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Harrowgate
Michael should be overjoyed by the birth of his son, but his wife, Sarah won't let him touch the baby or allow anyone to visit.
Greta, an intrusive, sinister doula has wormed her way into their lives, driving a wedge between Michael and his family. Every time he leaves the Harrowgate, he returns to find his beloved wife and baby altered. He feels his family slipping away and, as a malevolent force begins to creep in, Michael does what any new father would do—he fights to keep his family together.
Kate Maruyama’s debut novel, Harrowgate, is a chilling, richly detailed story of love, loss, and the haunted place that lies between.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2013
35 people are currently reading
2419 people want to read
About the author
Kate Maruyama
16 books85 followersKate Maruyama writes, teaches, cooks, and eats in Los Angeles, where she lives with her family.
She is the author of The Collective (Writ Large Press), Bleak Houses (Raw Dog Screaming Press) and her novella Family Solstice which is in that book was named Best Fiction Book of the 2021 by Rue Morgue Magazine. Her historical novel Alterations is upcoming from Running Wild Press in March of 2023
Her short work has been published in Asimov's Magazine, Analog Science Fiction & Fact, The Coachella Review, and on Entropy, Gemini Magazine, Salon, The Rumpus and Duende, among others.
She is a member of the SFWA and HWA where she serves on the Diverse Works Inclusion Committee. She has served as a jury chair for The Bram Stoker Awards and twice as a juror for the Shirley Jackson Awards.
You can keep up with Kate's news with her newsletter, Read. Write. Cook. which you can sign up for on her website!
She is the author of The Collective (Writ Large Press), Bleak Houses (Raw Dog Screaming Press) and her novella Family Solstice which is in that book was named Best Fiction Book of the 2021 by Rue Morgue Magazine. Her historical novel Alterations is upcoming from Running Wild Press in March of 2023
Her short work has been published in Asimov's Magazine, Analog Science Fiction & Fact, The Coachella Review, and on Entropy, Gemini Magazine, Salon, The Rumpus and Duende, among others.
She is a member of the SFWA and HWA where she serves on the Diverse Works Inclusion Committee. She has served as a jury chair for The Bram Stoker Awards and twice as a juror for the Shirley Jackson Awards.
You can keep up with Kate's news with her newsletter, Read. Write. Cook. which you can sign up for on her website!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
November 12, 2013
What sacrifices would you make to keep your family together? What stories would you tell yourself to keep things the way they were? And if you had to, would you be able to let them go?
Michael's wife, Sarah, is pregnant when he has to leave for a business trip where means of communication are precarious at best. Near the end of his trip he gets a call that there's been an emergency and Sarah's gone to hospital.
On Michael's trip home, he imagines all kind of horrible scenarios, fearing the worst. Upon arriving at Harrowgate, he is greeted by his lovely wife, but she's acting strange and as days come and go he starts to notice impossible changes in his wife and the son she won't let him hold or get to know.
Sarah's behavior is erratic and the arrival of Greta stirs up Michael's guilt over not being there for the birth and jealously over this new friend who seems to have a strong hold on Sarah. A hold that can only be overcome by Michael who must admit a truth to himself and to his family.
I was instantly caught up in this tale of a family coping with the changes that occur with a new baby in the home. Sarah's feelings of isolation and sadness really spoke to me as this is something some new mothers feel. A child depends on you for everything and at times it can be all-consuming.
I started to notice that something was wrong with Sarah and the baby early on, but couldn't quite put my finger on it. It was frustrating not getting any hints and just thinking Sarah was really struggling mentally was not enough explanation for what was happening.
As more clues were dropped the story became more interesting and when Greta, Sarah's friend, starts visiting more often, things get tense and questions arise.
However, nothing really happened after that. The same scenarios continued to play out with a sense of foreboding and doom. I was expecting a big blow-up, but the ending was so anti-climatic that I was left feeling bereft of a potentially memorable ending.
This really was a hauntingly good read that would have been perfect if it was tightened up a bit and more info was given on Greta and the darkness.
Still, a worthy read.
Michael's wife, Sarah, is pregnant when he has to leave for a business trip where means of communication are precarious at best. Near the end of his trip he gets a call that there's been an emergency and Sarah's gone to hospital.
On Michael's trip home, he imagines all kind of horrible scenarios, fearing the worst. Upon arriving at Harrowgate, he is greeted by his lovely wife, but she's acting strange and as days come and go he starts to notice impossible changes in his wife and the son she won't let him hold or get to know.
Sarah's behavior is erratic and the arrival of Greta stirs up Michael's guilt over not being there for the birth and jealously over this new friend who seems to have a strong hold on Sarah. A hold that can only be overcome by Michael who must admit a truth to himself and to his family.
I was instantly caught up in this tale of a family coping with the changes that occur with a new baby in the home. Sarah's feelings of isolation and sadness really spoke to me as this is something some new mothers feel. A child depends on you for everything and at times it can be all-consuming.
I started to notice that something was wrong with Sarah and the baby early on, but couldn't quite put my finger on it. It was frustrating not getting any hints and just thinking Sarah was really struggling mentally was not enough explanation for what was happening.
As more clues were dropped the story became more interesting and when Greta, Sarah's friend, starts visiting more often, things get tense and questions arise.
However, nothing really happened after that. The same scenarios continued to play out with a sense of foreboding and doom. I was expecting a big blow-up, but the ending was so anti-climatic that I was left feeling bereft of a potentially memorable ending.
This really was a hauntingly good read that would have been perfect if it was tightened up a bit and more info was given on Greta and the darkness.
Still, a worthy read.
March 1, 2014
When I saw Harrowgate while stalking NetGalley, I knew I had to have it. I mean, just look at that synopsis. It sounds creepy, thrilling, dark, everything my little heart desires in a book. And it was all those things, for about 15% of the book.
You're pretty much given all the secrets immediately. Within a few pages, you know what the creepy part is, who the villain is, and the story pretty much deflates like a suicidal balloon.
Page after page it was the same routine. The same things happen, the same pattern of events repeated. Wash, rinse, fall asleep from boredom, repeat.
I kept reading waiting for something more. That something never came.
Now, because I always tend to enjoy the villain in the books I covet, I must discuss Greta. She's our resident evil doer. Greta huffs and puffs and blows bits of black smoke around, but she is about as scary as a unicorn plush toy. If you're going to have a villain your novel, have a villian, not some half-assed shell of one.
I kept waiting for her to do something remotely disturbing. Anything.
I got nothing.
I also have to add that the ending to this book is perhaps the worst I've encountered in the past few months. Pretty much everything is conveniently tied up in a pretty little bow with puppies playing and unicorns frolicking. Not my cuppa.
This book would have been better as a simple short story.
2 Ninja-Bunnehs-Kicking-Your-Shabby-Villian's-Ass stars
(Arc received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
You're pretty much given all the secrets immediately. Within a few pages, you know what the creepy part is, who the villain is, and the story pretty much deflates like a suicidal balloon.
Page after page it was the same routine. The same things happen, the same pattern of events repeated. Wash, rinse, fall asleep from boredom, repeat.
I kept reading waiting for something more. That something never came.
Now, because I always tend to enjoy the villain in the books I covet, I must discuss Greta. She's our resident evil doer. Greta huffs and puffs and blows bits of black smoke around, but she is about as scary as a unicorn plush toy. If you're going to have a villain your novel, have a villian, not some half-assed shell of one.
I kept waiting for her to do something remotely disturbing. Anything.
I got nothing.
I also have to add that the ending to this book is perhaps the worst I've encountered in the past few months. Pretty much everything is conveniently tied up in a pretty little bow with puppies playing and unicorns frolicking. Not my cuppa.
This book would have been better as a simple short story.
2 Ninja-Bunnehs-Kicking-Your-Shabby-Villian's-Ass stars
(Arc received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
September 10, 2013
The name of this novel was chosen with care as it is indeed a harrowing tale that is deeply disturbing. For me, it began with a vague sense of dread that segued into a living nightmare. It had a twisted surprise early on, then another as the story progressed. I am purposely keeping this review short as I do not want to chance giving anything away. Hard to shake off the chill even now. It was superb.
This was a first-reads giveaway, thank you. Well done!
This was a first-reads giveaway, thank you. Well done!
October 2, 2013
Love is a motherfucker, and what we humans do for it is the clincher for all worst case scenarios. How far would you go to keep a loved one? People stay in the unhealthiest relationships, the most dysfunctional situation, and the living hells of their own creation, all in the name of love. But when outside forces cause undue mayhem in your love life, what would you do? Would you die for someone? Would you stretch your beliefs way past reality and hold on for dear life to their very soul? It's a question a lot of us can't answer. But, really it's what's at the heart of Kate Maruyama's Harrowgate. And it is ultimately what kept me turning the pages – having to see how it all played out. Some would call Harrowgate a horror story. And believe me, the diaper changing scene was horrific. Yet, what Maruyama really captured was the essence of what keeps a family together, even through the most ominous of times.
October 19, 2017
Kate Maruyama's Harrowgate came out of left field late in the year to rock my top ten of 2013. Harrowing (pun intended) yet can't-put-it-down compelling, Maruyama's debut defies genre, a unique family romance that both spooked me and pulled at my heartstrings, romantic and repellent at the same time. I'd love to say more, but you'll be glad I didn't. Harrowgate winks at some familiar tropes -- happy couple in spooky New York apartment? Check. Meddling older woman with special teas? Check. However, it unfolds in a truly unexpected fashion. An excellent and memorable debut novel. I look forward to much more from Maruyama!
(Edited to note that although I purchased a Kindle copy, and reviewed from that, I was also the lucky recipient of a signed First-Reads copy from the author through a Goodreads giveaway. It's one I'm happy to make room on an actual shelf for. Thanks!)
(Edited to note that although I purchased a Kindle copy, and reviewed from that, I was also the lucky recipient of a signed First-Reads copy from the author through a Goodreads giveaway. It's one I'm happy to make room on an actual shelf for. Thanks!)
July 9, 2013
For me, this is first a family story. It is about love. The question that kept me reading wasn't what creepy things were happening (though I loved that part too), but how a loving family handles all the creepy stuff that they face. Once I started this book, I couldn't stop turning the pages. Kate Maruyama has crafted a wonderful, ghostly world here, where even a cup of tea is scary. I would definitely recommend it. Though I admit that after finishing this book, I hugged my son extra tightly before kissing him goodnight...
October 28, 2013
Although this book does dark and disturbing very well I really did not enjoy reading it. On the positive side Maruyama has a good handle on writing suspense and mystery. The plot and its various twists definitely have the potential for keeping the reader on the edge of their seats. If this plot was in the hands of another writer it could possibly be an amazing tale.
The big issue however was that it was not written by someone else. I found the writing to be extremely clunky and heavy handed. Sentences have a very strange structure and I constantly found myself stopping and rereading a section to make sure I wasn’t misunderstanding what she was saying. This isn’t a problem of pacing or story-telling but rather of basic structure. I could never get into the story because of what felt like genuinely poor writing.
The other big issue with this book is the ending. The buildup was well done and there were enough twists and turns for me to really want to know what was going to happen. And in the end there isn’t a real climax. Everything just sort of wraps up and the book ends leaving me as a reader wholly unsatisfied. There was a lot of care taken with the front half of the book and it almost feels like Maruyama just didn’t have it in her to give the same attention to the second half.
The big issue however was that it was not written by someone else. I found the writing to be extremely clunky and heavy handed. Sentences have a very strange structure and I constantly found myself stopping and rereading a section to make sure I wasn’t misunderstanding what she was saying. This isn’t a problem of pacing or story-telling but rather of basic structure. I could never get into the story because of what felt like genuinely poor writing.
The other big issue with this book is the ending. The buildup was well done and there were enough twists and turns for me to really want to know what was going to happen. And in the end there isn’t a real climax. Everything just sort of wraps up and the book ends leaving me as a reader wholly unsatisfied. There was a lot of care taken with the front half of the book and it almost feels like Maruyama just didn’t have it in her to give the same attention to the second half.
December 3, 2013
This book opens with a creepy, New York City apartment building, and a general Rosemary's Baby kind of atmosphere. Michael, a geologist, hurriedly returns home after belatedly receiving word that his wife, Sarah, has gone into labor with their son, Tim. Upon his arrival, Sarah seems different - doing her best to cut him off from the outside world, wrapping this new family in isolation in their apartment. The only intrusion that she reacts calmly to is that of the mysterious new doula, Greta.
Despite this interesting set-up, and ominous milieu, the unedited quality to the book detracts from its ability to be truly engrossing. The verb tenses shift throughout the novel. And the plotline never really comes to a satisfying conclusion. Many lingering questions are left unaddressed - between Greta’s true nature as well as other side characters, like Dr. James. It is a strange novel - and one definitely not recommended for expectant mothers. It is relatively fast-paced, but its flaws may leave readers wanting something more.
Despite this interesting set-up, and ominous milieu, the unedited quality to the book detracts from its ability to be truly engrossing. The verb tenses shift throughout the novel. And the plotline never really comes to a satisfying conclusion. Many lingering questions are left unaddressed - between Greta’s true nature as well as other side characters, like Dr. James. It is a strange novel - and one definitely not recommended for expectant mothers. It is relatively fast-paced, but its flaws may leave readers wanting something more.
October 2, 2013
An engaging postmodern Gothic novel full of strong, memorable characters.
The story revolves around a young couple and their child, but features a strong supporting cast of characters. We get to meet the psychologist down the hall, the overbearing "doula", the needy mothers of Harrowgate (and elsewhere). We meet the oppressive in-laws with their overbearing social requirements. We meet the off-beat mother who is comfortable in her boots.
All the components of Gothic literature reside in this modern, yet nostalgic novel.
My only complaint is that we lose some of the beauty and lyricism in the closing chapters of the story. There is so much texture and feeling throughout the novel. But during the process of resolution, the release of tension, the poetic feel of the story fades a bit.
The story revolves around a young couple and their child, but features a strong supporting cast of characters. We get to meet the psychologist down the hall, the overbearing "doula", the needy mothers of Harrowgate (and elsewhere). We meet the oppressive in-laws with their overbearing social requirements. We meet the off-beat mother who is comfortable in her boots.
All the components of Gothic literature reside in this modern, yet nostalgic novel.
My only complaint is that we lose some of the beauty and lyricism in the closing chapters of the story. There is so much texture and feeling throughout the novel. But during the process of resolution, the release of tension, the poetic feel of the story fades a bit.
September 15, 2013
First of all let me start by saying that I received this book for free through the GoodReads First Reads program.
We start the story by being introduced to Michael who is coming home from a business trip and anxiously riding in a cab while trying to get home to his wife and their newborn son who was born while he was away. The only problem is that Michael cannot get in contact with anyone to see how they are doing. When he finally does reach his apartment he finds his wife changed a bit which he passes off as slight depression after having a child, and his son Tim whom at first his wife will not let him touch. Why exactly this is is never fully explained and is in contradiction with what happens in the rest of the book, with the importance of Michael touching and getting to know Tim. Through alternating voices, Michael's and his wife Sarah's, we are introduced to creepy Greta. She's a doula, which I thought sounded much more ominous before I looked it up in the dictionary. Basically she is a woman who helps other women who have just had a baby and have questions and concerns, etc. That doesn't mean Great isn't creepy, because she is but I do not think I would call her sinister, intrusive heck yeah, but not sinister. Perhaps if it was explained just what Greta was and what her end game was she would have been more than some creepy, oddly-dressed, tea pushing entity.
What exactly happened to Sarah and why she is so changed becomes quite obvious while reading the book; in fact, the reader must wait for Michael to catch up and when he does his reaction is calmer than I would have expected. Perhaps it was his way of dealing with the situation, but in some cases it was kind of disturbing. That is what I believe this story was mainly about, Michael and his growth, his way of dealing with situations, and his ability to look forward instead of backward. His love for Sarah is evident and sweet but this is the crux of his problem as well.
I did enjoy reading about Dr. James, Michael's neighbor, who has more in common with Michael than you would expect and the book was well written, and interesting; however, it felt like it should have been longer. I wanted more. The end was not nearly as satisfying as I wished it would have been and there were questions that were left unanswered. Like who or what is Greta, what did she want, and why was Tim different? I wanted Greta to be so much more than she was, besides passing out toxic tea, watching the couple at inappropriate times, and becoming angry and creating black smoke she was not very scary and she could have been. Dr. James research is brought up once, but never again. Greta remains a mystery and not in a good way. I believe if the book was a bit longer, if some more of these aspects were explored, if Greta was more sinister this book would have excellent instead of good.
In the end this book is about Michael and his journey, it's about a husbands love for his wife, and a minor part is about Greta the sinister doula who didn't try to separate Michael from his family but keep them close together for some reason. I would have been fine reading a book about Michael and his journey minus Greta, it would have been a good story but somehow this book left me wanting more.
We start the story by being introduced to Michael who is coming home from a business trip and anxiously riding in a cab while trying to get home to his wife and their newborn son who was born while he was away. The only problem is that Michael cannot get in contact with anyone to see how they are doing. When he finally does reach his apartment he finds his wife changed a bit which he passes off as slight depression after having a child, and his son Tim whom at first his wife will not let him touch. Why exactly this is is never fully explained and is in contradiction with what happens in the rest of the book, with the importance of Michael touching and getting to know Tim. Through alternating voices, Michael's and his wife Sarah's, we are introduced to creepy Greta. She's a doula, which I thought sounded much more ominous before I looked it up in the dictionary. Basically she is a woman who helps other women who have just had a baby and have questions and concerns, etc. That doesn't mean Great isn't creepy, because she is but I do not think I would call her sinister, intrusive heck yeah, but not sinister. Perhaps if it was explained just what Greta was and what her end game was she would have been more than some creepy, oddly-dressed, tea pushing entity.
What exactly happened to Sarah and why she is so changed becomes quite obvious while reading the book; in fact, the reader must wait for Michael to catch up and when he does his reaction is calmer than I would have expected. Perhaps it was his way of dealing with the situation, but in some cases it was kind of disturbing. That is what I believe this story was mainly about, Michael and his growth, his way of dealing with situations, and his ability to look forward instead of backward. His love for Sarah is evident and sweet but this is the crux of his problem as well.
I did enjoy reading about Dr. James, Michael's neighbor, who has more in common with Michael than you would expect and the book was well written, and interesting; however, it felt like it should have been longer. I wanted more. The end was not nearly as satisfying as I wished it would have been and there were questions that were left unanswered. Like who or what is Greta, what did she want, and why was Tim different? I wanted Greta to be so much more than she was, besides passing out toxic tea, watching the couple at inappropriate times, and becoming angry and creating black smoke she was not very scary and she could have been. Dr. James research is brought up once, but never again. Greta remains a mystery and not in a good way. I believe if the book was a bit longer, if some more of these aspects were explored, if Greta was more sinister this book would have excellent instead of good.
In the end this book is about Michael and his journey, it's about a husbands love for his wife, and a minor part is about Greta the sinister doula who didn't try to separate Michael from his family but keep them close together for some reason. I would have been fine reading a book about Michael and his journey minus Greta, it would have been a good story but somehow this book left me wanting more.
February 4, 2014
This book promised something and failed to deliver. I was promised a frightening paranormal story centered around a man and the strange happenings of his wife and newborn son. What I got was a lot of scenes on repeat that felt like the author was just padding her word count and a villain who was so non-threatening I rolled my eyes.
Michael rushes home after a very vague phone call that his wife is in labor, and hasn't heard anything since. For some reason, his cell phone never works. Not on the plane and not on the ground. He doesn't stop to try and call anyone to find out the rest of his message, call home or anything. He just rushes home and tries to calculate how early the baby was. And, of course, he gets home to just his wife and newborn son. No one else. This is supposed to leave us with a feeling that everything is all right, but it's so heavy-handed that I knew what was up in the beginning.
Since I'm hiding this for spoilers, I'm going to say it now: the wife and son are ghosts. Anyone who was paying attention to the book figures it out almost at once, and she spoils it by telling him like 20% of the way into the book. And this is why it annoyed me that no one was waiting for him to get home. All his family and friends decide to give him time, but they had no idea when he'd get home. Someone should have been there for him, but they just left him alone for a while. It feels like they leave him alone for a few days, but that's probably the way this book was. It drags on and on so that one day in the book feels like years.
Every time Michael leaves his apartment, time flies by for his wife. She is always convinced that he won't return that she falls into a depression that lasts for a long time. Literally, years pass for her. It doesn't matter if he explains where he's going and for how long, she gets depressed the moment the door shuts. It happens every time. And he leaves the apartment like five times, so we get five identical scenes of her depression. That was boring. And then we get pretty much identical scenes of them at home. The only interesting scenes are what he does when he's out of the apartment, because things happen!
The villain is this older woman, whose name I forgot. I have no idea what she's supposed to be, but she's not scary. She keeps saying she's there for the mothers, apparently she can absorb them or something, and wants Michael to stay but never reveals why. In the end, she gives them the clue to what they must do and skips merrily out of the scene. She was less of a villain and more of a "scary-looking" fairy godmother. She gave them a chance to see each other, have a life despite the wife being dead, and then tells them how to set it all right.
Overall, this was not a book I'd read again.
Michael rushes home after a very vague phone call that his wife is in labor, and hasn't heard anything since. For some reason, his cell phone never works. Not on the plane and not on the ground. He doesn't stop to try and call anyone to find out the rest of his message, call home or anything. He just rushes home and tries to calculate how early the baby was. And, of course, he gets home to just his wife and newborn son. No one else. This is supposed to leave us with a feeling that everything is all right, but it's so heavy-handed that I knew what was up in the beginning.
Since I'm hiding this for spoilers, I'm going to say it now: the wife and son are ghosts. Anyone who was paying attention to the book figures it out almost at once, and she spoils it by telling him like 20% of the way into the book. And this is why it annoyed me that no one was waiting for him to get home. All his family and friends decide to give him time, but they had no idea when he'd get home. Someone should have been there for him, but they just left him alone for a while. It feels like they leave him alone for a few days, but that's probably the way this book was. It drags on and on so that one day in the book feels like years.
Every time Michael leaves his apartment, time flies by for his wife. She is always convinced that he won't return that she falls into a depression that lasts for a long time. Literally, years pass for her. It doesn't matter if he explains where he's going and for how long, she gets depressed the moment the door shuts. It happens every time. And he leaves the apartment like five times, so we get five identical scenes of her depression. That was boring. And then we get pretty much identical scenes of them at home. The only interesting scenes are what he does when he's out of the apartment, because things happen!
The villain is this older woman, whose name I forgot. I have no idea what she's supposed to be, but she's not scary. She keeps saying she's there for the mothers, apparently she can absorb them or something, and wants Michael to stay but never reveals why. In the end, she gives them the clue to what they must do and skips merrily out of the scene. She was less of a villain and more of a "scary-looking" fairy godmother. She gave them a chance to see each other, have a life despite the wife being dead, and then tells them how to set it all right.
Overall, this was not a book I'd read again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2013
POSSIBLE SPOILERS
This one grabbed me quickly, and kept me turning pages — and that's about the highest praise I can give any book. It's well-written and the sense of increasing dread never lets up. The characters and their feelings for each other are captured beautifully.... Really one of the better books I've picked up this year.
HOWEVER.... the suspense kept building and building, and all these intriguing questions kept piling up: Who or what is Greta? What does she want? Why does time move so differently for Sarah and Tim than it does for Michael? Why does Sarah diminish while Tim thrives? Where is the Dark place, and what does the tree mean? And what is in that tea? I mean, really fascinating elements that I was dying to find out about.
Only, those questions never got answered. Things with Greta keep moving towards a final climatic showdown, but it never comes. She just sort of goes away without much effort. This book was so rich and ripe with possibility, but for whatever reason, the author just leaves a lot of trailing, loose threads. Dr. Jamison's patient is a little too convenient. What are the odds that a shrink just a few doors down the hall is gonna be going through a similar experience? There are ways the author could have opened the door for this and made it a little more believable. OR maybe I've just read too much Stephen King, because the most likely answer is obviously that something in the Harrowgate attracts or creates restless spirits.
I hate to be so critical, but it's only because the book was so wonderful on so many levels, and I felt it could have been much more.
This one grabbed me quickly, and kept me turning pages — and that's about the highest praise I can give any book. It's well-written and the sense of increasing dread never lets up. The characters and their feelings for each other are captured beautifully.... Really one of the better books I've picked up this year.
HOWEVER.... the suspense kept building and building, and all these intriguing questions kept piling up: Who or what is Greta? What does she want? Why does time move so differently for Sarah and Tim than it does for Michael? Why does Sarah diminish while Tim thrives? Where is the Dark place, and what does the tree mean? And what is in that tea? I mean, really fascinating elements that I was dying to find out about.
Only, those questions never got answered. Things with Greta keep moving towards a final climatic showdown, but it never comes. She just sort of goes away without much effort. This book was so rich and ripe with possibility, but for whatever reason, the author just leaves a lot of trailing, loose threads. Dr. Jamison's patient is a little too convenient. What are the odds that a shrink just a few doors down the hall is gonna be going through a similar experience? There are ways the author could have opened the door for this and made it a little more believable. OR maybe I've just read too much Stephen King, because the most likely answer is obviously that something in the Harrowgate attracts or creates restless spirits.
I hate to be so critical, but it's only because the book was so wonderful on so many levels, and I felt it could have been much more.
November 21, 2013
For me, this book is a allegory for grief and loss. As Elizabeth Bishop writes in her poem "The Art of Losing," our lives are riddled with loss, yet we go on. She writes, "it's not disaster," though her final line belies this, reveals that loss always feels disastrous. Maruyama ingeniously captures what happens when one who loses is stuck in the disaster of loss through the tale of Michael who returns home to his dead wife and child though they remain vividly alive to him. Maruyama's deftness with dialogue and description brings us into this life between lives as we watch and, in some kitchen scenes, smell, the decay of the illusion that we can hold on to what is no longer ours (or just no longer is), no matter how much we love. Reading this book I felt much like Sarah, trapped in a nameless place where time at once stands still and moves more quickly, the place of being immersed in a well-crafted and smartly imagined novel.
September 25, 2013
Loved this book! This is the type of book that pulls you in right from the beginning and I devoured this book in two days. It had the things I expected: suspense, menace, dread, moments of surprise, but so much more that I didn't expect. I didn't expect love and family and deeper questions to surface. The writing allows you to feel deeply invested in the characters, as people, without ever taking away from the drama and suspense of the story. It isn't some typical horror book that wraps itself up in the way I would have expected. I felt totally satisfied by the ending, mainly because it wasn't what I expected and that is so refreshing. This is a book that both fits within a genre and blows it all apart at the same time. I would feel perfectly at ease recommending this book to fans of the genre, but will be happy to recommend it to friends and family that don't usually read horror.
October 3, 2018
This was unexpectedly lovely. Haunting, you could fairly say.
Michael is out of reach - like, in Alaska - when his wife goes into labor too soon. He rushes home to her & their newborn son.
But things aren’t as they should be. And Greta, a doula, is ... around.
The story unfolds over a week. A week that lasts a lifetime.
Enjoy this for its creepiness. But be prepared for its tenderness.
3 ✅
4 #currentlyreading
24 to go for #spookyreadathon
Michael is out of reach - like, in Alaska - when his wife goes into labor too soon. He rushes home to her & their newborn son.
But things aren’t as they should be. And Greta, a doula, is ... around.
The story unfolds over a week. A week that lasts a lifetime.
Enjoy this for its creepiness. But be prepared for its tenderness.
3 ✅
4 #currentlyreading
24 to go for #spookyreadathon
January 12, 2014
A horror story that is really a tale of love and loss, Harrowgate surprised me with its deep emotional impact and sheer hypnotic pull.
As Harrowgate opens, geologist Michael is rushing home to his pregnant wife Sarah. He'd been out in the field on a remote assignment, and after receiving a cryptic message about an emergency, it has taken him close to two weeks to navigate the Jeep rides and multiple airplane transfers that finally bring him to his New York apartment building. Unable to reach his wife or anyone else, Michael is unsure what to expect. It's early for the baby to arrive, but surely not so early as to be dangerous. Or is it? Michael is relieved to arrive home and find his wife and healthy son waiting for him -- but his bliss is tempered by the presence of an odd stranger, a doula named Greta, who seems to have some sort of hold over Sarah.
At first, Sarah insists that Michael shouldn't touch the baby -- but soon after, Greta urges Michael to be with Sarah and baby Tim as much as possible, to not leave the apartment for any reason, not even to pick up diapers or groceries. Greta's encouragement sounds more like a warning or a threat, though, and there's something not quite right about this person who just keeps showing up.
Questions begin to pile up: Why doesn't Sarah want Michael to answer the phone or go out? Why does the doorman give him such pitying looks? Is Sarah so exhausted by new motherhood that she hasn't noticed the refrigerator full of spoiled food?
The answers, as they come, are chilling and awful. Michael uncovers the truth about his family's tenuous grip on happiness -- but knows too that this happiness has a dark side, and that his ability to hold onto his family may be slipping away.
To go into any further plot details would be a huge disservice, as Harrowgate is a book to be explored and savored, best enjoyed without any advance knowledge of what is really going on. Looming dread and dismay permeate the book, and while this isn't a gore-filled horror novel, it does leave the reader thoroughly spooked.
There's something so creepy about horror stories revolving around birth and babies. Perhaps it's the contrast of joy and innocence with the darkness looming on the other side. I've heard this book compared to Rosemary's Baby or Breed , but beyond the New York setting and the strange events around a birth, the storylines have little in common.
What Harrowgate actually put me in mind of the most, while reading, was The Silent Land by Graham Joyce, one of my very favorite books. In both, there's a central story of love that should be perfect -- except the reader can feel the edge of something wrong surrounding everything joyful that happens.
And there is quite a lot of joy in Harrowgate, despite the fact that it's also very, very sad. At its core, Harrowgate is a love story. The love between Michael and Sarah, and the love they both feel for their baby Tim, creates a power in the little haven inside their apartment that keeps the rest of the world at bay.
While I wish the ending has explained things a little more clearly, I was mostly satisfied with the wrap-up. The emotional depths explored in this book carry such strong notes of tragedy and relentless loss, and yet the journey Michael takes in exploring how very much he loves his wife and child is also quite lovely to read.
You don't have to be a horror fan to enjoy Harrowgate. For anyone who enjoys a touch of creepy gothic mystery set within a familiar landscape, I'd recommend giving Harrowgate a try. Well-written and compelling, this brief novel sucked me in and made it impossible to quit reading before the end.
This review also posted at Bookshelf Fantasies.
As Harrowgate opens, geologist Michael is rushing home to his pregnant wife Sarah. He'd been out in the field on a remote assignment, and after receiving a cryptic message about an emergency, it has taken him close to two weeks to navigate the Jeep rides and multiple airplane transfers that finally bring him to his New York apartment building. Unable to reach his wife or anyone else, Michael is unsure what to expect. It's early for the baby to arrive, but surely not so early as to be dangerous. Or is it? Michael is relieved to arrive home and find his wife and healthy son waiting for him -- but his bliss is tempered by the presence of an odd stranger, a doula named Greta, who seems to have some sort of hold over Sarah.
At first, Sarah insists that Michael shouldn't touch the baby -- but soon after, Greta urges Michael to be with Sarah and baby Tim as much as possible, to not leave the apartment for any reason, not even to pick up diapers or groceries. Greta's encouragement sounds more like a warning or a threat, though, and there's something not quite right about this person who just keeps showing up.
Questions begin to pile up: Why doesn't Sarah want Michael to answer the phone or go out? Why does the doorman give him such pitying looks? Is Sarah so exhausted by new motherhood that she hasn't noticed the refrigerator full of spoiled food?
The answers, as they come, are chilling and awful. Michael uncovers the truth about his family's tenuous grip on happiness -- but knows too that this happiness has a dark side, and that his ability to hold onto his family may be slipping away.
To go into any further plot details would be a huge disservice, as Harrowgate is a book to be explored and savored, best enjoyed without any advance knowledge of what is really going on. Looming dread and dismay permeate the book, and while this isn't a gore-filled horror novel, it does leave the reader thoroughly spooked.
There's something so creepy about horror stories revolving around birth and babies. Perhaps it's the contrast of joy and innocence with the darkness looming on the other side. I've heard this book compared to Rosemary's Baby or Breed , but beyond the New York setting and the strange events around a birth, the storylines have little in common.
What Harrowgate actually put me in mind of the most, while reading, was The Silent Land by Graham Joyce, one of my very favorite books. In both, there's a central story of love that should be perfect -- except the reader can feel the edge of something wrong surrounding everything joyful that happens.
And there is quite a lot of joy in Harrowgate, despite the fact that it's also very, very sad. At its core, Harrowgate is a love story. The love between Michael and Sarah, and the love they both feel for their baby Tim, creates a power in the little haven inside their apartment that keeps the rest of the world at bay.
While I wish the ending has explained things a little more clearly, I was mostly satisfied with the wrap-up. The emotional depths explored in this book carry such strong notes of tragedy and relentless loss, and yet the journey Michael takes in exploring how very much he loves his wife and child is also quite lovely to read.
You don't have to be a horror fan to enjoy Harrowgate. For anyone who enjoys a touch of creepy gothic mystery set within a familiar landscape, I'd recommend giving Harrowgate a try. Well-written and compelling, this brief novel sucked me in and made it impossible to quit reading before the end.
This review also posted at Bookshelf Fantasies.
February 17, 2014
There are strange things afoot in Harrowgate, an apartment block in New York, where Michael is returning home to his wife after a work trip abroad. In the cab from the airport Michael frets and worries; after receiving the phone call from his pregnant wife over a week ago saying she was in labour he has heard nothing more, can’t get through to anyone, the only contact he’s had was with her sister Anna and that call was cut off before he could establish what was going on....
On arriving at his apartment though everything is fine, Sarah is emotional and nervy, as to be expected after giving birth early but there is his beautiful baby, perfectly fine and his wonderful wife will be fine now he’s home. Won’t they?
But things just don’t seem right; Sarah is acting oddly, it’s not just the reeking rubbish or the fridge full of rotten food that hasn’t been discarded, it’s her behaviour when he leaves the apartment, like he’s been gone for months and her friendship with the strange and peculiar-smelling Greta who has been helping Sarah with the baby in his absence and the fact she won’t let him answer the phone... Then there are the neighbours who are acting like someone died and the group of new mothers who appear in his apartment, Sarah’s support group, and all of them have problems....
And then Anna arrives, a distraught Anna, with news. Impossible news, but then, everything starts to make sense in an eerie and unbelievable way but all Michael has to do is accept and believe and everything will be fine. Won’t it?
This is a totally mesmirising book that keeps you turning the pages, combining a touch of the supernatural with a hint of horror. The detail is extraordinarily believable, certainly well-thought out and I found myself swept up in the story, hooked, not knowing what was going to happen but knowing something would as I read on with a growing sense of unease, fascination and horror. The writing is descriptive and atmospheric, so much so, you can almost smell the fetid air and rotten food and feel the air of malevolence, sadness, fear and loss as you read.
For a reader looking for something that little bit different and with a shiver factor, this is most definitely the book for you.
On arriving at his apartment though everything is fine, Sarah is emotional and nervy, as to be expected after giving birth early but there is his beautiful baby, perfectly fine and his wonderful wife will be fine now he’s home. Won’t they?
But things just don’t seem right; Sarah is acting oddly, it’s not just the reeking rubbish or the fridge full of rotten food that hasn’t been discarded, it’s her behaviour when he leaves the apartment, like he’s been gone for months and her friendship with the strange and peculiar-smelling Greta who has been helping Sarah with the baby in his absence and the fact she won’t let him answer the phone... Then there are the neighbours who are acting like someone died and the group of new mothers who appear in his apartment, Sarah’s support group, and all of them have problems....
And then Anna arrives, a distraught Anna, with news. Impossible news, but then, everything starts to make sense in an eerie and unbelievable way but all Michael has to do is accept and believe and everything will be fine. Won’t it?
This is a totally mesmirising book that keeps you turning the pages, combining a touch of the supernatural with a hint of horror. The detail is extraordinarily believable, certainly well-thought out and I found myself swept up in the story, hooked, not knowing what was going to happen but knowing something would as I read on with a growing sense of unease, fascination and horror. The writing is descriptive and atmospheric, so much so, you can almost smell the fetid air and rotten food and feel the air of malevolence, sadness, fear and loss as you read.
For a reader looking for something that little bit different and with a shiver factor, this is most definitely the book for you.
January 6, 2016
Harrowgage is a debut novel by Kate Maruyama. The story revolves around a married couple, Michael and Sarah who are excited to welcome their first child together. However, Sarah gives birth while Michael is away on an excursion and comes back to New York to find his wife behaving oddly with their new son Tim who she does not want him to touch. Also, Sarah has gotten a new friend called Greta who comes and goes as she pleases and seems to have an undisguised hostility towards Michael.
I don't want to give anything away in my review since I was very surprised by what this story was ultimately about. I will say in a general way that I was surprised in a good way by this novel. I was not expecting the novel to take the direction it did and I kept hoping for things to work out differently. I felt for Michael and Sarah and ultimately found myself afraid for both of them and moved to tears in parts. I wish that the author had a better explanation regarding some of the people and the Harrowgate. For example, I was perplexed if the Harrowgate was the reason that certain things were occurring or not. I thought the ending when it came was not as climatic as I hoped it would be, but parts of it were so sad that I ended up coming around in my thinking and finding as a whole I liked the book.
As other reveiwers have mentioned there was some repetition with regards to some of the phrases and that was tedious after a while but I only really noticed it once in a while since I was that engrossed in the story.
Please note that I received this novel for free via the Amazon Vine Program.
I don't want to give anything away in my review since I was very surprised by what this story was ultimately about. I will say in a general way that I was surprised in a good way by this novel. I was not expecting the novel to take the direction it did and I kept hoping for things to work out differently. I felt for Michael and Sarah and ultimately found myself afraid for both of them and moved to tears in parts. I wish that the author had a better explanation regarding some of the people and the Harrowgate. For example, I was perplexed if the Harrowgate was the reason that certain things were occurring or not. I thought the ending when it came was not as climatic as I hoped it would be, but parts of it were so sad that I ended up coming around in my thinking and finding as a whole I liked the book.
As other reveiwers have mentioned there was some repetition with regards to some of the phrases and that was tedious after a while but I only really noticed it once in a while since I was that engrossed in the story.
Please note that I received this novel for free via the Amazon Vine Program.
January 23, 2016
I won a copy of Harrowgate by Kate Maruyama through Goodreads for an honest review. Thank you to Goodreads and to Kate Maruyama.
Harrowgate deals with the heavy, heavy topic of loss. It's the one element, unfortunately, that ties us together as humans. You can't avoid it. You can't run away from it. It suffocates you from the inside out. You will never draw a careless breath ever again.
I found myself treading through the first few pages not knowing what would lie ahead. And isn't that like life itself? It's like a boardgame with a shake of the dice that determines who moves forward and who does not. But unlike a boardgame, there are no "do overs"....or are there?
The main character, Michael, arrives home after being out of town as a geologist. He has not been able to get ahold of his pregnant wife, Sarah. When he does arrive at his apartment, all has changed. Ms. Maruyama adeptly grabs your hand and draws you in. Her skilled writing style allows you to feel every drop of an emotionally charged current running throughout this story. It left so many open-ended questions running through my mind at the end. We all live with the "what ifs?" that play tag in our heads.
What an exceptionally good read! Kate Maruyama possesses an abundance of talent. I must admit that I'm already on board for her next offering. Just hurry, Kate, just hurry!
Harrowgate deals with the heavy, heavy topic of loss. It's the one element, unfortunately, that ties us together as humans. You can't avoid it. You can't run away from it. It suffocates you from the inside out. You will never draw a careless breath ever again.
I found myself treading through the first few pages not knowing what would lie ahead. And isn't that like life itself? It's like a boardgame with a shake of the dice that determines who moves forward and who does not. But unlike a boardgame, there are no "do overs"....or are there?
The main character, Michael, arrives home after being out of town as a geologist. He has not been able to get ahold of his pregnant wife, Sarah. When he does arrive at his apartment, all has changed. Ms. Maruyama adeptly grabs your hand and draws you in. Her skilled writing style allows you to feel every drop of an emotionally charged current running throughout this story. It left so many open-ended questions running through my mind at the end. We all live with the "what ifs?" that play tag in our heads.
What an exceptionally good read! Kate Maruyama possesses an abundance of talent. I must admit that I'm already on board for her next offering. Just hurry, Kate, just hurry!
November 2, 2013
I was very intrigued by the premise of this book. I thought it would be paranormal. It is but not in the way that some readers and even I had had originally expected. When I think paranormal, I think werewolves, vampires, etc. This book is none of that just so that you are not disappointed.
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand I liked this book but on the other hand, I did almost give up on it. This is what happened when I read this book. I read and got to about chapter 4 and then I was done with the book. I was disappointed. What I did than was to flip to the last three chapters of the book and started to read from there. I wanted to know how the book ended. It was from here that I got the whole picture which I would have soon had I kept reading from the beginning. It was just that Michael's wife was getting on my nerves. I thought she was really mean towards Michael, who was just trying to get to know his new baby. What I read in the last few chapters got my interested again to pick up from where I left off at chapter 4 and finish the book. Harrowgate is a haunting story about love and loss.
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand I liked this book but on the other hand, I did almost give up on it. This is what happened when I read this book. I read and got to about chapter 4 and then I was done with the book. I was disappointed. What I did than was to flip to the last three chapters of the book and started to read from there. I wanted to know how the book ended. It was from here that I got the whole picture which I would have soon had I kept reading from the beginning. It was just that Michael's wife was getting on my nerves. I thought she was really mean towards Michael, who was just trying to get to know his new baby. What I read in the last few chapters got my interested again to pick up from where I left off at chapter 4 and finish the book. Harrowgate is a haunting story about love and loss.
October 7, 2014
I really enjoyed this read about Michael and Sarah, first time parents of Tim and the strange hold that mysterious Doula Greta has over them. It is best not to know too much about the plot before you read it, so as not to spoil what, for me at least, was a gripping pageturner. Right from the first couple of pages you know that something is not quite right and what transpires is a sinister romantic chiller/horror about the power of love and parenthood. The tale is told from the perspectives of both Michael and Sarah alternately so as the story progresses you see both their points of view. It is told in the present tense, which did take a little getting used to at first, but pretty soon I didn’t really notice it anymore.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable, addictive read, and one which I am very glad that I did not read when I was pregnant or a new mother, as I am sure it would have scared the living daylights out of me.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable, addictive read, and one which I am very glad that I did not read when I was pregnant or a new mother, as I am sure it would have scared the living daylights out of me.
November 23, 2013
WOW!! This was a surprise for me. First - if you're thinking of reading this book - do NOT read even the short 'about this book'. I had it in my kindle and grabbed and started reading without reviewing why I had picked the book so had no idea of what the story line was and it turns out that was a FANTASTIC way to head into this book. You want absolutely no spoilers or idea of what is going on when you start reading - makes the experience much more pleasurable.
And yes - you SHOULD read this book. So well done. Flowed quickly and easily and I had to devour it in a single setting - could not put it down. Highly recommend. And that's all I'm saying because I don't want to spoil it either!! :)
And yes - you SHOULD read this book. So well done. Flowed quickly and easily and I had to devour it in a single setting - could not put it down. Highly recommend. And that's all I'm saying because I don't want to spoil it either!! :)
October 13, 2013
Harrowgate was one of those random reads that just happened to catch my attention in just the right way. What it was, I can't be sure. But I'm glad it did.
Maruyama delivers a delicious piece of fiction that explores the difficulties that emerge from a long-distance relationship. On the surface it is simple, yet as the reader descends into the world, inklings of self-doubt and an inability to adapt consumes all thought.
It was a wonderful journey full of visual flair and a little mystery. I recommend Harrowgate to readers interested in mysteries, suspense, or thrillers that explore complex relationship issues and paint lively characters.
Maruyama delivers a delicious piece of fiction that explores the difficulties that emerge from a long-distance relationship. On the surface it is simple, yet as the reader descends into the world, inklings of self-doubt and an inability to adapt consumes all thought.
It was a wonderful journey full of visual flair and a little mystery. I recommend Harrowgate to readers interested in mysteries, suspense, or thrillers that explore complex relationship issues and paint lively characters.
October 8, 2013
Compelling from page one - love, loss, ghosts whose haunting you'd welcome, darkness that goes for emotive reality rather than dramatic gimmes. Here's a debut worthy of its readers. Highly recommended (particularly if you're familiar with the grief of lives taken too soon).
December 4, 2013
I started this last night after racing through the Silent Wife. It's an interesting premise, but I think it would have been more effective as a short story. It's a good eerie read, but could have been much shorter.
November 3, 2015
This would have made a great short story, I think. At nearly 300 pages, it was repetitive. The same scenarios kept playing over and over, and the idea, while intriguing, couldn't sustain an entire novel. I wouldn't mind reading something else by the author though.
December 29, 2022
I love a good horror story and was looking forward to reading this one, but I must admit that I feel a bit let down. Michael rushes home from a trip out in the field (he's a geologist) when he finds out that his wife has gone into premature labor with their first child, a son. When he gets there, Sarah is acting very strange, and there is a strange woman there, Greta, a doula, who is doing her best to drive a wedge between them. At the same time, she insists that he not leave Sarah and the baby, even to go to the grocery store. Unfortunately, I figured out pretty quickly what was going on, which kills the suspense aspect of the story, as well as the horror aspect. It's not that this was a badly written book, it was just more of the same after about the first quarter, so there wasn't really anything to look forward to. This was a debut novel for this author, and because it wasn't badly written, I look forward to trying one of her more recent books.,
3/5 stars.
3/5 stars.
March 15, 2018
A somewhat interesting ghost story. Kind of sad overall. The thing that kind of gets to me and makes me only rate it 2 Stars is that the details and editing could have been better. Case point: at the funeral, Sarah’s birth and death dates have her being in her mid/late thirties. The priest, however, says how she was in the choir in 5th grade, and then about 10 years later he performed the marriage of Michael and Sarah. Michael had already mentioned that they had been married for 5 years, so there is a 10 year discrepancy that I cannot get past. I know that’s really picky, but I’m a details person. If details aren’t consistent, I’m turned off. A better editor would have caught this and had the author fix it before publication. It was a quick read, and honestly I could have read it faster if I had been more interested in the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2021
It's interesting to me how so many books tagged as "horror" really should just be tagged as "grief". It goes without saying that one of the things human fear the most is death, but it can also be said the one thing we fear more than our own death is the death of a partner or a child.
What maybe could have been a terrifying story is mostly just an incredibly sad story of how Michael processes his unimaginable grief. The story starts out almost immediately with the knowledge that there is something wrong with Sarah, but there are so many curious holes in the story that somehow, though maybe important, just don't seem to matter as you continue.
Greta ends up being more annoying than creepy and we never really get to find out what she is so that was a bit unsatisfying, but nonetheless, this was a beautiful, though sad book.
What maybe could have been a terrifying story is mostly just an incredibly sad story of how Michael processes his unimaginable grief. The story starts out almost immediately with the knowledge that there is something wrong with Sarah, but there are so many curious holes in the story that somehow, though maybe important, just don't seem to matter as you continue.
Greta ends up being more annoying than creepy and we never really get to find out what she is so that was a bit unsatisfying, but nonetheless, this was a beautiful, though sad book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2022
I quite enjoyed this! I picked it up after seeing her at Stoker Con, and wanted to check out and support a fellow female horror author.
I loved Maruyama's writing, and how she really built up the story. Sure, we know early on what the situation truly is, but it doesn't take away from the story (at least, in my opinion anyway). I loved watching Michael grapple with things, and how he and the Doctor make friends and start to figure things out. I felt for Sarah and for Tim, and I wanted to punch Greta square in her smug face.
All in all, a good horror novel that deals well with things such as infant loss, childbirth, death and dying, and how a person grieves. I will definitely be looking for more of her work!
I loved Maruyama's writing, and how she really built up the story. Sure, we know early on what the situation truly is, but it doesn't take away from the story (at least, in my opinion anyway). I loved watching Michael grapple with things, and how he and the Doctor make friends and start to figure things out. I felt for Sarah and for Tim, and I wanted to punch Greta square in her smug face.
All in all, a good horror novel that deals well with things such as infant loss, childbirth, death and dying, and how a person grieves. I will definitely be looking for more of her work!
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