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.
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 Haunting Adeline Series’ Order
- FAQs
- 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 depictions of depraved, dark dynamics.
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Content Warning for The Haunting Adeline Series
As previously mentioned, the Haunting Adeline series is not a read suitable 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.
Finally, the author has received accusations of depicting conspiracy content that uncomfortably mimics antisemitic and QAnon-adjacent discourse, which she has denied.
If any or all portrayals of the aforementioned content are upsetting, avoiding any of the book saga entries is perhaps your best option.
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 at 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 Haunting Adeline Series’ Order
The Haunting Adeline series, referred to by the author as the Cat and Mouse series, is comprised of five books.
The main books are the Haunting Adeline and Hunting Adeline duology, but while they’re the only mandatory reads to understand the series, you can also check out the prequel, sequel, and novellas set in the same universe.
With that in mind, the optimal Haunting Adeline series order is as follows:
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, although it is not necessary to understand the plot.
Each Halloween, towns nationwide welcome terrifying haunted houses, exciting rides, and the promise of death for those with rotten souls. They welcome Satan’s Affair, and Sybil is in charge of ensuring the bloodbath leads to the purest of cleansings.
Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet #1)
The first book in the series centers on Adeline’s quest to unravel the mystery surrounding her great-grandmother’s death, while navigating the escalating danger posed by her stalker and the intensification 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, immediately connecting it to 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, 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, on the other hand, describes a journey toward healing through growth and revenge.
Where’s Molly
Where’s Molly is a spinoff from the main Cat and Mouse duology. It gives eager readers a glimpse into the fate and whereabouts of Molly Devereaux, a survivor of abuse and human trafficking.
After Molly’s sudden disappearance shakes her community, secrets unravel. Nonetheless, Molly perseveres to overcome her trauma, reconnect with her sister, and develop a passionate relationship with the devoted yet possessive Cage Everhart.
This book contains spoilers for Hunting Adeline, so it’s best to read it after finishing that story. However, it’s an optional read.
Phantom
This mafia romance novel is a prequel to the Cat and Mouse duet, set in the tumultuous year of 1944 inside the haunting halls of Parsons Manor. Genevieve, the lady of the manor, succumbs alongside her marriage when her husband betrays her one too many times until a stranger shows up—her Phantom.
Ronaldo, obsessed with her and stalking her from the shadows, was waiting for his chance to claim her. Unable to resist their attraction for one another, betrayals and forbidden love blossom in the night.
Although this book is a prequel and takes place before the main story, most readers report enjoying it much more after finishing the duology. Similar to Where’s Molly, Phantom is not a mandatory read either.
FAQs
Where can you buy Haunting Adeline?
Haunting Adeline and other novels in the Cat and Mouse series in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats, and you can find them at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Audible, and other book retailers. If you wish to save a few bucks on your physical copies, purchase them through BookScouter.
Is Haunting Adeline spicy?
All books in the Cat and Mouse series are more than just spicy—they have a lot of scenes with very explicit content. Many of the scenes also feature kink content that might be triggering due to their dark nature.
What are the spicy chapters in Haunting Adeline?
You can find spicy content in Haunting Adeline within chapters 8, 16, 18, 21, 22, 23, 25, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 38, 40, and 41.
Why was Haunting Adeline banned?
Haunting Adeline was banned on Amazon due to the trigger warnings. However, the problem was fixed, and now you can find all entries on the series within the platform.
What books are similar to Haunting Adeline?
Books with a similar tone and themes to Haunting Adeline include the Boyne Club series by Vi Carter, Lights Out by Navessa Allen, and the Four Horsemen series by Sarah Bailey.
If you want to explore more dark romance novels with high spice content, be sure to check out BookScouter’s list of the best dark romance books.
Who Should Read The Haunting Adeline Series?
The Haunting Adeline series is a collection of books for adults that may be more suitable for audiences over 21 years old, primarily because of the graphic, explicit, triggering, and disturbing nature of the content depicted.
Likewise, it’s recommended for seasoned dark romance fans, as it may not be the most accessible gateway series for those unfamiliar with the genre.
On the other hand, readers drawn to the allure of the forbidden and those seeking to explore the darkest facets of human nature may enjoy the tale crafted by H. D. Carlton and the twisted romance between her two leads. Lucky readers might also get their hands on the Haunting Adeline special edition books and boxes to enjoy the forbidden with an extra aesthetic flair.
If you enjoyed our post about the Haunting Adeline book series, you can visit BookScouter to purchase the mentioned books. Alternatively, explore our recent blog posts for a wider selection of books across various genres, including mystery romance books, mafia romance books, best old romance books, spicy BookTok books, best horror books, and best psychological thriller books.
