Bone Deep

by Sandra Ireland

Is a story ever just a story?

Mac, a retired academic and writer, is working on a new collection of folktales, inspired by local legends, and at the insistence of her only child, Arthur, she hires a young assistant, Lucie, to live in a cottage on her property and help her transcribe them. What Arthur doesn’t know is that his mother is determined to keep the secrets of her past from ever being discovered. And what Mac doesn’t know is that Lucie has a few complicated secrets of her own.

The creaking presence of an ancient water mill next to Mac’s property that used to grind wheat into flour serves as an eerie counterpoint for these two women as they circle warily around each other, haunted by the local legend of two long-dead sisters, ready to point accusing fingers from the pages of history.

This atmospheric page turner evocatively gives voice to the question: What happens when you fall in love with the wrong person?

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Scotland, Gothic, Suspense

252 pages, Paperback

First published July 5, 2018

About the author

Sandra Ireland was born in England but lived for many years in Éire before returning ‘home’ to Scotland in the 1990s. She is the author of Beneath the Skin, a psychological thriller, which was shortlisted for a Saltire Literary Award in 2017. Her second novel, Bone Deep, a modern Gothic tale of sibling rivalry, inspired by an old Scottish folktale, will be published in the UK by Polygon in July, and in the US (Gallery) and Germany (Penguin) next year. She also writes poetry, often inspired by the seascapes of Scotland’s rugged east coast. Her poems have been widely published in anthologies, including Seagate III (Dundee), and New Writing Scotland. She won the Dorothy Dunbar Trophy for Poetry, awarded by the Scottish Association of Writers, in 2017 and 2018. Sandra is Secretary of Angus Writers’ Circle and one third of the Chasing Time Team, which runs writing retreats in a gloriously gothic rural setting.

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book caught and held me captive from the very first page when we first meet Mac an elderly historian, and Lucie the young woman she employs to be her assistant. Mac is obsessed with an old tale she came across about two sisters who were rivals in love and are now long dead.

The story begins harmlessly enough but soon builds to something much darker, and through alternating chapters told from the view point of Mac and Lucie we soon get to know the two main characters.It seems like everyone in this book has a secret they are keeping hidden from everyone else.

I enjoyed this book. It is a Gothic tale steeped in spine-chilling atmosphere it soon swept me along with it. My only complaint with the story was that it was too short and the plot was a bit predictable. If the book had been longer and there were more unexpected twists and turns built in it would have been a really excellent psychological thriller.

This was my first time to read anything by Sandra Ireland, but it most definitely won't be the last.

Thank you to LoveReading.Co.UK and the publisher Polygon Books UK for my copy of this book, in return for my honest review.

[Amy Bruestle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review....

Man oh man.. I am really bummed that I had to give this 3 stars instead of 4 or 5! The reason I'm bummed is because this book truly had potential to be so much more than it was! The storyline was perfect and entriuging enough...the problem lies in the action piece. Literally the entire book was just a bunch of gobbly gook then *POW!* the crazy ending! It did hint at things a little bit, but to me it didn't feel like it had a proper build up that suspense/thriller readers live for!

I really really really liked the premise and idea to the behind it... unfortunately I just didn't care for the follow up.

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest when I started reading this book I wasn't sure if I was going to finish it because it wasn't what I expected when I read the synopsis nor was it the type of story that I normally enjoy reading. So I was genuinely surprised that the further I got into the book,I found myself becoming more and more enthralled and drawn into Mac and Lucie`s stories. This is essentially three stories (historical,recent and current) and the lengths that three women were prepared to go in the name of that four letter word that rules our lives,hearts and heads....love

Mac is a seventy year old,retired academic,who lives in a house near a old,unused watermill with her adult son Arthur who is a baker.Mac is a historical author and is currently working on a story called The Cruel Sister about two sisters Bella and Elspeth who according to local myth grew up in a castle not far from Mac's home.Lucie is a young women who Mac has reluctantly hired as a Girl Friday due to Mac's recent health scares. Lucie has recently been thrown out of her family home after her mother caught her in a compromising position with her sister Jane's sleazy boyfriend Reuben. Both women have secrets and as Mac becomes increasingly more and more obsessed with the story of The Cruel Sister,the lines between what happened in the past and what is happening now become blurred. Soon there is a growing sense of unease and forbidding as secrets are revealed and the story builds up to its dark and terrifying conclusion.

The chapters that are quite long in length alternate between Mac and Lucie. I honestly didn't like Mac from.the moment we were introduced to her character on the very first page. She had a major attitude problem,was very self centred at times and even though she admitted that she had been a neglectful parent when Arthur was younger,she still treated him badly and was resentful of his presence whenever her came home. It was fascinating watching her unravelling mentally,but how much was real and how much was her just pretending to lose the plot. She was a very clever,conniving,manipulative character. I had mixed feelings about Lucie,I didn't find her very likeable but couldn't help feeling a bit of empathy for her because of how badly she was treated by her parents. I really liked Arthur,she was such a sweet,caring man despite Mac being his mother. Interwoven throughout the story is the gothic tale of Bella and Elspeth,a story of love,rivalry,betrayal and murder that eerily mirrors the story playing out in the present day. The authors descriptions of the setting for this dark,enthralling story are so vivid and realistic,you can close your eyes and picture the creaking watermill,the wind blowing through the trees and stirring the crops growing in the fields. Things splashing in the pond,sounds that appear so innocent in the daytime but so sinister during the hours of darkness.

It's not a very long story but it is a mesmerising read that has a growing sense of foreboding as the story unfolds. This is the first book that I have read by this author and it most definitely will not be my last. Highly recommended by little old me

Many thanks to Polygon Books and Kelly of Love Books Group Tours for the opportunity to read and review this mesmerising story

[Nicola Parkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Not my usual read but absolutely enthralling... full review to be posted on tour date.

Where do I start?

First off, I couldn’t work for Mac! So hats off to Lucie for putting up with this woman. These two had their moments with each other but I did enjoy their bond….. until…. well…. you’ll have to read!

Mac comes across as a crazy old bat that's slowly loosing her mind, one minute she’s in the here and now, the next she’s calling you by someone else’s name and rattling on about something you’ve ‘done or said’. She's a woman that doesn't let a lot of people close to her and i get that now, she's lived a long and secret life and i really enjoyed getting to unravel the nitty gritty details!

As Lucie gets into the swing of her ‘new’ life and working for Mac things are discovered, lines have to be crossed and at points i thought Lucie was loosing the plot along with Mac….. oh how wrong I could have been!

This book kept me wanting more and more with each turn of the page. I loved seeing Lucie open up to people she had only just met and really felt for her when she visited home, what she did was wrong on so many levels but they way both parents treated her, my heart ached for her. I adored how she was with Mac’s son, Arthur. Never really admitting her feelings until everything came tumbling down.

Like I said this isn’t my usual read but there was something about the way Sandra wrote the story that had me coming back for just one more page! I wanted to know the secrets, what was real and what was part of Mac’s story books but never in a million years did I expect what was about to unfold!!

Sandra, i can honestly say you did an amazing job on this book. I can not wait to see what comes from you next!

For me this book is a 5 golden apples read and my copy will be making it’s way to my community run library, I will be recommending it to anyone who will listen…. and they’ll have to seen as I’ll be the one issuing their books 😂

[Kelsie Maxwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bone Deep
Sandra Ireland

Bone Deep is a dark psychological thriller by author, Sandra Ireland.

Mac has retired from academia and is now a full time writer. Lucie is Mac’s newly hired assistant. Mac’s latest project is the retelling of local legend of two sisters. Lucie has issues with her sister and is captivated by Mac’s story which appears to be mirroring her situation.

The novel starts slowly put picks up the pace fairly quickly. The story is revealed through the alternating viewpoints of Mac and Lucie. This could be confusing, but the author handles it with appropriately named chapter headers. I rate Bone Deep 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it to readers who enjoy a suspenseful novel.

My thanks to Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

[Els · Rating 3 out of 5]

No matter what or how, the truth always catches up …

This is quite a surprising story. When you read the blurb of a book, your mind already takes you in a certain direction. The least I can say that my inner GPS was totally wrong. Of course, you get the right indications during the story and some things became clear maybe sometimes a bit too soon.

The book has something for everyone. Do you like it to be about love? You’ve got it. Or do you enjoy a legend? This box is ticked as well. Maybe murder and betrayal is more your kind of story? Well, you will find it here too.

The story is told by the two main characters, Mac and Lucie who have (had) to deal with love, jealousy, betrayal. Some people know when to stop. Others might take it a step to far … 3,5 stars.

Thank you Sandra Ireland, Polygon and Love Books Group

https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com

[Sunflowerbooklover · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bone Deep is a slow building suspenseful read that takes you on a wild journey.

Let me tell you it definitely appears that everyone is keeping a secret in this book and wasn't sure where the author was going to take us. This has a nice gothic tale vibe to it and loved the atmosphere in this one that Ireland weaves in nicely.

I felt that the plot was a tad predictable and was a bit slow moving for my reading tastes. I feel that I would have enjoyed this more if there were more unexpected twists/surprises along the way.

This was my first book by Ireland but I will be checking out more from her!

3.5 stars

Thank you so much to Gallery, Threshold Pocket Books for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Publication date: 6/11/19
Published to Goodreads: 6/3/19

[Nicole Overmoyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have problems with this book. I am disturbed by this book... and not in the "this is a thrilling psychological mystery with lots of twists and turns!" sort of disturbing. It was just... not right.

The premise was cheating, adultery, and coveting that which is not yours.

Oh, and murder. Lots of murder. And there's an old mill that was abandoned because mills that can turn grain into flour can also turn bones into dust... just saying.

If you want a book with an unreliable narrator, I'm pretty sure this book has two.

If you want a book in which women are kind of awful to each other, this book is your thing.

If you want a book where you keep going "wait? what? how does that work?," get this book.

I do give this book two stars because it was good enough to read to the end. I just... I have problems with this book.

(I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and Gallery Books in exchange for an honest and original review. All thoughts are my own.)

[Indieflower · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow burning novel with an almost gothic feel. Told in a first person dual narrative by two characters, Mac, a bonkers old writer and Lucie, a young woman trying to escape the affair she started with her sister's boyfriend. There is also a story within a story, one that Mac is writing based on a local legend concerning jealousy between two sisters and has hired Lucie to type up for her. Neither of the women are particularly likeable but I enjoyed the gradual unfolding of the story, the themes of love, jealousy and betrayal and what they might possibly drive a person to do. Sandra Ireland's books have a great sense of place, this one is set in a Scottish village and I could almost feel the damp chill of the disused old mill and cottage and the mist and drizzle. I definitely preferred this one to Beneath The Skin and would like to read more from this author.

[Andria Potter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.5 ⭐. This was good but I'm personally not a fan of alternating character chapters. That being said the author did a great job making an atmospheric feel for this book. Though it slowed in the center, the story overall wasn't bad. I'm definitely interested in checking out the authors backlog.

[Lynne Lambdin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Mystery/Thriller genre has become increasingly hard to please the readers. Especially the masses which are heavily into the genre. Everything begins to sound familiar or seems like it has all been read before. And that isn't the fault of the author, we just live in the era of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. That being said, I am sympathetic and appreciate the writing trade. But I would not be doing any favors by sugar coating my feelings on this. So lets dig in!

Per the synopsis, the story is told in alternating views of Lucie and Mac. Lucie is a pretty selfish female with no sense of direction. Mac is an old historian who spends most of her time creating fictional tales of local legends. Mac takes Lucie on as an employee and provides lodging while she finishes her last novel. Lucie's job is to type up Mac's story and other odd jobs. As the story progresses, we get insight into the secrets of Lucie and Mac. And so unfolds our tale.

There are quite a few issues I'd like to discuss without providing any spoilers. The story jumps around from past times to current times quite frequently through out the novel. Yes, there are defining words and phrases used. But it became confusing and the jumps occur far too frequently. I took a creative writing course during my under graduate. And one lesson in particular stuck out to me because it is exactly what I had planned to do for my final story. You must be careful when writing about the past, it isn't easy and it takes talent. This story is a prime example of why that rule is taught to inspiring writers. A certain skill is required to execute past and present tenses smoothly. Furthermore, I had some issues with the story unfolding. It was presented in a really choppy manner. The transitions of this novel would best be compared to a dirt road that has been driven on since the start of the earth. For example, Lucie one night is woken to find Mac at the Mill. The next chapter is told from Mac's perspective, the chapter heading indicates it is now May. Yet, Lucie brings up seeing Mac at the Mill like it happened the night before. While I understand this could have happened on the last day of the month, it would not make sense then to indicate it is now May. Nor would it flow with the progression of the month indicators. The progression of time was a major struggle and down right confusing.

Next issue, I hate all the characters aside from Arthur. In addition to hating them, when I was at the 50% point, I still knew very little about Mac or Lucie. I knew Lucie was grumpy and had questionable morals. And Mac was a historian with a son. The historian portion was interesting, I didn't really understand what the point of making her a historian happened to be? Through out the novel, I questioned this a few times considering she wrote fictional accounts of local legends. Eventually, it played a weird, very minor role. Honestly, I greatly dislike when authors apply odd details that are essentially ignored until they need something to come full circle. It felt like Ireland's editor found a hole and they needed to fill it somehow. And this was the result.

Now, I will not give away the "twist" with Lucie. But it really felt like it was from left field, but not in a good way. And furthermore, it seemed a little too unrealistic for even a fiction novel. Yes, there were some hints, but it still just does not add up properly. I truly have a hard time believing this would have gone undetected. I look forward to other reviews to see how they felt about this. Because I was not a fan of this at all.

Overall, I found this story to be jumpy and confusing. The attempt to build a slow tension feel fell flat. And much of the story felt forced. I don't often leave critical reviews. But I finished this book so quickly because I wanted it to be over. Had it not been a NetGalley read, this would have been a DNF.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advanced copy.

[Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"What happens when you fall in love with the wrong person?"

Lucie and Mac are brought together so Lucie can assist Mac as Mac writes her new collection of folktales. But don't most authors put part of their own life into their stories? And just how telling are the stories they're writing? Even local folklore has the tint of the past that still haunts the present. When will that cause a fissure in the people surround this?

This certainly wasn't the story that I expected when I read the synopsis.. I mean, it IS, but it isn't. A slow burn of psychological suspense, the crazy amps up with each turn of the page... once you get about halfway through. This might have been just a TAD bit too slow for my liking. However, I did appreciate the build up and continual atmospheric presence that the author built.

There's always a little bit of an issue I have with a book within a book and while this was a bit minimal in this novel, I was still getting slightly confused between the characters from the book she was writing, to the person in her life to the present person speaking. Confused yet? Yeah, me too. I had small issues with a couple of other things that I won't spoil you on but it didn't impact the story TOO much to not still enjoy the story line for what it was.

The author gives us insight into the person who is the mistress to the wife being betrayed and this resonates and certainly adds to the crazy factor, which I'm always all about. Two opposites still feeling strongly and these feelings ramp into a very interesting scenario. Take a gander if psychological suspense is your jam.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story within a story read. Didn't reay like any of the characters but the atmosphere is great.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I was just going to classify this book as a Gothic mystery, but the ending got so dark and twisted that it bumped right on up to a thriller. This story is told from two point of views, that of Mac and of Lucie. Both have their own secrets. And if their secrets weren't enough you also have a third story woven in between by a story that Mac is writing. The beginning and the middle of this book probably won't have you on the edge of your seat, it's all adding up to something though. And that ending! It was a really good read, well written. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone that likes mysteries and/or thrillers.

I won this book from the giveaways at Goodreads.com

[The Literary Shed · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great setting is important to any book, but in a work of crime fiction it is particularly so. In this, Sandra Ireland’s Bone Deep doesn’t disappoint: it has atmospheric locations in spades.

A disused watermill lies at the heart of the book, a place suitably immersed in history and legend and bound up in the story of two long departed sisters, their loves, rivalries and betrayals.

It’s their story that informs the book, capturing the attention of both Mac, an elderly writer who lives on a neighbouring property with her son, Arthur, and Lucie, her newly arrived assistant. Slightly arcane, Lucie is a woman with her own secrets.

Bone Deep is told from the alternating perspectives of Mac and Lucie whose lives unfold against the backstory of the two sisters. Lucie’s changing relationships with Mac and Arthur, and her true reasons for coming to work for Mac provide extra strands to Ireland’s main theme.

Paying more than a nod to the gothic tradition, Bone Deep is a well-written and suitably eerie novel, albeit one that perhaps doesn’t hold that many surprises. That said, it’s engaging – a perfect holiday read.

For the full review see: http://www.theliteraryshed.co.uk/read...

This review was published as part of the Polygon virtual book tour. Thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy. All opinions are our own. All rights reserved.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️s rounded up to 4. I won Bone Deep in a Goodreads giveaway & wasn’t sure what to expect as I’ve never read Sandra Ireland before. It turned out to be a good ol’ gothic mystery set in an old watermill in Scotland. The setting was absolutely perfect for this atmospheric story & true to the genre, both the characters’ secrets & the secrets of the past just won’t stay buried.
Mac, an academic septuagenarian is putting together a book on local legends & folklore. What better place to start than the ancient watermill she calls home? Over the centuries more than a few legends surrounding it have popped up and been passed down. Mac’s son, Arthur, feels she needs help and hires assistant, Lucie, to come live in the miller’s cottage and help Mac put the book together. However, Mac and Lucie both have some skeletons that they want kept locked in their proverbial closets, but those skeletons have a different idea. The book goes back and forth between Lucie and Mac’s perspectives and weaves in a mystery from the mill’s past showing how history repeats itself.
The old legends top off this gothic thriller with a ghostly air. I rounded up 3.5 stars to 4 because while I enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down, it was quite short and I felt like there was more story to be told. But, I will definitely be reading more from Sandra Ireland.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher, via Netgalley, for an advance e-galley for honest review.

3.25 stars. The folklore aspect of this book was far and beyond the most captivating part, and the connections between the story Mac is writing and "real life" with both Lucie and Mac caught my attention. Despite being a fairly short book, the writing is fairly dense and the language is very careful and doesn't waste words.

[Meggy Chocolate'n'Waffles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bone Deep holds different kinds of magic.

The heart wants what it wants. This is the lesson I take with me after reading this novel.

Lucie is looking for a fresh start, or at least, a change of scenery. Thrown out of the family house, she finds shelter at Mac’s as an assistant. Not too far from her old life, but away enough for the pain to get duller.

Mac is a retired historian currently writing about Scottish folklore stories. She lives with her dogs and is close to her son Arthur.

What else can I say that would make you want to meet those women without revealing anything?

Well, I am at a loss for words. Why? Because one of the magical sides of Bone Deep is its excellent writing. The narration is crystal clear, each word soaks the page like a drop of Scottish rain. When I hear a book being categorized as ‘literary’ I usually cringe. I wonder if I’ll get all the metaphors, the hidden meanings behind each sentence, or the overall plot behind the fancy sentences. Yet, I can’t find another word to describe Bone Deep. This novel is the example of perfect literary fiction.

Jumping from Mac’s point of view to Lucie’s, the book flows slowly and smoothly. As the chapters go by, the relationship between Mac and Lucie evolves, built on secrets on each part. I loved getting to know them through the other’s eyes. Mac appears rough, happy in her loneliness. Lucie is lost, rude. As events unfold, the discovery that they both suffer from love is heartbreaking.

Mac has a story to tell, ‘The Cruel Sister,’ while Lucy is trying to change her own story. Their lives intertwine beautifully under the grey and raw Scottish sky.

You are not going to find happily-ever-afters here. Bone Deep is intricate, it stabs you in the back like a woman stealing her sister’s boyfriend, it hurts like the sting of betrayal that poisons a wife. With a poignant background of folklore enhancing the tragedy held between the pages, Bone Deep settled under my skin and made me crave for more. Always more.

Every mistake gives birth to a wound. Each wound leaves a scar. Mac and Lucie are mirrors reflecting their fears, errors, pain, and most of all, guilt. Those emotions swirl and don’t let up with the passage of time. They create a veil of tension that lead to a climax that is the only way out. A bright and burning exit allowing the secrets to fly high. Captivated by the storylines, I found myself becoming so close to Mac and Lucie that parting hurt. I felt utterly bereft, unwilling to leave the book.

The setting is another magical part of Bone Deep. Running in each character’s veins are the strength and rawness of the country.

Talking about Scotland, I must thank the narrators for their tremendous work. As soon as the voices reached my ears, I was in my dear Scotland. I chuckled at the slang, I shuddered when the tone got quieter, I was living in the cottage, I was going to Arthur’s shop, I could see the mill without even closing my eyes. Listening to Bone Deep adds power to the novel, and I can’t recommend enough that you treat yourself to both the audio and the written versions.

[Laura Nelson (Tangents and Tissues) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m an audiobook review virgin, so please be gentle with me *snorts*.

I must confess something first – I don’t listen to many audiobooks. I’m always worried I’ll miss something or zone out (i.e. nod off – it’s been known to happen *shrugs*). To ensure I didn’t do either of those things with Bone Deep, I listened to the audiobook and followed the book on my kindle at the same time. Whaaa? *blushes* Don’t judge, Judgey McJudgerson, it worked for me!

Mac and Lucie’s story really did a number on me – I didn’t want to stop my audible-readalong. I had to know what was going to happen next. The narrators were outstanding at bringing the characters to life and building the tension to nail-biting levels.

Two women consumed by secrets. One word kept reverberating in my mind. Kismet! Do you believe in fate, destiny, whatever you want to call it? *nods* Yeah, me too.

Like a loose thread, Lucie’s arrival in Mac’s life heralds the unravelling of a story/stories with far reaching ramifications. Both women have to face up to decisions made.

Note to self: For future reference Laura, please do not listen/read psychological thrillers late at night in the pitch-black. Especially when Gizmo (one of your geriatric cats) decides to walk across that wonky floorboard. Wetting the bed from fright at 40 is not a good look. Nor is waking the neighbours with your screeching. Okay?

*coughs*

Moving swiftly along...

Set amidst the atmospheric Scottish landscape and interwoven with history and folk stories, this is a story that will get under your skin and creep into your psyche to haunt your senses and thrill your imagination.

In other words, if you’re like me, you’ll be a wee bit feart but will love every minute of it as you try to put all the pieces of the puzzle together.

In my opinion, Bone Deep is a must read/listen for all thriller fans.

[Dorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bone Deep
by Sandra Ireland
2018
Gallery
4.5 / 5.0

A dark, psychological thriller of love, betrayal, sibling rivalry, and murder.
Set in the Scottish town of Fettermore, Arthur convinces his mother, a retired historian living alone in a large estate, to hire a Girl Friday to live in the cottage behind her home. So Max hires Lucie to help her transcribe her collection of folklore, and history of 2 sisters. Lucie is very different from Max, but they get along. As Lucie begins to transcribe Max's story of the 2 sisters, it reminds Lucie of her own secrets. Max has secrets of her own age wants to keep hidden. As these two women circle each other, they are forced to confront their own pasts and fears.
Atmospheric and gothic, this is only Irelands second novel. Tremendous storyteller and building.

[Heather Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I could expect greatness from this novel, having been privileged enough to hear snippets of it through meetings at our writers’ group. What I did not expect was how completely sucked in I was to the worlds of Mac and Lucie.

The author expertly weaves together two personalities, so alike, yet so different. The backdrop of the mill adds an even more sinister element to the already dark plot. I felt like I was holding my breath (and actually was at times) waiting to see what would happen next. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending and didn’t guess what was going to happen until it happened! This is a rarity, to be able to guide the reader on such a journey that they are left, heart in throat, not knowing what’s around the corner.

A haunting and suspenseful tale, Bone Deep explores the fine line between myth and reality, and begs the question, do we really know what we are capable of, and for that matter, what others are capable of?

[Tina Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this thru a GoodReads give-a-way contest and would like to thank anyone involved in that. I really enjoyed this book. It IS a DARK tale, that grabbed me from the first pages until the last!

[manicmousy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Fee (Ebook Addicts) · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Audio Review **

The story
This is one of those slow burner books, the kind that start of nice and steady lulling you in and then picks up pace with each chapter, building the suspense and the tension as you go until it all comes to an almighty head.

Going into this book I wasn't really  sure what to really expect, here we have Mac a retired historian who is spending her time writing stories around local legends, and Lucie - with an ie much to Mac chagrin - who Mac has hired to help type up her book. Lucie it would appear has her secrets just as much as Mac does in this book and the story is told in their alternating points of view. 

The narration 
Una Mcdade, Emma Hartley-Miller really brought the characters to life for me in this tale, the old and the young and they were Scottish! That made this story all the more enjoyable to listen to. The audio was crisp and clear and the transition between characters flawless.

5 stars

[Angie Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Legends,-Urban Myths, Folklore, we all love reading about them, but Mac, goes one step further, she writes about them, and now she is compiling a book of local legends. The one that has grabbed her attention is the story of the two sisters, rivals in love and both dead, but what is the connection with the Watermill, now unused and creaking eerily in the wind, what secrets does it hold, and what is the secret Mac is hiding, from her son Arthur? Tense, creepy and full of foreboding.

[Toni · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

This book is a re-release. It was first published in July 2018 under the same name. It also has a new cover. Not sure why the new packaging but the new cover is much better than the old one, IMHO. You can just imagine old bones being ground up by the old mill. Chilling, eh?

I wish the book had been half as compelling as the cover. It has some outstanding ratings and reviews on Goodreads so maybe this just isn’t my cup of tea and take this all with a grain of salt. I think I wanted to love this but came away disappointed. I feel like a bit of a bully giving low ratings. Realistically 2.5 would be an average rating out of 5. So, over all, just okay for me.

It’s really bad when you want to gush over something but are only left with regret. This book was not something I could completely invest in. It had two unreliable characters. Not one but two! I mean, really? I couldn’t and wouldn’t want to root for them. That alone made it a struggle for me to get to the end of the title. Plus it had another trope I really despise: a story inside a story.

It is hard enough sometimes to follow the main plot of a book. When you add another entirely different storyline, it becomes a convoluted mess. Add again to that the fact that pieces of this story inside the story has some bearing on the main plot and my mind starts to scramble. For some people, this trope is their jam. Not for me, unfortunately. I completely skipped the story inside the story in Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and still enjoyed it. Mainly, I don’t want to be further confused by an alternate storyline that may or may not have a bearing on the current plot.

I got to a point where I wondered why I was still reading this. I didn’t care about the characters. Their actions as time went on made me hate them more and more. Evil brewed in them both. Mac, the seventy year old mom of Arthur, unraveled and treated him horribly. Lucie knew she shouldn’t sleep with her sister’s husband but seemed to like him more knowing it might upset her sister when she found out. They both went out of their way to be buttheads.

Were there light moments? Sure. Mac’s son, Arthur seemed to bring the light to the darkness of this. Not sure why he felt Lucie was the girl for him. I wanted to tell him to run and take his tasty treats to someone who deserved them more.

Like I said earlier, rooting for the characters make me push through books like this. With such unlikable protagonists, I was underwhelmed. I wanted to move on. It was a definite struggle for me. But then again, I am not the right market for this book.

This may be your total jam. So don’t pass it up based on this review. Refer to all the other 4 ad 5 star ratings this book received on Goodreads. Make your own decision. This could be your cup of spooky tea.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

[Basic B's Guide · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rtc

[OrchardBookClub · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I start?

First off, I couldn’t work for Mac! So hats off to Lucie for putting up with this woman. These two had their moments with each other but I did enjoy their bond….. until…. well…. you’ll have to read!

Mac comes across as a crazy old bat thats slowly loosing her mind, one minute she’s in the here and now, the next she’s calling you by someone else’s name and rattling on about something you’ve ‘done or said’. Shes a woman that doesnt let a lot of people close to her and i get that now, shes lived a long and secret life and i really enjoyed getting to inravel the nitty gritty details!

As Lucie gets into the swing of her ‘new’ life and working for Mac things are discovered, lines have to be crossed and at points i thought Lucie was loosing the plot along with Mac….. oh how wrong I could have been!

This book kept me wanting more and more with each turn of the page. I loved seeing Lucie open up to people she had only just met and really felt for her when she visited home, what she did was wrong on so many levels but they way both parents treated her, my heart ached for her. I adored how she was with Mac’s son, Arthur. Never really admitting her feelings until everything came tumbling down.

Like I said this isn’t my usual read but there was something about the way Sandra wrote the story that had me coming back for just one more page! I wanted to know the secrets, what was real and what was part of Mac’s story books but never in a million years did I expect what was about to unfold!!

Sandra, i can honestly say you did an amazing job on this book. I can not wait to see what comes from you next!

For me this book is a 5 golden apples read and my copy will be making it’s way to my community run library, I will be recommending it to anyone who will listen…. and they’ll have to seen as I’ll be the one issuing their books 😂

[Julie Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very different to anything I have read recently. A contemporary novel with a Gothic slant that is a slow burn but utterly compelling and powerful. It really took me buy surprise.

It is told in alternating chapters in the first person voices of Mac and Lucie, which gives us two very different perspectives on the narrative. Mac is a retired history lecturer writing her first fiction book based on local folk lore, who becomes increasingly obsessed with the local legend of two sisters and their fraught relationship. Lucie is a woman running from her own family problems who arrives on Mac’s doorstep hiding a secret of her own, to take up the position as Mac’s Girl Friday. As time passes, their relationship becomes increasingly fractured as the past and present narratives begin to take parallel turns, secrets are revealed and Mac’s mental health seems to unravel alarmingly.

This book has a very small cast of characters, a tight plot, limited scope of place and a slow pace, but it is completely engrossing. I was totally enthralled from page one and read the whole thing in a single day, as I simply could not put it down, and this is purely due to the consumate skill of the writing.

The characters are brilliantly drawn, and their journey through the book and the way they develop from start to finish, starting off seemingly fairly ordinary but gradually revealing their secrets over the course of the book in a way that paints them in a totally different light to us by the end, is masterful. I started off with one set of opinions and had a totally different viewpoint by the end.

The plot is very cleverly drawn, interwoven with scenes from Mac’s book and the story of the two sisters, which may or may not be based on historical fact; the lines between fact and fiction, truth and lies, past and present become increasingly blurred until neither the reader nor the characters are entirely sure what real and what is imaginary and we are left trying to work out what really happened right until the end of the book. It makes the book seem to exist in a slightly other-worldly, dreamlike state which I really loved.

This impression is compounded by the setting which is so atmospheric and wonderfully captured in the author’s descriptions. The decrepit old mill, which starts up at odd times of day and night, the ramshackle Miller’s Cottage with its winding corridors and strange noises and Mac’s disorganised and chilly house which she is reduced to closing off in large part to preserve heat. It all adds up the menacing and increasingly creepy atmosphere and its remoteness increases the feeling of being cut off from reality. The setting is oppressive and this feeling ramps up as the events in the book grow increasingly dangerous. It was perfectly portrayed and an integral part of my enjoyment of the book.

The author’s use of language is beautiful. I revelled in phrases such as ‘The pond, blackberry-dark, glints juicily under the full moon.’ The book is studded with gorgeous and evocative language that I had to stop and just savour for a moment before moving on. However, the book also flows brilliantly, drawing you form chapter to chapter. It was a joy to read.

I loved this book. It is totally unique, original and gripping. It got under my skin and had me thinking about it for a long time afterwards. It really made an impression on me, which is the most one can ask for from a good read.

[Zoé-Lee O'Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book is powerful. A constant reminder that through the ages to own your mistakes. This book has left me breathless and will take a while to sink in, as some elements were unsettling but what a story.

We are guided by alternating chapters of Lucie, a girl who has left behind her family and her life to become a PA of sorts to Mac. Mac, a retired historian who has a story to tell, “The Cruel Sisters”, both women have secrets to hide, slowly being revealed to us by the medium of a story. Mac is writing a story about two sisters and the treachery that unfolds between them, Lucie is typing this story up. We have three different stories of love and heartbreak being told throughout the book, Lucie, Mac and the sisters, all woven together fully blurring reality with folklore.

I loved seeing the characters through each other’s eyes. Lucie, to Mac, was a sullen teenager, she was always cold and short towards people and not letting them in. Mac, to Lucie, was slowly becoming unhinged and was brisk and rude. Then when you read their chapters you begin to learn why they are the way they are, and to be honest I felt for both of them in certain aspects of their lives, both affected by love and heartbreak but on different parts of the spectrum to each other, mirror images of each other. The theme of guilt, trust and deceit resonate through this book, so there was only so much you could empathise with Lucie and Mac, but in the scenes, you were meant to I certainly did.

This really was a slow burner of a story, but the short snappy chapters alternating between Lucie and Mac had me turning pages over quickly. I had no idea where they were leading me or to be honest what the story would be completely about.

The climax in the book was intense and when the secrets were uncovered, you could guess some were coming but as they unfold it did leave you wanting to know more and to find out how unhinged someone really was. The ambiguous ending definitely played on the folklore of the Cruel Sisters and has left it very open-ended.

I have been really vague because to divulge any little detail could ruin this tale for you, and I went in reading this blind. By doing so I was folklore absorbed in the writing and storytelling, it was immensely powerful.