The White Hare

by Jane Johnson, Sofia Engstrand (Narrator)

In a valley steeped in legend lies an abandoned house where Edens may be lost, found and remade....

The White Valley in the far west of Cornwall cuts deeply through bluebell woods down to the sea. The house above the beach has lain neglected since the war. It comes with a reputation, which is why Mila and her mother, Magda, acquire it so cheaply in the fateful summer of 1954.

Magda plans to restore the house to its former the venue for glittering parties, where the rich and celebrated gathered for bracing walks by day and sumptuous cocktails by night. Mila's ambitions, meanwhile, are much less grand; she dreams of creating a safe haven for herself, and a happy home for her little girl, Janey.

The White Valley comes with a long, eventful history, laced with tall tales. Locals say that a white hare may be seen running through the woods there; to some, she's an ill omen, to others a blessing. Feeling fragile and broken-hearted, Mila is in need of as many blessings as she can get. But will this place provide the fresh start she so desperately needs?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Magical Realism, Mystery, Historical, Audiobook

Audible Audio

First published June 23, 2022

About the author

Jane Johnson is an English writer of books for adults and children and fiction book editor. As a writer she has used the pseudonyms Gabriel King, jointly with M. John Harrison, and Jude Fisher, as well as her real name.

Reviews

[Robin Hobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, the Caveat. Jane Johnson is not only my editor of many, many years but also an excellent friend. But I do not think that affects my reactions to this book.

I've been through a frustrating six months or so. Cataracts! As they dimmed my view and stole my colors, they also took away my pleasure in reading. Even in the best of times, I don't like reading off a screen. I'm a paper person, and I love my 'real' books. But my reading speed slowed and slowed until I felt like reading was like an exercise bike. All the work, and no distance traveled!

Then I got my surgery, and I thought, hurray! I will get it all back. But, no. My eyes were slow to heal and my doctor didn't want to prescribe reading glasses until she was sure they were completely healed.

Well, here I am, months later, and I have my new reading glasses and my reading speed is coming back. I have a huge stack of books by my bed, some released months ago, but now that I can read them, I intend to enjoy myself.

But . . . back to The White Hare.

I'm not sure how to classify this book. The best stories defy classification.

It's a contemporary fantasy set in 1954 Cornwall. Well, not contemporary to our world, but certainly to that world and time. Not urban fantasy; do we have rural fantasy? While it has romance in it, the romance is not the sole focus of the book. There's a mystery to the story, one that can be solved. And another mystery that does not lend itself to an easy resolution. There's lots of history, both of the land and of the characters. These are not simple characters. But those are facets of the tale rather than the focus of it.

What is the focus? Magic. Such a small word for such a big concept. It's the magic of a place and of a world. It's the magic that seeps and dyes and flavors a particular place and a people. It's not a gentle magic, or a magic that explains itself. It can rebuke or it can welcome. It is powerful, and powerful forces are always dangerous.

This book does not hesitate to evoke a sense of wonder. It's a renewal of 'what if' and it does that better than I've seen it done in quite a while.

I"ll add a comment down here that might be a spoiler for some people. If you don't worry about spoilers then read on. If you hate spoilers, as I do, stop at the large white space below here.


Stop

No, I mean it. Stop.


Spoiler, perhaps, below. Stop reading.


Seriously, stop.


Spoiler!!!!

I dislike stories that evoke a sense of wonder, of magic and fantasy, and then, at the last possible moment, they go, "And then I woke up." Or, "just kidding, it was a man in a scary suit (a la Scooby Do cartoons)" Or, "But maybe the protagonist was a little bit crazy. Or maybe it was drugs. " I dislike books that create that awesome sense of wonder, and then snatch it back because the writer doesn't dare believe in it.

The While Hare doesn't do that. Not even a little bit.

Enjoy!

[Lindsay L · Rating 3 out of 5]

First 75%: 4.5 stars
Last 25%: 2 stars
Overall rating: 3.5 stars

Three generations — grandmother, mother and daughter — move to a crumbling seaside estate to start a fresh life.

This novel had so many elements I love — the English countryside, an isolated manor house, unique characters with deeply buried secrets, nature focused atmosphere, gothic tones, natural healing, witchy vibes, the kindness of strangers. Along with the beautiful writing, this all worked so extremely well for me for the majority of the novel. I was engrossed and intrigued and thoroughly enjoying every word I was reading. The writing had an Eve Chase feel to it which is a huge compliment, as she is one of my favourite authors.

Unfortunately the book fell apart for me at the end. The last 25% threw in fantastical elements and a character suddenly “remembering” the history on which the entire mystery of the plot was built. This ruined the strong momentum of the story and decreased my personal connection.

Overall, I loved the book for the most part but it fell flat in the end. It was my first experience with this author and I look forward to reading more from her as I do really click with her writing vibe. Just hoping for a better outcome at the end next time!

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

White Valley is shrouded with local legend, gossip, and fear. The valley has a long and bloody history laced with folklore. The home has sat vacant after the last owners left with no notice. Magdalena believes that this will be just the place for her and her daughter, Mila and granddaughter, Janey. Magdalena and Mila purchase the home for a low price after a scandal involving Mila happens in London. Magdalena wants to transform the home back to its former glory. She hopes to host parties and dazzle the wealthy.

But not all the villagers are happy to see foreigners come to White Valley. They are suspicious and skeptical. When Magdalena, Mila and Janey see a white hare when they arrive the first evening, talk of the sighting causes interesting reactions in the villagers. Local legend says that an enchanted White Hare lives in the area and seeing it can be a blessing or a bad omen. What will it be for them?

The White Hare was an enjoyable and engrossing book. I enjoyed the aspect of second chances and looking to the future while coming to terms with your past. This book also had the perfect mix of folklore, legend, and drama. Most of the characters were likeable, one grew on me by the end, and one was downright dastardly. While reading this, I wanted to walk through the forest, sit by the stream and go down to the sea. I also wanted to spend time with most of the villagers and hear their stories.

This book really was a pleasant surprise. This is a wonderful read for those who enjoy historical fiction with some Magical realism mixed in. This was my first book Jane Johnson and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon&Schuster Canada for an egalley in exchange for an honest review

Set in Cornwall in the 1950's, three generations of women move into a house surrounded by the mists of local legend that hint at the tragedy locked in its walls. Magdalena and Mila have a complicated mother-daughter relationship. Migrating from Poland to England before the Second World War, there are a lot of unhealed wounds and things left unsaid. As a mother to a precocious little girl, Mila is also reeling from the shock that her relationship with her daughter's father wasn't as perfect as she expected. Then there is the mysterious Jack Lord, a handyman who helps the ladies fix up their house. He's handsome and he's kind but every man has his secrets...

I do believe that this is my 3rd or 4th Jane Johnson read and I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I have come to the realization that I love her stories so much and yet, I constantly forget to recommend her books as often as I should. In The White Hare I was immersed in the tale and I liked the characters very much. Aside from the family quarrels that pop up between Mila and Magdalena, there were some very suspicious incidents with a certain rabbit. If I did have a quibble, it was perhaps that I felt Mila might have needed to own up to the fact that she was a lot more like her mother than she admitted to being.


Goodreads review published 26/09/22
Expected Publication Date 04/10/22

[Angel (Bookn.All.Night) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes a slower, atmospheric read is what's needed. Nothing chaotic or bloody...just a good story with full characters and a burst of momentum.

The White Hare is a tragic, yet beautiful story. Family can be complex and secretive and this journey pulls you into the realm of mother-daughter relationships. The author does a great job with this and I was engaged from the beginning.

I love the ending, and the closure it gave me too. The characters are wonderful, even when difficult (you have to read this to understand) and I fell in love with them all.

Highly recommend this one when you need a book to get lost in, that is for savoring and fully enjoying.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant!! Another book to add to my favorites of 2022! There's just something about Jane Johnson's writing that pulls me in and holds me. It's truly magical.

I LOVED this story! The writing is descriptive and beautiful. I could easily imagine myself inside the pages. I fell for the local folklore, Cornish history, and touches of magical realism. Very much enjoyed the 1950's setting! The characters are each unique in their own way. I found it interesting how my opinion of one character in particular changed throughout the course of the story.

Three generations of women, an old house on the Cornish coast, and an enchanted white hare. I hope you enjoy this book just as much as I did!

Huge thank you Simon & Schuster Canada for my gifted copy!

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the far west of Cornwall lies the White Valley, which cuts deeply through Bluebell Woods, down to the sea at White Cove. The Valley has a long and bloody history, laced with folklore, and it sits a house above the beach that has lain neglected since the war. It comes with a reputation and a strange atmosphere, which is why mother and daughter, Magdalena and Mila manage to acquire it so cheaply in the summer of 1954. Magda has grand plans to restore the house to it's former glory as a venue for glittering parties. Her daughter, Mila, just wants to escape the scandal in her past and make a happy home for her daughter Janey.

The story explores the Cornish folklore and it's an atmospheric read. Magda and Mila buy a gothic styled house that they want to restore but both have different visions for it's use after the restorations are complete. The Cornish legend is entwined with the supernatural, Mila's daughter, five year old Janey's behaviour changes almost overnight. she becomes obsessed with a toy rabbit. This is a descriptively and well written book. The characters are well developed and believable. I quite enjoyed this book.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HeadOfZeus and the author #JaneJohnston for my ARC of #TheWhiteHare in exchange for an honest review.

[Barb reads......it ALL! · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐s. It was just okay. I'll be perfectly honest here, I bought it for the cover.

[Erin Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication date: October 4, 2022

After a devastating relationship breakdown, Mila and her five year daughter, Jane, are desperate for a fresh start. Which is how Mila, her daughter and Mila’s mother, Magda, end up purchasing a rundown home in a small valley in Cornwall, which Magda plans to restore and turn into a functioning bed and breakfast. But immediately upon their arrival, the women start to realize that there is a secret looming over the White Valley; the townspeople talk about strange happenings and curses, and young Jane seems fascinated with her own stuffed rabbit, claiming it’s telling her tales from someone assigned to protect the property. Mila just wants to escape her past and start a new life, but something in White Valley won’t let her, and she is forced to with her demons before she can be granted a new beginning.

Jane Johnson’s new novel, “The White Hare”, is a uniquely magical tale of town folklore, fraught mother-daughter relationships, and starting over.

Mila is a stranger in a strange town, in every way. Initially rejected by many of the townspeople due to her Polish background, she is determined to make a go of her new life, being completely unable and unwilling to return to the one she left behind. Mila’s mother, Magda, is terrifying and appears heartless and desperately cold and uncaring, blaming Mila for their situation and insisting Jane has a different upbringing. But Magda, too, has demons, and once they are revealed I connected with her immediately, and my attitude of her changed.

The story is told completely from Mila’s perspective, and although we don’t get a play-by-play of her past mistakes, we get the necessary details. This was more than enough, encouraging readers, like Mila, to look forward and not focus on the past. At the heart of the plot is the complicated relationship between Mila and her mother, Mila being abandoned by her mother at a young age only to be forced into rekindling the relationship when her mother returned to claim her years later, which is slowly repaired as the house they are rebuilding slowly takes shape.

There is such a magical element to this story, complete with a mystical “White Hare”, when a town legend seems to actually exist, and young Jane who has a deeper connection to the magic than anyone else. Women with “healing powers”, family secrets long buried, and protective spirits only add to this delightfully told, well-crafted story.

Johnson’s novel is unique and creative, with emotionally relatable characters and a well thought out plot. A rundown house in Cornwall is the perfect setting for relationships to rebuild, and to form, and “Hare” is flush with magical escapism. Johnson has been in the publishing and writing industry for twenty years, and her talent is evident on every page.

[Aly Lauck · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this. I lost interest in it a bit. I WILL say that I love the character development in this. I think I must just be in a book slump right now and my schedule is a bit crazy to give my full attention to books. Will try and read again in the future.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you think of historical fiction as being like a cake then The White Hare has all the ingredients necessary to make something appetizing: a remote location, a house with a mysterious history, elements of the supernatural, the scars of a country emerging from war, troubled relationships, oh, and a handsome stranger.

There is a timeless quality to the book with only a few references to the Second World War pointing to it being set in 1954. The remoteness of White Cove and the nearby village gives a sense of a place somewhat detached from modern life. ‘The old ways run deep in this part of the county. It’s a place full of ancient mysteries and a great deal of superstition.’ In this respect Cornwall with its rich history of legends and its ancient monuments makes an ideal setting for the story. It’s believable that the supernatural is not far from the surface in this part of the world and that life is lived very much to the rhythm of nature. It also goes some way to explaining the villagers initial hostility towards the new arrivals. ‘The valley doesn’t welcome outsiders.’

Mila’s mother, Magdalena (sometimes referred to in the book as Magda or Mother) is a rather unlikeable character. She’s self-obsessed, prone to fits of anger and seems determined to ‘punish’ her daughter for the failure of a relationship in which Mila was the innocent party, despite the fact it has provided the funds for the purchase and refurbishment of White Cove. Even when the details of Magdalena’s past are revealed, I found it hard to forgive her treatment of her daughter and granddaughter. I did like though the fact the story involves (for the times) an unconventional relationship although, rather contradictorily, the possibility of the disclosure of a similar relationship is shown to have a very different outcome.

Although for me the book moved at a sedate pace, the constant sense of unease the author created helped maintain my interest. There are a number of odd occurrences from ‘mishaps and minor accidents’ to strange visions, many associated with Mila’s daughter, Janey. Some of these defy rational explanation whilst others prove to have more conventional causes. I enjoyed how many of the strange events tied in with the history of the area and that they were given expression through women. The prologue and epilogue neatly reflect this.

Towards the end of the book the pace picked up as, one after another, secrets are revealed, animosity is replaced by acceptance and unexpected good fortune signals a different future for many of the characters.

[Chrissie Whitley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Escaping potential scandal and definite heartbreak, three generations of women in 1954 leave London for the Cornish coast. Magda, Mila, and Janey — grandmother, mother, and daughter, respectively — have purchased a large house that has remained empty and neglected since the war and which they hope to open as a bed and breakfast the following year. However much they had hoped to start anew and leave their woes behind, they eventually discover some troubles came with them . . . and they have discovered new troubles that seem to have come with the house.

The White Hare begins interestingly enough — a strained car ride ends with the arrival of the trio to their new house. It's clear from the outset that the mother, Mila — and the narrator, and the grandmother, Magda, do not have the best relationship. As the story develops, the situation worsens, and Mila finds refuge with their new friend in the area, Jack Lord, along with a few other townspeople.

In between the family squabbles, there are some eery happenings that occur in and around the house. Johnson begins these with the sighting of a white hare on the road during that first car ride to the new house. Paired with that in the story is a stuffed rabbit, sweetly named Rabbit, belonging to the little girl, Janey, who is just five years old. After losing Rabbit and rediscovering him (completely cleaned and mended), Janey begins using Rabbit in ways that seems slightly different than her usual play. The child seems to have developed a connection to all the strange occurrences going on.

Johnson delivers all of this inexplicably in first person present tense, and while she is able to create a decent amount of atmosphere by way of plot and setting, The White Hare relies too heavily on the constant push of the narration from the main character, Mila. A giant problem with present tense narration is how it brings the idea of narrating down to the most basic terms. I see. I turn. I walk. The attempt to maintain that illusive moment of now results far too often in the author detailing nearly every single movement that main character does. Surprisingly, there ends up being a very negligible amount of story . . . or rather, no depth beyond the surface of the plot or the constant movement of the character's narration. It’s all surface level and completely gimmicky — attempting to create tension in moments when the writing has not properly developed such. While the intention is no doubt to put the reader in the middle of the action and feel the unfolding of the moment, it's exhausting trying to keep up with the pressure of being towed along slowly with this bumbling and meek narrator.

The story overall is an interesting idea, but in addition to the issues with the chosen grammatical tense, the characters lacked proper development. Again, often another issue that stems from the use of present tense. Usually this arises because of how easy it is to tell and not show the attributes of the characters, especially through the lens and observations of the single, first-person narrator. This too eventually can cascade down into the characters' arcs for the course of the book — especially with respect to romantic chemistry between characters. More often than not, with telling, suddenly the characters declare their love for each other, leaving baffled reader to wonder when this even could have occurred. Certainly not during all the constant moving about the house. On top of it all, the strange denouement that Johnson tacks onto the story felt as thought she'd hit a fork in the road and took a sharp and unexpected turn to the left into The Goonies (1985).

All-in-all, an almost atmospheric story with a potentially compelling concept, but where the execution misses the mark.

I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book nor the content of my review.

[Mark Lawrence]

Now out in the UK.

[Val (pagespoursandpups) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of cornish folklore and history and set in an eerily mysterious house, this book begs to be read in October!

The melodic writing was beautiful, and with plenty of fantasy elements and whispers of ghosts and other wordly presences, this story was a slow burn that picked up during the last 1/3 of the book. I wanted to like this one more than I did.

A tale of a young mother, her daughter and her mother moving to a small town with hopes of starting over. After being jilted by her daughter's father, Mila uses her settlement money to purchase an old home in need of major repairs with hopes of turning it into a bed and breakfast. The move and the purchase though, are not Mila's dream, but her overbearing mother's. Mila and her mother have a very strange and stilted relationship. Her mother is just a very unlikeable character. Into their new life steps Jack, who is a jack of all trades and is eager to help these women transform the old house. The townspeople all believe the house is haunted and are afraid to be associated with it. There is some sort of mystery surrounding the previous owners that no one will talk about. They talk in circles without giving any real information. They begin to create doubts in Mila at the same time that her daughter starts displaying some strange behaviors.

The story follows the progress of the house, while also exploring Mila's relationship with her mother, her daughter and Jack. Oh and did I mention the creepy priest? I can definitely see why so many people have enjoyed this book and if you are a fan of slowburns, folklore, omens and secrets, then this one may be right up your alley. I enjoyed this story, but I didn't love it. The pace was a little too slow, and I feel like I never really connected to any of the characters. Recommend for the right audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the advance copy to read and review.

[Sarah-Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

The White Hare provides a wonderful, spooky read that remains rewarding throughout. I have run up against so many books lately that begin with promise, but lose course, that I can't begin to say how grateful I am for a title that I never once considered abandoning.

The White Hare has plot elements that are familiar: outsiders come to a small community and are made less than welcome; there's a strange man who keeps showing up, but has no known address; the local priest is determined to stamp out paganism; other members of the community practice the old ways; the sea broods; past horrors are alluded to, but never explained.

Our outsiders in this case are a trio of women: grandmother and mother are both Polish immigrants who immigrated to the UK at the start of WWII; the daughter, Janey, not quite school-age, is UK-born. The two older women are both fleeing their own traumas, but Janey remains content with her rabbit-toy best friend and eager to explore the forests and beaches near her new home. But then Rabbit disappears—and reappears—and suddenly conversations between Janey and Rabbit become more mysterious and esoteric.

One of the joys of this title is the way it steadily builds a sense of menace, but also sustains a sense of hope. I kept waiting for the moment of horror that would ruin the book for me, but—despite plenty of unworldly events—that moment never came.

If you like "gothic" (not quite the right word here, but I'll go with it) fiction, but aren't interested in bloodbaths, you are going to *love* The White Hare. The balance of unease and comfort offered by the book lets readers walk a fine edge without a sudden fall to either side.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGallet; the opinions are my own.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author's Note: Ambiguous, liminal, uncanny, bridging the human and divine world, the White Hare seems to me the perfect manifestation for all those things in life we sense but cannot know.

Cornwall 1954: Mila needs to make a quick escape with her daughter Janey as she has just discovered that her husband is living a double life with another woman. When a large, run-down home comes up for sale for a very cheap price she can't believe her luck. Mila, Janey, and Mila's mother Magda decide to start a new life in the remote village of White Hall. The problem is the townspeople don't seem to want them there and they begin to find resistance at every turn. There are also rumors of past misdeeds and an enchanted mystical hare that haunts the island. Mila and her family definitely have more than they bargained for coming to this new place and may end up being in danger once long-buried secrets are revealed.

**This was a solid family drama set during the Christmas season. I enjoyed it but there were definitely some slow chapters to sludge through to get to the ending.**

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

PUBLICATION DAY: October 4, 2022

When Mila moves to the English countryside with her young daughter Janey and challenging mother Magda, she expects to be leaving her recent problems behind. Little does she know that a whole new set of problems are waiting for her in White Cove. With household repairs, local superstitions, distrust of newcomers and relationship dramas, Mila must learn to trust herself, and Janey if she hopes to embrace the fresh start in her new home.

PROS and CONS:
I love Jane Johnson’s writing style - this is not a book to rush through, rather one to savour and enjoy. Very descriptive, with a somewhat slow (and at times repetitive - come on people just finish a story already) plot - when I convinced myself to slow down I really enjoyed it. A very, very talented writer - no question there, and the story really picks up steam at the end.

READ IT?
If you are into exceptional, descriptive writing, this one's for you!

4 Stars

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atmospheric, mysterious, and intriguing!

The White Hare is a rich, eerie, gripping tale that transports you to Cornwall during 1954 and into the lives of three generations of Prusik women as they move to a dilapidated new home and try to come to terms with all the powerful emotions, spooky folklore, traditions, long-buried secrets, strange behaviours, tragedy, and magic that surrounds them.

The prose is tight and intense. The characters are multilayered, vulnerable, and scarred. And the plot is an unsettling tale of life, loss, trauma, tragedy, desperation, familial drama, legends, folklore, secrets, supernatural phenomena, new beginnings, and the complex relationships that exist between mothers and daughters.

Overall, The White Hare is an ominous, vivid, gothic tale by Johnson that undoubtedly kept me engaged and invested from start to finish and was truly a delight to read.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the start and middle of this book but as the book was nearing the end and they way the story went I wasn’t quite so entertained by.
Not a bad read but not bloody brilliant either

[Fictionophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a 'no brainer' that I would read "The White Hare" as I so thoroughly enjoyed this author's last novel "The Sea Gate".

Once again, Jane Johnson transports her readers to Cornwall, one of my own personal favourite settings. Steeped in rich history, folklore, and yes... magic. The story is set in the winter of 1954/55.

It is a story of fresh starts, childhood traumas, superstition, historic murders, myths, old religions, and ancient Cornish history.

Mila's marriage ended on a traumatic note, and now,  to escape an untenable situation, she finds herself and her daughter living with her mother once again. They have recently purchased an old house near the sea in Cornwall and intend to fix it up so that they can run it as a guest house.

The characters were well drawn.  Outsiders, they were Polish immigrants, and I enjoyed learning about some of their Polish customs. Though I did like the protagonist, Mila, I found her mother Magda very difficult to care for. Her daughter, Janey, was a solitary, precocious girl, who seemed headstrong and at times disobedient.

Though, I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as her previous novel, "The White Hare" was still an enjoyable read that I can heartily recommend.

[Simona · Rating 2 out of 5]

*I've got this book from the NetGalley in exchange of an honest review*

In this book we have 2 women and a girl running from their past to a the White Valley in the far west of Cornwall. However they are met with some strange occurances and dark secrets. In order for them to start a new life in a new places, they have to find out what actually is happening and they also have to fight their own deamons.

Sounds guite interesting, isn't it? I thougt so myself, however I was dissapointed. The magical part of the story was porly done and sometimes even distracted from the mystery we had througout the book. Also there were some plot holes, that made me cringe. The pase of the story dragged too much and I was bored for the majority of the book.
Talking about the characters, none of them were even at least a little bit likable. To be honest with you I didn't felt anything at all reading about them...maybe just a frustration of the decisions that the adult woman made. Sometimes the child had more sense then her mother.
What irked me the most was the use of abuse and mentioning of rape. It wasn't necessary for the story at all and in my opinion was poorly writen and used only for shock factor.
Do I recommend this book? Not really, I read it all so you don't have to.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminiscent of a Kate Morton book, White Hare was an atmospheric read. A slow, mindful plot and primarily character driven this book had a touch of mystery and intrigue. Whole reading this it gave me all the fall vibes.

Thank Simon and Schuster Canada for this complimentary copy.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Jane Johnson’s books; they always have such fascinating settings – 17th century Morocco in The Sultan’s Wife, 15th century Spain in The Court of Lions, and the author’s native Cornwall in The Tenth Gift. She returns to Cornwall again for her new novel, The White Hare, a book steeped in the myths and legends of that region of England.

The novel begins in 1954, with Mila Prusik, her mother Magda and five-year-old daughter Janey arriving at White Cove near Eglosberyan on the Cornish coast. Having left Poland for England during World War II, the family had been settled in London until a disastrous relationship with a married man left Mila desperate to make a fresh start. She and Magda have bought a neglected old house in the Cornish countryside and are planning to restore it to its former glory and turn it into a guest house. However, not everyone is happy to see the house under new ownership and the Prusiks receive a hostile welcome.

As Mila and her mother begin their restoration work, they hear hints from their neighbours that the house has a sinister past and should be left alone. The two women think this is nonsense and continue with their plans, but Mila becomes increasingly concerned about the changes in Janey’s behaviour – particularly her obsession with Rabbit, a stuffed toy that seems to have a mind of its own. How is all of this related to sightings of the legendary White Hare and to the strange symbols and carvings Mila finds all over the house and its grounds?

The White Hare is one of the most atmospheric books I’ve read for a while, not just because of the supernatural aspects – which are subtle, ambiguous and unsettling – but also because of the way the setting is so beautifully described. As Jane Johnson explains in her author’s note, the town of Eglosberyan and its valley are not real but are inspired by several real places. I could easily picture the white house surrounded by dark woodland, the stream tumbling between mossy rocks, the lonely beach framed by granite cliffs – they are all brought so vividly to life.

I also found it interesting to follow the relationship between Mila and Magda. When they first arrive in Cornwall, Mila is timid and submissive, allowing herself and Janey to be bullied by the hard and domineering Magda, but both characters do grow and change throughout the novel as the valley works its magic on them. There’s also a love interest for Mila, but although I did like him I felt that this part of the story took too much of a dramatic turn towards the end. Still, this is a very enjoyable novel and, while it’s quite different from the other Jane Johnson books I’ve read, being set entirely in one period and not as far into the past, I liked it just as much.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was lovely and enjoyable to read. It was a very fulfilling, solid story with a good variety of characters. Add to the fact that it’s set in Cornwall, in a deep valley with residents who do not like outsiders, have their own secrets and deep folklore/history.

Magda, Mila and Janey are taking a leap of faith moving into this isolated, dilapidated home on the edge of the sea on one side, dark forest on the other. The plan for this home is to be eventually turned into resort / hotel. The idea of this seems immense, considering the size and condition of the house, the remote location, the fact that some workers will not come to the house due to its past history and past owners. As these 3 try to make their way through their own family dysfunction (deals have been made), the overwhelming work of the interior and exterior of the house and land, and preparing for the eventuality of having paying guests / boarders is a lot! Add to this, people conflicts/concerns with the locals.

Magda, the mother, plays the part of controller, manipulator, femme fatale. Mila, is the daughter, tricked by her husband, who has now exhausted her previous life efforts and made a deal with her mother to move out and engage in this new endeavor with daughter, Janey, and Janey’s stuffed white rabbit. This rabbit and a white hare (there’s a difference) play a somewhat magical role in this story.

Add the local handyman, Jack, who is very empathetic and kind and understanding to Mila and Janey. He has figured out Magda’s manipulative ways from the get go. He also has a sense that there’s something else going on here, with the house, the valley, the people and the history. The overall atmosphere. These backstories/secrets are tickled out at various points. It keeps the reader wanting to keep going to find out more and so it was hard to put the book down to attend to other pressing things in life.

A well done story, one that I enjoyed very much. Looking forward to reading more from my this author, whom I’ve just discovered.

[Jean Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Moody, atmospheric. Reminds me of Daphne du Maurier. Entertaining. I highly recommend this book.

[Holly D · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book had a good start with great potential. I’m not a fan of mythical stuff but I kept reading anyway. The end was so pathetic I didn’t even finish reading the last 20 pages.

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great “tail”

The White Hair is mystifying and magical. I loved it.

[Katherina Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful read! This book held my attention, took me away from household chores and kept me awake until the very end. Any book that can suck me in like that, deserves 5 stars. Magda is an overbearing mother, who who always seems to be in competition with her daughter, Mila. Mila is a naive and young 26 year old with a young daughter, Janey. "A tragedy" has caused Mila to put her life in Magda's hands. The "tragedy" is referred to and tickles the reader while bits and pieces are revealed throughout the story. Magda, Mila and Janey move to Cornwall and buy a house and property that is to be restored. This will provide them with a bed and breakfast type of place, a way to make a living. The people of Cornwall are a tough bunch, resistant to newcomers. Many still believe in the old ways, the Celtic gods and practices. This book is a gothic mystery, a coming of age, AND a family drama.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a DARC. This rating and review is my own honest opinion.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing premise with a hint of the supernatural. A nasty grandmother, a fallen daughter and a precocious granddaughter move into a remote seaside mansion in West Cornwall—which they plan to restore to become a luxury inn. They soon become embroiled in strange happenings, including the little girl's toy rabbit who suddenly has become a 'he' rather than a 'she' and has extraordinary insight to the strange happenings around them. Be ready for a mysterious ride through Cornish history and mythology as well as a surprise ending. The only criticism is that a little too much information is left until the end. A fun read.

[Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I would love this book from the first chapter.