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In a Cottage in a Wood
A strange encounter...
Neve comes across a troubled woman called Isabelle on Waterloo Bridge late one night. Isabelle forces a parcel into Neve’s hands and jumps to her death in the icy Thames below.
An unexpected gift...
Two weeks later, as Neve’s wreck of a life in London collapses, an unexpected lifeline falls into her lap – a charming cottage in Cornwall left to her by Isabelle, the woman on the bridge. The solution to all her problems.
A Twisted secret...
But when Neve arrives, alone in the dark woods late one night, she finds a sinister-looking bungalow with bars across its windows. And her dream home quickly becomes her worst nightmare – a house hiding a twisted secret that will change her life forever…
Neve comes across a troubled woman called Isabelle on Waterloo Bridge late one night. Isabelle forces a parcel into Neve’s hands and jumps to her death in the icy Thames below.
An unexpected gift...
Two weeks later, as Neve’s wreck of a life in London collapses, an unexpected lifeline falls into her lap – a charming cottage in Cornwall left to her by Isabelle, the woman on the bridge. The solution to all her problems.
A Twisted secret...
But when Neve arrives, alone in the dark woods late one night, she finds a sinister-looking bungalow with bars across its windows. And her dream home quickly becomes her worst nightmare – a house hiding a twisted secret that will change her life forever…
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 21, 2017
1412 people are currently reading
9170 people want to read
About the author
Cass Green
6 books358 followersCass Green is the pseudonym of Caroline Green, an award-winning author of fiction for young people. Her first novel, Dark Ride won the Rona Young Adult Book of the Year and the Waverton Good Read Award. Cracks and Hold Your Breath garnered rave reviews and were shortlisted for eleven awards between them. She is the Writer in Residence at East Barnet School and teaches Writing for Children at City University. The Woman Next Door is her first novel for adults.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,286 reviews
October 1, 2017
Having listened to Cass Green’s debut, The Woman Next Door on audiobook, I found it a perfectly acceptable light read that required minimal engagement but ended with a rather disappointing whimper. Sadly, it never felt like it had the substance for a decent psychological thriller but I was more optimistic about her second foray, In A Cottage In A Wood, largely for her ambitious statement that she set out to scare her readers and spooked herself through writing. I readily admit to expecting some edge of the seat reading! Disappointingly though, I found that with less than one third of the book remaining I was still trying to work out it was standard chick-lit or out and out romance, for the spine-tingling sensation was distinctly lacking. At the very best, this is 95 percent of undemanding reading for a disappointing damp squib of a denouement in the final 5 percent.
In A Cottage In A Wood opens with thirty-year-old receptionist, Neve Carey, waking up bleary-eyed from a joyless one night stand after her office Christmas party, with a man who irritatingly confused ‘pacific’ with ‘specific’. Facing the dismal prospect of trekking through a freezing cold London and heading ‘home’ to the sofa bed residence of her big sister, Lou and her disapproving brother-in-law, she is not in the best of moods. Contemplating the break-up with her partner of four-years, Daniel, a dead end receptionist job, losing her female friends to impending motherhood and the grief of her father’s recent death, things really can only get better in the new year for Neve. However, before even making it back home a startlingly encounter on Waterloo Bridge with a troubled woman of approximately her own age leaves Neve as witness to a suicide when the woman jumps to her death in the icy Thames as she foists a brown envelope on Neve. Unsettled by the woman’s refined appearance, flimsy dress and rather intense manner, follow-up calls to the police provide an identity and the discovery that the woman had sewed lead into the bottom of the clothing, clearly signalling her intent to die.
As January begins everything in Neve’s world still feels strangely off-kilter as she struggles with the guilt that bearing witness to a suicide brings and the uneasy truce of living with her sisters family. When the police forward a letter from a solicitors firm in Salisbury which insist that it very much in Neve’s interest to pay them a visit she is astounded to be told of the deathbed gift left to her by the woman whose suicide she witnessed - Isabelle Aster Shawcross. With nothing to lose and little worth staying in London for an impulsive Neve heads to the delightful sounding Petty Whin Cottage in Cornwall. Remembering Isabelle’s final words as she jumped to her death, “keep it, if you can bear to”, Neve’s first impression is of a squat, gloomy property with a distinctly unwelcoming air and she quickly begins to see what her benefactor meant. Whilst Neve still doesn’t feel that she has any right to the property the prison bars on the window and multiple locks make her wonder why Isabelle was so obviously scared for her safety. With the kitchen filthy, the doorstep discoveries of dead magpies and the sabotaged toilet, Neve begins to understand how Isabelle was driven to such a state of distraction that she took her own life. As Neve introduces herself to the local neighbours, in the form of gruff and rather rude, Richard Shawcross, brother to Isabelle and the aspirational husband and wife, architect Sally and former head-teacher, Will Gardner, she is met by a curious evasiveness to provide any real background on the woman whose cottage she now occupies, save for their allusions to her mental instability and fragile state of mind. Awkward Matty Gardner, son of Sally and Will is a gloomy and vaguely threatening presence with an attachment to Isabelle, and as a series of disconcerting events play out - locks unfastened, the radio turning itself on and off and so forth, Neve at first wonders if Matty is trying to drive her out or if there is a far darker and significantly sinister secret awaiting her...
As pressure to sell begins to mount due to Neve’s precarious finances and with the local estate agent insistent to arrange a meeting, a determined Neve feels that the least she can do is find out just what or who Isabelle Shawcross was so scared of and the story of the woman’s life. As a frustrated Neve battles along and refuses to be cowed, she pieces together several clues and goes to increasing lengths to uncover Isabelle’s story and her staggering place in the woman’s life, which in turn, threatens to devastate all that she herself knows. After so much build-up, the ‘surprise’ awaiting the reader comes as a disappointment and feels somewhat rushed with little or no examination of its impact on Neve’s future life. Although the opening chapters of In A Cottage In A Wood held some promise and the story makes coherent sense, it is neither creepy or delivers genuine suspense. All in all the novel has a few reasonably funny moments, some witty dialogue and several well-defined characters, but sadly it just lacks the critical component of intrigue.
In A Cottage In A Wood opens with thirty-year-old receptionist, Neve Carey, waking up bleary-eyed from a joyless one night stand after her office Christmas party, with a man who irritatingly confused ‘pacific’ with ‘specific’. Facing the dismal prospect of trekking through a freezing cold London and heading ‘home’ to the sofa bed residence of her big sister, Lou and her disapproving brother-in-law, she is not in the best of moods. Contemplating the break-up with her partner of four-years, Daniel, a dead end receptionist job, losing her female friends to impending motherhood and the grief of her father’s recent death, things really can only get better in the new year for Neve. However, before even making it back home a startlingly encounter on Waterloo Bridge with a troubled woman of approximately her own age leaves Neve as witness to a suicide when the woman jumps to her death in the icy Thames as she foists a brown envelope on Neve. Unsettled by the woman’s refined appearance, flimsy dress and rather intense manner, follow-up calls to the police provide an identity and the discovery that the woman had sewed lead into the bottom of the clothing, clearly signalling her intent to die.
As January begins everything in Neve’s world still feels strangely off-kilter as she struggles with the guilt that bearing witness to a suicide brings and the uneasy truce of living with her sisters family. When the police forward a letter from a solicitors firm in Salisbury which insist that it very much in Neve’s interest to pay them a visit she is astounded to be told of the deathbed gift left to her by the woman whose suicide she witnessed - Isabelle Aster Shawcross. With nothing to lose and little worth staying in London for an impulsive Neve heads to the delightful sounding Petty Whin Cottage in Cornwall. Remembering Isabelle’s final words as she jumped to her death, “keep it, if you can bear to”, Neve’s first impression is of a squat, gloomy property with a distinctly unwelcoming air and she quickly begins to see what her benefactor meant. Whilst Neve still doesn’t feel that she has any right to the property the prison bars on the window and multiple locks make her wonder why Isabelle was so obviously scared for her safety. With the kitchen filthy, the doorstep discoveries of dead magpies and the sabotaged toilet, Neve begins to understand how Isabelle was driven to such a state of distraction that she took her own life. As Neve introduces herself to the local neighbours, in the form of gruff and rather rude, Richard Shawcross, brother to Isabelle and the aspirational husband and wife, architect Sally and former head-teacher, Will Gardner, she is met by a curious evasiveness to provide any real background on the woman whose cottage she now occupies, save for their allusions to her mental instability and fragile state of mind. Awkward Matty Gardner, son of Sally and Will is a gloomy and vaguely threatening presence with an attachment to Isabelle, and as a series of disconcerting events play out - locks unfastened, the radio turning itself on and off and so forth, Neve at first wonders if Matty is trying to drive her out or if there is a far darker and significantly sinister secret awaiting her...
As pressure to sell begins to mount due to Neve’s precarious finances and with the local estate agent insistent to arrange a meeting, a determined Neve feels that the least she can do is find out just what or who Isabelle Shawcross was so scared of and the story of the woman’s life. As a frustrated Neve battles along and refuses to be cowed, she pieces together several clues and goes to increasing lengths to uncover Isabelle’s story and her staggering place in the woman’s life, which in turn, threatens to devastate all that she herself knows. After so much build-up, the ‘surprise’ awaiting the reader comes as a disappointment and feels somewhat rushed with little or no examination of its impact on Neve’s future life. Although the opening chapters of In A Cottage In A Wood held some promise and the story makes coherent sense, it is neither creepy or delivers genuine suspense. All in all the novel has a few reasonably funny moments, some witty dialogue and several well-defined characters, but sadly it just lacks the critical component of intrigue.
May 28, 2018
This one started out really good for me. I was drawn in.
Neve, is at a crossroads in her life. Hating her job, living with her sister and her boyfriend has dumped her. One night she meets a stranger on the Waterloo Bridge in London. The stranger seems to be disoriented and in distress. She exchanges a few words with Neve and hands her an envelope then jumps to her death. Neve is distraught and is contacted by the police days later. The strange lady has left her a cottage in Cornwall. Neve has many questions but decides to go ahead and move there. It is run-down and in the middle of no where. No wi-fi and the power does not always work. This set-up a bit of creepiness. From this point on I found the story to move rather slowly and I did not really care for the character of Neve.
There were many questions left to answer. Who was the stranger? What was her story? Why did she leave Neve the cottage? It kept me reading but the story did not pick-up until near the end. Some twists and turns were revealed. It wasn't enough really to keep me all that interested.
Neve, is at a crossroads in her life. Hating her job, living with her sister and her boyfriend has dumped her. One night she meets a stranger on the Waterloo Bridge in London. The stranger seems to be disoriented and in distress. She exchanges a few words with Neve and hands her an envelope then jumps to her death. Neve is distraught and is contacted by the police days later. The strange lady has left her a cottage in Cornwall. Neve has many questions but decides to go ahead and move there. It is run-down and in the middle of no where. No wi-fi and the power does not always work. This set-up a bit of creepiness. From this point on I found the story to move rather slowly and I did not really care for the character of Neve.
There were many questions left to answer. Who was the stranger? What was her story? Why did she leave Neve the cottage? It kept me reading but the story did not pick-up until near the end. Some twists and turns were revealed. It wasn't enough really to keep me all that interested.
May 28, 2018
I’m really surprised I didn’t see the plot unraveling sooner than it did. Usually I’m smarter than that (ha ha). I wanted this to be a 5 but it fell short. The beginning and middle were so damn slow and the end was great but that didn’t save the story.
Neve, a girl is waking home one evening when she sees another young girl standing in the cold on a bridge. She stops to attempt to help her and that’s when the story takes its turn. Neve then moves out to a cottage in the woods to help herself and to get her life in order when strange things start to happen.
Then the ending has the best surprise twist but that damn beginning and middle just ruined it for me. Not a horrible story but slow and a bit draggy.
Neve, a girl is waking home one evening when she sees another young girl standing in the cold on a bridge. She stops to attempt to help her and that’s when the story takes its turn. Neve then moves out to a cottage in the woods to help herself and to get her life in order when strange things start to happen.
Then the ending has the best surprise twist but that damn beginning and middle just ruined it for me. Not a horrible story but slow and a bit draggy.
April 18, 2018
Neve Carey comes across a dishevelled woman on Waterloo Bridge one late night her name is Isabelle Shawcross She doesn't talk but gives Neve a Brown envelope then throws herself into the black water below, Neve is shocked & in haste leaves quickly, she forgets about that fateful night & returns to her sister Lou & husband Steve who she is living with, Neve tells Lou what she just witnessed & Lou told her to tell the police which is the obvious thing to do.
Its not until Neve gets a call from Isabelles solicitor to come & see them ASAP Neve doesnt know why they want to see her so goes there only to finsd she has been left Little Winn Cottage she is dumbfounded & Isabelle was a stranger she eventually decides to move there but when she does it looks creepy & in the middle of nowhere.
She gets inside only to find there are bars on all the windows which she finds strange its not until she meetys her neighbours Sally & Will Gardner that she is given some background on Isabelle, she finds out that Isabelle has tried to commit suicide before when living in Australia this terrifies Neve & wonders what more she is hiding.
As Neve stays in the cottage she fears for her safety as things seem to disappear & there is a lot of things that go bump in the night happeneing, until finally Neve has had enough & asks a lot of qiestions but Sally & will cant help her with.
We find out more about Isabelle in letters she writes to her Granny when young there are a lot of secrets to be found & there is a twist at the end that i didnt see coming.
MY THOUGHTS
I found this to be a bit of a slow burn in the beginnibg but once all the pieces came together i thoroughly enjoyed this one i wasnt inlove with the characters but that didnt stop the tension, as i said its slow but also a page turner as i wanted to know about Isabelle. Its dark aspect of Isabelles character had me glued to every page. 4 stars
Its not until Neve gets a call from Isabelles solicitor to come & see them ASAP Neve doesnt know why they want to see her so goes there only to finsd she has been left Little Winn Cottage she is dumbfounded & Isabelle was a stranger she eventually decides to move there but when she does it looks creepy & in the middle of nowhere.
She gets inside only to find there are bars on all the windows which she finds strange its not until she meetys her neighbours Sally & Will Gardner that she is given some background on Isabelle, she finds out that Isabelle has tried to commit suicide before when living in Australia this terrifies Neve & wonders what more she is hiding.
As Neve stays in the cottage she fears for her safety as things seem to disappear & there is a lot of things that go bump in the night happeneing, until finally Neve has had enough & asks a lot of qiestions but Sally & will cant help her with.
We find out more about Isabelle in letters she writes to her Granny when young there are a lot of secrets to be found & there is a twist at the end that i didnt see coming.
MY THOUGHTS
I found this to be a bit of a slow burn in the beginnibg but once all the pieces came together i thoroughly enjoyed this one i wasnt inlove with the characters but that didnt stop the tension, as i said its slow but also a page turner as i wanted to know about Isabelle. Its dark aspect of Isabelles character had me glued to every page. 4 stars
November 28, 2019
Neve's life is a mess. She recently broke up with her boyfriend, has no place to go and an unfortunate drinking habit. Perpetually hung over and disappointed in her job, friends, and family, Neve experiences a shocking event on a London bridge that changes her life forever.
Now the proud owner of a cottage in the woods, Neve can hardly believe her good fortune. But when unexplained events begin to haunt her waking hours, she begins to question whether it was luck that led her to the bridge or something else entirely.
"This really is happening quite legally, Neve," she says in a gentle voice. "You own Petty Whin Cottage and everything in it. It's all yours now." pg 48, ebook
Cass Green has crafted a suspenseful mystery with an unreliable narrator that holds your attention but doesn't necessarily deliver on the thrills. But it is enjoyable enough for what it is.
I read In a Cottage In a Wood in just a few sittings with a mug of hot chocolate in my hand while a winter storm raged outside. I think the book is a good choice to pass a few hours and I could also see it being an interesting pick for book clubs.
Green is at her best when building a growing sense of isolation and Neve's teeth-on-edge feelings at the cottage, all while utilizing every day events that could be completely innocuous. What's so scary about power outages, a dead bird and a dog getting outside the fence? It's in the timing and the incremental increase in emotional tension, which Green has down perfectly.
Neve is a relatable character even while making poor choices. I found myself cheering her on, hoping she finds whatever it is she's looking for to bring some peace to her soul. But the unreliable narrator bit has been used a great deal lately, hasn't it?
Recommended for readers who like to use suspenseful thrillers as a brief escape from reality.
Now the proud owner of a cottage in the woods, Neve can hardly believe her good fortune. But when unexplained events begin to haunt her waking hours, she begins to question whether it was luck that led her to the bridge or something else entirely.
"This really is happening quite legally, Neve," she says in a gentle voice. "You own Petty Whin Cottage and everything in it. It's all yours now." pg 48, ebook
Cass Green has crafted a suspenseful mystery with an unreliable narrator that holds your attention but doesn't necessarily deliver on the thrills. But it is enjoyable enough for what it is.
I read In a Cottage In a Wood in just a few sittings with a mug of hot chocolate in my hand while a winter storm raged outside. I think the book is a good choice to pass a few hours and I could also see it being an interesting pick for book clubs.
Green is at her best when building a growing sense of isolation and Neve's teeth-on-edge feelings at the cottage, all while utilizing every day events that could be completely innocuous. What's so scary about power outages, a dead bird and a dog getting outside the fence? It's in the timing and the incremental increase in emotional tension, which Green has down perfectly.
Neve is a relatable character even while making poor choices. I found myself cheering her on, hoping she finds whatever it is she's looking for to bring some peace to her soul. But the unreliable narrator bit has been used a great deal lately, hasn't it?
Recommended for readers who like to use suspenseful thrillers as a brief escape from reality.
September 8, 2017
Neve comes across a troubled woman on Waterloo bridge. Her name is Isabelle. She pushes a parcel,into Neves hands then jumps to her death into the Thames below. A few weeks later she learns that Isabelle, (the woman on the bridge), has left her a cottage in Cornwall. Is this a solution to all of Neve's problems?
Mysterious events keep happening to Neve. The pace is quite slow at times with little incidents happening throughout. We have to wait until nearly the end for the twists to occur and I admit I never saw it coming. I had a different sinarios playing out for the ending. There are parts that are quite creepy. The ending was rushed and it was a bit disappointing as well.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Cass Green for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Mysterious events keep happening to Neve. The pace is quite slow at times with little incidents happening throughout. We have to wait until nearly the end for the twists to occur and I admit I never saw it coming. I had a different sinarios playing out for the ending. There are parts that are quite creepy. The ending was rushed and it was a bit disappointing as well.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Cass Green for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2018
Some experienced readers of thrillers might well find In a Cottage in a Wood a trifle closer to a cozy than to a ’gripping new psychological thriller’, but when Isabelle throws herself off Blackfriars Bridge into the Thames on a freezing night, that was quite chilling enough for me, even before we find out she’s added curtain weights to the hem of her gown to insure against rescue. One reason that I enjoyed this book is its using what is usually a romantic comedy plot – character at her wit’s end getting a letter for a solicitor’s office in someplace lovely like Somerset or Cornwall (I keep watching the letterbox for Exeter postmarks). And we have the standards: cottage is a fixer-upper but village provides attractive unattached handyman as well as colourful local pub, and we have the neighbours who seem eager to help Neve settle in. Actually some of our usual elements prove a lot more sinister than we expected. If you’re like me and find the notion of a nice dog getting kicked in the ribs much more outrageous than someone who needs killing getting his just deserts, you’ll find the story ‘gripping’ enough. It was also a most striking coincidence that we read this book the week that the parole of the black cab rapist was much in the news, as a similar situation plays a role in this story. I had a few reservations as well, but they are hidden in the spoiler section of January’s group read for the Kindle English Mystery Group.
December 5, 2017
It didn’t take me very long to get into this book, but unfortunately, a mix of irritating characters and clunky writing found me not loving this book in the end.
This book is definitely one that gets straight into the mystery and piques your intrigue quickly. From the moment we met Isabelle on the bridge and the strange encounter she had with Neve, I couldn’t wait to find out why and what was happening! The plot for this one definitely drew me in straight away, and that’s something I really loved about this book. The plot was presented to us so suddenly and so mysteriously, you really wanted to know what was happening and it so it keeps you reading!
I did find that some of this story was really drawn out and I felt there were parts that could have been missed out. For example, when Never first arrives at the cottage and goes for a walk, she stops of at a clearing on the beach and the writing makes it in to a really big deal. I thought “look out for this same spot later on in the story then!”, yes nothing comes of it! It was just extra fluff to add to the word count.
To begin with, I didn’t mind the characters in this novel. The fiestiness of Neve felt sassy and fun, but after a while a character that doesn’t grow in personality can become really irritating and laborious to read about. There weren’t really many other big characters in this one, we mainly focused on Neve and her daily potterings-about. With the other characters that did feature in this novel, it was easy to spot what their motives were, or if they were placed in the novel for the purpose of being a scapegoat. It’s not fun when you can see through the characters this easily!
I liked the descriptions and scenery in this one, but the writing became repetitive in terms of phrases or things said by characters, which is always a negative in my eyes! There’s no need to repeat things over and over again throughout a book, it just feels like a waste of time to read.
Despite all my whinging, I did enjoy this book more than not, and I think other less fussy readers would love this! I’m am a super picky reader, I know this, and I know I pick faults in books that are really niche, but that’s just the kind of reader I am!
Thanks to HarperCollins for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book is definitely one that gets straight into the mystery and piques your intrigue quickly. From the moment we met Isabelle on the bridge and the strange encounter she had with Neve, I couldn’t wait to find out why and what was happening! The plot for this one definitely drew me in straight away, and that’s something I really loved about this book. The plot was presented to us so suddenly and so mysteriously, you really wanted to know what was happening and it so it keeps you reading!
I did find that some of this story was really drawn out and I felt there were parts that could have been missed out. For example, when Never first arrives at the cottage and goes for a walk, she stops of at a clearing on the beach and the writing makes it in to a really big deal. I thought “look out for this same spot later on in the story then!”, yes nothing comes of it! It was just extra fluff to add to the word count.
To begin with, I didn’t mind the characters in this novel. The fiestiness of Neve felt sassy and fun, but after a while a character that doesn’t grow in personality can become really irritating and laborious to read about. There weren’t really many other big characters in this one, we mainly focused on Neve and her daily potterings-about. With the other characters that did feature in this novel, it was easy to spot what their motives were, or if they were placed in the novel for the purpose of being a scapegoat. It’s not fun when you can see through the characters this easily!
I liked the descriptions and scenery in this one, but the writing became repetitive in terms of phrases or things said by characters, which is always a negative in my eyes! There’s no need to repeat things over and over again throughout a book, it just feels like a waste of time to read.
Despite all my whinging, I did enjoy this book more than not, and I think other less fussy readers would love this! I’m am a super picky reader, I know this, and I know I pick faults in books that are really niche, but that’s just the kind of reader I am!
Thanks to HarperCollins for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
November 23, 2019
EXCERPT: 'Please,' says the woman emphatically. 'Can you just tell me your name?'
Neve stares at her for a moment before replying. 'Neve....Neve Carey. Um, what's yours?'
'Isabelle,' says the woman in barely a whisper, and then, with more force, 'Neve, will you do something for me?'
She pictures herself getting on the night bus with this strange wraithlike creature and both of them rocking up at Lou's. Clearing her throat, she has to work hard not to sound sulky.
'Uh, yes, I guess,' she says. 'But it depends on what it is.'
Isabelle opens the clutch bag and produces a small brown envelope. 'I want you to take this.'
Neve hesitates and eyes it suspiciously. 'What is it?'
'It's a gift. For being kind to me.'
Neve takes a step back and holds up her palms. 'Look, I've done nothing. I just don't want you freezing to death on my conscience. I'm not that kind, trust me. I'm actually a bit of a cow. Ask anyone.'
'You are kind,' says Isabelle quietly. 'I can sense it. Will you take this, just to humor me? Say you will. say it.'
Neve stares back at the woman, discomforted by her intense, strange manner.
A passing car washes them with its headlights. For a moment Isabelle looks cadaverous, her eyes sunk deep in pockets of shadow.
'It's important, she says fiercely. 'Please.'
Neve is so unnerved now that all she can do is thrust out her hand and take the envelope.
Isabelle's shoulders droop and she seems to shrink in on herself.
'Thank you,' she says quietly. 'Thank you so much.'
She fumbles inside the bag and, after producing a mobile phone, turns away and whispers something quietly into it. Then she returns the phone to the bag and looks at Neve. Her eyes are gleaming now, as if she is close to tears.
'You should go,' she says thickly. 'I'll be fine here.'
it's tempting.
Neve sighs heavily.
'Come on,'she says. 'Let's get the fuck off this freezing cold bridge. where do you need to get to? I can -'
'No.' The sharp retort makes her gasp. 'I'm sorry, but you need to go now. Leave me here. You shouldn't be -'
She seems to bite the end of her sentence off and, for the first time, Neve sees that she is terrified in a way that neve has never witnessed before in real life.
Neve crosses her arms.
'No way,' she says. 'I'm not leaving you here. It's bloody cold, and -'
She yelps as Isabelle lunges, kissing her quickly on each cheek with cold dry lips. Her grip is surprisingly strong. Neve feels a flash of fear as Isabelle's lips brush her ear.
'I'm sorry. Please forgive me. And keep it, if you can bear to.'
Then she turns to face the water and, in one neat movement, climbs over the side of the railing and jumps into the river.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: A strange encounter...
Neve comes across a troubled woman called Isabelle on Waterloo Bridge late one night. Isabelle forces a parcel into Neve’s hands and jumps to her death in the icy Thames below.
An unexpected gift...
Two weeks later, as Neve’s wreck of a life in London collapses, an unexpected lifeline falls into her lap – a charming cottage in Cornwall left to her by Isabelle, the woman on the bridge. The solution to all her problems.
A Twisted secret...
But when Neve arrives, alone in the dark woods late one night, she finds a sinister-looking bungalow with bars across its windows. And her dream home quickly becomes her worst nightmare – a house hiding a twisted secret that will change her life forever…
MY THOUGHTS: Although I didn't find this creepy, or suspenseful, it was an interesting mystery. No more. No less. I enjoyed it, although Neve is terribly immature and I felt sorry for her sister Lou who seems to spend her life picking Neve up and setting her on her feet again. None of the characters are particularly likeable, and I mean none, but that's okay - they don't need to be.
I kept changing my mind about who was behind all the things that had happened to Isabelle, and were now happening to Neve. There were plenty of suspects. I did pick the correct one, then discarded them. So it's not entirely predictable. I still don't quite know how I felt about the motive, but then more has been done for less gain.
And the ending? Well, I think a whole nother book could be written about that. And yes, I would read more from this author.
***
THE AUTHOR: Cass Green is the pseudonym of Caroline Green, an award-winning author of fiction for young people. Her first novel, Dark Ride won the Rona Young Adult Book of the Year and the Waverton Good Read Award. Cracks and Hold Your Breath garnered rave reviews and were shortlisted for eleven awards between them. She is the Writer in Residence at East Barnet School and teaches Writing for Children at City University. The Woman Next Door is her first novel for adults.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of In a Cottage in a Wood by Cass Green, narrated by Lisa Coleman and Helen Keeley, published by Harper Collins, via Overdrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This and other reviews are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Neve stares at her for a moment before replying. 'Neve....Neve Carey. Um, what's yours?'
'Isabelle,' says the woman in barely a whisper, and then, with more force, 'Neve, will you do something for me?'
She pictures herself getting on the night bus with this strange wraithlike creature and both of them rocking up at Lou's. Clearing her throat, she has to work hard not to sound sulky.
'Uh, yes, I guess,' she says. 'But it depends on what it is.'
Isabelle opens the clutch bag and produces a small brown envelope. 'I want you to take this.'
Neve hesitates and eyes it suspiciously. 'What is it?'
'It's a gift. For being kind to me.'
Neve takes a step back and holds up her palms. 'Look, I've done nothing. I just don't want you freezing to death on my conscience. I'm not that kind, trust me. I'm actually a bit of a cow. Ask anyone.'
'You are kind,' says Isabelle quietly. 'I can sense it. Will you take this, just to humor me? Say you will. say it.'
Neve stares back at the woman, discomforted by her intense, strange manner.
A passing car washes them with its headlights. For a moment Isabelle looks cadaverous, her eyes sunk deep in pockets of shadow.
'It's important, she says fiercely. 'Please.'
Neve is so unnerved now that all she can do is thrust out her hand and take the envelope.
Isabelle's shoulders droop and she seems to shrink in on herself.
'Thank you,' she says quietly. 'Thank you so much.'
She fumbles inside the bag and, after producing a mobile phone, turns away and whispers something quietly into it. Then she returns the phone to the bag and looks at Neve. Her eyes are gleaming now, as if she is close to tears.
'You should go,' she says thickly. 'I'll be fine here.'
it's tempting.
Neve sighs heavily.
'Come on,'she says. 'Let's get the fuck off this freezing cold bridge. where do you need to get to? I can -'
'No.' The sharp retort makes her gasp. 'I'm sorry, but you need to go now. Leave me here. You shouldn't be -'
She seems to bite the end of her sentence off and, for the first time, Neve sees that she is terrified in a way that neve has never witnessed before in real life.
Neve crosses her arms.
'No way,' she says. 'I'm not leaving you here. It's bloody cold, and -'
She yelps as Isabelle lunges, kissing her quickly on each cheek with cold dry lips. Her grip is surprisingly strong. Neve feels a flash of fear as Isabelle's lips brush her ear.
'I'm sorry. Please forgive me. And keep it, if you can bear to.'
Then she turns to face the water and, in one neat movement, climbs over the side of the railing and jumps into the river.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: A strange encounter...
Neve comes across a troubled woman called Isabelle on Waterloo Bridge late one night. Isabelle forces a parcel into Neve’s hands and jumps to her death in the icy Thames below.
An unexpected gift...
Two weeks later, as Neve’s wreck of a life in London collapses, an unexpected lifeline falls into her lap – a charming cottage in Cornwall left to her by Isabelle, the woman on the bridge. The solution to all her problems.
A Twisted secret...
But when Neve arrives, alone in the dark woods late one night, she finds a sinister-looking bungalow with bars across its windows. And her dream home quickly becomes her worst nightmare – a house hiding a twisted secret that will change her life forever…
MY THOUGHTS: Although I didn't find this creepy, or suspenseful, it was an interesting mystery. No more. No less. I enjoyed it, although Neve is terribly immature and I felt sorry for her sister Lou who seems to spend her life picking Neve up and setting her on her feet again. None of the characters are particularly likeable, and I mean none, but that's okay - they don't need to be.
I kept changing my mind about who was behind all the things that had happened to Isabelle, and were now happening to Neve. There were plenty of suspects. I did pick the correct one, then discarded them. So it's not entirely predictable. I still don't quite know how I felt about the motive, but then more has been done for less gain.
And the ending? Well, I think a whole nother book could be written about that. And yes, I would read more from this author.
***
THE AUTHOR: Cass Green is the pseudonym of Caroline Green, an award-winning author of fiction for young people. Her first novel, Dark Ride won the Rona Young Adult Book of the Year and the Waverton Good Read Award. Cracks and Hold Your Breath garnered rave reviews and were shortlisted for eleven awards between them. She is the Writer in Residence at East Barnet School and teaches Writing for Children at City University. The Woman Next Door is her first novel for adults.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of In a Cottage in a Wood by Cass Green, narrated by Lisa Coleman and Helen Keeley, published by Harper Collins, via Overdrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This and other reviews are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
September 21, 2017
London, December 21st, 2016. Neve Cary has woken up in a hotel after having a one-night stand with ‘whatsisname’. She tries to sneak out without him knowing, but he wakes up, then checks his wallet to make sure she is not stealing from him. Neve, feeling angry that he could actually believe that she would do that, leaves the room and walks out of the hotel into the cold December air. As she gets to Waterloo bridge, she spots a woman standing all alone on the bridge. The woman has no coat on and appears to be rather distressed. Neve, though very reluctantly, takes pity on the woman, asks her if she is ok and explains where the stop is for the night bus. Neve asks the woman if she can phone her friend or someone. The woman thanks her for being so kind and asks Neve her name and says that her name is Isabelle. Isabelle passes Neve a small brown envelope, then jumps into the Thames river. Neve is shocked and phones the emergency services, who search for Isabelle, but cannot find her. After answering the police’s questions and giving them her details, Neve continues walking home.
Neve’s life is currently in turmoil. She is broke, she’s split with her boyfriend Daniel and is currently staying with her sister Lou and Steve, her brother in law. Steve is reluctantly tolerating her staying with them and keeps asking her if she has found somewhere to live.
A couple of months pass, then Laura Meade contacts Neve to say that Isabelle Aster Shawcross, has left Neve her cottage in Cornwall. Laura explains about the ‘donatio mortis causa’ clause in Isabelle’s will. After some deliberation, Neve quits her job, collects her belongings from Lou’s house, then catches the bus to Cornwall. She’s going to the cottage to try and sort her life out.
By the time the bus arrives at Truro is it late evening and gets a taxi to take her to the cottage in the village of Cador. She cannot really afford to spend £30 on a taxi, but has no alternative. The cottage turns out to be in the middle of nowhere. She uses her phone light to unlock the 4 locks on the door in the given sequence, and eventually manages to open the door. Once inside Neve switches on the light only to find that the cottage is filthy and sees that there is a dead magpie in the kitchen sink ugh. She cleans the sink, disposes of the putrid contents of the bin, whilst mumbling to herself that this was probably a bad idea coming here.
The cottage is freezing cold. Neve notices an A4 file containing ‘ESSENTIAL INSTRUCTIONS’. In it, Neve finds the instructions on how to light the ancient boiler. The radiators are now slowly warming up. Neve realises that she is hungry and goes in search of food. All she can find is a tin of tomatoes, some pasta, some peanut butter and manages to make herself a cup of very sweet black coffee. She eats the meagre meal and being so tired falls asleep in the chair.
Suddenly she awakes, finds the cottage is in darkness and realises that there is someone else in the room. Standing up to investigate, Neve grabs her empty coffee cup for protection, when something brushes past her leg – she realises it’s a cat!
Wishing that she had read all the instructions in the file, using her phone’s light she quickly flicks through them and finds that the electric is via a pay as you go meter. Neve manages to find matches and t.lights in the kitchen. After lighting some, she snuggles back into the chair and falls asleep.
The following morning, Neve begins to look around. She notices that there are metal bars at all the windows making the place look like a fortress, very strange indeed. Deciding that she needs to find a shop, Neve puts on her coat and boots and goes outside, making sure to lock all the locks. As she walks up the path, she glances back towards the cottage and notices that it is a very ugly 1950s building, not her idea of what an idyllic cottage in the country looks like at all.
Neve walks up to the main road and decides to walk in the opposite direction to the way she travelled last night in the taxi. She walks for miles, but still hasn’t found a shop and it’s now raining. She curses Isabelle Shawcross for leaving her the horrible ugly cottage in the middle of nowhere. Neve hears a car approaching and tucks herself into the side of the road for safety. The car stops and a woman pops her head out of the window to say hello. She introduces herself as Sally Gardner. They talk a while and then Sally offers to take Neve to the supermarket, and invites her to dinner that evening. Neve now feels more optimistic about the cottage.
Back from the supermarket, Neve makes herself something to eat. She then decides to have a look around outside. but finds that her coat is still soaked. Neve decides to wear Isabelle’s waxed jacket that was hanging by the door, goes outside and senses that someone is watching her. Shivering she puts her hands into the pockets and finds a piece of paper. On it is written:
Ring plumber
HMP LL 14/07/16
PBH date TBC
Suddenly sensing someone is there, she sees a car parked in the lane. Neve rushes to the gate to find a man in his 60s. He mutters something out loud. Neve asks him what he wants, but instead of answering he rushes to his car and drives off.
Noticing the time, Neve gets herself ready for dinner. Sally said she would pick Neve up, but instead Sally’s husband Will, comes instead. He asks if he can use the bathroom before they leave. It turns out that The Spinney, Sally and Will’s home is only a couple of minutes away, and slightly further on is Richard Shawcross’s home, the brother of Isabelle. During dinner Neve meets Matty, Sally and Will’s son. She finds him rather strange. He asks her if they have met before and Neve says no. After a lovely dinner and hearing more details about Isabelle, Will walks Neve back to her cottage. She starts to unlock all the 4 locks, but finds that only one is locked – strange, she could have sworn that she locked all 4. Once inside the cottage, she decides that tonight she will sleep in the bed. She gets clean bedding from out of the wardrobe. As she is stripping the bed, a knife falls onto the floor and she wonders what Isabelle was so afraid of. Neve gets into bed, then hears a tap tap tap, but the noise soon stops and she falls asleep.
Strange mysterious events keep happening. Neve has no alternative but to spend money that she can ill afford and her funds deplete. She gradually gathers information together bit by bit, by searching and talking to people. Isabelle’s life is starting to sound rather sinister. Neve wonders if she will be safe if she continues to stay in the cottage, after all Isabelle did not think she was. Can she solve the puzzle and stay safe?
This is a great novel by Cass Green and I really enjoyed reading it. Green describes all the characters very well. Neve, is rather a selfish woman who tends to have a me me me attitude, never grateful for what she has in life and expects others to be at her beck and call. As the story progresses, Neve starts to evolve into a much nicer person. I will read more of Cass Green.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Harper Collins and Cass Green for the advanced digital copy in return for the above review.
Neve’s life is currently in turmoil. She is broke, she’s split with her boyfriend Daniel and is currently staying with her sister Lou and Steve, her brother in law. Steve is reluctantly tolerating her staying with them and keeps asking her if she has found somewhere to live.
A couple of months pass, then Laura Meade contacts Neve to say that Isabelle Aster Shawcross, has left Neve her cottage in Cornwall. Laura explains about the ‘donatio mortis causa’ clause in Isabelle’s will. After some deliberation, Neve quits her job, collects her belongings from Lou’s house, then catches the bus to Cornwall. She’s going to the cottage to try and sort her life out.
By the time the bus arrives at Truro is it late evening and gets a taxi to take her to the cottage in the village of Cador. She cannot really afford to spend £30 on a taxi, but has no alternative. The cottage turns out to be in the middle of nowhere. She uses her phone light to unlock the 4 locks on the door in the given sequence, and eventually manages to open the door. Once inside Neve switches on the light only to find that the cottage is filthy and sees that there is a dead magpie in the kitchen sink ugh. She cleans the sink, disposes of the putrid contents of the bin, whilst mumbling to herself that this was probably a bad idea coming here.
The cottage is freezing cold. Neve notices an A4 file containing ‘ESSENTIAL INSTRUCTIONS’. In it, Neve finds the instructions on how to light the ancient boiler. The radiators are now slowly warming up. Neve realises that she is hungry and goes in search of food. All she can find is a tin of tomatoes, some pasta, some peanut butter and manages to make herself a cup of very sweet black coffee. She eats the meagre meal and being so tired falls asleep in the chair.
Suddenly she awakes, finds the cottage is in darkness and realises that there is someone else in the room. Standing up to investigate, Neve grabs her empty coffee cup for protection, when something brushes past her leg – she realises it’s a cat!
Wishing that she had read all the instructions in the file, using her phone’s light she quickly flicks through them and finds that the electric is via a pay as you go meter. Neve manages to find matches and t.lights in the kitchen. After lighting some, she snuggles back into the chair and falls asleep.
The following morning, Neve begins to look around. She notices that there are metal bars at all the windows making the place look like a fortress, very strange indeed. Deciding that she needs to find a shop, Neve puts on her coat and boots and goes outside, making sure to lock all the locks. As she walks up the path, she glances back towards the cottage and notices that it is a very ugly 1950s building, not her idea of what an idyllic cottage in the country looks like at all.
Neve walks up to the main road and decides to walk in the opposite direction to the way she travelled last night in the taxi. She walks for miles, but still hasn’t found a shop and it’s now raining. She curses Isabelle Shawcross for leaving her the horrible ugly cottage in the middle of nowhere. Neve hears a car approaching and tucks herself into the side of the road for safety. The car stops and a woman pops her head out of the window to say hello. She introduces herself as Sally Gardner. They talk a while and then Sally offers to take Neve to the supermarket, and invites her to dinner that evening. Neve now feels more optimistic about the cottage.
Back from the supermarket, Neve makes herself something to eat. She then decides to have a look around outside. but finds that her coat is still soaked. Neve decides to wear Isabelle’s waxed jacket that was hanging by the door, goes outside and senses that someone is watching her. Shivering she puts her hands into the pockets and finds a piece of paper. On it is written:
Ring plumber
HMP LL 14/07/16
PBH date TBC
Suddenly sensing someone is there, she sees a car parked in the lane. Neve rushes to the gate to find a man in his 60s. He mutters something out loud. Neve asks him what he wants, but instead of answering he rushes to his car and drives off.
Noticing the time, Neve gets herself ready for dinner. Sally said she would pick Neve up, but instead Sally’s husband Will, comes instead. He asks if he can use the bathroom before they leave. It turns out that The Spinney, Sally and Will’s home is only a couple of minutes away, and slightly further on is Richard Shawcross’s home, the brother of Isabelle. During dinner Neve meets Matty, Sally and Will’s son. She finds him rather strange. He asks her if they have met before and Neve says no. After a lovely dinner and hearing more details about Isabelle, Will walks Neve back to her cottage. She starts to unlock all the 4 locks, but finds that only one is locked – strange, she could have sworn that she locked all 4. Once inside the cottage, she decides that tonight she will sleep in the bed. She gets clean bedding from out of the wardrobe. As she is stripping the bed, a knife falls onto the floor and she wonders what Isabelle was so afraid of. Neve gets into bed, then hears a tap tap tap, but the noise soon stops and she falls asleep.
Strange mysterious events keep happening. Neve has no alternative but to spend money that she can ill afford and her funds deplete. She gradually gathers information together bit by bit, by searching and talking to people. Isabelle’s life is starting to sound rather sinister. Neve wonders if she will be safe if she continues to stay in the cottage, after all Isabelle did not think she was. Can she solve the puzzle and stay safe?
This is a great novel by Cass Green and I really enjoyed reading it. Green describes all the characters very well. Neve, is rather a selfish woman who tends to have a me me me attitude, never grateful for what she has in life and expects others to be at her beck and call. As the story progresses, Neve starts to evolve into a much nicer person. I will read more of Cass Green.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Harper Collins and Cass Green for the advanced digital copy in return for the above review.
October 21, 2017
Bravo, Cass Green, bravo!! 👏👏👏
October 4, 2017
Very creepy. It lost a star simply due to a not very likable main character and a rather predictable ending. It was entertaining though, regardless :)
November 14, 2019
A new author for me. I found the pace on the slow side at times. There are a few incidents occuring throughout. I had a few different scenarios playing out for the ending I have to admit I never saw that version. some parts are quite creepy.
I felt that the ending was a little rushed and it was a bit disappointing.
At the risk of being accused of nitpicking, I was confused as to how the boiler could be in an under stairs cupboard. When it says the cottage is only 1 storey, with no upstairs!
I felt that the ending was a little rushed and it was a bit disappointing.
At the risk of being accused of nitpicking, I was confused as to how the boiler could be in an under stairs cupboard. When it says the cottage is only 1 storey, with no upstairs!
December 7, 2017
Well that was a big ol' fat disappointment! :(
September 27, 2017
I absolutely loved this one! I fell for it immediately. I was intrigued by the blurb but also wondered how this situation on the bridge was working. You just meet a woman who wants to commit suicide and she hands you over her cottage? But it did, actually.
So, one night after partying and an unpleasant one night stand Neve wanders the streets of London to find her way home. Home means her sister’s house, because Neve crashed there after she splits up from her boyfriend. She has a lousy job which she doesn’t like and which earns her not enough money to get her own place to live. So she is not in the mood to talk to a young woman she sees standing on Waterloo Bridge just in a dress in the freezing night. But somehow she does and so she witnesses her jumping into the Thames. Weeks later she learns from a lawyer that the dead woman gave her her cottage in Cornwall. And as it is, with a job she is going to lose, her sister and brother-in-law bugged by her and no place to live she decides to have a look at that cottage.
The cottage indeed is not what she expected. It is not very nice to look at, filthy and a bit creepy. So Neve finds herself stranded in this cottage in the woods and somehow the creepy atmosphere is getting her.
The book has its flaws. It is all a bit unrealistic and Neve is sometimes a pain in the a**. She is so chaotic and unfocussed. She acts without thinking things through. Everybody would consider that arriving in a cottage in rural Cornwall late in the evening without being able to drive a car would be not a good idea. But not Neve. She just jumps in. All the time.
The book is not a fast paced one. But it is an easy read and the pages just flow. It is a bit creepy but not in a supernatural way. There is definitive something going on and I would have freaked out much earlier and take the next train back to London. Strange things happen and because Neve is so chaotic she always things that maybe it was her own fault. There are a few things I would have done, like f.e. change the door locks. But I really liked the book. I enjoyed reading it. I figured out who was behind all this spooky things quite early but the author had still a surprise for me at the end. The writing is very pleasant and I think that was the main reason I enjoyed that book so much. There are some weird things happening in the story but the author managed it to sell it to me with her nice and convincing writing.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review
So, one night after partying and an unpleasant one night stand Neve wanders the streets of London to find her way home. Home means her sister’s house, because Neve crashed there after she splits up from her boyfriend. She has a lousy job which she doesn’t like and which earns her not enough money to get her own place to live. So she is not in the mood to talk to a young woman she sees standing on Waterloo Bridge just in a dress in the freezing night. But somehow she does and so she witnesses her jumping into the Thames. Weeks later she learns from a lawyer that the dead woman gave her her cottage in Cornwall. And as it is, with a job she is going to lose, her sister and brother-in-law bugged by her and no place to live she decides to have a look at that cottage.
The cottage indeed is not what she expected. It is not very nice to look at, filthy and a bit creepy. So Neve finds herself stranded in this cottage in the woods and somehow the creepy atmosphere is getting her.
The book has its flaws. It is all a bit unrealistic and Neve is sometimes a pain in the a**. She is so chaotic and unfocussed. She acts without thinking things through. Everybody would consider that arriving in a cottage in rural Cornwall late in the evening without being able to drive a car would be not a good idea. But not Neve. She just jumps in. All the time.
The book is not a fast paced one. But it is an easy read and the pages just flow. It is a bit creepy but not in a supernatural way. There is definitive something going on and I would have freaked out much earlier and take the next train back to London. Strange things happen and because Neve is so chaotic she always things that maybe it was her own fault. There are a few things I would have done, like f.e. change the door locks. But I really liked the book. I enjoyed reading it. I figured out who was behind all this spooky things quite early but the author had still a surprise for me at the end. The writing is very pleasant and I think that was the main reason I enjoyed that book so much. There are some weird things happening in the story but the author managed it to sell it to me with her nice and convincing writing.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review
September 19, 2017
I absolutely loved this one! I still remember the old rhyme from my school days that this title is based upon. I always found the little poem really creepy back then but now as an adult, it sent shivers down my spine when mentioned within the narrative here. I mean, where would horror movies and thrillers be without the iconic isolated cabin/cottage in the woods? It’s the setting for many a nightmare scenario and here Cass Green manages to turn a stroke of good fortune for her main protagonist Neve into a darkly atmospheric and creepy ordeal that seemed never ending-all based around a house with bars at the windows. But those bars won’t keep out the terrifying nightmares that are about to stalk Neves dreams!
I did worry when I started to read that I wouldn’t actually care what happened to Neve! I took an instant dislike to this young woman who seemed set upon her own path to self destuction. She was rude, inconsiderate, selfish and disagreeable. Her friendship group seemed smaller than expected for a young single woman living in the city of London and her contempt for her living arrangements was frustrating, as well as rather annoying, to watch. I just wanted to slap (metaphorically ofcourse!) a little bit of appreciation into this arrogant but troubled young woman. A visit to Cornwall to claim her inherited cottage could be the start of a life changing experience for Neve but whilst there she begins to discover more about the ethereal and damaged Isabelle who gifted the property to her. So who exactly was Isabelle and what was she hiding from? Has Neve inherited more than just a new home from this haunted young woman?
This is a fabulously creepy and rather dark atmospheric slow burner that I read in one intense sitting. I suspected every character that was introduced once Neve had fled to Cornwall, unable to work out whether everything was all in Neves head or if someone really did want to scare the bejesus out of her!! But little by little I came to respect Neve, developing a warmth and tenderness towards her as she started to let her guard down thanks to some very poignant observations by the author,
There were twists and turns galore here and enough red herrings to throw a forestful of sticks at! I was thoroughly engrossed in this spellbinding thriller that gradually worked its magic on me. The clever denouement shocked and surprised me as it was a twist that I definitely hadn’t seen coming but was a perfect reflection of what had gone before and therefore worked brilliantly.
I loved The Woman Next Door but in my opinion In a Cottage In a Wood is even better! Full of deeply disturbed individuals, this is a compelling and suspenseful page turner that you will not be able to put down. Highly recommended by me!
I did worry when I started to read that I wouldn’t actually care what happened to Neve! I took an instant dislike to this young woman who seemed set upon her own path to self destuction. She was rude, inconsiderate, selfish and disagreeable. Her friendship group seemed smaller than expected for a young single woman living in the city of London and her contempt for her living arrangements was frustrating, as well as rather annoying, to watch. I just wanted to slap (metaphorically ofcourse!) a little bit of appreciation into this arrogant but troubled young woman. A visit to Cornwall to claim her inherited cottage could be the start of a life changing experience for Neve but whilst there she begins to discover more about the ethereal and damaged Isabelle who gifted the property to her. So who exactly was Isabelle and what was she hiding from? Has Neve inherited more than just a new home from this haunted young woman?
This is a fabulously creepy and rather dark atmospheric slow burner that I read in one intense sitting. I suspected every character that was introduced once Neve had fled to Cornwall, unable to work out whether everything was all in Neves head or if someone really did want to scare the bejesus out of her!! But little by little I came to respect Neve, developing a warmth and tenderness towards her as she started to let her guard down thanks to some very poignant observations by the author,
There were twists and turns galore here and enough red herrings to throw a forestful of sticks at! I was thoroughly engrossed in this spellbinding thriller that gradually worked its magic on me. The clever denouement shocked and surprised me as it was a twist that I definitely hadn’t seen coming but was a perfect reflection of what had gone before and therefore worked brilliantly.
I loved The Woman Next Door but in my opinion In a Cottage In a Wood is even better! Full of deeply disturbed individuals, this is a compelling and suspenseful page turner that you will not be able to put down. Highly recommended by me!
July 5, 2019
This was a book I purchased well over a year ago and never picked up since, so i decided to give it a shot. I hate to say this, but I bought this one because of its' beautiful cover art. I'm happy to say that it was better than I expected!! It was your typical eerie atmosphere read, with a mystery at its' core that I figured out about half-way through. That being said this made for a so-so thriller for me, who reads probably way too many books in this genre and may be a little bit harder to impress, mind you. The writing was good, and the pacing was steady, but with the 'mystery' element being as predictable as it was, it made for an overall average read for me. With this in mind I wouldn't tell anyone to give this book a pass, but just go in with lower expectations as I did (due to some reviews from friends), so that you can be pleasantly delighted! I might even say this is close to a 'cozy mystery,' if I really knew what that meant! I will keep reading this author because I definitely see a lot of potential and have heard good things about her debut novel, The Woman Next Door. Onto the next great read!
January 24, 2018
3.5 rounded to 4
I read this one pretty quickly as I just wanted to get to the bottom of it all. The why at the end is a lot of why I liked it. The pieces that added to the whole. Neve was pretty annoying but she had a good heart in there somewhere. I like to tell myself she got better as the book went on but, geez that mouth. She should have been a sailor in olden times.
Had she been a guest in my house I would have told her to stow it. Nicely.
Yes. So for a while there you are just trying so hard to find something nice or endearing about the MC, something to identify with or just some way to stand her, but it never happened for me.
But back to the good; I did love how things came together at the end. I’m glad I had the fortitude to get there. I just kept telling myself I would get there.
I read this one pretty quickly as I just wanted to get to the bottom of it all. The why at the end is a lot of why I liked it. The pieces that added to the whole. Neve was pretty annoying but she had a good heart in there somewhere. I like to tell myself she got better as the book went on but, geez that mouth. She should have been a sailor in olden times.
Had she been a guest in my house I would have told her to stow it. Nicely.
Yes. So for a while there you are just trying so hard to find something nice or endearing about the MC, something to identify with or just some way to stand her, but it never happened for me.
But back to the good; I did love how things came together at the end. I’m glad I had the fortitude to get there. I just kept telling myself I would get there.
October 28, 2017
The story begins in the city of London. Neve Carey, a thirty-year-old woman, has just had an evening of partying and has ended up in the awkward situation of having a drunken one-night stand. Upon awakening, and somewhat mortified, she leaves the man's apartment and begins the long walk back to her sister's house, where she is now living. On Waterloo Bridge she meets up with a beautiful young woman. Dressed only in an evening dress on this frigid December night, the woman speaks briefly to Neve, then gives her an envelope. Seconds later she jumps from the bridge to her death.
Traumatized by this event, things only get worse for Neve. She abhors her boring job as a receptionist for a magazine publishing company. Her best friend is married and heavily pregnant (thus no fun anymore); Six weeks ago she broke up with her boyfriend and is now sleeping on the pull-out bed at her sister's house (much to the disapproval of her sister's husband). She has very little money and can barely pay her bills, let alone look for a flat somewhere... Then she thinks her prayers have been answered! The police have tied up the bridge suicide case and have released the envelope that the woman gave her. It seems that this strange woman has left her a cottage! Is that even legal??? Yes, it appears there is something called a "Donatio Mortis Causea" which makes it all perfectly legal. Neve cannot believe her luck! She walks out of her boring job and uses the last of her dwindling funds to travel to Cornwall, where the cottage is located. In her mind she pictures a lovely little stone cottage with roses around the door...
After an arduous journey, Neve arrives at 'Petty Whin Cottage' after dark. Less than welcoming, the cottage is filthy and strangely, the windows all have bars on them. What has the former occupant wanted to keep out? To make matters worse, there is a dead magpie in the kitchen sink! Cold and dark, the cottage is the last place that city girl Neve wants to be - the middle of nowhere. With few funds at her disposal, and no vehicle, she is stranded in a cottage that seems creepier by the second. No television and no wi-fi, this truly is the back of beyond. Disconsolate and more than disappointed, Neve spends her first night in her new home.
Neve has reached a crossroads in her life. The cottage is hideous and WAY too rural for her liking. Her bills are mounting up and she has no job -- no skills.
The next morning, after only the most cursory cleaning of her new home, she sets off on foot to hopefully find a village store where she can buy at least food staples. After a fruitless cold and wet hike, she meets up with Sally, a neighbor who offers her a ride. Sally, her husband, and her son live just minutes away. What a relief! That is until she returns to Petty Whin Cottage to find the toilet backed up and another dead magpie on her front step! Now completely freaked out, Neve is afraid and so alone. When the axe from atop the woodpile goes missing, she is distraught enough to phone the police. They are less than empathetic and tell her that the cottage's previous owner, Isabelle Shawcross, had called them many times in the past...
"How can monsters be so... normal?"
Luckily, Sally and her husband allow her access to their wi-fi via their password. When checking Facebook, Neve realizes that the woman who bequeathed her the cottage, Isabelle Shawcross, was one of Neve's Facebook 'friends'. How could that be? She had never met her before the fateful night on the bridge.
Events escalate, and the reader's tension is turned up to maximum. Neve's predicament worsens exponentially. She finds photos of herself on Isabelle's laptop... Gradually Neve learns more about Isabelle and what prompted her to take her life.
The reader is in for a tension filled ride as Neve's history intersects with that of Isabelle.
Wow! I loved this book! It was just creepy enough, just well-paced and well-plotted enough, that it ticked all the boxes. Though there were a few aspects of the plot that I predicted about halfway through, the author still had some other surprises up her sleeve.
The isolated setting and Isabelle's morbid family history ensured that the reader turns the pages with baited breath... The disturbed (and sometimes unlikable) characters coupled with the atmospheric locale make the read deliciously tense. A skilled marriage of modern thriller and gothic suspense.
Highly recommended!
Traumatized by this event, things only get worse for Neve. She abhors her boring job as a receptionist for a magazine publishing company. Her best friend is married and heavily pregnant (thus no fun anymore); Six weeks ago she broke up with her boyfriend and is now sleeping on the pull-out bed at her sister's house (much to the disapproval of her sister's husband). She has very little money and can barely pay her bills, let alone look for a flat somewhere... Then she thinks her prayers have been answered! The police have tied up the bridge suicide case and have released the envelope that the woman gave her. It seems that this strange woman has left her a cottage! Is that even legal??? Yes, it appears there is something called a "Donatio Mortis Causea" which makes it all perfectly legal. Neve cannot believe her luck! She walks out of her boring job and uses the last of her dwindling funds to travel to Cornwall, where the cottage is located. In her mind she pictures a lovely little stone cottage with roses around the door...
After an arduous journey, Neve arrives at 'Petty Whin Cottage' after dark. Less than welcoming, the cottage is filthy and strangely, the windows all have bars on them. What has the former occupant wanted to keep out? To make matters worse, there is a dead magpie in the kitchen sink! Cold and dark, the cottage is the last place that city girl Neve wants to be - the middle of nowhere. With few funds at her disposal, and no vehicle, she is stranded in a cottage that seems creepier by the second. No television and no wi-fi, this truly is the back of beyond. Disconsolate and more than disappointed, Neve spends her first night in her new home.
Neve has reached a crossroads in her life. The cottage is hideous and WAY too rural for her liking. Her bills are mounting up and she has no job -- no skills.
The next morning, after only the most cursory cleaning of her new home, she sets off on foot to hopefully find a village store where she can buy at least food staples. After a fruitless cold and wet hike, she meets up with Sally, a neighbor who offers her a ride. Sally, her husband, and her son live just minutes away. What a relief! That is until she returns to Petty Whin Cottage to find the toilet backed up and another dead magpie on her front step! Now completely freaked out, Neve is afraid and so alone. When the axe from atop the woodpile goes missing, she is distraught enough to phone the police. They are less than empathetic and tell her that the cottage's previous owner, Isabelle Shawcross, had called them many times in the past...
"How can monsters be so... normal?"
Luckily, Sally and her husband allow her access to their wi-fi via their password. When checking Facebook, Neve realizes that the woman who bequeathed her the cottage, Isabelle Shawcross, was one of Neve's Facebook 'friends'. How could that be? She had never met her before the fateful night on the bridge.
Events escalate, and the reader's tension is turned up to maximum. Neve's predicament worsens exponentially. She finds photos of herself on Isabelle's laptop... Gradually Neve learns more about Isabelle and what prompted her to take her life.
The reader is in for a tension filled ride as Neve's history intersects with that of Isabelle.
Wow! I loved this book! It was just creepy enough, just well-paced and well-plotted enough, that it ticked all the boxes. Though there were a few aspects of the plot that I predicted about halfway through, the author still had some other surprises up her sleeve.
The isolated setting and Isabelle's morbid family history ensured that the reader turns the pages with baited breath... The disturbed (and sometimes unlikable) characters coupled with the atmospheric locale make the read deliciously tense. A skilled marriage of modern thriller and gothic suspense.
Highly recommended!
October 31, 2017
When I saw the title of this book and the creepy cover I just knew I had to have it and immediately put it on my wishlist. Then I saw the author was Cass Green and, truth be told, I did not enjoy her previous book The Woman Next Door. In fact it was a DNF for me. The other day I noticed that the kindle version of In a Cottage In a Wood was on sale for .99 and figured what the hell. I am so glad that I didn't let my own stupid opinion get in the way of me checking out more of her work because this book was a real treat and was well worth dropping .99 for!
It begins with Neve stumbling across a beautiful woman in a slinky evening dress on Waterloo Bridge. The sight is baffling. It's much too chilly to be wearing what she's wearing and the haunted and sad look in her eyes convince Neve to inquire if she is okay. The woman claims she's fine and, in thanks for her kindness, hands Neve an envelope and insists she take it. The woman then jumps off the bridge to her death leaving Neve stunned and confused in the aftermath. After phoning the police, turning over the envelope, and a night of questioning she is finally able to return home. Actually, it's her sisters house where she has been staying for the last six weeks after a terrible break up and to say her life is in shambles is an understatement. It's several weeks later when she is contacted by a law office asking for her to come in and meet with them. She agrees to the meeting and it turns out this beautiful stranger has in fact left her the deed to her cottage home. Neve can't believe it. Why in the world would someone leave her a cottage, especially a complete stranger? She can't help but think maybe this is the fresh start she's looking for.
Let's just say that when Neve arrives at the cottage the creep factor really kicks in. Bumps in the night, menacing messages, things disappearing then reappearing in unfamiliar places and that's just the beginning. While I had some of the twist figured out I was pleasantly surprised by the part I didn't guess.
I really thought this was great fun! Well worth the read!
It begins with Neve stumbling across a beautiful woman in a slinky evening dress on Waterloo Bridge. The sight is baffling. It's much too chilly to be wearing what she's wearing and the haunted and sad look in her eyes convince Neve to inquire if she is okay. The woman claims she's fine and, in thanks for her kindness, hands Neve an envelope and insists she take it. The woman then jumps off the bridge to her death leaving Neve stunned and confused in the aftermath. After phoning the police, turning over the envelope, and a night of questioning she is finally able to return home. Actually, it's her sisters house where she has been staying for the last six weeks after a terrible break up and to say her life is in shambles is an understatement. It's several weeks later when she is contacted by a law office asking for her to come in and meet with them. She agrees to the meeting and it turns out this beautiful stranger has in fact left her the deed to her cottage home. Neve can't believe it. Why in the world would someone leave her a cottage, especially a complete stranger? She can't help but think maybe this is the fresh start she's looking for.
Let's just say that when Neve arrives at the cottage the creep factor really kicks in. Bumps in the night, menacing messages, things disappearing then reappearing in unfamiliar places and that's just the beginning. While I had some of the twist figured out I was pleasantly surprised by the part I didn't guess.
I really thought this was great fun! Well worth the read!
August 22, 2018
In a cottage in a wood by Cass Green is the first book I've read by this author and I will try her again.
This book started slowly which at some point I was going to add to the dnf pile , but it picked up just over half way through, I'm glad I stuck with it .
There was a few twists along the way to and I definitely did not see that ending coming.
I think the front cover makes you think this book is going to be more sinister than it actually is but come the end I'm glad I stuck it out .
This book started slowly which at some point I was going to add to the dnf pile , but it picked up just over half way through, I'm glad I stuck with it .
There was a few twists along the way to and I definitely did not see that ending coming.
I think the front cover makes you think this book is going to be more sinister than it actually is but come the end I'm glad I stuck it out .
December 11, 2017
That ending! Did not see that comimg!
September 21, 2017
I'll start by just saying that I absolutely loved this book. What a fantastic read. This dark thriller hooked me from the very beginning!
In a Cottage in a Wood revolves around Neve, a woman in her thirties who seems to be lost in life. Having recently broken up from her long term boyfriend, Neve is living with her sister, brother-in-law and their two children. She is working in a job that she does not love but which pays the bills. Her life dramatically changes one night when walking home alone after a disastrous Christmas works' party and one night stand. While crossing Waterloo Bridge, she spots a woman alone, who is inappropriately dressed and whom she thinks needs help. She stops to talk, against her better judgement, and offers the woman money for the night bus. But what she gets is a parcel thrust into her hand and a parting cryptic message, before the woman jumps to her death. This is when the real story begins.
The pace is deliciously slow, as we follow Neve to Cornwall. Isabelle, the woman on the bridge, made a death bed wish of bequeathing her home to Neve. The contents and everything within it now belong to her. So with nothing to lose, and with Neve seeing this opportunity as a chance to re-evaluate her life, she makes the instant decision to head to her now new home.
The contrast between bustling inner city London and the quiet of the Cornish countryside are startling on the page. As soon as Neve enters the cottage there is a definite sense of foreboding. The descriptions of the cottage are detailed, so that I felt I was living there with Neve. I also liked the clever way in which the cottage echoed Neve's feelings and where she was at that moment in time. The cottage appeared to be a cold and uninviting space, a place where Neve did not belong. The remoteness of the cottage is also heightened because Neve does not drive. She almost appears to be trapped, the cottage drawing her in, keeping her captive. But she feels she has to stay, to figure out who Isabelle was and why she took her life. It consumes her.
This is such a clever read. When Neve suspects that all is not right with the cottage she begins to question those around her. Isabelle's brother, Richard, who lives nearby and the couple whom she quickly befriends. The real question is who can she trust?
In a Cottage in a Wood is a psychological thriller that has a big twist that I honestly didn't see coming. It held my attention, was entertaining and thoroughly creeped me out. It really is a fabulous read!
In a Cottage in a Wood is published by Harper Collins on 21 September. It can be found on Amazon here.
With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy
In a Cottage in a Wood revolves around Neve, a woman in her thirties who seems to be lost in life. Having recently broken up from her long term boyfriend, Neve is living with her sister, brother-in-law and their two children. She is working in a job that she does not love but which pays the bills. Her life dramatically changes one night when walking home alone after a disastrous Christmas works' party and one night stand. While crossing Waterloo Bridge, she spots a woman alone, who is inappropriately dressed and whom she thinks needs help. She stops to talk, against her better judgement, and offers the woman money for the night bus. But what she gets is a parcel thrust into her hand and a parting cryptic message, before the woman jumps to her death. This is when the real story begins.
The pace is deliciously slow, as we follow Neve to Cornwall. Isabelle, the woman on the bridge, made a death bed wish of bequeathing her home to Neve. The contents and everything within it now belong to her. So with nothing to lose, and with Neve seeing this opportunity as a chance to re-evaluate her life, she makes the instant decision to head to her now new home.
The contrast between bustling inner city London and the quiet of the Cornish countryside are startling on the page. As soon as Neve enters the cottage there is a definite sense of foreboding. The descriptions of the cottage are detailed, so that I felt I was living there with Neve. I also liked the clever way in which the cottage echoed Neve's feelings and where she was at that moment in time. The cottage appeared to be a cold and uninviting space, a place where Neve did not belong. The remoteness of the cottage is also heightened because Neve does not drive. She almost appears to be trapped, the cottage drawing her in, keeping her captive. But she feels she has to stay, to figure out who Isabelle was and why she took her life. It consumes her.
This is such a clever read. When Neve suspects that all is not right with the cottage she begins to question those around her. Isabelle's brother, Richard, who lives nearby and the couple whom she quickly befriends. The real question is who can she trust?
In a Cottage in a Wood is a psychological thriller that has a big twist that I honestly didn't see coming. It held my attention, was entertaining and thoroughly creeped me out. It really is a fabulous read!
In a Cottage in a Wood is published by Harper Collins on 21 September. It can be found on Amazon here.
With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy
January 3, 2022
The more I think about this book, the less I like it.
It's pretty generic fare, although it did have some creepy moments and the mystery of why Isabelle did what she did intrigued me enough to keep reading. The problem is, there wasn't enough Isabelle.
This story would have done well with a Past/Present narrative with the events leading up to Isabelle's suicide more deeply explored. Unfortunately, not much is revealed about Isabelle outside of notes written to her granny and the outside observations of others. It was a missed opportunity IMO to not flesh out Isabelle and make her one of the MCs.
Instead, the MC throughout the book is Neve and she's so incredibly unlikable! She's immature, irresponsible and self absorbed. Which would be fine if there was character growth but, sadly, there was not. The train wreck that is Neve and her life were painful to read, and I didn't get invested in the story at all until she arrived at the cabin. From there, the story does get better. Lots of creepy and unsettling stuff happens and more about Isabelle is revealed.
I was going back and forth between 2 and 3 stars, but decided to up my rating because I did enjoy the reveals at the end. Were they expected? Sure, but I still enjoyed them.
This is a quick and easy read. (I finished it in a day). If you want a fast-paced mystery with an isolated setting, give this a read. But just know that there's nothing new here that you haven't read in countless other (and better) thrillers.
It's pretty generic fare, although it did have some creepy moments and the mystery of why Isabelle did what she did intrigued me enough to keep reading. The problem is, there wasn't enough Isabelle.
This story would have done well with a Past/Present narrative with the events leading up to Isabelle's suicide more deeply explored. Unfortunately, not much is revealed about Isabelle outside of notes written to her granny and the outside observations of others. It was a missed opportunity IMO to not flesh out Isabelle and make her one of the MCs.
Instead, the MC throughout the book is Neve and she's so incredibly unlikable! She's immature, irresponsible and self absorbed. Which would be fine if there was character growth but, sadly, there was not. The train wreck that is Neve and her life were painful to read, and I didn't get invested in the story at all until she arrived at the cabin. From there, the story does get better. Lots of creepy and unsettling stuff happens and more about Isabelle is revealed.
I was going back and forth between 2 and 3 stars, but decided to up my rating because I did enjoy the reveals at the end. Were they expected? Sure, but I still enjoyed them.
This is a quick and easy read. (I finished it in a day). If you want a fast-paced mystery with an isolated setting, give this a read. But just know that there's nothing new here that you haven't read in countless other (and better) thrillers.
September 3, 2020
I've had this on my tbr list for quite some time and I'm really happy that I finally read it. The plot intrigued me from the beginning and I knew right away that it would be amazing. I'm reading so many new authors this year and I'm so glad that I'm discovering some very talented writers such as Green!
Green's novel was an atmospherically and creepy read. Right from the start and straight to the end. Imagine coming home from a night out and encountering a woman sitting near a body of water. You talk for a few minutes and the next thing you know, she is jumping into the water which leads to her demise. A few weeks later you get a cottage from her. Why? You don't even know her? You think it is a great opportunity to escape from the world so you take and go. But little do you know that your worst nightmares are about to come true because the cottage is not what it seems.
This novel was just so amazing! I loved the eerie atmosphere of the cottage, the fact that it was isolated from everything and everyone and just how weird everyone was acting. Who is this woman and why has she given Neve a cottage. The characters were marvelous and it was clear that everyone was hiding something. You think you kno what it is, but then you don't. You think you know who it is, but then you don't.
The part that creeped me about the most was obviously the cottage! The things that Neve discovers in there and the things that happened to her just freaked me out! I wanted to know who was behind it all and I did not expect it at all!
The twist was just so great. It was unexpected and (yes I'm saying it again) creepy!! A wonderful ending and a creep factor of 10! So glad that I read it and will be reading more from her!
Green's novel was an atmospherically and creepy read. Right from the start and straight to the end. Imagine coming home from a night out and encountering a woman sitting near a body of water. You talk for a few minutes and the next thing you know, she is jumping into the water which leads to her demise. A few weeks later you get a cottage from her. Why? You don't even know her? You think it is a great opportunity to escape from the world so you take and go. But little do you know that your worst nightmares are about to come true because the cottage is not what it seems.
This novel was just so amazing! I loved the eerie atmosphere of the cottage, the fact that it was isolated from everything and everyone and just how weird everyone was acting. Who is this woman and why has she given Neve a cottage. The characters were marvelous and it was clear that everyone was hiding something. You think you kno what it is, but then you don't. You think you know who it is, but then you don't.
The part that creeped me about the most was obviously the cottage! The things that Neve discovers in there and the things that happened to her just freaked me out! I wanted to know who was behind it all and I did not expect it at all!
The twist was just so great. It was unexpected and (yes I'm saying it again) creepy!! A wonderful ending and a creep factor of 10! So glad that I read it and will be reading more from her!
September 23, 2017
I bought this on a whim for £2.00 from Tesco as I didn't have a book in my bag for my commute. I know that small amount of money wouldn't have bought me much, but with hindsight it was a regrettable purchase.
This novel was crap. It stunk of someone wanting to get people to buy their "..the next "The Girl on the Train"..' marketed book and publishing any old shit. The balance of the book was all wrong IMHO - there was an interesting idea at the middle of things, rendered a poor book by an excess of trivial description, a lack of believability (too many random co-incidences) and a main character who was unlikeable and who I hoped would be murdered by whatever baddie is at the centre of this thriller.
The book follows a woman called Neve (I could describe her as 'a young woman' as a consequence of how immature, selfish and incapable of behaving like an adult she is - but the character is supposedly about thirty) who inherits a cottage in the West Country from a woman who commits suicide off a bridge after talking to the aforementioned central character. There is then a couple of hundred pages of Neve getting spooked by moving to this cottage, though most of this 200+ pages is pointless discussions of what she is wearing, eating, drinking, and how the locals look. In the end the mystery of why she inherited the cottage comes out via a series of inconceivable co-incidences, and a couple of other characters behaving utterly ridiculously provides an explanation of what all the supposedly spooky events of the story was caused by. This left me bored and dissatisfied with having spent two or three hours reading the book. I could have bought some toilet roll instead.
This novel was crap. It stunk of someone wanting to get people to buy their "..the next "The Girl on the Train"..' marketed book and publishing any old shit. The balance of the book was all wrong IMHO - there was an interesting idea at the middle of things, rendered a poor book by an excess of trivial description, a lack of believability (too many random co-incidences) and a main character who was unlikeable and who I hoped would be murdered by whatever baddie is at the centre of this thriller.
The book follows a woman called Neve (I could describe her as 'a young woman' as a consequence of how immature, selfish and incapable of behaving like an adult she is - but the character is supposedly about thirty) who inherits a cottage in the West Country from a woman who commits suicide off a bridge after talking to the aforementioned central character. There is then a couple of hundred pages of Neve getting spooked by moving to this cottage, though most of this 200+ pages is pointless discussions of what she is wearing, eating, drinking, and how the locals look. In the end the mystery of why she inherited the cottage comes out via a series of inconceivable co-incidences, and a couple of other characters behaving utterly ridiculously provides an explanation of what all the supposedly spooky events of the story was caused by. This left me bored and dissatisfied with having spent two or three hours reading the book. I could have bought some toilet roll instead.
August 30, 2017
Perhaps a bit of a harsh score? I struggled to get in to the book to begin with and didn't like the main character at all.
The book was on its way to 2/3 stars until the awful "twist" - she was being pursued by her neighbours who wanted to buy the land her house sat on?! Wow, massive drama. Not. It was just a bit silly and laughable, thankfully I was only a few pages before the end before this book was over.
Don't get me wrong the other twist was somewhat interesting but I was at the point where I really didn't care. Sorry!
Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The book was on its way to 2/3 stars until the awful "twist" - she was being pursued by her neighbours who wanted to buy the land her house sat on?! Wow, massive drama. Not. It was just a bit silly and laughable, thankfully I was only a few pages before the end before this book was over.
Don't get me wrong the other twist was somewhat interesting but I was at the point where I really didn't care. Sorry!
Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed this book!
I gave the book five stars because it not only held my attention it also made me feel the pain and sadness and fear of the main character. Kept me on the edge if my seat. I was very disappointed when the book ended.
I gave the book five stars because it not only held my attention it also made me feel the pain and sadness and fear of the main character. Kept me on the edge if my seat. I was very disappointed when the book ended.
July 1, 2018
Não é um mau livro, mas um pouco previsível. O final podia ter sido muito melhor!
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