THE HAUNTING OF EMILY GRACE
By: Elena Taylor
 
Published by: Severn House
 
Release Date: 04.11.25

Emily Grace has gone through the worst imaginable period of her life. So, when she is offered a job to work for a millionaire on a remote island, Emily Grace sees it as a chance to try and get her life back on track.
Cameron has been building a mansion with his wife, but when she disappears under suspicious circumstances, Emily Grace is called to help finish the job.
Locals believe the land on which the mansion is being built is cursed, but Emily Grace will not fall for such rubbish. But suddenly strange things start happening and Emily grace starts to feel unsafe. Are there ghosts on the island? Or is it something even more sinister?
 
Oohh … I enjoyed this one. Big creepy house, isolated on a rock, surrounded by sea. Cut off from civilisation in a storm. Stories of ghosts and curses. A missing woman - suspected dead, lies and secrets.
What is there not to love? This book had my name on it.

The build-up was a slow burn, but it really worked for the kind of suspense being created. The pace allowed the tension to simmer, and so many chapters ended with a reveal or twist that made me want to read on. There are a few characters to get to know adding to the intrigue – did I know who to trust? Absolutely not. But as the story unfolded, I started to get strong feelings about one of them.
 
As I read, I couldn’t help but think this story gave off similar vibes to the book ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne Du Maurier. Not exactly with the whole plot, but with the remote setting, the gothic feel, and the lingering presence of a woman who has died or disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
 
I ate this book up. The tension and all the twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat, and I loved the haunting and uneasy atmosphere woven into the story. But I did feel the ending was a bit rushed. The story had such a big build up, but the resolution felt a little forced. There was also a couple of big events that happened in the story, and I feel that the reaction of the FMC was a little bit muted. However, I still really enjoyed this book and will be looking for more by this author.

Loved this book!! Very suspenseful and mysterious! This is the first book I have read from this author but it definitely won’t be my last! I just purchased another book of hers! Thank you so much for letting me read this ARC!

In Elena Taylor’s The Haunting of Emily Grace, grief isn’t just a theme—it’s a shadow that follows every step of this atmospheric mystery. The story begins with Emily Grace, a woman shattered by loss, who takes on a job renovating a secluded mansion on a sea-bound island. It’s her lifeline, but it soon becomes something far stranger.

Taylor blends light horror with elegant suspense, wrapping readers in a moody fog of whispers, vanishings, and disquieting romance. The setting is its own character: windswept woods, an isolated manor, and rumours of a curse that local tongues won’t quite silence. The haunting isn’t just literal—it’s emotional, wrapped in guilt, memory, and the longing for fresh starts.

What makes this story feel special is the balance between cozy dread and haunting elegance. The mystery simmers rather than boils, and the prose is evocative without being overwrought. If you enjoy thrillers where the ghosts may—or may not—be real, and where the heart of the heroine is just as vulnerable as the house she inhabits, this is a one-sitting kind of read.

Grab a blanket, light a candle, and let the storm roll in.

With thanks to Elena Taylor, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for the ARC of The Haunting of Emily Grace. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I think this book was a true thriller from start to finish. I felt completely hooked from the very first chapter. The plot was so unique, and I couldn’t wait to see where it would go. I was especially drawn to Emily’s story; her character felt both original and deeply relatable, which made her emotional journey all the more compelling.

I really appreciated how the author seamlessly wove horror elements with a psychological thriller twist. I think that balance kept the pacing tight and the tension high, without ever feeling too overwhelming or chaotic. I felt like I was constantly guessing, and I loved how the story kept surprising me in unexpected ways.

One thing that stood out to me was the contrast between the haunting scenes and Emily’s everyday life. I think this dichotomy grounded the story and made the supernatural moments feel even more intense. It also made me reflect on how trauma and fear can bleed into our most mundane moments which is a theme I found really thought-provoking.

I couldn’t put this book down. I found myself thinking about all the twists and turns throughout the day, just waiting to get back to the story. I feel like this is one of those rare thrillers that leaves a lasting impression, and I’m still mulling over certain scenes days later.

Overall, I think The Haunting of Emily Grace is a chilling, emotionally rich thriller that fans of horror and psychological suspense will absolutely devour. I know I did.

I really enjoyed this book. It's definitely a slow burner but I loved the idea of this book. Emily Grace has taken on work on island whilst fighting her own personal trauma she also becomes entangled with strange going ons in the home she's working on.
Lots of little twists and turns in this book and it's a very atmospheric book. I think the idea of isolation helps add to the claustrophobic feel of the novel.

Not what I expected at all. What with the title having 'haunting' in the title, I thought I would be receiving a lot more scares, or at least a lingering sense of dread. Unfortunately, the worst of the 'haunting' was moved objects and wet floors. This is fine for build-up, but I wanted a little more as the novel progressed.

The story also had problems with pacing. It felt that it took far too long to reach the climax. I kept waiting for something exciting or even unsettling to happen, but it never came. When we do finally get to the climax, like the first half of the novel, nothing happens. The titular character Emily Grace never figures out what's happening at the mansion, and what was actually happening is explained to us at the beginning of the next chapter.

I'm giving it two stars instead of one because I really liked the setting, and could really feel the coziness of the small island.

2.5 stars…….
With a title like The Haunting of Emily Grace, I was primed for ghostly chills: flickering candles, spectral whispers, and maybe a cursed rocking chair or two. I settled in expecting a spooky ride—something to make my heart race and my tea go cold. Instead, what I got was more emotional fog than actual fright.

The setting? Gorgeous. A misty, secluded island off the coast of Washington, filled with craggy cliffs and ominous forests. It practically begs to be haunted. And I was intrigued by Emily Grace—a female carpenter working on a reclusive millionaire’s mansion? Yes, please. The atmosphere promised a delicious blend of architecture, mystery, and subtle dread.

But the haunting? Not so much. I waited through half the book for something spectral to emerge—anything. A whisper, a shadow, a slammed door. Instead, the spookiest moment was… wet footprints. On the floor. I’ve seen scarier things on my bathroom tiles. The eerie setup quickly fizzled into a slow crawl of Emily wandering around with inner monologues and vague feelings of being watched.

And while the locals warn her to be careful, and she starts seeing things that might be supernatural, the plot eventually veers hard into action-thriller territory, stretching believability. The final third of the story tosses out haunting vibes entirely and instead throws in twists that feel more Hollywood than haunted house.

Character-wise, Emily’s backstory is mostly undeveloped beyond her trauma, and other characters feel similarly shallow. There are hints at deeper layers—like Cameron, the mysterious owner of the mansion—but their pasts are glossed over in ways that leave more questions than answers.

Still, the book has its strengths. The setting is vivid, and if you’re into architecture or the moody charm of the Pacific Northwest, it delivers on that front. Just don’t go in expecting an actual ghost story.

Recommended? If you’re here for atmosphere and scenic descriptions—sure. If you’re here for a haunting? You might want to keep looking.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publishers for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Life has not been kind to Emily Grace. She has lost everything: her friends, her home, and the one thing that she can never replace. All that is standing between living in her truck and homelessness is a carpentry job. She has one last chance to try and pull her life together. A job on Salish Island finishing the carpentry that Katrina started. Who is or was Katrina? Why the wife of Cameron Lang, the owner of this magnificent house. She disappeared almost a year ago, and no one has heard a word from her since.
Emily expects to mostly be working alone on this house. When Cameron’s daughter arrives, well let us just say that her personality makes Emily extremely uncomfortable. Things start to go wrong quickly, and the question that kept haunting me was, should Emily fear the living, the dead, or both.
An island full of dark history, the spirits of monks and nuns intruding, and the mystery of Katrina’s disappearance left Emily constantly on edge and distrustful. The isolated location gave off serious Gothic vibes. Emily’s overwhelming grief was palpable.
The only thing that didn’t totally work for me was how the mystery was wrapped up. I personally prefer a little less tell and a little more show.

I tend to refer to over the top thriller page turners as popcorn thrillers - this is not what I would refer to as a popcorn thriller. This is a thriller that is dark will potentially rip you in half and will make you have to finish it immediately.

I really love the writing style of this book so I need to read more from this author, and this book was dark enough that it was healing. It covers a really dark concept and I totally cried, and the atmosphere is also written so elegantly and so well.

I’m kind of at a loss for words with how well this book was executed and how artfully it was done because I feel like it’s hard to find thrillers that rip you in half in this way. While it does cover some very dark topics such as stillborn children and loss of a partner and burial of both daughter/baby/infant and mother, which is very dark, it’s not treated as a light topic.

My entire body was covered in chills while reading this book. To me, that’s a sign of a really excellent dark novel.

It’s really hard to get me to have full body chills from a thriller let alone a horror or anything so I am thoroughly impressed with this one.

There were also a few scenes that were confusing and over the top ever so slightly so it kept me engaged and it allowed the narrative and the novel self to not be exaggerated. I definitely felt like this novel was handled really well as far as dialogue goes because dialogue tends to be what will make a novel over the top.

The character development was also impressive, and the pacing was done really well.

Overall, I’m just really impressed with this read and I’m excited and grateful that I was able to find this book.

Thank you for the arc. I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily.

This story felt like three stories put together and none of them were truly fleshed out. I enjoyed the idea of the mystery around Katrina’s disappearance but the supernatural aspects felt half baked and like they were put there to fill the space. The dead monks, nuns and baby did nothing to further the story and I think the space given to them should gave been given to the mystery itself. Additionally I feel like Emily Grace’s loss of her daughter should have been brought up sooner in the story. Having that details sooner would make the reader feel more invested in EG’s own past and story. The ending feels very rushed and convoluted and it felt like the author was trying to hurry up and finish the story. This book needs to be longer. I also think the chapters do not need to be named. The chapter titles give away the story before we even get to a particular point in the chapter itself. I also feel like Eva’s picture is such a huge part of the story and yet when it disappears EG has almost no reaction to this on the page. While I understand wanting to move the plot along I also think it’s important stay true to the things you are telling the reader about the characters themselves. I think the story would do well to be streamlined - get rid of the supernatural angle and flesh out the mystery more. And also flesh out Cameron. Who feels almost like a non-character in a lot of ways to me. We don’t know anything about him as a person other than he is rich, has a missing wife and a weird daughter.

I really enjoyed The Haunting of Emily Grace! It had just the right amount of creepy atmosphere without being too over-the-top, and I loved how the story slowly unfolded. The mix of ghostly stuff and emotional moments really pulled me in. I didn’t want to put it down! If you like spooky stories with a bit of mystery and heart, I think you’ll really enjoy this one

Grief and isolation collide in this atmospheric thriller: Emily Grace arrives on a remote, sea‑surrounded island mansion to rebuild her life—and instead finds ghostly whispers, mysterious accidents and a seductive stranger. Taylor’s chilling prose keeps tension high to the last page.

The Haunting of Emily Grace is an atmospheric and suspenseful read that kept me turning the pages late into the night. From the very beginning, I was drawn into Emily’s grief and her determination to rebuild her life, which made her an incredibly relatable protagonist. The isolated island mansion, surrounded by a harsh and unforgiving sea, created the perfect eerie backdrop for the unfolding mystery.

Elena Taylor does a fantastic job blending gothic vibes with modern suspense. The tension builds with every chapter, ghostly whispers, strange accidents, and the unsettling feeling that something sinister lurks behind the walls of the mansion. I also loved the touch of romance, which added depth to the story without overshadowing the haunting elements.

This book gave me chills in the best way, and I found myself questioning what was real and what was part of the curse until the very end. Fans of Riley Sager and Daphne du Maurier will absolutely devour this.

Highly recommended for anyone who loves thrillers with a supernatural twist!

This is my first Elena Taylor book, and from the very beginning, I was captivated by how pleasantly detailed her writing is. It’s an aesthetically pleasing thriller that truly immerses you—images poured out of my mind as I visualized each scene vividly. The book also offers a lovely appreciation for architecture, which adds an extra layer of richness to the setting.

Early on, I found myself genuinely liking the two main characters, Emily and Cameron. It’s quite rare in this genre to connect with and take characters seriously without skepticism, but Elena Taylor masterfully crafted them in a way that made me care about their journey. As new characters were introduced, I continued to like each one—Chloe, even though she’s not meant to seem entirely likable, still offered enough intrigue to keep me invested in her story.

Even during moments when it felt like not much was happening, I remained absolutely captivated. Salish Island feels like a magical place, with just enough creepiness to keep the suspense high. I finished the book in under three days, thoroughly enjoying every aspect of it. The story gradually evolved into a compelling whodunnit, adding an exciting twist to the narrative.

Elena Taylor’s writing style is both fun and sophisticated—absolutely exquisite.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

First off, I want to say that I did enjoy this book. It was an easy read and I did not lose interest. I was a bit let down that it was not as scary as I thought it would be. I was prepared for a good ghost story and it did not turn out that way. Which is totally fine! Still a decent thriller

I guess I was expecting a haunting, a ghost story. Monks and nuns and wet footsteps. It left a bad taste in my mouth that nothing supernatural ever happens

The story was fine, the plot made sense but I didn’t like everything happens and it all basically gets laid out in the one month later like a cliff notes.

“Welcome to Monk’s Rock and the End of the World. For better or worse, I’m here.”

This line perfectly sets the tone for a story that pulled me in from the start. I was hooked chapter after chapter by the fast-paced, haunting journey Emily Grace navigates as secrets unravel around her. The characters are richly developed, and the hidden architecture of the house adds an eerie, enchanting layer that makes the setting feel like a character of its own. The twist at the end had me speed-reading the final 20 pages - I had to know how it ended!

Oh, The Haunting of Emily Grace, you had me at “haunting,” you sly little minx. I was ready to curl up with a cozy blanket, a glass of sweet tea, and a proper spooky tale to make my heart race. Alas. That didn't happen. It’s like getting all dolled up for a hot date only to find out it’s just your weird cousin showing up with a soggy pizza.

First off, the title is a total tease. The Haunting of Emily Grace sounds like it’s gonna deliver creaky floorboards, flickering candles, and maybe a ghostly grandma whispering cryptic warnings. Spoiler alert (and I’m not sorry): there’s no ghost. Nope. Nada. Zilch. I waited HALF THE BOOK—yes, you read that right, HALF—for something spookier than wet footprints on a floor. Wet. Footprints. I’m sorry, but my kitchen floor after a rainy day is scarier than that. I kept flipping pages, hoping for a spectral jump-scare or at least a creepy vibe, but it’s like the book was saying, “Psych! Let’s just bore you with Emily moping around and being wet blanket in her head with multiple of instances of her thinking comments were inappropriate instead!”

And oh, Emily Grace, my sweet summer child. I wanted to root for you, I really did. You’re all angsty and dealing with this creepy new house, and I was like, “Yas, girl, you’re gonna slay this haunted house vibe!” But instead of slaying, you’re just... wandering. The first 200 pages feel like a slow-motion montage of Emily staring out windows, hearing vague noises, and overthinking her life choices. It’s like the book decided to major in “vague unease” and minor in “making me check my phone every five minutes.”

Then there’s the so-called climax, and y’all... It's a hot mess. Picture this: after dragging us through endless chapters of “is it a ghost or just bad plumbing?”, the big reveal is basically, “Oh, two people are in the house!” Cue Emily running into a storm (because of course there’s a storm), getting hypothermia, and then—brace yourself—the ending is just TOLD to us. Told! Like I’m sitting at a campfire and Elena Taylor’s like, “Yeah, so here’s how it all wraps up, no need to show you.” I felt gaslit, okay? This book should be called The Gaslighting of Emily Grace and Also The Poor Readers because that’s the real crime here.

I will say, there’s a flicker of charm in the writing. Elena Taylor has a knack for painting a moody scene—those stormy nights and creaky glass houses got me all tingly for a hot second, like we're watching Camilla Belle in that creepy house in When A Stranger Calla. But those moments are like finding a single good French fry in a pile of soggy ones. Not enough to save the meal.

In the end, I’m giving The Haunting of Emily Grace 2.5 stars because I’m feeling generous (and maybe because I’m still hoping for a sequel where actual ghosts show up). It’s not a total trainwreck—there’s potential in the atmosphere and Emily’s character—but it’s like the book promised me a haunted house and delivered a damp Airbnb with bad Wi-Fi. If you’re looking for thrills, you might want to scroll past this one and binge a true crime podcast instead. Sorry, Emily Grace, I wanted to love you, but you left me out in the cold—literally and figuratively. 💅

Emily Grace has taken on a project that's supposed to help bring her back to life after a horrible tragedy. She's helping to finish work on a multimillionaire's mansion on an island off the coast of Washington State. The atmosphere of the story is gorgeous and makes you want to jump on a plane and head for the Pacific Northwest. It's a beautiful, secluded island filled with rocky cliffs and forests, and the occasional grave! I thought it was cool that the lead character is a female carpenter who loves architecture and construction (that's my field), so I was immediately drawn in. And of course, once she arrives on the island, she gets a sense from the locals that the place is cursed or unsafe, as everyone warns her to be careful. She tries to ignore it, but begins to feel like she's being watched and sees things that can't be real. Will she discover the source of the creeping unease, or will she be the next cursed victim?

The story is good, but it stretches credibility towards the end when it turns into more of an action thriller than a haunting mystery. And it didn't feel like Emily Grace's character is too developed - there's almost no background provided except for the tragedy, and even that left unanswered questions. Same with Cameron, the owner of the house - you know what happened shortly after he became an adult, but now it's thirty years later. Has he really just been working for all those decades until he met his wife, who recently disappeared? That was less than a year ago, and they had only been together for two years. It felt odd that all that time in between was glossed over. Not just for Cameron, but all the characters, really.

It's still a book I would recommend, especially if you enjoy architecture and/or the Pacific Northwest. Because you'll be reading quite a bit about both!

The Haunting of Emily Grace kept me up all night until I was done with the very last page! If you like remote islands, missing people, old historical landmarks and graveyards, and mysterious things that continually happen around the house, this is the book for you. Once I started, I could not put it down. Which was surprising because it's so different from the genres I usually read. I am overwhelmingly pleased and can't wait to look into the author more and get started on something equally as juicy.

There was nothing I didn't like about this book. I will be recommending it to everyone!