The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong | Horror Book Review

The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong is a book of secrets, shadows, and the kind of creeping dread that grabs you by the hand and doesn’t let go.

Let’s dive in!

My Thoughts on The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong –

When the main character, Samantha Payne, learns that her grandfather has passed, she does what any dutiful granddaughter would do… She shows up for the funeral and, begrudgingly, attends the reading of the will. What she doesn’t expect is to inherit something… But of course, with her grandfather, it’s not a straightforward inheritance… There are conditions. We’re talking full-on, tangled‑up, sticky‑as‑glue strings attached. Before long, she realizes it’s not just strings at all, it’s a whole web, and she’s stuck right in the center of it.

This poor woman goes through the absolute ringer. Every new situation is more unsettling than the last, and the tension just keeps getting thicker. As she’s forced to confront the realities of her childhood, the memories she’s buried, and the secrets lurking in the dark corners of her past, the story becomes a slow unraveling of truth.

What I loved:

The suspense is PERFECT. I was genuinely nervous for her.
That push‑pull feeling of “I dread what’s coming next… but also I need to know immediately.”
The way the book blends emotion with creeping, atmospheric tension.
The steady drip of revelations that make you even more nervous to see what’s to come.

I had such a blast listening to this one on audio! It’s another that I have gotten, but haven’t been able to get to. So when I saw the audiobook, narrated by E.J. Lavery, was available at my local library, I snagged it immediately!

My Favorite Passage from The Haunting of Paynes Hollow –

But at fifteen, I was a seething black hole of repressed rage, and hormones, and grief. And I aimed it all at my poor mother.

My Final Thoughts on The Haunting of Paynes Hollow –

If you love stories where family secrets arise like dust rising up from old floorboards, where the past refuses to stay buried, and where the suspense keeps your shoulders up by your ears, this one will be right up your alley!

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