The Keeper

by Misty Mount

When the Ericksons move home to care for their ailing grandmother, they’re told a stranger has taken up residence in the attic of the sprawling mansion. Upon investigation, the family isn't sure the tenant is anything more than a figment of old Mrs. Erickson’s imagination—until a mysterious young woman begins to show herself to the family in fleeting, uncanny visits.

When unexplained things start happening under the mansion’s roof, suspicions arise as to just who—or what—she is. In the chaos that ensues, the family is forced to make a decision: trust the stranger or band together as a family against her—and their grandmother who’s protecting her.

Genres: Paranormal, Mystery

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2019

About the author

"I read because my grandmother showed me how to immerse myself in books for recreation, relaxation or even as a coping skill.

I write because my head is filled with daydreams and I like to choose the endings."

Misty Mount has written since age five and was first published at fourteen. By day she's a caregiver, wife, and mother to a young son but during the quiet hours of night she becomes a novelist.

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Keeper, published by Misty Mount in 2019, is the first book in her "Underground Defenders" series. I've read another book by Mount in the past, and I will be reading more in the future. I enjoy her slow-build, tension-filled climaxes and the depth of detail she goes into describing her characters and settings. With a focus more on the paranormal / other-worldly / ghostly genres, it's not quite fantasy or science-fiction, but it's definitely not total reality; I like that middle ground and would recommend this book for almost all reader types and ages, especially if you have a bit of an open mind.

At first, we get to know a young couple who have moved to the husband's family's home under interesting auspices. There are some financial and medical issues with the couple, but the husband's grandmother has also taken ill. She raised her grandson (and his siblings) when their parents weren't around. I say it that way purposely because all is not what it seems and I don't want to spoil the book for you. That said, when the couple and their young daughter arrive, something is obviously amiss. Not only do we learn the wife has had a bit of a breakdown, we see her very 'clingy' focus on her daughter--fearful when others hold the infant, unable to leave the room without her, et al. Are there legitimate reasons, or has her breakdown not been fully uncovered and healed? Mount handles these questions well because I often couldn't be sure where the exact problem stemmed from in the couple's relationship. At times, it was his fault, yet at others, it was clearly hers. Excellent way to keep readers attuned to the story but excited to find out the conclusion.

As the tale unfolds, we meet the mystery guest that the grandmother says has been helping her recover before her grandson returned. Even the live-in staff and visiting nurse are aware of this supposed other person. Is she real or a ghost? Just when you get to know her, the main story completely pauses and switches to the past where we learn about a nearby neighbor who also seems to know the same house guest. We learn all the history leading up to the current time, including some connections with the young couple's grandmother and extended family. Some shocking stuff regarding healing and medicinal treatments swing to the forefront, but very powerful relationships unfold at the same time. Mount is great at taking readers into a moment of eerie and confusing situations, letting us decide for ourselves what's real and what's imaginary. Great stuff!

For me, this is a non-typical read, but it's very easy to digest and connect with, so I find myself quite intrigued to learn more about the hospital, the house guest, and the missing and yet-to-be-revealed parts of this larger plot. What I can say without any spoilers... the book ends with a resolution to the main story. We know what's going on with the grandmother and young couple. We understand who the house guest is and what's truly going on in her own world. But... we get a sort of open-ended cliffhanger about what will happen next. Just because you know the answer to your question doesn't mean you know how it'll turn out... that's the way to end a story and make your reader wait for the next one. This reader is looking forward to book two... and I hope we get it before year-end.

[☆Dani☆ ☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, Misty Mount has done it again with a gripping and mysterious start to an awesome series! I have read a few of Misty's books and she quickly grew to be one of my favorite fiction authors. The Keeper is the first in the Underground Defender's Series. I am definitely excited to see what comes next. This novel has a slow burn that turns into excitement and adventure. The plot and worldbuilding is phenomenal. I also really enjoy the characterization and how realistic the characters are. I would recommend this book to young reads and adults alike. This is definitely been one of my favorite reads of 2019 and would categorize it as a Must Read!

[Nila (digitalcreativepages)]

I picked up this book due to the haunting cover which gave me delicious shivers. What can I say, the cover pulled me into the story. My first book by author Misty Mount, saw me very undecided about what I felt for this book, which was divided into 3 parts.

The first part had the 3 Es Elliot, Eve, and baby Emma moving into the rural landscape to look after Elliot’s grandmother in their family home. Strange things happened when they came to know that they had a tenant in the attic, a real one according to the grandmother and a ghostly one according to the rest as nobody seemed to have seen her.

The second part was the past of the haunting stranger which gave me a clearer idea about the history and the mystery, and the third part was the amalgamation of the past with present with devastating results.

The book had its moments of suspense and thrill with the stranger playing hide and go seek in the first part. Misty’s writing gave an eerie, secluded feel to the entire mansion with its nooks and crannies. There was a sense of impending doom and horror waiting to happen. The characters, though not fleshed out well, behaved in odd, threatening ways which captured my interest. The second part felt a bit long to me, but evil pervaded the pages soon by the events shown. The third had the repercussion which made me excited.

This book pulled me in different directions, with an overall feeling of fun of the unknown.

[L.J. Scar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Keeper captured my attention from the first page. The author, Misty Mount, writes vividly – describing settings and characters in perfect detail. Mount does an excellent job of portraying the overly protective Eve, her manipulative and often goading husband, Elliott, and the dark past of Amira, the keeper. Their internal struggles with their past, present, and fear of what is to come held my attention to the last page.

As book one this had a satisfying end but was open enough to provide for a second book.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I haven't read anything spooky like this for a while... It definitely has the vibe of those Gothic horror stories from the 70s. This book was two stories that merged into one. It starts with Eve and her husband Elliot moving in with his mother in his old family home. The other story is about Amira, a girl with special powers that was forced to live in a medical laboratory. The stories merge together and are tied up with an ending leaving you ready for the next book in the series.

[Lucy Goodfellow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Between the Lines Publishing (Liminal Books) for sending me this book via #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I will not be including spoilers in my review.

Misty Mount has written an exceptionally compelling page-turner. I devoured this book in one sitting, the plot was simple to follow without being boring, the characters were interesting while still being fleshed out and overall it succeeded in being fast-paced without being confusing (something a lot of thrillers fail at).

Eve’s arc was a treat to experience and this was only accentuated by the writer’s style. Her development was my favourite thing about this novel. She is intelligent and still emotionally vulnerable, which is something that I think has been lacking in thrillers in recent years.

The twists and turns never stopped and I just couldn't stop reading. The different sections contrasted nicely with each other and highlighted the differences in the characters whilst moving the plot forward. The science fiction elements of the book were unique and thought-provoking.


The only thing that prevented this from being a Five-Star read was that the opening was somewhat exposition heavy and clunky phrasing took me out of the story in places. But these are minor gripes and this didn't affect my overall enjoyment of this novel.

I eagerly anticipate the sequel.

[Matthew Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book it had me gripped from the first chapter. The storyline and characters were well thought out and there were plenty of twists and turns making the story very unpredictable. I just couldn't put this book down. I will be recommending this book to everyone

[Noah Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a winner. Plays out much like a movie would at times on page after page. There are solid characters aplenty, fine prose, intriguing mystery, and a seriously strong closing. For work purposes, I read/proofed it a bit ago...and it is a Dwight Gooden—which (clearly) means it's a good one. Do I have to explain everything? Read this fic when it's released! Just awesome stuff.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything about The Keeper! This is one of those times when I could just write, “GO READ THIS BOOK! 5/5” and be done with the review, because it’s just that good. However, I’m a book reviewer, and so, I’ll go into detail. :)

I’ve never read anything by Misty Mount, but I intend to read more from her now. Her attention to detail, ability to create deep characters and tension-filled plots that keep readers glued to the pages, are all wonderful things that made The Keeper so great for me.

All is not what it seems in The Keeper, and even when you think you know, something happens to turn you down a new road. I love books like this. The ending was perfect. It was left open just enough to make me excited for the next book, but it wasn’t a frustrating cliff-hanger. I am really looking forward to the next one! Now go pick this one up! You won’t be disappointed!

*I read this book as part of a blog tour with R&R Book Tours. All opinions are my own.*

[Tamara Beach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book riveting from the get-go. Misty Mount has created a world that’s both realistic and fantasy, with characters you can relate to and those you wish you could be like. The way it’s written draws you in and you feel like you’re experiencing it for yourself as you read. The story is just creepy and mysterious enough to be intriguing, and it is a hard book to put down. I also feel like this is a book that could be read more than once and it wouldn’t lose is luster. Excellent writing from Misty Mount that leaves you wanting more of her books!

[Debra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Evie, Elliot and their young daughter Emma are moving back to Elliot’s family home. A big old house in rural America which they plan to convert into a B&B. Living in the house is Elliot’s Grandmother who wishes to see the project started before she dies. Then Elliot and Evie discover there is mysterious woman, Almira, living in the attic. Who is she?

This is a story of three parts. The book starts with Evie & Elliot and their house move. I found this areasonable start to the book and was looking forward to seeing the plot and characters develop. Once we meet Almira, however, we then progress to part two which tells us the story of her background. Part three then progresses from where part one leaves off. This was all clearly defined and there was no confusion between the parts.

The main problem with this book was that it was very shallow. Although the first section following Evie, Elliot & their family is a good start to the book it is very basic. There is no depth to the plot or characters. As the second part is devoted to Almira’s story the original characters don’t get an opportunity to develop. I never felt that I knew or understood the characters – they were quite bland and cardboard. Unfortunately I felt the same concerning the characters in the second part. The third part is mainly action combining the first two parts which did tie off the ends didn’t give me any real insight into the characters.

The language in this book is quite basic. This is probably the main reason that the plot and characters don’t seem to develop much depth and seem very bland. A few rich words of description can make a huge difference and I really felt that this was lacking.

I feel this is a fairly basic & shallow story. I haven’t invested in the characters and have no desire to continue to read the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

[Virgil Debique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where to start? From the beginning I thought I knew what the story would be about and what the theme would be. How wrong was I?

We start the story with a young family, with an almost neurotic wife and a husband who is struggling with his wife’s condition. Almost instantly we’re dragged into an emotional relationship and as it develops we go through a roller-coaster of emotions as we travel with Eve, Elliot and Emma.

Right from the start we are quickly drawn in by Eve and her state of mind. Are the things she sees real? Are they part of her condition?

Wanting to start a new life away from the stress of the city, the family move to the small town were Elliot grew up and move into his Grandmother’s mansion with her and a mysterious guest.
What gripped me with the story is how detailed the characters are and how easily you empathise with them. I assumed I knew what the story was going to be about, it early on it was clear I was wrong, which was a great surprise. I hate when you can guess the main theme of a story. Here though, I was taken completely by surprise.

The story was teased out bit by bit and I was sat on the edge of my seat eager to know what was going to happen and how the story would end. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and another great book by Misty. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series. I don’t know where the next book will go, but I’m sure it will be a great surprise and I’m excited.

[David Belisle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind games, anyone?

Misty Mount has nailed a great story idea in a time where we're finally peeling back the painful layers of mental illness. Great character development, particularly the initial protagonist Eve who, mental health notwithstanding, is a nervous wreck written so well you may become one just following her. Kudos! Eve's point of view is under Mound's microscope as we bounce around inside her head on the minutiae-turned-mania, neatly compounded by her concerns for her baby.

The story is essentially broken down into two parts: the contemporary present followed by back story on Amira, the second protagonist we're rooting for. The second half of the story breaks the plot wide open, sending the psycho-drama careening into psycho-thriller. "The Keeper" will keep you in suspense, turning pages to the end of this emotional roller coaster ride I'll call Emotion Explosion. (No spoiler alert there. Just hyperbole.) Hats off to Misty Mount. Excellent tale.

[Daryl Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thoroughly entertaining and well-written story.

The novel opens as a variation on the Victorian trope of the “madwoman in the attic” when the when troubled young wife Eve moves to the country with her husband and their infant daughter. The author does a wonderful job in creating this creepy setting fraught with danger, both known and unknown. The character of Eve is memorable for being one of the most sympathetic and realistic portrayals of mental illness that I’ve ever read. Eve is not a cluster of symptoms, but a rounded personality. Once the tenant in the attic is revealed, the novel flashes back to tell her sad yet otherworldly story. When the novel jumps back to present time, the story moves to an exciting and satisfying conclusion.

This is Book 1 of The Underground Defenders series. With these interesting characters and fantastical mythos, the author has a good foundation for many more thrilling tales.

[Matt Gianni · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE KEEPER is Book #1 in The Underground Defenders Series by Misty Mount, not to be confused with the David Baladacci novel of the same name. The story centers on Eve Erickson as she, her husband Elliot, and their one-year-old Emma, move from Chicago into the country estate of Elliot's ailing grandmother Wilma. But as Elliot and his brother Liam begin plans for turning the mansion house into a bed and breakfast, a wrinkle appears; Wilma announces that they must allow a "tenant" of hers to continue accupying the attic rooms - rooms Elliot had slated to generate income from vacationers. Is the tenant real or just a figment of the old lady's imagination?
The reader will immediately recognize the precision of Mount's writing, the nearly flawless prose being subject to either a layered revision process or intense editing. Highly recommended - looking forward to more from THE KEEPER Series!

[Lucretia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored every word in this page-turner. There are three sections, the first had a very Gothic feel to it as the family moves into a large family estate with an ailing mother and a mystery woman... adding to that feel was the way they questioned Evie's mental state, especially her husband,who at times it almost seemed was gaslighting her. The twists were unexpected and moved us into part two and a deeper look at the mystery woman who had been sharing the estate with Evie's mother in law. Almira’s story introduces a unique element that had me gripped as it worked forward toward section three where the threads blend again and the action picks up. This wonderfully blends several genres into a beautiful Gothic mystery. I look forward to the next part.

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Ericksons move home to care for their ailing grandmother, they’re told a stranger has taken up residence in the attic of the sprawling mansion. Upon investigation, the family isn't sure the tenant is anything more than a figment of old Mrs. Erickson’s imagination—until a mysterious young woman begins to show herself to the family in fleeting, uncanny visits.

I really enjoyed this novel.
Cleverly written plot and story line.
I liked the characters and found them very well written out.
I am going to be looking for more from the author to read.
Recommend reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley. This is my own honest voluntary review.

[Allie Reeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Misty Mount, for sending me The keeper in exchange for an honest review. The keep is a page-turner that grabs your attention from the beginning. The details in the book provide you with a sense of watching a movie. Therefore, it keeps you guessing what's going to happen next. The characters are throughout really well. The different sections of the book allow you to see the differences between the characters. In turn, each character is unique. The keeper is a spooky book and is done well. The ending of the keeper makes me excited to read the next book. With that being said, I will recommend this book to many people. I will be finishing this series.

[Porsche Mbezi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great Mystery. I enjoyed every second of it. If you are looking for a story that hooks you from the start... This is the book for you. I love the way this author develops her characters. They are so real, so relatable. She has a way of pulling you in emotionally ... One of her best writing qualities. The story is full of twists and turns that will have your detective senses working overtime and begging for more. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series!!

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A move that's supposed to help start things over, helping an ailing grandmother and following her wishes for updating her creaky old house. But when a mysterious young woman shows up with strange happenings accompanying her. Is she the cause or is she the one thing that can protect the frightened family from a sinister force within the walls of the estate? You'll be unable to put this down as goosebumps tap dance across your skin.

[Kaili (Owl Book World) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a book! I love that it had a slow build up but just enough action to really grip you into the book. I actually had a hard time putting the book down. I just hope in the next book it'll go over all that Amira can do.

[Jill Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by Misty Mount and all I can say is WOW. This spooky, gothic tale had me turning the pages so fast that my fingers hurt. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

[Mary Galloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

The keeper will keep you riveted

This book is an easy read . The reader is drawn in to the lives of the characters and rooting for the heroine .

[Colby Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading The Keeper. I liked the characters and the relationships between them. The mysterious aspects and exciting moments kept it engaging. Well-written and entertaining.