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Saint Delilah
Delilah is dead. But her story is far from over. In this feminist supernatural suspense novel, she will find her peace—and give hell to the man who killed her.
When Delilah wakes, all she remembers is the pain and the anger. She knows she isn’t alive anymore. She knows someone hurt her. She can’t remember who.
Frightening creatures stalk Delilah in the space between life and death, eager to feed upon her suffering until her soul is reduced to a poltergeist. She can’t pass on until the balance has been restored—a life for a the death of her killer.
There is one person Delilah trusts to find her murderer and keep the darkness at Magda. And when a stranger comes to town seeking Magda’s spirit-medium help, too, Delilah notices something different about him. He can see her. He can feel her, love her, make her feel alive again before she’s really gone.
The three come together to solve Delilah’s murder, but as the creatures close in, time runs out. There will be one night, Halloween, when the veil will drop and Delilah may walk among the living for the last time.
Delilah may be damned, but she’s not going down alone. Those who’ve harmed her are going, too.
When Delilah wakes, all she remembers is the pain and the anger. She knows she isn’t alive anymore. She knows someone hurt her. She can’t remember who.
Frightening creatures stalk Delilah in the space between life and death, eager to feed upon her suffering until her soul is reduced to a poltergeist. She can’t pass on until the balance has been restored—a life for a the death of her killer.
There is one person Delilah trusts to find her murderer and keep the darkness at Magda. And when a stranger comes to town seeking Magda’s spirit-medium help, too, Delilah notices something different about him. He can see her. He can feel her, love her, make her feel alive again before she’s really gone.
The three come together to solve Delilah’s murder, but as the creatures close in, time runs out. There will be one night, Halloween, when the veil will drop and Delilah may walk among the living for the last time.
Delilah may be damned, but she’s not going down alone. Those who’ve harmed her are going, too.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 11, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A haunting tale of feminine rage, Saint Delilah was quite the unique, thought-provoking read. Exploring violence against women, justice vs revenge, and the power of letting go, it was an astounding debut novel of emotion and depth. You see, this was far more than just any old ghost story and instead took a hard look at how much society—but especially men—takes from the “weaker” sex, including their story—even after death. Defined by an ensemble cast that felt both layered and flawed, they pulled me into the story with ease. Delilah and Magda, though, were the stars of the show. With Delilah’s strong yet vulnerable oh so very root-for-able charm and Magda’s scene-stealing fierce, maternal side, the two were quite the memorable duo. Don’t get me wrong, the supporting cast was also second to none with their believable motives and morally gray ways. Altogether, they made this book into an easy one-sitting read despite the slow pace.
As much as I loved the characters, though, the plot was what kept my eyes glued to the pages. With a stuck-in-limbo ghost investigating her own murder, evil spirits waiting in the wings, and slow-burning suspense driving it all, it was an atmospheric read that oozed sublime world-building and a ghost mythology worth its weight in gold. Combined with some character-driven twists that were both dark and poignant, and it was a murder mystery I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. Perfect for fans of Ask for Andrea or a much darker and horror-based take on The Lovely Bones, this book gave the victim a voice in a gripping, page-turning way. So if you love horror filled to the brim with liminal settings, dread-fueled scenes, and eerie small-town secrets, order this book now. Sure to keep your enthralled as the multiple mysteries evolved into an even more onion-like story, you’ll see the afterlife in a brand-spanking-new, unforgettable way. Rating of 4 stars.
P.S. I do have to warn you that this was a genre-bending mashup that was initially hard to place. A mix of supernatural horror, a murder mystery, paranormal romance, and some definite literary fiction vibes with a slight satirical edge, don’t go into this book expecting a scary, leave-the-lights-on kind of read. It was a more nuanced and hard-to-describe novel of lingering thoughts and serious themes.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Morally gray characters
- A revenge plot
- Supernatural horror
- Multiple POVs
- Character-driven plotting
- Revenge plots
- Small-town settings
- A haunting feel
- Oodles of suspects
- Feminine rage
- Paranormal romance
- Emotional depth
- Thought-provoking themes
SYNOPSIS:
Delilah’s death was not swift or painless. A ghost at nineteen, business entirely unfinished, her last breath was angry. Someone killed her, but she doesn’t know who.
Undead creatures stalk Delilah’s spirit, eager to feed on her soul until nothing is left but a frightening poltergeist. She can’t pass on until the violence of her death is balanced with a life for her life.
Her killer must be killed.
If anyone can find her murderer and keep the darkness at bay, it’s Magda, the owner of the strip club where Delilah danced—and a powerful spirit medium. And when a young man comes to town seeking Magda’s supernatural services, he can see Delilah. He can hear her, touch her, and make her feel alive again.
The three come together to search for Delilah’s murderer. As the creatures close in, Delilah’s soul weakens but her power as a poltergeist grows, allowing her to affect the living.
Delilah may be dead, but she won’t waste this second chance—she’ll take those who’ve harmed her down with her.
Thank you Isabelle Spotts, Berkley Publishing, and NetGalley for my complimentary physical and digital copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 11, 2026
Content warning: murder, animal death, death of a child, grief, religious extremism, violence, cancer, gun violence, mention of: suicide, child abuse, death of a parent
As much as I loved the characters, though, the plot was what kept my eyes glued to the pages. With a stuck-in-limbo ghost investigating her own murder, evil spirits waiting in the wings, and slow-burning suspense driving it all, it was an atmospheric read that oozed sublime world-building and a ghost mythology worth its weight in gold. Combined with some character-driven twists that were both dark and poignant, and it was a murder mystery I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. Perfect for fans of Ask for Andrea or a much darker and horror-based take on The Lovely Bones, this book gave the victim a voice in a gripping, page-turning way. So if you love horror filled to the brim with liminal settings, dread-fueled scenes, and eerie small-town secrets, order this book now. Sure to keep your enthralled as the multiple mysteries evolved into an even more onion-like story, you’ll see the afterlife in a brand-spanking-new, unforgettable way. Rating of 4 stars.
P.S. I do have to warn you that this was a genre-bending mashup that was initially hard to place. A mix of supernatural horror, a murder mystery, paranormal romance, and some definite literary fiction vibes with a slight satirical edge, don’t go into this book expecting a scary, leave-the-lights-on kind of read. It was a more nuanced and hard-to-describe novel of lingering thoughts and serious themes.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Morally gray characters
- A revenge plot
- Supernatural horror
- Multiple POVs
- Character-driven plotting
- Revenge plots
- Small-town settings
- A haunting feel
- Oodles of suspects
- Feminine rage
- Paranormal romance
- Emotional depth
- Thought-provoking themes
SYNOPSIS:
Delilah’s death was not swift or painless. A ghost at nineteen, business entirely unfinished, her last breath was angry. Someone killed her, but she doesn’t know who.
Undead creatures stalk Delilah’s spirit, eager to feed on her soul until nothing is left but a frightening poltergeist. She can’t pass on until the violence of her death is balanced with a life for her life.
Her killer must be killed.
If anyone can find her murderer and keep the darkness at bay, it’s Magda, the owner of the strip club where Delilah danced—and a powerful spirit medium. And when a young man comes to town seeking Magda’s supernatural services, he can see Delilah. He can hear her, touch her, and make her feel alive again.
The three come together to search for Delilah’s murderer. As the creatures close in, Delilah’s soul weakens but her power as a poltergeist grows, allowing her to affect the living.
Delilah may be dead, but she won’t waste this second chance—she’ll take those who’ve harmed her down with her.
Thank you Isabelle Spotts, Berkley Publishing, and NetGalley for my complimentary physical and digital copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 11, 2026
Content warning: murder, animal death, death of a child, grief, religious extremism, violence, cancer, gun violence, mention of: suicide, child abuse, death of a parent
August 28, 2026
This is a very weird book... In a good way.
The MC Delilah is a dead stripper ghost- very much alive (although invisible) and she is seeking to solve the mystery of her own brutal death before her spirit can move on. Assisting Delilah is her longtime friend and employer, Magda (also a spiritual medium) and Cross- a stranger Magda hires (who ultimately CAN see Delilah).
I honestly almost quit as all this information unfolded. The story is a supernatural murder-mystery with feminist and religious overtones. And it surprisingly all came together. The characters are interesting, the mystery is real and I couldn't help cheering for Delilah- the little ghost that could...
The ending was wrapped up like a very neat birthday gift.
Sometimes I find authors floundering or leaving gaps, but this was tidy.
I can't WAIT to see MS Spotts next book.
3.75 stars
The MC Delilah is a dead stripper ghost- very much alive (although invisible) and she is seeking to solve the mystery of her own brutal death before her spirit can move on. Assisting Delilah is her longtime friend and employer, Magda (also a spiritual medium) and Cross- a stranger Magda hires (who ultimately CAN see Delilah).
I honestly almost quit as all this information unfolded. The story is a supernatural murder-mystery with feminist and religious overtones. And it surprisingly all came together. The characters are interesting, the mystery is real and I couldn't help cheering for Delilah- the little ghost that could...
The ending was wrapped up like a very neat birthday gift.
Sometimes I find authors floundering or leaving gaps, but this was tidy.
I can't WAIT to see MS Spotts next book.
3.75 stars
August 16, 2026
I received this book via NetGalley. This did not impact my rating or review.
Well, I liked the cover, and that's really all there is to say about this one. It was a confusing read with too many points of view and a ending that made no sense except to set up possibly another book starring Magda. And if Spotts had focused the book on just Delilah and Magda the book may have worked better.
Saint Delilah follows a young 20 old dancer Delilah. Delilah is being chased, and then militated and is left for dead in the woods. Delilah doesn't know who killed her, but she does know who to turn to now that she's dead, her boss and friend, Magda. Magda owns the bar that Delilah used to dance at, a motel, and other property in this small almost dead town. And Magda has a gift that lets her talk to the dead. She knows that because of the way that Delilah died, she's going to have to fix things, or something worse could happen. The book follows Magda and Delilah as they try to figure out who killed her and why.
The character development of Delilah and Magda was just bad. That's all I have to say. I wanted more information about Magda and what she can and can't do, but the information that comes to readers comes in drips and honestly some of it didn't make sense. And then we get some information about Magda that had me going wait what and it's not explained. And we somehow also get her having visions about things, and I don't know. She felt like a magical mcguffin after a while. And Delilah and her plot, such as it was, was a mess. I don't want to reveal too much about it, but I will just write that, Grey's Anatomy actually somehow did this better. And that's not a compliment. There are other characters int his one such as Cross (who seriously what was even his deal?) and others and I just stopped keeping things straight. There was too much happening and somehow not enough. And we keep getting told how important it is for Magda to kill the person who did this to Delilah from stopping something terrible from happening, but based on what I could tell it was just something that seemed to have no time constraint around it really. I wanted to know more about the Keepers, the town, etc. the lack of world building for the main plot was just not there.
The flow was really terrible. I don't even know what else to say. Having not just Delilah and Magda (which I will argue again, should have been the only POVs) we had Cross, Jessie, Henry, and two other men whose names I am drawing a blank about as I write this review. There were too many red herrings and not enough focus on the world building in this one to even figure out what was going on for the majority of the book.
The ending was just confusing. I mean I understand what happened and why but I just went well okay that was a book.
Well, I liked the cover, and that's really all there is to say about this one. It was a confusing read with too many points of view and a ending that made no sense except to set up possibly another book starring Magda. And if Spotts had focused the book on just Delilah and Magda the book may have worked better.
Saint Delilah follows a young 20 old dancer Delilah. Delilah is being chased, and then militated and is left for dead in the woods. Delilah doesn't know who killed her, but she does know who to turn to now that she's dead, her boss and friend, Magda. Magda owns the bar that Delilah used to dance at, a motel, and other property in this small almost dead town. And Magda has a gift that lets her talk to the dead. She knows that because of the way that Delilah died, she's going to have to fix things, or something worse could happen. The book follows Magda and Delilah as they try to figure out who killed her and why.
The character development of Delilah and Magda was just bad. That's all I have to say. I wanted more information about Magda and what she can and can't do, but the information that comes to readers comes in drips and honestly some of it didn't make sense. And then we get some information about Magda that had me going wait what and it's not explained. And we somehow also get her having visions about things, and I don't know. She felt like a magical mcguffin after a while. And Delilah and her plot, such as it was, was a mess. I don't want to reveal too much about it, but I will just write that, Grey's Anatomy actually somehow did this better. And that's not a compliment. There are other characters int his one such as Cross (who seriously what was even his deal?) and others and I just stopped keeping things straight. There was too much happening and somehow not enough. And we keep getting told how important it is for Magda to kill the person who did this to Delilah from stopping something terrible from happening, but based on what I could tell it was just something that seemed to have no time constraint around it really. I wanted to know more about the Keepers, the town, etc. the lack of world building for the main plot was just not there.
The flow was really terrible. I don't even know what else to say. Having not just Delilah and Magda (which I will argue again, should have been the only POVs) we had Cross, Jessie, Henry, and two other men whose names I am drawing a blank about as I write this review. There were too many red herrings and not enough focus on the world building in this one to even figure out what was going on for the majority of the book.
The ending was just confusing. I mean I understand what happened and why but I just went well okay that was a book.
February 24, 2026
WOW! If you love badass women and men getting every bit of karma they deserve, this is for you.
Saint Delilah is an intense, emotionally gripping debut novel by Isabelle Spotts! I felt so many emotions while reading this from deep sadness to simmering rage. When you pick this up be prepared to block off your whole day because you won’t want to put it down!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Saint Delilah is an intense, emotionally gripping debut novel by Isabelle Spotts! I felt so many emotions while reading this from deep sadness to simmering rage. When you pick this up be prepared to block off your whole day because you won’t want to put it down!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 22, 2026
3.5 stars
Saint Delilah was a unique blend of paranormal mystery, folklore, horror and feminist rage. From the opening chapters, I was immediately drawn into the story. It was very atmospheric.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is how layered the story becomes. As the timeline closes in on Delilah’s death, new perspectives and revelations continually reshape what the reader thinks they know.
Readers should know that feminist themes are woven throughout the novel and become increasingly prominent as the story unfolds. Much of the book examines the ways women are judged, controlled, objectified, and harmed, both through its supernatural and human characters. The commentary is intentional and often pointed, so readers who enjoy feminist horror and stories centered on women’s anger and grief will likely find a great deal to appreciate here.
Overall, Saint Delilah was an engaging and fast paced read that kept me turning the pages. While it didn’t become an emotional favorite for me, it was an entertaining and memorable mystery with a fascinating supernatural premise that I think will appeal to readers who enjoy dark folklore, ghost stories, and layered mysteries.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc set to publish August 11th, 2026.
Saint Delilah was a unique blend of paranormal mystery, folklore, horror and feminist rage. From the opening chapters, I was immediately drawn into the story. It was very atmospheric.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is how layered the story becomes. As the timeline closes in on Delilah’s death, new perspectives and revelations continually reshape what the reader thinks they know.
Readers should know that feminist themes are woven throughout the novel and become increasingly prominent as the story unfolds. Much of the book examines the ways women are judged, controlled, objectified, and harmed, both through its supernatural and human characters. The commentary is intentional and often pointed, so readers who enjoy feminist horror and stories centered on women’s anger and grief will likely find a great deal to appreciate here.
Overall, Saint Delilah was an engaging and fast paced read that kept me turning the pages. While it didn’t become an emotional favorite for me, it was an entertaining and memorable mystery with a fascinating supernatural premise that I think will appeal to readers who enjoy dark folklore, ghost stories, and layered mysteries.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc set to publish August 11th, 2026.
April 23, 2026
This is an atmospheric, supernatural horror book with whimsical yet dark themes. It is told from the POV of Delilah who is a ghost that was recently found dead in the forest behind the night club where she worked. Her perspective is so sad because we get to see the side of death from the otherside, the unknown, and it is sad to see what Delilah feels and how lonely things are on the “supernatural” side.
We get to see Magda’s POV who is Delilah’s former boss at the nightclub and she possesses a special gift of being able to communicate with the dead. She knows that Delilah is still around as a ghost and even though she can’t see her, she senses her presence.
There is also Cross who seeks Magda’s services for a personal matter. The thing about Cross is that he can see ghosts and soon enough he “meets” Delilah and they form a unique bond.
The story is centered on finding who took Delilah’s life as Magda explains that Delilah won’t be able to move on unless justice is served.
The book was very sad because we get to see both sides of death. We get to see the loneliness of being a ghost that hardly anyone can see and we get to see the side that loved ones experience which the author does an amazing job of capturing the sadness of Delilah’s parents. My heart broke for them so much!
I absolutely loved the uniqueness of this book to tell a ghost story in such a special way that I feel captures the readers hearts. I am looking forward to more books from this author!
Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group. All opinions are my own.
We get to see Magda’s POV who is Delilah’s former boss at the nightclub and she possesses a special gift of being able to communicate with the dead. She knows that Delilah is still around as a ghost and even though she can’t see her, she senses her presence.
There is also Cross who seeks Magda’s services for a personal matter. The thing about Cross is that he can see ghosts and soon enough he “meets” Delilah and they form a unique bond.
The story is centered on finding who took Delilah’s life as Magda explains that Delilah won’t be able to move on unless justice is served.
The book was very sad because we get to see both sides of death. We get to see the loneliness of being a ghost that hardly anyone can see and we get to see the side that loved ones experience which the author does an amazing job of capturing the sadness of Delilah’s parents. My heart broke for them so much!
I absolutely loved the uniqueness of this book to tell a ghost story in such a special way that I feel captures the readers hearts. I am looking forward to more books from this author!
Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group. All opinions are my own.
September 8, 2026
She's topless, which is really saying something: it's always really saying something. It's saying, How dare she? It's saying, Time to die!
A love letter to the smalltown Midwest, sexualized slasher movie victims, and ghost stories.
I was really, really pleasantly surprised by this one! This book might be as subtle as a hammer, but what it does, it does well. There was a beautiful sense of setting in West Salle, a town perpetually haunted by both dead people and dead saints. I predict this is a setting that Spotts will come back to because so much of the town's mythology is left unmined.
Delilah and Magda! What characters! What a gorgeous contrast and abiding love between the forever-young, forever-beautiful dead girl and her stalwart avenger. Lots of this book was unsubtle, yes, but their relationship was delightfully against-form and still very real. How often do you see a dancer and a club owner's relationship portrayed like theirs? How often, in the thriller genre especially, do you see such loyalty and love between women?
This didn't give me chills, but it certainly give me thrills, and I think this is a great autumn read for both the changing of the seasons and the slow crawl to Halloween!
Also: if you can listen to music while reading, I highly recommend any of Ethel Cain's EPs. They'll get you right in the mood and right in Delilah's headspace.
August 23, 2026
I liked this a lot, mainly thanks to Magda's parts. She was the true star of the show, and if the author wanted to bring her back for a sequel/spinoff story, I'd read that in a heartbeat.
August 24, 2026
HELL. YES.
10/10. No notes. Just *chef’s kiss*. I support women’s rights and even more so their wrongs. Justice, vengeance, and feminine rage are just some of the things that make this book excellent. Such a fantastic way to kick off spooky season! AND this is a debut novel??? Are you kidding me???? Will definitely be reading whatever else Isabelle Spotts writes after this.
10/10. No notes. Just *chef’s kiss*. I support women’s rights and even more so their wrongs. Justice, vengeance, and feminine rage are just some of the things that make this book excellent. Such a fantastic way to kick off spooky season! AND this is a debut novel??? Are you kidding me???? Will definitely be reading whatever else Isabelle Spotts writes after this.
September 6, 2026
A haunting Gothic murder mystery debut that sees a 19 year old exotic dancer brutally murdered and her former bar tender boss determined to help her spirt find peace before her soul is taken by dark spirits. I loved the characters, the nuance, the feminine rage and the unique take on a ghost story. There was also a beautiful sister relationship at the core of the story and an important message about how little society values people who work in the sex trades. Great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Ashley Winstead and Ashley Flowers. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
August 14, 2026
I usually love ghost stories, whether they be dark, scary, tragic, or comedic. This one was just okay for me. I could have done without the romantic element. I do not care for the insta love trope amongst the living, so the insta love with a ghost element basically lost me. There were some really good aspects of the story, I loved Magda as a badass old broad, owner of a strip club, lesbian, medium... a truly unique character who was the star of the show. I just wanted more of her story.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
(3.5)
Delilah wakes up dead. How is that for a start of a book?
She “wakes up” in the woods, looking down at her body, trying to figure out what happened while slowly losing pieces of her memory. She can literally feel them peeling away. There’s also this instinctual fear - she knows she shouldn’t still be here… and that she can get “more dead” if she doesn’t figure it out.
Magda - her former boss - is… interesting. She insists she’s not a witch, just someone who uses “forgotten magic” to communicate with the dead, which works out well for Delilah trying to piece things together.
There are some really emotional moments here. Delilah realizing she’ll never grow up, and what her parents have lost, definitely got me.
But overall… something didn’t fully click.
The pacing felt uneven. Some parts take their time in a good way, but then big moments happen really fast, like we skipped the part where we’re supposed to feel the weight of them. I kept expecting more resistance, more struggle… and it just moved on.
Because of that, I never fully settled into the story. I was interested, I kept reading, but it felt like I was slightly outside of it instead of being pulled in.
The mystery did keep me guessing - I had theories (and changed them more than once), which I always enjoy.
The ending though… I don’t know. Not bad, just felt a little forced. Like it wrapped up quickly instead of fully landing.
Overall, a 3.5-star read. Strong concept, emotional moments hit, I just wish it had a little more polish.
If you like paranormal mysteries with a darker tone, this is still worth checking out.
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Isabelle Spotts for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Delilah wakes up dead. How is that for a start of a book?
She “wakes up” in the woods, looking down at her body, trying to figure out what happened while slowly losing pieces of her memory. She can literally feel them peeling away. There’s also this instinctual fear - she knows she shouldn’t still be here… and that she can get “more dead” if she doesn’t figure it out.
Magda - her former boss - is… interesting. She insists she’s not a witch, just someone who uses “forgotten magic” to communicate with the dead, which works out well for Delilah trying to piece things together.
There are some really emotional moments here. Delilah realizing she’ll never grow up, and what her parents have lost, definitely got me.
But overall… something didn’t fully click.
The pacing felt uneven. Some parts take their time in a good way, but then big moments happen really fast, like we skipped the part where we’re supposed to feel the weight of them. I kept expecting more resistance, more struggle… and it just moved on.
Because of that, I never fully settled into the story. I was interested, I kept reading, but it felt like I was slightly outside of it instead of being pulled in.
The mystery did keep me guessing - I had theories (and changed them more than once), which I always enjoy.
The ending though… I don’t know. Not bad, just felt a little forced. Like it wrapped up quickly instead of fully landing.
Overall, a 3.5-star read. Strong concept, emotional moments hit, I just wish it had a little more polish.
If you like paranormal mysteries with a darker tone, this is still worth checking out.
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Isabelle Spotts for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Did Not Finish
April 23, 2026This book has an interesting premise and for the most part I have enjoyed the writing. I decided not to finish it, however, because I can tell this book just isn't for me. I think with a dark romance/true crime audience, this book could be pretty successful.
Delilah's life hasn't been very easy, but the book actually begins with her death. On the way home from her job at a strip club, she is taken and meets a brutal end in the woods near where she works. Her boss, who has some very powerful psychic abilities, starts looking into the crime and find a way to save Delilah's lost soul.
The plot was moving along until a young man showed up and they started having weird alive/ghost relations and that's where it lost me. I'm intrigued by the mystery, but the story was pretty bleak and then added that other aspect in that seemed really weird.
I don't want to give it a star rating because I think it's probably, mostly a good book, just not to my tastes.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a loaner ebook in exchange for a review.
Delilah's life hasn't been very easy, but the book actually begins with her death. On the way home from her job at a strip club, she is taken and meets a brutal end in the woods near where she works. Her boss, who has some very powerful psychic abilities, starts looking into the crime and find a way to save Delilah's lost soul.
The plot was moving along until a young man showed up and they started having weird alive/ghost relations and that's where it lost me. I'm intrigued by the mystery, but the story was pretty bleak and then added that other aspect in that seemed really weird.
I don't want to give it a star rating because I think it's probably, mostly a good book, just not to my tastes.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a loaner ebook in exchange for a review.
October 11, 2026
BOOK REPORT
⭐ 1.75 ⭐
I am just so put out—perhaps irrationally so—by this book. Because?
Wasted. Potential.
This is one of those times that if I’d’ve been hired as a developmental editor I would have slid my glasses down my nose so that I could peer over them and give the author “that look” and said, “There is no way we can edit our way out of this one, my friend. Go back and try again, starting over with the two main female characters and the main male character and the sheriff in the same locale, with essentially the same premises. But for the love of god make it make sense.”
Here, go read this real review by Obsidian: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It says what I’m trying to say, but a lot more eloquently.
That said, good for Isabelle Spotts for writing a novel that did have so much potential. Future Kristi, you’ll want to read her next book if there is one.
PS
I couldn’t write a Book Report about a book with the name Delilah in the title without taking the opportunity to reminisce about when My Beloved Husband and I went to see Tom Jones in concert in Las Vegas in 2005 (holy cow but that was a long time ago, wasn’t it?). He was INCREDIBLE. And at one point the band quit playing and it was just him singing into the microphone. One of my Top 5 concert experiences of all times.
Plus it was just so cool to me, a child of the 1970s, to be sitting all dressed up and wearing stilettos at a two-seat booth in this cool theater, watching somebody I’d seen on TV when I was little. I felt like such a grownup! I had even teased my hair. Good times!
⭐ 1.75 ⭐
I am just so put out—perhaps irrationally so—by this book. Because?
Wasted. Potential.
This is one of those times that if I’d’ve been hired as a developmental editor I would have slid my glasses down my nose so that I could peer over them and give the author “that look” and said, “There is no way we can edit our way out of this one, my friend. Go back and try again, starting over with the two main female characters and the main male character and the sheriff in the same locale, with essentially the same premises. But for the love of god make it make sense.”
Here, go read this real review by Obsidian: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It says what I’m trying to say, but a lot more eloquently.
That said, good for Isabelle Spotts for writing a novel that did have so much potential. Future Kristi, you’ll want to read her next book if there is one.
PS
I couldn’t write a Book Report about a book with the name Delilah in the title without taking the opportunity to reminisce about when My Beloved Husband and I went to see Tom Jones in concert in Las Vegas in 2005 (holy cow but that was a long time ago, wasn’t it?). He was INCREDIBLE. And at one point the band quit playing and it was just him singing into the microphone. One of my Top 5 concert experiences of all times.
Plus it was just so cool to me, a child of the 1970s, to be sitting all dressed up and wearing stilettos at a two-seat booth in this cool theater, watching somebody I’d seen on TV when I was little. I felt like such a grownup! I had even teased my hair. Good times!
August 15, 2026
Thank you Berkley for my ARC!
Pub Date: Out NOW
It’s hard being a woman. I could try to put that sentiment more poetically, dress it up, and spin it, but I won’t. We are consistently pulled in opposing directions - be confident, but don’t walk home alone at night; be pretty but don’t draw attention; be smart but not smarter than a man. Often when bad things happen to us, others are quick to ask our role - what did we do to deserve this, what could we have done differently?
Isabelle Spotts confronts this head-on in SAINT DELILAH. This book is a ghost story tinged with revenge, but Spotts doesn’t shy away from confronting the misogyny, sexism, and violence all women have experienced or know someone who has.
Delilah has been brutally murdered, and she’s in the space between life and death. This is tragic by itself, yet Spotts smartly cranks the tension up; the result is an even more harrowing story because creatures are stalking and feeding off Delilah’s suffering until she is a poltergeist unless her murder can be avenged. Enter the person Delilah trusts the most - Magda. Magda teams up with a newcomer to town, Cross, who needs Magda's help as well. What ensues in SAINT DELILAH is a scary, sad, uplifting story about feminine power, love, and finding your voice again.
Spotts understands the real world of violence that women live in, and she is unflinching in her descriptions of the self-guilt and shame that we can sometimes experience. Delilah is sometimes angry at herself for allowing her murder to happen to her; she’s angry that her last words and thoughts belong and center on a man. The inescapable, exhausting, and frustrating feeling that so much of our world seems to be centered on and controlled by men, even in death and the afterlife, is brilliantly highlighted by Spotts in SAINT DELILAH in a twist that I never saw coming.
The world building in SAINT DELILAH is phenomenal. Spotts places us in West Salle, and guides us through this small town with a lot of secrets. The characters are well fleshed out; Spotts builds them out deliberately in a way that makes them seem more real. Humans are complex; our actions often have multiple intentions, and Spotts understands this. It makes the character of Magda even more interesting; she’s motivated to solve Delilah’s murder for different reasons, and it makes her come to life. The supernatural elements in SAINT DELILAH are fantastic, and the way Spotts blends the supernatural with the real is eerie and terrifying.
Spotts’ use of a soul becoming a poltergeist is genius as well. Those who have been wrongfully murdered are turned into violent, volatile, and angry poltergeists; those souls no longer resemble who they once were and are trapped in the land of the living forever, knowing no rest or peace. The poltergeists brought to mind the imagery of the cyclical nature of trauma and abuse: lashing out at others, taking out our pain on those around us because hurt people often want to hurt people. Our anger, our fear, our sadness can consume us, and it can infect us and those around us for eternity if we let it.
While SAINT DELILAH is a heavy and dark book, Spotts has moments of light throughout. Through Delilah, she reminds readers that we aren’t what happened to us; we can find our voices again, and we can use our inner strength to defeat those trying to take advantage of us and prey on us, especially at our weakest.
We can also change and try to make up for the wrongs that we’ve done, and SAINT DELILAH reminds us of this as well. But some acts require justice and some acts require revenge, and revenge inked under Spotts’ pen is scary, emotional, and impossible to put down.
At the end of this book, I was angry for Delilah but also that we live in a society where the non-supernatural horrors of this book are far too real and present in everyday life. I was also sad, but felt empowered through the strong characters of Magda and Delilah. I was terrified; there are parts of this book that had me checking behind the shower curtain and turning on lights in the dark. Most importantly, I felt seen and understood. SAINT DELILAH is the type of horror I love to read; it’s smart, it’s emotional, and it doesn’t sacrifice its meaning and intention for cheap scares but instead leans into its messaging, creating an even more terrifying book. I highly recommend it.
Pub Date: Out NOW
It’s hard being a woman. I could try to put that sentiment more poetically, dress it up, and spin it, but I won’t. We are consistently pulled in opposing directions - be confident, but don’t walk home alone at night; be pretty but don’t draw attention; be smart but not smarter than a man. Often when bad things happen to us, others are quick to ask our role - what did we do to deserve this, what could we have done differently?
Isabelle Spotts confronts this head-on in SAINT DELILAH. This book is a ghost story tinged with revenge, but Spotts doesn’t shy away from confronting the misogyny, sexism, and violence all women have experienced or know someone who has.
Delilah has been brutally murdered, and she’s in the space between life and death. This is tragic by itself, yet Spotts smartly cranks the tension up; the result is an even more harrowing story because creatures are stalking and feeding off Delilah’s suffering until she is a poltergeist unless her murder can be avenged. Enter the person Delilah trusts the most - Magda. Magda teams up with a newcomer to town, Cross, who needs Magda's help as well. What ensues in SAINT DELILAH is a scary, sad, uplifting story about feminine power, love, and finding your voice again.
Spotts understands the real world of violence that women live in, and she is unflinching in her descriptions of the self-guilt and shame that we can sometimes experience. Delilah is sometimes angry at herself for allowing her murder to happen to her; she’s angry that her last words and thoughts belong and center on a man. The inescapable, exhausting, and frustrating feeling that so much of our world seems to be centered on and controlled by men, even in death and the afterlife, is brilliantly highlighted by Spotts in SAINT DELILAH in a twist that I never saw coming.
The world building in SAINT DELILAH is phenomenal. Spotts places us in West Salle, and guides us through this small town with a lot of secrets. The characters are well fleshed out; Spotts builds them out deliberately in a way that makes them seem more real. Humans are complex; our actions often have multiple intentions, and Spotts understands this. It makes the character of Magda even more interesting; she’s motivated to solve Delilah’s murder for different reasons, and it makes her come to life. The supernatural elements in SAINT DELILAH are fantastic, and the way Spotts blends the supernatural with the real is eerie and terrifying.
Spotts’ use of a soul becoming a poltergeist is genius as well. Those who have been wrongfully murdered are turned into violent, volatile, and angry poltergeists; those souls no longer resemble who they once were and are trapped in the land of the living forever, knowing no rest or peace. The poltergeists brought to mind the imagery of the cyclical nature of trauma and abuse: lashing out at others, taking out our pain on those around us because hurt people often want to hurt people. Our anger, our fear, our sadness can consume us, and it can infect us and those around us for eternity if we let it.
While SAINT DELILAH is a heavy and dark book, Spotts has moments of light throughout. Through Delilah, she reminds readers that we aren’t what happened to us; we can find our voices again, and we can use our inner strength to defeat those trying to take advantage of us and prey on us, especially at our weakest.
We can also change and try to make up for the wrongs that we’ve done, and SAINT DELILAH reminds us of this as well. But some acts require justice and some acts require revenge, and revenge inked under Spotts’ pen is scary, emotional, and impossible to put down.
At the end of this book, I was angry for Delilah but also that we live in a society where the non-supernatural horrors of this book are far too real and present in everyday life. I was also sad, but felt empowered through the strong characters of Magda and Delilah. I was terrified; there are parts of this book that had me checking behind the shower curtain and turning on lights in the dark. Most importantly, I felt seen and understood. SAINT DELILAH is the type of horror I love to read; it’s smart, it’s emotional, and it doesn’t sacrifice its meaning and intention for cheap scares but instead leans into its messaging, creating an even more terrifying book. I highly recommend it.
September 8, 2026
This was a dark, haunting and thought provoking debut novel. If you are going in expecting a fast paced, twisty thriller, this isn’t it. I’d classify this more a character driven, feminist mystery tinged with supernatural power. What a ride.
The darkness here is visceral and atmospheric. The book doesn’t shy away from life’s grittiness. It doesn’t soften the language into an easily digestible narrative. The characters are flawed and complex. The descriptions can be tough to read. The feminist commentary is spot on. I found myself annotating often which is not typical when I’m reading horror or thrillers.
The book deals with difficult subjects. Grief, anger, darkness, violence, autonomy, female friendships, death, misogyny, and the occult.
“I don’t want to be beautiful ever again. It was heavy. Too heavy. I want to be this. I want to be frightening.”
“No one asks for this.”
Highly recommend (4.0).
The darkness here is visceral and atmospheric. The book doesn’t shy away from life’s grittiness. It doesn’t soften the language into an easily digestible narrative. The characters are flawed and complex. The descriptions can be tough to read. The feminist commentary is spot on. I found myself annotating often which is not typical when I’m reading horror or thrillers.
The book deals with difficult subjects. Grief, anger, darkness, violence, autonomy, female friendships, death, misogyny, and the occult.
“I don’t want to be beautiful ever again. It was heavy. Too heavy. I want to be this. I want to be frightening.”
“No one asks for this.”
Highly recommend (4.0).
August 20, 2026
Saint Delilah is one of those rare books that seems to have a little bit of everything: supernatural horror, mystery, romance, and genuinely heartfelt moments, all woven into a fast-paced story that kept me turning pages. Isabelle Spotts creates a unique world where the stakes feel both personal and otherworldly, and I was especially drawn to Magda, whose strength, compassion, and mysterious abilities made her the standout character for me. The novel balances its darker themes with moments of connection and hope, making the characters feel as important as the plot.
I’ll admit that I was initially a little disappointed with where the ending seemed to be headed, but then the final scenes completely redeemed it for me. By the time I finished, I felt the conclusion delivered the emotional payoff the story deserved. Saint Delilah is a compelling debut that combines suspense, heartbreak, and supernatural intrigue into a memorable read, and Magda alone is a reason I would happily return to this world.
I’ll admit that I was initially a little disappointed with where the ending seemed to be headed, but then the final scenes completely redeemed it for me. By the time I finished, I felt the conclusion delivered the emotional payoff the story deserved. Saint Delilah is a compelling debut that combines suspense, heartbreak, and supernatural intrigue into a memorable read, and Magda alone is a reason I would happily return to this world.
April 1, 2026
I went into Saint Delilah super intrigued by the premise—and honestly, that’s what kept me turning the pages the whole time.
This one sits at about a 3.5⭐️ for me, rounded up to 4 stars, because while I definitely had some issues with it, I couldn’t deny how compelling the overall idea was—and that ending? It landed.
The story follows Delilah, who wakes up dead (casual!) with only fragments of memory—pain, anger, and the certainty that someone killed her. She’s stuck in this eerie in-between space where these truly creepy entities are feeding on her suffering, threatening to turn her into something much darker if she doesn’t restore balance by finding her killer. Enter Magda, a spirit medium who becomes her lifeline, and a mysterious man who can somehow see and connect with Delilah in a way no one else can. Together, they try to piece together what happened to her before time quite literally runs out.
Now let’s talk vibes—because this book could have been so much creepier and grittier. The bones of something really haunting are here, but it never fully leans into that darkness the way I wanted it to. There were moments where I was like “okay, here we go 👀” and then…it kind of pulled back.
Same with the subplots. There were a few threads woven in that honestly felt even more interesting than the main storyline, but they just weren’t explored enough. I kept waiting for them to be fleshed out more, and they just…weren’t. That definitely added to the slower pacing for me.
That said, I was never bored enough to stop reading. The premise is just that intriguing. A feminist supernatural revenge story with a liminal-space setting and a ticking clock until Halloween? I mean, I’m in.
Character-wise, Delilah is driven by this mix of rage and vulnerability that makes her easy to root for, even when she’s not entirely sure who she is anymore. Magda brings a grounded, steady presence to balance everything out, and the dynamic between the three main characters adds a nice emotional layer to the mystery.
And I have to give credit where it’s due—the ending really pulled everything together in a satisfying way. It made the slower build feel more worth it.
This was my first book by Isabelle Spotts, and while it didn’t fully hit every mark for me, I’d absolutely pick up another book by her. There’s a lot of potential here, and I’m curious to see what she does next.
📖 Saint Delilah is expected to release on August 11th, so definitely keep it on your radar if you love supernatural suspense with a revenge twist.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for my honest opinion. This review is based off of an uncorrected proof which did not sway my opinion either way.
This one sits at about a 3.5⭐️ for me, rounded up to 4 stars, because while I definitely had some issues with it, I couldn’t deny how compelling the overall idea was—and that ending? It landed.
The story follows Delilah, who wakes up dead (casual!) with only fragments of memory—pain, anger, and the certainty that someone killed her. She’s stuck in this eerie in-between space where these truly creepy entities are feeding on her suffering, threatening to turn her into something much darker if she doesn’t restore balance by finding her killer. Enter Magda, a spirit medium who becomes her lifeline, and a mysterious man who can somehow see and connect with Delilah in a way no one else can. Together, they try to piece together what happened to her before time quite literally runs out.
Now let’s talk vibes—because this book could have been so much creepier and grittier. The bones of something really haunting are here, but it never fully leans into that darkness the way I wanted it to. There were moments where I was like “okay, here we go 👀” and then…it kind of pulled back.
Same with the subplots. There were a few threads woven in that honestly felt even more interesting than the main storyline, but they just weren’t explored enough. I kept waiting for them to be fleshed out more, and they just…weren’t. That definitely added to the slower pacing for me.
That said, I was never bored enough to stop reading. The premise is just that intriguing. A feminist supernatural revenge story with a liminal-space setting and a ticking clock until Halloween? I mean, I’m in.
Character-wise, Delilah is driven by this mix of rage and vulnerability that makes her easy to root for, even when she’s not entirely sure who she is anymore. Magda brings a grounded, steady presence to balance everything out, and the dynamic between the three main characters adds a nice emotional layer to the mystery.
And I have to give credit where it’s due—the ending really pulled everything together in a satisfying way. It made the slower build feel more worth it.
This was my first book by Isabelle Spotts, and while it didn’t fully hit every mark for me, I’d absolutely pick up another book by her. There’s a lot of potential here, and I’m curious to see what she does next.
📖 Saint Delilah is expected to release on August 11th, so definitely keep it on your radar if you love supernatural suspense with a revenge twist.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for my honest opinion. This review is based off of an uncorrected proof which did not sway my opinion either way.
June 19, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Penguin Random House for my eARC of Saint Delilah by Isabella Spotts. Saint Delilah is a heart wrenching horror story about a young dancer who is brutally murdered and stuck as a ghost in her haunting home town.
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️s For Spotts’ debut novel Saint Delilah. The plot of this book is raw and emotional, the atmosphere spooky, and the characters immersive. I was gripped from the start by this haunting tale with so many layers. The characters are a rich exploration of the flaws in the human mind and heart, the desires that drive us crazy, and the faith that leads our way, no matter what that faith is.
Saint Delilah was such a visual story for me. I was able to see the scenes play out, each character and how they were supposed to look, and the haunting atmosphere of a dark small town. Spotts weaves a horror story that leaves a lasting impression from the first line to the last sentence. Every character, even the ones with brief story lines, were richly described with their own personalities and details. Magda was a force to be reckoned with and I absolutely loved her as a polarizing main character. Delilah was both delicate and powerful, both sweet and dark, and her internal and external battles were a gut punch. Cross is both vulnerable and disturbing. Saint Delilah is an ode to the macabre love story.
I loved every single thing about Saint Delilah and I can’t believe this was a debut novel. This book is horror at its finest, a visceral experience that I will think about for a long while. If you read any new horror books this year Saint Delilah should be at the top of that list—releasing on 8/11/26—this is a MUST read. For all of my book reviews and recommendations follow me on instagram @chelleshelf365.
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️s For Spotts’ debut novel Saint Delilah. The plot of this book is raw and emotional, the atmosphere spooky, and the characters immersive. I was gripped from the start by this haunting tale with so many layers. The characters are a rich exploration of the flaws in the human mind and heart, the desires that drive us crazy, and the faith that leads our way, no matter what that faith is.
Saint Delilah was such a visual story for me. I was able to see the scenes play out, each character and how they were supposed to look, and the haunting atmosphere of a dark small town. Spotts weaves a horror story that leaves a lasting impression from the first line to the last sentence. Every character, even the ones with brief story lines, were richly described with their own personalities and details. Magda was a force to be reckoned with and I absolutely loved her as a polarizing main character. Delilah was both delicate and powerful, both sweet and dark, and her internal and external battles were a gut punch. Cross is both vulnerable and disturbing. Saint Delilah is an ode to the macabre love story.
I loved every single thing about Saint Delilah and I can’t believe this was a debut novel. This book is horror at its finest, a visceral experience that I will think about for a long while. If you read any new horror books this year Saint Delilah should be at the top of that list—releasing on 8/11/26—this is a MUST read. For all of my book reviews and recommendations follow me on instagram @chelleshelf365.
August 11, 2026
Happy Publication Day to this fun read! If you enjoy supernatural horror, I suggest giving this this a try. It does have multiple POVs, but is mostly told from Delilah, the ghost that was murdered.
I liked that it is a feminine, good for her story that incorporates lots of female rage.
It is hard to describe what genre this is. I would consider this a genre blend. At certain points it is terrifying but then turns a bit into a murder mystery and a sprinkle of romance, and supernatural events. It kept me turning pages. Thank you, Berkley, for the EARC.
I liked that it is a feminine, good for her story that incorporates lots of female rage.
It is hard to describe what genre this is. I would consider this a genre blend. At certain points it is terrifying but then turns a bit into a murder mystery and a sprinkle of romance, and supernatural events. It kept me turning pages. Thank you, Berkley, for the EARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Is Saint Delilah horror? Yes. Did it hit me in the feels? Also yes.
Delilah is a beautiful 19 year old working at a bar as a dancer (owned by a second mother of sorts named Magda) in a small town with a host of characters.
As someone who hasn't ever lived in a small town, I hope the author got it right.
She captured the feeling of everyone knowing everyone else and the insidious secrets that are kept.
She painted a cast of interesting characters. But none as interesting as Delilah. I loved the character and spent the whole book wishing she was alive. She's smart, compassionate and bad ass.
Magda and Cross (someone who can see ghosts and comes to town to work with Magda, only to have feelings for Delilah) are nuanced, well written characters.
This had it's scary moments and, it's touching moments.
Very happy I got the chance to receive an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The fact that the girls that worked in the bar were seen as lesser due to what they do is a tale as old as time. The satisfaction of Delilah being an avenging angel was great.
This was almost a 5 star read for me. 4.5. But I would have loved more Keeper action. The ending was also somewhat abrupt. Or maybe I just didn't want it to end.
Delilah is a beautiful 19 year old working at a bar as a dancer (owned by a second mother of sorts named Magda) in a small town with a host of characters.
As someone who hasn't ever lived in a small town, I hope the author got it right.
She captured the feeling of everyone knowing everyone else and the insidious secrets that are kept.
She painted a cast of interesting characters. But none as interesting as Delilah. I loved the character and spent the whole book wishing she was alive. She's smart, compassionate and bad ass.
Magda and Cross (someone who can see ghosts and comes to town to work with Magda, only to have feelings for Delilah) are nuanced, well written characters.
This had it's scary moments and, it's touching moments.
Very happy I got the chance to receive an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The fact that the girls that worked in the bar were seen as lesser due to what they do is a tale as old as time. The satisfaction of Delilah being an avenging angel was great.
This was almost a 5 star read for me. 4.5. But I would have loved more Keeper action. The ending was also somewhat abrupt. Or maybe I just didn't want it to end.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Delilah is a dancer at Night Faces, the only club in town. She's 19 and wild and free and has her whole life ahead of her, until she doesn't. Now Delilah is dead, but she's not ready to go yet.
Isabelle Spotts weaves together a the tale of a girl who was cruelly and viciously murdered but still has unfinished business in this world. Magda the owner of the club is trying to help find her killer so Delilah doesn't end up haunting her hometown meanwhile, Cross is new to town and trying to help Magda but he can see and feel Delilah and begins falling in love with her.
As the pages turn we get closer and closer to the killer but will Cross be willing to let go of her? Can Magda keep the Keepers away from her soul? Is Delilah ready to move onto the next world or will she choose love?
I really enjoyed the multiple point of view and how fast paced the story telling was. Once you know more about Delilah's history it becomes even more painfully tragic that she was taken too young. Angry and hungry for more, Saint Delilah is ready to leave you wanting more.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC via Netgalley, all reviews are my own.
Isabelle Spotts weaves together a the tale of a girl who was cruelly and viciously murdered but still has unfinished business in this world. Magda the owner of the club is trying to help find her killer so Delilah doesn't end up haunting her hometown meanwhile, Cross is new to town and trying to help Magda but he can see and feel Delilah and begins falling in love with her.
As the pages turn we get closer and closer to the killer but will Cross be willing to let go of her? Can Magda keep the Keepers away from her soul? Is Delilah ready to move onto the next world or will she choose love?
I really enjoyed the multiple point of view and how fast paced the story telling was. Once you know more about Delilah's history it becomes even more painfully tragic that she was taken too young. Angry and hungry for more, Saint Delilah is ready to leave you wanting more.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC via Netgalley, all reviews are my own.
July 23, 2026
I like a good feminist ghost revenge horror, and Isabelle Spotts’ debut novel, Saint Delilah, hit the mark.
Told by the perspective of a young Delilah who was murdered, Spotts takes us on a journey of finding out “who did it” and revenge. To help solve the question of who murdered her, Magda is her employer and Cross is recruited by Magda. Magda has secrets of her own and Cross…well, he’s like any other man that wants the girl. The characters are all morally grey.
The pacing is just right. Not too slow, not too fast. Spotts’ has a lot of great writing in the book, and I highlighted several lines. That being said, the book was predictable, and I knew things before they were revealed. It was still a good read to get there though. I also did not care for the ending. I almost knocked my rating down a star for it, but in the end decided to keep my original rating because I enjoyed the story and the writing.
If you enjoy a good revenge horror, I recommend reading Saint Delilah.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and give an honest review with an advanced copy.
Told by the perspective of a young Delilah who was murdered, Spotts takes us on a journey of finding out “who did it” and revenge. To help solve the question of who murdered her, Magda is her employer and Cross is recruited by Magda. Magda has secrets of her own and Cross…well, he’s like any other man that wants the girl. The characters are all morally grey.
The pacing is just right. Not too slow, not too fast. Spotts’ has a lot of great writing in the book, and I highlighted several lines. That being said, the book was predictable, and I knew things before they were revealed. It was still a good read to get there though. I also did not care for the ending. I almost knocked my rating down a star for it, but in the end decided to keep my original rating because I enjoyed the story and the writing.
If you enjoy a good revenge horror, I recommend reading Saint Delilah.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and give an honest review with an advanced copy.
September 20, 2026
This was a bit of a surprise. There are other books that deal with passing to the 'other side' but this was a unique take on that concept. Delilah is murdered but she has a friend/former boss who can speak with her, Magda. And Magda enlists the help of a stranger, Cross, who can see and feel her. An interesting cast of characters!
There are some elements that feel like inconsistencies or are not very well explained. Why did Magda need help and why Cross? Why was the sheriff so easily convinced to hand the investigation over to Magda? And why couldn't Magda see through Cross' lies? The last in my list is the most disconcerting question. Delilah is almost always depicted as running around without a top - yes, she was a stripper but I thought that was a bit odd.
Overall I really enjoyed this novel. The characters were interesting, the dialogue was realistic and the story flowed smoothly. I would highly recommend this book!
This ARC was provided by NetGalley and the publisher, the opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.
There are some elements that feel like inconsistencies or are not very well explained. Why did Magda need help and why Cross? Why was the sheriff so easily convinced to hand the investigation over to Magda? And why couldn't Magda see through Cross' lies? The last in my list is the most disconcerting question. Delilah is almost always depicted as running around without a top - yes, she was a stripper but I thought that was a bit odd.
Overall I really enjoyed this novel. The characters were interesting, the dialogue was realistic and the story flowed smoothly. I would highly recommend this book!
This ARC was provided by NetGalley and the publisher, the opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.
August 11, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ | "A slice of sunshine sneaks through the pine, and within the beam of light, I let myself go completely. The transformation runs deeper than my arms and my legs… I am slough. I am gangrene. I am necrosis. I am death. I am not pretty… I am an ugly creature, and I am free. I don’t want to be beautiful ever again. It was heavy. Too heavy. I want to be this. I want to be frightening."
What a debut!! There's nothing I love more than a thriller/ghost story where the dead woman gets to tell her own story. Saint Delilah is haunting in more ways than one. Yes, there are ghosts, poltergeists, supernatural creatures, mediums, and a murder mystery at the center of it all, but what stayed with me most was the anger underneath the story. This is a book about what happens when women are denied control over their own bodies, their own stories, and even their own deaths and what happens when that anger refuses to disappear.
Delilah is dead from the very beginning, but she is anything but powerless. She wakes in the aftermath of a brutal murder with no memory of who killed her, only the knowledge that something terrible happened to her. Worse, there are creatures waiting to consume what remains of her until she becomes something monstrous herself. Her only hope is finding her killer before she loses the last pieces of who she is. And honestly? I was rooting for her rage.
I loved Delilah. There’s such a heartbreaking contrast between her vulnerability and the growing power she discovers after death. She is grieving the life she lost while simultaneously trying to understand this strange existence she has been forced into. Watching her fight to maintain her humanity while being pushed toward something darker was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Magda was another absolute standout. She has this incredible combination of toughness, tenderness, and sheer "I will burn the world down for my people" energy. Her relationship with Delilah gives the story so much emotional weight, and I loved how fiercely protective she was without ever reducing Delilah to someone who needed to be rescued.
Then there’s Cross, who adds an entirely different energy to the story. The connection between him and Delilah is strange, tender, unsettling, and undeniably compelling. There’s something inherently bittersweet about a romance between someone who is alive and someone who technically isn't anymore, and I thought the book did a great job leaning into that oddness rather than trying to make it feel completely conventional.
The supernatural mythology was my favorite surprise. The idea of these entities feeding on the suffering of the dead and slowly stripping away their humanity gave the book a really creepy edge. The afterlife here isn't peaceful or beautiful. It's dangerous, liminal, and sometimes downright horrifying, and I loved that. The mystery kept me invested. There are enough secrets, possible motives, and questionable characters that I was constantly trying to put the pieces together alongside Delilah and Magda. I had theories. Some were better than others, and when everything started coming together, I appreciated how the mystery and the supernatural elements ultimately fed into the larger themes instead of feeling like two separate stories.
This book has A LOT to say about feminine rage and about the ways women are expected to forgive, move on, be quiet, accept what happened to them, and somehow make peace with things that never should have happened in the first place. But Saint Delilah doesn't treat rage as something shameful. It understands why it's there. It gives Delilah space to be angry. At the same time, I appreciated that the story doesn't present revenge and healing as exactly the same thing. There is grief here, too. There are questions about what it means to let go, what we owe the dead, and whether getting justice can actually give someone peace. Those themes gave the book considerably more emotional depth than I was expecting.
For a debut, this was seriously so impressive. Isabelle Spotts has created something that feels gothic, eerie, emotional, angry, and strangely beautiful all at once. It's not horror in the traditional “I will never sleep again” sense. It's more unsettling than that. It's a story that gets under your skin and leaves you thinking about it for a really long time. Saint Delilah is ultimately about a woman refusing to let the worst thing that ever happened to her become the only story people remember about her, and I think that's what made this one hit so hard.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this eARC!
What a debut!! There's nothing I love more than a thriller/ghost story where the dead woman gets to tell her own story. Saint Delilah is haunting in more ways than one. Yes, there are ghosts, poltergeists, supernatural creatures, mediums, and a murder mystery at the center of it all, but what stayed with me most was the anger underneath the story. This is a book about what happens when women are denied control over their own bodies, their own stories, and even their own deaths and what happens when that anger refuses to disappear.
Delilah is dead from the very beginning, but she is anything but powerless. She wakes in the aftermath of a brutal murder with no memory of who killed her, only the knowledge that something terrible happened to her. Worse, there are creatures waiting to consume what remains of her until she becomes something monstrous herself. Her only hope is finding her killer before she loses the last pieces of who she is. And honestly? I was rooting for her rage.
I loved Delilah. There’s such a heartbreaking contrast between her vulnerability and the growing power she discovers after death. She is grieving the life she lost while simultaneously trying to understand this strange existence she has been forced into. Watching her fight to maintain her humanity while being pushed toward something darker was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Magda was another absolute standout. She has this incredible combination of toughness, tenderness, and sheer "I will burn the world down for my people" energy. Her relationship with Delilah gives the story so much emotional weight, and I loved how fiercely protective she was without ever reducing Delilah to someone who needed to be rescued.
Then there’s Cross, who adds an entirely different energy to the story. The connection between him and Delilah is strange, tender, unsettling, and undeniably compelling. There’s something inherently bittersweet about a romance between someone who is alive and someone who technically isn't anymore, and I thought the book did a great job leaning into that oddness rather than trying to make it feel completely conventional.
The supernatural mythology was my favorite surprise. The idea of these entities feeding on the suffering of the dead and slowly stripping away their humanity gave the book a really creepy edge. The afterlife here isn't peaceful or beautiful. It's dangerous, liminal, and sometimes downright horrifying, and I loved that. The mystery kept me invested. There are enough secrets, possible motives, and questionable characters that I was constantly trying to put the pieces together alongside Delilah and Magda. I had theories. Some were better than others, and when everything started coming together, I appreciated how the mystery and the supernatural elements ultimately fed into the larger themes instead of feeling like two separate stories.
This book has A LOT to say about feminine rage and about the ways women are expected to forgive, move on, be quiet, accept what happened to them, and somehow make peace with things that never should have happened in the first place. But Saint Delilah doesn't treat rage as something shameful. It understands why it's there. It gives Delilah space to be angry. At the same time, I appreciated that the story doesn't present revenge and healing as exactly the same thing. There is grief here, too. There are questions about what it means to let go, what we owe the dead, and whether getting justice can actually give someone peace. Those themes gave the book considerably more emotional depth than I was expecting.
For a debut, this was seriously so impressive. Isabelle Spotts has created something that feels gothic, eerie, emotional, angry, and strangely beautiful all at once. It's not horror in the traditional “I will never sleep again” sense. It's more unsettling than that. It's a story that gets under your skin and leaves you thinking about it for a really long time. Saint Delilah is ultimately about a woman refusing to let the worst thing that ever happened to her become the only story people remember about her, and I think that's what made this one hit so hard.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this eARC!
September 28, 2026
This books is a step towards women getting to reclaim the narrative. Except for Magda. I hate the excuse of ' a woman owned business is ok' sure its one step better but it isn't tearing down the patriarchy. A woman is still running a strip club for the benefit of men. She is still exploiting her workers for the benefit of the patriarchy. Magda deserved as much punishment as the men. Its was great seeing all of the men suffer because of their deeds. Yet Magda comes out as a hero?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Did Not Finish
September 21, 202631% in and this book is just not picking up. The writing feels clunky and I keep waiting for SOMETHING to happen. I'm calling it – DNF.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Disclosure Statement: I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher. My thoughts and opinions are entirely my own and have not been influenced by either the author or the publisher in any way.
Saint Delilah has a lot in common with The Lovely Bones in terms of its plot; a young woman is murdered by a pervert, and she works from the afterlife to solve her own murder. But whereas I think Sebold's novel is more of an exercise in grief and acceptance, Saint Delilah is more interested in expressing rage.
I don't mean to characterize the book as only rageful, but it certainly comes to its thesis statement toward the end that there really isn't enough rage in the world surrounding the way women are treated in our society. Because when can a woman be herself? When can a woman own her life? When can she own her body? When can she own even her soul after death? At what stage in a woman's life is there nobody waiting to take something of her for themselves?
Saint Delilah isn't about the supernatural or the afterlife, it's about how little a woman owns any point of her personal history. The women of the novel are constantly besieged by men who feel that a woman's story is ultimately theirs to keep, theirs to make, theirs to control. It's the story of women who insist upon their own agency, and then are pushed to suffer the messes men make of the lives they attempt to build. The deliberating frustration of the novel is always tied up in the decisions men make over the women they encounter, giving women no authority but also saddling them with the responsibility of every bad thing ever done to them.
It is, unfortunately, a story I've heard a thousand times, a story that every single woman I know has at the ready. So it's all the more necessary that books like Saint Delilah showcase the heaping injustice of it all, how hypocritical it all is for men to say they "love" women but also perpetuate a system of violence against them, and how their definitions of love, of intimacy, of relationship to women are always rooted in their patriarchal dominance with the aim of women as subordinate to their desire. It's also all the more necessary that these novels restore agency and authority to women, so that they can literally write their own endings, their own stories. That they might speak without the ventriloquism of those who would strip them of all dignity and authority in life or death both.
Add this one to the required reading curriculum.
Saint Delilah has a lot in common with The Lovely Bones in terms of its plot; a young woman is murdered by a pervert, and she works from the afterlife to solve her own murder. But whereas I think Sebold's novel is more of an exercise in grief and acceptance, Saint Delilah is more interested in expressing rage.
I don't mean to characterize the book as only rageful, but it certainly comes to its thesis statement toward the end that there really isn't enough rage in the world surrounding the way women are treated in our society. Because when can a woman be herself? When can a woman own her life? When can she own her body? When can she own even her soul after death? At what stage in a woman's life is there nobody waiting to take something of her for themselves?
Saint Delilah isn't about the supernatural or the afterlife, it's about how little a woman owns any point of her personal history. The women of the novel are constantly besieged by men who feel that a woman's story is ultimately theirs to keep, theirs to make, theirs to control. It's the story of women who insist upon their own agency, and then are pushed to suffer the messes men make of the lives they attempt to build. The deliberating frustration of the novel is always tied up in the decisions men make over the women they encounter, giving women no authority but also saddling them with the responsibility of every bad thing ever done to them.
It is, unfortunately, a story I've heard a thousand times, a story that every single woman I know has at the ready. So it's all the more necessary that books like Saint Delilah showcase the heaping injustice of it all, how hypocritical it all is for men to say they "love" women but also perpetuate a system of violence against them, and how their definitions of love, of intimacy, of relationship to women are always rooted in their patriarchal dominance with the aim of women as subordinate to their desire. It's also all the more necessary that these novels restore agency and authority to women, so that they can literally write their own endings, their own stories. That they might speak without the ventriloquism of those who would strip them of all dignity and authority in life or death both.
Add this one to the required reading curriculum.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I wasn’t really sure how I felt about this book as I was reading it. Now that I’ve finished it, I definitely have mixed feelings about it.
First, the good- I loved the spooky supernatural vibes this book had. They were conveyed well throughout, thanks in large part to the excellent writing style. It all made me intrigued to see what would happen next. Also, the characters- especially the two main characters- were fleshed out and had me invested in this book even more. I really cared for what they were going through, especially Delilah. I was so emotionally invested in her story and how things played out for her. Finally, the climax was super dramatic and took a turn that I loved!
Now the not-so-good; namely, the romantic subplot between Delilah and a male main character. It felt really out of place and unnecessary in what was mostly a spooky mystery book with horror elements. It felt out of place and clunky, and I really could have done without it. Honestly, if that subplot wasn’t in this book, I would give this a higher rating. Also, I wish I could have learned a bit about the backstories of other important characters.
This was a decent debut novel overall. I will definitely check out other books by this author in the future!
I wasn’t really sure how I felt about this book as I was reading it. Now that I’ve finished it, I definitely have mixed feelings about it.
First, the good- I loved the spooky supernatural vibes this book had. They were conveyed well throughout, thanks in large part to the excellent writing style. It all made me intrigued to see what would happen next. Also, the characters- especially the two main characters- were fleshed out and had me invested in this book even more. I really cared for what they were going through, especially Delilah. I was so emotionally invested in her story and how things played out for her. Finally, the climax was super dramatic and took a turn that I loved!
Now the not-so-good; namely, the romantic subplot between Delilah and a male main character. It felt really out of place and unnecessary in what was mostly a spooky mystery book with horror elements. It felt out of place and clunky, and I really could have done without it. Honestly, if that subplot wasn’t in this book, I would give this a higher rating. Also, I wish I could have learned a bit about the backstories of other important characters.
This was a decent debut novel overall. I will definitely check out other books by this author in the future!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
(3.5 stars - rounded up to 4)
For a debut novel, Spotts makes her mark with this paranormal thriller – it’s packed with eeriness, unsettling moments and some feminist rage. Delilah is murdered and found left in the woods behind the town’s nightclub. Told from multiple points of view, you see Delilah’s perspective as a ghost with an unfinished story/business and those around her trying to solve her murder and bring peace to her spirit. There are some twists that I didn’t see coming but I did figure out the ending. That said, it didn’t spoil the book for me, and I found the ending the perfect close. I enjoyed the subtle moments of humor and entertainment, but the pacing did waffle in a few places. If you are a fan of strong female characters and themes coupled with paranormal mystery – this is a good book for you.
Thank you to Isabelle Spotts, Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
For a debut novel, Spotts makes her mark with this paranormal thriller – it’s packed with eeriness, unsettling moments and some feminist rage. Delilah is murdered and found left in the woods behind the town’s nightclub. Told from multiple points of view, you see Delilah’s perspective as a ghost with an unfinished story/business and those around her trying to solve her murder and bring peace to her spirit. There are some twists that I didn’t see coming but I did figure out the ending. That said, it didn’t spoil the book for me, and I found the ending the perfect close. I enjoyed the subtle moments of humor and entertainment, but the pacing did waffle in a few places. If you are a fan of strong female characters and themes coupled with paranormal mystery – this is a good book for you.
Thank you to Isabelle Spotts, Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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