Mother Death

Haunted #5

by Lee Mountford

‘They struggle and plead and take their last breath, with that horrible old lady: Mother Death, Mother Death.’

One of the most famous hauntings in British history took place at a house on South Hill Estate. There, the spirit of Mary Kane was said to have returned from the grave in search of more children.

But that was a long time ago. No further activity has been reported since the 1980s… until now.

David Ritter and his team have been sent to investigate claims that Mary Kane has returned. Is it just a hoax, or does Mother Death once again hunger for the souls of the innocent?

Haunted: Mother Death is Book 5 in the Haunted series.

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Fiction, Thriller, Novels

278 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 9, 2021

About the author

I am an author with a huge love of horror.

Of course, other genres float my boat as well; Sci-Fi, Thrillers, pretty much any Dark Fiction, but Horror is what I call home.

My first novel, Horror in the Woods, was released on in May 2017, and the second, The Demonic, on the the following July hitting multiple best seller lists. Since then, I have authored a number of horror novels that have terrified fans for the past few years.

You can find out more about me on my website, but also, don't forget to claim your FREE ebooks
: http://eepurl.com/dIaS0r

- Lee

Reviews

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was a good creepy one!



Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great installment to the Haunted series!

A small backstory:

David Ritter along with some of his team is sent to check out a possible haunting at South Hill estate as there have been reports of some paranormal activity that is wrapped around the ghost of Mary Kane a/k/a Mother Death who had killed herself after killing her family years ago.

When the team arrive and start to check it out they are wary that this could possibly be not a true haunting as the house that Mary Kane had died in is no longer there as a new house was built on the property.

Though the family that resides there now has been seeing quite a bit of activity which has caused the church and the bishop to send David out to investigate as if the ghost of Mary Kane has returned then she will be roaming the halls of the home looking to killing off whoever is within her domain!

Thoughts:

This is the fifth book in the "haunted" series which all the books are staying steeped in haunting horror! This book is no exception and when the "team" arrives to start their investigation the "activity" starts a slow buildup.

The pace of the book is perfect as it drew me in right away and then it doesn't take long for the paranormal team to get started on this new investigation. The author does not linger around on world building as basically within the first chapter the team is on their way to the haunting.

This is another excellent spooky read by author, Lee Mountford and looking forward to what is coming next as this book ends on a cliffhanger! Giving this book five "Screaming Scary Shiver" stars!

For more thoughts on this review, please see my blog:
https://booknookretreat.blogspot.com/...

[Shainlock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well —this one started out with a guy trying to do right by his family, if a little dishonest by everyone else. But, you know, they say sometimes you get what you wish for; and Oh, I think he did; only not in the exact way he wishes for it at all. Poor guy…

If you talk about a person or thing too much, doesn’t that summon some kind of awareness in the universe? Kind of like a jinx ?!

I’ve always thought so! If so; Dale really put his foot in it. Now he and his family have a few paranormal problems they need a bit of “professional” help with. Queue the crew.. but only some. The Church has Sarah and Father J doing other things. Too bad, too, because Mother Death and her pals complicate the situation for our investigators !

This one was really good and I flew through it. They are all like that if you can get away and just read. ;) I hope we learn more about this one.

New Book: Haunted: Asylum coming out December 10, 2021 !!!

[myreadingescapism · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, this would be my luck... so I'm here for it.

[John Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good supernatural thriller!

A highly enjoyable story, which sees our ghost hunting band up against their most dangerous foe to date. Can they survive and, if so, what will be the consequences? Has the secret cabal within the Catholic Church seriously underestimated the perils being faced by their reluctant operatives? This story began as a run of the mill possible haunting investigation and ended with a life and death struggle of Perron Manor proportions. Everything points to a sequel and, I can't wait.

[Comic Queen 👑 · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride. What an amazing, haunted, horror filled ride. The story telling in this series just gets better and better with each book. Im fully invested in all these characters and their lives (and deaths). Read this one with a light on.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow start, good ending

The first part of this book is a beating. The couple they are sent to help are Damn near insufferable. That being said, the ending was great. There's always one blah book in a series, and this one is it. But hang in there. The ending is worth it.

[Mary-Anne Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap, that was awesome!
Very creepy too, didn't help I was sat in a carpark, in the dark waiting for my son to finish scouts.

Straight onto the next book, I can't wait to find out whats happening to Sarah!

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book Mother of Death was a brilliant read in an amazing series which is so addictive you don't want the book to end or to stop turning the pages and just continue reading.

Can't believe this author though, left a cliffhanger that I actually shouted out loud at the book oh my god you can't just leave it there!!

It was scary, creepy and frightengly shocking in places plus it had the cringe factor too. This author very cleverly knows how to draw the reader in and grips hold of them and doesn't let go until the very last page.

Only downside of the book is that now I have to wait until the next installment.

Your missing a treat if you've not read any of this author's books!!

[angela bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another riveting read

Lee Mountford does it again. Once more I find myself saying, 'just one more chapter', when I'm reading in bed, then having to put my kindle down and avoid looking into the shadows of the night. He provides such brilliantly macabre descriptions of the demons and ghosts held between the pages that it is a complete wonder I don't dream of them as I sleep. Perhaps they remain on the pages until the next time...

[Teena Renken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another to come!?

Very creepy story of David and his team. Once again called in to help a family, this time they are facing Mother Death!

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m almost done with this series - everything is coming together and I CANNOT WAIT to read books 6, 7, & 8! How does it end?! What’s going to happen?!

[Danni The Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 full review to come

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faking a haunting to save you from your money problems only to have it turn real and make you almost lose everything you hold dear.

[Laura Friars · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite one yet!

[Alan Aspinall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good

The haunted series is a great set of books with amazing character s, and a gripping narrative, highly recommend for anyone who likes a good ghost story.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5! This one follows David and his team. David decided to separate from Sarah because the events of the last book were too much for him and he wanted a simpler life with less stakes. So the church sends him and his team to decide if a house a family is claiming is haunted is in fact haunted or not and collect evidence of it is. It's a house where a lady(mother death) killed her own kids and a bunch of other little boys in the name of the devil and it had been haunted previously but an exorcism had been done and that stopped all the activity. Plus that house was knocked down and this new house was partially built on the property of the old house. They get there, do some investigating, and begin to suspect the family is lying. The dad insists on using a spirit board even though David is reluctant because it can let spirits through and be dangerous, but because he thinks the family is lying he decides to do it. When they get ready to do it the dad is adamant that he be a part of it. David let's him because he has a plan to prove the dad is lying. He can tell the dad's fingers are passing hard on the obelisk because the tips are turning white. They ask if there is a ghost in the house. The others can tell the dad is moving it as well and David silently cues them to prevent the obelisk from moving to the yes on the board. The dad tries to pull it harder and David cues the team to let go and with the momentum of the dad's pull the obelisk gets pulled off the table into the dad's lap. The dad still tries to play it off by acting offended that they think he's lying but the mom is fed up and cops to the lie. Turns out they heard the other family who was haunted back in the day were offered a lot of money to do interviews but they didn't take the money. He thought he could cash in because they were having money problems and he was desperate.

So this is like mid book. The team packs up and goes to their hotel for the night and are going to leave the next day. But suddenly that night the family actually starts to be haunted. The dad is super annoying and blames David and Co. for causing the ghost even though David tried his hardest to talk him out of using the spirit board because spirits can come through better once the are summoned. The dad was very self righteous the rest of the book and super annoying. Like I get that scary things are happening to you and your family but stop blaming the people you dragged out to confirm your fake haunting. You brought it on yourself. I kind of felt like on some level he knew it was his fault but it eased his guilt to blame David but I also might just be giving him to much credit. Anne (a member of David's o.g. group who is a pretend psychic that everyone but David knows is fake) gets possessed by a demon that has been working on her/ attached to her since perron manor. The spirit board pulled him through and he pulled mother cane through with him. There was also a scent of lavender that would suddenly come and go along with a feeling of de ja vue for David. One time when it comes his phone dials Sarah on its own but they can't get a good connection. So this was the big twist that got this book an extra .5 stars from me. It was obvious the lavender was a good spirit that wanted to help them and was telling David Sarah was in trouble and David thinks he might know who it is but dismisses the thought. So I was thinking it was either Kate (I think that was her name) his like step sibling or something that disappeared when he was young at perron manor, or Jenn the girl in his group that was murdered by possessed Sarah in book 3. But it gets to the end of the book. The demon has David trapped in the attic with the little boy who lived at the house and unconcious Anne. (The demon possessed Anne and used her to go to the hotel the mom and boy were staying at to be safe from the house, kill the mom, and bring the boy back to the attic.) The demon is telling David he has to let him possess him or he's going to kill the boy and give him to mother cane. David finally gives in and says I consent but the good spirit posseses him before the demon can get him and its Chloe! I was like what?! Looking back on it it probably should have been more obvious but I was thinking someone connected to David. Anyway she exorcises the demon and mother cane and her victims are finally able to go free to heaven or whatever. But Chloe can implant things in David's mind while he is possessed and she tells him he needs to go save Sarah because she is up against too much that Chloe can't even see her. Her final words are, "we're going to lose David. Everything is going to end!" And then she's gone. David gets his phone and dials Sarah and that's the end of the book. Talk about cliff hanger. And now we have to go back in time and get the build up to what's happening with Sarah. It's a little annoying having to go back but I ended up liking what he did with the second book that also had us go back in time so I'm just going to try and enjoy the ride.

Also once all the bad guys were gone the dad was able to get into the attic and hugs his kid then in his mind plans to go kill Anne because she killed his wife while possessed. But when he tells his kid he will be right back the kid won't let him go and tells him to never let go again. This makes the dad realize that the police are coming up the stairs and if he kills her he would go to jail and his kid would have no one so he doesn't kill Anne. I don't know if he will come back up in the next book or not. I figure he could if he is like still mad at Anne and angry the police don't do anything because the church called in a favor so he decides to take justice into his own hands. Or he just won't come up again and will actually be a good father instead.

Also also, no one knows at this point that all the gates to hell are actually open because they think they prevented it in the last book but the demons tricked them making them think they needed the ghost Father's blood but they actually needed Sarah's tainted blood. They got it then the ghost and demon pretended to be exorcised so Sarah and crew wouldn't know the gate was opened.

[Miss A L Whetnall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book couldn't put it down

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected ending

I loved the ending of this book! It definitely wasn't what I expected which was a nice change from the predictably. I like that it was a good twist too. Gave a bit of hope and light to a dark and gloomy vibe the books leave you in while reading. Well done, Mountford.

[Dustin Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

another one!

Great read from Lee again! I hear that his next book comes out before Christmas and I. Super excited to read it! Keep them coming!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series!!

[Nienke ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some mothers protect you… others make you wish you’d never been born 😏💀

Lee Mountford’s Mother Death drags us once again into the shadowed corridors of his Haunted universe.. and this time, the name alone already tells you you’re in for something truly unsettling 👀 The story picks up in the aftermath of Possession, with the team still reeling from everything they’ve faced 👻 Their world feels darker, heavier and the evil that’s been lurking in the background is growing teeth. As the lines between haunting and hell blur, Mother Death makes it clear that some horrors don’t just follow you home… they live there 😱

I really enjoyed how this book deepened the lore without drowning in it, we see the threads from the previous stories start to connect in ways that feel satisfying and creepy all at once 📖 There’s that familiar mix of supernatural investigation, emotional fallout and glimpses of Mountford’s signature nightmare fuel 😬 The setting is atmospheric as ever, claustrophobic and cold, the kind of world that seeps under your skin until you start listening for sounds in your own house at night 👻

But I’ll be honest.. while I liked it, it didn’t quite hit the same “holy hell” energy Possession had. That book was chaos, terror and pure adrenaline from start to finish 😳 Mother Death feels slower, more brooding. The action is toned down and I personally missed that constant pulse of tension that made Possession so unforgettable 🤭 And despite the title, I wish we’d gotten more of Mother Death herself.. she’s such an intriguing, terrifying entity, but her presence here feels more like a whisper than a scream. Still powerful, just… not unleashed to her full potential 😈

That said, Mountford’s writing remains fantastic, vivid, cinematic and disturbingly realistic ✍ He has this way of making horror feel human, like the real terror comes from grief and guilt just as much as from the monsters. His descriptions are razor-sharp, the pacing deliberate, and the tone deliciously dark. Even when a story takes its time, you feel every shadow, every breath, every flicker of something watching from the corner 🖤👻

So while Mother Death might not have delivered the same gut-punch as its predecessor, it’s still a chilling, gripping addition to the series, one that deepens the mythology and reminds you that in Mountford’s world, no soul ever really escapes 💀

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - A strong 4 stars from me, eerie, immersive and haunting in all the right ways, just missing that extra spark of chaos I secretly live for 😏🤫

Because let’s face it… when Lee Mountford whispers “Mother’s home,” you listen 👀💀

[Paris Purnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Format: Ebook via Kindle
Rating: 5 STARS


This story was different but added to the series in an unique way. I feel like this story served as a turning point for David and the rest of his team. They were really trying to figure out if they wanted to continue on within in this work of investigating the paranormal for the church. One thing that I observed while reading this volume, was that more emphasis was placed on Ann’s psyche and how she was dealing with the devastation and trauma of the job. Sure, she liked the money, but mentally it was eating at her day in and day out, and David as their leader, could tell this job was wearing her thin.
As far as the family they were helping, it was a very twisted and sad story. This family has a son, mother and father, but the new house that they have moved into used to be the place where Mother Death lived and murdered young boys of the neighborhood, years before. So things begin happening, like the attic hatch kept coming down. At first the father was staging the scene which David saw right through immediately. Then things begin taking a turn for the worst. And Ann plays into this because she gets possessed by Mother Death.
Now what I liked about this story was the descriptive way Mountford explained how each of the team was feeling and how all the paranormal occurrences were affecting them and the family. I felt so bad for Ann, and for the family, whom lost the mother due to Ann killing her. The boy did survive, thanks to David. I forgot their names, I’m sorry lol)
At the end though, when Chloe came to David, and told him that her sister needed his help, I loved that. For me, it brought awareness that while this may be a work of fiction, paranormal events do occur to people in the real world. Chloe, speaking to David, even though she’s passed away, to help her sister is similar to that feeling I’ve heard about so much and even felt myself. Some unknown force tells u not to go into a room, and u listen it. Because maybe that’s your family (that’s passes) protecting you from harm. At least that’s how I looked at it. This was a great read overall, and I give it a 10/10! The only part that saddened me was the fact that Mother Death targeted young boys, because I got a son, so it scared me immensely.

[Trisha Arias · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars

Just finished the 5th book in this series and it was really good! This author definitely knows how to build a story! This isn't a standalone book and needs to be read as a series but you honestly won't regret diving into it.

Mother Death reminded me of La Llorna because it's about a woman how went crazy and killed her husband and children. Then she continued to do so even after her death. She didn't drown them like la llorna but would strangle them. Literally... just look at the book cover and it's scary as hell!

The book centers on a family who is living on the land that Mother Death once lived on centuries ago. It's not the same house, but on the same land! Which is so scary to think of that even though the original house was demolished the ghosts and demons can still linger on the land itself and attach to things.

This book was a quick one of 248 pages and definitely leaves you with a cliffhanger but awesome enough the next book in the series came out yesterday call Asylum.

Talk about perfect timing on my end. Overall, this series has been so interesting and I can't wait to read the next one.

Posted this on my personal page but wanted to add it here too !

[Bookish Satty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this installment even though there is no scene involving Sarah here apart from a short phonecall. I think David's character got the depth and maturity that was lacking in him previously which in turn made me root for him and connect with him at a deeper level.

Even though the scenes involving ghosts and demons were nothing unique I still felt the fear and terror David and his team went through mainly due to the way the prose was written. For around 30% of the book nothing supernatural happens but we get a glimpse into the psyche of David and his crew after the incident at Perron Manor and how they're suffering from ptsd and coping with it without any outside help. It cemented my connection to them which in turn emotionally impacted me more when they went through the ordeal in this book.
Very excited about reading the next installment of this series. Definitely recommend.

[Martine Carlsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I understood that the story would take place in a modern red brick house it was a big let down for me as I find such houses ugly, cold and boring. But I kept on reading as I had already read all 4 books in the Haunted series and I trust Mountford to write a solid horror story.
So I was delighted when it turned out that Mother death was meant to be a "first glance" deception with what appeared like a pathetic protagonist... It was only a lure to send David and his team into a new frightening story of ghosts and possession.
The characters likeability is still intact. It was nice to spend more time with David for once, even if his team is still a bit lingering in his shadow.
I can't put 5 stars as it doesn't reach the level of the amazing Perron Manor, but I see Mountford as a major horror writer and I can't wait to read book 6!

[UmBlogueSobreLivros · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Mother Death we are with David and the rest of the team on the South Hill Estate.

They are called in after a family who had recently moved into a mansion reported to the local priest that they were experiencing strange occurrences. The story seemed reasonably believable, not least because the house has a past involving a woman, Mary Kane, who earned the nickname Mother Death after killing several children, including her own, and her husband.

Not wanting to spoil the tense moments, I'll just say that things aren't always what they seem, but that the punishment for this can be to make them come true.

Once again, Lee Mountford has not disappointed. The pace of the story is incredible, and the way events unfold makes it virtually impossible to put the book down.

[Augustin Gatman · Rating 5 out of 5]

helluva ride.
While everything fits in with the rest of the series, there’s more questions than answers, which makes the storyline unbelievably intriguing and captivating. And when you feel that the puzzle starts to come together, the twists and turns only make the story broaden. It seems that rather closing to an end, the story just spans dimensions. The intertwining relations of the characters are absurdly good and the entities that reside beyond living are just as good at doing what they are supposed to.
The attention to details, the descriptions of everything given by the author are top notch.
While I was never a vivid reader, in these series I feel like I am in the middle of it all.

[Doreen Fernandes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunted House Wraith

David and his team are sent on a mission to a supposedly haunted house. The owner claims that Mother Death is haunting the house. David and his team discover it's a scam after conducting a seance. However, as a consequence the house is infested and horrific happenings drive everyone berserk. Will David and his team be able to save the family and more importantly will they be able to save themselves? The horror maestro, Lee Mountford has done it again! He has written another chilling book which will haunt your dreams. His books are difficult to put down. Recommended for all who relish the horror genre.

[Johann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet Another Great Tale

David used to love hunting ghosts and the historical aspects to the hunt. But not anymore. The Church has now sent him and his team to check out a new haunting to make sure it's legit. This house has a history that once held a child killer. But the confusing part is that the initial haunting back in the 70's was exorcised. So why is there a haunting now after more then thirty years later? Will David be able to figure this out or is there something even more sinister here then he believes?

Great series, highly recommend you read in order for the back stories that led to this one.