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 bestselling 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, and 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’s 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.

Critic reviews

Praise for The Appearance of Annie van Sinderen:

“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 can’t-put-down story.”—The Associated Press

“Historical, supernatural and modern New York all collide in this well-researched and highly intriguing novel.”—AM New York

“This strange and gorgeous novel is rich with humor, ghosts, art, and true love, but I think I loved it best for its characters: a group of loyal friends who ricochet together through the streets of a hummingly alive New York City, searching for a lost ring, a devastating secret, and, most of all, for the people they want to become.”—Marisa de los Santos, New York Times bestselling author of The Precious One, Belong to Me, and Saving Lucas Biggs

“Lush, twisty and spellbinding, Katherine Howe’s The Appearance of Annie van Sinderen will keep you up all night and not let you go in the morning. Utterly beguiling from beginning to end.”—Megan Abbott, award-winning author of Dare Me and The Fever

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.

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.

Good story

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

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

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.