Delicate Condition

By: Danielle Valentine

Narrated by: Hillary Huber

Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Anna Alcott is desperate to have a family. But as she tries to balance her increasingly public life as an indie actress with a grueling IVF journey, she starts to suspect that someone is going to great lengths to make sure that never happens. Crucial medicines are lost. Appointments get swapped without her knowledge. Cryptic warnings have her jumping at shadows. And despite everything she's gone through to make this pregnancy a reality, not even her husband is willing to believe that someone is playing twisted games with her.

Then her doctor tells her she's had a miscarriage—except Anna's convinced she's still pregnant despite everything the grave-faced men around her claim. She can feel the baby moving inside her, can see the strain it's taking on her weakening body. Vague warnings become direct threats as someone stalks her through the bleak ghost town of the snowy Hamptons. As her symptoms and sense of danger grow ever more horrifying, Anna can't help but wonder what exactly she's carrying inside of her…and why no one will listen when she says something is horribly, painfully wrong.

©2023 Danielle Valentine (P)2023 Dreamscape Media

Critic reviews

"Hillary Huber delivers a delightfully creepy rendition of this graphic, fast-paced horror story about pregnancy and infertility.... Huber masterfully captures Anna's desperation while evoking the story's disturbing mood. Forming the basis for the latest season of the 'American Horror Story' television show, this dark story takes listeners on a compulsively entertaining, twisty ride." (AudioFile)

Narration is great

This is the first audio book that I immediately looked up the narrators list and added a bunch more books, she is great, love her voice and her performance.

The story was well done I just had an ivf baby so there was a lot of relatable content for me, there are definitely trigger though, for people that have had miscarriages or ivf failures, and general ivf/pregnancy anxiety. If you have fresh trauma there this might trigger you. I stated watching the AHS series based on the book and since it got cut off mid story, I decided to pick up l this up and I've been listening while nursing, it's been great. the TV series also should have a trigger warning for miscarriage and failed IVF. If my baby wasn't in my arms I don't think I would be able to watch it or read/listen to the book right away, I would probably need to heal first.

Aside from being relatable, the story is unique and definitely anxiety-induced creepy. I enjoyed the ending!

Excellent Writing

I admittedly, don’t think a lot of that of the things that happen to women during their pregnancy and before child birth. They are there does a great job of providing legitimate, and eerie scares, while creating an intoxicating mystery thriller with a touch of the supernatural. I really enjoyed this book.

Good read! Didn’t expect the ending!

I expected a different ending for sure but the story itself was great!! I’m a nurse & love psychology so this one really kept me interested. Can’t wait to see the AHS series on it!

Was “OK”

Now I understand why this story was on ahs.
Honestly the beginning was interesting but it then became a drag. The main character just seems to always complain throughout the whole book and the ending was good not great.Nothing like
Rosemarys baby which was an amazing horror,thriller. Ahs is what got me to read this one but will see how the rest and the ending turns out in the show.

Great story

This was a GREAT story all around! Definitely will be looking for more books by this author! 🖤✌️

Loved it!

I had to read it since AHS only put out half of the season. I was unsure of how it would go and I wasn’t expecting the twists and the ending, but I really enjoyed this book. I can understand why AHS made it into a series. Cant wait to check out another book by Danielle Valentine.

Great book!

Definitely a modern day Rosemary's baby. The story had me guessing until the end. I didn't trust anyone up until the ending was explained. I hope AHS lives up to the book! Great plot, don't change it!

Stories a yes - narrator…

The story is great and compelling - really visceral and descriptive I can see why this is admired a ton not that you’d know from the readers dry narration it’s like she’s got somewhere to be

Chillingly good! A very personal point of view.

I liked the way the mystery unfolded, with too many suspects!
The metaphysical aspects of this story were so different from what I expected!
I stayed up all night listening to this gripping tale.
Worth every minute of of my day/night.

Don’t read the reviews! Go into the book with an open mind

Highly recommend not reading any reviews. I read this before watching the new season of American Horror Story (since it is based off this book). Not knowing what it was about helped without people comparing it to Rosemary’s Baby; just listening and going along with the book is way better. Give it a chance!