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The Possession of Natalie Glasgow
Margaret Willow has never met an eleven-year-old as dangerous as Natalie Glasgow. Natalie spends her days comatose, but at night she prowls her mother’s home, unnaturally strong and insatiably carnivorous. With doctors baffled, Natalie’s mother reaches out to Margaret, an expert in the supernatural. But even Margaret is mystified and terrified by Natalie’s condition. She’s dying, and before she dies, she might kill someone. Has a demon clawed its way inside an eleven-year-old girl? Or does the source of this nightmare lie with Natalie’s dead father?
A tight, tense novella, The Possession of Natalie Glasgow twists the exorcism tale at every turn down to its final grave confrontation.
A tight, tense novella, The Possession of Natalie Glasgow twists the exorcism tale at every turn down to its final grave confrontation.
66 pages, ebook
First published October 2, 2018
22 people are currently reading
1683 people want to read
About the author
Hailey Piper
106 books1,015 followersHailey Piper is the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Queen of Teeth, A Game in Yellow, A Light Most Hateful, The Worm and His Kings, No Gods for Drowning, Cranberry Cove, and other books of dark fiction.
She is also the author of over 100 short stories appearing in Weird Tales, Pseudopod, Cosmic Horror Monthly, and various other publications, and of articles appearing in Writer's Digest, Tor Nightfire, CrimeReads, and Library Journal. Find her at www.haileypiper.com.
She is also the author of over 100 short stories appearing in Weird Tales, Pseudopod, Cosmic Horror Monthly, and various other publications, and of articles appearing in Writer's Digest, Tor Nightfire, CrimeReads, and Library Journal. Find her at www.haileypiper.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 266 reviews
December 17, 2024
What's Gotten Into
Natalie Glasgow?...
THE POSSESSION OF NATALIE GLASGOW
by Hailey Piper
No spoilers. 5 stars. It was always the same every night after sunset...
The groan of the hallway floor as 11 year old Natalie Glasgow prowled the house...
The floor sagged...
As if Natalie weighed a ton (which she most certainly didn't). Her pace that of a predator...
She used her massive strength to press against her mother's bedroom door...
Mother tried not to move or make a sound...
Then...
Natalie made her way downstairs in search of her nightly feeding...
In the kitchen...
Natalie opened the door of the fridge to root around for her meal of raw meat. She craved raw meat nightly...
During her forages...
Natalie had the reflective eyes of any nocturnal creature, and she growled at a pitch that shook the house...
Through a series of tests, Margaret, a midwife/witch hired by Mother, ruled out a demonic possession...
So...
If it wasn't a demon, who or what was possessing the body of Natalie Glasgow?...
This short story was off the charts on the creep factor with some spine-chilling imagery. I'm sorry it took so long for me to finally read it.
If you liked this story, you might also like COME CLOSER by Sara Gran.
Natalie Glasgow?...
THE POSSESSION OF NATALIE GLASGOW
by Hailey Piper
No spoilers. 5 stars. It was always the same every night after sunset...
The groan of the hallway floor as 11 year old Natalie Glasgow prowled the house...
The floor sagged...
As if Natalie weighed a ton (which she most certainly didn't). Her pace that of a predator...
She used her massive strength to press against her mother's bedroom door...
Mother tried not to move or make a sound...
Then...
Natalie made her way downstairs in search of her nightly feeding...
In the kitchen...
Natalie opened the door of the fridge to root around for her meal of raw meat. She craved raw meat nightly...
During her forages...
Natalie had the reflective eyes of any nocturnal creature, and she growled at a pitch that shook the house...
Through a series of tests, Margaret, a midwife/witch hired by Mother, ruled out a demonic possession...
So...
If it wasn't a demon, who or what was possessing the body of Natalie Glasgow?...
This short story was off the charts on the creep factor with some spine-chilling imagery. I'm sorry it took so long for me to finally read it.
If you liked this story, you might also like COME CLOSER by Sara Gran.
April 18, 2020
The book starts extremely creepy depicting a possessed girl (always had to think about The Exorcist). Margaret (a kind of witch) is helping Heather (Natalie's mother) to find out what took possession of her daughter. Is it a demon? When catholic props fail they know it must be something else. Are their any clues in Heather's late husband's study? He was a big game hunter (died ten years ago) and the untouched room is still full of trophies... Well written, extremely eerie and compelling. You can't quit the novella without knowing how it ends. Absolutely enjoyed the book and can highly recommend it!
February 19, 2023
A unique short story about a possessed child.
April 29, 2022
Unusual child possession story, very quick read.
January 6, 2020
3.5!!
The Possession of Natalie Glasgow is a quick little read, under 100 pages. The reader is thrust right into the middle of a drama: Natalie Glasgow is eleven years old and exhibiting some unusual physical and mental behaviors and an expert in supernatural phenomenon named Margaret is called in to assess the situation.
I'm a huge fan of short fiction. It's my opinion that it's the unsung hero of the horror genre--short fiction has saved me from the onslaught of a reading slump, rescued me when I needed something to occupy my time during a long wait or introduced me to some of my new favorite authors. But short fiction can be a tricky beast.
The biggest complaint I see in reviews is that the reader is left wanting more of the story; something was rushed/missing/lacking, leaving one feeling unsatisfied.
In the case of The Possession of Natalie Glasgow, I did feel somewhat tossed into the story midway through. I could have used even just a few pages of backstory, set up or character development in order to find my footing. Natalie is only eleven and something is happening inside her mind and body but I didn't feel a connection to her at all. It was as though I was a fly on the wall merely observing a cast of characters going through something but only a little context of the situation.
That being said, the story the reader is bearing witness to is very interesting. There are a lot of mysterious and strange events that happen-keeping me engaged-- making me turn pages in order to resolve my burning curiosity.
I enjoyed that Hailey Piper had a unique and original possession story to tell and she executed on that particular fresh idea extremely well. After the big "reveal" of sorts, I felt the creepiness that I had been experiencing, dissolve a little bit but it was replaced with other welcomed feelings.
I think this story convinced me to keep a close eye on Piper and pick up other books she might have for us. Count me in!
Side Note: So this book showed up in our Night Worms Review Team group chat a few months ago and a handful of the crew members decided to buddy read it. I had a lot on my plate at the time so I passed on it. After editing the dozen or so reviews that came in for the Night Worms blog, I quickly added this debut novella to my TBR.
You can read the Night Worms Book Party reviews here:
https://nightworms.com/blogs/news/a-n...
The Possession of Natalie Glasgow is a quick little read, under 100 pages. The reader is thrust right into the middle of a drama: Natalie Glasgow is eleven years old and exhibiting some unusual physical and mental behaviors and an expert in supernatural phenomenon named Margaret is called in to assess the situation.
I'm a huge fan of short fiction. It's my opinion that it's the unsung hero of the horror genre--short fiction has saved me from the onslaught of a reading slump, rescued me when I needed something to occupy my time during a long wait or introduced me to some of my new favorite authors. But short fiction can be a tricky beast.
The biggest complaint I see in reviews is that the reader is left wanting more of the story; something was rushed/missing/lacking, leaving one feeling unsatisfied.
In the case of The Possession of Natalie Glasgow, I did feel somewhat tossed into the story midway through. I could have used even just a few pages of backstory, set up or character development in order to find my footing. Natalie is only eleven and something is happening inside her mind and body but I didn't feel a connection to her at all. It was as though I was a fly on the wall merely observing a cast of characters going through something but only a little context of the situation.
That being said, the story the reader is bearing witness to is very interesting. There are a lot of mysterious and strange events that happen-keeping me engaged-- making me turn pages in order to resolve my burning curiosity.
I enjoyed that Hailey Piper had a unique and original possession story to tell and she executed on that particular fresh idea extremely well. After the big "reveal" of sorts, I felt the creepiness that I had been experiencing, dissolve a little bit but it was replaced with other welcomed feelings.
I think this story convinced me to keep a close eye on Piper and pick up other books she might have for us. Count me in!
Side Note: So this book showed up in our Night Worms Review Team group chat a few months ago and a handful of the crew members decided to buddy read it. I had a lot on my plate at the time so I passed on it. After editing the dozen or so reviews that came in for the Night Worms blog, I quickly added this debut novella to my TBR.
You can read the Night Worms Book Party reviews here:
https://nightworms.com/blogs/news/a-n...
December 10, 2024
4.5 rounded up
Margaret is a professional midwife and sometimes witch/paranormal investigator who has been called to the Glasgow home by mom Heather, who is desperate for help. You see, Heather has become afraid of her own daughter, ever since eleven-year-old Natalie began displaying some very odd behaviors, spending the day in a comatose state and stalking through the house at night with unnaturally heavy footfalls and an increasingly aggressive and menacing presence.
You've seen part of this story before: the failure of the medical profession to find a cure or even a diagnosis for the physical and psychological deterioration of a young girl leads a desperate mother to seek out an unconventional solution. But Hailey Piper's The Possession of Natalie Glasgow is a short novella with an entirely fresh take on possession horror.
I had wanted to read this for quite a while, holding out for a physical or e-book copy, which seems impossible to come by, but when I heard that Gemma Amor (a new favorite author of mine) did the narration and that it was available on hoopla through my library, I decided to give it a listen. I'm really glad that I did. Amor is an excellent narrator and her voice suited this sinister story and Piper's smoothly flowing writing style very well. The story was interesting, the characters of Heather and Margaret were sympathetic, and the ending was satisfying in a way I couldn't have predicted. This is my first experience of Piper's work, and I can't want to read more. And I still want to find a copy of this book to read!
Margaret is a professional midwife and sometimes witch/paranormal investigator who has been called to the Glasgow home by mom Heather, who is desperate for help. You see, Heather has become afraid of her own daughter, ever since eleven-year-old Natalie began displaying some very odd behaviors, spending the day in a comatose state and stalking through the house at night with unnaturally heavy footfalls and an increasingly aggressive and menacing presence.
You've seen part of this story before: the failure of the medical profession to find a cure or even a diagnosis for the physical and psychological deterioration of a young girl leads a desperate mother to seek out an unconventional solution. But Hailey Piper's The Possession of Natalie Glasgow is a short novella with an entirely fresh take on possession horror.
I had wanted to read this for quite a while, holding out for a physical or e-book copy, which seems impossible to come by, but when I heard that Gemma Amor (a new favorite author of mine) did the narration and that it was available on hoopla through my library, I decided to give it a listen. I'm really glad that I did. Amor is an excellent narrator and her voice suited this sinister story and Piper's smoothly flowing writing style very well. The story was interesting, the characters of Heather and Margaret were sympathetic, and the ending was satisfying in a way I couldn't have predicted. This is my first experience of Piper's work, and I can't want to read more. And I still want to find a copy of this book to read!
February 13, 2021
Tense and atmospheric
An interesting story about a little girl possessed and the lengths her mother will go to in order to save her.
An interesting story about a little girl possessed and the lengths her mother will go to in order to save her.
November 25, 2020
A desperate widow is at her wits end. Her young daughter is acting strangely and getting stranger by the day. She’s silent by day and roams the halls at night making far more noise than humanly possible and only raw meat seems to settle her for a little bit. The doctors are useless and perplexed and are exactly zero help with this increasingly terrifying situation. Mom says screw them all and calls in an expert in the supernatural. Margaret arrives and she’s stumped as well but she’s also tenacious and skilled and what she uncovers is heartbreaking and that’s all I’m saying about it. I have NO idea how I escaped having this book ruined for me because people have been talking about it ever since its release, but I’m so glad it wasn’t spoiled for me and I won’t be the big mouth who spoils it for you. If I were you I wouldn’t dive deep into any of the reviews until after you’ve read it for yourself.
The story starts off in the middle of this situation and throws you right into the mom’s harrowing ordeal. It’s eerie and tension filled from the very beginning and it doesn’t ever let up. If you listen really closely all of the hints about what is truly going on are right there but that reveal still got me good and it’ll probably get you too. Parts of the story are completely heartbreaking and difficult to read but the author doesn’t leave you a broken mess and I was very thankful for it.
I listened to this novella as an unabridged audiobook read by Gemma Amor, voice actor and author herself, and she knows her way around a story. Her tone is lovely and she was a perfect choice for the telling of this haunting story.
The story starts off in the middle of this situation and throws you right into the mom’s harrowing ordeal. It’s eerie and tension filled from the very beginning and it doesn’t ever let up. If you listen really closely all of the hints about what is truly going on are right there but that reveal still got me good and it’ll probably get you too. Parts of the story are completely heartbreaking and difficult to read but the author doesn’t leave you a broken mess and I was very thankful for it.
I listened to this novella as an unabridged audiobook read by Gemma Amor, voice actor and author herself, and she knows her way around a story. Her tone is lovely and she was a perfect choice for the telling of this haunting story.
November 8, 2019
I recently read this book as a group read with some of the people on the Night Worms blog review team. I had no idea what to expect. Wow, was I so pleasantly surprised.
I usually do the bulk of my reading at night in bed. My husband has to get up very early for his job, so he typically goes to bed around 9pm. I go with him and read while he sleeps, sometimes well into the night. The other night I read this book, and since it's only 104 pages long I had it finished rather quickly. I turned off the light at that point and decided to check out various social media sites on my phone.
I should mention at this point that my husband has RBD or REM Sleep Behavior Disorder. That means while most people become paralyzed while they dream, my husband nightly acts out in real life what he is dreaming. Quite often I've been on the receiving end of his activities, so I'm pretty used to it, and I don't think about it.
Let me just say right now that the beginning of this book is genuinely creepy. I was so creeped out and tense. Piper set this novella up perfectly, because I was immediately sucked in, and then actually feeling fear and worry for one of the characters. It was intense. So it kind of lingered even after I finished the book. So here I am, done with the book, the light is off, and I'm looking at my phone. Suddenly I feel a very gentle tap on my left shoulder and I almost jumped through the ceiling. My husband was dreaming that he had to ask me a question. You can bet that I woke him up and asked him one.
THE POSSESSION OF NATALIE GLASGOW is a unique, unsettling, surprising, and amazing story that will have you running the gamut of emotions and feeling all the feels. I continually thought I knew where this story was going, and Piper continued to surprise me. I have never read a possession story like this. I love that Piper chose a unique take on an old trope. Nothing in this book is what you would expect from a possession story, and I love that! I'm totally here for that. I love to be surprised and shocked, and I'm just so amazed by this fantastic take on a very old subject. I really hope that horror lovers will pick this one up and experience it too. This book is definitely going to be in my Favorite Books Read in 2019 list at the end of the year. I can't stop thinking about it.
I usually do the bulk of my reading at night in bed. My husband has to get up very early for his job, so he typically goes to bed around 9pm. I go with him and read while he sleeps, sometimes well into the night. The other night I read this book, and since it's only 104 pages long I had it finished rather quickly. I turned off the light at that point and decided to check out various social media sites on my phone.
I should mention at this point that my husband has RBD or REM Sleep Behavior Disorder. That means while most people become paralyzed while they dream, my husband nightly acts out in real life what he is dreaming. Quite often I've been on the receiving end of his activities, so I'm pretty used to it, and I don't think about it.
Let me just say right now that the beginning of this book is genuinely creepy. I was so creeped out and tense. Piper set this novella up perfectly, because I was immediately sucked in, and then actually feeling fear and worry for one of the characters. It was intense. So it kind of lingered even after I finished the book. So here I am, done with the book, the light is off, and I'm looking at my phone. Suddenly I feel a very gentle tap on my left shoulder and I almost jumped through the ceiling. My husband was dreaming that he had to ask me a question. You can bet that I woke him up and asked him one.
THE POSSESSION OF NATALIE GLASGOW is a unique, unsettling, surprising, and amazing story that will have you running the gamut of emotions and feeling all the feels. I continually thought I knew where this story was going, and Piper continued to surprise me. I have never read a possession story like this. I love that Piper chose a unique take on an old trope. Nothing in this book is what you would expect from a possession story, and I love that! I'm totally here for that. I love to be surprised and shocked, and I'm just so amazed by this fantastic take on a very old subject. I really hope that horror lovers will pick this one up and experience it too. This book is definitely going to be in my Favorite Books Read in 2019 list at the end of the year. I can't stop thinking about it.
June 20, 2025
4.5 stars || Child possession with a unique twist. Great on audio. Really enjoyed this!
September 15, 2019
"You're never desensitized to the strange. It's always fresh. And when it's scary once, it'll be scary again."
3.5⭐
I'm so glad that The Possession of Natalie Glasgow came out in paperback! I had heard good things about the ebook & ordered it as soon as I heard the paperback was coming.
The Possession of Natalie Glasgow is an intriguing and unique possession novel, and while it wasn't entirely up my alley, I did enjoy reading it.
**SPOILER** - Even though I did like the book, I think I would have had a better time with this one if the cover of the book didn't spoil the mystery of the book. The synopsis is open-ended & it's probable that something other than a demon is possessing Natalie - but there's a lion on the cover, so it's clear that she is being possessed by a lion. I would have rather experienced learning about the mystery with the characters.
I also have a hard time reading about graphic or sad animal death, and the ending of this book was pretty sad. Although I probably wasn't the ideal reader for this book, it was well-written, and I would definitely try another book from Hailey Piper.
3.5⭐
I'm so glad that The Possession of Natalie Glasgow came out in paperback! I had heard good things about the ebook & ordered it as soon as I heard the paperback was coming.
The Possession of Natalie Glasgow is an intriguing and unique possession novel, and while it wasn't entirely up my alley, I did enjoy reading it.
**SPOILER** - Even though I did like the book, I think I would have had a better time with this one if the cover of the book didn't spoil the mystery of the book. The synopsis is open-ended & it's probable that something other than a demon is possessing Natalie - but there's a lion on the cover, so it's clear that she is being possessed by a lion. I would have rather experienced learning about the mystery with the characters.
I also have a hard time reading about graphic or sad animal death, and the ending of this book was pretty sad. Although I probably wasn't the ideal reader for this book, it was well-written, and I would definitely try another book from Hailey Piper.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2019
You’ll definitely be surprised when you find out what exactly is haunting our little family!
This wasn’t at all what I expected and I loved that the author surprised me.
Well written and way too short for me! Lol – Yes, I wanted more!
Would love to read longer works by the author!
• Downloaded via KU
This wasn’t at all what I expected and I loved that the author surprised me.
Well written and way too short for me! Lol – Yes, I wanted more!
Would love to read longer works by the author!
• Downloaded via KU
January 11, 2021
4.5 stars!
THE POSSESSION OF NATALIE GLASGOW is the first novella I have read by Hailey Piper. As impressed as I was by this one, it certainly won't be the last!
We begin right in the midst of the action, where a mother has called in a "supernatural specialist" to try and find out what is possessing her daughter every night. The doctors are baffled, and Heather Glasgow--who lost her husband only ten months prior--will do anything she can to save her daughter.
I won't give away anything about this novella, as it's best experienced first hand. I will say that it is one of the most unique, horrible forms of possession I have ever read. The writing style was smooth, the characters believable in the context they are portrayed, and most importantly, the story went in a direction I never would have seen coming!
This is one that I will be thinking about for a long time to come, and hopefully reading more from this original author.
Recommended!
THE POSSESSION OF NATALIE GLASGOW is the first novella I have read by Hailey Piper. As impressed as I was by this one, it certainly won't be the last!
We begin right in the midst of the action, where a mother has called in a "supernatural specialist" to try and find out what is possessing her daughter every night. The doctors are baffled, and Heather Glasgow--who lost her husband only ten months prior--will do anything she can to save her daughter.
I won't give away anything about this novella, as it's best experienced first hand. I will say that it is one of the most unique, horrible forms of possession I have ever read. The writing style was smooth, the characters believable in the context they are portrayed, and most importantly, the story went in a direction I never would have seen coming!
This is one that I will be thinking about for a long time to come, and hopefully reading more from this original author.
Recommended!
September 7, 2019
What's possessing Natalie?
A unique take on the possession story. What's possessing Natalie? Read to find out. I read this for The Ladies of Horror Fiction 1 year anniversary challenge.
A unique take on the possession story. What's possessing Natalie? Read to find out. I read this for The Ladies of Horror Fiction 1 year anniversary challenge.
November 4, 2022
This was a really unique horror story in the sense that what is possessing Natalie is unexpected. I would recommend going into this book without reading much about it and would recommend not even looking at the cover - I don’t know why they would put what turns out to be a spoiler on the cover. The ending was excellent and thought provoking on the topic of . In fact, it was probably a 3.5 star for me but the ending, which left me less scared than sad, brought it up to a 4.
Content Warning: violence against animals (if you would like more info and don’t mind spoilers, feel free to message me.)
Content Warning: violence against animals (if you would like more info and don’t mind spoilers, feel free to message me.)
July 31, 2020
Summary
In 1976, Heather is desperate to find out what is wrong with her 11 year old daughter. The doctors are baffled by her unusual and disturbing behaviour at night and sedated-like sleep throughout the day.
It isn't until Margaret shows up that Natalie's tormentor is revealed and dealt with.
Personal opinion
I thought this was an awesome and original possession story.
The beginning starts out very creepy and was impossible to put down once I started.
Being a shorter story (104 pages) it doesn't contain any 'fluff' or fillers. It also managed to surprise me in a way most other possession stories can't.
I would definitely recommend as a great read all in one sitting for any ghost or possession story lovers.
In 1976, Heather is desperate to find out what is wrong with her 11 year old daughter. The doctors are baffled by her unusual and disturbing behaviour at night and sedated-like sleep throughout the day.
It isn't until Margaret shows up that Natalie's tormentor is revealed and dealt with.
Personal opinion
I thought this was an awesome and original possession story.
The beginning starts out very creepy and was impossible to put down once I started.
Being a shorter story (104 pages) it doesn't contain any 'fluff' or fillers. It also managed to surprise me in a way most other possession stories can't.
I would definitely recommend as a great read all in one sitting for any ghost or possession story lovers.
August 3, 2021
Before I picked this novella up I found myself to be in a bit of a reading slump. I am enjoying what I am reading but just have not had the drive to actually pick up a book and read. I needed something fresh and short that I could sit down and read most of it in one sitting. Unlock that achievement for completing a book.
Enter THE POSSESSION OF NATALIE GLASGOW by Hailey Piper. This ended up being one of the most unique and original possession tales I have ever read. A super fast blink and you’ll be done with it read (that is unless you are constantly being interrupted by your kids). It’s 1976 and we are thrown into the deep end from the beginning. Something is wrong with eleven year old Natalie. During the day she is basically catatonic, but at night, what she becomes at night causes even her own mother to hide in fear behind locked doors.
I got heavy Ed and Lorraine Warren vibes while reading THE POSSESSION OF NATALIE GLASGOW. Some of that was probably from it being set in the 70’s, and part of it was from the low tech (compared to paranormal investigations of today) way witch/midwife Margaret Willow went about conducting her investigation of the paranormal or supernatural phenomenon surrounding Natalie.
Piper nailed the sense of unease, this gradually mounting dread and palpable tension (that kitchen scene, though). While reading I genuinely felt as if something was creeping up behind me at certain parts, like I was being stalked. That weird feeling like you are being watched but no one is around, yea that, and that does not happen to me very often.
While on the surface this is a possession story there are also undertones of motherhood, love, fear, and helplessness. Heather, Natalie’s mother, is at her wits end. She doesn't know who to turn to for help. No one is able to provide any answers and whatever is happening to her daughter Natalie only seems to be getting worse. There is seemingly nothing Heather can do to stop it. One of the worst feelings in the world as a parent is being absolutely helpless, sitting on the sidelines while your child desperately needs you. Trying to not give too much away I really liked how the ending was in some ways a mirror image, a reflection of the emotions Heather was going through throughout. That might be vague but I’ll just have to leave it at that.
I could nitpick and say I wish this was longer (I do wish it was longer because it was so good) but would it have been as effective as it was? Maybe, maybe not. Would a bit more character development have allowed the reader to become even more invested in this supernatural mystery? Again maybe, maybe not. Despite these potential what if’s this was a great possession tale that I would definitely recommend.
THE POSSESSION OF NATALIE GLASGOW by Hailey Piper takes the tried and true possession trope and elevates it to something imaginatively fresh and different. Full of a creeping unease that will raise the hairs on the back of your neck, but also full of heart and the promise of hope. If you haven’t read anything from Piper yet I don’t know what you are waiting for.
Enter THE POSSESSION OF NATALIE GLASGOW by Hailey Piper. This ended up being one of the most unique and original possession tales I have ever read. A super fast blink and you’ll be done with it read (that is unless you are constantly being interrupted by your kids). It’s 1976 and we are thrown into the deep end from the beginning. Something is wrong with eleven year old Natalie. During the day she is basically catatonic, but at night, what she becomes at night causes even her own mother to hide in fear behind locked doors.
I got heavy Ed and Lorraine Warren vibes while reading THE POSSESSION OF NATALIE GLASGOW. Some of that was probably from it being set in the 70’s, and part of it was from the low tech (compared to paranormal investigations of today) way witch/midwife Margaret Willow went about conducting her investigation of the paranormal or supernatural phenomenon surrounding Natalie.
Piper nailed the sense of unease, this gradually mounting dread and palpable tension (that kitchen scene, though). While reading I genuinely felt as if something was creeping up behind me at certain parts, like I was being stalked. That weird feeling like you are being watched but no one is around, yea that, and that does not happen to me very often.
While on the surface this is a possession story there are also undertones of motherhood, love, fear, and helplessness. Heather, Natalie’s mother, is at her wits end. She doesn't know who to turn to for help. No one is able to provide any answers and whatever is happening to her daughter Natalie only seems to be getting worse. There is seemingly nothing Heather can do to stop it. One of the worst feelings in the world as a parent is being absolutely helpless, sitting on the sidelines while your child desperately needs you. Trying to not give too much away I really liked how the ending was in some ways a mirror image, a reflection of the emotions Heather was going through throughout. That might be vague but I’ll just have to leave it at that.
I could nitpick and say I wish this was longer (I do wish it was longer because it was so good) but would it have been as effective as it was? Maybe, maybe not. Would a bit more character development have allowed the reader to become even more invested in this supernatural mystery? Again maybe, maybe not. Despite these potential what if’s this was a great possession tale that I would definitely recommend.
THE POSSESSION OF NATALIE GLASGOW by Hailey Piper takes the tried and true possession trope and elevates it to something imaginatively fresh and different. Full of a creeping unease that will raise the hairs on the back of your neck, but also full of heart and the promise of hope. If you haven’t read anything from Piper yet I don’t know what you are waiting for.
September 20, 2021
In all her years as an expert in the supernatural, Margaret Willow has never encountered a case of demonic possession quite as terrible as that of Natalie Glasgow. During the day, Natalie lies comatose in her bedroom. But when night comes, the little girl saunters around her mother's house like a wailing demon in search of raw flesh. After the usual appliance of Christian methods from crosses to holy water fails to sustain the beast within Natalie, Margaret has no choice but to investigate further into her dead father's illustrious career as a big game hunter.
A concise and refreshing take on the demonic possession genre. It starts off feeling very similar to The Exorcist, but it quickly turns things into a direction I've never quite seen before. Coming in at about only 60 pages, Piper crafts a surprisingly complete and compelling supernatural horror thriller with very few words. The horror moments are genuinely tense, the characters are described just enough to be able to care about them and the ending packed an emotional punch. I can't say why I liked it without giving away a certain twist, but it's definitely original.
***
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A concise and refreshing take on the demonic possession genre. It starts off feeling very similar to The Exorcist, but it quickly turns things into a direction I've never quite seen before. Coming in at about only 60 pages, Piper crafts a surprisingly complete and compelling supernatural horror thriller with very few words. The horror moments are genuinely tense, the characters are described just enough to be able to care about them and the ending packed an emotional punch. I can't say why I liked it without giving away a certain twist, but it's definitely original.
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If you're looking for some dark ambient music for reading horror, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
January 11, 2020
Possession/haunting stories are a top 5 trope for me. I can just gobble them up and I am always ready for more. With that being said, a lot of possession books tend to be similar. But for me that is okay because I am already expecting it - if that makes sense. With The Possession of Natalie Glasgow, author Hailey Piper tosses an entirely new type of story at us. It is not your typical possession story. The story begins right in the middle of the chaos. A mother is smoking near the window while an outsider has been called in to help her daughter who has been displaying wild, mysterious behaviors lately. But then the story starts to go down another path, one that I did not see coming at all.
Piper was able to hook me immediately and kept me entertained and engrossed the entire length of the novella. At just around 100 pages, this is a quick read. But it is packed full of all the qualities that make a book binge-worthy. This one gets 4 stars from me and I may not be eating meat for a few days...
Piper was able to hook me immediately and kept me entertained and engrossed the entire length of the novella. At just around 100 pages, this is a quick read. But it is packed full of all the qualities that make a book binge-worthy. This one gets 4 stars from me and I may not be eating meat for a few days...
August 23, 2020
“You’re never desensitized to the strange. It’s always fresh. And when it’s scary once, it’ll be scary again.”
This satisfied my specific need for a well-written novella about possession that I could easily read in one sitting.
The twist in the tale (who/what is possessing Natalie) makes it stand out and you absolutely feel compelled to reach the ending. I look forward to reading more of Hailey Piper’s short horror stories in the future! She appears to have a knack for eeriness and creepiness.
4.5 stars, rounded it down to 4.
This satisfied my specific need for a well-written novella about possession that I could easily read in one sitting.
The twist in the tale (who/what is possessing Natalie) makes it stand out and you absolutely feel compelled to reach the ending. I look forward to reading more of Hailey Piper’s short horror stories in the future! She appears to have a knack for eeriness and creepiness.
4.5 stars, rounded it down to 4.
March 21, 2021
A profoundly clever and creepy twist on the possession story!
May 5, 2022
This one was weird but unique very short totally different take on possession
December 11, 2018
**Edited as Review now live on Kendall Reviews!**
This is hands down one of the most original possession tales I have read. Ever. Full stop.
Sorry, that’s all I can say, because I can’t give away this fantastic twist. Well actually, it’s not really a twist. We know full well from the start that young Natalie Glasgow is possessed. Her father died some time back and now her mother is worried about Natalie. She is comatose all day, burning up with a fever, her mother opening the window and keeping the room as cold as possible. By night, well by night is a different story. Natalie comes out of her comatose state and stalks the house. She may be only eleven and weigh seventy pounds, but at night her footsteps pound down the hallways, causing the floors to vibrate. She frequents the kitchen, devouring raw meat by the fistfuls, then returns to her room to sleep until the following night.
Doctors are stumped. So Natalie’s mother reaches out to Margaret Willow, a supernatural investigator.
This is Hailey Piper’s first release and wow does she do a fantastic job of keeping the reader riveted with so few words. I read this in one sitting and found the words flew off the pages, keeping me enthralled the entire time. Piper builds depth to each of the characters, but never really goes into further detail about their back stories, except for The Glasgow’s. We find out a bit about the deceased father, Nathaniel, but very little about Margaret.
For me that was the biggest let down. This novella was really, really well done, but it had two short-comings.
1 – The title doesn’t do this tale justice. By using the phrase ‘Haunting’ I think it may get buried in the massive amount of ghost tales and haunted house tales that get pumped out each year. ‘The Possession of Natalie Glasgow’ would read more accurately, would not cause a change in the story what-so-ever and would separate itself from the pack.
2 – GOD HOW I WANTED MORE! Margaret is a supernatural expert. But what has she done to get her there? I wanted some back story, hear about her other investigations, how she became what she became. I also would have loved a bit more of the story regarding just how Natalie became possessed, but to disclose anything more would fail into spoiler territory.
I think with an extra thirty pages of back story and continued suspense this would have put this over the top for me, but for now, if you are looking for a really well done, edge-of-your-seat possession tale, then look no further. Hailey Piper has you covered.
This is hands down one of the most original possession tales I have read. Ever. Full stop.
Sorry, that’s all I can say, because I can’t give away this fantastic twist. Well actually, it’s not really a twist. We know full well from the start that young Natalie Glasgow is possessed. Her father died some time back and now her mother is worried about Natalie. She is comatose all day, burning up with a fever, her mother opening the window and keeping the room as cold as possible. By night, well by night is a different story. Natalie comes out of her comatose state and stalks the house. She may be only eleven and weigh seventy pounds, but at night her footsteps pound down the hallways, causing the floors to vibrate. She frequents the kitchen, devouring raw meat by the fistfuls, then returns to her room to sleep until the following night.
Doctors are stumped. So Natalie’s mother reaches out to Margaret Willow, a supernatural investigator.
This is Hailey Piper’s first release and wow does she do a fantastic job of keeping the reader riveted with so few words. I read this in one sitting and found the words flew off the pages, keeping me enthralled the entire time. Piper builds depth to each of the characters, but never really goes into further detail about their back stories, except for The Glasgow’s. We find out a bit about the deceased father, Nathaniel, but very little about Margaret.
For me that was the biggest let down. This novella was really, really well done, but it had two short-comings.
1 – The title doesn’t do this tale justice. By using the phrase ‘Haunting’ I think it may get buried in the massive amount of ghost tales and haunted house tales that get pumped out each year. ‘The Possession of Natalie Glasgow’ would read more accurately, would not cause a change in the story what-so-ever and would separate itself from the pack.
2 – GOD HOW I WANTED MORE! Margaret is a supernatural expert. But what has she done to get her there? I wanted some back story, hear about her other investigations, how she became what she became. I also would have loved a bit more of the story regarding just how Natalie became possessed, but to disclose anything more would fail into spoiler territory.
I think with an extra thirty pages of back story and continued suspense this would have put this over the top for me, but for now, if you are looking for a really well done, edge-of-your-seat possession tale, then look no further. Hailey Piper has you covered.
January 29, 2020
Possession horror is one of my favorite subgenres, so I was immediately intrigued when I first saw this novella show up on social media. Typically with this type of story, I’m expecting to read about demons, so I was surprised (in a good way) to discover that the author placed a different spin on this topic. I was looking for a quick and engaging read, and this novella did the trick.
As mentioned, I enjoyed the originality—specifically the fact that it went in a different direction than what I expected. What I initially thought might be going on with Natalie was not the case, and that made this read more interesting, as I couldn’t guess what was coming every step of the way. Another aspect that I enjoyed were the female protagonists. That felt new to me, as most of my favorite possession stories feature a male authority figure stepping in to save the day, and that was not the case with this tale. It was refreshing to see a female character take on the role of the one sent to rescue the child in distress. I also loved the atmosphere created in this story. As I watched it unfold in my mind, it felt very dark and reminiscent of other possession films and books that I enjoy. The author also did a nice job of building the intensity—I found my sense of dread snowballing as the story went on, and I steadily flipped the pages to find what was next.
Despite the refreshing mix of characters in this one, I struggled to fully connect, and didn’t feel as strongly for them as I have with others. I found myself wishing for a bit more backstory on the leading ladies. This novella begins by placing the reader in the midst of the drama, and while that provided intrigue that drew me in, I felt a bit like something was missing. I think it would’ve been more powerful had it been a bit longer and contained more character backstory—either at the beginning, or scattered throughout within flashbacks.
Hailey Piper has a lot of creativity and displayed some solid storytelling skills with this tale—it hooks the reader and keeps you engaged, has great atmospheric qualities, and a fresh take on the possession theme. I’m definitely interested in reading more from this author. I’d especially like to see what unique spin she could place on other common horror tropes, and would also be interested in a novel-length piece. I noticed that she just released another novella, so I’ll be adding that to my shelf soon, and stay on the lookout for more work in the future.
*3.5 stars, rounded up for GoodReads*
As mentioned, I enjoyed the originality—specifically the fact that it went in a different direction than what I expected. What I initially thought might be going on with Natalie was not the case, and that made this read more interesting, as I couldn’t guess what was coming every step of the way. Another aspect that I enjoyed were the female protagonists. That felt new to me, as most of my favorite possession stories feature a male authority figure stepping in to save the day, and that was not the case with this tale. It was refreshing to see a female character take on the role of the one sent to rescue the child in distress. I also loved the atmosphere created in this story. As I watched it unfold in my mind, it felt very dark and reminiscent of other possession films and books that I enjoy. The author also did a nice job of building the intensity—I found my sense of dread snowballing as the story went on, and I steadily flipped the pages to find what was next.
Despite the refreshing mix of characters in this one, I struggled to fully connect, and didn’t feel as strongly for them as I have with others. I found myself wishing for a bit more backstory on the leading ladies. This novella begins by placing the reader in the midst of the drama, and while that provided intrigue that drew me in, I felt a bit like something was missing. I think it would’ve been more powerful had it been a bit longer and contained more character backstory—either at the beginning, or scattered throughout within flashbacks.
Hailey Piper has a lot of creativity and displayed some solid storytelling skills with this tale—it hooks the reader and keeps you engaged, has great atmospheric qualities, and a fresh take on the possession theme. I’m definitely interested in reading more from this author. I’d especially like to see what unique spin she could place on other common horror tropes, and would also be interested in a novel-length piece. I noticed that she just released another novella, so I’ll be adding that to my shelf soon, and stay on the lookout for more work in the future.
*3.5 stars, rounded up for GoodReads*
February 3, 2020
“𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘺, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥. 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧”
A tale of revenge, this was an enjoyable little read with an interesting spin on the idea of possession. Natalie, an 8 year old girl has been waking at night, possessed by an unknown force with an extreme strength and a hunger for raw meat. With doctors unable to help her, Natalies mother calls in an expert in the supernatural named Margaret to help save her daughter before it’s too late.
Only being 66 pages, I can’t say too much without spoiling this one, but I can tell you its worth picking up and I will be keeping an eye out for what Hailey comes up with next!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!
A tale of revenge, this was an enjoyable little read with an interesting spin on the idea of possession. Natalie, an 8 year old girl has been waking at night, possessed by an unknown force with an extreme strength and a hunger for raw meat. With doctors unable to help her, Natalies mother calls in an expert in the supernatural named Margaret to help save her daughter before it’s too late.
Only being 66 pages, I can’t say too much without spoiling this one, but I can tell you its worth picking up and I will be keeping an eye out for what Hailey comes up with next!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!
August 11, 2021
Utterly brilliant!
I’ve been meaning to read this for quite some time now, I’m a huge fan of Piper’s work and this I didn’t know was her debut novella - what a fricking debut!
The book reminded me of the best possession book of all time ‘The Exorcist’ - such is the brilliance of Piper’s prose and the haunting imagery she creates. The story is full of dread and menace, full of eeriness, drenched in darkness.
I mention The Exorcist because I’ve not read a book that details possession in such a unique way as ‘The Possession of Natalie Glasgow’ since I read Blatty’s brilliant book.
Piper’s twist on possession is utterly breathtaking and imaginative and blows all expectations out of the water!
Unmissable.
I’ve been meaning to read this for quite some time now, I’m a huge fan of Piper’s work and this I didn’t know was her debut novella - what a fricking debut!
The book reminded me of the best possession book of all time ‘The Exorcist’ - such is the brilliance of Piper’s prose and the haunting imagery she creates. The story is full of dread and menace, full of eeriness, drenched in darkness.
I mention The Exorcist because I’ve not read a book that details possession in such a unique way as ‘The Possession of Natalie Glasgow’ since I read Blatty’s brilliant book.
Piper’s twist on possession is utterly breathtaking and imaginative and blows all expectations out of the water!
Unmissable.
November 1, 2020
Tense, heartbreaking, and creepy. This was such a great ride.
4.5⭐️
4.5⭐️
November 15, 2020
Most original possession story I’ve ever read!
February 21, 2020
I read this book with some of my fellow Night Worms reviewers for our #anightwormpossessed book party!
THE POSSESSION OF NATALIE GLASGOW is definitely one of my favorite novellas of 2019, wow! This little book is only 66 pages long, but it packs a huge punch. A wonderfully original and incredibly unique take on the typical “possessed kid” storyline, there’s no way to guess the twist to this story before you read it. I kept making little guesses while reading it, and jeez, I guess I never get tired of being totally wrong!
We’re thrown into the story in the middle of the action, after Natalie’s mom has reached out for help from someone with experience in supernatural dealings. The tension and creepiness in the beginning of the story had me completely hooked, and I loved the fact that there was no slow build up of events - there is only so much space for words in the novella format, and Hailey Piper uses all of it to her advantage by throwing you in head first.
No spoilers, but there’s a specific scene towards the end that actually made me tear up and snuggle my puppies closer. To be able to illicit that kind of emotion in so few pages is a pretty clear sign of an author I need to keep reading, so I’ll be on the lookout from everything Piper releases in the future!
THE POSSESSION OF NATALIE GLASGOW is definitely one of my favorite novellas of 2019, wow! This little book is only 66 pages long, but it packs a huge punch. A wonderfully original and incredibly unique take on the typical “possessed kid” storyline, there’s no way to guess the twist to this story before you read it. I kept making little guesses while reading it, and jeez, I guess I never get tired of being totally wrong!
We’re thrown into the story in the middle of the action, after Natalie’s mom has reached out for help from someone with experience in supernatural dealings. The tension and creepiness in the beginning of the story had me completely hooked, and I loved the fact that there was no slow build up of events - there is only so much space for words in the novella format, and Hailey Piper uses all of it to her advantage by throwing you in head first.
No spoilers, but there’s a specific scene towards the end that actually made me tear up and snuggle my puppies closer. To be able to illicit that kind of emotion in so few pages is a pretty clear sign of an author I need to keep reading, so I’ll be on the lookout from everything Piper releases in the future!
November 7, 2019
Finally a possession book I really liked!!! Don't get me wrong, I've read possession books and liked them but have found some a bit tedious or boring. Don't ask me why. I have no answer for you. But give me one in 66 pages that is unique in story telling and something different from the norm and you have my full attention.
The only bad thing about novellas and short stories is sometimes the lack of character and potential story development. However, I think that's what almost loses my interest at times in stories such as these. Glasgow goes right into the creepy, gritty parts and I am here for every raw, sinewy piece of it. And to be quite honest, I absolutely love the *twist* to it and was rooting for Natalie AND what possesses her. Weird? Probably. True? Absolutely.
One little thing, I wish there was a different cover for this read and if you read this story, I think you'll know why. Overall this one does give you a little bit of that creep factor. I may be eating my meat a little less on the rare side for a few days after this and there is nothing creepier than a kid of whatever age skulking about giving you the dead eyes. Definitely would recommend.
The only bad thing about novellas and short stories is sometimes the lack of character and potential story development. However, I think that's what almost loses my interest at times in stories such as these. Glasgow goes right into the creepy, gritty parts and I am here for every raw, sinewy piece of it. And to be quite honest, I absolutely love the *twist* to it and was rooting for Natalie AND what possesses her. Weird? Probably. True? Absolutely.
One little thing, I wish there was a different cover for this read and if you read this story, I think you'll know why. Overall this one does give you a little bit of that creep factor. I may be eating my meat a little less on the rare side for a few days after this and there is nothing creepier than a kid of whatever age skulking about giving you the dead eyes. Definitely would recommend.
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