Welcome to Litsy!

I enjoyed this thriller/horror enough to give it a low pick. It‘s a little slow in spots and there‘s one plot choice early on that‘s so silly it almost ruined the book. Otherwise, I had fun with it, though it‘s not at all scary.

just making a note for anyone interested in this book - i have about 30 pages left but needed to take a minute to point out this is NOT a retelling of The Headless Horseman. This has a completely different plot and story even though it uses The Headless Horsemen motif - don‘t go into this thinking it will be a retelling.

#Read2025

I don‘t think this was Armstrong‘s best book & not that much of a retelling of Sleepy Hollow, but it was entertaining & a good blend of mystery/thriller & paranormal. Due to her grandfather‘s will Samantha (Sam) must stay in her family‘s cabin (where her father killed a boy & took his own life) for a month to inherit the money she needs to take care of her ailing from dementia mother. Local lore & legend of a headless horseman & the ⬇️

This book is so good. A bit over the top, but still so good. It has just enough family drama, inheritance info, creepy vibes, scary and thriller effect, to keep you wanting to know the truth. Is it really a family curse, a family gift, a folklore, or just someone playing a mean cruel trick?

This is a great Halloween book also.

4.5 stars

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-haunting-of-paynes-hollow-by-kelley.h...

I gave The Haunting of Paynes Hollow three stars, mostly out of kindness. I read it quickly, but more out of boredom than suspense. The story felt very unrealistic, and for me, a good horror novel needs at least a touch of realism to make the scares truly land. Maybe this genre just isn‘t for me. The author‘s writing itself wasn‘t bad, but the story didn‘t resonate, and I don‘t think I‘ll seek out similar books in the future.

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Still catching up daily haikus. This one was inspired by my 4th Silent Book Club experience. We read at outside tables & Thursday night was blustery (although not cold because well, … Hawaii. We scooched in at tables under the eaves & some people went into the mall, but the reading & bookish talk went on.

Rainy Evening Reads

Wind and rain outside
Silent Book Club carries on
Readers gotta read!

This was really good! Part murder mystery, part haunting and all family drama. It was really well written and kept me guessing until the end on what was really happening!

Finished!✔️ Just an OK book for me. It wasn‘t scary to me really. It was a good book. Interesting but just OK for me. Some may really like it and like I said it is interesting, but it wasn‘t what I thought it would be. I always look for houses to be haunted and this wasn‘t about a house being haunted. It was more about land being haunted, which is OK but just not what I thought it was.

#bookreview #2025Reads

#LitsyReads #FinishedReading #botm

Great retelling! Enjoying a cozy fire on a damp day.

This book was like a Twinkie: enjoyable while you‘re consuming it, but ultimately empty of substance.
I liked the premise, but it doesn‘t play out great.
And then there was this:
The author says Sleepy Hollow and Lake Ontario are “just down the road from each other”.
As someone who did live just down the road from Sleepy Hollow, I can say they are absolutely not 🙄
I hate when a stupid detail like that takes me out of the book, but it did.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was an interesting retelling of “The Headless Horseman” that best defines itself as a supernatural thriller and mystery. It‘s a quick read that is fast-paced, however I don‘t see myself reading this one again. Disclaimer that there are a couple scenes regarding animal abuse which I skipped somewhat easily.

#weekendreads

@rachelsbrittain

If you're looking for a good .. mystery/thriller book, that's not overly gruesome but does make you think along with the main character then pick this up. It's a quick read, but mostly because it catches you quickly and takes you on a little ride. Loved this, especially for a seasonal read. Though it is actually set in the summer. #52-2025

A headless horseman horror story written for an October release is bound to contain details escaping my boundaries for gore so I had to shut my eyes and lalala myself with finger-plugged ears through several graphic scenes. That said I thought this was a solid creepy reimagining of the classic.

Just started today! It‘s my #BookoftheMonth for October and my spooky read for spooky month.

#LitsyReads #currentlyreading #amreading #botm #spookyread #spookymonth

Just not my cup of tea.

I found it stupid and annoying 😂

💙📚BOOK REVIEW 📚💙

⭐️⭐️THE HAUNTING OF PAYNES HOLLOW BY KELLEY ARMSTRONG⭐️⭐️

⭐️QUICK THOUGHTS⭐️

⭐️This is creepy all the way through!

⭐️Then it takes a turn that is borderline horror.

https://reecaspieces.com/2025/10/16/the-haunting-of-paynes-hollow-by-kelley-arms...

Kelley Armstrong is an auto-read for me whenever a new one comes out. This was no exception. I enjoyed the Sleepy Hollow retelling. Chilling and atmospheric, my attention was caught throughout the novel. The narrator of the audiobook did a great job. 5 stars.
#Hauntedshelf #BookRec #Atmosperic
@BookwormAHN #BlackCatCrew

I love Armstrong‘s writing & her latest is great for this #SpookySeason— a reimagining of #TheLegendOfSleepyHollow! Sam‘s not returned to Paynes Hollow since she was a child who witnessed a horrible event that tore her family apart. Now, desperate for the money her inheritance will bring, she is forced to spend a month back in her family cottage. With a twisting plot, higher body count than expected & fast-pace, this one is impossible to put down!

Pretty good, but not very scary at all. The denouement and what follows it is a little bit too soft for me as a lover of hardcore horror, but I would definitely still recommend it for folks looking to explore the genre!

My stack for #JustOneMoreChapter. Ambitious, but I‘m retired, and I‘ve got plenty of time to read while watching sports. The top book I‘m halfway through, and the Elly Griffiths is a reread. (I‘ve bought most of the Galloway series used and I‘m working my way through it. It‘s just as wonderful the second time around!) Payne‘s Hollow I really want to get to. I don‘t often read horror, but branching out is good . . . @TheAromaofBooks

I liked this dog puzzle so much more than this novel. I felt like the author made very little effort with this one. It‘s gory and violent for no reason. #BOTM

Thank you for the #SundayFunday tag @Eggs 🤗 I‘m looking forward to reading these 2 spooky books this month! Hopefully the tagged book & my #BOTM box arrive early, I love Kelley Armstrong. 🖤🧡🖤

Anyone else want to join in & share a spooky book that you are looking forward to? 👻

My #BOTM October box! Always love seeing what everyone chooses. I seldom read spooky or romance, but it‘s good to be open to other genres. In fact none of these choices fits in my usual “box,” but that‘s one reason I joined BOTM a couple of years ago. I pass them on to my besties too, so it all works.

I was VERY pleasantly surprised to see this as a #BOTM selection today.
I didn‘t like Armstrong‘s last foray into horror, but this one sounds good so why not? Another credit burned.
I also picked up a book from one of my swap match‘s wish lists.
What did you all get?

My spooky season TBR is shaping up nicely. I just added this book to my wishlist yesterday and today it showed up as a BOTM selection. Perfect timing! What are you reading this fall? 🎃💀 #botm #halloween #spookyseason #horror

October is my birthday month, so I get a free book! #botm