Haunting Adeline is a dark romance about Adeline Reilly, a successful author who becomes the fixation of a mysterious stalker named “Z.”
As Adeline uncovers unsettling secrets in her great-grandmother’s old mansion, Z watches her every move, claiming he’s protecting her while blurring every boundary. Their relationship spirals into an intense, obsessive push-and-pull driven by danger, desire, and power.
Haunting Adeline mixes gothic mystery, criminal underworld elements, and a very dark, morally gray romance meant for readers who enjoy extreme themes. If you’re new to the genre, I suggest starting here: dark romance vs romance.
Haunting Adeline: Book Details
Title: Haunting Adeline
Series: Cat and Mouse Duet
Author: H. D. Carlton
Price: $4.99+
Length: 629 pages
Audio: 15hrs 49min
Average Rating: 4-stars
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Trigger warnings for Haunting Adeline
Haunting Adeline contains very dark, explicit, and potentially distressing content, so readers should approach with caution. (Many of these are common tropes in dark romance books).
- Stalking (central to the plot)
- Non-consensual and coercive sexual situations
- Graphic sexual violence
- Kidnapping and captivity
- Blood, gore, and violence
- Human trafficking (including child trafficking) and exploitation
- Psychological manipulation and obsession
- Threats, weapons, and physical harm
- Mentions of murder and torture
- General dark, disturbing themes and power imbalance
Haunting Adeline vs Other Dark Romance Books
How does Haunting Adeline stack up against other popular dark romance books? Let’s take a look.
*Data shown here is based primarily on my personal research, reviews, and opinions. Reader community POV across the web has also been taken into consideration.
Haunting Adeline: Difficult Scenes & Where They Occur (Non-Graphic)
1. Stalking & Home Invasion
Chapters: 1–5, 7, 10
Z follows Adeline, enters her home without permission, leaves notes, and surveils her. Escalates through the first third of the book.
2. Graveyard Scene (Non-consensual sexual contact)
Chapter: 12
A coercive sexual encounter occurs in the graveyard; widely considered one of the most distressing scenes.
3. Attempted Assault by a Minor Antagonist
Chapter: 18
A non-Zade character attempts to assault Adeline and threatens her before the scene is interrupted.
4. Zade’s Coercive Sexual Encounters (Multiple)
Chapters: 14, 17, 20, 23
Several encounters involve coercion, forced sexual acts, and no meaningful consent; these are intense scenes throughout the middle of the book.
5. Captivity / Confinement Elements
Chapters: 21–23
Adeline is restrained or held in ways that remove her autonomy; combines psychological and physical control.
6. Human Trafficking Plotline
Chapters: Starting around chapter 8, especially 24–29
Z’s vigilante work exposes trafficking rings, including child victims, with graphic descriptions of violence and conditions.
7. Violence, Murder & Torture
Chapters: 27–31
Z’s missions involve killings, torture, shootings, and graphic gore during confrontations with traffickers.
8. Extreme Violence + Threats
Chapters: 33–35
The ending includes intense violence, kidnapping consequences, emotional breakdowns, and high psychological tension.
Haunting Adeline FAQ
Have more questions? Hopefully I can answer them here. Do drop a comment below if I’ve missed anything.
1. What is Haunting Adeline about?
Haunting Adeline follows an author who becomes the obsession of a mysterious stalker named Zade. The story blends dark romance, psychological tension, and gothic mystery.
2. Is Haunting Adeline a dark romance?
Yes, it’s one of the darkest and most extreme romance novels in the genre. It contains intense themes like stalking, coercion, violence, and human trafficking.
3. What are the major trigger warnings for Haunting Adeline?
Readers should be aware of stalking, non-consent, graphic violence, human trafficking, and psychological manipulation. The book is recommended only for readers comfortable with extreme content.
4. Who are the main characters in Haunting Adeline?
The story centers on Adeline Reilly, an author, and Zade Meadows, her obsessive stalker. Their dynamic drives the romance and thriller elements of the plot.
5. Is Haunting Adeline based on a true story?
No, the book is entirely fictional. Its darker elements are created for dramatic and romantic tension.
6. Is Haunting Adeline appropriate for young readers?
No, it is strictly for adults due to graphic sexual content, extreme violence, and disturbing themes. It is not suitable for teens or sensitive readers.
7. Does Haunting Adeline have a happy ending?
The book ends with unresolved tension and heavy emotional fallout. The full story continues in the sequel, Hunting Adeline.
8. Do you need to read Haunting Adeline before Hunting Adeline?
Yes, the second book directly continues the plot and character arcs. Without the first book, major motivations and conflicts won’t make sense.
Thanks for reading!