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Greyfriars' Abbey: A dark cult hiding in plain sight
Living on the streets in the middle of winter is no place for teen runaway Elle, so when she’s offered a safe place to sleep at Greyfriars’ Abbey, she accepts, but soon realises her huge mistake.
Madame Marion, a woman older than time, runs the decrepit building with a smile laced with malignance. Her mere existence incites fear, and no one dares to disobey her.
The dashingly handsome Kai oozes old-world charm, hints at dark pleasures, and flits in and out of Elle’s life confusing her thoughts and darkening her days.
Group members, come and go. Some thrive within the retreat. Others wilt, weaken, or simply disappear, while the distressing cries of wailing babies behind the walls only remind Elle of her own dilemma.
What is the age-old secret that festers deep inside Greyfriars Abbey? Will Elle discover it in time to save her baby and herself? Can she stop a dastardly plan with worldwide implications too incredible to contemplate? Or is the cult too established, widespread, and powerful to be brought to its knees?
Madame Marion, a woman older than time, runs the decrepit building with a smile laced with malignance. Her mere existence incites fear, and no one dares to disobey her.
The dashingly handsome Kai oozes old-world charm, hints at dark pleasures, and flits in and out of Elle’s life confusing her thoughts and darkening her days.
Group members, come and go. Some thrive within the retreat. Others wilt, weaken, or simply disappear, while the distressing cries of wailing babies behind the walls only remind Elle of her own dilemma.
What is the age-old secret that festers deep inside Greyfriars Abbey? Will Elle discover it in time to save her baby and herself? Can she stop a dastardly plan with worldwide implications too incredible to contemplate? Or is the cult too established, widespread, and powerful to be brought to its knees?
486 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 25, 2025
Greyfriars' Abbey is the latest dark horror from Michele E. Northwood. I've read and enjoyed several of the author's previous books, and when this was released I eagerly added it to my TBR. Dark horror is a genre that thrives on psychological unease, creeping dread, and the slow unraveling of sanity—and this book delivers all of that in spades. From the very first page, the atmosphere is thick with tension, and the sense of impending doom never lets up.
The story follows a pair of protagonists, two teenage girls who find themselves pregnant and being offered an odd but necessary rescue, haunted by both internal demons and very real, historical horrors. As their world of nightmares and reality blur, readers settle in a chilling narrative that lingers long after the last page. The semi-decaying mansion acts almost like a character, enhancing the sense of claustrophobia and unease. The horror is not just in what’s lurking in the shadows, but in what it reveals about the human mind—our fears, regrets, and the darkness we carry within.
The writing is atmospheric and loaded with symbolism that horror fans will appreciate. Overall, this dark horror novel is a full of dramatic character reactions and defenses, crawling under your skin and refusing to leave. When you learn who is behind it all and the impact on the world for centuries (millennia?) it makes the story pop even more.
The story follows a pair of protagonists, two teenage girls who find themselves pregnant and being offered an odd but necessary rescue, haunted by both internal demons and very real, historical horrors. As their world of nightmares and reality blur, readers settle in a chilling narrative that lingers long after the last page. The semi-decaying mansion acts almost like a character, enhancing the sense of claustrophobia and unease. The horror is not just in what’s lurking in the shadows, but in what it reveals about the human mind—our fears, regrets, and the darkness we carry within.
The writing is atmospheric and loaded with symbolism that horror fans will appreciate. Overall, this dark horror novel is a full of dramatic character reactions and defenses, crawling under your skin and refusing to leave. When you learn who is behind it all and the impact on the world for centuries (millennia?) it makes the story pop even more.
September 15, 2025
What a brilliantly written book about this creepy cult from Michele E. Northwood!
The plight of the pregnant girls recruited unwittingly into this weird abbey is at the heart and soul of the book. You can't help but feel for them, particularly the main character Elle, plucky Liz, Andrew, and later in the story (after Elle discovers astonishingly warped revelations,) the Detective, Ray.
Expect ghosts, an eerie girl called Sarah who you wouldn't want anywhere near you, wicked Madame Marion, monks, vampires, alien species, and humanity needing to change! I loved how all the threads of this novel tied together so wonderfully.
What an ending!
Cleverly done, I can highly recommend 👌
The plight of the pregnant girls recruited unwittingly into this weird abbey is at the heart and soul of the book. You can't help but feel for them, particularly the main character Elle, plucky Liz, Andrew, and later in the story (after Elle discovers astonishingly warped revelations,) the Detective, Ray.
Expect ghosts, an eerie girl called Sarah who you wouldn't want anywhere near you, wicked Madame Marion, monks, vampires, alien species, and humanity needing to change! I loved how all the threads of this novel tied together so wonderfully.
What an ending!
Cleverly done, I can highly recommend 👌
November 24, 2025
Greyfriars Abbey is a fantastic book dark horror cult book that has one of the most atmospheric opening chapters, and where we meet characters Jade and Elle. Who is Jade and how and why does she meet Elle? and why does Elle end up at Greyfriars?
Greyfriars Abbey isn’t quite what Elle was expecting. Who is Madam Marion? Why do a lot of the residents seem to be pregnant?
I throughly enjoyed this book it was dark, spooky and had some great twists I didn’t see coming. A great paced book that flowed well.
I would highly recommend this book and an easy 5 stars from me
August 23, 2025
What is the age-old secret that festers deep inside Greyfriars Abbey?
Greyfriars' Abbey: A Dark Cult Hiding In Plain Sight by Michele E. Northwood kept me guessing to the very last page. The author's suspenseful writing and unexpected twists kept me completely engrossed from beginning to end.
Elle, a teen runaway, fled home at her mother's shocking whispered urgency: "Leave Now! Your father must never hear of this." Elle was shocked by her mother's agitation, but she was more frightened of her father. Alone in the dead of winter, Elle sits in a café with her meager belongings, sipping Coke and watching a television broadcast about abducted babies, the world's overpopulation, and threats of famine.
A stranger named Jade notices the teen's meager belongings and offers her a place to stay. Though Elle is skeptical of the offer, with no other option but the cold streets, she accepts. Jade whisks her away in a chauffeured car to Greyfriars' Abbey, a looming four-story edifice on the moors where many pregnant teens have been taken in by this mysterious group headed by Madame Marion, who proves more enigmatic than the abbey itself.
Ms. Northwood has created a compelling cast of characters: dubious staff members and anxious teens, all in the same predicament, slowly being indoctrinated into... what? This is what Elle and Liz try to determine throughout the story, risking their lives and severe punishment if they are discovered. Liz, the more daring of the pair, finds herself constantly imprisoned in the frightful basement that she calls a dungeon for her acts of insubordination.
Meanwhile, Elle receives special treatment, escaping punishments even though she has disobeyed the abbey's rules several times. Why is she allowed to rise through the ranks so quickly? Level seven is the top tier of the group—a level where the girls wear all black, their moods as somber as the abbey itself. These level seven girls sit at the dining table sipping a red substance from their glasses, never eating a morsel of food.
The twists and turns of this story make for a suspenseful and chilling read as the reader learns more about the strange characters and leaders who run what appears to be a major corporation. Journals that Elle discovers in the abbey, written by a monk, hint at something bloody, wicked, deadly, and otherworldly. After several failed escape attempts, Elle loses hope, realizing there's no leaving this place. Her only option is to go along with the regime: pretend to be happy, serve Kia—a magnetic man who both attracts and repulses her—and uncover the dark secrets of Greyfriars' Abbey before they get their evil clutches on her unborn child.
The book culminates with a shocking revelation that I didn't see coming—revelations with major consequences not only for the poor teens of Greyfriars Abbey, but for the entire world. It's a plot that threatens to permanently change the very scope of mankind.
I highly recommend Greyfriars' Abbey, a well-written paranormal thriller that held my interest to the very end. This page-turner delivers atmospheric horror and genuine surprises that will keep readers guessing until the final reveal. Thank you for the great read, Ms. Northwood!
Greyfriars' Abbey: A Dark Cult Hiding In Plain Sight by Michele E. Northwood kept me guessing to the very last page. The author's suspenseful writing and unexpected twists kept me completely engrossed from beginning to end.
Elle, a teen runaway, fled home at her mother's shocking whispered urgency: "Leave Now! Your father must never hear of this." Elle was shocked by her mother's agitation, but she was more frightened of her father. Alone in the dead of winter, Elle sits in a café with her meager belongings, sipping Coke and watching a television broadcast about abducted babies, the world's overpopulation, and threats of famine.
A stranger named Jade notices the teen's meager belongings and offers her a place to stay. Though Elle is skeptical of the offer, with no other option but the cold streets, she accepts. Jade whisks her away in a chauffeured car to Greyfriars' Abbey, a looming four-story edifice on the moors where many pregnant teens have been taken in by this mysterious group headed by Madame Marion, who proves more enigmatic than the abbey itself.
Ms. Northwood has created a compelling cast of characters: dubious staff members and anxious teens, all in the same predicament, slowly being indoctrinated into... what? This is what Elle and Liz try to determine throughout the story, risking their lives and severe punishment if they are discovered. Liz, the more daring of the pair, finds herself constantly imprisoned in the frightful basement that she calls a dungeon for her acts of insubordination.
Meanwhile, Elle receives special treatment, escaping punishments even though she has disobeyed the abbey's rules several times. Why is she allowed to rise through the ranks so quickly? Level seven is the top tier of the group—a level where the girls wear all black, their moods as somber as the abbey itself. These level seven girls sit at the dining table sipping a red substance from their glasses, never eating a morsel of food.
The twists and turns of this story make for a suspenseful and chilling read as the reader learns more about the strange characters and leaders who run what appears to be a major corporation. Journals that Elle discovers in the abbey, written by a monk, hint at something bloody, wicked, deadly, and otherworldly. After several failed escape attempts, Elle loses hope, realizing there's no leaving this place. Her only option is to go along with the regime: pretend to be happy, serve Kia—a magnetic man who both attracts and repulses her—and uncover the dark secrets of Greyfriars' Abbey before they get their evil clutches on her unborn child.
The book culminates with a shocking revelation that I didn't see coming—revelations with major consequences not only for the poor teens of Greyfriars Abbey, but for the entire world. It's a plot that threatens to permanently change the very scope of mankind.
I highly recommend Greyfriars' Abbey, a well-written paranormal thriller that held my interest to the very end. This page-turner delivers atmospheric horror and genuine surprises that will keep readers guessing until the final reveal. Thank you for the great read, Ms. Northwood!
September 29, 2025
Greyfriars' Abbey is such a well written, gripping, thrilling, and exciting story. My jaw was on the floor at the end of this book... because what??!!!!
Elle is currently on the street when she's offered an opportunity of safe haven at Greyfriars' Abbey. All she has to do is follow the rules. But immediately upon arrival, she can sense that things are off and not at all what they seem. They know things about her that she hasn't told them, like her pregnancy. She isn't even showing yet. How did they know? Then comes the weird incidents of mysterious babies appearing and disappearing from Greyfriars. Babies that she has seen in news articles are being kidnapped, and then returned to their parents. But why? Why take them and then return them? What are they being used for? What are they doing them? And the most important question of all, will she be able to figure it out in time to save her baby? Will it even matter?
This story was so dang twisty. I was at the edge of my seat. My mind spirals when I think about the way this ends because it's looping in my head. This was very well written in such a way that it was sort left open for the possibility of a next book, which I would love. But if not, it ends in such a way that you can't stop thinking about what it all means. Also, the vibes and setting of this story gave off very creepy, chilling, cold at the nape of your neck feelings. I really enjoyed this and think this would be a great halloween, fall story. Highly recommend giving this one a read!
Elle is currently on the street when she's offered an opportunity of safe haven at Greyfriars' Abbey. All she has to do is follow the rules. But immediately upon arrival, she can sense that things are off and not at all what they seem. They know things about her that she hasn't told them, like her pregnancy. She isn't even showing yet. How did they know? Then comes the weird incidents of mysterious babies appearing and disappearing from Greyfriars. Babies that she has seen in news articles are being kidnapped, and then returned to their parents. But why? Why take them and then return them? What are they being used for? What are they doing them? And the most important question of all, will she be able to figure it out in time to save her baby? Will it even matter?
This story was so dang twisty. I was at the edge of my seat. My mind spirals when I think about the way this ends because it's looping in my head. This was very well written in such a way that it was sort left open for the possibility of a next book, which I would love. But if not, it ends in such a way that you can't stop thinking about what it all means. Also, the vibes and setting of this story gave off very creepy, chilling, cold at the nape of your neck feelings. I really enjoyed this and think this would be a great halloween, fall story. Highly recommend giving this one a read!
October 26, 2025
DARK, EERIE & ADDICTIVE
A dreary night in a Leeds cafe is the setting of a chance encounter between the vulnerable, despondent Elle and the astute, smooth talking Jade - who convinces Elle she will solve all her problems if she accompanies her to a 'boarding house' out in the sticks. It transpires that this is in fact an imposing residence called Greyfriars' Abbey, run by the odd Madame Marion. At Greyfriars' Elle meets and befriends Liz, whose point of view is also included in the narrative. Elle and Liz have been led to believe that the abbey is a safe haven, but behind the regimental facade, a sinister bloodthirsty underworld awaits, that threatens their lives & sanity.
This book is spine chillingly good - it's a great read for Halloween, but can also be enjoyed any time of the year that you fancy a spooky read. Fans of Dracula will love it. The writing is eerie and creates a building sense of fear. It is a thoroughly entertaining story, from start to finish and I was gripped by the suspense and tension. I enjoyed this book very much.
Michele E Northwood is a multi genre author; she also writes romance, mystery and factual novels. It's well worth checking out her other books, I have read quite a few and always been impressed. Five stars from me :-)
A dreary night in a Leeds cafe is the setting of a chance encounter between the vulnerable, despondent Elle and the astute, smooth talking Jade - who convinces Elle she will solve all her problems if she accompanies her to a 'boarding house' out in the sticks. It transpires that this is in fact an imposing residence called Greyfriars' Abbey, run by the odd Madame Marion. At Greyfriars' Elle meets and befriends Liz, whose point of view is also included in the narrative. Elle and Liz have been led to believe that the abbey is a safe haven, but behind the regimental facade, a sinister bloodthirsty underworld awaits, that threatens their lives & sanity.
This book is spine chillingly good - it's a great read for Halloween, but can also be enjoyed any time of the year that you fancy a spooky read. Fans of Dracula will love it. The writing is eerie and creates a building sense of fear. It is a thoroughly entertaining story, from start to finish and I was gripped by the suspense and tension. I enjoyed this book very much.
Michele E Northwood is a multi genre author; she also writes romance, mystery and factual novels. It's well worth checking out her other books, I have read quite a few and always been impressed. Five stars from me :-)
September 30, 2025
I’ve read several of this author’s books and this one exceeds them all.
Suspenseful, mysterious, spooky, and a well-thought out plot made this a page turner for me.
It was refreshing to read a vampire book where vampires were actually villains instead of misunderstood monsters. There were hints from the start that seemed random at first but were actually cleverly sparkled clues to what was coming.
Why did Elle’s mom send her away? What was happening to all the kidnapped babies? Why were pregnant teenagers taken to Greyfriar’s Abby? And what was wrong with Sarah? I had so many more questions, some I answered correctly, others not.
I thought I had the “elders” figured out, but I was wrong – and I loved that twist.
There were so many twists! I had a niggling feeling about some and was glad to know I was right … to a degree. Some still caught me by surprise.
I wonder if there’s a second book coming – I hope there is!
I highly recommend this one!
Suspenseful, mysterious, spooky, and a well-thought out plot made this a page turner for me.
It was refreshing to read a vampire book where vampires were actually villains instead of misunderstood monsters. There were hints from the start that seemed random at first but were actually cleverly sparkled clues to what was coming.
Why did Elle’s mom send her away? What was happening to all the kidnapped babies? Why were pregnant teenagers taken to Greyfriar’s Abby? And what was wrong with Sarah? I had so many more questions, some I answered correctly, others not.
I thought I had the “elders” figured out, but I was wrong – and I loved that twist.
There were so many twists! I had a niggling feeling about some and was glad to know I was right … to a degree. Some still caught me by surprise.
I wonder if there’s a second book coming – I hope there is!
I highly recommend this one!
August 29, 2025
When young and homeless Elle takes up an offer to sleep at Greyfriars’ Abbey she has no idea that what she’s walking into is much worse than the rain-soaked streets she’s eager to escape. Yet she soon finds the place so creepy that when Jade tells her she’s perfectly safe, she struggles to believe it.
Elle has no idea she has walked into a cult with sinister ambitions.
Greyfriars’ Abbey grabs you from the very first sentence and won’t let go. The premise is a good one, the setting of the abbey perfect. There’s quite a cast of malevolent characters, from Madame Marion and the diminutive monk, to the all too smooth Kai. There are echoes of Margaret Atwood in the tale. And an ending you won’t see coming.
Recommended to fans of paranormal thrillers and those after a darn good read.
Elle has no idea she has walked into a cult with sinister ambitions.
Greyfriars’ Abbey grabs you from the very first sentence and won’t let go. The premise is a good one, the setting of the abbey perfect. There’s quite a cast of malevolent characters, from Madame Marion and the diminutive monk, to the all too smooth Kai. There are echoes of Margaret Atwood in the tale. And an ending you won’t see coming.
Recommended to fans of paranormal thrillers and those after a darn good read.
January 22, 2026
I read this book in two days because I was as captivated as the poor fragile souls entrapped in Greyfriars Abbey. The author’s characterisation is so strong that the empathetic reader is swept along on the tide their misadventures, praying for their release from the nightmare that engulfs them. It is hard to write a review of this particular book without giving too much of the plot away. I can say that it kept me on tenterhooks right to the unexpected twists at the end. Michele Northwood has a fluent readable style that makes reading a pleasure, I won’t hesitate to give this book 5 stars.
October 1, 2025
Elle has found herself pregnant, alone and living on the streets, all seems bleak until Jade finds her and offers her salvation, a place to stay and somewhere safe to have her baby. However when Elle arrives at greyfriars abbey it’s not what she thought it would be, damp, dusty and very rundown, meagre food and some strange ideologies with very quiet and despondent young people all under the watchful eye of madam marion a very odd, old fashioned and unkempt lady.
Life at greyfriars very quickly unravels itself to be a very controlled and frightening place, very regimented and once inside members are expected to fulfil their tasks and climb the levels to find out exactly what the place is and who the level 7’s are.
Greyfriars is well written, gripping and very dark, with a great twist at the end that I just did not see coming.
Well deserving of the 5 stars and a book I would highly recommend
Life at greyfriars very quickly unravels itself to be a very controlled and frightening place, very regimented and once inside members are expected to fulfil their tasks and climb the levels to find out exactly what the place is and who the level 7’s are.
Greyfriars is well written, gripping and very dark, with a great twist at the end that I just did not see coming.
Well deserving of the 5 stars and a book I would highly recommend
October 12, 2025
I really enjoyed this book right through to the end! It has a spooky atmosphere and sinister characters. Greyfriars Abbey lives up to the haunted house theme and is a character unto itself. Liz and Elle are relatable as young teens who find themselves in unexpected situations. Well written and engaging, it's a great spooky read.
October 2, 2025
A dark, magical, and terrifying tale of a cult scarier than any I’ve come across in fiction. The main character, Elle, finds herself in a perilous and mysterious predicament and the twisted truth blew my mind. This is a fantastic read for horror fans and spooky season.
October 24, 2025
The Abbey is meant to be inviting to the young people, rescued, taken there to help them off the streets.
Living out there in all weather. Elle is grateful, then she meets the others and starts to see what’s going on.
Very creepy read from this author which she delivers every time.
Living out there in all weather. Elle is grateful, then she meets the others and starts to see what’s going on.
Very creepy read from this author which she delivers every time.
October 25, 2025
I was immediately hooked when I read this book. The pregnant Elle is taken to Greyfriars Abbey after being homeless. But she soon realised she made the wrong choice. I didn't know how it would end but even that was brilliant. Well worth reading.
November 13, 2025
Amazing!!! This is the now my top favourite book. The ending wasn't what I expected too. I hope the author writes a 2nd book maybe on the other communes or maybe what happens with her third and final chance? Be interesting to hear Kai's story from the beginning.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews