Tuesday Reviews: Phantom by H.D. Carlton

The married woman of the manor. The stranger outside. An intoxicating novel of dark temptation and dangerous desire by the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Cat and Mouse Duet.

November 12, 1944. This house holds on to souls for a lifetime. I thought I had given it to my husband when I vowed to love him until the end of time. I lied. Nothing could have prepared me for the day my phantom appeared outside my window. He was terrifying, yet hypnotizing, and I couldn’t deny my intrigue. I never intended to fall into a whirlwind romance with my stalker. Especially because he’s so much more than that. A criminal. A mobster. The man who offers me solace from the monster in Parsons Manor. There are many that haunt these halls, yet it’s only my husband I fear.

Phantom by H.D. Carlton is very different from her usual dark romance—and honestly, that’s what made it so powerful. This isn’t nonstop brutality or shock value like some of her other work. Instead, it’s a haunting, emotional look into the past, centered on Adeline’s grandmother and her story… and yes, her own stalker.

The way this book unfolds feels almost like stepping into a shadowed memory. It’s atmospheric, eerie, and emotional rather than outright brutal. There’s obsession, danger, and darkness, but it’s layered with longing, pain, and inevitability. You slowly realize how deeply this past shapes everything that comes after, and it makes the entire universe of the series hit so much harder.

What really stood out was how human this story felt. The emotions are messy, uncomfortable, and quietly devastating. It’s not meant to shock you—it’s meant to linger. The love, the fear, the trauma, and the choices made all feel painfully real, and by the end, your heart just feels… heavy.

Phantom adds so much depth to Adeline’s world and reframes parts of the story you thought you understood. It’s dark in a subtle, haunting way, and incredibly well written. Five stars for the emotional weight, the atmosphere, and the way this story stays with you long after the last page