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The Short Straw
Leaving isn't safe... But staying would be deadly.
'An addictive read. . . Patricia Highsmith meets Shirley Jackson' - GILLIAN MCALLISTER
'A deliciously creepy tale of three sisters forced to take refuge in an abandoned mansion. Seddon deftly weaves between past horrors at the manor and the present-day struggle of the sisters to survive the night. What sets this thriller apart is the stellar writing and bone-chilling atmosphere Seddon creates.' - SARAH PEKKANEN, bestselling author of Gone Tonight
Three sisters find themselves lost in a storm at night, and seek safety at Moirthwaite Manor, where their mother once worked. They are shocked to find the isolated mansion that loomed so large through their troubled childhoods has long been abandoned. Drawing straws to decide who should get help, one sister heads back into the darkness. With the siblings separated, the deadly secrets hidden in the house finally make themselves known and we learn the unspeakable secret that binds the family together.
'An addictive read. . . Patricia Highsmith meets Shirley Jackson' - GILLIAN MCALLISTER
'A deliciously creepy tale of three sisters forced to take refuge in an abandoned mansion. Seddon deftly weaves between past horrors at the manor and the present-day struggle of the sisters to survive the night. What sets this thriller apart is the stellar writing and bone-chilling atmosphere Seddon creates.' - SARAH PEKKANEN, bestselling author of Gone Tonight
Three sisters find themselves lost in a storm at night, and seek safety at Moirthwaite Manor, where their mother once worked. They are shocked to find the isolated mansion that loomed so large through their troubled childhoods has long been abandoned. Drawing straws to decide who should get help, one sister heads back into the darkness. With the siblings separated, the deadly secrets hidden in the house finally make themselves known and we learn the unspeakable secret that binds the family together.
Audible Audio
First published July 20, 2023
44 people are currently reading
851 people want to read
About the author
Holly Seddon
11 books888 followersHolly Seddon is the international bestselling author of TRY NOT TO BREATHE, DON'T CLOSE YOUR EYES, LOVE WILL TEAR US APART, THE HIT LIST, THE WOMAN ON THE BRIDGE and THE SHORT STRAW.
After a childhood spent moving around the English countryside and obsessing over books and music, she later became a journalist and editor. She has lived in London and Amsterdam and now lives in Kent with her family. She has an MA in Creative Writing.
Alongside fellow author Gillian McAllister, Holly co-hosts the popular Honest Authors Podcast. You can find her on Twitter @hollyseddon, Instagram and Facebook @hollyseddonauthor.
After a childhood spent moving around the English countryside and obsessing over books and music, she later became a journalist and editor. She has lived in London and Amsterdam and now lives in Kent with her family. She has an MA in Creative Writing.
Alongside fellow author Gillian McAllister, Holly co-hosts the popular Honest Authors Podcast. You can find her on Twitter @hollyseddon, Instagram and Facebook @hollyseddonauthor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
February 24, 2023
Thank you Orion for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
Writing: 4.5/5 | Plot: 2.5/5 | Ending: 2.5/5
SYNOPSIS
Three sisters get into a minor car accident and end up taking a shelter at a house with tons of history for their family. As they wait for help, realization dawns that they might not be alone.... DUN DUN DUN!!!
MY OPINION
Hi! It's me! I still read! Anyways! I absolutely loved The Hit List (banger alert was issued) but The Woman on the Bridge was a SUPER STANKER, so I was kinda nervous where this new one would fall. Thankfully, she resorted to her "true" writing ability a la The Hit List but the plot and ending kept this book from being bangerlicious. Tbh if she hadn't been writing her cheeks off, this would've been maybe a 2 star.
I'm tired of books being classified as thrillers for marketing purposes. Publishers, do better. This is as thrilling as my dog licking his ass in slow motion. I would consider this more of a family drama with lite thriller aspects that felt forced into the storyline.
The ending was particularly uninspired and felt anti-climactic (first time I didn't write anti-climatic... take that!!!). I mean the whole book is based on happenstance, because what are the chances that you get stranded at the old creepy manor where your mom worked after 30 yrs of being away? Pretty slim to none. But the ending really took things to the next level and was like "bloop! gangs all here!" And some of the math did not quite mathulate. She should've just removed all the "thriller pillars" and stuck with a family drama.
What makes this book great is the writing and the characters. Seddon gives each sister a distinct voice and they each have their lil "redemption" or "personal growth" arc as well, which is nice. We don't often see this in thrillers, but then again this isn't a thriller so why did I say that? Why not delete it? Idk let's keep going. I hope that Seddon can tap into whatever crack she sprinkled in The Hit List because that shit BANGED. But also... I think this book would make a better movie. It almost felt as if it was written to be picked up as a movie, if that makes sense? Probably not.
Anyways, this had potential but the thriller aspects felt very forced and ultimately ruined a solid family drama.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: GREAT writing, well-developed and distinct characters
Cons: ending was a double pack of ass, thriller aspects felt very forced for marketing reasons, everything was based on happenstance
Writing: 4.5/5 | Plot: 2.5/5 | Ending: 2.5/5
SYNOPSIS
Three sisters get into a minor car accident and end up taking a shelter at a house with tons of history for their family. As they wait for help, realization dawns that they might not be alone.... DUN DUN DUN!!!
MY OPINION
Hi! It's me! I still read! Anyways! I absolutely loved The Hit List (banger alert was issued) but The Woman on the Bridge was a SUPER STANKER, so I was kinda nervous where this new one would fall. Thankfully, she resorted to her "true" writing ability a la The Hit List but the plot and ending kept this book from being bangerlicious. Tbh if she hadn't been writing her cheeks off, this would've been maybe a 2 star.
I'm tired of books being classified as thrillers for marketing purposes. Publishers, do better. This is as thrilling as my dog licking his ass in slow motion. I would consider this more of a family drama with lite thriller aspects that felt forced into the storyline.
The ending was particularly uninspired and felt anti-climactic (first time I didn't write anti-climatic... take that!!!). I mean the whole book is based on happenstance, because what are the chances that you get stranded at the old creepy manor where your mom worked after 30 yrs of being away? Pretty slim to none. But the ending really took things to the next level and was like "bloop! gangs all here!" And some of the math did not quite mathulate. She should've just removed all the "thriller pillars" and stuck with a family drama.
What makes this book great is the writing and the characters. Seddon gives each sister a distinct voice and they each have their lil "redemption" or "personal growth" arc as well, which is nice. We don't often see this in thrillers, but then again this isn't a thriller so why did I say that? Why not delete it? Idk let's keep going. I hope that Seddon can tap into whatever crack she sprinkled in The Hit List because that shit BANGED. But also... I think this book would make a better movie. It almost felt as if it was written to be picked up as a movie, if that makes sense? Probably not.
Anyways, this had potential but the thriller aspects felt very forced and ultimately ruined a solid family drama.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: GREAT writing, well-developed and distinct characters
Cons: ending was a double pack of ass, thriller aspects felt very forced for marketing reasons, everything was based on happenstance
September 16, 2023
EXCERPT: (AISA) She finally reaches the driveway and looks past it up the road towards the car. It seems like a joke that there's a car right there but they just can't use it. This whole night seems like a prank. Some kind of elaborate hoax being set up by an unseen puppet master. Come on, a storm, then a closed garage, then a car running out of petrol and then a spooky old house . . . it's almost too perfect. She seeks comfort in this as she pushes herself up the drive and finally reaches the front door. She is just in a story. A nice cosy mystery.
ABOUT 'THE SHORT STRAW': Three sisters find themselves lost in a storm at night, and seek safety at Moirthwaite Manor, where their mother once worked. They are shocked to find the isolated mansion that loomed so large through their troubled childhoods has long been abandoned. Drawing straws to decide who should get help, one sister heads back into the darkness. With the siblings separated, the deadly secrets hidden in the house finally make themselves known and we learn the unspeakable secret that binds the family together.
MY THOUGHTS: It's the characters that are the stand-out feature of The Short Straw. Three sisters, all very different from one another and who barely tolerate one another are thrown together after their father's birthday.
This is a brilliant study of family dynamics and sibling relationships. Each has preconceived ideas about the others and how the others perceive them. I loved how easily they fell back into the patterns of childhood behavior, that is until the shit hit the fan. Then their individual strengths come to the fore and they surprise themselves and each other.
The actual mystery (THIS IS NOT A THRILLER despite what the marketing executives say) is a bit meh. No surprises here folks, except perhaps for how this person died. Very inventive. Slightly creepy when put into the perspective of what had been happening in the house in past years.
The story is told over three timelines: The teenage Rosemary - Rosemary is the mother of the three sisters; their childhood; and the night following Bob's - their father - birthday.
I'm not going to go into the plot at all, except to say that it will require you to suspend some belief. It's not a strong plot. It could have been a lot more suspenseful than it was. There are a couple of good twists and one at the end that seemed to have been thrown in as an afterthought as anything leading up to it was omitted from the storyline.
I agonised over my rating for The Short Straw, but the characterisation of the three sisters is so great that I felt it merited being closer to four stars than three. Although some of the other characters left a little to a lot to be desired.
I enjoyed the author's acknowledgements; she talks about her relationship with her sister, their bonds and memories. She stats that she hopes The Short Straw captures some sense of those private sibling universes. It did. She also talks a little about her personal circumstances during the period The short straw was being written. There is enough material there for a novel.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#TheShortStraw #NetGalley
I: @hollyseddonauthor @orionbooks
T: @hollyseddon @orionbooks
#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #friendship #mystery
THE AUTHOR: After growing up in the English countryside obsessed with music and books, Holly worked in London as a journalist and editor. She now lives in Kent with her family and writes full time.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Orion Publishing for providing a digital ARC of The Short straw by Holly Seddon for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT 'THE SHORT STRAW': Three sisters find themselves lost in a storm at night, and seek safety at Moirthwaite Manor, where their mother once worked. They are shocked to find the isolated mansion that loomed so large through their troubled childhoods has long been abandoned. Drawing straws to decide who should get help, one sister heads back into the darkness. With the siblings separated, the deadly secrets hidden in the house finally make themselves known and we learn the unspeakable secret that binds the family together.
MY THOUGHTS: It's the characters that are the stand-out feature of The Short Straw. Three sisters, all very different from one another and who barely tolerate one another are thrown together after their father's birthday.
This is a brilliant study of family dynamics and sibling relationships. Each has preconceived ideas about the others and how the others perceive them. I loved how easily they fell back into the patterns of childhood behavior, that is until the shit hit the fan. Then their individual strengths come to the fore and they surprise themselves and each other.
The actual mystery (THIS IS NOT A THRILLER despite what the marketing executives say) is a bit meh. No surprises here folks, except perhaps for how this person died. Very inventive. Slightly creepy when put into the perspective of what had been happening in the house in past years.
The story is told over three timelines: The teenage Rosemary - Rosemary is the mother of the three sisters; their childhood; and the night following Bob's - their father - birthday.
I'm not going to go into the plot at all, except to say that it will require you to suspend some belief. It's not a strong plot. It could have been a lot more suspenseful than it was. There are a couple of good twists and one at the end that seemed to have been thrown in as an afterthought as anything leading up to it was omitted from the storyline.
I agonised over my rating for The Short Straw, but the characterisation of the three sisters is so great that I felt it merited being closer to four stars than three. Although some of the other characters left a little to a lot to be desired.
I enjoyed the author's acknowledgements; she talks about her relationship with her sister, their bonds and memories. She stats that she hopes The Short Straw captures some sense of those private sibling universes. It did. She also talks a little about her personal circumstances during the period The short straw was being written. There is enough material there for a novel.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#TheShortStraw #NetGalley
I: @hollyseddonauthor @orionbooks
T: @hollyseddon @orionbooks
#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #friendship #mystery
THE AUTHOR: After growing up in the English countryside obsessed with music and books, Holly worked in London as a journalist and editor. She now lives in Kent with her family and writes full time.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Orion Publishing for providing a digital ARC of The Short straw by Holly Seddon for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
March 19, 2023
3.5 rounded up
There’s a terrible, worsening storm and Nina is at the wheel of her car with her two sisters, Lizzie and Aisa as passengers. Petrol is low, water is cascading down and worryingly, there’s no phone signal in the remote Eden Valley. Nina decides to head from Moirthwaite Manor where their mother Rosemary once worked. When the car becomes stranded in water the sisters head on foot and they see the Manor looming before them, unlit, unwelcoming and forbidding. They take shelter inside and it’s clear it’s been long abandoned. They draw straws to decide which sister will go for help. It’s going to be a long night ahead and one which none will forget.
First of all, I love Holly Seddons books and this one has many strong elements. The characterisation is very good, giving each sibling a unique personality so they are easy to imagine. Each tells the story in the present day along with their Rosemary from the past, and I like the duality which blends and works well
The novel is very well written and I like how the drama takes place across one action packed night, in which the past and present fuse together. The chapters are short and sharp, there are some staccato sentences, which effectively builds the suspense and tension, highlighted with stark imagery. The setting in the Eden Valley is very good and the author conveys it very well. As for the creepy house, it’s chock full of atmosphere, there are some really excellent descriptions with the past and present day house being such a contrast to each other. I could’ve done without the many spider references though, thank you! The house, the siblings and their mother all convey some pervading and disturbing memories that are intriguing but which are clouded in the fog of time. Nothing feels real on occasions, it’s ghostly, spooky and there is the conundrum of the real versus the imaginary. It becomes patently clear that there are many undercurrents and layers, especially from the early timeline but which linger well into the present day.
However, despite the many obvious positives, it is so slow at the start, although it’s also clear that the author is constructing layers beneath the watery, stormy surfaces. Some of the sisters actions make me want to yell, they do such silly things that make them vulnerable. Considering you are in such a creepy house, why would you? ! It’s also a bit protracted in places, and the ending is an anticlimax, I expected more after all the buildup.
Overall though, the positives definitely outweigh the negatives and it’s without doubt a very well written novel.
With thanks to NetGalley, and especially to Orion Publishing Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
There’s a terrible, worsening storm and Nina is at the wheel of her car with her two sisters, Lizzie and Aisa as passengers. Petrol is low, water is cascading down and worryingly, there’s no phone signal in the remote Eden Valley. Nina decides to head from Moirthwaite Manor where their mother Rosemary once worked. When the car becomes stranded in water the sisters head on foot and they see the Manor looming before them, unlit, unwelcoming and forbidding. They take shelter inside and it’s clear it’s been long abandoned. They draw straws to decide which sister will go for help. It’s going to be a long night ahead and one which none will forget.
First of all, I love Holly Seddons books and this one has many strong elements. The characterisation is very good, giving each sibling a unique personality so they are easy to imagine. Each tells the story in the present day along with their Rosemary from the past, and I like the duality which blends and works well
The novel is very well written and I like how the drama takes place across one action packed night, in which the past and present fuse together. The chapters are short and sharp, there are some staccato sentences, which effectively builds the suspense and tension, highlighted with stark imagery. The setting in the Eden Valley is very good and the author conveys it very well. As for the creepy house, it’s chock full of atmosphere, there are some really excellent descriptions with the past and present day house being such a contrast to each other. I could’ve done without the many spider references though, thank you! The house, the siblings and their mother all convey some pervading and disturbing memories that are intriguing but which are clouded in the fog of time. Nothing feels real on occasions, it’s ghostly, spooky and there is the conundrum of the real versus the imaginary. It becomes patently clear that there are many undercurrents and layers, especially from the early timeline but which linger well into the present day.
However, despite the many obvious positives, it is so slow at the start, although it’s also clear that the author is constructing layers beneath the watery, stormy surfaces. Some of the sisters actions make me want to yell, they do such silly things that make them vulnerable. Considering you are in such a creepy house, why would you? ! It’s also a bit protracted in places, and the ending is an anticlimax, I expected more after all the buildup.
Overall though, the positives definitely outweigh the negatives and it’s without doubt a very well written novel.
With thanks to NetGalley, and especially to Orion Publishing Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
July 14, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up.
Three sisters find themselves lost in a storm at night, and seek safety at Moirthwaite Manor, where their mother once worked. They are shocked to find the isolated mansion that loomed so large through their troubled childhoods has long been abandoned. Drawing straws to decide who should go and get help, one sister heads back into the darkness. With the siblings separated, the deadly secrets hidden in the house finally make themselves known and we learn the unspeakable secret that binds the family together.
The story is told from multiple points of view. The sisters were returning home for their dad's birthday meal when they became stranded during a storm. The story has a dual timeline - the past is set when Rosemary, the girl's mother, used to work at the manor house, and the present day. The characters were well rounded and there's a few twists along the way. It was quite a creepy and atmospheric read that's also descriptively written. My only criticism and the reason I too half a star away from my rating is the pace was far too slow.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #OrionPublishingGroup and the author #HollySeddon for my ARC of #TheShortStraw.
Three sisters find themselves lost in a storm at night, and seek safety at Moirthwaite Manor, where their mother once worked. They are shocked to find the isolated mansion that loomed so large through their troubled childhoods has long been abandoned. Drawing straws to decide who should go and get help, one sister heads back into the darkness. With the siblings separated, the deadly secrets hidden in the house finally make themselves known and we learn the unspeakable secret that binds the family together.
The story is told from multiple points of view. The sisters were returning home for their dad's birthday meal when they became stranded during a storm. The story has a dual timeline - the past is set when Rosemary, the girl's mother, used to work at the manor house, and the present day. The characters were well rounded and there's a few twists along the way. It was quite a creepy and atmospheric read that's also descriptively written. My only criticism and the reason I too half a star away from my rating is the pace was far too slow.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #OrionPublishingGroup and the author #HollySeddon for my ARC of #TheShortStraw.
November 13, 2024
Three sisters Nina, Lizzie and Asa, each with their own striking personality - judgmental, sensible and a brat might not have been as close recently finds shelter in Moirthwaite Manor after their car breaks down.
One of the sisters trys to seek help as the other two stay in the manner house by as the title suggests - picking straws.
The scene were she finally gets signal on her phone and trys to call for help as the battery rapidly decreases in percentage is very effective.
The house clearly has a history as the girls mum used to work their - the reader discovers more with the dual timeline.
The sinister history whilst the sisters struggles adds to the suspense as the present events takes place just over one night.
One of the sisters trys to seek help as the other two stay in the manner house by as the title suggests - picking straws.
The scene were she finally gets signal on her phone and trys to call for help as the battery rapidly decreases in percentage is very effective.
The house clearly has a history as the girls mum used to work their - the reader discovers more with the dual timeline.
The sinister history whilst the sisters struggles adds to the suspense as the present events takes place just over one night.
September 11, 2023
To my surprise, I have to admit I found "The Short Straw" extremely underwhelming. I normally tend to enjoy Holly Seddon's books but this latest offering just fell flat for me.
First of all, I suppose I was expecting more of a haunted house vibe. After all, Moirthwaite Manor is quite the isolated location and has been abandoned for years. But apart from the lack of electricity and events playing out at night, nothing about the sisters' circumstances ever really felt creepy. Or even tense, for that matter. Most of their feelings seem to be fuelled by a wee bit of paranoia and long-forgotten memories from their childhood that are coming back to the fore now that they find themselves back at this mansion.
I didn't think the mystery of the manor was that difficult to figure out, so that particular reveal left me rather cold. There was another one I didn't find at all necessary, either. I didn't feel it added anything to the story at all. On the other hand, there seemed to be so many other things the reader is just left to guess at. Questions that don't seem to be answered adequately, things that are being alluded to but never quite explained.
As for the characters, the sisters have a truly complicated relationship with one another. All three are very different from the next and none of them seem able to accept, or even see, the others for who they are. Here again, it feels like there could have been so much more to explore. That would probably have turned the book into more of a family drama, but that might have worked out better. And for me personally, I might have been able to connect to them, instead of not really caring about them all that much.
I find it hard to label 'The Short Straw' as a psychological thriller. For me, it definitely lacked the suspense, tension, and thrill element I look for in that genre. And as a whole, the plot just missed the mark for me and I ended up feeling quite disappointed.
First of all, I suppose I was expecting more of a haunted house vibe. After all, Moirthwaite Manor is quite the isolated location and has been abandoned for years. But apart from the lack of electricity and events playing out at night, nothing about the sisters' circumstances ever really felt creepy. Or even tense, for that matter. Most of their feelings seem to be fuelled by a wee bit of paranoia and long-forgotten memories from their childhood that are coming back to the fore now that they find themselves back at this mansion.
I didn't think the mystery of the manor was that difficult to figure out, so that particular reveal left me rather cold. There was another one I didn't find at all necessary, either. I didn't feel it added anything to the story at all. On the other hand, there seemed to be so many other things the reader is just left to guess at. Questions that don't seem to be answered adequately, things that are being alluded to but never quite explained.
As for the characters, the sisters have a truly complicated relationship with one another. All three are very different from the next and none of them seem able to accept, or even see, the others for who they are. Here again, it feels like there could have been so much more to explore. That would probably have turned the book into more of a family drama, but that might have worked out better. And for me personally, I might have been able to connect to them, instead of not really caring about them all that much.
I find it hard to label 'The Short Straw' as a psychological thriller. For me, it definitely lacked the suspense, tension, and thrill element I look for in that genre. And as a whole, the plot just missed the mark for me and I ended up feeling quite disappointed.
Read
August 23, 2025DNF’d. Wasted 5 days trying to get into this, tell me why I’m 230 pages into a 349 page book and N O T H I N G has happened???? 😭
April 4, 2025
not sure on this one, it was boring and lacked any thrilling aspects to the story marketed as a psychological thriller.
August 15, 2023
I have been a fan Holly Seddon since I read Try Not To Breath so I was excited to get an early copy of her new book The Short Straw. It was a slow burning mystery, told in the now and then that had me turning pages to find out what happened next. The writing was so atmospheric and I felt that I was caught in the storm and the creepy old house with the sisters.
Sisters Nina, Lizzie and Aisa run out of petrol on their way home from a lunch with their father. They find themselves in a thunderstorm, with no phone service and take shelter in Moirthwaite a manor, the house that their mother worked in many years before. They are surprised to see that is is now abandoned… or is it? Strange noises in the night have them all on edge. They draw straws to decide who will walk into the nearest town to try to get help, while the others try to stay warm and safe.
This book kept me on edge, never quite knowing what was going to happen. Was there someone else in the house? Or were they imagining it. The house has a dark past so it was only a matter of time until they found something sinister.
Thanks to Orion Publishing and NetGalley for this copy to read. Published on September 14th.
Sisters Nina, Lizzie and Aisa run out of petrol on their way home from a lunch with their father. They find themselves in a thunderstorm, with no phone service and take shelter in Moirthwaite a manor, the house that their mother worked in many years before. They are surprised to see that is is now abandoned… or is it? Strange noises in the night have them all on edge. They draw straws to decide who will walk into the nearest town to try to get help, while the others try to stay warm and safe.
This book kept me on edge, never quite knowing what was going to happen. Was there someone else in the house? Or were they imagining it. The house has a dark past so it was only a matter of time until they found something sinister.
Thanks to Orion Publishing and NetGalley for this copy to read. Published on September 14th.
February 25, 2023
“Can there be anything more frightening than realising that a bad dream was a memory, and then finding yourself back in it?”
Three sisters find themselves stuck out in a storm after their car breaks down. They seek shelter in a nearby, abandoned manor, where their mother used to work when they were kids. Stuck in the dark with no electricity and no service, they draw straws to see which sister should go out into the night to find help.
Once separated, the sisters each begin to remember sinister secrets hidden in the house, with their vague memories of their childhood visiting the manor slowly seeping into their current reality.
The narrative of this story is told from different perspectives, the main ones being from each of the sisters in the present and their mother when she worked at the manor 30 years ago. Although the entirety of the book takes places during just one night, the strength of the characters makes for riveting internal dialogue which is both entertaining and illuminating.
This novel is a slow burn to begin with, but Seddon’s writing is so absorbing and poetic it is intriguing enough to keep readers engaged. As well as the main revelation of the manor’s dark secrets, an underlying storyline depicts how the sisters battle with barely knowing each other and the lives they each choose to lead.
For me, there’s no better setting for a thriller than a creepy old house and this book really delivers when it comes to suspense and sending chills down your spine.
This is a perfect read for a cosy evening.
Three sisters find themselves stuck out in a storm after their car breaks down. They seek shelter in a nearby, abandoned manor, where their mother used to work when they were kids. Stuck in the dark with no electricity and no service, they draw straws to see which sister should go out into the night to find help.
Once separated, the sisters each begin to remember sinister secrets hidden in the house, with their vague memories of their childhood visiting the manor slowly seeping into their current reality.
The narrative of this story is told from different perspectives, the main ones being from each of the sisters in the present and their mother when she worked at the manor 30 years ago. Although the entirety of the book takes places during just one night, the strength of the characters makes for riveting internal dialogue which is both entertaining and illuminating.
This novel is a slow burn to begin with, but Seddon’s writing is so absorbing and poetic it is intriguing enough to keep readers engaged. As well as the main revelation of the manor’s dark secrets, an underlying storyline depicts how the sisters battle with barely knowing each other and the lives they each choose to lead.
For me, there’s no better setting for a thriller than a creepy old house and this book really delivers when it comes to suspense and sending chills down your spine.
This is a perfect read for a cosy evening.
May 24, 2023
For a thriller, this was so s l o w, that I almost stopped reading at the one-third mark. (For a moment, I had started to think that my new medication had affected my ability to concentrate. Then I read some Goodreads reviews and found that all was well!)
It's an incredible set-up, but marred by the pacing. There were a few other things that didn't make sense. For instance, how could all three sisters have completely forgotten what had happened at the old manor house when they were children? Nina would have been at least 12, Lizzie perhaps 8, both old enough to have remembered the shocking/thrilling event of discovering what was behind the wall. Second, I found some of the decision-making, leaving one or all of them alone, to be contrived. Third, for all the build-up, the reveal was somewhat anticlimactic.
I also have a question:
What I really enjoyed was how the relationship between the sisters changed as the story progressed. And also excited to discover a new author. Even though I didn't enjoy this particular book, I love this genre, and I liked the style of writing, so I'm going to try her other books.
(Review copy from NetGalley)
It's an incredible set-up, but marred by the pacing. There were a few other things that didn't make sense. For instance, how could all three sisters have completely forgotten what had happened at the old manor house when they were children? Nina would have been at least 12, Lizzie perhaps 8, both old enough to have remembered the shocking/thrilling event of discovering what was behind the wall. Second, I found some of the decision-making, leaving one or all of them alone, to be contrived. Third, for all the build-up, the reveal was somewhat anticlimactic.
I also have a question:
What I really enjoyed was how the relationship between the sisters changed as the story progressed. And also excited to discover a new author. Even though I didn't enjoy this particular book, I love this genre, and I liked the style of writing, so I'm going to try her other books.
(Review copy from NetGalley)
July 29, 2023
The Short Straw by @hollyseddonauthor is a 5 star thrilling read.
Three Sisters stranded on a cold dark night with only one place to go to keep warm till help arrives.
So they head to Moirthwaite Manor a place they know well from their childhood a place where their mum used to work when they was young,
But Moirthwaite Manor has long since been abandoned and what was meant to be to be a safe place to wait turns into a night of Hell!
I absolutely loved this book from start to finish, I enjoyed that it was set in one long night, I loved the characters the three sisters each had their own narrative and story to tell.
Their story was told in a now and then way with the sisters story in house told in the present and their mum Rosemary's story is when she worked in the house when the girls where young and the bulid up to the deadly secret that made her leave her job so quickly.
The Short Straw is a brilliantly written, plotted, tense, thrilling, unputdownable,haunting book with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader happy.
You are always guaranteed a good read if you pick up a Holly Seddon Book, this one is just fantastic I loved it..
Three Sisters stranded on a cold dark night with only one place to go to keep warm till help arrives.
So they head to Moirthwaite Manor a place they know well from their childhood a place where their mum used to work when they was young,
But Moirthwaite Manor has long since been abandoned and what was meant to be to be a safe place to wait turns into a night of Hell!
I absolutely loved this book from start to finish, I enjoyed that it was set in one long night, I loved the characters the three sisters each had their own narrative and story to tell.
Their story was told in a now and then way with the sisters story in house told in the present and their mum Rosemary's story is when she worked in the house when the girls where young and the bulid up to the deadly secret that made her leave her job so quickly.
The Short Straw is a brilliantly written, plotted, tense, thrilling, unputdownable,haunting book with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader happy.
You are always guaranteed a good read if you pick up a Holly Seddon Book, this one is just fantastic I loved it..
September 15, 2023
Fab book, really enjoyed it. Not read Seddon's work before and definitely will be in the future! The joy of Netgalley is finding new authors to then buy books from and share with others. Highly recommended.
ARC requested by me - no payment received and all opinions are my own.
ARC requested by me - no payment received and all opinions are my own.
February 5, 2024
Sorry, just no. Page after page of nothing.
October 29, 2024
If I could rate it no stars I would, so disappointed with this after absolutely adoring The Hit List. Just nothing happened for pages on end, so dull.
January 12, 2025
I rounded this up to three 🌟
It started out ok and I loved the characters of the sisters but then it became a bit meh!
Very over descriptive and it lost me I'm afraid, just not for me.
It started out ok and I loved the characters of the sisters but then it became a bit meh!
Very over descriptive and it lost me I'm afraid, just not for me.
January 4, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed this one! Packed with family drama, tension, and a fear of the unknown, this book had a lot to like!
I loved the main plot of this one! 3 siblings stranded in a creepy, dilapidated house that is familiar to all of them but hides so many secrets! It's written brilliantly, with the reader getting different POVs of the 3 sisters and their various thoughts! The flashback chapters from the POV of the siblings' mother, though initially a little confusing to me, added so much to the story as past and present began to merge!
The elusive secrets that made the house so awful are tip-toed around, which only adds to the intrigue but gives more of a focus to the main plot of the 3 sisters, which I think was the perfect balance!
The only thing holding me back from that extra star was that I felt the story was a little drawn out (taking place over one night really, minus the flashbacks) and the twists, though really good, didn't necessarily have my jaw on the floor! However, I really did enjoy this one! An underrated, addictive thriller that I'd definitely recommend, and an author who has been new to be, but I can't wait to explore more of her books!
Rating: 7.5/10 (rounded up)
I loved the main plot of this one! 3 siblings stranded in a creepy, dilapidated house that is familiar to all of them but hides so many secrets! It's written brilliantly, with the reader getting different POVs of the 3 sisters and their various thoughts! The flashback chapters from the POV of the siblings' mother, though initially a little confusing to me, added so much to the story as past and present began to merge!
The elusive secrets that made the house so awful are tip-toed around, which only adds to the intrigue but gives more of a focus to the main plot of the 3 sisters, which I think was the perfect balance!
The only thing holding me back from that extra star was that I felt the story was a little drawn out (taking place over one night really, minus the flashbacks) and the twists, though really good, didn't necessarily have my jaw on the floor! However, I really did enjoy this one! An underrated, addictive thriller that I'd definitely recommend, and an author who has been new to be, but I can't wait to explore more of her books!
Rating: 7.5/10 (rounded up)
September 11, 2023
This is a slow burner but a good read.
Three sisters, Nina, Lizzie and Aisa are travelling back from seeing their Dad when they get caught in a storm. Their car breaks down so they seek shelter in Moirthwaite Manor, an abandoned derelict building that they know from their childhood.
The Manor is dark and cold and they realise they need to get help so they draw straws to see who will go out and get help.
There is a dual narrative following the sisters in the present and their mum in the past and it all comes together in the end.
Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Three sisters, Nina, Lizzie and Aisa are travelling back from seeing their Dad when they get caught in a storm. Their car breaks down so they seek shelter in Moirthwaite Manor, an abandoned derelict building that they know from their childhood.
The Manor is dark and cold and they realise they need to get help so they draw straws to see who will go out and get help.
There is a dual narrative following the sisters in the present and their mum in the past and it all comes together in the end.
Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
June 16, 2024
I've come to expect a great read when I start a book by Holly Seddon. This one did not disappoint.
Atmospheric in bucketloads. (Really it would be a great novel to read in the spooky season of autumn). Moirthwaite Manor Cumbria, a derelict house in a remote location - in a raging storm...
Three sisters who have not been very close in recent years. They have little in common, yet the familial bond remains strong. Nina, the judgmental older sister, who is always calm in a crisis and works as a midwife; Lizzie, the meek and sensible middle sister who works at an animal rehoming shelter; and finally, contrary, independent, Aisa, the youngest, reputed to be the 'brat' who travels from place to place pet/house sitting. All three sisters have secret fears and hide behind a false facade.
The premise of them ending up in exactly the same house as where they suffered a childhood trauma stretches the imagination somewhat, but despite that, the story kept me enthralled. Which is safer? Staying in the foreboding old house, or, braving a deadly storm?
Sibling relationships and repressed childhood memories are themes running throughout this novel which has more than a touch of modern gothic. A creepy story which is riddled with simmering suspense and complex familial undercurrents. Recommended!
4.5 stars rounded up
Atmospheric in bucketloads. (Really it would be a great novel to read in the spooky season of autumn). Moirthwaite Manor Cumbria, a derelict house in a remote location - in a raging storm...
Three sisters who have not been very close in recent years. They have little in common, yet the familial bond remains strong. Nina, the judgmental older sister, who is always calm in a crisis and works as a midwife; Lizzie, the meek and sensible middle sister who works at an animal rehoming shelter; and finally, contrary, independent, Aisa, the youngest, reputed to be the 'brat' who travels from place to place pet/house sitting. All three sisters have secret fears and hide behind a false facade.
The premise of them ending up in exactly the same house as where they suffered a childhood trauma stretches the imagination somewhat, but despite that, the story kept me enthralled. Which is safer? Staying in the foreboding old house, or, braving a deadly storm?
Sibling relationships and repressed childhood memories are themes running throughout this novel which has more than a touch of modern gothic. A creepy story which is riddled with simmering suspense and complex familial undercurrents. Recommended!
4.5 stars rounded up
May 20, 2023
The Short Straw is a standalone thriller by author, Holly Seddon. It’s my first read by this author. This creepy gothic style novel is based around three sisters who end up at Moirthwaite Manor after their car breaks down. This isolated mansion once was where their mother worked. The setting of the story is deliciously creepy and gothic and gives very Shirley Jackson vibes. The book starts of at a high point but quickly drags through the middle. I was tempted to give up a few times but the story was compelling enough that I just had to know what it was all leading up to. The ending felt rushed and after such a big build up, it was satisfying but not as gripping or shocking as I’d hoped. Each of the three sisters have their own voice and personality and it was fun to alternate chapters between them. The story was also interspersed with flashback segments narrated by the sister’s now deceased mother, Rosemary. I thoroughly enjoyed these chapters and found these the most engrossing and hard to put down. Overall, the story was good, it just could have benefited from the middle being a little faster paced. I will read more by this author in the future.
February 7, 2023
This was my first Holly Seddon read and I was impressed with it, I enjoyed her style of writing. The chapters are short with different POVs, it’s mainly set during one evening but some chapters return to past events, but it’s still easy to follow.
This was set in a creepy abandoned mansion during a storm, with no electricity so it was a tense read where everyone has a secret and you know something bad happened there in the past but you’re not sure what. I thought it was slightly slow about halfway though but then lots started to happen and the ending was full of surprises.
This was set in a creepy abandoned mansion during a storm, with no electricity so it was a tense read where everyone has a secret and you know something bad happened there in the past but you’re not sure what. I thought it was slightly slow about halfway though but then lots started to happen and the ending was full of surprises.
October 9, 2024
The Short Straw is a novel by Holly Seddon, published in 2023.
The plot concerns three sisters, Nina, Lizzie and Aisa, who have come back from scattered adult lives to visit their aging father in the Lake District. On a dark and stormy night, suffering car trouble, they seek shelter in a remote and creepy manor house, which might or might not be deserted.
Very Rocky Horror. A cliche you might be thinking. But in this case there’s a twist. The house is well known to the sisters. Their mother was on the domestic staff. The girls played here when they were little. You could say this mysterious house in the middle of nowhere has all the familiarity of home.
The book is about the unfamiliar hiding in the well-known, homes mirrored in distant destinations, fresh stories concealed in well worn tropes. We take little notice of what we see every day, which means that strange things, both good and bad, can hide in plain sight. This theme develops into an interesting reflection on ideas of fate and destiny. As people grow up, they appear to shape their own course by leaving home and setting out on journeys. But when end points start reminding us of where we came from, our choices become ambiguous to say the least.
The sign identifying the creepy house - Moirthwaite Manor - has been damaged by time and weather. On the night when the three sisters arrive, it reads MOIR AI. In Ancient Greek mythology the Moirai were three sisters who personified human destiny. The Moirai clearly parallel the three sisters stuck in the spooky mansion. These marooned women are sometimes in control of their lives, sometimes not. On occasion, control exists in the same things that take it away. Lizzie, the most diffident of the sisters, in realising her unassuming ambition to look after animals, has managed to live as she wants - unlike her more driven siblings who are more likely to strive for what they cannot reach.
The Short Straw can simply be read as a good thriller. But I would describe that as a starting point for a much more original and philosophical piece of work.
The plot concerns three sisters, Nina, Lizzie and Aisa, who have come back from scattered adult lives to visit their aging father in the Lake District. On a dark and stormy night, suffering car trouble, they seek shelter in a remote and creepy manor house, which might or might not be deserted.
Very Rocky Horror. A cliche you might be thinking. But in this case there’s a twist. The house is well known to the sisters. Their mother was on the domestic staff. The girls played here when they were little. You could say this mysterious house in the middle of nowhere has all the familiarity of home.
The book is about the unfamiliar hiding in the well-known, homes mirrored in distant destinations, fresh stories concealed in well worn tropes. We take little notice of what we see every day, which means that strange things, both good and bad, can hide in plain sight. This theme develops into an interesting reflection on ideas of fate and destiny. As people grow up, they appear to shape their own course by leaving home and setting out on journeys. But when end points start reminding us of where we came from, our choices become ambiguous to say the least.
The sign identifying the creepy house - Moirthwaite Manor - has been damaged by time and weather. On the night when the three sisters arrive, it reads MOIR AI. In Ancient Greek mythology the Moirai were three sisters who personified human destiny. The Moirai clearly parallel the three sisters stuck in the spooky mansion. These marooned women are sometimes in control of their lives, sometimes not. On occasion, control exists in the same things that take it away. Lizzie, the most diffident of the sisters, in realising her unassuming ambition to look after animals, has managed to live as she wants - unlike her more driven siblings who are more likely to strive for what they cannot reach.
The Short Straw can simply be read as a good thriller. But I would describe that as a starting point for a much more original and philosophical piece of work.
September 5, 2023
When three sisters run out of petrol on their way home after their dad's birthday they seek refuge at Morthwaite Manor, the mansion where their mother used to work and a place that played a big part in their childhood, so they are surprised to see how rundown and abandoned it is and, without anyone there to help them, they fall back on their childhood way of deciding something; they draw straws and the one who has drawn the short straw heads back out into the dark to seek help. Being back in this place after so long stirs up a lot of memories for the sisters, not all of them good and throughout the time they are there secrets begin to emerge about their past.
The Short Straw is told from various perspectives and multiple timelines, I'd consider this to be more family drama than thriller, with a lot of the story revolving around the siblings and their relationships during their childhood and through their adult lives. Having read and enjoyed other work by this author I was looking forward to reading this latest one but, compared to Seddon's other books, I found this to be a very slow read which at times I didn't know where the plot was heading and, even though there were twists through the book, it didn't excite me as much as her previous work, hence the reason for the three stars I have awarded it.
I'd like to thank Orion and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.
The Short Straw is told from various perspectives and multiple timelines, I'd consider this to be more family drama than thriller, with a lot of the story revolving around the siblings and their relationships during their childhood and through their adult lives. Having read and enjoyed other work by this author I was looking forward to reading this latest one but, compared to Seddon's other books, I found this to be a very slow read which at times I didn't know where the plot was heading and, even though there were twists through the book, it didn't excite me as much as her previous work, hence the reason for the three stars I have awarded it.
I'd like to thank Orion and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.
September 27, 2025
“Whoever gets the short straw goes for help.”
When three sisters leave their father’s birthday celebration, they decide to all pile into one car instead of going their separate ways. A raging storm and bumper-to-bumper traffic cause them to take a detour, and they end up stranded near Moirthwaite Manor - where their mother used to work as a housekeeper - without petrol.
When they realise that the massive house has been abandoned and they’re stuck without electricity and cellphone reception, they draw straws to determine which sister should leave - in the pitch black, storming night - to find help.
Told in multiple POVs and flashing between the past and the present, Holly Seddon crafts a viscerally creepy universe filled to the brim with suspense… but nothing much happens.
It’s a slow burn of a novel and there’s a lot of breadcrumbing about the sisters and the fault lines that run through this family, but the reader isn’t given insight into what’s really happening until pretty much the end.
Seddon hints to heavy themes but it’s not fleshed out enough to make the book live up to its own hype, and because of that, it fell flat for me.
I think the book could have done with fewer flashes to the past, more action in the present and more gory details about the manor’s past to make it a more satisfying, thrilling read.
When three sisters leave their father’s birthday celebration, they decide to all pile into one car instead of going their separate ways. A raging storm and bumper-to-bumper traffic cause them to take a detour, and they end up stranded near Moirthwaite Manor - where their mother used to work as a housekeeper - without petrol.
When they realise that the massive house has been abandoned and they’re stuck without electricity and cellphone reception, they draw straws to determine which sister should leave - in the pitch black, storming night - to find help.
Told in multiple POVs and flashing between the past and the present, Holly Seddon crafts a viscerally creepy universe filled to the brim with suspense… but nothing much happens.
It’s a slow burn of a novel and there’s a lot of breadcrumbing about the sisters and the fault lines that run through this family, but the reader isn’t given insight into what’s really happening until pretty much the end.
Seddon hints to heavy themes but it’s not fleshed out enough to make the book live up to its own hype, and because of that, it fell flat for me.
I think the book could have done with fewer flashes to the past, more action in the present and more gory details about the manor’s past to make it a more satisfying, thrilling read.
October 11, 2023
In the short straw we meet sisters Nina, Lizzie and Aisa. The sisters aren’t particularly close and after spending their dad’s birthday with him they are heading back to their separate lives when 1st a diversion and then the discovery they’re running out of petrol sees them heading towards the village they left as small children. A sudden storm hits and they realise they are near to the old mansion their mum used to clean at. Making the decision to head there as the car is seriously low on petrol, they are heading that way when the car has a bump. Badly injuring Nina’s ankle. They manage to get her up the driveway to the mansion only to discover it is derelict. Realising they are lost and alone, with no electricity and no way of contacting anyone they decide to draw straws to see who is going to brave the storm and head to the village to call for help. Youngest sister Aisa picks the short straw and heads off, while Nina and Lizzie explore the mansion. Childhood memories begin to come back. Are they alone in the mansion? Aisa meanwhile is running out of battery on her phone and as she is walking towards the village she suddenly realises she is not alone, who is out there in the woods with her? Will she manage to call for help and get back to her own life? The book is told in 2 timelines the now, as the girls realise that everything is not as it seems and begin to wonder if they are safe. And the past, from the point of view of their Mum, Rosemary who used to clean the mansion 1st for the old brigadier and then for his son and his family. I found this a very interesting but somewhat predictable book. I enjoyed the twists and turns but did work each one out as I read, Howe that is also part of the fun Holly has a good style of writing which makes you want to keep reading to find out if your theory is correct. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title
July 9, 2025
A superb thriller with more than a few echoes of Shirley Jackson (and Mike Flanagan's adaptations of her work).
I honestly don't understand the criticisms that this seems to get. True, it can fall into repetition occasionally but I very rarely found it to be padding or filler...
It all feels in service of our 3 leads, who are wonderfully well drawn characters. I loved how this book used a non-linear structure, it made all the exposition, character development and backstory all feel so incredibly natural and real. Halfway through this I really felt like I knew these people and that just kept evolving right up until the end.
There are a handful of things that weren't completely satisfying and I think the last few chapters were a bit messier than the rest, but the ending was incredibly emotional, and the story of the Kelsey sisters is one I can see myself returning to in the future, really enjoyed this!
I honestly don't understand the criticisms that this seems to get. True, it can fall into repetition occasionally but I very rarely found it to be padding or filler...
It all feels in service of our 3 leads, who are wonderfully well drawn characters. I loved how this book used a non-linear structure, it made all the exposition, character development and backstory all feel so incredibly natural and real. Halfway through this I really felt like I knew these people and that just kept evolving right up until the end.
There are a handful of things that weren't completely satisfying and I think the last few chapters were a bit messier than the rest, but the ending was incredibly emotional, and the story of the Kelsey sisters is one I can see myself returning to in the future, really enjoyed this!
January 11, 2026
This story is brimming with Gothic atmosphere. A terrible storm, and abandoned manor house, and three sisters who share a terrible secret involving the very house their stranded in. As the night wears on and the storm worsens, their memories of Moirthwaite Manor start unraveling.
I loved the writing style. It was very captivating and descriptive. Moirthwaite Manor was such a great setting for, not only the mystery, but the fractured relationship between the sisters.
While the sisters all had great characterization and depth, I did find their chapters repetitive as the book went on.
However, Rosemary's chapters involving the past weren't descriptive enough. They were so short and left out so much of the backstory. While I like the writing style, I wish the pacing and consistency had been better.
Overall, though, I did enjoy this story. Very creepy, mysterious, and a nice family drama.
I loved the writing style. It was very captivating and descriptive. Moirthwaite Manor was such a great setting for, not only the mystery, but the fractured relationship between the sisters.
While the sisters all had great characterization and depth, I did find their chapters repetitive as the book went on.
However, Rosemary's chapters involving the past weren't descriptive enough. They were so short and left out so much of the backstory. While I like the writing style, I wish the pacing and consistency had been better.
Overall, though, I did enjoy this story. Very creepy, mysterious, and a nice family drama.
March 22, 2024
Three sisters lost in a storm in the Lake District, their car runs out of fuel and they find themselves stranded in an old abandoned Manor House, no phone signal, no hope of finding help until morning. Their pasts are inextricably linked to Moirthwaite Manor in ways they are too afraid to revisit. One of the sisters takes the short straw and leaves in the dark to find help. The other two start to realise they are not alone in the house….
There were moments of nail biting, tense scenes but sadly they fizzled out. The story seemed to bump along at a snails pace and I found it irritating. The continual flashbacks to their mother’s story, although necessary to the plot, was really confusing.
The last 50 pages click upwards in suspense, the plot swivels and answers throw up more questions. I enjoyed it, but also found it annoying.
There were moments of nail biting, tense scenes but sadly they fizzled out. The story seemed to bump along at a snails pace and I found it irritating. The continual flashbacks to their mother’s story, although necessary to the plot, was really confusing.
The last 50 pages click upwards in suspense, the plot swivels and answers throw up more questions. I enjoyed it, but also found it annoying.
July 5, 2024
Loved this! I’ve only given it 4 stars because I worked out the ending before I got there and I hate when that happens….however this was a brilliant page turner from start to finish with some really intense parts. Great creepy vibe and I really liked the switching between past and present - sometimes this doesn’t really work and it’s annoying to try and keep track of but Holly did it so well. I’ll be trying some of her other novels for sure 👌
June 27, 2024
loved this!!!!
I always love having multiple different perspectives although these were different in the sense that they weren't personal but more a way of showing what the different characters were doing so the whole story could tie together in a mysterious, gripping manner.
I always love having multiple different perspectives although these were different in the sense that they weren't personal but more a way of showing what the different characters were doing so the whole story could tie together in a mysterious, gripping manner.
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