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The House on the Cliff
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1966: Standing on the rugged Cornish coast, Hallows Abbey can be a lonely place for the boys boarding there. For Theresa, however, it offers an escape from her father’s long shadow, and as the school nurse, she tries to be a comfort to those students struggling to adjust to their remote life. But, before the year is over, Theresa will make a terrible decision – and the consequences for the children in her care will change everything…
2025: With her own children having just left home, Amanda’s emotions are in turmoil when she arrives at the isolated school where her husband is to be Deputy Head. When she learns of the school’s tragic history, in which a group of boys went out on a boat trip and disappeared, she becomes obsessed with finding out what happened, even when her research risks upsetting the fragile equilibrium of the school. But when she starts to hear voices in the gardens, and crying in the halls at night, she begins to wonder if she’s losing her mind.
Only one thing seems this corner of Cornwall could well be Amanda’s undoing.
Praise for Victoria
‘Beautifully written and delightfully unsettling… an evocative read, set in an unusual landscape, that will pull you in from the first page’ – Rachel Burton
The twists and turns revealed kept me turning pages way longer than I was meant to stay awake. The way Meredith’s mind gets confused as she learns more and more tugged at my heart, and reading Ellen’s experiences with her beau and how his mental health was essentially compartmentalised in an era when there wasn’t much knowledge was heartwrenching. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Within the tale, there are elements of the gothic tradition, with old houses, fog, rising waters, stormy weather and more. The reader’s pulse rate rises as we are committed to following the action. I thoroughly enjoyed The House In The Water. It consumed me from the start. It was the first book by Victoria Scott but I certainly she she will write more.’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Don’t you love a dual time line novel? I do and this one is exceptional – I have read the author’s earlier work and this is straying into much darker territory, but I think it only serves to show what a great writer she is… Atmospheric, gripping, with huge heart and impossible to put down – the very best sort of book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Beautiful captivating prose, kept me totally engaged in both timelines.’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wonderful. My first by this author but not the last. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘This is definitely a spellbinding and unsettling tale with a dash of romance set in WW2 and 2013 that might haunt your dreams and leave you with a lot to think about! A riveting read.’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘I was engrossed in the story from the start. May Day House is a rehab house for soldiers during WWII. They are cared for and sent back to war. Years later a couple buys the house which soon appears to be haunted by the soldiers who had been there. It is a great story.’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1966: Standing on the rugged Cornish coast, Hallows Abbey can be a lonely place for the boys boarding there. For Theresa, however, it offers an escape from her father’s long shadow, and as the school nurse, she tries to be a comfort to those students struggling to adjust to their remote life. But, before the year is over, Theresa will make a terrible decision – and the consequences for the children in her care will change everything…
2025: With her own children having just left home, Amanda’s emotions are in turmoil when she arrives at the isolated school where her husband is to be Deputy Head. When she learns of the school’s tragic history, in which a group of boys went out on a boat trip and disappeared, she becomes obsessed with finding out what happened, even when her research risks upsetting the fragile equilibrium of the school. But when she starts to hear voices in the gardens, and crying in the halls at night, she begins to wonder if she’s losing her mind.
Only one thing seems this corner of Cornwall could well be Amanda’s undoing.
Praise for Victoria
‘Beautifully written and delightfully unsettling… an evocative read, set in an unusual landscape, that will pull you in from the first page’ – Rachel Burton
The twists and turns revealed kept me turning pages way longer than I was meant to stay awake. The way Meredith’s mind gets confused as she learns more and more tugged at my heart, and reading Ellen’s experiences with her beau and how his mental health was essentially compartmentalised in an era when there wasn’t much knowledge was heartwrenching. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Within the tale, there are elements of the gothic tradition, with old houses, fog, rising waters, stormy weather and more. The reader’s pulse rate rises as we are committed to following the action. I thoroughly enjoyed The House In The Water. It consumed me from the start. It was the first book by Victoria Scott but I certainly she she will write more.’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Don’t you love a dual time line novel? I do and this one is exceptional – I have read the author’s earlier work and this is straying into much darker territory, but I think it only serves to show what a great writer she is… Atmospheric, gripping, with huge heart and impossible to put down – the very best sort of book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Beautiful captivating prose, kept me totally engaged in both timelines.’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wonderful. My first by this author but not the last. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘This is definitely a spellbinding and unsettling tale with a dash of romance set in WW2 and 2013 that might haunt your dreams and leave you with a lot to think about! A riveting read.’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘I was engrossed in the story from the start. May Day House is a rehab house for soldiers during WWII. They are cared for and sent back to war. Years later a couple buys the house which soon appears to be haunted by the soldiers who had been there. It is a great story.’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
360 pages, Paperback
Published October 4, 2025
140 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Scott
7 books138 followersVictoria Scott is a bestselling British author of life-affirming fiction, known for her gripping gothic historical mysteries and uplifting book club novels that explore themes of hope, resilience and the power of human friendship and love. Her books are perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Kate Morton, and Jojo Moyes.
Her novels, The Storyteller’s Daughter and The Women Who Wouldn’t Leave, are both Amazon Top 100 bestsellers. Her latest novel, The House on the Cliff – a haunting, atmospheric tale of secrets and second chances – is out now.
Before becoming a novelist, Victoria worked as a journalist for the BBC, The Telegraph and Al Jazeera. She now combines her love of storytelling with lecturing in journalism at Kingston University.
Victoria lives on an island in the River Thames with her husband, two children, and a cat called Alice. When she’s not writing, she is a keen (but amateur) singer and gardener.
Follow Victoria for updates and behind-the-scenes book content:
Instagram & TikTok: @VictoriaScottAuthor
Facebook: @VictoriaScottJournalist
X/Twitter: @toryscott
Her novels, The Storyteller’s Daughter and The Women Who Wouldn’t Leave, are both Amazon Top 100 bestsellers. Her latest novel, The House on the Cliff – a haunting, atmospheric tale of secrets and second chances – is out now.
Before becoming a novelist, Victoria worked as a journalist for the BBC, The Telegraph and Al Jazeera. She now combines her love of storytelling with lecturing in journalism at Kingston University.
Victoria lives on an island in the River Thames with her husband, two children, and a cat called Alice. When she’s not writing, she is a keen (but amateur) singer and gardener.
Follow Victoria for updates and behind-the-scenes book content:
Instagram & TikTok: @VictoriaScottAuthor
Facebook: @VictoriaScottJournalist
X/Twitter: @toryscott
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
October 4, 2025
It was 1966 and Theresa had left her home and family in London to start employment as a school nurse on the Cornish coast. Hallows Abbey, a boys only dwelling, had been around for a long time, and was now a private boarding school with the monks housed close by. Theresa loved her work, caring for the boys and getting to know all those she worked with. John was one such pupil, but he was bullied relentlessly because he was there on a scholarship.
2025, and Amanda and her husband Mike were heading to Hallows Abbey where Mike was to work as deputy head. Amanda was feeling adrift - her two children had left home to have their own lives, and Mike was extremely busy with his new job. Amanda became friendly with Rosie, the school's nurse, and helped out on occasion. But when she learned of a tragedy that had happened in the years past, Amanda decided she wanted to learn more about what had occurred. Gradually, things began to fall apart...
I quite enjoyed The House on the Cliff by Victoria Scott and found both timelines well-written. Theresa was a naive young woman who was easily led, while Amanda was having problems of her own. The beauty of the rugged Cornish coast shone through, with the wild and violent storms which hit unexpectedly, able to cause much damage. This is my first read of this author's work, but it won't be my last. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Boldwood Books for my digital ARC to read and review.
2025, and Amanda and her husband Mike were heading to Hallows Abbey where Mike was to work as deputy head. Amanda was feeling adrift - her two children had left home to have their own lives, and Mike was extremely busy with his new job. Amanda became friendly with Rosie, the school's nurse, and helped out on occasion. But when she learned of a tragedy that had happened in the years past, Amanda decided she wanted to learn more about what had occurred. Gradually, things began to fall apart...
I quite enjoyed The House on the Cliff by Victoria Scott and found both timelines well-written. Theresa was a naive young woman who was easily led, while Amanda was having problems of her own. The beauty of the rugged Cornish coast shone through, with the wild and violent storms which hit unexpectedly, able to cause much damage. This is my first read of this author's work, but it won't be my last. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Boldwood Books for my digital ARC to read and review.
September 17, 2025
I found it hard to rate this book as it did keep me reading but the blurb is slightly misleading. I love duel timelines though and this is what drew me to it.
Amanda moves to to Hallow's Abbey, in Cornwall, with her husband who is to become the deputy head of the boarding school for boys. It's extremely remote and Amanda finds it hard leaving London and her children who are at college but she has always followed her husband when he moved schools for work. She is in the middle of the perimenopause which doesn't help and the school has a creepy air about it.
Theresa is in 1966 and is then at the same school as a nurse. She took the job to escape her home life in Ireland but it soon becomes clear she has exchanged one problem for another.
I liked Theresa's story best. It was interesting and had me wondering all the time about the disappearance of the boys. When it finally came to light what happened, I felt a little let down. After the ghostly crying in the school halls I was expecting something weird but it was all very ordinary in the end.
Amanda's 'digging' into the mystery was almost negligible. She made one foray into it and that seemed to be that. While it's good to see women's previously ignored problems like the perimenopause written about, there was too much of it. So this part of the story read like Amanda's personal history rather than part of the overall mystery.
It was all nicely tied up at the end. I love the Cornwall setting and there are some lovely descriptions of the place and the sea. It was just a little light on the story side.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an early copy.
Amanda moves to to Hallow's Abbey, in Cornwall, with her husband who is to become the deputy head of the boarding school for boys. It's extremely remote and Amanda finds it hard leaving London and her children who are at college but she has always followed her husband when he moved schools for work. She is in the middle of the perimenopause which doesn't help and the school has a creepy air about it.
Theresa is in 1966 and is then at the same school as a nurse. She took the job to escape her home life in Ireland but it soon becomes clear she has exchanged one problem for another.
I liked Theresa's story best. It was interesting and had me wondering all the time about the disappearance of the boys. When it finally came to light what happened, I felt a little let down. After the ghostly crying in the school halls I was expecting something weird but it was all very ordinary in the end.
Amanda's 'digging' into the mystery was almost negligible. She made one foray into it and that seemed to be that. While it's good to see women's previously ignored problems like the perimenopause written about, there was too much of it. So this part of the story read like Amanda's personal history rather than part of the overall mystery.
It was all nicely tied up at the end. I love the Cornwall setting and there are some lovely descriptions of the place and the sea. It was just a little light on the story side.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an early copy.
September 14, 2025
The House On The Cliff by Victoria Scott, this is one of the most full circle awesome books I have ever read. The book starts with Amanda and Michael who are empty-nesters moving because Mike is changing jobs and is now going to be the principal at an Abbey for liv-in students. The second POV is Teresa in the 1960s at the same school she just moved from Ireland and is the new nurse of students and this is where she meets scholarship student John. Amanda is going through menopause and is suffering many changes in resent Mike for not noticing her inner emotional upset. At the same time unbeknownst to Amanda he is suffering his own trauma from long ago and his brother Ollie’s suicide something he never talks about. Thankfully while on a walk Amanda will meets Rosie,a lovely elderly lady who despite her age, is active infectious and someone Amanda really comes to enjoy spending time with. there’s also a mystery from the 1960s of a boat trip that went horrible and all lives on board were lost. By the time the two POV‘s come full circle everyone will know everyone else’s secrets but will it be for the better or for worse? let me just start by saying this book had an absolute twist at the end and although I expected one of them I did not at all expect the others. I really liked the addition of Pastor Omar I thought the author also did a great job making flaude yet likable characters not to mention a marriage that in the end is worked through as opposed to what I’m used to reading. This is an awesome five star read and one I definitely recommend. if you like dual POV’s with great writing and even greater characters then you will definitely love this book I certainly did. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #VictoriaScott, #TheHouseOnTheCliff,
October 22, 2025
I have always enjoyed Victoria Scott's immersive stories and this one blew me a way.
An old Catholic boarding school run by monks, with a questionable past, and one incident in particular that has never been laid to rest, and a school nurse who cannot forget the guilt of her involvement.
And a woman following her husband to join him as he works there, caught up in some mysterious goings on, as well as trying to deal with the onset of perimenopause and a touch of empty nest syndrome.
The story is told through a dual time line from the perpective of the two women, with Theresa during the 1960s and Amanda in the present.
A tragedy that occured in 1966 threads its way throught the whole story, bringing both these women's storues together in a way you wouldn't imagine.
Boarding schools have always held my interest, not least because of the years of reading Mallory Towers and St Claire's books by Enid Blyton, but also because my own brother attended one for his secondary years. The ragging, and the loneliness, as well as the cameraderie that can come from the experience.
An old Catholic boarding school run by monks, with a questionable past, and one incident in particular that has never been laid to rest, and a school nurse who cannot forget the guilt of her involvement.
And a woman following her husband to join him as he works there, caught up in some mysterious goings on, as well as trying to deal with the onset of perimenopause and a touch of empty nest syndrome.
The story is told through a dual time line from the perpective of the two women, with Theresa during the 1960s and Amanda in the present.
A tragedy that occured in 1966 threads its way throught the whole story, bringing both these women's storues together in a way you wouldn't imagine.
Boarding schools have always held my interest, not least because of the years of reading Mallory Towers and St Claire's books by Enid Blyton, but also because my own brother attended one for his secondary years. The ragging, and the loneliness, as well as the cameraderie that can come from the experience.
November 24, 2025
Oh how I do love a good historical fiction story that has a dual timeline within.
The author Victoria has done it again, woven such a beautiful and heartfelt story which captivates the past and present and moulds them together as one story. I absolutely adore a storyline with a dual timeline.
It didn't take me long to be drawn into the stories of Theresa back in 1966 and that of Amanda in present day, I was captivated right from the first few chapters. I loved how the story went back and forth from 1966 to present day which was done so seamlessly.
This was a highly entertaining and enjoyable story from start to finish, plenty going on with all of the characters, with lots of drama and a few surprises thrown in along the way. I literally could not turn those pages quick enough, the story was so very well written.
The book cover to this book was also beautiful and the prefect for this story.
The author Victoria has done it again, woven such a beautiful and heartfelt story which captivates the past and present and moulds them together as one story. I absolutely adore a storyline with a dual timeline.
It didn't take me long to be drawn into the stories of Theresa back in 1966 and that of Amanda in present day, I was captivated right from the first few chapters. I loved how the story went back and forth from 1966 to present day which was done so seamlessly.
This was a highly entertaining and enjoyable story from start to finish, plenty going on with all of the characters, with lots of drama and a few surprises thrown in along the way. I literally could not turn those pages quick enough, the story was so very well written.
The book cover to this book was also beautiful and the prefect for this story.
September 15, 2025
A dual timeline story set in and around a cliff top abbey / boarding school run by monks in the 1960’s and in the present day.
The story is told from the POV of two women.
In the 1960’s, Theresa has travelled from Ireland to work in a boys boarding school in Cornwall. One of the boys is being bullied and just doesn’t fit in as he is a local lad and doesn’t come from money, but he finds a friend in Theresa. Theresa is looking for love and thinks she finds it but the charismatic man who she is having a relationship with is not quite who she thinks.
In the present day, Amanda and her husband Mike are recent empty nesters, and are travelling to a boarding school in Cornwall to his new post as Deputy Head. Amanda is struggling with the symptoms of perimenopause and feels her husband is not supporting her. When out exploring the cliffs nearby, she finds a plaque remembering a boat full of students and their teachers who were lost at sea. She is intrigued and begins to dig into what happened that day in the 1960’s.
I enjoyed both of the storylines which are told in alternating chapters. The addition of a ghostly monk made it even better! You can’t beat a resident ghost in an old abbey.
The 1960’s storyline leading up to the boat trip deals with illness and the stresses of bullying at boarding school, where there are no parents around to help or give a comforting hug.
I could totally understand Amanda’s struggles having been through perimenopause myself. The inability to remember the simplest words. The feeling of losing your purpose as your children grow and don’t need you so much. And more. However, I did feel there was far too much about Amanda’s perimenopause problems which continued throughout the book, feeling like this was the main storyline. I felt sorry for her husband who had his own problems and was not getting any support from his wife.
Thank you to Boldwood Books for an advance copy of the book via NetGalley.
The story is told from the POV of two women.
In the 1960’s, Theresa has travelled from Ireland to work in a boys boarding school in Cornwall. One of the boys is being bullied and just doesn’t fit in as he is a local lad and doesn’t come from money, but he finds a friend in Theresa. Theresa is looking for love and thinks she finds it but the charismatic man who she is having a relationship with is not quite who she thinks.
In the present day, Amanda and her husband Mike are recent empty nesters, and are travelling to a boarding school in Cornwall to his new post as Deputy Head. Amanda is struggling with the symptoms of perimenopause and feels her husband is not supporting her. When out exploring the cliffs nearby, she finds a plaque remembering a boat full of students and their teachers who were lost at sea. She is intrigued and begins to dig into what happened that day in the 1960’s.
I enjoyed both of the storylines which are told in alternating chapters. The addition of a ghostly monk made it even better! You can’t beat a resident ghost in an old abbey.
The 1960’s storyline leading up to the boat trip deals with illness and the stresses of bullying at boarding school, where there are no parents around to help or give a comforting hug.
I could totally understand Amanda’s struggles having been through perimenopause myself. The inability to remember the simplest words. The feeling of losing your purpose as your children grow and don’t need you so much. And more. However, I did feel there was far too much about Amanda’s perimenopause problems which continued throughout the book, feeling like this was the main storyline. I felt sorry for her husband who had his own problems and was not getting any support from his wife.
Thank you to Boldwood Books for an advance copy of the book via NetGalley.
December 7, 2025
It is August 2025 in Cornwall and Mike and Amanda have moved from London for Mike to take up his new position as Deputy Headmaster at Hallow Abbey, a Catholic boarding school for teenagers. Isolated by location it is run by monks who live on the premises. It has existed for many years but has a tragic story concerning the loss of boys and teachers on a boat trip. They have never been found.
Briefly, in 1966 Theresa arrives at the school to take up her duties as a nurse. She is young and left her family in Dublin for a new adventure. She tries to help the boys struggling with their school lives away from home and family. There is an ever presence of strange John, a bullied boy who Theresa takes under her wing and what appears to be a ghostly monk! Back in 2025 Amanda is fascinated by the story of the missing boys and determines to find out what happened to them.
Told in dual timeline we follow the emotions at play with the two women as they try to adjust to their new lives. One wants adventure and finds romance whilst the other really struggles with her new life. Both timelines are equally good and they come together seamlessly. The beautiful ruggedness of the Cornish coastline is used to good effect. A creepy gothic mystery. Very enjoyable.
Briefly, in 1966 Theresa arrives at the school to take up her duties as a nurse. She is young and left her family in Dublin for a new adventure. She tries to help the boys struggling with their school lives away from home and family. There is an ever presence of strange John, a bullied boy who Theresa takes under her wing and what appears to be a ghostly monk! Back in 2025 Amanda is fascinated by the story of the missing boys and determines to find out what happened to them.
Told in dual timeline we follow the emotions at play with the two women as they try to adjust to their new lives. One wants adventure and finds romance whilst the other really struggles with her new life. Both timelines are equally good and they come together seamlessly. The beautiful ruggedness of the Cornish coastline is used to good effect. A creepy gothic mystery. Very enjoyable.
October 12, 2025
4.5 stars! This was such a moving read. The author really brings the characters to life with such depth and emotion. I liked that each of them has their flaws, their struggles but also hopes and dreams.
The story is told over two timelines that come together as the stories unfold. In the present, Amanda is the wife of Mike, who has just been appointed deputy head at a prestigious boarding school. This requires a move to Cornwall. The couple struggle to find that their relationship is tested. In the past we follow Theresa and John a school nurse and pupil of the same boarding school in the 1960s.
I really enjoyed both stories and the struggles the characters faced. The book is about finding yourself, relationships and also overcoming mistakes, being human and adjusting to what life throws at you. I also liked Amanda's challenges of Perimenopause as this is not often written about.
The book was well written and the author really made me care about the characters! A really enjoyable read.
The story is told over two timelines that come together as the stories unfold. In the present, Amanda is the wife of Mike, who has just been appointed deputy head at a prestigious boarding school. This requires a move to Cornwall. The couple struggle to find that their relationship is tested. In the past we follow Theresa and John a school nurse and pupil of the same boarding school in the 1960s.
I really enjoyed both stories and the struggles the characters faced. The book is about finding yourself, relationships and also overcoming mistakes, being human and adjusting to what life throws at you. I also liked Amanda's challenges of Perimenopause as this is not often written about.
The book was well written and the author really made me care about the characters! A really enjoyable read.
November 27, 2025
Coastal North Cornwall, London, Fishguard, Dublin. This book has everything, tragedy, ghosts, boarding school, infidelity, the Sea, perimenopause, and every human condition. Dual time aspect with overlap, of course. Satisfying read, well balanced, perfectly paced. Well Done Victoria and Boldwood Books .
September 9, 2025
A dual timeline story set in a remote part of Cornwall. The book revolves around two characters, Tereas and Amanda, and their lives at Harrows Abbey, a boarding school on the cliffs in Cornwall. Old secrets, a lonely boy and beautiful descriptions of the area kept me reading throughout the night! Reminding me of Daphne DuMaurier's books , this is a great book for those who read this type of mystery. Highly recommended!
October 4, 2025
This dual timeline story gripped me completely and I found the two stories of the women at the boarding school so atmospheric. The descriptions of the boarding school, the majesty of the ocean and the stories of those living in this remote part of Cornwall all wrapped up in a mystery that needed solving
November 18, 2025
What a fantastic book! I have read it in 2 days, couldn't put it down. Lots of emotions involved with reading this book. If you are looking for a good read this is the book for you.
I hate giving any spoilers, all I would say is there are some sad passages but on the whole a brilliant read.
I hate giving any spoilers, all I would say is there are some sad passages but on the whole a brilliant read.
September 9, 2025
A dual time line centered around a school on top of a Cornish cliff. This had creepy undertones, ghosts and strange goings-on which really gave this book atmosphere. I loved it. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
October 6, 2025
A dual time mystery that is very well written. The twists and turns will keep you up reading into the night. Highly recommended.
December 23, 2025
Full review to follow when time permits.
October 24, 2025
Enjoyed this story
I enjoyed this book, a dual timeline but very different! Set in modern day and 1966 - the year England won the World Cup!
I enjoyed this book, a dual timeline but very different! Set in modern day and 1966 - the year England won the World Cup!
November 11, 2025
super
A really well written story about a school in Cornwall it has many twists and turns and mystical monk . I’ll read some more from this author.
A really well written story about a school in Cornwall it has many twists and turns and mystical monk . I’ll read some more from this author.
August 22, 2025
Victoria Scott, The House on the Cliff, Boldwood Books, October 2025.
Thank you, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.
The House on the Cliff is the fourth of Victoria Scott’s novels that I have enjoyed. However, although there is much to admire, I felt a little disappointed. The pacing was slow at times; the writing would have benefitted from being sharper and more focussed. Also, although I was impressed with Scott’s exploration of the nature of perimenstrual impact on women and their relationships, this was a little overworked. The positive feature of the way in which Scott dealt with this issue was that the difficulties were validated, and their effect on the present-day main character’s relationships did not dismiss the real challenges she faced and had to reconcile with her marriage, her changing responsibilities and even the seemingly simple task of leaving a familiar environment for an new future.
Amanda is the main present-day character, and she and her husband, Mike, have moved to Cornwall where he has been promoted to deputy head in a boarding Catholic school with a long history. They have not only left London, which is a wrench for Amanda, but even more disconcerting for her, their two children have begun their independent lives of education and possible career building. The school staff comprise monks and lay people; both the head and Michael’s co-deputy are monks. Amanda begins work at the school, as has been her habit, as an assistant to the school nurse.
The past becomes a feature of Amanda’s life at the school when she sees a plaque memorialising a disaster off the coast with all the crew, schoolboys and teachers missing, believed drowned. Therese is the main character whose story provides the details of the school in the 1960s, the matters leading up to the disaster, and her personal fears and problems – which contrast with Amanda’s mature concerns.
Both storylines offer social commentary; Therese’s background, her passionate but disastrous choices, and her care for the boys all reflect the concern Scott shows for the issues raised in the present. This is what I particularly admire about Scott’s work. Despite the problems I raised at the beginning of this review I look forward to her next novel. The accessible way she features social commentary as well as engaging storylines makes her an author to follow.
Thank you, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.
The House on the Cliff is the fourth of Victoria Scott’s novels that I have enjoyed. However, although there is much to admire, I felt a little disappointed. The pacing was slow at times; the writing would have benefitted from being sharper and more focussed. Also, although I was impressed with Scott’s exploration of the nature of perimenstrual impact on women and their relationships, this was a little overworked. The positive feature of the way in which Scott dealt with this issue was that the difficulties were validated, and their effect on the present-day main character’s relationships did not dismiss the real challenges she faced and had to reconcile with her marriage, her changing responsibilities and even the seemingly simple task of leaving a familiar environment for an new future.
Amanda is the main present-day character, and she and her husband, Mike, have moved to Cornwall where he has been promoted to deputy head in a boarding Catholic school with a long history. They have not only left London, which is a wrench for Amanda, but even more disconcerting for her, their two children have begun their independent lives of education and possible career building. The school staff comprise monks and lay people; both the head and Michael’s co-deputy are monks. Amanda begins work at the school, as has been her habit, as an assistant to the school nurse.
The past becomes a feature of Amanda’s life at the school when she sees a plaque memorialising a disaster off the coast with all the crew, schoolboys and teachers missing, believed drowned. Therese is the main character whose story provides the details of the school in the 1960s, the matters leading up to the disaster, and her personal fears and problems – which contrast with Amanda’s mature concerns.
Both storylines offer social commentary; Therese’s background, her passionate but disastrous choices, and her care for the boys all reflect the concern Scott shows for the issues raised in the present. This is what I particularly admire about Scott’s work. Despite the problems I raised at the beginning of this review I look forward to her next novel. The accessible way she features social commentary as well as engaging storylines makes her an author to follow.
August 22, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
A dual timeline mystery set on the dramatic cliffs of Cornwall.
2024 - Amanda has followed her husband to the isolated boarding school, Hallows Abbey. She’s dealing with a lot of changes in her life. An empty nester who’s going through perimenopause, she’s struggling with her identity, now that her relationship with her children has changed, her marriage is in crisis due to the demands of her husband’s new position. She can’t help but feel the loneliness creeping in. When she starts hearing mysterious crying she decides to look further into the tragedy that occurred at the school some years earlier. Could the two instances be related?
1966 - Theresa thought she would finally be out from under her religious father’s thumb and finally have the independence she craves only to discover she’s left one cage for another. She longs for adventure, though that’s hard to come by when you’re stranded at a remote school with a strict code of conduct. When she meets Trystan, a local fisherman, she finally finds the adventure she’s been seeking. But when she makes the wrong decision, the consequences are tragic.
I expected this to be more of a mystery, but really it’s a character study of a woman who’s going through a lot of emotional changes in her life and her marriage is in crisis. At the 50% mark, there hasn’t really been any forward movement toward solving the mystery of the tragedy that occurred at the school. The pacing is very slow, and while I appreciate the care Ms. Scott takes in creating a complex character with real life problems, I didn’t find it as captivating as the idea of the mystery. In fact, I felt as if it were an informational brochure on perimenopause, which after a while becomes tedious. This read more like women’s fiction with a mystery subplot, which isn’t bad, just not what I had expected.
I did find Theresa’s section of the story much more compelling. I felt it had more of a plot and the pacing was a lot better. The characters were much more fleshed out than in Amanda’s timeline, which made for a much more engaging read. The two timelines tie up neatly in the end, and while a pleasant read, I was left disappointed.
A dual timeline mystery set on the dramatic cliffs of Cornwall.
2024 - Amanda has followed her husband to the isolated boarding school, Hallows Abbey. She’s dealing with a lot of changes in her life. An empty nester who’s going through perimenopause, she’s struggling with her identity, now that her relationship with her children has changed, her marriage is in crisis due to the demands of her husband’s new position. She can’t help but feel the loneliness creeping in. When she starts hearing mysterious crying she decides to look further into the tragedy that occurred at the school some years earlier. Could the two instances be related?
1966 - Theresa thought she would finally be out from under her religious father’s thumb and finally have the independence she craves only to discover she’s left one cage for another. She longs for adventure, though that’s hard to come by when you’re stranded at a remote school with a strict code of conduct. When she meets Trystan, a local fisherman, she finally finds the adventure she’s been seeking. But when she makes the wrong decision, the consequences are tragic.
I expected this to be more of a mystery, but really it’s a character study of a woman who’s going through a lot of emotional changes in her life and her marriage is in crisis. At the 50% mark, there hasn’t really been any forward movement toward solving the mystery of the tragedy that occurred at the school. The pacing is very slow, and while I appreciate the care Ms. Scott takes in creating a complex character with real life problems, I didn’t find it as captivating as the idea of the mystery. In fact, I felt as if it were an informational brochure on perimenopause, which after a while becomes tedious. This read more like women’s fiction with a mystery subplot, which isn’t bad, just not what I had expected.
I did find Theresa’s section of the story much more compelling. I felt it had more of a plot and the pacing was a lot better. The characters were much more fleshed out than in Amanda’s timeline, which made for a much more engaging read. The two timelines tie up neatly in the end, and while a pleasant read, I was left disappointed.
October 5, 2025
This is beautifully written with a dual timeline, that works seamlessly.
Firstly, the cover!! How beautiful is it?? I just love the detail and the colours.
In 1966, we meet Theresa, a school nurse at a boarding school in a remote location. Throughout the story we learn of her early working days here, the school, the people she meets and a tragedy that occurs.
In 2025 we follow Amanda’s story, her children having left home she moves with her husband to his new job at the school.
The two stories intertwine to reveal the secrets of the school as well as the lives of the people living there.
It is a bit of a slow burn, with lots of time spent finding out about all the characters and this remote area in which they find themselves. It’s interesting to see the similarities and differences between the area in the different years and how the school is continuing to run in a similar way.
There is a lot of focus on menopause within Amanda’s story and while I think it’s great to see this addressed and recognised, it maybe was a little overwhelming to the story. It did however make her character really real and I’m sure many people will connect with her and others will appreciate those around them who may be going through similar. It was very interesting to see a true and honest account of how it truly affects someone and their life.
I found myself dipping in and out of this one, a few chapters at a time, however as the story drew towards its conclusion, I couldn’t put it down and loved how it all pulled together.
The characters are all really well developed and the scenes all well described. You will feel you are swimming in the cove along with them! I was intrigued by some of the supernatural aspects and loved how some of it played out, but I don’t want to give anything away!
All in all a lovely book, especially if you enjoy dual timelines and great character depth.
3.5 stars
Firstly, the cover!! How beautiful is it?? I just love the detail and the colours.
In 1966, we meet Theresa, a school nurse at a boarding school in a remote location. Throughout the story we learn of her early working days here, the school, the people she meets and a tragedy that occurs.
In 2025 we follow Amanda’s story, her children having left home she moves with her husband to his new job at the school.
The two stories intertwine to reveal the secrets of the school as well as the lives of the people living there.
It is a bit of a slow burn, with lots of time spent finding out about all the characters and this remote area in which they find themselves. It’s interesting to see the similarities and differences between the area in the different years and how the school is continuing to run in a similar way.
There is a lot of focus on menopause within Amanda’s story and while I think it’s great to see this addressed and recognised, it maybe was a little overwhelming to the story. It did however make her character really real and I’m sure many people will connect with her and others will appreciate those around them who may be going through similar. It was very interesting to see a true and honest account of how it truly affects someone and their life.
I found myself dipping in and out of this one, a few chapters at a time, however as the story drew towards its conclusion, I couldn’t put it down and loved how it all pulled together.
The characters are all really well developed and the scenes all well described. You will feel you are swimming in the cove along with them! I was intrigued by some of the supernatural aspects and loved how some of it played out, but I don’t want to give anything away!
All in all a lovely book, especially if you enjoy dual timelines and great character depth.
3.5 stars
September 6, 2025
A dual timeline story set in an absolutely stunning Cornish location. This tale takes place at a boys school run by the Church with two perspectives sixty years apart.
There’s a bit of a mystery to this as the modern timeline has a character seeking to learn more about the events that took place in the earlier story. However it’s more of a character based study. The plot is interesting but it fairly follows a lot of other dual timeline stories where people seek to uncover secrets of the past. What makes this book really interesting though, is the main character in the modern timeline. She’s really struggling with feelings of empty nest as her children have both moved away. She’s also perimenopausal and dealing with the physical and mental changes and symptoms this brings. This is all on top of her husband taking a job on a remote boarding school in London and her having to move with him to a place she has no friends or family in and living in a tiny flat. Her husband is dismissive and preoccupied and she is quite isolated. It was fascinating to see the way she deals with all of this and finds things to help. Her husband is dismissive of her but her inner strength is impressive, she seeks out work, companionship and even starts to appreciate the beauty of the landscape, all while her husband spirals deeper into work related stress and facing up to his own past.
In the earlier timeline we follow the school nurse facing troubles of her own and in the build up to, and aftermath of a great tragedy that shook the school and will have repercussions years into the future.
I liked this book for the two resilient female characters who are battling to help comfort and support those around this, even under the shadow of their own problems. I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
There’s a bit of a mystery to this as the modern timeline has a character seeking to learn more about the events that took place in the earlier story. However it’s more of a character based study. The plot is interesting but it fairly follows a lot of other dual timeline stories where people seek to uncover secrets of the past. What makes this book really interesting though, is the main character in the modern timeline. She’s really struggling with feelings of empty nest as her children have both moved away. She’s also perimenopausal and dealing with the physical and mental changes and symptoms this brings. This is all on top of her husband taking a job on a remote boarding school in London and her having to move with him to a place she has no friends or family in and living in a tiny flat. Her husband is dismissive and preoccupied and she is quite isolated. It was fascinating to see the way she deals with all of this and finds things to help. Her husband is dismissive of her but her inner strength is impressive, she seeks out work, companionship and even starts to appreciate the beauty of the landscape, all while her husband spirals deeper into work related stress and facing up to his own past.
In the earlier timeline we follow the school nurse facing troubles of her own and in the build up to, and aftermath of a great tragedy that shook the school and will have repercussions years into the future.
I liked this book for the two resilient female characters who are battling to help comfort and support those around this, even under the shadow of their own problems. I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
September 7, 2025
A dual time novel with the boys boarding school Hallows Abbey linking the two time periods together. The school stands in its own grounds in an isolated, cliff top Cornish location and sets the atmosphere for mystery as well as heartache for those who spend their days there.
Theresa and Amanda's stories unfold in alternating chapters. Theresa is the school nurse and has gone there to escape her life in Ireland with her overbearing father. She enjoys her job and as well as taking care of scraped knees and childhood illnesses she has an ever open door to offer a maternal shoulder to cry on, and a friendly ear to help with the woes of boys separated from their families. But Theresa is young, she misses her sisters and to cope with the isolation of Hallows Abbey she becomes involved in a romance with a local man who doesn't quite turn out to be the person Theresa perceives him to be.
Meanwhile Amanda in the present day has arrived at the school with her husband who has started a new position as deputy head at the school. At first she doesn't settle well. She hardly sees her husband as he becomes tied up with his new role, she misses her grown up children and is suffering empty nest syndrome at the same time as coping with the emotional turmoil of perimenopause.
In the first half of the book in Amanda's chapters we hear quite a lot about her feelings of no longer being needed either by her children or apparently her husband too and I did find this part slow to move along. However as Amanda starts to make friends and gets a job helping out the school nurse, things start to pick up pace both for Amanda's story and Theresa. It then becomes much more compelling with more characters being drawn into the story and the plot developing with intrigue for both characters.
I enjoyed the second half very much as we find out more about Amanda's husband and his motives for accepting the job. It becomes quite an emotive story as the two timelines draw together and concludes with a believable and satisfying ending. I've read a few of this authors books now and have enjoyed them all.
Theresa and Amanda's stories unfold in alternating chapters. Theresa is the school nurse and has gone there to escape her life in Ireland with her overbearing father. She enjoys her job and as well as taking care of scraped knees and childhood illnesses she has an ever open door to offer a maternal shoulder to cry on, and a friendly ear to help with the woes of boys separated from their families. But Theresa is young, she misses her sisters and to cope with the isolation of Hallows Abbey she becomes involved in a romance with a local man who doesn't quite turn out to be the person Theresa perceives him to be.
Meanwhile Amanda in the present day has arrived at the school with her husband who has started a new position as deputy head at the school. At first she doesn't settle well. She hardly sees her husband as he becomes tied up with his new role, she misses her grown up children and is suffering empty nest syndrome at the same time as coping with the emotional turmoil of perimenopause.
In the first half of the book in Amanda's chapters we hear quite a lot about her feelings of no longer being needed either by her children or apparently her husband too and I did find this part slow to move along. However as Amanda starts to make friends and gets a job helping out the school nurse, things start to pick up pace both for Amanda's story and Theresa. It then becomes much more compelling with more characters being drawn into the story and the plot developing with intrigue for both characters.
I enjoyed the second half very much as we find out more about Amanda's husband and his motives for accepting the job. It becomes quite an emotive story as the two timelines draw together and concludes with a believable and satisfying ending. I've read a few of this authors books now and have enjoyed them all.
September 27, 2025
4 stars
In 1966, Theresa is the new nurse working at Hallows Abbey, an all-boys boarding school on the coast near Cornwall. Being away from her overbearing father for the first time in her life, Theresa slowly starts living her life on her own terms and taking romantic risks. But when unforeseen tragedy strikes and the school mourns its terrible losses, she realises that the actions and choices she's made may have led to devastating consequences... meanwhile in 2025, Amanda has just uprooted her life and moved to Hallows Abbey with her husband who is to be the school's new Deputy Head. Stuck in the rugged Cornish countryside, physically cut off from family and friends, and feeling increasingly isolated from her busy husband, Amanda takes up a position helping the school's current nurse. She also starts to research the school's history in order to keep herself sane. Until she starts hearing disembodied crying in the night and whispered voices in the nearby gardens. Could Amanda's digging into the past have unearthed a spiritual presence that doesn't want her to keep searching for answers about the tragedy that happened almost sixty years prior?
This was an interesting dual-timeline storyline to follow; it felt pretty easy to figure out how things were intertwined. There were a few red herrings along the way, but the reveal at the end had me nodding my head, saying "yep, that all made sense". Fans of eerie, atmospheric mysteries will probably enjoy this moody plot quite a bit.
Thanks to NetGalley, author Victoria Scott, and Boldwood Books for granting me access to a free digital ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and are provided here voluntarily.
In 1966, Theresa is the new nurse working at Hallows Abbey, an all-boys boarding school on the coast near Cornwall. Being away from her overbearing father for the first time in her life, Theresa slowly starts living her life on her own terms and taking romantic risks. But when unforeseen tragedy strikes and the school mourns its terrible losses, she realises that the actions and choices she's made may have led to devastating consequences... meanwhile in 2025, Amanda has just uprooted her life and moved to Hallows Abbey with her husband who is to be the school's new Deputy Head. Stuck in the rugged Cornish countryside, physically cut off from family and friends, and feeling increasingly isolated from her busy husband, Amanda takes up a position helping the school's current nurse. She also starts to research the school's history in order to keep herself sane. Until she starts hearing disembodied crying in the night and whispered voices in the nearby gardens. Could Amanda's digging into the past have unearthed a spiritual presence that doesn't want her to keep searching for answers about the tragedy that happened almost sixty years prior?
This was an interesting dual-timeline storyline to follow; it felt pretty easy to figure out how things were intertwined. There were a few red herrings along the way, but the reveal at the end had me nodding my head, saying "yep, that all made sense". Fans of eerie, atmospheric mysteries will probably enjoy this moody plot quite a bit.
Thanks to NetGalley, author Victoria Scott, and Boldwood Books for granting me access to a free digital ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and are provided here voluntarily.
October 4, 2025
The House on the Cliff is a dual time period book that takes place at a Catholic boarding school in Cornwall.
Amanda’s husband Mike has been hired as the deputy head at Hallows Abbey Academy. Amanda has followed Mike from pillar to post throughout his career. She has raised their children and done administrative work at the different schools he has worked at. Now they are at the farily remote Catholic Hallow Abbey and Amanda finds herself at loose ends and depressed. Her children are grown, and Mike is distracted and distant, to top it all off, Amanda is suffering through perimenopause. Amanda starts to hear strange noises, crying and singing when no one is there, She also becomes obsessed with the drowning deaths of several students and teachers in the 1960’s, Is she being haunted or is there a more nefarious reason for the strange occurrences?
In !965 school nurse Theresa has come to Hallow Academy from Ireland, fleeing an abusive home life. Theresa hopes to make a home and life for herself at the Abbey, maybe to find love as well. She tries to help a strange boy John who is being bulled and seems to have an unhealthy crush on her. Then tragedy strikes with the drowning deaths of the students and teachers.
Is there a supernatural presence or a more mundane reason for all the weird happenings? The resolution will bring Amanda and Theresa stories together in a surprising way.
Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to read and review this ARC.
Amanda’s husband Mike has been hired as the deputy head at Hallows Abbey Academy. Amanda has followed Mike from pillar to post throughout his career. She has raised their children and done administrative work at the different schools he has worked at. Now they are at the farily remote Catholic Hallow Abbey and Amanda finds herself at loose ends and depressed. Her children are grown, and Mike is distracted and distant, to top it all off, Amanda is suffering through perimenopause. Amanda starts to hear strange noises, crying and singing when no one is there, She also becomes obsessed with the drowning deaths of several students and teachers in the 1960’s, Is she being haunted or is there a more nefarious reason for the strange occurrences?
In !965 school nurse Theresa has come to Hallow Academy from Ireland, fleeing an abusive home life. Theresa hopes to make a home and life for herself at the Abbey, maybe to find love as well. She tries to help a strange boy John who is being bulled and seems to have an unhealthy crush on her. Then tragedy strikes with the drowning deaths of the students and teachers.
Is there a supernatural presence or a more mundane reason for all the weird happenings? The resolution will bring Amanda and Theresa stories together in a surprising way.
Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to read and review this ARC.
August 26, 2025
There’s something irresistible about a story set on the Cornish coast—where the wind feels like it could carry secrets, and the sea keeps its own counsel. The House on the Cliff delivers all of that atmosphere and more, weaving a dual-timeline mystery that’s as much about human frailty as it is about ghostly whispers.
In 1966, Theresa arrives at Hallows Abbey, a remote boys’ boarding school, hoping to carve out a life away from her father’s shadow. But one fateful decision changes everything, leaving ripples that will be felt decades later. In 2025, Amanda moves to the same school with her husband, only to find herself drawn into its tragic past—the disappearance of a group of boys on a boat trip—and into a haunting that feels far too personal.
Victoria Scott balances the two timelines beautifully, letting each reveal its secrets in a way that keeps you turning pages long after you meant to stop. The Cornish setting is vivid and windswept, the abbey itself a character—stoic, watchful, and steeped in sorrow. There’s a quiet ache running through both women’s stories, but also a thread of resilience that makes the ending feel earned.
It’s the kind of book you can sink into on a grey afternoon, the tide pulling you deeper until you realise you’ve read the last page without noticing the light fade. Atmospheric, unsettling, and quietly moving—this is a story that lingers like sea mist.
With thanks to Victoria Scott, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
In 1966, Theresa arrives at Hallows Abbey, a remote boys’ boarding school, hoping to carve out a life away from her father’s shadow. But one fateful decision changes everything, leaving ripples that will be felt decades later. In 2025, Amanda moves to the same school with her husband, only to find herself drawn into its tragic past—the disappearance of a group of boys on a boat trip—and into a haunting that feels far too personal.
Victoria Scott balances the two timelines beautifully, letting each reveal its secrets in a way that keeps you turning pages long after you meant to stop. The Cornish setting is vivid and windswept, the abbey itself a character—stoic, watchful, and steeped in sorrow. There’s a quiet ache running through both women’s stories, but also a thread of resilience that makes the ending feel earned.
It’s the kind of book you can sink into on a grey afternoon, the tide pulling you deeper until you realise you’ve read the last page without noticing the light fade. Atmospheric, unsettling, and quietly moving—this is a story that lingers like sea mist.
With thanks to Victoria Scott, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
October 30, 2025
This dual time story is a spooky read for Halloween. A remote boarding school perched on the end of a Cornish cliff, a secret which has been hidden for years, a distinctly creepy atmosphere and you have all the right ingredients for a haunting story which captures the imagination from the start.
In the present day Amanda and her husband are settling into living at Hallows Abbey, an isolated Catholic boarding school, which is situated in a remote part of Cornwall. Whilst Mike gets used to being deputy headmaster, Amanda is pretty much left to her own devices and so she becomes intrigued by the mysterious disappearance, many years ago, of a group of school boys, who went out in a boat and never returned. Moving quietly back to 1966 we begin to put together the threads of the mystery and develop a rapport with Theresa, a school nurse, who has her own secrets.
The dual time aspect is well done and I found myself looking forward to both parts of the narrative. The author writes well and keeps up the momentum of the story creating a decidedly chilly atmosphere whilst at the same time looking more closely into the lives of Amanda and Theresa and the problems they were facing in their personal lives. The wild beauty of the Cornish coast is well described and adds another dynamic to the story.
I thought The House in the Cliff was an interesting story, with enough creepiness for an entertaining Halloween read.
August 25, 2025
An enthralling dual timeline novel linking the past to the future at Hallows Abbey, a boys boarding school run by the Catholic Church. 1966 and Therese, a young nurse at the school is falling in love with a local lad. Raised by a strict Catholic father she knows it would be forbidden. She befriends a young student John who is constantly bullied by his peers. When tragedy strikes the school they both blame themselves for different reasons.
Present day and Mike Chapman has been appointed Deputy Head at the school, uprooting wife Amanda from their comfortable life in London. Amanda has her own struggles as she faces the menopause and empty nest syndrome. She struggles with life at the school especially when she hears crying nearly every night but can never find the person who's crying.
It was refreshing having a woman of a certain age depicted in this novel and highlighting the symptoms of the Menopause. Although it's a work of fiction, if reading this can give women light at the end of the tunnel during this stage of life, then it is a big plus in my eyes.
Overall an enjoyable, easy read
Present day and Mike Chapman has been appointed Deputy Head at the school, uprooting wife Amanda from their comfortable life in London. Amanda has her own struggles as she faces the menopause and empty nest syndrome. She struggles with life at the school especially when she hears crying nearly every night but can never find the person who's crying.
It was refreshing having a woman of a certain age depicted in this novel and highlighting the symptoms of the Menopause. Although it's a work of fiction, if reading this can give women light at the end of the tunnel during this stage of life, then it is a big plus in my eyes.
Overall an enjoyable, easy read
September 28, 2025
The description of this book made me want to love it - dual timelines, a slightly creepy boarding school perched atop the cliffs of Cornwall, ghost stories and other paranormal activity, comparisons to Kate Morton - but despite all the apparent marks in the plus column, it fell a little short of expectations.
For me, the book was much more about one of the main characters, Amanda, than it was about Theresa or the mystery of the lost boys. While there wasn’t anything particularly objectionable about her character, it felt like her struggles with being an empty-nester going through perimenopause overshadowed every other part of the book. Though I can certainly relate to and empathize with many of her emotions, I was expecting at some point for her frustrations to take a supporting role to the mystery. That never really happened, and it makes me feel like there was so much more to the story that was never really realized.
All in all, it wasn’t a bad book; it just wasn’t the book that was advertised.
3 stars
Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
For me, the book was much more about one of the main characters, Amanda, than it was about Theresa or the mystery of the lost boys. While there wasn’t anything particularly objectionable about her character, it felt like her struggles with being an empty-nester going through perimenopause overshadowed every other part of the book. Though I can certainly relate to and empathize with many of her emotions, I was expecting at some point for her frustrations to take a supporting role to the mystery. That never really happened, and it makes me feel like there was so much more to the story that was never really realized.
All in all, it wasn’t a bad book; it just wasn’t the book that was advertised.
3 stars
Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 6, 2025
An old manor house on the Cornish coast has been converted to a boy's boarding school, Hallows Abbey. The setting is perfect for a mystery. Dual timelines draw readers into the "before" and many years "after".
Theresa was the school nurse in 1966. She spent time with the students, becoming fond of some and irritated with others. She was present during the period that a boat full of students ran away from the school, but was never seen again. With no clues, the mystery still hangs over the school.
Amanda's husband has accepted a position as the Deputy Head. It's 2025 when they move to Hallows Abbey. Amanda has no connection to the school, so she wanders the grounds, searching for interesting stories from the school's history. Of course, the mystery of what happened to the lost boys piques her interest. If she digs enough, she will find the truth, but the truth is not what you'd expect. There are several twists and some misleading clues that will leave you surprised when everything comes clear.
Theresa was the school nurse in 1966. She spent time with the students, becoming fond of some and irritated with others. She was present during the period that a boat full of students ran away from the school, but was never seen again. With no clues, the mystery still hangs over the school.
Amanda's husband has accepted a position as the Deputy Head. It's 2025 when they move to Hallows Abbey. Amanda has no connection to the school, so she wanders the grounds, searching for interesting stories from the school's history. Of course, the mystery of what happened to the lost boys piques her interest. If she digs enough, she will find the truth, but the truth is not what you'd expect. There are several twists and some misleading clues that will leave you surprised when everything comes clear.
November 3, 2025
I picked this up after enjoying The Storytellers Daughter, and enjoyed it just as much if not a little more.
It captures the same compulsive blend of history, mystery and mystique, with interesting characters at its heart. The central thread of the mystery kept me guessing, and I loved the interwoven historical storylines told through alternating time points.
While it felt slightly overdone, I appreciated the representation of menopause and perimenopause through Amanda’s character, and the way it was contrasted with the gender divide in flashbacks to Theresa’s experience. The alternating viewpoints really highlighted the progress that has been made, and that still to be made.
I’d recommend for anyone looking for an engrossing mystery and historical fiction, perfect for fans of Kate Morton and Lucinda Riley.
Thank you to the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.
It captures the same compulsive blend of history, mystery and mystique, with interesting characters at its heart. The central thread of the mystery kept me guessing, and I loved the interwoven historical storylines told through alternating time points.
While it felt slightly overdone, I appreciated the representation of menopause and perimenopause through Amanda’s character, and the way it was contrasted with the gender divide in flashbacks to Theresa’s experience. The alternating viewpoints really highlighted the progress that has been made, and that still to be made.
I’d recommend for anyone looking for an engrossing mystery and historical fiction, perfect for fans of Kate Morton and Lucinda Riley.
Thank you to the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.
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