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What Lies Unseen: A Horror Novel
A chilling psychological horror novel filled with twists about the connection between our world and the beyond.
Sam Avery sees things no one else can...
Gruesome spirits have haunted and plagued Sam since childhood. He believes he is alone in this terrifying ability, until he meets beautiful Amanda Foster, who can hear the voices of the dead.
Amanda tells Sam there are even more like them, a group she calls her spirit circle, comprised of powerful individuals endowed with the abilities to seek out and commune with the dead.
At first, Sam eagerly accepts the invitation to join this circle but slowly begins to grow suspicious about it—and Amanda’s—true purpose.
Does she really want to use Sam's power to help free unfortunate spirits trapped in the physical world? Or is there something more sinister Amanda has planned, a darker, more twisted truth that lies unseen?
Experience a harrowing psychological horror novel filled with dark twists as Sam digs into the truth behind the connection between our world and the supernatural.
Grab your copy today and read if you dare!
Sam Avery sees things no one else can...
Gruesome spirits have haunted and plagued Sam since childhood. He believes he is alone in this terrifying ability, until he meets beautiful Amanda Foster, who can hear the voices of the dead.
Amanda tells Sam there are even more like them, a group she calls her spirit circle, comprised of powerful individuals endowed with the abilities to seek out and commune with the dead.
At first, Sam eagerly accepts the invitation to join this circle but slowly begins to grow suspicious about it—and Amanda’s—true purpose.
Does she really want to use Sam's power to help free unfortunate spirits trapped in the physical world? Or is there something more sinister Amanda has planned, a darker, more twisted truth that lies unseen?
Experience a harrowing psychological horror novel filled with dark twists as Sam digs into the truth behind the connection between our world and the supernatural.
Grab your copy today and read if you dare!
- GenresHorrorEbooksParanormal
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 17, 2026
About the author
S.E. Howard
28 books60 followersS.E. Howard lives in Kentucky where she works as a registered nurse, certified in toxicology (a fitting field given her side-hustle writing horror stories). Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies, and her short story “You’ve Been Saved” was also adapted for the screen in the 2022 GenreBlast film anthology Worst Laid Plans. Her horror novels The Vessel and What Lies Unseen are available now through Aethon Books / Wicked House. For more information, visit online at www.sehoward.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
March 26, 2026
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A young man who can see ghosts finds himself in a whole lot of trouble when he finds work at a museum. Maybe he should have worked at The Gap or something.
Anyway, most of it you can see coming a mile away, but some of the ghosts are pretty creepy.
A young man who can see ghosts finds himself in a whole lot of trouble when he finds work at a museum. Maybe he should have worked at The Gap or something.
Anyway, most of it you can see coming a mile away, but some of the ghosts are pretty creepy.
October 4, 2026
Sam has been able to see spirits since he was a child. When he starts a new job, he meets Amanda who can hear spirits. She convinces him to become part of her spirit circle with others who help those who are stuck. But is there something more sinister to it?
This just didn't hit the mark for me. There were a couple of creepy ghosts, but that's as scary as it got. I couldn't take to Sam or Amanda. They were both really annoying in different ways.
This just didn't hit the mark for me. There were a couple of creepy ghosts, but that's as scary as it got. I couldn't take to Sam or Amanda. They were both really annoying in different ways.
August 12, 2026
One or two creepy ghost but this def not a horror lol I'm disappointed I thought it would something else. It feels like a lot but nothing was happening at the same time. This had potential being that the plot was so different but the MMC plays dumb ? FMC unremarkable? Idk felt a bit dull
March 14, 2026
I did pretty much like this book. The plot was good and well researched. The main character, Sam, was not very likable, IMHO. He was rather annoying, actually. The character of Amanda was overdone, I think. The ending was fine; everything tied up with no cliffhanger. I might pick up something else by this author.
August 2, 2026
Sam Avery is on a mission to sort his life out and get to the bottom of his unconventional ability to see ghosts. When he meets Amanda, a mysterious woman who introduces him to others with abilities like his, he finally starts to believe he's found a place where he belongs. But as the story unfolds, it's clear there's much more going on than Sam realizes.
I’ll admit this was my first S.E. Howard book, but it won’t be my last. I adore the writing style and found it easy to devour this book. I had to keep reading because I was invested in finding out what Amanda’s deal was.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was Sam's ability. The descriptions of his encounters with ghosts were incredibly vivid and eerie, giving me actual chills. The ending was insane, and unlike anything I’ve read before.
The characters were another highlight. Luz was easily my favorite. She brought so much personality to the story, though there were several other characters I really enjoyed as well.
This book was an experience for sure full of spookiness, drama, and all the ghosts you could want! Perfect Summerween read.
I’ll admit this was my first S.E. Howard book, but it won’t be my last. I adore the writing style and found it easy to devour this book. I had to keep reading because I was invested in finding out what Amanda’s deal was.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was Sam's ability. The descriptions of his encounters with ghosts were incredibly vivid and eerie, giving me actual chills. The ending was insane, and unlike anything I’ve read before.
The characters were another highlight. Luz was easily my favorite. She brought so much personality to the story, though there were several other characters I really enjoyed as well.
This book was an experience for sure full of spookiness, drama, and all the ghosts you could want! Perfect Summerween read.
March 31, 2026
This book was a wild ride. Howard definitely had done research while writing this. My favorite horror features scenarios that have a little bit of truth and bends reality.
This book follows Sam, a young man who sees dead people. He finds a group of people and a woman and feels like he fits in for the first time in his life. But not everything adds up with his new friends, and he starts to pick apart lies.
This book follows Sam, a young man who sees dead people. He finds a group of people and a woman and feels like he fits in for the first time in his life. But not everything adds up with his new friends, and he starts to pick apart lies.
June 21, 2026
Had potential, but...CRASH & BURN
This book started out with so much potential. To keep it short it ended up feeling like a book that mashed up other horror stories/movies and books. Very disappointing. I don't believe that I will give this author another try. I always finish books, but I wanted to stop once I saw the pattern. Hard NO for me.
This book started out with so much potential. To keep it short it ended up feeling like a book that mashed up other horror stories/movies and books. Very disappointing. I don't believe that I will give this author another try. I always finish books, but I wanted to stop once I saw the pattern. Hard NO for me.
October 4, 2026
This book held surprise after surprise for me, each revelation sending a shockwave through my consciousness. The opening scene magnetized me to the plot, which then dragged me down dark hallways toward a most unexpected and terrifying conclusion. Of particular interest were the details on paranormal research and various psychic abilities.
May 15, 2026
One of the Best Books
I don’t even know where To begin…this book gives you everything you want in a horror novel but somehow manages to keep the human aspect. I literally could not put this book down until I was finished. Can’t wait to see if any other books develop from this. You will not regret reading this book!!!!!
I don’t even know where To begin…this book gives you everything you want in a horror novel but somehow manages to keep the human aspect. I literally could not put this book down until I was finished. Can’t wait to see if any other books develop from this. You will not regret reading this book!!!!!
June 23, 2026
Grief, I’d come to discover, was a unique and private burden, something people struggled with, fought against, and carried with them all on their own.
This was a quick and easy read but I'll be honest, I had higher hopes. The premise was interesting but I really wanted more. This was less about ghosts and more about Sam's personal life and relationships.
This was a quick and easy read but I'll be honest, I had higher hopes. The premise was interesting but I really wanted more. This was less about ghosts and more about Sam's personal life and relationships.
January 12, 2026
Sam can see spirits and interact with them. Too often they become threatening to Sam. Throughout his childhood he relied his older brother to keep him safe. This poor kid had such a terrifying time as a kid. He seemed to be a magnet for all manor of spirits. As he became an adult Sam did what he could to avoid spirits. Unfortunately he returned to the place that as a child, he experienced true terror by a spirit that did not want him at all historic mansion. Because he was so powerful a nefarious group of people decided they needed him to bring forth an ancient entity. What they did not know was; Sam had no intention of being a vessel for anyone. This book was really terrifying. Not only that I was angry at how Amanda used Sam. Sam was an easy target because until Amanda, Sam knew no one that could see spirits. She needed a naive person to participate in the ritual and Sam fit that bill. I sympathized with Sam as his heart broke. I was glad to see Cole finally came around. He had been used also then quickly discarded. The author did an amazing job at keeping things frightful as well as emotional. I could not help but feel empathy toward Sam because he really had a rough time of things.
March 17, 2026
WHAT LIES UNSEEN is a seamlessly plotted, high-octane ride where the terror is just as psychological as it is supernatural. S.E. Howard delivers a refreshing twist on the haunted house story that will keep you riveted until the very last sentence!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Title: What Lies Unseen
By: S.E. Howard
Publisher: AETHON: Wicked House
Published Date: March 10, 2026
ASIN: B0G4WZWV9F
Page Count: 283
Triggers: Spirits, psychological manipulation, betrayal, supernatural violence, possession themes
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Skull Dread Rating: ☠️☠️☠️
What Did I Just Walk Into?
Sam Avery has spent his entire life seeing spirits that would rather torment him than politely haunt someone else. Childhood was less “imaginary friends” and more “why is that ghost trying to crawl through the wall at me?” Then along comes Amanda Foster, who hears the dead and introduces Sam to her cozy little spirit circle. Sounds supportive, right? Wrong. Turns out when a secret paranormal club invites you in, there is usually a ritual, a hidden agenda, and someone planning to use you as the supernatural battery for something ancient and very, very bad.
Here’s What Slapped:
The tension in this book is fantastic. S.E. Howard knows exactly how to build dread and then twist the knife when you least expect it. The supernatural elements feel creepy without being over the top, and the mystery surrounding Amanda and her spirit circle keeps tightening like a noose. Sam is also an easy character to root for because the poor guy has basically been ghost bait his entire life. The emotional punches land just as hard as the horror. You feel his fear, his loneliness, and especially the betrayal when things start unraveling.
What Could’ve Been Better:
Amanda will absolutely make your blood pressure rise. She is the kind of character that makes you want to throw the book across the room and yell at fictional people for making terrible life choices. Which, honestly, might have been the point. Some readers may also wish we got even deeper backstory on certain characters like Cole because there is clearly more story there waiting to explode.
Perfect for Readers Who Love:
Supernatural horror
Ghost stories with psychological tension
Secret occult groups with bad intentions
Haunted locations and rituals gone sideways
Characters who discover the hard way that trust is dangerous
Sum It Up:
What Lies Unseen crawls under your skin with creeping dread, emotional gut punches, and the constant feeling that something terrible is waiting just outside the light. By the time the truth surfaces, you realize the real horror was never the ghosts. It was the people standing next to Sam the whole time.
Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review 💀📚
By: S.E. Howard
Publisher: AETHON: Wicked House
Published Date: March 10, 2026
ASIN: B0G4WZWV9F
Page Count: 283
Triggers: Spirits, psychological manipulation, betrayal, supernatural violence, possession themes
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Skull Dread Rating: ☠️☠️☠️
What Did I Just Walk Into?
Sam Avery has spent his entire life seeing spirits that would rather torment him than politely haunt someone else. Childhood was less “imaginary friends” and more “why is that ghost trying to crawl through the wall at me?” Then along comes Amanda Foster, who hears the dead and introduces Sam to her cozy little spirit circle. Sounds supportive, right? Wrong. Turns out when a secret paranormal club invites you in, there is usually a ritual, a hidden agenda, and someone planning to use you as the supernatural battery for something ancient and very, very bad.
Here’s What Slapped:
The tension in this book is fantastic. S.E. Howard knows exactly how to build dread and then twist the knife when you least expect it. The supernatural elements feel creepy without being over the top, and the mystery surrounding Amanda and her spirit circle keeps tightening like a noose. Sam is also an easy character to root for because the poor guy has basically been ghost bait his entire life. The emotional punches land just as hard as the horror. You feel his fear, his loneliness, and especially the betrayal when things start unraveling.
What Could’ve Been Better:
Amanda will absolutely make your blood pressure rise. She is the kind of character that makes you want to throw the book across the room and yell at fictional people for making terrible life choices. Which, honestly, might have been the point. Some readers may also wish we got even deeper backstory on certain characters like Cole because there is clearly more story there waiting to explode.
Perfect for Readers Who Love:
Supernatural horror
Ghost stories with psychological tension
Secret occult groups with bad intentions
Haunted locations and rituals gone sideways
Characters who discover the hard way that trust is dangerous
Sum It Up:
What Lies Unseen crawls under your skin with creeping dread, emotional gut punches, and the constant feeling that something terrible is waiting just outside the light. By the time the truth surfaces, you realize the real horror was never the ghosts. It was the people standing next to Sam the whole time.
Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review 💀📚
July 13, 2026
This book had an interesting concept and some truly frightening moments when Sam is dealing with the ghosts he sees.
But the pacing is slow and kind of repetitive in the middle. There's a lot more sex...or sexual type stuff (good and bad) going on than I expected. And I don't think all of it was necessary to establish Amanda as a love interest and then...something else.
As bad as Amanda is, Sam's worse for me. He's not just a cowardly character, he's also an idiot. He falls for Amanda's ploy way too easily, chooses to walk into traps without thinking about what he's getting in to because he gets hyper-focused on something else. He's stubborn when it comes to believing truths once they're revealed to him too, and he doesn't learn or grow much throughout the course of this book.
He and Amanda start a physical relationship and mere days later she drops the L bomb on him and even though it sends him reeling, he not only believes her but convinces himself he loves her in return. And even when she starts doing crazy stuff to him, he STILL wrestles with the idea that she uttered words she didn't mean and now he's heartbroken.
Gross. Grow up. It's been a week.
Needless to say, I didn't believe the emotional I love yous for a second. And not just because all Sam and Amanda seem to be capable of doing is screwing, but also because it was immediately obvious (from the book's summary) that she's not a good person.
So the whole middle of this book where they're just having sex every chance they get - it all meant nothing to me.
And the ending, when she shows her true colors? Nobody's shocked. Except maybe Sam.
Believe it or not, Cole saves this one for me. He's an ahole in the beginning and kind of cantankerous and a slob the whole book. But he's the only one with an actual brain in his skull.
All that being said the ending itself is pretty well done. There's lots of hair raising spooky stuff, super high stakes, and plenty of drama and action to keep me turning pages. I intended to only start this book, but ended up reading it all in one sitting, so do with that what you will.
But the pacing is slow and kind of repetitive in the middle. There's a lot more sex...or sexual type stuff (good and bad) going on than I expected. And I don't think all of it was necessary to establish Amanda as a love interest and then...something else.
As bad as Amanda is, Sam's worse for me. He's not just a cowardly character, he's also an idiot. He falls for Amanda's ploy way too easily, chooses to walk into traps without thinking about what he's getting in to because he gets hyper-focused on something else. He's stubborn when it comes to believing truths once they're revealed to him too, and he doesn't learn or grow much throughout the course of this book.
He and Amanda start a physical relationship and mere days later she drops the L bomb on him and even though it sends him reeling, he not only believes her but convinces himself he loves her in return. And even when she starts doing crazy stuff to him, he STILL wrestles with the idea that she uttered words she didn't mean and now he's heartbroken.
Gross. Grow up. It's been a week.
Needless to say, I didn't believe the emotional I love yous for a second. And not just because all Sam and Amanda seem to be capable of doing is screwing, but also because it was immediately obvious (from the book's summary) that she's not a good person.
So the whole middle of this book where they're just having sex every chance they get - it all meant nothing to me.
And the ending, when she shows her true colors? Nobody's shocked. Except maybe Sam.
Believe it or not, Cole saves this one for me. He's an ahole in the beginning and kind of cantankerous and a slob the whole book. But he's the only one with an actual brain in his skull.
All that being said the ending itself is pretty well done. There's lots of hair raising spooky stuff, super high stakes, and plenty of drama and action to keep me turning pages. I intended to only start this book, but ended up reading it all in one sitting, so do with that what you will.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a fine supernatural thriller by S.E. Howard, who's proven time and again to exceed all expectations when it comes to horror stories with a heart, complex plotting, and relatable characters. In fact, "What Lies Unseen" is an emotional rollercoaster, touching on themes of grief, loss, and family, as well as romantic love, betrayal, and complicated friendships. The supernatural elements, revolving around ghosts or spirits, range from paranormal to cult and archeological horror: people with abilities of seeing, hearing or feeling ghosts are drawn into a harrowing tale of epic proportions, involving an unearthed ancient artifact and the entity housed within.
The main character, Sam, a young man who's been seeing spirits all his life, finds himself right in the middle of things when he's offered the job of a security employee in a mansion-turned-museum - a place where he, as a child, first saw the ghost of a burnt woman, Rosemary, the victim of a past disaster involving a séance gone wrong. Archaeological work in the mansion has revealed several disturbing details. Sam, to his surprise, soon hooks up with the director of the dig, Amanda, who can hear ghosts. It seems like a match made in heaven; is it though?
Sam's family dynamics are perfectly integrated into the story, at the same time his relationship with Amanda grows deeper and more demanding. What follows is a fast-paced dive into cult horror, with several twists and surprising reveals about Sam, Amanda, and the history of the mansion. But what makes this a fascinating horror story is the mystery about what lies underneath the place, not only what lies unseen. The last third of the book offers one revelation after another, balanced with psychological insight, emotional depth, and thrilling suspense about Sam's fate.
When it comes to horror, Howard keeps getting it just right! I highly recommend the book to fans of the paranormal and readers who love their horror cleverly executed and solidly anchored in emotionally authentic experience!
The main character, Sam, a young man who's been seeing spirits all his life, finds himself right in the middle of things when he's offered the job of a security employee in a mansion-turned-museum - a place where he, as a child, first saw the ghost of a burnt woman, Rosemary, the victim of a past disaster involving a séance gone wrong. Archaeological work in the mansion has revealed several disturbing details. Sam, to his surprise, soon hooks up with the director of the dig, Amanda, who can hear ghosts. It seems like a match made in heaven; is it though?
Sam's family dynamics are perfectly integrated into the story, at the same time his relationship with Amanda grows deeper and more demanding. What follows is a fast-paced dive into cult horror, with several twists and surprising reveals about Sam, Amanda, and the history of the mansion. But what makes this a fascinating horror story is the mystery about what lies underneath the place, not only what lies unseen. The last third of the book offers one revelation after another, balanced with psychological insight, emotional depth, and thrilling suspense about Sam's fate.
When it comes to horror, Howard keeps getting it just right! I highly recommend the book to fans of the paranormal and readers who love their horror cleverly executed and solidly anchored in emotionally authentic experience!
Review of advance copy received from Author
What Lies Unseen is a book that will scratch a lot of itches for the avid horror reader. On it's surface, what lies seen, if you will, is deceptively simple. From a young age, Sam Avery has been plagued with visions of ghosts. He seems to be tempting fate when he accepts a security job at mansion where he first discovered his ability to see the dead. After meeting Amanda Foster and her circle of like-minded spiritualists, he is given a chance to foster what he thought was a curse into what his new acquaintances assure him is a gift.
What unfolds from this jumping off point is creeping, crawling ghost story filled with left turns that will constantly have the reader turning the page for more. S.E. Howard is a pro when it comes to pacing, knowing just when to leave the scares at a hair-raising creep, and when to turn the scare level to full, white-knuckle terror. We also get a full cast of characters that we get to know well, familiar faces that we root for and cross our fingers that they get through the end of the book relatively unscathed.
What Lies Unseen is a great time, well written, and sure to satiate any horror reader with the good stuff.
Thank you to the author for a chance to get an early read on this one!
What unfolds from this jumping off point is creeping, crawling ghost story filled with left turns that will constantly have the reader turning the page for more. S.E. Howard is a pro when it comes to pacing, knowing just when to leave the scares at a hair-raising creep, and when to turn the scare level to full, white-knuckle terror. We also get a full cast of characters that we get to know well, familiar faces that we root for and cross our fingers that they get through the end of the book relatively unscathed.
What Lies Unseen is a great time, well written, and sure to satiate any horror reader with the good stuff.
Thank you to the author for a chance to get an early read on this one!
October 1, 2026
I enjoyed spending time finding out about the world of Sam Avery, who ghosts seek out but who doesn't necessarily appreciate his talent. Perhaps because he never really learned how to control it. Amanda, the leader of a "spirit circle" of people with various psychic abilities invites him into the circle. Sam falls hard and fast for Amanda, so agrees to join the circle. But all is not as it seems, as Sam discovers. I'm afraid saying much more would introduce spoilers.
The book is tightly plotted and well-paced. Sam is a likeable protagonist, if a bit naive. But then again, he's getting ready to start college so much of his naivete' can be attributed to youth. I wish some of the other characters had been fleshed out a bit more, especially the main bad guy at the end and the family friend who got Sam the job. The author does a good job of blending horror tropes, but at least one of them, in my view, teetered on the edge of cliche'. The ending drew all the plot threads together and concluded Sam's story satisfactorily. I definitely recommend this book as a well-written, entertaining supernatural tale.
The book is tightly plotted and well-paced. Sam is a likeable protagonist, if a bit naive. But then again, he's getting ready to start college so much of his naivete' can be attributed to youth. I wish some of the other characters had been fleshed out a bit more, especially the main bad guy at the end and the family friend who got Sam the job. The author does a good job of blending horror tropes, but at least one of them, in my view, teetered on the edge of cliche'. The ending drew all the plot threads together and concluded Sam's story satisfactorily. I definitely recommend this book as a well-written, entertaining supernatural tale.
June 2, 2026
After finishing this book and reading the reviews left on it, I want to put this out there: People aren't giving this a fair shot IMO. I saw a lot of people talking about how Sam fell flat or lacked personality, I honestly didn't get that. He is a young man who has spent his entire life being scared and had this awful "gift" while simultaneously having to handle the emotional disaster that came from his father & brother's death. Sam was honestly more relatable than I was expecting.
As for the story, it was definitely not what I was expecting. The blurb gives off the impression that this psychic group is trying to help spirits and there may be something off about his new friend group but in all honesty this has nothing to really do with the story. Sam can see ghosts, he gets a job at a historical building working security. While at work he meets a woman ( Amanda ) who is in charge of a specific site and hits it off with her. She ends up inviting him over and while there he finds out she also has psychic abilities and just so happens to have a spirit circle she wants him to be apart of. spooky things happen maybe 1-3 times in the actual mansion, and some spooky stuff happens while he is with Amanda and her group, particularly one guy in specific. Plot happens and story continues and we find out that there are some pretty bi secrets being kept and Sam is stuck in the middle of a very bad situation.
Did this spook me so badly I had to sleep with the lights on, no but it also wasnt a bad read. I think the author overuses the same word way too much and tries to throw in words that are a little too sophisticated? for the story but overall this was a fine read.
As for the story, it was definitely not what I was expecting. The blurb gives off the impression that this psychic group is trying to help spirits and there may be something off about his new friend group but in all honesty this has nothing to really do with the story. Sam can see ghosts, he gets a job at a historical building working security. While at work he meets a woman ( Amanda ) who is in charge of a specific site and hits it off with her. She ends up inviting him over and while there he finds out she also has psychic abilities and just so happens to have a spirit circle she wants him to be apart of. spooky things happen maybe 1-3 times in the actual mansion, and some spooky stuff happens while he is with Amanda and her group, particularly one guy in specific. Plot happens and story continues and we find out that there are some pretty bi secrets being kept and Sam is stuck in the middle of a very bad situation.
Did this spook me so badly I had to sleep with the lights on, no but it also wasnt a bad read. I think the author overuses the same word way too much and tries to throw in words that are a little too sophisticated? for the story but overall this was a fine read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Truly foreboding horror builds tension and dread through the things we cannot see, the evil that lurks in the dark, the monster that hides in the shadows, barely there, stygian and insubstantial – just beyond the edge of vision, yet menacingly, terrifyingly, real. And, in ‘What Lies Unseen’, S.E. Howard wields this idea like a weapon. In this brilliant read, nothing, and no one, is truly what they seem. There are grave-deep secrets and ancient mysteries. There is subterfuge and betrayal. Friends can be found in enemies, charity and assistance in the most nightmarish of entities. Even the leading characters struggle to understand their own hidden pasts and traumas. Howard has buried a terrible truth deep inside this story, and it will force every reader to dig, dig, and keep on digging until they uncover it. Great stuff. A dark, mesmeric story about the secrets we keep and the evils we hide away.
Jeff Clulow – author of ‘Veil’ and ‘The Leper’s Garden and Other Contagions’.
Jeff Clulow – author of ‘Veil’ and ‘The Leper’s Garden and Other Contagions’.
March 29, 2026
This novel completely pulled me in from the very first page and never let go. The character development is absolutely impeccable. Sam feels incredibly real and relatable, and his struggles with his abilities are both haunting and deeply human. Watching his journey unfold, especially as he meets Amanda and becomes entangled in the mysterious “spirit circle,” kept me fully invested the entire time.
The atmosphere is perfectly crafted—dark, eerie, and genuinely unsettling in all the best ways. The psychological tension builds steadily, with twists that kept me guessing and questioning everything right alongside Sam. The pacing is spot-on, making it a true page turner that I didn’t want to put down. It was also so cool to realize that it takes place in maryland since I'm from there!
If you love psychological horror with depth, strong characters, and a chilling storyline that lingers long after you’ve finished, this book is a must read.
The atmosphere is perfectly crafted—dark, eerie, and genuinely unsettling in all the best ways. The psychological tension builds steadily, with twists that kept me guessing and questioning everything right alongside Sam. The pacing is spot-on, making it a true page turner that I didn’t want to put down. It was also so cool to realize that it takes place in maryland since I'm from there!
If you love psychological horror with depth, strong characters, and a chilling storyline that lingers long after you’ve finished, this book is a must read.
April 4, 2026
A new job that includes a mysterious older love interest!? Considering death has followed him (literally and figuratively) all his life, this might be the break Sam needs. Little does he know that he chose the wrong museum, and he's long been expected.
Expertly paced with a mystery that unfolds steadily, Howard's follow-up novel cements her place in the genre. The dialogue is crisp and the characters a healthy combination of endearing and rage-inducing (in a good way). This is the perfect companion piece to The Vessel, her previous work, as she builds and even improves on ideas started there. Best of all is the world building. I am a sucker for "rules", so to speak, and I enjoyed learning how this world worked and what could be achieved. The ending hints at larger possibilities that I hope are explored one day.
Another hearty recommend.
Expertly paced with a mystery that unfolds steadily, Howard's follow-up novel cements her place in the genre. The dialogue is crisp and the characters a healthy combination of endearing and rage-inducing (in a good way). This is the perfect companion piece to The Vessel, her previous work, as she builds and even improves on ideas started there. Best of all is the world building. I am a sucker for "rules", so to speak, and I enjoyed learning how this world worked and what could be achieved. The ending hints at larger possibilities that I hope are explored one day.
Another hearty recommend.
April 4, 2026
I enjoyed this book despite not being exactly what I was looking for. I desperately wanted it to be scarier but I did enjoy it for what it was. The writing was excellent and it was properly edited - two things I’ve been struggling to find in a good horror novel lately. I got a little confused at the end when I couldn’t tell if one character was another - but seems like the protagonist was also having that issue so it might have been intentional. Amanda was a lot - maybe a bit too much. Sam was typical for his age. I needed a bit more from Sam and Luz’s relationship to make it more three dimensional because it fell a flat sometimes. I got all the security guards confused. I would definitely read more from this author.
June 28, 2026
My daughter, knowing I'm a horror fan, gave me WHAT LIES UNSEEN by S.E. Howard. While the novel is far from original or groundbreaking, it's nearly 300 pages and I read it in one sitting and enjoyed it immensely. It's just silly fun, almost warranting a sequel, but nothing I can strongly recommend. Characters lack motivation; people claim they love each other in two weeks; and the "evil" present is sorta expected. In other words, very readable, dumb fun. I like the narrator, but I didn't believe the situation for a second. Still, as a horror fan, I enjoyed the couple of hours it took me to read WHAT LIES UNSEEN. By the way, the title is pretty awful, not reflective of what IS good in the novel.
September 12, 2026
Just finished What Lies Unseen by S.E. Howard.
This is a great supernatural/psychological horror story. It follows Sam, who sees ghosts, as he finds out that he’s not the only one who can connect to the dead. He soon joins a circle of mediums, psychics and spiritualists who all seem to have similar gifts and good intentions. But despite his gifted vision, there are truths that even he can’t see. This had major classic haunted house vibes then twists and spirals into something darker. It’s a wonderful book and the audiobook is fantastic! I really recommend it, especially for fans of The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson and Hell House by Richard Matheson. It’s definitely a part of that lineage in the best way possible. Kudos to S.E. Howard ! Thanks for the thrill ride!
This is a great supernatural/psychological horror story. It follows Sam, who sees ghosts, as he finds out that he’s not the only one who can connect to the dead. He soon joins a circle of mediums, psychics and spiritualists who all seem to have similar gifts and good intentions. But despite his gifted vision, there are truths that even he can’t see. This had major classic haunted house vibes then twists and spirals into something darker. It’s a wonderful book and the audiobook is fantastic! I really recommend it, especially for fans of The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson and Hell House by Richard Matheson. It’s definitely a part of that lineage in the best way possible. Kudos to S.E. Howard ! Thanks for the thrill ride!
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you're looking for a tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you want to keep the lights on, this is the one. S. E. has done it again by introducing us to Sam, who can see spirits and they torment him. He meets Amanda, who can hear the voices of the dead. She invites him to her spirit group, and the story jumps off with a bang from there. The cast of characters are drawn great, and it makes you want to see who will survive this night as they try to raise an ancient spirit, and who can you trust. The pacing is spot on, and the tension keeps you turning the pages. I can't wait to see what S. E. has in store for us next.
January 31, 2026
“What Lies Unseen” by S.E. Howard is a thrilling, twisty book that you will not want to put down. Howard has expertly crafted a narrative that combines supernatural horror and mystery, and introduces you to characters you will love to get to know. I was completely hooked on this story and had to pick my jaw off the floor as it unfolded. This was my introduction to Howard’s writing and I cannot wait to get whisked away by her storytelling again. If you haven’t already, give this one a pre-order! You’ll be thankful you did! Thank you to the author for allowing me to get an early glimpse with an ARC. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Author
What Lies Unseen by S.E. Howard
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is a dark, creepy, and exciting psychological/supernatural horror story. This book has it all, scares, haunts, ghosts, rituals, twists, grief, emotions, and so much more!!
Sam lives his life seeing images of the dead. It’s a very powerful gift he has… or is it a curse? Sam meets Amanda at work and they hit it off. He learns about a whole spirit world from Amanda and great horrors ensure!
This book is a mysterious and spooky read! I love how the author told this story. It drew me in immediately!!
Thank you to S.E. Howard for an arc of this fantastic book!!
*I highly recommend the creepy read!! It comes out March 17th!!*
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is a dark, creepy, and exciting psychological/supernatural horror story. This book has it all, scares, haunts, ghosts, rituals, twists, grief, emotions, and so much more!!
Sam lives his life seeing images of the dead. It’s a very powerful gift he has… or is it a curse? Sam meets Amanda at work and they hit it off. He learns about a whole spirit world from Amanda and great horrors ensure!
This book is a mysterious and spooky read! I love how the author told this story. It drew me in immediately!!
Thank you to S.E. Howard for an arc of this fantastic book!!
*I highly recommend the creepy read!! It comes out March 17th!!*
April 12, 2026
S.E. Howard is quickly becoming one of my favorite voices in the indie horror genre. I’ve read her short story collection as well as “The Vessel” and needed more.
Sam has always been able to see things others can’t, namely ghosts still wandering the mortal plane. What’s difficult is handling an unwanted gift such as this while navigating grief and loss. When Sam starts a new job as a security guard at a historical landmark, he’s plunged into a mystery that’s much bigger than he could have ever dreamed of. Seduced by a beautiful academic, he falls into a crowd of fellow psychics, mystics, and the like, and what he discovers is far more frightening than any silly ghost.
Howard has earned a fan for life. She crafts characters well, her prose is gorgeous, and her dark humor is on point.
Sam has always been able to see things others can’t, namely ghosts still wandering the mortal plane. What’s difficult is handling an unwanted gift such as this while navigating grief and loss. When Sam starts a new job as a security guard at a historical landmark, he’s plunged into a mystery that’s much bigger than he could have ever dreamed of. Seduced by a beautiful academic, he falls into a crowd of fellow psychics, mystics, and the like, and what he discovers is far more frightening than any silly ghost.
Howard has earned a fan for life. She crafts characters well, her prose is gorgeous, and her dark humor is on point.
September 25, 2026
This novel was just straight up fun to read. I absolutely loved the characters, the plot, involving a haunted estate with ghosts only one particular new security guard can see ... the archeological dig, the reveal of the paranormal society ... how everything ties together ... Just good old fashioned horror fun. Howard is skilled at character development and building dread. This is in a way a slow burn, but with plenty of action and gruesomeness built in along the way. I loved the creativity and the historical tie-in. I won't give away any spoilers, but if you're considering adding to your TBR, definitely do it, and give it a bump up. This would be the PERFECT October/spooky season read! 🍂
March 29, 2026
What a roller coaster! Sam has had a rough life. Nothing has been handed to him on a silver platter without serious consequences. Even in adulthood he is still paying for his father’s mistakes, or so he thinks. His secret ability has always been a hindrance to him but never did he think it would be of importance. The twists and turns of this story leave you thoroughly engaged and excited for the turn of each page!
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