The Haunting of William Thorn by Ben Alderson
Official Summary:
William Thorn had his life all planned out… until he discovered his long-term boyfriend Archie in bed with another man. Distraught, William kicks him out of their home, where tragedy strikes when Archie is killed instantly in a car accident. Riddled with guilt, William is shocked to learn that he’s inherited a manor in the quaint village of Stonewall, left to him in Archie’s will. He leaves the city with plans to make a new start for himself, but is surprised by the rundown state of the manor, and the unwelcoming villagers who want him gone. His only ally is Edward, a seemingly friendly local with secrets of his own… However, it’s not only the villagers who are adverse to his presence. A malevolent spirit roams the manor, one that seeks to drive William out for good. But when he uncovers the heartbreaking tale of two men in love in the 1920’s, William strives to find peace for the spirit, ending the haunting once and for all. But what dark secrets lie hidden in the manor walls? And will William be able to put aside his own grief to save his new home…and his life? An evocative tale from #1 bestselling author Ben Alderson, exploring grief, trauma and the bones of the past, The Haunting of William Thorn is the perfect read for fans of the gothic.
My Thoughts:
After I read and loved an early copy of All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles last month, I was eager to dive into another queer gothic. The Haunting of William Thorn is another of my most anticipated books of the year, so I was very pleased to get a chance to read this one in advance, too!
The Haunting of William Thorn is a split-timeline gothic horror about the occupants of Hanbury Manor. Our main timeline is set in the present and follows William Thorn as he moves into Hanbury. He inherited the manor after the death of his long-term partner, and he's eager to get out of the city and start his life over. He soon meets Edward, who introduces himself as the landscaper for the manor's sprawling grounds.
The secondary timeline is set in 1939. Much of this storyline is told through the journal entries of Robert Thomas, who was deeply in love with a young man named Teddy. Robert and Teddy's story is ultimately tragic, but these chapters are so beautiful. Robert is such a sweet young man trapped in an era where it was a danger to be himself. His journal entries are so tender, and seep with the naive innocence and hope of first love. We know how his story ends from the Prologue, and that adds a layer of heartbreak over the entire story. These chapters, and Robert and Teddy's story, were my favorite parts of the book.
The horror elements are exactly what I want from a ghost story, with an eerie gothic atmosphere and some seriously creepy scenes. This is being pitched as similar to The Haunting of Hill House, and I think Mike Flanagan's television adaptation is a very accurate comparison.
I've read a couple of books by Ben Alderson, and this is, hands down, my favorite book of his. It isn't perfect; there are some parts, especially in the modern-day chapters, that get repetitive and are over-explained. William is also frustratingly slow at picking up on clues at times. Still, the good far outweighs the bad, and the last few chapters, in particular, are excellent.
I recommend The Haunting of William Thorn most to queer romance and gothic horror fans, but please be sure to read the content warnings; this deals with subjects that could be very upsetting for some people!
This book is dark, scary, achingly romantic, surprising, and gut-wrenching. I especially loved the historical timeline with Robert and Teddy, but the present-day timeline has an intriguing mystery and some great horror scenes. Both timelines have some big, emotional moments, so be sure to have tissues nearby when you read this.
My Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 (4/5 stars).
Pages: 400 (Kindle Edition)
Tropes/Tags: Gothic, Achillean, Queer, Paranormal, Horror
Contains or Mentions Depictions Of: Suicide, Suicidal Ideation, Suicide Attempt, Death, Grief, Homophobia, and Blood. Please note that the suicide depiction is fairly graphic and includes the method. Suicide is a pretty big theme of this book, and I wouldn't recommend it for anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts or feelings.
Links: Storygraph | GoodReads | BenAlderson.com
The Haunting of William Thorn will be released on September 9, 2025, and is available for pre-order!
I received an advanced copy of this book for free, thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot. The above are my honest feelings about the book provided. I don’t have any affiliate links in this post, and I do not make any money from my reviews. I review books simply because I love to read.
[ See Everything I’ve Read in 2025 ]
