harper ends up on a nighttime ghost tour in Monterey, California. What should have been a cheesy evening of local legends and supposedly haunted locations turns very real when the tour comes across the body of local artist Delilah Mason on the grounds of the old Perles Mansion. The mansion already carries its own dark history, but things become even more unsettling when Harper learns that another woman was found murdered beneath the same sprawling cypress tree nearly two hundred years earlier.
And then Harper sees something she cannot explain.
That was where this book really grabbed me.
I thought the pacing was perfect. This never felt painfully slow to me, but it also did not rush through the atmosphere or the mystery just to keep throwing twists at the reader. The story gave everything enough room to build. The present day murder investigation, the history surrounding the Perles family, the earlier death, and the possibility that Isabel Perles may still be haunting the mansion all slowly begin pressing against one another.
The gothic feeling was one of my favorite parts of the entire book. I love gothic stories, and even though this is also a contemporary mystery and thriller, there were moments when it absolutely gave me that dark, old, haunted atmosphere I crave. The descriptions of the mansion especially worked for me. The old house, the grounds, the cypress tree, and the history surrounding everything created this sense that the past was never completely gone.
I also really appreciated the amount of description throughout the book. Sometimes heavy description can slow a story down for me, but here I thought it helped build the atmosphere. I could picture the mansion and feel the uneasiness surrounding it. The setting was not just somewhere the characters happened to be. It felt connected to the mystery itself, and that made the story much more immersive for me.
Harper was also a great choice for this particular story because her skepticism gives the supernatural elements more weight. If she had entered the story already believing every ghost story and rumor, I do not think her experience would have been nearly as interesting. Instead, she keeps trying to find rational explanations for what she sees and feels, even as the evidence becomes harder to dismiss. Watching someone whose entire career revolves around the occult begin questioning the line between academic knowledge and actual belief was fascinating.
The mystery itself kept me invested. I liked the connection between two women killed under similar circumstances nearly two centuries apart, and I enjoyed watching Harper dig into the rumors, history, and supernatural speculation surrounding the mansion. Once someone close to her becomes caught up in the investigation, the stakes become much more personal, giving Harper a real reason to keep asking questions instead of leaving everything to the police.
My one real complaint is that I wanted more information and depth when it came to some of the characters. I was interested in them, but there were times when I wished I knew them better. A little more character development would have made certain relationships and moments hit harder emotionally for me. The atmosphere and mystery were strong, but I think deeper character work could have pushed this even higher.
Still, I got completely sucked into this story. I loved the pacing, the gothic atmosphere, the creepy mansion, the historical connections, and the constant question of whether something supernatural was truly happening. This was a really enjoyable thriller with mystery, history, and ghostly elements woven together in a way that kept me reading.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely. Especially if you enjoy atmospheric mysteries, creepy old mansions, historical secrets, skeptical main characters forced to question what they believe, and stories where the past refuses to stay buried. The Séance Garden gave me the gothic feeling I love while still delivering a compelling modern mystery, and I had a great time reading it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of The Séance Garden, by Juliet Blackwell, from Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
⭐ 4 ⭐
I do love me a creepy mirror-based mystery/paranormal story that involves academia and the ocean (however ancillary), and Juliet Blackwell delivered with this one. As she did on descriptions of Carmel and Monterey, parts of California I actually _do_ like in books (unlike Los Angeles, which I really hate in real life and mostly don’t like in books). Her writing made me want to visit the area, for sure.
It does strike me as amusing, though, when anybody talks or writes about somewhere being the oldest town in any West Coast city. I guess that’s because I’ve lived in the Deep South (and Florida and Tennessee—yes, they’re that different that they need to be singled out) for my whole life. And because I can trace my ancestry through my maiden name back to about 900 AD. So, “old” means something different to me, I guess.
Anywhoodles, if the description of this book speaks to you as it did to me, you’ll probably enjoy The Séance Garden. I recommend reading it at one sitting, as I was fortunate enough to do yesterday afternoon. Also, I’m looking forward to reading more by Ms Blackwell.
A PS About Mirrors
I can totally get why people have been weirded out by mirrors, especially in darkening light, pretty much throughout the history of time. ESPECIALLY if they had been eating ergot-laced bread, if you know what I mean?
I asked My Beloved Husband if he thought mirrors could be creepy, and he said yes—and that he’d heard somewhere along the way that under the right circumstances you could see your ancestors in them. My reply was, “Well, of course you could, you look like them!”
While I have never seen anyone I don’t know in a mirror, at night or in the light of day, I often do see other people. Mother, Daddy, Mama Ruthie and Aunt Jo (my maternal grandmother and her sister), my cousin Becca, one of my cousin Josh’s granddaughters (Josh is Becca’s uncle) whose name I cannot for the life of me remember. When this happens, it’s quite startling, to be honest. Also, during some really dark times in my life, I saw who I call Mean Kristi in the mirror, and she was quite unkind in what she communicated to me. (For the record, I was not eating ergot-laced bread at the time. If, again, you know what I mean.)
So, yeah. Give me a good creepy mirror story any day of the week!
DESCRIPTION
After a cheesy ghost tour in one of California’s oldest towns stumbles upon an actual haunting, a skeptical historian of the occult becomes entangled in solving a murder case.
When Professor Harper Grae loses a bet with a friend, she finds herself on a local nighttime tour of “haunted” locations in Monterey. Harper’s a lifelong non-believer in the occult, though her academic career is devoted to the historical and societal significance of witchcraft, ghosts, and medicinal poisons of all sorts. But her skepticism immediately gets tested when the tour stumbles on the body of local artist Delilah Mason—who’s found murdered on the grounds of a nearly two-hundred-year-old mansion, once home to the infamous Perles family.
On the night Mason’s body is found, Harper catches sight of something in the house that she can’t shake, something that’s impossible to explain, at least not rationally. Soon the murder investigation reveals that this is the second time a woman has been found murdered beneath a sprawling cypress tree in the gardens of the Perles Mansion. And when Harper’s closest friend is questioned by the police, Harper fears the authorities will fail to uncover the real killer.
As Harper asks questions around town and digs deeper into the supernatural speculation and rumors surrounding the murders—two women killed in similar circumstances, separated by nearly two centuries —she sees evidence she can’t ignore that the notorious mansion truly is haunted by the ghost of Isabel Perles.
What will it cost Harper to rethink everything she’s always believed to admit that the veil between the living and the dead might actually be crossed?
Received a complimentary copy of The Séance Garden, by Juliet Blackwell, from Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
⭐ 4 ⭐
I do love me a creepy mirror-based mystery/paranormal story that involves academia and the ocean (however ancillary), and Juliet Blackwell delivered with this one. As she did on descriptions of Carmel and Monterey, parts of California I actually _do_ like in books (unlike Los Angeles, which I really hate in real life and mostly don’t like in books). Her writing made me want to visit the area, for sure.
It does strike me as amusing, though, when anybody talks or writes about somewhere being the oldest town in any West Coast city. I guess that’s because I’ve lived in the Deep South (and Florida and Tennessee—yes, they’re that different that they need to be singled out) for my whole life. And because I can trace my ancestry through my maiden name back to about 900 AD. So, “old” means something different to me, I guess.
Anywhoodles, if the description of this book speaks to you as it did to me, you’ll probably enjoy The Séance Garden. I recommend reading it at one sitting, as I was fortunate enough to do yesterday afternoon. Also, I’m looking forward to reading more by Ms Blackwell.
A PS About Mirrors
I can totally get why people have been weirded out by mirrors, especially in darkening light, pretty much throughout the history of time. ESPECIALLY if they had been eating ergot-laced bread, if you know what I mean?
I asked My Beloved Husband if he thought mirrors could be creepy, and he said yes—and that he’d heard somewhere along the way that under the right circumstances you could see your ancestors in them. My reply was, “Well, of course you could, you look like them!”
While I have never seen anyone I don’t know in a mirror, at night or in the light of day, I often do see other people. Mother, Daddy, Mama Ruthie and Aunt Jo (my maternal grandmother and her sister), my cousin Becca, one of my cousin Josh’s granddaughters (Josh is Becca’s uncle) whose name I cannot for the life of me remember. When this happens, it’s quite startling, to be honest. Also, during some really dark times in my life, I saw who I call Mean Kristi in the mirror, and she was quite unkind in what she communicated to me. (For the record, I was not eating ergot-laced bread at the time. If, again, you know what I mean.)
So, yeah. Give me a good creepy mirror story any day of the week!
DESCRIPTION
After a cheesy ghost tour in one of California’s oldest towns stumbles upon an actual haunting, a skeptical historian of the occult becomes entangled in solving a murder case.
When Professor Harper Grae loses a bet with a friend, she finds herself on a local nighttime tour of “haunted” locations in Monterey. Harper’s a lifelong non-believer in the occult, though her academic career is devoted to the historical and societal significance of witchcraft, ghosts, and medicinal poisons of all sorts. But her skepticism immediately gets tested when the tour stumbles on the body of local artist Delilah Mason—who’s found murdered on the grounds of a nearly two-hundred-year-old mansion, once home to the infamous Perles family.
On the night Mason’s body is found, Harper catches sight of something in the house that she can’t shake, something that’s impossible to explain, at least not rationally. Soon the murder investigation reveals that this is the second time a woman has been found murdered beneath a sprawling cypress tree in the gardens of the Perles Mansion. And when Harper’s closest friend is questioned by the police, Harper fears the authorities will fail to uncover the real killer.
As Harper asks questions around town and digs deeper into the supernatural speculation and rumors surrounding the murders—two women killed in similar circumstances, separated by nearly two centuries —she sees evidence she can’t ignore that the notorious mansion truly is haunted by the ghost of Isabel Perles.
What will it cost Harper to rethink everything she’s always believed to admit that the veil between the living and the dead might actually be crossed?
August 2, 2026
This stand alone (or maybe not) mystery toes the line of also being a paranormal gothic horror. Professor Harper Grae has lost a bet to her graduate school friend, Tariq and they're going on a ghost tour that concludes at the infamous Perles Mansion now owned by the eccentric artist Delilah Mason and this begins the one problematic theme for me (more on that later). Naturally being a mystery, you know where this is going: the tour ends up stumbling over Delilah murdered in the garden.
Harper, fearing Tariq who turns out to have know Delilah will be blamed, starts helping with the investigation unofficially. It doesn't help that her PhD was in witchcraft/death rituals and folklore because there is a ritual element. She's also written papers on poison which da da daaaah, plays a role.
Other suspects include the contractor (Delilah's current lover), her ex-husband, Sigrid the witch who was helping her with herbal healing, Highbaugh the gallery owner who showcased her work, and her overprotective brother, Asher. And oh, right, the ghosts of the house. Into this mess are two of Harper's students, Blanca and Jenny, who also have a true crime podcast and have an interest in Delilah's death but also the contaminated grounds of the defunct army base Delilah's ex is trying to turn into exclusive housing.
Dovetailed into this is Soren and Isabella Perles' history which is something of a mirror to Delilah and Asher. I think it worked quite well. I liked the characters and the resolution made a lot of sense. Harper is forty at the beginning of the book and having to start all over after her partner left her and her not getting tenure at her last college so she's at a small college in Monterey Bay reconnecting with Tariq who does jellyfish research (cool).
The detective in this seemed a bit under developed but on the other hand, he's not ridiculously pig headed about blaming her or super solicitous of getting help like you see in some amateur sleuth mysteries. The paranormal aspects have a good gothic feel to it. Is it ghosts? (Harper isn't a believer) Is it psychology? Time will tell. Over all I really liked it so why not five stars? It's not much of a spoiler so I'll put it here.
Also content warning - murder (naturally), mentions of incest, mentions of child death
So what bugged me is how Harper's college handled the ghost tour. The author isn't an academic but her sister is (almost afraid to ask where given how academia is portrayed here). As for me I was a medical doctor and is now a professor (who does research herbal medicine) and I can honestly say I have never heard of a college threatening a professor's job because they went on a ghost tour. It would be one thing if it was just her 'nemesis' saying it because whatever but the dean isn't happy either. I have been on my college's tenure committee for over a decade and I can tell you never once have we cared that someone went on a ghost tour. I give ghost tours and I'm a tenured school of science professor. No one cares. Maybe there's an uptight university that might (I'm thinking religious ones but that's not this) And what bugged me most about it, is Harper fears this so why in the world would she ever agreed to go on a ghost tour? If you wanted to threaten her tenure, her being in the off-limits army base or being around crime scenes would be much more believable. And since nothing comes of it, it felt utterly unnecessary but that was my only big problem with the book
Harper, fearing Tariq who turns out to have know Delilah will be blamed, starts helping with the investigation unofficially. It doesn't help that her PhD was in witchcraft/death rituals and folklore because there is a ritual element. She's also written papers on poison which da da daaaah, plays a role.
Other suspects include the contractor (Delilah's current lover), her ex-husband, Sigrid the witch who was helping her with herbal healing, Highbaugh the gallery owner who showcased her work, and her overprotective brother, Asher. And oh, right, the ghosts of the house. Into this mess are two of Harper's students, Blanca and Jenny, who also have a true crime podcast and have an interest in Delilah's death but also the contaminated grounds of the defunct army base Delilah's ex is trying to turn into exclusive housing.
Dovetailed into this is Soren and Isabella Perles' history which is something of a mirror to Delilah and Asher. I think it worked quite well. I liked the characters and the resolution made a lot of sense. Harper is forty at the beginning of the book and having to start all over after her partner left her and her not getting tenure at her last college so she's at a small college in Monterey Bay reconnecting with Tariq who does jellyfish research (cool).
The detective in this seemed a bit under developed but on the other hand, he's not ridiculously pig headed about blaming her or super solicitous of getting help like you see in some amateur sleuth mysteries. The paranormal aspects have a good gothic feel to it. Is it ghosts? (Harper isn't a believer) Is it psychology? Time will tell. Over all I really liked it so why not five stars? It's not much of a spoiler so I'll put it here.
Also content warning - murder (naturally), mentions of incest, mentions of child death
So what bugged me is how Harper's college handled the ghost tour. The author isn't an academic but her sister is (almost afraid to ask where given how academia is portrayed here). As for me I was a medical doctor and is now a professor (who does research herbal medicine) and I can honestly say I have never heard of a college threatening a professor's job because they went on a ghost tour. It would be one thing if it was just her 'nemesis' saying it because whatever but the dean isn't happy either. I have been on my college's tenure committee for over a decade and I can tell you never once have we cared that someone went on a ghost tour. I give ghost tours and I'm a tenured school of science professor. No one cares. Maybe there's an uptight university that might (I'm thinking religious ones but that's not this) And what bugged me most about it, is Harper fears this so why in the world would she ever agreed to go on a ghost tour? If you wanted to threaten her tenure, her being in the off-limits army base or being around crime scenes would be much more believable. And since nothing comes of it, it felt utterly unnecessary but that was my only big problem with the book
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When first stumbling upon Juliet Blackwell's Secondhand Spirits a cozy mystery featuring fun characters, witches, and vintage clothing galore I found that her style was imaginative and entertaining. So, when I saw this gothic cover art and found out this would be a horror novel my curiosity was piqued. All the elements of a good mystery are accounted for with plenty of intrigue and red herrings.
☠️☠️☠️
Professor Harper Grae loses a bet with her friend Tariq and with much reluctance agrees to take a ghost tour of California's local "hauntings". The guide is certifiably cheesetastic going overboard at every opportunity. It seems like a night that will become a joke between affable Tariq and the skeptical Harper until they arrive at The Séance Garden to see Deliliah Mason has been buried alive under a huge cypress tree. Harper looks up and sees a silhouette in the window of the two-hundred-year-old Perles mansion, but the owner is the woman found buried and when police search the home they don't find anyone. Harper has made a career out of studying the occult and remains skeptical, but she knows what she saw and after digging into the home's past she discovers that Deliliah isn't the first woman to be buried under that tree in the garden at the Perles's mansion. Two women buried in a similar fashion two centuries apart. It's chilling and the town whispers about supernatural happenings as the police search for a very real killer.
🪞🪞🪞
There is quite a bit of interest regarding the history of the Perles family and diary entries take readers back in time. The story was an easy one to picture in my mind as I read with an atmosphere alive with uncertainty and dread. I like how Harper was written as a flawed individual who was searching for the truth giving her a grounded more realistic feel. I liked her more because she made mistakes, stumbled, and apologized willing to own her behavior. The mysteries both past and present were intriguing with this huge gothic mansion at the center. The haunted vibes of the house were top tier and as someone who's read plenty of horror it delivers with nuance. I appreciate that style because less is more when it comes to creating creepiness. Going overboard cues my eyeroll when it comes to scare tactics. Maybe it's because giving the reader's brain enough breathing room to fill in the blanks provides the bigger shudder. This is a good one if a little long. There's plenty going on and clues everywhere, but it is easy to get pulled into the side plots and the dash of romance.
🧙🏻♀️🧙🏻♀️🧙🏻♀️
Grab your flashlight, pull the shroud off the mirror, maybe take a can of mace and get ready to see what the ghosts of Monterey have to say. 👻👻
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
☠️☠️☠️
Professor Harper Grae loses a bet with her friend Tariq and with much reluctance agrees to take a ghost tour of California's local "hauntings". The guide is certifiably cheesetastic going overboard at every opportunity. It seems like a night that will become a joke between affable Tariq and the skeptical Harper until they arrive at The Séance Garden to see Deliliah Mason has been buried alive under a huge cypress tree. Harper looks up and sees a silhouette in the window of the two-hundred-year-old Perles mansion, but the owner is the woman found buried and when police search the home they don't find anyone. Harper has made a career out of studying the occult and remains skeptical, but she knows what she saw and after digging into the home's past she discovers that Deliliah isn't the first woman to be buried under that tree in the garden at the Perles's mansion. Two women buried in a similar fashion two centuries apart. It's chilling and the town whispers about supernatural happenings as the police search for a very real killer.
🪞🪞🪞
There is quite a bit of interest regarding the history of the Perles family and diary entries take readers back in time. The story was an easy one to picture in my mind as I read with an atmosphere alive with uncertainty and dread. I like how Harper was written as a flawed individual who was searching for the truth giving her a grounded more realistic feel. I liked her more because she made mistakes, stumbled, and apologized willing to own her behavior. The mysteries both past and present were intriguing with this huge gothic mansion at the center. The haunted vibes of the house were top tier and as someone who's read plenty of horror it delivers with nuance. I appreciate that style because less is more when it comes to creating creepiness. Going overboard cues my eyeroll when it comes to scare tactics. Maybe it's because giving the reader's brain enough breathing room to fill in the blanks provides the bigger shudder. This is a good one if a little long. There's plenty going on and clues everywhere, but it is easy to get pulled into the side plots and the dash of romance.
🧙🏻♀️🧙🏻♀️🧙🏻♀️
Grab your flashlight, pull the shroud off the mirror, maybe take a can of mace and get ready to see what the ghosts of Monterey have to say. 👻👻
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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