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The Haunting of Gawthorpe House
Everyone always said there was something wrong with Gawthorpe House. That they saw things. Heard noises. That it kept secrets.
After being blamed for a horrific accident, Scarlett Gawthorpe is forced to leave her family home. Sixteen, scared, and pregnant, she leaves with her soon-to-be husband, Trev. Not long after, they have a daughter. They spend the next decade barely getting by, without a hint of contact from her parents.
Then, after years of being cut off, Scarlett is shocked to learn that when her dad dies, he leaves her two things.
One is the house.
Another is a letter, with just six cryptic words.
With nowhere else to go, Scarlett and her family journey back to Gawthorpe House. Something waits for them there. Not just the house - a presence. Something that lurks just out of view, but always where it can see them.
Not only is Scarlett going to have to face her past, but she will have to battle an opponent both terrifying and powerful. She’s about to find out what lives in the shadows of the old estate.
The house has a terrifying secret, and it could tear her family apart.
The Haunting of Gawthorpe House is a paranormal horror novel set in the north of England, about a woman forced to face the chilling ghosts of her past in order to save her family.
After being blamed for a horrific accident, Scarlett Gawthorpe is forced to leave her family home. Sixteen, scared, and pregnant, she leaves with her soon-to-be husband, Trev. Not long after, they have a daughter. They spend the next decade barely getting by, without a hint of contact from her parents.
Then, after years of being cut off, Scarlett is shocked to learn that when her dad dies, he leaves her two things.
One is the house.
Another is a letter, with just six cryptic words.
With nowhere else to go, Scarlett and her family journey back to Gawthorpe House. Something waits for them there. Not just the house - a presence. Something that lurks just out of view, but always where it can see them.
Not only is Scarlett going to have to face her past, but she will have to battle an opponent both terrifying and powerful. She’s about to find out what lives in the shadows of the old estate.
The house has a terrifying secret, and it could tear her family apart.
The Haunting of Gawthorpe House is a paranormal horror novel set in the north of England, about a woman forced to face the chilling ghosts of her past in order to save her family.
233 pages, ebook
First published May 25, 2017
249 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
About the author
Jack Lewis
18 books98 followersI'm from Lancashire in the North of England, a bleak place that influenced Winterfell in Game of Thrones. I love a good story, afternoons in the sun with my wife, zombies, watching Game of Thrones, stroking dogs and medium-rare steak.
Check out my book series if you're a fan of horror or post-apocalyptic fiction:
Fear the Dead
An apocalypse series set in the North of England 15 years after the event, where we see how normal people survive the end of the world. Or sometimes, how they don’t survive…
Fear the Dead 1 - http://amzn.to/2flF3yQ
Fear the Dead 2 - http://amzn.to/2eRGO6h
Fear the Dead 3 - http://amzn.to/2eN3rp1
Fear the Dead 4 - http://amzn.to/2fM7Xqp
The Dying & the Dead
A post-apocalyptic series set in a world where a regime called The Capita has taken control of the mainland. The air is laced with infection, and people must wear masks to survive. Some survivors are born with immunity to the virus, and this lets them breathe the air unfiltered. The Capita hunts these people down in an attempt to make a vaccine for themselves.
The Dying & The Dead 1 - http://amzn.to/2eN5GJ0
The Dying & The Dead 2 - http://amzn.to/2fKXNZd
The Haunting of Towneley Manor
It has been ten years since Tamara walked the dark halls of her family home. Something bad happened to her in the manor when she was fourteen, but she can’t remember any of it. As Tamara unwinds the secrets of her family, she starts to discover what happened to her all those years ago.
The Haunting of Towneley Manor - http://amzn.to/2fKXMol
Check out my book series if you're a fan of horror or post-apocalyptic fiction:
Fear the Dead
An apocalypse series set in the North of England 15 years after the event, where we see how normal people survive the end of the world. Or sometimes, how they don’t survive…
Fear the Dead 1 - http://amzn.to/2flF3yQ
Fear the Dead 2 - http://amzn.to/2eRGO6h
Fear the Dead 3 - http://amzn.to/2eN3rp1
Fear the Dead 4 - http://amzn.to/2fM7Xqp
The Dying & the Dead
A post-apocalyptic series set in a world where a regime called The Capita has taken control of the mainland. The air is laced with infection, and people must wear masks to survive. Some survivors are born with immunity to the virus, and this lets them breathe the air unfiltered. The Capita hunts these people down in an attempt to make a vaccine for themselves.
The Dying & The Dead 1 - http://amzn.to/2eN5GJ0
The Dying & The Dead 2 - http://amzn.to/2fKXNZd
The Haunting of Towneley Manor
It has been ten years since Tamara walked the dark halls of her family home. Something bad happened to her in the manor when she was fourteen, but she can’t remember any of it. As Tamara unwinds the secrets of her family, she starts to discover what happened to her all those years ago.
The Haunting of Towneley Manor - http://amzn.to/2fKXMol
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 26, 2021
The book started strong with a family of three (Trev, Scarlett and Ruby, their daughter) inheriting an old home that seems to be haunted. Scarlett's sister drowned in the little lake next to the house. But the author left too many questions open why something happens here. Why does the psychic and a parson come to the young family? What about the mysterious marks at many places of the house? What about Rita/Tomas? Is it a split personality? What about the books on witchcraft found at several places? What about the role of Scarlett's parents... so much isn't properly explained here. We have a half-cooked horror story with elements of witches, a strange romance and dark things going on. I missed reason and rhyme. The longer the read the less everything fit together in this confusing plot. This could have been a compelling tale but so it left too many questions unanswered. Something for fans only.
August 26, 2017
Almost but not quite
This book came close to being a good, old fashioned, ghost story. Unfortunately, it didn't achieve that status. The plot was a good one but, as they say, the devil is in the detail and this plot suffered a surfeit of naïveté. The characters were clichéd and wooden and they let down, what was promising to be, a first class ghost story. Hence my low score.
This book came close to being a good, old fashioned, ghost story. Unfortunately, it didn't achieve that status. The plot was a good one but, as they say, the devil is in the detail and this plot suffered a surfeit of naïveté. The characters were clichéd and wooden and they let down, what was promising to be, a first class ghost story. Hence my low score.
June 6, 2019
It's a well established fact that old English manors are absolutely lousy with angry spirits and dimwitted protagonists to wander around them.
Calling this a sequel to "The Haunting of Towneley Manor" (as is claimed by Goodreads/Amazon/whoever at least) is misleading. There is absolutely no connection between the two beyond the fact that they are essentially the same story with names changed around.
Calling this a sequel to "The Haunting of Towneley Manor" (as is claimed by Goodreads/Amazon/whoever at least) is misleading. There is absolutely no connection between the two beyond the fact that they are essentially the same story with names changed around.
July 10, 2021
A pretty standard haunted house book. It brings nothing new or different to the table. And it's too short to really explore the scares in depth. And the ending felt very abrupt almost as if the author didn't know how to end it so just went for the most cliched, tacked on ending possible. There's also a lot of typos in this which annoyed me. Overall, a quick read but far from satisfying. Too many loose ends and too short to get beyond the surface.
July 5, 2017
You know when a story is so strong, you gloss over the annoying niggly bits? This is what The Haunting of Gawthorpe House did for me.
Ruby, the daughter, behaves like a child a lot younger than her 8 year old self.
The reason behind the haunting is a little far fetched.
Scarlett is so stubborn, she refuses to believe what her eyes and heart are telling her, right until the ending comes. A realistic reaction at first, but after so many weird events happening to her, that she still refuses to accept that maybe there is something supernatural going on, grated me slightly.
And yet.
The whole story telling is so powerful, so creepy, so well written, it just didn't matter. The ending was fabulous, and totally unexpected in a haunted house story. I'm still giddy thinking about it.
I loved Trev as a character. I have to say, he's the perfect man, without being cliché or OTT. He was loyal, and protective, and clumsy, and sarcastic.
Scarlett was THE mother figure, ready to face anything for her family, always putting herself last.
You couldn't think of better, more heart-warming parents.
The haunting itself starts slow, then increases little by little as clues are thrown our way, yet without revealing too much to spoil the suspense.
My first book by this author, certainly not the last.
Ruby, the daughter, behaves like a child a lot younger than her 8 year old self.
The reason behind the haunting is a little far fetched.
Scarlett is so stubborn, she refuses to believe what her eyes and heart are telling her, right until the ending comes. A realistic reaction at first, but after so many weird events happening to her, that she still refuses to accept that maybe there is something supernatural going on, grated me slightly.
And yet.
The whole story telling is so powerful, so creepy, so well written, it just didn't matter. The ending was fabulous, and totally unexpected in a haunted house story. I'm still giddy thinking about it.
I loved Trev as a character. I have to say, he's the perfect man, without being cliché or OTT. He was loyal, and protective, and clumsy, and sarcastic.
Scarlett was THE mother figure, ready to face anything for her family, always putting herself last.
You couldn't think of better, more heart-warming parents.
The haunting itself starts slow, then increases little by little as clues are thrown our way, yet without revealing too much to spoil the suspense.
My first book by this author, certainly not the last.
February 2, 2022
I could've read this in one sitting but I decided to prolong the suspense.
It has the right amount of creepiness and I liked the imagery.
Here we have Scarlett who got thrown out of Gawthorpe House because her parents blamed her for her sister's death and who got pregnant by someone beneath her station. Fast forward to 8 years later where said boyfriend is now her husband and they have an 8-year-old daughter. Life hasn't been kind to them since they started to live in their car until they received a call from the solicitor of Scarlett's father.
An unexpected surprise came in the form of inheriting Gawthorpe House with her father's cryptic message. All sorts of unexplained occurrences and visions began. It's like the house itself is a character with a malevolent presence that causes unusual behavior changes.
I can totally imagine the scenes as if I were watching a movie. I liked the ending too, it's refreshing. It reminds me of another story I read not because of the events, but because it's unexpected and unusual. Bravo for the author's masterful storytelling.
It has the right amount of creepiness and I liked the imagery.
Here we have Scarlett who got thrown out of Gawthorpe House because her parents blamed her for her sister's death and who got pregnant by someone beneath her station. Fast forward to 8 years later where said boyfriend is now her husband and they have an 8-year-old daughter. Life hasn't been kind to them since they started to live in their car until they received a call from the solicitor of Scarlett's father.
An unexpected surprise came in the form of inheriting Gawthorpe House with her father's cryptic message. All sorts of unexplained occurrences and visions began. It's like the house itself is a character with a malevolent presence that causes unusual behavior changes.
I can totally imagine the scenes as if I were watching a movie. I liked the ending too, it's refreshing. It reminds me of another story I read not because of the events, but because it's unexpected and unusual. Bravo for the author's masterful storytelling.
May 2, 2021
This is the third book I have read by this author and the best so far. For once, the characters were likeable. I will say that I enjoyed the plot but it still leaves me with questions at the end. I guess because this is a short story it cant go into the characters as much as in a full size novel.
I want to know what the story is on her husband Trev. He is described as a bakers son and we are led to believe that he is a benign type of person, but as the story unfolds he becomes a bald headed, buff man into unsavory things to make money. As a Bakers son.. why did he not have the skills to follow that path?
In spite if the confusion at at times, and the unanswered questions - I enjoyed this read.
I want to know what the story is on her husband Trev. He is described as a bakers son and we are led to believe that he is a benign type of person, but as the story unfolds he becomes a bald headed, buff man into unsavory things to make money. As a Bakers son.. why did he not have the skills to follow that path?
In spite if the confusion at at times, and the unanswered questions - I enjoyed this read.
June 1, 2017
Spooktastic
Never a let down when you read a jack lewis book. You know that you are going to be losing yourself in a rich tapestry of deep and colourful characters, an intense and imaginative story line and a hell of a good book. Needless to say this is a must read. Thank you Jack.
Never a let down when you read a jack lewis book. You know that you are going to be losing yourself in a rich tapestry of deep and colourful characters, an intense and imaginative story line and a hell of a good book. Needless to say this is a must read. Thank you Jack.
May 19, 2021
Extremely Slow and Pointless
I wasted my time and hope you won’t do the same. The characters are flat. The scene settings are poor, and the story isn’t credible. A house is inherited; but it’s not explored, and there no details or access to the trust. It’s nothing but a convoluted mess.
I wasted my time and hope you won’t do the same. The characters are flat. The scene settings are poor, and the story isn’t credible. A house is inherited; but it’s not explored, and there no details or access to the trust. It’s nothing but a convoluted mess.
December 21, 2024
🤔
Another family, another haunted house, another husband wanting to open a bar. Way too alike the first book. I know they are both haunted houses etc but the bar theme is what ruined it a wee bit for me, to have that in both books?
Take that away and the book would have been better, for me anyway.
Another family, another haunted house, another husband wanting to open a bar. Way too alike the first book. I know they are both haunted houses etc but the bar theme is what ruined it a wee bit for me, to have that in both books?
Take that away and the book would have been better, for me anyway.
November 18, 2025
The main character Scarlett is a bit weak for someone who survived being kicked out of her home & has a daughter & husband. Her decisions are all based on the fear of her childhood home. It lacks logic like why they wouldn't sell antiques, offer tours or try different avenues to survive. Not an ending that I liked.
October 14, 2018
The Haunting of Gawthorpe
When I started reading this book I thought it was exactly like the book I had just finished by this author but it got better and better and I liked it a lot. Definitely recommend it for the readers who like good house haunting books.
When I started reading this book I thought it was exactly like the book I had just finished by this author but it got better and better and I liked it a lot. Definitely recommend it for the readers who like good house haunting books.
October 26, 2018
Insanity and Curse
Great story! I enjoyed reading book.i gave a rating of 5 stars, I recommend this book. A cursed family and it ended when Scarlett sacrificed herself for her child.
Great story! I enjoyed reading book.i gave a rating of 5 stars, I recommend this book. A cursed family and it ended when Scarlett sacrificed herself for her child.
February 18, 2019
Classic creepy
This is a classic creepy ghost story. While it is well told and engaging it doesn't really offer anything new on the theme. The ending felt a little rushed, but it was a quick, entertaining afternoon read.
This is a classic creepy ghost story. While it is well told and engaging it doesn't really offer anything new on the theme. The ending felt a little rushed, but it was a quick, entertaining afternoon read.
March 28, 2021
Eerie!
Jack Lewis does an excellent job of creating an eerie vibe from beginning to the completely unexpected end. Compelling and scary great goodread.
If haunting reads are you’re interest, this is the book for you.
Jack Lewis does an excellent job of creating an eerie vibe from beginning to the completely unexpected end. Compelling and scary great goodread.
If haunting reads are you’re interest, this is the book for you.
May 29, 2021
I can't believe I read the entire book. Have you ever wanted to scream at the protagonist for his/her stupidity? It was also full of cliches- creaky floors, locked forbidden doors, and too many things left unexplained.
March 15, 2022
Thrill
I was given this advanced copy of this book and I'm willingly leaving this honest review. This was a roller coaster ride loved it was well written with characters you could really grow to care for. It is well worth reading thumbs up all the way.
I was given this advanced copy of this book and I'm willingly leaving this honest review. This was a roller coaster ride loved it was well written with characters you could really grow to care for. It is well worth reading thumbs up all the way.
May 28, 2022
Meh. I can’t get past some discrepancies. It was pitch dark in one room, but she was still able to read passages from a book. Never learned where Trevor got a phone. More insight into the ancestry would have been nice
November 11, 2022
Headline
I chose five stars because the book was interesting and moved at a good pace. I didn't know what would happen at the end. It kept me guessing . I would recommend it. I want to continue the story
I chose five stars because the book was interesting and moved at a good pace. I didn't know what would happen at the end. It kept me guessing . I would recommend it. I want to continue the story
July 19, 2017
Granville
A very good book and very spellbinding just a pity the end spoked it.I only gave it four because of the ending
A very good book and very spellbinding just a pity the end spoked it.I only gave it four because of the ending
February 22, 2021
Great story. I just expected a little more.
April 11, 2021
Good read
For any one that loves a good horror.Gripping from beginning to the End. Very easy to get lost in it.
For any one that loves a good horror.Gripping from beginning to the End. Very easy to get lost in it.
May 31, 2021
I found this book quite repetitive, the same sentences and phrases were used again and again. I didn’t like the character of Scarlett either which never helps a story!
October 6, 2021
I could have sworn I submitted my review for this book days ago but I guess not lolol
June 26, 2022
Started off strong then stagnated for ages ending with no answers.
October 25, 2022
A quick read
It was a good book except for the ending. It was not expected. It was easy to read when you have a little bit of time.
It was a good book except for the ending. It was not expected. It was easy to read when you have a little bit of time.
October 19, 2025
An ending you will never believe.
I Thought this was a good book. it started out slow but the pace picked up. I would recommend this book.
I Thought this was a good book. it started out slow but the pace picked up. I would recommend this book.
October 23, 2021
If I could give it 3.5 I would. It had its moments but left a lot of things alone it could have embellished on especially being a shorter novel. Another fifty pages might have taken this to a four.
March 28, 2021
Thumbs down
All over the place. Stopped reading in chapter 10 and I always finish what I start. Torture to read. Would not recommend.
All over the place. Stopped reading in chapter 10 and I always finish what I start. Torture to read. Would not recommend.
September 21, 2021
This book was fine. I did not love it or hate it. It was just okay. For some reason, I kept thinking that this book was taking place in a much different time and when they would refer to cell phones I was caught off guard. It felt like it jumped from time period to time period.
I did not like the characters. I found that they were all quite un-likeable. I hated the way that their family interacted with each other, I hated the way that they treated the staff, and they were quite rude to their guests in the beginning.
The plot was pretty interesting I just felt like I wanted a little more from it.
It was well written and used very accessible language.
I did not like the characters. I found that they were all quite un-likeable. I hated the way that their family interacted with each other, I hated the way that they treated the staff, and they were quite rude to their guests in the beginning.
The plot was pretty interesting I just felt like I wanted a little more from it.
It was well written and used very accessible language.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews