smilesgiggle's review against another edition
3.0
Rachel Drake's husband is brutally murdered. She escapes for her life - to Toronto. A new name. Secure building - very elite and expensive, with a live-in concierge.
For two years, Rachel hides - working from her home, volunteering for a crisis hotline. A caller says her real name. Desperate to flee from her husband's murderer, Rachel races to her car. Only to be killed in the elevator.
Now her world is the elevator and almost two hundred feet beyond. Rachel begins to learn about her neighbors - which one murdered her?
She begins to learn about her neighbors. The Man in the Tweed Suite. The pregnant abused wife. The converge. She isn't the only spirit trapped in the building.
Definitely creepy. Lovely voyeuristic POV.
For two years, Rachel hides - working from her home, volunteering for a crisis hotline. A caller says her real name. Desperate to flee from her husband's murderer, Rachel races to her car. Only to be killed in the elevator.
Now her world is the elevator and almost two hundred feet beyond. Rachel begins to learn about her neighbors - which one murdered her?
She begins to learn about her neighbors. The Man in the Tweed Suite. The pregnant abused wife. The converge. She isn't the only spirit trapped in the building.
Definitely creepy. Lovely voyeuristic POV.
cyireadbooks's review against another edition
5.0
“I know where you live…Kae. I’m coming for you.”
Rachael Drake (fka Kae) is an agoraphobe. She’s been that way since her husband Jay was murdered nine months before. Rachael works from home, manning a crisis hotline, counseling callers seeking help and advice. Just after finishing a session Rachael takes the next caller an is immediately thrust into a state of panic when her life is threatened.
Unable to stem her overwhelming fear, Rachael makes a rash decision to leave the confines of her condo. Packed and ready, Rachael enters her elevator and is suddenly overcome by someone. Rachael is no match and is killed in the elevator by a knife that slits her throat from ear to ear. After such a brutal attack, Rachael is shocked to see her own body lying in a pool of blood on the elevator floor. How can that be? Yet, there is her body — lifeless and bloody.
Confused and filled with disbelief, Rachael watches as officials cordon off the crime scene and transport her lifeless body to the morgue. As Rachael attempts to follow the crime scene investigators, she is met with fierce resistance from an invisible barrier that keeps her spirit within the confines of the elevator and neighboring apartments. What strangeness is this, Rachael wonders? Who is her killer, and when will she be able to move on?
The Ghosts of Thorwald Place is author Helen Power’s debut novel, and what a novel it is. Simply stated, the novel is absolutely absorbing.
The characters are varied and many. They are developed enough to get and keep your attention. Of particular interest were the spiritual characters that added to the paranormal landscape.
The plot is riveting and complex with twists and turns to keep you engaged. Multiple storylines are the mainstay that keeps the narrative moving forward until they converge into an epic finale.
The Ghosts of Thorwald Place is a novel not to be missed. It should be on every thriller/paranormal fan’s list. Five outstanding stars.
I received a digital copy of the book from Blackthorne Book Tours. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Rachael Drake (fka Kae) is an agoraphobe. She’s been that way since her husband Jay was murdered nine months before. Rachael works from home, manning a crisis hotline, counseling callers seeking help and advice. Just after finishing a session Rachael takes the next caller an is immediately thrust into a state of panic when her life is threatened.
Unable to stem her overwhelming fear, Rachael makes a rash decision to leave the confines of her condo. Packed and ready, Rachael enters her elevator and is suddenly overcome by someone. Rachael is no match and is killed in the elevator by a knife that slits her throat from ear to ear. After such a brutal attack, Rachael is shocked to see her own body lying in a pool of blood on the elevator floor. How can that be? Yet, there is her body — lifeless and bloody.
Confused and filled with disbelief, Rachael watches as officials cordon off the crime scene and transport her lifeless body to the morgue. As Rachael attempts to follow the crime scene investigators, she is met with fierce resistance from an invisible barrier that keeps her spirit within the confines of the elevator and neighboring apartments. What strangeness is this, Rachael wonders? Who is her killer, and when will she be able to move on?
The Ghosts of Thorwald Place is author Helen Power’s debut novel, and what a novel it is. Simply stated, the novel is absolutely absorbing.
The characters are varied and many. They are developed enough to get and keep your attention. Of particular interest were the spiritual characters that added to the paranormal landscape.
The plot is riveting and complex with twists and turns to keep you engaged. Multiple storylines are the mainstay that keeps the narrative moving forward until they converge into an epic finale.
The Ghosts of Thorwald Place is a novel not to be missed. It should be on every thriller/paranormal fan’s list. Five outstanding stars.
I received a digital copy of the book from Blackthorne Book Tours. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
all_books_great_and_small's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kmbooky's review against another edition
5.0
Holy crap this book is insane. In the first 10 minutes of the book, there is a murder. I mean holy crap. The book is so good. I love the concept of the ghosts. I love how we got to learn so much about the other people who lived in the building. This book really has some crazy twists and turns and the ending. Oh my gosh, I didn't see that coming at all. I just wow. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to find a thrilling, mysterious, crazy story. It has ghosts, murder, secrets, stalkers. It's literally insane. It does have some triggers, obviously murder but also domestic abuse is touched on, and so is suicide.
sarahhrose's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.25
just terrible writing
pages_and_ash's review against another edition
5.0
Holy cow we have been sleeping on this book. This book is beautiful and I’m sad I didn’t pick it up sooner. It’s been such a long time since I was this obsessed with a book. It has such a unique concept. I was hooked from the start and really got invested in the lives of the apartment dwellers. Easily a five star read.
A woman running away from her past life gets murdered in the elevator of a “safe” apartment complex. Her ghost is tied to the elevator, traveling up and down as residents use it. She quickly learns that most of the residents harbor secrets— some of them deadly. Will she be able to find her murderer, and protect her friends from the other ghosts in the building?
Tw: domestic abuse, suicide, murder
A woman running away from her past life gets murdered in the elevator of a “safe” apartment complex. Her ghost is tied to the elevator, traveling up and down as residents use it. She quickly learns that most of the residents harbor secrets— some of them deadly. Will she be able to find her murderer, and protect her friends from the other ghosts in the building?
Tw: domestic abuse, suicide, murder
ohallows's review against another edition
2.5
no offense to kae but she was so dumb I couldn't even root for her
emmaeden93's review against another edition
3.0
I thoroughly enjoyed the concept of this book, it was a very unique perspective and not one we normally see. The characters are well written, and we see a quite diverse range of lifestyles throughout the book. The buildup of the plot was great, there were scenes that definitely pulled on the heartstrings, scenes that make you angry and scenes that are quite spooky too.
Unfortunately for me, the ending was a bit of a let down after such a fantastic buildup. I agree with others who said that it kind of just closed off, all the problems sort of got solved within a few chapters and the end felt a bit rushed and not genuine. That’s not to say it was a bad book, it just left it being a 3 star rather than 4!
I will add, please check triggers for this book as there are a few!
Unfortunately for me, the ending was a bit of a let down after such a fantastic buildup. I agree with others who said that it kind of just closed off, all the problems sort of got solved within a few chapters and the end felt a bit rushed and not genuine. That’s not to say it was a bad book, it just left it being a 3 star rather than 4!
I will add, please check triggers for this book as there are a few!
wellreadintrovert's review against another edition
4.0
After a call that sends Rachel running from her past, she finds herself the victim of a brutal murder in the elevator of her upmarket apartment building. The story doesn't end there though. She wakes, tethered to the place of her death. Rachel spends her time watching her neighbors, unravelling the secrets of their lives and avoiding other entities that stalk the building too. She knows one thing, nothing is ever as it seems - a lot happens behind closed doors.
I loved The Ghosts of Thorwald Place, it was unique for me to read from the point of view of the actual murder victim. The added past journal entries gave a great backstory and helped explain why our MC was the way she way before she passed. The mass of characters were very easy to follow, each adding their own element to the ever building story. The narrator was wonderful vocalising everyone in a way that I was able to tell people apart and gave everything their own personalities. I read as a mixture of audio and physical copy, and highly recommend the audiobook version purely for the added spook the narrator Rachel Fulginiti has contributed. The only real let down for me was the pacing did slow down in some parts, often almost to a halt, but it wasn't enough to make the read unenjoyable at any time.
This one is for anyone who loves a good suspenseful thriller with touches of light paranormal horror.
I loved The Ghosts of Thorwald Place, it was unique for me to read from the point of view of the actual murder victim. The added past journal entries gave a great backstory and helped explain why our MC was the way she way before she passed. The mass of characters were very easy to follow, each adding their own element to the ever building story. The narrator was wonderful vocalising everyone in a way that I was able to tell people apart and gave everything their own personalities. I read as a mixture of audio and physical copy, and highly recommend the audiobook version purely for the added spook the narrator Rachel Fulginiti has contributed. The only real let down for me was the pacing did slow down in some parts, often almost to a halt, but it wasn't enough to make the read unenjoyable at any time.
This one is for anyone who loves a good suspenseful thriller with touches of light paranormal horror.