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Dark Devon Mysteries #1
The Evil Within
On the brink of a breakdown, two years after the death of his fianc�e, Jim Hawkes quits his high-powered job in the City to rent a cottage in the Devonshire countryside seeking some well-needed rest. But Slyford St James is far from the peaceful haven Jim was hoping for. Almost immediately he is plagued by strange occurrences: a combination lock that won't open, loud noises in the attic, the figure of a little girl always just out of sight. His new village friends, Jed and Emma, are convinced Jim has found his way to the village for a reason, to solve the mystery surrounding the suspicious death of a child. But as Jim is haunted by the ghosts of his past and endangered by a real-world threat in the present, it soon becomes apparent that true evil never dies.
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First published March 19, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
October 13, 2021
For the last 30 pages I had goosebumps!
This book for me had a bit of a Peter James Cold Hill vibe!
It was just on the right side of creepy, disturbing and thrilling which meant I kept saying to myself just one more chapter and then you just get on or go to bed but I just found it so hard to put down.
The supernatural element of this book was beautifully written and well weaved into the story. It wasn’t too much or in your face and I have to say from the beginning I completely believed!
I would definitely recommend, and I am looking forward to reading more of their books 📚📚
This book for me had a bit of a Peter James Cold Hill vibe!
It was just on the right side of creepy, disturbing and thrilling which meant I kept saying to myself just one more chapter and then you just get on or go to bed but I just found it so hard to put down.
The supernatural element of this book was beautifully written and well weaved into the story. It wasn’t too much or in your face and I have to say from the beginning I completely believed!
I would definitely recommend, and I am looking forward to reading more of their books 📚📚
March 20, 2020
The Evil Within is a murder mystery wrapped into a ghost story.
Two years after the death of his fiancée, for which he feels guilt, Jim Hawkes has a sudden breakdown, leaves his job in the middle of a meeting, and moves from London to a cottage in the little village of Slyford St James, in the Devonshire.
Before he’s even finished unpacking, Jim Hawkes is witness to supernatural occurrences, the main one being the appearance of a little girl in red, Krystal, whom he learns died in the house he now occupies.
He meets Jed and Emma, two inhabitants who also possess « the sight », and is quickly convinced that he’s been brought there to solve the mystery of Krystal’s death, not everyone in the village believing it was an accident.
Of course, this would mean a murderer is still roaming free and Jim’s presence, along with his gift, doesn’t doesn’t please him/her much.
This is a clever book, masterfully written. It’s difficult to put down as, page after page, we learn more about the village, its inhabitants (and their nice and not-so-nice secrets), and the other villages around. S.M. Hardy (pseudonym of author Sue Tingey) manages to create a nice, and sometimes creepy atmosphere, compelling characters we quickly care about, words flowing in a slow rhythm fitting to the story.
This isn’t a « classic » ghost story. No cheap scares, turning heads or blood on the walls. The Evil Within reads as a mystery, some witnesses being ghosts, and some information being brough to our amateur sleuths by unconventional means. The mystery, itself, is quite engaging.
By the end of the book, we’ve learned to like Slyford St James and its citizens so much that it’s a pity having to put it down. Fortunately, it seems a little window has been left open for a potential sequel.
Thanks to Allison & Busby and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.
Two years after the death of his fiancée, for which he feels guilt, Jim Hawkes has a sudden breakdown, leaves his job in the middle of a meeting, and moves from London to a cottage in the little village of Slyford St James, in the Devonshire.
Before he’s even finished unpacking, Jim Hawkes is witness to supernatural occurrences, the main one being the appearance of a little girl in red, Krystal, whom he learns died in the house he now occupies.
He meets Jed and Emma, two inhabitants who also possess « the sight », and is quickly convinced that he’s been brought there to solve the mystery of Krystal’s death, not everyone in the village believing it was an accident.
Of course, this would mean a murderer is still roaming free and Jim’s presence, along with his gift, doesn’t doesn’t please him/her much.
This is a clever book, masterfully written. It’s difficult to put down as, page after page, we learn more about the village, its inhabitants (and their nice and not-so-nice secrets), and the other villages around. S.M. Hardy (pseudonym of author Sue Tingey) manages to create a nice, and sometimes creepy atmosphere, compelling characters we quickly care about, words flowing in a slow rhythm fitting to the story.
This isn’t a « classic » ghost story. No cheap scares, turning heads or blood on the walls. The Evil Within reads as a mystery, some witnesses being ghosts, and some information being brough to our amateur sleuths by unconventional means. The mystery, itself, is quite engaging.
By the end of the book, we’ve learned to like Slyford St James and its citizens so much that it’s a pity having to put it down. Fortunately, it seems a little window has been left open for a potential sequel.
Thanks to Allison & Busby and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.
February 12, 2022
This was a surprising fun read I found on hoopla the audio was good I liked the characters and then the ending yes! I might try the second book in time.
April 7, 2020
Mystery wrapped in a paranormal setting raised my goosebumps as I kept turning the pages. I love me a good ghost story.
My first book by this author, I loved how the story pulled me into its arms with the supernatural feel to it. Psychics and ghost child added to the chilly atmosphere. The author was quite talented. The prose though slow, kept my interest going. There was this vibe that something was kept hidden from me. It was this which made turn pages faster.
Overall, the story could creep me out where the characters gave the setting a sense of completeness. A great read.
My first book by this author, I loved how the story pulled me into its arms with the supernatural feel to it. Psychics and ghost child added to the chilly atmosphere. The author was quite talented. The prose though slow, kept my interest going. There was this vibe that something was kept hidden from me. It was this which made turn pages faster.
Overall, the story could creep me out where the characters gave the setting a sense of completeness. A great read.
October 22, 2022
an unexpectedly good time but nothing show-stopping
➸ Trigger warnings for .
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
➸ Trigger warnings for .
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
June 19, 2020
My thanks to Lesley at Allison And Busby for the blogtour invite and my gifted review copy of 'The Evil Within' which was published in hardcover on March 19th-it's available wherever good books are sold!
This supernatural thrilller keeps you on edge from page 1-Jim has the kind of meeting that we have all been in, the one where you dream of just saying 'I can't do this anymore' and walking out, except he does it. He has had enough, after two years of carefully balancing his sanity following the mysterious death of his fiance.
He rents a cottage in the village of Slyford St James, hoping the quiet surroundings of country life will be a million miles away from the stresses of London . But you never really leave the horrors of the past behind you...
Enter the strange sight of a girl running through the bottom of his garden, a girl who cannot be there. Bumps and noises in the attic escalate into an attempt on Jim's life, is he being haunted or is a very corporeal presence trying to get him out of the cottage?
How much you find this novel scary and chill inducing depends on how much you believe in life after death-the secondary characters, Jed and Emma who are both locals , and psychics, are convinced that the village has somehow drawn Jim to it. And that he has a higher purpose, namely that of trying to solve the impossible death of the child that Jim has seen since moving in...
The suspense and characterisation are great, you totally get the sense of the village and the house, the grounds and surrounding buildings are described so well that you feel you are walking on these steets. The story teases you with details about Jim's fiance, the sudden moving away of the couple who owned the cottage and you are kept on tenterhooks waiting for the big reveals. The story is intriguing and gave me chills, it is a really good piece of escapist fiction which I enjoyed a lot!
This supernatural thrilller keeps you on edge from page 1-Jim has the kind of meeting that we have all been in, the one where you dream of just saying 'I can't do this anymore' and walking out, except he does it. He has had enough, after two years of carefully balancing his sanity following the mysterious death of his fiance.
He rents a cottage in the village of Slyford St James, hoping the quiet surroundings of country life will be a million miles away from the stresses of London . But you never really leave the horrors of the past behind you...
Enter the strange sight of a girl running through the bottom of his garden, a girl who cannot be there. Bumps and noises in the attic escalate into an attempt on Jim's life, is he being haunted or is a very corporeal presence trying to get him out of the cottage?
How much you find this novel scary and chill inducing depends on how much you believe in life after death-the secondary characters, Jed and Emma who are both locals , and psychics, are convinced that the village has somehow drawn Jim to it. And that he has a higher purpose, namely that of trying to solve the impossible death of the child that Jim has seen since moving in...
The suspense and characterisation are great, you totally get the sense of the village and the house, the grounds and surrounding buildings are described so well that you feel you are walking on these steets. The story teases you with details about Jim's fiance, the sudden moving away of the couple who owned the cottage and you are kept on tenterhooks waiting for the big reveals. The story is intriguing and gave me chills, it is a really good piece of escapist fiction which I enjoyed a lot!
December 19, 2019
This book had all the elements I enjoy in a story but I didn't like it. I think my main problem was with the main character Jim and his internal dialogue, it was too repetitive and angsty, dragging the pace of the book to a slog. Most of Jim's thoughts could have been cut out and this would of been a better story.
As it was though I was being beat over the head with the details, I don't need them repeated every few pages, I got it the first time.
As it was though I was being beat over the head with the details, I don't need them repeated every few pages, I got it the first time.
March 1, 2020
Nothing but chills throughout in this super-scary supernatural spooky! If the ongoing chills and thrills don't scare you (they sure scared me), then hold your breath because the ending will blow--you--away. Oh my! I can't stop thinking about it! What a fab debut horror this is. Write faster, please!
January 5, 2022
A solid 4* read for me.
This book has been on my TBR pile for about a year and I wished I read it at Halloween! I loved the supernatural mystery of this book and the characters seemed quite real, if bonkers!
Only thing I'd say is I wished we knew about Kat and what really happened.
Would definitely read other books from this author.
This book has been on my TBR pile for about a year and I wished I read it at Halloween! I loved the supernatural mystery of this book and the characters seemed quite real, if bonkers!
Only thing I'd say is I wished we knew about Kat and what really happened.
Would definitely read other books from this author.
March 9, 2022
Liked this book for the most part. Wasn't a big fan of Lucy, but it was easy to overlook.I'm not sure how I feel about the ending, but it seemed a little obvious. Although they got rid of his sister, Daniel was always the issue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2020
Review to follow for the tour.
September 15, 2021
Blurb: On the brink of a breakdown, two years after the death of his fiancee, Jim Hawkes quits his high-powered job in the city to rent a cottage in the Devonshire countryside seeking some well-needed rest. But Slyford St James is far from the peaceful haven Jim was hoping for. Almost immediately he is plagued by strange occurrences: a combination lock that won't open, loud noises in the attic, the figure of a little girl always just out of sight. His new village friends, Jed and Emma, are convinced Jim has found his way to the village for a reason, to solve the mystery surrounding the suspicious death of a child. But as Jim is haunted by the ghosts of his past and endangered by a real-world threat in the present, it soon becomes apparent that true evil never dies.
Overview: Been wanting to read this for ages! I'm pretty sure supernatural mystery is just a genre made up by me, but that pretty much sums up this book. I must admit I was hooked from the first several chapters. Likeable main character. Creepy noises coming from the attic. Strange little ghost girl. Exactly my type of book...but then...well the middle third of the book was a bit...meh. It didn't seem to go anywhere and the creepy noises and ghost appearances began to feel repetitive and I just wanted something good and big to happen, which inevitably it did, but not till near the end and by then I was like "ok cool, but I don't really care that much anymore".
Good Points: Anything evil/scary/mystery I love and I did enjoy the concept of this book. The writing was good and I enjoyed the main character, so it kept the book flowing. Great descriptions and setting the scene (a few times I got goosebumps). The ending was good, although not exactly shocking, but the last page had be going "oh my god!" in a good way!
Not so Good Points: The middle of the book was boring and basically nothing happened. I was disappointed to be honest because the beginning of it was so captivating.
Overview: Been wanting to read this for ages! I'm pretty sure supernatural mystery is just a genre made up by me, but that pretty much sums up this book. I must admit I was hooked from the first several chapters. Likeable main character. Creepy noises coming from the attic. Strange little ghost girl. Exactly my type of book...but then...well the middle third of the book was a bit...meh. It didn't seem to go anywhere and the creepy noises and ghost appearances began to feel repetitive and I just wanted something good and big to happen, which inevitably it did, but not till near the end and by then I was like "ok cool, but I don't really care that much anymore".
Good Points: Anything evil/scary/mystery I love and I did enjoy the concept of this book. The writing was good and I enjoyed the main character, so it kept the book flowing. Great descriptions and setting the scene (a few times I got goosebumps). The ending was good, although not exactly shocking, but the last page had be going "oh my god!" in a good way!
Not so Good Points: The middle of the book was boring and basically nothing happened. I was disappointed to be honest because the beginning of it was so captivating.
May 1, 2020
In S.M. Hardy's The Evil Within, this dark thriller will send you goosebumps in every page that would keep you up at night. For Jim Hawkes, he needed a clean slate and to retreat to a sleepy village town. He's still wheeling and dealing with the loss of his fiancé Kat and needed time for his heart to heal. But when he arrived in Slyford St. James, it wasn't the respite he was looking for and expected. He learns from his two newest friends that his cottage has a shady history of sorrow and of neglect. Little did Jim know, that on his first night there, he listened to the voices and the sounds from a ghost haunting the home and later attacking him. This started for him to look deeper and harder to find out more about the cottage and who could've haunted him and harming others in the process. Meanwhile, he finds new love with a woman named Lucy, someone who could mend his broken heart. As they grow closer, they learn more about the evil spirit that's been inhabited and possessed a local resident. The danger's escalated and heightened near him as they race against time to exercise the spirit and rescue Lucy from its evil clutches with a fight to the finish in the end.
March 4, 2020
This book is a murder mystery with paranormal elements brought into it. It certainly was a bit different to any kind of mystery I have ever read before.
The story follows Jim who moves to the quiet village of Slyford St James from the hustle and bustle of London. His fiancee died a couple of years ago and he recently lost his high powered job in finance after having some kind of epiphany at work and walking out.
He moves into what appears to be a peaceful cottage to try and recuperate but things do not quite go to plan for him. Strange occurrences begin to happen such as things moving, noises in the attic and glimpses of a child who seems to vanish into thin air. Jim is not sure if he is having some sort of mental breakdown or whether these things are actually happening.
He befriends some locals in the village called Emma and Jed who appear to be able to contact the afterlife. He finds out that a young girl died in the cottage he is renting out and starts to believe that it was more than just an accident that killed her but that maybe something sinister is lurking in the village.
The story starts off quickly and gripped me straight away. It was quite unsettling and when I went to bed the first night after reading the opening few chapters I was a bit creeped out and kept thinking about incidents in the book. Luckily I fell asleep eventually! However, when I sat down to read more the next day I found a lot of the story quite repetitive and it fell a bit flat on me to be honest. It picked up a bit more eventually and the ending was ok, but it didn’t blow me away by any means. I think I expected more from it as it had so much potential.
It was still an enjoyable enough story and if you like ghost stories mixed up in a murder mystery then this book would definitely be up your street. It is definitely not your traditional, haunted house type ghost story and I think a lot of readers will find it eventful enough to keep their attention. A solid 3 stars from me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Allison and Busby for letting me read the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is published on 19th March.
The story follows Jim who moves to the quiet village of Slyford St James from the hustle and bustle of London. His fiancee died a couple of years ago and he recently lost his high powered job in finance after having some kind of epiphany at work and walking out.
He moves into what appears to be a peaceful cottage to try and recuperate but things do not quite go to plan for him. Strange occurrences begin to happen such as things moving, noises in the attic and glimpses of a child who seems to vanish into thin air. Jim is not sure if he is having some sort of mental breakdown or whether these things are actually happening.
He befriends some locals in the village called Emma and Jed who appear to be able to contact the afterlife. He finds out that a young girl died in the cottage he is renting out and starts to believe that it was more than just an accident that killed her but that maybe something sinister is lurking in the village.
The story starts off quickly and gripped me straight away. It was quite unsettling and when I went to bed the first night after reading the opening few chapters I was a bit creeped out and kept thinking about incidents in the book. Luckily I fell asleep eventually! However, when I sat down to read more the next day I found a lot of the story quite repetitive and it fell a bit flat on me to be honest. It picked up a bit more eventually and the ending was ok, but it didn’t blow me away by any means. I think I expected more from it as it had so much potential.
It was still an enjoyable enough story and if you like ghost stories mixed up in a murder mystery then this book would definitely be up your street. It is definitely not your traditional, haunted house type ghost story and I think a lot of readers will find it eventful enough to keep their attention. A solid 3 stars from me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Allison and Busby for letting me read the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is published on 19th March.
July 1, 2022
3.5. It sets the scene beautifully as Jim who is burnt out on his finance job in London decides to move. He ends up in a cottage in a small secluded town. The cottage starts to give him a bad feeling and is the stress making him see things? He meets the towns local handyman and they form a bond. What Jim didn't know is he can see ghosts and communicate with them. The towns terrible secrets come out little by little and he finds himself unraveling those secrets. This is a well told suspenseful tale in really enjoyed. Ps. If you enjoy audio one of my favorite narrators performs this Joe Jameson.
January 27, 2020
The Evil Within by S.M. Hardy is set in London and the Devonshire countryside. When financier banker Jim Hawkes is reeling from the death of his fiancée two years prior, real life becomes too much to handle, so he makes a rash decision to quit his job and find some peace and solitude in a rented cottage in the countryside. However, this vacation isn’t at all what Jim was hoping for. As soon as he arrives, strange things start to happen, and a new friend appears, Jed the caretaker of the house. Jim is then introduced to Jed’s friend Emma, in which they realize Jim is more like them than he realized...they each have “the sight”, but Jim doesn’t believe any of it.
Odd things start to happen to Jim at the cottage, dangerous things, and Jed and Emma think there is a reason Jim was brought to this village. The cottage Jim is renting was the scene of an accident that killed a six year old girl, Krystal, however many believe it really wasn’t an accident. When Jim starts to experience dealings with the supernatural, he finds himself in a dangerous situation wondering if ghosts can really murder the living. Is this the breakdown he thought he was having, or are his experiences really what Jed and Emma believe will give the village the answers they have been looking for?
The beginning of the book pulls you in. You are driven into the psyche of Jim Hawkes, is he really going crazy or is he some type of clairvoyant that sees dead people? It was a fantastic ghost story that included some interesting characters and events, with just the right amount of creepiness to keep you wanting more. But the second half of the story fell flat. There was too much of being in Jim’s head where he repeated the same thoughts and sequences that became annoying. Then just when you thought the big ending was about to emerge, it never really happened. It became boring and confusing, which led the reader to not really know what was happening. The villain and ghost as well as I guess what would be the ‘host body’ quickly became too much to handle and I just wanted it to be over.
The book had potential, the beginning was great...but I can’t recommend anyone reading a book through the first 50% and then stopping., so I can only give it 2.5 stars. I would like to thank Netgalley and Allison & Busby publishing for an advanced reader edition of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Odd things start to happen to Jim at the cottage, dangerous things, and Jed and Emma think there is a reason Jim was brought to this village. The cottage Jim is renting was the scene of an accident that killed a six year old girl, Krystal, however many believe it really wasn’t an accident. When Jim starts to experience dealings with the supernatural, he finds himself in a dangerous situation wondering if ghosts can really murder the living. Is this the breakdown he thought he was having, or are his experiences really what Jed and Emma believe will give the village the answers they have been looking for?
The beginning of the book pulls you in. You are driven into the psyche of Jim Hawkes, is he really going crazy or is he some type of clairvoyant that sees dead people? It was a fantastic ghost story that included some interesting characters and events, with just the right amount of creepiness to keep you wanting more. But the second half of the story fell flat. There was too much of being in Jim’s head where he repeated the same thoughts and sequences that became annoying. Then just when you thought the big ending was about to emerge, it never really happened. It became boring and confusing, which led the reader to not really know what was happening. The villain and ghost as well as I guess what would be the ‘host body’ quickly became too much to handle and I just wanted it to be over.
The book had potential, the beginning was great...but I can’t recommend anyone reading a book through the first 50% and then stopping., so I can only give it 2.5 stars. I would like to thank Netgalley and Allison & Busby publishing for an advanced reader edition of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2020
The Evil Within started off pretty strong. I was drawn in immediately and wanted to keep reading. Then, about halfway through the book, I did struggle to keep reading. The narration for Jim gets repetitive and almost absurd at some points. I really wanted to like this since I haven't read many ghost stories/thrillers like this. The ending was all over the place and felt very rushed in the last couple chapters.
Jim needs a break. He leaves his high paying job and decides to rent a cottage in Slyford St James. After everything he's endured the past couple years, rest and relaxation are his top priorities. Soon after getting settled into the cottage, strange things begin happening. He begins seeing the a ghost of the little girl (Krystal) who once lived in the cottage he is renting. The sightings begin taking a sinister turn when other spirits begin to invade his mind.
With the help from his two good friends: Emma and Jed, Jim begins to piece things together. Krystal's death doesn't seem so accidental anymore and the three of them work together to solve her case. Jim begins having vivid visions and with gossip around town, he figures out who is behind everything. The three of them must hurry to stop it all before it's too late.
The Evil Within does have the makings to be a good book (especially in the first half). I just wish the second half was smoothed out more and the ending wasn't as confusing or rushed. With what happened in the first half, I was expecting a much more climactic ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for this ARC.
Jim needs a break. He leaves his high paying job and decides to rent a cottage in Slyford St James. After everything he's endured the past couple years, rest and relaxation are his top priorities. Soon after getting settled into the cottage, strange things begin happening. He begins seeing the a ghost of the little girl (Krystal) who once lived in the cottage he is renting. The sightings begin taking a sinister turn when other spirits begin to invade his mind.
With the help from his two good friends: Emma and Jed, Jim begins to piece things together. Krystal's death doesn't seem so accidental anymore and the three of them work together to solve her case. Jim begins having vivid visions and with gossip around town, he figures out who is behind everything. The three of them must hurry to stop it all before it's too late.
The Evil Within does have the makings to be a good book (especially in the first half). I just wish the second half was smoothed out more and the ending wasn't as confusing or rushed. With what happened in the first half, I was expecting a much more climactic ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for this ARC.
December 7, 2019
Creepy and atmospheric with a good mystery. I liked it, but hated the twist at the end.
March 30, 2020
SM Hardy, aka Sue Tingey, has put together a thoroughly enjoyable and, at times, genuinely scary ghost story. The Evil Within tells the tale of Jim Hawkes, a young London banker who has an attack of conscience about the bloodthirsty nature of his trade, and tells his boss to go forth and multiply. This rush of blood to the head is not entirely unconnected to the fact that he is still grieving for his dead sweetheart, who drowned herself after breaking off their engagement in a calamitous row. Jim decides that a physical exit from London is essential, and so he takes out a short term lease on a cottage in England’s West Country.
When he arrives in Devon he finds that the cottage – and its immediate surroundings – have, shall we say, history. The back story involves a dead girl, who was found hanged from the banisters. While exploring the adjacent churchyard, Jim meets the vicar, and is invited in to the rectory for a welcoming chat and a nice cup of tea. All good so far, but when he meets two of the long term residents, widowed Emma and Jed, the local handyman, fixer of lawnmowers and general village sage and factotum, his equilibrium is seriously disturbed when they tell him that the rectory is not only unoccupied, but the reverend gentleman has been dead for some time.
By now, of course, we have to suspend disbelief, because this is going to be a book where weird things are going to happen. There is one key question, as it ever was in ghost stories. Are the strange events actually happening independent from the main character’s perception or, as the title hints at, are they in his mind? SM Hardy certainly gives Jim Hawkes plenty to cope with. We have a Don’t Look Now style figure in a red coat who not only flits in and out of Jim’s peripheral vision, but occasionally holds his hand in her dead, cold fingers. Again with a nod to Daphne du Maurier’s wonderful short story, there are also two sisters, who may possible be sinister as well as spinster. We mustn’t forget a mysterious and hulking man in grey who clearly wishes Jim harm and may – or may not – be an astral projection of a malevolent criminal who lies in a vegetative state at a mysterious local mental hospital.
Clichés only become clichés when they are wearisome, and there is nothing remotely wearisome about The Evil Within. Yes, SM Hardy mines deep into the seam of supernatural fiction and comes up with many recognisable elements, but she welds them together to make a compelling novel. Best of all, even though she deal in familiar tropes – the haunted cottage, the startling face in the window, the conversations with the dead and the events that no-one in the village pub will talk about – we genuinely care about Jim Hawkes and what happens to him. The possibility that Jim’s apparitions may be just the product of his own mental fragility in the wake of his fiancée’s tragic death doesn’t diminish our concern for him, nor prevent us from fearing the worst when events take a disturbing turn.
I have never written a novel, nor could I, but I have read many and I know from experience that if the author doesn’t forge that link between reader and character, the book may as well be cast aside and sent to the charity shop. SM Hardy ticks this box – and many other important ones – and ensures that The Evil Within is both entertaining, credible and enthralling – with a sharp sting in the very tip of its tail. It is published by Allison & Busby and is available now.
When he arrives in Devon he finds that the cottage – and its immediate surroundings – have, shall we say, history. The back story involves a dead girl, who was found hanged from the banisters. While exploring the adjacent churchyard, Jim meets the vicar, and is invited in to the rectory for a welcoming chat and a nice cup of tea. All good so far, but when he meets two of the long term residents, widowed Emma and Jed, the local handyman, fixer of lawnmowers and general village sage and factotum, his equilibrium is seriously disturbed when they tell him that the rectory is not only unoccupied, but the reverend gentleman has been dead for some time.
By now, of course, we have to suspend disbelief, because this is going to be a book where weird things are going to happen. There is one key question, as it ever was in ghost stories. Are the strange events actually happening independent from the main character’s perception or, as the title hints at, are they in his mind? SM Hardy certainly gives Jim Hawkes plenty to cope with. We have a Don’t Look Now style figure in a red coat who not only flits in and out of Jim’s peripheral vision, but occasionally holds his hand in her dead, cold fingers. Again with a nod to Daphne du Maurier’s wonderful short story, there are also two sisters, who may possible be sinister as well as spinster. We mustn’t forget a mysterious and hulking man in grey who clearly wishes Jim harm and may – or may not – be an astral projection of a malevolent criminal who lies in a vegetative state at a mysterious local mental hospital.
Clichés only become clichés when they are wearisome, and there is nothing remotely wearisome about The Evil Within. Yes, SM Hardy mines deep into the seam of supernatural fiction and comes up with many recognisable elements, but she welds them together to make a compelling novel. Best of all, even though she deal in familiar tropes – the haunted cottage, the startling face in the window, the conversations with the dead and the events that no-one in the village pub will talk about – we genuinely care about Jim Hawkes and what happens to him. The possibility that Jim’s apparitions may be just the product of his own mental fragility in the wake of his fiancée’s tragic death doesn’t diminish our concern for him, nor prevent us from fearing the worst when events take a disturbing turn.
I have never written a novel, nor could I, but I have read many and I know from experience that if the author doesn’t forge that link between reader and character, the book may as well be cast aside and sent to the charity shop. SM Hardy ticks this box – and many other important ones – and ensures that The Evil Within is both entertaining, credible and enthralling – with a sharp sting in the very tip of its tail. It is published by Allison & Busby and is available now.
August 5, 2022
A decent supernatural murder-mystery with a hint of cosy-crime.
I enjoyed reading the book; it's quite a page-turner. The story follows the often done trope of the character who moves from London to the Westcountry where they then have a little adventure. Perhaps less common is the supernatural element, but the mix was quite well done.
The novel seemed to be written for the popular market - it's full of cliched phrases which to be honest made me wince at times. Still, as it's written in the first person it kinda worked because I guess people use these phrases a lot in conversation like 'my head was spinning' 'I was seeing stars' 'I climbed to my feet' and so on: there's pretty much one per page. One thing that unnecessarily irked me was that every time the pov character ate something it was described as almost magically wonderfully tasting, with the exception of a cup of coffee later in the book. I just felt that it was in aid of painting the charm of the Devonshire town but it seemed a bit overdone that the place seemed full of wonderful cooks and bakers.
I found the protagonist to be fairly two-dimensional and cookie-cutter. I had actually pictured him as being a bit older then he apparently was which didn't become apparent until well over halfway through. The secondary characters were more interesting, particularly Jed and Emma: Jed seemed to me to be the most developed character and Emma felt like the most realistic and human among the characters. As far as the ghosts were concerned, the tension and suspense worked very well for about the first 2/3 of the novel but there was quite a bit of repetition. I wouldn't say the book was 'scary' but then I suppose it's extremely difficult to be scary in literature (I've not read many horror or supernatural books but don't quite recall any of them being particularly frightening).
The fictional Devonshire town works well. I can almost imagine the sort of place. The story and setting seem to me to be the kind of thing that would end up being a 3-part tv drama and would work quite well. There was no twist at the end, which in itself is perhaps a kind of twist as they are almost expected. There is a sequel which I will probably pick up at some point. I suppose my review sounds a bit harsh as I've detailed several perceived shortcomings, but I must highlight that it was an enjoyable read despite my picky observations and it is, to me, worth a 4-star rating.
I enjoyed reading the book; it's quite a page-turner. The story follows the often done trope of the character who moves from London to the Westcountry where they then have a little adventure. Perhaps less common is the supernatural element, but the mix was quite well done.
The novel seemed to be written for the popular market - it's full of cliched phrases which to be honest made me wince at times. Still, as it's written in the first person it kinda worked because I guess people use these phrases a lot in conversation like 'my head was spinning' 'I was seeing stars' 'I climbed to my feet' and so on: there's pretty much one per page. One thing that unnecessarily irked me was that every time the pov character ate something it was described as almost magically wonderfully tasting, with the exception of a cup of coffee later in the book. I just felt that it was in aid of painting the charm of the Devonshire town but it seemed a bit overdone that the place seemed full of wonderful cooks and bakers.
I found the protagonist to be fairly two-dimensional and cookie-cutter. I had actually pictured him as being a bit older then he apparently was which didn't become apparent until well over halfway through. The secondary characters were more interesting, particularly Jed and Emma: Jed seemed to me to be the most developed character and Emma felt like the most realistic and human among the characters. As far as the ghosts were concerned, the tension and suspense worked very well for about the first 2/3 of the novel but there was quite a bit of repetition. I wouldn't say the book was 'scary' but then I suppose it's extremely difficult to be scary in literature (I've not read many horror or supernatural books but don't quite recall any of them being particularly frightening).
The fictional Devonshire town works well. I can almost imagine the sort of place. The story and setting seem to me to be the kind of thing that would end up being a 3-part tv drama and would work quite well. There was no twist at the end, which in itself is perhaps a kind of twist as they are almost expected. There is a sequel which I will probably pick up at some point. I suppose my review sounds a bit harsh as I've detailed several perceived shortcomings, but I must highlight that it was an enjoyable read despite my picky observations and it is, to me, worth a 4-star rating.
March 26, 2020
This is my review of The Evil Within by S M Hardy. It is her debut paranormal mystery novel in the Dark Devon Mysteries series. It starts in London but ends in Slyford St James, Devon.
Jim Hawkes had been working at a high powered job in London when one day he walked away on the brink of a breakdown. He got a golden handshake as the firm wanted no recourse from him later down the line and plus he hadn’t handled his fiancee’s death too well two years previously. He booked himself a few weeks away in a cottage in a sleepy village called Slyford St James. It was down in the Devonshire countryside, well away from London and old haunts so he could get a well earned rest from everything.
On the first day, the rain is pelting down so he gets soaked taking his luggage from the car to the cottage. Then he can’t open the combination lock on the suitcase! Next day he sees a young girl down at the bottom of the garden and follows her to the back of the churchyard where he lost sight of her. Instead, he climbed a tumbled down section of the wall into the churchyard and met the vicar. He gets invited into the vicarage for a cup of tea and a chat then heads home. When he hears a banging noise from the loft, he is freaked out and decides to head to the pub for a chat with Jed, see what he can find out.
He soon learns about the owners of the cottage and their daughter who had an accident there and unfortunately died. Hence their moving away. Jed says he can speak to the dead along with Emma and they soon become firm friends. Soon, even more strange things start happening but Jim is yet to be convinced that he can speak to the dead as well. He doesn’t like to share all that he has seen incase is new friends think he has lost his marbles. Then even more dangerous things start happening so he writes down what he can remember and lets Jed read it.
Why can he see the little girl and the vicar but the others can’t? What do they want from him? What has gone on in that cottage? Who was chasing the little girl? Did they mean her harm?
I found the start of this book to be so suspenseful and creepy but felt deflated by the second half. It was a shame otherwise would have been a cracking book.
Jim Hawkes had been working at a high powered job in London when one day he walked away on the brink of a breakdown. He got a golden handshake as the firm wanted no recourse from him later down the line and plus he hadn’t handled his fiancee’s death too well two years previously. He booked himself a few weeks away in a cottage in a sleepy village called Slyford St James. It was down in the Devonshire countryside, well away from London and old haunts so he could get a well earned rest from everything.
On the first day, the rain is pelting down so he gets soaked taking his luggage from the car to the cottage. Then he can’t open the combination lock on the suitcase! Next day he sees a young girl down at the bottom of the garden and follows her to the back of the churchyard where he lost sight of her. Instead, he climbed a tumbled down section of the wall into the churchyard and met the vicar. He gets invited into the vicarage for a cup of tea and a chat then heads home. When he hears a banging noise from the loft, he is freaked out and decides to head to the pub for a chat with Jed, see what he can find out.
He soon learns about the owners of the cottage and their daughter who had an accident there and unfortunately died. Hence their moving away. Jed says he can speak to the dead along with Emma and they soon become firm friends. Soon, even more strange things start happening but Jim is yet to be convinced that he can speak to the dead as well. He doesn’t like to share all that he has seen incase is new friends think he has lost his marbles. Then even more dangerous things start happening so he writes down what he can remember and lets Jed read it.
Why can he see the little girl and the vicar but the others can’t? What do they want from him? What has gone on in that cottage? Who was chasing the little girl? Did they mean her harm?
I found the start of this book to be so suspenseful and creepy but felt deflated by the second half. It was a shame otherwise would have been a cracking book.
March 25, 2020
If there's one thing I like doing, it's discovering new authors. S. M. Hardy is certainly a new author for me but she is now a firm favourite author of mine. I read the synopsis for 'The Evil Within' and it certainly sounded intriguing. So without further ado, I grabbed my copy of the book, I grabbed a cup of tea, I moved my youngest Labrador from the comfy spot on the couch, sat down and I began to read. 'The Evil Within' is certainly a read and a half, which I did enjoy but more about that in a bit.
'The Evil Within' is the first of the 'Dark Devon Mysteries' series and it is a promising start to a new series. The author initially grabbed my attention with the dark and slightly sinister cover, which encouraged me to read the synopsis and the story just sealed the deal as it were. The author has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. I felt as though I was part of the story myself, which is all thanks to S. M. Hardy's storytelling and the vivid and realistic descriptions she uses.
It didn't take me long at all to get into this book. In fact by the end of the first chapter, I knew that this was going to be one of those books, which I would need to binge read. I must be psychic because that's exactly what happened. I wasn't able to read the book over the course of a day because life got in the way, but I did manage to read it over the course of a couple of days. Whilst I was reading the book I totally immersed myself in the story to the extent that I was able to shut out all other distractions and focus solely on the book. Usually I have the attention span of a gnat and I am easily distracted but not in this case. I was so convinced by the story that I began to interact with the book as if the different characters could hear what I was saying. I know that sounds weird but I find that if I enjoy a book to the extent that I enjoyed this one then I tend to 'live' the story as if it were real.
In short, I really enjoyed reading 'The Evil Within' and I would recommend it to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of S. M. Hardy's work in the future. Here's hoping that we don't have too long to wait for her next book. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
'The Evil Within' is the first of the 'Dark Devon Mysteries' series and it is a promising start to a new series. The author initially grabbed my attention with the dark and slightly sinister cover, which encouraged me to read the synopsis and the story just sealed the deal as it were. The author has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. I felt as though I was part of the story myself, which is all thanks to S. M. Hardy's storytelling and the vivid and realistic descriptions she uses.
It didn't take me long at all to get into this book. In fact by the end of the first chapter, I knew that this was going to be one of those books, which I would need to binge read. I must be psychic because that's exactly what happened. I wasn't able to read the book over the course of a day because life got in the way, but I did manage to read it over the course of a couple of days. Whilst I was reading the book I totally immersed myself in the story to the extent that I was able to shut out all other distractions and focus solely on the book. Usually I have the attention span of a gnat and I am easily distracted but not in this case. I was so convinced by the story that I began to interact with the book as if the different characters could hear what I was saying. I know that sounds weird but I find that if I enjoy a book to the extent that I enjoyed this one then I tend to 'live' the story as if it were real.
In short, I really enjoyed reading 'The Evil Within' and I would recommend it to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of S. M. Hardy's work in the future. Here's hoping that we don't have too long to wait for her next book. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
March 9, 2020
If you like your mysteries peppered with all things spooky then this could be the book for you!
Jim is still grieving his fiance two years after her death. He's been going swiftly downhill and, in the middle of a meeting, walks out of his high powered city job in finance, and moves from London to a small village in Devon. Not even unpacked, he starts to witness some spooky stuff happening. Strange noises, things he sees out of the corner of his eyes but who disappear when he moves his head. Determined to make the best of his clean break, he makes friends with Jed and Emma who are also sensitive to spooky goings on and they recognise the same in him and think that there is a bigger reason for him moving to the village. Jim just wants to get on with his life without fuss and bother but it soon becomes apparent that there are things afoot that even he can't fight...
I really enjoyed this book - I do love a good spooky story - especially when it is all wrapped around a mystery, a crime, especially that of a murder... I also love books set in villages as you tend to have a really eclectic mix of people, most of whom have secrets that could be connected to the main story. Keeps me on my toes throughout! Small villages also lend themselves well to the cloying and claustrophobic atmosphere necessary for this type of book to really work and Slyford St James really delivers here.
Pacing was the sticking point for me a bit as I think it lost its footing a little along the way. Beginning was excellent and I thought the set up was well done, then it went a bit astray, happily not enough for me to give up, just a bit of a wobble, and then my perseverance was well rewarded by a mostly satisfying ending. I say mostly, the majority was wrapped up but I think the door has been left open for maybe a sequel with some things that were not quite resolved. Personally I'd be happy to return to SSJ to continue the journey.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Jim is still grieving his fiance two years after her death. He's been going swiftly downhill and, in the middle of a meeting, walks out of his high powered city job in finance, and moves from London to a small village in Devon. Not even unpacked, he starts to witness some spooky stuff happening. Strange noises, things he sees out of the corner of his eyes but who disappear when he moves his head. Determined to make the best of his clean break, he makes friends with Jed and Emma who are also sensitive to spooky goings on and they recognise the same in him and think that there is a bigger reason for him moving to the village. Jim just wants to get on with his life without fuss and bother but it soon becomes apparent that there are things afoot that even he can't fight...
I really enjoyed this book - I do love a good spooky story - especially when it is all wrapped around a mystery, a crime, especially that of a murder... I also love books set in villages as you tend to have a really eclectic mix of people, most of whom have secrets that could be connected to the main story. Keeps me on my toes throughout! Small villages also lend themselves well to the cloying and claustrophobic atmosphere necessary for this type of book to really work and Slyford St James really delivers here.
Pacing was the sticking point for me a bit as I think it lost its footing a little along the way. Beginning was excellent and I thought the set up was well done, then it went a bit astray, happily not enough for me to give up, just a bit of a wobble, and then my perseverance was well rewarded by a mostly satisfying ending. I say mostly, the majority was wrapped up but I think the door has been left open for maybe a sequel with some things that were not quite resolved. Personally I'd be happy to return to SSJ to continue the journey.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
February 25, 2025
The Evil Within by S M Hardy
After the sudden death of his fiancée, London banker Jim Hawkes has a crisis of conscience. He packs in his job and seeks the tranquillity of a coastal village in Devon. But he gets a lot more than he bargained for, because unresolved historical events find him as soon as he moves in.
The death of a child has left its mark on the entire village, but never more than inside the cottage Jim has rented, because this is where the child died. Noises in the attic, fleeting glimpses in the gardens, the sound of a child’s giggle. Jim thinks he’s going bonkers. In an effort to get some perspective he takes himself off to the pub for a drink with Jed, the man who maintains the cottage for the letting agency.
Jed is the source of a lot of local information as well as the suggestion that Jim, like Jed, has ‘second site’, an idea backed up by Jed’s friend Emma. These two long time residents of the village reveal that there have been a string of unsolved murders in the area, going back many years.
Jim has trouble accepting his own abilities, but overcomes his scepticism thanks to increasingly regular sightings of Krystal the child who died in the cottage. An accidental death as far as the authorities are concerned, but what if she was another victim of the unknown killer? Krystal is undoubtedly reaching out to him, but what if she needs Jim to solve her murder so she can move on? At great risk to himself, Jim sets out to unmask the killer.
This is a slow and steady, tension ratcheting, traditional ghost story cum murder mystery. My two favourite genres! I found it to be creepy and atmospheric, with just enough in the way of thrills to keep me reading. I read the last half of the story well into the night, because I genuinely couldn’t put it down. I also didn’t have much of a clue who the killer was until the ending was in sight. Then, when I got there… and discovered the nice little twist, I was comforted knowing that there’s a direct follow up. A second ‘Dark Devon Mystery’ awaits and I can’t wait to dive in.
After the sudden death of his fiancée, London banker Jim Hawkes has a crisis of conscience. He packs in his job and seeks the tranquillity of a coastal village in Devon. But he gets a lot more than he bargained for, because unresolved historical events find him as soon as he moves in.
The death of a child has left its mark on the entire village, but never more than inside the cottage Jim has rented, because this is where the child died. Noises in the attic, fleeting glimpses in the gardens, the sound of a child’s giggle. Jim thinks he’s going bonkers. In an effort to get some perspective he takes himself off to the pub for a drink with Jed, the man who maintains the cottage for the letting agency.
Jed is the source of a lot of local information as well as the suggestion that Jim, like Jed, has ‘second site’, an idea backed up by Jed’s friend Emma. These two long time residents of the village reveal that there have been a string of unsolved murders in the area, going back many years.
Jim has trouble accepting his own abilities, but overcomes his scepticism thanks to increasingly regular sightings of Krystal the child who died in the cottage. An accidental death as far as the authorities are concerned, but what if she was another victim of the unknown killer? Krystal is undoubtedly reaching out to him, but what if she needs Jim to solve her murder so she can move on? At great risk to himself, Jim sets out to unmask the killer.
This is a slow and steady, tension ratcheting, traditional ghost story cum murder mystery. My two favourite genres! I found it to be creepy and atmospheric, with just enough in the way of thrills to keep me reading. I read the last half of the story well into the night, because I genuinely couldn’t put it down. I also didn’t have much of a clue who the killer was until the ending was in sight. Then, when I got there… and discovered the nice little twist, I was comforted knowing that there’s a direct follow up. A second ‘Dark Devon Mystery’ awaits and I can’t wait to dive in.
October 11, 2023
This was a solid 4-star read!
I picked this book up with the intention of reading a horror, and while I wouldn't really put it in that genre, it was undoubtedly creepy in places. This book was a murder mystery cloaked in a supernatural setting. My favourite parts were the ghostly, eerie parts, which were plentiful. They were what kept a majority of my interest. Then, of course, there was the murder mystery, which I was determined to get to the bottom of.
The beginning of this book was very strong, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. However, it did lull in the middle. Not enough to lose my interest completely, but there was a lot of nothing happening, a lot of repetition, too. The big finale was really good; very tense, very entertaining. It was equally enthralling as the beginning. Despite a couple of unanswered questions, I really liked the ending... until one part. I really don't know how to feel about it. I was reading the final pages, feeling satisfied in the way the book was closing out, and then one sentence ruined it a bit. I can see what the author was going for, but I don't think it was necessary.
Even with my few criticisms, overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a really great story, atmospheric and creepy throughout, with a fascinating murder mystery at the centre. It was dark; the title suited the story perfectly. I liked the characters and loved the setting. If it had held my interest in the middle as much as it did in the beginning and the end, and had maybe had a different approach to that one detail at its conclusion, I think this book could have been a solid 5 stars. I loved the writing style - very clear and easy flowing - and I'd certainly read something else by this author in the future.
I picked this book up with the intention of reading a horror, and while I wouldn't really put it in that genre, it was undoubtedly creepy in places. This book was a murder mystery cloaked in a supernatural setting. My favourite parts were the ghostly, eerie parts, which were plentiful. They were what kept a majority of my interest. Then, of course, there was the murder mystery, which I was determined to get to the bottom of.
The beginning of this book was very strong, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. However, it did lull in the middle. Not enough to lose my interest completely, but there was a lot of nothing happening, a lot of repetition, too. The big finale was really good; very tense, very entertaining. It was equally enthralling as the beginning. Despite a couple of unanswered questions, I really liked the ending... until one part. I really don't know how to feel about it. I was reading the final pages, feeling satisfied in the way the book was closing out, and then one sentence ruined it a bit. I can see what the author was going for, but I don't think it was necessary.
Even with my few criticisms, overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a really great story, atmospheric and creepy throughout, with a fascinating murder mystery at the centre. It was dark; the title suited the story perfectly. I liked the characters and loved the setting. If it had held my interest in the middle as much as it did in the beginning and the end, and had maybe had a different approach to that one detail at its conclusion, I think this book could have been a solid 5 stars. I loved the writing style - very clear and easy flowing - and I'd certainly read something else by this author in the future.
March 21, 2020
Am I stressed, losing my mind or is a small blond girl wearing a school uniform running through my garden with her dog and disappearing into the mist? These are the questions facing Jim Hawkes, a London banker trying to recover from the tragic death of his fiancee two years earlier. After a semi-breakdown at work, he retires with a substantial bonus and rents a picturesque cottage in the country town of Slyford St James, looking for peace and quiet. But soon the locals are giving him sideways glances and asking if he is living in the “Morgan Cottage?” Before he is warned not to let his handyman Jed “play with his head,” Jim has been told that he has second sight and, more importantly, that six year old Krystal Morgan died in the cottage. She fell from the attic door. The same door that keeps coming open. The attic where he hears small steps running across the floor.
You have the picture. This is a ghost story and a very good one. However, it is also a mystery as Jim tries to solve Krystal’s murder. He begins to have terrifying visions of the killer and sees people around him who may or not be dead. He also meets Lucy, a local girl, and their new relationship helps him move on from his longstanding grief.
This is a difficult review to write. If you like ghost stories, you will love The Evil Within. If you don’t, or are not sure, read this for the mystery alone. It’s that good. Even if you skip through anything you think is over the top ghosty (and there isn’t much) the identity of the killer and the surprise ending will be a total shock. 5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley, Allison & Busby and S.M. Hardy for this ARC.
You have the picture. This is a ghost story and a very good one. However, it is also a mystery as Jim tries to solve Krystal’s murder. He begins to have terrifying visions of the killer and sees people around him who may or not be dead. He also meets Lucy, a local girl, and their new relationship helps him move on from his longstanding grief.
This is a difficult review to write. If you like ghost stories, you will love The Evil Within. If you don’t, or are not sure, read this for the mystery alone. It’s that good. Even if you skip through anything you think is over the top ghosty (and there isn’t much) the identity of the killer and the surprise ending will be a total shock. 5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley, Allison & Busby and S.M. Hardy for this ARC.
February 29, 2020
The Evil Within is a mystery thriller with a touch of paranormal elements. But as the book goes on, there are hints that there could be more. As I've mentioned before, Haunted houses isn't really my favorite across the whole horror genre (but one I can respect). I mean, nothing's creepier lying in bed alone & a hearing mysterious sobbing in your house right? Yup I watched The Curse of La Llorona then decided to read because I couldn't sleep. (Looks like my mind doesn't work by logic at night.)
Anyway the storyline was great, it definitely had its moments. Majority of the characters have a distinct purpose & the part they played slowly unfolding the story allowed a greater connection to be made in the plot. I think if it's made into a movie it'll give me a scare. But in book form? Nah this one I could handle fairly, who wants to read thriller after watching a horror film anyway?(ME!)
Took me an entire evening to finish because as the story progressed, I was eventually hooked. Though the ending didn’t appeal to me much at first. It’s both satisfying & unsatisfying at the same time if that makes any sense.
Many thanks to netgalley and Allison & Busby for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Anyway the storyline was great, it definitely had its moments. Majority of the characters have a distinct purpose & the part they played slowly unfolding the story allowed a greater connection to be made in the plot. I think if it's made into a movie it'll give me a scare. But in book form? Nah this one I could handle fairly, who wants to read thriller after watching a horror film anyway?(ME!)
Took me an entire evening to finish because as the story progressed, I was eventually hooked. Though the ending didn’t appeal to me much at first. It’s both satisfying & unsatisfying at the same time if that makes any sense.
Many thanks to netgalley and Allison & Busby for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read
May 25, 2020Listen to the interview with S.M. Hardy on New Books Network in Fantasy
https://bit.ly/3c4S6OS
Jim, our narrator, experiences a crisis of conscience in the wake of the possible suicide of his girlfriend. He quits his high-paying job seizing assets for a loan company and moves to a small village near the seaside to get away from it all. With no plans to occupy himself, and a golden parachute from his company, Jim finds himself with a lot of time on his hands—time that he hopes will help him heal from his loss.
Instead, odd and spooky events immediately begin occurring. After he hears sounds from the empty attic, he finds out from his new friend, handyman Jed, that a little girl died falling down the steps. Soon, Jim begins to doubt that the little girl’s death was an accident. Jed, and a kindly neighbor, Emma, believe in supernatural visitations, and explain that he is receiving warnings from ghosts.
Yet, some of the things that happen to Jim, like gas from the stove filling the cottage, seem too real to be ascribed to ghosts. Is Jim going mad, doing things he’s unaware of, or is there a real threat to his own well-being? Even Jed and Emma begin to wonder.
https://bit.ly/3c4S6OS
Jim, our narrator, experiences a crisis of conscience in the wake of the possible suicide of his girlfriend. He quits his high-paying job seizing assets for a loan company and moves to a small village near the seaside to get away from it all. With no plans to occupy himself, and a golden parachute from his company, Jim finds himself with a lot of time on his hands—time that he hopes will help him heal from his loss.
Instead, odd and spooky events immediately begin occurring. After he hears sounds from the empty attic, he finds out from his new friend, handyman Jed, that a little girl died falling down the steps. Soon, Jim begins to doubt that the little girl’s death was an accident. Jed, and a kindly neighbor, Emma, believe in supernatural visitations, and explain that he is receiving warnings from ghosts.
Yet, some of the things that happen to Jim, like gas from the stove filling the cottage, seem too real to be ascribed to ghosts. Is Jim going mad, doing things he’s unaware of, or is there a real threat to his own well-being? Even Jed and Emma begin to wonder.
June 26, 2020
Oooo yeah I liked this one...I forgot how much I love a supernatural thriller. This is a great book that really builds the tension and I must admit made me a bit goosepimply (if that's even a word!).
It's about a man who, after experiencing a terrible loss, decides to pack his high flying job in and moves to an incredibly quiet and fairly isolated village. He rents a small cottage and starts to explore his new surroundings with the local pub being the first obvious spot. There he learns that the cottage he lives in was home to a young family who tragically lost their daughter in a freak accident and so the spooky goings-on begin. OK so some of it was a little far fetched but I thought it was a great. Sometimes when you read a book or watch a film its nice to suspend all belief and just enjoy it for what it is.
Would recommend if you love a spooky supernatural thriller with a somewhat strange twist!
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
It's about a man who, after experiencing a terrible loss, decides to pack his high flying job in and moves to an incredibly quiet and fairly isolated village. He rents a small cottage and starts to explore his new surroundings with the local pub being the first obvious spot. There he learns that the cottage he lives in was home to a young family who tragically lost their daughter in a freak accident and so the spooky goings-on begin. OK so some of it was a little far fetched but I thought it was a great. Sometimes when you read a book or watch a film its nice to suspend all belief and just enjoy it for what it is.
Would recommend if you love a spooky supernatural thriller with a somewhat strange twist!
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
October 16, 2021
Superb. Absolutely loved this book. A must read.
This is her debut paranormal novel, Part One of The Dark Devon Mysteries series and I sincerely hope that it's not her last.
On the brink of a breakdown, Jim Hawkes quits his job in the city and rents a cottage in the Devon countryside as he seeks some much needed rest but he soon finds out that it's not quite the peaceful haven he was hoping for.
This is a great story with very likeable characters, especially Jim and Lucy and unlike some other supernatural books I've read this is not full of over descriptive repetition. Though I was pretty disappointed when I'd finished it was slightly annoying that one thing was left unconfirmed (unanswered questions always annoy me) "Who killed Krystal Morgan and Marie Baker?" It was mentioned that "a certain someone" whom could've been responsible so I guess that's that.
That aside, this book is one that I'd Very Highly recommend and I'm gonna get onto the sequel as soon as these ghostly voices cease...
This is her debut paranormal novel, Part One of The Dark Devon Mysteries series and I sincerely hope that it's not her last.
On the brink of a breakdown, Jim Hawkes quits his job in the city and rents a cottage in the Devon countryside as he seeks some much needed rest but he soon finds out that it's not quite the peaceful haven he was hoping for.
This is a great story with very likeable characters, especially Jim and Lucy and unlike some other supernatural books I've read this is not full of over descriptive repetition. Though I was pretty disappointed when I'd finished it was slightly annoying that one thing was left unconfirmed (unanswered questions always annoy me) "Who killed Krystal Morgan and Marie Baker?" It was mentioned that "a certain someone" whom could've been responsible so I guess that's that.
That aside, this book is one that I'd Very Highly recommend and I'm gonna get onto the sequel as soon as these ghostly voices cease...
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