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The Haunting of H. G. Wells
A plot against England that even the genius of H. G. Wells could not have imagined.
It’s 1914. The Great War grips the world—and from the Western Front a strange story emerges…a story of St. George and a brigade of angels descending from heaven to fight beside the beleaguered British troops. But can there be any truth to it?
H. G. Wells, the most celebrated writer of his day—author of The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, The Invisible Man—is dispatched to find out. There, he finds an eerie wasteland inhabited by the living, the dead, and those forever stranded somewhere in between…a no-man’s-land whose unhappy souls trail him home to London, where a deadly plot, one that could turn the tide of war, is rapidly unfolding.
In league with his young love, the reporter and suffragette Rebecca West, Wells must do battle with diabolical forces—secret agents and depraved occultists—to save his sanity, his country, and ultimately the world.
It’s 1914. The Great War grips the world—and from the Western Front a strange story emerges…a story of St. George and a brigade of angels descending from heaven to fight beside the beleaguered British troops. But can there be any truth to it?
H. G. Wells, the most celebrated writer of his day—author of The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, The Invisible Man—is dispatched to find out. There, he finds an eerie wasteland inhabited by the living, the dead, and those forever stranded somewhere in between…a no-man’s-land whose unhappy souls trail him home to London, where a deadly plot, one that could turn the tide of war, is rapidly unfolding.
In league with his young love, the reporter and suffragette Rebecca West, Wells must do battle with diabolical forces—secret agents and depraved occultists—to save his sanity, his country, and ultimately the world.
393 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2020
4468 people are currently reading
5374 people want to read
About the author
Robert Masello
34 books616 followers Robert Masello is an award-winning journalist, TV writer, and the bestselling author of many novels and nonfiction books. In addition to his most recent book, THE HAUNTING OF H.G. WELLS, he has written the #1 Amazon Kindle bestseller, THE EINSTEIN PROPHECY, and many other popular thrillers, including THE JEKYLL REVELATION, THE NIGHT CROSSING, BLOOD AND ICE, THE MEDUSA AMULET, and THE ROMANOV CROSS.
He is also the author of two popular studies of the Occult -- FALLEN ANGELS AND SPIRITS OF THE DARK and RAISING HELL: A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE BLACK ARTS.
His books on writing include WRITER TELLS ALL, A FRIEND IN THE BUSINESS, and the classroom staple, ROBERT'S RULES OF WRITING.
His TV credits include such popular shows as "Charmed," "Sliders," Early Edition," and "Poltergeist: the Legacy."
A native of Evanston, Illinois, he studied writing at Princeton University under the noted authors Robert Stone and Geoffrey Wolff, and served for six years as the Visiting Lecturer in Literature at Claremont McKenna College.
He now lives and works in Santa Monica, CA.
He is also the author of two popular studies of the Occult -- FALLEN ANGELS AND SPIRITS OF THE DARK and RAISING HELL: A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE BLACK ARTS.
His books on writing include WRITER TELLS ALL, A FRIEND IN THE BUSINESS, and the classroom staple, ROBERT'S RULES OF WRITING.
His TV credits include such popular shows as "Charmed," "Sliders," Early Edition," and "Poltergeist: the Legacy."
A native of Evanston, Illinois, he studied writing at Princeton University under the noted authors Robert Stone and Geoffrey Wolff, and served for six years as the Visiting Lecturer in Literature at Claremont McKenna College.
He now lives and works in Santa Monica, CA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 475 reviews
September 3, 2020
I have found there is never an easy way to write a review for books I have mixed feelings about. This is one such book for me, where I found myself enjoying some parts and really disliking others.
Set at the beginning years of WWI in 1914-1915, the main story begins when Churchill asks Wells to go to the front lines of the war. He needs Wells to go and find stories from the front that will inspire and encourage those back home. If you've seen any recent WWI movies showing the trenches and how they were structured, along with underground tunnels then you will have a good reference for this part of the story. It is here he meets various individuals and learns of their stories, both of which will remain with him for quite a while. Although shorter than I would have liked, this section was my favorite.
Initially, it was the 'Haunting' part of the title that drew me to this book. I knew from the description that there was a secret plot against London, but for me that was secondary to the haunting piece of it. With this in mind, the story stars off great. The prologue opens up the story and immediately captured a tone I enjoy. But once the prologue was over the mood shifts and although the haunting of H.G. Wells does occur later in the story it never again captures the tone I had been expecting. But there were aspects of the haunting that I did enjoy, such as who the haunters were and how the sights and sounds he experienced played a role.
One aspect of the story the author does a very good job of is introducing you to the world of Wells. We often look at certain time periods and will make assumptions on certain roles or ways of living. But here we get the opportunity to see a different aspect of this era by introducing us to the Fabian society or The Freewoman magazine. These organizations and others are historical and can be easily searched on using the Internet. Yet my mind is so accustomed to that post-Victorian era being a certain way that their progressiveness and free thinking was difficult to wrap my head around.
Along those lines, one of my main struggles were with H.G. Wells himself along with Rebecca West. Prior to reading the story, I was unaware of how unfaithful he was in his marriage. Here we not only learn about Rebecca, but she soon becomes an integral part of the story. Perhaps I am too old-fashioned or perhaps I never could adjust to how progressive this was for that era, but I did struggle with their relationship and with Rebecca getting such a large story. However, H.G.'s wife also has a role too for a few chapters. I'm not very sure what her story line brought to the table as a whole, except to show a contrast to H.G.'s story in France. He is at the front where men are fighting for their lives, but while there a war in France the war is also at the home front too.
The story is well-written and provides good context to a very famous author and his life. I also learned quite a few things I didn't know about this time period prior to reading it. But even though there are parts of this book I enjoyed, I'm not sure I can necessarily recommend it.
Set at the beginning years of WWI in 1914-1915, the main story begins when Churchill asks Wells to go to the front lines of the war. He needs Wells to go and find stories from the front that will inspire and encourage those back home. If you've seen any recent WWI movies showing the trenches and how they were structured, along with underground tunnels then you will have a good reference for this part of the story. It is here he meets various individuals and learns of their stories, both of which will remain with him for quite a while. Although shorter than I would have liked, this section was my favorite.
Initially, it was the 'Haunting' part of the title that drew me to this book. I knew from the description that there was a secret plot against London, but for me that was secondary to the haunting piece of it. With this in mind, the story stars off great. The prologue opens up the story and immediately captured a tone I enjoy. But once the prologue was over the mood shifts and although the haunting of H.G. Wells does occur later in the story it never again captures the tone I had been expecting. But there were aspects of the haunting that I did enjoy, such as who the haunters were and how the sights and sounds he experienced played a role.
One aspect of the story the author does a very good job of is introducing you to the world of Wells. We often look at certain time periods and will make assumptions on certain roles or ways of living. But here we get the opportunity to see a different aspect of this era by introducing us to the Fabian society or The Freewoman magazine. These organizations and others are historical and can be easily searched on using the Internet. Yet my mind is so accustomed to that post-Victorian era being a certain way that their progressiveness and free thinking was difficult to wrap my head around.
Along those lines, one of my main struggles were with H.G. Wells himself along with Rebecca West. Prior to reading the story, I was unaware of how unfaithful he was in his marriage. Here we not only learn about Rebecca, but she soon becomes an integral part of the story. Perhaps I am too old-fashioned or perhaps I never could adjust to how progressive this was for that era, but I did struggle with their relationship and with Rebecca getting such a large story. However, H.G.'s wife also has a role too for a few chapters. I'm not very sure what her story line brought to the table as a whole, except to show a contrast to H.G.'s story in France. He is at the front where men are fighting for their lives, but while there a war in France the war is also at the home front too.
The story is well-written and provides good context to a very famous author and his life. I also learned quite a few things I didn't know about this time period prior to reading it. But even though there are parts of this book I enjoyed, I'm not sure I can necessarily recommend it.
April 14, 2022
I found this to be a very interesting book. Expecting a fully fiction book, this is actually a true story. H.G. Wells was an exceptional man. He had his flaws as we all do and also had some very good qualities. The story is extremely interesting and yes there are some supernatural events of which I was happy to read, you need to get to the part about the war before encountering that. Winston Churchill is also in this. In the epilogue the author explains the few facts that he wrote that weren't factional. Great book!
December 8, 2020
Glad the sex scenes with H. G. Wells were brief. Not sure the supernatural elements of the plot helped the story.
April 24, 2020
I have very mixed feelings about this book. There are parts I loved, and parts I really did not like.
We follow HG Wells as he travels to the front to write a morale boosting story during WWI. There he discovers a plot against the British, and back home gets himself quite involved in saving king and country. We also follow Jane, his wife, who together with the local doctor hides a young German soldier in her attic.
And I adored these parts of the book. Jane is just wonderful and I could easily read a book just about her. I also feel Robert caught HG very well (comparing it to other books I have read featuring the author). He has definitely done his research and you can feel that in many aspects of the story. The secret plot was sufficiently threatening and scary and cleverly linked to HG Wells. An excellent and very enjoyable read, if it had stayed with these plot lines.
But then we get to the things I didn't like... Rebecca. Yes, I am well aware that HG had an, let's call it open marriage, and that Rebecca was a real person he had a relationship with. However, I don't feel why this needs to be such a big part of the book, overshadowing more interesting plot points. Adding to that, I really didn't like Rebecca. She was annoying, and I didn't find her relationship with HG believably written (even though I again know it is based on truth, I felt no chemistry). I ended up skimming her chapters, and could still follow the story just fine.
I would have preferred that her page time was given to the 'haunting', because as it is the title of this book is incredibly misleading. The actual haunting is a very small part of the book, and not explained at all. It left me incredibly confused. I would have been fine with it if it was PTSD. But then what are these ghouls? And what about the prologue? I am so confused!
So I don't quite know if I would recommend this book. I really liked parts of it, but I have also never been so annoyed by a POV that I just skipped that character. The writing was good though, and some of the other books by this author sound very interesting to me so I might give those a go. I just don't quite know what to think of this one...
We follow HG Wells as he travels to the front to write a morale boosting story during WWI. There he discovers a plot against the British, and back home gets himself quite involved in saving king and country. We also follow Jane, his wife, who together with the local doctor hides a young German soldier in her attic.
And I adored these parts of the book. Jane is just wonderful and I could easily read a book just about her. I also feel Robert caught HG very well (comparing it to other books I have read featuring the author). He has definitely done his research and you can feel that in many aspects of the story. The secret plot was sufficiently threatening and scary and cleverly linked to HG Wells. An excellent and very enjoyable read, if it had stayed with these plot lines.
But then we get to the things I didn't like... Rebecca. Yes, I am well aware that HG had an, let's call it open marriage, and that Rebecca was a real person he had a relationship with. However, I don't feel why this needs to be such a big part of the book, overshadowing more interesting plot points. Adding to that, I really didn't like Rebecca. She was annoying, and I didn't find her relationship with HG believably written (even though I again know it is based on truth, I felt no chemistry). I ended up skimming her chapters, and could still follow the story just fine.
I would have preferred that her page time was given to the 'haunting', because as it is the title of this book is incredibly misleading. The actual haunting is a very small part of the book, and not explained at all. It left me incredibly confused. I would have been fine with it if it was PTSD. But then what are these ghouls? And what about the prologue? I am so confused!
So I don't quite know if I would recommend this book. I really liked parts of it, but I have also never been so annoyed by a POV that I just skipped that character. The writing was good though, and some of the other books by this author sound very interesting to me so I might give those a go. I just don't quite know what to think of this one...
January 10, 2025
So it took me more of a year to read this. So what. I’m a busy person. Regardless. It was still an excellent read. Very well written with zero faults. Much less a horror story and more so a historical fiction, detective, mystery traipse through WW1. With a few spatterings of ghostly encounters, I found that the title “The Haunting of HG Wells” was more referring to the horrors he witnessed during WW1. In many ways it felt like an Indiana Jones tribute, with the setting submerged in 1900’s war and destruction, with the unique encounters Wells experienced often overlooked by civilians. Wells was made out to be an extrodinary man with incredible luck and wit. An enjoyable read that certainly has put Robert Masello on my radar.
September 13, 2020
A SIMPLE MAN'S REVIEW:
In search for a supernatural, period piece? Move along, this aint it.
This story was dead in the water after the prologue, which turned out to be a made-up story anyway. The first problem you'll encounter is the H.G. Wells was apparently an ass. In fact, I doubt you'll be able to find anyone likeable in this book. We have a meek wife who is fine with her husband's affairs, a young, strong reporter who literally faints when things get too hard, and a sci-fi writer who thinks much too highly of himself.
The actual plot is pretty basic and doesn't really contain any surprises or twists. England is at war and its enemy wants to do it harm - crazy! The fact that H.G. Wells and Rebecca run around town trying to solve the crime is laughable and prevents the introduction of any interesting people.
And the supernatural element? Nope. Oh, there's a little bit after the middle of the book, but it's corny and doesn't move beyond what you might have seen watching, Casper, the Friendly Ghost. I was promised stories from the front and got nothing after page five.
I did not enjoy the book and would recommend that you not waste your time.
Skip it!
In search for a supernatural, period piece? Move along, this aint it.
This story was dead in the water after the prologue, which turned out to be a made-up story anyway. The first problem you'll encounter is the H.G. Wells was apparently an ass. In fact, I doubt you'll be able to find anyone likeable in this book. We have a meek wife who is fine with her husband's affairs, a young, strong reporter who literally faints when things get too hard, and a sci-fi writer who thinks much too highly of himself.
The actual plot is pretty basic and doesn't really contain any surprises or twists. England is at war and its enemy wants to do it harm - crazy! The fact that H.G. Wells and Rebecca run around town trying to solve the crime is laughable and prevents the introduction of any interesting people.
And the supernatural element? Nope. Oh, there's a little bit after the middle of the book, but it's corny and doesn't move beyond what you might have seen watching, Casper, the Friendly Ghost. I was promised stories from the front and got nothing after page five.
I did not enjoy the book and would recommend that you not waste your time.
Skip it!
January 19, 2021
The Haunting of H.G. Wells by Robert Masello was my Kindle First Read selection for the month of September 2020...
I was super stoked when I saw this was available as a First Read option in the kindle store and I'm happy to report that it was everything I hoped it would be and much, much more. Not only did it feature H.G. Wells, one of the most renowned writers of science fiction of all time as the main character, but it also contained several other huge historical figures that made silly little me feel a bit starstruck. At the top of this list are future Prime Minister, Winston Churchill and the infamous British occultist, Aleister Crowley. I expected ghosts in this novel, so the paranormal elements were no surprise, but what I didn't expect was a historical novel of quite this scale. It takes place during World War I and the war is not just a looming presence in the background--it's at the very heart of the novel. In order to boost morale for the British war effort, H.G. goes into the trenches at the front as a war correspondent and comes back quite literally, a haunted man. Meanwhile, there are nefarious plots taking place in London and upon his return, H.G. finds himself in a fight against evil that is crucial to the very future of a nation.
This was a fast-paced novel that was rich with history, paranormal elements, suspense, and the emotional turmoil that is always present in a WW-I story. It was pretty great.
I was super stoked when I saw this was available as a First Read option in the kindle store and I'm happy to report that it was everything I hoped it would be and much, much more. Not only did it feature H.G. Wells, one of the most renowned writers of science fiction of all time as the main character, but it also contained several other huge historical figures that made silly little me feel a bit starstruck. At the top of this list are future Prime Minister, Winston Churchill and the infamous British occultist, Aleister Crowley. I expected ghosts in this novel, so the paranormal elements were no surprise, but what I didn't expect was a historical novel of quite this scale. It takes place during World War I and the war is not just a looming presence in the background--it's at the very heart of the novel. In order to boost morale for the British war effort, H.G. goes into the trenches at the front as a war correspondent and comes back quite literally, a haunted man. Meanwhile, there are nefarious plots taking place in London and upon his return, H.G. finds himself in a fight against evil that is crucial to the very future of a nation.
This was a fast-paced novel that was rich with history, paranormal elements, suspense, and the emotional turmoil that is always present in a WW-I story. It was pretty great.
September 3, 2020
I stopped at 68% when the only character I cared about was needlessly killed.
It’s fiction set during World War I in England and also briefly the Belgian front, with historical figures such as Churchill in contrived situations.
The book starts appealingly with a fantasy of Saint George sending help to the UK soldiers who are hopelessly outnumbered. Then it splinters into several tracks: sci-fi writer Wells, his wife left at home, a young woman reporter, a teen German soldier in hiding in the English countryside, and a German(?) scientist working on a mad plot.
Lots of appealing characters are killed, and it seems the reward for kindness is pain or death. There are very explicit details of the carnage: “The second shot exploded the teddy bear he had clutched to his chest.”
Wells sees ghosts, but by then I had lost interest.
It’s fiction set during World War I in England and also briefly the Belgian front, with historical figures such as Churchill in contrived situations.
The book starts appealingly with a fantasy of Saint George sending help to the UK soldiers who are hopelessly outnumbered. Then it splinters into several tracks: sci-fi writer Wells, his wife left at home, a young woman reporter, a teen German soldier in hiding in the English countryside, and a German(?) scientist working on a mad plot.
Lots of appealing characters are killed, and it seems the reward for kindness is pain or death. There are very explicit details of the carnage: “The second shot exploded the teddy bear he had clutched to his chest.”
Wells sees ghosts, but by then I had lost interest.
September 18, 2020
Not Really About the Haunting...
I'll admit I was drawn to this book by the title, as I do like stories with a paranormal element. Despite its prominence in the title, this aspect was downplayed, to the novel’s detriment. Before moving on to other things that bothered me, I have to say that the author has an excellent writing style. It is smooth and easy to read, and clearly, the author has done his research about H. G. Wells and World War I. It was fun to see other real people, like Winston Churchill, incorporated into the story as well.
I thought, though, that there was perhaps too much going on, particularly with subplots and emphases that detracted from the main plot. I didn't see much point to Wells’ wife Jane’s subplot with the Zeppelin crash survivor. I also felt like too much of the story was told from Rebecca's/Cicily’s viewpoint that didn't add to the main thrust of the story. I know she was actually a part of H. G. Wells’ life, an extramarital relationship, but I didn't sense a spark between them that I like to see in a romantic subplot. Just a little would have been nice since she was so much a part of the book. I didn't find her character particularly likable anyway, and a believable romantic relationship might have helped or at least cemented her place within the novel. Truly, I would have preferred that the time spent on these subplots and distractions was used more on the “haunting” aspect. Those moments certainly added interest and provided direction when they showed up. Because of these issues, I can't really say that I enjoyed this story, but I did like the author's writing style and may check out his other books to see if they keep the good aspects in this book without its pitfalls.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
I'll admit I was drawn to this book by the title, as I do like stories with a paranormal element. Despite its prominence in the title, this aspect was downplayed, to the novel’s detriment. Before moving on to other things that bothered me, I have to say that the author has an excellent writing style. It is smooth and easy to read, and clearly, the author has done his research about H. G. Wells and World War I. It was fun to see other real people, like Winston Churchill, incorporated into the story as well.
I thought, though, that there was perhaps too much going on, particularly with subplots and emphases that detracted from the main plot. I didn't see much point to Wells’ wife Jane’s subplot with the Zeppelin crash survivor. I also felt like too much of the story was told from Rebecca's/Cicily’s viewpoint that didn't add to the main thrust of the story. I know she was actually a part of H. G. Wells’ life, an extramarital relationship, but I didn't sense a spark between them that I like to see in a romantic subplot. Just a little would have been nice since she was so much a part of the book. I didn't find her character particularly likable anyway, and a believable romantic relationship might have helped or at least cemented her place within the novel. Truly, I would have preferred that the time spent on these subplots and distractions was used more on the “haunting” aspect. Those moments certainly added interest and provided direction when they showed up. Because of these issues, I can't really say that I enjoyed this story, but I did like the author's writing style and may check out his other books to see if they keep the good aspects in this book without its pitfalls.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
September 11, 2020
A fascinating story
This book was intriguing. A very well written story which was exciting and atmospheric.
I hadn’t read about the author and so it wasn’t until I read the word faucet instead of tap that I realised he was American. There were a few more Americanisms in the book but in the main I felt it was true to the era and country.
I learned a lot about the First World War I had not been previously aware of and found it very interesting.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ghostly part of the story and I thought it added a lot to the overall tale.
I was sad about the fact that Wells was a philanderer and felt terribly sorry for his Jane. Even so Rebecca was an interesting and integral part of the story which wouldn’t have been the same without her.
Altogether, this was a fascinating take on the amazing HG Wells who foresaw so many important parts of history.
The book was easy to read but although I have a good command of the English language I had to stop to look up the meaning of several words I had not heard of before. I like a challenge!
I haven’t read any of Robert Masello’s books before but I will be reading others and I hope they are as good as this one.
This book was intriguing. A very well written story which was exciting and atmospheric.
I hadn’t read about the author and so it wasn’t until I read the word faucet instead of tap that I realised he was American. There were a few more Americanisms in the book but in the main I felt it was true to the era and country.
I learned a lot about the First World War I had not been previously aware of and found it very interesting.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ghostly part of the story and I thought it added a lot to the overall tale.
I was sad about the fact that Wells was a philanderer and felt terribly sorry for his Jane. Even so Rebecca was an interesting and integral part of the story which wouldn’t have been the same without her.
Altogether, this was a fascinating take on the amazing HG Wells who foresaw so many important parts of history.
The book was easy to read but although I have a good command of the English language I had to stop to look up the meaning of several words I had not heard of before. I like a challenge!
I haven’t read any of Robert Masello’s books before but I will be reading others and I hope they are as good as this one.
November 2, 2023
I read this thinking it would be a good Halloween read but on that score it missed ("haunting"? hardly!). It's also quite dull for half the book, and I very nearly tossed it onto the DNF list. But the second half picks up the action and it gets rather interesting. Still, I found a number of parts distasteful and some cliché, so it's a bit of a mixed bag for me. (I liked The Jekyll Revelation by Masello much better.)
October 3, 2020
The Haunting of H.G. Wells follows Wells into WWI trenches where he is looking for morale building stories for the folks back in England. What he finds are ghosts of the war dead that follow him back into his life.
And what a life that is. Good ol’ HG had both a wife and a girlfriend in separate homes. Much of Wells’ real life story is captured here. The book also spends much time setting the period.
Basically, the book is a romance, biography, war story, paranormal, and historical fiction tale. There is always a danger of turning off readers if you mash too many genres into a single story. I felt it while reading the book. I went in expecting a ghost, or at least paranormal, plot set during WWI. But this felt more like a historical fiction biography. I didn’t need to know that much about Wells or about life in 1915. I felt the paranormal story was more of an afterthought, which is contrary to the publisher’s book blurb. For these reasons, The Haunting of H.G. Wells receives 3 stars.
Thanks to 47North and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
And what a life that is. Good ol’ HG had both a wife and a girlfriend in separate homes. Much of Wells’ real life story is captured here. The book also spends much time setting the period.
Basically, the book is a romance, biography, war story, paranormal, and historical fiction tale. There is always a danger of turning off readers if you mash too many genres into a single story. I felt it while reading the book. I went in expecting a ghost, or at least paranormal, plot set during WWI. But this felt more like a historical fiction biography. I didn’t need to know that much about Wells or about life in 1915. I felt the paranormal story was more of an afterthought, which is contrary to the publisher’s book blurb. For these reasons, The Haunting of H.G. Wells receives 3 stars.
Thanks to 47North and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 13, 2021
Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I borrowed this book for free through Kindle Unlimited.
Audiobook Quality (5/5): I listened to this on audiobook and the narration was fantastic. I would highly recommend listening to this one on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks; West did an absolutely amazing job reading this.
Thoughts: I definitely enjoyed this. This is set mostly in WWI and involves HG Wells and a young female reporter (Rebecca West) unraveling a dastardly plot of bacterial warfare.
I really enjoyed the historical setting, the historical cast, and the slight supernatural elements (ghosts, potential cults, etc). The descriptions were fantastic and really made the settings come alive. I especially enjoyed the time spent in the trenches and underground with the ghouls; it was just very fascinating (and horrifying) to read about.
My Summary (4/5): Overall this was a great mystery, war story, and political thriller with some fascinating historical characters and an amazing setting. I enjoyed it and plan on checking out Masello's future books.
Audiobook Quality (5/5): I listened to this on audiobook and the narration was fantastic. I would highly recommend listening to this one on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks; West did an absolutely amazing job reading this.
Thoughts: I definitely enjoyed this. This is set mostly in WWI and involves HG Wells and a young female reporter (Rebecca West) unraveling a dastardly plot of bacterial warfare.
I really enjoyed the historical setting, the historical cast, and the slight supernatural elements (ghosts, potential cults, etc). The descriptions were fantastic and really made the settings come alive. I especially enjoyed the time spent in the trenches and underground with the ghouls; it was just very fascinating (and horrifying) to read about.
My Summary (4/5): Overall this was a great mystery, war story, and political thriller with some fascinating historical characters and an amazing setting. I enjoyed it and plan on checking out Masello's future books.
March 24, 2020
Robert Masello seems to choose a famous individual to fill the pages of his novels that come across in an entertaining and fast paced format. I have picked up a few of Masello's other works and have enjoyed those also. H.G. Wells is the highlight in this story and has just the right amount of action, romance, and historical facts. "A copy of this book was provided by 47 North via NetGalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."
August 21, 2020
When H.G. Wells is sent to the frontlines in this World War I era novel, he comes home with a lot more than he could have ever guessed. We are talking ghosts. The Haunting of H.G. Wells is a standalone novel written by Robert Masello. When H.G. Wells is sent to the frontlines in order to gather information for a publication, meant to act as a morale booster for the country, he leaves everything in order. He leaves his wife at home, he leaves a young woman at his London flat, and he heads off. After things take a violent turn in the trenches, Wells returns only to find this young woman has a knack for getting into mischief, his wife is harboring an extremely dangerous secret, and on top of it all, Wells finds himself seeing ghosts at every turn. Can he work through the madness to help stop an outrageous attack that sounds like it came straight out of his science fiction novels?
I have mixed feelings about this novel. For the most part I did really enjoy it. The writing style is fantastic. Robert Masello did a great job keeping with the language of the time and the pacing was excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed reading a fictional novel starring one of my favorite authors, and the balance between historical information and fiction is well done. I never once found myself bored or wishing for the plot to progress. However, I did find the side plot with his wife and the German soldier from the zeppelin crash unnecessary. It did not seem to pertain to the main plot regarding H.G. Wells and his efforts to stop the attack on England. I think that time could have been better spent within the main plot. I would have loved to see more of these ghostly figures that are haunting him, maybe given them a bit more of a backstory, or maybe have longer interactions with them. Now if the German soldier from the side plot were to make a comeback later in the novel and help Wells on his journey then it might have been more fitting.
If you are a fan of war era fiction novels, then you would definitely enjoy this book. Despite its spooky title, there are very few paranormal elements involved. Any suspense is directly correlated to war related storylines. I would give it a rating of 3 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to 47North and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book to review.
I have mixed feelings about this novel. For the most part I did really enjoy it. The writing style is fantastic. Robert Masello did a great job keeping with the language of the time and the pacing was excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed reading a fictional novel starring one of my favorite authors, and the balance between historical information and fiction is well done. I never once found myself bored or wishing for the plot to progress. However, I did find the side plot with his wife and the German soldier from the zeppelin crash unnecessary. It did not seem to pertain to the main plot regarding H.G. Wells and his efforts to stop the attack on England. I think that time could have been better spent within the main plot. I would have loved to see more of these ghostly figures that are haunting him, maybe given them a bit more of a backstory, or maybe have longer interactions with them. Now if the German soldier from the side plot were to make a comeback later in the novel and help Wells on his journey then it might have been more fitting.
If you are a fan of war era fiction novels, then you would definitely enjoy this book. Despite its spooky title, there are very few paranormal elements involved. Any suspense is directly correlated to war related storylines. I would give it a rating of 3 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to 47North and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book to review.
September 7, 2020
rpf always feels kind of weird to consume; there's an undeniable dilemma regarding the morality of it. knowing little about wells, both his life and his works, makes it easier to "disconnect", it's still undeniably weird.
maybe it's because of my unfamiliarity that i don't feel like his presence adds much to the narrative; if it had been a fictional writer, would the story be too different? there'd be the lack of allusions to his work (which i could maybe appreciate more if i'd read them), but that's probably the only area that would really suffer. with the need to take so many liberties to have made the story work in the first place, as the author mentions in the end note, i do wonder: wouldn't it have been easier to just create a character to center the story on?
but for what it is, it's not bad. the writing is clean, though the short chapters were somewhat difficult to acclimate to. they were all ~10 pages, and the viewpoint shifting with each new chapter made the story feel, at times, like it didn't develop enough. i don't really see a lot of ww1 fiction around (though i don't really seek out wartime books often, it's always by accident that i pick them up) so it was interesting to have it as the backdrop. i'm still not sure if the "spirits" are literal or just a metaphor for ptsd or maybe some combination of both, but it was interesting and atmospheric, if a little convenient at how it helped advanced the plot. i'd give it a 4 but the sex scenes made me uncomfortable since it's Real People so i'm unfairly reducing a star (like, c'mon dude, you could've faded to black.)
maybe it's because of my unfamiliarity that i don't feel like his presence adds much to the narrative; if it had been a fictional writer, would the story be too different? there'd be the lack of allusions to his work (which i could maybe appreciate more if i'd read them), but that's probably the only area that would really suffer. with the need to take so many liberties to have made the story work in the first place, as the author mentions in the end note, i do wonder: wouldn't it have been easier to just create a character to center the story on?
but for what it is, it's not bad. the writing is clean, though the short chapters were somewhat difficult to acclimate to. they were all ~10 pages, and the viewpoint shifting with each new chapter made the story feel, at times, like it didn't develop enough. i don't really see a lot of ww1 fiction around (though i don't really seek out wartime books often, it's always by accident that i pick them up) so it was interesting to have it as the backdrop. i'm still not sure if the "spirits" are literal or just a metaphor for ptsd or maybe some combination of both, but it was interesting and atmospheric, if a little convenient at how it helped advanced the plot. i'd give it a 4 but the sex scenes made me uncomfortable since it's Real People so i'm unfairly reducing a star (like, c'mon dude, you could've faded to black.)
December 4, 2025
this book was a hard read. it never really grabbed my attention nor hold it.
October 7, 2020
I absolutely loved this book.
The intertwining of historical figures, the war time descriptions, the story and the plot were just superb.
First book I have read by this author. It will not be the last.
Simple astounding.
The intertwining of historical figures, the war time descriptions, the story and the plot were just superb.
First book I have read by this author. It will not be the last.
Simple astounding.
October 29, 2020
I had recently read The Crossing and was really intrigued by the title of this book. Compared to The Crossing, this one definitely moves at a faster pace and is a quick read. Based solely on the title, this book was a lot different than I had expected - H.G. is not so much "haunted" by his ghostly visits, but rather warned and protected - which was clever and worked better to move along the story/plot. I was very happy that that book didn't just focus on the war from the home front, but rather took H.G. to the Front. The parts where H.G. was saved and then stayed with the "ghouls" were moving and by showing that they worked together to stay alive down there was a great comparison to what Jane was going through at home with the German soldier. One of my favor characters was Jane - she was very strong, opinionated, and smart. I wish she had been involved more in the central plot of the story, rather than just on the side with the German solider storyline.
The most disappointing part of the story was Rebecca. She was initially presented as a smart and opinionated suffragette who was not afraid to speak her mind. However, her character fell very flat and at times acted contrary to the type of person that she was portrayed as. I felt that the book could have done without her as it seems like she was only added to give a romance/love interest for H.G. While I do know that she was very much a factor in his real life, it felt like she was just an add on here and was rather dull. I would have much rather had Jane interspersed in the central story than Rebecca.
The most disappointing part of the story was Rebecca. She was initially presented as a smart and opinionated suffragette who was not afraid to speak her mind. However, her character fell very flat and at times acted contrary to the type of person that she was portrayed as. I felt that the book could have done without her as it seems like she was only added to give a romance/love interest for H.G. While I do know that she was very much a factor in his real life, it felt like she was just an add on here and was rather dull. I would have much rather had Jane interspersed in the central story than Rebecca.
November 14, 2022
Dnfd at barely 10%, this was god awful. Like some boomers wet dream. Who calls their husband H.G?? Oh and we are to know that the heroine is bangable because of the 'flashing brilliance of her big dark brown eyes.' And just like take a minute before you commit infidelity, please!! I think what Masello was going to insinuate was that the marriage was one of practicality and friendship rather than sex but just No!! Things started to get worse when HG Wells friend Winston Churchill arrived on the scene, this read at times like a children's novel. Just no, I'm not putting myself through more of this, I have better self esteem.
September 10, 2020
Historical fact & fiction well-woven.
I had some doubts about a work taking liberty with a man synonymous w/science fiction, a genre not particularly to my tastes, but after the first five pages my fears were assuaged. The author takes many liberties as he himself readily admits but in so doing creates a work combining the best of British wartime drama with a darned good detective twist, a work of which Sir A. C. Doyle would have been proud.
I had some doubts about a work taking liberty with a man synonymous w/science fiction, a genre not particularly to my tastes, but after the first five pages my fears were assuaged. The author takes many liberties as he himself readily admits but in so doing creates a work combining the best of British wartime drama with a darned good detective twist, a work of which Sir A. C. Doyle would have been proud.
March 10, 2020
I thought this was an interesting story. I enjoyed the story but didn’t really care for Rebecca and HG’s relationship. It was fast paced and I liked the ghost element. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy
October 30, 2020
Not What It Appears To Be
Despite its outward trappings Robert Masello’s 2020 chiller-thriller, “The Haunting of HG Wells”, is as illusionary as the phantom bowmen appearing at the reality of the Great War 1914 Battle of Mons during the book’s prologue.
Writing historically based fiction generally has two paths to consider: set fictional characters and their stories in the context of real events and people who lend color and authenticity, or tell fictional accounts of what the real people did and events were in a sort of behind-the-scenes reveal.
“The Haunting of HG Wells” seems to achieve neither approach: the main people were real, except for some fictional companions, but the timing of events is off… evidently to drum up drama.
The book has at least three different storylines: the romance between Rebecca West and HG Wells; the efforts of Wells’ wife, Jane, to offer humanitarian aid to a downed German zeppelin airman; the dark sabotage plans using modern germ warfare inspired by Wells’ writings and being executed by a fictional undercover German agent, Anton Graff, hiding among real personages of the era.
Despite its colorful, meticulous writing and well-paced chapters, it takes over half the book to establish and develop the different stories. In addition, the perspectives switch back and forth, in effect, slowing the tempo. Eventually, the May-September romance of Wells and West as well as Jane’s dilemma about aiding the enemy fade into a much better, though over the top, fast-paced chase of the evil plan culminating in a St. Paul’s Cathedral showdown.
Just for the record: the West-Wells romance began in 1912 and at the start of the Great War they had already conceived a child, Anthony West, born almost two weeks before the fabled August 23rd Battle of Mons.
Wells had no love of war or military involvement. He did not visit the battle zones in France and Italy until 1916, well after the account in Masello’s tale. In fact, during 1914 he was busy publishing a prophetic novel, “ The World Set Free”, reputedly the first public portrayal of atomic warfare as a means to end conflict.
And, of course, a collection of essays whose title would be transformed into the catchphrase for World War I and other major conflicts ever since, “The War That Will End War”.
However, if you are content to wrap yourself up in some historical fiction before bedtime, this effort will do nicely.
Despite its outward trappings Robert Masello’s 2020 chiller-thriller, “The Haunting of HG Wells”, is as illusionary as the phantom bowmen appearing at the reality of the Great War 1914 Battle of Mons during the book’s prologue.
Writing historically based fiction generally has two paths to consider: set fictional characters and their stories in the context of real events and people who lend color and authenticity, or tell fictional accounts of what the real people did and events were in a sort of behind-the-scenes reveal.
“The Haunting of HG Wells” seems to achieve neither approach: the main people were real, except for some fictional companions, but the timing of events is off… evidently to drum up drama.
The book has at least three different storylines: the romance between Rebecca West and HG Wells; the efforts of Wells’ wife, Jane, to offer humanitarian aid to a downed German zeppelin airman; the dark sabotage plans using modern germ warfare inspired by Wells’ writings and being executed by a fictional undercover German agent, Anton Graff, hiding among real personages of the era.
Despite its colorful, meticulous writing and well-paced chapters, it takes over half the book to establish and develop the different stories. In addition, the perspectives switch back and forth, in effect, slowing the tempo. Eventually, the May-September romance of Wells and West as well as Jane’s dilemma about aiding the enemy fade into a much better, though over the top, fast-paced chase of the evil plan culminating in a St. Paul’s Cathedral showdown.
Just for the record: the West-Wells romance began in 1912 and at the start of the Great War they had already conceived a child, Anthony West, born almost two weeks before the fabled August 23rd Battle of Mons.
Wells had no love of war or military involvement. He did not visit the battle zones in France and Italy until 1916, well after the account in Masello’s tale. In fact, during 1914 he was busy publishing a prophetic novel, “ The World Set Free”, reputedly the first public portrayal of atomic warfare as a means to end conflict.
And, of course, a collection of essays whose title would be transformed into the catchphrase for World War I and other major conflicts ever since, “The War That Will End War”.
However, if you are content to wrap yourself up in some historical fiction before bedtime, this effort will do nicely.
Read
May 10, 2025The Haunting of H. G. Wells is a masterful fusion of historical fiction and supernatural suspense, offering a gripping narrative that immerses readers in the turbulence of World War I while weaving eerie elements of mystery and the occult.
Robert Masello expertly brings the famed author H. G. Wells to life, placing him at the center of an unfolding conspiracy that blurs the line between reality and myth. As Wells investigates reports of divine intervention on the battlefield, he is thrust into a world where the supernatural and espionage collide, forcing him to confront forces far beyond his imagination.
The novel’s atmospheric storytelling transports readers from the chilling battlefields of the Western Front to the dimly lit streets of London, keeping tension high as Wells and reporter Rebecca West unravel the truth behind an unsettling and dangerous plot. Masello’s writing is rich with historical detail yet seamlessly intertwined with gothic elements and fast-paced intrigue.
Fans of historical thrillers, literary-inspired mysteries, and tales of espionage will find The Haunting of H. G. Wells an engrossing read. With its mix of war, secret societies, and ghostly presences, the novel is a compelling blend of fact and fiction that lingers long after the final page.
Robert Masello expertly brings the famed author H. G. Wells to life, placing him at the center of an unfolding conspiracy that blurs the line between reality and myth. As Wells investigates reports of divine intervention on the battlefield, he is thrust into a world where the supernatural and espionage collide, forcing him to confront forces far beyond his imagination.
The novel’s atmospheric storytelling transports readers from the chilling battlefields of the Western Front to the dimly lit streets of London, keeping tension high as Wells and reporter Rebecca West unravel the truth behind an unsettling and dangerous plot. Masello’s writing is rich with historical detail yet seamlessly intertwined with gothic elements and fast-paced intrigue.
Fans of historical thrillers, literary-inspired mysteries, and tales of espionage will find The Haunting of H. G. Wells an engrossing read. With its mix of war, secret societies, and ghostly presences, the novel is a compelling blend of fact and fiction that lingers long after the final page.
December 8, 2020
Although this book is very well-written, it goes off track so many times. It could have been so much shorter, and then so much more enjoyable. The early parts of the book, with his wife saving a German soldier, had no place in the rest of the story. The romantic scenes also had no need to be as graphic as they were, and really were not needed in the story. It felt many times that the author was just writing to write with no thought to keeping with the actual storylines. I would not recommend this book overall, but I gave it three stars based on the writing and the overall idea.
October 16, 2021
This is an extraordinary book which captures the imagination right from the start. Robert Masello has carried out a great deal of research in order to spin out his plot, some of which is set in the WWI trenches, with painstaking detail. His descriptions are almost claustrophobic in their depth of reality.
My only gripe? A few Americanisms which grind against the authenticity. Otherwise this is a great read.
Four and a half stars (rounded up). Would I read it again? Not sure, as the intensity of the background permeated my dreams.
My only gripe? A few Americanisms which grind against the authenticity. Otherwise this is a great read.
Four and a half stars (rounded up). Would I read it again? Not sure, as the intensity of the background permeated my dreams.
January 8, 2021
Not A Ghost Story, Ghost Story
I thought this book was going to one thing, became another, only to finish something else. I wanted a ghost story, but I only halfway got one. Disappointing in that the book only lightly dealt with the supernatural, but it ended up a decent whodunnit.
I thought this book was going to one thing, became another, only to finish something else. I wanted a ghost story, but I only halfway got one. Disappointing in that the book only lightly dealt with the supernatural, but it ended up a decent whodunnit.
September 25, 2020
It's quite a good book setting just the right tone for an Autumn read.
Provided you can abide the infidelity and the rediculous notion that a man may be incapable of being faithful rather than that he is self centered and contemptible.
Provided you can abide the infidelity and the rediculous notion that a man may be incapable of being faithful rather than that he is self centered and contemptible.
September 7, 2020
Gripping tangle of fact and fiction, exploring historical figures such as Churchill and Alastair Crowley in addition to the title character. No punches pulled describing the horrors of war, but the gruesome is balanced with excitement and a touch of romance.
October 27, 2020
4 STARS
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