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Elsewhere
Listening time: 8 hours and 37 minutes.
A psychologically gripping novel of estranged sisters, deep secrets, and tense twists.
At the height of summer, two sisters reunite at a remote cottage. They’ve long been distant from each other, literally as well as emotionally: Anna is a free-spirited wanderer and Catherine is career-focused and settled in one place. So, some tension is not surprising, but it rapidly escalates when odd things start happening during the all-night twilight on the wild peninsula.
Who’s the watchful girl with a baby and what does she want from the sisters? Who bangs on their windows in the early hours then disappears into the woods? What does the sad-eyed Scottish man Anna is falling for know about it all? And how does it link back to an event twenty years ago that the sisters never talk about—the incident that created all this confusion, dislocation, and longing in the first place?
This suspenseful, knowing novel explores how psychosis creeps in on the back of isolation and suspicion; the shadow that motherhood casts over women’s lives, even when there is no child; and how buried trauma always winds its way up to the surface—sometimes in the strangest and most frightening ways.
A psychologically gripping novel of estranged sisters, deep secrets, and tense twists.
At the height of summer, two sisters reunite at a remote cottage. They’ve long been distant from each other, literally as well as emotionally: Anna is a free-spirited wanderer and Catherine is career-focused and settled in one place. So, some tension is not surprising, but it rapidly escalates when odd things start happening during the all-night twilight on the wild peninsula.
Who’s the watchful girl with a baby and what does she want from the sisters? Who bangs on their windows in the early hours then disappears into the woods? What does the sad-eyed Scottish man Anna is falling for know about it all? And how does it link back to an event twenty years ago that the sisters never talk about—the incident that created all this confusion, dislocation, and longing in the first place?
This suspenseful, knowing novel explores how psychosis creeps in on the back of isolation and suspicion; the shadow that motherhood casts over women’s lives, even when there is no child; and how buried trauma always winds its way up to the surface—sometimes in the strangest and most frightening ways.
- GenresThriller
9 pages, Audible Audio
First published June 12, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
August 22, 2024
3⭐
Genre ~ psychological fiction
Setting ~ Scotland
Publication date ~ June 25, 2024
Est Page Count ~ 276 (before+ 13 chapters +after)
Audio length ~ 8 hours 37 minutes
Narrators ~ Lorna Bennett & Kat Rose-Martin
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ remote cabin with no cell service, old secrets, slow burn, long chapters
Estranged, total opposite, sisters, Catherine & Anna, are off to Scotland to try to reconnect. It's not proving to be too easy when weird things begin happening at the cabin. Add in no cell service and the creep factor for them is intensified.
This was a super slow mover and the secrets and twists weren't exactly mind blowing. Some chapters were very long, like over 40 minutes and one was even over an hour, which is way too long in my opinion. I did enjoy the creepy vibe of the location and the very end. All in all, fine, but I can see other's enjoying it more than me, especially if they read and not listen.
Narration notes:
I'm not sure which narrator was for who, but I felt like Catherine's was yelling at me the whole time. She seemed very grumpy with her gruff tone, which I guess maybe was fitting since she didn't really want to go on the trip in the first place. She took me out of the story a bit. The other did a perfectly fine job.
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Genre ~ psychological fiction
Setting ~ Scotland
Publication date ~ June 25, 2024
Est Page Count ~ 276 (before+ 13 chapters +after)
Audio length ~ 8 hours 37 minutes
Narrators ~ Lorna Bennett & Kat Rose-Martin
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ remote cabin with no cell service, old secrets, slow burn, long chapters
Estranged, total opposite, sisters, Catherine & Anna, are off to Scotland to try to reconnect. It's not proving to be too easy when weird things begin happening at the cabin. Add in no cell service and the creep factor for them is intensified.
This was a super slow mover and the secrets and twists weren't exactly mind blowing. Some chapters were very long, like over 40 minutes and one was even over an hour, which is way too long in my opinion. I did enjoy the creepy vibe of the location and the very end. All in all, fine, but I can see other's enjoying it more than me, especially if they read and not listen.
Narration notes:
I'm not sure which narrator was for who, but I felt like Catherine's was yelling at me the whole time. She seemed very grumpy with her gruff tone, which I guess maybe was fitting since she didn't really want to go on the trip in the first place. She took me out of the story a bit. The other did a perfectly fine job.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
June 22, 2024
This is a well-written, entertaining, gripping psychological thriller. It is fast paced with beautiful, vividly described settings, a touch of humor, intrigue, suspense, mystery, twists and turns, and a satisfying conclusion. The two distinct voices of the talented narrators, Ms. Lorna Bennett and Ms. Kat Rose-Martin, made listening to this audio book, which is told in the first person from the viewpoint of two sisters, a pleasure. I received an advanced listener copy of this outstanding novel from Dreamscape Media, NetGalley, and Ms. Sarah Tierney. This is my honest opinion.
July 1, 2024
Narrated by Lorna Bennett, Kat Rose-Martin
Presented by Dreamscape Media
Pretty thin in the suspense department. I was expecting a dead body at some stage though so that's probably on me and my misguided expectations.
The story here follows estranged sisters Catherine and Anna as they come together for a couple weeks at a cabin off the grid. No wi-fi, no electricity, just each other and a bunch of strange happenings. Hmm.
So things get a little creepy for the sisters when someone trashes their outside area early on, and then suddenly their water runs brown. A local explains it's just peat in the water and that this is a regular occurrence after rain, but Catherine is convinced it's something more sinister.
Basically, this book is a lot of Catherine being convinced someone is out to get her with not really much reason.
I found her chapters almost unbearable. She comes across as paranoid and a little crazy, rather than the story seeming eerie and thrilling. Her chapters were slow and frustratingly deluded. I didn't like her at all and I found myself eager to get back to Anna.
Anna was much more fun, and her chapters injected a little more cheer. She seemed a little more logical, and more likely to think things through. She was able to think of solutions, but she was also very boy-focused which does get a little tiring after a while.
Ultimately, I just didn't really like the characters, and there wasn't enough happening for this to feel like a thriller to me. There was an interesting twist but it didn't seem to fit the story at all - it seemed more like the story was built around the twist and, as a consequence, there wasn't a lot of substance.
Narration was kind of awful - Catherine's chapters were morose and slow, hard to understand at times and there wasn't a lot of character coming through her voice. Anna's narrator was a little better, but there still seemed to be times where the emotions didn't seem to match the words.
I thought this would be an eerie murder mystery but it's really just two lonely girls hanging out in an isolated cabin for a little bit. There just wasn't much here for me to get into.
With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC
Presented by Dreamscape Media
Pretty thin in the suspense department. I was expecting a dead body at some stage though so that's probably on me and my misguided expectations.
The story here follows estranged sisters Catherine and Anna as they come together for a couple weeks at a cabin off the grid. No wi-fi, no electricity, just each other and a bunch of strange happenings. Hmm.
So things get a little creepy for the sisters when someone trashes their outside area early on, and then suddenly their water runs brown. A local explains it's just peat in the water and that this is a regular occurrence after rain, but Catherine is convinced it's something more sinister.
Basically, this book is a lot of Catherine being convinced someone is out to get her with not really much reason.
I found her chapters almost unbearable. She comes across as paranoid and a little crazy, rather than the story seeming eerie and thrilling. Her chapters were slow and frustratingly deluded. I didn't like her at all and I found myself eager to get back to Anna.
Anna was much more fun, and her chapters injected a little more cheer. She seemed a little more logical, and more likely to think things through. She was able to think of solutions, but she was also very boy-focused which does get a little tiring after a while.
Ultimately, I just didn't really like the characters, and there wasn't enough happening for this to feel like a thriller to me. There was an interesting twist but it didn't seem to fit the story at all - it seemed more like the story was built around the twist and, as a consequence, there wasn't a lot of substance.
Narration was kind of awful - Catherine's chapters were morose and slow, hard to understand at times and there wasn't a lot of character coming through her voice. Anna's narrator was a little better, but there still seemed to be times where the emotions didn't seem to match the words.
I thought this would be an eerie murder mystery but it's really just two lonely girls hanging out in an isolated cabin for a little bit. There just wasn't much here for me to get into.
With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC
August 22, 2024
This book was not as full of suspense as I was expecting and honestly hoping for. The story wasn’t bad, but I found the “chapters” too long. I got frustrated when I was in Catherine’s perspective too long. I didn’t like the narrator’s portrayal of her (Anna was done well) and Catherine was a hard character to like. She was more and more paranoid and came off as crazy even though I knew there were secrets she was perceiving. Catherine and Anna are sisters who have never been close and are total opposites. Catherine’s husband suggests they take a vacation up to his family’s cabin in Scotland which is both extremely rustic (no electricity) and rural. Catherine is shocked and a little dismayed when Anna agrees and the two women make it the remote cabin. This book felt more like a family drama exploring motherhood both existing and lost and the emotions of each of the women. This book wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t quite as gripping as I was looking for. Definitely an interesting look at two women and their relationship and the secrets surrounding them both.
June 6, 2024
Anna and Catherine are polar opposite sisters. They not only live far away from each other, the women’s differences prevent any kind of close relationship. Anna is a maverick, not staying in the same place for a long time. Catherine is grounded and her life is all about her career and husband.
The two sisters decide to go on a trip together to a remote cabin in the woods. The town closest to them has unfriendly people. Strange things begin to occur around their cabin at night. Who is damaging their car and scratching at the windows of the cabin?
Ms.Tierney has done a wonderful job telling this story. There are many twists and turns that definitely keep the reader guessing. The character development is very creative. The scenery describing the remote cabin and odd little town is perfect. This is a gripping fast-paced novel that I definitely recommend.
The two sisters decide to go on a trip together to a remote cabin in the woods. The town closest to them has unfriendly people. Strange things begin to occur around their cabin at night. Who is damaging their car and scratching at the windows of the cabin?
Ms.Tierney has done a wonderful job telling this story. There are many twists and turns that definitely keep the reader guessing. The character development is very creative. The scenery describing the remote cabin and odd little town is perfect. This is a gripping fast-paced novel that I definitely recommend.
June 21, 2024
This is an incredibly beautiful book. Reading it was an exhilarating experience like surfing on the crest of a wave on a beautiful summer's day. And yet the story has the power to disturb, and at times the suspense is almost unbearable.
The setting on an isolated stretch of the west coast of the Highlands of Scotland is perfectly drawn, and the ending was particularly evocative, set on the moors above Manchester. The author has a great sense of place and knows how to use it with maximum effect.
The characters are extraordinary, and the character development and character arcs even more so. I'm never going to forget Catherine, Anna, Callum, Tom, Leonie and Joe. I would love to meet them again in another novel.
The plot is full of fabulously clever twists.
The setting on an isolated stretch of the west coast of the Highlands of Scotland is perfectly drawn, and the ending was particularly evocative, set on the moors above Manchester. The author has a great sense of place and knows how to use it with maximum effect.
The characters are extraordinary, and the character development and character arcs even more so. I'm never going to forget Catherine, Anna, Callum, Tom, Leonie and Joe. I would love to meet them again in another novel.
The plot is full of fabulously clever twists.
June 22, 2024
Anna and Catherine are going away on a vacation. The sisters are very distant and couldn’t be more different. As they reach the cabin, things start happening that don’t make sense. Any one event can be easily explained away. However, all of them put together start to make things suspicious. Things scattered off the picnic table. Pounding on the door in the middle of the night. A
Dead bird in their walkway. A missing diary. A mysterious lighter showing up in the home.
A pretty interesting setting, the setting has daylight nearly 22 hours per day in Scotland at this time of year.
Definitely a slow build, with some reveals along the way, this is a different type of mystery, no murders, all psychological mystery. This reviews of the audio version , I e joyed it and the accents are transparent and well acted. The reveal fell a little flat for me, but it was enjoyable to get there and definitely enough to keep me reading.
Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the advance audiobook.
Dead bird in their walkway. A missing diary. A mysterious lighter showing up in the home.
A pretty interesting setting, the setting has daylight nearly 22 hours per day in Scotland at this time of year.
Definitely a slow build, with some reveals along the way, this is a different type of mystery, no murders, all psychological mystery. This reviews of the audio version , I e joyed it and the accents are transparent and well acted. The reveal fell a little flat for me, but it was enjoyable to get there and definitely enough to keep me reading.
Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the advance audiobook.
October 8, 2024
Not your average psychological mystery.
An exciting read that satisfies the craving for mystery in a nontraditional way (it was a refreshing change from a murder or some scandal) with there still being unexpected twists along the way. It also warmly depicted sisters rekindling their relationship, and I appreciated how the perspective shifted from Catherine's reality in the beginning to Anna's in the end. It even candidly portrayed what it's like living and making sense of life through the lens of mental illness. Overall a beautiful narrative with realistic tragedy but a very welcome happy ending.
An exciting read that satisfies the craving for mystery in a nontraditional way (it was a refreshing change from a murder or some scandal) with there still being unexpected twists along the way. It also warmly depicted sisters rekindling their relationship, and I appreciated how the perspective shifted from Catherine's reality in the beginning to Anna's in the end. It even candidly portrayed what it's like living and making sense of life through the lens of mental illness. Overall a beautiful narrative with realistic tragedy but a very welcome happy ending.
June 24, 2024
Up until the end, I was thoroughly bored. Nothing happened. I guess we were supposed to see the sister going mad, but it truly didn't seem that way at all. Was kind of just dropped on us, and we were expected to accept it and move along with the story. And the baby? What the heck kind of twist was that? This just felt very sloppy to me and there were no true thriller elements, in my opinion.
June 29, 2024
This was a miss for me. I thought the premise sounded interesting and loved the cover and setting. It was a little too slow moving and I don’t feel like anything actually happened. I also found the chapters to be much longer than I usually like. I liked the alternating POVs and thought the narrators did a nice job of bringing the characters to life.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 9, 2024
Elsewhere is a psychological thriller with themes of family secrets, motherhood, and mental health. The dynamics between the two sisters was my favorite part of the book. It was a solid story, with a setting in a remote area of Scotland which led to a bit of the unreliable narrative for the one sister.
June 26, 2024
Elsewhere
Every family has its secrets…
Sarah Tierney
Two sisters with deep dark secrets.
In Elsewhere we meet Anna and Catherine they have been estranged, both physically and emotionally for many years. Anna tends to be a free thinker; a drifter and Catherine seems more grounded; she is focused on her career and her husband; she has always lived in one place. They are reunited at the airport where the tension starts. They are staying in an isolated cottage in Scotland. They are hoping to heal old wounds and reconnect. The people in the closest town are unfriendly to the point of being rude. However, strange things begin happening at night causing the strain to accelerate. Someone moves things off a picnic table, beats on the window. A dead bird placed on their sidewalk. A missing diary, a lighter appearing in their home, and scratches on their car.
They meet a girl with a baby; she seems to be watching them and always there when they least expect it. Catherine sees the baby girl and thinks it looks like her causing her to believe the girl is the child she gave up for adoption. . The sisters have never discussed the baby Catherine gave up twenty years ago. Catherine is desperate for a child but has not been able to conceive. There is a Scottish man that shows Anna attention; she finds herself falling for him. Anna finds it all confusing and Catherine is terrified.
As Catherine sinks deeper and deeper into psychosis, Anna calls her husband and asks for his assistance. He begrudgingly comes but does not help. Has Catherine lost her mind completely or is she being driven that direction.
This is a slow-moving book most of the time. It is told through the point of view of the sisters. The characters are well developed. The setting is beautifully described. The story unfolds slowly. Readers are fed a bit here and a bit there.
Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of Elsewhere for review.
Every family has its secrets…
Sarah Tierney
Two sisters with deep dark secrets.
In Elsewhere we meet Anna and Catherine they have been estranged, both physically and emotionally for many years. Anna tends to be a free thinker; a drifter and Catherine seems more grounded; she is focused on her career and her husband; she has always lived in one place. They are reunited at the airport where the tension starts. They are staying in an isolated cottage in Scotland. They are hoping to heal old wounds and reconnect. The people in the closest town are unfriendly to the point of being rude. However, strange things begin happening at night causing the strain to accelerate. Someone moves things off a picnic table, beats on the window. A dead bird placed on their sidewalk. A missing diary, a lighter appearing in their home, and scratches on their car.
They meet a girl with a baby; she seems to be watching them and always there when they least expect it. Catherine sees the baby girl and thinks it looks like her causing her to believe the girl is the child she gave up for adoption. . The sisters have never discussed the baby Catherine gave up twenty years ago. Catherine is desperate for a child but has not been able to conceive. There is a Scottish man that shows Anna attention; she finds herself falling for him. Anna finds it all confusing and Catherine is terrified.
As Catherine sinks deeper and deeper into psychosis, Anna calls her husband and asks for his assistance. He begrudgingly comes but does not help. Has Catherine lost her mind completely or is she being driven that direction.
This is a slow-moving book most of the time. It is told through the point of view of the sisters. The characters are well developed. The setting is beautifully described. The story unfolds slowly. Readers are fed a bit here and a bit there.
Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of Elsewhere for review.
July 5, 2024
Actual Rating 3.5
Anna and Catherine are sisters but are quite different. Having not spent much time together in the last decade, the two decide to vacation to an isolated cottage in Scotland together during the summer. But they seem to stumble upon mystery after mystery, some of which are easily resolved, and others not so much. As the two struggle to relate to each other, it becomes clear that buried trauma and hidden secrets don’t stay that way for long.
Don’t go into this book expecting a thriller, or even really a suspense. It’s more of a psychological/family drama that’s character driven. This book is told from the POV of two sisters, which I loved. The author did a great job at showing how biased siblings’ opinions of each other can be and how easy it is to assume you know someone fully because you’re related to them, when that’s often far from reality. Getting to see the characters’ personal thoughts and how they looked from their siblings’ POV made this story strong.
This is a slow burn, with some suspicious things happening early on in the book but it taking quite a while before things begin to pick up. I found this to be refreshing, and I also loved how the author chose to resolve everything. There were no “shocking” or “gripping” twists that felt absurd, but instead things were resolved quietly and realistically in a way that was a breath of fresh air.
If you’re looking for a slower family drama focused on adult sisters and mental health, then you may enjoy this one. I listened to the audiobook version, and while one narrator was excellent, the second one didn’t work as well. My thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Anna and Catherine are sisters but are quite different. Having not spent much time together in the last decade, the two decide to vacation to an isolated cottage in Scotland together during the summer. But they seem to stumble upon mystery after mystery, some of which are easily resolved, and others not so much. As the two struggle to relate to each other, it becomes clear that buried trauma and hidden secrets don’t stay that way for long.
Don’t go into this book expecting a thriller, or even really a suspense. It’s more of a psychological/family drama that’s character driven. This book is told from the POV of two sisters, which I loved. The author did a great job at showing how biased siblings’ opinions of each other can be and how easy it is to assume you know someone fully because you’re related to them, when that’s often far from reality. Getting to see the characters’ personal thoughts and how they looked from their siblings’ POV made this story strong.
This is a slow burn, with some suspicious things happening early on in the book but it taking quite a while before things begin to pick up. I found this to be refreshing, and I also loved how the author chose to resolve everything. There were no “shocking” or “gripping” twists that felt absurd, but instead things were resolved quietly and realistically in a way that was a breath of fresh air.
If you’re looking for a slower family drama focused on adult sisters and mental health, then you may enjoy this one. I listened to the audiobook version, and while one narrator was excellent, the second one didn’t work as well. My thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
June 27, 2024
Elsewhere by Sarah Tierney The book was narrated by Lorna Bennett and Cat Rose Martin both of whom I have listen to narration buy them before and enjoyed both of them as I did in this book I only think that the narrator who did Anne should’ve did Catherine and vice versa because their voices fits the opposite personality but that is just one person‘s opinion as for the book it was a great book about Catherine who her and her husband Joe want to have a baby and to get her away from the stress of that and the life he tells her to spend a week in his parents remote cabin in Scotland with her sister. Ann is a love ‘em and leave them type girl she likes to build bridges to watch them burn and get drunk while they’re burning. When strange things start happening at the cabin Anne takes things in stride but Catherine thinks she knows why they are occurring. Before it’s over little sister Anne finds her inner strength and inner adult to be there for a sister who always seem to have it together. I think the author did a great job handling the mental health issues in the book along with all the other heavy subjects but I did think The end to the issue in Scotland I thought came quite abrupt but having said that I thought the ending was a good one and despite all the negative it totally left me with a happy feeling. This is a book I definitely recommend an although they have a few minor issues it wasn’t enough to pass it up because I love thrillers and really enjoyed this one.#DreamscapeMedia, #NetGalley, #LornnaBennett, #CatRoseMartin, #SarahTierney, #Elsewhere,
June 17, 2024
Having read Making Space by this author I was excited to have the chance to read this new book.
Two sisters, Catherine and Anna, meet up after many years apart. Catherine’s husband, Joe has instigated this meeting by suggesting that Catherine invites Anna to spend time with her at Joe’s family’s cottage in Scotland. Reluctantly Catherine contacts her sister who has just returned home from Canada and is temporarily staying at their parent’s house. Catherine does not expect Anna to accept her offer as over the years they have drifted apart so she is unprepared when Anna accepts the invitation.
From the moment of the two women meeting at the airport it is clear that the holiday is going to be difficult for them both as they are such totally different people. Anna is a free spirit whilst Catherine is clearly going through some crisis in her life.
As the story unfolds against the backdrop of some wonderfully described Scottish scenery and some interesting local characters it soon becomes clear that Catherine needs to confront her past and realise just how much it has affected her life. Can Anna help her to do this or have they become such different people that it is impossible?
Even though I enjoyed Making Space more, Elsewhere, is an engaging story so well told and I would recommend this book. Thanks to the author and Bloodhound Books for an arc of this book.
Two sisters, Catherine and Anna, meet up after many years apart. Catherine’s husband, Joe has instigated this meeting by suggesting that Catherine invites Anna to spend time with her at Joe’s family’s cottage in Scotland. Reluctantly Catherine contacts her sister who has just returned home from Canada and is temporarily staying at their parent’s house. Catherine does not expect Anna to accept her offer as over the years they have drifted apart so she is unprepared when Anna accepts the invitation.
From the moment of the two women meeting at the airport it is clear that the holiday is going to be difficult for them both as they are such totally different people. Anna is a free spirit whilst Catherine is clearly going through some crisis in her life.
As the story unfolds against the backdrop of some wonderfully described Scottish scenery and some interesting local characters it soon becomes clear that Catherine needs to confront her past and realise just how much it has affected her life. Can Anna help her to do this or have they become such different people that it is impossible?
Even though I enjoyed Making Space more, Elsewhere, is an engaging story so well told and I would recommend this book. Thanks to the author and Bloodhound Books for an arc of this book.
July 3, 2024
This novel is billed as a psychological thriller but it did not grab and hold my attention. It is told from the point of view of two sisters Catherine and Anna. Anna has just returned to England after years in Canada. She is adventurous and always up for something new. Catherine on the other hand is focused on her career and marriage and doesn't seem to have much joy in her life. She at times seems paranoid.
The two sisters decide to take a holiday together in a cottage in an isolated part of Scotland. While there strange events occur around the cottage area leading them to conclude that someone means them harm. Catherine becomes obsessed with a young woman and her baby. The baby reminds Catherine of the child she gave up for adoption right after its birth. She suspects that the young woman may be that daughter.
Anna becomes intrigued with a young Scotsman who lives in an house in an abandoned village.
We keep waiting for a dead body to be found but this is not a murder mystery. Catherine discovers that the young baby has a connection to her but not in a way she would have thought possible.
I found this novel to be a bit of a long, not particularly interesting, read. Thanks to Bloodhound Books for providing me with an Advanced Review Copy.
The two sisters decide to take a holiday together in a cottage in an isolated part of Scotland. While there strange events occur around the cottage area leading them to conclude that someone means them harm. Catherine becomes obsessed with a young woman and her baby. The baby reminds Catherine of the child she gave up for adoption right after its birth. She suspects that the young woman may be that daughter.
Anna becomes intrigued with a young Scotsman who lives in an house in an abandoned village.
We keep waiting for a dead body to be found but this is not a murder mystery. Catherine discovers that the young baby has a connection to her but not in a way she would have thought possible.
I found this novel to be a bit of a long, not particularly interesting, read. Thanks to Bloodhound Books for providing me with an Advanced Review Copy.
June 25, 2024
I really wanted to like this one, the premise of estranged sisters somewhat forced into spending time together in an isolated cottage sounded fantastic. Unfortunately, I just wasn't gripped by the storyline at all. Catherine and Anna's relationship is probably not all that different to other siblings who've grown apart - even Catherine's teenage pregnancy doesn't seem to have caused a huge drama between them. At the cottage, nothing of real note happens - there are a few things which feed into Catherine's declining mental health but it all just feels very held back and restrained. One of the most interesting chapters is the reappearance of Catherine's husband and his admission of her true mental state but even this is later cast into some doubt regarding her medication. I really liked Anna as a character but she was 'cast' as the bad sister for moving abroad and not living a conventional life. Apart from a failed relationship there's nothing to suggest that this wasn't a wonderful life, but we're expected to see it as such. Many thanks to Bloodhound Books for the ARC, but this one just wasn't for me.
June 21, 2024
Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This is narrated by Lorna Bennett and Kat Rose-Martin who do a great job! I loved their accents which really added to the story based in Scotland.
Two estranged sisters, Anna and Catherine, meet up in a family cottage off in the wilds of Scotland for vacation. Anna and Catherine are polar opposite with Anna being the party girl, and Catherine being a career minded woman with a husband. Once they arrive and get settled, strange things begin to happen.
Honestly, I was underwhelmed by this one. I found the pace to be too slow for my taste. I kept listening and waiting something to happen. Yes, this is a slow build and there are twists and secrets but there was not enough action to keep my interest up. Catherine's big secret also was a let down.
Not sure this was the right read for me. If you enjoy slow build mysteries and tales in the wilds of Scotland, I would recommend this for you.
Two estranged sisters, Anna and Catherine, meet up in a family cottage off in the wilds of Scotland for vacation. Anna and Catherine are polar opposite with Anna being the party girl, and Catherine being a career minded woman with a husband. Once they arrive and get settled, strange things begin to happen.
Honestly, I was underwhelmed by this one. I found the pace to be too slow for my taste. I kept listening and waiting something to happen. Yes, this is a slow build and there are twists and secrets but there was not enough action to keep my interest up. Catherine's big secret also was a let down.
Not sure this was the right read for me. If you enjoy slow build mysteries and tales in the wilds of Scotland, I would recommend this for you.
July 2, 2024
Two sisters, Anna and Catherine decide to get away. These two do not necessarily get along. They are just too different. This trip is to bring them back together and mend some fences. They end up at a remote cottage in the Scottish Highlands. But there is more going on in the psychosis of the mind than either expect.
Now, the reason for the 3 star rating on this one is that there are places where the story does not flow as well as it should. And it is a bit confusing. But! It is creepy as all get out! And I did enjoy it, especially the setting of Scotland. I could just picture the sea and Fort William. Oh! And the creepy house! I am all about a house in the middle of nowhere and yes…while traveling through Scotland…you will see that lone house…
I love a good tag team of narrators. And this team of Lorna Bennett and Kat Rose-Martin is pretty dad-blame good.
Need a good, twisty, creepy, atmospheric novel…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
Now, the reason for the 3 star rating on this one is that there are places where the story does not flow as well as it should. And it is a bit confusing. But! It is creepy as all get out! And I did enjoy it, especially the setting of Scotland. I could just picture the sea and Fort William. Oh! And the creepy house! I am all about a house in the middle of nowhere and yes…while traveling through Scotland…you will see that lone house…
I love a good tag team of narrators. And this team of Lorna Bennett and Kat Rose-Martin is pretty dad-blame good.
Need a good, twisty, creepy, atmospheric novel…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
September 4, 2024
Elsewhere
By Sarah Tierney
From the off this book drags you in with it's well rounded, interesting characters and a backdrop of a Scottish Highland setting. To say it's ‘bingeworthy’ would not be an overstatement.
Sarah Tierney’s captivating writing allows us to unravel the complex back stories of the protagonist characters- sisters Anna and Catherine, exploring complex relationships and fully relating-in one way or another-to their journeys and circumstances.
Set in an isolated cottage in remote Scotland this psychological drama is perfectly placed for a catharsis to spring to life. Our characters may be a long way from home, but you can't run away from inner turmoil and this atmospheric setting triggers deeply embedded repressions to the surface.
For me this book is truthful in it's characters and subject matter, mysterious and silver lined with hope and a hint of romance. This genre is right up my street- I love to read psychological dramas or thrillers and this one gets my vote. A definite recommendation from me.
By Sarah Tierney
From the off this book drags you in with it's well rounded, interesting characters and a backdrop of a Scottish Highland setting. To say it's ‘bingeworthy’ would not be an overstatement.
Sarah Tierney’s captivating writing allows us to unravel the complex back stories of the protagonist characters- sisters Anna and Catherine, exploring complex relationships and fully relating-in one way or another-to their journeys and circumstances.
Set in an isolated cottage in remote Scotland this psychological drama is perfectly placed for a catharsis to spring to life. Our characters may be a long way from home, but you can't run away from inner turmoil and this atmospheric setting triggers deeply embedded repressions to the surface.
For me this book is truthful in it's characters and subject matter, mysterious and silver lined with hope and a hint of romance. This genre is right up my street- I love to read psychological dramas or thrillers and this one gets my vote. A definite recommendation from me.
June 11, 2024
Told in first person, from the alternating perspective of two estranged sisters, the story kept me guessing about what was real and what was delusion! An engaging thriller that does more than just entertain, exploring the effect of mental illness on families.
Premise - two adult sisters who couldn’t be less alike go on vacation together in Scotland, when creepy things start happening.
I liked the split perspective style and found both sisters’ perspectives equally interesting! Fans of Frieda McFadden and Daniel Hurst will enjoy this one.
Some of the twists were unexpected, some less so.
Premise - two adult sisters who couldn’t be less alike go on vacation together in Scotland, when creepy things start happening.
I liked the split perspective style and found both sisters’ perspectives equally interesting! Fans of Frieda McFadden and Daniel Hurst will enjoy this one.
Some of the twists were unexpected, some less so.
June 25, 2024
Good lord. Is Katherine an anxiety ridden paranoid? We are taken along on a “vacation” with Katherine and her sister Anna. They don’t have the greatest relationship. Having spent their childhood together, that was enough. Katherine’s husband had gone on a vacation with his family the year before and felt that it was important that she and her sister go.
We visit a series of flashbacks where each of the sisters gives their recollection of growing up from their point of view. Each girl saw their sister and their own experiences so differently.
My personal opinion shifted as the book continued from “what a crappy bunch of occurrences to happen to them” to “she’s making it all up.”
The ending was different than I expected so kudos to Sarah Tierney!
Thank you Sarah Tierney, NetGalley, Dreamscape media, Lorna Bennett and Kat Rose-Martin for the ARC! I’m excited to hear what others think.
We visit a series of flashbacks where each of the sisters gives their recollection of growing up from their point of view. Each girl saw their sister and their own experiences so differently.
My personal opinion shifted as the book continued from “what a crappy bunch of occurrences to happen to them” to “she’s making it all up.”
The ending was different than I expected so kudos to Sarah Tierney!
Thank you Sarah Tierney, NetGalley, Dreamscape media, Lorna Bennett and Kat Rose-Martin for the ARC! I’m excited to hear what others think.
June 30, 2024
Elsewhere was an intriguing book. It was a bit of a drama/thriller. I found so many of the characters unlikeable. I couldn't really connect with any of them - each character seemed suspicious - their intentions, their behaviours. I did like how Tierney made them all every day people all living their own, messy lives. I probably liked Callum the most.
It was in a way, disturbing. I liked that it made me feel uncomfortable. I haven't read many thrillers lately that have just made me feel that way. It wasn't boredom, revolt, upset - it was just uncomfortable.
I didn't like the situations, I didn't like the characters behaviours, I didn't like the way they interacted with each other, yet I really enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down.
Brilliantly written, to make one feel so uneasy and a bit yucky but unable to put the book down. Well done!
I would recommend to people who want to feel something a bit deeper and aren't looking for a filler or fluff.
It was in a way, disturbing. I liked that it made me feel uncomfortable. I haven't read many thrillers lately that have just made me feel that way. It wasn't boredom, revolt, upset - it was just uncomfortable.
I didn't like the situations, I didn't like the characters behaviours, I didn't like the way they interacted with each other, yet I really enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down.
Brilliantly written, to make one feel so uneasy and a bit yucky but unable to put the book down. Well done!
I would recommend to people who want to feel something a bit deeper and aren't looking for a filler or fluff.
June 23, 2024
This one falls between 3 and 4 stars for me. Two sisters reconnect through a getaway at a family cabin in a small town in Scotland. Quickly things begin to seem off and it seems maybe someone is trying to scare them. Overall I feel this book was well written. It shows an aspect of how we can be affected by pain we carry and hold and how events can impact an entire family even though it may have been mostly one person’s trauma. I like the developing of relationships and some of the characters and how they grew and changed. The cons. I was kind of expecting more maybe. And I felt like towards the end everything kind of tumbled out and into place. I wanted a little more. I’m not sure what that is exactly, but I wanted to be shocked a bit more than I was.
Thank you to netgalley, the author, and publisher for this advanced audio copy of this book.
Thank you to netgalley, the author, and publisher for this advanced audio copy of this book.
July 30, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.
In Sarah Tierney’s haunting audiobook “Elsewhere,” estranged sisters Anna and Catherine reunite at a remote cottage during the all-night twilight of summer. Narrated by Lorna Bennett and Kat Rose-Martin, this psychological thriller unravels secrets, dislocation, and longing.
As odd occurrences escalate, the tension between the sisters intensifies. Who is the watchful girl with a baby? What secrets lie in the woods?
The sisters’ shared past, an incident from twenty years ago, resurfaces. Trauma, psychosis, and longing intersect.
Even without a child, motherhood casts a haunting presence.
🎧 Sarah Tierney’s elegant prose and the dual narration create an immersive experience. Prepare for twists that linger long after twilight fades.
In Sarah Tierney’s haunting audiobook “Elsewhere,” estranged sisters Anna and Catherine reunite at a remote cottage during the all-night twilight of summer. Narrated by Lorna Bennett and Kat Rose-Martin, this psychological thriller unravels secrets, dislocation, and longing.
As odd occurrences escalate, the tension between the sisters intensifies. Who is the watchful girl with a baby? What secrets lie in the woods?
The sisters’ shared past, an incident from twenty years ago, resurfaces. Trauma, psychosis, and longing intersect.
Even without a child, motherhood casts a haunting presence.
🎧 Sarah Tierney’s elegant prose and the dual narration create an immersive experience. Prepare for twists that linger long after twilight fades.
June 23, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook by Sarah Tierney.
Two sisters Catherine and Anna meet up for a stay at a remote cottage. Anna is a free-flowing person who is in her thirties and hasn't decided what she wants to do with her life. She was living in Canada but had recently moved home with her mom and dad. Catherine is the total opposite and very responsible. Catherine has become paranoid as years have gone on. When she was in her teens, she had gotten pregnant and had to give up her child for adoption. This book deals with a lot of mental health issues and the toll it takes on their families. Catherine's husband is fed up with it all, he has tried to support her, but she does not believe she has a problem. How do you help someone when they refuse to admit they have issues?
Two sisters Catherine and Anna meet up for a stay at a remote cottage. Anna is a free-flowing person who is in her thirties and hasn't decided what she wants to do with her life. She was living in Canada but had recently moved home with her mom and dad. Catherine is the total opposite and very responsible. Catherine has become paranoid as years have gone on. When she was in her teens, she had gotten pregnant and had to give up her child for adoption. This book deals with a lot of mental health issues and the toll it takes on their families. Catherine's husband is fed up with it all, he has tried to support her, but she does not believe she has a problem. How do you help someone when they refuse to admit they have issues?
June 28, 2024
Reading challenge category - 2023 Booklist Queen: About adoption
A #NetGalley ARC Audiobook.
Two sisters, Anna and Catherine, take a trip together to a remote cottage in Scotland. Through their time together, they learn new things about their past and their present.
There are two audiobook narrators. Whomever did the voice of Catherine was intolerable to me. It sounded like she was gruffly whispering throughout the book and that each sentence ended in a question mark. The other narrator was fine.
The story was uneventful and mostly predictable. The repetition of "abortion is murder" was horrendously off-putting for me. The author also had inaccuracies in psychological diagnoses and symptomology. Perhaps she should stick with whatever other day job she has.
A #NetGalley ARC Audiobook.
Two sisters, Anna and Catherine, take a trip together to a remote cottage in Scotland. Through their time together, they learn new things about their past and their present.
There are two audiobook narrators. Whomever did the voice of Catherine was intolerable to me. It sounded like she was gruffly whispering throughout the book and that each sentence ended in a question mark. The other narrator was fine.
The story was uneventful and mostly predictable. The repetition of "abortion is murder" was horrendously off-putting for me. The author also had inaccuracies in psychological diagnoses and symptomology. Perhaps she should stick with whatever other day job she has.
June 29, 2024
The question in the book is, "Is Catherine having some kind of psychotic break or delusions, or are all the secrets and odd behaviors around town indicative of a conspiracy or malevolence directed at her?" Kind of one of those situations that screams just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not after you. So is it Catherine's failing mental health or gaslighting? And since she's one of two narrators in the book, is the story we're getting reliable? Oh how easily we disregard women's complaints, particularly if they have any kind of mental illness diagnosis.
I went back and forth, liking Anna more and more throughout, and the end reveal was not just believable, but a twist I never saw coming. Kudos.
I went back and forth, liking Anna more and more throughout, and the end reveal was not just believable, but a twist I never saw coming. Kudos.
September 10, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the arc.
I didn't really connect with this book- featuring two sisters in an off the grid cabin in Scotland. I loved the setting, and that's really why I requested the audiobook, but didn't love the narration and felt like the plot moved really slowly. I think I went into this thinking it would be a fast paced thriller, complete with quick chapters and heavy on the plot- and this book wasn't that. It was much more character focused than I was expecting. I think I may have enjoyed the reading experience better than the audiobook experience- it couldn't hold my attention in the car, which is where I listen to audiobooks the most.
Lovely book cover though, and I still really liked the setting.
I didn't really connect with this book- featuring two sisters in an off the grid cabin in Scotland. I loved the setting, and that's really why I requested the audiobook, but didn't love the narration and felt like the plot moved really slowly. I think I went into this thinking it would be a fast paced thriller, complete with quick chapters and heavy on the plot- and this book wasn't that. It was much more character focused than I was expecting. I think I may have enjoyed the reading experience better than the audiobook experience- it couldn't hold my attention in the car, which is where I listen to audiobooks the most.
Lovely book cover though, and I still really liked the setting.
June 14, 2024
Well written and full of twists, this is a book well worth reading. Alternating narrative between the two sisters Catherine and Anna is follows their trip to a remote cottage in the Scottish highlands; a cottage which is without electricity, phone signal or Wi-Fi and several miles from anywhere.
Catherine’s husband suggested the break so the two sisters could reconnect, but relations are strained, Catherine disappears with the car for the whole day just after they get there, then someone bangs on the door in the middle of the night, the hire car is scratched and Catherine is sure she is being stalked.
Great read.
Catherine’s husband suggested the break so the two sisters could reconnect, but relations are strained, Catherine disappears with the car for the whole day just after they get there, then someone bangs on the door in the middle of the night, the hire car is scratched and Catherine is sure she is being stalked.
Great read.
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