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The Haven
The Gillespie family were meant to have the adventure of a lifetime during their summer holiday at an experimental eco-community in one of England's most ancient forests. For Cara, a lonely and unhappy teenager who is desperate to belong, The Haven proves a seductive alternative to life back home.
But what starts as a sweetly idyllic alternative retreat quickly turns dark as it becomes clear her father, Rick, doesn't intend them to leave. When the family fails to return from their holiday, Cara's aunt raises the alarm and reports them missing to the police.
After a body is discovered in a remote woodland grave, a full-scale manhunt is launched. As the search widens, and the investigation reveals Rick's obsessive and bullying nature, there are more questions than answers about the disappearance of the family. Have they come to harm or do they not want to be found?
But what starts as a sweetly idyllic alternative retreat quickly turns dark as it becomes clear her father, Rick, doesn't intend them to leave. When the family fails to return from their holiday, Cara's aunt raises the alarm and reports them missing to the police.
After a body is discovered in a remote woodland grave, a full-scale manhunt is launched. As the search widens, and the investigation reveals Rick's obsessive and bullying nature, there are more questions than answers about the disappearance of the family. Have they come to harm or do they not want to be found?
384 pages, Hardcover
Published March 21, 2024
29 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Neill
10 books130 followersFiona Neill is a novelist and journalist. She was born in 1966. Her first novel The Secret Life of a Slummy Mummy, based on her column in The Times Magazine every Saturday, was published in 2007. It was widely acclaimed and went on to become a Sunday Times bestseller that sold in twenty-five countries.
Brought up in Norfolk, she now lives in London with her husband and three children.
Fiona is presenting a five-part series on BBC Radio 4 called Famous Footsteps, starting on January 12th. Find out more about the series by visiting the BBC Radio 4 website.
Brought up in Norfolk, she now lives in London with her husband and three children.
Fiona is presenting a five-part series on BBC Radio 4 called Famous Footsteps, starting on January 12th. Find out more about the series by visiting the BBC Radio 4 website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
November 22, 2023
Teenager Cass (Cassia), Sawyer wakes in the woods with a head injury. In the background, she hears police officers searching, so she lies low. She knows where she is, she’s at The Haven and as the officers search the cabin for signs of Cass’s family her memories take her back to her youngest sister Maudie’s disastrous birthday party, where the family first meet charismatic Mo. What brought the family to The Haven? What has happened to Cass and her family necessitating a police search? Why does Cass believe this is all her fault? Maybe, more crucially for her safety, who is the hunter and who the hunted?
This is definitely a things are not what they seem read. The unfolding and unravelling events are told through the eyes of Cass in the present day and backtracking to the fateful birthday party. This works well, although I enjoy the present day scenarios more as there’s greater excitement, it’s danger fuelled at times and very mysterious.
This is a character driven, mystery/thriller, domestic noir and looks at the impact that one person can wreak on others and dramatically alter lives. At the centre of the web is Mo and he certainly has the Sawyer family fooled. The more he “graces“ the pages you see him exactly for what he is. He has the biggest influence on Cass’s father, Rick, who is so ready to buy into the environmental/self sufficiently message that brings the family to The Haven where they live off-grid.
Looking at the impact of all this on the family is fascinating. Cass’s mother, Eve, is the peacekeeper until she isn’t and other characters are played like fiddles. Things become weird, the earlier timeline becomes surreal, even a bit magical until it takes a much darker turn. It’s clear that what is believed is not necessarily the reality and it’s also apparent the Sawyers are outsiders at The Haven. The situation deteriorates, there’s a massive change as things implode. It becomes creepy, chilling, dangerous as everything falls apart, and how.
This is incisively and acutely observed. I like the changing tone the author creates throughout. At the start of the families journey as they head to the Haven, brim full of optimism, the tone is darkly funny with some excellent dialogue between them. As things descending into the blackness, there are contrasting tones between the present and the events that lead up to it.
This isn’t always easy to read as we observe how this family are led to make decisions with consequences that none could have foreseen. It ends somewhat abruptly leaving you to follow the thinking through.
With thanks to NetGalley, and especially to Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This is definitely a things are not what they seem read. The unfolding and unravelling events are told through the eyes of Cass in the present day and backtracking to the fateful birthday party. This works well, although I enjoy the present day scenarios more as there’s greater excitement, it’s danger fuelled at times and very mysterious.
This is a character driven, mystery/thriller, domestic noir and looks at the impact that one person can wreak on others and dramatically alter lives. At the centre of the web is Mo and he certainly has the Sawyer family fooled. The more he “graces“ the pages you see him exactly for what he is. He has the biggest influence on Cass’s father, Rick, who is so ready to buy into the environmental/self sufficiently message that brings the family to The Haven where they live off-grid.
Looking at the impact of all this on the family is fascinating. Cass’s mother, Eve, is the peacekeeper until she isn’t and other characters are played like fiddles. Things become weird, the earlier timeline becomes surreal, even a bit magical until it takes a much darker turn. It’s clear that what is believed is not necessarily the reality and it’s also apparent the Sawyers are outsiders at The Haven. The situation deteriorates, there’s a massive change as things implode. It becomes creepy, chilling, dangerous as everything falls apart, and how.
This is incisively and acutely observed. I like the changing tone the author creates throughout. At the start of the families journey as they head to the Haven, brim full of optimism, the tone is darkly funny with some excellent dialogue between them. As things descending into the blackness, there are contrasting tones between the present and the events that lead up to it.
This isn’t always easy to read as we observe how this family are led to make decisions with consequences that none could have foreseen. It ends somewhat abruptly leaving you to follow the thinking through.
With thanks to NetGalley, and especially to Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
March 21, 2024
'The Haven' was an okay read but I found it a bit weird and quite long, too long really and it meant the atmosphere that was being built was diminished. This follows Cass and her family as they move to the Haven and live off grid. Some members are keener than others but as time progresses, none of them have realised what they have let themselves in for.
I liked the premise and initially I found this a strong read, however as I have said, the pace drops off and dare I say it, this became boring. There are strange events throughout this which blurred the lines of reality as well. I also found the ending strange and quite abrupt.
On the positive side, I did like the characters. Whilst they may not all be likeable there was something about them that connected them to me and I cared about what happened to them. They were interesting people to read about as well which was a bonus.
'The Haven' has some positives to it but overall I found this a bit too weird and slow.
Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for an advance copy.
I liked the premise and initially I found this a strong read, however as I have said, the pace drops off and dare I say it, this became boring. There are strange events throughout this which blurred the lines of reality as well. I also found the ending strange and quite abrupt.
On the positive side, I did like the characters. Whilst they may not all be likeable there was something about them that connected them to me and I cared about what happened to them. They were interesting people to read about as well which was a bonus.
'The Haven' has some positives to it but overall I found this a bit too weird and slow.
Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for an advance copy.
July 21, 2025
Good recommendation @ Molly
March 21, 2024
Sixteen-year-old Cass Sawyer wakes up at the Haven, an off-grid community living deep in the forest, away from the civilization. She sustained a head injury and she can’t find her family. When she looks around she realises that the Haven community have all gone, too. Where is everyone?
Told from the points of view of ‘Now’ and ‘Then’, we soon discover how Cass’s family came to live at the Haven.
At Maude’s 8th birthday party (Cass’s younger sister), a survivalist called Mo comes along to provide ‘entertainment’ for the children. He impresses everyone, including the whole Sawyer family: Rick, the father; Eve, the mother; Joe, Cass’s 17-year-old brother; Cass, and Maude.
After the party, Mo stays in touch with Cass. He is fourteen years older than her, but he makes her feel very special… So special that she soon realises she has feelings for him.
Not long after the party, Rick tells his family that each summer, two families are invited to experience what it’s like to be living off-grid and become self-sufficient. He informs them that his family was selected to go to the Haven, where Mo lives.
Cass is overjoyed, but her brother and mother are initially quite skeptical, however, Rick manages to win them over.
When they arrive at the Haven, things will never be the same again…
I really enjoyed this tense thriller.
There was something about Mo, I got the Charles Manson vibes off him: he was manipulative and people were afraid of him. He was also very cruel and knew how to exploit the most vulnerable. You could say that the Haven was a bit of a cult, only people worshiped Mo.
I was quite annoyed at Cass and how quickly she fell under Mo’s thumb, but I can only imagine that it was the author’s aim for the reader to have such opinions of her. She was young and impressionable, but she she did see right through him in the end.
This book is quite unsettling and thought-provoking. I definitely recommend it.
Told from the points of view of ‘Now’ and ‘Then’, we soon discover how Cass’s family came to live at the Haven.
At Maude’s 8th birthday party (Cass’s younger sister), a survivalist called Mo comes along to provide ‘entertainment’ for the children. He impresses everyone, including the whole Sawyer family: Rick, the father; Eve, the mother; Joe, Cass’s 17-year-old brother; Cass, and Maude.
After the party, Mo stays in touch with Cass. He is fourteen years older than her, but he makes her feel very special… So special that she soon realises she has feelings for him.
Not long after the party, Rick tells his family that each summer, two families are invited to experience what it’s like to be living off-grid and become self-sufficient. He informs them that his family was selected to go to the Haven, where Mo lives.
Cass is overjoyed, but her brother and mother are initially quite skeptical, however, Rick manages to win them over.
When they arrive at the Haven, things will never be the same again…
I really enjoyed this tense thriller.
There was something about Mo, I got the Charles Manson vibes off him: he was manipulative and people were afraid of him. He was also very cruel and knew how to exploit the most vulnerable. You could say that the Haven was a bit of a cult, only people worshiped Mo.
I was quite annoyed at Cass and how quickly she fell under Mo’s thumb, but I can only imagine that it was the author’s aim for the reader to have such opinions of her. She was young and impressionable, but she she did see right through him in the end.
This book is quite unsettling and thought-provoking. I definitely recommend it.
November 27, 2023
Rating: 3.0/5
I have mixed feelings about "The Haven". There is a lot to like about the premise, which has echoes of Alex Garland's, "The Beach". A family go in search of a "back-to-nature" eco-community settlement after having been given a map (against the community's rules) by one of their number. Even before they reach their destination it already seems that all may not be as they have been led to believe, but at least they will only be there for the duration of their holiday ... won't they?
I found the set-up phase a touch on the dull side, rather than the mysteriously intriguing effect that I am sure the author was aiming for. In fact, it wasn't until about a quarter of the way into the story that I really found myself being hooked by it at all. The narrative plays out alternately across two timeframes. The first is the present (referred to as "Now") and the second relates back to events prior to the central character, Cassia, losing her memory ("Then). The "Now" chapters are quite short and punchy, but by contrast the "Then" sections are quite lengthy. Personally, I found them to be a little too protracted, which caused pacing issues with the development of the plot and the potential for underlying tension to build. However, in spite of that there are some impressive elements and a ready amount of keenly observed social commentary along the way. I wasn't always entirely convinced by the characterisation and stylistically things felt a little clumsy at times. Nonetheless, in spite of these shortcomings I did remain gripped and keen to see how the storyline developed. The way Fiona Neill chose to end the novel won't satisfy everyone, but if you want to find out whether it meets with your approval, you will just have to read it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
I have mixed feelings about "The Haven". There is a lot to like about the premise, which has echoes of Alex Garland's, "The Beach". A family go in search of a "back-to-nature" eco-community settlement after having been given a map (against the community's rules) by one of their number. Even before they reach their destination it already seems that all may not be as they have been led to believe, but at least they will only be there for the duration of their holiday ... won't they?
I found the set-up phase a touch on the dull side, rather than the mysteriously intriguing effect that I am sure the author was aiming for. In fact, it wasn't until about a quarter of the way into the story that I really found myself being hooked by it at all. The narrative plays out alternately across two timeframes. The first is the present (referred to as "Now") and the second relates back to events prior to the central character, Cassia, losing her memory ("Then). The "Now" chapters are quite short and punchy, but by contrast the "Then" sections are quite lengthy. Personally, I found them to be a little too protracted, which caused pacing issues with the development of the plot and the potential for underlying tension to build. However, in spite of that there are some impressive elements and a ready amount of keenly observed social commentary along the way. I wasn't always entirely convinced by the characterisation and stylistically things felt a little clumsy at times. Nonetheless, in spite of these shortcomings I did remain gripped and keen to see how the storyline developed. The way Fiona Neill chose to end the novel won't satisfy everyone, but if you want to find out whether it meets with your approval, you will just have to read it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
August 18, 2024
The Haven. An idyllic off-grid community where nature is in charge and the people within the settlement abide by its rules. An opportunity for Cass and her siblings and parents to try and fix their family which is beginning to fragment. Cass is infatuated by the enigmatic Mo from the beginning. His charisma and good looks hide the master manipulator that he really is.
But when Cass wakes up in the forest, injured and alone, she quickly begins to realise that paradise has turned into hell and she needs to find and save her family before it’s too late.
A very much character led story. There are two separate timelines of then and now, so a fair bit of jumping back and forth. I must admit, it took me a little while to get invested but once I was there was no looking back. Mo is a despicable yet compelling character, he weaves his magic around everyone and I couldn’t wait for Cass to see sense about him. Then the gradual unravelling of Cass’ family really held my interest, particularly her father’s decline. It felt menacing, scary and very genuine.
This isolated community is full of secrets and suspense and the tension really ramps up in the last quarter of the book, making this an immersive and gripping read.
But when Cass wakes up in the forest, injured and alone, she quickly begins to realise that paradise has turned into hell and she needs to find and save her family before it’s too late.
A very much character led story. There are two separate timelines of then and now, so a fair bit of jumping back and forth. I must admit, it took me a little while to get invested but once I was there was no looking back. Mo is a despicable yet compelling character, he weaves his magic around everyone and I couldn’t wait for Cass to see sense about him. Then the gradual unravelling of Cass’ family really held my interest, particularly her father’s decline. It felt menacing, scary and very genuine.
This isolated community is full of secrets and suspense and the tension really ramps up in the last quarter of the book, making this an immersive and gripping read.
March 17, 2024
Thanks to Net Galley , Michael Joseph & Penguin Random House for an ARC of this book in ext for an honest review.
I did not enjoy this book, plodded through to the end..
The Sawyer family make a hasty decision to spend their summer in an off grid communal Haven, even before they arrive at their destination it would seem all is not what they have been led to believe.
I did not like any of the characters, could not decide who was the most irritating, Cass the naïve teenager, her delusional father Rick, or Mo who is the Haven leader, I found the dual timeline didn’t really flow and the story is totally unbelievable in parts,
It saved the book a little that it is well written.
I did not enjoy this book, plodded through to the end..
The Sawyer family make a hasty decision to spend their summer in an off grid communal Haven, even before they arrive at their destination it would seem all is not what they have been led to believe.
I did not like any of the characters, could not decide who was the most irritating, Cass the naïve teenager, her delusional father Rick, or Mo who is the Haven leader, I found the dual timeline didn’t really flow and the story is totally unbelievable in parts,
It saved the book a little that it is well written.
March 19, 2024
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
have to say it was the most far fetched book i have ever started and when the girl did her own first aid on herself putting stitches in... i thought i was losing the plot....
have to say i couldnt understand how a family couldnt look out for their children...and put them in that much danger...
have to say it was the most far fetched book i have ever started and when the girl did her own first aid on herself putting stitches in... i thought i was losing the plot....
have to say i couldnt understand how a family couldnt look out for their children...and put them in that much danger...
October 20, 2024
This was an easy read, suspenseful. Deals with some heavy issues but I don’t felt it gave the characters the depth they needed.
January 4, 2024
I don't usually like to review books that I have disliked, as I think reading can be such a subjective thing and just because something hasn't worked for me as a reader, it doesn't mean it won't work for others. However, occasionally I read a book that is SO bad that I feel compelled to review it, and unfortunately The Haven was that book.
So first off, the one positive is that it's a very well written and well paced book, and I would give another book by the same author a chance, as the ingredients were there for a gripping thriller.
However, something I struggle with - in thrillers particularly - is when they stretch credulity so thinly that, instead of being absorbed by the book, I'm distracted by constantly thinking "what on EARTH... how am I meant to believe that...?". And with The Haven, I was doing so every few pages.
I won't list everything that wound me up, but suffice to say the point at which a teenage girl stitched up a gaping wound in her own head had me almost as annoyed as the part where she was able to perfectly track people in the forest. Along with so many other things that didn't ring true, the idea that Cass - previously a normal suburban teenager - would, in the space of a summer and autumn living in the communal environment of the Haven, suddenly become so 'at one' with the natural world that she was able to survive, injured, in the wild for days? weeks? was particularly farcical.
Meanwhile, the plotline involving marijuana growers in a nearby camp felt derivative of The Beach, and the idea that anywhere in the UK could be far enough from civilization to make being completely off-grid and away from the authorities a realistic prospect just didn't sit right with me.
So first off, the one positive is that it's a very well written and well paced book, and I would give another book by the same author a chance, as the ingredients were there for a gripping thriller.
However, something I struggle with - in thrillers particularly - is when they stretch credulity so thinly that, instead of being absorbed by the book, I'm distracted by constantly thinking "what on EARTH... how am I meant to believe that...?". And with The Haven, I was doing so every few pages.
I won't list everything that wound me up, but suffice to say the point at which a teenage girl stitched up a gaping wound in her own head had me almost as annoyed as the part where she was able to perfectly track people in the forest. Along with so many other things that didn't ring true, the idea that Cass - previously a normal suburban teenager - would, in the space of a summer and autumn living in the communal environment of the Haven, suddenly become so 'at one' with the natural world that she was able to survive, injured, in the wild for days? weeks? was particularly farcical.
Meanwhile, the plotline involving marijuana growers in a nearby camp felt derivative of The Beach, and the idea that anywhere in the UK could be far enough from civilization to make being completely off-grid and away from the authorities a realistic prospect just didn't sit right with me.
February 26, 2024
This has a great blurb, and I thought I was really going to enjoy it. Sadly, the writing style didn't suit me; I've never been a fan of stories told in two timelines, which this one is, and even at the end when they merge there are a lot of unanswered questions. Plus, I hated where the author chose to end the story, though I'm sure some people will love it.
I felt that Cassia fell for Mo ridiculously quickly; I know that some people are excellent manipulators, but for him to single her out and get her under his spell in two hours really strained my belief. Her father I find easier to believe as he was clearly not right to start with, so Mo was exploiting something that was already there, and over a longer period of time. I also found it odd that a character I won't mention for spoiler reasons was so careful with Cass after she was injured, but did nothing about the massive bleeding wound in her head?
There's a great plot here, but between the double timeline and the inconsistencies, I couldn't find it. I'd try other books by the author because I think it could just be this book that didn't suit me, and I do think other readers will enjoy it very much.
I felt that Cassia fell for Mo ridiculously quickly; I know that some people are excellent manipulators, but for him to single her out and get her under his spell in two hours really strained my belief. Her father I find easier to believe as he was clearly not right to start with, so Mo was exploiting something that was already there, and over a longer period of time. I also found it odd that a character I won't mention for spoiler reasons was so careful with Cass after she was injured, but did nothing about the massive bleeding wound in her head?
There's a great plot here, but between the double timeline and the inconsistencies, I couldn't find it. I'd try other books by the author because I think it could just be this book that didn't suit me, and I do think other readers will enjoy it very much.
January 2, 2024
I'll admit the blurb pulled me into this one - a sixteen year-old girl waking up in the forest with no memory of what happened. She has a head injury and there doesn't seem to be anyone around...except a police team who visit occasionally and seem terrible at solving things! What happened?!
The story follows 16 year-old Cass who does have memory loss following a head injury. However, her memories return slowly and we discover the history that led her to the remote forest - the haven of the title. Her family take a lead from a visitor to their house and embark on an effort to live off-grid as a way of helping the environment. They go to a mysterious settlement of like-minded people where they are very much treated as outsiders - and then it all gets very weird and dystopian!
I did find the book, although you have to be prepared to just go with some of the weirdness. In particular, I found that I had to suspend disbelief that Cass - in many ways so, so naive - turned into a kind of survival expert as she navigated the dangers of the deserted haven. At other times, I felt like she was really child-like, especially around her obsession with Mo - not that this is unrealistic, probably, for a teenager. She was an interesting character and I certainly felt compelled to keep reading.
I found the workings of the haven to be really interesting - I was worried that it would be presented really one-dimensionally as a bunch of crazy people with hippy ideas about saving the earth. However, there was a depth and authenticity to the community - they had genuinely noble intentions and were (with some notable exceptions) working together productively to keep the haven running. I thought this was an intriguing idea and an important environmental message, even if it doesn't go well for this particular bunch!
It's hard to describe more of the book without some serious spoilers, so I'll just say that I found lots to enjoy in the book and I did race through it to get to the truth.
If thrillers are your thing, you'll like this - there's lots of tension, lots of characters with dubious motives and lots of intrigue. You'll want to keep reading just to check that Cass is OK - or whether she has done really bad things.
Thanks to NetGalley for my review copy of the book. Opinions are entirely my own.
The story follows 16 year-old Cass who does have memory loss following a head injury. However, her memories return slowly and we discover the history that led her to the remote forest - the haven of the title. Her family take a lead from a visitor to their house and embark on an effort to live off-grid as a way of helping the environment. They go to a mysterious settlement of like-minded people where they are very much treated as outsiders - and then it all gets very weird and dystopian!
I did find the book, although you have to be prepared to just go with some of the weirdness. In particular, I found that I had to suspend disbelief that Cass - in many ways so, so naive - turned into a kind of survival expert as she navigated the dangers of the deserted haven. At other times, I felt like she was really child-like, especially around her obsession with Mo - not that this is unrealistic, probably, for a teenager. She was an interesting character and I certainly felt compelled to keep reading.
I found the workings of the haven to be really interesting - I was worried that it would be presented really one-dimensionally as a bunch of crazy people with hippy ideas about saving the earth. However, there was a depth and authenticity to the community - they had genuinely noble intentions and were (with some notable exceptions) working together productively to keep the haven running. I thought this was an intriguing idea and an important environmental message, even if it doesn't go well for this particular bunch!
It's hard to describe more of the book without some serious spoilers, so I'll just say that I found lots to enjoy in the book and I did race through it to get to the truth.
If thrillers are your thing, you'll like this - there's lots of tension, lots of characters with dubious motives and lots of intrigue. You'll want to keep reading just to check that Cass is OK - or whether she has done really bad things.
Thanks to NetGalley for my review copy of the book. Opinions are entirely my own.
January 12, 2024
It's a bit of a slow burner but worth the effort. Cass (16), her parents, older brother Joe and younger sister Maudie meet a charismatic man known only as Mo, who infiltrates his way into their lives and invites them to spend some time living in a forest for a couple of months with a closely knit eco-community. When the dysfunctional family get to Haven (having overturned their van several miles away), there is no sign of Mo, they are not expected and their welcome is decidedly lukewarm. However, they settle in a decrepit cabin a little distance from the main community and become engaged in the daily routine, working, learning, sharing food and other resources.
There are two timelines - "then" and "now" which work well. The first begins when they meet Mo and the second starts much later - Cass wakes up alone in the forest with a head injury and little memory of recent events.
I liked the way the book was written - it was immersive and detailed community life very well, but I'm not sure that England has enough wild forest space to allow such a group to go relatively unnoticed for years. I didn't particularly like the sub-plot of the nasty marijuana growers on the far side of the lake, but could see they were necessary as a constant threat to the community. Very well detailed was Rick's (the father) decent into illness (psychosis? schizophrenia?) and the gradual realisation by Cass of the danger they were all in.
I'll give this 4 stars - it's not perfect but is a well-rounded, engaging and immersive read, and I did want to know what happened to some of the characters afterwards.
There are two timelines - "then" and "now" which work well. The first begins when they meet Mo and the second starts much later - Cass wakes up alone in the forest with a head injury and little memory of recent events.
I liked the way the book was written - it was immersive and detailed community life very well, but I'm not sure that England has enough wild forest space to allow such a group to go relatively unnoticed for years. I didn't particularly like the sub-plot of the nasty marijuana growers on the far side of the lake, but could see they were necessary as a constant threat to the community. Very well detailed was Rick's (the father) decent into illness (psychosis? schizophrenia?) and the gradual realisation by Cass of the danger they were all in.
I'll give this 4 stars - it's not perfect but is a well-rounded, engaging and immersive read, and I did want to know what happened to some of the characters afterwards.
November 27, 2023
The Gillespie family were meant to have the adventure of a lifetime during their summer holiday at an experimental eco-community in one of England's most ancient forests. For Cara, a lonely and unhappy teenager who is desperate to belong, The Haven proves a seductive alternative to life back home.
But what starts as a sweetly idyllic alternative retreat quickly turns dark as it becomes clear her father, Rick, doesn't intend them to leave. When the family fails to return from their holiday, Cara's aunt raises the alarm and reports them missing to the police.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book; the setting, the descriptions of living life off-grid, Cara's teenage crush on the charismatic leader, Mo, who encouraged them to join the community. Cara was brilliantly described, her self-obsession was so typical of a teenager but the way she matured was incredibly well written. Cara's mother is a lovely character with her warmth coming through every conversation.
The tension throughout the book as Cara's father becomes more and more uncontrollable and Mo becomes more and more dangerous is just the right side of plausible with his each member of the family trying to cope with Rick's moods plus the mounting terror as the teenagers of the community realise just how much Mo is manipulating everyone. The plot was tight and completely believable. An excellent read.
My thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
But what starts as a sweetly idyllic alternative retreat quickly turns dark as it becomes clear her father, Rick, doesn't intend them to leave. When the family fails to return from their holiday, Cara's aunt raises the alarm and reports them missing to the police.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book; the setting, the descriptions of living life off-grid, Cara's teenage crush on the charismatic leader, Mo, who encouraged them to join the community. Cara was brilliantly described, her self-obsession was so typical of a teenager but the way she matured was incredibly well written. Cara's mother is a lovely character with her warmth coming through every conversation.
The tension throughout the book as Cara's father becomes more and more uncontrollable and Mo becomes more and more dangerous is just the right side of plausible with his each member of the family trying to cope with Rick's moods plus the mounting terror as the teenagers of the community realise just how much Mo is manipulating everyone. The plot was tight and completely believable. An excellent read.
My thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
November 30, 2023
Welcome to Heaven...
Following a meeting with a stranger, the Sawyer family (have they changed the names since the Goodreads blurb was written?) - Rick, Eve, teenage children Joe and Cass, and eight year old Maudie - decide to spend the summer living in an "off grid eco community". The Haven turns out to be all of those things, in a fashion rather more extreme than anyone bargained for.
The story is narrated by Cass, and even for a teenage girl, she seems extraordinarily naive - deluded, even - about her dealings with Mo, who acts like a textbook predator much of the time. She doesn't seem to entertain a scrap of doubt and acts in some frankly idiotic ways.
Maudie, however, with her plastic dogs and her dramatic overreactions, is a treasure.
The unravelling of this family - each of whom experiences some awful things - in the face of external manipulation and a very unusual environment, is compelling to witness, even through the eyes of self-absorbed Cass.
There's a graphic and disturbing scene of sexual assault at one point - that's not the only horrific scene, but it's perhaps the most viscerally distressing. But there's a lot of other weird and nasty stuff going on too. The ending is quite satisfying, though.
The inhabitants of the Haven do have some very fair points about living more sustainably, even if they take it rather further than most of us would probably want.
An intriguing and sometimes disturbing read. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
Following a meeting with a stranger, the Sawyer family (have they changed the names since the Goodreads blurb was written?) - Rick, Eve, teenage children Joe and Cass, and eight year old Maudie - decide to spend the summer living in an "off grid eco community". The Haven turns out to be all of those things, in a fashion rather more extreme than anyone bargained for.
The story is narrated by Cass, and even for a teenage girl, she seems extraordinarily naive - deluded, even - about her dealings with Mo, who acts like a textbook predator much of the time. She doesn't seem to entertain a scrap of doubt and acts in some frankly idiotic ways.
Maudie, however, with her plastic dogs and her dramatic overreactions, is a treasure.
The unravelling of this family - each of whom experiences some awful things - in the face of external manipulation and a very unusual environment, is compelling to witness, even through the eyes of self-absorbed Cass.
There's a graphic and disturbing scene of sexual assault at one point - that's not the only horrific scene, but it's perhaps the most viscerally distressing. But there's a lot of other weird and nasty stuff going on too. The ending is quite satisfying, though.
The inhabitants of the Haven do have some very fair points about living more sustainably, even if they take it rather further than most of us would probably want.
An intriguing and sometimes disturbing read. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
December 7, 2023
Teenager Cass Sawyer wakes up in the forest, confused and with some of her memories missing. Despite a head injury, she soon recognises where she is - the eco-community her parents have brought her and her two siblings to for summer. But to her puzzlement, everything seems deserted.
This is a slow burn thriller, but once it takes off things get quite interesting. Some parts of the story may require a suspension of disbelief - or at least, they did on my part.
The decisions that the Sawyer parents take, the naivete of a character like Cass, the hold that Mo has over Cass and her father Rick, and the degree to which the experiences of one summer appear to change them can seem a bit excessive at times.
After an unexpected encounter with a charismatic stranger, the five members of the Sawyer family agree to spend their summer in an off-the-grid community of environmental activists. The experience turns out to be as transformative as it is challenging for them.
But while the inhabitants of the Haven make some good points regarding the necessity for better stewardship of the Earth, there is a decidedly darker side to their lifestyle.
The story is gripping and keeps the reader engaged despite some shortcomings. The portrayal of family dynamics is convincing - if a little depressing at times. All in all, an interesting read. It gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
This is a slow burn thriller, but once it takes off things get quite interesting. Some parts of the story may require a suspension of disbelief - or at least, they did on my part.
The decisions that the Sawyer parents take, the naivete of a character like Cass, the hold that Mo has over Cass and her father Rick, and the degree to which the experiences of one summer appear to change them can seem a bit excessive at times.
After an unexpected encounter with a charismatic stranger, the five members of the Sawyer family agree to spend their summer in an off-the-grid community of environmental activists. The experience turns out to be as transformative as it is challenging for them.
But while the inhabitants of the Haven make some good points regarding the necessity for better stewardship of the Earth, there is a decidedly darker side to their lifestyle.
The story is gripping and keeps the reader engaged despite some shortcomings. The portrayal of family dynamics is convincing - if a little depressing at times. All in all, an interesting read. It gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
March 21, 2024
The Haven is a strange, unsettling, mysterious book that kept me reading on!
The book follows the Sawyer family as they embark on a radical lifestyle change, leaving behind their comfortable lives for the mysterious eco-community known as "The Haven." Fueled by Rick's obsession with the enigmatic Mo he met at a festival, they head into the remote English wilderness.
The narrative cleverly flips between the present, where teenager Cassia finds herself in danger, and the past, gradually revealing the events leading up to this critical moment. This structure maintains a constant sense of mystery, urging the reader to piece together the puzzle. I think this dual narrative works really well.
While all the characters may not necessarily be likeable, Neill portrays them with a depth that makes them feel real. The idyllic descriptions of The Haven's way of life are punctuated with a growing sense of unease, masterfully building tension throughout the novel.
There are a fair few moments which you need to suspend your disbelief for, and I can see why this might put some readers off, but I enjoyed the rest of the book so much that I didn't mind this. Fiona Neill highlights how seemingly rational people can be swayed by manipulation. We see the family start off (mostly) in high spirits but slowly the tone of the book changes with the family as their spirits sink and they no longer feel safe. And it ends with a bang!
The book follows the Sawyer family as they embark on a radical lifestyle change, leaving behind their comfortable lives for the mysterious eco-community known as "The Haven." Fueled by Rick's obsession with the enigmatic Mo he met at a festival, they head into the remote English wilderness.
The narrative cleverly flips between the present, where teenager Cassia finds herself in danger, and the past, gradually revealing the events leading up to this critical moment. This structure maintains a constant sense of mystery, urging the reader to piece together the puzzle. I think this dual narrative works really well.
While all the characters may not necessarily be likeable, Neill portrays them with a depth that makes them feel real. The idyllic descriptions of The Haven's way of life are punctuated with a growing sense of unease, masterfully building tension throughout the novel.
There are a fair few moments which you need to suspend your disbelief for, and I can see why this might put some readers off, but I enjoyed the rest of the book so much that I didn't mind this. Fiona Neill highlights how seemingly rational people can be swayed by manipulation. We see the family start off (mostly) in high spirits but slowly the tone of the book changes with the family as their spirits sink and they no longer feel safe. And it ends with a bang!
March 21, 2024
This is a great ride of a thriller
As the Spill says Cass wakes up in the forest unaware of all that's been going on and is about to find out bits at a time 1st question that she needs to answer is where is all this blood from. That's quickly resolved but how and why that takes longer.
This is a great mystery thriller who is Mo the eco children party entertainer you have to read this thriller for that to make any sense sorry ( but you won't be once you've read it). A clue he's not your normal booking, but he is going to transform the future of this family and it starts with the invitation to The Haven an off the grid eco forest where the rules are made by the warriors not the outsiders as they call us.
So all you'd want in a thriller like this there are plenty of twists action and wonderful characters, starting with the family Cass has a Brother, Sister, Mum and Dad and an Aunt living at their home, plenty of arguing self doubt and dreams. But what they didn't expect was there 2 week annual trip to Cent Parks to be usurped by a 2 month trip to the eco world (forest) will all bar the Aunt no real spoiler and left behind.
I really enjoyed the story telling a mix of then and now, well crafted and full of suspense. I loved it and really hope You do it's definitely well worth getting and reading (obviously) I was hooked.
As the Spill says Cass wakes up in the forest unaware of all that's been going on and is about to find out bits at a time 1st question that she needs to answer is where is all this blood from. That's quickly resolved but how and why that takes longer.
This is a great mystery thriller who is Mo the eco children party entertainer you have to read this thriller for that to make any sense sorry ( but you won't be once you've read it). A clue he's not your normal booking, but he is going to transform the future of this family and it starts with the invitation to The Haven an off the grid eco forest where the rules are made by the warriors not the outsiders as they call us.
So all you'd want in a thriller like this there are plenty of twists action and wonderful characters, starting with the family Cass has a Brother, Sister, Mum and Dad and an Aunt living at their home, plenty of arguing self doubt and dreams. But what they didn't expect was there 2 week annual trip to Cent Parks to be usurped by a 2 month trip to the eco world (forest) will all bar the Aunt no real spoiler and left behind.
I really enjoyed the story telling a mix of then and now, well crafted and full of suspense. I loved it and really hope You do it's definitely well worth getting and reading (obviously) I was hooked.
March 29, 2024
When Cassie's Dad decides that eight year old Maudie's party should be an 'Eco' party & invites the charismatic Mo the leader of activities. He is part of a group living in an ancient forest at one with the land. Everyone falls under his spell, although Aunt Cora & brother Joe are more sceptical. But for Cassie, quiet, lacking in confidence it is a huge. When Mo keeps in touch & in spite of the age difference appears to be equally smitten. When Dad Rick decides that everyone is going to The Haven for the holidays , Maudie is excited, Eve (Mum) is OK with it, Joe isn't keen & Cassie is thrilled.
The book is told from two time frames. It starts with 'Now' when Cat wakes up in a hollow like a shallow grave with a serious cut on her head. There is no sign of anyone & she can't remember what's happened & continues as she looks for answers. The other time line is 'Then' which goes from their arrival onwards.
I became totally enthralled with this. I was reading into the early hours to find out what happens in the end. Of course there are bits that don't quite 'gel' but I could easily forgive that for a great read. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book that stole my sleep!
The book is told from two time frames. It starts with 'Now' when Cat wakes up in a hollow like a shallow grave with a serious cut on her head. There is no sign of anyone & she can't remember what's happened & continues as she looks for answers. The other time line is 'Then' which goes from their arrival onwards.
I became totally enthralled with this. I was reading into the early hours to find out what happens in the end. Of course there are bits that don't quite 'gel' but I could easily forgive that for a great read. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book that stole my sleep!
September 13, 2024
Sixteen year old Cass wakes up from a head injury. She's deep in the forest and has no memory of what has happened to her and she's very afraid. Where are her family?
We then go back to learn how Cass and her family came to be living in the forest. Cass, her parents Rick and Eve, brother Joe and little sister Maudie have joined an eco off grid community led by the charismatic and influential Mo. Mo has chosen them to join his community, living as nature intended, self sufficient and relying solely on each other. But what should have been idyllic turned to hell and a fight for survival....
The Haven is told between two timelines; when Cass and her family first join the community and later when she wakes from her head injury. It wouldn't be for everyone, there are triggers and at times led to very uncomfortable reading. The author does a wonderful job of creating a deep unsettling atmosphere throughout and at times I quite literally had shivers down my spine! The timelines come together wonderfully towards the end leading to an explosive conclusion! Highly recommended.
We then go back to learn how Cass and her family came to be living in the forest. Cass, her parents Rick and Eve, brother Joe and little sister Maudie have joined an eco off grid community led by the charismatic and influential Mo. Mo has chosen them to join his community, living as nature intended, self sufficient and relying solely on each other. But what should have been idyllic turned to hell and a fight for survival....
The Haven is told between two timelines; when Cass and her family first join the community and later when she wakes from her head injury. It wouldn't be for everyone, there are triggers and at times led to very uncomfortable reading. The author does a wonderful job of creating a deep unsettling atmosphere throughout and at times I quite literally had shivers down my spine! The timelines come together wonderfully towards the end leading to an explosive conclusion! Highly recommended.
February 19, 2024
I loved the Betrayals so was excited to read this latest from Fiona Neill, and wasn't disappointed - another pacy thriller with a human mystery at the heart. I found the setting / theme of this novel really unique and intriguing, a really intense but believable portrayal of an off-grid community. I liked how the different characters brought to life different ways / reasons for engaging with this kind of lifestyle (which from personal experience I found accurate!), from real 'earth mother' types, to more superficial engagements, to darker motives still.
I was truly hungry to find out what had happened and found myself coming back to it and speeding through the last sections.
I did find the very very ending a little flat (not in what actually happens, which was a good and satisfying twist) but the way it's delivered - in a few sentences as if in a rush??) but it didn't really detract from my enjoyment of this highly readable and exciting thriller, a great holiday read.
I was truly hungry to find out what had happened and found myself coming back to it and speeding through the last sections.
I did find the very very ending a little flat (not in what actually happens, which was a good and satisfying twist) but the way it's delivered - in a few sentences as if in a rush??) but it didn't really detract from my enjoyment of this highly readable and exciting thriller, a great holiday read.
March 24, 2024
16 year old Cass Sawyer wakes up in the woods with a head injury and no memory of how she ended up there.
Where is Cass’s family and what really happened at The Haven
The Haven is an idyllic, off grid retreat.
Cass’s family take a lead from Mo, a visitor to their house and decide to embark on an off grid existence as way of helping the environment.
Her parents claim it will heal their broken family, but as memories start to trickle back, Cass realises there is something a lot more sinister going on - her father’s erratic behaviour and her mother’s plea’s to go back to town.
Everyone seemed so happy at The Haven, is that why they never leave and Mo is such a charismatic leader
A tense, taut, character led thriller with brilliant family dynamics
It’s unsettling and electrifying in equal measure, quite weird and dystopian.
Thanks @fionaneill, @michaeljbooks & @netgalley for the tense thriller
Where is Cass’s family and what really happened at The Haven
The Haven is an idyllic, off grid retreat.
Cass’s family take a lead from Mo, a visitor to their house and decide to embark on an off grid existence as way of helping the environment.
Her parents claim it will heal their broken family, but as memories start to trickle back, Cass realises there is something a lot more sinister going on - her father’s erratic behaviour and her mother’s plea’s to go back to town.
Everyone seemed so happy at The Haven, is that why they never leave and Mo is such a charismatic leader
A tense, taut, character led thriller with brilliant family dynamics
It’s unsettling and electrifying in equal measure, quite weird and dystopian.
Thanks @fionaneill, @michaeljbooks & @netgalley for the tense thriller
December 9, 2023
Disillusioned father comes under the influence of charismatic back-to-nature guru, and decides to take his family off to an off-grid settlement in the middle of a forest. The wife and children are less than impressed.
The book is narrated by Cassia, the teenage daughter who very quickly falls under the influence of the leader.
What is very clear is how well meaning, trusting, people can be manipulated by those only out for themselves, and of course, predictably, it is never going to end well.
The narrative keeps switching between “then” and “now”, which became very confusing at times.
I had great hope for this book, but found it was covering well-trodden ground, which has been better-explored in other books.
Thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this book.
The book is narrated by Cassia, the teenage daughter who very quickly falls under the influence of the leader.
What is very clear is how well meaning, trusting, people can be manipulated by those only out for themselves, and of course, predictably, it is never going to end well.
The narrative keeps switching between “then” and “now”, which became very confusing at times.
I had great hope for this book, but found it was covering well-trodden ground, which has been better-explored in other books.
Thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this book.
May 27, 2024
This book had a lot of promise for me, and I have previously really enjoyed reading Fiona Neill's book, but it just missed the mark. The pacing of this book is a little strange, it was a long build up, which I found myself disengaged with, then a good middle and I thought now we've hit our stride, to an ending that felt rushed and not well thought out.
That being said, obviously I kept reading it, it just wasn't my favourite. The characters didn't feel particularly fleshed out and were a little one dimensional, I wanted them to have more than one strong character attribute that defined them as individuals.
I will say this book was a slog for me, it doesn't normally take me months to finish one, but I did keep preserving because I was interested.
**I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in return for my own personal and honest review**
That being said, obviously I kept reading it, it just wasn't my favourite. The characters didn't feel particularly fleshed out and were a little one dimensional, I wanted them to have more than one strong character attribute that defined them as individuals.
I will say this book was a slog for me, it doesn't normally take me months to finish one, but I did keep preserving because I was interested.
**I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in return for my own personal and honest review**
February 10, 2024
This is difficult book for me to review as I struggled to connect with both the story and the characters but I did persevere until the end. What I do have to say though was the book was extremely well written and I did want to continue reading because of this. So sadly this just wasn’t the book for me at this time and I am sure I will be in the minority and others will like it better. Please don’t get me wrong this wasn’t by any means a bad read it just wasn’t one for me but based on the writing I will be interested in any future books by the author.
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House, Michael Joseph for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House, Michael Joseph for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 16, 2024
This is certainly a page turner of a novel. It’s quite an adventure and very fast paced. We have a family who decide to go to an eco site called The Haven for a few weeks where they can experience something different and live of the land. What follows are alternating chapters between now and then. The Haven is not what they were expecting and what follows is how they are going to get out and survive. The father is slowly going mad , his daughter has been burned badly and refuses getting outside help. Of course we have the leader who is corrupt and dominating especially towards the women of the group. Although I feel this kind of storyline has been done before it is a very engaging and exciting read with a good ending.
April 2, 2024
It starts with 16 years old Cass waking up in a forest with an injury to her head and she can't remember what has happened. This instantly hooked me in... the story flicks between the present day and a few months ago when Cass also with younger sister , older brother and her parents decide to spend time at a place called Haven that is an off grid location where a group of people live. They plan to stay for a few months over the summer holidays. Its not all fun and games in paradise!
I found this an easy read and enjoyed getting to know the characters and Haven. It's an unsettling and interesting story.
I found this an easy read and enjoyed getting to know the characters and Haven. It's an unsettling and interesting story.
April 24, 2024
The power of power
I found this book absolutely riveting, thrilling and horrifying all at the same time. It shows the power a megalomaniac can hold over vulnerable people. How a desire for an alternative lifestyle can be manipulated by such a person. How a haven of such a life can be taken over and turned into something sour and degrading. a well written novel grabbing ones interest throughout with a page turning capacity to make one hold ones breath till it's known what the outcome it. brilliant.
I found this book absolutely riveting, thrilling and horrifying all at the same time. It shows the power a megalomaniac can hold over vulnerable people. How a desire for an alternative lifestyle can be manipulated by such a person. How a haven of such a life can be taken over and turned into something sour and degrading. a well written novel grabbing ones interest throughout with a page turning capacity to make one hold ones breath till it's known what the outcome it. brilliant.
September 5, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced story about a family who were coaxed by a rather mysterious and elusive character to join a strange and secret commune. It was never revealed where this setup was, although they talked of the indigenous creatures of the UK, and mentioned English money.
It was action packed from the off, and I couldn’t put it down.
I would have given it five stars, only i was a little disappointed with what I felt was a hurried ending. It could have done with one more chapter just to tie up some loose ends, but apart from that it was very good.
It was action packed from the off, and I couldn’t put it down.
I would have given it five stars, only i was a little disappointed with what I felt was a hurried ending. It could have done with one more chapter just to tie up some loose ends, but apart from that it was very good.
December 8, 2024
This book had a strange feel to it all the way through, which I think is kind of what the author wanted.
I enjoyed the guessing about what was going to happen next.
The ending was really abrupt. It finished in a really strange place for me.
I would have liked the end to show them all going home or maybe deciding to stay in the forest? With a little explanation as to where all the rest of them went and what happens to them and to River and her baby.
That's the reason it lost a star. Otherwise, a food read.
I enjoyed the guessing about what was going to happen next.
The ending was really abrupt. It finished in a really strange place for me.
I would have liked the end to show them all going home or maybe deciding to stay in the forest? With a little explanation as to where all the rest of them went and what happens to them and to River and her baby.
That's the reason it lost a star. Otherwise, a food read.
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