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Haunting Clarisse #2
Haunting in Hartley
A town under siege. A malignant force plaguing its people. Can this warrior for good cleanse the sickness before they all fall prey to darkness?
Clarisse Garcia walks the arduous path of a spirit hunter. Arriving in the small Australian township of Hartley for work, she immediately senses the area is mired in a centuries-old curse. And when a local paranormal expert shares his evidence, the prescient woman finds herself face to face with a malevolent demon.
Flirting with danger, Clarisse engages in a battle of wits with the wicked creature. But even as she fends off the foul manifestation’s attempts to sour her faith, she fears she may never escape her high-stakes parlay with evil incarnate.
Can she maintain her grip on sanity before the tight-knit community is doomed?
Haunting in Hartley is the second standalone book in the spine-chilling Haunting Clarisse supernatural horror series. If you like pulse-pounding tension, scarily dark corners, and thought-provoking dilemmas, then you’ll love Janice Tremayne’s unsettling story.
★ This book can be read as a stand-alone.
Clarisse Garcia walks the arduous path of a spirit hunter. Arriving in the small Australian township of Hartley for work, she immediately senses the area is mired in a centuries-old curse. And when a local paranormal expert shares his evidence, the prescient woman finds herself face to face with a malevolent demon.
Flirting with danger, Clarisse engages in a battle of wits with the wicked creature. But even as she fends off the foul manifestation’s attempts to sour her faith, she fears she may never escape her high-stakes parlay with evil incarnate.
Can she maintain her grip on sanity before the tight-knit community is doomed?
Haunting in Hartley is the second standalone book in the spine-chilling Haunting Clarisse supernatural horror series. If you like pulse-pounding tension, scarily dark corners, and thought-provoking dilemmas, then you’ll love Janice Tremayne’s unsettling story.
★ This book can be read as a stand-alone.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2020
42 people are currently reading
547 people want to read
About the author
Janice Tremayne
20 books244 followersJanice Tremayne is an Amazon bestselling and award-winning independent supernatural horror writer. Janice is a finalist in the Readers' Favorite 2020 International Book Awards in fiction-supernatural and was awarded the distinguished favorite prize for paranormal horror at the New York City Big Book Awards. She recently was awarded the silver medal at the IPPY Awards 2021 Australia/New Zealand/Pacific Rim – Best Regional Fiction. In 2023 she was awarded the Literary Titan Gold Book Award as a mark of distinction, recognizing excellence in writing that is both innovative and impactful.
She is an Australian author who lives with her family in Melbourne. Her publication, Haunting in Hartley, reached number one in the Amazon Kindle ranking for Occult Supernatural, Ghosts, and Haunted Houses categories hot new releases/bestsellers.
Janice is well-versed in her cultural superstitions and how they influence daily life and customs. She has developed a passion and style for writing supernatural horror novels for adult readers.
Writing the Haunting Clarisse series was spawned over a cup of coffee many years ago, and she has never looked back since. Her books contain heart-thumping, bone-chilling, and thought-provoking paranormal experiences that deliver a new twist to every tale.
Find out more about Janice at www.janicetremayne.com.
She is an Australian author who lives with her family in Melbourne. Her publication, Haunting in Hartley, reached number one in the Amazon Kindle ranking for Occult Supernatural, Ghosts, and Haunted Houses categories hot new releases/bestsellers.
Janice is well-versed in her cultural superstitions and how they influence daily life and customs. She has developed a passion and style for writing supernatural horror novels for adult readers.
Writing the Haunting Clarisse series was spawned over a cup of coffee many years ago, and she has never looked back since. Her books contain heart-thumping, bone-chilling, and thought-provoking paranormal experiences that deliver a new twist to every tale.
Find out more about Janice at www.janicetremayne.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
September 13, 2020
This was a great ghost story!
I was pleasantly surprised by this ghost story as this was a new author to me and the story just captured the haunting atmosphere that made me stay entranced through the storyline.
A little backstory:
An Australian town of Hartley is home to some restless spirits that have taken over not only the cemetery but also the town including a presbytery. When Harry gets a job in the town of Hartley him and his girlfriend Clarisse end up moving into the renovated presbytery which is suppose to be haunted.
Harry is a big skeptic and he just does not believe in ghosts, but Clarisse on the other hand is curious about the hauntings. Harry has access to almost all the rooms in the presbytery except for certain rooms in the basement that no one is allowed to enter. This proves to be a mistake later when Clarisse gets curious about the rooms and goes exploring as "something" lies behind one of the doors which will lead to mysteries being solved but it comes at a great price.
What happens to Harry and Clarisse at the presbytery? What is the "something" that is behind the door in the basement? What does Clarisse find out about what the hauntings? No spoilers here as you will have to read the book!
This story to me is considered to be a classic ghost story as the more I became involved in the storyline the quicker I wanted to see what would happen next.
There is quite a bit of spooky atmosphere that gave me chills and thrills as I read this book!
The characters were just right for me along with the quick pacing of the book. From one chapter to the next I just didn't know when the next twist would be coming as the ghostly suspense stayed at a momentum through most of the story. Giving this book four "spooky" stars.
My thanks to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for letting me review this ARC.
I was pleasantly surprised by this ghost story as this was a new author to me and the story just captured the haunting atmosphere that made me stay entranced through the storyline.
A little backstory:
An Australian town of Hartley is home to some restless spirits that have taken over not only the cemetery but also the town including a presbytery. When Harry gets a job in the town of Hartley him and his girlfriend Clarisse end up moving into the renovated presbytery which is suppose to be haunted.
Harry is a big skeptic and he just does not believe in ghosts, but Clarisse on the other hand is curious about the hauntings. Harry has access to almost all the rooms in the presbytery except for certain rooms in the basement that no one is allowed to enter. This proves to be a mistake later when Clarisse gets curious about the rooms and goes exploring as "something" lies behind one of the doors which will lead to mysteries being solved but it comes at a great price.
What happens to Harry and Clarisse at the presbytery? What is the "something" that is behind the door in the basement? What does Clarisse find out about what the hauntings? No spoilers here as you will have to read the book!
This story to me is considered to be a classic ghost story as the more I became involved in the storyline the quicker I wanted to see what would happen next.
There is quite a bit of spooky atmosphere that gave me chills and thrills as I read this book!
The characters were just right for me along with the quick pacing of the book. From one chapter to the next I just didn't know when the next twist would be coming as the ghostly suspense stayed at a momentum through most of the story. Giving this book four "spooky" stars.
My thanks to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for letting me review this ARC.
August 12, 2020
Harry, a telecom engineer, gets assigned to oversee a project in the small town of Hartley, Australia. Together with his girlfriend, Clarisse, they are housed in a renovated and restored presbytery. Unbeknownst to Harry and Clarrise, the town holds many dark secrets that threaten the living and the dead.
Haunting in Hartley is a creepy ghost story that will give readers a chilling, page-turning experience. Although it is the second installment of a series, it can be read as as stand alone. With hair-raising moments, this novel will be sure to please those readers that enjoy paranormal fiction. I enjoyed the setting, the characters, as well as the plot.
Rated it 4 stars. I really liked it.
I received a digital copy of this book from BooksGoSocial through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Haunting in Hartley is a creepy ghost story that will give readers a chilling, page-turning experience. Although it is the second installment of a series, it can be read as as stand alone. With hair-raising moments, this novel will be sure to please those readers that enjoy paranormal fiction. I enjoyed the setting, the characters, as well as the plot.
Rated it 4 stars. I really liked it.
I received a digital copy of this book from BooksGoSocial through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
September 9, 2020
4.5 stars!
"There is one thing you all think about before you perish... It's not the bright lights of the heaven and the transition to your afterlife. You will do anything for one more day with your family and loved ones."
Haunting in Hartley was a fun, chilling yet a cozy read! The beginning of the book pulled me right into Hartley.
The story follows the supernatural adventures of Clarrise in the ghost town of Hartly. When confronted by evil, she must make a choice.( Honestly I loved how she handled the situation at the end. It was a brilliant twist to the story!)
Plot:★★★★★
The plot was immersive with a lot of twists. It seemed simple at first, quite predictable but as I went deeper into the story, Hartley's history unraveled giving an another dimension to the plot. I think it had a lot of potential and a many different directions it could have gone. I'm quite happy with the direction choose by the author. Still she could have done a lot more with it.
Characters:★★★★☆
The characters are well written. My personal favourite was Paranormal Jack. I'd have loved to see more of him. Clarisse was a strong and clever character. I liked how she handled the dicey situations where someone else would have been scared out of their wits.
Writing:★★★★☆
One of the important things when you're writing a horror story is to build up anticipation and suspense, keeping the reader on edge. I think the author was able to accomplish this. The writing style was good and easy to read.
Overall:★★★★½
After a few chapters I felt that the story was starting to lose it's momentum. But halfway through it the author picked it up and bombarded us with spooks and reveals. I loved how everything was interconnected without making it too tedious to read.
"Of course, we start with visions of horror before moving onto the visions of luxury,wealth,and grandeur. People always remember the latter, don't they?"
I'd absolutely recommend Haunting in Hartley to those who like reading horror genre.
Check out this book trailer!
It received the Finalist Award in the prestigious Readers' Favorite International Book Awards for the Supernatural Genre Category.
It was hard to keep this review spoiler free...
*I'd like to thank Janice Tremayne for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review*
"There is one thing you all think about before you perish... It's not the bright lights of the heaven and the transition to your afterlife. You will do anything for one more day with your family and loved ones."
Haunting in Hartley was a fun, chilling yet a cozy read! The beginning of the book pulled me right into Hartley.
The story follows the supernatural adventures of Clarrise in the ghost town of Hartly. When confronted by evil, she must make a choice.( Honestly I loved how she handled the situation at the end. It was a brilliant twist to the story!)
Plot:★★★★★
The plot was immersive with a lot of twists. It seemed simple at first, quite predictable but as I went deeper into the story, Hartley's history unraveled giving an another dimension to the plot. I think it had a lot of potential and a many different directions it could have gone. I'm quite happy with the direction choose by the author. Still she could have done a lot more with it.
Characters:★★★★☆
The characters are well written. My personal favourite was Paranormal Jack. I'd have loved to see more of him. Clarisse was a strong and clever character. I liked how she handled the dicey situations where someone else would have been scared out of their wits.
Writing:★★★★☆
One of the important things when you're writing a horror story is to build up anticipation and suspense, keeping the reader on edge. I think the author was able to accomplish this. The writing style was good and easy to read.
Overall:★★★★½
After a few chapters I felt that the story was starting to lose it's momentum. But halfway through it the author picked it up and bombarded us with spooks and reveals. I loved how everything was interconnected without making it too tedious to read.
"Of course, we start with visions of horror before moving onto the visions of luxury,wealth,and grandeur. People always remember the latter, don't they?"
I'd absolutely recommend Haunting in Hartley to those who like reading horror genre.
Check out this book trailer!
It received the Finalist Award in the prestigious Readers' Favorite International Book Awards for the Supernatural Genre Category.
It was hard to keep this review spoiler free...
*I'd like to thank Janice Tremayne for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review*
February 22, 2021
I had a really hard time connecting with this and really getting into the story which was disappointing since I was all prepared for a good spooky read. I think the writing style for whatever reason just wasn't for me but I truly think others will (and have!) really enjoy this one.
December 28, 2020
This is the second book in Haunting Clarisse trilogy. The first book was amazing and this book was even more amazing. The author is number 2 in my list of all time favorite authors. I don't know if anyone can surpass Stephen King, he's my number one and has been for over 20 years. Janice is an amazing author and I cannot wait to read the third and last book in the trilogy. This is a recommended series.
I received a free copy of the book and is voluntarily leaving a review
I received a free copy of the book and is voluntarily leaving a review
February 21, 2021
Kept me intrigued to the end
The setting in an Australian ghost town was perfect for the storyline and plot. Great characters and meaningful story that draws on you through each chapter.
The setting in an Australian ghost town was perfect for the storyline and plot. Great characters and meaningful story that draws on you through each chapter.
June 28, 2020
A first-class supernatural ghost story with perfect pacing...
Haunting in Hartley: A Supernatural Ghost Story with Paranormal Elements (Haunting Clarisse - Book 2) by Australian author Janice Tremayne is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn settings and characters. The author weaves a well-crafted supernatural tale that will captivate the reader’s attention from the start. Cleverly constructed, this spooky and suspenseful yarn will have you turning the pages from beginning to end.
I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the books mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It’s been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. This is a first-class supernatural ghost story with perfect pacing.
A spooky tale that will raise more than a few hairs on the back of your neck. It comes recommended, only if you have the nerve to read it! Don’t come crying to me if this isn’t your genre!! A well-deserved five stars from me. Looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Haunting in Hartley: A Supernatural Ghost Story with Paranormal Elements (Haunting Clarisse - Book 2) by Australian author Janice Tremayne is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn settings and characters. The author weaves a well-crafted supernatural tale that will captivate the reader’s attention from the start. Cleverly constructed, this spooky and suspenseful yarn will have you turning the pages from beginning to end.
I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the books mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It’s been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. This is a first-class supernatural ghost story with perfect pacing.
A spooky tale that will raise more than a few hairs on the back of your neck. It comes recommended, only if you have the nerve to read it! Don’t come crying to me if this isn’t your genre!! A well-deserved five stars from me. Looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
June 1, 2020
This was such a smart book. Great writing with lots of intrigue! I loved the flow. I loved the history involved, the mystery and how many things weren't revealed until the end, the truth in skepticism and belief and how they warred yet worked together. Clarisse was a fascinating character who I would love to learn more about. Harry was a fun, sweet, sarcastic character. And at the end, there is another character with a tragic past who I think we might see again in the future. A definite recommend!
July 11, 2020
What I Loved:
I absolutely loved that this is a book set in a town that really does have a paranormal vibe. I thought it just added to the overall story!
How I Felt:
Haunting in Hartley was such a well-written story! The plot has this mystery that I loved and was so intrigued by. I really liked that the author held a lot of information until closer to the end, so it left me guessing for quite a while! It made it so hard to put the book down!
The story is set in Australia and I’m always excited to have a book’s story located there! Hartley is a real town in Australia that has gained a lot of popularity for its paranormal activity, so reading this had me researching the town to learn more!
The characters were easy to like. Clarisse was a fabulous woman and I loved her throughout the story. The overall character arcs were so well done. It’s easy to get to know everyone in the story and feel invested in their lives!
The spooky, ghost-story atmosphere of Haunting in Hartley was amazing! It’s the kind of book that had moments that had me sitting with the lights on and my back against a wall, but had breaks from that so that I could take a minute and calm down. It was fabulous!
Overall, I really enjoyed this story! I loved the spooky vibe and the characters!
To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend Haunting in Hartley to readers that enjoy a paranormal story with a strong female character!
I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
My full review of this book will post to my blog on 7/16/20. All of my reviews can be found at https://shejustlovesbooks.com/all-boo...
I absolutely loved that this is a book set in a town that really does have a paranormal vibe. I thought it just added to the overall story!
How I Felt:
Haunting in Hartley was such a well-written story! The plot has this mystery that I loved and was so intrigued by. I really liked that the author held a lot of information until closer to the end, so it left me guessing for quite a while! It made it so hard to put the book down!
The story is set in Australia and I’m always excited to have a book’s story located there! Hartley is a real town in Australia that has gained a lot of popularity for its paranormal activity, so reading this had me researching the town to learn more!
The characters were easy to like. Clarisse was a fabulous woman and I loved her throughout the story. The overall character arcs were so well done. It’s easy to get to know everyone in the story and feel invested in their lives!
The spooky, ghost-story atmosphere of Haunting in Hartley was amazing! It’s the kind of book that had moments that had me sitting with the lights on and my back against a wall, but had breaks from that so that I could take a minute and calm down. It was fabulous!
Overall, I really enjoyed this story! I loved the spooky vibe and the characters!
To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend Haunting in Hartley to readers that enjoy a paranormal story with a strong female character!
I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
My full review of this book will post to my blog on 7/16/20. All of my reviews can be found at https://shejustlovesbooks.com/all-boo...
September 7, 2020
The Devil and the Cobalt Blue Trunk
This story is a parable reminiscent of old classics in which someone makes a deal with the devil, set in a remote Australian location in modern times. The setting lends the story historical elements that make it unusual. I haven't read anything quite like it. Janice Tremayne has put together a good supernatural occult novel.
It's a fairly short read and is also the second in a series, which makes character development a bit less than I usually like. Father Grimaldi was a well fleshed out, unique character, which made his fate of deep concern. Clarisse is a likable character and I rooted for her to escape the diabolical double-cross. Other characters don't fare so well in the story, but no spoilers!
I suspect that reading the first book, The Girl in the Scarlet Chair, which is briefly referenced in this one, would have allowed me to get to know Clarisse and her husband, Harry, better. The Haunting in Hartley is a stand-alone novel, though.
I enjoyed reading this book and think it's great for young adult horror fans. The storyline evoked clear imagery, leading me to believe that the story would do well as a cinematic adaptation. It's well-written and not overly gory or sexual. It isn't so intensely suspenseful that I couldn't get to sleep, but the tale stayed with me and I kept pondering it afterward.
I received a free ARC from the author via BookSirens. This is my honest, voluntary review.
This story is a parable reminiscent of old classics in which someone makes a deal with the devil, set in a remote Australian location in modern times. The setting lends the story historical elements that make it unusual. I haven't read anything quite like it. Janice Tremayne has put together a good supernatural occult novel.
It's a fairly short read and is also the second in a series, which makes character development a bit less than I usually like. Father Grimaldi was a well fleshed out, unique character, which made his fate of deep concern. Clarisse is a likable character and I rooted for her to escape the diabolical double-cross. Other characters don't fare so well in the story, but no spoilers!
I suspect that reading the first book, The Girl in the Scarlet Chair, which is briefly referenced in this one, would have allowed me to get to know Clarisse and her husband, Harry, better. The Haunting in Hartley is a stand-alone novel, though.
I enjoyed reading this book and think it's great for young adult horror fans. The storyline evoked clear imagery, leading me to believe that the story would do well as a cinematic adaptation. It's well-written and not overly gory or sexual. It isn't so intensely suspenseful that I couldn't get to sleep, but the tale stayed with me and I kept pondering it afterward.
I received a free ARC from the author via BookSirens. This is my honest, voluntary review.
July 30, 2020
A classic ghost story like Amityville Horror
I’ve been a fan of the horror genre for as long as I remember, and I know when a good story is told. Janice Tremayne has delivered an interesting and very engaging horror story. The story is set in 1936 with a lot of characters that can wow your imagination. One such interesting character is father Grimaldi, with his ever cautious and entertaining character.
Father Grimaldi was one that has a lot of controversies surrounding him, which led to his transfer to an orphanage home. The high point of this book to e was when father Grimaldi was sent to retrieve the old mahogany cross. I knew that something was wrong at that moment.
Haunting in Hartley is a heart-thumping, adrenalin burst novel that can get you scared, and at the same time, it is entertaining. Once you hold unto the pages of this book, you will never want to let go till you reach the last page. Haunting in Hartley: A Supernatural Ghost Story with Paranormal Elements is the second book in this ghost series.
The book is exciting and enjoyable to read.
I’ve been a fan of the horror genre for as long as I remember, and I know when a good story is told. Janice Tremayne has delivered an interesting and very engaging horror story. The story is set in 1936 with a lot of characters that can wow your imagination. One such interesting character is father Grimaldi, with his ever cautious and entertaining character.
Father Grimaldi was one that has a lot of controversies surrounding him, which led to his transfer to an orphanage home. The high point of this book to e was when father Grimaldi was sent to retrieve the old mahogany cross. I knew that something was wrong at that moment.
Haunting in Hartley is a heart-thumping, adrenalin burst novel that can get you scared, and at the same time, it is entertaining. Once you hold unto the pages of this book, you will never want to let go till you reach the last page. Haunting in Hartley: A Supernatural Ghost Story with Paranormal Elements is the second book in this ghost series.
The book is exciting and enjoyable to read.
June 23, 2020
If you're interested in ghost stories wrapped around interesting historical lore than you will enjoy this book as much as I did. The main character, Clarisse, is really something ... she's bright, bold and doesn't hesitate to stand up to some very, very bad characters. The plot moves quickly with some nice twists and turns and the ending shows that there's more to come. If this is your genre, than this is a definite recommend.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
August 13, 2020
A scary and spooky tale set in one of my favourite countries in the world. Absolutely fits my read now bill.
This is a story of a demon haunting the basement of a holy church. What's there not to like?
If you are an aficionado of horror and want the spooks and chills pick this book up.
Albeit a decent read it didn't startle me as much as I had anticipated as I am desensitised and have a very deep threshold when it comes to the unpredictable.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the e ARC in exchange of an honest review.
This is a story of a demon haunting the basement of a holy church. What's there not to like?
If you are an aficionado of horror and want the spooks and chills pick this book up.
Albeit a decent read it didn't startle me as much as I had anticipated as I am desensitised and have a very deep threshold when it comes to the unpredictable.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the e ARC in exchange of an honest review.
March 1, 2021
Absolutely suspenseful and intriguing. Clarisse might have a gift but it comes with a price How will all turn out. There’s no way to stop reading until you find out the truth. Loved it.
November 23, 2020
Thank you StoryOrigin and Janice Tremayne for the eARC of Haunting in Hartley, book 2 of the Haunting Clarisse series!
Wow this book will give you chills, the story opens in 1936 when Hartley was home to a Catholic Church and a orphan presbytery. Father Grimaldi is unknowingly sent into the presbytery basement to cross paths with a demon, it is that encounter that
leads him and his young niece to the brink of death, Father Grimaldi has a difficult decision to make..
Flash forward to present day and Hartley is being kept alive by ghost tours by the intriguing Paranormal Jack and weddings. Clarisse and Harry the skeptic go on one of Paranormal Jack's ghost tours and Harry decides to go on an extended night time cemetery ghost hunt with Jack, the guys get more than more they bargained for when the spirit of Father Grimaldi warns them they will both die! Clarisse is targeted by the demon and begins a dangerous game to please his master...
I loved this book, it had a deep history of the town that was evident in the modern day Hartley, something was always coming around the corner and it was never dull! I highly recommend!
Wow this book will give you chills, the story opens in 1936 when Hartley was home to a Catholic Church and a orphan presbytery. Father Grimaldi is unknowingly sent into the presbytery basement to cross paths with a demon, it is that encounter that
leads him and his young niece to the brink of death, Father Grimaldi has a difficult decision to make..
Flash forward to present day and Hartley is being kept alive by ghost tours by the intriguing Paranormal Jack and weddings. Clarisse and Harry the skeptic go on one of Paranormal Jack's ghost tours and Harry decides to go on an extended night time cemetery ghost hunt with Jack, the guys get more than more they bargained for when the spirit of Father Grimaldi warns them they will both die! Clarisse is targeted by the demon and begins a dangerous game to please his master...
I loved this book, it had a deep history of the town that was evident in the modern day Hartley, something was always coming around the corner and it was never dull! I highly recommend!
July 5, 2020
This is a thrilling and haunting supernatural story about a ghost town in Australia. The main character, Clarisse is visiting the town with her boyfriend, Harry, who has a work project nearby. After they go on a paranormal tour of the town with a tour guide named Paranormal Jack, Clarisse and Harry start to learn about strange and sinister events that have happened in the town. Also, Clarisse and Jack each begin experiencing frightening moments with some supernatural beings in the town. I really enjoyed reading this book as it both entertained and scared me at the same time. I also liked how the beginning of the book starts with a flashback to some of the past events that happened in the town. I thought this was a good introduction to the rest of the story which occurs in the present time. I also thought the author did a great job of bringing out new facts about the town and the people throughout the story. There were some twists and turns that kept me guessing what was going to happen next. I thought this was a great supernatural thriller and I would definitely read more books by this author.
June 26, 2020
A priest, a paranormal beast, and the will to survive
This is a supernatural story of a evil demon in the basement of the holy church. This church is home to many orphans and the priests must do their best to take care of these abandoned children. When father O’Hara sends father Grimaldi to the cellar for a sacred cross, it continues a long lines of priests who have been served up to this phantom demon for the good of the church. This story will have you shiver with fear as you follow this priest and his battle with this fowl and evil being to save himself and others. Will he survive and destroy the evil? Find out when you meet Clarissa in current day and she must pick up the fight for survival. This story is well written and will drag you through the years of battle between good and evil as you hope that your hero wins. Check this one out folks. It is a great read and will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next.
This is a supernatural story of a evil demon in the basement of the holy church. This church is home to many orphans and the priests must do their best to take care of these abandoned children. When father O’Hara sends father Grimaldi to the cellar for a sacred cross, it continues a long lines of priests who have been served up to this phantom demon for the good of the church. This story will have you shiver with fear as you follow this priest and his battle with this fowl and evil being to save himself and others. Will he survive and destroy the evil? Find out when you meet Clarissa in current day and she must pick up the fight for survival. This story is well written and will drag you through the years of battle between good and evil as you hope that your hero wins. Check this one out folks. It is a great read and will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next.
August 10, 2020
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. I am leaving a voluntary review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I absolutely adored the Australian ghost town setting, even more so when I checked out the Goodreads page for this book and found a response to a question from the author that confirmed Hartley truly is a ghost town in Australia! This book does a wonderful job of interweaving a very real and grounded setting with the paranormal. The history supplied, while I'm unsure of its veracity, was intriguing and kept me sucked into the tale.
Clarisse was one of those characters who I was drawn to immediately. She was fascinating, engaging, courageous, and made me want to know more about her from the get-go. I also loved Harry. His character played off Clarisse's so very well.
I can't recommend this book enough to anyone who loves horror. I don't read in the genre often, but I quite enjoyed this book!
I absolutely adored the Australian ghost town setting, even more so when I checked out the Goodreads page for this book and found a response to a question from the author that confirmed Hartley truly is a ghost town in Australia! This book does a wonderful job of interweaving a very real and grounded setting with the paranormal. The history supplied, while I'm unsure of its veracity, was intriguing and kept me sucked into the tale.
Clarisse was one of those characters who I was drawn to immediately. She was fascinating, engaging, courageous, and made me want to know more about her from the get-go. I also loved Harry. His character played off Clarisse's so very well.
I can't recommend this book enough to anyone who loves horror. I don't read in the genre often, but I quite enjoyed this book!
November 8, 2020
I loved the ghost story and the fight between good and evil in HAUNTING IN HARTLEY. It is the second book in a series but reads like a stand-alone. I thought the background information at the beginning was helpful, even if a little time consuming. I knew from reading the blurb Clarisse was supposed to be the main character and was anxious to meet her. This book had a mystery feel to it also, as Clarisse and Harry tried to piece together the story of Hartley. The only negative I found was the timeline during their investigation. It seemed confusing at times, but when I ignored what day it was and just followed the flow of the story, it was easier to read. All in all, I would completely recommend this book and I’m interested in reading the first in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and am leaving my honest review voluntarily. I will be adding this review to my website EveHallows.com.
#HauntinginHartley #NetGalley
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and am leaving my honest review voluntarily. I will be adding this review to my website EveHallows.com.
#HauntinginHartley #NetGalley
July 9, 2020
I'd like to thank @booksirens for sending me a reviewer copy of the book !
The plot of the story revolves around a ghost town in Australia "Hartley" where evil resides.The past of the town is evil. In the town's presbytery basement there lives evil which lures people in . A lot of them get trapped or dies a mysterious death .
Clarisse faces a lot of challenges , when the evil tries to lure her .
I absolutely loved the plot of the book . The author wrote the plot very well. The plot is fresh and intriguing. As it unfolds , some new information comes up and keeps you intrigued. I love horror and paranormal genre and absolutely loved it . The characters were very well developed . The read is also fast paced so you can complete in a day or two!
If you're looking to read something fresh , go for it !!
The plot of the story revolves around a ghost town in Australia "Hartley" where evil resides.The past of the town is evil. In the town's presbytery basement there lives evil which lures people in . A lot of them get trapped or dies a mysterious death .
Clarisse faces a lot of challenges , when the evil tries to lure her .
I absolutely loved the plot of the book . The author wrote the plot very well. The plot is fresh and intriguing. As it unfolds , some new information comes up and keeps you intrigued. I love horror and paranormal genre and absolutely loved it . The characters were very well developed . The read is also fast paced so you can complete in a day or two!
If you're looking to read something fresh , go for it !!
July 27, 2020
This is a thrilling ghost story set in the haunted area of Hartley.
The plot to this book has everything you could want in a ghost story.
Clarisse acts as investigator to the ghostly incidents that occur in Hartley and reveals historical events which have left the area haunted forever more by evil spirits.
The action is fast paced and this book is definitely a page turner. The characters are well developed and you are interested to see how they develop.
Definitely recommended to those who like a good ghost story.
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book in return for a review.
The plot to this book has everything you could want in a ghost story.
Clarisse acts as investigator to the ghostly incidents that occur in Hartley and reveals historical events which have left the area haunted forever more by evil spirits.
The action is fast paced and this book is definitely a page turner. The characters are well developed and you are interested to see how they develop.
Definitely recommended to those who like a good ghost story.
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book in return for a review.
December 26, 2020
A nice thriller ghost/demon/devils deal story. Set in the outback it centers on an Australian ghost town in the out back, a young couple that has gone to the desolate deserted town for mining work the man is involved in & the old actions of the past there. Like the US, Canada [actually this whole continent] & any other area Euro [specifically Latin or English] colonized & built over the murdered & abused Indigenous, there are going to be bad spirits, ghosts & trauma stains. Was able to keep my attention from start to finish & will be reading rest of series
December 29, 2020
I really liked this creepy book. I read it while alone at night which added to the spookiness. The story was interesting and I really liked the main character. This would have been a 5 star read for me if I had a bit more background into the phantom because I had a few questions in the end. Having said that... the writing was fantastic and the story had a nice flow. I recommend this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 15, 2020
A great read. Really catches your interest and keeps it until the last page. I have two small criticisms. One is that the author repeats names far too often at one stage ( you will know what I mean if you read it). The other is that at times I feel as though the author is writing a little stiffly, as though English was not her first language. Having said that, I really recommend this book.
August 30, 2020
Enjoyed this book and love this author I read this first but should have read the Scarlet letter first. Just loved this and had a hard time putting down.
April 12, 2021
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Haunting in Hartley
Author: Janice Tremayne
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 19
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 19 readers:
19 would read another book by this author.
19 thought the cover was good or excellent.
19 felt it was easy to follow.
19 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 9 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
18 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
19 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“This is a fabulous ghost story packed with plenty of scary moments and a ton of twists and turns that will keep you turning the page. The writing style is simple, getting the job done in a very effective way. Pace-wise, it's almost spot on. Very impressive.” Male reader, aged 27
“This is as much a mental battle as a ghost story; but it succeeds in both. The sort of book you read with the lights on - or off if you enjoy being a little bit petrified.” Female reader, aged 47
“A superbly-crafted supernatural novel written by an author who knows how to thrill and scare. There's strong character development in the central protagonist, and the author keeps it going all the way to last page. This is a gem.” Female reader, aged 50
“I was gripped by this story from the very first page. With a strong paranormal element, I'd recommend this to anybody who enjoys horror. If I was to criticize it, I'd say the title was too tame.” Female reader, aged 31
To Sum It Up:
‘A spine-chilling ghost story with a strong, charismatic protagonist. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Haunting in Hartley
Author: Janice Tremayne
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 19
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 19 readers:
19 would read another book by this author.
19 thought the cover was good or excellent.
19 felt it was easy to follow.
19 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 9 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
18 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
19 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“This is a fabulous ghost story packed with plenty of scary moments and a ton of twists and turns that will keep you turning the page. The writing style is simple, getting the job done in a very effective way. Pace-wise, it's almost spot on. Very impressive.” Male reader, aged 27
“This is as much a mental battle as a ghost story; but it succeeds in both. The sort of book you read with the lights on - or off if you enjoy being a little bit petrified.” Female reader, aged 47
“A superbly-crafted supernatural novel written by an author who knows how to thrill and scare. There's strong character development in the central protagonist, and the author keeps it going all the way to last page. This is a gem.” Female reader, aged 50
“I was gripped by this story from the very first page. With a strong paranormal element, I'd recommend this to anybody who enjoys horror. If I was to criticize it, I'd say the title was too tame.” Female reader, aged 31
To Sum It Up:
‘A spine-chilling ghost story with a strong, charismatic protagonist. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
March 11, 2021
Haunting in Hartley
Ooo, this is a good read. I’m a lover of horror and this definitely kept me engaged until the end.
I thought this book was very well put together and cleverly written. I really liked Australian ghost town setting and how it presented the history of Hartley and the orphanage and presbytery. The ‘mini’ ghost story at the beginning was a nice touch as it introduced readers to Father Grimaldi and the evil phantom. As the book progressed, I thought the action was well balanced with information reveals. Small plot twists were placed strategically and while the book was definitely (and wonderfully) creepy, it was not overdone.
I thought Clarissa was a great main. She was brave intelligent, and patient enough to deal with Harry’s cockiness and skepticism. I do feel there was bit of a lack of character development, but the novel wasn’t long, so that is understandable. Overall though, Haunting in Hartley is a very well-written, creepy ghost story that will give you just the balance of action and chills. Definitely a worthwhile read for any horror fans!
Thank you Voracious Readers and Janice Tremayne for my copy!
Ooo, this is a good read. I’m a lover of horror and this definitely kept me engaged until the end.
I thought this book was very well put together and cleverly written. I really liked Australian ghost town setting and how it presented the history of Hartley and the orphanage and presbytery. The ‘mini’ ghost story at the beginning was a nice touch as it introduced readers to Father Grimaldi and the evil phantom. As the book progressed, I thought the action was well balanced with information reveals. Small plot twists were placed strategically and while the book was definitely (and wonderfully) creepy, it was not overdone.
I thought Clarissa was a great main. She was brave intelligent, and patient enough to deal with Harry’s cockiness and skepticism. I do feel there was bit of a lack of character development, but the novel wasn’t long, so that is understandable. Overall though, Haunting in Hartley is a very well-written, creepy ghost story that will give you just the balance of action and chills. Definitely a worthwhile read for any horror fans!
Thank you Voracious Readers and Janice Tremayne for my copy!
September 16, 2020
If I had only one word to describe Haunting in Hartley it would be: fun.
I used to love ghost stories as a kid, from the middle aged fiction of Goosebumps, to urban legends, to anthology collections.
It’s something that I grew out of over time, as my interests shifted onto different genres.
However, I’ve always had a thing for horror and so when I saw this book on NetGalley, and noticed that it was set in my home country of Australia, I knew it was time to return to my old fascination.
The story itself was really intriguing, with many elements of past, present, paranormal, and normal. I liked the creepiness of the presbytery and it’s insidious history, and the juxtaposition of that same setting in the modern part of the story. I also enjoyed the investigation and peeling back each layer of the phantom, and I loved the nod to the traditional owners of the land.
The writing took some getting used to, it tended to be a little repetitive in parts and the dialogue felt a little wooden. But the story itself was interesting enough to keep me engaged.
Thank you to Janice Tremayne, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I used to love ghost stories as a kid, from the middle aged fiction of Goosebumps, to urban legends, to anthology collections.
It’s something that I grew out of over time, as my interests shifted onto different genres.
However, I’ve always had a thing for horror and so when I saw this book on NetGalley, and noticed that it was set in my home country of Australia, I knew it was time to return to my old fascination.
The story itself was really intriguing, with many elements of past, present, paranormal, and normal. I liked the creepiness of the presbytery and it’s insidious history, and the juxtaposition of that same setting in the modern part of the story. I also enjoyed the investigation and peeling back each layer of the phantom, and I loved the nod to the traditional owners of the land.
The writing took some getting used to, it tended to be a little repetitive in parts and the dialogue felt a little wooden. But the story itself was interesting enough to keep me engaged.
Thank you to Janice Tremayne, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2021
Finished reading and loved it! It is basically a ghost story with Clarissa and her boyfriend Harry. They are in Hartley for Harry’s work and Clarissa ends up getting involved with a evil demon. The book is scary when you realize this demon has the power to kill.
The book is told in two points of view between Clarissa and Harry as they often are not in the same scene together. The writing itself is wonderful..... very descriptive and darkly atmospheric. When Tremayne writes about dark nights and icy fingers touching you it is very creepy. The book itself is not overly violent (implied anyway) but the creepy narrative makes up for it. The best parts are with Clarissa and her interactions with the demon. They are tense, evil, and creepy.
Another interesting thing with the book is the way it is formatted. Most books these days are five page chapters that all end in a cliffhanger. Made to read at break neck speed. This book is the opposite of that. It’s written in 13 long (30-40) page chapters that all seem like they conclude. It’s like the book is written in 13 acts. You just fell into the book and I loved it. It was as if I read the book in 13 reading sessions over one day.
If there is anything I didn’t like is that this book is a amazon exclusive. I am not a kindle user so I can’t read the book on my e-reader of choice. (Kobo). Obviously that is a more personal thing and definitely not a issue to take stars away. I can’t fault business decisions author’s make and there is a chance it could be on other formats in the future.
So good book and I look forward to more books from Janice Tremayne. I should add that this was the first book in the series I read even though it’s actually book two. That did not make a difference as the books can all be read as a stand-alone. Also I was given a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
The book is told in two points of view between Clarissa and Harry as they often are not in the same scene together. The writing itself is wonderful..... very descriptive and darkly atmospheric. When Tremayne writes about dark nights and icy fingers touching you it is very creepy. The book itself is not overly violent (implied anyway) but the creepy narrative makes up for it. The best parts are with Clarissa and her interactions with the demon. They are tense, evil, and creepy.
Another interesting thing with the book is the way it is formatted. Most books these days are five page chapters that all end in a cliffhanger. Made to read at break neck speed. This book is the opposite of that. It’s written in 13 long (30-40) page chapters that all seem like they conclude. It’s like the book is written in 13 acts. You just fell into the book and I loved it. It was as if I read the book in 13 reading sessions over one day.
If there is anything I didn’t like is that this book is a amazon exclusive. I am not a kindle user so I can’t read the book on my e-reader of choice. (Kobo). Obviously that is a more personal thing and definitely not a issue to take stars away. I can’t fault business decisions author’s make and there is a chance it could be on other formats in the future.
So good book and I look forward to more books from Janice Tremayne. I should add that this was the first book in the series I read even though it’s actually book two. That did not make a difference as the books can all be read as a stand-alone. Also I was given a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
September 10, 2020
A well written shifting 3rd person omniscient narrative.
**Presented with an ARC by the author via NetGallery in exchange for an honest review.**
Haunting in Hartley is a book that is rather intriguing. Not many authors are able to write in the style of 3rd Person omniscient and have it be as well done and easily flowing from one character study to the next as Janice Treymaine. Janice takes you through from the beginning, meeting Father Grimaldi, and the phantom, the dark force trapped beneath the church and the story between them both.
From the start you are guided in gently, never quite knowing how dark it will be until the shadows are all you can see, blocking out all but the smallest of light. You see the years change, the subtle nuances of those who no longer truly believe but still wish for a fright, only to follow them deeper as the story of the past unfolds before them.
It’s a bit cozy mystery, a bit ghost thriller, and a touch of romance between Harry and Charisse when you get to the modern settings.
The only drawbacks I would say were that even though it was an easy flowing read, if my attention wandered or my reading was interrupted, it was hard to get back into. The other drawback was that the emotions were a bit flat and left me a bit unfulfilled. For those reasons, I have given the story a 4-star rating, as it was a book I read once, but would not look to read again.
**Presented with an ARC by the author via NetGallery in exchange for an honest review.**
Haunting in Hartley is a book that is rather intriguing. Not many authors are able to write in the style of 3rd Person omniscient and have it be as well done and easily flowing from one character study to the next as Janice Treymaine. Janice takes you through from the beginning, meeting Father Grimaldi, and the phantom, the dark force trapped beneath the church and the story between them both.
From the start you are guided in gently, never quite knowing how dark it will be until the shadows are all you can see, blocking out all but the smallest of light. You see the years change, the subtle nuances of those who no longer truly believe but still wish for a fright, only to follow them deeper as the story of the past unfolds before them.
It’s a bit cozy mystery, a bit ghost thriller, and a touch of romance between Harry and Charisse when you get to the modern settings.
The only drawbacks I would say were that even though it was an easy flowing read, if my attention wandered or my reading was interrupted, it was hard to get back into. The other drawback was that the emotions were a bit flat and left me a bit unfulfilled. For those reasons, I have given the story a 4-star rating, as it was a book I read once, but would not look to read again.
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