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The Dead Summer
Leaving behind a broken marriage and a city life she no longer wants to lead, Martha Armstrong takes her baby daughter to start again in the beautiful English countryside. Living in a tranquil cottage in the heat of a perfect summer, it seems that all her wishes have come true.
Until the noises start.
Plagued by mysterious footsteps, scratchings, and crying in the night, Martha is at first unnerved and then terrified. What is happening to her idyllic existence? Is it all her imagination or is someone persecuting her?
Little does Martha know but the cottage has witnessed terrible hatred, fear and pain in the past, when two young Irish sisters lived in it. The fate of these girls and the baby born there now casts a dark shadow over Martha and her daughter.
Martha begins to unravel the story of the cottage's past, and uncover the terrifying secret that still haunts it. But can she discover the truth in time to keep herself and her little girl safe from the evil that threatens them?
Until the noises start.
Plagued by mysterious footsteps, scratchings, and crying in the night, Martha is at first unnerved and then terrified. What is happening to her idyllic existence? Is it all her imagination or is someone persecuting her?
Little does Martha know but the cottage has witnessed terrible hatred, fear and pain in the past, when two young Irish sisters lived in it. The fate of these girls and the baby born there now casts a dark shadow over Martha and her daughter.
Martha begins to unravel the story of the cottage's past, and uncover the terrifying secret that still haunts it. But can she discover the truth in time to keep herself and her little girl safe from the evil that threatens them?
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
42 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
January 14, 2020
This was one of those books that surprised me. I started reading this book one night about 10pm and about 50 pages into the book I realised I had better leave this one until day time as it gave me the shivers, It takes a good writer to scare someone with her writing and Helen Moorhouse achives this with her book. The setting for this book is an English Country side cottage where Martha and her baby daughter come to live and little does Martha know but the Cottage has witnessed terrible hatred fear and pain in the past. The story moves between two different eras and we also learn the story of two sisters Marion and Lily. I do not read ghost stories but this book really works as a chilling and haunting story that made me want to turn the pages and get to the end. Will look forward to Helen Moorhouse's next novel. If you like kate morton's - House at Riverton
or Diane Settlefield - The Thirteenth Tale
you might enjoy this Novel.
or Diane Settlefield - The Thirteenth Tale
you might enjoy this Novel.
June 19, 2018
The book is really good. The plot is very exciting and the twist in the end is great. I didn't like several things though. First, in the middle of the book there was a bit of trying to elongate the story by injecting redundant information that got me bored for a while. Another thing is that there were some expressions that made it so obvious that the opposite was going to happen, so I was able to predict a lot of the events of the story, and I like surprises. xD
Other than that, I loved the novel so much and every character's personality was beautifully laid out throughout the story. It is scary, but as long as you know this can be not true you're fine.
Other than that, I loved the novel so much and every character's personality was beautifully laid out throughout the story. It is scary, but as long as you know this can be not true you're fine.
August 24, 2013
A fantastic read, by a fantastic author. Written so well, and if you like scary stuff (which I do) you will love this book. I didn't want it to end. Highly recommended to everyone! I liked the book that much I had to contact the author to let her know!
April 28, 2024
First time I have read a ghost story and it was very chilling in parts.
I think the author describes very well how the main character feels in the presence of something quite sinister and scary. I will say no more!!
I think the author describes very well how the main character feels in the presence of something quite sinister and scary. I will say no more!!
January 15, 2025
This book OMG?? This book was another one of the books I got as a Christmas gift off my friend and I am so thankful for getting them off her because I really enjoyed this book. The tension as everything slowly builds up is absolutely amazing, the characters are decent and (mostly) likeable and the whole setting and backstory is great. I loved how the chapters were from the present perspective of the main character and then went to the letters written about the main house owners in the past. The storyline definitely ruined me, especially the heartbreaking story of the little boy. I understand it’s just a book but it made my heart break and I definitely shed a couple of tears, I don’t understand how some people can have children and then treat them like shit, like what’s the point in having children in the first place if you will HURT your own child. I wished for a better ending for both the little boy Henry and Lily but I guess they got somewhat of a closure/happy ending in the final pages of the book. I loved how the author linked both the past and the present, having the main character live in the haunted cottage along with her daughter and having somewhat of a connection with the past with both sisters and the little boy living in the cottage. While this book was one of my longer reads, I totally enjoyed every second reading this book. 100% recommend reading this book.
October 16, 2021
Enjoyed this book even though it wouldn’t be my usual choice of story as I’m not into the paranormal. The sadness of the lives of the previous tenants of the cottage held me to the end. The tragedy of little Henry’s life and Lily, his caring aunt, was heartbreaking – the violence of their suffering at the hands of Lily’s crazy sister Marian was very real. The tension held until the end. The device of telling their story through old letters worked well for me, as they were written in an era when people wrote letters. However, I found the character of Martha, the current tenant was contrived. Why someone in her situation, recently separated with an infant child, a move from London to a haunted cottage in the countryside, would be so snappy with everyone who was nice to her and wanted to help? It didn’t ring true. Nor did the fact that she would leave the baby alone in a room where strange things were happening, and she did this too often. Any mother would have taken the baby in to sleep with her. However, once I suspended disbelief in relation to these things I looked forward to getting back to the book each evening. If the |Martha character’s reactions had been more believable I’d have given the book 4 stars.
November 15, 2017
My new Best Author
I read alot of books, mostly nonfiction and research about what laymen term paranormal activity. I approach it from a Roman Catholic stance. This book is so spot on I am foaming at the mouth to read all Ms. Morehouse's books. I actually cried at the end of this wonderful book, which I have only done once before in my 64 year existence. I highly recommend this book to all. It renewed my hope in this genre.
I read alot of books, mostly nonfiction and research about what laymen term paranormal activity. I approach it from a Roman Catholic stance. This book is so spot on I am foaming at the mouth to read all Ms. Morehouse's books. I actually cried at the end of this wonderful book, which I have only done once before in my 64 year existence. I highly recommend this book to all. It renewed my hope in this genre.
February 5, 2018
I got the book in a thrift store in Greece when I was on vacation and I had no expectations at all.
The story is both creepy and heartbreaking (in a good way). At the end I cried a lot...
Even though there are some flaws in the writing, some plot twists are rather predictable and cliche, this is still a very good book. I think if you liked The Secret Scripture by Sebasitian Barry or The Thirteenth Tale by Dian Setterfield, you will like this one too.
The story is both creepy and heartbreaking (in a good way). At the end I cried a lot...
Even though there are some flaws in the writing, some plot twists are rather predictable and cliche, this is still a very good book. I think if you liked The Secret Scripture by Sebasitian Barry or The Thirteenth Tale by Dian Setterfield, you will like this one too.
January 17, 2019
Entertaining modern version of the gothic novel theme. Woman moves into haunted cottage, strange happenings ensue leading to investigation and explanation of the events with some romance thrown in. We also follow another timeline/story throughout the book of a teenage girl and her dire circumstances which of course play a major role in the current events.
December 29, 2020
After Gilly Macmillan's "Odd Child Out" this is my favourite book of this year.
What you think is a cliched "haunted house" story turns out to be so much more. It's heartbreaking and terrifying at the same time. I read it in one sitting.
What you think is a cliched "haunted house" story turns out to be so much more. It's heartbreaking and terrifying at the same time. I read it in one sitting.
July 17, 2017
Creepy as hell but heartbreaking. Really liked this.
November 10, 2017
Seriously creepy. I️ loved the haunting and that it was an actual ghost! So many books I read it turns out not to be a ghost.
December 20, 2017
Review to follow
September 29, 2018
It is so nice to pick up a book and not be able to put it down. The dead summer is one of those books.
May 17, 2019
Was totally hooked from the first to the last page. Whilst having a supernatural edge it wasn't over the top but just reeled you in.
October 28, 2019
I thought it was an ok read more sad than scary definitely not a horror story, found Martha annoying for some reason. Maybe a mild ghost story.
May 6, 2024
Great book. Love it
Love it, I read it every year. Great Story, compelling, wonderfully written and makes the reader Feel the events and characters so vividly
Love it, I read it every year. Great Story, compelling, wonderfully written and makes the reader Feel the events and characters so vividly
April 19, 2020
I quite simply could not set this one down! One of my all time favourite books that I will forever highly recommend.
July 1, 2012
The Dead Summer ist der Debütroman der irischen Autorin Helen Moorhouse, eine Haunted House Novel. Die Inhaltsangabe vom Backcover verrät nicht zuviel, denn man wird fast sofort in die Geschichte um Martha, die von bösen Geistern aus der Vergangenheit in ihrem Rückzugsort in Furcht und Schrecken versetzt wird, hineingezogen. Zunächst verabschieden sich jedoch Freundinnen von Martha bei einer kleinen Feier, Champagner aus Sektflöten trinkend. (Tun Frauen das wirklich?)
Martha Armstrong zieht nach ihrer Scheidung mit ihrer sechs Monate alten Tochter Ruby ins Hawthorne Cottage im Dorf Shipton Abbey in Norfolk, um sich in der ländlichen Abgeschiedenheit einen lang gehegten Lebenstraum zu erfüllen, das Schreiben eines Kinderbuches. Doch die Idylle wird in der Nacht durch mysteriöse Geräusche gestört - Heulen, Schreien, Schritte und Kratzen.
In den fünfziger Jahren hatte Marthas Haus den Namen Eyrie Farm und dort lebten zwei irische Schwestern. Marion war unverheiratet und schwanger und sollte hier ihr Kind zur Welt bringen. Ihre Schwester Lily schrieb damals Briefe an ihre Kindheitsfreundin Catherine, da diese aber Nonne wurde und darum nichts mit der Unmoral und Sünde der Schwestern zu tun haben wollte, schickte Lily ihre Briefe nie ab.
Gleich das zweite Kapitel besteht aus solch einem Brief und diese sind dann im weiteren Verlauf der Handlung immer wieder eingebunden. Auch die unheimlichen Geräusche und Spukerscheinungen beginnen gleich nach Marthas Einzug in die ehemalige Eyrie Farm. Das, was in einem Film eine Gänsehaut erzeugen würde, funktioniert leider in einem Buch überhaupt nicht, bis auf die letzten Seiten, auf denen das Tempo ordentlich angezogen wird. Je nach persönlicher Konstitution mag aber auch so mancher nach dem Lesen vielleicht das Licht nicht löschen wollen. Spannend ist der Roman jedoch immer, weil man wissen möchte, was damals mit den Schwestern geschah.
Die Briefe geben zunächst nur dem Leser Einblick in die Geschehnisse der Vergangenheit, denn Martha weiß noch nichts von ihrer Existenz. Die Ursachen für die Heimsuchung durch ruhelose Geister werden mit Hilfe eines Studenten der Parapsychologie und einem Medium aufgeklärt. Aber auch das wirkt längst nicht so lächerlich, wie es hätte sein können.
Solche Art Geschichten, die auf zwei Ebenen verlaufen, in denen die Vergangenheit auf die Gegenwart einwirkt und es ein Geheimnis aufzuklären gibt, mag ich gern. Helen Moorhouse hat einen angenehmen Erzählstil. Bedauerlich ist dann nur, dass der Schrecken nicht fühlbar wird.
Martha Armstrong zieht nach ihrer Scheidung mit ihrer sechs Monate alten Tochter Ruby ins Hawthorne Cottage im Dorf Shipton Abbey in Norfolk, um sich in der ländlichen Abgeschiedenheit einen lang gehegten Lebenstraum zu erfüllen, das Schreiben eines Kinderbuches. Doch die Idylle wird in der Nacht durch mysteriöse Geräusche gestört - Heulen, Schreien, Schritte und Kratzen.
In den fünfziger Jahren hatte Marthas Haus den Namen Eyrie Farm und dort lebten zwei irische Schwestern. Marion war unverheiratet und schwanger und sollte hier ihr Kind zur Welt bringen. Ihre Schwester Lily schrieb damals Briefe an ihre Kindheitsfreundin Catherine, da diese aber Nonne wurde und darum nichts mit der Unmoral und Sünde der Schwestern zu tun haben wollte, schickte Lily ihre Briefe nie ab.
Gleich das zweite Kapitel besteht aus solch einem Brief und diese sind dann im weiteren Verlauf der Handlung immer wieder eingebunden. Auch die unheimlichen Geräusche und Spukerscheinungen beginnen gleich nach Marthas Einzug in die ehemalige Eyrie Farm. Das, was in einem Film eine Gänsehaut erzeugen würde, funktioniert leider in einem Buch überhaupt nicht, bis auf die letzten Seiten, auf denen das Tempo ordentlich angezogen wird. Je nach persönlicher Konstitution mag aber auch so mancher nach dem Lesen vielleicht das Licht nicht löschen wollen. Spannend ist der Roman jedoch immer, weil man wissen möchte, was damals mit den Schwestern geschah.
Die Briefe geben zunächst nur dem Leser Einblick in die Geschehnisse der Vergangenheit, denn Martha weiß noch nichts von ihrer Existenz. Die Ursachen für die Heimsuchung durch ruhelose Geister werden mit Hilfe eines Studenten der Parapsychologie und einem Medium aufgeklärt. Aber auch das wirkt längst nicht so lächerlich, wie es hätte sein können.
Solche Art Geschichten, die auf zwei Ebenen verlaufen, in denen die Vergangenheit auf die Gegenwart einwirkt und es ein Geheimnis aufzuklären gibt, mag ich gern. Helen Moorhouse hat einen angenehmen Erzählstil. Bedauerlich ist dann nur, dass der Schrecken nicht fühlbar wird.
July 4, 2011
'The Dead Summer' by Helen Moorhouse.
Martha Armstrong is starting over after a bitter divorce. She moves to the Norfolk countryside with her baby daughter and there she hopes to find peace and enough time to write the children’s book which has been in her head for years. Instead Martha finds a mystery and a chilling ghostly presence.
Helen Moorhouse’s first novel is a spine-tingling and haunting story which will entrance readers. The book romps along at breakneck speed for almost three hundred and fifty pages and the pace never lets up throughout. The sense of menace builds to a cracking climax and a heart-breaking secret.
This is a book which I would recommend to anyone who enjoys gothic, ghostly and atmospheric stories. It has a similar feel to that of The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters, The Place of Secrets by Rachel Hore and House of Echoes by Barbara Erskine
I look forward to more from this author and more of this type of book from Poolbeg.
Martha Armstrong is starting over after a bitter divorce. She moves to the Norfolk countryside with her baby daughter and there she hopes to find peace and enough time to write the children’s book which has been in her head for years. Instead Martha finds a mystery and a chilling ghostly presence.
Helen Moorhouse’s first novel is a spine-tingling and haunting story which will entrance readers. The book romps along at breakneck speed for almost three hundred and fifty pages and the pace never lets up throughout. The sense of menace builds to a cracking climax and a heart-breaking secret.
This is a book which I would recommend to anyone who enjoys gothic, ghostly and atmospheric stories. It has a similar feel to that of The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters, The Place of Secrets by Rachel Hore and House of Echoes by Barbara Erskine
I look forward to more from this author and more of this type of book from Poolbeg.
February 7, 2013
I loved this book!Its so long since Ive found a book as truly chilling as this one, and not only that but the jump back and forth from life in the cottage now and life in the fifties for the two irish sisters is brilliantly done and really gripping too, i couldnt put this book down, I just had to know what happened. Would highly recommend this book!
June 15, 2013
A great read!
Ill admit it took me about 2 weeks to read this bookd, butsbhat only because i made myself put it down every now and then- i didnt want it to end!!
Really enjoyed this book, i can imagine everything the characters the village and eyrie farm. This book gets a little scary at times but you just cant help but turn page after page to find out what happens to Martha+ruby/Marrion+Lily
Ill admit it took me about 2 weeks to read this bookd, butsbhat only because i made myself put it down every now and then- i didnt want it to end!!
Really enjoyed this book, i can imagine everything the characters the village and eyrie farm. This book gets a little scary at times but you just cant help but turn page after page to find out what happens to Martha+ruby/Marrion+Lily
May 26, 2012
Would have rated this 4.5 if I could, not my normal 'read' but it had me intrigued from the start the underlying story is gripping and it was one of those books that I couldn't wait to go to bed to read!
April 5, 2013
If you like horror, then you will love this. I read it about 7/8 days ago and I am still freaked out about a certain part in the book that was brilliant but scared the living life outta me. It is awesome.
January 22, 2014
Excellent
It is well written and moves along at a good pace. The past and present meld together to weave a sad, scary but ultimately uplifting story. What more can one ask of an author?
It is well written and moves along at a good pace. The past and present meld together to weave a sad, scary but ultimately uplifting story. What more can one ask of an author?
April 16, 2016
I enjoyed this story, although I found the main character a bit unbelievable as she took a very long time to come to the conclusion that the cottage was experiencing supernatural events. Loved the ending though.
March 23, 2019
As first novels go, this was a fantastic read. It had the hairs standing up on the back of my neck. Would recommend to any fans of Susan Hills The Woman in Black.
July 20, 2014
Definitely worth reading, couldn't put it down
May 4, 2012
Loved this book,Gave me the creeps a few times. Highly recommend it.
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July 27, 2013Really liked this. Well written apart from a few Irish-isms that made me wonder if non-Irish people would understand! Good story, enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews