1775

The Haunting of Hadlow House #3

by Amy Cross

Running away isn't always an option. How can a family survive when they're trapped in a haunted house?

Almost one hundred years after tragedy first struck Hadlow House, ghosts still linger in the shadows and threaten to drive the living out of their minds. And some of the house's occupants have never known any other way of life.

Catherine desperately wants to escape from the house's oppressive atmosphere. But when she takes refuge in the nearest village, she soon discovers that some ghosts can never be outrun...

1775 is the third book in the Haunting of Hadlow House series, which tells the story of one haunted house over the centuries from its construction to the present day. All the lives, all the souls, all the tragedies... and all the ghosts. Readers are advised to start with the first book in the series.

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Gothic, Adult, Audiobook

176 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2023

About the author

Amy Cross writes novels and short stories in a number of genres, mainly horror, paranormal and fantasy. Books include The Farm, Annie's Room, The Island, Eli's Town and Asylum.

Reviews

[Zain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get Ready to be Spooked.

This third episode of The Haunting of Hadlow House is really spooky. It’s a book filled with spooky feelings and atmosphere. The book is truly scary.

And it’s mean. There is a lot of mean people doing mean things in this book. Sometimes there is no reason for it.

The house is full of ghosts. There are ghosts everywhere. It seems that everyone who dies there might become a ghost. Maybe.

The house is evil. Yes, there is something wrong with the house. It makes people see things and do things.

The house has a problem with people’s arms. It doesn’t like them to have one. So there are repeated incidents where a person has lost an arm or has suffered damage to their arm.

This book has earned itself five stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time we see in the historical back story two anarchists seeking refuge at Hadlow House. They plan to kill King George to free the colonies. Well, what about Patience Purkiss, her husband Daniel and evil housekeeper Fanny Baxter? The tale soon turns sinister when a dying Samuel Butler has some last words with his daughter. Can the evil in the house be overcome? Why is the house an island of lost souls? Another page turning installment in this intriguing series of Amy cross. Definitely makes me pick up the next volume. Highly recommended!

[John Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy and full of malice!

What a good series this is turning out to be. The ghosts of Hadlow House are growing in number and, some at least, are plotting their revenge. This episode was more gruesome than its predecessors and, perhaps, that was unnecessary but then again it didn't detract from the central plot line. The original owner built Hadlow House for the love of his life but now it contains only the spirits of those who died on the property, the sad, the helpless and the truly evil! Role on the next instalment.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spook Central!

Small backstory:

The year is 1775 and two men (George and Thomas) are wanting to kill King George so that the colonies can be free, but the two men make a mistake when they hide out in Hadlow House as they don't know what they have just stepped into as Hadlow House is never really empty as old ghosts still roam its halls!

That is about all I can give on a small backstory without giving away spoilers so if you want to know more than go read this book and series! The books are not stand alone - they must be read in order to understand the story.

Thoughts:

I thought the story was good as there is quite a bit that happens within the pages and the story is kind of short being under 200 pages so it makes for a quick read. There is some ghost activity that is interesting and intriguing along with some mystery set in a historical background. That is the plus side of the story but the negative side of the story was when the author Amy Cross would mix up character names and confusion would abound of who was who while I was reading the story.

Other than that the story just became stuck within the house some and things going on in there with the ghosts that are part of Hadlow House. I would find myself getting bored within certain parts of the story as it didn't seem to move along quite as quickly as I wanted it to.

I am curious about the rest of the series though as to how Hadlow House plays out for the future years. So I will be continuing on with the series to see what happens next. Giving this book three "Spooky Specters" stars!

[Jeffrey Caston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book in what looks to be at least a 10 book series had the creepy elements that I wanted. It was, candidly, in my opinion, better than the last installment. I liked the continuance of some core characters that had been built upon from the prior book. This one did not have the same structural/character issues I noticed in the prior book. It was atmospheric and is setting up some real world-building, which I have not seen in ghost stories. But I'm surmising that might be part of the intent of this series.

[lizard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, what is happening here? I love the premise of this series, so I'm going to continue to the end,* but... the more I read, the more issues there are, especially because the foundational book, 1689, was severely lacking in character development.

Oliver, Fanny's husband, keeps telling us in his brief, ghostly cameos, that she was "good once." Was she? How do we actually know this? Because, from the outset, she seemed pretty damn evil. Also, though, why? When she told Rebecca, in 1689, that sex was meant to hurt, that she should stick a fucking knife up her coochie, I was intrigued. Was that some indication of sexual trauma?

Especially after what she did to Catherine, and the whole story's undercurrent of misogyny... was Oliver really the piece of shit? Of all the husbands in this series, he seems the best, though. So why is Fanny so evil, so suddenly? She seems fine in the first few chapters of 1689, then is suddenly the biggest of the big-bads for 13 books? It's hard to be convinced, or scared, of her when she seems so... I don't know, not compelling, I suppose.

Also, I assume this book is self-published, but the mistakes in the writing are actually interfering with the book itself. The description of this one, even, is wrong in a way that continues to confuse me: "And some of the house's occupants have never known any other way of life. Catherine desperately wants to escape from the house's oppressive atmosphere." Where was that plotline in this? Catherine is nowhere here, and neither is there any mention of a ghost that has never been elsewhere. Did she mean Patience? Even then, that doesn't make much sense.

Plus, the amount of Chekhov’s guns in this story would have—should have—left me peppered with holes. The plot got them, instead. What’s up with that escaped lunatic the dude was searching for? Why is everyone collecting pebbles?

Further on the character development point: a lot of characters in these books just suddenly become someone else. I assume this is to do with the house, or Fanny, getting into their heads and changing them, but like... that's not explained, or confirmed, or really even elaborated upon, and is just my grasping to try and explain such sudden behavioral changes, that even extend beyond the home itself. Like Daniel, at the end of this, suddenly being a shithead to Patience. What? Why? After 50 years you're gonna be a dick now?

*I gave up.

[Comic Queen 👑 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished in a day! Wow. While not as spooky and intense as the first couple in the series this was a necessary segue into the books Hadlow House horror show.

The authors writing is smooth and flows well with story lines jumping but being clever on who and what is going on. Fanny can’t be stopped, and mean mortal men are not going to be able to control her.

I can’t wait for the last book ‘1800’ to drop. At least I assume it’s the last book?! 👻

[Lizzie McNally · Rating 4 out of 5]

great series so far

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, and now I'm really done with Fanny and her ghostly ways.

[.｡:.*☾Annalisa☾ *.:｡. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the continuation of this series, it was good to follow up with the cliff hanger from the last book and see how life has been 50 years on. Again quite gory and gross but it was good and really paints a picture.

[Sharissa]

Omg Amy cross keep writing these books

Omg I can't tell you y'all enough how great these books are you can't just start at a random number you got to start from the every beginning. I kept me on the edge of my seat and made me jump a few times at my own shadow, creamy floorboards in my own old house

[Christine Dunne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

Amy cross can tell a good story and keep TBE reader moving and a bit scared all the time. Onboard to the next Hadlow book

[Kiran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as interesting as the earlier books

[Lisa Anders · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate Frannie

[max! · Rating 4 out of 5]

another great entry to the series! i like that we continue to see patience in the game, and her relationship with daniel is so sweet <3

rebecca is still in the house, but why only her? we see oliver very briefly, as we did in the previous book, but why not the others? and will the deaths of this book show in the next?

also i have personal beef with fanny at this point

[Julie Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not enjoying this series as much as many others by this author. Yes, it's horror, but there aren't the usual twists or surprises and just gruesome for the sake of it.

The writing style is good and fast-paced, though there are numerous mistakes - for example, 'sir', in this context, does not need to be capitalised, a small 's' only is correct. Overall, it does stick to the era of how folks would speak, think and act, and it clearly shows that women are inferior to men (maybe nothing much has changed there?)

A good storyteller, but I am disappointed with this one.

[Rodney Wiedrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone who has died out there is still haunting that house. Fanny is bent on tormenting Patience, for losing her fifty years ago. The house now belongs to her and she is adamant that no one is to go there. The only ghosts that have not been mentioned are Caroline and Richard Hadlow. I wonder what happened to them that they are not there at the house. It will be interesting to see what happens next and if Patience will be left in peace after she dies.

[Teena Renken · Rating 5 out of 5]

A creepy tale of a haunted house

This is the third installment of this series. Hadlow House has long been abandoned, with the exception of a few ghosts.
A very chilling story of a house and the reason behind it’s haunting.

[Meowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series for the plots and characters but just like the previous two the consistent grammar and spelling mistakes and using wrong character names takes you temporarily out of the story often.

[Jessica Reyes · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am SO disappointed by this book!!! Are these books even revised or looked over before they're released?
At one point, there was a name slip up from Thomas to George. Thomas is eating at the kitchen table but Fanny is quoted "watching George once more" as she's leaving the kitchen. Or the sentence "but now her gaze her lost its focus." HUH??? Clear typos & overlooks that could've been fixed had someone just reread.
Not only that but it was so annoying when a character was talking & was cut off mid sentence by the word "suddenly". It happened over 40 times throughout the book & it was so irritating because of how repetitive it was.
& speaking of repetitive, dialogues between characters were also being repeated. For one instance, Daniel was reassuring his men that the house wasn't haunted because they were scared. Then the very next chapter, the men are scared & ask if the house is haunted. Did Daniel not just have this conversation with them 5 mins ago? Or when Patience & Daniel both stated that no one should be allowed near the house & just a few sentences later, they repeat the same exact sentences about not letting anyone near the house.
Both 1689 & 1722 were amazing & scary, but this one? Fanny is a somewhat nice & caring spirit now after being terrifying in 1722? The spirits in the house weren't even doing the haunting, more like just two men who seeked refuge in the house to hide out. Rebecca & Oliver's ghosts were mentioned maybe ONCE throughout the book & we never find out how Patience's father escaped the house even though it was a reoccurring question.
A HOT MESS!!!

[Fiction freakk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Welcome back to Hadlow House! This the 3rd book of Haunting of Hadlow House series where our characters are now older but not necessarily wiser and are haunted by grief and also actual ghosts.

We are now in 1775 and shady newcomers in the form of American rebels are on a sensitive mission to assassinate the King. If only they could find a quiet, abandoned place to hole up in and put their plan in place.... Patience is back with her now-husband, Daniel and they have worked hard to create a new life for themselves but with the death of her father and the appearance of some unfamiliar faces, Hadlow's House malevolent main baddie, Fanny the maid, is gaining more power.

I enjoyed this book more than the last installment even though it still suffers a bit from want of a strong editor and more period detail. The stacking of ghosts is paying off with more layers of complexity in how the hauntings react or engage (or not) with visitors. I would like to move past Fanny's reign at the house, but the brevity of the stories really keeps the stakes to 'afternoon of gothic horror' reading ratio high...

My Ratings: 2.5 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐💫

[Anya · Rating 4 out of 5]

1775 picks up decades after the second Haunting of Hadlow House book with the survivors of that book and where there are now in the village. Now there is a new outsider in Hadlow House and Fanny is stronger than she was decades before.

Patience has raised a family in the village after her father left her for dead to go back to Hadlow House. He has survived the decades with Fanny feeding off of him and torturing him. Now he is gone and she needs a new life force to feed from. With her increased power she tires to lure Patience back into her grasp. However in the meantime two American Terrorists decided to hide out in Hadlow House to work out their plans. There have no idea they will be the ones to face terror, not dish it out.

The writing quality for this instalment remains on parr with the previous books in the series. Some of the story moves a little slower though. That is not a bad thing. In the beginning the horror of this book stays on the back burner really building up a nice boil. Then you just get plunged into the roing boil! Once it goes full force it stays up there for a while!

[Peachey Keene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed how 1775 really is a continuation of the previous book (1722). This really the first book of the series in which world events have played a bigger roll in the story. At first I was concerned that it would alter the focus of the book, since what I really enjoy about this series is it's isolation with both Hadlow House and the village of Cobblefield. However, even though the American Revolution is a feature in the story, it doesn't overshadow the focus and keeps the isolating feeling of the rural English Countryside.

1775 continues with the casual gore that Cross uses in the previous two books and it's executed just as well here. 1775 definitely ups the ante and I've loved how our antagonist is getting stronger and stronger. As an antagonist, Fanny is great! I love to watch her work.

I am looking forward to when the rest of the series hits Audible.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third book in the Haunting of Hadlow House series picks up fifty years after its predecessor, carrying over some familiar faces, while introducing some new blood.

The inclusion of the theme of eating also carries over, which is beginning to run its course a bit. This installment falters compared to previous books for that reason- what else can we do besides what we’ve seen in those previous books? That and the fact that the Revolutionary War sub-plot was rather unnecessary and felt out of place.

Having said that, it’s still an entertaining read and delves deeper into the supernatural without diving head first into ridiculousness. I’ll keep going with this series and hope we get so see some changes and new directions introduced to
keep it from getting too stale.

[Kati Jacobs]

Better than the first

The author is getting better with each book. Her pacing, foreshadowing and character development is improving.
Her proofreader, however, is still missing a lot of typos, grammar and errors in sentence-structure.
Plots are good, pacing is well planned. Author is developing her skill for 'twists'. I plan to keep reading.

[Letícia Peregrino · Rating 3 out of 5]

So... characters from the previous book return in this one but with less neurons than from decades before🫠. Still! This one didn't irritate me as much as the previous one.

The series remains interesting and keeps you interested in what victims this house will continue to claim.

Book 4, here we go 🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️

[Benedikthe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well.. this didn't feel like a ghost story to me. But it's still good. It's got more of a "demonic possession" vibe at this point. It's not my favourite, but it's ok. More grossed out than spooked. I'm not really a fan of body horror, and there was quite a bit of it here. Probably really great if you are into that sort of stuff.

I still don't like the characters.

[Annemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patience thought she was done with Hadlow House and Fannie Baxter, then her dying father staggered into Cobblefield wanting desperately to speak with her. Did he escape Fannie's clutches or did she allow him to leave, hoping it would draw others to Hadlow House?

[Lynn M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is okay. I like/don’t like it. Kind of creepy and disgusting but for some reason I need to know what happens next, why? I don’t know that either. I like haunted house stories but this one is sort of different. So I keep reading until I’ve had my fill or figure out what I actually feel about this writers stories.

[Sam Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

I am so invested in this series!

This one was a wild ride for sure. Not my favourite, though seeing the American’s get it was satisfying.

Happy to see Daniel and Patience back even if the ending gutted me again.