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The Edge of Dark
A dark and twisted tale exploring the haunted relationship beween past and present, for fans of Kate Mosse and Barbara Erskine
Jane believes in keeping her promises, but a deathbed vow sets her on a twisting path of deceit and joy that takes her from the dark secrets of Holmwood House in York to the sign of the golden lily in London's Mincing Lane. Getting what you want, Jane discovers, comes at a price. For the child that she longed for, the child she promised to love and to keep safe, turns out to be a darker spirit than she could ever have imagined. Over four centuries later, Roz Acclam remembers nothing of the fire that killed her family—or of the brother who set it. Trying on a beautiful Elizabethan necklace found in the newly restored Holmwood House triggers disturbing memories of the past at last—but the past Roz remembers is not her own.
Jane believes in keeping her promises, but a deathbed vow sets her on a twisting path of deceit and joy that takes her from the dark secrets of Holmwood House in York to the sign of the golden lily in London's Mincing Lane. Getting what you want, Jane discovers, comes at a price. For the child that she longed for, the child she promised to love and to keep safe, turns out to be a darker spirit than she could ever have imagined. Over four centuries later, Roz Acclam remembers nothing of the fire that killed her family—or of the brother who set it. Trying on a beautiful Elizabethan necklace found in the newly restored Holmwood House triggers disturbing memories of the past at last—but the past Roz remembers is not her own.
400 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2014
30 people are currently reading
578 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Hartshorne
18 books184 followersAfter a haphazard early career spent working and travelling around the world, I started writing romance in order to fund a PhD in Medieval Studies. Naturally, that didn't turn out to be quite the easy option I thought it would be, but I did in the end complete a thesis on the street and the perception of public space in later medieval and early modern York in 2004. My research formed the basis of TIME'S ECHO, and many of the individuals I encountered in the records of Elizabethan York appear in the novel.
I'm fascinated by the relationship between the past and the present and have always enjoyed 'time slip' novels and how they explore the possibility that it might be possible to go back in time and see what it was "really like". As a trained historian, I know that could never be possible, but as a storyteller, I find the premise irresistible ...
I still live in York and continue to write romances as Jessica Hart in tandem with time slip novels for Pan Macmillan - and yes I *do* often get confused by my split identities!
If you'd like to sign up for an occasional newsletter for news, offers, books for review and so on, please do email me at pamela@pamelahartshorne.com
I'm fascinated by the relationship between the past and the present and have always enjoyed 'time slip' novels and how they explore the possibility that it might be possible to go back in time and see what it was "really like". As a trained historian, I know that could never be possible, but as a storyteller, I find the premise irresistible ...
I still live in York and continue to write romances as Jessica Hart in tandem with time slip novels for Pan Macmillan - and yes I *do* often get confused by my split identities!
If you'd like to sign up for an occasional newsletter for news, offers, books for review and so on, please do email me at pamela@pamelahartshorne.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
July 9, 2017
I can't for the life of me understand how even though Hartshorne keeps writing practically the same book again and again, she still manages to get me completely engrossed in it every time. The premise of her books are always the same - dual time lines, two women, the one in the present being possessed by the one from the past, who is desperate to tell her story. The present woman's world is unraveling as she delves more and more into the past woman's story, till the dramatic climax releases both of them. This time the present woman is from London, and her marriage is in trouble after the husband reveals that he has a 14-year-old child from a past relationship, even though he has always said he never wanted to be a father. She moves to York to get a new start and work on promoting the opening of a grand old house. There she is taken over by Jane, a Tudor-time woman who is connected to the place. I don't want to spoil anything, but I can say that there are some parallels between the two women's lives, and that there are a few mysteries solved on the way to the usual conclusion. But even with everything being quite expected (especially after you've read Hartshorne's previous books), this is a fast and very suspenseful read that I couldn't put down for a minute. I do wish Hartshorne would move on to a new plotline in her next book. She is a super-talented storyteller and I'm sure she has more in her than this one story.
April 10, 2015
I enjoy reading time-slip novels; I love the sense of the supernatural, the atmosphere of mystery and suspense, and the intertwining of two lives – one past and one present. Pamela Hartshorne has written three novels of this type (the other two are Time's Echo and The Memory of Midnight) but this one is the first I've had the opportunity to read. I found it an entertaining, compelling and genuinely eerie read and I'm now looking forward to going back and reading her earlier novels.
The Edge of Dark is the story of Roz Acclam who, at the beginning of the novel, is preparing to start a new job as Events Director at Holmwood House, a recently restored Elizabethan building in York. This is not the first time Roz has been to York; she lived there as a small child until most of her family died in a fire and she was adopted by an aunt in London. She remembers nothing of the fire or her tragic childhood, but almost as soon as she arrives in York, memories begin to come flooding back – the only problem is, they are not her own memories but those of another woman who lived more than four hundred years earlier.
The Edge of Dark is also the story of Jane, the eldest daughter of a butcher who lived in York in the 1500s. Jane's father is planning ambitious marriages for both of his girls and Jane soon finds herself married off to the handsome, wealthy Robert Holmwood. Joining her new husband at Holmwood House, she discovers that married life is not quite what she'd expected and she begins to long for a child of her own. But Jane's desire to be a mother eventually grows so strong that she makes a promise she could live to regret.
As Roz tries to settle into her new job the flashbacks into Jane's life become more frequent and she begins to question why she is having these experiences. Is Holmwood House haunted? Are Jane's ordeals in the past somehow connected with Roz's own problems in the present? And what really happened the night the Acclams' house was set on fire?
Usually when I read a novel set in two time periods I find that I prefer one over the other – as I love historical fiction it tends to be the one set in the past. With this book, Roz's story and Jane's are so closely linked that it's difficult to separate them; the transitions between past and present felt smooth and natural and I could easily become immersed in the lives of both women. Roz and Jane are both strong characters, but there are other interesting characters in each time period too. While some feel less developed than others, the two I found most memorable are (in the present) Helen, a jealous colleague who tries to cause trouble for Roz at work, and (in the past) Margaret Holmwood, Jane's scheming mother-in-law.
I also liked the fact that the novel is set in York, a city I have visited many times and am quite familiar with. It was obvious that the book was written by an author who knows York, its streets and its buildings very well! Something else I found interesting was seeing what goes into opening a new tourist attraction to the public. I would have liked to have read more about Roz's work – it sounded fascinating.
I realise I've come to the end of this review and haven't mentioned the significance of the beautiful Tudor necklace on the front cover of the book, but I need to leave something for future readers to discover for themselves!
The Edge of Dark is the story of Roz Acclam who, at the beginning of the novel, is preparing to start a new job as Events Director at Holmwood House, a recently restored Elizabethan building in York. This is not the first time Roz has been to York; she lived there as a small child until most of her family died in a fire and she was adopted by an aunt in London. She remembers nothing of the fire or her tragic childhood, but almost as soon as she arrives in York, memories begin to come flooding back – the only problem is, they are not her own memories but those of another woman who lived more than four hundred years earlier.
The Edge of Dark is also the story of Jane, the eldest daughter of a butcher who lived in York in the 1500s. Jane's father is planning ambitious marriages for both of his girls and Jane soon finds herself married off to the handsome, wealthy Robert Holmwood. Joining her new husband at Holmwood House, she discovers that married life is not quite what she'd expected and she begins to long for a child of her own. But Jane's desire to be a mother eventually grows so strong that she makes a promise she could live to regret.
As Roz tries to settle into her new job the flashbacks into Jane's life become more frequent and she begins to question why she is having these experiences. Is Holmwood House haunted? Are Jane's ordeals in the past somehow connected with Roz's own problems in the present? And what really happened the night the Acclams' house was set on fire?
Usually when I read a novel set in two time periods I find that I prefer one over the other – as I love historical fiction it tends to be the one set in the past. With this book, Roz's story and Jane's are so closely linked that it's difficult to separate them; the transitions between past and present felt smooth and natural and I could easily become immersed in the lives of both women. Roz and Jane are both strong characters, but there are other interesting characters in each time period too. While some feel less developed than others, the two I found most memorable are (in the present) Helen, a jealous colleague who tries to cause trouble for Roz at work, and (in the past) Margaret Holmwood, Jane's scheming mother-in-law.
I also liked the fact that the novel is set in York, a city I have visited many times and am quite familiar with. It was obvious that the book was written by an author who knows York, its streets and its buildings very well! Something else I found interesting was seeing what goes into opening a new tourist attraction to the public. I would have liked to have read more about Roz's work – it sounded fascinating.
I realise I've come to the end of this review and haven't mentioned the significance of the beautiful Tudor necklace on the front cover of the book, but I need to leave something for future readers to discover for themselves!
June 13, 2015
You can also see the review on my blog
This book is page-turner and unputdownable. I know that I say this quite a lot when I love a book, but I really can’t help it, especially if the book impressed me and this one did. A brilliant historical time-slip. There’s a sense of supernatural, mystery and tension, but also romance in the story, elements that made me certain from the start that I’ll like the story. The plot is great, so is the writing, the characters are so well sketched and the connection between Jane and Roz is described thoroughly, without leaving any questions. I haven’t read anything similar, which was a happy surprise.
Initial thoughts:
1. This is the first novel I’ve read from this author and I have to say that I’m very impressed. I’m looking forward to buy the other two novels she has written, following similar themes.
2. To be honest, I liked the story set in the past more than the one in the present. But, I think it’s normal to prefer one over the other when a novel is set in two periods. The reason is that I felt so bad for plain Jane, who for a strange reason reminded me of Eyre, because life doesn’t treat her well. Her story is so heartbreaking, especially in the end.
3. The time-slip happens unexpectedly, making it hard to stop reading. There are a lot of plot twists, which I never saw coming.
4. Even though I’m not a big fan of supernatural things, this story didn’t seem strange at all. Everything is fully explained and didn’t leave me any questions of how things happened. It’s probably the only book that has a sense of supernatural that I really liked, which tells a lot.
I don’t know what else to say about this book, only that I loved it so so much. It gave me such a book hangover that I can’t start another book until it’s fully out of my system. You know, it’s one of those books that you’re eager to finish it just to know the end, but at the same time I didn’t want to let it go just yet. I wanted to read more..
If you like romance and suspence, I definetely recommend you to read this story. You won’t regret it, trust me. I don’t know if I’ve already mentioned it, but how beautiful is the cover and the necklace?
This book is page-turner and unputdownable. I know that I say this quite a lot when I love a book, but I really can’t help it, especially if the book impressed me and this one did. A brilliant historical time-slip. There’s a sense of supernatural, mystery and tension, but also romance in the story, elements that made me certain from the start that I’ll like the story. The plot is great, so is the writing, the characters are so well sketched and the connection between Jane and Roz is described thoroughly, without leaving any questions. I haven’t read anything similar, which was a happy surprise.
Initial thoughts:
1. This is the first novel I’ve read from this author and I have to say that I’m very impressed. I’m looking forward to buy the other two novels she has written, following similar themes.
2. To be honest, I liked the story set in the past more than the one in the present. But, I think it’s normal to prefer one over the other when a novel is set in two periods. The reason is that I felt so bad for plain Jane, who for a strange reason reminded me of Eyre, because life doesn’t treat her well. Her story is so heartbreaking, especially in the end.
3. The time-slip happens unexpectedly, making it hard to stop reading. There are a lot of plot twists, which I never saw coming.
4. Even though I’m not a big fan of supernatural things, this story didn’t seem strange at all. Everything is fully explained and didn’t leave me any questions of how things happened. It’s probably the only book that has a sense of supernatural that I really liked, which tells a lot.
I don’t know what else to say about this book, only that I loved it so so much. It gave me such a book hangover that I can’t start another book until it’s fully out of my system. You know, it’s one of those books that you’re eager to finish it just to know the end, but at the same time I didn’t want to let it go just yet. I wanted to read more..
If you like romance and suspence, I definetely recommend you to read this story. You won’t regret it, trust me. I don’t know if I’ve already mentioned it, but how beautiful is the cover and the necklace?
April 26, 2015
Quite a good thriller enough creepiness to keep you going.
January 29, 2019
Wow! This book had me at the prologue! If you enjoy books about time travel, this author is for you!
This is the second book I have read and Pamela Hartshorne has a gift to be able to wind a story between two time periods and it just pulls you in.
Roz is in the current time and she is offered a new job in the town where she was born. Her family died in a house fire and she was a survivor. Her brother was convicted of starting the fire.
Jane lives in 1549 and she makes a deathbed vow that starts her on a winding path of joy and deceit. Getting what you wish for is not always what you want.
I could not put this book down!
This is the second book I have read and Pamela Hartshorne has a gift to be able to wind a story between two time periods and it just pulls you in.
Roz is in the current time and she is offered a new job in the town where she was born. Her family died in a house fire and she was a survivor. Her brother was convicted of starting the fire.
Jane lives in 1549 and she makes a deathbed vow that starts her on a winding path of joy and deceit. Getting what you wish for is not always what you want.
I could not put this book down!
April 9, 2018
Been a long time since I had to stay up late to find out the ending of a book! Very relieved to not be disappointed with the ending (although the modern day 'epilogue' was obviously where things were heading it didn't take away from the more dramatic ending to previous events). Interesting and creepy.
June 28, 2017
a dark intriguing novel
July 26, 2019
A good story involving an old house and time travel.
March 17, 2015
Haunting historical time-slip novel
The lovely Roz is haunted by the ghost of Jane who died over 400 years ago. Maybe Roz is losing her mind or perhaps she‘s schizophrenic or even possessed. She has increasing flashbacks as she slips back, again and again, into visions of Jane’s past life. Could Jane have been real or is she only part of Roz’s imagination?
This isn’t the first time-slip historical novel that Pamela Hartshorne has written. But it is the first I’ve read. This is indeed rather well done and her storytelling crackles with breath-taking scenes and some wonderfully dark characters.
Roz has a tragic family past and was brought up by her aunt in London. She returns to her parents’ hometown of York in Yorkshire, the scene of the deliberate fire in 1986 that killed most of her family. She is there to promote the launch and opening of the brooding Holmwood Hall to the public. Her boss, the slightly pompous Sir Adrian, and his despicable PA Helen are a delight. But Roz soon begins to have troubling flashbacks to an earlier time period. And with Roz acting as a conduit, the captivating story of Jane, who lived in the late 1500’s, is revealed. Their life stories are becoming almost mirrored, it seems to Roz, and along with the reader; she needs to know what becomes of Jane.
Jane is a young woman in 1577 and lives in the shadow of her younger more beautiful sister, the flighty Julianna. Her father is a wealthy butcher in York and has ambitious plans for his daughters in order to raise their social standing through marriage. Jane is married off to the handsome, prestigious Robert Holmwood and soon all is not as she had dreamed. Things take some bizarre twists and eventually Jane ends up being the mother she had always wanted. The child however isn’t hers. ‘Be careful what you wish for’ Jane, as a promise she makes to the child’s mother comes back to haunt her.
The author packs a lot into this novel which makes for an enthralling book. I enjoyed the company of the likeable Roz and Jane as their stories unfolded. If this is the type of book that appeals, then I’m sure you will love them too. It’s a damn good read with a few shocks and twists along the way.
The lovely Roz is haunted by the ghost of Jane who died over 400 years ago. Maybe Roz is losing her mind or perhaps she‘s schizophrenic or even possessed. She has increasing flashbacks as she slips back, again and again, into visions of Jane’s past life. Could Jane have been real or is she only part of Roz’s imagination?
This isn’t the first time-slip historical novel that Pamela Hartshorne has written. But it is the first I’ve read. This is indeed rather well done and her storytelling crackles with breath-taking scenes and some wonderfully dark characters.
Roz has a tragic family past and was brought up by her aunt in London. She returns to her parents’ hometown of York in Yorkshire, the scene of the deliberate fire in 1986 that killed most of her family. She is there to promote the launch and opening of the brooding Holmwood Hall to the public. Her boss, the slightly pompous Sir Adrian, and his despicable PA Helen are a delight. But Roz soon begins to have troubling flashbacks to an earlier time period. And with Roz acting as a conduit, the captivating story of Jane, who lived in the late 1500’s, is revealed. Their life stories are becoming almost mirrored, it seems to Roz, and along with the reader; she needs to know what becomes of Jane.
Jane is a young woman in 1577 and lives in the shadow of her younger more beautiful sister, the flighty Julianna. Her father is a wealthy butcher in York and has ambitious plans for his daughters in order to raise their social standing through marriage. Jane is married off to the handsome, prestigious Robert Holmwood and soon all is not as she had dreamed. Things take some bizarre twists and eventually Jane ends up being the mother she had always wanted. The child however isn’t hers. ‘Be careful what you wish for’ Jane, as a promise she makes to the child’s mother comes back to haunt her.
The author packs a lot into this novel which makes for an enthralling book. I enjoyed the company of the likeable Roz and Jane as their stories unfolded. If this is the type of book that appeals, then I’m sure you will love them too. It’s a damn good read with a few shocks and twists along the way.
January 1, 2021
The Edge of Dark is mysterious time slip novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. The novel is centred around the enigmatic Elizabethan home, Holmwood House, in York in the 1500s and present day.
In the 21st century Holmwood House is being meticulously restored to its former glory by the pompous Sir Adrian, whose family is descended from the home’s original owner. The story begins when he hires London based Events Director, Roz Acclam from London, to oversee the grand opening and future events.
Roz has no memories of her tragic childhood history in York and jumps at the chance to work at such a beautiful historic home, despite her Aunt’s warnings to stay away from the area. She has been having relationship problems and thinks some time apart from her partner is just what she needs.
Things start to get strange as soon as Roz arrives in York. She begins to have vivid dreams about Jane, who lived at Holmswood House in the 1500s. At first Roz thought she was having some kind of adverse reaction to being back in York, but she eventually comes to believe that Jane is real and has been trying to send her an important message.
But what is Jane really trying to tell her? Will the dark forces of Holmswood House claim another victim? And what really happened to Roz’s family when she was a child?
The answers to these questions and more are skilfully revealed, and I was certainly surprised by the climatic ending. Pamela Hartshorne has mastered the art of the time slip novel and I’m looking forward to reading more of her work.
Originally posted at https://scatterbooker.wordpress.com/2...
In the 21st century Holmwood House is being meticulously restored to its former glory by the pompous Sir Adrian, whose family is descended from the home’s original owner. The story begins when he hires London based Events Director, Roz Acclam from London, to oversee the grand opening and future events.
Roz has no memories of her tragic childhood history in York and jumps at the chance to work at such a beautiful historic home, despite her Aunt’s warnings to stay away from the area. She has been having relationship problems and thinks some time apart from her partner is just what she needs.
Things start to get strange as soon as Roz arrives in York. She begins to have vivid dreams about Jane, who lived at Holmswood House in the 1500s. At first Roz thought she was having some kind of adverse reaction to being back in York, but she eventually comes to believe that Jane is real and has been trying to send her an important message.
But what is Jane really trying to tell her? Will the dark forces of Holmswood House claim another victim? And what really happened to Roz’s family when she was a child?
The answers to these questions and more are skilfully revealed, and I was certainly surprised by the climatic ending. Pamela Hartshorne has mastered the art of the time slip novel and I’m looking forward to reading more of her work.
Originally posted at https://scatterbooker.wordpress.com/2...
July 30, 2015
This novel shares much with the previous two in the trilogy, Time’s Echo and The Memory of Midnight - which I both read and reviewed - but it is not a sequel, nor a prequel, the three plots and the characters are not related any way.
The three novels share the geographical setting (York), the time-slip pattern (Elizabethan Age/present day), the presence of supernatural events and the fact of having two female protagonists.
In The Edge of Dark, the two heroines live in distant eras but share a great deal of tragicality in their respective lives. Roz Acclam is the only survivor to her family’s slaughter by fire and Jane Birkby faces the outcomes of her vow on deathbed and the hardship of being a woman in the 16th century. “Beware what you wish for” may well be the leit motiv for them both.
Go on reading my review at my FLY HIGH! blog
http://flyhigh-by-learnonline.blogspo...
The three novels share the geographical setting (York), the time-slip pattern (Elizabethan Age/present day), the presence of supernatural events and the fact of having two female protagonists.
In The Edge of Dark, the two heroines live in distant eras but share a great deal of tragicality in their respective lives. Roz Acclam is the only survivor to her family’s slaughter by fire and Jane Birkby faces the outcomes of her vow on deathbed and the hardship of being a woman in the 16th century. “Beware what you wish for” may well be the leit motiv for them both.
Go on reading my review at my FLY HIGH! blog
http://flyhigh-by-learnonline.blogspo...
October 3, 2015
Roz and Jane are two appealing characters - especially the latter -separated by centuries but interlinked through similar experiences. Another haunting Pamela page-turner. I can't resist her books. Some may say they are formulaic - two female protagonists, one in present day York experiencing time-slips into the doomed life of the other in Elizabethan York - but I love this formula! Plus York is one of my favourite cities and the historical detail is captivating - and this one features Tudor London too.
March 10, 2015
I have to admit I couldn't wait for the latest novel.... And it wasn't a disappointment. I read it in three days just couldn't put it down.
Living in York it was wonderful to identify with the streets Roz walked. I could visualise so perfectly throughout the book which made it an added magical history for me.
Of three novels so far I found this the most chilling.... Can't wait for the next one!!,
A must read!! And more than once....
Living in York it was wonderful to identify with the streets Roz walked. I could visualise so perfectly throughout the book which made it an added magical history for me.
Of three novels so far I found this the most chilling.... Can't wait for the next one!!,
A must read!! And more than once....
August 29, 2016
This is the first time I'm reading a book by this author and I should say that I liked it. Story narration is very simple even for a complex plot and so it was an easy and interesting read. The author portrays the characters in the story quite well and that keeps you engrossed in the book. Go ahead and give it a try, you may like the book!
July 6, 2015
The words "page-turner" and "unputdownable" are over-used, but I can't think how else to describe this. A brilliant historical time-slip story. I love the way this author writes, she really pulls you in, and what a story it was. Full of tension, it hooked me from page one.
July 1, 2018
Possibly the worst book I’ve read in a long time. Very disappointed and wouldn’t recommend to anyone
August 22, 2021
Jane and Roz live very different lives.
Jane, tricked into a loveless marriage, struggles to live up to the expectations of her husband and mother-in-law. Her life is full of secrets and promises she is determined to keep, not least the one made to her dying sister.
Roz has no family of her own, or so she believes. Her past has hidden secrets that she is only just beginning to come to terms with. She has no memory of the tragedy that killed the rest of her family, but her new job at the newly restored Holmwood House in York triggers disturbing memories.
The one thing that they do have in common is the secrets that lie beneath the surface. Their lives in inexplicably linked to Holmwood House and its tragic history, but separate by 400 years.
For Roz, taking the job in York is an opportunity to strike out on her own and developed the career she has been dreaming of. It is also an opportunity to reconnect with the city where she was born. She is not looking for answers to her past, but entering Holswood Housen triggers some very disturbing memories. The only thing is, they are not her own.
Jane's life in Elizabethan England is far removed from the freedoms and privileges enjoyed by Roz. But they are not the only players in this malicious game. Jane is not the only one reaching across the centuries.
The Edge of Dark is a tale full of hidden secrets, broken promises and faded dreams. Pamela Hartshorne's knowledge and understanding of Elizabethan England, and particularly York, gives the narrative and characters real authenticity. But it is the intensity of the plot and the sense of menace that really make this book stand out.
As the story switches between Jane and Roz's stories, there is a real sense of foreboding. From the Prologue to the last page, the story never lets up. There is mystery, deceit, secrets and dark supernatural forces at play, all in very capable hands.
A very enjoyable read.
Jane, tricked into a loveless marriage, struggles to live up to the expectations of her husband and mother-in-law. Her life is full of secrets and promises she is determined to keep, not least the one made to her dying sister.
Roz has no family of her own, or so she believes. Her past has hidden secrets that she is only just beginning to come to terms with. She has no memory of the tragedy that killed the rest of her family, but her new job at the newly restored Holmwood House in York triggers disturbing memories.
The one thing that they do have in common is the secrets that lie beneath the surface. Their lives in inexplicably linked to Holmwood House and its tragic history, but separate by 400 years.
For Roz, taking the job in York is an opportunity to strike out on her own and developed the career she has been dreaming of. It is also an opportunity to reconnect with the city where she was born. She is not looking for answers to her past, but entering Holswood Housen triggers some very disturbing memories. The only thing is, they are not her own.
Jane's life in Elizabethan England is far removed from the freedoms and privileges enjoyed by Roz. But they are not the only players in this malicious game. Jane is not the only one reaching across the centuries.
The Edge of Dark is a tale full of hidden secrets, broken promises and faded dreams. Pamela Hartshorne's knowledge and understanding of Elizabethan England, and particularly York, gives the narrative and characters real authenticity. But it is the intensity of the plot and the sense of menace that really make this book stand out.
As the story switches between Jane and Roz's stories, there is a real sense of foreboding. From the Prologue to the last page, the story never lets up. There is mystery, deceit, secrets and dark supernatural forces at play, all in very capable hands.
A very enjoyable read.
June 26, 2018
*Spoiler Alert*
I hate reviews requiring `spoiler alert'. For this one though, it's impossible to do without. At the heart of the story is an intertwining of two timelines, separated by several centuries. It is a rather familiar theme in Indian vernacular literature - `reincarnation' being the method used to intertwine the timelines (Sharadindu Bandyopadhya, writing in Bengali, was a master of such stories). Predictably, European stories use `haunting spirits' to achieve this same goal, as has been done here. To be honest, I was thinking along the `reincarnation' line till the existence of `spirits' was spelt out. :)
So, the idea is not novel. Though Hartshorne strings the story along quite nicely. The pace doesn't slacken and it compels the reader to race along. I have really liked it but for the ending. The climax is more of a damp squib. It is also not clear why that particular sequence of events would manage to resolve the crisis, since similar events had already taken place in the past. It's there but not quite.
I hate reviews requiring `spoiler alert'. For this one though, it's impossible to do without. At the heart of the story is an intertwining of two timelines, separated by several centuries. It is a rather familiar theme in Indian vernacular literature - `reincarnation' being the method used to intertwine the timelines (Sharadindu Bandyopadhya, writing in Bengali, was a master of such stories). Predictably, European stories use `haunting spirits' to achieve this same goal, as has been done here. To be honest, I was thinking along the `reincarnation' line till the existence of `spirits' was spelt out. :)
So, the idea is not novel. Though Hartshorne strings the story along quite nicely. The pace doesn't slacken and it compels the reader to race along. I have really liked it but for the ending. The climax is more of a damp squib. It is also not clear why that particular sequence of events would manage to resolve the crisis, since similar events had already taken place in the past. It's there but not quite.
November 11, 2025
The novel may sound interesting by teh premise and the beginning but soo. we realise it is not very different form a ghost/spirit haunted story. It is just teh spirit is good hearted.
Positives:
The lead jane makes you emphasize with her story
she is major plus. you feel happy when she is and u feel sorry when she is. Her character/journey is what holds your attention in this novel
Negatives:
Present lead Rox portions are very dull , uninteresting and repetitive when though she has enough interesting material around her life
When a spirit is not gone form this world and if she is haunting someone, there should be a strong reason for this. Just the parallels between the two women is not enough. Since there is no strong reason for the spirit to be haunted, the reason or incident at the end of the book for which the house is free of spirits is just a closure with no reason.
Also I don't understand why the other spirits especially the main villian spirit is also left in the house to haunt?
Positives:
The lead jane makes you emphasize with her story
she is major plus. you feel happy when she is and u feel sorry when she is. Her character/journey is what holds your attention in this novel
Negatives:
Present lead Rox portions are very dull , uninteresting and repetitive when though she has enough interesting material around her life
When a spirit is not gone form this world and if she is haunting someone, there should be a strong reason for this. Just the parallels between the two women is not enough. Since there is no strong reason for the spirit to be haunted, the reason or incident at the end of the book for which the house is free of spirits is just a closure with no reason.
Also I don't understand why the other spirits especially the main villian spirit is also left in the house to haunt?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2019
another random choice of mine but the subject and time-slip story appealed to me, i was gripped from the start, and found the story very absorbing. Maybe to some people the idea of a person today being almost "possessed" by another person who lived four hundred years ago, albeit with a connection to the present, is a little far fetched but i thoroughy enjioyed this theme
November 22, 2017
What a brilliant book! Couldn't put it down and didn't want the story to end! Really liked the characters both past and present. Brilliantly written and as stated on the back cover - "A rattling good read"!
November 30, 2017
Beautiful imagery and well developed characters gave me all the feels, and I enjoyed reading this book. It even had me staying up late just to find out what happened next, which is my telltale sign of a great book!
December 31, 2017
Excellent book - another time slip book - Pamela Hartshorne writes these books so well and they keep you intrigued all the time. I just wanted to sit all day and read it but also I didn't want it to finish! Eagerly await another one from her.
August 27, 2024
This book intrigued my right from the first couple of pages. The more in went on, the more addictive it became; I didn’t want to put it down. Ended up finishing it in two days.
My only negative about this book is that the ending, last 20 pages or so, felt a bit rushed.
My only negative about this book is that the ending, last 20 pages or so, felt a bit rushed.
March 2, 2018
I enjoyed this one...I did it audio style. I've always had a soft spot for reincarnation stories.
April 23, 2019
Barbara Erskine-esque, timeslip novel. A good read on the beach, but not a great book.
May 8, 2019
Eerie, chilling and beautifully written, as all Pamela Hartsorne novels. I love timeslip and the interchange here between the ages was a real page-turner.
May 14, 2020
Excellent. Good plot, interesting characters. Well written.
July 23, 2020
Excellent. All her books follow a similar theme but they draw you in
August 29, 2020
Not my cup of tea!
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