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The Towry Family #1
The Haunting of Whitehall Manor
From bestselling horror author L.V. Pires comes a Gothic suspense story that tells the terrifying tale of one woman's descent into madness.
Thirty-three-year-old Anne Towry is a woman who knows little about herself and even less about her family. Sent away from Whitehall Manor when she was only ten years old, Anne struggles to make sense of her life. When she receives an urgent phone call from a Dr. Cornish informing her that her mother, Seraphine, has gone missing, Anne returns to her childhood home in an attempt to figure out what went wrong.
Arriving at Whitehall Manor changes everything for Anne. The longer she stays, the more immersed she becomes in the haunting beauty of the Marigold Garden. When she finds Seraphine’s journal she is shocked as page after page reveals bone-chilling confessions including a retelling of the night her family was changed forever. Unraveling the truth comes with a price when the true terror of a decade’s old family secret threatens to pull Anne deeper into the horror of the Towry family curse.
Thirty-three-year-old Anne Towry is a woman who knows little about herself and even less about her family. Sent away from Whitehall Manor when she was only ten years old, Anne struggles to make sense of her life. When she receives an urgent phone call from a Dr. Cornish informing her that her mother, Seraphine, has gone missing, Anne returns to her childhood home in an attempt to figure out what went wrong.
Arriving at Whitehall Manor changes everything for Anne. The longer she stays, the more immersed she becomes in the haunting beauty of the Marigold Garden. When she finds Seraphine’s journal she is shocked as page after page reveals bone-chilling confessions including a retelling of the night her family was changed forever. Unraveling the truth comes with a price when the true terror of a decade’s old family secret threatens to pull Anne deeper into the horror of the Towry family curse.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2023
203 people are currently reading
1154 people want to read
About the author
L.V. Pires
16 books54 followersWith several books in the top 100 U.S. Horror Fiction and Horror Classics categories, award-winning novelist and short-story writer, L.V. Pires is the author of terrifying tales that are sure to keep readers up late into the night. Mystery and suspense climax into total terror in this author's latest releases, including THE WAITING MORTUARY, VIGIL BLACK, and DEATH WATCH.
For more information about this author or to join the mailing list, go to www.lisavpires.com
For more information about this author or to join the mailing list, go to www.lisavpires.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
June 22, 2023
In a Nutshell: A Gothic Horror with some intriguing characters. Went a tad beyond my comfort level in terms of horrifying scenes, but that’s on me and not the book. Enjoyed the rest of it.
Story Synopsis:
Bookish Yays:
👻 I love the flawed main characters of this book and how realistic they seemed despite being extreme in some aspects. More importantly, the character voices are quite authentic. Anne sounds thirty-three and not like someone in her early twenties. She is whiny and irritating at times, but also courageous and determined. Her not being a typical Ms. Goody-two-shoes makes her first person narration interesting. Her parents are also intricately sketched, making it tough for us to take sides.
👻 Mental health has an important role to play in the plot, and the author uses the Gothic horror advantage to push the limits of this portrayal.
👻 Though not the primary intention of the novel, I appreciate how it highlighted the difficulty of escaping a toxic relationship. It’s quite easy to say ‘leave your partner’, but real life isn’t always so easy. The book embodies this sentiment well.
👻 The pace of the book is more or less steady from start to end.
👻 The suspense elements are good. Some twists, I saw coming but still enjoyed. And some twists left me astonished.
👻 The writing in Seraphine’s journals seemed overly elaborate, not like typical journals at all. I was initially going to put this as a Nay, but then noticed that the plot clarifies the reason for this writing style. I appreciate this because many novels using the discovered journals trope forget that a diary should sound like a diary.
👻 A Gothic story is nothing without a creepy house, and Whitehall Manor fits in the requirements to the T. I loved the way the author used the house and its various wings and rooms, and also its gardens, to enhance the spookiness.
👻 While I am not a fan of romance in non-romance genre books, I liked how it was handled in this novel. Anne, through her first person pov, acknowledges to us her initial need for a ‘fling’ than talking about instant attraction and butterflies in her stomach at the sight of Terran the groundskeeper. It was an adult relationship, between two consenting adults, and was written as such.
Bookish Nays:
☠ A tad repetitive at times, especially in the journals. I am not sure if this was done deliberately to show Seraphine’s mental state.
☠ Some really gruesome scenes in the final quarter. This isn’t the book’s shortcoming to be honest, but for me, it is a ‘Nay’ as I am not comfortable with that kind of gory content..
☠ Terran’s background was fuzzy till the end. I would have liked to know more about his backstory, so as to understand his character better.
☠ Pet peeve: How can characters not read journals in one go? Why do they read it an entry at a time? 😬 (Okay, I know the answer to this. Authors need to extend the suspense, after all. But I still want to complain about it!)
All in all, this is Gothic Horror in every sense. The plot, the atmosphere, the characters, and of course, the house – all come together to create a memorable experience.
Definitely recommend this indie gem. As the first of the Towry Family series, the book is complete in all its arcs and doesn’t end on any cliffhanger. I’m looking forward to see what life holds for Anne Towry in the sequel.
4 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through StoryOrigin. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
The book is available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
Thirty-three-year-old Anne Towry has lived away from her family since she was ten. Forced to go to boarding school and ordered by her mother Seraphine never to return. she has spent all these years remembering hardly anything about her roots, except that she hates her mother. But when she receives an urgent phone call from a Dr. Cornish telling her that her mother is missing, Anne is forced to return to her childhood home, Whitehall Manor, in the hopes of locating her mother and then rushing back. Things aren’t that easy though. Anne sees that the state of the Whitehall estate isn’t as it was in her childhood days. Moreover, when she finds Seraphine’s journal, she is shocked at the revelations therein. As the days go by, things turn more and more horrifying, and Anne begins to question her own sanity. What is the truth behind the macabre happenings at Whitehall?
The story comes to us in the first person perspective of Anne and Seraphine (through her journals.)
Bookish Yays:
👻 I love the flawed main characters of this book and how realistic they seemed despite being extreme in some aspects. More importantly, the character voices are quite authentic. Anne sounds thirty-three and not like someone in her early twenties. She is whiny and irritating at times, but also courageous and determined. Her not being a typical Ms. Goody-two-shoes makes her first person narration interesting. Her parents are also intricately sketched, making it tough for us to take sides.
👻 Mental health has an important role to play in the plot, and the author uses the Gothic horror advantage to push the limits of this portrayal.
👻 Though not the primary intention of the novel, I appreciate how it highlighted the difficulty of escaping a toxic relationship. It’s quite easy to say ‘leave your partner’, but real life isn’t always so easy. The book embodies this sentiment well.
👻 The pace of the book is more or less steady from start to end.
👻 The suspense elements are good. Some twists, I saw coming but still enjoyed. And some twists left me astonished.
👻 The writing in Seraphine’s journals seemed overly elaborate, not like typical journals at all. I was initially going to put this as a Nay, but then noticed that the plot clarifies the reason for this writing style. I appreciate this because many novels using the discovered journals trope forget that a diary should sound like a diary.
👻 A Gothic story is nothing without a creepy house, and Whitehall Manor fits in the requirements to the T. I loved the way the author used the house and its various wings and rooms, and also its gardens, to enhance the spookiness.
👻 While I am not a fan of romance in non-romance genre books, I liked how it was handled in this novel. Anne, through her first person pov, acknowledges to us her initial need for a ‘fling’ than talking about instant attraction and butterflies in her stomach at the sight of Terran the groundskeeper. It was an adult relationship, between two consenting adults, and was written as such.
Bookish Nays:
☠ A tad repetitive at times, especially in the journals. I am not sure if this was done deliberately to show Seraphine’s mental state.
☠ Some really gruesome scenes in the final quarter. This isn’t the book’s shortcoming to be honest, but for me, it is a ‘Nay’ as I am not comfortable with that kind of gory content..
☠ Terran’s background was fuzzy till the end. I would have liked to know more about his backstory, so as to understand his character better.
☠ Pet peeve: How can characters not read journals in one go? Why do they read it an entry at a time? 😬 (Okay, I know the answer to this. Authors need to extend the suspense, after all. But I still want to complain about it!)
All in all, this is Gothic Horror in every sense. The plot, the atmosphere, the characters, and of course, the house – all come together to create a memorable experience.
Definitely recommend this indie gem. As the first of the Towry Family series, the book is complete in all its arcs and doesn’t end on any cliffhanger. I’m looking forward to see what life holds for Anne Towry in the sequel.
4 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through StoryOrigin. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
The book is available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
July 11, 2023
2.75/5
Intriguing story.
The romance part made me cringe a lot tho. It felt superficial and forced and truly didn’t bring anything to the story. The groundskeeper should have stopped at that, being the groundskeeper, a friend at most.
If it hadn’t been for that, the story would have been easier to read, particularly the first chapters.
Some details of the plot feel like they’re being laid out too quickly and I wish I had a bit more of details. But that’s a personal preference.
I find it hard to like the main character as she is so forgiving of her father who is a pedophile, predator and abuser. The end really irked me and her words about him grossed me out.
Other than that, the plot twists really surprised me and got me curious enough to know what was actually going on in that house.
Intriguing story.
The romance part made me cringe a lot tho. It felt superficial and forced and truly didn’t bring anything to the story. The groundskeeper should have stopped at that, being the groundskeeper, a friend at most.
If it hadn’t been for that, the story would have been easier to read, particularly the first chapters.
Some details of the plot feel like they’re being laid out too quickly and I wish I had a bit more of details. But that’s a personal preference.
I find it hard to like the main character as she is so forgiving of her father who is a pedophile, predator and abuser. The end really irked me and her words about him grossed me out.
Other than that, the plot twists really surprised me and got me curious enough to know what was actually going on in that house.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2023
I really liked the idea behind this book. However, I couldn't connect with the MC. She was way too undecisive about every detail and went back and forth on decisions so much that it gave me whiplash. I did love the gothic vibe and the creepy old house, I just wish the characters were more grounded.
October 24, 2023
Great and gross, just like a good gothic horror novel should be.
June 16, 2024
Read in June 2024 for Litsy Markup Postal Book Club #LMPBC Round 20 - Group G (Gothic Horror) • 4 Stars
The Haunting of Whitehall Manor is a Gothic horror novel that follows the story of Anne Towry, a woman who returns to her childhood home, Whitehall Manor, after her mother, Seraphine, goes missing. As Anne investigates her mother's disappearance, she uncovers dark family secrets and becomes increasingly immersed in the haunting beauty of the Marigold Garden on the estate. The longer she stays, the deeper she is drawn into the horror of her family's curse, as revealed through her mother's chilling journal entries.
#TheHauntingOfWhitehallManor #TheTowryFamily #LVPires #Bookstagram
The Haunting of Whitehall Manor is a Gothic horror novel that follows the story of Anne Towry, a woman who returns to her childhood home, Whitehall Manor, after her mother, Seraphine, goes missing. As Anne investigates her mother's disappearance, she uncovers dark family secrets and becomes increasingly immersed in the haunting beauty of the Marigold Garden on the estate. The longer she stays, the deeper she is drawn into the horror of her family's curse, as revealed through her mother's chilling journal entries.
#TheHauntingOfWhitehallManor #TheTowryFamily #LVPires #Bookstagram
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December 4, 2024DNF at 16%
This is it, my first DNF! I finally convinced myself that yes, there are too many good books in this world to spend time on pages I don’t care for.
From almost the first page, I realized the writing style was going to break this one for me. I was hoping it would smooth out as the read went on, but it didn’t. The writing was simplistic and repetitive, which made this “darker, gothic” read exceedingly boring. On top of this, the interactions between the characters, especially their dialogue, were not well written. They were stilted and not written in a way that felt realistic or convincing. The author also relied on telling rather than showing, which did away with any atmosphere or emotional connection to the characters or interest in the setting that there should have been.
Not for me, and probably won’t read anything else from this author.
This is it, my first DNF! I finally convinced myself that yes, there are too many good books in this world to spend time on pages I don’t care for.
From almost the first page, I realized the writing style was going to break this one for me. I was hoping it would smooth out as the read went on, but it didn’t. The writing was simplistic and repetitive, which made this “darker, gothic” read exceedingly boring. On top of this, the interactions between the characters, especially their dialogue, were not well written. They were stilted and not written in a way that felt realistic or convincing. The author also relied on telling rather than showing, which did away with any atmosphere or emotional connection to the characters or interest in the setting that there should have been.
Not for me, and probably won’t read anything else from this author.
October 19, 2025
3 stars. There’s good stuff there and definitely creepy moments. I wanted more Supernatural twists and less family dysfunction. And the relationship was so stupid and unnecessary. The way she knows nothing about this man killed me.
October 17, 2024
A fun book to hate on. One positive, the author definitely can't be accused of trying too hard.
Read
September 6, 2025DNF @pg.136
This reads like it was written for a high school English class assignment.
This reads like it was written for a high school English class assignment.
October 16, 2025
Giving this a 2 star instead of 3 star because the plot had potential. But man, if this wouldn’t have been a book club read I wouldn’t have finished. EEK!
December 13, 2025
The ending was pretty weird. Otherwise the book was okay. I probably won’t read the next two books.
January 31, 2026
Captivating, unsettling, horrific, honestly a bit too dark, but overall good horror. Stayed up until midnight to finish it, I better not have nightmares.
October 11, 2025
This book had some good twists and turns. The end felt a little rushed and kept me wanting to know a bit more but there are other books so intrigued on what those are like.
April 3, 2024
I fell in love with this first book of the series. The author reminds me a bit of Ellen Hart but leans more horror over mystery. It’s a fantastic book with a story about breaking family cycles.
Unfortunately the following books aren’t nearly as good and have a whole different tone and feeling to them. You’d be okay to stop reading here, in my opinion.
Unfortunately the following books aren’t nearly as good and have a whole different tone and feeling to them. You’d be okay to stop reading here, in my opinion.
November 7, 2023
3.7
A bumpy start but good ending
I had difficulties getting into the story. The writing sounded very gothic, 18 hundreds first, so I was always in the past while it was actually taking place in modern times.
It also did give me the feeling of old England so I was surprised when I learned it plays in America.
My other difficulty was the description of the house, I failed to imagine it proper with the east wing, attic, garage etc.
I didn't enjoy the romantic part either, it was too quick and the main character was a bit unstable - liked him then ordered him around..
The murder mystery was good, I thought I had it figured out easily but it was a bit more complicated than it looked.
A bumpy start but good ending
I had difficulties getting into the story. The writing sounded very gothic, 18 hundreds first, so I was always in the past while it was actually taking place in modern times.
It also did give me the feeling of old England so I was surprised when I learned it plays in America.
My other difficulty was the description of the house, I failed to imagine it proper with the east wing, attic, garage etc.
I didn't enjoy the romantic part either, it was too quick and the main character was a bit unstable - liked him then ordered him around..
The murder mystery was good, I thought I had it figured out easily but it was a bit more complicated than it looked.
December 17, 2024
I really enjoyed the first half of this book unfortunately my enjoyment started to run out towards the end. The second part of the book felt so convoluted and rushed. There is one character in the book who is totally unnecessary and takes the silliness to another level. The main character feels under developed despite her past trauma. Tons of plot holes plagued the entire book from start to finish and I found some
Difficult to overlook. I would still say it’s worth a read as long as you set your expectations low.
Difficult to overlook. I would still say it’s worth a read as long as you set your expectations low.
January 31, 2026
Original Review 2024:
If ChatGPT wrote its own version of a Rebecca/Jane Eyre ripoff.
If ChatGPT wrote its own version of a Rebecca/Jane Eyre ripoff.
October 23, 2023
There was a lot going on in this book. It was reminiscent of a Monet - beautiful from far away, but a mess up close?
Or perhaps it was like a plate of spaghetti: it’s a simple dish, but it’s easy to mess it up if you add too much sauce (or too little), and the noodles get all tangled up with each other. The plot lines and general ideas of this book just got all tangled up with each other. The book had too much going on, in my opinion, and I felt like it made it difficult to read.
I was enthralled by this book. The mood of the novel really lured me in. I think the idea of the story is there, but the execution could have been better? Or maybe I need to read the rest of the series to get the answers I crave.
Likes:
- quick chapters
- dark/spooky/ominous mood
- flashbacks (in the form of diary entries)
- semi unreliable narrator(s)
Dislikes:
I don’t even think I could make an outline because it requires so much explanation.
- The land of Whitehall Manor: Throughout the novel, the land of Whitehall Manor is a repeated symbol. Anne notices that there are boxes of land (soil, grass, rock, etc) all over the house. Seraphine’s father tells Anne that the land of Whitehall manor will give her strength many times. Seraphine mentions her talents in working with the land, and how Samuel doesn’t have the connection with the land that Seraphine and Anne have. But what I’m failing to understand is how Seraphine is so connected to the land of Whitehall Manor when she is not a Towry by blood? Why did the land not protect her somehow? Am I overlooking an explanation? Reading too much into it?
- Word choice: I get that word choice is a huge part of a gothic novel, but I just found myself questioning what time period the book was set in because Anne kept calling Samuel “Father,” which seems wildly formal. If I had done a cold read excerpt of the book, I probably would have guessed that the novel was set in the 1940s or 1950s based on word choice alone.
- Terran: I’m still not certain about his purpose. He obviously gave Anne a guilt trip to stay at Whitehall Manor. He came back for her. But… I just wasn’t buying it?
Or perhaps it was like a plate of spaghetti: it’s a simple dish, but it’s easy to mess it up if you add too much sauce (or too little), and the noodles get all tangled up with each other. The plot lines and general ideas of this book just got all tangled up with each other. The book had too much going on, in my opinion, and I felt like it made it difficult to read.
I was enthralled by this book. The mood of the novel really lured me in. I think the idea of the story is there, but the execution could have been better? Or maybe I need to read the rest of the series to get the answers I crave.
Likes:
- quick chapters
- dark/spooky/ominous mood
- flashbacks (in the form of diary entries)
- semi unreliable narrator(s)
Dislikes:
I don’t even think I could make an outline because it requires so much explanation.
- The land of Whitehall Manor: Throughout the novel, the land of Whitehall Manor is a repeated symbol. Anne notices that there are boxes of land (soil, grass, rock, etc) all over the house. Seraphine’s father tells Anne that the land of Whitehall manor will give her strength many times. Seraphine mentions her talents in working with the land, and how Samuel doesn’t have the connection with the land that Seraphine and Anne have. But what I’m failing to understand is how Seraphine is so connected to the land of Whitehall Manor when she is not a Towry by blood? Why did the land not protect her somehow? Am I overlooking an explanation? Reading too much into it?
- Word choice: I get that word choice is a huge part of a gothic novel, but I just found myself questioning what time period the book was set in because Anne kept calling Samuel “Father,” which seems wildly formal. If I had done a cold read excerpt of the book, I probably would have guessed that the novel was set in the 1940s or 1950s based on word choice alone.
- Terran: I’m still not certain about his purpose. He obviously gave Anne a guilt trip to stay at Whitehall Manor. He came back for her. But… I just wasn’t buying it?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2024
The Haunting of Whitehall Manor is a super engaging and spooky novel that mixes mystery and supernatural horror really well. The author does a great job of creating a creepy vibe that keeps you hooked from start to finish.
The characters are fleshed out nicely, and their interactions add a lot to the story, making the haunting feel very real. Each character has their own unique take on the mystery, and their backstories fit seamlessly into the main plot. The main character's journey is especially interesting as they deal with both personal and external challenges, adding more layers to the story.
While the plot is full of twists and turns, some parts might be a bit predictable if you're a fan of the genre. But honestly, that doesn't take away from the fun of the story. The author keeps things exciting with well-timed suspense and a few surprises that keep you on your toes.
One of the best things about the book is how it explores themes like loss, redemption, and how the past affects the present. These themes are cleverly tied into the ghostly happenings, adding more emotional depth to the story. The pacing is just right, with moments of quiet tension building up to some really chilling climaxes.
The book isn't just about spooky stuff; it also digs into the psychological aspects of fear and how it affects the characters.
In conclusion, it is a really enjoyable read and a great pick for any horror fan. It offers the perfect mix of creepy atmosphere, well-developed characters, and an engaging plot that will keep you hooked from the first page to the last.
*Thanks StoryOrigin, Author & Publisher for the ARC
The characters are fleshed out nicely, and their interactions add a lot to the story, making the haunting feel very real. Each character has their own unique take on the mystery, and their backstories fit seamlessly into the main plot. The main character's journey is especially interesting as they deal with both personal and external challenges, adding more layers to the story.
While the plot is full of twists and turns, some parts might be a bit predictable if you're a fan of the genre. But honestly, that doesn't take away from the fun of the story. The author keeps things exciting with well-timed suspense and a few surprises that keep you on your toes.
One of the best things about the book is how it explores themes like loss, redemption, and how the past affects the present. These themes are cleverly tied into the ghostly happenings, adding more emotional depth to the story. The pacing is just right, with moments of quiet tension building up to some really chilling climaxes.
The book isn't just about spooky stuff; it also digs into the psychological aspects of fear and how it affects the characters.
In conclusion, it is a really enjoyable read and a great pick for any horror fan. It offers the perfect mix of creepy atmosphere, well-developed characters, and an engaging plot that will keep you hooked from the first page to the last.
*Thanks StoryOrigin, Author & Publisher for the ARC
October 8, 2023
Received as an audio review copy from Story Origin, this is an honest review. Wonderfully narrated by Mackenzie Welz, The Haunting of Whitehall Manor is an amazingly immersive, poignant and profoundly tragic story that Anne Towry finds herself in from the moment a Dr. Cornish contacts her and tells Anne her mother is in desperate need of help. The stately home of Whitehall once held good memories for Anne as a child, of a father Anne missed deeply once she was sent away and mother that hated her. Once Anne returns... she finds a woman paranoid, boxes hoarded in a dark sitting room; Anne could finally have answers of what happened between the two of them. What Anne uncovers is a history within her family of murders, dark secrets that leaves realizing she never truly knew either her mother or father; leaving Anne wondering could a home haunted by such sadness and mental troubles could become a loving home as Anne finds better secrets and friendships she needs to bring a better future for Whitehall Manor.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
October 19, 2023
Started a bit slow but didn’t take long to pick up. This kept transporting me to a different time … and then I’d remind myself that it’s set in modern times. Sort of a weird vibe on that front.
Overall though, this was a pretty interesting read, with a slight horror / paranormal aspect and a few little twists. Would read more from this author—based on this one, I think I like their style.
I could’ve done without the ‘romance’ aspect, and I do use that word loosely, as there was a slight ‘love connection’ but I just didn’t feel it.
Could never get enough of the small town vibes this read also managed to pack in.
4 stars.
Audio:
Poor. The narrator had a very pleasant voice! Unfortunately, she simply dictated the words, emotionless, sounding rather like a robot. Definitely took away from the reader experience—I’d recommend picking this book up in another format, if you’re able.
Overall though, this was a pretty interesting read, with a slight horror / paranormal aspect and a few little twists. Would read more from this author—based on this one, I think I like their style.
I could’ve done without the ‘romance’ aspect, and I do use that word loosely, as there was a slight ‘love connection’ but I just didn’t feel it.
Could never get enough of the small town vibes this read also managed to pack in.
4 stars.
Audio:
Poor. The narrator had a very pleasant voice! Unfortunately, she simply dictated the words, emotionless, sounding rather like a robot. Definitely took away from the reader experience—I’d recommend picking this book up in another format, if you’re able.
May 21, 2023
A modern tale of betrayal, estrangement, and mental illness
This macabre tale is not just fiction. Partner abuse and untreated mental illnesses are all too prevalent IRL. Teach your kids and teens about these and which signs to recognize. Keep communication open and be a responsible parent if & when your kids DO end up in a toxic situation. Get help for yourself, if need be.
An underlying current in this begs the question - do we ever really know our parents? Their hopes & dreams, losses & disappointments? Addictions? Crimes? Peccadillos?
Some sage advice from the author:
Document, document, document.
Fave quote:
‘Don’t let go of what’s important.’
I would definitely read more gothics by this author.
May we make the world a better place by breaking the cycle.
This macabre tale is not just fiction. Partner abuse and untreated mental illnesses are all too prevalent IRL. Teach your kids and teens about these and which signs to recognize. Keep communication open and be a responsible parent if & when your kids DO end up in a toxic situation. Get help for yourself, if need be.
An underlying current in this begs the question - do we ever really know our parents? Their hopes & dreams, losses & disappointments? Addictions? Crimes? Peccadillos?
Some sage advice from the author:
Document, document, document.
Fave quote:
‘Don’t let go of what’s important.’
I would definitely read more gothics by this author.
May we make the world a better place by breaking the cycle.
October 10, 2023
My book club read this for the month of October for a “spooky read”. This book did not disappoint! I was immediately drawn in despite the other reviews saying the beginning was slow (you need to know the backstory as it all comes together really well in the end). I read this in a few days, because I couldn’t put it down and needed to know what happened. I liked the deeper aspect of the book as well with the mother-daughter relationship being a center focus. Only thing I didn’t love that I’ll agree with the other reviews is the love interest seemed non-believable and just put in the book so the main character could have a love interest? Idk. But definitely a good thriller/spooky read! Didn’t expect the needing which is always a plus!
June 14, 2025
There was no character development, mostly plot holes without real plot, I couldn't understand anyone's motivations, the descriptions were so unclear which was not ideal for a book set really in just one house, I could not get a firm idea of what the house looked like or where rooms were in relation to other rooms which made the building of suspense suffer.
Possible spoiler (but not really):
Quick example of the issues: A detective comes to investigate a murder in a house that is repeatedly described as smelling of death in various places, and the author makes a point of describing this detective as clearly capable because he is from the big city, but then he doesn't even search the whole house and clear the all the rooms, and this is never brought up as a defeciency in his job.
Possible spoiler (but not really):
Quick example of the issues: A detective comes to investigate a murder in a house that is repeatedly described as smelling of death in various places, and the author makes a point of describing this detective as clearly capable because he is from the big city, but then he doesn't even search the whole house and clear the all the rooms, and this is never brought up as a defeciency in his job.
May 2, 2023
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed many aspects of this such as the description of the way the main character was hearing things and how it played with the unreliable narrator trope. The journal of her mother was a nice touch and I found the font used for it mimicked handwriting without being too drastically different. I wish some the foreshadowing hints were peppered in better but they generally were done nicely. The characters improved as it went on as I was more annoyed at Anne in the first few chapters than her character at the end.
I enjoyed many aspects of this such as the description of the way the main character was hearing things and how it played with the unreliable narrator trope. The journal of her mother was a nice touch and I found the font used for it mimicked handwriting without being too drastically different. I wish some the foreshadowing hints were peppered in better but they generally were done nicely. The characters improved as it went on as I was more annoyed at Anne in the first few chapters than her character at the end.
May 11, 2023
The suspense was there; it kept me wanting to know what was going on. There was the usual misdirection, which was pretty well placed (in my opinion). The (plot) twists were also well done.
The only minor issues I had, which are only my opinions - the story moved a tad slow? Or maybe it felt drawn out. I'm not sure how to put it. The romantic interest moved ridiculously fast - like they were kissing hours after meeting. He also seemed to be condescending and very judgmental without asking for the FMC's story.
Otherwise, I did enjoy the story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout in exchange for an honest review.
The only minor issues I had, which are only my opinions - the story moved a tad slow? Or maybe it felt drawn out. I'm not sure how to put it. The romantic interest moved ridiculously fast - like they were kissing hours after meeting. He also seemed to be condescending and very judgmental without asking for the FMC's story.
Otherwise, I did enjoy the story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2023
This is the first book in the "Towry" series by L. V. Pires, a gothic horror story that will have you guessing what's actually happening until the end. Anne Towry returns to her childhood home, 23 years after being told by her mother never to return. There's a whole lot of things going bump in the night here. Just when you think you know what's going on, the author surprises you.
Even though the book comes to a logical conclusion, the story of Anne Towry continues in book 2, "The Curse of Whitehall Manor", also available now. Book 3 is set to be released on October 1.
I'm off to read the next book! I hope it's as good as this one. The bar is set pretty high.
Even though the book comes to a logical conclusion, the story of Anne Towry continues in book 2, "The Curse of Whitehall Manor", also available now. Book 3 is set to be released on October 1.
I'm off to read the next book! I hope it's as good as this one. The bar is set pretty high.
May 30, 2025
was very disappointed in the book, the premise was very intriguing but it fell flat too many times, although some twist and turns were satisfying.
- how would the Dad- starving, lost 80 pounds, very sick- be able to attack and hurt and kill so many people?
- the “romance” felt like it was just thrown in there & never felt “real”
- main character seemed more angry at the doctor who tried to help her Mom than she did her Dad- who killed her Mom, abused her her entire life, murdered a young girl and was a pedophile?
- falling into all that money was over the top and it didn’t make much sense why the Dad didn’t use it
- how would the Dad- starving, lost 80 pounds, very sick- be able to attack and hurt and kill so many people?
- the “romance” felt like it was just thrown in there & never felt “real”
- main character seemed more angry at the doctor who tried to help her Mom than she did her Dad- who killed her Mom, abused her her entire life, murdered a young girl and was a pedophile?
- falling into all that money was over the top and it didn’t make much sense why the Dad didn’t use it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2023
I received this as an advanced reader copy from Hidden Gems for an independent review. I really enjoyed this book. I read it whenever I had time over the weekend. I love Gothic stories. This was well written with a creepy atmosphere. I do have to say that I wasn't in love with the characters. They weren't very likeable. But I do want to read book 2, so that should tell you that it was really engrossing. I do have to warn people that there is child abuse, rape and mental illness as part of the story line.
October 10, 2023
The narrator sounded like a 12 year old reading a story. The audio kept going in and out too. Otherwise, I enjoyed the book. It was a slow starter but picked up speed about 1/3 of the way in. Creepy story. Creepy house. Creepy characters. The suspense was there and it certainly kept you guessing. I guessed one part of the story towards the end, but otherwise was surprised. There are some triggers in the story regarding abuse and mental health, so be warned. Worth listening to.
I received a copy of this audiobook from StoryOrigin and this is my honest review.
I received a copy of this audiobook from StoryOrigin and this is my honest review.
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