This was my first book I've read by this author and it definitely will not be my last! It was atmospheric, chilling and had that looming sense of dread that had me hooked. Probably not the kind of story to read at night in the dark, and yet i always found myself reaching for it during the late hours, perhaps it added to the atmosphere, and it certainly did give me some strange and spooky dreams. The way Simone writes her characters, especially the relationships between the siblings was realistic, believable, and i enjoyed how we had the opportunity to glimpse into each of the three siblings thoughts and see their reaction to events in their pov's. I would have loved to have a bit more of an explanation for some of the stories mysteries, as not all questions i had were answered in the end, but nonetheless I was satisfied, and really enjoyed this book.

I really enjoyed this. It's creepy and supernatural is my fave genre. This is the first book I've read by this author but I'll definitely be looking out for more now! Thanks for the ARC.

Simone St. James delivers another atmospheric gem with A Box Full of Darkness—a haunting blend of mystery, nostalgia, and ghostly vengeance. Set across two timelines, the novel follows three siblings whose lives were shattered in the 1960s when their little brother Ben vanished during a game of hide and seek. Each sibling is haunted in a uniquely eerie way: Violet by a cold, looming woman; Dodie by drowning dreams; and Vale by probing lights and beaming figures.

Fast-forward to the 1980s, and Ben’s spirit is reportedly seen wandering their childhood home, calling them back. What unfolds is a slow-burning unraveling of buried trauma, tangled secrets, and a spirit that’s not just restless—but furious.

St. James’ writing is evocative without being overwrought, and she balances the supernatural with emotional depth. The sibling dynamics feel authentic, messy, and tender, and the pacing keeps you hooked without rushing the reveals. It’s spooky, yes—but also quietly heartbreaking.

If you love ghost stories with a strong emotional core and a dash of retro flair, this one’s worth curling up with on a stormy night. Just maybe keep the lights on.

With thanks to Simone St. James, the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

When the siblings in this story head back to their childhood home, it’s not exactly for a happy reunion. The place is steeped in old memories, and not the nice kind – we’re talking about the mysterious disappearance of their brother years ago, plus a whole lot of eerie goings-on that start up again the minute they walk through the door.

It’s a slow-burn ghost story, with plenty of unsettling moments that kept me on edge, but it’s also about the emotional baggage each sibling has been carrying since childhood. Everyone’s hiding something, and watching those secrets unravel alongside the haunting was really satisfying. I’ll admit, there were times I wished the pace picked up a bit, but the atmosphere and character work made it worth sticking with.

I also loved the little Easter eggs for Simone St. James fans – such a fun touch if you’ve read her other books. Overall, creepy, tense, and emotional in equal measure. Solid 3.5–4 stars from me!

3.5 This one started out really well. With a palpable sense of unease and dread, a fair few creepy mysteries, and the whole atmosphere around the town of Fell. It showed up with horror imagery and unsettling setting. But, I struggled with the characters: the siblings felt so young, more like teenagers than adults. I wasn't particularly invested in them. I've struggled with SSJ's inclination to shoehorn romance into her books since The Haunting of Maddy Clare and while she's pared it back, what remains still feels so jarring and undercooked to this reader. I think the high school crush thing in Violet's thread was supposed to be provide comic relief, but I just found it kind of annoying? I loved the unravelling of Ben's story but I had a lot of questions about the events of his disappearance that distracted me.

While I guessed a few major plot points in advance, the pace was pretty consistent. But, I found the ending/resolution really disappointing: it was over so quickly and the mechanics felt distractingly implausible. Lastly, I found the denouement kinda twee, and while it wrapped up some loose ends, it wasn't a satisfying way to close the story.

Huge points for creeping dread, artfully created setting, and a cool premise; but I needed more believable characters and less handwavian mechanics.

My request to review this was approved by Michael Joseph on NetGalley.