The House of Hidden Secrets by C.E. Rose
Genre: Psychological thriller, Gothic, Suspense
Read: 9th April 2021
Published: 14th April 2021
★★★ 3 stars
DESCRIPTION:
The imposing gates of Ramsay Hall yawned open. As Serena and 4-year-old Lana walked up the long driveway, little did they know the dark secrets that lay within.
When Serena Green accepted the role of housekeeper for wealthy widower Hayden Ramsay, she never imagined her new home would be Ramsay Hall, an ancient, sprawling mansion in Northern England.
Serena quickly becomes an integral part of the household, making friends with Hayden’s younger son Hugh, despite Jack, his older brother’s, coldness towards her and Lana.
But the hall’s beautiful exterior hides many ugly secrets. Though Serena and Jack begin to grow closer, she’s confused by his behaviour around Lana. What is he guilty of? And is there more to their mother’s death than the Ramsay men will admit, even to themselves?
As the harrowing past of Ramsay Hall unravels, Serena fresh start becomes a fresh horror. She fears for her and Lana’s safety, but what are the bleak secrets in Serena’s own past?
This house is built on a lifetime of lies… and the truth might just bring the walls crashing down.
A twisty, gripping and utterly unputdownable new thriller that fans of Lisa Jewell, C.L. Taylor and Mark Edwards will love.
MY REVIEW:
I'm thrilled to be taking part in the #BlogTour for C.E. Rose's debut gothic thriller THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN SECRETS.
I was firstly drawn to the stunning cover of this book which promised a dark and twisted tale that verged on being a gothic thriller. The slow burning prose is atmospheric and almost sinister in part that builds to a climatic end in which secrets continue to remain hidden to all but the reader. But what of those secrets? Whose secrets? And what secrets are they? Enter if you dare and all will be revealed...
Serena Green is a woman with secrets, fleeing danger and intent on making a new life for herself and her 4 year old daughter Lana. Accepting a job as temporary housekeeper for elderly patriarch Hayden Ramsay, who is recovering from a fall and hip replacement, Serena and Lana move into the sprawling country mansion miles away from whence she came. The isolation is perfect for her needs as she endeavours to keep her daughter safe. But Ramsay Hall is filled to the brim with secrets of its own leaving Serena pondering whether Hayden and his sons Jack and Hugh are more dangerous that they at first appear.
In a cottage set up like a dolls house on a bigger scale, Serena and Lana make their home. That is, until older son Jack returns from Manchester at the end of the week having made silk and becoming the youngest man to achieve the level of QC. He learns from younger brother Hugh that their father has taken on a housekeeper for the interim and that they are living in the cottage. Jack is speechless. No one has entered that cottage since...well, for two years. It has sat empty and neglected, and the unexpected arrival of a housekeeper they didn't need now taking up residence there...it was almost too much for him. He didn't need to see or speak to them anyway, since he spent most of his time in chambers or in court during the week...and then the rest he could just get himself blotto anyway.
And then he saw Lana. No one said she had a little girl. As soon as he saw her, he couldn't take his eyes off her. If he could just have one touch, one smell of her skin and her innocence...but no. He mustn't. He couldn't go back there.
It was Hugh who took Lana under his wing, reading to her and playing with her. He was like a man-child himself and his excitement in even the little things brought a happiness to Lana's face that Serena hadn't seen in sometime. She knew then that her daughter was safe while she worked. If not Hugh, then it was the silent companionship of Lexie who had not barked once the whole time they had been there. Lana and Lexie spent their days together when Hugh was busy working on a neighbouring farm where he had been mysteriously banished to. For whatever reason, Serena didn't know and it wasn't her business.
And then there was Hayden, the elderly father and patriarch of the estate. He was friendly and companionable that Serena felt at ease in his presence. He would often encourage her to take a drink with him and even read a book together over which they could talk and dissect it. But it seems even Hayden has secrets. Serena discovers a file hidden beneath his mattress when changing the sheets one day, only glancing at it before being summoned elsewhere. But if she spied were true...then it was a game-changer. But was it her business to interfere?
Then when Jack returns to Ramsay Hall at the end of the week, Serena suddenly takes ill and, without much explanation, pleads him for help. Then seemingly overnight the two of them are no longer avoiding each other and Serena isn't afraid of him anymore. In fact, she desires him. There is something alluring about his broodiness which ultimately leads her to his bed. But when Lana discovers a bloodstained pink nightie which was obviously a child's and asks her mother about it, Serena mind goes into overdrive. A child's nightie? Hidden away in his bathroom where no one could find it? What does it mean? And how dare Jack keep this from her?
And when she sees him outside in the garden with Lana in his arms, kissing the top of her head, she flies into a rage screaming "Get away from her! Don't touch her!"
All the while, an undercurrent has been simmering below the surface in Ramsay Hall. Secrets that have remained secret for far too long. But should they revealed? And at what cost? And what of the mysterious happenings? The garage that caught fire. Lexie's sudden injury, limping on occasion. Those hidden papers in Hayden's room.
But when one of them starts digging into Serena's past threatening to reveal her secrets, what choice does she have left? And what secrets will she uncover in the process?
A dark and compelling tale, THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN SECRETS has plenty of mysteries to be solved and secrets to uncover filled with a palpable tension with frail and fickle characters. It is a slow burn but it also has something addictive about it as you delve deeper into its hidden depths.
Told by the alternating perspectives of Serena, Jack and Hugh, the story that unfolds drip-feeds us enough to keep us turning the pages and keep us puzzled at the same time. It seems everyone in the story has secrets...including the house. There was certainly an eerie undertone but it wasn't as creepy as I had anticipated it to be. In fact, the story seemed to meander with the promise of secrets but no real thrills or chills.
THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN SECRETS is a book with a hidden agenda as well but sure to keep readers engaged throughout. The twist at the end was one I thought was a clever touch to remain in keeping with the whole dark and atmospheric eeriness. I actually didn't see it coming but it made perfect sense in a perfectly twisted way. I applaud the author for its inclusion.
A different kind of tale, THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN SECRETS verges on gothic but is perfect for fans of slow burn psychological thrillers.
C.E. Rose is the pseudonym for thriller writer Caroline England and THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN SECRETS is her first under that name.
I would like to thank #CERose, #CarolineEngland, #RachelsRandomResources and #HeraBooks for an ARC of #TheHouseOfHiddenSecrets in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
The House of Hidden Secrets is the first title written under her pseudonym, CE Rose.
Social Media links:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads
No comments:
Post a Comment