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Gruesome Getaway

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“I glance at the empty seat next to me, wishing I’d stayed at home”

When twenty-three-year-old master’s student Tadhg Kelly joins his twin brother and his girlfriend on their getaway to a cabin in rural Ireland, he hopes to escape all of the drama that’s been destroying his life. He wants to forget about his thesis deadline and the terrible, never-ending bad news that fills the headlines. Most of all, he wants to forget about his cheating boyfriend.

But Tadhg soon finds much more than a mere cheating scandal to worry about.

As soon as the trio enter the eerie village of Killimercy, odd things begin to a strange man peering into the window of their cabin; a mysterious break in, and a unique Celtic symbol haunting Tadhg wherever he goes.

Just as they ready themselves to flee, things only get worse…

146 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 28, 2025

7 people are currently reading
2396 people want to read

About the author

R.N. Cogley

6 books8 followers
R.N. Cogley is an Irish author. He is the author of 'The Elemental Witches' series ('The Elemental Witches' and 'The Elemental Witches: Croí Draíochta'), ‘An Inquiry Into Innocence’, ‘A Country Girl, A Big Girl’, and ‘Gruesome Getaway’. He has short stories, poetry, and pieces of creative nonfiction published around the world. He also holds a BA in Psychology from Waterford Institute of Technology, a Master of Arts (Research) from South East Technological University, and a Certificate in Creative Writing from The Open College.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
Profile Image for Ga.selle (Semi-hiatus) Jones.
351 reviews4 followers
December 24, 2024
“I’ve said too much already. Just get out of here before nightfall. Otherwise, you’ll end up in the bonfire like the other two.”



💭Also more like:
Be silly and stubborn so you’ll make adequate Samhain sacrifices...
A news report about two gruesome murders on the outskirts of Dublin, two missing persons...as if a warning or two is still not enough...and yet it did not stop Tadhg, his twin brother Declan and girlfriend Katie to go on a quick getaway to somewhere called 'Killimercy'.
This was ok..started promising then dragged a bit in the middle..a few 'jump scares' and the action or gruesomeness really didn't start until around 70%. If you enjoy a novella that's like a B-movie (in a good way) then give this one a go.

My thanks to Cranthorpe Millner Publishers for providing an early copy. I received an arc for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Expected pub date: Jan. 28, 2025
Profile Image for Kate Victoria RescueandReading.
1,958 reviews117 followers
December 23, 2024
“A predator doesn’t just stop once it’s given its prey a good fright.”

Three Dubliners head out to the Irish countryside for a Halloween vacation. The cabin near the weird and creepy town seems too good to be true. Strange symbols and disturbing events lead to a horrifying Samhain night.

This fast paced and thrilling book was full of Halloween folk horror. I would’ve loved to know more about the history of the town and their beliefs. Who exactly is Fionn?

Truthfully, I had a hard time sympathizing for the main characters and their plight; they were warned away so many times and just plodded onwards. If someone told me to stay the hell away from a rural cursed town like Killimercy (well I’d be having my doubts about wanting to vacation anywhere with a town name like that anyways) I’d thank them and turn around to go back home.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Cranthorpe Millner Publishers for a copy.
Profile Image for Ashley.
254 reviews13 followers
December 10, 2024
This was short and sweet! fast paced so it's super easy to get through. small town mixed with folk horror vibes. the characters were a little silly, and so was the writing at certain points, but it wasn't bad at all!

Thank you netgalley, Cranthorpe Millner Publishers and the author for the arc!
Profile Image for Balthazarinblue.
959 reviews12 followers
January 9, 2025
3.25 stars

Smarting from a rough breakup, Tadhg insists he's still good to go on a Halloween getaway with his twin brother and his brother's girlfriend, even if he feels a little like the third wheel. Far off the beaten track, Killimercy is an eerie village with an abandoned feel. The locals are thin on the ground, surly and unwelcoming. While the holiday cabin is fitted out with all the mod cons, the forest surrounding them feels oppressive to Tadhg. He gets a feeling in the pit of his stomach that something isn't right. Unsettling occurrences start to mount until it might just be too late to leave.

This is a fun little folk horror set in rural Ireland. Following in the footsteps of The Children of the Corn and The Wicker Man, this hits all the high points if you enjoy a good ol' pagan ritual for the crops kind of story. It doesn't have a lot of depth - perhaps because of the short page count - but it felt like a satisfyingly complete story.

My biggest critique is that the pacing is a little off - there's a lot of focus on relationship issues that ultimately don't have much affect on the story.
Profile Image for Tye Rose.
205 reviews8 followers
January 1, 2025
I gravitate toward queer horror, but this one was a bit disappointing. There was a lot of focus on mundane descriptions and a breakup that was overall unnecessary to the story, while there was very little information on the more interesting/horror-related elements of the story. It does get quite gory and fast paced in the last 20ish pages, though. I wish we'd spent more time learning anything about the village. I also didn't really care for the main character who is the only POV we get.

The makings of a good story were there, and I wouldn't be opposed to picking up more of this author's work in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for this arc.
Profile Image for Victoria.
724 reviews22 followers
February 1, 2025
This is a good creepy short story. I liked how overall eerie this story is. This felt like reading a book based off a classic slasher horror movie which I liked. There is some gore. I would recommend this to horror lovers! Special Thank You to R.N. Cogley, Cranthorpe Millner Publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Shaunna.
131 reviews1 follower
February 23, 2025
It’s a teen slasher meets midsommar vibe and it works. Fast-paced and the story has you on the edge of your seat for most of the ride. Yes!
Profile Image for michelle ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
229 reviews5 followers
December 11, 2024
This read exactly like a b-horror movie to me - and I mean that as a compliment. A simple yet well structured premise, with some folk horror vibes and a dash of something supernatural, with a fast-paced plot. Maybe too fast-paced in some parts, as I felt some scares or moments got rushed over, but overall, the pace fit the story. A very straight forward writing style, which I also mean as a compliment.

The characters were solid enough, even though they did each have their moments of annoying me - I'm just saying, if I was in the middle of this creepiness, the last thing on my mind would be my relationship issues, but that's just me personally. I also can't tell if they were under-reacting at certain parts or if I'm just someone who overreacts and would have been out of there urgently. There wouldn't be much of a story if they fled at the first hint of danger though, I suppose. So I get it.

Overall, a fun, quick read. Gay horror will always be a win to me, ngl.

Thank you to NetGalley and Cranthorpe Millner Publishers for the ARC.
Profile Image for Ashley Gillan.
848 reviews23 followers
December 14, 2024
When Tadgh, his brother, and his brother’s girlfriend head to a remote cabin for a much-needed getaway, Tadgh grows nervous when he hears about multiple disappearances of young people in the area they will be in. But they’ve traveled a great distance, so the trio decide to continue to the cabin. But once there, strange things begin to happen and Tadgh wonders if they will be the next faces on “Missing” posters…

This is what I would consider a short novel and/or long novella. But IMO as someone that isn’t a huge fan of novellas, this one is definitely worth reading!

This story has all the perfect elements of a great slasher: from a creepy beginning that sets the scene, to lots of little hints that set up the feeling that something is about to happen- to BAM! The ultimate culmination of the main character’s fears. It really is executed beautifully for those of us that love the genre, as I do. There’s great characters as well, which makes you get into the story even more and more invested in the story outcome.

Plus, I will warn you, this one has the gore factor. It’s a true slasher, not just in the genre format, but in content. So if you have a squeamish stomach, you probably want to skip this one, trust me. But if you can handle, say, the Scream movies, you should be OK. I had no problem with it and that’s about my level - no Hostel or Saw for this girl.

Overall, I finished this book over two days and really enjoyed it. If you like horror, you’ll love this one too!
Profile Image for Anne (eggcatsreads).
250 reviews6 followers
January 4, 2025
A book that feels like watching a cult classic slasher. This book was fun and entertaining in all the right ways, with multiple points where you want to grab and shake the protagonists for being so stupid. This was a short entertaining read that I think anyone who is a fan of the kinds of thrillers and slashers where it would be so easy for no one to die at the end, but we enjoy anyway because if they were smart then there wouldn’t be a story to tell.

I enjoyed the buildup to the suspense, and despite knowing how everything would eventually go down, I found myself extremely tense at times. There were a few times where things would happen that I found myself legitimately anxious, and at no point was I certain who - if anyone - would survive until the end.

I also liked how there was a bit of worldbuilding teased at the beginning and the end, but we only get a glimpse of both the reality of the cult as well as how it operates. We, as the reader, are only given the same amount of information the main characters can desperately discover, and I felt that added to the suspense. In many ways for stories like these, less is more - where the unknown and not understanding why something is happening is many times scarier than having all the information.

A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and [publisher] for providing this e-ARC.

his part is a spoiler so I’m only including it here at the end, and feel free to ignore.



The fact that the main character’s boyfriend had cheated on him didn’t seem to have any impact or affect on the story at all, and I kind of felt like it was an unnecessary inclusion. There is no reason for him to have cheated, and since he shows up to the cabin anyway, so him being excluded doesn't impact the story in any way. I was really surprised that the twist wasn’t that - since he had been the one to rent the cabin - that he had known about the cult and was setting his boyfriend and his brother and girlfriend up to be sacrificed - and that being the reason he had cheated (he didn’t actually care about him) as well as the constant need to contact him (potentially changing his mind). I thought him showing up to the cabin would result in him trying to save them from the fate he’d given them, or with a potential heel-turn where he betrayed them again. Since neither of these things happened, this part of the story was my biggest issue since I was expecting this to impact the story in a significant way.

Profile Image for fanboyriot.
1,074 reviews16 followers
December 29, 2024

Read For:
✓ Horror
✓ Short Story
✓ Small Town
✓ B-Movie Vibe
✓ Irish Countryside



˗ˏˋ ★ REVIEW ★ ˎˊ˗
A small town in the Irish countryside that has nothing but horror to offer. This book was a short fast-paced read, I would have really liked it if it had a bit more on the history of the town; I enjoyed the eerie atmosphere.



I did have a little difficulty caring for the main characters, they were given so many warnings and while no it wouldn’t be much of a story if they left… it was still annoying.



Thank you to the author, Cranthorpe Millner Publishers, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.



Spice Level: n/a
Angst Level: 💧💧💧💧
POV:Third/First Multiple POV
Release Date: 28, January 2025



⚠️ Content Warnings:
Graphic: Death, Gore, Grief, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Violence, Blood, and Medical content

Profile Image for Cody.
332 reviews
December 18, 2024
ARC

I’d like to thank Cranthorpe Miller Publications and NetGalley for the opportunity to give this advance copy a read and give an honest review!

“Gruesome Getaway” has a fabulous setup for a story that I really found myself enjoying. We don’t see a ton of queer leads in horror novels, so it was refreshing to see that representation here. While I felt there could have been a bit more done to fully flesh out these characters, I think that, for the length of this story, it was sufficient enough to not take away from the general story. It takes a bit for this story to find its footing, but once it does, it really is a fun read. It feels like this is a small section of a much larger story, one that still needs to be told, so I’m very much hoping to see more from Cogley in the near future to round out the events of this novel.
Profile Image for LX.
394 reviews14 followers
December 16, 2024
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Cranthorpe Millner Publishers for the ARC!

2.75? rounded up because

I really liked how this was and loved the B-movie feel to it. Some points I felt were a little rushed and others were dragged out. Would have loved even more horror even with the short length, but thats just me wanting a really horrific short but if it was longer even the character could be fleshed out more and seem more realistic given the situation and how they would react to certain things. But overall, I liked it!!!
Profile Image for Natalie C.
170 reviews
December 12, 2024
thank you netgalley for this arc!
This was a fast paced horror/thriller novel that really pulls you in! I like how there was this too much character backstory because this book is so short. Once you start reading it is pretty hard to put down! That being said it’s a good book to get you out of a slump or to get you just reading but it’s not anything to write home about.
Profile Image for Suzy Delong.
7 reviews13 followers
December 14, 2024
Folk horror just as it should be! Sucks you in before you're even a quarter through the book and doesn't let go until the end. Cogley has written a "short but sweet" small-town read with Midsommar vibes that doesn't disappoint! My only complaint is that I want MORE!
Profile Image for Shannon.
242 reviews4 followers
December 17, 2024
Not a bad book, but it felt rushed. I would have liked to have spent more time in the village and learned more about the folklore. I would have liked to have gotten to know the villagers better.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this Arc
Profile Image for Books with Becs .
228 reviews8 followers
February 27, 2025
When Tadgh’s boyfriend cheats on him right before a couples trip, Tadgh decides that he sure deserves a vacation now. Who cares if he has to third-wheel it with his twin brother, Declan, and his girlfriend, Katie. The trio drive cross-country to Killimercy, Ireland, where a nice, secluded cabin awaits them for a long Halloween weekend of relaxation. Sadly for our trio, the village of Killimercy have their own Samhain traditions to perform. As red flags and warnings appear, Tadgh tries to convince Katie and Declan that they need to leave…before it’s too late. Gruesome Getaway by R.N. Cogley resembles every B horror movie I’ve ever seen in all but the setting; The warning from the gas station attendant, the secluded and internet-less cabin in the middle of nowhere, and one person trying to convince everyone else that they need to leave. That does not mean that this wasn’t a fun read. I enjoyed it. Setting it in Ireland actually made it even more interesting, allowing for pagan traditions and the Irish language to play a role in the horror. I never see enough Irish horror, so I’m thrilled when I come across one. Did the characters make stupid decisions? Absolutely. Did they pay for them? Yup. It was frustrating watching some of the decision-making, but there may have been a bit of magic at play muddling things there as well. Still, Declan rationalizing away what was actually going on was the most frustrating part. I was still rooting for our protagonists even if I also wanted to jump onto the page and shake them a bit. The good news is that this was still a dark and, well, gruesome read. And it’s only 150 pages. Special thanks to Goodreads and Cranthorpe Millner Publisher for providing me with a copy! 3/5 stars
Profile Image for Bethany .
97 reviews20 followers
May 13, 2025
A short horror story that chills!

we begin in a hospital, a young man breaths away from death with a symbol carved into his back. the doctor called to treat him has seen this symbol before, it always brings horrors and death.


7 years later twin brothers and their friend (and an ex that turns up later) drive down to a cabin for a much needed break, along the way they find themselves being warned away from the village they're heading to, they don't listen.

odd things begin happening, small things that make both Tadhg and us the reader feel very uneasy. the others don't listen to Tadhg and he senses that something is wrong with the village and wants to leave.

he runs into Aoife, a girl he realises he has seen before... on a missing poster. she warns him to escape by nightfall.

I won't give spoilers as to what happens next but this is exactly the kind of horror book I look for! I personally struggle to get through long horrors, but this one at 158 pages is spot on. there is plenty of build up where things seem off, footprints noticed, things moved. it's a great build up and perfectly paced.

there is quite a bit of 'mundane' daily life, conversations about the breakup and daily musings but I think this is exactly why the creepy things happening hit well, because it's a build up, three friends going about their normal days on their cabin break and warnings and creepy situations keep popping up.

I feel like the ending is a great set up to a potential second book exploring the village/folk lore behind it all if Dr. Adams goes to seek it out.

I would definitely recommend this book and I would love to read more by this author.
Profile Image for TheLisaD.
1,110 reviews21 followers
January 12, 2025

R. N. Cogley delivers a bone-chilling, edge-of-your-seat thriller in Gruesome Getaway, a suspenseful horror novel with echoes of Wrong Turn that grips readers from start to finish. Packed with tension, eerie twists, and a creeping sense of dread, this story is a masterclass in building suspense.

The plot follows twin siblings and their partners as they embark on a much-anticipated getaway that quickly turns nightmarish. From the outset, things are rocky—one of the twins has just discovered their partner’s infidelity—but the group decides to proceed with the trip. What begins as an awkward outing soon spirals into a fight for survival as strange occurrences at their destination escalate into a living nightmare.

Cogley’s pacing is impeccable, layering moments of quiet unease with sudden bursts of terror. The remote setting is vividly described, immersing readers in an atmosphere of isolation and danger. The characters, especially the twins, are well-drawn and relatable, making their growing fears and desperate decisions all the more compelling.

What truly makes Gruesome Getaway stand out is its ability to balance psychological tension with visceral horror. The mystery of what’s happening keeps readers guessing, while the relentless sense of foreboding ensures they can’t look away.

For fans of gripping horror with plenty of twists and turns, Gruesome Getaway is an unmissable read. R. N. Cogley crafts a story that’s as terrifying as it is addictive, leaving readers breathless until the very last page.
Profile Image for musingsfromamandalyn.
8 reviews
January 26, 2025
I honestly don't know how I feel right now. This book had many of the things I enjoy about horror and emulated M. Night Shyamalan in all the best ways. I was fully pulled into the environment and felt for all the characters visiting this cabin in an Irish forest. It was also one of those books that once you reach the half-way mark, that you have no choice but to finish the rest in one sitting because you cannot breathe otherwise. That being said, I wanted more. I wanted more context, more history and explanation, more investigation especially after the prologue, and definitely a more thorough ending. In horror movies, this feel of lack is to be expected because it's all about the visual thrill, but I always expect or at least hope for more in novels. I think this book could have easily been longer, a more full-length novel as opposed to a novella, and I would have loved it more and given it a 5. Due to the brevity and focus on only one aspect of the plot, I can only give it a 3.5 but will round up to a 4 where needed. I also found it interesting, that although this was in Ireland, their music choices were American as opposed to like Enya. I did really enjoy this book and am glad it read, I just feel a little let down. I will be looking into other books by this author though since this was the first one I have read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Profile Image for Charles.
179 reviews1 follower
December 31, 2024
i received an e-ARC and am giving my honest review!!

I ADORED this. My favorite genre is MLM horror and there are so few books that fit it, nonetheless so few that fit it and are good. This is one of the few mlm horror novels I’ve read that were actually horrific and I LOVED IT. I was so engaged and curious as to what would happen next, I read 40 pages one night and the rest of the book the next night in one sitting. I loved all of the red herrings/narrative ‘tricks’ to make you think it will go one way, but it actually goes another. They were brilliantly done and completely threw me off multiple times. The horror of feeling as if you’re going crazy because no one can see the situation as you do is such a good trope imo and this book did it excellently.

Not only was the horror itself phenomenal, but the characters were brilliantly written. You could truly get a sense for who they were and how relationship dynamics worked between everyone. It was so interesting seeing the familial vs. romantic dynamics between everyone, and how it affected their actions in regards to the town. This was brilliantly written and hands down one of my favorite horror books I’ve read in a while. A perfect length as well, not too short or too long. Great for fans of The Ritual, The Ruins, Midsommar, and/or Last Days
Profile Image for Elle.
473 reviews133 followers
January 14, 2025
An Ireland getaway takes a brutal turn as Tadhg, his twin brother and his brother's girlfriend get caught in the middle of an intense "tradition." I don't want to give too much of the plot away, so I'll keep it briefly at this.

The characters I found to be slightly infuriating and a bit ridiculous. Their explanations and denials of all the weird circumstances surrounding their stay had me frustrated. "The wind" being one of the worst excuses. Not only that, but their determination to disregard warnings blew my mind. I would've immediately been gone!

I think this story would've benefited from some more background and explanation of the village. I was interested in the lore surrounding their village and I don't feel that we really received any details. Once the horrors started to unfold, I found this story much better. Unfortunately, I felt that the story revolved too much around the dramatics of Tadhg's failed relationship. With this being such a short book, I would've liked to see a bit more balance.

It was a very quick and easy read. The drama kept me motivated to keep reading, but as I said, I wish I had received more history regarding the Celtic symbols and the village.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

TW: murder, death, gore, blood, fire injury, injury detail, grief, kidnapping, physical abuse, emotional abuse, infidelity, violence
Profile Image for abby (xoxobookishgirl).
87 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2025
⭐⭐✨
Rep : Achillean MC

🍀Set in Ireland
🎃Near Halloween
😮Cult Horror

What I Liked
1) I love that the MC is a forensic psychologist since its the career path I want to go into

2) It was entertaining enough but it was so surface level. It sort of feel like the first 100 pages in a full novel setting up stuff but then immediately skips to the climax. The pacing was really off I wish more time was spent learning about the cult as personally the cult vibes are why I was interested in this.

What I Disliked
1) I hated that the main focus of this book was the MC being cheated on because it just took up way too much of what is meant to be a horror.

2) I'm usually not bothered by pop culture references but there was a lot and it just took me out of the atmosphere.

3) To say he is meant to be a forensic psychologist he does not take all of the signs that some shit was going on serious enough.

4) Declan was sooo dumb it was frustrating to read. Their actions and reactions to stuff don't make logical sense its like they don't have a sense of danger.

Thank you to Netgalley, Cranthorpe Millner Publishers and R.N. Cogley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Michael Be Reading.
488 reviews5 followers
December 31, 2024
Tadhg, going through a breakup with his boyfriend, joins his twin brother and his girlfriend for a getaway in rural Ireland. However, their peaceful retreat is quickly disrupted by unsettling occurrences: a stranger watching them, a break-in, and an ominous Celtic symbol appearing everywhere. As the situation escalates, Tadhg realizes the idyllic escape he sought has become a terrifying ordeal.

A fun, quick, and gory read! I love a short book, I guess maybe this one is technically a novella?? Regardless, I had a lot of fun reading this. I really loved the relationships among the three main characters. There was a surprising amount of character backstory and development for the length of this book. I also loved the remote setting and eerie Celtic symbolism. Something that you will rarely hear me say is that I think this book was actually too short, and it could have benefitted from a bit more details when it came to the final act. I don't mind the cliffhanger necessarily, but would have loved some more explanation behind the "why" of what was happening, if that makes sense. Regardless, I definitely recommend this one!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. This is my voluntary and unbiased review.
Profile Image for Briana (TheBookWorm).
28 reviews
July 14, 2025
"I don't care where I end up, as long as it's as far away from Killimercy as possible."
We have a prologue that helps explains a little bit of the story. From there we jump into twins, Declan and Tadgh, going on a weekend cabin trip in midland Ireland to relax. Along with them is Declan's girlfriend Katie. As they head out into a desolate area and come across a suspicious gas station, red flags pop up more than once that they should turn around and go home. From weird noises, strange symbols, and an unexpected guest arriving will they finally decide to leave or stay and figure out the weird mysteries of Killimercy?
I'll rate this book 3.5/5. This is a very short story. No compelling characters. It reminded me of a few not so good horror movies but you still watch it because it's nothing else on. No action until more than halfway through the book. It wasn't boring but it could have given more background on Killimercy's town and residents.
Profile Image for Kenn Tip.
108 reviews3 followers
January 9, 2025
What is meant to be a relaxing getaway with his brother and friend takes a dark turn in this exciting novella from RN Cogley.

I initially requested this book (thank you to Cranthorpe Millner Publishers and NetGalley!) because I’ve always been fascinated by Celtic legends and mythology. That being said, I think the rural, Irish setting was quite nice. The remoteness of the town really added to the creepy ambiance of the story. Speaking of, I liked the story that was being told for the most part, but I do wish that the author went into a bit more detail on the reason the antagonist were doing what they were doing (keeping it vague to avoid spoilers). While it was certainly creepy, I found myself a little confused on their intentions.

I’d be happy to pick up another book by the author, and I’m glad I got the opportunity to read this book.
Profile Image for Lianna Kendig.
1,031 reviews24 followers
January 13, 2025
40/100 or 2.0 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited going into this because based on the description and the cover. I thought this would be right up my alley. Unfortunately, this did not work for me. I genuinely did like the writing, so I would try another book by Cogley. The writing was what gave this two stars and what kept me going. It is also a quick read so I kept going for that reason too.
The problem is that it was boring. I know that sounds mean, but I have to be honest in these reviews. The potential was there, but it all fell flat for me. I also think this could have done better as a short story. The beginning is so promising, as the first chapter was engaging.

This was not bad, but it didn't work for me.
Profile Image for Carter.
301 reviews23 followers
December 7, 2024
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book!

I’ve been recently getting into more horror related media and when I saw this, I was excited because queer horror is something that is harder to find. At first the book was slow and I had a hard time trying to get into it but once I got like 20% of the way through, I was hooked. I stayed up till 1 AM last night gripping my phone trying to see and figure out how the book ended. Out of everything I could’ve guessed was gonna happen this was one of the last things I expected.

I also feel a special connection to books whose main characters are twins. I am a twin myself so I feel all the more connected to the characters and their survival!

Overall I enjoyed this book a lot and was shocked at the ending!
Profile Image for Brady.
832 reviews6 followers
December 13, 2024
Thank you Cranthorpe Millner Publishers and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own! I’ve been in a horror kick and this didn’t disappoint! A quick read that I consumed in a day! Tadhg Kelly needs a break from his life. So he decides to join his twin brother and his girlfriend on a trip to Ireland. In the small village of Killimercy they’ll be remote and can Tadhg can escape all the worries of his cheating and ex-boyfriend. Soon though strange things begin to happen, a mysterious breaking, strange symbols, and a creepy man peering into their windows. Before they can leave things go from weird to bad. Can the three survive the trip? Spooky and creepy! A fun horror with some supernatural mixed in! Didn’t see the ending coming!
Profile Image for Tiffannie.
228 reviews15 followers
December 9, 2024
We meet 23-year-old master’s student Tadhg Kelly who is trying to avoid his own life drama and joins his twin brother and his gf on their getaway to Ireland.
But Tadhg soon finds more than a cheating scandal to worry about.
As soon as he and his brother with his gf enter the village of Killimercy, odd and eerie things begin to happen: a strange man peering into the window of their cabin; an odd break in, and a unique Celtic symbol haunting Tadhg wherever he goes. However, when Tadhg is about to escape things only get worse…

If you are a fan of The Watchers or The Strangers than this is right up your alley!
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