Hi all!

Today I am reviewing new release, The Haunting of Leigh Harker, by my favourite horror author: Darcy Coates. I was permitted to read an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy), thanks to NetGalley. This story follows Leigh Harker, whose quiet suburban home was her sanctuary for more than a decade, until things abruptly changed. Curtains open by themselves. Radios turn off and on, and a dark figure looms in the shadows of her bedroom door at night, watching her, waiting for her to finally fall asleep. Pushed to her limits – but unwilling to abandon her home – Leigh struggles to find answers. But each step forces her towards something more terrifying than she ever imagined.

As always, I am going to provide my honest thoughts and let you know whether I think it’s worth checking out. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

WHAT I LIKED

This book is very different to anything Darcy has ever written before. The entire story feels like a fever dream, making it interesting to guess what’s real and what isn’t. The best part is the twist. I highly recommend sticking with the plot (even if you’re confused in the beginning) because at about 100 pages, you’ll start to understand what is happening. Once things are revealed, the pace picks up, with the mystery underfoot. It left me guessing until the end.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE 

This is not Darcy’s fault, but this book was marketed as her scariest novel ever written. Darcy is extremely skilled at creeping me out, so I had high expectations. Unfortunately, it barely raised a hair on the back of my neck. I wasn’t frightened in the slightest. After the big reveal, things seemed a lot less threatening. That disappointed me. Also, the build up to the twist was quite slow. I like a novel with a lot of dialogue, so if you’re anything like me, don’t go in expecting a lot. The book is mainly made up of poetic language and description. Once again, not a fault of the author, just a personal preference.

OVERALL STAR RATING

I gave it 3/5 stars. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it. Because it didn’t meet my expectations, it received a lower rating.

Please order a copy here.

I hope you enjoyed this honest review. Let me know your thoughts down below. I appreciate all feedback. Thanks for reading!

Peace & Love xoxo