The Appearance of Annie van Sinderen

By: Katherine Howe

Narrated by: Jesse Bernstein, Kathleen McInerney

A haunting, contemporary love story from the New York Times best-selling author of Conversion

It's July in New York City, and aspiring filmmaker Wes Auckerman has just arrived to start his summer term at NYU. While shooting a séance at a psychic's in the East Village, he meets a mysterious, intoxicatingly beautiful girl named Annie.

As they start spending time together, Wes finds himself falling for her, drawn to her rose-petal lips and her entrancing glow. There's just something about her that he can't put his finger on, something faraway and otherworldly that compels him to fall even deeper. Annie's from the city, yet she seems just as out of place as Wes feels. Lost in the chaos of the busy city streets, she's been searching for something - a missing ring. And now Annie is running out of time and needs Wes' help. As they search together, Annie and Wes uncover secrets lurking around every corner - secrets that will reveal the truth of Annie's dark past.

©2015 Katherine Howe (P)2015 Listening Library

Critic reviews

“A tautly paced page-turner that blends historical fiction, romance, and the supernatural.” (School Library Journal, starred review)

“Hauntingly etched, creating an eeriness that lingers after the novel's romantic ending.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

“Katherine Howe knows how to get under your skin.” (Paste Magazine)

A Modern Day Ghost Story

Would you listen to The Appearance of Annie van Sinderen again? Why?

Yes, probably. I'd wait until it'd been a long time since I last listened to it and I didn't have any books I had to listen to instead, but I might. It was fun!

What did you like best about this story?

The way they took a ghost story and gave it strong backing. I also like how it switched characters and the voices changed too.

What does Jesse Bernstein and Kathleen McInerney bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The fact that they switch off is fantastic, I love how you get a good feeling of each character as an individual since it's done by different actors.

Any additional comments?

A very good listen, lots of fun for anyone who's into ghost stories, historical fiction, or just a good little read.

Surprisingly good read

When I started reading this book, I felt bogged down by the details of Wes and Tyler with their film projects. The author goes to great lengths to describe the film world and I kept asking, "When is this going to get good?" I almost considered not reading it altogether.

Around the halfway point of the book (when we get Annie's perspective), things started to change! The book became more of what I was interested in....a ghost story or in this book's case-a Rip Van Winkle story. We learn how Annie lived life in 1825 which I find to be very interesting! We see how she affects the mortal world of nowadays and the impact she makes on Wes, Tyler, Eastland, and Maddie in her quest to find her cameo.

The only strange thing I would say were the scenes were Wes is going ga-ga over Annie which I felt was creepy and crazy seeing how she was a Rip Van Winkle!

Other than that, it was a good book! It definitely allowed this southern girl to learn about New York City both past and present. I've never been but would definitely like to explore it after reading this book.

Not sure how I feel about the ending

In the beginning if this book I wasn’t thrilled with the Narrater and it was very slow moving. I think the story was good but the ending left me flat.

Good story

this was a good story! A little obvious in the beginning but a fun listen.

A ghost story that never uses the word ghost

Would you consider the audio edition of The Appearance of Annie van Sinderen to be better than the print version?

I didn't read the print version but I enjoy listening to the audios while I knit

What did you like best about this story?

I loved Annie and all about her. some of the things I loved most would be spoilers but I loved the way things connected as the story progressed. This is one of Katherine Howe's talents as an author

What does Jesse Bernstein and Kathleen McInerney bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I enjoyed the performance. I also would have enjoyed reading it if I had the time. They did a good job though.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listened to it a bit at a time because that is how my time worked out

Any additional comments?

If you are a fan of Katherine Howe. I really enjoyed the book but it doesn't have the lasting impact that the Physick Book of Deliverance Dane and The House of Velvet and Glass had for me. I wish she would write another book more like them. I'm not giving up reading her though.

The Best Kind of Ghost Story

I have been a fan of Katherine Howe since June 2009 when I first discovered The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. I have followed all her work and love her voice and the way her brain works. I did read this book when it came out, but have found that Audible gives me a different feeling to books I have previously read. I loved the two narrators, who did a better job of capturing the characters than my mind had done in reading it. So glad I made this purchase

Far from her best work.

I’ve read multiple books by Katherine Howe and loved them all. It’s almost like someone else wrote this book. I could not even finish it.

Not My Thing!

I've read a few other books by this author and enjoyed them. Not this one! Not into 21st century collage slang or whatever it is there speaking. May be a good ghost story if you can stand to listen and understand what there talking about.

not for me

this book just does not vibe with me, I love her other books, but this one I don't even want to finish.

Could not get past Chapter 3!

I kept hoping it would get better. Sadly, it did not. Narration is fine - the story is beyond boring.