Thank you PRH Audio, #partner, for the ALC of A Box Full of Darkness in exchange for my honest review. I received the print copy from a friend.
Publisher: Berkley / Penguin Audio
Published: January 20, 2026
Summary:
Siblings return to the house they fled eighteen years before, called back by the ghost of their long-missing brother and his haunting request to come home.
Strange things happen in Fell, New York: A mysterious drowning at the town’s roadside motel. The unexplained death of a young girl whose body is left by the railroad tracks. For Violet, Vail, and Dodie Esmie the final straw was their little brother’s shocking disappearance, which started as a normal game of hide-and-seek.
As their parents grew increasingly distant, the sisters were each haunted by visions and frightening events, leading them to leave town and never look back. Violet still sees dead people—spirits who remind her of Sister, the menacing presence that terrorized her for years. Now after nearly two decades it’s time for a homecoming—because Ben is back, and he’s ready to lead them to the answers they’ve longed for and long feared.
My thoughts:
I have been a fan of Simone St. James for quite some time now and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers of atmospheric thrillers. I have loved each book just a little bit more and find her writing style to be so addicting and all-consuming.
As soon as I had this one, I had to start it and once I did…I couldn’t put it down. That’s what I tend to find with most of her books…they are so totally addicting and all-consuming. I loved all the references here to one of my other favorite books by her, The Sun-Down Motel – no worries if you haven’t read it, as it’s not tied to the plot at all, just mentioned as a point of reference, and has the same setting.
This book was all-out creepy and unsettling – it really would be ideal for #SpookySeason, but being that I read these books all year long, I had no issues reading it now. She manages to put just enough supernatural into her books that I love it…it’s not overplayed but it works. And here it was done so effectively. I was looking over my shoulder, jumping at noises that would not have bothered me at any other time…but while reading this one, definitely did. And the siblings…oh my heart.
This book is for anyone who loves a haunting story about estranged family dynamics, long-buried family secrets, unresolved guilt and grief and so much more. Be ready for a little supernatural as the family gathers to confront the past…it’s so worth it!
Audio thoughts:
This was amazing on audio, with three stellar narrators – Anna Caputo, Saskia Maarleveld, and Ari Fliakos – they really make this story come alive. They all infused just the right amount of tension and emotion into their voices as needed to make this a chilling, haunting listening experience.
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