What a great way to kick off a new series. Mystery meets haunted house in this unique paranormal cross-genre book. I love how the mystery was woven in with strange occurrences and a reality show that aims to (hopefully) uncover the solution to the mystery. There were some nice twists, just when I thought I knew where the story was going, Whitaker changed direction. The characters were diverse and interesting, and each brought their own flavoring to the book. Highly recommend for mystery lovers looking for a few chills, and all horror lovers!

For over half of the book there was very little action, not what I would expect for a story that is set in a haunted house.

There were a few misogynistic moments throughout the book that reminded me that this book is a little older, definitely before the Me Too movement. I can overlook it as there are so many older books that were written in times were certain ideas or topics were acceptable or at at least more the norm in that space and time.

Beyond that, the story was interesting. It just wasn't what I expected for a stay in a haunted house type story. Character driven fans will enjoy this one.

If you’re looking for a haunted house story that’s not scary then pick this. Was not a fan and won’t read the next book in the series. The main character was very flat and unlikable.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc I received in exchange for my honest review.

I am glad I read this book because it not only involved a haunted house but also it spooked me so much.... I have to read more books in this series for sure!

You can find this review and all of my others over at www.readbookrepeat.wordpress.com

The Drake Mansion has been shrouded in mystery for the past eighty years. After the family returned one night from a magic show, neither the Drake family nor the magician Malvern Kamrar were ever seen again. After an investigation was opened, and people died in the mansion, the investigation was abandoned and the mansion sealed up. Now, the mansion is being opened again, twenty years before it was supposed to be. A one night only, televised event where five contestants - A psychic, a ghost hunter, an actress, a local history buff, and a skeptic - are to stay in the mansion for twelve hours. Those still standing inside once sunrise hits will win a share of a million dollars. Told in alternating chapters of the present in the mansion, and the past of Vinton Drake, the patriarch of the Drake family, the mystery starts to unravel. Will the contestants be able to spend the whole night in Drake Mansion? And will they be able to uncover the truth that was sealed up eighty years ago?

This was actually a really refreshing haunted house ghost story. I'm an absolute sucker for a good haunting story and this one actually ended up pleasantly surprising me. At first, I wasn't sure if I would like it, the opening was a little bit jarring as we were introduced to the players in the story, and at first, I thought that the man Walter, whom we first meet was the protagonist and skeptic detective of this series, I was wrong. The skeptic was the young man that was watching film of the disappeared magician's shows. So bear with the jarring opening (it was a little jarring and stilted for me, and I'm not quite sure why to be honest) because trust me, it really does get better.

I've always had a bit of a soft spot for stories which occur over a period of one night. Take for example, House on Haunted Hill (the newest rendition with Geoffrey Rush), Saw II, and American Graffiti, so this one really appealed to me straight off the bat because of this. The main part of the story is set across twelve hours, and besides delving into the past as two characters read Vinton's journal, it all happens in the one night. I'm not sure why I've always loved stories that are told in this way, I'm not sure if it's because the sense of urgency is heightened due to the short time frame, or what it is. But it drew me in as soon as I read that, plus it's a haunted house/ghost story and I just absolutely adore them.

What I particularly loved about this one was Harlan Holt - the skeptic. He brought such a refreshing angle to the 'airy fairy' ways of the paranormal and supernatural part of life. Don't get me wrong, I am a believer, I believe that there are ghosts around and all that jazz, I'm spiritual I guess you could say, but even I find it hard to believe parts of this world. There are so many charlatans and airy fairies that either they honestly believe some of the tripe that comes out of their mouths, or they are just out to make a quick buck off an unsuspecting individual who is simply looking for guidance or closure. So i found Harlan's character to be a breath of fresh bloody air. The other characters were great support characters, and I'm loving that Genevieve is appearing to be a recurring character in the series (I already have the ARC for book two and she is mentioned in the synopsis) I found that Vieve and Harlan were a great pair and work exceptionally well together.

The story itself was SO well written, thought out and executed. I actually had NO freaking idea what was going to happen. I had my thoughts and theories, but to be honest, I was just along for the crazy arse ride that was this book and I am so here for it. The mystery was absolutely riveting, the craziness that is uncovered about the lengths the Vinton went to get closure and answers from the magic show he attended was spine tingling and the revelation was just mind blowing for me. It honestly had me at the end of my seat and completely glued to the page. I don't want to go into too much detail because I enjoyed finding everything out as we went along, rather than going into the story with any more information than what the synopsis gives.

All I can tell you is, I am absolutely looking forward to reading the second book and seeing what new adventures and trouble Harlan and Genevieve can get themselves into!! If you love a good haunted house/ghost story with a wonderful mystery thrown in, definitely give this one a go, it won't disappoint.

I enjoyed the first story in the Skeptic Detective series. I've never read a book by this author before this one. The story, setting, and characters were all interesting. I like how the author put his own spin on a story about a haunted house. Since reading this book I am more likely to read other books by the author. I also would like to read future books in this series.

Not Your Typical Haunted House Story!

Channing Whitaker has taken a different approach to a story about a supposedly haunted house and it worked!

Five reknown individuals in their own field of work have been selected to be contestants in a new reality program where they will win a million dollars among themselves if they can survive the entire night by staying inside the infamous Drake Mansion from dusk until dawn. The mansion has been sealed up for over 80 years due to many inexplicable accidents and deaths that had remained unsolved. The Vinton Drake family of five had mysteriously vanished as well as the famous magician Malvern Kamrar who was last seen at the Drake home on the the night of all the disappearances. Police and investigators had searched every inch of the property for evidence and clues but the mystery remained unsolved. Over the years there have been claims of figures being seen in the attic window around sunrise and many have heard a deep growl or rumbling sound emanating from the old home. The reality program as well as the contestants are hoping to uncover some or all of the mysteries that have lead to the Drake Mansion being considered a haunted house. Will there be any answers to some of the queries over the years? Is the Drake home haunted? Why was the famous magician of that time at the Drake home? How did 6 people disappear without a trace and not have left any clue to their whereabouts or their demise?






Hopefully, many clues will be uncovered with some modern technology and some money seeking contestants. Unfortunately, for many though, this journey may not have a happy ending since this is not your average haunted house!

This was a terrific story and a lot of fun. There was a great mystery involved and some fun ghosthunting. The interaction among all the characters is very well-done with many snide and cryptic remarks and a a few arguments and some inappropriate behavior which really enhanced the story. If any reader enjoys ghost hunting shows or is interested in haunted houses, please, don't hesitate to give this book a try. i enjoyed this book immensely and loved the twists Mr. Whitaker inserted within this story.

I want to thank the publisher Booksgosocial and Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this well-written story!

I highly recommend this book and given a rating of 4 Haunting **** Stars!!





















































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If you were offered money to stay in a haunted mansion overnight, would you do it?

Step into Drake Mansion where a group of people are playing to win a chance at a million dollars - which will be split if they all stay in the house, or one winner taking the entire thing as the night goes on. As they work through trying to figure out the secrets that the house holds, there is more at play than just a couple of ghosts, and what they uncover, with the help of an old journal goes farther than just sitting around waiting...

Oh my, I was not sure as I started the book whether I was going to like it or not, but when it started to pick up, man did it pick up! This went from a 3 star to a 5 star read really fast! I was blown away with how the story managed to turn and reveal much more than I anticipated! Great for a rainy weekend read!

A nice new take on the "ghost story" genre. Well built characters which are easily identified with. Well written and a must read for lovers of spooky tales and skeptics like myself. Really great fiction.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

a million dollar prize for staying one night in a haunted mansion

out of the ones chosen who will remain and claim the prize

a haunting story but was bogged down with scientific facts i just wanted a proper ghost story...but the interaction with the characters was interesting if not predicable...

though the ending was good

This was an enjoyable haunted house story. The stereotypical ghost hunting took a turn and was much more interesting than expected. And it was good that the story jumped between present and past to slowly reveal what may have happened all those years ago.

One Night in Drake Mansion by Channing Whitaker. Skeptic Detective Book 1. BooksGoSocial, 2018.
A live streamed show where characters, each with some kind of ghost-related experience, compete for a million dollars by staying in a haunted house overnight. With a parallel story line about the original owners and why the house was haunted, the book has potential to be both Intriguing and promising .

Unfortunately, it did not do anything for me. I found the writing choppy, the characters lacklustre and failed to engage. I had a tough time finishing.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of One Night in Drake Mansion for free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an amazing read! 5 stars
Five people enter the Drake Mansion to stay the night in a bid to win a share of a million dollars. Residents of the small town are convinced the mansion is haunted and no one knows what happened to its former residents, who disappeared without a trace eighty years ago.

Whitaker knows how to create a spooky atmosphere. I was on edge, and felt as if I was also in the house alongside the characters. Whitaker was able to vividly describe the layout of the house and that was something I really appreciated as it allowed me to enjoy the read so much more!

The story was revealed at a steady pace, and I never say any of the twists and turns coming which I find is a rarity more and more these days.

Definitely would recommend and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

First I want to thank Netgalley, the publisher and Channing Whitaker for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and are completely unbiased.

I absolutely love this book - the setting, the characters, the books premise and just everything about it. It was actually eerie and I’m not one to be freaked out by reading; that being said I’ve read a lot of fantastic books, just not a ghost story that creeped me out. This did the trick and loved every minute of it.

5 big shinny stars from this reviewer!! Excellent

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a possible review.

This book is the first in the Skeptic Detective series. It can be read as a standalone without any issues.

The basic story line is familiar. A skeptic, an intuitive, a ghost hunter, and actress, and a local expert agree to stay overnight in a haunted house in an effort to win a million dollars. The whole thing is being televised. The story of the owner of the house is told through journal entries found after they enter the house. It was an interesting approach and becomes more important as the book goes along. In the beginning of the book, I felt like the journal entries were less interesting than the action happening with those in the house. It picks up later in the book.

If you like watching shows like Ghost Hunters, you will appreciate this book. They use many of the popular ghost hunting techniques to investigate the house. The skeptic provides a counterbalance to the true believers. If you are a skeptic, this book will appeal for sure. It didn't end the way I expected. I really appreciated that.

If you were offered money to stay in a haunted mansion overnight, would you do it?

Step into Drake Mansion where a group of people are playing to win a chance at a million dollars - which will be split if they all stay in the house, or one winner taking the entire thing as the night goes on. As they work through trying to figure out the secrets that the house holds, there is more at play than just a couple of ghosts, and what they uncover, with the help of an old journal goes farther than just sitting around waiting...

Oh my, I was not sure as I started the book whether I was going to like it or not, but when it started to pick up, man did it pick up! This went from a 3 star to a 5 star read really fast! I was blown away with how the story managed to turn and reveal much more than I anticipated! Great for a rainy weekend read!

This was a really creepy read. Though I couldn't connect with any of the characters, I did find the writting good and the story line easy to follow.

The story it was interesting and it is well written, but I couldn't connect to any of the characters.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

Not normally my type of fare. But I do like reality tv shows and that was the appeal, though I detest the "paranormal activity" type of movies...go figure. I was immediately sucked up into this story. Thoroughly enjoyed every creepy, twisty page. If this is your type of thing, you will love it.

One day the entire Drake family and the magician with whose show they attended disappeared into the pages of history. Then several workmen are killed at the site of their home.
Now eighty years later the house has been opened again to a reality program who is offering five contestants a share of one million dollars if they manage to spend one night in the mansion. They contestants are a melange of odd-types, but are willing to give it a go. They are accompanied by a horde of camera and sound people into the old house.
Things begin to go wrong from the very start of the contestants' quest.
This is the unusual story of an obsessed man, who is perhaps more than a little off kilter. It begins with our intrepid hodge podge of people who want to get rich or just get camera time for camera time's sake. The cast of characters is pretty formulaic and their behavior is predictable to a fault. But the twist in this story is when Drake's journal is found. As Harlan and Vieve read it, it reveals a whole new universe of wacky and sinister behavior. Thus the story weaves back and forth between the present and eighty years in the past.
Such an intriguing premise! It’s definitely a ride of a book you don’t want to put down.