The Gathering

by Rachel Lynch

I've waited twenty years to kill you...

Two decades ago, something terrible happened. The survivors scattered. The guilty walked free. Now Ada MacGullach is returning to Castle Brora – her beloved Scottish Highland retreat – to renew her vows with her husband Del in front of their closest friends and family. Nestled among fifteen-thousand acres of ancient moorland and mist-shrouded forest, it should be the perfect old friends, fine whisky and years of marriage honoured in style.

But old friends carry old secrets. And not everyone who turns up has been invited.

Someone has travelled many miles to be here, carrying a twenty-year grudge and a hunger for vengeance that time has sharpened. As the Highland mist rolls in and cuts Brora off from the rest of the world, Ada will begin to understand that the people closest to her are not who she thought they were.

But then again, neither is she…

A darkly addictive thriller for fans of The Hunting Party and Big Little Lies – a story of dangerous marriages, hidden secrets and a weekend celebration that becomes something sinister. Once you start, there's no leaving early!

What readers are saying about Rachel

'One of my favourite reads of the year, and that's saying something. I absolutely LOVED the writing style. The ebbs and flows of intrigue just had me hooked completely from the get-go. A twisty, atmospheric, gripping tale that I will highly recommend to anyone who loves a psychological family thriller.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A fantastic book which had me glued to the page. The plot twists and turns with everyone accusing everyone else and the reader is kept guessing until the very end.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A deliciously dark story of a fractured family that had me hooked. An extraordinary mix of characters, each one written to perfection.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I had to hold my breath for many paragraphs until it reached a twisted surprise ending.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A compelling storyline... I was gripped from chapter 1 and it does not let up.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Read this book in two days — I spent all my spare time reading it, I was so engrossed.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A plot that kept me turning the pages dark into the night.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A captivating read filled with secrets gradually revealed... I just had to keep reading.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Mystery, Thriller

366 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 16, 2026

About the author

Rachel Lynch grew up in Cumbria and the lakes and fells are never far away from her. London pulled her away to teach History and marry an Army Officer, whom she followed around the globe for thirteen years.

A change of career after children led to personal training and sports therapy, but writing was always the overwhelming force driving the future. The human capacity for compassion as well as its descent into the brutal and murky world of crime are fundamental to her work.

Reviews

[TheNovelNomad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of thriller that feels like a slow-burning storm—you know something is coming, you just don’t know when it will hit or who it will take down first.

From the moment everyone gathers at Castle Brora, there’s this thick, creeping tension. It’s not loud or immediate—it simmers. Old friendships feel strained, conversations feel loaded, and you can sense that everyone is carrying something they’d rather keep buried. The setting does a lot of heavy lifting too: isolated, misty, almost claustrophobic in its beauty. It traps both the characters and the reader in this uneasy, watchful state.

What really works here is how the story leans into history—twenty years of it. You’re constantly aware that what’s happening now is just the surface of something much deeper, something unresolved. And as those past fractures begin to show, the story becomes less about what is happening and more about why—which makes it even more gripping.

The characters are messy in a way that feels intentional. No one is entirely trustworthy, and that uncertainty keeps you second-guessing every interaction. Loyalties shift, motives blur, and just when you think you’ve figured someone out, the narrative nudges you to reconsider.

The pacing builds steadily, tightening its grip as secrets begin to unravel. It’s the kind of book that quietly hooks you and then, without warning, has you completely locked in—turning pages faster, needing to know how it all connects.

Dark, atmospheric, and layered with tension, this is a story about long-held grudges, fractured relationships, and the dangerous weight of the past. It doesn’t rush its impact—it lets it settle, and then it hits.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Gathering, is a standalone thriller by one of my favourite authors, Rachel Lynch. I found this rather different to the police procedurals I normally read by this author. An atmospheric setting of the Scottish Highlands is used to deliver a haunting thriller. I much prefer the police procedurals to haunting thrillers and although I recognise this was well written it was not really to my taste.

Ada MacGullach is a woman looking to honour the life she’s built. Returning to Castle Brora, a sprawling estate nestled within fifteen thousand acres of ancient moorland, she plans to renew her vows with her husband, Del. It is meant to be a weekend of “fine whisky, old friends, and years of marriage honoured in style.” But as the Highland mist rolls in, physically cutting the castle off from civilization, the “perfect retreat” begins to feel like a high-walled prison.

It took me awhile to get to grips with all the characters and I felt it did improve in the second half of the novel. The tension in the novel is built on a foundation of twenty-year-old trauma. Two decades ago, something “terrible” happened, leaving a trail of survivors who scattered and a group of guilty parties who walked free. The gathering of old friends serves as a catalyst for these long-buried secrets to surface. As the guests toast to the future, an uninvited visitor arrives with a “hunger for vengeance” that twenty years of waiting has only sharpened.

The characters are not quite as they appear and as the layers of friendship are peeled back, Ada is forced to confront a terrifying truth. The people Ada has trusted for decades are harbourers of deep, dark secrets. Someone has travelled many miles to settle a score, and they aren’t bound by the rules of polite society. And possibly the most shocking twist is the hint that Ada herself is hiding a side of her personality that she has managed to keep secret even from those closest to her.

This is an atmospheric thriller that is well written.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Storm Publishing for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ada and Del MacGullach are hosting a vow renewal ceremony at their castle in Scotland and have invited a few old friends to celebrate. But upon their arrival, bad weather hits, and the entire estate is cut off from civilization by flooded roads and cut communication lines. You know where this is going – a body is soon found, the victim killed in a gruesome manner, and everyone tries to stay alive until they are rescued. When you don’t really care about the characters, though, it’s not too suspenseful. And I couldn’t care less about any of them, unfortunately.

The estate workers Finn and Noah are the only likable characters; Finn is a ghillie, and Noah manages the horses and stables. Everyone else is either a complete jerk or irrelevant to the story. Even Ada and Del’s teenage children, unassuming Leo and Willow, just don’t make the impression they should – every other line of their dialogue is ‘I’m [16/18] years old, stop treating me like a child.’ Which just highlights how immature they are.

But then the backstory comes into play, and it just seemed a little forced to me, as Del and his old friends are former soldiers who fought in the jungles of Sierra Leone, and whatever happened affects them to this day. Scottish millionaires and West African warlords and child soldiers are just an odd mix for the same story. And it’s clear the old friends weren’t innocent victims back then, but it’s all brushed over with vague explanations of treachery and alliances with the rebels, and I just wanted to read about murders in a castle.

And oh yeah, there’s an angry female ghost from 500 years ago that might haunt the castle and attack people. She probably should have been more relevant to the story.

My thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the free advanced reading copy of this book.

[Simone (mysterypageturners) Ketchum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Storm for providing me this gifted ARC! Thank you to NetGalley and author Rachel Lynch!




📚Book: The Gathering
✍🏻Author: Rachel Lynch
🌀Genre: Thriller
📃Pages: 407


Two decades ago, something terrible happened. The survivors scattered. The guilty walked free. Now Ada MacGullach is returning to Castle Brora – her beloved Scottish Highland retreat – to renew her vows with her husband Del in front of their closest friends and family. Nestled among fifteen-thousand acres of ancient moorland and mist-shrouded forest, it should be the perfect celebration: old friends, fine whisky and years of marriage honoured in style. But old friends carry old secrets. And not everyone who turns up has been invited.
Someone has travelled many miles to be here, carrying a twenty-year grudge and a hunger for vengeance that time has sharpened. As the Highland mist rolls in and cuts Brora off from the rest of the world, Ada will begin to understand that the people closest to her are not who she thought they were. But then again, neither is she…



💜What I Loved:
🌪️Twists
👀Multiple POV’s
🐢Slow-building suspense
🔒Locked room style


💔What Didn’t Work For Me:
🐢Somewhat slow in places


📖 Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

👩🏼‍⚖️Final Word:

This was a great read! No one and nothing is as it seems. I was instantly hooked. The suspense builds slowly and gives you a feeling that something is coming. The last 25% of the book, I think I held my breath. I found myself reading faster to get to the next page. There are little twists sprinkled along the way, leading up to the big twist I never saw coming. This book gave more of a cozy mystery feel than a thriller. If you like slow building suspense, give this one a try!

[Mihaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Rachel Lynch for the ARC.

Twenty years of waiting for revenge is a long time to make plans. And when a storm hits the haunted castle where your victims are, it's like a sign from above to go ahead with your plans. At least, that's how the book should've gone, in my opinion.

There's too much lore drop, repeated again and again in some parts. The tension appears sometimes, just for it to dissipate before anything really happens. Characters tend to find themselves reminiscing during conversations, which makes the dialogue stinted and forced. They can switch between lines of dialogue in a second, like the first part of the conversation was not even important.

I was really excited to read this locked room murder mystery that happens in a haunted castle in Scotland. All I got was unreliable narrators and a weak plot about 'revenge'. Each character starts out by how much they dislike Del and his actions until now, just to finish by how he wasn't like that. Meanwhile, all we get in the narration is how bad he acts with his children, his staff, his friends, and no concrete stuff about the good parts the characters seem to see.

The ghillie, Finn, Noah, Cass and Willow were like the better characters to see the action through their eyes, and they seemed to be better narrators and human beings. Though they will have their unreliable narrators moment.

Maybe this book wasn't for me, maybe it needed more haunted stuff, rather than just mentions of a ghost with no delivery to it. Maybe the characters are too bland, or maybe I rooted too much for the castle staff to get their happy ending, instead of the rich people.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gathering is one of those deliciously tense, fog‑drenched thrillers where the setting itself feels like a character — all ancient moorland, looming forest, and the kind of Highland mist that makes secrets cling to the air.

Ada MacGullach returns to Castle Brora to renew her vows, expecting a weekend of whisky, old friends, and celebration. But from the moment the guests arrive, there’s a quiet wrongness humming beneath the reunion. These people share a past — one they’ve spent twenty years avoiding — and the castle seems to sense it. The atmosphere is thick with old loyalties, old betrayals, and the kind of silence that only forms around something terrible.

And then there’s the uninvited guest. Someone who has travelled a long way with a single purpose: vengeance sharpened by two decades of waiting. As the mist rolls in and cuts the castle off from the world, the tension tightens beautifully. Ada begins to realise that the people she trusts most are not who she believed… and, more unsettling still, neither is she.

The novel has that irresistible Hunting Party energy — a remote location, a storm closing in, a group of friends who know far too much about one another — but with a darker, more intimate edge. Every chapter feels like another step toward a truth that’s been buried under guilt and heather for far too long.

A moody, addictive Highland thriller about dangerous marriages, long‑nursed grudges, and the way the past always finds its way home. Once you step into Castle Brora, you won’t want to leave early.

With thanks to Rachel Lynch, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Joanna Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gathering has all the classic elements of a suspenseful read. Set in Brora Castle in the Highlands of Scotland, most of the story takes place during a severe storm. The owner of the castle, Del MacGullach has invited a few close friends to celebrate his twentieth wedding anniversary. They include his two old army friends and his mother-in-law and father-in-law. But when a body is discovered brutally murdered in the stables, it’s clear someone has something other than celebration in mind. From the beginning, it is evident that no one really likes Del. He is brash, arrogant and treats everyone badly, including members of his own family.
The plot becomes a little clearer after Del’s backstory is revealed concerning his time in Sierra Leone as a member of the UN peacekeeping force. It tells us he wasn’t above using devious means to smuggle diamonds out of the country, making himself and his two friends incredibly rich. However, over the years his wealth has accumulated far beyond that of the others. It could be because of this, someone suspects they have been betrayed and has decided to take revenge while at the same time claiming back what they feel they are owed. On the other hand, it is possible the perpetrator is someone entirely different. Del’s enemies are many, and could be closer to home.
The storm, provides a great backdrop, ramping up the tension. Someone in the group is causing mayhem, plunging the castle into darkness and destroying any means of leaving. A thoroughly gripping read!

[Bo.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really atmospheric, slow-burn thriller set in the Scottish Highlands, which was easily a highlight for me. The remote setting adds a constant sense of isolation and unease that works perfectly with the mystery, and it’s what initially drew me to pick this up.

The story has a classic closed-circle, almost locked-room setup, with a group of characters all carrying secrets. I really enjoyed how layered and complex the mystery was — nothing felt straightforward, and I was constantly second-guessing everyone and trying to piece things together. The storm closing in and sense of being cut off added to that claustrophobic tension.

At times, the writing is quite metaphoric and slightly lyrical, which took a bit of getting used to, but I did appreciate how descriptive it was and how much it added to the atmosphere. It did feel a little long in places, with some sections slowing the pacing, and at times, the complexity got a bit close to feeling convoluted.

Overall, though, it was an engaging, twisty read with a strong sense of place and a solid ending I didn’t quite see coming. I’d definitely recommend it if you like isolated, character-driven thrillers with plenty of secrets.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

[The Cookster · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rating: 1.3/5

I had great expectations of "The Gathering". Secluded Scottish settings so often provide wonderfully atmospheric backdrops for works of fiction. Add to that the hints of secrets from the past and the potential for malevolent forces seeking revenge and the result should be a tantalisingly suspenseful thriller - but I didn't get that at all. Instead, I really struggled to get through this. I hate not finishing a novel, but I was tempted to give up on this one on numerous occasions. It was tedious and heavy going. I felt no tangible sense of the Highland setting. It should have been ladened with atmosphere, but it was pretty much devoid of it. The large cast of characters were universally unappealing and unconvincing. The dialogue was frequently stilted and unnatural. The pace dragged and there was no mounting sense of intrigue or suspense from the mystery element of the story. Some other early reviewers seem to have enjoyed this, so perhaps I am missing something. It did absolutely nothing for me.

As ever, I would still like to convey my thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review. It is a pity I was not in a position to pass more favourable comment on this occasion.

[Charlotte Oliver · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Rachel Lynch for providing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Final rating: DNF at 30%.

I had been very excited for this ARC, as it felt very reminiscent of Lucy Foley books and locked room mysteries. However, this book was just not for me and left me feeling slumpy. I didn't connect with the writing style, as it felt overly lyrical. I felt as though the book told more than showed in relation to the lore. For instance, the main family had pages upon pages of telling us the family dynamics and how terrible the father is, but it very rarely showed that in actions and dialogue that the audience can be allowed to interpret themselves. Because of all this prose, any actual actions in the book or anything that propelled the story forward felt stilted and surface-level. I knew that I was unlikely to enjoy the rest of it given this, so I made the decision to DNF, which I don't like to do.

Even though I have decided not to continue this book, I think readers who enjoy locked room mysteries and more of a lyrical writing style may potentially have a good time reading this book. Just because something isn't for me doesn't mean it isn't for you.

[Hope Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Gathering sets up a strong premise with secrets, tension, and a central mystery that should pull you in quickly. It does hook your attention at first, but it struggles to keep that momentum going.

The pacing is uneven. Parts of the story feel stretched out, with repeated information and scenes that do not add much new. Just when it starts to drag, something interesting finally happens, which makes the stop-and-start rhythm a bit frustrating.

The main detective has the right foundation, driven and clearly carrying personal baggage, but the character never fully comes to life. Emotional moments feel a bit flat, and several side characters blend together, making it hard to stay invested in who is who.

The mystery itself is fine, though not especially surprising. If you read a lot of crime fiction, you will likely figure out key elements early on. The twists are not terrible, they just feel familiar rather than exciting.

It is still a readable book. There are moments where the tension works and the story becomes engaging, but those moments are not consistent enough to fully deliver.

A decent thriller with a good setup, weighed down by slow pacing and a story that feels a little too familiar.

[Rebekah Marks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley

2.5 ⭐️

I was really interested by the premise of this story but unfortunately this was not for me. The description felt like the story should have played out a certain way and it was a little disappointing that it didn’t.

It was so slow and had a lot of information constantly being thrown at you and a lot of stuff repeated. The build up alone had me wanting to skip to the good stuff, wanting the thriller aspect of this. But it didn’t feel like a thriller to me.

The mysterious deaths were interesting, the vagueness and trying to figure out who did it. The writing style itself is good, kept me hooked even when I was bored with all the explaining. I don’t know if really understand everything fully in the end. Everyone was up to something and had so many moving parts. There’s another aspect to this that would be a spoiler, but it’s a personal thing I hate so that also led to not enjoying it as much.

Now if you like that, a slow build up, lots of story telling about the people, the unreliable narration - than this is absolutely for you.

All in all, this isn’t a bad book by any means, it’s just unfortunately not the type of thriller I enjoy.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read some of Rachel Lynch’s series work, but this is my first experience reading one of her standalone novels. Quite the enjoyable experience. But I would expect nothing less from Ms. Lynch.

First, let me say, at this point, if you are invited to an out-of-the-way place for a celebration and there is some kind of weather situation approaching (mist rolling in, storms headed that way, etc.) and you or someone you know gets killed, that’s on you at this point. I get that maybe we no longer heed the warnings of Agatha Christie. That was almost 100 years ago. But come on, people. There are so many novels with this premise out there that now you almost have to view the murder as an act of natural selection.

The cover of this book would lead you to believe this is a really dark book. Actually, to me, there was a cozy feel to part of it. Then more of a revenge/thriller kind of vibe.

But no matter how you view it or categorize it, it is a solid novel, once again, from Rachel Lynch.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.

[Lisa Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into The Gathering by Rachel Lynch not entirely sure what to expect, and it ended up being such an atmospheric, slow-burn thriller that really pulled me in.

This is one of those stories where the tension builds quietly at first like a storm gathering in the distance and then gradually tightens its grip. Lynch does a fantastic job creating an eerie, unsettling mood, and I loved how the sense of unease lingered throughout. The setting felt vivid and immersive, almost like a character itself.

The pacing leans more toward deliberate than fast, which worked for me in terms of building suspense, though there were a few moments where I wanted things to move just a bit quicker. That said, the payoff was worth it, with twists that kept me engaged and a storyline that stayed intriguing all the way through.

Overall, a compelling and moody thriller that fans of character-driven suspense will definitely enjoy.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Dawn Lawrence Read_with_Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gathering is a stand alone thriller by Rachel Lynch. I’m a big fan of Rachel’s work so I was excited to read this.

It’s Del and Ada’s twentieth wedding anniversary and they are holding a party at their Scottish castle with close friends and family. They get cut off when a big storm hits and when they are all confined in one place the long held grudges and arguments surface.

It took me a few chapters to really get into the story as there was a lot of characters and it took me a while to get my head around who they were and how they were relevant to the story. It seems that the guests all have a grudge of some sort so this was a twisty story that kept me guessing.

I really enjoyed the story, it’s totally different to Rachel’s usual crime fiction but it was a very welcome change. The book kept me engaged throughout and I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. Publication date 17 June 2026.

[Joan Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is supposed to be a twentieth anniversary celebration at Castle Brora for Del and Ada MacGullach turns into a nightmare when Del's life is ended in gruesome fashion, and a flooding storm keeps the police from reaching the castle. Everyone seems to know that Del's massive wealth was not earned legitimately, and everyone thinks that they should have a piece of it. His staff, his friends, and even members of his family have reason to hate him, but when they start to die, too, who can be trusted?

While I mostly enjoyed this mystery, it was a slow start, and the flooding rain not only bogged down the local terrain, but the pace of the story as well. Bits of the tale were far-fetched, and though I didn't really like most of the characters, the mystery was compelling enough to keep me reading until the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Concha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing.
To celebrate their twentieth wedding anniversary, billionaire Del MacGullach and his wife Ada gather at their Scottish castle with their family and closest friends. There, cut off by a storm, long-held grudges begin to surface and suspicions start to mount.
It is a thriller in which all the characters are somewhat shady. Everyone has something to hide and grievances to settle. Del is not a very likeable character, so his enemies are many and varied. Twenty years ago, something happened that made him distrust everyone, and that event has also affected those around him.
The Gathering is a thriller that keeps you guessing right up to the very end, and although at times I found it a bit confusing when the narrative shifted between characters, it makes for an interesting and entertaining read.

[Lori Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as an ARC through Netgalley to read and review, this is an honest review. Thank you to Storm Publishing for the pre-approval to read this book.

Author Rachel Lynch crafted one hell of a beautiful, dark atmospheric thrill ride the deeper you read into the story- the more harrowing and twisted the environment that Ada, her children and everyone that keeps this magnificent, isolated castle running. A place of natural beauty along with its deep history should have been a reunion to remember but this idyllic palace becomes a kind of hunting ground that for ada's husband Del means what he did while in military service is coming back to starkly haunt not only him but everyone else as all are trapped within a home by terrifying storm that's just as dark as the shadows stalking within the castle.

Highly recommended.

[Sarah Higginbottom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, so much so I read it in 24 hours. it pulled me in pretty quickly and kept me curious the whole way through. I liked how tense and slightly eerie it felt at times, and the setting added a lot to the mood. The characters felt real enough that I actually cared about what was happening to them, which made the story more engaging for me.

Some parts were a bit predictable, but honestly it didn’t ruin it—I still wanted to keep reading to see how everything played out. Overall, I found it to be a solid, entertaining read and definitely worth picking up if you like crime stories with a darker edge.


📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Rachel Lynch and Storm Publishing📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚

[Toni Sneddon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.
Sat down and sprinted through this but..
This was a difficult read for me. I struggled with the writing style from the first few pages, and although I did finish the book, that disconnect never really went away.

The story leans heavily into a slow burn, multi perspective structure, focusing more on atmosphere and character tension than plot. While I can appreciate what it was trying to do, the narrative style made it hard for me to stay engaged, and I found myself never fully connecting with the characters or the stakes.

There are elements that will appeal to readers who enjoy more deliberate, layered thrillers, but for me, the execution didn’t quite come together.

A case of the right book for the wrong reader.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed so much reading this creepy and atmospheric thriller!! No better setting than a Scottish haunted castle caught in a storm! Supposedly haunted... Evil is around, that's for sure!
Before getting to the plot, it took me some time to get a feeling about the characters. And I was wrong!!! A creepy plot indeed, with murderous and greedy intents which takes the reader to places of the soul he didn't want to reach... The plot is complex, the characters are complex and the storyline remains scary... A great, creepy thriller!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

[Libby Reidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thriller set in Scotland with twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat Meeting together at a castle (complete with a ghost) in the Scottish Highlands, a group of people are bought together to celebrate a wedding anniversary of one of the couples. Murders, (one particularly gruesome), past secrets. and the search for missing diamonds make this a fascinating read. I was completerly thrown off how the book ended. I won't give away the ending! The reason for the 4 stars is that I had some difficulty keeping track of all the characters.

[Saf ST · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the premise and the writing is beautiful, but so many discrepancies. I usually like many POVs, but in this case, I think it did a disservice to the book. Not only because of all the contradictions, but they kept on repeating the same info, and I was left wondering what happened… then and now. Plus I have no idea who’s the hero vs villain.

Really, I wanted to like it, but I believe it needed another pass to get the story right…

Thank you, NetGalley and Rachel Lynch for the e-ARC.

[Caroline Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

More gritty than a cozy mystery, with some rather gruesome deaths. Plenty of characters to suspect and a variety of alliances, as well as intrigue relating to which characters hold the moral high ground. It felt too long for my own tastes and I didn't need quite so much time spent learning about the past history between some of the characters. Yet I feel some of the other characters needed developing a bit more. I liked the hint of the supernatural. I did struggle to comprehend who was speaking on many occasions.

I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a pretty good who-dun-it murder mystery. My only con was so many characters possibly committed the murder and it was a bit difficult to keep them all straight.
The build up was excellent, the back story for each character was good and the suspense with no access due to the storm added an extra touch. The murder was gruesome I might say. I don’t want to give any spoilers away so I would suggest reading. I recommend this one, comes in with 5 stars.
I do thank Storm Publishing along with NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Mouza Al Romaithi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got hooked on this one really quickly and ended up flying through it.

The setting honestly made the book for me. The castle in the Scottish Highlands gave it such a moody, slightly creepy vibe. It made everything feel more intense and added to the suspense.

Overall, it’s a really engaging, slow burn and addictive thriller that’s easy to get into and hard to put down. Definitely worth it if you like tense, character-driven stories.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read by Rachel Lynch. The first was a very good police procedural, which I enjoyed immensely.
This one? Not as much. It is an atmospheric, slow burn thriller, a little Gothic because of the castle, and wasn't quite to my taste.

It is slow, and there is a lot that could, in my opinion, be left out.

However, if you like secrets, lies and gore, this book is for you. It is too slow paced for my taste.

[KDRBCK]

The Gathering by Rachel Lynch published by Storm Publishing is a full lengt, stand alone thriller.
The story spans decades, is complex, complicated and literally unputdownable.
Family feud, enemies from a long time ago who are still have a grudge, a boon to pick.
I read the book in one single sitting, cover to cover in one sitting. 5 Stars.

[Kristen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate doing this to an ARC read, or any book in general. I thought it sounded like a lot of fun but I was left feeling bored and disappointed.

This book may not have been for me, but I really hope it finds it's right audience. Thank you to NetGalley and Rachel Lynch (and team)for this ARC. I'm sorry this wasn't for me, but I do wish it all the success in finding readers who love it.

[Hannah mcgeary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advanced reader copy from Net Galley

This was a quick paced book that set the scene for treachery and revenge fairly quickly.

It kept me guessing and I was eager to find out what was actually happening! A really good read