Haunting Adeline (Cat & Mouse Duet #1) by H.D. Carlton

ABOUT THE BOOK

For Adeline Reilly, moving back to Seattle was supposed to be the perfect fresh start. With her flourishing career as an author and the inheritance of her late grandmother’s gothic mansion, there is nothing to stand in her way.

But Adeline isn’t alone in Parson’s Manor.

It isn’t the angry souls haunting the hallways of her childhood home that Adeline fears–it’s the mysterious break-ins, roses appearing, and threatening messages that somehow sound more like eerie promises.

Adeline has a stalker.

Yet, she quickly discovers she’s not the first person in her family to fall victim to a shadow in pursuit.

Left behind are her great-grandmother’s haunting journals detailing the story of her own phantom, and subsequently, her brutal murder.

Parson’s Manor now holds more than just Adeline’s memories—it houses a grim future that could lead to history repeating itself.

If she doesn’t fall in love with her stalker first.

MY REVIEW

“Let me know which stars you prefer. The ones above you, or the ones I make you see.”

If you’re in the mood for a dark “romantic” mystery that spirals into chilling depths, then H.D. Carlton has just what you need. I have finally plunged headfirst into this haunting and evocative gem of a book and came out wondering what I just read. 

Adeline “Addie” Reilly discovers she’s the heir to her grandmother’s haunted gothic mansion, completely unaware of the chaos that awaits. An unsolved murder is lurking in the shadows and a relentless stalker is targeting Addie for his twisted pleasure. 

Addie’s character is refreshingly quirky adding some humor to a serious story. She dances dangerously close to the edge with her obsession for horror and a reckless streak a mile long until she confronts the very person who could snuff out her life in an instant. Yet, there’s an odd comfort in knowing he won’t, at least, not yet. Yikes! And while the mystery surrounding her grandmother hovers in the background, it serves as a brief intermission from the nail-biting tension of the main plot.

Addie’s stalker is not just any ordinary anti hero; he’s on a mission. Two missions, actually. Not only is he out to capture and eliminate human traffickers (kudos to that), but he’s also hell-bent on convincing Addie that she is meant to be his, forever. Are his methods questionable and unconventional? You bet. They’re downright chilling and might just make you cringe. Yet, it’s almost like watching a train wreck where you can’t help but be mesmerized and horrified at the same time.

I understand why this book has garnered a mix of reviews on social media. It’s undeniably macabre and provides the kind of cray cray  perspective you’d expect from a predator who’s obsessed with his prey.  Is it romantic? Maybe not in a sane way. Is it a bit psychotic? Absolutely! The fear keeps you glued to the pages, despite the discomfort that creeps in.

Having read Carlton’s work before, I can attest to her talent for crafting dark, captivating tales. Her writing style is exhilarating, drawing you into her world where characters are complex and often teeter on the brink of madness and desperation. Also, just a heads up to be prepared for trigger warnings and a cliffhanger that will leave you gasping for more.

Cat and Mouse Series

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

H. D. Carlton is a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author. She lives in Oregon with her husband, two dogs, a cat, and Bigfoot. When she’s not bathing in the tears of her readers, she’s watching paranormal shows and wishing she were a mermaid. Her favorite characters are of the morally gray variety, and she believes that everyone should check their sanity at the door before diving into her stories.

Follow H. D. on her website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest.