The Haunting of H. G. Wells

By: Robert Masello

Narrated by: Steve West

Length: 12 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's Summary

A plot against England that even the genius of H. G. Wells could not have imagined.

It’s 1914. The Great War grips the world - and from the Western Front a strange story emerges...a story of St. George and a brigade of angels descending from heaven to fight beside the beleaguered British troops. But can there be any truth to it?

H. G. Wells, the most celebrated writer of his day - author of The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, The Invisible Man - is dispatched to find out. There, he finds an eerie wasteland inhabited by the living, the dead, and those forever stranded somewhere in between...a no-man’s-land whose unhappy souls trail him home to London, where a deadly plot, one that could turn the tide of war, is rapidly unfolding.

In league with his young love, the reporter and suffragette Rebecca West, Wells must do battle with diabolical forces - secret agents and depraved occultists - to save his sanity, his country, and ultimately the world.

©2020 Robert Masello (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic Reviews

“Narrator Steve West superbly delivers Masello's latest historical imaginings. …West believably creates everyone from foot soldiers to Winston Churchill, from Satan worshipper Alistair Crowley to diabolical German spies, as well as anti-German locals; Wells's adoring wife, Jane; and his suffragette mistress, Rebecca West. With ghosts to lead the way, Wells and West attempt to foil a plot by occultists to destroy British lives and morale. Fascinating listening.” –Audiofile Magazine

“His blending of real and fictional events is utterly captivating. And casting the 49-year-old Wells as an action hero makes for great fun.” —Booklist 

What makes a book really bad?

Gratuitous sex. If this is about H.G. Wells sexual expolits, just say that. Definitely returning this one.

A fast read with gruesome overtones

For those who enjoy historical fiction novels, this is a quick read mixing fiction with real events about H G Wells around the WWI time period. The author, Robert Masello, has a comfortable writing style and the narrator, Steve West, was good with male and female voices. The book is not scary, just gruesome at times.

The time period is World War I and the horrors around that war are aptly described -- germ warfare from invention to use to outcome, killing soldiers, killing cavalry horses and mules, Zeppelin attacks on civilians, witnessing outcomes from limited medical knowledge on disease and treatment, witnessing outcomes from crude surgery, and more. And, against this gruesome backdrop, H G Wells, famous novelist and journalist, has adventures with several sidekicks.

It was a fast read for me, but I was glad when it was over.

Another winner from Mr Masello

I have read or listened to most of the author's books. I have to say that he keeps improving in my opinion. This latest novel, feels to me, to be the most complex and best researched yet. The story is gripping and engaging. The scenes at the Western front were chilling in their description and the mood they evoked. At the end of the book, when we hear the standard exit line, " Audible hopes you have enjoyed this program", I found myself saying, "Yes I have. A great deal."

Now for the warnings for would be readers...
Violence...yes, quite a lot. But considering the backdrop of World War, sabotage, and terrorism, it was kept fairly contained
Profanity... minimal, again in keeping with the mores of the times being recounted.
Sex... Yes. There is a fair amount mentioned throughout the story, but it is not given to gratuitous detail.

Highly recommend this book. It functions perfectly well as a standalone novel and does not require any prior reading or knowledge beyond very basic historical reference.

Very interesting story!

Very well-written and interesting story. Lots of crazy twists and turns throughout. This book mixed Wells' real life combined with the fictionalized story.
I really did not like his compulsion for cheating on his wife, which I didn't realize how close to real life that was for H.G. Wells. I was honestly so over Rebecca and that entire situation.

What really kept me engaged in this book was Steve West's performance. Every character voice was distinct and kept things interesting. That is what made this book even more enjoyable.

Best narration

Loved this story! Didn’t want to stop listening and finished it in 2 days. It’s read by my favorite narrator Steve West which made the book even better!

just a book

The premise of Wells seeing, and in some cases being responsible for rectifying, many of his predictions come to pass is a solid one. the execution though is thoroughly average. There is nothing particularly bad about the book, but nothing particularly noteworthy either. An enjoyable enough listen to fill the lulls while waiting for other releases, but largely forgettable, unfortunately.

Good enough story, but nothing to write home about

Had a hard time staying engaged with this one. Just not alot going on, and it all seemed just a little too 'clean' on how it all fit together.

Narrator was excellent.

Not a bad book, it just can't decide what it is.

It starts out as a somewhat historical (fictional) novel that brings in supernatural elements to help (deus ex machina) the characters solve a mystery, and adds a dash of supermarket romance-novel (traditional houswife-porn) thrown in for good measure... I got through it, but I wasn't very impressed.

Exceptional quality and historical reference

The title is good but you can't buy into it until a little way into the book. this a world wise citizen and a loyal government and an inquisitive young woman and loyal and wise woman and the trenches of world war I and brave and resolute loyal young men dying with a wish for one last kiss or a another summer of being 15. World War I as you've never thought of it before. And how close imagination and a heart can come to reality.

Enjoyed the story

Enjoyed how we got a fictional peak into HG Wells' life, with many tie ins to his books.

Convoluted

The story seems thrown together. There are a few good ideas there, but they don't always marry together well. The use of H G Wells is one angle, but his notoriety is just to help give the lead character access to situations and data that otherwise would be hard to explain. The ghost's are not really explained or investigated. Then the fact that H G cannot seem to keep it in his pants just comes across as insulting to the female characters especially his wife. Most books rely on coincidence, but this takes it to a level of incredulity. My main take away is I will not be looking for any further titles on this series or by the author, but that is just my opinion.

Thoroughly enjoyed definitely a good read

Thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook very engaging storyline and well read voice Steve West, he brings all the characters to life really well particularly the female voices in the story. Glad I bought this wanted to hear more about Jooles at the end of the story so this has to be a definite +2 any audible library.

Not what I expected

Not what I expected. It starts off on the battlefield in 1918 where horsed riders appear to help the British win the battle.

Then we go to HGWells study where he works in a country house in WWII. A zeplin crashes in the night and is used to emphasis both his character and the feelings of the British towards the Germans.

The character of H G Wells is credible for the time and age. He lives with his 2 nd wife, Jane who helps him work his writing and he classes as his 'intellectual equal'.