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Marked
When freelance writer Kate Murray’s Great Aunt bequeaths her a cottage in remote south Kerry, she is overcome with the peace and beauty of the little stone house. Set high up a hillside overlooking the ocean, even David, her architect husband, falls in love with it. Determined that they should swap city for country, Dubliner Kate decides to try living her dream. Curiosity draws her to the ancient circle of standing stones at the end of the lane – stones that her elderly neighbour is strangely yet fiercely determined to keep everyone well away from. Little realising the grave danger she faces, Kate visits the stones at sunset and her life is set on a terrifying course that will bring her face to face with an ancient evil. As her dream of the country life rapidly turns into a nightmare, events at the cottage become more and more sinister. Why is the old lady so determined to keep people away? What does the Parish priest know that he isn’t telling her? Will Kate discover the secret to her personal haunting before it’s too late? Set in the ancient and atmospheric surrounds of rural Ireland in the winter time, this paranormal thriller will leave you reluctant to turn out the lights.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 22, 2017
127 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 2, 2025
Chilling Story In Need
Of Better Pacing...
MARKED: An Irish Paranormal Thriller
by B.E. Balfinny
No spoilers. 4 stars. Kate Murray inherited a secluded seaside cottage from her great aunt Grace Turner...
She and her husband Dave traveled there hoping that they might make the move permanently from Dublin to the quaint little stone house in County Kerry, Ireland...
The next morning, they decide to follow the lane the cottage sat on to see the view from the top. It was listed as a national landmark...
As they pass the last cottage on the lane...
A cantankerous old woman warned them away, saying the rest of the lane is her private property...
No trespassing...
After Dave returned to Dublin on Business...
Miffed by the nerve of the old woman, Kate decided to climb to the top of the lane
Despite the warning...
On top, in a clearing surrounded by upright stones, the air suddenly became cold and there was a smell of carrion...
Kate's animal senses kicked in, and she decided to go back down the lane and go home...
As she ran through the tree-filled lane, something followed her home...
I rated this novel 3 1/2 stars. The story was atmospheric and interesting, although a bit slow moving.
Of Better Pacing...
MARKED: An Irish Paranormal Thriller
by B.E. Balfinny
No spoilers. 4 stars. Kate Murray inherited a secluded seaside cottage from her great aunt Grace Turner...
She and her husband Dave traveled there hoping that they might make the move permanently from Dublin to the quaint little stone house in County Kerry, Ireland...
The next morning, they decide to follow the lane the cottage sat on to see the view from the top. It was listed as a national landmark...
As they pass the last cottage on the lane...
A cantankerous old woman warned them away, saying the rest of the lane is her private property...
No trespassing...
After Dave returned to Dublin on Business...
Miffed by the nerve of the old woman, Kate decided to climb to the top of the lane
Despite the warning...
On top, in a clearing surrounded by upright stones, the air suddenly became cold and there was a smell of carrion...
Kate's animal senses kicked in, and she decided to go back down the lane and go home...
As she ran through the tree-filled lane, something followed her home...
I rated this novel 3 1/2 stars. The story was atmospheric and interesting, although a bit slow moving.
July 20, 2021
No depth
Felt this book could of been so much better. No depth. The ending was disappointing .
The characters lacking , except for the dog Patch. Perhaps there could be more books on Patch.
Felt this book could of been so much better. No depth. The ending was disappointing .
The characters lacking , except for the dog Patch. Perhaps there could be more books on Patch.
March 3, 2024
Had me hooked
This story actually had me looking around my bedroom , genuinely spooky and very enjoyable. The author really brought to life rural lreland.
This story actually had me looking around my bedroom , genuinely spooky and very enjoyable. The author really brought to life rural lreland.
August 19, 2018
Truly creepy tale!
Finished the book in one sitting, it was that good! Loved the characters, and being set in Ireland was a definite bonus for setting an atmosphere of a good haunted tale. I did find myself a little disappointed with how little time was spent explaining the rocks and the evil within, and how it was supposed to be possibly contained now that the only living member of the family who truly knew the story, was not around to give insight or hope that it could be conquered one more. Maybe that will be addressed in a later volume? Anyway, eagerly awaiting opening the next installment to see what happens next.
Finished the book in one sitting, it was that good! Loved the characters, and being set in Ireland was a definite bonus for setting an atmosphere of a good haunted tale. I did find myself a little disappointed with how little time was spent explaining the rocks and the evil within, and how it was supposed to be possibly contained now that the only living member of the family who truly knew the story, was not around to give insight or hope that it could be conquered one more. Maybe that will be addressed in a later volume? Anyway, eagerly awaiting opening the next installment to see what happens next.
January 12, 2018
The short first chapter telling of an old woman gathering items together before leaving the house to complete a task she wasn’t looking forward to, but something that had to be done, is a great hook and gives the immediate sense that something untoward is in the offing.
As the only living relative, Dubliner Kate Murray has inherited her great aunt’s cottage in Westcove, County Kerry. Kate couldn’t believe her luck and she and her husband David were on their way to see what state the old cottage was in. Pleasantly surprised to find it liveable, and with a spectacular backdrop, they set about settling in. Kate wanted to swap city for country living and hoped she could persuade David, then Kate could live her dream.
**She turned to him and followed his gaze. He had his back to the front of the cottage and was staring out over the front garden to the view beyond. Her breath caught. How had she not noticed that a minute ago? The view was stunning. The hillside plunged out of sight below the end of the front garden but there was an uninterrupted view over the lower land along the coast and out to sea. A shard of sunlight sliced through the cloud-crowded sky and fell on the rock-strewn pasture, the purple crags of the shore and the blue-grey sea.**
Kate’s enthusiasm and feeling for the cottage is clear and it does seem idyllic. Even Dave seems to be coming round to the idea of living there. While exploring their immediate vicinity, they have a strange encounter with the old woman who lives in the last cottage at the end of their lane. She does her best to make sure they keep their distance and stay away from that end of the lane. Kate and Dave learn a little more about the old woman from the proprietress of the village shop when they go to stock up on supplies. Kate’s curiosity is aroused when she learns there’s a stone circle on the hill past the old woman’s cottage. Old Fingal’s Rocks. One evening, as she finds the gap in the hedge leading up the hill to the standing stones, Kate has no idea of the danger and the nightmare that will be unleashed after her visit.
Written in the third person, the narrative flows well and is easy to read. B.E. Balfinny’s descriptive prose certainly conveys Kerry’s ancient and rugged beauty, as well as the atmosphere of an unforgiving, wintry and mystical landscape. The existence of the supernatural seems entirely possible and believable. The feeling of menace and evil is distinct, it gave me goosebumps. As things became more sinister Kate was either very brave or very foolish, I’d have been out of there quick smart…. although it may have already been too late. Great writing and an excellent debut. If you like supernatural horror without the gore this could be for you. I’ll be interested to see what the follow up offers.
As the only living relative, Dubliner Kate Murray has inherited her great aunt’s cottage in Westcove, County Kerry. Kate couldn’t believe her luck and she and her husband David were on their way to see what state the old cottage was in. Pleasantly surprised to find it liveable, and with a spectacular backdrop, they set about settling in. Kate wanted to swap city for country living and hoped she could persuade David, then Kate could live her dream.
**She turned to him and followed his gaze. He had his back to the front of the cottage and was staring out over the front garden to the view beyond. Her breath caught. How had she not noticed that a minute ago? The view was stunning. The hillside plunged out of sight below the end of the front garden but there was an uninterrupted view over the lower land along the coast and out to sea. A shard of sunlight sliced through the cloud-crowded sky and fell on the rock-strewn pasture, the purple crags of the shore and the blue-grey sea.**
Kate’s enthusiasm and feeling for the cottage is clear and it does seem idyllic. Even Dave seems to be coming round to the idea of living there. While exploring their immediate vicinity, they have a strange encounter with the old woman who lives in the last cottage at the end of their lane. She does her best to make sure they keep their distance and stay away from that end of the lane. Kate and Dave learn a little more about the old woman from the proprietress of the village shop when they go to stock up on supplies. Kate’s curiosity is aroused when she learns there’s a stone circle on the hill past the old woman’s cottage. Old Fingal’s Rocks. One evening, as she finds the gap in the hedge leading up the hill to the standing stones, Kate has no idea of the danger and the nightmare that will be unleashed after her visit.
Written in the third person, the narrative flows well and is easy to read. B.E. Balfinny’s descriptive prose certainly conveys Kerry’s ancient and rugged beauty, as well as the atmosphere of an unforgiving, wintry and mystical landscape. The existence of the supernatural seems entirely possible and believable. The feeling of menace and evil is distinct, it gave me goosebumps. As things became more sinister Kate was either very brave or very foolish, I’d have been out of there quick smart…. although it may have already been too late. Great writing and an excellent debut. If you like supernatural horror without the gore this could be for you. I’ll be interested to see what the follow up offers.
February 3, 2021
Frustrated !
I loved the story however the constant " am I going mad" and the many " oh well I'm just going to forget it for now" moments when no real person would have just had a bath and gone to bed alone in the house or a walk outside and no panic on returning to find things like the door wide open, who the hell would go inside and bolt themselves in?! But the ending left too many open and unanswered things, ended too suddenly when the pace had just ramped up and had no satisfying concludion. It was as if the story ideas had just run out so the end sentence was added. I could go on but it will give too many spoilers. To sum up to much padding and not s satisfying ending. I loved it apart from that. I just wish the missing chunks of the story were in the book instead of the padding which would have been ok if the book was longer and more happened with the lose ends. There could almost be another book, I must admit I actually looked for a book two thinking this was just the first part of the story, maybe taken up from David's perspective at the point this ends following the lose ends and possibly a different ending. Oh and why did Kate never look at the pictures she took. In my head I've planned out the whole book two, more than happy to pass on to author lol.
I loved the story however the constant " am I going mad" and the many " oh well I'm just going to forget it for now" moments when no real person would have just had a bath and gone to bed alone in the house or a walk outside and no panic on returning to find things like the door wide open, who the hell would go inside and bolt themselves in?! But the ending left too many open and unanswered things, ended too suddenly when the pace had just ramped up and had no satisfying concludion. It was as if the story ideas had just run out so the end sentence was added. I could go on but it will give too many spoilers. To sum up to much padding and not s satisfying ending. I loved it apart from that. I just wish the missing chunks of the story were in the book instead of the padding which would have been ok if the book was longer and more happened with the lose ends. There could almost be another book, I must admit I actually looked for a book two thinking this was just the first part of the story, maybe taken up from David's perspective at the point this ends following the lose ends and possibly a different ending. Oh and why did Kate never look at the pictures she took. In my head I've planned out the whole book two, more than happy to pass on to author lol.
June 22, 2021
The story follows Kate and her husband David. When her almost-forgotten great-aunt dies, Kate inherits the old lady’s cottage in the beautiful countryside of south Kerry. Working and renting in Dublin, the couple decides to go and take a look at the country cottage, with Kate romanticising the place and the idea of a more beautiful, affordable life in the country.
“… I’ve only ever been here in summertime, and I recall even then it was often pretty bleak. And it was a long time ago.”
David snorted. “Bleak? It’s a shame old Gracie couldn’t have left you a cottage somewhere with a more hospitable climate, like a rainforest. Or the moon.”
4% in, Chapter 2, Marked by B. E. Balfinny
However, it doesn’t take long for Kate and David to fall in love with the place and look to the logistics of relocating to their new and unexpected home. But when a crotchety neighbour tears them off a strip for wandering too far up the lane, will Kate and David be able to resist the allure of the ancient stone circle and its secrets? And is the danger just as real as the beauty of the area?
I loved this story. Okay, there are some typos, but I was on the edge of my seat throughout and so I forgive those. Cannot wait for the next instalment. Brava.
“… I’ve only ever been here in summertime, and I recall even then it was often pretty bleak. And it was a long time ago.”
David snorted. “Bleak? It’s a shame old Gracie couldn’t have left you a cottage somewhere with a more hospitable climate, like a rainforest. Or the moon.”
4% in, Chapter 2, Marked by B. E. Balfinny
However, it doesn’t take long for Kate and David to fall in love with the place and look to the logistics of relocating to their new and unexpected home. But when a crotchety neighbour tears them off a strip for wandering too far up the lane, will Kate and David be able to resist the allure of the ancient stone circle and its secrets? And is the danger just as real as the beauty of the area?
I loved this story. Okay, there are some typos, but I was on the edge of my seat throughout and so I forgive those. Cannot wait for the next instalment. Brava.
September 2, 2025
This is a pretty short book. But not short enough. It should have been a short story, at most. The premise was intriguing. Just not enough to carry me to the end.
Simply, there was just too much tell, tell, tell: needless dialogue—word-for-word insignificant conversation—and detailed descriptions of the day-to-day. Most of the book didn’t add anything to the story.
On top of that, almost nothing happened in the first half of the book. I believe it was near half way that Kate finally visited the site. Way too much nonsense before kickstarting the plot.
I tried to piece my way through this for three weeks. I finally gave up. At about 50% I was just speed skimming. Even with that, I was still mostly keeping up with what was going on—which was still mostly nothing. Scared dog; scratches on the doors.
Oh, and, if I read that K was compelled to tell David about her experience but decided not too or got detracted I was going to yank some hair out.
Simply, there was just too much tell, tell, tell: needless dialogue—word-for-word insignificant conversation—and detailed descriptions of the day-to-day. Most of the book didn’t add anything to the story.
On top of that, almost nothing happened in the first half of the book. I believe it was near half way that Kate finally visited the site. Way too much nonsense before kickstarting the plot.
I tried to piece my way through this for three weeks. I finally gave up. At about 50% I was just speed skimming. Even with that, I was still mostly keeping up with what was going on—which was still mostly nothing. Scared dog; scratches on the doors.
Oh, and, if I read that K was compelled to tell David about her experience but decided not too or got detracted I was going to yank some hair out.
March 13, 2018
Great eerie thriller
Very good and thrilling story. Couldn't put it down. Written quite well, there are some typos but it doesn't put your off, I could live with that. I have enjoyed the story about Katie and Dave.
Katie inherited a cottage from her great aunt and she is very excited to see it, she always thought to move out to the country side, away from the city.
But something is right when she stays alone in the cottage. Worth a read 😀 good characters and good development within the story, not to long and not to short, definitely a good eerie book.
Never wrong to have a dog in such place, felt sorry for little patch. And the end is not really an end......
Was put off a bit because you don't know what happens when Dave found her wedding ring. I hope the second book will catch up where it stops?
Very good and thrilling story. Couldn't put it down. Written quite well, there are some typos but it doesn't put your off, I could live with that. I have enjoyed the story about Katie and Dave.
Katie inherited a cottage from her great aunt and she is very excited to see it, she always thought to move out to the country side, away from the city.
But something is right when she stays alone in the cottage. Worth a read 😀 good characters and good development within the story, not to long and not to short, definitely a good eerie book.
Never wrong to have a dog in such place, felt sorry for little patch. And the end is not really an end......
Was put off a bit because you don't know what happens when Dave found her wedding ring. I hope the second book will catch up where it stops?
August 16, 2020
Very engaging story and seriously creepy at times. Finished it late at night and it took a while to stop feeling freaked out and spooked. The ending was a shock and left me feeling bereft for Patch; I have a deep yearning for a better ending for her and wished the story had continued. It would have been nice to have had more background on the “presence” and the purpose behind Mrs Flannery’s guardianship and to have seen the translation. There are quite a few typos and bad grammar but nothing that spoils the flow of the story. There is tell of a second book but it doesn’t appear to be a continuation of this story and nothing has been published so far from my searches.
December 17, 2023
Really good read excellent story well written. I was a little disappointed with the ending, but enjoyed the ride. In some ways I think taking the ending may well have spoilt the whole story, so maybe the choice of ending was the right one.
I was looking to add more books by the author to my reading list but disappointingly neither goodreads or amazon have anymore books in their library and he has apparently written more that are part of a series.
I was looking to add more books by the author to my reading list but disappointingly neither goodreads or amazon have anymore books in their library and he has apparently written more that are part of a series.
March 25, 2024
This book had its scary moments, but there were just a few. The main character didn't use her common sense and that made her a stupid character. This book could have been so much better if she would have acted like a normal person. Because of this, I found myself being annoyed while reading the book.
August 28, 2018
Absolutely brilliant couldn't wait to come home from work to read more love it a very talented writer will be watching out for your next book d ill
Will be putting it in my goodreads so all my friends and family can read a good old fashion Irish horror
Will be putting it in my goodreads so all my friends and family can read a good old fashion Irish horror
May 28, 2021
Wow!
Edge of my seat...spent 2 nights up way too late unable to stop reading it. Terrifying description and I would guess written by someone who has had personal experience with this kind of fear.
Disappointed to find this is the only one so far! Keep writing!
Edge of my seat...spent 2 nights up way too late unable to stop reading it. Terrifying description and I would guess written by someone who has had personal experience with this kind of fear.
Disappointed to find this is the only one so far! Keep writing!
October 27, 2025
I really enjoyed this story. I loved the whole concept and the characters and location.
I do wish there had been a little more of the legend and a battle against it. It ends pretty suddenly and I felt a bit let down. Patch was a highlight for me.
I do wish there had been a little more of the legend and a battle against it. It ends pretty suddenly and I felt a bit let down. Patch was a highlight for me.
July 4, 2018
It was okay. The writing was solid and the characters well developed. It just felt a bit toothless until right at the end.
December 23, 2018
Gripping tead
Suspenseful read. Kate inherits an old cottage in Kerry, Ireland. Unfortunately the picturesque new home also has a dark side.
Suspenseful read. Kate inherits an old cottage in Kerry, Ireland. Unfortunately the picturesque new home also has a dark side.
June 22, 2019
Couldn't put it down
Completely unexpected twists and turns. Couldn't put down until I'd got to the totally unexpected ending,didn't see that coming,still got the creeps.
Completely unexpected twists and turns. Couldn't put down until I'd got to the totally unexpected ending,didn't see that coming,still got the creeps.
July 16, 2019
A great paranormal mystery with a very unusual ending that was not anticipated. I enjoyed reading it!
March 24, 2020
A novel which kept me in suspense right until the end, very well written and a story that I will not forget easily.
July 11, 2020
Loved it until the very end. I would have preferred it to go on and end differently but it was still very good.
October 19, 2021
Awesome
This book is awesome I loved every minute of it. This book will keep you in it, couldn't put it down
This book is awesome I loved every minute of it. This book will keep you in it, couldn't put it down
May 15, 2022
A great, quick, spooky read!
September 17, 2023
Ugh. I wanted to love this book. The relationships felt so surface level, the character development wasn’t great. I LOVED the heroic border collie!! But that ending…. I thought I was missing the next chapter. Nothing about this story felt like there was enough explanation or details.
March 2, 2018
No idea what to expect going into this, I found it to be a slow burning but gripping tale of supernatural horror. Definitely worth picking up. For a while it even had me believing Kerry might be a great place, which is no mean feat.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews