THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN SECRETS
Did you know that CE Rose is me?
The House of Hidden Secrets
Tomorrow is THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN SECRETS publication day!😎
You might not be surprised to discover that my first CE Rose gothic-tinged psychological thriller revolves around - well, a house. Fictional Ramsay Hall is a Grade II-listed farmhouse in Cheshire set in acres of lush land with a long, winding driveway, outhouses, a gatekeeper’s cottage, a maze and a dilapidated barn. And of course it is bulging with dusty drapes, panelled rooms, antiques and old paintings. But most of all with dark secrets…
For those who’ve already read my Caroline England psychological thrillers, you’ll know that I’m very keen on characterisation, putting ordinary folk in challenging, extraordinary situations, or stripping back layers of who they appear to be on the surface and exposing the real person beneath. Those individuals are often flawed - they do something bad, they fall in love with someone they shouldn’t, they betray or make the wrong choices, maybe even commit a crime. Some are more than just misguided; indeed, they’re downright evil, but they are still human beings, so I try to make them as realistic as I can within the context of a twisty-turny thriller.
How do I do this? Like most authors I observe, steal bits of friends (sorry guys!) or relatives or people I know, or I draw on my days as a criminal and divorce lawyer. In The House of Hidden Secrets we have the master of the house, Hayden Ramsay. He appears friendly beneath his imposing frame, but what’s going on behind his watchful eyes? Then there’s his barrister son, Jack. He’s done something dreadful and it haunts him day and night. And what about easy-going Hugh? He’s living in a shabby caravan at a farm up the road. Why did Hayden throw him out?
When calm and efficient Serena starts as their housekeeper, she shakes up their lives and unearths buried secrets. But what is she hiding from? Has she got some of her own?
As I wrote The House of Hidden Secrets, it eventually occurred that Ramsay Hall was a personality too! Authenticity was a little more tricky for this character. Strolling around a Grade II-listed farmhouse at anytime - let alone during a pandemic - is a challenge, so it ended up being a Frankenstein house - made up of the many creaky old properties I visited on the internet - but perhaps also because it accommodates a monster…
The House of Hidden Secrets
Tomorrow is THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN SECRETS publication day!😎
You might not be surprised to discover that my first CE Rose gothic-tinged psychological thriller revolves around - well, a house. Fictional Ramsay Hall is a Grade II-listed farmhouse in Cheshire set in acres of lush land with a long, winding driveway, outhouses, a gatekeeper’s cottage, a maze and a dilapidated barn. And of course it is bulging with dusty drapes, panelled rooms, antiques and old paintings. But most of all with dark secrets…
For those who’ve already read my Caroline England psychological thrillers, you’ll know that I’m very keen on characterisation, putting ordinary folk in challenging, extraordinary situations, or stripping back layers of who they appear to be on the surface and exposing the real person beneath. Those individuals are often flawed - they do something bad, they fall in love with someone they shouldn’t, they betray or make the wrong choices, maybe even commit a crime. Some are more than just misguided; indeed, they’re downright evil, but they are still human beings, so I try to make them as realistic as I can within the context of a twisty-turny thriller.
How do I do this? Like most authors I observe, steal bits of friends (sorry guys!) or relatives or people I know, or I draw on my days as a criminal and divorce lawyer. In The House of Hidden Secrets we have the master of the house, Hayden Ramsay. He appears friendly beneath his imposing frame, but what’s going on behind his watchful eyes? Then there’s his barrister son, Jack. He’s done something dreadful and it haunts him day and night. And what about easy-going Hugh? He’s living in a shabby caravan at a farm up the road. Why did Hayden throw him out?
When calm and efficient Serena starts as their housekeeper, she shakes up their lives and unearths buried secrets. But what is she hiding from? Has she got some of her own?
As I wrote The House of Hidden Secrets, it eventually occurred that Ramsay Hall was a personality too! Authenticity was a little more tricky for this character. Strolling around a Grade II-listed farmhouse at anytime - let alone during a pandemic - is a challenge, so it ended up being a Frankenstein house - made up of the many creaky old properties I visited on the internet - but perhaps also because it accommodates a monster…
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