Through the Mist

by Lindsay Jayne Ashford

Two women disturb the dark history of a deceptively quiet postwar Cornwall village in a haunting novel by the bestselling author of A Feather on the Water and The Woman on the Orient Express.

It’s winter 1947 when newlyweds Ellen and Tony Wylde move into an abandoned Cornish farmhouse overlooking the sea. For both, it’s a new beginning in the country, and together they’re bringing Carreg Cottage back to life. Yet Ellen can’t hide a creeping unease. There’s the ominous iconography painted on their bedroom ceiling, the sinister doll hidden away in the chimney. And Tony seems more familiar with the peculiar villagers than he’s letting on.

Meanwhile, after nearly a decade away, young Iris returns to Cornwall seeking sanctuary in memories and longing for what she lost as a child. It was here that her mother died on the moors under a shroud of mystery and rumor—and was last seen alive in the isolated, long-shuttered cottage the Wyldes now call home.

Discovering more about each other and themselves, Ellen and Iris soon unite in a quest to uncover every dark secret this village—and the West Country mist—holds before it destroys them.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical, Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery Thriller, Gothic

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 13, 2024

About the author

Same author publishes as Lindsay Ashford.

Reviews

[Holly in Bookland · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars ✨

This was interesting. An historical fiction book that has elements of haunting, black magic, and a lot of real historical people. Following two pov’s, Ellen who just moved there with her husband and Iris, who also just moved to St. Ives. Both women will find themselves joining forces to find out the answers that they both seek. It just may not be the answers they want. The writing was excellent and the story interesting, however, it was a slow one.

[Kendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm, this was an interesting read. I didn't love it and I didn't detest it. I found it slow moving in the beginning. I kept reading hoping it would get better but for me it was just okay. I did enjoy the atmosphere of the book. I could close my eyes and picture myself there. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of the book to review.

[Brynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family drama and a secret from the past. Well, there are thousands of novels like this out there, nothing new.
A murder mystery with a supernatural twist? Why not?
Let's add true events! Let's add real-life people!
Result: a slow, claustrophobic story tangled in mist and anxiety.
A young couple moves into a cottage. A young woman, a girl actually, runs away from home. These people are about to start a new life in a small town. But this isn't a town like any other. This place has a secret, maybe many secrets. Special places draw in, just like magnets, special people.
What was going on in this town remains a mystery. What we do know is interesting. Please google names such as Lady Frieda Harris and Barbara Hepworth. Have a look at the Toth pack of Tarot cards.
This book has a few weak spots. In my opinion, the writing isn't the best, some dialogues aren't convincing, etc. But this doesn't stop me from liking the story. It kept me engaged in it and this is quite rare for me these days. The fact that the author mixed real events with fiction so well deserves to be acknowledged.

[Kati · Rating 2 out of 5]

I requested Through the Mist because I'm a big fan of Barbara Michaels' old gothic occult romantic novels from the 60s and 70s and I hoped that Ashford would give me the same type of story. Through the Mist was advertised as a historical thriller with mentions of Aleister Crowley and his cult set in post-war Cornwall and the book is very readable and I flew through it in a couple of days. However, it left me really wanting more and I wasn't satisfied with the structure and how the story was told.

The book introduces us to two main characters, Ellen Wylde and Iris Birch. Ellen is recently married, and her husband was keen to buy a little out of the way cottage in Cornwall. Iris is a runaway searching for clues to her mother's mysterious death up at the same cottage. The setting was appropriately menacing and the Cornish coast was used to great effect. What I didn't like about the POV was that we weren't just limited to Ellen and Iris, but rather had Tony Wyle and his painting friends interspersed with POV to drive the story forward. This type of structure left me wanting more because the reader knows more than the main characters and the story just loses that sense of urgency that was driving it toward the climax.

Ashford also uses characters based on real life people who were friends or compatriots of Aleister Crowley, sometimes changing names and backgrounds, and sometimes not. The ceremonial magick that Crowley practiced was documented in Through the Mist, but it didn't have the same power and mysticism and was almost told as a straightforward lecture so it lost some of the menace and Ellen's reactions seemed over the top. Her sense of dread and fear just didn't seem warranted and those parts where she's lost and afraid and distrusting of her husband really felt like Ashford was telling rather than showing. Ellen didn't seem to have any cause for alarm and it really just made me roll my eyes and turn to the next page. A book should not give this type of reader reaction.

Suffice to say, I was unimpressed with Through the Mist and I don't think I'll check out anything else from Ashford.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Press for the arc for review purposes.

[Sam Metcalfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC of Through the Mist.

This was a historical novel with a bit of the supernatural and cult references. Lovely writing of 2 strong women and people coming together to support each other and good conquering evil.

The story follows 2 women who move to the beautiful countryside of Cornwall:

Ellen and her new husband move into an old cottage which has caused tongues wagging and old rumours of something terrible that happened there to come out. Is her husband telling her the whole truth about the cottage and why he wanted to buy it? Drug use and cult brainwashing still have a hold on him and moving back to the cottage has stirred ghosts from his past.

Young Iris has ran away from home and seeks refuge in the place that holds happy memories from a time when her mother was still alive but she needs to hide her identity as residents of Cornwall knew her family when she was a child. She is worried she will be discovered and her father or the police will find her. Hearing stories of the cottage and its involvement in her mother's passing, She needs to find out the truth but will the cottage allow it?!

[Alison J Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced mystery

Great storyline, great characters, plenty of twists and turns which makes it a very enjoyable read. Not heard of this author before but would be keen to try other books by her.

[Cindy Stavropoulos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Read

This is a book inspired by real characters and true events. Historical but full of the struggles we see today. The intrigue of tarot is mentioned along with black magic and the effects of hallucinogenic drugs. Very good.

[Cassandra Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will need adjust some of the ratings on other books I’ve read recently, because this one may be one of my favorites. Especially as it’s based on true events and people.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this one with my ears and was not sad when it was over. I kept having to remind myself of the time period to keep from getting frustrated with the female protagonist.

Note: I had to speed up the narration to 1.5.

[Amanda Snow · Rating 2 out of 5]

It had plenty of potential and interesting ideas. However, there was so much going on, and the pacing was erratic, which made it hard to focus.

The main characters were likable enough. That being said, the multiple points of view seemed unnecessary. I can't say much about the side characters because there was nothing more to them than surface-level traits.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A historical novel with a dose of the supernatural, THROUGH THE MIST is a good read with just enough atmosphere and suspense to keep a reader engaged. Set just after World War II in a small village, the book alternates between the perspectives of two women, both of them at a crossroads in their lives. Newlywed Ellen and runaway Iris find themselves uncovering all sorts of buried secrets together, ranging from the occult to murder.

It was a good read, and I'll recommend it, but some of the pacing was a little slow for me and I tend to disengage from multiple narrators. (Side note: Ashford buries the lede somewhat. Don't forget the author's notes at the end of the book. She gives the full historical context of the plot and characters. The amount of detail and extent of the research is beyond impressive. )

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advance reader's copy. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Lisa Tristram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.

Where to start with the book. To be honest, I wasn't too sure about it when I started reading. The blur was good enough, but I wasn't sure where It was heading. A few chapters in, and I couldn't put it down.

It is a story with a mix of everything, history, drama,murder supernatural, and thrills. Based on my part of the world the Westcountry was also a major plus, too.

I loved the fact that thus was set in post-war, too. Many books with this kind of setting tend to be based on the modern day, but I loved how it all came together.

Two women who lives become entwined because of a house and work together to solve a mystery keeps you on the edge of your seat I can't say too much because it will give the story away but it's definitely worth a read. I'm now hoping to read more by this author .

[Stephanie (NovelBound1813) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not really sure how I feel about this book now that I’ve finished. It was a little slow to get into, but it did pick up. I liked the imagery of Cornwall and the way the author described the area. I like Ellen’s character and was rooting for her. I wasn’t a huge fan of Iris though. She felt a little naive and to be honest I just wasn’t that interested in her or her search to learn what happened to her mom. I was interested in Tony’s character, but it felt like we only got a shallow view of him. I would have liked to have a better understanding of his history and motivations. Overall I felt that this was an enjoyable read that didn’t particularly stand out for me. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

[Athena · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC given to me via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Youtube Review: https://youtu.be/fpOeG0_gWEg

"The Moors" meets "Crimson Peak," Through the Mist is a mystery-filled, well-paced, crime novel that takes you on so many twists and turns, that you're not sure when you'll come out the other side...until you do!

[Anne Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

My season of spooky reading continues with another ghost story called Through the Mist by Lindsay Jayne Ashford. I’ve had this book on my shelf for awhile, but because I prefer reading ghost stories in the Fall, I was saving it until I could curl up with it in the colder months. This is the first I’ve read by this author so I didn’t approach it with high expectations, but I think this novel suffers from a case of misleading marketing more than anything. It’s a work of dark suspense, but not a ghost story, so beware of that if you choose to pick it up.

Plot Summary
Taking place after WWII, the novel opens with a short newspaper article announcing a suspicious death along the coast of Cornwall, along with a personal note between friends that implies some secretive activities. From there, we meet Ellen and Tony, a newlywed couple travelling the isolated road to their new home, a rustic cabin known as “Carreg Cottage” situated above the small town of St Ives. Tony is evasive about his history with the area and its assortment of odd inhabitants, but Ellen is so intent on making this new relationship work she’s ignoring the obvious red flags, including a creepy voodoo-like doll that she finds stuffed up the fireplace. In alternating chapters we are introduced to a young woman named Iris who is also returning to St Ives after a long absence, but because she’s run away from home she keeps her true identity a secret. She meets Ellen at a party, and ends up working for her in an attempt to make some money and provide for herself. Together, these women find themselves searching for more information; we discover fairly early on that it was Iris’s mother that was the subject of this newspaper article from a few years ago, while Ellen becomes increasingly sure that Carreg Cottage is actually haunted. The occasional chapter is written from Tony’s perspective, revealing that he’s not only keeping things from Ellen, but he’s also taking magic mushrooms regularly in an effort to quiet the voices that haunt Carreg. The creepy atmosphere is ramped up by the moors themselves, unknowable and covered in mist, but is the area truly haunted, or are the characters simply haunted by their own memories and experiences?

My Thoughts
So we have suggestions of ghosts, witches, drug addiction, mental illness, and infidelity all swirling through this plotline, which admittedly, gets a bit complicated. And because there are so many competing elements, it moves along slowly, inching towards the truth of what happened to Iris’s mother that fateful night, and how Tony is (or isn’t involved). On top of that we have a blossoming love story – the local Vicar’s son has fallen for Iris, but because she’s afraid to reveal her true identity, she is forced to keep secrets just like Ellen and Tony. All of these plot elements come together to create a storyline that’s engaging, but busy. Many ghost stories tend to ramp up quite quickly around the halfway point once it’s decided that ghost really do exist, but this book leaves that question hanging until almost the very end, which left me feeling impatient. I just wanted to get to the scary stuff, but instead I found myself navigating complicated family histories and bashful lovers with communication troubles. It definitely wasn’t what I was expecting – look at that cover!

Despite my grumblings about the misleading genre, it’s obvious this book is well researched and firmly placed within its unique setting. We are subtly reminded of the time period, an example is when Ellen attempts to lease a storefront and her husband (who is not making any income of his own, by the way) is required to sign on her behalf – she is not allowed to as a female. This is only years after she drove an ambulance and tended to wounded civilians in London during the war, which doesn’t seem to qualify her for much of anything post-war, other than ensuring her husband has a home cooked meal each night. And yet St Ives seems to be on the forefront of change as well – it’s full of artists of all different mediums, who each seem to support each other’s work with plenty of opportunities to display it as well. The author goes into great detail at the end of the book as to the real-life inspiration behind the fictional story, which is also very cool to read about.

I feel as though I’m being a bit unfair with this book because as it stands on its own it’s well-written and engaging, but I also don’t like to be faced with one kind of story when I was expecting another. Now that you’ve been warned, you can make an educated decision as to whether this novel is for you.


To read the rest of my reviews, please visit my blog:
https://ivereadthis.com/

[Ashley | thewindedbibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I am a lover of historical fictions, but throw in a little mystery, and I am typically in love. While I enjoyed Through the Mist, I found it didn't quite hit the mark in some areas. The premise gave the idea that this book would give the reader a haunted atmosphere, or possibly a small town village with hidden secrets, but unfortunately, these elements felt like they were missing throughout the novel. There were too many scenarios that felt forced (i.e., Iris & Dan's relationship) which affected the pacing of the overall story. The writing was lovely, but the author tried too hard to make the story appear more mysterious, and ended up overshooting the intended goal.

I appreciated the elements of art that the author wove throughout the story, especially with the beautiful background of Cornwall. I also enjoyed Ellen's toy shop and could just picture it nestled in a small downtown area with a beautiful window display. These were nice touches.

What I struggled with the most throughout this book was the storyline and the characters. Ellen and Tony's relationship had no chemistry whatsoever. It was hard to believe that Ellen agreed to marry Tony without so much as knowing much of his history. I'm sure this was typical for that time period, and the mystery behind his background is what helped propel the story forward...it just felt forced and flat without the chemistry.

This book could have benefited with a few twists to keep the reader guessing. I found that every member of Cornwall was willing to divulge secrets of the past and the only two people keeping the mystery up were our two female protagonists, Ellen and Iris. Each woman took it upon themselves to investigate the history of past secrets but neglected to share these with each other. Once again, I believe this was to help move the story along and provide that element of mystery, but it was done out of convenience for the story.

Overall, the story was interesting, albeit very slow. The characters were very one-dimensional, and many elements including the multiple POVs were included for convenience. If you are just here for vibes, or you like all things occult, then this book may be for you.

[A Mac · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s 1947 in a small Cornish village, and Ellen and Tony have just moved to a small farmhouse overlooking the sea. It’s a new beginning for the newlyweds, one that Ellen hopes will be romantic but instead gives her a sense of unease. Iris has also recently come to Cornwall after running away from home, hoping to find some answers involving the death of her mother. As the two women try to find answers to their questions, their stories collide as something dark seems to take an interest in them.

This was a solid read overall. The setting was written and described well, and I quite liked the premise. I enjoyed how varied the characters’ backgrounds were and that none of them felt too stereotypical despite the setting being a small village. The author incorporated how the war affected the characters and the village, which helped to add to the depth of the read.

I did want more from the atmosphere. I felt like it started off somewhat strong, but then the feelings of darkness and isolation that I’d hoped would be present throughout the whole book got lost under the conversations and uncovering of information. This work was also quite slow, and I was invested enough in the characters for the slow pacing to be okay. I did like Ellen, but Iris just wasn’t that interesting. And there were other POVs incorporated that were used to move the plot and reveal of information forward, but drastically slowed it down and detracted from the tension that I wanted to feel.

At the end of the work, the author explains the inspiration for the story, what aspects are based on fact, and which characters were real people. I also enjoyed that the author included the inspiration for the fictional characters as well.

If you’re interested in slow historical fiction with a supernatural element, then you’ll probably enjoy this one. While I did like it overall, it wasn’t particularly memorable. My thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Brittany Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC. The premise of this book immediately pulled me into historical fiction based on the eerie events of a small Cornwall village that could possibly involve dark magic. Told through the POVs of two women, Lindsay Jayne Ashford created such an atmospheric book that I couldn’t (and didn’t want to) put this one down.

When you hear that a book is all about vibes and atmosphere, people are referring to what this book is all about. Ashford brought to life a sleepy fishing town that reeked of dark magic, sinister plots, and hidden secrets. As both Ellen and Iris arrive in the town on unrelated visits, it becomes clear that their paths are fated to intertwine in ways that I could not even predict.

The twists in this book are subtly placed in the plot, but wow, do they pack a punch. I wanted to know where this one was headed, and when I reached the climax, I couldn’t believe actual people inspired this story.

The pace holds steady until the last 15% when the climax hits a crescendo, and all hell breaks loose (seriously, though). The twists are not shocking, but I didn’t see them coming, and I commend Ashford for somehow creating a book that had me on the edge of my seat simply because of the setting she magically weaved together.

I wholeheartedly recommend reading this book. It is spooky, subtle, gripping, and based on true events with real people, which the author describes heavily in the afterword. If you are looking for nonstop action, you may be disappointed, but the twists and plot progression are certainly worth the read.

[KDRBCK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through the Mist by new to me author J. Ashford, published by Lake Union Publishing is a historic fiction novel, telling the story of Ellen and Iris. Telling about dark magic, having haunting elements and told in a dual pov it's an intriguing read, 4 stars.
Blurb:
Two women disturb the dark history of a deceptively quiet postwar Cornwall village in a haunting novel.
It’s winter 1947 when newlyweds Ellen and Tony Wylde move into an abandoned Cornish farmhouse overlooking the sea. For both, it’s a new beginning in the country, and together they’re bringing Carreg Cottage back to life. Yet Ellen can’t hide a creeping unease. There’s the ominous iconography painted on their bedroom ceiling, the sinister totem hidden away in the chimney. And Tony seems more familiar with the peculiar villagers than he’s letting on.
Meanwhile, after nearly a decade away, young Iris Bird returns to Cornwall seeking sanctuary in memories and longing for what she lost as a child. It was here that her mother died on the moors under a shroud of mystery and rumor—and was last seen alive in the isolated, long-shuttered cottage the Wyldes now call home.
Discovering more about each other and themselves, Ellen and Iris soon unite in a quest to uncover every dark secret this village—and the West Country mist—holds before it destroys them.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr… Croooowley…

Your lifestyle to me seemed so tragic
With the thrill of it all
You fooled all the people with magic
Yeah, you waited on Satan's call…

I’ve been aware of Crowley since middle school. I was a rock kid. Jimmy Page was an acolyte of Crowley. He bought his house in Scotland. I still love the Ozzy song quoted above.

I picked this up because it combined a few of my middle school interests, rock stars (indirectly) gothic romance, light horror and magic ( no K) and frankly I was bored with cozy mysteries.

I enjoyed the story but I really couldn’t relate to Ellen. I realize I was born 25 years after the year the book was set but if a guy talked to me like that, he’d be gone. Or back then, I would have gone back and put up with my mom saying , “I told you so,” rather than putting up with his rude and patronizing behavior.

The other women: Barbara and Nina, creeped me out.

On the other hand, I liked Iris, yes she’s a bit naive but she’s 19, that’s so young. I liked Dan. It was a totally obvious romance but all of these type of books are.

What impressed me was that most of the characters were real people. Other than Crowley I didn’t recognize the names but when I googled, I was impressed by all the research the author did.

[AngelaC · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loosely based on a true story and set in Cornwall in the south-western corner of England, this should have been an interesting read. However, I found it a bit of a mish-mash.
It obviously had pretentions as a Gothic novel but never quite achieved its aims despite a (possibly) haunted house with a very checkered past.
There was a death but it was only vaguely explained towards the end of the book and no motive was given.
The book was not a psychological thriller. The change in the husband's character was unconvincing.
There was a touch of romance but I would argue that, the book being set in the 1950s, it is highly unlikely that the girl would have led her new boyfriend straight into bed as soon as he had declared his love.
The two main female characters were brought together in a way that was just too contrived.
I felt that, overall, the narrative needed to be "tightened up". There was just too much extraneous detail and not enough focus on the central theme.
Arguably, the most interesting part of the book was to be found at the very end, when the author provides potted biographies of the real people, most of them artists, who were among the book's characters.

[Marie Z Johansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Fascinating Read

In all honesty I had not read much about this book before I started reading it. Thus, I was a bit surprised to discover, as I read, that plot of the book was crafted around the cottage that the infamous “beast” and creator of the world Thoth Tarot Deck, Alaistair Crowley, had rented in Cornwall in the 1930’s. I also did not realize that the basis for the book’s plot had actually occurred. Alastair Crowley has never been a character who interested me - his keen interest, some would say obsession, with dark magic has always given me the heebie jeebies, but this story, as dark as it seems, was worthy of a well plotted read and Ms. Ashford made the most of the facts to create a story that reads well, and holds your interest. The characters are highly believable and are very well wrought.

The book’s ‘afterward’ is fascinating and I highly recommend it….had I known about it before I had finished reading the book I might have considered breaking my own “rule” to NOT read ‘afterwards’ first !

[Ashley Cloninger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Through the Mist was an intriguing read. Set in post WWII Cornwall, Ellen and Tony Wylde are newlyweds who have purchased a dilapidated cottage. The cottage is a bit sinister and there seems to be a history of strange happenings when the occultist Aleister Crowley lived there. Ellen finds weird images and a creepy doll in the house. Iris Birch is a young girl who has run away from home to come to Cornwall to investigate her mother’s mysterious death 9 years earlier, a death that coincided with Aleister’s tenure at the cottage. The story weaves between the different time periods and unravels the mystery of what happened. The story is loosely based on a real mysterious death and it was an interesting read. I found Ellen to be a bit too trusting, Tony a bit too unlikeable and Iris a bit too naive.

Thanks to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishers and the author for the chance to read and review this ARC.

[Lelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started reading this I didn't realise that it was based on a true story and real people. Once the characters of the acclaimed sculptor Barbara Hepworth and artist Ben Nicholson appeared I realised this story must have some basis in truth, and in fact at the end of the book all the real life people who inspired the fictional characters are named and described. I had heard of Aleister Crowley, his obsession with the occult and his reputation as the most evil man in the world - he liked to be known as "the Beast". I had also heard of Lady Frieda Harris, the artist who created Crowley's Tarot pack.

When this novel begins, Crowley has recently died but the living are left with the aftermath of his evil acts in St Ives, Cornwall and Carn Cottage specifically. The mystery gradually unfolds and the connection between characters is revealed. I thought this book was well written and engaging, a slow burn. I enjoyed it very much.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so wonderful from start to finish. I was so infatuated with every story line and both Ellen and Iris were so lovable and interesting. It’s been awhile since i’ve read a book that didn’t disappoint me in at least some way or another.
But i’ve enjoyed this one from start to finish. The ending was absolutely perfect. I was afraid that Ellen and Tony would “make up” and live a “happily ever after”. It just wouldn’t make any sense. So i’m glad it ended the way it did, even though i can’t help but feel sad for Ellen. At least she’ll have Tony’s kid.
And i cannot help but mention how much i adore her relationship with Iris. It’s something so personal to me as i too have a boss that is my mentor and is like a second mother to me. It’s wonderful that Iris and Ellen have each other.
Amazing book!

[Elisa S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

This was a creepy, spooky, "grip the edge of my seat" read. When I first read the description, I thought I was in for a treat and boy was I not wrong! Lindsay really created a masterpiece for her readers. I tried to guess what was coming and not once was I correct. The plot twists and the anticipation had me devouring this book in one sitting. Nothing is as it seems! The storyline was engaging and kept you wanting more. The characters have depth and have you rooting for them.

I truly recommend this book for anyone looking to get absorbed into a historical haunting read.

[Hijabi_booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm still not totally sure how I feel about this book after finishing it. It moved a little cautiously at first, but it picked up speed fast. I enjoyed the author's portrayal of the area as well as the landscape in Cornwall. Ellen exudes strength of character, and I found her admirable. Iris wasn't exactly my style, though. She appeared a little naive, so I wasn't all that interested in her or her quest to find out what happened to her mother. Tony seemed to only be seen briefly, but even so, I thought his character had a lot of depth. I could have understood his motives and background better. All in all, I enjoyed reading this. That didn't seem like anything very notable to me

[Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really what I expected. I didn't get super creepy/eerie vibes and it felt lackluster overall. A good portion of the book is Ellen and Iris setting up their new lives and getting situated. Throughout the book we get little tidbits of what happened in the past, but I just kept wondering what the point was. By the time we get the main "reveal" it's pretty obvious what has occurred, we've basically been told as much, so it really took the tension out of the story. The occult stuff was okay, but going into Germany/spies/etc. was a bit much.

Still give it three stars because I liked Ellen and Iris, and it was an easy read, but probably not something I'd recommend.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turning drama

It's sad when someone gives up everything for the person they love but they really don't know that person other than the facade they've been shown. After the war Ellie picked up and moved to a cottage the day after she got married. She knew nothing about the property other than her husband wanted it because he was an artist and he felt he could prosper there.

Secrets, drama, the occult, past lovers and more all keep the pages turning. What I found interesting was that it is loosely based on true occurrences in the 1930's at Crowley Cottage.