Moat Hill Hall: A Romantic Psychological Thriller Set in a Haunting English Manor

by L.K. Pang

Love was not something I was in search of. Love found me. A love that grew like a weed, unwanted but prolifically consuming. Moat Hill, with all its past grandeur, was drenched in sadness. Scrape the crumbling plaster away from its walls and you’ll find secrets creeping beneath its surface. And the Hall’s master, Mr Evans, my client, would be the catalyst of the grief I feel today.

Architect Rosie Rudley’s ambitious desire to further her career unexpectedly changes her life.

Arriving at Moat Hill Hall for the first time, she discovers there are secrets preventing her from accomplishing the job. Mr Ralph Evans, her enigmatic client, is uncooperative, using his agent to stand for him. As she delves deeper into the project, boundaries between dreams and reality blur, and she finds herself increasingly drawn to him and his mysterious past.
An ominous threat follows her as she works her way into bringing the Hall back to life. Is the project worth the danger she gets herself into and can she trust the people around her?

Genres: Mystery

293 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2023

About the author

L. K. Pang’s love of the great gothic love stories have been ingrained in her since her teenage years and ever since watching the school production of Jane Eyre on stage, she has been imagining life immersed in a Victorian world of big dresses, wild moorland, large country mansions and handsome, enigmatic men. Of course, being of Chinese ethnicity growing up in 1980s England, this gothic world was far from reach - until now. Her debut novel, Moat Hill Hall, is the amalgamation of these desires.

Since being published, she has continued with novel writing, enjoying the telling of mysteries, blurring the boundaries of suspenseful thrillers and tales of love with a gothic edge. Her second novel, The Night Counsellor, continues on with this theme and embraces the harsh truths of mental hospitals and women in society during the 1950s.

L. K. Pang is also an artist and lives in Yorkshire with her family.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5 stars.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

not what i was expecting

This was not that thrilling for me. Lacked real romance and the plot was rather weak. I did love the heroine, but the hero was a let down.

[SarahRobins_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fabulous gothic book with the feel of Rebecca. It is written brilliantly and you really can feel the mood of the book. Involves an old house that needs renovating and the mysterious and brooding owner who maybe holding some secrets.
A great debut that I would recommend!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moat Hill Hall is an unusual mix of contemporary romance with a gothic romance feel. Jane Eyre and Rebecca are mentioned in the book, and I can definitely feel their influence. Very easy read, I sped through the second half very quickly and my heart was racing in parts, I knew from other reviews there was a twist at the end and I thought I'd worked it out, but I hadn't. I liked the way the author sets out a few false trails for you to follow. Unfortunately, the main romantic character gave me the ick, and I found a bit creepy so I couldn't get on board with the romance part, however there was enough happening in the story it didn't detract from my enjoyment.

[Bookish Coffee UK · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this ones easy to read, slow paced though. the twist at the end got me eye rolling gotta say. but didn't see it coming.

[Hattie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The reason I have this slightly odd book is: my mum went to a book signing for a book written by a friend of a friend. The book signing was shared with 2 other authors, and my mum thought it would be rude only to buy one of the books.

I feel bad for criticising the book because it is signed Dear Hattie, by LK Pang herself. However. Despite there being specific acknowledgment of the proofreader/editor at the beginning of the book, I’m sorry to say this was the most badly proofread book I’ve ever read. I genuinely wonder whether the wrong version had been sent to print?? Dear LK Pang, please use a different proof reader next time (or double check that Moat-Hill-Hall-86-FINAL PROOFREAD-REALLY -ACTUALLY-FINAL2.doc is actually the right one.) The worst examples included the classic it’s, and slightly more exotic its’, the unforgivable spoonful’s, the spelling of ‘raisons’ (raisins). Something “emulating out of” someone. Sentences like “I thought it strange why it would be left there”, “it was increasingly harder to resist my hankering need to get closer to her”, and my particular favourite “glimpses of the man behind an impalpable mask”.

Anyway, now that’s out of the way, it must a testament to the gripping plot that I read this with reasonably rapt attention (despite the fly-covered windscreen effect given by all the extra commas littered everywhere, and the absolutely dreadful romance). This was partly because from the very first chapter where a fox behaves weirdly, followed by various mentions of the mysterious former house inhabitants’ ‘auburn’ ‘red’ ‘fox like’ hair, building to a climax on page 326 where she even says “it stunned me how fox-like her features were”, I was absolutely CONVINCED the big reveal was going to be a fox shape-shifter. Alas. There was still a good twist, but when you’ve been waiting for someone to turn into a fox, anything else is a bit disappointing.

I was pleasantly surprised to find it set in my native Howardian hills, although I laughed out loud when they said “We saw the yellow light of a vacant taxi across the road” - This is Helmsley LK Pang, not NYC.

[Silent Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:
The affluent Moat Hill Hall is shrouded in mystery: hidden pasts, dangerous secrets and an unsettling series of inhabitants. Rosie knew little of it, but decided to take the plunge with her architectural company to take it on as their next big project…a single decision that would change the foundations of her life.

Rosie must uncover the truth of the locked room, of the warnings, of the abrasive man she finds herself working for – but what does she do when she discovers far more conflicting matters than she had bargained, especially when it comes to her heart?

The Specifics of the Edition:
I read the mass market paperback, which can be found in most places for £9.99. It was published in 2023 by Chronos Publishing. I was lucky enough to get a signed copy and matching book mark!

My thoughts:
Moat Hill Hall was a genre-mixing novel, comprised of the most exciting elements from mystery, contemporary, crime/thriller and romance. It was an ambitious debut, but it certainly does not read as a debut. Upon reading the author’s blog (link below), I think she benefited from writing around what she knew, with the setting being based on real places and the protagonist being an architect (just as she was). It added a sense of believability to the character and the narrative of working on Moat Hill Hall as a whole.

Read my full review here: https://thesilentreviewerblog.wordpre...

[K E · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing created clear imagery of the Hall and great characters blended together with a good mix of humour, intrigue and suspense throughout. A great accomplishment for a first novel.
I liked the way the novel took the reader back in time at various points in the story to discover different parts of the Hall’s owners’ relationships. It added to the thrilling nature of the book as the author gave just enough away to spark a question and create a hook for the reader.
I loved the twist at the end; it was a real surprise. The journey to the end kept me turning the pages; I really didn’t want to put it down.
A brilliant read!

[Jessie Grange · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young female architect, a derelict mansion, and a mysterious man with a potentially dark history. I really enjoyed how this book was written and split in two three interweaving narratives between the protagonist, the antagonist, and a historical timeline that gradually makes its way up to the present day. I liked the chemistry between the two main characters but I especially liked the historical element to the plot where it gets darker and grittier!

[Megansita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book although I think the consistent switch between characters was almost hard to follow if you weren’t following the storyline well! I was really invested in the character’s development and the twist and turn of the book’s plot the more I read and did not expect the outcome of events in the end but I also had sort of an inkling! It was a tantalising build up which made this a quick & easy read!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I loved about this book is the inclusion of a mixed race (Chinese and White) woman at the centre of quite a classic themed story in the English countryside and how she navigates through an intense relationship with her client whilst also having a very heart warming side story between herself and her own parents. It makes her very relatable.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise of Moat Hill Hall and quite enjoyed it but for me there were too many clichés for the creepy old house genre: falling in love with the mysterious owner of the manor house, squirrels jumping out, secrets in the past etc

Although it was an easy read it could have been a whole lot more and made in to a great gothic thriller.

[Mimi McAuley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t read a good book like this for a while- A book that once you start you just don’t want to put down. The characters were well written so that you related /liked/disliked them immediately. The storyline was intriguing and easy to follow. I won’t reveal the twist but I hadn’t seen that coming!

Definitely a book I’d recommend.

[Emma Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this down from the very first page. It’s such a great fast paced page turner. It is a romance but with a mystery, thriller vibe. It had me suspicious and doubting characters that I liked. It had little bit of a creepy vibe in places too. I was not expecting the twist and absolutely loved it but was also slightly heartbroken. A great read. Can’t wait for more from this author.

[Rhiannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

The premise of the story was interesting but I just didn't manage to get fully invested in it. It didn't help that the book hadn't been proofed properly, with lots of grammatical and syntactic errors which were frustrating and stopped the story flowing well. It's a shame as the writer herself was lovely when I met her at a meet and greet at Waterstones.

[Laura Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely blend of psychological suspense and romance. The story slow burns in tension as you get to know the characters and as you find out their past, it builds up until you can’t turn the pages fast enough to find out both what happened and what happens!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book for its beautiful mix of page turning suspense with a good dose of romance! It plays on gothic tropes like the mysterious master who owns a spooky stately home set in the middle of no where with a real modern take, a relatable main character and a very twisty edge.

[Denise Rella · Rating 5 out of 5]

L.K. Pang’s novel, Moat Hill Hall, is a multi-genre novel. I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style, as it kept me engaged throughout the storyline. I could not put it down! I was surprised at the ending and look forward to reading future novels by this talented author (hopefully soon).

[Michelle Heslegrave · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this book in a bookshop in bedale, I loved the local references it included, but also the plot keeps you excited till the end.
I can't wait for L.K.Pangs next book, for a first time author, she truly is outstanding.

[Rosalind Reavell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly gripping read. I was totally absorbed in the characters and their story which twisted and turned right to the end. An impressive debut novel which can only promise more great things to come - can't wait to read the next novel by LK Pang.

[Maria L · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best romantic thrillers I’ve ever read! It’s well written, sophisticated in its structure, gripping, enchanting, heartbreaking and sensual - and has a the most unexpected twist at the end!

[Julie W · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrilling and easy read! The story encompasses romance, passion, mystery, (mild) horror and even humour with a twist I just did not see coming.