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Medlock
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1978. Mrs. Medlock is the dutiful housekeeper at Marwood Manor. One of the few remaining staff, she protects a dying aristocratic order, serving the Lord and Lady and caring for their sickly young son.
For over the past twenty years, Mrs. Medlock has become the keeper of secrets. Secrets of the family. Secrets of her own. Secrets that may be found in the manor's walled garden, out of sight but not forgotten.
When a distant relative, Mary, arrives at the property in need of a place to live and with a determination to explore, Mrs. Medlock fears the secrets of Marwood are no longer safe. And digging up the past may have deadly consequences for them all . . .
1978. Mrs. Medlock is the dutiful housekeeper at Marwood Manor. One of the few remaining staff, she protects a dying aristocratic order, serving the Lord and Lady and caring for their sickly young son.
For over the past twenty years, Mrs. Medlock has become the keeper of secrets. Secrets of the family. Secrets of her own. Secrets that may be found in the manor's walled garden, out of sight but not forgotten.
When a distant relative, Mary, arrives at the property in need of a place to live and with a determination to explore, Mrs. Medlock fears the secrets of Marwood are no longer safe. And digging up the past may have deadly consequences for them all . . .
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
September 29, 2025
’You will all be dead by dawn’
Medlock is a gothic horror inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett’s, The Secret Garden, and eerily reminiscent of Mike Flanagan’s Netflix show, The Haunting of Bly Manor. The story follows Mrs Medlock, a maid working at Murwood Manor under the employment of a Lord and Lady Ashton, as she recounts the violent and bizarre events that occurred on the manors grounds in 1979.
This narrative was both darkly riveting at times, and utterly baffling at others. In part, I was captivated by the characters, with their hostile and confrontational personalities and many secrets, but also convinced I was being tricked by their consistently strange decision making and infantile behaviour (even displayed by the adults!). I adored the atmosphere, an imposingly large manor with its sprawling gardens, and also thought it was underutilised, never quite reaching a level of ‘spooky’ or ‘sinister’ I expected. Mostly, I was just completely and wholly flabbergasted by the fact that this book is set in 1979 and yet reads like it’s set in 1910, not helped by the old-fashioned and archaic way in which the characters speak and act. Every time a modern appliance or person was mentioned (including Margaret Thatcher, of all people) it felt like I was getting an extreme case of time-period-whiplash.
However, Medlock is still a well-written, well-paced and thoroughly enjoyable book. While it has its flaws, as outlined above, I at no point was bored, uninterested or unengaged from the plot. The mystery was intriguing, keeping me guessing the whole way through, and the reveal of the very final twist was brilliant. Yes, the villain was a little silly, even doing the classic long monologue to reveal his treacherous plan, but I found him suitably entertaining and easy to root against.
Overall, Medlock is a book I do recommend, as a compelling short horror read, perfect for the month of October. 3.5/5 stars rounded up to 4/5 stars for Goodreads and Netgalley.
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! <3
Medlock is a gothic horror inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett’s, The Secret Garden, and eerily reminiscent of Mike Flanagan’s Netflix show, The Haunting of Bly Manor. The story follows Mrs Medlock, a maid working at Murwood Manor under the employment of a Lord and Lady Ashton, as she recounts the violent and bizarre events that occurred on the manors grounds in 1979.
This narrative was both darkly riveting at times, and utterly baffling at others. In part, I was captivated by the characters, with their hostile and confrontational personalities and many secrets, but also convinced I was being tricked by their consistently strange decision making and infantile behaviour (even displayed by the adults!). I adored the atmosphere, an imposingly large manor with its sprawling gardens, and also thought it was underutilised, never quite reaching a level of ‘spooky’ or ‘sinister’ I expected. Mostly, I was just completely and wholly flabbergasted by the fact that this book is set in 1979 and yet reads like it’s set in 1910, not helped by the old-fashioned and archaic way in which the characters speak and act. Every time a modern appliance or person was mentioned (including Margaret Thatcher, of all people) it felt like I was getting an extreme case of time-period-whiplash.
However, Medlock is still a well-written, well-paced and thoroughly enjoyable book. While it has its flaws, as outlined above, I at no point was bored, uninterested or unengaged from the plot. The mystery was intriguing, keeping me guessing the whole way through, and the reveal of the very final twist was brilliant. Yes, the villain was a little silly, even doing the classic long monologue to reveal his treacherous plan, but I found him suitably entertaining and easy to root against.
Overall, Medlock is a book I do recommend, as a compelling short horror read, perfect for the month of October. 3.5/5 stars rounded up to 4/5 stars for Goodreads and Netgalley.
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! <3
September 15, 2025
I often find it quite hard to write a review for a book that was “just okay”.
The description for Medlock sounded exciting, promising some sort of gothic vibe. However, I don’t feel like it delivered on its promise.
Mrs Medlock is telling a potential tutor, Natalie, her recollections of certain events in the late 70s. From the very beginning, this scenario felt entirely off to me. I couldn’t understand why Mrs Medlock was sharing so much information with someone at all, never mind this Natalie who I found rather intrusive and pushy. Obviously this becomes clear later on, by which time I had already answered my own question. These breaks in the storytelling though, where the chapters move to Mrs Medlock and Natalie, constantly pulled me out of the story. I found them to be totally disruptive to the flow of the narrative.
Something else I struggled with was Mrs Medlock’s age. Supposedly in her forties, she seemed so much older. A bit of a fuddy-duddy, and she didn’t really come across as likeable, either. As soon as something goes wrong, she seems to find herself on the verge of a breakdown and in assistance of the gardener. It nearly made me wonder how she'd been able to run a house for so long, since she seems incapable of facing the smallest kind of hardship on her own. While she was convinced she’d never be let go of her position, she never quite found enough courage to stand up to the lady of the house. Otherwise, most of the events that occurred might never have happened in the first place. As for those events, well, what to say? Some are sad, some are entirely bonkers and I didn't quite know what to make of it all.
I would have preferred more participation from the children in the house, as I felt they were the best part of the story. More adventures maybe, more discoveries. Definitely more secret garden stuff. There didn't seem to be much of that at all and the whole thing felt like somewhat of a let down. Sure, there are skeletons in closets and lots of secrets to be uncovered but a lot of those are not particularly for the eyes and ears of such youngsters. Some you might not expect, others seem rather predictable. Also, as a crime fiction fan, I must say I did appreciate the gore but I wouldn't go as far as to call it horror.
There seemed rather a lot of questions that remained unanswered in the end, which bothered me as well. I don't desperately need everything to be wrapped up all nicely into a little bow but I did wonder about how much the lord and lady of the house were involved in the shenanigans that occurred. But all in all, while this review might lean slightly to the negative side, I didn’t actually dislike 'Medlock', and I did want to find out how everything would play out. I just expected that little bit more.
The description for Medlock sounded exciting, promising some sort of gothic vibe. However, I don’t feel like it delivered on its promise.
Mrs Medlock is telling a potential tutor, Natalie, her recollections of certain events in the late 70s. From the very beginning, this scenario felt entirely off to me. I couldn’t understand why Mrs Medlock was sharing so much information with someone at all, never mind this Natalie who I found rather intrusive and pushy. Obviously this becomes clear later on, by which time I had already answered my own question. These breaks in the storytelling though, where the chapters move to Mrs Medlock and Natalie, constantly pulled me out of the story. I found them to be totally disruptive to the flow of the narrative.
Something else I struggled with was Mrs Medlock’s age. Supposedly in her forties, she seemed so much older. A bit of a fuddy-duddy, and she didn’t really come across as likeable, either. As soon as something goes wrong, she seems to find herself on the verge of a breakdown and in assistance of the gardener. It nearly made me wonder how she'd been able to run a house for so long, since she seems incapable of facing the smallest kind of hardship on her own. While she was convinced she’d never be let go of her position, she never quite found enough courage to stand up to the lady of the house. Otherwise, most of the events that occurred might never have happened in the first place. As for those events, well, what to say? Some are sad, some are entirely bonkers and I didn't quite know what to make of it all.
I would have preferred more participation from the children in the house, as I felt they were the best part of the story. More adventures maybe, more discoveries. Definitely more secret garden stuff. There didn't seem to be much of that at all and the whole thing felt like somewhat of a let down. Sure, there are skeletons in closets and lots of secrets to be uncovered but a lot of those are not particularly for the eyes and ears of such youngsters. Some you might not expect, others seem rather predictable. Also, as a crime fiction fan, I must say I did appreciate the gore but I wouldn't go as far as to call it horror.
There seemed rather a lot of questions that remained unanswered in the end, which bothered me as well. I don't desperately need everything to be wrapped up all nicely into a little bow but I did wonder about how much the lord and lady of the house were involved in the shenanigans that occurred. But all in all, while this review might lean slightly to the negative side, I didn’t actually dislike 'Medlock', and I did want to find out how everything would play out. I just expected that little bit more.
October 19, 2025
4⭐️
I see that there are a lot of 2⭐️ reviews for this book, but I rather enjoyed it. A bit of over the top gothickyness doesn't do any harm once in a while.
I see that there are a lot of 2⭐️ reviews for this book, but I rather enjoyed it. A bit of over the top gothickyness doesn't do any harm once in a while.
June 24, 2025
Medlock is a gothic reimagining of The Secret Garden, with atmospheric and haunting world-building that will keep you wanting to turn the pages almost faster than you can read them.
Welcome to Marwood Manor, shrouded in mystery, grief and family secrets.
𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙧, 1978: Mrs Medlock is the housekeeper at the manor. One night, a distant relative to the Lord and Lady of the manor arrives on the doorstep, Mary a young inquisitive girl whose parents have died of the flu. That inquisitive nature sets off a deadly sequence of events, where Mrs Medlock finds herself thrust into the centre of it all.
𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙧, 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙮: Natalie, a potential tutor for Rupert, the Lord and Lady’s son, arrives at the manor and sits down with Mrs Medlock, but before she agrees to taking the job, she wants to listen to everything the housekeeper has to say. And there’s a lot that Mrs Medlock has to say.
I don’t want to say too much about this book plot-wise because I truly feel like it’s one best gone into blind. What I will say, is that how the story unravels through Mrs Medlock’s storytelling and diary excerpts, was utterly consuming and I couldn’t put this one down.
Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book!
Welcome to Marwood Manor, shrouded in mystery, grief and family secrets.
𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙧, 1978: Mrs Medlock is the housekeeper at the manor. One night, a distant relative to the Lord and Lady of the manor arrives on the doorstep, Mary a young inquisitive girl whose parents have died of the flu. That inquisitive nature sets off a deadly sequence of events, where Mrs Medlock finds herself thrust into the centre of it all.
𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙧, 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙮: Natalie, a potential tutor for Rupert, the Lord and Lady’s son, arrives at the manor and sits down with Mrs Medlock, but before she agrees to taking the job, she wants to listen to everything the housekeeper has to say. And there’s a lot that Mrs Medlock has to say.
I don’t want to say too much about this book plot-wise because I truly feel like it’s one best gone into blind. What I will say, is that how the story unravels through Mrs Medlock’s storytelling and diary excerpts, was utterly consuming and I couldn’t put this one down.
Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book!
April 5, 2025
Wow, I'll say wow wow wow non-stop for this book. It's an unputdownable thriller with a strong gothic ambience.
Welcome to Marwood Manor, the property of Lord Ashton, where you'll be welcomed by Mrs Medlock, the housekeeper.
Here also lived Rupert, the son of Lord Ashton, who's remained in his room for years because he seemed to get health issues.
Mrs Medlock got busier with more children coming into the Manor. From Mary, the orphan, a sole survivor of influenza in Scotland; then Ernst and his tutor, Mr Quint.
The Marwood Manor with the dark secrets kept by Mrs Medlock for twenty years, and it's finally about to be revealed.
It becomes a bit gory and creepy prior to the end of the story.
The ending is brilliant!! And I think it deserves my 5 stars.
Welcome to Marwood Manor, the property of Lord Ashton, where you'll be welcomed by Mrs Medlock, the housekeeper.
Here also lived Rupert, the son of Lord Ashton, who's remained in his room for years because he seemed to get health issues.
Mrs Medlock got busier with more children coming into the Manor. From Mary, the orphan, a sole survivor of influenza in Scotland; then Ernst and his tutor, Mr Quint.
The Marwood Manor with the dark secrets kept by Mrs Medlock for twenty years, and it's finally about to be revealed.
It becomes a bit gory and creepy prior to the end of the story.
The ending is brilliant!! And I think it deserves my 5 stars.
October 12, 2025
Medlock is inspired in part by The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burrnett, with characters sharing names from both this and The Turn of the Screw by Henry James.
It is 1978 at Melmont Manor and Mary a distant relative of Lord and Lady Ashton has come to stay following tragic events and the deaths of both her parents in their small Scottish village. Mrs Medlock the manor's housekeeper has been in her position for twenty years. She is one of the few remaining staff at the house and seems to be clinging on to the old ways of running the house. For a woman born in the nineteen thirties her attitudes to children are positively Victorian. In fact for a woman supposedly in her forties her speech and general demeanour are that of a far older woman from another era. This is probably to give a sense of ambiguity and enhances the feelings of unease and discord around events in the house. However, whenever real life people from the 1970s are alluded to, Terry Wogan, Margaret Thatcher to name a couple, the result is temporal whiplash!
Following the arrival of two more visitors to the manor, life becomes even darker and stranger.
I was riveted and conjured all sorts of theories to explain what I thought might be happening. In fact nothing I thought of was quite so eerie as what evolved. I got up one night after reading and felt genuinely creeped out, the sign of a good horror story.
The writing was of good quality, I liked the uncertainty of not knowing what was going to be revealed. The story's pacing was fairly even, with the tension gradually ramping up. The denouement is fairly mad, but enjoyable. I felt the final twist was very well done.
If you like stories with a country house with a tense atmosphere, which harbours anachronistic characters you may enjoy Medlock too. Just don't expect a sensible story!
Thank to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
It is 1978 at Melmont Manor and Mary a distant relative of Lord and Lady Ashton has come to stay following tragic events and the deaths of both her parents in their small Scottish village. Mrs Medlock the manor's housekeeper has been in her position for twenty years. She is one of the few remaining staff at the house and seems to be clinging on to the old ways of running the house. For a woman born in the nineteen thirties her attitudes to children are positively Victorian. In fact for a woman supposedly in her forties her speech and general demeanour are that of a far older woman from another era. This is probably to give a sense of ambiguity and enhances the feelings of unease and discord around events in the house. However, whenever real life people from the 1970s are alluded to, Terry Wogan, Margaret Thatcher to name a couple, the result is temporal whiplash!
Following the arrival of two more visitors to the manor, life becomes even darker and stranger.
I was riveted and conjured all sorts of theories to explain what I thought might be happening. In fact nothing I thought of was quite so eerie as what evolved. I got up one night after reading and felt genuinely creeped out, the sign of a good horror story.
The writing was of good quality, I liked the uncertainty of not knowing what was going to be revealed. The story's pacing was fairly even, with the tension gradually ramping up. The denouement is fairly mad, but enjoyable. I felt the final twist was very well done.
If you like stories with a country house with a tense atmosphere, which harbours anachronistic characters you may enjoy Medlock too. Just don't expect a sensible story!
Thank to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
November 6, 2025
This is a 3.5, generously rounded up to 4, because for a debut author, I feel like it was a job well done.
plus Hartnell studied in Southampton, so that's my bias 😀
I think potentially what this story suffered from is the pacing and too many ideas.
The story steadily seems to go in one direction, then it turns around and it's another story- then at page 206 everything starts happening all at once.
Which leaves too little time for all the different ideas to tie together in cohesive way. At this point I will mention that none of the ideas were bad, (expect for Honoria storyline) but it was a spoonful too much perhaps 😅
In the same time, I get it - throughout 200 pages Mrs Medlock keeps promising us loads of secrets and horrible events, so I'm guessing better overdeliver, than under...
All that said, I would happily read another book from this author- as mentioned, indeed for a debut, it wasn't bad. And I'm sure with time and practice he will hash out the pacing issues and edit his ideas more. He has a strong and easy going writer voice and seems to be able to create an atmospheric setting with ease otherwise.
plus Hartnell studied in Southampton, so that's my bias 😀
I think potentially what this story suffered from is the pacing and too many ideas.
The story steadily seems to go in one direction, then it turns around and it's another story- then at page 206 everything starts happening all at once.
Which leaves too little time for all the different ideas to tie together in cohesive way. At this point I will mention that none of the ideas were bad, (expect for Honoria storyline) but it was a spoonful too much perhaps 😅
In the same time, I get it - throughout 200 pages Mrs Medlock keeps promising us loads of secrets and horrible events, so I'm guessing better overdeliver, than under...
All that said, I would happily read another book from this author- as mentioned, indeed for a debut, it wasn't bad. And I'm sure with time and practice he will hash out the pacing issues and edit his ideas more. He has a strong and easy going writer voice and seems to be able to create an atmospheric setting with ease otherwise.
August 31, 2025
I don’t know where to start with this book. To begin with, it has no connection to the Secret Garden other than a couple of names, a sickly boy and a garden.
The book starts with an idea that in 1978, a young girl called Mary loses her parents, goes to live with relatives, encounters the housekeeper Mrs Medlock, meets the boy shut away, and steals a key to get into the forbidden garden. That’s where the connection to the secret garden ends, and I think this is a bit of a shame because there was potential to explore the story and themes in a different time frame, and with the horror we were promised.
Nothing much happens then for the entire first half of the book, and if this hadn’t been an ARC, I would probably have DNFd it about a quarter of the way through. The last third of the book picks up, and we have some really great slasher-style horror in there, which is where it earned the two stars, but to get to that point is a bit of a meander.
My biggest problem with the book is the lack of consistency. When you look at the book as a whole, the main plot is around a 14 year old boy and his tutor who arrive at the house. Once we have the set-up related to the secret garden, which is quite near the start, the focus shifts to the impact they have on the house, and it’s as if the author forgot the secret garden connection completely. The housekeeper didn’t need to be Mrs Medlock. The little girl didn’t need to be Mary. Even the garden didn’t need to exist as it was. It could have just been part of the garden in general. None of the Secret Garden themes were explored, developed, referred to. It honestly feels as if the reference was just to sell the book via a nice description in the blurb. This book had more in common with Saltburn and The Secret History than The Secret Garden. And to be honest, if that was how it was comped, I still would have read it. The horror and twists were great. They just came out of nowhere and weren’t built or developed in the first half of the book.
My other issue is how women were portrayed. I knew before I investigated that the author was young and male. Medlock is snappy and neurotic, she is referred to as ‘middle aged’ in her early 40s, admittedly by a teenager, but still. When she comes across a situation that is difficult or upsetting, she has a full emotional breakdown and then calls for a man. And in her diary from the past, she is submissive and party to a bizarre power-skewed arrangement with the lord and lady. The two mothers in the story are glamorous but nasty and spiteful, shallow, uninterested in their children. Even the late lady of the house has the sole purpose of producing an heir, and came across as shallow and spoilt. The maid is simply there as a toy for one of the male characters and has no real significance apart from that. And then we have other young women brought in by the tutor; it is made clear as part of the story that they are not allowed to be known by their names and are seen purely as objects. The men, of course, are all strong and manly. It’s all very Handmaids Tale. Maybe that was on purpose.
I’m actually really devastated that I didn’t like this book, as I’m a huge fan of the secret garden, and I was excited to read a rewrite. I feel that this could have been two books - the retelling with some horror, and then the story of the housekeeper and tutor in a different house. In this author’s hands, both could have been incredible. It’s almost as if he starts writing a book, gets distracted and ends up writing something entirely different to what he started, and then moves onto something else without looking back to polish or edit. If this was my book, I would want to give it at least one or two more edits before submission, and would probably have ditched the secret garden connection completely. The horror is fantastic, and I can see why some people have rated this one higher than I have, just on that alone.
The book starts with an idea that in 1978, a young girl called Mary loses her parents, goes to live with relatives, encounters the housekeeper Mrs Medlock, meets the boy shut away, and steals a key to get into the forbidden garden. That’s where the connection to the secret garden ends, and I think this is a bit of a shame because there was potential to explore the story and themes in a different time frame, and with the horror we were promised.
Nothing much happens then for the entire first half of the book, and if this hadn’t been an ARC, I would probably have DNFd it about a quarter of the way through. The last third of the book picks up, and we have some really great slasher-style horror in there, which is where it earned the two stars, but to get to that point is a bit of a meander.
My biggest problem with the book is the lack of consistency. When you look at the book as a whole, the main plot is around a 14 year old boy and his tutor who arrive at the house. Once we have the set-up related to the secret garden, which is quite near the start, the focus shifts to the impact they have on the house, and it’s as if the author forgot the secret garden connection completely. The housekeeper didn’t need to be Mrs Medlock. The little girl didn’t need to be Mary. Even the garden didn’t need to exist as it was. It could have just been part of the garden in general. None of the Secret Garden themes were explored, developed, referred to. It honestly feels as if the reference was just to sell the book via a nice description in the blurb. This book had more in common with Saltburn and The Secret History than The Secret Garden. And to be honest, if that was how it was comped, I still would have read it. The horror and twists were great. They just came out of nowhere and weren’t built or developed in the first half of the book.
My other issue is how women were portrayed. I knew before I investigated that the author was young and male. Medlock is snappy and neurotic, she is referred to as ‘middle aged’ in her early 40s, admittedly by a teenager, but still. When she comes across a situation that is difficult or upsetting, she has a full emotional breakdown and then calls for a man. And in her diary from the past, she is submissive and party to a bizarre power-skewed arrangement with the lord and lady. The two mothers in the story are glamorous but nasty and spiteful, shallow, uninterested in their children. Even the late lady of the house has the sole purpose of producing an heir, and came across as shallow and spoilt. The maid is simply there as a toy for one of the male characters and has no real significance apart from that. And then we have other young women brought in by the tutor; it is made clear as part of the story that they are not allowed to be known by their names and are seen purely as objects. The men, of course, are all strong and manly. It’s all very Handmaids Tale. Maybe that was on purpose.
I’m actually really devastated that I didn’t like this book, as I’m a huge fan of the secret garden, and I was excited to read a rewrite. I feel that this could have been two books - the retelling with some horror, and then the story of the housekeeper and tutor in a different house. In this author’s hands, both could have been incredible. It’s almost as if he starts writing a book, gets distracted and ends up writing something entirely different to what he started, and then moves onto something else without looking back to polish or edit. If this was my book, I would want to give it at least one or two more edits before submission, and would probably have ditched the secret garden connection completely. The horror is fantastic, and I can see why some people have rated this one higher than I have, just on that alone.
September 16, 2025
Actual Rating: 2.5
With promises of an aristocratic house, an intimidating sounding housekeeper and an abundance of buried secrets 'Medlock' sounded like it could be the gothic novel of my dreams - or nightmares - especially given the 'macabre' label that it's blurb promised. In theory 'Medlock' should have been a chilling new delight that I found impossible to put down, but - despite delivering on its promise of the macabre - this one didn't really work for me on the whole.
To be fair to 'Medlock' if you're looking for a quick, easy to read narrative that goes to some very dark and disturbing places then this could potentially be a successful read for you. The writing is easy to engage with, without being overly simplistic and manages to paint an unsettling picture throughout. It has more than enough detail to set the scene and is the kind of style that I'm sure will work for many readers. Personally I tend to associate the gothic genre with more lyrical prose though as I think it truly helps to bring the unsettling atmosphere to life and immerse the reader in the story. If, like me, that's your go to vibes within the genre then this one probably won't work for you.
'Medlock' also had the bones of an interesting story and had several elements that I could really see working for me, if things had been a little sharper in other regards. There were some dynamics at play that I wasn't expecting, at all. As much as I'd like to highlight those I'll keep things vague though as discovering those elements for yourself is what this book revolves around.
Unfortunately I wasn't too fond of the execution of a lot of those dynamics. There were moments when I was engaged in the story, so it's not all bad, but the further on that I read the more I felt my frustration growing over certain plotlines. Some things that I struggled with - like Mrs Medlock's attitude towards the children - seemed to click into place as the novel progressed, but other revelations and events left me rolling my eyes. This is a novel that lacked believability for me at times, and as events continued to escalate I found my irritation growing at the over the top drama. With more explanation perhaps some of these elements could have worked but personally I found a lot of the narrative a bit too far fetched by the end.
Similarly I have to admit that the narrative style of this one didn't fully work for me. In theory I love the idea of Mrs Medlock telling her story but the credibility of it left me flummoxed. Why would someone randomly open up to a new employee about such horrific events? I appreciated the twist that came further on but the actual decision to tell her tale needed work. Which is also how I felt about some of the other revelations throughout - some could work but needed more background details to support them.
There's a lot more that I could say when it comes to summing up my thoughts and feelings with this one but to do so I'd have to venture much too far into spoiler territory. Ultimately I can't particularly say that I recommend 'Medlock' however. It's an interesting horror approach to 'A Secret Garden' style story with ideas that had potential but for me it pushed credibility beyond breaking point by its end. It also lacked the lyrical writing that I tend to associate with these kind of tales, although that's more of a personal preference so may not affect every reader. I hope other readers get along better with this one than I did, although I imagine it will ultimately come down to how much you question certain events and whether you prefer a swift or atmospheric read.
With promises of an aristocratic house, an intimidating sounding housekeeper and an abundance of buried secrets 'Medlock' sounded like it could be the gothic novel of my dreams - or nightmares - especially given the 'macabre' label that it's blurb promised. In theory 'Medlock' should have been a chilling new delight that I found impossible to put down, but - despite delivering on its promise of the macabre - this one didn't really work for me on the whole.
To be fair to 'Medlock' if you're looking for a quick, easy to read narrative that goes to some very dark and disturbing places then this could potentially be a successful read for you. The writing is easy to engage with, without being overly simplistic and manages to paint an unsettling picture throughout. It has more than enough detail to set the scene and is the kind of style that I'm sure will work for many readers. Personally I tend to associate the gothic genre with more lyrical prose though as I think it truly helps to bring the unsettling atmosphere to life and immerse the reader in the story. If, like me, that's your go to vibes within the genre then this one probably won't work for you.
'Medlock' also had the bones of an interesting story and had several elements that I could really see working for me, if things had been a little sharper in other regards. There were some dynamics at play that I wasn't expecting, at all. As much as I'd like to highlight those I'll keep things vague though as discovering those elements for yourself is what this book revolves around.
Unfortunately I wasn't too fond of the execution of a lot of those dynamics. There were moments when I was engaged in the story, so it's not all bad, but the further on that I read the more I felt my frustration growing over certain plotlines. Some things that I struggled with - like Mrs Medlock's attitude towards the children - seemed to click into place as the novel progressed, but other revelations and events left me rolling my eyes. This is a novel that lacked believability for me at times, and as events continued to escalate I found my irritation growing at the over the top drama. With more explanation perhaps some of these elements could have worked but personally I found a lot of the narrative a bit too far fetched by the end.
Similarly I have to admit that the narrative style of this one didn't fully work for me. In theory I love the idea of Mrs Medlock telling her story but the credibility of it left me flummoxed. Why would someone randomly open up to a new employee about such horrific events? I appreciated the twist that came further on but the actual decision to tell her tale needed work. Which is also how I felt about some of the other revelations throughout - some could work but needed more background details to support them.
There's a lot more that I could say when it comes to summing up my thoughts and feelings with this one but to do so I'd have to venture much too far into spoiler territory. Ultimately I can't particularly say that I recommend 'Medlock' however. It's an interesting horror approach to 'A Secret Garden' style story with ideas that had potential but for me it pushed credibility beyond breaking point by its end. It also lacked the lyrical writing that I tend to associate with these kind of tales, although that's more of a personal preference so may not affect every reader. I hope other readers get along better with this one than I did, although I imagine it will ultimately come down to how much you question certain events and whether you prefer a swift or atmospheric read.
September 30, 2025
Mrs Dolores Medlock is the housekeeper of Marston Manor and has been there for years making herself indispensable to Lord and Lady Ashton, the owners of the house. But although she calls herself a Mrs she has never married.
We meet her as she is welcoming a new governess or tutor, Natalie, to the household. She will be teaching Master Rupert, the 12 year old son of the Ashtons. At Natalie’s prompting, she begins to reminisce about the arrival of 10 year old Mary MacDonald. She was the sole survivor of a deadly outbreak of ‘flu that killed everyone in her Scottish village including her parents. Mary’s first impression of the Manor is that it is
‘ a huge hulking beast in the night.’
Mrs Medlock has always believed that Marston Manor was cursed from the moment she came.
Mary, left to her own devices, explores and discovers a locked door in a long stone wall on the estate. She also sees
‘the anguished face of a little boy’
at an upper window. She ventures upstairs and finds Rupert in a darkened room surrounded by books. Together they find a way into the garden. Then unexpected guests arrive: Ernest aged 14 who has been expelled from school and his tutor, Quint, who will be homeschooling him. Mrs Medlock wryly observes that she has now become ‘a child wrangler.’ Quint wants to introduce Ernest to darker pleasures and begins his education in these.
During a party involving the famous and infamous, Mary and Rupert sneak off to plant flowers as a surprise but they uncover something that has been long buried with terrible consequences. The secrets of Marston Manor and Mrs Medlock can be hidden no longer.
A dour housekeeper, a shadowy large house, a secret garden – I was really looking forward to settling down with a good Gothic novel. ‘Medlock’ has been described as an update of ‘The Secret Garden’ the much loved childrens classic and I can see that in its plotlines. However, there are two characters with the same names as two of the protagonists in ‘The Turn of the Screw’ , Mr Quint and Miss Jessel, as well as Bertha Mason, Mr Rochester’s first wife in ‘Jane Eyre’ This might be coincidence but my mind was reminded of these two classic works and their influence on the plot of this book.
Mrs Medlock is an enigma. She states that any affair with the gardener can never happen and then she is running to him and more later on. I would be very surprised if my employer asked me to do Lord Ashton asks her to do and it seemed unlikely to say the least. She appears to be a woman who has denied herself a life. She didn’t go to university and is unmarried. She feels that:
‘she can’t leave , as she belongs there.’
Although the book is set in the ‘70’s it didn’t feel convincing despite the references and the Gothic atmosphere jarred with them. However, there were enough twists and turns to keep the action moving along at a brisk pace but some of it was excessive and not vey believable. I didn’t see the twist coming and the ending was bittersweet.
The Gothic elements were all there but I felt that the author wanted it to go in another direction which didn’t work for me. It had one of the best covers that I’ve seen in a long time.
October 2, 2025
What starts out kinda like a Gothic re-imagining of The Secret Garden, swiftly morphs into, well, something quite dark and deadly...
We begin with a young lady who has arrived at Murwood Manor to take up the position of Governess to the young master. Upon arrival, she is met by Mrs Medlock who starts to tell a tale. To explain to her what happened back in 1979. When she was in charge of three youngsters. The young master Rupert, Mary, a young distantly related orphan, and Ernest, a recalcitrant young scamp who arrived along with his own tutor Mr Quint.
What follows is shocking and quite awful but I will leave you to discover it all for yourself as the author intends. Suffice to say, and it's not really a spoiler, but things aren't all that they seem...
I have a few niggles with this book. It's supposed to be set mostly in 1979 but, apart from the temporal links inserted every so often, the whole thing actually felt like it was set much earlier than that. Which made it all feel a wee tad incongruent. But that said, apart from being on occasion jarring, it didn't really spoil the story being told and, once I got to the end, I kinda realised that maybe it was written like this for a reason...
Anyway... the story meander along and then, as already mentioned, descends into something that I never saw coming, and which was never fully explained to my complete satisfaction. But there we are, it happened, and it was dealt with. And that was the shocking thing... I'd love to explain all this but the book really kinda relies on something that happens later so I can't. Something that I also never saw coming, although I was wondering how the author would wrap it up.
So... all in all, a decent read that held my attention nicely, delivering shock after surprise along the way, spitting me out at the end with a spinning head and mostly satisfied.
Having finished the book, as I often do, I went to check out the author's back catalogue and found that SG Hartnell is actually a pseudonym for another author I have previously read and, looking back at my reviews for that author, I can see quite a few parallels. I will however leave you to work it out yourself. It's a simple google...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
We begin with a young lady who has arrived at Murwood Manor to take up the position of Governess to the young master. Upon arrival, she is met by Mrs Medlock who starts to tell a tale. To explain to her what happened back in 1979. When she was in charge of three youngsters. The young master Rupert, Mary, a young distantly related orphan, and Ernest, a recalcitrant young scamp who arrived along with his own tutor Mr Quint.
What follows is shocking and quite awful but I will leave you to discover it all for yourself as the author intends. Suffice to say, and it's not really a spoiler, but things aren't all that they seem...
I have a few niggles with this book. It's supposed to be set mostly in 1979 but, apart from the temporal links inserted every so often, the whole thing actually felt like it was set much earlier than that. Which made it all feel a wee tad incongruent. But that said, apart from being on occasion jarring, it didn't really spoil the story being told and, once I got to the end, I kinda realised that maybe it was written like this for a reason...
Anyway... the story meander along and then, as already mentioned, descends into something that I never saw coming, and which was never fully explained to my complete satisfaction. But there we are, it happened, and it was dealt with. And that was the shocking thing... I'd love to explain all this but the book really kinda relies on something that happens later so I can't. Something that I also never saw coming, although I was wondering how the author would wrap it up.
So... all in all, a decent read that held my attention nicely, delivering shock after surprise along the way, spitting me out at the end with a spinning head and mostly satisfied.
Having finished the book, as I often do, I went to check out the author's back catalogue and found that SG Hartnell is actually a pseudonym for another author I have previously read and, looking back at my reviews for that author, I can see quite a few parallels. I will however leave you to work it out yourself. It's a simple google...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
October 4, 2025
Medlock by S.G. Hartnell was described as a modern gothic riff on The Secret Garden, one of my favourite childhood books, and that alone would have been enough to make me excited to read it but add in a gorgeous cover that oozes menace , using the imagery of a maze to draw the reader in, and I was sold.
Set in the late Seventies, the book tells the story of Mrs Medlock, housekeeper at Marwood Manor for decades and privy to many of the estate's secrets. Her duties include caring for the sickly young son of the Lord of the Manor and more recently those duties have expanded to include caring for Mary, a distant relative of the family sent to live with them following the tragic death of both her parents from a mysterious illness. Her arrival at Marwood threatens many of Mrs Medlock's deepest and darkest secrets, especially given her determination to explore the property, including the forbidden walled off garden, but she is not the only threat that arrives at Marwood that fateful year.
This was a delightfully dark take on an old favourite that reinvigorated it and reimagined it for a much older audience. This is gothic horror and not for the faint of heart, the author does not shy away from the bloody or gruesome, especially in the latter half of the book. This is definitely a book for readers who enjoy a slower pace and a gradual building of tension, something that is really aided by the isolation of the setting, although that being said I would say the ending felt a little rushed in comparison to the slow build of the first half of the book. The character of Mrs Medlock is very cleverly developed and as the story unfolds and we learn the truth of what she has hidden for so long, she becomes more sympathetic. I do think the book suffers a little from messy middle syndrome, it definitely took off in a direction that I did not see coming, and did not think was particularly well resolved but it is difficult to discuss it further without spoiling the book, so all I will say is that even with this issue I still found myself enjoying the book overall, it was a nicely atmospheric read for spooky season.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Set in the late Seventies, the book tells the story of Mrs Medlock, housekeeper at Marwood Manor for decades and privy to many of the estate's secrets. Her duties include caring for the sickly young son of the Lord of the Manor and more recently those duties have expanded to include caring for Mary, a distant relative of the family sent to live with them following the tragic death of both her parents from a mysterious illness. Her arrival at Marwood threatens many of Mrs Medlock's deepest and darkest secrets, especially given her determination to explore the property, including the forbidden walled off garden, but she is not the only threat that arrives at Marwood that fateful year.
This was a delightfully dark take on an old favourite that reinvigorated it and reimagined it for a much older audience. This is gothic horror and not for the faint of heart, the author does not shy away from the bloody or gruesome, especially in the latter half of the book. This is definitely a book for readers who enjoy a slower pace and a gradual building of tension, something that is really aided by the isolation of the setting, although that being said I would say the ending felt a little rushed in comparison to the slow build of the first half of the book. The character of Mrs Medlock is very cleverly developed and as the story unfolds and we learn the truth of what she has hidden for so long, she becomes more sympathetic. I do think the book suffers a little from messy middle syndrome, it definitely took off in a direction that I did not see coming, and did not think was particularly well resolved but it is difficult to discuss it further without spoiling the book, so all I will say is that even with this issue I still found myself enjoying the book overall, it was a nicely atmospheric read for spooky season.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
September 25, 2025
I loved this book, it's a great autumn read and a fantastic choice for anyone keen for a bit of horror in their lives.
This is a modern re-telling of 'The Secret Garden' - Mary and Mrs Medlock are back with a very different take on the tale. Mary - a young Scottish girl orphaned by an influenza outbreak - is sent to live at Marwood Manor, the grand house of a distant cousin in Oxfordshire. Mrs Medlock is the put upon housekeeper, for more than twenty years she has tended Marwood Manor and seen her share of tragedy. Little does she know that Mary's arrival is just one small part of a chain of events which will lay all the secrets of the house bare, and give her even more to keep in the process.
This was a fantastic read which pulls you in. Mrs Medlock and Mary are joint narrators, at points we see both versions of the same event and other times the plot moves on as we switch between narrations. The chapters written from Mary's perspective genuinely do sound like they're written by a young person, which is a lovely lovely contrast to those from Mrs Medlock which make her seem very much like a woman out of time.
The book is set in the late 1970s which was a novel take but honestly it didn't feel like a '70s setting, most of the time the book could have been set in any period - which made the few specific '70s elements jar somewhat. None of the characters are overly sympathetic - a couple of them have their moments but on the whole, they're all pretty awful in their own ways. That said, the main villain of the piece is a particularly hateful person and is written brilliantly to be exactly that way. On the whole the pacing is good but the final third of the book sees a very sudden acceleration of events. Also I personally would have liked to have heard more about the character Honoria, and had more focus on the garden itself.
The tension in this is fantastic, there are a couple of genuinely horrifying events and delicious twists
Absolutely a strongly recommended book.
- Thanks to NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review -
This is a modern re-telling of 'The Secret Garden' - Mary and Mrs Medlock are back with a very different take on the tale. Mary - a young Scottish girl orphaned by an influenza outbreak - is sent to live at Marwood Manor, the grand house of a distant cousin in Oxfordshire. Mrs Medlock is the put upon housekeeper, for more than twenty years she has tended Marwood Manor and seen her share of tragedy. Little does she know that Mary's arrival is just one small part of a chain of events which will lay all the secrets of the house bare, and give her even more to keep in the process.
This was a fantastic read which pulls you in. Mrs Medlock and Mary are joint narrators, at points we see both versions of the same event and other times the plot moves on as we switch between narrations. The chapters written from Mary's perspective genuinely do sound like they're written by a young person, which is a lovely lovely contrast to those from Mrs Medlock which make her seem very much like a woman out of time.
The book is set in the late 1970s which was a novel take but honestly it didn't feel like a '70s setting, most of the time the book could have been set in any period - which made the few specific '70s elements jar somewhat. None of the characters are overly sympathetic - a couple of them have their moments but on the whole, they're all pretty awful in their own ways. That said, the main villain of the piece is a particularly hateful person and is written brilliantly to be exactly that way. On the whole the pacing is good but the final third of the book sees a very sudden acceleration of events. Also I personally would have liked to have heard more about the character Honoria, and had more focus on the garden itself.
The tension in this is fantastic, there are a couple of genuinely horrifying events and delicious twists
Absolutely a strongly recommended book.
- Thanks to NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review -
October 14, 2025
Rating: 3.3/5
S.G. Hartnell is the nom de plume for B.P. Walter, aka Barnaby Walter. Most of his books to date have been published under the B.P. Walter moniker and these lean heavily towards noir fiction. As Barnaby Walter he has published "Scuttle", a more overtly horror novel, and now, as S.G. Hartnell, the author is venturing into the realms of Gothic fiction.
"Medlock" is set in an isolated country manor and the majority of the narrative plays out in the late 1970s. That said, the depiction of the characters and their societal attitudes, combined with the atmospheric setting that the writer succeeds in evoking, there is often the sense that events are being played out several decades earlier than that.
In his notes at the end of the book, the author references some of the works of literature that influenced him in the creation of "Medlock". For those readers familiar with them, there are recognisable echoes of "The Secret Garden", "Rebecca" and "Far From the Madding Crowd", although in true Barnaby Walter style, the events in "Medlock" become considerably darker than in those aforementioned publications.
This author is a fine writer and I have enjoyed everything I have read by him to varying degrees. He is adept at painting convincing backdrops and populating the scene with well-formed characters. The pace of his novels is usually also very well gauged - but that is the one thing that I think is a little off the mark this time around. I felt that the first two thirds of the novel got so wrapped up in creating the appropriate background atmosphere that the pace suffered. Matters certainly ramp up in the final third, but I would have liked to see greater variation the the preceding sections.
Overall, this is an enjoyable read and I can understand the author's desire to try his hand at other genres, but I still feel he is most effective when writing his noirs under the B.P. Walter name.
S.G. Hartnell is the nom de plume for B.P. Walter, aka Barnaby Walter. Most of his books to date have been published under the B.P. Walter moniker and these lean heavily towards noir fiction. As Barnaby Walter he has published "Scuttle", a more overtly horror novel, and now, as S.G. Hartnell, the author is venturing into the realms of Gothic fiction.
"Medlock" is set in an isolated country manor and the majority of the narrative plays out in the late 1970s. That said, the depiction of the characters and their societal attitudes, combined with the atmospheric setting that the writer succeeds in evoking, there is often the sense that events are being played out several decades earlier than that.
In his notes at the end of the book, the author references some of the works of literature that influenced him in the creation of "Medlock". For those readers familiar with them, there are recognisable echoes of "The Secret Garden", "Rebecca" and "Far From the Madding Crowd", although in true Barnaby Walter style, the events in "Medlock" become considerably darker than in those aforementioned publications.
This author is a fine writer and I have enjoyed everything I have read by him to varying degrees. He is adept at painting convincing backdrops and populating the scene with well-formed characters. The pace of his novels is usually also very well gauged - but that is the one thing that I think is a little off the mark this time around. I felt that the first two thirds of the novel got so wrapped up in creating the appropriate background atmosphere that the pace suffered. Matters certainly ramp up in the final third, but I would have liked to see greater variation the the preceding sections.
Overall, this is an enjoyable read and I can understand the author's desire to try his hand at other genres, but I still feel he is most effective when writing his noirs under the B.P. Walter name.
September 25, 2025
A gothic retelling of The Secret Garden, this was a compelling read that I devoured.
Nobody in this book is a nice character. You will not like anyone (with the exception maybe of the gardener but even he is weak). That doesn't mean its badly written however, these very very well crafted terrible people. It just meant it was very hard to root for anyone and get properly invested in the struggle when I couldn't really bring myself to want one horrible person to win over another horrible person.
The setting was very atmospheric, the claustrophobic nature of the house making the very building feel like another character of the book. Every creak on the stairs, every door that opened to another cold room full of secrets just drew you in and kept you reading more and more.
The ending came very abruptly, a rush of drama that felt strangely at odds with the build up before. Again, it was all very well written but it was over far too quickly and I would have liked the proper horror to last a little longer than it did.
I don't need every single thing explained, but I felt that there was a little too much unsaid at the end, a few too many unanswered questions that kept this from being the five star it could have so easily been. I really enjoyed this however, I loved what was revealed, I loved the twists, the turns, the unreliable narrator of a certain part. At the end of the day this was a great book.
I will be keeping an eye out for the next book written by this author with great interest. All in all, a very spooky, chilling read that is well worth your time, especially now with the nights closing in.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
Nobody in this book is a nice character. You will not like anyone (with the exception maybe of the gardener but even he is weak). That doesn't mean its badly written however, these very very well crafted terrible people. It just meant it was very hard to root for anyone and get properly invested in the struggle when I couldn't really bring myself to want one horrible person to win over another horrible person.
The setting was very atmospheric, the claustrophobic nature of the house making the very building feel like another character of the book. Every creak on the stairs, every door that opened to another cold room full of secrets just drew you in and kept you reading more and more.
The ending came very abruptly, a rush of drama that felt strangely at odds with the build up before. Again, it was all very well written but it was over far too quickly and I would have liked the proper horror to last a little longer than it did.
I don't need every single thing explained, but I felt that there was a little too much unsaid at the end, a few too many unanswered questions that kept this from being the five star it could have so easily been. I really enjoyed this however, I loved what was revealed, I loved the twists, the turns, the unreliable narrator of a certain part. At the end of the day this was a great book.
I will be keeping an eye out for the next book written by this author with great interest. All in all, a very spooky, chilling read that is well worth your time, especially now with the nights closing in.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
October 19, 2025
The story is told mostly from the perspective of the eponymous Mrs Medlock, housekeeper in the late seventies, framed as told to prospective ‘governess’ Natalie years in the future. Though something is clearly and disturbingly ‘off’ about this narration, its brief ‘modern’ interludes often feel unnecessary, weightless, promising dark turns of events which never really seem to come to pass. Occasionally the story dips into the point of view of characters like Mary, the lone survivor of an outbreak and a young relative of the lord and lady of the house. This framing is suitably Gothic, if often slightly more narratively distant and disconnected than we might expect.
Pitched as a dark reimagining of The Secret Garden, all those elements are present (a locked garden which hides a tragic secret; the perhaps-disabled boy in the concealed bedroom; Mary herself is cribbed directly from that text, backstory and all), but the story also obviously and openly draws on specific Gothic texts. With mentions of a ‘Miss Jessel’ and ‘Mr Quint’, one of whom plays a prominent and malevolent role, it’s hard not to imagine Henry James influenced this book as much as Frances Hodgson Burnett. There may even be a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it reference to Rebecca.
Unfortunately, this book isn’t as well-paced or structured as its inspirations. Its meandering pace and many grotesque promises (‘just wait, you’ll see’) only come to a head very late in the story, and its revelations are simplistic, rather straightforward, and predictable, lacking much in the way of nuance or subtlety. The book gestures towards horrors it cannot live up to. It’s a fun romp, but not a whole lot more.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Pitched as a dark reimagining of The Secret Garden, all those elements are present (a locked garden which hides a tragic secret; the perhaps-disabled boy in the concealed bedroom; Mary herself is cribbed directly from that text, backstory and all), but the story also obviously and openly draws on specific Gothic texts. With mentions of a ‘Miss Jessel’ and ‘Mr Quint’, one of whom plays a prominent and malevolent role, it’s hard not to imagine Henry James influenced this book as much as Frances Hodgson Burnett. There may even be a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it reference to Rebecca.
Unfortunately, this book isn’t as well-paced or structured as its inspirations. Its meandering pace and many grotesque promises (‘just wait, you’ll see’) only come to a head very late in the story, and its revelations are simplistic, rather straightforward, and predictable, lacking much in the way of nuance or subtlety. The book gestures towards horrors it cannot live up to. It’s a fun romp, but not a whole lot more.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
August 11, 2025
Poor Mrs Medlock! What horrors that woman had to face. This novel is set in the late 1970s and is all set around a stately home. The owners (particularly the wife) are demanding, dismissive, entitled and quite nasty. The events of this book transpire when the skeleton staff of this house have several children dumped on them to look after while the lord and lady go off to America. The first, their sickly son. The second, a young girl who is a distant relation and has lost her parents. The third, a belligerent teenager who has misbehaved too extensively for school, the son of other nobility who comes with a creepy and misogynistic tutor. Mrs Medlock tries to enforce the wishes of her bosses and maintain order in the house, but faces a mutiny from the new arrivals.
A bit of a slow burn at first, but worth the investment in the build up as it’s so effective for explaining the horrors that occur. There’s such a monstrous sense of being trapped in this book, Mrs Medlock has invested so much in her twenty years working in the house that it’s hard for her to walk away, even when things become unbearable. We are also reminded of the lack of opportunities available to her and how trapped she is in society.
The situation is grossly unfair, her employer is callous, the expectations on her are ridiculous and the entitlement of her charges and employers and their friends is sickening, and that’s not even the worst of what’s to come.
I was gripped by this book. I raced through it with a growing sense of terror throughout. Fantastic book.
A bit of a slow burn at first, but worth the investment in the build up as it’s so effective for explaining the horrors that occur. There’s such a monstrous sense of being trapped in this book, Mrs Medlock has invested so much in her twenty years working in the house that it’s hard for her to walk away, even when things become unbearable. We are also reminded of the lack of opportunities available to her and how trapped she is in society.
The situation is grossly unfair, her employer is callous, the expectations on her are ridiculous and the entitlement of her charges and employers and their friends is sickening, and that’s not even the worst of what’s to come.
I was gripped by this book. I raced through it with a growing sense of terror throughout. Fantastic book.
October 5, 2025
1978 & Mrs. Medlock is housekeeper to Lord & Lady Ashton at Marwood Manor including caring for their sickly young son. When an orphaned distant relative, a young girl named Mary, comes to live at the Manor, Mrs Medlock knows she is going to be trouble from the off. Sullen, uncooperative & unruly, the only thing that interests Mary is a locked door in a long wall outside.....
Probably like a lot of people, I was drawn to this one by the seeming 'Secret Garden' references (Medlock, Mary, sickly son, etc). but it feels a bit like bait & switch. Rather than a retelling or even reimagining, the similarities are surface only. I can't understand the decision to set it in the 1970s, it doesn't fit the characters who seemed like they were from an earlier time, & I had to keep reminding myself that this wasn't a period piece. Also the female characters were either vapid flibbertigibbets or matronly dragons - a bit of nuance was badly needed. Sadly I found this one to be a bit of a disappointment (except for the cover which is great).
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Little, Brown Book Group UK/Sphere, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
TWs:
Probably like a lot of people, I was drawn to this one by the seeming 'Secret Garden' references (Medlock, Mary, sickly son, etc). but it feels a bit like bait & switch. Rather than a retelling or even reimagining, the similarities are surface only. I can't understand the decision to set it in the 1970s, it doesn't fit the characters who seemed like they were from an earlier time, & I had to keep reminding myself that this wasn't a period piece. Also the female characters were either vapid flibbertigibbets or matronly dragons - a bit of nuance was badly needed. Sadly I found this one to be a bit of a disappointment (except for the cover which is great).
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Little, Brown Book Group UK/Sphere, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
TWs:
December 9, 2024
It’s 1978 Mrs Medlock is a housekeeper at Marwood manor, and she has been there for twenty years. She is one of the last members of staff at the manor and she has a lot of secrets to tell.
When the Lord and Lady of the manor decide to take a trip to America she is left to look after the children. But strange things start happening when one of the children Rupert comes to stay with his tutor Mr Quint. Strange people start to arrive and weird things start to happen.
I thank Hodder and Stoughton for a very early copy of Medlock as it’s not due to be published until October 2025. I enjoyed this the story of the goings on in Marwood Manor. This is a slow burn of a story and doesn’t really pick up until the last third of the story. The only thing bugging me about this one is the timeline. It might be a bit trivial for some but, it is supposed to be set in the 70’s. For me personally, thought it had a more Victorian feel to it for first two thirds of this story or it might be just me. 4 stars from me.
When the Lord and Lady of the manor decide to take a trip to America she is left to look after the children. But strange things start happening when one of the children Rupert comes to stay with his tutor Mr Quint. Strange people start to arrive and weird things start to happen.
I thank Hodder and Stoughton for a very early copy of Medlock as it’s not due to be published until October 2025. I enjoyed this the story of the goings on in Marwood Manor. This is a slow burn of a story and doesn’t really pick up until the last third of the story. The only thing bugging me about this one is the timeline. It might be a bit trivial for some but, it is supposed to be set in the 70’s. For me personally, thought it had a more Victorian feel to it for first two thirds of this story or it might be just me. 4 stars from me.
October 1, 2025
Mrs Medlock is the housekeeper at Marwood Manor and the keeper of secrets. When distant relative Mary arrives, Mrs Medlock fears the secrets of Marwood Manor are no longer safe.
I have read this author’s other books under a different pseudonym and although this genre is a bit different to the ones I’ve read by him, I still wanted to give this a go. Even though this was a compelling concept, with inspiration from The Secret Garden, I found that I did not enjoy this as much as I have enjoyed this author’s thrillers. This is likely because the historic/gothic genre is not usually my go to.
I found that although I liked the idea behind this, it was slow and took a while for much to happen, meaning my interest was not really there. Saying that this is a well written book and I appreciate what the author was trying to achieve. Even though this wasn’t aimed at me, I can see those that enjoy this style of novel and a reimagining of The Secret Garden really enjoying this. 2.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
I have read this author’s other books under a different pseudonym and although this genre is a bit different to the ones I’ve read by him, I still wanted to give this a go. Even though this was a compelling concept, with inspiration from The Secret Garden, I found that I did not enjoy this as much as I have enjoyed this author’s thrillers. This is likely because the historic/gothic genre is not usually my go to.
I found that although I liked the idea behind this, it was slow and took a while for much to happen, meaning my interest was not really there. Saying that this is a well written book and I appreciate what the author was trying to achieve. Even though this wasn’t aimed at me, I can see those that enjoy this style of novel and a reimagining of The Secret Garden really enjoying this. 2.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
November 30, 2025
A decent gothic tale that riffs on The Secret Garden and Turn of the Screw.
Mrs Medlock is the housekeeper in a country home where they've had to order more closets due to the lack of space for the skeletons.
She has some kids in her care and they are told never to go in the spooky, secret garden. So...yeah.
The cast has the usual sorts - a hunky and mysterious gardener, a naïve maid, a cad of a tutor and lots of snooty annoying upper-class twits visiting the house for parties.
I was slightly put out by the structure, which involved an older Mrs Medlock recounting the whole sordid, somewhat batshit tale to a prospective new employee, but this kind of gets dealt with.
Overall, it's all good fun and moves along at a brisk pace. There's nothing particularly innovative but those who like the genre will know what they're getting and be pretty happy with it I think.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for giving me an ARC in return for an honest review.
Mrs Medlock is the housekeeper in a country home where they've had to order more closets due to the lack of space for the skeletons.
She has some kids in her care and they are told never to go in the spooky, secret garden. So...yeah.
The cast has the usual sorts - a hunky and mysterious gardener, a naïve maid, a cad of a tutor and lots of snooty annoying upper-class twits visiting the house for parties.
I was slightly put out by the structure, which involved an older Mrs Medlock recounting the whole sordid, somewhat batshit tale to a prospective new employee, but this kind of gets dealt with.
Overall, it's all good fun and moves along at a brisk pace. There's nothing particularly innovative but those who like the genre will know what they're getting and be pretty happy with it I think.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for giving me an ARC in return for an honest review.
October 13, 2025
I love a good thriller/mystery and the blur on this book sounded so interesting. I have mixed reviews after completing it. For me it was a bit of a slow burn and for the first quarter of the book i honestly lost interest and was struggling to continue reading but I have to admit it did pick up. I like the idea of a hostage situation and especially the view of the situation came from the outsiders rather than the hostages. There are quiet a few different view points and you have to remember who is related to who but it does work overall. There was a good twist at the end and I like the way we get a decent epilogue for a change and the reader gets to read about each characters ending it tied everything up and didnt leave you feeling " oh is that it". I will definitely try more from this author in the future
October 18, 2025
i picked this up because nefarious locations are some of my favourite tropes in horror & then was even MORE excited when i realised it was a horror retelling of the secret garden!
i loved mrs medlock, i found that i really cared about her within the first few pages & the way she viewed the world, her co-workers & her role often made me laugh as well as commiserate with the hardships she faced.
there were many interesting hooks, such as the ghost of the first lady, what the hell is in that garden & the elements of gaslighting that were peppered throughout, but i found that the bulk of the horror aspect honed it on one of the least interesting characters & plotlines which was disappointing.
s.g. hartnell has a wonderful writing style though & i nearly finished this in one sitting so i'd be very interested in picking up some more of their work!
i loved mrs medlock, i found that i really cared about her within the first few pages & the way she viewed the world, her co-workers & her role often made me laugh as well as commiserate with the hardships she faced.
there were many interesting hooks, such as the ghost of the first lady, what the hell is in that garden & the elements of gaslighting that were peppered throughout, but i found that the bulk of the horror aspect honed it on one of the least interesting characters & plotlines which was disappointing.
s.g. hartnell has a wonderful writing style though & i nearly finished this in one sitting so i'd be very interested in picking up some more of their work!
November 3, 2025
3.5
Enjoyable spooky season read.
Read it in 2 sittings & it is definitely unputdownable.
The author described the inspiration for this book as coming from the classic books ‘The Secret Garden’, ‘Rebecca’ & ‘The Turn of the Screw’ and the film ‘The Others’ . I LOVE all of these so was super excited to read this.
It started off really promising & I did really enjoy the creepy atmospheric style of writing. However, it felt a little bit too much like aspects of these books & films were ‘copied’ (even down to characters names). It also got pretty gory at the end & it felt like some scenes were put in for shock value without adding much to the storyline. It felt like a bit of a blend of all these books, but made considerably darker.
Having said this, if you are a fan of the books that inspired this one & don’t mind a bit of gore this is definitely worth a read.
Enjoyable spooky season read.
Read it in 2 sittings & it is definitely unputdownable.
The author described the inspiration for this book as coming from the classic books ‘The Secret Garden’, ‘Rebecca’ & ‘The Turn of the Screw’ and the film ‘The Others’ . I LOVE all of these so was super excited to read this.
It started off really promising & I did really enjoy the creepy atmospheric style of writing. However, it felt a little bit too much like aspects of these books & films were ‘copied’ (even down to characters names). It also got pretty gory at the end & it felt like some scenes were put in for shock value without adding much to the storyline. It felt like a bit of a blend of all these books, but made considerably darker.
Having said this, if you are a fan of the books that inspired this one & don’t mind a bit of gore this is definitely worth a read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2025
Trying too hard
—
From the publisher: “An atmospheric, contemporary Gothic horror story, Medlock is a dark and frightening reimagining of the classic novel The Secret Garden that will enrapture readers until the turn of the very last page.”
I’ll be the judge of that, thank you. As a remix of The Secret Garden, all the elements were there but the transposition in time to the 1970s didn’t really signify anything. The creepiness of the original was heightened in the Gothic trappings of this novel but the framing device and the unreliability of every narrator made it a fragile construct that ultimately sank under its own weight. I wasn’t sure what kind of novel this was attempting to be — weird and eerie, Gothic house, literary femgore —as it tried to be all these things at once, rather than landing on one thing and doing it well.
—
From the publisher: “An atmospheric, contemporary Gothic horror story, Medlock is a dark and frightening reimagining of the classic novel The Secret Garden that will enrapture readers until the turn of the very last page.”
I’ll be the judge of that, thank you. As a remix of The Secret Garden, all the elements were there but the transposition in time to the 1970s didn’t really signify anything. The creepiness of the original was heightened in the Gothic trappings of this novel but the framing device and the unreliability of every narrator made it a fragile construct that ultimately sank under its own weight. I wasn’t sure what kind of novel this was attempting to be — weird and eerie, Gothic house, literary femgore —as it tried to be all these things at once, rather than landing on one thing and doing it well.
December 18, 2025
Many thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for the opportunity to read this book.
Mrs Medlock the housekeeper at Marwood Manor has held many a secret during her time there. Now it may be time for some of the darkest ones to be revealed. Especially the events of 1978
This was an interesting and very dark at times read. It also has a couple of gory moments, You can see the inspiration from The Secret Graden in this but its much darker and more gothic. The story is told mostly by Mrs Medlock in the past and in the present. Other characters do take the lead for a while but its very much her story. The plot was good but not as gripping as I'd hoped. I did predict certain things along the way. The ending was well done and I think finished the story well. A gothic slightly creepy read.
Mrs Medlock the housekeeper at Marwood Manor has held many a secret during her time there. Now it may be time for some of the darkest ones to be revealed. Especially the events of 1978
This was an interesting and very dark at times read. It also has a couple of gory moments, You can see the inspiration from The Secret Graden in this but its much darker and more gothic. The story is told mostly by Mrs Medlock in the past and in the present. Other characters do take the lead for a while but its very much her story. The plot was good but not as gripping as I'd hoped. I did predict certain things along the way. The ending was well done and I think finished the story well. A gothic slightly creepy read.
October 4, 2025
This is one of those books that may easily be overlooked, but it is an excellent tale of loyalty, class difference, power and murder.
Mrs Medlock is a faithful housekeeper at Marwood Manor, looking after the Lord and Lady, and their sickly son. She is the type of woman who takes her duty seriously, and when a young, recently orphaned girl comes to stay (a distant relative of the Lord), she has to make room in her schedule to accommodate this troublesome young woman. Although that is not the end of their guests, as soon as a son of an MP comes to stay, he is kicked out of his school, along with his tutor. That is when the trouble really starts.
Set in the 1970s, with a genuine sense of isolation that was prevalent back then, this is an interesting and chilling read.
Mrs Medlock is a faithful housekeeper at Marwood Manor, looking after the Lord and Lady, and their sickly son. She is the type of woman who takes her duty seriously, and when a young, recently orphaned girl comes to stay (a distant relative of the Lord), she has to make room in her schedule to accommodate this troublesome young woman. Although that is not the end of their guests, as soon as a son of an MP comes to stay, he is kicked out of his school, along with his tutor. That is when the trouble really starts.
Set in the 1970s, with a genuine sense of isolation that was prevalent back then, this is an interesting and chilling read.
December 9, 2024
This is a dark reimagined tale of The Secret Garden. The author has created such a perfect setting like the one in the classic. The characters are intriguing and curious while some of the characters are mysterious and secretive. The book is filled with mystery, secrets, strange happenings and twists. I must say this is a dark gothic reimagining of the classic tale. There are mysteries of the manor and locked garden then there is someone who is harbouring secrets. I loved the atmospheric setting and shocking revelations at the end. I thought the book was dark, unsettling, mysterious and gripping.
Thanks to the Publisher and Author
Thanks to the Publisher and Author
October 27, 2025
I find myself sighing as I finish reading this book. The author acknowledges this work as ‘love letters’ to all of the books, most notably ‘The Secret Garden’, as stories he has drawn from in writing Medlock. Just a few years ago this ‘love letter’ would have been called out as plagiarism. Hartnell writes well, but the story is trying to blend so many other stories and knit them together so that it doesn’t hang together well. No suspense builds and it tumbles out in the final short chapters as a bit rushed and just as messily as its well worn trope of the cult leader and his slasher ending. I grow a bit tired of men writing from a woman’s perspective. It doesn’t work well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2025
Trying too hard
—
From the publisher: “An atmospheric, contemporary Gothic horror story, Medlock is a dark and frightening reimagining of the classic novel The Secret Garden that will enrapture readers until the turn of the very last page.”
I’ll be the judge of that, thank you. As a remix of The Secret Garden, all the elements were there but the transposition in time to the 1970s didn’t really signify anything. The creepiness of the original was heightened in the Gothic trappings of this novel but the framing device and the unreliability of every narrator made it a fragile construct that ultimately sank under its own weight. I wasn’t sure what kind of novel this was attempting to be — weird and eerie, Gothic house, literary femgore —as it tried to be all these things at once, rather than landing on one thing and doing it well.
—
From the publisher: “An atmospheric, contemporary Gothic horror story, Medlock is a dark and frightening reimagining of the classic novel The Secret Garden that will enrapture readers until the turn of the very last page.”
I’ll be the judge of that, thank you. As a remix of The Secret Garden, all the elements were there but the transposition in time to the 1970s didn’t really signify anything. The creepiness of the original was heightened in the Gothic trappings of this novel but the framing device and the unreliability of every narrator made it a fragile construct that ultimately sank under its own weight. I wasn’t sure what kind of novel this was attempting to be — weird and eerie, Gothic house, literary femgore —as it tried to be all these things at once, rather than landing on one thing and doing it well.
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