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Wychwood #2
Hallowdene
Former London journalist Elspeth Reeves is trying to carve a new life for herself in the sleepy Oxfordshire countryside until she's sent to cover the excavation of a notorious local witch's grave.
Three hundred years ago, her name mixed up with murder and black magic, Agnes Levett was hanged and then buried under an immense stone, to prevent her spirit from ever rising again. Elspeth investigates but soon finds there is far more to the old tale than meets the eye, as the surrounding area is rocked by a series of mysterious and brutal murders, all of people somehow connected with the dig.
She and her childhood friend DS Peter Shaw race to uncover the truth, but secrets lain buried for centuries are not easily discovered.
Three hundred years ago, her name mixed up with murder and black magic, Agnes Levett was hanged and then buried under an immense stone, to prevent her spirit from ever rising again. Elspeth investigates but soon finds there is far more to the old tale than meets the eye, as the surrounding area is rocked by a series of mysterious and brutal murders, all of people somehow connected with the dig.
She and her childhood friend DS Peter Shaw race to uncover the truth, but secrets lain buried for centuries are not easily discovered.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 18, 2018
18 people are currently reading
443 people want to read
About the author
George Mann
370 books675 followersGeorge Mann is an author and editor, primarily in genre fiction. He was born in Darlington, County Durham in 1978.
A former editor of Outland, Mann is the author of The Human Abstract, and more recently The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual in his Newbury and Hobbes detective series, set in an alternate Britain, and Ghosts of Manhattan, set in the same universe some decades later.
He wrote the Time Hunter novella "The Severed Man", and co-wrote the series finale, Child of Time.
He has also written numerous short stories, plus Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes audiobooks for Big Finish Productions. He has edited a number of anthologies including The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, The Solaris Book of New Fantasy and a retrospective collection of Sexton Blake stories, Sexton Blake, Detective, with an introduction by Michael Moorcock.
A former editor of Outland, Mann is the author of The Human Abstract, and more recently The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual in his Newbury and Hobbes detective series, set in an alternate Britain, and Ghosts of Manhattan, set in the same universe some decades later.
He wrote the Time Hunter novella "The Severed Man", and co-wrote the series finale, Child of Time.
He has also written numerous short stories, plus Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes audiobooks for Big Finish Productions. He has edited a number of anthologies including The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, The Solaris Book of New Fantasy and a retrospective collection of Sexton Blake stories, Sexton Blake, Detective, with an introduction by Michael Moorcock.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
October 11, 2018
HALLOWDENE by George Mann completely blew me away and I cannot wait for more from this talented writer.
After what happened before, Elspeth Reeves and DS Peter Shaw realise that sometimes there are things that occur that cannot be explained or understood, and when an archaeological dig results in a spate of murders in their usually sleepy village, they are unsure just what exactly they are up against. As new friendships are made, old friendships are tested, and Elspeth and Peter dig deeper into the history of the local witch and the community themselves, shocking secrets will become known and an evil determined on revenge will take centre stage.
Hypnotic, absorbing, and utterly unputdownable, HALLOWDENE by George Mann is the perfect blend of suspense and crime with a gothic edge. There is nothing about this book that I can pick apart as everything was spot on and left me wanting more from these characters. While HALLOWDENE is the second book in this series, it can easily be read as a standalone, but the writing is that fantastic that I highly recommend you buy both (Wychwood is the first book).
HALLOWDENE by George Mann is everything that you want and more from a novel and I highly recommend it to readers of every genre as there is something for everyone, and I really hope that this series is snapped up for our tv screens soon!
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
After what happened before, Elspeth Reeves and DS Peter Shaw realise that sometimes there are things that occur that cannot be explained or understood, and when an archaeological dig results in a spate of murders in their usually sleepy village, they are unsure just what exactly they are up against. As new friendships are made, old friendships are tested, and Elspeth and Peter dig deeper into the history of the local witch and the community themselves, shocking secrets will become known and an evil determined on revenge will take centre stage.
Hypnotic, absorbing, and utterly unputdownable, HALLOWDENE by George Mann is the perfect blend of suspense and crime with a gothic edge. There is nothing about this book that I can pick apart as everything was spot on and left me wanting more from these characters. While HALLOWDENE is the second book in this series, it can easily be read as a standalone, but the writing is that fantastic that I highly recommend you buy both (Wychwood is the first book).
HALLOWDENE by George Mann is everything that you want and more from a novel and I highly recommend it to readers of every genre as there is something for everyone, and I really hope that this series is snapped up for our tv screens soon!
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
December 13, 2018
Hallowdene is a solid follow-up to Wychwood. This time journalist Elspeth and police officer Peter team-up to investigate mysterious deaths in the usually sleepy Oxfordshire village which begin following the archaeological excavation of local witchy legend, Agnes Levett. Again, the writing was engaging and flowy, and there's a cast of intriguing characters (some immensely likable, some arseholes)to get to know. I do hope there are more to come in this series.
October 11, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed the latest installment of Midsomer Macabre - another small rural community shattered by a murder spree, this time with the vengeful ghost of a long dead witch looming over proceedings.
Mann keeps his plot bubbling away nicely whilst taking time to stir in a more mundane threat to Ellie and Peter’s relationship.
Entertaining, spooky thriller - perfect autumn reading.
3.5 stars
Full review to follow.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Mann keeps his plot bubbling away nicely whilst taking time to stir in a more mundane threat to Ellie and Peter’s relationship.
Entertaining, spooky thriller - perfect autumn reading.
3.5 stars
Full review to follow.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 29, 2018
I wanted a creepy book for the last week in October and I saw this, with the creepy title and the creepy cover. It's a bit of false advertising. What I got was a police procedural with only the tiniest hint of anything supernatural, which could have been explained as metal illness, and that only in the last 20 pages.
October 6, 2018
So, after recently romping through the folk-horror of Wychwood, I was very pleased to return to the fictional sleepy British village of Wilsby-under-Wychwood, where creepy things go on under the auspices of rural England. As a friend reading my last review said, “It’s like a cross between The Archers and Midsomer Murders, isn’t it?”
This time around, our heroine exiled from London, Elspeth Reeves has decided to stop in the village she grew up with, with her Mum. As a reporter she has taken on freelance work for the local newspaper and has been given the sort of cheerful reportage activity that makes up the culture of Rural England. Despite the unsettling events of the Carrion King in Wychwood, things over the last few months seem to be settling into a pleasant routine.
Her work takes on a more serious tone when she is asked to cover the excavation of an ancient grave in nearby Hallowdene, apparently that of Agnes Levett, a notorious witch. Three hundred years ago, Agnes was hanged and buried under an enormous stone, to prevent her spirit rising.
The excavation is noted by the press, and as readers of such stories might expect, in true M. R. James’ fashion, meddling with old graves leads to things unpleasant - murder, all of people connected to the dig and in a similar manner to what happened after Agnes’ execution. Ellie, with her childhood friend Detective Sergeant Peter Shaw, become involved in the case and try to discover the murderer/s and hopefully bring them to justice before further crimes are committed. It doesn’t help that the local Hallowdene Summer Fayre is only days away, which may be connected.
As is befitting a book in a series, things move on from the first book. Set a few months after Wychwood, we find that Ellie & Peter have started a relationship, which shouldn’t be a surprise to those who have read the first novel. There’s tension created as both are offered opportunities away from Wilsby-under-Wychwood, and they have to decide whether living in bucolic Wilsby is the right thing.
In addition to the lead characters we have the usual roll of odd subjects – there's the old lord of Hallowdene Manor, forced to sell his property at a time of austerity (and, keeping up with the times, of course Brexit is mentioned), the new owner determined to make the most of the site’s potential – which is why Agnes is being exhumed. In addition, there’s the local teenagers – Daisy, who works in the Hallowdene teashop, her girlfriend and the taciturn son of the café owner, for example, who become involved in the goings-on.
Of such matters, there’s quite a sympathetic view given of ancient witches, which I thought was an interesting take. Rather than seen as a figure of fear, it appears that Agnes was a healer, who helped the locals with herbs and medicines, but who was (perhaps unfairly) accused of using witchcraft when people did not get better – a superstition based on fear and ignorance at the time. I am sure that she was not the only one. Whilst modern day society has turned this sad event into a commercial Halloween-like parody (and there’s some relevant thoughts on such matters here), my general impression is that Agnes was much maligned – and (of course) may have returned for revenge.
By the end, all is resolved and sorted out nicely, although not everyone makes it to the finish, of course. The good news is that the reader is left with a feeling that it has been worth a visit, until the next time. It’s not particularly complicated or clever, but it is a refreshingly engaging read, which I finished in a few hours.
I look forward to the next.
This time around, our heroine exiled from London, Elspeth Reeves has decided to stop in the village she grew up with, with her Mum. As a reporter she has taken on freelance work for the local newspaper and has been given the sort of cheerful reportage activity that makes up the culture of Rural England. Despite the unsettling events of the Carrion King in Wychwood, things over the last few months seem to be settling into a pleasant routine.
Her work takes on a more serious tone when she is asked to cover the excavation of an ancient grave in nearby Hallowdene, apparently that of Agnes Levett, a notorious witch. Three hundred years ago, Agnes was hanged and buried under an enormous stone, to prevent her spirit rising.
The excavation is noted by the press, and as readers of such stories might expect, in true M. R. James’ fashion, meddling with old graves leads to things unpleasant - murder, all of people connected to the dig and in a similar manner to what happened after Agnes’ execution. Ellie, with her childhood friend Detective Sergeant Peter Shaw, become involved in the case and try to discover the murderer/s and hopefully bring them to justice before further crimes are committed. It doesn’t help that the local Hallowdene Summer Fayre is only days away, which may be connected.
As is befitting a book in a series, things move on from the first book. Set a few months after Wychwood, we find that Ellie & Peter have started a relationship, which shouldn’t be a surprise to those who have read the first novel. There’s tension created as both are offered opportunities away from Wilsby-under-Wychwood, and they have to decide whether living in bucolic Wilsby is the right thing.
In addition to the lead characters we have the usual roll of odd subjects – there's the old lord of Hallowdene Manor, forced to sell his property at a time of austerity (and, keeping up with the times, of course Brexit is mentioned), the new owner determined to make the most of the site’s potential – which is why Agnes is being exhumed. In addition, there’s the local teenagers – Daisy, who works in the Hallowdene teashop, her girlfriend and the taciturn son of the café owner, for example, who become involved in the goings-on.
Of such matters, there’s quite a sympathetic view given of ancient witches, which I thought was an interesting take. Rather than seen as a figure of fear, it appears that Agnes was a healer, who helped the locals with herbs and medicines, but who was (perhaps unfairly) accused of using witchcraft when people did not get better – a superstition based on fear and ignorance at the time. I am sure that she was not the only one. Whilst modern day society has turned this sad event into a commercial Halloween-like parody (and there’s some relevant thoughts on such matters here), my general impression is that Agnes was much maligned – and (of course) may have returned for revenge.
By the end, all is resolved and sorted out nicely, although not everyone makes it to the finish, of course. The good news is that the reader is left with a feeling that it has been worth a visit, until the next time. It’s not particularly complicated or clever, but it is a refreshingly engaging read, which I finished in a few hours.
I look forward to the next.
October 28, 2018
Enjoyable and easy to read, but sadly quite predictable and I've docked a star for overuse of the word 'parochial'. Perfectly pleasant but overall underwhelming, unfortunately.
October 28, 2020
Carrying on from Wychwood, George Mann once again captures a suspenseful horror thriller in a quaint rural British town. The story is dramatic and edgy, with lots of twists and mysteries waiting to be resolved. A perfect story if you want a horror that won’t keep you up at night, but keep you dreading what will happen to the main characters next!
October 19, 2018
I bloody love this series! Like Midsomer Murders but with added spooky shenanigans. Ellie and Peter come up against witchiness and murder with a dash of British folklore and loads more supernatural happenings. Loved it
July 23, 2020
Brilliant another page turner
Great characters
Fantastic heart in mouth action
Unputdownable
Recommend to family and friends that love horror police thriller .
Great characters
Fantastic heart in mouth action
Unputdownable
Recommend to family and friends that love horror police thriller .
March 9, 2024
Took me two months to finish this book. Why? Because it put me in a reading slump. So not worth it. 0.5/5
May 6, 2024
*3.75
June 30, 2021
Just couldn't get into this story DNF
August 21, 2022
Absolutely superb. Just like Wychwood I couldn’t put it down. I hope there’s another in the series!
September 23, 2019
I’m totally horrified! I can’t sleep.. I’m to scared to be alone in the dark.. I just know this will haunt me for the next few weeks. And I thought it would help to finish the book but apparently no!!!! (It’s worth a read if your not a scared baby like me) but ofc I have to read the first one now... I’m gonna regret it
November 12, 2018
Forbidding forests and myths that come back to haunt. Who could ask for more?
Jennifer Wren, an archaeologist, has been offered the opportunity to excavate the burial site of Agnes Levett, on the property belonging to the new owner of the manor, Hugh Walsey. The excavation is being recorded by the production team of Countrywide, a rural-affairs programme. The villagers of Hallowdene are divided about this excavation. One villager, Lee Stroud, is vehemently against the disturbance of the site because he’s sure that the witch’s curse will once again be set free to bring destruction and death to the villagers, just as had happened when Agnes Levett was originally hanged.
Agnes Levett was accused of murdering the wife of the then Lord of the Manor, Cuthbert Abbott. He demanded revenge and branded her a witch. The villagers hanged and buried her under a “witch’s stone” in the 1640s. Before she died, she cursed the village for wrongly accusing her of killing the Lady of the Manor.
Shortly after the “witch’s stone” is lifted and the body exhumed and identified as that of Agnes Levett, the first brutal murder occurs. Daisy Heddle, a young girl whose family have been part of the village since the 1600s goes into a trance-like state on the night of the murder. She’s terrified that she might have committed the crime, without knowing it. It’s not just Daisy who has doubts about herself, as the police also believe she could be the murderer.
Journalist Elspeth Reeves is fascinated by the myths surrounding Agnes Levett. She is convinced that Daisy is not the murderer. DS Peter Shaw, with whom she is in a relationship, is not as certain as she is. Elspeth decides to do her own investigations alongside that of the police - not just for her articles on the case for the newspapers but also to help Peter.
I thoroughly enjoyed Wychwood, the first book in the series, but Hallowdene is far more polished. George Mann has written a very convincing storyline. The protagonists are well drawn, very believable and now, with the second book, far easier to accept as “friends”, people I want to connect with again and again.
I love the mystery and drama that’s created by adding things like witches’ stones and village curses. How much do we mere mortals know about the influence of events that occurred in the past? Who are we to say that places aren’t cursed? And that’s exactly why this series is going to be a huge success. George Mann is making us question times and places we have personally visited, villages, forests or other mystical places and have felt that there is something strange about them and caused a feeling to come over you of something or someone watching you. In my case, lots of times, especially in forests!
Treebeard
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
Jennifer Wren, an archaeologist, has been offered the opportunity to excavate the burial site of Agnes Levett, on the property belonging to the new owner of the manor, Hugh Walsey. The excavation is being recorded by the production team of Countrywide, a rural-affairs programme. The villagers of Hallowdene are divided about this excavation. One villager, Lee Stroud, is vehemently against the disturbance of the site because he’s sure that the witch’s curse will once again be set free to bring destruction and death to the villagers, just as had happened when Agnes Levett was originally hanged.
Agnes Levett was accused of murdering the wife of the then Lord of the Manor, Cuthbert Abbott. He demanded revenge and branded her a witch. The villagers hanged and buried her under a “witch’s stone” in the 1640s. Before she died, she cursed the village for wrongly accusing her of killing the Lady of the Manor.
Shortly after the “witch’s stone” is lifted and the body exhumed and identified as that of Agnes Levett, the first brutal murder occurs. Daisy Heddle, a young girl whose family have been part of the village since the 1600s goes into a trance-like state on the night of the murder. She’s terrified that she might have committed the crime, without knowing it. It’s not just Daisy who has doubts about herself, as the police also believe she could be the murderer.
Journalist Elspeth Reeves is fascinated by the myths surrounding Agnes Levett. She is convinced that Daisy is not the murderer. DS Peter Shaw, with whom she is in a relationship, is not as certain as she is. Elspeth decides to do her own investigations alongside that of the police - not just for her articles on the case for the newspapers but also to help Peter.
I thoroughly enjoyed Wychwood, the first book in the series, but Hallowdene is far more polished. George Mann has written a very convincing storyline. The protagonists are well drawn, very believable and now, with the second book, far easier to accept as “friends”, people I want to connect with again and again.
I love the mystery and drama that’s created by adding things like witches’ stones and village curses. How much do we mere mortals know about the influence of events that occurred in the past? Who are we to say that places aren’t cursed? And that’s exactly why this series is going to be a huge success. George Mann is making us question times and places we have personally visited, villages, forests or other mystical places and have felt that there is something strange about them and caused a feeling to come over you of something or someone watching you. In my case, lots of times, especially in forests!
Treebeard
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
November 16, 2018
Book Two:
Former London journalist Elspeth Reeves is trying to carve a new life for herself in the sleepy Oxfordshire countryside until she’s sent to cover the excavation of a notorious local witch’s grave.
Three hundred years ago, her name mixed up with murder and black magic, Agnes Levett was hanged and then buried under an immense stone, to prevent her spirit from ever rising again. Elspeth investigates but soon finds there is far more to the old tale than meets the eye, as the surrounding area is rocked by a series of mysterious and brutal murders, all of people somehow connected with the dig.
She and her childhood friend DS Peter Shaw race to uncover the truth, but secrets lain buried for centuries are not easily discovered.
First Book Out: September 2017 Cover Used
Second Book Out: September 2018
George Mann:
George Mann is an author and editor, primarily in genre fiction. He was born in Darlington, County Durham in 1978.
A former editor of Outland, Mann is the author of The Human Abstract, and more recently The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual in his Newbury and Hobbes detective series, set in an alternate Britain, and Ghosts of Manhattan, set in the same universe some decades later.
He wrote the Time Hunter novella “The Severed Man”, and co-wrote the series finale, Child of Time.
He has also written numerous short stories, plus Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes audiobooks for Big Finish Productions. He has edited a number of anthologies including The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, The Solaris Book of New Fantasy and a retrospective collection of Sexton Blake stories, Sexton Blake, Detective, with an introduction by Michael Moorcock.
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
I had previously read and reviewed the first book of the Wychwood series, see link above.
I decided since a whole year had passed to re-read and then review the second book.
George Mann is a very talented writer with a clever premise to write about. Folklore, urban legends and a creepy old witch with a curse will keep you glued to the pages. The first book did well to set up the characters and introduce their inner workings; it also helped set up the setting surrounding them. The second book had a more fantasy, mystical feel to it with a deeper and darker mystery.
Mann has an excellent voice for this genre and really is doing well with building this series one wicked stone at a time. If you love crime-thrillers mixed with supernatural horror all wound together with intrigue and mysteries, then you’ll love this series. Buckle up and prepare for a hair-raising ride!
Former London journalist Elspeth Reeves is trying to carve a new life for herself in the sleepy Oxfordshire countryside until she’s sent to cover the excavation of a notorious local witch’s grave.
Three hundred years ago, her name mixed up with murder and black magic, Agnes Levett was hanged and then buried under an immense stone, to prevent her spirit from ever rising again. Elspeth investigates but soon finds there is far more to the old tale than meets the eye, as the surrounding area is rocked by a series of mysterious and brutal murders, all of people somehow connected with the dig.
She and her childhood friend DS Peter Shaw race to uncover the truth, but secrets lain buried for centuries are not easily discovered.
First Book Out: September 2017 Cover Used
Second Book Out: September 2018
George Mann:
George Mann is an author and editor, primarily in genre fiction. He was born in Darlington, County Durham in 1978.
A former editor of Outland, Mann is the author of The Human Abstract, and more recently The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual in his Newbury and Hobbes detective series, set in an alternate Britain, and Ghosts of Manhattan, set in the same universe some decades later.
He wrote the Time Hunter novella “The Severed Man”, and co-wrote the series finale, Child of Time.
He has also written numerous short stories, plus Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes audiobooks for Big Finish Productions. He has edited a number of anthologies including The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, The Solaris Book of New Fantasy and a retrospective collection of Sexton Blake stories, Sexton Blake, Detective, with an introduction by Michael Moorcock.
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
I had previously read and reviewed the first book of the Wychwood series, see link above.
I decided since a whole year had passed to re-read and then review the second book.
George Mann is a very talented writer with a clever premise to write about. Folklore, urban legends and a creepy old witch with a curse will keep you glued to the pages. The first book did well to set up the characters and introduce their inner workings; it also helped set up the setting surrounding them. The second book had a more fantasy, mystical feel to it with a deeper and darker mystery.
Mann has an excellent voice for this genre and really is doing well with building this series one wicked stone at a time. If you love crime-thrillers mixed with supernatural horror all wound together with intrigue and mysteries, then you’ll love this series. Buckle up and prepare for a hair-raising ride!
November 8, 2018
“Former London journalist Elspeth Reeves is trying to carve a new life for herself in the sleepy Oxfordshire countryside, until she’s sent to cover the excavation of a notorious local witch’s grave. Three hundred years ago, her name mixed up with murder and black magic, Agnes Levett was hanged and then buried under an immense stone, to prevent her spirit from ever rising again. Elspeth investigates, but soon finds there is far more to the old tale than meets the eye, as the surrounding area is rocked by a series of mysterious and brutal murders, all of the people somehow connected with the dig. She and her childhood friend DS Peter Shaw race to uncover the truth, but secrets lain buried for centuries are not easily discovered.”
I picked this up initially, due to the intriguing title, playing on the word Halloween. After reading the above blurb, my interest was piqued and I had to give it a read. This is the second book in the Wychwood series. I haven’t read the first book yet, but I can quite safely say that not reading the first book has not taken anything away from this one. There are references back to Wychwood, but it’s easy to pick up what had gone on, and as previously mentioned, it doesn’t detract from this one.
I love the fact that the book is set in my home country and when I was reading it, I felt like I was in a little English village. I actually felt like I was in an episode of Midsummer Murders! I had a sneaking suspicion that the author was British and was pleased to find that I was correct, after doing some digging. I think it’s easy to tell, as the British-ness of the characters feels really natural and unforced. Nowhere do you find any of the annoying stereotypes that can be so prevalent, when British characters are written by a non-British author.
The characters were a lovely array of personalities, ranging from pretentious, self important, crass old men with a hefty fortune to easy going, friendly everyday individuals like you and me. The feeling of a small, close knit village permeates throughout the book and as such, there was no skimping on the drama.
I love the fact that this book combines two of my favourite genres; crime and the supernatural. Throughout the book, I found myself constantly questioning whether the killer was flesh and blood or whether the deaths could be the result of something more sinister. Hallowdene turned out to be a really pleasant read; a somewhat lighter crime read than I’m used to picking up, which is a nice change and this made it so easy to read.
This got an easy 4 stars and I will definitely be reading Wychwood. If crime novels are your bag, I would advise giving this a go 🙂
I picked this up initially, due to the intriguing title, playing on the word Halloween. After reading the above blurb, my interest was piqued and I had to give it a read. This is the second book in the Wychwood series. I haven’t read the first book yet, but I can quite safely say that not reading the first book has not taken anything away from this one. There are references back to Wychwood, but it’s easy to pick up what had gone on, and as previously mentioned, it doesn’t detract from this one.
I love the fact that the book is set in my home country and when I was reading it, I felt like I was in a little English village. I actually felt like I was in an episode of Midsummer Murders! I had a sneaking suspicion that the author was British and was pleased to find that I was correct, after doing some digging. I think it’s easy to tell, as the British-ness of the characters feels really natural and unforced. Nowhere do you find any of the annoying stereotypes that can be so prevalent, when British characters are written by a non-British author.
The characters were a lovely array of personalities, ranging from pretentious, self important, crass old men with a hefty fortune to easy going, friendly everyday individuals like you and me. The feeling of a small, close knit village permeates throughout the book and as such, there was no skimping on the drama.
I love the fact that this book combines two of my favourite genres; crime and the supernatural. Throughout the book, I found myself constantly questioning whether the killer was flesh and blood or whether the deaths could be the result of something more sinister. Hallowdene turned out to be a really pleasant read; a somewhat lighter crime read than I’m used to picking up, which is a nice change and this made it so easy to read.
This got an easy 4 stars and I will definitely be reading Wychwood. If crime novels are your bag, I would advise giving this a go 🙂
October 6, 2018
'm grateful to Titan Books for an advance copy of Hallowdene.
In the sequel to Wychwood, Elspeth Reeves, ex London journalist returned to her roots in rural Oxfordshire, is back with a new case to investigate.
The idea of meddling archaeologists digging up something they shouldn't and unleashing dark forces isn't exactly new, but Mann handles it with aplomb, delighting in the conventions while subtlety twisting them. He gives us the eccentric villager warning of what will happen, sketches the background to the dig and brings in a whole host of rivalries and disputes that will cloud the picture - an argument over land, money problems, a rather nasty old man who won't keep his hands off waitress Daisy in the tea room, a rebellious daughter, and so on.
All in the pristine heart of rural England, overseen by the somewhat bemused DS Peter Shaw, Elspeth's sometime boyfriend.
If that makes you think of a certain long running ITV cosy crime series, I'm sure it's meant to and I mean that as no criticism. The tranquil village setting is just right to give substance and background when things begin to get dark and Mann creates a genuine air of uncertainty over just how far there really is a supernatural threat - in that respect the book is perhaps rather more nuanced than Wychwood - so the police investigation feels as though it has a real purpose, and isn't just a lot of bumbling coppers who should get out of the way so that the real facts can unfold.
It's also quite a page turner - I finished the book in a single day - and has some surprises up its sleeve before the end. Elspeth's relationship with DS Shaw gets some focus as she weighs her options and is tempted back to the Big City by a friend with a job offer - both she and DS Shaw, who has a prospect of promotion, need to work out where their priorities lie (I'll let you guess what happens!)
The only reservation I had was the "ancient pagan traditions trope" (they are so often neither ancient nor pagan...) which I always find a little annoying - but let's be honest, it's so rife in popular culture that there's little point getting picky.
In all, then, a solid addition to what's clearly shaping up to be a series, somewhat pared down compared to Wychwood and with a creepy sense of ambiguity. This certainly deserves its place on your pre Hallowe'en reading list.
In the sequel to Wychwood, Elspeth Reeves, ex London journalist returned to her roots in rural Oxfordshire, is back with a new case to investigate.
The idea of meddling archaeologists digging up something they shouldn't and unleashing dark forces isn't exactly new, but Mann handles it with aplomb, delighting in the conventions while subtlety twisting them. He gives us the eccentric villager warning of what will happen, sketches the background to the dig and brings in a whole host of rivalries and disputes that will cloud the picture - an argument over land, money problems, a rather nasty old man who won't keep his hands off waitress Daisy in the tea room, a rebellious daughter, and so on.
All in the pristine heart of rural England, overseen by the somewhat bemused DS Peter Shaw, Elspeth's sometime boyfriend.
If that makes you think of a certain long running ITV cosy crime series, I'm sure it's meant to and I mean that as no criticism. The tranquil village setting is just right to give substance and background when things begin to get dark and Mann creates a genuine air of uncertainty over just how far there really is a supernatural threat - in that respect the book is perhaps rather more nuanced than Wychwood - so the police investigation feels as though it has a real purpose, and isn't just a lot of bumbling coppers who should get out of the way so that the real facts can unfold.
It's also quite a page turner - I finished the book in a single day - and has some surprises up its sleeve before the end. Elspeth's relationship with DS Shaw gets some focus as she weighs her options and is tempted back to the Big City by a friend with a job offer - both she and DS Shaw, who has a prospect of promotion, need to work out where their priorities lie (I'll let you guess what happens!)
The only reservation I had was the "ancient pagan traditions trope" (they are so often neither ancient nor pagan...) which I always find a little annoying - but let's be honest, it's so rife in popular culture that there's little point getting picky.
In all, then, a solid addition to what's clearly shaping up to be a series, somewhat pared down compared to Wychwood and with a creepy sense of ambiguity. This certainly deserves its place on your pre Hallowe'en reading list.
December 26, 2018
I'm a big fan of George Mann's two steampunk series, Newbury and Hobbes and The Ghost of Manhattan, but Mann takes so long in between adventures that you just have to tide yourself over until the next one comes along. Fortunately, Mann also writes Doctor Who novels and Sherlock Holmes novels, but if you're looking for something spookier and more original, I suggest the Wychwood books. More contemporary than his other work, the Wychwood books are murder mysteries with just the slightest supernatural flavor and they are very, very English. Wychwood is a rural area, several hours away from London and Elspeth, a former London reporter whose come home to be near her mum after a nasty break-up and Peter, a local copper who just happens to be Elspeth's childhood chum and first love are on the case, solving mysteries, falling in love and chasing after all those things that go bump in the night. You don't need to read the first book, Wychwood, to appreciate Hallowdene, but the books makes several references to the Carrion King case from the first volume, so it probably wouldn't hurt. Hallowdene is a tiny hamlet, several hours outside of London and they've got a witch. Well, they had a witch, that is, back in the 1600's and they hung her from an old oak tree, 0nce they found her in the middle of a bloody ritual over the remains of Lady Abbott's body. Now, hundreds of years later, the witch is being disinterred to make way for a building development and people begin dying. Is it a curse? A coincidence? Something unnatural? Mann unravels his tightly wound little plot with practiced aplomb, introducing us to various suspects and ne'er-do-wells at a brisk pace until finally pulling it all together in an exciting, well-constructed conclusion that satisfies on almost every level. If you're a fan of Agatha Christie or those old sleepy English murder mysteries with a little witchcraft on the side, take a trip to Wychwood and the town of Hallowedene. You won't be bored.
October 13, 2018
I am so addicted to this series, I can't believe there are no more books out there to read yet!!! Although this is the second book in the Wychwood series, you can read this independently of the first book if you want to although I would strongly recommend starting from the beginning. That way, you can get a back story to the characters that are in this series and get a view of the 'bigger picture'.
This book takes us way in the past to three hundred years ago. I absolutely adore stories like this, so already this book is golden to me. You have the usual characters that I suspect will be the main focus of this series, Elspeth and DS Peter Shaw, and you meet more characters from this home town. Some of these characters are just innocent bystanders and some of them are not so innocent and hold onto the history of their families for a long time!
In this second book, I got more of a sense of Elspeth's home town, how the people in it operate and a bit more knowledge of the past. Such great history in this book and with the mystery of the past and present mixed in, it was definitely one of those stories that I could not put down.
I was completely addicted to this book and just could not put it down. Can't wait for the next one!
For more reviews, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
This book takes us way in the past to three hundred years ago. I absolutely adore stories like this, so already this book is golden to me. You have the usual characters that I suspect will be the main focus of this series, Elspeth and DS Peter Shaw, and you meet more characters from this home town. Some of these characters are just innocent bystanders and some of them are not so innocent and hold onto the history of their families for a long time!
In this second book, I got more of a sense of Elspeth's home town, how the people in it operate and a bit more knowledge of the past. Such great history in this book and with the mystery of the past and present mixed in, it was definitely one of those stories that I could not put down.
I was completely addicted to this book and just could not put it down. Can't wait for the next one!
For more reviews, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
October 2, 2023
Absolutely LOVED this book!!
Bought this from Postscript after the cover caught my eye and led me to read the blurb. (I’m a designer so I’m allowed to judge a book by its cover)
Couldn’t wait to get stuck in and honestly could not put it down! I didn’t realise it was the second in a new series but it’s not an immediate follow on, just another story in the characters world so I’m hoping I can now ready Wychwood and it won’t be a problem.
Anyway the book… brilliant! Kept me hooked at each chapter, it was sleep creeping in that made me put the book down.
Amazing characters, plots and environment. I could visualise the surroundings, the feelings and sense the noises and smells. Loved the relationship between Elspeth and Peter.
The book raised many questions and got you thinking from the offset, each one was answered and delivered and had the twists in there too.
I thought I’d figured out the plot but I was wrong and happy to be. Love a book that’s not predictable. (Guessed the relationship with Daisy though, my radars kinda built in)
Really enjoyed the book and can’t wait to read the first instalment, I hope Mann continues with this double act and grows the series 🥰
Brilliant. Just brilliant. Thank you.
Bought this from Postscript after the cover caught my eye and led me to read the blurb. (I’m a designer so I’m allowed to judge a book by its cover)
Couldn’t wait to get stuck in and honestly could not put it down! I didn’t realise it was the second in a new series but it’s not an immediate follow on, just another story in the characters world so I’m hoping I can now ready Wychwood and it won’t be a problem.
Anyway the book… brilliant! Kept me hooked at each chapter, it was sleep creeping in that made me put the book down.
Amazing characters, plots and environment. I could visualise the surroundings, the feelings and sense the noises and smells. Loved the relationship between Elspeth and Peter.
The book raised many questions and got you thinking from the offset, each one was answered and delivered and had the twists in there too.
I thought I’d figured out the plot but I was wrong and happy to be. Love a book that’s not predictable. (Guessed the relationship with Daisy though, my radars kinda built in)
Really enjoyed the book and can’t wait to read the first instalment, I hope Mann continues with this double act and grows the series 🥰
Brilliant. Just brilliant. Thank you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2021
"Well, Robyn, it's long been believed that this stone-" she patted the huge, moss-covered rock beside her "-is a 'witch stone', relating to a form of superstitious burial that, on rare occasions, was given to women who'd been denounced as witches. The practice is thought to originate from the seventeenth century , but has its roots in much earlier mythology."
Elspeth and Peter return in another Midsummer Murders meets the supernatural thriller!
When a nearby local village allow a team of archaeologists to examine the burial site under an infamous 'witch stone' it stirs up some misgiving due to the legend of the curse of Agnes Levett, the supposed witch under the stone.
Inevitable people start dying in mysterious circumstances and it is up to Elspeth and Peter to get to the bottom of the mystery.
These aren't quite fully cosy mysteries but the settings and the hint of paranormal interference make them an enjoyable read. I do hope that George Mann continues the series. 4 stars.
Elspeth and Peter return in another Midsummer Murders meets the supernatural thriller!
When a nearby local village allow a team of archaeologists to examine the burial site under an infamous 'witch stone' it stirs up some misgiving due to the legend of the curse of Agnes Levett, the supposed witch under the stone.
Inevitable people start dying in mysterious circumstances and it is up to Elspeth and Peter to get to the bottom of the mystery.
These aren't quite fully cosy mysteries but the settings and the hint of paranormal interference make them an enjoyable read. I do hope that George Mann continues the series. 4 stars.
May 10, 2020
Hallowdene is the second volume in George Mann’s series of crime novels with a folkloric twist, and continues where the previous novel Wychwood left off with the main characters Elspeth and Peter now more settled and ensconced in a relationship with each other. The story is an odd mix of police investigation and horror tropes, and sees an archaeological dig to exhume the remains of a legendary local witch Agnes Levett from beneath a centuries old pagan marker coincide with a spate of murders in a small village.
It is an easy going and enjoyable read, and succeeds as a sort of a television detective series version of a horror story (it’s horror without a capital H), that will appeal to fans of The Midsummer Murders ' and the Merrily Watkins mysteries. The story is lively but there's not much here to chew on for readers wanting a bit more depth, and the magic / horror elements feel a little bit tacked on and kind of fade into the background a bit , which is a shame.
It is an easy going and enjoyable read, and succeeds as a sort of a television detective series version of a horror story (it’s horror without a capital H), that will appeal to fans of The Midsummer Murders ' and the Merrily Watkins mysteries. The story is lively but there's not much here to chew on for readers wanting a bit more depth, and the magic / horror elements feel a little bit tacked on and kind of fade into the background a bit , which is a shame.
March 28, 2020
So apparently I wasn’t going to read nook 2 as soon as this, but here IK am reviewing it having read it already!
Style: George Mann writes in a very easy manner, something which probably only comes after the 8th draft! As a result, it’s quick and pleasurable. And it’s very English again. (Galumphing makes a reappearance!) There aren’t so many references to music or bands as in the first volume - which is either a good or bad thing depending on your perspective and knowledge of the bands mentioned.
Plot: This is, as someone else has put it, a ‘Macabre Midsommer Muders’. As such, there’s not a lot of depth or twist. Nevertheless, it keeps a reasonable pace. Although the ‘murder scenes’ are a bit easy to spot, there’s a nice tinge of the supernatural - which I felt was a little underdeveloped and really only served the purpose of providing room for backstory.
Characters: As usual, Mr Mann is a master at giving us characters which are well realised and drawn out - even if you loathe them! The relationship between the two main protagonists develops easily, but I had hoped for the inevitable tension to be better realised and more impactful.
Overall: I liked this second volume as much as the first. Where the first one succeeded in introducing us to places and people, this second didn’t develop much and I felt it was a bit ‘by-the-book’ with only a tinge of creative originality.
I still like George Mann’s style and setting and will read more. I just hope the next volume will be more intriguing and suspenseful.
Style: George Mann writes in a very easy manner, something which probably only comes after the 8th draft! As a result, it’s quick and pleasurable. And it’s very English again. (Galumphing makes a reappearance!) There aren’t so many references to music or bands as in the first volume - which is either a good or bad thing depending on your perspective and knowledge of the bands mentioned.
Plot: This is, as someone else has put it, a ‘Macabre Midsommer Muders’. As such, there’s not a lot of depth or twist. Nevertheless, it keeps a reasonable pace. Although the ‘murder scenes’ are a bit easy to spot, there’s a nice tinge of the supernatural - which I felt was a little underdeveloped and really only served the purpose of providing room for backstory.
Characters: As usual, Mr Mann is a master at giving us characters which are well realised and drawn out - even if you loathe them! The relationship between the two main protagonists develops easily, but I had hoped for the inevitable tension to be better realised and more impactful.
Overall: I liked this second volume as much as the first. Where the first one succeeded in introducing us to places and people, this second didn’t develop much and I felt it was a bit ‘by-the-book’ with only a tinge of creative originality.
I still like George Mann’s style and setting and will read more. I just hope the next volume will be more intriguing and suspenseful.
June 5, 2019
When I read Wychwood….the first book of the series….I not only enjoyed it, but I hoped that there would be a sequel….and there is. Hallowdene follows the central characters of journalist Elspeth Reeves and policeman Peter Shaw as they try to rationalise some aspects of the first supernatural murders they worked on, only to find another string of deaths happening on their doorsteps….once again seeming to be more than “normal” murders….if murder can ever be called “normal”. I do hope that there are more books planned in this series. It's an exciting mixture of crime fiction and the supernatural.
October 19, 2018
‘Without grace or remorse.’
Cracking follow-up novel to George Mann’s ‘Wychwood’.
In Hallowdene, Mann has perfected his blend of crime and the supernatural, offering a satisfying crime novel enhanced by the underplay of the supernatural. The two genres work to reinforce the other.
There are also pleasing inter-textual references, from Quatermass and creator Nigel Kneale’s preoccupation with trace memory to Robin Hardy’s film ‘The Wicker Man’ and its juxtaposition of folklore and horror. These references give the novel resonance and depth.
Cracking follow-up novel to George Mann’s ‘Wychwood’.
In Hallowdene, Mann has perfected his blend of crime and the supernatural, offering a satisfying crime novel enhanced by the underplay of the supernatural. The two genres work to reinforce the other.
There are also pleasing inter-textual references, from Quatermass and creator Nigel Kneale’s preoccupation with trace memory to Robin Hardy’s film ‘The Wicker Man’ and its juxtaposition of folklore and horror. These references give the novel resonance and depth.
November 11, 2018
This story is the perfect Halloween book.
It’s set in a creepy village in Oxfordshire, along with a haunting tale of witch folklore, twisted with murder and this eerie talk of a witch, you combine it and get this talented story. The characters are really capturing and the story is easily followed. I thoroughly enjoyed this, perfect read for this time of year!!
Also, if anyone enjoys a good witchy story as there isn’t many good ones around, I would also recommend reading “Hex” as that is also such an amazing story of folklore and another eerie village.
It’s set in a creepy village in Oxfordshire, along with a haunting tale of witch folklore, twisted with murder and this eerie talk of a witch, you combine it and get this talented story. The characters are really capturing and the story is easily followed. I thoroughly enjoyed this, perfect read for this time of year!!
Also, if anyone enjoys a good witchy story as there isn’t many good ones around, I would also recommend reading “Hex” as that is also such an amazing story of folklore and another eerie village.
May 31, 2020
I like George Mann's work but the Wychwood books do seem a bit formulaic. Describe a crime that seems supernatural, introduce the characters, more crimes and character stuff, then solve the crimes, blurring the lines between reality and supernatural occurrences, not explaining one way or the other.
I leant the first book to my mother and we both came to the conclusion that it felt like a TV show, and this feels the same. Unsurprisingly, I believe both books have been optioned for TV production.
The ideas are great but I just feel unsatisfied by the end.
I leant the first book to my mother and we both came to the conclusion that it felt like a TV show, and this feels the same. Unsurprisingly, I believe both books have been optioned for TV production.
The ideas are great but I just feel unsatisfied by the end.
August 18, 2022
What a perfect follow up Wytchwood. Journalist Elsphet is starting to feel more comfortable about leaving London and moving to a quiet country village in Oxfordshire. She’s hired to review the excavation of a witches grave. From there on the supernatural takes over this story and it just gets better and better. A thrilling horror mystery tale from 300 years in the past, comes alive and it’s up to Ellie and Peter to figure it out. No more. You must read the book if you want to know the whole story. It is well worth it!
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