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The Shadows of Hill Manor
Don't miss the eerie, bone-chilling and twisty thriller about how far we go to protect our darkest secrets, for fans of C.J. Tudor, Riley Sager and Cass Green.
Secrets won't stay in the dark forever…
When young Kimberley Painter vanishes without a trace, her disappearance sends shockwaves through the local community.
Nearly twenty years later, her bones are discovered in the shadowy woodlands surrounding an eerie manor house.
Now, Detective Alessandra Cano must uncover the mystery of what really happened to the little girl all those years ago.
But as Alessa delves deeper, disturbing clues begin to haunt her at every turn, hinting that Kimberley's death is just one piece of a twisted puzzle.
With the clock ticking, Alessa races toward a chilling truth she never expected, as the past claws its way into the light.
Because secrets, however well-hidden, won't stay buried forever…
The Shadows of Hill Manor is a heart-pounding thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Secrets won't stay in the dark forever…
When young Kimberley Painter vanishes without a trace, her disappearance sends shockwaves through the local community.
Nearly twenty years later, her bones are discovered in the shadowy woodlands surrounding an eerie manor house.
Now, Detective Alessandra Cano must uncover the mystery of what really happened to the little girl all those years ago.
But as Alessa delves deeper, disturbing clues begin to haunt her at every turn, hinting that Kimberley's death is just one piece of a twisted puzzle.
With the clock ticking, Alessa races toward a chilling truth she never expected, as the past claws its way into the light.
Because secrets, however well-hidden, won't stay buried forever…
The Shadows of Hill Manor is a heart-pounding thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
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Published October 10, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 13, 2024
I found this so disappointing. It was so slow to get going and although at times it was creepy it wasn't as good as her previous novels. Hopefully her next one will be better. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
October 10, 2024
I quite enjoyed my previous read from this author however, this was sadly not the on-the-edge-of-your-seat, gripping page-turner that I wanted.
In my opinion, I found the narrative to be quite slow and the police investigation into the disappearance of Kimberly to be a constant non-starter. I was never convinced by the romantic subplot, finding the characters to be awkward and I did not trust the male’s intentions in the slightest.
You need to have a relatively strong constitution when reading this book because it is all about a little girl’s abduction. It turns out that the investigating police officer was also involved in a near-abduction and this comes to haunt her when searching for Kimberly. I found the timelines difficult to match up in my head but Alessa and the police are convinced it is the same criminal operating again. As the investigation draws on, other similar cases are referenced: it would seem there is a serial child abductor on the loose and the incompetent lead police detective is no closer to catching them.
The book switches back to events leading up to Kimberly’s abduction. I was curious to see what happened to her but wished the writer had omitted Kimberly’s final scene. As a mother myself, I felt really uncomfortable reading it and would have preferred the writer to have implied rather than fully described. It made me hurry to finish the book further.
I was surprised by the paranormal references and how far the writer took this. It wasn’t what I was expecting, despite what the cover connotated. Instead, I was hoping for the mysterious Hill Manor to feature in this book, rather than readers running around with Alessa and drawing blanks about Kimberly’s abduction. Whilst it added to the creepy atmosphere of the book, I think this was lost because Hill Manor was barely a feature to the story.
Overall, this was not one of my favourite reads and I was glad to finish it. Not only was the subject matter a bit difficult to read about, but the pace was so slow that I felt like I was ageing as I was progressing through the book. I hope my next read from this author is more exciting.
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In my opinion, I found the narrative to be quite slow and the police investigation into the disappearance of Kimberly to be a constant non-starter. I was never convinced by the romantic subplot, finding the characters to be awkward and I did not trust the male’s intentions in the slightest.
You need to have a relatively strong constitution when reading this book because it is all about a little girl’s abduction. It turns out that the investigating police officer was also involved in a near-abduction and this comes to haunt her when searching for Kimberly. I found the timelines difficult to match up in my head but Alessa and the police are convinced it is the same criminal operating again. As the investigation draws on, other similar cases are referenced: it would seem there is a serial child abductor on the loose and the incompetent lead police detective is no closer to catching them.
The book switches back to events leading up to Kimberly’s abduction. I was curious to see what happened to her but wished the writer had omitted Kimberly’s final scene. As a mother myself, I felt really uncomfortable reading it and would have preferred the writer to have implied rather than fully described. It made me hurry to finish the book further.
I was surprised by the paranormal references and how far the writer took this. It wasn’t what I was expecting, despite what the cover connotated. Instead, I was hoping for the mysterious Hill Manor to feature in this book, rather than readers running around with Alessa and drawing blanks about Kimberly’s abduction. Whilst it added to the creepy atmosphere of the book, I think this was lost because Hill Manor was barely a feature to the story.
Overall, this was not one of my favourite reads and I was glad to finish it. Not only was the subject matter a bit difficult to read about, but the pace was so slow that I felt like I was ageing as I was progressing through the book. I hope my next read from this author is more exciting.
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2024
my first read from this author and so very much enjoyed very creepy and an addictive read. a young girl goes missing called Kimberley. the person in charge of the case is very incompetent. a young woman police officer on that case Alessa believes they not doing enough, and she has her own little secret who she is. they never ever found her best friend who was abducted as a child she believes the same person took Kimberley. a new police officer has joined their team Jason and he and Alessa form a good work relationship .and then Alessa starts seeing a ghost a young girl. it's an amazing and emotional read that I highly recommend. one womans journey of finding the killer and getting justice.
September 19, 2024
The Shadows of Hill manor is the first book from Anne Wyn Clark that I have read, and I will be honest I read because of the haunting look of the cover, and I didn’t read the blurb. So, when I read this. It was completely different to what I was expecting.
The story starts in 2007 when two boys that are playing in the woods come across an underground bunker where they find the remains of Kimberley Painter who disappeared in 1990. When the police visit the father of the dead girl. He knew the day would have come but why did it take so long.
The rest of the book is the time the girl disappeared in 1990 and the things that led to her death and her discovery and the Policewoman investigating her disappearance. The 90’s were a difficult time for women in the Police force with the racial tension and sexist remarks that they had to endure.
Like I said in the first paragraph that this was not what I was expecting. But although it was a slow burn. I still enjoyed this, nevertheless. The mixture of police procedure and slight supernatural element to it too. It is a great read 4 stars from me.
The story starts in 2007 when two boys that are playing in the woods come across an underground bunker where they find the remains of Kimberley Painter who disappeared in 1990. When the police visit the father of the dead girl. He knew the day would have come but why did it take so long.
The rest of the book is the time the girl disappeared in 1990 and the things that led to her death and her discovery and the Policewoman investigating her disappearance. The 90’s were a difficult time for women in the Police force with the racial tension and sexist remarks that they had to endure.
Like I said in the first paragraph that this was not what I was expecting. But although it was a slow burn. I still enjoyed this, nevertheless. The mixture of police procedure and slight supernatural element to it too. It is a great read 4 stars from me.
September 8, 2024
This is a slow burn 🔥
I'm not sure how many pages this was but it took me a good while to read this one.
It kept me intrigued throughout but there were definitely points in the story that had me wishing it would move along a bit quicker than it was. And as soon as a character was introduced, it was game up for me as it was pretty obvious by that point. However I loved the character development.
The ending was subtle and made me feel bereft.
I'm not sure how many pages this was but it took me a good while to read this one.
It kept me intrigued throughout but there were definitely points in the story that had me wishing it would move along a bit quicker than it was. And as soon as a character was introduced, it was game up for me as it was pretty obvious by that point. However I loved the character development.
The ending was subtle and made me feel bereft.
September 8, 2025
I'm a big fan of this author's books. This one was a slow built and I can't say it had the usual kick but the ending was brilliantly wrapped up. I enjoyed the characters too.
September 26, 2024
I've read and enjoyed all of Anne Wyn Clark's books. This one was least favorite of the four.
It was an intriguing mystery with dual timelines and multiple POVs, which made for a rich storytelling experience. My only qualm being that it was very much a police procedural, and that's not my preferred genre.
That being said, it's still an excellent story with plenty of atmosphere, mystery, and multilayered characters.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It was an intriguing mystery with dual timelines and multiple POVs, which made for a rich storytelling experience. My only qualm being that it was very much a police procedural, and that's not my preferred genre.
That being said, it's still an excellent story with plenty of atmosphere, mystery, and multilayered characters.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2024
Brilliant book really enjoyed the Ghostly theme. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 10, 2024
This book is a mix of a police procedural and a thriller with a slight supernatural element which took me completely by surprise.
The book begins in 2007 when two boys stumble across human remains. The remains are Kimberly Painter, a ten year old who went missing in 1990. The majority of the book is told in 1990 and focus on the events of when Kimberly went missing and the subsequent investigation. The main character and main narrator is Alessa, a young WPC who has her own first hand experience of a missing child.
When the story is brought back to 2007 we stay with Alessa’s POV and find out she is a detective working on the case.
I loved the way Alessa’s backstory was brought onto the main story and the fact it was her who was dealing with the case in the ‘present’.
The story was slow at times but worth sticking with to discover the ending and what happened to Kimberley.
Overall an enjoyable read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the advanced copy.
The book begins in 2007 when two boys stumble across human remains. The remains are Kimberly Painter, a ten year old who went missing in 1990. The majority of the book is told in 1990 and focus on the events of when Kimberly went missing and the subsequent investigation. The main character and main narrator is Alessa, a young WPC who has her own first hand experience of a missing child.
When the story is brought back to 2007 we stay with Alessa’s POV and find out she is a detective working on the case.
I loved the way Alessa’s backstory was brought onto the main story and the fact it was her who was dealing with the case in the ‘present’.
The story was slow at times but worth sticking with to discover the ending and what happened to Kimberley.
Overall an enjoyable read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the advanced copy.
February 2, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley for this copy.
Kimberley Painter went missing and was never found. 30 years later her body is then discovered and the case gets re-opened to find out what happened to her.
This was a bit of a slow starter for me and took me a while to get into. The police investigation just seemed to stop and start and not really get anywhere until right near the end. I wasn't so sure of the budding romance between the 2 police officers, something just seemed off with him from the start.
Kimberley Painter went missing and was never found. 30 years later her body is then discovered and the case gets re-opened to find out what happened to her.
This was a bit of a slow starter for me and took me a while to get into. The police investigation just seemed to stop and start and not really get anywhere until right near the end. I wasn't so sure of the budding romance between the 2 police officers, something just seemed off with him from the start.
January 27, 2025
Bloody loved this one, although I don't actually no why it was called the shadows of hill manor as it's only in the book 2 or 3 times anyway I couldn't out this one down
February 22, 2025
Good read first one of this Author
October 17, 2024
Loved this! Perfect for spooky season
November 15, 2024
This is the first book I've read by this author. The book's description drew me to it straight away and it sounded perfectly scary for the time of year. We find ourselves in a police procedural thriller where a young girl's body is found after being missing for several years. When 10 year old Kimberley Painter first went missing, WPC Alessa Cano was a new young police woman. When Kimberley's body is discovered, we find Alessa is now the investigating officer. The storyline switches between present day and the past, and the storyline shows that Alessa is hiding her own secret about another missing girl who was her friend.
I really enjoyed this book, and I liked the dual timeframe perspective. Alessa is a good character and in the present day she works hard to provide answers for Kimberley's family. However, she has her secrets from the past, and her early time from the police in the 90's make uncomfortable reading with not just the misogynistic views and attitudes of her male colleagues, but also with how the original investigation is handled. I liked how the story switched back and forward and whilst it is a murder mystery, there is a little element of the supernatural which gave me the chills as I read.
The storyline was a slow builder, and the tension and suspense of what happened and is happening in the present day builds as the storyline moves on. I found myself gripped to the storyline, wanting to know what happened to not just Kimberley, but to Alessa as well. The reveal was well written and I enjoyed the climax of their stories. Whilst we didn't necessarily need the romantic element between a couple of the characters, I didn't feel it detracted from the main storyline at all. Would definitely recommend!
I really enjoyed this book, and I liked the dual timeframe perspective. Alessa is a good character and in the present day she works hard to provide answers for Kimberley's family. However, she has her secrets from the past, and her early time from the police in the 90's make uncomfortable reading with not just the misogynistic views and attitudes of her male colleagues, but also with how the original investigation is handled. I liked how the story switched back and forward and whilst it is a murder mystery, there is a little element of the supernatural which gave me the chills as I read.
The storyline was a slow builder, and the tension and suspense of what happened and is happening in the present day builds as the storyline moves on. I found myself gripped to the storyline, wanting to know what happened to not just Kimberley, but to Alessa as well. The reveal was well written and I enjoyed the climax of their stories. Whilst we didn't necessarily need the romantic element between a couple of the characters, I didn't feel it detracted from the main storyline at all. Would definitely recommend!
August 25, 2025
Romance novel / police procedural with a not too bright protagonist.
I hated this book, mainly because it was false advertising. The blurb describes it as a creepy supernatural thriller in an old abandoned mansion. It’s really half police procedural, half romance novel. And the mansion is barely mentioned.
The romance part dominated the book and is inappropriate for a book with graphic descriptions of little girls being assaulted and murdered. The actual romance parts were like a Mills and Boon/Harlequin romance novel. Direct quotes from the book:
“After months of buildup, the day of their engagement party had arrived. The gathering was being held at the most exclusive establishment.”
“Even though she’d only known Jason a short time, she knew she’d found a good man. One who would take care of her.”
“Now she’d found her Prince Charming, she didn’t want to let him go.���
Does any of that scream spooky scary thriller to you?
The main plot covers policewoman Alessa’s quest to find the serial killer abducting and killing little girls, including her childhood best friend.
The serial killer then starts stalking her. She notices a prowler outside her home then discovers that the prowler has left an envelope containing a photo of the murdered corpse of one of the missing children. The response from everyone is basically, “huh, weird. Welp guess that proves she’s dead so we can stop looking for her!” They don’t bother putting surveillance on Alessa’s home even though the killer would have been caught straight away if they had. (Though this is somewhat explained as the chief of police being lazy and corrupt.) It doesn’t even occur to Alessa to go stay somewhere that’s not being actively targeted by a serial killer.
Then the next night she wakes up to discover the same prowler inside her home, and her response is to try to jump out at him, but he’s already left. Then - this cracked me up - the next line is “Alessa found it hard to get back to sleep.” YOU JUST FOUND A SERIAL KILLER IN YOUR HOUSE CALL 999 YOU CLOTH EARED BAT.
Seriously!!! Is Alessa supposed to have brain damage?! She’s a police officer. Her response to the serial killer she’s hunting breaking into her home is to just go back to sleep?? With her mum in the house? Knowing a serial killer can get into their home at any point? (Hilariously, the reason the serial killer could break into her home was that she leaves a spare key under her front doormat. This is a police officer.)
The murders are never solved, the serial killer is never caught, I guess the serial killer just gets bored and stops stalking Alessa, and everyone just kind of stops worrying that there’s an active serial killer on the loose. Alessa is far too busy focusing on her Big Romance!
Then years later she has a psychic/ghostly vision which leads her to the serial killer’s house - turns out it was just some random dude, and he died years ago - so she just kind of shrugs and goes to eat cake with the murdered girl’s parents before remembering that it’s not a social call and she’s there to inform them that their missing child’s murdered body has been found (they’re overjoyed and can’t thank her enough, then they all just eat cake).
There are no real plot twists. There are hints that she was responsible for her best friend’s abduction but it turns out she just stole her (actually very mean) friend’s bracelet with the intention of sneaking it back into her bag, to make her think she lost it.
The plot twist referenced on the book cover is presumably the epilogue where it’s revealed the serial killer faked his own death and fled abroad so he could keep killing kids, then the ghost of a kid he killed comes and shoves him off a balcony. Presumably in frustration at having the stupidest human being alive investigating her murder. I didn’t really find that to be a plot twist, though there is a hilarious bit in the epilogue where the killer reflects that there was a diary that practically had “SO AND SO IS THE KILLER” in plain view of the police from day one and he would have been caught years earlier if Alessa had the basic awareness God gave your average hamster.
I hated this book, mainly because it was false advertising. The blurb describes it as a creepy supernatural thriller in an old abandoned mansion. It’s really half police procedural, half romance novel. And the mansion is barely mentioned.
The romance part dominated the book and is inappropriate for a book with graphic descriptions of little girls being assaulted and murdered. The actual romance parts were like a Mills and Boon/Harlequin romance novel. Direct quotes from the book:
“After months of buildup, the day of their engagement party had arrived. The gathering was being held at the most exclusive establishment.”
“Even though she’d only known Jason a short time, she knew she’d found a good man. One who would take care of her.”
“Now she’d found her Prince Charming, she didn’t want to let him go.���
Does any of that scream spooky scary thriller to you?
The main plot covers policewoman Alessa’s quest to find the serial killer abducting and killing little girls, including her childhood best friend.
The serial killer then starts stalking her. She notices a prowler outside her home then discovers that the prowler has left an envelope containing a photo of the murdered corpse of one of the missing children. The response from everyone is basically, “huh, weird. Welp guess that proves she’s dead so we can stop looking for her!” They don’t bother putting surveillance on Alessa’s home even though the killer would have been caught straight away if they had. (Though this is somewhat explained as the chief of police being lazy and corrupt.) It doesn’t even occur to Alessa to go stay somewhere that’s not being actively targeted by a serial killer.
Then the next night she wakes up to discover the same prowler inside her home, and her response is to try to jump out at him, but he’s already left. Then - this cracked me up - the next line is “Alessa found it hard to get back to sleep.” YOU JUST FOUND A SERIAL KILLER IN YOUR HOUSE CALL 999 YOU CLOTH EARED BAT.
Seriously!!! Is Alessa supposed to have brain damage?! She’s a police officer. Her response to the serial killer she’s hunting breaking into her home is to just go back to sleep?? With her mum in the house? Knowing a serial killer can get into their home at any point? (Hilariously, the reason the serial killer could break into her home was that she leaves a spare key under her front doormat. This is a police officer.)
The murders are never solved, the serial killer is never caught, I guess the serial killer just gets bored and stops stalking Alessa, and everyone just kind of stops worrying that there’s an active serial killer on the loose. Alessa is far too busy focusing on her Big Romance!
Then years later she has a psychic/ghostly vision which leads her to the serial killer’s house - turns out it was just some random dude, and he died years ago - so she just kind of shrugs and goes to eat cake with the murdered girl’s parents before remembering that it’s not a social call and she’s there to inform them that their missing child’s murdered body has been found (they’re overjoyed and can’t thank her enough, then they all just eat cake).
There are no real plot twists. There are hints that she was responsible for her best friend’s abduction but it turns out she just stole her (actually very mean) friend’s bracelet with the intention of sneaking it back into her bag, to make her think she lost it.
The plot twist referenced on the book cover is presumably the epilogue where it’s revealed the serial killer faked his own death and fled abroad so he could keep killing kids, then the ghost of a kid he killed comes and shoves him off a balcony. Presumably in frustration at having the stupidest human being alive investigating her murder. I didn’t really find that to be a plot twist, though there is a hilarious bit in the epilogue where the killer reflects that there was a diary that practically had “SO AND SO IS THE KILLER” in plain view of the police from day one and he would have been caught years earlier if Alessa had the basic awareness God gave your average hamster.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2024
The Shadows of Hill manor is the second book from Anne Wyn Clark that I have read. It was a quick read, I enjoyed it . The book was a blend of thriller , horror and police procedural. The author managed to maintain the pace of the overall book.
September 13, 2025
Dark and creepy thriller following the investigation of a missing girl.
At first it started a bit slow and took a while to get into but as the story progressed I was really interested and engaged. I flew through the 2nd half of the book.
I will be having a look into more of this authors work.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
At first it started a bit slow and took a while to get into but as the story progressed I was really interested and engaged. I flew through the 2nd half of the book.
I will be having a look into more of this authors work.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
January 14, 2025
I would probably give this book five stars, as the ending took me entirely by surprise but I found the “ghost” “spirit” part of the storyline a little far fetched especially the ending. The last chapter was incredibly disconcerting and I almost feel wasn’t needed particularly the ending as it’s circled back on a “presence” again. Otherwise brilliant and would highly recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
I was really confused by this one, the title is actually quite misleading. For a title that has a place mentioned in it, the house featured twice in the book. I understand the concept of the title, the dead body was found on the grounds but I think if you’re going to include it in the title it should really be in the book more. The book would have been better if it had stuck to either being a crime thriller or being a ghost story. As a crime thriller I thought it was fantastic but the element of ghosts in it just ruined it for me and it felt kind of random. The blurb indicates that Alessa would be investigating a cold case but we’re actually sent back to the time where the child went missing and we’re pretty much following the story through that time rather than from when the body was discovered, so the timing is really off and confusing if you’re going by the blurb.
The ending of the book really didn’t do it for me either. Without giving anything away, the last chapter wrapped it up nicely but then the epilogue ruins it and felt a little bit unexplained and random.
Overall, I think I would have enjoyed this more had it been explained better and maybe just one genre was involved. The actual crime and investigation aspect was really good.
I was really confused by this one, the title is actually quite misleading. For a title that has a place mentioned in it, the house featured twice in the book. I understand the concept of the title, the dead body was found on the grounds but I think if you’re going to include it in the title it should really be in the book more. The book would have been better if it had stuck to either being a crime thriller or being a ghost story. As a crime thriller I thought it was fantastic but the element of ghosts in it just ruined it for me and it felt kind of random. The blurb indicates that Alessa would be investigating a cold case but we’re actually sent back to the time where the child went missing and we’re pretty much following the story through that time rather than from when the body was discovered, so the timing is really off and confusing if you’re going by the blurb.
The ending of the book really didn’t do it for me either. Without giving anything away, the last chapter wrapped it up nicely but then the epilogue ruins it and felt a little bit unexplained and random.
Overall, I think I would have enjoyed this more had it been explained better and maybe just one genre was involved. The actual crime and investigation aspect was really good.
September 2, 2024
This is my first novel from this author and I really enjoyed the mix of part thriller, part creepy, part police procedural. The plot unfolded with ease and I was soon completely invested. It’s sets over a number of timescales and this really adds to the drama. A great read. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author for the chance to review.
November 29, 2024
Captivating and atmospheric probably sums up November’s book club title quite well! There was a good amount of crime, a bit of romance and a lot of suspense as the storyline unravelled.
I felt that it was parcelled up a little bit incorrectly as it was a strong police procedural type novel rather than a gothic suspense, but that didn’t detract from a good storyline and book, it just made it seem it would be something different to what it was. At the book club we rated it a solid 4.1 which is a brilliant score out of five stars.
It was a fantastic choice for a late November read, banishing the last of the Autumnal feelings and getting ready to welcome the festivities of Winter!
I felt that it was parcelled up a little bit incorrectly as it was a strong police procedural type novel rather than a gothic suspense, but that didn’t detract from a good storyline and book, it just made it seem it would be something different to what it was. At the book club we rated it a solid 4.1 which is a brilliant score out of five stars.
It was a fantastic choice for a late November read, banishing the last of the Autumnal feelings and getting ready to welcome the festivities of Winter!
December 18, 2024
I went into The Shadows of Hill Manor expecting chills and a haunting story, but this book didn’t deliver on either front. With a classic setup—a secluded, eerie manor and hints of a dark past—it should have been a gripping ghost story. Instead, it was disappointingly dull.
The main character felt distant and difficult to care about, drifting through the plot with unclear motivations and little depth. The so-called “big twists” were painfully obvious, and any attempt at suspense quickly fizzled out.
In the end, The Shadows of Hill Manor just wasn’t my cup of tea!
The main character felt distant and difficult to care about, drifting through the plot with unclear motivations and little depth. The so-called “big twists” were painfully obvious, and any attempt at suspense quickly fizzled out.
In the end, The Shadows of Hill Manor just wasn’t my cup of tea!
July 23, 2025
This is the fourth addictive book in the author's Thriller Collection. A twisty and turny mystery, the audiobook version made even more brilliant by the amazingly talented Kristin Atherton, my all time favourite narrator. I highly recommend this series!
February 28, 2025
First book that I’ve read from this author. I enjoyed it and found it to be a page turner towards the end.
April 21, 2025
really enjoyable crime thriller. easy read and good twists and turns and unexpected ending!
September 15, 2024
The book starts back in 2007, where two boys are out exploring in the woods that surround the Manor on their bikes when one of them has a tumble and they discover a door. The door leads to an underground bunker which of course two curious young boys go down to investigate further. They did not however, expect to find a badly decomposed body of a child down there.
PC Warner then has the unenviable task of going to notify the child's father, Malcolm, that after almost 20 years they suspect they might have found his daughter Kimberley's remains. Malcolm has a deep distrust of the police going back years for how the original investigator into the disappearance of his child handled the case. As they are walking away from the house, PC Warner peers back and could swear he sees someone in the house at an upstairs window, but he's assured by Malcolm that he was in the house alone.
The story then jumps even further back, to 1990, where we follow Alessa, a young police woman newly transferred to the police station dealing with Kimberley's disappearance. At this point Alessa and her superior are on their way to speak with Kimberley's parents, Malcolm and Mary, to take their statement into the disappearance of their daughter.
I really enjoyed chronologically how these opening paragraphs were written. It was like a compare and contrast as to what the situation was like for the family just after the disappearance, to how things have changed for the family over the years since. It's really saddening to see how much of an impact Kimberley's disappearance had on her parents and how their lives disintegrated following this event.
I enjoyed how this story was told in reverse. As a reader, we know right from the beginning that there has been a murder and who was murdered. The story then goes back and covers Alessa investigating the original disappearance, so the crucial question throughout for the reader is - who killed Kimberley and why?
Unlike a lot of other books where there are usually multiple different possibilities for the who, the what, and the why, in this book there is almost nothing to go on. There are no clues given away as to who is might have been. Despite this, I still felt compelled to read on as I was intrigued to see how the author was going to pull the threads of the story together to conclude matters.
Although the majority of the book is told in the aftermath of Kimberley's disappearance, it was the few chapters that are thrown in throughout, told from Kimberley's perspective that really kept me engaged with the story. These chapters had that tense build up because we as the reader already knew that there was not going to be a happy ending coming for Kimberley.
I liked the slight supernatural element to the story and I personally would have liked to have seen this developed and explored more throughout the book. I did enjoy the character development of Alessa as she really is the character focused on the most and a lot of information is given about her background and family.
Despite guessing who was behind Kimberley's disappearance as soon as the character was introduced, I still enjoyed this book and read to the end. Despite knowing 'who done it', when all was revealed at the end it was still a slightly difficult and uncomfortable chapter to read.
I would recommend this book for those that enjoy a police procedural, crime thriller, with a slight supernatural edge to it.
PC Warner then has the unenviable task of going to notify the child's father, Malcolm, that after almost 20 years they suspect they might have found his daughter Kimberley's remains. Malcolm has a deep distrust of the police going back years for how the original investigator into the disappearance of his child handled the case. As they are walking away from the house, PC Warner peers back and could swear he sees someone in the house at an upstairs window, but he's assured by Malcolm that he was in the house alone.
The story then jumps even further back, to 1990, where we follow Alessa, a young police woman newly transferred to the police station dealing with Kimberley's disappearance. At this point Alessa and her superior are on their way to speak with Kimberley's parents, Malcolm and Mary, to take their statement into the disappearance of their daughter.
I really enjoyed chronologically how these opening paragraphs were written. It was like a compare and contrast as to what the situation was like for the family just after the disappearance, to how things have changed for the family over the years since. It's really saddening to see how much of an impact Kimberley's disappearance had on her parents and how their lives disintegrated following this event.
I enjoyed how this story was told in reverse. As a reader, we know right from the beginning that there has been a murder and who was murdered. The story then goes back and covers Alessa investigating the original disappearance, so the crucial question throughout for the reader is - who killed Kimberley and why?
Unlike a lot of other books where there are usually multiple different possibilities for the who, the what, and the why, in this book there is almost nothing to go on. There are no clues given away as to who is might have been. Despite this, I still felt compelled to read on as I was intrigued to see how the author was going to pull the threads of the story together to conclude matters.
Although the majority of the book is told in the aftermath of Kimberley's disappearance, it was the few chapters that are thrown in throughout, told from Kimberley's perspective that really kept me engaged with the story. These chapters had that tense build up because we as the reader already knew that there was not going to be a happy ending coming for Kimberley.
I liked the slight supernatural element to the story and I personally would have liked to have seen this developed and explored more throughout the book. I did enjoy the character development of Alessa as she really is the character focused on the most and a lot of information is given about her background and family.
Despite guessing who was behind Kimberley's disappearance as soon as the character was introduced, I still enjoyed this book and read to the end. Despite knowing 'who done it', when all was revealed at the end it was still a slightly difficult and uncomfortable chapter to read.
I would recommend this book for those that enjoy a police procedural, crime thriller, with a slight supernatural edge to it.
August 23, 2024
Thank you Netgalley, Avon Books UK | Avon and Ann Wyn Clark for the eArc of The Shadows of Hill Manor,
This is the first book Ive read of this author and I throughly enjoyed this Mystery/ Thriller. The narrative follows a disappearance of a young girl called Kimberley which happened 30 yrs previously. Even though the book opens up in the present day when a body is found, 90% of the book is back in the past, unravelling is young girls disappearance. I found this a little different to most mystery/thrillers as some books jump back and forth in timelines throughout the book so I really enjoyed how this plot line unfolded.
I really enjoyed the dynamics between the investigative police force who have been tasked with the case and the suspects/witnesses. Alessa, a young police officer who's fresh out of uni comes ups against a misogynistic detective inspector and his lackeys. A father who suspected of Murder who being targeted. A young policeman who you are not sure if you trust them or not. They were all well rounded with definite character development. It all goes towards a nicely twist filled thriller where everyone may be a suspect. I also liked the supernatural elements to this story which I found subtle but haunting.
Ill be looking out for more of Anna Wyn Clark's books and hopefully will hear more of Alessa too.
4 stars
This is the first book Ive read of this author and I throughly enjoyed this Mystery/ Thriller. The narrative follows a disappearance of a young girl called Kimberley which happened 30 yrs previously. Even though the book opens up in the present day when a body is found, 90% of the book is back in the past, unravelling is young girls disappearance. I found this a little different to most mystery/thrillers as some books jump back and forth in timelines throughout the book so I really enjoyed how this plot line unfolded.
I really enjoyed the dynamics between the investigative police force who have been tasked with the case and the suspects/witnesses. Alessa, a young police officer who's fresh out of uni comes ups against a misogynistic detective inspector and his lackeys. A father who suspected of Murder who being targeted. A young policeman who you are not sure if you trust them or not. They were all well rounded with definite character development. It all goes towards a nicely twist filled thriller where everyone may be a suspect. I also liked the supernatural elements to this story which I found subtle but haunting.
Ill be looking out for more of Anna Wyn Clark's books and hopefully will hear more of Alessa too.
4 stars
October 21, 2024
Nothing draws me to a novel more than a cover with a big old house on the front. Hill Manor drew me in.
The prologue shows two children playing in the woods in 2007, who come across a door in the ground. Upon entering, they find a bunker with the skeleton of a child. Then the story starts where the child disappears back in 1990, what she did, family dynamics and interspersed by the the hunt to find her by the police, using a dual timeline.
Told mainly from the perspective of a new female police officer (with a couple of other characters as well), this is mostly a police procedural book, with a huge chunk given over to a romantic relationship with a fellow officer. There are some stereotypical misogynistic male officers and a tarot card reader, complete with glittery scarves and cryptic clues. The nice characters are very nice and the bad characters are truly bad. Unfortunately, the big old manor house is not a significant character. How sad.
This story doesn't have as many chills as I had expected, and it is also a bit short on spookiness. There is a rather shocking part that left me a little disturbed. Rambling a bit in places, especially in the personal life sections, that slow the story down. However, an unexpected ending is a good redeeming feature.
The prologue shows two children playing in the woods in 2007, who come across a door in the ground. Upon entering, they find a bunker with the skeleton of a child. Then the story starts where the child disappears back in 1990, what she did, family dynamics and interspersed by the the hunt to find her by the police, using a dual timeline.
Told mainly from the perspective of a new female police officer (with a couple of other characters as well), this is mostly a police procedural book, with a huge chunk given over to a romantic relationship with a fellow officer. There are some stereotypical misogynistic male officers and a tarot card reader, complete with glittery scarves and cryptic clues. The nice characters are very nice and the bad characters are truly bad. Unfortunately, the big old manor house is not a significant character. How sad.
This story doesn't have as many chills as I had expected, and it is also a bit short on spookiness. There is a rather shocking part that left me a little disturbed. Rambling a bit in places, especially in the personal life sections, that slow the story down. However, an unexpected ending is a good redeeming feature.
August 2, 2024
3* Be prepared for horrible sexism in the police force of the time, and a sad, occasionally emotional, tale.
This is a bit of a shocker in terms of the misogyny and sexism present in the majority of the (male) cops in the 90s setting parts of the tale. I think we've come a long way since, thankfully, but be warned.
It's a tale of ordinary, flawed people, kids being kids, cops mostly making wrong assumptions, but also a female cop intent on doing her best for the missing kids. Was it exciting and did it have me on the edge of my seat? No, but it was worth a read, especially for the...occurrences...witnessed by the female cop, and the ending, of course.
There's a side romance that felt awkward and stilted, but that seemed to be the real thing, because at the end of the tale, it was settled, solid and comfortable.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Avon Books UK, for my reading pleasure.
This is a bit of a shocker in terms of the misogyny and sexism present in the majority of the (male) cops in the 90s setting parts of the tale. I think we've come a long way since, thankfully, but be warned.
It's a tale of ordinary, flawed people, kids being kids, cops mostly making wrong assumptions, but also a female cop intent on doing her best for the missing kids. Was it exciting and did it have me on the edge of my seat? No, but it was worth a read, especially for the...occurrences...witnessed by the female cop, and the ending, of course.
There's a side romance that felt awkward and stilted, but that seemed to be the real thing, because at the end of the tale, it was settled, solid and comfortable.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Avon Books UK, for my reading pleasure.
October 11, 2024
The creepy, intense setting defines this suspense fiction. A young girl disappears in 1990. She is never found until two young boys uncover her body in the shadow of a derelict manor house years later. The story then returns to the 1990s and the events surrounding her death. It evokes the culture of misogyny, and as the victim is a child, it is disturbing to read in parts. I like the suspense building and the intensity the author creates.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
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