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Greyfriars House
Secrets will be uncovered . . .'I was absolutely gripped . . . the atmospheric setting of Greyfriars intertwined with the grim reality of the war camps of Singapore was inspirational.' Linda Finlay'A thought-provoking and atmospheric read.' Evie GraceAn epic, sweeping drama about a family with secrets and a house shrouded in mystery, Greyfriars House is perfect for fans of Rachel Hore , Kate Morton , Kate Riordan and Tracey Rees.On a remote Scottish island sitsGreyfriars House1939Nine-year-old Olivia Friel is delighted to be spending the summer at Greyfriars House, a place where her parents, their family and friends are always happy. But this year there's an underlying tension that Olivia doesn't understand. Then one night she sees something she's not meant to, and accidentally lets slip a devastating betrayal.1984Charlotte Friel gets a call from her ailing mother, asking something she's never asked for Charlotte to come home. There are things Olivia needs to tell her daughter before it's too late, secrets to be shared about forgotten relatives and a mysterious house.Left reeling by recent events, Charlotte is unsure what path to follow. But eventually her curiosity, and a desire to escape her own life, lead her to Greyfriars House.Will she find the answers she needs to make peace with the past?Praise for Emma 'A gripping tale . . . romance, adventure and an intriguing underlying mystery' - Lancaster Guardian'A heartbreaking novel of love and loss' - Blackpool Gazette'A powerful and at times gritty tale of love and loss . . . a great, insightful read' - Novelicious'An epic tale of one woman's determination to follow her dreams' - People's Friend'First rate' - Lovereading'Engaging and enjoyable' - The Historical Novel Society?
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 25, 2018
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671 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
March 4, 2020
3.2 stars
February 10, 2019
This has been a truly magnificent story, which has evoked so many different feelings within me, some of joy, some of anguish (at how some people were treated back in the day) and a fair bit emotional too.
The author Emma has woven such a beautiful story which captivates the past and present and moulds them together as one story.
As a teenager I was never one for history in school, found it dull and never held my attention, but having read this book, of which a fair amount of the story is devoted to past history, I have learnt a lot and have thoroughly enjoyed it. It's been quite an eye opener, this tale has been.
Upon finishing this story, I literally hugged the book with happiness because of how much I enjoyed it and sadness because it meant it was over, the story was finished.
This is one book that will stay with me for quite some time. Highly recommended for anyone that loves Historical fiction.
The author Emma has woven such a beautiful story which captivates the past and present and moulds them together as one story.
As a teenager I was never one for history in school, found it dull and never held my attention, but having read this book, of which a fair amount of the story is devoted to past history, I have learnt a lot and have thoroughly enjoyed it. It's been quite an eye opener, this tale has been.
Upon finishing this story, I literally hugged the book with happiness because of how much I enjoyed it and sadness because it meant it was over, the story was finished.
This is one book that will stay with me for quite some time. Highly recommended for anyone that loves Historical fiction.
August 16, 2018
4.5 Stars.
I raced through this very different book from Emma Fraser, a timeslip set in two less-used periods, a true page turner with some really heart-wrenching moments, a tragic story of two sisters, and the effects their actions had on the next two generations of women.
The back story started out in the heady inter-war days, when everyone believed that war was at an end, when glamour blossomed, and optimism bloomed. Greyfriars is a place where the family come together in the summer to party, to gossip, and for the sisters in the story, to simply relish a time when they can be together. It's rather like a film set, the kind of place you long to visit, and described in such glorious detail you can feel the brush of silk, taste the champagne, press your ears against the doors in the hope of hearing the secrets being whispered about.
Then came World War II, and we are plunged into a very different, grey world. London is blitzed, but the major part of this story takes place in Singapore. I won't go into what happens because I don't want to spoil anything, but trust me, you'll need to brace yourself. This is a very much neglected part of the story of the war, and a truly horrific one. One minor carp I have about this book is that I felt it was told almost too graphically. I don't mean that I felt that some aspects should have been glossed over, but there were times when for me it felt too much, and that a little less would have served just as effectively, and kept my mind more on the narrative and less on the horror. But that is a minor carp.
In the front story, we are in the Eighties. I loved the way this era was evoked, the music mentioned, the Walkmans and the food - Fray Bentos pies!!! Charlotte, the great niece, a successful barrister, is forced to deal first with the death of her mother Olivia (the link in the story, who appears in the early Greyfriars as a child), and then with the promise she has made to find out the secret of Greyfriars, which has been closed to all but the sisters who have lived there alone since the war. Of course, our crusading barrister has all sorts of emotional baggage or her own to deal with too. And of course, there's a rather gorgeous policeman on hand to help her do just that.
And I'm not going to say any more about the plot, save my other little niggle. There is a double twist right at the very end that I thought was unnecessary. I guessed it, and though I think it was done for dramatic effect, for me what it did was draw things out, and detracted a little from the ending.
I really enjoyed this book. It is packed with history and colour, it has a page-turning story, and as I said right at the start, if picks out two very different and less-used eras. And right at the centre, it had a house on an island that you ache to visit. If only it existed.
I raced through this very different book from Emma Fraser, a timeslip set in two less-used periods, a true page turner with some really heart-wrenching moments, a tragic story of two sisters, and the effects their actions had on the next two generations of women.
The back story started out in the heady inter-war days, when everyone believed that war was at an end, when glamour blossomed, and optimism bloomed. Greyfriars is a place where the family come together in the summer to party, to gossip, and for the sisters in the story, to simply relish a time when they can be together. It's rather like a film set, the kind of place you long to visit, and described in such glorious detail you can feel the brush of silk, taste the champagne, press your ears against the doors in the hope of hearing the secrets being whispered about.
Then came World War II, and we are plunged into a very different, grey world. London is blitzed, but the major part of this story takes place in Singapore. I won't go into what happens because I don't want to spoil anything, but trust me, you'll need to brace yourself. This is a very much neglected part of the story of the war, and a truly horrific one. One minor carp I have about this book is that I felt it was told almost too graphically. I don't mean that I felt that some aspects should have been glossed over, but there were times when for me it felt too much, and that a little less would have served just as effectively, and kept my mind more on the narrative and less on the horror. But that is a minor carp.
In the front story, we are in the Eighties. I loved the way this era was evoked, the music mentioned, the Walkmans and the food - Fray Bentos pies!!! Charlotte, the great niece, a successful barrister, is forced to deal first with the death of her mother Olivia (the link in the story, who appears in the early Greyfriars as a child), and then with the promise she has made to find out the secret of Greyfriars, which has been closed to all but the sisters who have lived there alone since the war. Of course, our crusading barrister has all sorts of emotional baggage or her own to deal with too. And of course, there's a rather gorgeous policeman on hand to help her do just that.
And I'm not going to say any more about the plot, save my other little niggle. There is a double twist right at the very end that I thought was unnecessary. I guessed it, and though I think it was done for dramatic effect, for me what it did was draw things out, and detracted a little from the ending.
I really enjoyed this book. It is packed with history and colour, it has a page-turning story, and as I said right at the start, if picks out two very different and less-used eras. And right at the centre, it had a house on an island that you ache to visit. If only it existed.
July 17, 2019
I have been so bad at updating my goodreads lately but I finished this a few days ago now as I stayed up until about half one in the morning reading as I got to a point in the story where I was so gripped and could not put it down until I had finished it. I read 160 pages/20 chapters in one sitting that night in order to finish it.
I absolutely loved the way that the writing had been set out. I really enjoy the time jumps, (There is a better word for this but I can't think of it, help me out here please mum) it reminds me of the Barbara Erskine books how it goes from one time period to the other.
I wish that we got to find out more about Jamie as I enjoyed his character, however I thoroughly disapproved of them sleeping together on the second time that they met and I have very mixed feelings about them being married and pregnant within 18 months of meeting but all in all I liked his character.
Georgina and Edith have had a very complicated relationship but they came together to care for one another and Georgina went to rather extreme lengths to be there for her sister which I admire.
I like how the story slowly trickles out about Georgina and Edith's past until at the last moment the biggest secret is revealed and even then its not all the truth, you find out later the full truth and how much Georgina has truly helped Edith.
I found the ending with Findlay really sad because of what happened in order for them to then be together.
I really enjoyed this book! Very good
I absolutely loved the way that the writing had been set out. I really enjoy the time jumps, (There is a better word for this but I can't think of it, help me out here please mum) it reminds me of the Barbara Erskine books how it goes from one time period to the other.
I wish that we got to find out more about Jamie as I enjoyed his character, however I thoroughly disapproved of them sleeping together on the second time that they met and I have very mixed feelings about them being married and pregnant within 18 months of meeting but all in all I liked his character.
Georgina and Edith have had a very complicated relationship but they came together to care for one another and Georgina went to rather extreme lengths to be there for her sister which I admire.
I like how the story slowly trickles out about Georgina and Edith's past until at the last moment the biggest secret is revealed and even then its not all the truth, you find out later the full truth and how much Georgina has truly helped Edith.
I found the ending with Findlay really sad because of what happened in order for them to then be together.
I really enjoyed this book! Very good
August 1, 2018
Omg this book is phenomenally good ❤️
With a dual timeline between past and present this book has it all. War, love, betrayal, mystery, history and haunting.
Everything stems from a night none of them will ever forget for their own reasons, tearing them all apart.
The most memorable and compelling parts of the book for me is the storyline of the two sisters and their lives during the war in Singapore where they detained as prisoners of war and the treatment they received at the hands of the Japanese soldiers. Blending fact with fiction it makes for a harrowing read knowing people actually went through that and survived is incredible. It is so well written it was playing out in my head as though watch a film and I know that those images will haunt my dreams tonight.
And then there is the great-niece Charlotte whose story is set in the present with her own battle scars to deal with. Her career as a barrister is just taking her into the big leagues after winning a high-profile case her life goes from high to low rapidly. Her mum is diagnosed with terminal cancer with not much time left so she drops everything to be with her.
From there she is dealt another curve ball as her mother tells her she has relatives she never knew existed and the feud that ripped them all apart. But there are always two sides to a story and not everything is necessarily as it seems.
This is the first book I’ve read of Emma Fraser and I was initially drawn to it as it was recommended for fans of Kate Morton, Kate Riordan and Tracey Rees whose books I love and I can safely say she really does belong in the company of those other authors. And I now have a new favourite author 😃
Greyfriars House is out now in kindle and Hardback and the paperback edition will be published on August 9th 2018.
With a dual timeline between past and present this book has it all. War, love, betrayal, mystery, history and haunting.
Everything stems from a night none of them will ever forget for their own reasons, tearing them all apart.
The most memorable and compelling parts of the book for me is the storyline of the two sisters and their lives during the war in Singapore where they detained as prisoners of war and the treatment they received at the hands of the Japanese soldiers. Blending fact with fiction it makes for a harrowing read knowing people actually went through that and survived is incredible. It is so well written it was playing out in my head as though watch a film and I know that those images will haunt my dreams tonight.
And then there is the great-niece Charlotte whose story is set in the present with her own battle scars to deal with. Her career as a barrister is just taking her into the big leagues after winning a high-profile case her life goes from high to low rapidly. Her mum is diagnosed with terminal cancer with not much time left so she drops everything to be with her.
From there she is dealt another curve ball as her mother tells her she has relatives she never knew existed and the feud that ripped them all apart. But there are always two sides to a story and not everything is necessarily as it seems.
This is the first book I’ve read of Emma Fraser and I was initially drawn to it as it was recommended for fans of Kate Morton, Kate Riordan and Tracey Rees whose books I love and I can safely say she really does belong in the company of those other authors. And I now have a new favourite author 😃
Greyfriars House is out now in kindle and Hardback and the paperback edition will be published on August 9th 2018.
February 15, 2020
A gripping read from start to finish!
November 26, 2020
'On a remote Scottish island sits Greyfriars House'.
There, you had me with 'remote Scottish island'. Greyfriars House sits on that island called Kerista, near to Oban. In 1984, when Charlotte Friel finds herself there, it's fallen into a bit of disrepair, the grounds are run down and there are no staff helping the two residents, but there's still something special about the house.
This is a dual time frame novel and I love those kinds of stories. But actually, there's more than the two distinct times featured in the story and this really is quite a sweeping read taking in the events of 1939, 1984 and everything in between. There's more than a hint of the Kate Morton about it - all good for me!
This is a book of family secrets, some that rip relationships apart, others that quietly simmer in the background. A loss takes Charlotte to Greyfriars and there she hears of these secrets and so does the reader, in both current day conversations and flashbacks from the characters involved.
I found this was not a book I could rush, nor did I want to. It's around 430 pages, so reasonably chunky, but it's more that it's so full of rich detail, of breadcrumbs dropped that made sense as I read on. I found myself totally immersed in the stories of the women who feature so strongly.
Which also brings me round to the setting as I was also engrossed in all the descriptions of it. If there's a setting that most draws me to a novel it's a remote island, especially if it's a Scottish one. Greyfriars is only accessible by boat which adds a bit of romance and intrigue and I just loved the idea of it sitting there proudly, yet faded, on its little bit of watery paradise.
There are some lovely tales of love and family in this book, juxtaposed by the harsh realities of war, especially in the camps in Singapore. Fraser hits the perfect balance between them and has written a wonderful and absorbing read.
There, you had me with 'remote Scottish island'. Greyfriars House sits on that island called Kerista, near to Oban. In 1984, when Charlotte Friel finds herself there, it's fallen into a bit of disrepair, the grounds are run down and there are no staff helping the two residents, but there's still something special about the house.
This is a dual time frame novel and I love those kinds of stories. But actually, there's more than the two distinct times featured in the story and this really is quite a sweeping read taking in the events of 1939, 1984 and everything in between. There's more than a hint of the Kate Morton about it - all good for me!
This is a book of family secrets, some that rip relationships apart, others that quietly simmer in the background. A loss takes Charlotte to Greyfriars and there she hears of these secrets and so does the reader, in both current day conversations and flashbacks from the characters involved.
I found this was not a book I could rush, nor did I want to. It's around 430 pages, so reasonably chunky, but it's more that it's so full of rich detail, of breadcrumbs dropped that made sense as I read on. I found myself totally immersed in the stories of the women who feature so strongly.
Which also brings me round to the setting as I was also engrossed in all the descriptions of it. If there's a setting that most draws me to a novel it's a remote island, especially if it's a Scottish one. Greyfriars is only accessible by boat which adds a bit of romance and intrigue and I just loved the idea of it sitting there proudly, yet faded, on its little bit of watery paradise.
There are some lovely tales of love and family in this book, juxtaposed by the harsh realities of war, especially in the camps in Singapore. Fraser hits the perfect balance between them and has written a wonderful and absorbing read.
January 15, 2019
This was an excellent read. Quite upsetting towards the end in parts which related to the treatment of prisoners during the second world war but relevant to the story. Well researched and written and will be searching out more books by this author.
December 11, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It has everything - intrigue, love, war, a young pregnant orphaned girl, an old and decaying house which appears to host ghosts, a modern-day lawyer and a myriad of secrets. Once you start reading you won't want to put it down until you know the whole story.
November 8, 2025
great story! my 1st book of Emma's I've read. very likely to add all her others onto my wish list!
following on from the blurb, Charlotte goes back home to visit her ill mother, and learns of an incident that happened years ago between 2 sisters, Charlottes great aunts.
she goes to visit them to find out what happened all those years ago. gradually 1 of her great aunts tells her what happened, and why they did what they did.
great story, eye opener about what happened during the 2nd world war, what the Japanese did.
well written to make you think there is something spooky going on (spoiler-its not spooky) and a omg-i-didnt-see-that-coming! twist near the end!
and for all the grim bits that happened to Edith and Georgina during the war, and the wasted years of lost love, there IS a happy ending!
following on from the blurb, Charlotte goes back home to visit her ill mother, and learns of an incident that happened years ago between 2 sisters, Charlottes great aunts.
she goes to visit them to find out what happened all those years ago. gradually 1 of her great aunts tells her what happened, and why they did what they did.
great story, eye opener about what happened during the 2nd world war, what the Japanese did.
well written to make you think there is something spooky going on (spoiler-its not spooky) and a omg-i-didnt-see-that-coming! twist near the end!
and for all the grim bits that happened to Edith and Georgina during the war, and the wasted years of lost love, there IS a happy ending!
July 18, 2019
My first book by this author and I loved it
Loved the historical content and how it linked with the present. Will definitely read some more books by Emma Fraser.
Loved the historical content and how it linked with the present. Will definitely read some more books by Emma Fraser.
October 21, 2019
3.5 stars
Read
February 18, 2020Devoured in 6 hours. A beautiful and often gut wrenching story
April 19, 2019
I struggled to keep interested in this story, so kept dipping in and out, but by 20 I didn't want to put it down.
Definitely worth a read
Definitely worth a read
April 3, 2023
Po prebranem lahko rečem, da mi je knjiga pustila mešane občutke. Težko je bilo brati o dogodkih med drugo svetovno vojno, čeprav se je pisateljica lotila opisovanj zelo tenkočutno in spoštljivo.
Po drugi strani je bil pa konec tako wholesome, da (skoraj) pozabiš na to, kaj se je v knjigi dogajalo.
In plotwisti 🤯 Ne bom rekla, da največjega nisem pričakovala, ampak je pisateljici vseeno uspelo me presenetiti.
Skratka, priporočam v branje (morda pa ne najbolj nežnim dušam).
Po drugi strani je bil pa konec tako wholesome, da (skoraj) pozabiš na to, kaj se je v knjigi dogajalo.
In plotwisti 🤯 Ne bom rekla, da največjega nisem pričakovala, ampak je pisateljici vseeno uspelo me presenetiti.
Skratka, priporočam v branje (morda pa ne najbolj nežnim dušam).
August 6, 2018
Several years ago I stumbled across Emma Fraser's début novel When the Dawn Breaks as I was looking through the shelves of my local library for something to read. The author turned out to be a gem of a find as her books are enthralling as you are so easily transported to which ever era the author is writing about. Greyfriars House is Emma's fourth book although I still yet have to read book three The Shipbuilder's Daughter but I will rectify that soon. This new book is big in scope and takes the format of a dual time line story. For the author there must have been a lot to keep track of given I felt there was two distinct parts to this story which took on very different tones. It was almost like their were two separate stories which combined to make one splendid and thought provoking read which would be perfect book club choice.
When I got to the second half of the book and the attention focused on the story of another character, initially I did wonder were we going a little bit backwards with the overall plot instead of forwards? But the more I read the more I understood that Olivia sharing her story of her experiences at Greyfriars House was essential to a much bigger picture. That in fact Emma Fraser was very clever in the way she wove every strand of the story, she laid the foundations so well that it is only when you reach the final pages that you truly realise and understand what a magnificent story she has written making this book quite possible her best yet.
Right from the prologue as Charlotte wanders through the woods near the house late at night, tension, mystery and suspense are apparent with virtually every turn of the page and new chapter. Throughout the book there is an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia, of a haunting atmosphere where the secrets of a family are swirling around threatening to break out into the open after so many years being kept locked up. This haunting, dark sense doesn't make the book feel bogged down and difficult to wade through instead it just adds more tension and urgency for Charlotte to fulfil her quest and uncover just what has been kept secret for so long. I didn't feel the book was all doom and gloom despite the harsh nature of some of the subject matter instead it felt very visual and descriptive and I could see everything playing out so clearly in my mind in particular when it comes to Georgina recollecting her story. In fact I do think this book would be ideal for a drama on the television or even for the big screen.
Part one as I like to call it even thought the author did not split the book into distinct sections rather several chapters was focused on modern day and then we moved back to the past. First of all we meet barrister Charlotte who was so very driven and dedicated to her job. She thrives on the long hours of research culminating in a win in the courtroom. She has won several big cases and is on the cusp of very big things when she receives an unusual call from her mother Olivia to come home to Edinburgh. Charlotte wonders what can she want and whether she can afford the time away from her job? She decides to go and in doing so she is taken on a journey back through the history of her family but also it is a time for her to come to terms with something which has been niggling at her with regard to a previous case of hers. It's now the time to take stock as she has reached a crucial point in her life. When she arrives home she can tell instantly that everything is not right and it soon becomes clear through Olivia's own admission that she is ill and has not much time left. A letter has arrived for Olivia from the small island of Kerista off the Scottish coast. Two Aunts Georgina and Edith, previously unknown to Charlotte, live there in Greyfriars House and now they are summoning Olivia as they need her help.
What follows is Olivia's recollection of her past. At first I thought that taking us back to 1939 and the years that followed leading up to the birth of Charlotte seemed so very long ago and how could the Aunts still be alive and all the various time lines work but it did because Charlotte's aspect of the story was set in 1984. This made Olivia only 54. Normally a dual time line will be set in the past and modern day so it was great to see a different time period for the more modern day setting and it was interesting that the author was able to slip in about no phones and various other things we take for granted. I enjoyed reading Olivia's recollections of her childhood and the times she spent on the island at the house before war changed everything. It only served to ramp up my interest and helped me form more of an overall picture of what road the story was venturing down. So many questions were constantly thrown up and there was no way the author was giving the reader any answers quickly as the intrigue and mystery just grew and grew.
The island was isolated and had an atmosphere of loneliness and sadness, of things unspoken and needing to come out in to the open. As Olivia tells Charlotte the story of the past and of her two aunts whose lives changed because of the war she tasks Charlotte with going to the island to see what do they want. Sadly as Olivia leaves us Charlotte takes up the request and what followed was an amazing story that left this book very hard to put down.
Once Charlotte arrives in Scotland the book once again took on another very different tone and that's what I enjoyed about this book there was so much light and shade. At times Olivia's story offered light and relief but then as Charlotte arrives at Greyfriars to meet two women she never knew existed more dark and harrowing undertones made themselves known. I admired Charlotte for going to the island. I thinks she felt she owed it to her mother and even though she was 100% dedicated to her job she knew she was at an important juncture in her life where the next steps she made would determine her path for the rest of her life. Charlotte needed to take some risks, step outside of her comfort zone and to seize the day but by doing this was she opening a can of worms best kept in secret on the island or was now the time for numerous shocks and surprises to be revealed? As Charlotte gets to know the intricacies and quirks of Edith and Charlotte's lives she begins to question why did they return to the house after the war and never leave? There had to have been a reason for spending forty years in a house that is falling down around them with the surrounding grounds threatening to take over the house with each passing year.
Slowly bit by bit Georgina reveals her story and what an incredible one it was. All I will say is the sisters were taken prisoner during the war and their lives could never possibly have been the same again. This part of the book was so strong and had me rapidly turning the pages as I was as eager as Charlotte to find out everything and to see why the summons to the island had appeared after so many years of radio silence. Such research was undertaken by the author and not one detail spared which made for at times a harrowing and heartbreaking read. So much cruelty, suffering and torture but I was glad Emma Fraser gave a voice to this aspect of the war because it is often forgotten in books with so much attention being focused on events in Europe. I was horrified at what I was reading and just when you think things can't get any worse they do and a more dangerous, evil path is ventured down. But Georgina needed to finally share her story to help make things more clear for both Charlotte and the reader. Towards the very end I did question one last surprise, it felt slightly throw in there in order to establish connections between one thing and another. I had all the story clearly established in my head and then timelines were altered. I still wonder whether it was necessary but it didn't detract from how brilliant this story was.
Greyfriars House is a tour de force of a read from Emma Fraser and I just cant think why she doesn't get more attention as an author and why I don't see much chat about her on social media etc. Hopefully this book will change all that and she will get the recognition I feel she deserves. Each character was so wonderfully crafted and every little element was vital to the overall coming together of the story. The setting and descriptions were excellent and despite the wide scope I think the author carried off everything to perfection. An important message that comes across is that of a fierce need to protect those we love and how despite arguments, frustrations, estrangements and hurt that we can come together and make sacrifices for those we love in their time of need. The power and bond of friends, family and siblings are ties that can never be broken no matter what the world throws at us. Emma Fraser took me on an exhilarating, emotional journey and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spent reading this fantastic, remarkable book. Long term fans will be thrilled with the calibre of this story and I hope Greyfriars House will attract many new readers to the authors work.
When I got to the second half of the book and the attention focused on the story of another character, initially I did wonder were we going a little bit backwards with the overall plot instead of forwards? But the more I read the more I understood that Olivia sharing her story of her experiences at Greyfriars House was essential to a much bigger picture. That in fact Emma Fraser was very clever in the way she wove every strand of the story, she laid the foundations so well that it is only when you reach the final pages that you truly realise and understand what a magnificent story she has written making this book quite possible her best yet.
Right from the prologue as Charlotte wanders through the woods near the house late at night, tension, mystery and suspense are apparent with virtually every turn of the page and new chapter. Throughout the book there is an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia, of a haunting atmosphere where the secrets of a family are swirling around threatening to break out into the open after so many years being kept locked up. This haunting, dark sense doesn't make the book feel bogged down and difficult to wade through instead it just adds more tension and urgency for Charlotte to fulfil her quest and uncover just what has been kept secret for so long. I didn't feel the book was all doom and gloom despite the harsh nature of some of the subject matter instead it felt very visual and descriptive and I could see everything playing out so clearly in my mind in particular when it comes to Georgina recollecting her story. In fact I do think this book would be ideal for a drama on the television or even for the big screen.
Part one as I like to call it even thought the author did not split the book into distinct sections rather several chapters was focused on modern day and then we moved back to the past. First of all we meet barrister Charlotte who was so very driven and dedicated to her job. She thrives on the long hours of research culminating in a win in the courtroom. She has won several big cases and is on the cusp of very big things when she receives an unusual call from her mother Olivia to come home to Edinburgh. Charlotte wonders what can she want and whether she can afford the time away from her job? She decides to go and in doing so she is taken on a journey back through the history of her family but also it is a time for her to come to terms with something which has been niggling at her with regard to a previous case of hers. It's now the time to take stock as she has reached a crucial point in her life. When she arrives home she can tell instantly that everything is not right and it soon becomes clear through Olivia's own admission that she is ill and has not much time left. A letter has arrived for Olivia from the small island of Kerista off the Scottish coast. Two Aunts Georgina and Edith, previously unknown to Charlotte, live there in Greyfriars House and now they are summoning Olivia as they need her help.
What follows is Olivia's recollection of her past. At first I thought that taking us back to 1939 and the years that followed leading up to the birth of Charlotte seemed so very long ago and how could the Aunts still be alive and all the various time lines work but it did because Charlotte's aspect of the story was set in 1984. This made Olivia only 54. Normally a dual time line will be set in the past and modern day so it was great to see a different time period for the more modern day setting and it was interesting that the author was able to slip in about no phones and various other things we take for granted. I enjoyed reading Olivia's recollections of her childhood and the times she spent on the island at the house before war changed everything. It only served to ramp up my interest and helped me form more of an overall picture of what road the story was venturing down. So many questions were constantly thrown up and there was no way the author was giving the reader any answers quickly as the intrigue and mystery just grew and grew.
The island was isolated and had an atmosphere of loneliness and sadness, of things unspoken and needing to come out in to the open. As Olivia tells Charlotte the story of the past and of her two aunts whose lives changed because of the war she tasks Charlotte with going to the island to see what do they want. Sadly as Olivia leaves us Charlotte takes up the request and what followed was an amazing story that left this book very hard to put down.
Once Charlotte arrives in Scotland the book once again took on another very different tone and that's what I enjoyed about this book there was so much light and shade. At times Olivia's story offered light and relief but then as Charlotte arrives at Greyfriars to meet two women she never knew existed more dark and harrowing undertones made themselves known. I admired Charlotte for going to the island. I thinks she felt she owed it to her mother and even though she was 100% dedicated to her job she knew she was at an important juncture in her life where the next steps she made would determine her path for the rest of her life. Charlotte needed to take some risks, step outside of her comfort zone and to seize the day but by doing this was she opening a can of worms best kept in secret on the island or was now the time for numerous shocks and surprises to be revealed? As Charlotte gets to know the intricacies and quirks of Edith and Charlotte's lives she begins to question why did they return to the house after the war and never leave? There had to have been a reason for spending forty years in a house that is falling down around them with the surrounding grounds threatening to take over the house with each passing year.
Slowly bit by bit Georgina reveals her story and what an incredible one it was. All I will say is the sisters were taken prisoner during the war and their lives could never possibly have been the same again. This part of the book was so strong and had me rapidly turning the pages as I was as eager as Charlotte to find out everything and to see why the summons to the island had appeared after so many years of radio silence. Such research was undertaken by the author and not one detail spared which made for at times a harrowing and heartbreaking read. So much cruelty, suffering and torture but I was glad Emma Fraser gave a voice to this aspect of the war because it is often forgotten in books with so much attention being focused on events in Europe. I was horrified at what I was reading and just when you think things can't get any worse they do and a more dangerous, evil path is ventured down. But Georgina needed to finally share her story to help make things more clear for both Charlotte and the reader. Towards the very end I did question one last surprise, it felt slightly throw in there in order to establish connections between one thing and another. I had all the story clearly established in my head and then timelines were altered. I still wonder whether it was necessary but it didn't detract from how brilliant this story was.
Greyfriars House is a tour de force of a read from Emma Fraser and I just cant think why she doesn't get more attention as an author and why I don't see much chat about her on social media etc. Hopefully this book will change all that and she will get the recognition I feel she deserves. Each character was so wonderfully crafted and every little element was vital to the overall coming together of the story. The setting and descriptions were excellent and despite the wide scope I think the author carried off everything to perfection. An important message that comes across is that of a fierce need to protect those we love and how despite arguments, frustrations, estrangements and hurt that we can come together and make sacrifices for those we love in their time of need. The power and bond of friends, family and siblings are ties that can never be broken no matter what the world throws at us. Emma Fraser took me on an exhilarating, emotional journey and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spent reading this fantastic, remarkable book. Long term fans will be thrilled with the calibre of this story and I hope Greyfriars House will attract many new readers to the authors work.
November 12, 2020
An absorbing and well written novel covering three different periods through characters linked to Greyfriars House. Excellent depiction of period details, including a harrowing section in a female prisoner of war camp. Uplifting and hopeful ending with a little twist.
February 11, 2018
LOVED this book! Would give it more stars if possible!
November 28, 2021
This book follows the Guthrie family, spanning three generations of women as they piece together their tragic family history and the tangled secrets of the past. It's split into different sections, told by Olivia, then her daughter Charlotte and then by Charlotte's great aunt Georgina. The book flips back and forth between the 1930s and 40s to the 1980s, ranging from the UK to Singapore.
Overall the premise of the story is fairly interesting - one incident innocently reported by a child that spans generations and leaves a once-close family estranged thanks to secrets and traumas gathered during World War Two. I found the actual writing to be kind of plain - not terrible, but rather unemotional and straight to the point, so I failed to really get immersed in the world occupied by the characters. Not to mention I noticed some editing errors here and there, like the author repeating the same phrase in a sentence or further down a page, which struck me as a little bit amateurish.
The author keeps doing this thing where Georgina will start telling her story, and just as it starts to get interesting, Georgina will get tired or she'll have to break it off to go see to Edith. I get it's realistic a seventy-something year old woman to not be able to complete a traumatic story in one sitting, but it gets pretty frustrating, especially since the end of a Georgina chapter means we have to go back to Charlotte's boring storyline.
The tone of the book is odd because it's overall very matter-of-fact and emotionally kind of bland. Characters flatly state how they feel and everything feels very reserved, which I guess fits England and Scotland in the 1930s onwards but it adds a layer of remove from things. This book is very easy to read because it doesn't really require you to get emotionally invested in the story, it just tells you what's going on in a very plain way, so it's easy to breeze through the book. (I admit I got emotional when Olivia died with Charlotte by her side, but I think that was more due to the subject matter than any particular impact on the author's part. Sorry.)
Charlotte was by far the most boring part of the book - I kept thinking her name was Rachel for some reason - but the only purpose she really has is to go to Greyfrairs and get the story out of Georgina and Edith. Her whole backstory as a barrister who defends those people find indefensible didn't really serve much purpose in the story overall. It kept being implied that Charlotte was going to have some key part to play when the story came out, but she just sides with her aunts once she hears about all the horrors they went through, everything ends happily and the story wraps up. Charlotte's only role is to be a listener. She does have this romance subplot with some guy called Jamie that's so bland and boring I skipped a lot of it - Charlotte barely has any personally apart from "upright, uptight barrister" and to give her a love story with an equally boring "charming local cop" served no purpose in the story at all. I suspect it was just there because the author felt bad about killing off her mother.
Overall the story was serviceable and there were some interesting scenes in it, but the multiple reveals - the sisters were raped! Georgina had a secret kid! The kid still lives at Greyfriars! Actually the kid is Edith's! Georgina and Findlay are still in love! - got tedious and Charlotte's subplot was extremely boring and only existed to pad out the book. Plus the characters never really came alive and felt like real people, but the author did a good job of depicting the world as it was in the time period it's set in. 3/5 stars.
Overall the premise of the story is fairly interesting - one incident innocently reported by a child that spans generations and leaves a once-close family estranged thanks to secrets and traumas gathered during World War Two. I found the actual writing to be kind of plain - not terrible, but rather unemotional and straight to the point, so I failed to really get immersed in the world occupied by the characters. Not to mention I noticed some editing errors here and there, like the author repeating the same phrase in a sentence or further down a page, which struck me as a little bit amateurish.
The author keeps doing this thing where Georgina will start telling her story, and just as it starts to get interesting, Georgina will get tired or she'll have to break it off to go see to Edith. I get it's realistic a seventy-something year old woman to not be able to complete a traumatic story in one sitting, but it gets pretty frustrating, especially since the end of a Georgina chapter means we have to go back to Charlotte's boring storyline.
The tone of the book is odd because it's overall very matter-of-fact and emotionally kind of bland. Characters flatly state how they feel and everything feels very reserved, which I guess fits England and Scotland in the 1930s onwards but it adds a layer of remove from things. This book is very easy to read because it doesn't really require you to get emotionally invested in the story, it just tells you what's going on in a very plain way, so it's easy to breeze through the book. (I admit I got emotional when Olivia died with Charlotte by her side, but I think that was more due to the subject matter than any particular impact on the author's part. Sorry.)
Charlotte was by far the most boring part of the book - I kept thinking her name was Rachel for some reason - but the only purpose she really has is to go to Greyfrairs and get the story out of Georgina and Edith. Her whole backstory as a barrister who defends those people find indefensible didn't really serve much purpose in the story overall. It kept being implied that Charlotte was going to have some key part to play when the story came out, but she just sides with her aunts once she hears about all the horrors they went through, everything ends happily and the story wraps up. Charlotte's only role is to be a listener. She does have this romance subplot with some guy called Jamie that's so bland and boring I skipped a lot of it - Charlotte barely has any personally apart from "upright, uptight barrister" and to give her a love story with an equally boring "charming local cop" served no purpose in the story at all. I suspect it was just there because the author felt bad about killing off her mother.
Overall the story was serviceable and there were some interesting scenes in it, but the multiple reveals - the sisters were raped! Georgina had a secret kid! The kid still lives at Greyfriars! Actually the kid is Edith's! Georgina and Findlay are still in love! - got tedious and Charlotte's subplot was extremely boring and only existed to pad out the book. Plus the characters never really came alive and felt like real people, but the author did a good job of depicting the world as it was in the time period it's set in. 3/5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2023
Discover the locations in the novel here
I picked up this book as the name of the house caught my eye. Greyfriars – did it have anything to do with Greyfriars bobby? The famous dog which sat beside his masters grave for years and years? turns out yes, the house is named after him. That’s just the first delicious link to history and stories of the past that this book is all about.
I loved meeting the characters and travelling to two very different times and locations. I haven’t read a book in a while that dealt with two such very different locations but still manged to blend them into such a compelling storyline. There is heartache and drama, secrets and lies, and a gothic house that I could see so vividly that when the ghost story started to drift from the pages, I almost cried out in shock thinking I was in that turret looking down on to that beach.
It was very cleverly plotted with each delicious detail coming out at just the right time to tease and satisfy the reader. The story of the house is told in two timelines – Olivia is a child at first exploring the house and the story. Years later, her daughter Charlotte comes to stay with her rather strange aunts. She also feels a presence in the house and wonders about the strange behaviour of those around her. When the reader is taken to Singapore, this adds to the mystery and never jars. War affects people for a lifetime and the author didn’t just take us there in flashbacks. We stayed, we saw and by the time we were back in Scotland, the tears were still falling…
The Singapore sectinos of the book were raw and visceral. The tone of the novel changed but it had to. Once back in Greyfriars, the house took on a more ominous tone and the two threads really complemented each other. A skilled author is necessary to keep two such seemingly disparate threads together and Emma Fraser is one of them.
Trust me – you should read this slowly. I wanted to meet the people of Oban who help Charlotte in her quest. Just as I wanted to hate those in Singapore. I felt chilled in Greyfriars but excited of Olivia and Charlotte’s passion at exploring it. Oh and Jamie! I even heard the wind at the windows…but was it wind?
Brilliantly evocative and immersive. Location wise it sings, story and writing wise it flies. Highly recommended on so many levels.
August 1, 2018
Omg this book is phenomenally good ❤️
With a dual timeline between past and present this book has it all. War, love, betrayal, mystery, history and hauntings.
Everything stems from a night none of them will ever forget for their own reasons, tearing them all apart.
The most memorable and compelling parts of the book for me is the storyline of the two sisters and their lives during the war in Singapore where they detained as prisoners of war and the treatment they received at the hands of the Japanese soldiers. Blending fact with fiction it makes for a harrowing read knowing people actually went through that and survived is incredible. It is so well written it was playing out in my head as though watch a film and I know that those images will haunt my dreams tonight.
And then there is the great niece Charlotte who’s story is set in the present with her own battle scars to deal with. Her career as a barrister is just taking her into the big leagues after winning a high profile case her life goes from high to low rapidly. Her mum is diagnosed with terminal cancer with not much time left so she drops everything to be with her.
From there she is dealt another curve ball as her mother tells her she has relatives she never knew existed and the feud that ripped them all apart. But there are always two sides to a story and not everything is necessarily as it seems.
This is the first book I’ve read of Emma Fraser and I was initially drawn to it as it was recommended for fans of Kate Morton, Kate Riordan and Tracey Rees who’s books I love and I can safely say she really does belong in the company of those other authors. And I now have a new favourite author 😃
Greyfriars House is out now in kindle and Hardback and the paperback edition will be published on August 9th 2018.
With a dual timeline between past and present this book has it all. War, love, betrayal, mystery, history and hauntings.
Everything stems from a night none of them will ever forget for their own reasons, tearing them all apart.
The most memorable and compelling parts of the book for me is the storyline of the two sisters and their lives during the war in Singapore where they detained as prisoners of war and the treatment they received at the hands of the Japanese soldiers. Blending fact with fiction it makes for a harrowing read knowing people actually went through that and survived is incredible. It is so well written it was playing out in my head as though watch a film and I know that those images will haunt my dreams tonight.
And then there is the great niece Charlotte who’s story is set in the present with her own battle scars to deal with. Her career as a barrister is just taking her into the big leagues after winning a high profile case her life goes from high to low rapidly. Her mum is diagnosed with terminal cancer with not much time left so she drops everything to be with her.
From there she is dealt another curve ball as her mother tells her she has relatives she never knew existed and the feud that ripped them all apart. But there are always two sides to a story and not everything is necessarily as it seems.
This is the first book I’ve read of Emma Fraser and I was initially drawn to it as it was recommended for fans of Kate Morton, Kate Riordan and Tracey Rees who’s books I love and I can safely say she really does belong in the company of those other authors. And I now have a new favourite author 😃
Greyfriars House is out now in kindle and Hardback and the paperback edition will be published on August 9th 2018.
April 9, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this story. It is evocative, heart-rending at times and beautifully described. Although it is a complex tale, it is woven together beautifully and is not confusing.
It tells the story of key life moments of 4 relatives -2 sisters, their niece and her daughter - which are, frequently heart-rending. Although told in the first person, it switches between characters, the clear chapter headings providing the distinction needed to avoid any potential uncertainty. Each character tells their story, either by means of flash back (the exception being the lead character) of by telling the story to another. The characters are well rounded and you feel that their emotions are your own.
As the bulk of the flash backs are set during the 2nd World War, some sensitive subjects (including rape) are discussed. The horrors are not disguised and show an insight into the Japanese involvement that I was unaware of (and was appalled to learn, though I do realise this is a work of fiction these are stories that can't have been entirely made up).
I did guess the twist that is promised in the prologue, although a counter explanation was thrown up as a blind which did confuse me. But this in no way lessened the impact and the final resolution.
This was another story I discovered by doing a search for 'ghost story', and whilst there are fleeting references to a couple of lingering spirits, the largest haunting is that of memory. Similarly I expected more focus on the titular house, but the sense of home and sanctuary of this special places is never in doubt.
Lesser Mackie's reading added warmth and brought life to the telling.
It tells the story of key life moments of 4 relatives -2 sisters, their niece and her daughter - which are, frequently heart-rending. Although told in the first person, it switches between characters, the clear chapter headings providing the distinction needed to avoid any potential uncertainty. Each character tells their story, either by means of flash back (the exception being the lead character) of by telling the story to another. The characters are well rounded and you feel that their emotions are your own.
As the bulk of the flash backs are set during the 2nd World War, some sensitive subjects (including rape) are discussed. The horrors are not disguised and show an insight into the Japanese involvement that I was unaware of (and was appalled to learn, though I do realise this is a work of fiction these are stories that can't have been entirely made up).
I did guess the twist that is promised in the prologue, although a counter explanation was thrown up as a blind which did confuse me. But this in no way lessened the impact and the final resolution.
This was another story I discovered by doing a search for 'ghost story', and whilst there are fleeting references to a couple of lingering spirits, the largest haunting is that of memory. Similarly I expected more focus on the titular house, but the sense of home and sanctuary of this special places is never in doubt.
Lesser Mackie's reading added warmth and brought life to the telling.
April 5, 2018
As I am a big fan of Emma Fraser, I was waiting for her new book to be released and bought it immediately in hardback. I was not disappointed. This is a great read. As always, Emma's characters are unforgettable: strong women and adorable, loyal men...the perfect combination! Set mainly on a remote island in Scotland, the story follows the lives of two sisters, plus the daughter and granddaughter of a third. Full of atmosphere, Greyfriars House is haunted by ghosts from the past as it begins to crumble and decay. The story surrounding it - and the family that own it - is an intriguing one that kept me glued until the end. I can recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, satisfying read. Engrossing.
November 4, 2019
I gave it a 4 for the way Fraser weaves so many different eras and the research that goes into that. It was interesting to read about time and places that are often overlooked. The character development seems to lack in the latter half of the book, and sometimes felt a little flat and cringe. Olivia as a child, and Georgina in Singapore felt the most "real" and alive. There is a good amount of "pull" in the book, where you want to find out what happens next, and the style of writing is easy enough to breeze through, not too much description. Overall enjoyable enough, explored the theme of love and loyalty well. Wouldn't tell you not to read it but I also am not going to seek out more by this author.
December 30, 2019
I appreciated the focus on the trials of prisoners of the Japanese during WWII. Much of what we learn is about the Holocaust and concentration camps, and oftentimes in general we don't think about the Pacific front. That being said, I struggled to hold interest in this story. It seemed to meander in many different directions before finally getting to the point it was trying to make. I also didn't care for pretty much any of the characters. Charlotte was blah, and Georgina and Findlay were both vile. Yes, Georgina went through a lot, but it doesn't hand wave away her and Findlay's previous behavior. Her groaning about how Edith should "just forgive her already" was horrible. I'm in the minority here, but it just didn't do it for me.
October 25, 2018
I was looking for something different and I found it in this. Charlotte learns about Greyfriars House from her mother, who is dying. She learns the history of her family and when her mother dies Charlotte visits her elderly Great Aunts who live in seclusion. They sent Charlotte's mother a cryptic letter and now Charlotte seeks out the truth about a hidden past, This book was such a refreshing change from the phsycological thrillers that are flooding the shelves and all beginning to sound the same, I love the story, the history the family shares. A really worthwhile read.
March 2, 2019
What an intense, emotional and moving read. I couldn't put this book down, the emotions, the intensity, the mystery was so intriguing I had to know what happened next. Divided into different timelines with three different views all equally enthralling in both the past and the present. I saw another reviewer said she hugged the book when she finished it and quite frankly I did the same. All I can do is sit and think about the characters, how alive and vivid they felt and realize people experienced what they did and were probably just as lively as Emma wrote her characters. highly recommend.
April 3, 2019
GREAT book!!! I struggled a little bit with how long it took Georgina to tell her story to Charlotte, but from a book reading vantage point, I liked how the story was able to unfold with detail and clarity. There were some unexpected surprises and some inevitable outcomes, all of which I enjoyed watching unfold. It was hard to read about the WWII imprisonment and brutal treatment. The Japanese soldiers were harsh beyond any comprehension - and it was hard to read about Edith and Georgina's imprisonment.
Great book, great characters, and great storytelling!
Great book, great characters, and great storytelling!
March 26, 2018
Great read from Emma Fraser. Not many books are written about the japanese during the war especially about the women imprisoned and the treatment they received.
An interesting but horrifying read about two sisters and their lives during war in Singapore and afterwards. And then there is their niece who comes to see them with her own problems and how she learns what happened to the two great aunts and the repercussions that followed.
An interesting but horrifying read about two sisters and their lives during war in Singapore and afterwards. And then there is their niece who comes to see them with her own problems and how she learns what happened to the two great aunts and the repercussions that followed.
November 8, 2018
Intelligent, fascinating and thought-provoking
This book was very surprising, beautifully written, heart rending in places. It moves at a fast pace and the author has obviously done some research as some of the descriptions about the Japanese war camps were truly horrific. Their is some mystery to the story and towards the end it certainly surprised me. I highly recommend this book it would make a wonderful film. Well deserved of 5*
This book was very surprising, beautifully written, heart rending in places. It moves at a fast pace and the author has obviously done some research as some of the descriptions about the Japanese war camps were truly horrific. Their is some mystery to the story and towards the end it certainly surprised me. I highly recommend this book it would make a wonderful film. Well deserved of 5*
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