Many books often challenge the famous saying that advises people not to judge a book by its cover, and the Haunting Adeline series by H.D. Carlton is one such exception to the rule.
The covers of both books are striking monochromatic imageries of grim elements like skulls, spiderwebs, and moths—all highlighted by splashes of crimson. This visual warning is further elevated by the first book’s GoodReads summary, which proudly declares that the series’ first book was once banned on Amazon due to its triggering content.
The Haunting Adeline series—or the Cat and Mouse duet, as it is officially called—is unapologetically explicit about its explicit nature. Although it is labeled as a romance, it defies the soft imagery associated with the genre and might not befit the expectations of traditional romance readers.
Despite this—or precisely because of this—the Haunting Adeline series has taken over BookTok and has become an overnight hit for many readers and one of the most distinctive representatives of the dark romance genre (see more dark romance books).
But should you read it?
- First Things First—What Is a Dark Romance?
- Content Warning for The Haunting Adeline Series
- What Is The Haunting Adeline Series About?
- The Books in the Haunting Adeline Series
- Who Should Read the Haunting Adeline Series?
First Things First—What Is a Dark Romance?
Dark romance is one of the many sub-genres that thrive under the romance umbrella term. As its name implies, it deals with dark aspects of romance and is much more likely to involve controversial, taboo, toxic, or otherwise unhealthy dynamics. Because of this, it often overlaps with genres such as horror, thriller, or mystery.
As expected from such books, the main couple hardly befits the standards one must aspire to in real-life relationships. These dynamics are often marked by moral complexity, non-consensual interactions, an exploration of the macabre, and the explicit portrayal of disturbing content.
These books can be intense and deal with heavy topics, which can be upsetting or even triggering for some people. For others, dark romance allows a safe way to explore dark subject matters with the safety net of fiction. Both sides can be at odds, and the mere existence of dark romance proves to be a controversial topic.
The Haunting Adeline series is one such, as it does not shy away from depraved depictions of dark dynamics.
@readwith_jackie If youre looking to start reading dark romance and dont know where to start, keep watching ☺️ also, if you have questions about other dark romances i didnt mention, please leave a comment and ill let you know what i think! ☠️❤️📚 #darkromance #darkromancebooks #darkromancereads #darkromancebooktok #romance #romancereads #romancerecs #romancereader #kindle #kindleunlimited #kindleunlimitedromance #books #bookish #booktok #spicybooks #spicyreads #spicyromance #spicyrecs #hauntingadeline #theritual ♬ original sound – read with jackie 📖✨🩵
Content Warning for The Haunting Adeline Series
As previously mentioned, the Haunting Adeline series is not a read that is apt for everyone. It is unequivocally a work of fiction, yet the narrative choices for the main couple can expose the readers to triggering dynamics that mirror horrifying circumstances in real life.
Some of the specific content warnings applicable to the Haunting Adeline series include depictions of stalking, graphic violence, rape, dub/non-con, physical abuse, murder, and many more. Likewise, the explicit sexual content between the protagonists also involves rape, dub/non-con, degradation, gun play, knife play, blood play, and somnophilia.
The second book of the series, Hunting Adeline, amps up the dark content by including, alongside the previous triggers, explicit depictions of torture, slavery, trafficking, post-traumatic stress disorder, dismemberment, and more.
If any or all portrayals of the aforementioned content are upsetting, avoiding any of the book saga entries is perhaps your best option.
@meganjewells I’ve noticed this series has been very polarizing for a lot of people, what are your thoughts? #booktok #hauntingadeline #hdcarlton #booktoker ♬ original sound – Meg 📚
What Is The Haunting Adeline Series About?
Although commonly known as the Haunting Adeline series, author H.D. Carlton refers to it as the Cat and Mouse duet.
The story portrays the struggles of the titular Adeline Riley, a best-selling author who recently moved into her late grandmother’s manor—a Gothic residence that will become her first haunting. Adeline’s second haunting is her great-grandmother’s diary and the fact that she might have been murdered in the manor’s grounds.
But as she investigates the events in her new abode, her third haunting happens—Zade, a man obsessed with Adeline upon first sight who goes above and beyond to be with her. And as it turns out, his relentless stalking and assault might be the lesser of Adeline’s worries.
Because Zade is a hacker and an online vigilante who targets sex trafficking rings, and as Adeline becomes his new obsession, she also becomes a new target.
@karly_reads Reading order of H.D. Carlton’s books: Satan’s Affair, Haunting Adeline, Hunting Adeline and Where’e Molly. These are all dark romances, so please read the content ⚠️ #darkromance #thecatandmouseduet #hdcarlton #hauntingadeline #huntingadeline #wheresmolly #satansaffair #readingorder #darkthemes ♬ original sound – Karly 🌹 Reads
The Books in The Haunting Adeline Series
The Haunting Adeline series is also known as the Cat and Mouse duet, which features two books meant to be read together.
Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet #1)
The first book in the series focuses on Adeline’s desire to solve the mystery surrounding her great-grandmother’s death while dealing with the increasing danger posed by her stalker and the escalation of his actions.
As the first book of the duet, it sets the dynamics between Adeline and Zade—his obsession, abuse, devotion, and the relationship that blooms between them. As this novel features plenty of erotica, it includes plenty of explicit scenes with varying degrees of consent.
It’s worth mentioning that the book ends on a dramatic cliffhanger, connecting it immediately with the next entry.
Hunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet #2)
The last entry of the Haunting Adeline book series begins immediately after the cliffhanger of the first book. Therefore, not much can be said without spoiling the story, so be warned about potential plot-revealing descriptions.
After being taken, Adeline must do what she can to survive—all while Zade’s ruthless desperation to get to her drives him to the edge. But will they be the same if they manage to reunite?
Fast-paced and much darker in nature, Hunting Adeline is a book divided into two parts. The first half is perhaps the darkest plotline within the series, as it depicts disturbing content that eclipses previous examples. The second half, instead, describes a journey towards healing through growth and revenge.
Satan’s Affair
This novella is not strictly part of the Haunting Adeline book series, yet it takes place in the same universe. As such, the author recommends reading it before the main story, even though it is not needed to understand the plot.
Who Should Read The Haunting Adeline Series?
Haunting Adeline and Hunting Adeline are often considered books for audiences over 18 due to their sexually-explicit nature.
However, due to the disturbing topics depicted, the Haunting Adeline book series is perhaps best for readers over 21 years old—particularly seasoned dark romance enjoyers, as it might not be the best gateway series for people unfamiliar with the genre.
On the other hand, readers attracted to the allure of the forbidden and those who seek to explore the darkest facets of human nature might enjoy the tale crafted by H. D. Carlton and the twisted romance between her two leads.
So, if you enjoyed our post about the Haunting Adeline book series, you can visit BookScouter to purchase the mentioned books or explore our recent blog posts to find a wider selection of books in various genres, like mystery romance books, best old romance books, spicy BookTok books, best horror books, and best psychological thriller books.
