Reviews - Haunting Adeline

30.2k reviews for:

Haunting Adeline

H.D. Carlton

3.73 AVERAGE

ambernmace's review against another edition

4.5

dark funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

hilary89's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I finally dove into Haunting Adeline via audiobook — and, let’s be honest, I sat with reservations for a good while before clicking “play.” The whole “falling for your abusive stalker” trope? Yeah, I’m usually side-eyeing that too. But H.D. Carlton’s writing is something else, and this story almost pulls it off. When Addy and Zade finally come together, the chemistry is—you guessed it—electric.

The duet narration was phenomenal. The narrators balanced Addy’s fragile strength and Zade’s shadowy obsession in a way that felt true-to-life and deeply immersive. They grounded the story even when the premise teetered on the edge.

Now, full transparency—some aspects of the plot made me cringe. The idea of a secret society of pedophile government officials and child sacrifices? That smacked too close to QAnon-inspired tropes, which made me uncomfortable (and god knows those nutters don't need any more ammunition for their conspiracies). And the portrayal of trafficking, implying that anyone middle- or upper-class could be abducted, doesn’t reflect reality, where victims are overwhelmingly marginalized and vulnerable. That portrayal kind of unsettled me, and I think it’s important readers approach this with eyes wide open.

But putting those issues aside, the book is undeniably gripping. Addy and Zade are complicated and flawed, but fascinating. I was equally drawn into the parallel storyline of Addy investigating her great-grandmother’s murder—it added a gothic mystery that ramps up the intrigue. And Parsons Manor? That spooky, gothic mansion is practically its own character—I could vividly picture every eerie corner as I listened.

Overall, I really enjoyed Haunting Adeline — but with a strong caveat: be sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in. The content is disturbing, and it only gets darker in the sequel (Hunting Adeline starts much further into that territory). I'm already halfway through it, and yes, it’s far more graphic.

So, would I recommend it? If you're into dark romance with a twisted edge, atmospheric settings, and complex—but controversial—characters, this one is a full-throttle ride. Just bring your caution filter along for the journey.

Content Warnings