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The Haunted Shore
A CHILLING GHOST STORY SET IN THE HAUNTING WILDERNESS OF SUFFOLK
When Lizzy moves to a desolate shore to escape her past, she hopes to find sanctuary. But a mysterious stranger is waiting for her, her father's carer, and when darkness falls, something roams this wild stretch of beach, urging Lizzy to investigate its past. The longer she stays, the more the shore's secrets begin to stir. Secrets of a sea that burned, of bodies washed ashore -- and a family's buried past reaching into the present.
And when Lizzy begins to suspect that her father's carer is a dangerous imposter with sinister motives, a new darkness rises. What happens next is everyone's living nightmare...
From the bestselling author of The Ghost Hunters and The Lost Village, The Haunted Shore is a terrifying tale of suspense that does not let up until the last page is turned.
When Lizzy moves to a desolate shore to escape her past, she hopes to find sanctuary. But a mysterious stranger is waiting for her, her father's carer, and when darkness falls, something roams this wild stretch of beach, urging Lizzy to investigate its past. The longer she stays, the more the shore's secrets begin to stir. Secrets of a sea that burned, of bodies washed ashore -- and a family's buried past reaching into the present.
And when Lizzy begins to suspect that her father's carer is a dangerous imposter with sinister motives, a new darkness rises. What happens next is everyone's living nightmare...
From the bestselling author of The Ghost Hunters and The Lost Village, The Haunted Shore is a terrifying tale of suspense that does not let up until the last page is turned.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2020
29 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
About the author
Neil Spring
6 books358 followersNeil Spring is the author of several novels, many of which are inspired by real events.
His debut novel, The Ghost Hunters, was adapted into a critically acclaimed television drama for ITV starring Rafe Spall.
The Haunted Shore is his fifth novel and is out 15 Oct 2020. Preorder: https://amzn.to/2CCMxv9
Originally from South Wales, Neil lives in London and can be contacted via his website, www.neilspring.com, or followed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Neilspring.a..., and on Twitter as @neilspring.
Neil is represented by the literary agency, Curtis Brown.
His debut novel, The Ghost Hunters, was adapted into a critically acclaimed television drama for ITV starring Rafe Spall.
The Haunted Shore is his fifth novel and is out 15 Oct 2020. Preorder: https://amzn.to/2CCMxv9
Originally from South Wales, Neil lives in London and can be contacted via his website, www.neilspring.com, or followed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Neilspring.a..., and on Twitter as @neilspring.
Neil is represented by the literary agency, Curtis Brown.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
October 15, 2020
Booktrail the locations in the novel - if you dare ;)
Great read! Even greater mystery. Neil Spring has a knack for finding the freakiest, most chilling stories and real life settings in the UK. I've never been close to Orford Ness where this story takes place but I really want to go there now. Or do I? Might be safer just reading this book. Loved the story and the people from the past but was also scared about one of the characters in the modern day story as well.
More like Ghost Hunters and this on the telly please!
October 15, 2020
Many Thanks to Net Galley, Quercus book and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
Neil Spring’s The Haunted Shore is a book that better be read in one sitting with all the lights blazing ON!
A Darkness Is Rising!
Eerie and mysterious, the insidious quality of the desolate murkiness that hangs over the book cannot be described by any word that I write here. The Haunted Shore begs to be read for all fans of supernatural thrillers coz it is not just the ghosts and unexplained phenomena that causes the chills but the Machiavellian sneaky drama that enfolds throughout the story.
Elizabeth Valentine, Lizzy is running from her mistakes and the call from her brother Colin to return back home to Shingle Street in Suffolk is like a manna from heaven. The much-required peace and shelter that she wishes for, never materializes as Lizzy comes to terms to the extent of her neglect of her family affairs and the very sly care-taker Hazel who has made herself home.
The psychological element of the story muddles the plot brilliantly coz Lizzy as a character is not someone whom one can instantly like but as the story progresses and the reader becomes enmeshed in unravelling the tangle of secrets that surrounds the Martello tower and the forbidden military area called Orford Ness, an island of secrets, I began to root for Lizzy and her solid friendship with Bill.
The author’s use of the bleak and stark shoreline with rumors of atrocities during the world war is masterly and to know there are bits of truth in the story sends cold shivers down the spine.
Thoroughly terrifying and chilling, The Haunted Shore is a must read for all fans of psychological supernatural thrillers.
Highly recommended.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/; Amazon India, Goodreads, and Twitter.
Neil Spring’s The Haunted Shore is a book that better be read in one sitting with all the lights blazing ON!
A Darkness Is Rising!
Eerie and mysterious, the insidious quality of the desolate murkiness that hangs over the book cannot be described by any word that I write here. The Haunted Shore begs to be read for all fans of supernatural thrillers coz it is not just the ghosts and unexplained phenomena that causes the chills but the Machiavellian sneaky drama that enfolds throughout the story.
Elizabeth Valentine, Lizzy is running from her mistakes and the call from her brother Colin to return back home to Shingle Street in Suffolk is like a manna from heaven. The much-required peace and shelter that she wishes for, never materializes as Lizzy comes to terms to the extent of her neglect of her family affairs and the very sly care-taker Hazel who has made herself home.
The psychological element of the story muddles the plot brilliantly coz Lizzy as a character is not someone whom one can instantly like but as the story progresses and the reader becomes enmeshed in unravelling the tangle of secrets that surrounds the Martello tower and the forbidden military area called Orford Ness, an island of secrets, I began to root for Lizzy and her solid friendship with Bill.
The author’s use of the bleak and stark shoreline with rumors of atrocities during the world war is masterly and to know there are bits of truth in the story sends cold shivers down the spine.
Thoroughly terrifying and chilling, The Haunted Shore is a must read for all fans of psychological supernatural thrillers.
Highly recommended.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/; Amazon India, Goodreads, and Twitter.
May 19, 2021
Phenomenally scary and heart-pounding supernatural tale set on the windswept Suffolk coast. Thrilling read and the last 50 pages or so were really frightening.
May 22, 2025
I found myself completely enthralled by the eerie atmosphere that enveloped this story, which truly kept me engaged from start to finish. The author’s vivid descriptions brilliantly painted a haunting picture of the setting, creating an immersive experience that drew me in deeper with each page. However, I did feel a bit let down by the ending. The “twist” regarding the haunted shore became apparent to me quite early on, which diminished some of the suspense I had been anticipating. Despite this, the overall journey through the book was enjoyable, filled with intriguing characters and a compelling narrative. I’m definitely looking forward to exploring more works by Spring in the future, as I believe there’s much more to discover in their storytelling.
August 23, 2021
Very creepy and atmospheric. You really get into the story and get a good sense of place. Good strong characters.
You can't go wrong with Neil Spring for a good book
You can't go wrong with Neil Spring for a good book
October 11, 2020
3.5 Stars
Neil Spring is a new author to me, although he has a successful back catalogue of books and a TV production in his wake.
I was attracted to his book, The Haunted Shore, due to the supernatural aspects included and because it is set in Shingle Street, which I have visited. When I took a trip there, although it was September and a nice day, the place was completely empty, and it certainly has an unusual feel to it. You could well imagine the place having a history and some echos of the past lingering there.
The reader is carried along wanting to unravel the secrets of the past that relate to the main character Lizzie, her father and his carer, Hazel. I have read several books recently that I would describe as more character-led. This one felt more plot led and In my opinion, some of the incidents that occur felt a little contrived to make the plot work. Perhaps, because I enjoy a character-led novel, I felt the beginning was a little rushed as we get to find out about Lizzie and what triggers her return to Shingle Street from London. This almost felt like the opening scene of a TV production where we are quickly shown something to establish a reason for the move and as a prompt for later to come action.
That said, I enjoyed the tension that builds in her father's house based on Lizzie's relationship with Hazel and the bizarre noises that she hears and the figure she sees on the beach. I also liked Lizzie's friendship with Bill, and his backstory and the path of shells was intriguing. In many ways, Bill is the character I could relate to most in this book.
The book works its way towards a final crescendo, and the pace really quickens in the last quarter. I found myself rushing to reach a conclusion about what had really happened.
All in all, I enjoyed the book and the strong setting and historical element. I've slipped it down from 4 stars to 3.5 stars due to wanting a little more character development and for the plot actions to be a little more subtle. However, I'm sure it will be a popular book and enjoyed by many others.
Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book. I wish the author well on publication date on the 15th October.
Neil Spring is a new author to me, although he has a successful back catalogue of books and a TV production in his wake.
I was attracted to his book, The Haunted Shore, due to the supernatural aspects included and because it is set in Shingle Street, which I have visited. When I took a trip there, although it was September and a nice day, the place was completely empty, and it certainly has an unusual feel to it. You could well imagine the place having a history and some echos of the past lingering there.
The reader is carried along wanting to unravel the secrets of the past that relate to the main character Lizzie, her father and his carer, Hazel. I have read several books recently that I would describe as more character-led. This one felt more plot led and In my opinion, some of the incidents that occur felt a little contrived to make the plot work. Perhaps, because I enjoy a character-led novel, I felt the beginning was a little rushed as we get to find out about Lizzie and what triggers her return to Shingle Street from London. This almost felt like the opening scene of a TV production where we are quickly shown something to establish a reason for the move and as a prompt for later to come action.
That said, I enjoyed the tension that builds in her father's house based on Lizzie's relationship with Hazel and the bizarre noises that she hears and the figure she sees on the beach. I also liked Lizzie's friendship with Bill, and his backstory and the path of shells was intriguing. In many ways, Bill is the character I could relate to most in this book.
The book works its way towards a final crescendo, and the pace really quickens in the last quarter. I found myself rushing to reach a conclusion about what had really happened.
All in all, I enjoyed the book and the strong setting and historical element. I've slipped it down from 4 stars to 3.5 stars due to wanting a little more character development and for the plot actions to be a little more subtle. However, I'm sure it will be a popular book and enjoyed by many others.
Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book. I wish the author well on publication date on the 15th October.
Read
January 26, 2021I really want to visit Orford Ness. The vivid descriptions of Shingle Street make it enticing for a supernatural suspense reader like myself. Not only that, there are hints to the Lighthouse at Orford Ness having had supernatural goings-on. I mean lighthouses are pretty fascinating, right? They're a literary focal point too, but not every book has the added (modern) renovated Martello tower to live in. I had to do a cursory google whilst reading to find that Martello towers are shortish and stout. I would love to see one in real life, particularly where the protagonist lives in during the story after abandoning London. What is truly sad is that the lighthouse was decommissioned in 2013. It has begun to be dismantled after enduring harsh weather in July 2020 (as if anything else bad didn't happen).
The intensity is amped up by a family dispute and family illness, sometimes the scariest stories are drawn from real life with the most Machiavellian sibling rivalry and behaviour. It was engrossing to see the tension between Lizzy and Hazel. The guilt of deploying the care of a family member to an outsider. It supported the development of the plot.
While writing this review, I can't stop thinking about how the lighthouse is being dismantled. When literature students on post-millennium Fiction 101 modules won't have a chance to visit the lighthouse Neil Spring has done the building justice in his descriptions. For that, I will add a star! Neil Spring always brings a paranormal touch to his thrilling stories. His forte is plot-driven suspense, for me, that's what makes them so engaging and enjoyable to read.
I am grateful to the author, Neil Spring, the UK publishers Quercus and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book before publication. It will appear on the book review section on Jenifun.co.uk once I have perfected my Pinterest board of Martello towers to share with you all.
The intensity is amped up by a family dispute and family illness, sometimes the scariest stories are drawn from real life with the most Machiavellian sibling rivalry and behaviour. It was engrossing to see the tension between Lizzy and Hazel. The guilt of deploying the care of a family member to an outsider. It supported the development of the plot.
While writing this review, I can't stop thinking about how the lighthouse is being dismantled. When literature students on post-millennium Fiction 101 modules won't have a chance to visit the lighthouse Neil Spring has done the building justice in his descriptions. For that, I will add a star! Neil Spring always brings a paranormal touch to his thrilling stories. His forte is plot-driven suspense, for me, that's what makes them so engaging and enjoyable to read.
I am grateful to the author, Neil Spring, the UK publishers Quercus and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book before publication. It will appear on the book review section on Jenifun.co.uk once I have perfected my Pinterest board of Martello towers to share with you all.
October 22, 2020
I was really looking forward to reading this book as I grew up in Suffolk not far from Orford and I have to say Mr Spring has done an excellent job of describing the countryside and weather. A really eerie and atmospheric story taking place mainly in a Martello tower opposite Orford ness where lots of strange things went on during the war. Full of supernatural visitations and noises in the night it kept me hooked to the end. Highly recommended.
December 9, 2020
Lizzy gets a phone call from her brother. Her dad is in a very bad way and he needs help. Right when lizzys world is turned upside down. She goes straight to her dad. When she arrives she finds her brother has hired an live in carer. Something about her just dosent sit right. Are her instincts correct, or is she just imagining it all.
What an absolutely amazing book!! A certain character was driving me insane, I was getting extremely annoyed and wound up. I kept having to remind myself it was just a book, its not real.
So many different twists. As soon as certain characters were introduced I was trying to figure it all out. Each time I thought I had, I was thrown in a different direction. Highly recommend
What an absolutely amazing book!! A certain character was driving me insane, I was getting extremely annoyed and wound up. I kept having to remind myself it was just a book, its not real.
So many different twists. As soon as certain characters were introduced I was trying to figure it all out. Each time I thought I had, I was thrown in a different direction. Highly recommend
October 29, 2020
A few years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting musician Thomas Dolby, one of my teenage heroes. This was as part of a small tour he was doing to show people a film he had made about Orfordness lighthouse in Suffolk, an abandoned landmark on the British coast which was adjacent to a disused Atomic Weapons Research Base, itself surrounded in strange stories and mystery.
The area is clearly ripe for inspiring tales that are creepy. Coincidentally, this area is also the setting of Neil Spring’s The Haunted Shore, although the story takes place not around the lighthouse (recently demolished, sadly), but a renovated Martello Tower on the same stretch of coast.
From the publisher: “When Lizzy moves to a desolate shore to escape her past, she hopes to find sanctuary. But a mysterious stranger is waiting for her, her father's carer, and when darkness falls, something roams this wild stretch of beach, urging Lizzy to investigate its past. The longer she stays, the more the shore's secrets begin to stir. Secrets of a sea that burned, of bodies washed ashore -- and a family's buried past reaching into the present.
And when Lizzy begins to suspect that her father's carer is a dangerous imposter with sinister motives, a new darkness rises. What happens next is everyone's living nightmare . . .”
Lizzy Valentine is a bright young thing who seemingly has everything going for her – great job in London, well paid, nice flat - but when her life all falls apart, she returns to the hamlet of Shingle Street to live with Clifford, her architect father who lives in a redeveloped Martello tower on the Suffolk coast.
Upon her return she finds that her brother Colin is no longer living with her father but instead, living in the tower with her father, there is Hazel, a woman who is Lizzy’s father’s carer. This is a surprise, a change that is unknown to Lizzy. Lizzy does not get on with this stranger and even less so when Clifford is admitted to hospital after a stroke.
Other strange things become apparent – Clifford’s bank accounts are empty. Is Hazel an imposter taking the family for all she can get, or is she a genuinely caring professional caring for an adult in the throes of dementia? And then there’s the strange things that seem to happen around outside the tower at night…
Neil has made a habit of writing novels with unreliable narrators – his 2013 novel The Ghost Hunters, based on Borley Rectory (and reviewed HERE) was another one, as too the 2017 sequel The Lost Village (reviewed HERE). With this in mind, it should not be too much of a surprise that whilst seeing things from a third-person narrative focused on Lizzy, the reader is not sure that what they are reading is accurate or even real.
Is the plot about Lizzy slowly becoming unravelled, the consequences of a high-stress job in London? Or is it something more elemental, even supernatural? The author does well to keep us guessing along the way as things get stranger and stranger. Events become more strange and increasingly fractious as the book continues. The descriptions of the Suffolk landscape are effective in evoking a bleak wilderness, by turns remote and desolate. To create that solid connection with reality, Neil uses real places to make the reader feel that the situation is real. The Morello towers, for example, built for Britain’s defence in the Napoleonic Wars, are still there to see.
The plot and the pace are deceptively readable. Neil manages to set the scene well and make Lizzy’s deteriorating psychological situation seem possible, as well as make the reader want to find out what happens next.
There are lots of homage moments here, I think. The strange carer in the desolate house reminded me a little of Mrs Danvers in Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, and anyone who has read M R James’ Oh, Whistle and I’ll Come to You, My Lad or A Warning to the Curious will know how memorably eerie the Suffolk landscape can be, something which Neil does well to evoke. There’s even a possible touch of Nigel Kneale’s Stone Tapes in there too, with the idea that physical objects and places seem to absorb past traumatic events.
The ending revolves around a big reveal which on the whole works, although I did get the feeling that it wrapped things up rather quickly and was a little like that James Bond-plot point where the villains explain everything just before the end.
Nevertheless, overall, The Haunted Shore is an effective page turner that reads easily and keeps the reader’s attention. A good one to read on a dark and stormy Hallowe’en night!
The area is clearly ripe for inspiring tales that are creepy. Coincidentally, this area is also the setting of Neil Spring’s The Haunted Shore, although the story takes place not around the lighthouse (recently demolished, sadly), but a renovated Martello Tower on the same stretch of coast.
From the publisher: “When Lizzy moves to a desolate shore to escape her past, she hopes to find sanctuary. But a mysterious stranger is waiting for her, her father's carer, and when darkness falls, something roams this wild stretch of beach, urging Lizzy to investigate its past. The longer she stays, the more the shore's secrets begin to stir. Secrets of a sea that burned, of bodies washed ashore -- and a family's buried past reaching into the present.
And when Lizzy begins to suspect that her father's carer is a dangerous imposter with sinister motives, a new darkness rises. What happens next is everyone's living nightmare . . .”
Lizzy Valentine is a bright young thing who seemingly has everything going for her – great job in London, well paid, nice flat - but when her life all falls apart, she returns to the hamlet of Shingle Street to live with Clifford, her architect father who lives in a redeveloped Martello tower on the Suffolk coast.
Upon her return she finds that her brother Colin is no longer living with her father but instead, living in the tower with her father, there is Hazel, a woman who is Lizzy’s father’s carer. This is a surprise, a change that is unknown to Lizzy. Lizzy does not get on with this stranger and even less so when Clifford is admitted to hospital after a stroke.
Other strange things become apparent – Clifford’s bank accounts are empty. Is Hazel an imposter taking the family for all she can get, or is she a genuinely caring professional caring for an adult in the throes of dementia? And then there’s the strange things that seem to happen around outside the tower at night…
Neil has made a habit of writing novels with unreliable narrators – his 2013 novel The Ghost Hunters, based on Borley Rectory (and reviewed HERE) was another one, as too the 2017 sequel The Lost Village (reviewed HERE). With this in mind, it should not be too much of a surprise that whilst seeing things from a third-person narrative focused on Lizzy, the reader is not sure that what they are reading is accurate or even real.
Is the plot about Lizzy slowly becoming unravelled, the consequences of a high-stress job in London? Or is it something more elemental, even supernatural? The author does well to keep us guessing along the way as things get stranger and stranger. Events become more strange and increasingly fractious as the book continues. The descriptions of the Suffolk landscape are effective in evoking a bleak wilderness, by turns remote and desolate. To create that solid connection with reality, Neil uses real places to make the reader feel that the situation is real. The Morello towers, for example, built for Britain’s defence in the Napoleonic Wars, are still there to see.
The plot and the pace are deceptively readable. Neil manages to set the scene well and make Lizzy’s deteriorating psychological situation seem possible, as well as make the reader want to find out what happens next.
There are lots of homage moments here, I think. The strange carer in the desolate house reminded me a little of Mrs Danvers in Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, and anyone who has read M R James’ Oh, Whistle and I’ll Come to You, My Lad or A Warning to the Curious will know how memorably eerie the Suffolk landscape can be, something which Neil does well to evoke. There’s even a possible touch of Nigel Kneale’s Stone Tapes in there too, with the idea that physical objects and places seem to absorb past traumatic events.
The ending revolves around a big reveal which on the whole works, although I did get the feeling that it wrapped things up rather quickly and was a little like that James Bond-plot point where the villains explain everything just before the end.
Nevertheless, overall, The Haunted Shore is an effective page turner that reads easily and keeps the reader’s attention. A good one to read on a dark and stormy Hallowe’en night!
January 27, 2022
After a slow start i really enjoyed this book in the end, i couldn't put it down. A good story with good twists and turns.
April 15, 2021
I must say I was disappointed with this one. I have enjoyed all Neil Spring’s books but this was rather dull in comparison.
May 28, 2021
3.5 Stars
SPOILERS BELOW****
Pro's of the novel;
Packed full of suspense and mystery, from chapter 1 literally dives straight into somewhat of the plot (I would not consider it a slow-burn and as such appreciated this as it made the book easy to read). To be honest the main character Elizabeth (known as Lizzie throughout) was a pretty likeable character, perhaps not for everyone but I found her easy enough to get on with. I don't know anything about Shingle Street beyond the novel, but do know it is based on a real place - therefore the setting was very clear and I do like for settings/time periods in novels to be stated explicitly and I feel like Spring, the author, achieved this.
Furthermore [MAJOR SPOILERS INCOMING], the twist at the end about Clifford serving at a prison as a child due to the death of Sammy, and therefore completely changing his identity etc was a good twist in the novel and also did make sense. Hazel, known as Barbara Barnes (I shall say Hazel throughout), was a really good character to hate, up until the end where her need for vengeance made a lot more sense than just a crazy nonsense motive.
Con's of the novel;
One brief con, the final chapter (chapter 16) there were a few typos/proof reading errors e.g. "for ever" instead of forever or "mete" which I presume should have said meet. Not massive mistakes but yet were noticeable so worth mentioning. Now onto my biggest criticisms of the novel.
There was a lot going on here: Lizzie addicted to gambling, Lizzie owing Mitch 80K (plus interest I believe?), the beach being haunted, Colin's alcoholism, the weird things that happen in the house, everything about Hazel, Lizzie owing Hazel 40K, the weird dreams she and her dad have, the fire set to the boat house, the reveal of the mass grave, Nick being a traitor, the random appearance of a PI for like 5 minutes, Bill and his son, then of course, Clifford's own secrets.
Let's break it down:
Unfortunately, with everything Spring added I just do not think it made sense to have all of these things going on because naturally some of the plots or sub-plots were dropped quite suddenly or, I just personally didn't feel they made much sense. The biggest one for me is that I cannot tell if this is a ghost or a crime novel. Yes there are elements of both criminality and the supernatural, but the ghost element was really quite vague, yes there was a display at the beach but it never explained why ghosts exist in this universe, or why Lizzie continued to have disturbing dreams about them. Most of all for me, why was the Martello haunted?? I didn't really understand why.
Other things to mention, Collin was completely unlikeable, I wish we could have seen him apologise to Lizzie or at least have some more acknowledgment to the fact that he was partly to blame for allowing Hazel into their lives. Then, Mitch etc - this began as a large plot (i.e the boathouse is set on fire and these people seem very scary and threatening) then they are just not mentioned again. Lizzie pays 40K and that's the end of that, I didn't really think it fit into the plot. Also, at the end of chapter 1, Lizzie says "before I was accused of murdering my father" which I found a bit misleading as throughout the novel I was expecting this big plot of her being framed but that did not happen at all, in fact it was only ever really implied and that was by Hazel, not even by the police.
Hazel as a character was also interesting to me, because I loved to hate her as the villain (Misery by Stephen King vibes) but then she was given an arc that completely explained her actions in a way which really makes the reader sympathise, furthermore she is painted as a very mean, calculating, conniving and almost crazy character - but in the last like 2 chapters this is explained in a way I personally found unsatisfactory. This is more personal to me, I just would have preferred her to have been written as a bad person, not one with a genuine understandable need for revenge.
There is more I can delve into but I am conscious that this review is very long already so I will lastly mention this, it ends too much in a neatly wrapped parcel and bow for me. So, Lizzie just sells Martello and somehow gets enough money to pay back Mitch 40K + interest, and then to give Nick back what her dad took from his mum like 20 years ago (which he claimed was hundreds of thousands) whilst also having enough to rent a nice bungalow for them both. Yeah, didn't really work for me.
Long review, happy to chat some more - 3.5 stars, very easy to read and lots going on, never a dull moment (although arguably perhaps too much).
SPOILERS BELOW****
Pro's of the novel;
Packed full of suspense and mystery, from chapter 1 literally dives straight into somewhat of the plot (I would not consider it a slow-burn and as such appreciated this as it made the book easy to read). To be honest the main character Elizabeth (known as Lizzie throughout) was a pretty likeable character, perhaps not for everyone but I found her easy enough to get on with. I don't know anything about Shingle Street beyond the novel, but do know it is based on a real place - therefore the setting was very clear and I do like for settings/time periods in novels to be stated explicitly and I feel like Spring, the author, achieved this.
Furthermore [MAJOR SPOILERS INCOMING], the twist at the end about Clifford serving at a prison as a child due to the death of Sammy, and therefore completely changing his identity etc was a good twist in the novel and also did make sense. Hazel, known as Barbara Barnes (I shall say Hazel throughout), was a really good character to hate, up until the end where her need for vengeance made a lot more sense than just a crazy nonsense motive.
Con's of the novel;
One brief con, the final chapter (chapter 16) there were a few typos/proof reading errors e.g. "for ever" instead of forever or "mete" which I presume should have said meet. Not massive mistakes but yet were noticeable so worth mentioning. Now onto my biggest criticisms of the novel.
There was a lot going on here: Lizzie addicted to gambling, Lizzie owing Mitch 80K (plus interest I believe?), the beach being haunted, Colin's alcoholism, the weird things that happen in the house, everything about Hazel, Lizzie owing Hazel 40K, the weird dreams she and her dad have, the fire set to the boat house, the reveal of the mass grave, Nick being a traitor, the random appearance of a PI for like 5 minutes, Bill and his son, then of course, Clifford's own secrets.
Let's break it down:
Unfortunately, with everything Spring added I just do not think it made sense to have all of these things going on because naturally some of the plots or sub-plots were dropped quite suddenly or, I just personally didn't feel they made much sense. The biggest one for me is that I cannot tell if this is a ghost or a crime novel. Yes there are elements of both criminality and the supernatural, but the ghost element was really quite vague, yes there was a display at the beach but it never explained why ghosts exist in this universe, or why Lizzie continued to have disturbing dreams about them. Most of all for me, why was the Martello haunted?? I didn't really understand why.
Other things to mention, Collin was completely unlikeable, I wish we could have seen him apologise to Lizzie or at least have some more acknowledgment to the fact that he was partly to blame for allowing Hazel into their lives. Then, Mitch etc - this began as a large plot (i.e the boathouse is set on fire and these people seem very scary and threatening) then they are just not mentioned again. Lizzie pays 40K and that's the end of that, I didn't really think it fit into the plot. Also, at the end of chapter 1, Lizzie says "before I was accused of murdering my father" which I found a bit misleading as throughout the novel I was expecting this big plot of her being framed but that did not happen at all, in fact it was only ever really implied and that was by Hazel, not even by the police.
Hazel as a character was also interesting to me, because I loved to hate her as the villain (Misery by Stephen King vibes) but then she was given an arc that completely explained her actions in a way which really makes the reader sympathise, furthermore she is painted as a very mean, calculating, conniving and almost crazy character - but in the last like 2 chapters this is explained in a way I personally found unsatisfactory. This is more personal to me, I just would have preferred her to have been written as a bad person, not one with a genuine understandable need for revenge.
There is more I can delve into but I am conscious that this review is very long already so I will lastly mention this, it ends too much in a neatly wrapped parcel and bow for me. So, Lizzie just sells Martello and somehow gets enough money to pay back Mitch 40K + interest, and then to give Nick back what her dad took from his mum like 20 years ago (which he claimed was hundreds of thousands) whilst also having enough to rent a nice bungalow for them both. Yeah, didn't really work for me.
Long review, happy to chat some more - 3.5 stars, very easy to read and lots going on, never a dull moment (although arguably perhaps too much).
November 15, 2020
The Haunted Shore follows Elizabeth Valentine, Lizzy, a successful woman in her mid thirties with a partner that loves her and a high paid PR job in London. She loves her life, and is ready to settle down into married life with her partner and have some kids. Unfortunately for her, her life is about to spiral out of control. Lizzy's partner is also her boss, and when he removes her from an important project she turns to the one place shes always found comfort, online gambling.
Without realising what she's doing Lizzy drains her bank accounts in a spree of online Blackjack. Panicked and desperate she uses her corporate credit card to try and win her money back; but alas, her addiction prevents her from stopping before it all goes wrong. With £80,000 stolen from her work and gone to the wind, Lizzy is fired from her job, loses her partner, and is being hounded by shady characters who all want their money back.
Unable to see what she can do to get herself out of this hole her addiction has dug her she climbs onto the edge of a bridge and is about to end her life when she gets a phone call from her brother. It turns out her father is getting sicker, that he's struggling to get by, and her brother needs her to help. Grabbing hold of this sudden lifeline with both hands Lizzy travels back to her childhood home to help her father.
A former architect, her father is hiding away from the world in his converted Martello tower on a stretch of the near deserted Shingle Street, a small patch of coast in Suffolk. Lizzy arrives at this remote home to find her father in worse condition than she though, her brother moved away to live with a younger woman, and a strange carer, Hazel, staying in the tower. Back in her fathers life and determined to help him, Lizzy not only has to worry about the debt collectors on her trail, and continually locking horns with Hazel, but there's also mysterious figures on the beach at night, and strange noises that she can't explain haunting her too.
The Haunted Shore is a book that's full of atmosphere, one where you feel the location seeping off the page into you as you read it. The remote and dreary shore of Lizzy's childhood home is dark, creepy, and full of atmosphere, and it never once lets up. The oppressive nature of the winter weather, as well as the cold and isolated feel of the tower means that this is a place where Lizzy can never find rest, where she never feels relaxed or fully safe. The result of this is a woman who is barely keeping a hold of herself throughout most of the book.
Lizzy is a character that feels very real in a lot of ways, for starters she's incredibly flawed, and makes so pretty awful mistake like anyone would. But the thing I like about her most, that I really appreciate from Neil Spring, is that her gambling addiction isn't treated as a failing on her part. Sure, there's a time at the start of the book where she's blaming herself for doing it, but she soon starts to address it like any kind of addiction, something that is a part of her, something that she has to fight against because it's not just someone making the conscious choice to go and gamble, but an insidiousness inside her that keeps trying to push her towards it. Society seems to understand that addiction is often something that someone can't help, when it comes to things like alcohol or smoking, but other addictions are treated as some kind of moral failing or weakness on the part of those who fall victim to it, and gambling is one of these. To see it treated with the respect and sympathy it deserves is wonderful, and helps to normalise the idea that it's a sickness, not an active decision for gambling addicts.
Whilst battling with this illness, Lizzy is subject to further mental strain in the form of Hazel, a woman who you just can't help but hate. There are times where she feels completely genuine, where you believe that she's a kind woman, there to do what she can to help a vulnerable older man. You come to believe that perhaps Lizzy is just overreacting, and her feelings of suspicion and hate have no grounding in reality. Other times you completely agree with Lizzy, you believe completely that Hazel is a nasty, awful person, one who's there to cause harm. The back and forth on the view of this character, on the way both the reader and Lizzy feel about her is great, and really speaks to how well written the book is. I won't say which of these is right, whether Hazel is good or bad, because finding that out yourself is half the fun.
Neil Spring also manages to weave the ghostly parts of the story into the narrative in great ways, and whilst you never feel that this supernatural element is completely gone thanks to the atmosphere, there are large sections of the book where it takes a back seat to the human drama going on. The two stories intertwine together very well, and both lead to some shocking revelations and surprise conclusions.
Overall I really enjoyed The Haunted Shore, it had a compelling narrative with some great twists and turns, and some really creepy, spooky moments in their too.
Without realising what she's doing Lizzy drains her bank accounts in a spree of online Blackjack. Panicked and desperate she uses her corporate credit card to try and win her money back; but alas, her addiction prevents her from stopping before it all goes wrong. With £80,000 stolen from her work and gone to the wind, Lizzy is fired from her job, loses her partner, and is being hounded by shady characters who all want their money back.
Unable to see what she can do to get herself out of this hole her addiction has dug her she climbs onto the edge of a bridge and is about to end her life when she gets a phone call from her brother. It turns out her father is getting sicker, that he's struggling to get by, and her brother needs her to help. Grabbing hold of this sudden lifeline with both hands Lizzy travels back to her childhood home to help her father.
A former architect, her father is hiding away from the world in his converted Martello tower on a stretch of the near deserted Shingle Street, a small patch of coast in Suffolk. Lizzy arrives at this remote home to find her father in worse condition than she though, her brother moved away to live with a younger woman, and a strange carer, Hazel, staying in the tower. Back in her fathers life and determined to help him, Lizzy not only has to worry about the debt collectors on her trail, and continually locking horns with Hazel, but there's also mysterious figures on the beach at night, and strange noises that she can't explain haunting her too.
The Haunted Shore is a book that's full of atmosphere, one where you feel the location seeping off the page into you as you read it. The remote and dreary shore of Lizzy's childhood home is dark, creepy, and full of atmosphere, and it never once lets up. The oppressive nature of the winter weather, as well as the cold and isolated feel of the tower means that this is a place where Lizzy can never find rest, where she never feels relaxed or fully safe. The result of this is a woman who is barely keeping a hold of herself throughout most of the book.
Lizzy is a character that feels very real in a lot of ways, for starters she's incredibly flawed, and makes so pretty awful mistake like anyone would. But the thing I like about her most, that I really appreciate from Neil Spring, is that her gambling addiction isn't treated as a failing on her part. Sure, there's a time at the start of the book where she's blaming herself for doing it, but she soon starts to address it like any kind of addiction, something that is a part of her, something that she has to fight against because it's not just someone making the conscious choice to go and gamble, but an insidiousness inside her that keeps trying to push her towards it. Society seems to understand that addiction is often something that someone can't help, when it comes to things like alcohol or smoking, but other addictions are treated as some kind of moral failing or weakness on the part of those who fall victim to it, and gambling is one of these. To see it treated with the respect and sympathy it deserves is wonderful, and helps to normalise the idea that it's a sickness, not an active decision for gambling addicts.
Whilst battling with this illness, Lizzy is subject to further mental strain in the form of Hazel, a woman who you just can't help but hate. There are times where she feels completely genuine, where you believe that she's a kind woman, there to do what she can to help a vulnerable older man. You come to believe that perhaps Lizzy is just overreacting, and her feelings of suspicion and hate have no grounding in reality. Other times you completely agree with Lizzy, you believe completely that Hazel is a nasty, awful person, one who's there to cause harm. The back and forth on the view of this character, on the way both the reader and Lizzy feel about her is great, and really speaks to how well written the book is. I won't say which of these is right, whether Hazel is good or bad, because finding that out yourself is half the fun.
Neil Spring also manages to weave the ghostly parts of the story into the narrative in great ways, and whilst you never feel that this supernatural element is completely gone thanks to the atmosphere, there are large sections of the book where it takes a back seat to the human drama going on. The two stories intertwine together very well, and both lead to some shocking revelations and surprise conclusions.
Overall I really enjoyed The Haunted Shore, it had a compelling narrative with some great twists and turns, and some really creepy, spooky moments in their too.
August 31, 2020
The tiny hamlet of Shingle Street sits on the Norfolk Coast overlooking the frigid North Sea and the disused military facility at Orford Ness. It is a desolate, haunted place certainly not somewhere you’d want to live.
Shingle Street was once home to Lizzy Valentine, her parents renovated a Martello Tower turning it in to home for Lizzy and elder brother Colin. Lizzy has long been away from Shingle Street, she has a good job in London, a lovely flat, a great life, that is until the day she doesn’t.
Leaving London in a hurry she seeks out her family back at Shingle Street, her dad Cliff and brother Colin still call the tower home but the tower also has a new resident, Cliff’s carer Hazel. She is a matter of fact woman and from their first meeting Lizzy instantly dislikes her, something about her put her at unease.
That uneasy feeling isn’t helped by her fathers failing health and the fact that Lizzy starts hearing and seeing things she cannot explain, the shoreline seems to be haunted with memories of something extremely sinister. Lizzy finds herself torn asunder, she has her father’s health to worry about, her brother runs away to Scotland, Hazel seems to have a hold over her father and Lizzy’s own past from London is coming back to haunt her. Shingle Street has secrets to reveal and they are not going to be at all pleasant, Lizzy is going to have to deal with whatever is coming her way.
I really enjoyed this, its not a criticism but I was expecting it to be a little bit scarier, this could be down to me reading it during the day rather than at night in the dark like I usually do however the description of some of the incidents and settings would have you reaching for the lamp switch if you where reading at night I’m sure. The setting is just perfect and I was so pleased to discover it is actually a real place, the imposing tower and the shoreline with the waves crashing in just totally nails it. I also loved the fact that Rendlesham Forest played back drop too, UFO fans may recognise the name as the location of one of the most famous UFO sightings of all time.
So to sum up this is a spooky good read set in a fantastic location with a female protagonist who feels she is slowly losing her grip on everything, you’ll want to see if she makes it to the end in one piece.
Thanks to Net Galley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Shingle Street was once home to Lizzy Valentine, her parents renovated a Martello Tower turning it in to home for Lizzy and elder brother Colin. Lizzy has long been away from Shingle Street, she has a good job in London, a lovely flat, a great life, that is until the day she doesn’t.
Leaving London in a hurry she seeks out her family back at Shingle Street, her dad Cliff and brother Colin still call the tower home but the tower also has a new resident, Cliff’s carer Hazel. She is a matter of fact woman and from their first meeting Lizzy instantly dislikes her, something about her put her at unease.
That uneasy feeling isn’t helped by her fathers failing health and the fact that Lizzy starts hearing and seeing things she cannot explain, the shoreline seems to be haunted with memories of something extremely sinister. Lizzy finds herself torn asunder, she has her father’s health to worry about, her brother runs away to Scotland, Hazel seems to have a hold over her father and Lizzy’s own past from London is coming back to haunt her. Shingle Street has secrets to reveal and they are not going to be at all pleasant, Lizzy is going to have to deal with whatever is coming her way.
I really enjoyed this, its not a criticism but I was expecting it to be a little bit scarier, this could be down to me reading it during the day rather than at night in the dark like I usually do however the description of some of the incidents and settings would have you reaching for the lamp switch if you where reading at night I’m sure. The setting is just perfect and I was so pleased to discover it is actually a real place, the imposing tower and the shoreline with the waves crashing in just totally nails it. I also loved the fact that Rendlesham Forest played back drop too, UFO fans may recognise the name as the location of one of the most famous UFO sightings of all time.
So to sum up this is a spooky good read set in a fantastic location with a female protagonist who feels she is slowly losing her grip on everything, you’ll want to see if she makes it to the end in one piece.
Thanks to Net Galley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2020
The Haunted Shore is an eerie, atmospheric read which is part psychological thriller and part ghost story.
Firstly this book had some of my favourite ingredients in it with the old tower seeming deliciously creepy from the start and with the added enjoyment of a creepy, rather sinister housekeeper as well as some unexplained supernatural activity which just added to my enjoyment. I soon realised I would enjoy this book and was able to just relax (well as much as you can with this book anyway) and get absorbed into the story.
Unsurprisingly this book has a very tense and creepy atmosphere to it which slowly increased throughout the book until it becomes almost unbearable. I didn’t know much about the supernatural reputation of Shingle Street so enjoyed learning a bit more about the stories. I thought the author did a fantastic job of blending fact with fiction to make a very gripping, entertaining read.
The main character Lizzy was an interesting main character who I took a while to warm towards. I found her a bit whiney and annoying at the beginning of the book but after her arrival at her childhood home, with everything that happens there, I actually started to feel quite sorry for her. Despite being quite scared at times I found I had to keep reading to find out what happens and make sure she is ok.
Overall I would definitely recommend this scary, atmospheric book which would make a great Halloween read. It’s a story that gets into your head and I often found myself jumping at noises in real life whilst reading. It is perhaps not a book to read just before bed as you might find it too scary to turn off the light!
Huge thanks to Milly Reid for inviting me onto the blog blast and to Quercus for my copy of this book via Netgalley.
Firstly this book had some of my favourite ingredients in it with the old tower seeming deliciously creepy from the start and with the added enjoyment of a creepy, rather sinister housekeeper as well as some unexplained supernatural activity which just added to my enjoyment. I soon realised I would enjoy this book and was able to just relax (well as much as you can with this book anyway) and get absorbed into the story.
Unsurprisingly this book has a very tense and creepy atmosphere to it which slowly increased throughout the book until it becomes almost unbearable. I didn’t know much about the supernatural reputation of Shingle Street so enjoyed learning a bit more about the stories. I thought the author did a fantastic job of blending fact with fiction to make a very gripping, entertaining read.
The main character Lizzy was an interesting main character who I took a while to warm towards. I found her a bit whiney and annoying at the beginning of the book but after her arrival at her childhood home, with everything that happens there, I actually started to feel quite sorry for her. Despite being quite scared at times I found I had to keep reading to find out what happens and make sure she is ok.
Overall I would definitely recommend this scary, atmospheric book which would make a great Halloween read. It’s a story that gets into your head and I often found myself jumping at noises in real life whilst reading. It is perhaps not a book to read just before bed as you might find it too scary to turn off the light!
Huge thanks to Milly Reid for inviting me onto the blog blast and to Quercus for my copy of this book via Netgalley.
September 7, 2020
I have followed Neil Spring since his first book, The Ghost Hunters. It ticked all my boxes, as did his next book, The Watchers. Between ghost hunting and UFO spotting, I was hooked. Even his next book, The Lost Village, kept me wanting more, although it was a different animal to his first two.
Neil's website says he "writes psychological chillers, many of which are inspired by real events." and knowing that always add an extra dimension to my reading. The Burning House, set on the shores of Loch Ness, came next and was inspired by Jimmy Saville and a house he lived in. I found this one more tricky to get into, but nevertheless enjoyed it. What I didn't enjoy so much was the main characters, who I had trouble engaging with. And it's the same with The Haunted Shore. It's a good read, with definite touches of Susan Hill and even Lovecraft. Lots of atmosphere and tension, stormy nights, dark, cold sea and a lonely spot with a mysterious stranger. Great stuff.
But Lizzy, and her brother, I just didn't take to. Damaged goods, both, with baggage galore, they just left me cold. The book is a slow burner, no bad thing, but this pair didn't grow on me, as I'd hoped they might.
That said, the book is another triumph for Neil, and will appeal to old and new readers, I'm sure. Selfishly, though, I hope he returns to "Ghost Hunters" territory next. Thanks to NetGalley, I got to read a advance copy, and I'll definitely pick up a copy of the paperback for a second reading (all of Neil's books deserve a second reading) .
Neil's website says he "writes psychological chillers, many of which are inspired by real events." and knowing that always add an extra dimension to my reading. The Burning House, set on the shores of Loch Ness, came next and was inspired by Jimmy Saville and a house he lived in. I found this one more tricky to get into, but nevertheless enjoyed it. What I didn't enjoy so much was the main characters, who I had trouble engaging with. And it's the same with The Haunted Shore. It's a good read, with definite touches of Susan Hill and even Lovecraft. Lots of atmosphere and tension, stormy nights, dark, cold sea and a lonely spot with a mysterious stranger. Great stuff.
But Lizzy, and her brother, I just didn't take to. Damaged goods, both, with baggage galore, they just left me cold. The book is a slow burner, no bad thing, but this pair didn't grow on me, as I'd hoped they might.
That said, the book is another triumph for Neil, and will appeal to old and new readers, I'm sure. Selfishly, though, I hope he returns to "Ghost Hunters" territory next. Thanks to NetGalley, I got to read a advance copy, and I'll definitely pick up a copy of the paperback for a second reading (all of Neil's books deserve a second reading) .
October 24, 2021
A solid thriller with supernatural elements. I enjoyed the story overall, but felt like the writer may have bitten off a bit more than he could chew between the multiple storylines. Everyone has secrets, no one is all that pleasant and are those ghosts really ghosts or just manifestations of the guilt that every character in this book seems to be carrying?
One issue is the protagonist and the fact that we know very little about her when we find she has done some pretty nasty stuff early in the book. She is in good company though, because literally no one escapes without doing some questionable things in this book and as they all pile up, it gets tougher to find anyone to pull for. I was disappointed that the supernatural elements that had been touted in the PR for the book ended up being sort of tacked on in places. That thread of the story felt very tenuously linked to the overall action and the movement between the threads often seemed jarring. A tighter focus and fewer secrets overall, I think would have strengthened the narrative. As it stands, I would classify this as more a thriller/suspense than a horror/ghost story. The scares here are mostly generated by the all too human characters.
That said, Neil Spring is an interesting writer and I did end up enjoying this book, just not as much as I feel like I might have with a tighter focus. I am looking forward to reading more work by this author.
One issue is the protagonist and the fact that we know very little about her when we find she has done some pretty nasty stuff early in the book. She is in good company though, because literally no one escapes without doing some questionable things in this book and as they all pile up, it gets tougher to find anyone to pull for. I was disappointed that the supernatural elements that had been touted in the PR for the book ended up being sort of tacked on in places. That thread of the story felt very tenuously linked to the overall action and the movement between the threads often seemed jarring. A tighter focus and fewer secrets overall, I think would have strengthened the narrative. As it stands, I would classify this as more a thriller/suspense than a horror/ghost story. The scares here are mostly generated by the all too human characters.
That said, Neil Spring is an interesting writer and I did end up enjoying this book, just not as much as I feel like I might have with a tighter focus. I am looking forward to reading more work by this author.
September 25, 2020
The Haunted Shore follows the main characters journey back to the childhood home on Shingle Street which she left behind many years ago, the story is told in first person through the eyes of Lizzy.
This is the first book by Neil Spring which I have read and I was pleasantly surprised about how much I enjoyed it. I liked the mystery and suspense which was enhanced by the craziness of her father’s caretaker Hazel. Unfortunately no matter how much I tried I didn’t connect with Lizzy or her brother because I found them to be self-centred and Lizzy only cared about money. I did have a little bit of respect for Lizzy at the end of the book because of the way she fought for her dad and because of what she helped to accomplish at the end. My favourite character was definitely Hazel because she was creepy, aggressive, smug and at times unstable.
The twists and turns throughout kept me on the edge of my seat, the fact that the story was inspired by dark and fascinating legends which took place at Shingle Street made it even more interesting. The ending is surprising and beautiful. This book is a chilling and suspenseful story filled with the ghosts of histories dark past.
I recieved an advanced copy for free, and this is my honest opinion.
This is the first book by Neil Spring which I have read and I was pleasantly surprised about how much I enjoyed it. I liked the mystery and suspense which was enhanced by the craziness of her father’s caretaker Hazel. Unfortunately no matter how much I tried I didn’t connect with Lizzy or her brother because I found them to be self-centred and Lizzy only cared about money. I did have a little bit of respect for Lizzy at the end of the book because of the way she fought for her dad and because of what she helped to accomplish at the end. My favourite character was definitely Hazel because she was creepy, aggressive, smug and at times unstable.
The twists and turns throughout kept me on the edge of my seat, the fact that the story was inspired by dark and fascinating legends which took place at Shingle Street made it even more interesting. The ending is surprising and beautiful. This book is a chilling and suspenseful story filled with the ghosts of histories dark past.
I recieved an advanced copy for free, and this is my honest opinion.
October 11, 2020
I discovered Neil Spring’s books last year and I was hooked as I loved his mix of thriller and paranormal, the creepy atmosphere and the great plots.
This book is no exception and, even if it’s a bit less creepy that the other, it’s a highly entertaining and gripping read.
It kept me hooked since the first pages and I was enthralled by the bleak atmosphere, the great characters and the growing tension.
Lizzy is not a likeable character but I got to like her and we can read about her changing and making amends for the mistakes that destroyed her career and forced her to change her life.
She’s facing the unknown and she’s facing some terrifying experiences.
The characters are well thought and I found them interesting.
I loved the world building, the description of the places and the paranormal side that has the right creepy factor.
The author is an excellent storyteller and i found this story enthralling.
I can’t wait to read the next book by this author, this one is highly recommended.
Many thanks to Quercus and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mien
This book is no exception and, even if it’s a bit less creepy that the other, it’s a highly entertaining and gripping read.
It kept me hooked since the first pages and I was enthralled by the bleak atmosphere, the great characters and the growing tension.
Lizzy is not a likeable character but I got to like her and we can read about her changing and making amends for the mistakes that destroyed her career and forced her to change her life.
She’s facing the unknown and she’s facing some terrifying experiences.
The characters are well thought and I found them interesting.
I loved the world building, the description of the places and the paranormal side that has the right creepy factor.
The author is an excellent storyteller and i found this story enthralling.
I can’t wait to read the next book by this author, this one is highly recommended.
Many thanks to Quercus and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mien
November 12, 2021
Lizzy is in trouble, she has embezzled money at work and now her relationship with her boss has gone down the pan.
Contemplating suicide she gets a call her father is very ill and needs her home.
But home is a a wild stretch of beach in a Martello tower her architect father is renovating.
She arrives to find her father showing signs of dementia and the sinister Hazel enlisted as his carer.
But beyond family problems there is something very sinister happening in the area, rumours of mass death of Nazis burnt to death when the sea was immolated in flame, ghosts and supernatural goings on from the past is haunting the present and all those at the Martello tower is involved somehow but Lizzy just has to make the pieces fit to find the truth of what happened and what her father did or even if he can remember.
Another amazing supernatural chiller from one of the masters of the genre.
Look forward to every new book he puts out, it’s always a creepy treat and not one disappointment at all with his work.
A brilliant read for the dark nights.
Contemplating suicide she gets a call her father is very ill and needs her home.
But home is a a wild stretch of beach in a Martello tower her architect father is renovating.
She arrives to find her father showing signs of dementia and the sinister Hazel enlisted as his carer.
But beyond family problems there is something very sinister happening in the area, rumours of mass death of Nazis burnt to death when the sea was immolated in flame, ghosts and supernatural goings on from the past is haunting the present and all those at the Martello tower is involved somehow but Lizzy just has to make the pieces fit to find the truth of what happened and what her father did or even if he can remember.
Another amazing supernatural chiller from one of the masters of the genre.
Look forward to every new book he puts out, it’s always a creepy treat and not one disappointment at all with his work.
A brilliant read for the dark nights.
April 25, 2024
When her life in London falls apart Lizzy returns to the remote community in Suffolk where she grew up to care for her father. Something is very wrong apart from just his declining health. His carer seems to have a hidden agenda and the brooding atmosphere emanating from nearby Orford Ness is blurring the line between reality and the supernatural.
This is a skillfully crafted mix of psychological thriller and ghost story rooted in events that, might, have happened during the darkest days of the Second World War. The problems that drive Lizzy to the point of desperation and the tensions between siblings caring for a sick parent are described with painful realism. Spring also writes well about the supernatural element of the plot, leaning towards a ‘stone tape’ interpretation tied to past trauma, rather than gory sensationalism.
This like his previous books is a well-crafted story that combines excitement with emotional honesty to go way beyond what might normally be expected of the thriller genre.
This is a skillfully crafted mix of psychological thriller and ghost story rooted in events that, might, have happened during the darkest days of the Second World War. The problems that drive Lizzy to the point of desperation and the tensions between siblings caring for a sick parent are described with painful realism. Spring also writes well about the supernatural element of the plot, leaning towards a ‘stone tape’ interpretation tied to past trauma, rather than gory sensationalism.
This like his previous books is a well-crafted story that combines excitement with emotional honesty to go way beyond what might normally be expected of the thriller genre.
October 21, 2020
Neil Spring is one of my favourite authors, his writing is class and he has spun some wonderful, spooky narratives. This is my least favourite book spoiled by dislikeable characters. The setting is wonderful, the ghostly aspect superb but it was spoiled by the annoying storyline of Hazel, which did indeed have it's place but its not the kind of thing I really enjoy. I felt the annoyance took up too much time and detracted from Neils wonderful way of telling a ghostly and atmospheric story, which he does so expertly. That was was this first class novel lost a star from me. I was utterly absorbed and captivated by the setting, encouraging me to research. I did not warm to Lizzie either or her brother but the chilling history of the place really held me. I can recommend this book and this author, because others may not be put off by the characters as I was. Absolutely nothing wrong with the writing at all. Neil remains an exceptional author.
October 14, 2020
I've enjoyed Neil Spring's supernatural thrillers since I read The Ghost Hunters. I love his blending of the paranormal with psychological chiller. In The Haunted Shore, parts of the story have been inspired by the rumours and WW2 legends centred on a remote stretch of coast in Suffolk called Shingle Street.
Although Lizzy grew up in an old Martello tower right on the beach, she has always felt uneasy about the place. After losing her job in London (and owing a huge amount of money to her dodgy ex-boss), she is forced to return to her childhood home. She agrees to look after her invalid father while her elder brother takes on a new job. Unknown to Lizzy, her father's health (both mental and physical) has deteriorated significantly and her brother has hired the sinister and belligerent Hazel as a housekeeper/carer. If that wasn't enough, almost as soon as Lizzy moves back into the tower she begins hearing strange noises and glimpses ghostly figures on the beach. Is she imagining it or is the stress finally beginning to get to her?
Well, this frightened me half-to-death! The end, in particular, was super-scary - no sleeping without the lights on for me! I loved the unusual setting and the way Neil wove the real-life history of the area into the story. His descriptions of the tower and the beach were incredibly atmospheric, and Lizzy was an engaging heroine. I loved the way she was able to conquer her own personal demons too.
An excellent read for Halloween, particularly if you like chilling psychological suspense mixed in with your ghosts!
Thank you to Neil Spring and Quercus for my copy of this book, which I requested from NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.
Although Lizzy grew up in an old Martello tower right on the beach, she has always felt uneasy about the place. After losing her job in London (and owing a huge amount of money to her dodgy ex-boss), she is forced to return to her childhood home. She agrees to look after her invalid father while her elder brother takes on a new job. Unknown to Lizzy, her father's health (both mental and physical) has deteriorated significantly and her brother has hired the sinister and belligerent Hazel as a housekeeper/carer. If that wasn't enough, almost as soon as Lizzy moves back into the tower she begins hearing strange noises and glimpses ghostly figures on the beach. Is she imagining it or is the stress finally beginning to get to her?
Well, this frightened me half-to-death! The end, in particular, was super-scary - no sleeping without the lights on for me! I loved the unusual setting and the way Neil wove the real-life history of the area into the story. His descriptions of the tower and the beach were incredibly atmospheric, and Lizzy was an engaging heroine. I loved the way she was able to conquer her own personal demons too.
An excellent read for Halloween, particularly if you like chilling psychological suspense mixed in with your ghosts!
Thank you to Neil Spring and Quercus for my copy of this book, which I requested from NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.
October 15, 2020
When Lizzy loses everything due to her gambling addiction, the call from her brother regarding her father seems to be the answer to her problems.
She returns to her childhood home to find that her brother has kept many things from her, including that he is not living at home and has employed someone called Hazel to be a carer. Soon Lizzy experiences unexplained occurrences that she can not understand.
I love bleak landscape, atmospheric novels so I was immediately drawn to this when I read the synopsis and it did portray this well. The hardest part for me was connecting with the characters. I really didn’t care for any of them and it was more a story of what was happening around them.
That still, it was interesting and picked up the pace towards the end.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.
She returns to her childhood home to find that her brother has kept many things from her, including that he is not living at home and has employed someone called Hazel to be a carer. Soon Lizzy experiences unexplained occurrences that she can not understand.
I love bleak landscape, atmospheric novels so I was immediately drawn to this when I read the synopsis and it did portray this well. The hardest part for me was connecting with the characters. I really didn’t care for any of them and it was more a story of what was happening around them.
That still, it was interesting and picked up the pace towards the end.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.
March 16, 2022
This book started quite slowly but once it got going it had me on the edge of my seat!
I'd never heard of Orford Ness and ShingleStreet (though I have since googled them) but the way the author described them - the remoteness, bleakness and desolation - really brought them to life for me. The story is very creepy and atmospheric and left me with goosebumps as I listened. I love a good spooky tale of the supernatural and this ticked all the boxes. The characters are all interesting and believable, though Hazel totally creeped me out! The protagonist, Lizzie, is a gambling addict and at first I disliked her, though she grew on me as the book progressed.
Neil Spring is a new author to me but I am now going to look up his previous work.
The narration by Jasmine Blackborow brought the book to life.
I'd never heard of Orford Ness and ShingleStreet (though I have since googled them) but the way the author described them - the remoteness, bleakness and desolation - really brought them to life for me. The story is very creepy and atmospheric and left me with goosebumps as I listened. I love a good spooky tale of the supernatural and this ticked all the boxes. The characters are all interesting and believable, though Hazel totally creeped me out! The protagonist, Lizzie, is a gambling addict and at first I disliked her, though she grew on me as the book progressed.
Neil Spring is a new author to me but I am now going to look up his previous work.
The narration by Jasmine Blackborow brought the book to life.
July 2, 2022
The Haunted Shore by Neil Spring
When Lizzy moves to a desolate shore to escape her past, she hopes to find sanctuary. But a mysterious stranger is waiting for her, her father's carer, and when darkness falls, something roams this wild stretch of beach, urging Lizzy to investigate its past. The longer she stays, the more the shore's secrets begin to stir. Secrets of a sea that burned, of bodies washed ashore -- and a family's buried past reaching into the present.
And when Lizzy begins to suspect that her father's carer is a dangerous imposter with sinister motives, a new darkness rises. What happens next is everyone's living nightmare...
I have mixed feelings about this book - at times I found myself wanting to read on and at other times I was ready for the book to finish. A really atmospheric book, full of supernatural noises at night. Easy to read with lots going on.
Rating 4/5
When Lizzy moves to a desolate shore to escape her past, she hopes to find sanctuary. But a mysterious stranger is waiting for her, her father's carer, and when darkness falls, something roams this wild stretch of beach, urging Lizzy to investigate its past. The longer she stays, the more the shore's secrets begin to stir. Secrets of a sea that burned, of bodies washed ashore -- and a family's buried past reaching into the present.
And when Lizzy begins to suspect that her father's carer is a dangerous imposter with sinister motives, a new darkness rises. What happens next is everyone's living nightmare...
I have mixed feelings about this book - at times I found myself wanting to read on and at other times I was ready for the book to finish. A really atmospheric book, full of supernatural noises at night. Easy to read with lots going on.
Rating 4/5
December 4, 2023
This supernatural thriller is unlike any other. From start to finish, it had me hooked and guessing with every turn of the page. I couldn't wait to uncover the eerie secrets lurking within. The sense of anticipation and making your mind wander through all the chilling possibilities is incredible.
But what truly sets this book apart is the profound sense of sadness woven into the story. It adds a whole new layer of depth and complexity, making it more than just a chilling read. It's a masterfully crafted balance that keeps you engaged and emotionally invested throughout.
Prepare for sleepless nights and an emotional rollercoaster that will leave you both terrified and touched. Don't miss out on this eerie and emotionally haunting journey!
But what truly sets this book apart is the profound sense of sadness woven into the story. It adds a whole new layer of depth and complexity, making it more than just a chilling read. It's a masterfully crafted balance that keeps you engaged and emotionally invested throughout.
Prepare for sleepless nights and an emotional rollercoaster that will leave you both terrified and touched. Don't miss out on this eerie and emotionally haunting journey!
October 9, 2020
The Haunted Shore is an atmospheric thriller, full of twists and turns. Lizzie returns to her childhood home in a bleak part of Suffolk after a huge fall from grace in her high flying PR career in London. Her elderly father is looked after by a woman called Hazel, who Lizzie has deep reservations about. When Lizzie starts seeing and hearing things she cannot explain, she feels that she is losing her grip in reality.
I found this to be a slow burn novel, and did not particularly take to the characters of Lizzie or her brother. Lizzie’s was also quite a stressful storyline and I didn’t really have much sympathy for her.
I found this to be a slow burn novel, and did not particularly take to the characters of Lizzie or her brother. Lizzie’s was also quite a stressful storyline and I didn’t really have much sympathy for her.
April 15, 2021
Sadly this author did not develop the character of the main protagonist early enough for me to have any sympathy with her so when she was ripped away from her London life and deposited in a lonely and bleak situation in Suffolk she didn’t take me with her. I felt the story was rather laboured, the writer kept telling us how creepy it was rather than making us feel it was creepy. He continually uses the expression “the darkness was rising“ it just felt melodramatic. I did want to know what happened but I didn’t really want to wade through the book to discover the ending so I rushed it and the ending was satisfactory it was just the telling of the tale that I found unconvincing.
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