On Devil's Brae

by Faith Mortimer

Imagine a warm autumn afternoon in a remote village in the Scottish Highlands. Cassandra Potter, fleeing from the memories of two traumatic deaths, goes walking alone On Devil's Brae.
The wild country is empty, stretching for miles in every direction, it is then she sees him. A dark brooding figure, standing and watching as Cassandra climbs the brae. Apart from a lingering uneasy feeling she ignores the watcher, until the next time and it is then she realises her mistake. Someone wishes her gone from the village - at all costs.

As Winter approaches, Cassandra's life is plunged into danger. Who is threatening her existence and her sanity? Who is the mysterious stranger? An unknown inhabitant of the village of Inverdarroch? Or a person from her clouded past? A violent blizzard cuts the village off from the outside world and Cassie finds herself marooned in a vast sea of white...

Genres: Psychological Thriller

385 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 5, 2013

About the author

Faith Mortimer was born in Manchester and educated in Singapore, Malaya and Hampshire, England. A Registered nurse,then changed careers to oversee a number of travel and sport related companies. Faith is happily married and has two children. She lives in the south of England and so far, has written three series of books which are also, all standalone novels.

ALL BOOKS ARE PUBLISHED IN PAPERBACK & EBOOK FORM:

NEW! PARADISE PRISON published 7th Jan 2017 #4th book in The Dark Minds Psychological Thriller Series http://amzn.to/2gD2u8G

A VERY DISTANT AFFAIR #5 book in the Very Affair series (all standalone). Set in England and Australia. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Very-Distant...

THE GREEN ROOM #3rd book in The Dark Mind Psychological Thriller Series. Is NOW published!! Set in England http://amzn.to/1N1t7rO

THE ASSASSINS' VILLAGE,#1 Diana Rivers Series Murder mystery set in Cyprus. This novel was chosen by Harper Collins/Authonomy to be the Number 1 book. ttp://amzn.to/1DJ0s8r

CHILDREN OF THE PLANTATION,#2 Diana Rivers Series, murder mystery, set in Malaysia during the 1950s & the present. http://amzn.to/1AX0NVA

THE SURGEON'S BLADE,#3 Diana Rivers Series A tense psychological thriller set in England. http://amzn.to/1IAgrX8

THE BAMBOO MIRROR. An eclectic collection of short stories, covering ghosts, murder, mystery, romance and greed. http://amzn.to/1xOEeB1

THE SEEDS OF TIME BOOK 1 THE CROSSING. Set in Europe. Romance/Drama/Action. http://amzn.to/1AFLC43

HARVEST BOOK 2 THE CROSSING. Set in Europe. Romance/Drama/Action http://amzn.to/1shmqhs

CAMERA ACTION...MURDER! #4 Diana Rivers Series Mystery/suspense. Set in England. http://amzn.to/1tVdq2y

A VERY FRENCH AFFAIR,Edgy romantic drama.Set on the south coast of France. http://amzn.to/17taQH1

CHILDHUNT #5 Diana Rivers Series. Psychological Suspense Thriller, set in Cyprus. http://amzn.to/1AX02Mg

ON DEVIL'S BRAE #1 in the Dark Minds Series, set in Scotland: Psychological Suspense Thriller http://amzn.to/14FJqMY

ON CHRISTMAS HILL A Seasonal Romance in The Very Affair Series, set in England. http://amzn.to/1y2LJn0

A DEADLY LEARNING,The 6th #Diana Rivers Mystery suspense, set in Portugal. http://amzn.to/1y0q6GU

A VERY ENGLISH AFFAIR - Edgy romantic drama, set in England. http://amzn.to/14FJfRQ

BEHIND A TWISTED SMILE - #2 Dark Minds Psychological Thriller, set in England. http://amzn.to/1AWYEcy

NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS - Edgy romantic drama in The Very Affair Series, set in England. http://amzn.to/1y2Lpog

THE GREEN ROOM #3rd book in The Dark Minds Psychological Thriller Series. Set in England http://amzn.to/1N1t7rO

A VERY DISTANT AFFAIR Taut romantic drama, set in England and Australia. http://amzn.to/2hqySYN

NEW! PARADISE PRISON published 7th Jan 2017 #4th book in The Dark Minds Psychological Thriller Series http://amzn.to/2gD2u8G

I'm always glad to talk to readers & answer questions...contact me:

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Twitter @FaithMortimer

Website,
http://www.faithmortimerauthor.com

Happy reading and thanks for dropping by!x

Reviews

[Julie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This well written story that is set in Scotland is a very good read.

I really enjoyed the atmospheric descriptions of the place, which brought depth and added to the mystery and the 'oddness' of the people who lived there.

Altogether, a clever and realistic tale and recommended to those who appreciate an excellent psychological murder mystery.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reeling from her sister's death and needing to find a way to cope, Cassandra moves into the isolated home left to her by her sister. Not long after, she notices someone watching her and sinister things begin to happen when no one else is around. No one seems to believe her and she questions her own sanity at times. Most of the few neighbors she has are all a little strange and protective of their secrets. Is one of them harboring a madman? Or is it someone from Cassandra's past?

The slow build up keeps the tension flowing in this psychological suspense. The great scene setting made me feel as if I were there and the character development of not only the heroine but the secondary characters made this an entertaining read.

[Sibel Hodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still depressed and confused by her sister's death, Cassandra flees to the house her sister left her in a remote Scottish Highland village. But not everything is as it seems, and someone is going to great lengths to get Cassandra to leave the village. As malicious events take place, Cassandra begins to question her sanity and her safety, but she develops a strength, determined to find out who is doing these things to her. The villagers all have secrets, but what's the secret they don't want Cassandra to know?

This is a tense, page-turning psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat!

[Ciclochick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faith is a seasoned mystery writer and has penned the successful Diana Rivers’ mysteries. Psychological thrillers are most certainly going to become another string to her bow.

Devil’s Brae is set in the Highlands of Scotland. A cold, mountain-dominated area of wild beauty. Its remoteness provides the perfect solution for Cassandra Potter to recover from the sudden death of Sarah, the older sister she had just come to know. What could be better than throwing herself into renovating the cottage she had inherited from Sarah, perhaps getting a dog, and giving herself time to think with plenty of fresh air and exercise? But what seems to her like the perfect solution is thrown off kilter: the reception from her village neighbours isn’t as warm as she would have liked. An insularity which borders on contempt shatters her hopes for her own recovery. She suddenly finds herself in a maze of secrets: not just those of her mysterious neighbours, but of Sarah and her own family. Worse, why does she keep seeing a dark, brooding, sinister figure on the moors? Why do strange things keep happening to her new home? Does someone want her out of the house and out of the village?

Taut with suspense, this book, written in Faith’s usual clean and crisp style, will have you page-turning addictively, right to the very end. The majesty of the unforgiving Scottish 'braes' is the ideal theatre for the tension, and I enjoyed the smidgen of romance—in the form of handsome Angus—that softens the jagged edges of menace in the story. It’s with some delight I saw that the title included the words 'Dark Minds 1'. That means No. 2 must be in the offing. I can’t wait.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

On Devil's Brae is the first book in the authors Dark Minds series.

The novel is set in the Scottish Highlands which through the authors descriptions, very much brought the area to life in my mind. Though the scenery may sound stunning it also felt very cold and eerie. So definitely a great place for the setting of a psychological thriller.

I have loved the authors Diana Rivers series and to me she is very much a modern day Agatha Christie, I always thought there was a dark edge to her books which fully comes out in On Devils Brae.

Cassandra has had a bit of a rough time with not long finding out she has a much older sister only to have her cruelly taken away from her before she can really get to know her. Even though her friends are dubious, Cassandra decides to retreat to Susan's home in the Highlands in the hope of getting to know more about her sister as well as just taking some time out from life in general.

The people in the few houses that are dotted around near Susan's house are really quite strange. They all seem to have something to hide and they are not as welcoming as Cassandra would have hoped for. At least the handsome Angus seems quite normal but even he seems to be harbouring some dark secret.

On Devil's Brae is a dark, tense and steady read which really picks up pace towards the end. There are so many twists and turns towards the end, I honestly didn't know if I was coming or going but I loved every minute of it. Can not wait to read more in the Dark Minds series.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those rare psychological novels that will not frighten you--until you start thinking. It is laid back and could actually happen to any of us--you know--those little things that keep happening but don't quite add up and individually don't amount to much and can be shrugged off. Well, that is what happens to Cassandra Potter. She decided to take an extended vacation in the remote Scottish Highlands in her recently deceased sister's cottage to re group and get herself back to her normal self.

Memories of an awkward and not very happy childhood are hidden deep in her psyche--her sister (whom she had never known) had recently died before Cassandra could really get to know her. Her new neighbors are taciturn and not all that friendly--well there are one or two--but which one of them wants her gone so badly that they start small fires-enter her cottage and make off with objects and watch her from a distance?

You will have to read this novel to find out the answer to that question. And once again, as with the other Faith Mortimer Psychological Thrillers-- the answer will elude you until it is revealed.
Devil's Brae

[Tom Elder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faith Mortimer. Dark Minds 1
Devils Brae
This is the first in a series that will run for a long time I hope. We have been all over the world with Faiths books and she always makes you feel as though you are in the place where it is set, this book is no exception set in the Scottish highlands it follows Casandra who is trying to get over her sister Susan's death. Casandra stays in Liverpool and is a photographer, when her sister dies Susan's cottage in Scotland is left to her. She then decides to move up to Inverdarroch for a spell and find out more about Susan .
She meets some strange people whilst there and some very strange happenings take place. This book like all of Faiths books is very well written and the inclusion of some Scottish wordings is fantastic. I am looking forward to more in the Dark Minds series.
5 stars. 13 September 2013

[Joey Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read the whole of the Diana Rivers series from this author and had thought about reading this Dark Minds series. I just didn't have the time before, but I'm glad that I made time for it now. Whilst the story itself grabbed my attention, it was the little details of what was actually going on in the village. I won't go into plot because I think it's something that the reader will want to find out for themselves. It's a great book and an excellent start to a good series. The characters were excellently formed and allowed you to follow along with them as they made their discoveries. There were flashbacks to help you form your own opinion of what the big dark secret was and who was behind the mysterious attacks on Cassandra. Overall a great book and one from an author I will be keeping an eye on for a long time to come! Highly recommended!

[Andrea Mcbride · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very well written ! It was so full of description that I can imagine I'm actually there in the village! And the mystery of the story had me on edge the entire time ! The only thing that bothered me was the English words ! I was confused as to what was being said because Im not familiar with the wording! But it did give you the feel of the village and what the people were like! I would recommend this book to whoever likes some romance suspense and of course the crazy mystery! It's very entertaining!

[Vivienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Faith Mortimer. after Cassandra Potters sister dies she goes to live in the cottage she left her in the wilds of Scotland. from the moment she arrives sinister and strange things start to happen. Faith writes in such a way that you suspect everyone and it keeps you guessing till the end. deserves every one of the 5 stars I have given it. Highly recommend

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read.

[Faith Mortimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tense, dark psychological thriller with a romantic twist thrown in.

Devil’s Brae
Imagine a warm autumn afternoon in a remote village in the Scottish Highlands. Cassandra Potter, fleeing from the memories of two traumatic deaths, goes walking alone on Devil’s Brae.
The wild country is empty, stretching for miles in every direction, it is then she sees him. A dark brooding figure, standing and watching as Cassandra climbs the brae. Apart from a lingering uneasy feeling she ignores the watcher, until the next time and it is then she realises her mistake. Someone wishes her gone from the village – at all costs.
Cassandra’s life is plunged into danger. Who is threatening her existence and her sanity? Who is the mysterious stranger? An inhabitant of the village of Inverdarroch? Or a person from her clouded past?
Above all, why is this happening to her?

[Faith Mortimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

On Devil's Brae

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this fast paced book. There were some great descriptions of the Scottish countryside and some very plausible characters. There was plenty of intrigue and twists and turns to the plot. There was a pervading thread of discomfort that kept me turning the pages. One to read with the light on!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

Enjoyable story. Very atmospheric and the author paints a vivid picture major you feel like your eight there in the story.x

[Nicola Kinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can honestly say I lived this book, hence the reason I am awake at 3am so I can finish it.

Cassandra has moved to Inverdarroch after her sister passed away.

This book actually makes you picture how amazing the scenery is just by the descriptions of the area,weather Tec.

strange things start to happen to Cassandra, is she going mad or is there actually someone out to making her life a misery.

The ending was a bit abrupt after so much effort explaining everything all through the book.

This is my first Faith Mortimer book but certainly will not be my last.