This is my first read from this author and probably my last. I've had other books of his in my tbr lists but honestly the writing style turns me off of his other books so much. I don't know if he's actually just really bad at horror or if he's bad at all writing, but this doesn't make me very optimistic. I hated how everything was over explained like I'm stupid, and the way that William and Andrews relationship was mainly based in bickering until they just decided randomly that they wanted to flirt. I wasn't fond of anything about this book except for the diary entries from the past about Robert and Teddy. The horror element was even lacking in the way that I could tell the characters were scared but it lacked in ability to scare me, and the disconnect, especially as a book marketed as horror, was a bit too much for me to overlook. One more thing that doesn't change my rating whatsoever, I thought it very telling that there was a publisher note in this ARC asking readers to not rate badly based on grammar and spelling errors and oh boy there were a lot in this book. Like I expected some as I do all ARCs and I never let it affect my rating, as I am this book, but the fact the publisher went out of the way to ask readers to not let it affect their rating as if they knew it was going to be riddled with errors doesn't bode well for the author. I understand that not everyone is the best at writing, but this is not this authors first book, he's not someone learning English nor in grade school learning how to write. There should not be enough errors in a book for a publisher to even think about putting in a warning. Weird stuff.

The Haunting of William Thorn is gothic, gay, and gloriously dramatic. It gives off major dark academia meets haunted manor romance energy, with ghosts, family secrets, and a slow-burn m/m love story that feels both tender and cursed. Ben Alderson really nails the balance between creepy vibes and emotional vulnerability.

The atmosphere is everything—foggy estates, locked doors, and whispers in the night. But under the haunting and mystery, there’s a lot of heart: grief, identity, longing, and finally, hope. If you’re into tragic backstories, queer tension, and ghosts that are more than just scary, this one’s a win.

The Haunting of William Thorn is one of those stories that doesn’t just give you chills—it lingers. Like an ancient mist seeping through the cracks of memory, Ben Alderson’s novel envelops us in a throbbing gothic atmosphere where grief and desire, haunting and tenderness coexist. With his signature queer sensibility, Alderson delivers a novel that is both dark and deeply human—an invitation to confront the ghosts of the past, whether literal or emotional. The premise, blending elements of How to Sell a Haunted House and The Haunting of Hill House, introduces us to William, a man devastated by the betrayal of his boyfriend Archie—and even more so by Archie’s sudden death shortly afterward.

This dark, visceral starting point is not just a narrative device but the emotional foundation of the entire story. When William unexpectedly inherits a decaying mansion in a seemingly time-frozen English village, Alderson builds a breathtaking gothic setting, complete with secret passages, nighttime whispers, and a spiritual presence that doesn’t merely want to haunt—it wants to be heard. The novel’s greatest strength lies in its dual timeline structure. As we follow William in the present, grappling with grief, guilt, and mounting tension with the villagers of Stonewall, we’re also taken back to the 1920s to witness a moving, forbidden love story between two men. This story not only reveals the origin of the haunting, but also mirrors William’s own healing process.

Alderson crafts emotionally complex characters: William is a flawed, bitter, yet incredibly human protagonist. Edward, the mysterious local ally, holds secrets that challenge not only village norms but perhaps time itself. And the spirit that haunts the mansion is as tragic as it is menacing, prompting readers to ask: what is a ghost, if not a pain that refuses to be forgotten? With gripping prose and short chapters that alternate between past and present, the author sustains a constant tension worthy of the finest gothic novels. But there is also beauty in the architecture of the language, in flickers of hope, and above all, in the idea that love—even when repressed—can echo across generations.

The Haunting of William Thorn is more than a ghost story—it’s a tender exploration of loss, reconciliation, and the enduring power of queer love to transcend even death. For fans of haunted houses, buried secrets, and emotionally honest representation, this is a must-read.

3.5 stars

I couldn't really get into the book for a long while. I was really invested in the past timeline, with the journal entries from Robert Jones and the mystery surrounding it. At first, it seems really straightforward, but details are revealed which makes you think, oh, this shit actually goes deeper than that. I wished you could've had more journal entries ngl.

Sadly I had a hard time with the current day plot. It really lulled and it was like we were never going forward, but instead were stuck at the same point for a while. Plus I didn't really care for the romance between William and Edward. Also, William kept going back and forth between saying he didn't believe in ghosts and believing in them, it was kinda annoying.

But the ENDING. The PLOT TWIST. It really got me, and I got so emotional, I was literally crying at the end there. I don't know how that happened (since, you know, I wasn't that into the current day plotline), but I'm glad I ended this book on such a high note.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Haunting of William Thorn is a split-timeline gothic horror about the occupants of Hanbury Manor. Our main timeline is set in the present and follows William Thorn as he moves into Hanbury. He inherited the manor after the death of his long-term partner, and he's eager to get out of the city and start his life over. He soon meets Edward, who introduces himself as the landscaper for the manor's sprawling grounds.

The secondary timeline is set in 1939. Much of this storyline is told through the journal entries of Robert Thomas, who was deeply in love with a young man named Teddy. Robert and Teddy's story is ultimately tragic, but these chapters are so beautiful. Robert is such a sweet young man trapped in an era where it was a danger to be himself. His journal entries are so tender, and seep with the naive innocence and hope of first love. We know how his story ends from the Prologue, and that adds a layer of heartbreak over the entire story. These chapters, and Robert and Teddy's story, were my favorite parts of the book.

The horror elements are exactly what I want from a ghost story, with an eerie gothic atmosphere and some seriously creepy scenes. This is being pitched as similar to The Haunting of Hill House, and I think Mike Flanagan's television adaptation is a very accurate comparison.

I've read a couple of books by Ben Alderson, and this is, hands down, my favorite book of his. It isn't perfect; there are some parts, especially in the modern-day chapters, that get repetitive and are over-explained. William is also frustratingly slow at picking up on clues at times. Still, the good far outweighs the bad, and the last few chapters, in particular, are excellent.

I recommend The Haunting of William Thorn most to queer romance and gothic horror fans, but please be sure to read the content warnings; this deals with subjects that could be very upsetting for some people!

This book is dark, scary, achingly romantic, surprising, and gut-wrenching. I especially loved the historical timeline with Robert and Teddy, but the present-day timeline has an intriguing mystery and some great horror scenes. Both timelines have some big, emotional moments, so be sure to have tissues nearby when you read this.



My Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 (4/5 stars).
Pages: 400 (Kindle Edition)
Tropes/Tags: Gothic, Achillean, Queer, Paranormal, Horror
Contains or Mentions Depictions Of: Suicide, Suicidal Ideation, Suicide Attempt, Death, Grief, Homophobia, and Blood. Please note that the suicide depiction is fairly graphic and includes the method.

“Grief was like that. Ever present, always lurking, looking for moments to strike when the mind was at its weakest.”

When I first saw this, I was so excited and got even more excited when I got the e-arc. After all the good reviews, I had really high expectations, but also because I usually like Ben's books, but this was a big letdown for me. I couldn't get into the Story and at first and i thought it was because maybe I wasn't in the right mood and that's why I was putting it on hold for some time, but no matter how many times I tried to keep reading, I couldn't get into the story. I forced myself to read at least half the book because some books take longer to get good, but I'm bored to death and to be honest, I'm not a fan of the characters and I don't feel anything between them.

- still a huge thank you to the publisher for giving me the e-arc. -


started: 22.07.25
stopped: 04.08.25

I needed a moment before writing this review because I was genuinely choking back tears. This is easily one of my top reads of the year.

First off, I have to say I absolutely loved Edward and William and all their messy, complicated selves. They’re so broken and beautiful, and I really connected with both of them. Their pain felt real, and the way they tried to navigate it (together and apart, god, I LOVED the moments where navigating through everything together) just hit me right in the chest.

The story was interesting enough in the beginning (the first 20% or so was a bit slow, but after that, I was hooked and I finished the book in one sitting). I couldn’t stop reading. I was scared, I was intrigued, and I was swooning over them.

I will say, I kept expecting William to go back into town at some point. I thought the townspeople would play a bigger role in the overall story, and I was curious to learn more about the cult. That element was so eerie, so I wouldn’t have minded a bit more of it. Still, even without that, the ending worked perfectly for me. Everything tied together in a way that felt satisfying and earned (I mean it, not many books make me this emotional).

Also, the writing itself was beautiful but still super easy to follow. I’ll be thinking about these characters for a long time.

DNF @ 25%. Despite that, I'm giving this a fairly high star rating.

It's very technically sound, the thing is. The writing isn't just functional but has a good flow, nice balance of showing you things and telling you about them, a very good 'sound' to the rhythm of it. It's rich and lush, and while I personally don't like the protagonist very much, he's grieving and his rapid whiplash between despair and sharpness and wanting things feels very real to that. (I can't speak to the love interest because I haven't learned anything about him yet, though he's very abrasively cheerful and boundary-pushing in a way that feels interestingly written but also isn't something I personally prefer to read about -- at least in a slower story.)

So it really comes down to preferences. It's just too slowly paced for me; there's no story beat that doesn't linger about 8 times longer than I feel it ought to, usually with back and forth banter where the point gets circled repeatedly. In the first 70 pages (17% of the book), 1. (protagonist) William gets driven to the haunted manor he inherited, 2. William reads a little bit of a diary in which nothing yet happens but the diary-writer has a crush on another boy, and 3. (love interest) Edward barges in assuming someone broke into the haunted manor and refuses to leave when a storm comes. Nothing else happens in that time. The pace begins to pick up a little after that (by 100 pages/25%/end of part 2, William has also sleepwalked and he and Edward take turns asking each other probing personal questions to pass the time: "How did your lover die" and "do you believe in ghosts/know the history of the home" respectively, so all things that fill out backstory.) I don't know if it continues to escalate and speed up from here, but as of the first 100 pages it feels like novella content being stretched out to (longer) novel pacing. If it were trimmed and tightened I think I'd devour it; as is, I find myself getting impatient, and that's no fair way to read a book. I know this is done to establish a gothic mood; I just don't personally find it successful and wish it had a bit more of a stricter developmental edit.

So, 3.5 stars rounded up to four; excellent writing skills hampered for me by extremely slow pacing of the narrative and no major beats happening early. It tries to run a lot of the story on the banter and chemistry between the characters, which IS appealing for sure, but that tends to go on a touch too long for me as well. Emphasizing that this is a personal taste -- I think if you like it a lot slower, this may be an excellent fit for you, and I encourage folks to check it out on the strength of the writing alone.

This was my first time reading a Ben Alderson novel and it definitely won’t be my last! I really enjoyed The Haunting of William Thorn— I went in blind having no idea what to expect beyond queer, gothic, haunting vibes (all of the best, might I add). Immediately the writing style is what pulled me in. It was so beautiful and immersive, while also capturing the perfectly eerie atmosphere I’d expect from a book like this. The characters were so interesting, both the characters in the present and the ones we discover from the past.

I devoured this in a whole day and just had a great time reading it. It was full of fun twists that weren’t cliche or easy to figure out, the setting was fabulous and I just clicked with the characters. A really wonderful surprise!

Ben Alderson's The Haunting of William Thorn is a masterpiece This is no typical ghost story. It's also not just a queer love story. It's genius. Am I exaggerating? No, no I am not. This is a story I will read again and again.

On the surface Ben gives us a dual story (past and present) focusing on Hanbury Manor. This book is definitely filled with plenty of terror, heart racing moments, and even ghosts. But it is so well developed, with multiple layers, that you honestly never know what's around the corner. I couldn't put this book down, I had to know more!

And these characters...so much emotion was written into each of them. William and Edward especially caught my heart and I wanted nothing more than to protect theirs. The difference in their budding relationship versus Teddy and Robert's love in the past was a very moving experience. Through all of these characters we also see mental health representation via their traumas and the struggles they must deal with.

If you are ready for the perfect story for spooky season (or all the time) that is filled with queer love, twists and turns, and revelations that will make you scream (with what I won't say...), then get this book!

Spice level 🌶️ (1/5) — Kissing only

I used to follow Ben Alderson on YouTube before he became an author, so I was so excited to get an ARC of this book! And I'm happy to say it did not disappoint. I was immediately drawn into the haunting world Alderson created. The writing was very descriptive and eerie, and I enjoyed the dynamic between the characters. I did figure out one of the plot twists pretty early on, but the other caught me completely off-guard! I thought the ending was tragically beautiful, as well. I felt like I was reading an adult version of a Goosebumps book, which is a big compliment considering how quickly I devoured those books as a kid.

Equal parts ghost story and love story, The Haunting Of William Thorn is one of the rare books I give a full five stars to. It’s tense, creepy at times, and heartbreaking at others. If you want a read that will really get you emotionally invested, then I cannot recommend this one enough.

The main plot doesn’t truly kick into gear until about halfway through, but the build up in the first half is far from dull. Watching William and Edward’s tense and snarky dynamic begin to unfold is both entertaining and got me invested in the both of them as characters, and a potential couple, making the lead up feel purposeful rather than plodding. Their evolving relationship is a highlight of the novel and more than justifies the gradual build.

While I was able to predict a few plot points before they were officially confirmed, that didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the story in the slightest. But just when I thought I had everything figured out, a few more unexpected twists took me by surprise, which made this one really stand out.

William Thorne moves out to an old remote English mansion when his fiancé dies and leaves him his family estate. When a stranger named Edward appears with ties to the house and secrets of his own, they must work together to figure out what happened at Hanbury House all those years ago, and what this malevolent spirit haunting them wants from them now.

I really enjoyed this. William, while crotchety, was still likeable. It was Grumpy vs. Sarcastic-Sunshine, and it was a lot of fun. The haunting of the past and present was woven together well, and while I saw the first twist coming, I still enjoyed it a lot and didn't see anything coming in the last 15%. Heartbreaking and hopeful, this was a great haunted house book that had my eyes misting by the end. It was an ending that is going to stick with me for a while.

I rated it 4.25/5 rounded down to 4 stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot for the e-arc!

Firstly, thank you so much to NetGalley and Angry Robot for access to this ARC.

3.5 stars
The Haunting of William Thorn follows our main character William Thorn, who has recently inherited a large manor from his now deceased fiancé Archie. William doesn’t believe in ghosts but the longer he spends in the manor with his new guest Edward, the more those beliefs are put into question and the more William struggles to run away from his past.

Straight away the first chapter of this book draws you completely in! I was hooked. After the rollercoaster of a prologue however, the story definitely slows down, and continues to stay slow until about the 60% mark when the plot really kicks back into full swing. During this first 60% I found myself struggling a little to stay invested, I liked both William and Edward as characters but I found their developing relationship a little too fast paced.

Throughout the story we come across a duel timeline with most being from the perspective of William in the current day, but occasional diary entries from someone who used to live in the house are sprinkled in every few chapters. I loved reading these diary entries and thought they were a really interesting way to show us what had previously occurred in Hanbury Manor.

Overall, even with my issues with the first half of this story, the last few chapters really blew my mind and made up for the previous slower pacing! I will definitely be interested in picking up other work by Ben Alderson.

I couldn’t put this down. Wow. I am eager to check out more from this author because their writing is chef’s kiss.

I absolutely loved the way this was in modern times, yet with glimpses of the past. I was eager to know the history of the characters, and was surprised when my guess of what I thought was happening was wrong.

This was a beautiful, passionate work of art, and I was genuinely sad when it was over.

William inherits a house from his dead lover, but when he arrives at the abandoned manor, he’s left with more questions than answers. But then Edward arrives and slowly warms up William’s cold heart. Add in some malevolent spirits, two star crossed lovers, and hidden secrets, we have ourselves a tale.

I am a big fan of this author's work, but this book fell a little flat for me. There were definitely lots of scenes that had me spooked (do not read before bedtime!!) but the MC annoyed me too much to fully immerse myself within the story. I understand he was dealing with some pretty big stuff but his reaction to Edward and the house were so all over the place they left me reeling a bit.
The twists just didn't feel satisfying to me and there were some plot holes (like the questions raised by the prologue were never fully answered as well as what was discovered in the attic in regards to Robert and the other boys involvement...)
I think this idea has a lot of potential and could just be flushed out a bit further.

Thank you to Angry Robot Books and Ben Alderson for the ARC.

The Haunting of William Thorn is a queer horror romance book that follows William as he inherits a manor from his recently deceased long term boyfriend. Once in the manor, he discovers that it is haunted and he makes it his mission to help the spirit find peace.

The story, while quite basic at first glance, is one that unfolds quite well and allows the book to flow really well. As you uncover more about the history of the manor and the spirit that inhabits it, there are new clues that help the solution to the mysteries fall into place.

The relationship between William and Edward was a really cute one to see develop throughout the book.

This is definitely a story that will have you guessing all the way to the end with some nice horror elements to keep you on the edge of your seat.

This book had me so emotional the ups and the downs as well as the twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat. We see William go through the stages of grief and guilt all while adjusting to his move when Edward comes barging into his life carrying secrets of his own. This book had me on edge and the ending…I’m gonna need a minute to recover.

3.5 ⭐️ Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot for the arc!!

Me, 25% into the book: the title makes sense.
Me, 75% into the book: the title does not make sense.
Me, at the end, crying: THE TITLE MAKES SENSE.

Usually, I don’t let grammar/typos bother me when reading ARCs specifically, but there were so many I was about to crash out 😭.

I also feel like everyone’s personalities were all over the place but it still somehow worked out?

Not the perfect read but I enjoyed it nonetheless!

"How to Sell a Haunted House meets The Haunting of Hill House in this split timeline queer romance, set against the backdrop of a haunted English manor from #1 bestselling author Ben Alderson.

William Thorn had his life all planned out...until he discovered his long-term boyfriend Archie in bed with another man. Distraught, William kicks him out of their home, where tragedy strikes when Archie is killed instantly in a car accident.

Riddled with guilt, William is shocked to learn that he's inherited a manor in the quaint village of Stonewall, left to him in Archie's will. He leaves the city with plans to make a new start for himself, but is surprised by the rundown state of the manor, and the unwelcoming villagers who want him gone. His only ally is Edward, a seemingly friendly local with secrets of his own...

However, it's not only the villagers who are adverse to his presence. A malevolent spirit roams the manor, one that seeks to drive William out for good. But when he uncovers the heartbreaking tale of two men in love in the 1920's, William strives to find peace for the spirit, ending the haunting once and for all.

But what dark secrets lie hidden in the manor walls? And will William be able to put aside his own grief to save his new home...and his life?

An evocative tale from #1 bestselling author Ben Alderson, exploring grief, trauma and the bones of the past, The Haunting of William Thorn is the perfect read for fans of the gothic."

It might be awkward if Archie starts haunting the house too...