REVIEW: The Forgotten Tower by Lulu Taylor

The Forgotten Tower by Lulu Taylor

Genre: Contemporary fiction, Historical fiction, Dual timeline, Gothic

Read: 10th December 2023

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Published: 28th November 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The Forgotten Tower is an absorbing gothic tale about a castle full of dark secrets and buried history, from Sunday Times top ten bestselling author Lulu Taylor.

Georgie never wanted to be a chatelaine, but beautiful Wakefield Castle is her husband Casper’s legacy and he is determined to restore its fortunes. Until now Georgie has hidden her troubled past, and she fears that their new surroundings will bring her deepest fears to the surface. The discovery of an inherited recipe book with notes in many hands leads her to suspect that the castle hides secrets at least as troubling as her own . . .

In 1939, the five Wakefield children are still recovering from their family tragedy: the disappearance of their parents and a new life with their kind but remote elderly relatives. When war is declared, the family prepares to make sacrifices and open the castle doors to newcomers, including cases of fossils from the Natural History Museum and their curator, Arthur Humphries, and the Foster brothers, a pair of evacuees. But while the castle offers a refuge, it is also a place to hide things: sorrow, secrets and even people . . .

In the present, Georgie is entranced by the two towers that form part of the castle walls. One is hidden behind a fence and clearly forgotten. The other becomes her project, a place for her own escape. As the castle begins to offer up its secrets, Georgie realises that, in order to be truly free, she must confront what she most dreads.

MY THOUGHTS:

Behind closed doors...secrets unfold...

This is my second novel by Lulu Taylor and I thoroughly enjoy her style. A contemporary dual timeline story weaving together the past and the present to create a mesmerising gothic tale that is compelling and enthralling.

Georgie Wakefield's husband Caspar has just inherited his great uncle's crumbling estate Wakefield Castle and while it is her worst nightmare to move into the decrepit ruins, the will stated great uncle Archie's wishes in that they restore it to its former glory. Georgie has spent her life living behind the scenes and is more than happy to do so, so instilled in Wakefield Castle she finds a rhythm there and is pleasantly surprised that she actually enjoys it. In the attics, she comes across an ancient recipe book which she must decipher and adapt to modern cuisine and with it comes a mystery that she finds herself embroiled in.

It's 1939 and the country is on the brink of war. For those living at Wakefield Castle must find a new normal. Five siblings 18 year old Imogen, 16 year old twins Miranda and Rosalind along with their younger brothers Toby and Archie live in the castle with their grandfather and his sister great aunt Constance after the tragedy which claimed their parents'. When war is declared, the natural history museum sends one of its curators, Mr Arthur Humphries, to Wakefield together with some precious artefacts and fossils for safekeeping for the duration of the war. And then aunt Constance takes in a couple of evacuees from London, brothers Tom and Robbie Foster. The castle begins to come alive again with the laughter of children. But danger lies ahead as well as a secret being kept from them in the West Tower.

There was so much going on in this book I feel there might have been just a little too much. Georgie's childhood trauma, Pippa's marriage difficulties, Lady Viktoria, the famous TV chef Georgie creates recipes for along with the past timeline of a gothic mystery and a family trapped in the castle during the war. I enjoyed it, but I think there was just a little too much being crammed in. Having said that, the pace was rather slow around the middle, but it picked up again and was finished off nicely with a satisfactory epilogue. BUT...my biggest gripe is I still don't understand why the tower was fenced off and out of bounds for eighty years. And why it was left the way it was. That was never explained. And what happened to the poisoned jam? Even though it was given away, nothing happened.

Despite this, it is still a compelling read that really pulls you back in time. If you love dual timelines, then you will love this book. There is plenty of intrigue and secrets to keep you engaged.

I would like to thank #LuluTaylor, #Netgalley and #PanMacmillan for an ARC of #TheForgottenTower in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Lulu was brought up in the Oxfordshire countryside, attended a girls’ school and then went to Oxford University, where she read English Literature. After university, she worked in publishing for several years, before becoming a novelist.

Lulu says of her books: ‘I’ve always adored stories of the rich and reckless at play, everything from The Great Gatsby to the brilliant blockbuster novels of the 80s. It’s fantastic escapism, and I’ve always loved creating my own stories of adventure, romance and luxury. My heroines are often very privileged and blessed with great looks and good health – but that doesn’t mean their lives are simple – far from it. They go through plenty of drama and suffering before everything is finally resolved.'

Lulu now lives in West Dorset near the Somerset border, with her husband and two children.

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REVIEW: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Genre: Gothic, Thriller, Suspense, Classics, Historical fiction

Read: 25th August 2023

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First published: August 1938

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

'Rebecca is a masterpiece in which du Maurier pulls off several spectacular high-wire acts that many great writers wouldn't attempt' JIM CRACE, GUARDIAN

On a trip to the South of France, the shy heroine of Rebecca falls in love with Maxim de Winter, a handsome widower. Although his proposal comes as a surprise, she happily agrees to marry him. But as they arrive at her husband's home, Manderley, a change comes over Maxim, and the young bride is filled with dread. Friendless in the isolated mansion, she realises that she barely knows him. In every corner of every room is the phantom of his beautiful first wife, Rebecca, and the new Mrs de Winter walks in her shadow.

Ancient, beautiful Manderley, between the rose garden and the sea, is the county's showpiece. Rebecca made it so - even a year after her death, Rebecca's influence still rules there. How can Maxim de Winter's shy new bride ever fill her place or escape her vital shadow?

A shadow that grows longer and darker as the brief summer fades, until, in a moment of climatic revelations, it threatens to eclipse Manderley and its inhabitants completely...

Not since Jane Eyre has a heroine faced such difficulty with the other woman. An international bestseller that has never gone out of print, Rebecca is the haunting story of a young girl consumed by love and the struggle to find her identity.

'As a new generation of readers are introduced to the wicked housekeeper Mrs Danvers and learn Maxim de Winter's terrible secret, this chilling, suspenseful tale is as fresh and readable as it was when it was first written' DAILY TELEGRAPH

MY THOUGHTS:

"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again..."

What a divine classic this is! After reading several novels recently set in Cornwall and channelling the late great Daphne du Maurier I felt I had to revisit Manderley again. And I was not disappointed. This is the second time I have read it and I've lost count of the number of times I have watched Alfred Hitchcock's rendition of it...and he does it wonderful justice. I rewatched it after finishing reading it and I recall several lines in the movie were word for word from the book.

So who is Rebecca? Or rather, who was Rebecca? REBECCA is the story of widower Max de Winter and his young bride who he met when she was serving as a companion to a wealthy and rather snobbish American woman, Edith Van Hopper, in Monte Carlo. Mrs Van Hopper was boorish and intent on an invitation to Manderley, a sprawling estate in the county of Cornwall known for miles around. It was rather amusing the way her companion and Max de Winter had hoodwinked her while she was laid up with influenza and they traipsed all about Monte Carlo. But the piece-de-resistance came when he announced that they were to be married and she was to continue on to New York without her companion.

And so became Mrs de Winter. And after honeymooning in Italy, the happy couple returned to greener shores and the new Mrs de Winter arrives at her new home on the arm of her husband Max. Manderley. It was all she had ever dreamed about. So beautiful, so grand and so big. The new Mrs de Winter is not used to such a lifestyle and soon finds herself lost in the sprawling structure.

Upon arrival, she meets the house staff headed up by the rather daunting Mrs Danvers. Polite she may be, her comments are cleverly barbed designed to injure. Danvers is not to be trusted, it is clear, though for reasons Mrs de Winter is not yet sure. She meets Max's sister Beatrice and her husband Giles as well as the estate manager Frank Crawley. All of whom are perfectly nice to her and bear no malice. Only Mrs Danvers seems to dislike her so. But why?

And then there is the silent whispers that tinker through the great halls of Manderley, and across the rose garden, and along the cove that runs into the sea. The shadows that are seen everywhere - in the morning room, in the west wing, everywhere she turns is the ghost of Rebecca, the late Mrs de Winter, Max's first wife. And Mrs Danvers is her greatest devotee, her ally. She ensures Rebecca's memory is kept alive even as the new Mrs de Winter tries to take her place she cannot command the same respect held for the late Mrs de Winter. 

Perhaps this is the reason why du Maurier omitted to name our main character - as she is only known as Mrs de Winter - for where ever she turned, she stood in the shadow of Rebecca.

"Rebecca, always Rebecca. Wherever I walked in Manderley, wherever I sat, even in my thought and in my dreams, I met Rebecca. I knew her figure now, the long slim legs, the small and narrow feet. Her shoulders broader than mine, the capable clever hands. Hands that could steer a boat, could hold a horse. Hands that arranged flowers, made the models of ships, and wrote ‘Max from Rebecca’ on the fly-leaf of a book. I knew her face too, small and oval, the clear white skin, the cloud of dark hair. I knew the scent she wore, I could guess her laughter and her smile. If I heard it, even among a thousand others, I should recognise her voice. Rebecca, always Rebecca. I should never be rid of Rebecca."

So who was the main character of this classic gothic tale? The new Mrs de Winter? Or Rebecca, whose ghost of a memory remained everywhere at Manderley? Or was the main character Manderley? The amount of times it is mentioned gives its position credence. And after all, it is the epicentre of the tale. One would think that Manderley was Rebecca's childhood home, the way Mrs Danvers defined it, particularly in the closing scenes. And yet it is described in detail by the new Mrs de Winter which, at the time of narration, many years have since passed as the opening chapter suggests...she dreamt she was at Manderley again and the way she drifted through its ruins as she herself were a ghost. When Manderley itself was now just a ghost of itself.

REBECCA is a classic tale of gothic proportions, so atmospheric and chilling on the pages as well as on the screen under Hitchcock's expert hand. Du Maurier was ahead of her time in her characterisation as well as her ability to thrill and chill readers. From the terrifying housekeeper to the crashing waves of the sea to the echoing halls of Manderley. Such a clever twist towards the end that unfolded in superb detail by du Maurier's deftly written hand. I never tire of this tale and I doubt I ever will. A true classic.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daphne du Maurier, in full Dame Daphne du Maurier, married name Lady Daphne Browning, was born 13th May 1907 in London, England. She was an English novelist and playwright, daughter of actor-manager Sir Gerald du Maurier, best known for her novel Rebecca (1938).

Although she married Major Frederick Browning, she continued writing under her maiden name, and her subsequent novels became bestsellers, earning her enormous wealth and fame. Many have been successfully adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca, Frenchman's Creek, My Cousin Rachel, and Jamaica Inn, and the short stories The Birds and Don't Look Now/Not After Midnight. While Alfred Hitchcock's films based upon her novels proceeded to make her one of the best-known authors in the world, she enjoyed the life of a fairy princess in a mansion in Cornwall called Menabilly, which served as the model for Manderley in Rebecca.

Du Maurier’s first novel, The Loving Spirit (1931), was followed by many successful, usually romantic tales set on the wild coast of Cornwall, where she came to live. She also wrote historical fiction, several plays, and Vanishing Cornwall (1967), a travel guide. Her popular Rebecca was made into a motion picture in 1940. Du Maurier was made a Dame Commander in the Order of the British Empire in 1969. She published an autobiography, Growing Pains, in 1977; the collection The Rendezvous and Other Stories in 1980; and a literary reminiscence, The Rebecca Notebook and Other Memories, in 1981.

Daphne du Maurier died 19th April 1989, aged 81, in Cornwall.

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REVIEW: Evil at Alardyce House by Heather Atkinson

Evil at Alardyce House (Alardyce House #4) by Heather Atkinson

Genre: Historical thriller, Gothic

Read: 1st July 2023

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Published: 30th June 2023

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The history of the Alardyce family is fraught with scandal and intrigue.

But after her eldest son Robert leaves the country, finally Amy Alardyce can enjoy some peace. Robert is wanted by the police for some unspeakable crimes, and his family hope he has run far enough and never looks back.

A decade after his disappearance, Robert has forged a successful life for himself, making his fortune from the diamond and gold mines of Africa. But when he sees a death notice in the newspaper, the call to go home to Scotland grows ever louder.

At Alardyce House, there are big changes too, and the fragile peace the family have enjoyed for so long is feeling more fragile than ever. And as the past comes back to haunt Amy and her children, will she have to finally accept that the curse of the Alardcye family can never be outrun…

MY THOUGHTS:

Can the curse of the Alardyce family be outrun...?

I'm saddened to have come to the end of this brilliant series but wow! What an ending. EVIL AT ALARDYCE HOUSE is the fourth, and I'm guessing the final book to what was essentially a trilogy to begin with. But having read the previous three, given where the third one "His Fatal Legacy" ended a fourth one was needed to bring the story full circle and to give closure to the Alardyce curse.

It's now 1910 - a new century, a new era - and twelve years have passed since Robert Alardyce fled his home after a violent confrontation with his mother and stepfather. He bought a passage to the first ship leaving port and headed to the South Americas where he bounced around before finding his feet and a new purpose. South Africa and the diamond mines. That's where he wanted to be, to make his fortune and drive out the dark whispers that tempt him. He makes contacts there and is as ruthless as ever as he gains control of the biggest diamond mine in the country. But after twelve years, he decides to head home to reclaim his wife and daughter whom have never been far from his thoughts.

When the door knocks at Alardyce House some two weeks later, everyone is shocked to see Robert standing there. If he was expecting forgiveness then he was to be disappointed. Twelve years may be a long time but people have long memories. But of all of them, his mother Amy is overjoyed to see her firstborn return home. His wife, Jane, is another matter. While he returned with the intention of reuniting with her, Jane has spent the past decade trying to move on from the torment he had put her through. The deep wounds have lasting scars as anger continues to burn inside her heart. He assures her that he is a changed man but the past looms heavily with its cloud of doubt. Past actions tell a different story. Is he sincere? She cannot be sure. Amy is quick to give him the benefit of the doubt but then she is his mother. And Robert has always cleverly disguised his motives in the past.

Alardyce House has always had its fair share of tragedy and it seems that isn't over. Although change has come, the family legacy must continue though some have trouble adjusting to their new roles. Amy has always been the matriarch that holds the family together but does she have the strength to continue now? Or is it time to pass the mantle over to the next generation?

I wasn't sure what to expect from this final installment of the Alardyce series when I began but I thoroughly enjoyed it. All our old favourites return, as well as some not-so favourite. There are a few surprises along the way and I even shed a few tears. Though the era has moved from Victorian times, there is still that element that runs over from the previous era. Certainly there are some Victorian traditions which Amy is quick to continue to recognise despite the changing times. 

If you like gritty, dark and sometimes chilling historical fiction then I thoroughly recommend this series! I do advise that they be read in order. And be warned, the first one is especially dark, graphic and very chilling.

Overall, EVIL AT ALARDYCE HOUSE is an addictive read that will keep you turning the pages until the very shocking end. The entire series has been just as addictive, just as absorbing and decidedly very chilling at times. But a brilliant read from start to finish. I've enjoyed my time with the Alardyces.

I would like to thank #HeatherAtkinson, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #EvilAtAlardyceHouse in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Heather Atkinson is the author of over fifty books – predominantly in the crime fiction genre.  Although Lancashire born and bred she now lives with her family, including twin teenage daughters and a cat called Mavis, on the beautiful west coast of Scotland. 

Heather's tastes in all things are eclectic, which extends to her writing. Although she primarily write crime books - especially gangland thrillers - she also write paranormal, historical romance and fantasy. She publishes on Amazon Kindle and some of her novels are available in paperback too. She has also signed my first traditional publishing contract with Boldwood Books for the gangland Gallowburn series, set in Glasgow. As well as the republication of the Alardyce Trilogy, beginning with "The Missing Girls of Alardyce House".

When she's not writing - which isn't very often - she enjoys reading, especially the Assassin's Creed novels, Agatha Christie, Oscar de Muriel and Edgar Allan Poe, among many others. Heather also enjoys walking, exercising and spending time with her family.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | BookBub | Newsletter |Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Boldwood Books by following them on these social media accounts.

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REVIEW: The Cursed Heir by Heather Atkinson

The Cursed Heir (The Alardyce Trilogy #2) by Heather Atkinson

Genre: Historical thriller, Gothic, Victorian era

Read: 22nd October 2022

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Published: 25th October 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Edinburgh 1896. At Alardyce House, the family are gathered to celebrate the engagement of the heir to the estate, Robert, to his childhood sweetheart. But what should be a precious memory for his mother Amy, is marred by darkness. For Robert’s biological father was a demon and a criminal, and now Robert is coming-of-age, disturbing reports are beginning to emerge about his behaviour.

Amy is torn between her love and loyalty to her son, her hope that she can save his soul, and her growing sense of dread that the streets of Edinburgh aren’t safe when Robert is in town. Meanwhile the increasing distance between Robert and his stepfather Henry threatens the peace of her loving marriage.

The Alardyce family is riven by secrets and scandal, but will this most cursed heir of all, be the one to ruin their reputation forever, or can the power of a mother’s love save them all?

If you love Emily Organ, Kate Saunders and Ann Granger, you’ll love The Cursed Heir. Discover bestselling author Heather Atkinson and you'll never look back...

Please note this book was previously published as Corruption of the Son.

MY THOUGHTS:

This is the second book in the Alardyce Trilogy and whilst it could suffice as a standalone I do highly recommend that the first book "The Missing Girls of Alardyce House" be read before this one. Only then can the reader fully appreciate the background as well as the lengths applied by some of those therein.

THE CURSED HEIR is a chilling follow-up to the first, even more disturbing, book following on the legacy it seems that Matthew has left behind. After escaping the torturous cellar with the death of Matthew and Edward then tried and hanged for his murder and that of several others, Amy married Henry and went on to have three children with him, making their home at Alardyce House. Now Robert has grown and is becoming a young man...but just what else is he becoming?

Edinburgh, 1896: It's Boxing Day and Amy Alardyce has awoken from the most horrific nightmare where she was bound and at the mercy of her torturers - Edward Alardyce, her cousin, and Matthew Crowle, the father of her illegitimate son Robert. It is as if she right back there in Edward's basement and the horror she experienced at their deviant hands. But she awakens to find it was just a dream...one that had seemed so real. 

But now she has a new problem on her hands. Yesterday, her beloved son Robert announced his engagement to Jane, the niece of Esther, the one time wife of Matthew and victim of his abuse. Even worse, she witnessed for herself the lascivious leer and malicious grin that swept over her son's face as he gazed upon one of their maids. It is a look she knows all too well. One she saw on Matthew's face, as well as Edward's as he tortured her. But this cannot be. Robert is her sweet beautiful son. But he also shares some of the more unpleasant and deviant traits of his dead father.

Amy confides in her husband Henry before sharing her fears with Jane's guardian and aunt, Esther and husband William, who have loved and cared for Jane for most of her life. Together they know they must do everything to stop the wedding from ever going ahead for fear that he will be the ruin of young Jane. This leads to separating the young couple by any means necessary to a dramatic chase to Gretna Green to stop the impending marriage from proceeding.

Despite his looming darkness, Amy is sure she can reach the kind the gentle side of her beloved son before it's too late. But is it already too late? She enlists the help of a local herbalist, Magda, who returns from the previous book whilst Henry secures someone loyal and able to keep a close eye over Robert. But is it enough?

Then when a young maid is found beaten and bloody in the snow one morning, Amy's hopes of ever reaching her son are dashed. But Robert denies any knowledge of the incident as we delve deeper and deeper into this dark and sinister tale. Is someone setting Robert up? Or is he truly his father's son?

THE CURSED HEIR is never more aptly titled as we watch Amy and Henry battle with the concept that their son Robert may have inherited his biological father's sinister and evil traits. As the reader, we are privy to each of the character's thoughts but even we question just how far the apple really does fall from the tree.

The story unfolds with plenty of twists and shocks along the way as some secrets are kept even from our view. And when they come, how will those at Alardyce House and beyond react? Amy sees and speaks to Matthew in her dreams and often nightmares where he promises she will join him soon. But are they just dreams? Or something far more sinister? Is Amy's life in danger?

THE CURSED HEIR picks up right where the first book ended but the opening pages are just like being thrust back to that very moment of horrifying torture at the hands of Matthew and Edward. I swear I was having flashbacks myself! This book isn't as horrific as the first but it is still equally chilling.

I enjoyed the part everyone played although there were a couple of loose ends in Amy's maid Hazel and Robert's friend Andrew that I hope will be tied up in the final installment to this dark trilogy. I think my favourites were Rush and Magda. Nothing got past those two and I do hope to see more of them to come.

The final curtain, when it fell, gave a glimpse into what is to come...and I cannot wait to see how THAT plays out!

Overall, an addictive, albeit disturbing, and very chilling gothic thriller that will keep you up late into the night turning the pages until the very end.

I would like to thank #HeatherAtkinson, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheCursedHeir in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Heather Atkinson is the author of over fifty books – predominantly in the crime fiction genre.  Although Lancashire born and bred she now lives with her family, including twin teenage daughters and a cat called Mavis, on the beautiful west coast of Scotland. 

Heather's tastes in all things are eclectic, which extends to her writing. Although she primarily write crime books - especially gangland thrillers - she also write paranormal, historical romance and fantasy. She publishes on Amazon Kindle and some of her novels are available in paperback too. She has also signed my first traditional publishing contract with Boldwood Books for the gangland Gallowburn series, set in Glasgow. As well as the republication of the Alardyce Trilogy, beginning with "The Missing Girls of Alardyce House".

When she's not writing - which isn't very often - she enjoys reading, especially the Assassin's Creed novels, Agatha Christie, Oscar de Muriel and Edgar Allan Poe, among many others. Heather also enjoys walking, exercising and spending time with her family.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | BookBub | Newsletter |Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Boldwood Books by following them on these social media accounts.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

REVIEW: The Last House on the Cliff by Anne Wyn Clark

The Last House on the Cliff by Anne Wyn Clark

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense, Gothic

Read: 6th September 2022

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Published: 18th August 2022

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

When a young widow’s little girl vanishes, could a dark family secret hold the answer?

On the death of her aunt Gwyn, Lowri returns once more to Gwyn’s home on the remote island of Anglesey, Wales, with her young daughter Ruby in tow. Lowri hadn’t seen her aunt in years, but this beautiful island offers a fresh start.

Yet right away, strange things begin to happen. Ruby insists an old woman is visiting her when no one else is watching, and a tattered old doll keeps being left for Ruby to find.

Then Ruby goes missing. Desperately seeking answers no one seems to have, Lowri looks to her dark family past for clues. But the secrets she uncovers suggest that Ruby is not the only one in danger, and time is running out – for both of them…

A terrifically dark and twisty tale that asks: can you ever really trust those closest to you? Perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, Cass Green and C.J. Tudor.

MY THOUGHTS:

"A secluded island. A missing child. A home built on lies."

Firstly, that cover. Blue is my favourite colour and its hues incorporated with the seemingly stormy aspect of a house on a cliff made for an atmospheric cover that pretty much called to me alone. I love it.

And then there is the setting. I don't know what it is with books I have chosen these past few days but the last three in order were all atmospheric and set on an island off one of each of the UK's countries. First Scotland, then Ireland and now Wales. And I love Wales. I've not been there but I love the scenery, the coastline and oh the accent. So naturally, what with the cover and the setting, I was totally drawn to this book.

And then there is the story. A missing child, a creepy house, family secrets and a tangled web of lies. What more could I ask for?

Well, namely, for the pace to be a little quicker and though the vivid descriptions added to the atmospheric ambience, a little less wordiness would have been better. I'm not a huge descriptive nature fan and prefer dialogue but having said that, descriptive narratives are imperative to a story as atmospheric as this one. I just wish it was a little less drawn out in that respect. However, the story is dripping with atmosphere and tension as it delves into loss, grief and family. And of course, all the lies upon which it was all built.

Lowri was raised by a Welsh father and a Midlands-born mother, both from whom she felt something of a distance. Her mother didn't appear to be the maternal type and dismissed her more often than not, and though her father doted on her his first love was her mother above all else. Lowri fell somewhere below that par. Apart from her desolated childhood, Lowri eagerly looked forward to the summers she spent on the island of Angelsey in North Wales with her Aunt Gwyn who ran a funeral home. But then suddenly, her father and her aunt had a falling out and she never saw her aunt again.

Some two decades later, Lowri is raising her own daughter Ruby single-handedly after first the death of Ruby's father and then the acrimonious divorce of her money-grabbing leech of a second husband Darren, when she receives the devastating news that her aunt Gwyn has died and her presence is required for both the funeral and the reader of the will. It seems odd to be returning to Wales after so long where she reconnects with her aunt's cousins Awel and Elis, who live in the house which she has fond memories of. Lowri has memories of a cold and aloof Awel but age seems to have mellowed the woman who appears to welcome them with open arms - Ruby especially. Elis, who lost his hearing to meningitis as a child, hasn't changed and welcomes Lowri and her daughter.

But strange things begin to happen almost from the very first day. There's the eerie appearance of a dirty old rag doll that seems to continually turn up for Ruby to find, a mysterious hooded figure and some very strange noises. Added to that, there is a locked door from which sounds emanate. A door which has been locked for as long as Lowri can remember, her aunt citing rotten floorboards and old furniture within. Lowri is unnerved and beginning to wonder if returning to the old house was a good idea.

The reading of the will brings a few surprises afterwhich is the funeral. And then...Ruby disappears. Lowri is frantic. Her disappearance sparking memories of the mysterious disappearance of another young girl some twenty years before who has never been found. Has Ruby met the same fate? Or is it just a coincidence?

Oh, there was so much going on in this atmospheric tale of gothic proportions that it almost felt a little Daphne du Maurier. The house was a character all of its own with its gothic rooms and locked doors and creepy noises, not to mention its setting upon a cliff. You could almost feel the wind whipping around the exterior and rattling the windows.

Despite its very slow start, THE LAST HOUSE ON THE CLIFF did redeem itself with a stellar mystery within a mystery. It was twisty, it was complex and rather intricate...and deliciously dark to boot. Told mostly from Lowri's perspective in the past and present interwoven with a couple of other voices, the story unfolds almost like a supernatural tale that is incredibly gothic in nature.

And when the twists and truth are finally revealed, Lowri discovers some dark and disturbing secrets about the past. But the question is...will she accept all that has been revealed and go along with it? Or will she walk away from it all? I did find that a little unbelievable to be honest but the final twist at the end...that was the most delicious part. Epic!

A very original and unique thriller, THE LAST HOUSE ON THE CLIFF is a dark tale of family secrets with a very gothic atmosphere. Very compelling indeed.

I would like to thank #AnneWynClark, #NetGalley and #AvonBooks for an ARC of #TheLastHouseOnTheCliff in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Anne Wyn Clark lives in the UK, in the Midlands, with her husband, son and a feisty chinchilla. She has three (now grown-up) children and five grandchildren. She is particularly partial to Italian food, decent red wine (or any coloured wine come to that...) and cake - and has been known to over-indulge in each on occasions. She is passionate about animals and their welfare. Whilst she has enjoyed writing for many years, a love of all things gothic inspired her to try her hand at producing something dark and twisty, culminating in the haunting Whisper Cottage.

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REVIEW: The Belladonna Maze by Sinéad Crowley

The Belladonna Maze by Sinéad Crowley

Genre: Dual timeline, Historical mystery, Gothic

Read: 30th June 2022

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Published: 5th May 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

From bestselling crime novelist and renowned Irish TV journalist Sinéad Crowley, gripping dual timelines entwine in this heart-stopping story of old secrets and forbidden passion.

An old house can hold many secrets. Hollowpark in the west of Ireland certainly does. At the heart of the gardens is an intricate maze, named after a deadly poison, Belladonna. If you know the way through, it's magical, a hiding place and playground like no other. If you don't, it's a place of fear and sinister riddles, where a young girl once went missing and was never seen again.

Grace comes to Hollowpark as a nanny for young Skye FitzMahon. Soon the mysterious past of Hollowpark has seduced her. Who is the woman she sometimes glimpses in an upstairs window? Or the apparition who keeps showing up unexpectedly, pleading, 'Find me'. And how can she fight her growing attraction to Skye's father?

MY THOUGHTS:

Hollowpark Hall protects its own...

What a delightful read THE BELLADONNA MAZE is! I wasn't quite sure what to expect diving in but I do so love gothic ghost story that is both mysterious and atmospheric so I couldn't resist...especially with that eye-catching cover. It was hauntingly captivating from the beginning, though not in any scary sense, and I could have easily devoured it in one sitting...and almost did. The rhythmic prose was almost hypnotic and I felt myself drawn into the pages and that of Hollowpark Hall itself.

The story begins in 1825 at Hollowpark Hall in the west of Ireland where it looms outside a little village and holds many secrets...and shadows. At the heart of its gardens is the beautifully intricate but deadly Belladonna maze. 

When Deirdre Fitzmahon was a child, her only playmate was the gardener's son Ciaran O'Mahony. But as the years pass, their friendship is then separated by class and position and Deirdre finds herself very lonely. Her only friend is her little terrier, Prince. Her own father, disappointed that she was not born a boy and heir to the Hollowpark Hall estate, her only value was to marry with her husband becoming heir to the estate which she calls home. And so about a decade later she marries Laurence Foster who will become master of Hollowpark upon her father's death. But as all good gothic tales go, tragedy strikes thus placing Deirdre's and Hollowpark's future in peril.

In 2007, Grace is a nanny who separates her time between summers in Greece, working the holiday kids klub in family resorts and enjoying the Mediterranean sun, with the rest of the year working as a nanny in London. By pure chance she meets Patrick Fitzmahon and his wife Isla when saving their little girl Skye from drowning and impresses them with how well she interacts with their daughter. They then offer her a permanent position as nanny at their home at Hollowpark Hall.

From the moment she sets foot on Hollowpark soil, Grace becomes entranced by the Hall's mysterious past. When she glimpses the reflection of a teenage girl in jeans in her mirror and later an apparition of a woman in 19th century black dress, she puts her hallucinations down to dehydration and fatigue. But the more familiar she becomes with the place the more she glimpses the two ghostly figures. Mostly they remain silent, but there are times when they are imploring "Find her", although she isn't quite sure who "her" actually is. Inevitably, Grace is shaken by these happenings and begins to make plans to leave Hollowpark.

But when she discovers the unexplained disappearance of a teenage girl in 1973 who went missing following a Halloween party on the estate, Grace becomes even more intrigued. Is this the girl she has been "seeing" within the empty rooms in the Hall? If so, what is it she is trying to tell her? And the dark haired woman in 19th century dress? Could she be Deirdre Fitzmahon? What ghosts lay in unrest here? And why? And then there is the added complication of her growing attraction to Patrick.

Beginning with a significant incident in the Belladonna maze itself in 1825, the story then separated between the nineteenth century, 1973 and 2007 in alternating chapters. The dual timelines flow together seamlessly although I prefer the unfolding story of the past as it was far more atmospheric. I would have liked to know more about what happened to Deirdre beyond the gate house and appearing as an apparition in the present day, so I did find that a little opened ended. Her story is hinted at through Delia's telling and Jack's research but nothing really tangible. I loved the little dog that befriended Grace from the start and given its knowledge of the maze in leading her through, I guessed correctly as to his origins.

I enjoyed Grace's narrative too though not quite as much as Deirdre's. However it did improve the further she delved into the Hall's mysteries. Her interactions with Skye were delightful though she struck me as a lonely person needing to set down some roots. I was happy with how it ended for her and the author gave Deirdre something of an ending as well which I thought was a lovely touch.

The descriptions of Hollowpark Hall and the maze especially were excellent and intricate by design. I was immersed completely in the narrative that I didn't really want to leave. Ironically, I am not a paranormal/supernatural fan BUT I do enjoy gothic tales with a supernatural element to it in the form of unrested ghosts. Despite its different timeline, I was reminded a little of Louise Douglas' "The Room in the Attic" which also had a similar element to it.

An entertaining read from beginning to end, THE BELLADONNA MAZE is a fascinating tale with a steady pace throughout that is as intriguing as it is atmospheric. A thoroughly enjoyable tale with even a little nod to the Queen of Crime herself, Agatha Christie.

I would like to thank #SinéadCrowley, #NetGalley and #HeadOfZeus for an ARC of #TheBelladonnaMaze in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Sinead Crowley was born in 1974 and is an Irish novelist and journalist. She is Arts and Media Correspondent for RTE News and is a lecturer in journalism at Dublin City University.

Sinead went to Dublin City University and University College Dublin and got a bachelor’s degree in media studies and communication. She also got a master’s in women’s studies.

She started her journalism career for the Northside People, where she was also the film reviewer. Sinead later worked at radio stations like Clare FM, Radio Kerry, and Raidio Na Life. In 1997, she joined Raidio Teilifis Eireann as a reporter in Irish language programmes and joined the RTE Newsroom as a journalist in August of 1999.

Her debut thriller "Can Anybody Help Me?" was a bestseller in Ireland, and both it and her second book "Are You Watching Me?" were shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards Crime Book of the Year.

"The Belladonna Maze" is the first stand alone novel and was released in the year 2022. Dual timelines entwine in a heart stopper of a story about forbidden passion and old secrets.

Sinead is a fluent Irish speaker and lives in Dublin with her husband and two young sons.

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REVIEW: The Missing Girls of Alardyce House by Heather Atkinson

The Missing Girls of Alardyce House (The Alardyce Trilogy #1) by Heather Atkinson

Genre: Historical fiction, Historical thriller, Gothic, Victoria Era

Read: 12th June 2022

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Amazon

Published: 15th June 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Edinburgh 1880. When Amy Osbourne’s parents are lost at sea, she is forced to leave her London home and is sent to live with her aunt and uncle at the opposite end of the country.

Alardyce House is depressing and dreary, her aunt haughty and cruel. Amy strikes up a friendship with her cousin Edward but his older brother Henry is just as conceited as his mother, and a mutual loathing develops between him and Amy. 

As her weeks of mourning pass, the realisation begins to dawn on Amy that her aunt has designs on her inheritance and the candidate she favours to be her niece’s husband fills Amy with horror. Struggling in this strange, unwelcoming environment, Amy begins to suspect that something isn’t right at Alardyce House. 

There are rumours below stairs of a monster on the loose, local women are being brutally attacked and her cousin Henry is the prime suspect. Alardyce House is full of dark secrets and Amy isn’t sure who she can trust…

MY THOUGHTS:

What a delightfully dark historical thriller THE MISSING GIRLS OF ALARDYCE HOUSE is. I really didn't know what to expect, having never read the author before, but the premise was incredibly intriguing. As soon as I started I had the sense of it being an atmospheric gothic tale in the wilds of Scotland. Ok, so Edinburgh is not exactly "the wild Highlands", but the setting of Alardyce House elicits a sense of isolation and malevolence with decidedly creepy undertones. Definitely atmospheric.

Beginning in 1878, Amy Osbourne is sent to live with her maternal uncle and his family at Alardyce House in Edinburgh, until she is of age or has found a husband, after the death of her parents at sea. She warms to her uncle Alfred but finds her aunt Lenora cold and haughty and their oldest son Henry as aloof as his mother. Alardyce House itself, whilst a commanding presence, is dreary and depressing and ruled by her aunt with an iron fist. Her only saving grace is her friendship with the youngest son Edward who is something of a black sheep to the family, with his predilections that he soon confides in Amy, and her maid Nettie. Both of whom warn her of the dangers of getting too close to Henry.

Soon after her arrival, her aunt Lenora decides to marry the girl off quickly so that she could be her husband's problem and no longer their's, and proceeds to host dinner parties in order to parade her for eligible bachelors as if she were a show pony. Amy doesn't appreciate being ambushed but realises she must play along and relent to her aunt's ministrations if not for the sake of peace. After all, she is still in mourning and cannot marry until after her period of mourning is over. When two possible suitors are inevitably found neither of them are deemed worthy and therefore a new plan must be hatched. And that is when aunt Lenora devises her most evil and cunning scheme.

However unbeknownst to the family Amy has had her eye caught by one of the footman, Matthew, who pursues her arduously. And it is here that Amy goes all Lady Chatterley for a time until their secret tryst is discovered. And aunt Lenora inflicts her worst. It is then that Amy's fate has been decided - she is to marry the oldest son and heir to the Alardyce estate, Henry. Amy is horrified. After all that she knows about the unsavoury character and his depraved proclivities, Henry is the last person she wishes to be wedded to. She couldn't think of anything worse. And so, along with Nettie and Edward as her allies, she devises and plan to escape.

Ten years later it's 1888 and Amy is now working as a governess in England having lost her fortune to her uncle of which he was the trustee. She has been highly recommended by a family who are relocating to France to a Esther Huntington who is in need of a governess for her niece Jane, of whom she is responsible for after the deaths of her dear sister and husband. The two women form a friendship almost immediately and Jane flourishes under Amy's guiding hand. Life is good for Amy now and she is happy once again. And then Esther's husband returns...and Amy couldn't be more shocked. How could this be? Will he reveal her true identity? Or has she unwittingly put herself and all she loves at risk?

Amy thought life had improved since her escape from Alardyce House but now she finds that her past has caught up with her and nothing is at all what she had thought. And the lovely family she had been working for turns out to be anything but. But try and try as she might, she cannot escape the clutches that terrorise her now. Is this to be her fate? Is she being punished for her sins? She has but one friend she can run to, if she can make her escape, but is he really?

THE MISSING GIRLS OF ALARDYCE HOUSE, while a little far-fetched at times, was a thoroughly entertaining historical thriller that was atmospheric, sinister and very very dark. The horrors within was something akin to a present day thriller but then again, this was set in the times of Jack the Ripper who was just as depraved as the malevolent characters penned here and even gained a mention in passing as if to emphasise the fact. It most definitely is not for the faint-hearted with some of the descriptions and elements of torture together with the brief albeit vivid depiction of violence.

The characters were very well portrayed, drawn with just enough detail for ambiguity or purpose. Amy was nothing at all like women of the Victorian era should behave, which did give her an air of unlikeability. She was promiscuous from an early age and didn't hide the fact believing it to be quite normal behaviour. That being said it had tarnished her reputation lending her aunt to conniving up ways to rid herself of what she saw as a problem whilst gaining something out of it in the process. Hoisting up her skirts and going all Lady Chatterley with a footman was a decidedly stupid move but Amy showed no real care at the time, that one had to wonder if she brought a lot of her misfortune on herself. But then, the violence that was to come further into the story, she did not. However, Amy certainly didn't do herself any favours with her carry on in her early days at Alardyce House. As for the other stalwart characters in the tale, each had their parts to play and they did so very well.

The twist, when it came, was stealthily done and an even bigger one towards the end turned everything on its head! I was fist-pumping the air because it was as I suspected in the very beginning and then forgot about it...until I didn't. I wasn't surprised but I was still shocked particularly at the lengths of depravity.

A clever well-plotted story that had be intrigued from the start, THE MISSING GIRLS OF ALARDYCE HOUSE is a thoroughly enjoyable gothic tale of secrets and deception that is both atmospheric and deliciously dark. It is also depraved and disturbing. But very addictive. With a fantastically chilling ending that clearly paves the way for the second book.

This is a very difficult book to review because there is so much I want to say but can't! I do recommend you read it yourself. It may be your thing, it may not be. But it is an addictive ride just the same.

I would like to thank #HeatherAtkinson, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheMissingGirlsOfAlardyceHouse in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Heather Atkinson is the author of over fifty books – predominantly in the crime fiction genre.  Although Lancashire born and bred she now lives with her family, including twin teenage daughters and a cat called Mavis, on the beautiful west coast of Scotland. 

Heather's tastes in all things are eclectic, which extends to her writing. Although she primarily write crime books - especially gangland thrillers - she also write paranormal, historical romance and fantasy. She publishes on Amazon Kindle and some of her novels are available in paperback too. She has also signed my first traditional publishing contract with Boldwood Books for the gangland Gallowburn series, set in Glasgow. As well as the republication of the Alardyce Trilogy, beginning with "The Missing Girls of Alardyce House".

When she's not writing - which isn't very often - she enjoys reading, especially the Assassin's Creed novels, Agatha Christie, Oscar de Muriel and Edgar Allan Poe, among many others. Heather also enjoys walking, exercising and spending time with her family.

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REVIEW: The Room in the Attic by Louise Douglas

The Room in the Attic by Louise Douglas

Genre: Historical fiction, Women's fiction, General fiction, Gothic

Read: 4th October 2021

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Published: 12th October 2021

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

A child who does not know her name…

In 1903 fishermen find a wrecked boat containing a woman, who has been badly beaten, and a young girl. An ambulance is sent for, and the two survivors are taken to All Hallows, the imposing asylum, hidden deep on Dartmoor. The woman remains in a coma, but the little girl, Harriet, awakens and is taken to an attic room, far away from the noise of the asylum, and is put in the care of Nurse Emma Everdeen.

Two motherless boys banished to boarding school…

In 1993, All Hallows is now a boarding school. Following his mother’s death and his father’s hasty remarriage, Lewis Tyler is banished to Dartmoor, stripped of his fashionable clothes, shorn of his long hair, and left feeling more alone than ever. There he meets Isak, another lost soul, and whilst refurbishment of the dormitories is taking place, the boys are marooned up in the attic, in an old wing of the school.

Cries and calls from the past that can no longer be ignored…

All Hallows is a building full of memories, whispers, cries from the past. As Lewis and Isak learn more about the fate of Harriet, and Nurse Emma’s desperate fight to keep the little girl safe, it soon becomes clear there are ghosts who are still restless.

Are they ghosts the boys hear at night in the room above, are they the unquiet souls from the asylum still caught between the walls? And can Lewis and Isak bring peace to All Hallows before the past breaks them first…

MY REVIEW:

Where do I begin? WOW! Just...WOW! This is my first foray into Louise Douglas and I wasn't sure what to expect...but THE ROOM IN THE ATTIC just blew me away! I can't even begin to categorise its genre...is it historical? Is it women's fiction? Is it a mystery? Is it even paranormal (which is not really my thing)? Basically, it's a bit of everything rolled into a gothic ghost story complete with a rambling asylum and strange noises in the attic. The plot is twisty, the scene is atmospheric and the characters are completely engaging. This book had me absorbed from the very first page right through the very last...so much so that I read it in one sitting! I began it when I went to bed, thinking I'd read for a couple of hours before hitting the hay, but noooo...I simply had to keep reading till the end...right up till 4.20am!

So the first thing that drew me to the book was the fact it was dual timeline. I love these types of books where two stories unfold and are seamlessly woven together by the end. But this one goes one step further than that which to say much more would be to reveal spoilers...and you really must read the book yourself to experience it. The other thing which drew me was the whole atmospheric setting of a creepy asylum on Dartmoor miles from anywhere and the mystery that unfolds there.

On a cold and rainy night in 1903, fishermen come across a seemingly deserted boat floating at sea off the Devon coast. Upon closer inspection they discover a young child and an unconscious woman laid out barely alive. Their rescuers take them to the local doctor who sedates the distressed young child and the two are transferred to All Hallows asylum on Dartmoor. There, the woman is given the Royal Suite where she is to be treated and recover in private away from the asylum's inmates whilst the child is taken into care by 70 year old nurse, Emma Everdeen who has lived most of her life at All Hallows. To protect the child from the inmates, both she and the nurse are secluded to the asylum's attic rooms until her mother has been nursed back to health.

But the child, whose name is Harriet, is reluctant to reveal any details about who they are or where they come from or where they may have been heading when they were found near death in the freezing waters. Emma slowly begins to extract information from the child and they form an unlikely alliance. Emma still grieves for the child she lost fifty years before and Harriet longs to be reunited with her mother. However, the woman shows no signs of waking from her comatose state and to reunite the pair now would only distress the child further. But the more time Emma spends with Harriet, the more she grows fond of the child and fears the time when she must hand her back to her mother. 

But something sinister is lurking beyond the walls of All Hallows and Emma feels a malevolence she can't explain and a desperate need to protect little Harriet. But at what cost?

Ninety years later in 1993, 13 year old Lewis Tyler has been shipped off to boarding school and finds himself billeted at All Hallows, now repurposed as a boarding school for boys. Misunderstood and grieving the loss of his mother, Lewis finds himself banished here when his father remarries. The school has recently suffered flood damage and with part of the west wing closed for renovations, Lewis is given accommodation in an attic room with one other student, Isak Salen. 

The boys begin a tentative friendship having been forced to share a room but soon find themselves sharing confidences and a shared interest in the history of All Hallows when it was an asylum, stemming from the skeletal remains Lewis uncovers in grounds outside of the asylum's graveyard. Lewis and Isak decide to solve the mystery of who the remains were and why they were buried in unconsecrated ground reserved for criminals. Added to that are the creaking noises they hear in the night as well as the shadows that pass their door. The wails and moans that appear to haunt the old asylum have them terrified and longing to uncover what is really rattling around up there. Their enquiries lead them to the school library where there is a nook specially devoted to the history of All Hallows and everything therein. And there they come across an old nursing manual that had once belonged to Emma Everdeen and an autobiography written by an inmate Thalia Nunes, as they endeavour to uncover what really happened in the room in the attic ninety years ago.

There are several themes highlighted throughout the story. The first being abandonment as Lewis, Isak and Emma were all abandoned by their families for one reason or another. All of them dumped at All Hallows for different reasons but abandoned all the same. Identity is another as Lewis was stripped of his goth clothes, piercings, hair and make-up and given the standard uniform that is issued to every student so that they all resemble each other. The same could be said for those in 1903 when patients were stripped of anything that defined them and women, particularly those who were seen as unruly and free-thinking, were simply thrown into asylums as punishment until they learned to conform with society and to be respectable. Then there is grief. Both Lewis and Isak lost their mothers whilst Emma lost her child as each of them struggle to come to terms with their losses. And finally there is isolation. This is something that can have a detrimental effect on even the sanest of minds in how it can play with one's definition of reality.

But what I love most about THE ROOM IN THE ATTIC is the chilling atmospheric feel. It has that real gothic sense in the classic Victorian building that brings that sense of foreboding in the form of an asylum where the demented are imprisoned, shackled and their souls tortured. It lends a creepiness to the story that is enough to leave you sleeping with the lights on. It is eerie without being scary but it is still chilling.

I also love the short snappy chapters - always a favourite of mine to keep a story moving at a fast pace. And fast paced it is.

Whilst reading this story, I was reminded of a movie I once saw called "The Love Letter" in which a man in the present day finds an old letter in an antique desk he purchases and he responds, placing the letter where he found the original one which then ensues a correspondence between himself in he present day and a woman from the 1800s. But there is nothing romantic here as this story is chilling and sinister with an atmospheric eeriness...but still one you just cannot put down.

THE ROOM IN THE ATTIC is a brilliant tale that sweeps you back and forth from 1903 to 1993 and back again until finally landing in the present day of 2021. The chapters alternate between Emma in 1903 and Lewis in 1993 at a fast pace that will have you turning the pages at the rate of knots.

There is so much to love about this book! And love it, I did! It totally consumed me and I cannot wait to delve into more of Louise Douglas' tales if this one is anything to go by!

Perfect for fans of gothic tales with the right amount of atmospheric creepiness as a ghostly page turner.

I would like to thank #LouiseDouglas, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheRoomInTheAttic in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Louise Douglas is the bestselling and brilliantly reviewed author of 6 novels including The Love of my Life and Missing You – a RNA award winner. The Secrets Between Us was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick. She lives in the West Country. Louise’s first book for Boldwood, The House by the Sea was published in March 2020.

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