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Girls of Brackenhill
Haunted by her sister’s disappearance, a troubled woman becomes consumed by past secrets in this gripping thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Vanishing Year.
When Hannah Maloney’s aunt dies in a car accident, she returns to her family’s castle in the Catskills and the epicenter of a childhood trauma: her sister’s unsolved disappearance. It’s been seventeen years, and though desperate to start a new life with her fiancé, Hannah is compelled to question the events of her last summer at Brackenhill.
When a human bone is found near the estate, Hannah is convinced it belongs to her long-lost sister. She launches her own investigation into that magical summer that ended in a nightmare. As strange happenings plague the castle, Hannah uncovers disturbing details about the past and startling realizations about her own repressed childhood memories.
Fueled by guilt over her sister’s vanishing, Hannah becomes obsessed with discovering what happened all those years ago, but by the time Hannah realizes some mysteries are best left buried, it’s too late to stop digging. Overwhelmed by what she has exposed, Hannah isn’t sure her new life can survive her old ghosts.
When Hannah Maloney’s aunt dies in a car accident, she returns to her family’s castle in the Catskills and the epicenter of a childhood trauma: her sister’s unsolved disappearance. It’s been seventeen years, and though desperate to start a new life with her fiancé, Hannah is compelled to question the events of her last summer at Brackenhill.
When a human bone is found near the estate, Hannah is convinced it belongs to her long-lost sister. She launches her own investigation into that magical summer that ended in a nightmare. As strange happenings plague the castle, Hannah uncovers disturbing details about the past and startling realizations about her own repressed childhood memories.
Fueled by guilt over her sister’s vanishing, Hannah becomes obsessed with discovering what happened all those years ago, but by the time Hannah realizes some mysteries are best left buried, it’s too late to stop digging. Overwhelmed by what she has exposed, Hannah isn’t sure her new life can survive her old ghosts.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2020
7930 people are currently reading
11342 people want to read
About the author
Kate Moretti
12 books1,626 followersKate Moretti lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids, and a dog. She’s worked in the pharmaceutical industry for ten years as a scientist, and has been an avid fiction reader her entire life.
She enjoys traveling and cooking, although with two kids, a day job, and writing, she doesn’t get to do those things as much as she’d like.
Her lifelong dream is to buy an old house with a secret passageway.
She enjoys traveling and cooking, although with two kids, a day job, and writing, she doesn’t get to do those things as much as she’d like.
Her lifelong dream is to buy an old house with a secret passageway.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,230 reviews
July 30, 2020
Creepy Castle and Missing Girls!
3.5 stars
Girls of Brackenhill is a psychological thriller about a mysterious gothic castle in the Catskills where girls go missing without a trace.
13 years ago, Hannah’s sister Julia went missing from Brackehill Castle. Hannah returns to the creepy castle where strange things happen to bury her aunt. While there, she begins to investigate what really happened to Julia, and, in the process, puts herself in danger.
Brackenhilll Castle plays a central role in this book. There are strange noises, creepy basement rooms, and other weird happenings that occur on the grounds. While the setting is intriguing and sounds creepy, I feel like Morretti doesn’t play around with the creep factor enough. I wanted more description of the strange happenings and creepy rooms. Some of this exists, but the atmosphere could have been amped up another level if more time was spent examining the castle, especially the myths surrounding it.
The reader experiences Brackenhill through the eyes of Hannah, who narrates almost the entire novel. Chapters switch back and forth between "then" and "now," but do not alternate, i.e. there might be several “now” chapters in a row.
In the end, I realized that Hannah was a more dynamic character than I initially believed. At the same time, her character both annoyed and frustrated me. She comes off as self-righteous, as she constantly questions other’s behavior, but participates in questionable behavior herself. Her tone, at times, is whiny and childish, which was fine in the “then” chapters when she was 15, but not in the current moment when she is supposed to be 28 years old.
The plot is familiar: sister goes missing, another sister investigates, and in the process digs up buried family secrets and so on. But the setting of the castle adds a unique layer to this plot.
I found the pacing a bit slow, but others found it to be fast-paced, so this might just be me!
I sat on writing this review for a bit because I am torn about how I feel. On the one hand, this Girls of Brackenhill offers a lot: a unique atmosphere, a dynamic narrator, and a captivating mystery. On the other hand, I struggled with the pacing, Hannah’s character, the structure of the narrative, etc. This book has so much potential, but it could have been strengthened by adding more scenes around the castle. And WTF was with that ending!? It was weird, especially the final chapter which I found confusing. The ending also felt unfinished and I was left with MANY unanswered questions.
Overall, this was a mixed bag for me. It is a decent mystery/thriller, but it lacks the magic of an amazing one.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
Girls of Brackenhill is a psychological thriller about a mysterious gothic castle in the Catskills where girls go missing without a trace.
13 years ago, Hannah’s sister Julia went missing from Brackehill Castle. Hannah returns to the creepy castle where strange things happen to bury her aunt. While there, she begins to investigate what really happened to Julia, and, in the process, puts herself in danger.
Brackenhilll Castle plays a central role in this book. There are strange noises, creepy basement rooms, and other weird happenings that occur on the grounds. While the setting is intriguing and sounds creepy, I feel like Morretti doesn’t play around with the creep factor enough. I wanted more description of the strange happenings and creepy rooms. Some of this exists, but the atmosphere could have been amped up another level if more time was spent examining the castle, especially the myths surrounding it.
The reader experiences Brackenhill through the eyes of Hannah, who narrates almost the entire novel. Chapters switch back and forth between "then" and "now," but do not alternate, i.e. there might be several “now” chapters in a row.
In the end, I realized that Hannah was a more dynamic character than I initially believed. At the same time, her character both annoyed and frustrated me. She comes off as self-righteous, as she constantly questions other’s behavior, but participates in questionable behavior herself. Her tone, at times, is whiny and childish, which was fine in the “then” chapters when she was 15, but not in the current moment when she is supposed to be 28 years old.
The plot is familiar: sister goes missing, another sister investigates, and in the process digs up buried family secrets and so on. But the setting of the castle adds a unique layer to this plot.
I found the pacing a bit slow, but others found it to be fast-paced, so this might just be me!
I sat on writing this review for a bit because I am torn about how I feel. On the one hand, this Girls of Brackenhill offers a lot: a unique atmosphere, a dynamic narrator, and a captivating mystery. On the other hand, I struggled with the pacing, Hannah’s character, the structure of the narrative, etc. This book has so much potential, but it could have been strengthened by adding more scenes around the castle. And WTF was with that ending!? It was weird, especially the final chapter which I found confusing. The ending also felt unfinished and I was left with MANY unanswered questions.
Overall, this was a mixed bag for me. It is a decent mystery/thriller, but it lacks the magic of an amazing one.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2020
As a big fan of Kate Moretti’s previous works, I was truly excited to get lost in her new claustrophobic, facing your past and dirty family secrets, traumatic experiences story.
It begins fast, a prologue from past: a girl’s killing and we turn back to present time to meet Hannah getting a phone call inform her estranged Aunt had a traffic accident and as a next of kin, she had to drive to the hospital which meant she had to drive to the haunted place where she repressed her worst childhood memories. Her dear fiancée accompanies her. But as soon as they reach the hospital, they find out her aunt is dead. First instinct of Hannah is running away without looking back like she did 17 years ago but now she needs to stay and turn back to their family castle located in the Catskills. An eerie, dark, bleak, suffocating place, full of family secrets.
As soon as she comes back to the place, Hannah’s blurry memories about her past start submerging. She has memories about her own sister Julie’s disappearance that she is scared of facing them. She thinks she may be involved with her disappearance because of her never ending nightmares where she finds herself holding a shovel, burying something or someone?
And now she uses her mental shovel to dig out more about her family’s past and she starts to think car accident that ends her aunt’s life may be a murder and somebody try to harm her family. Sometimes you gotta learn the truth in expanse of ruining your own life and changing your reality.
It was fast, gripping, moving, exciting book with so many whirlwind twists. Some of them were easy to predict and some of them were really witty and surprising. Hannah has so many flaws but she was still connectable character. As you learn more about her past you start to empathize with her and her sister.
It was solid, well-written, satisfying four starred read for me. This author never disappoints me and thankfully she helped me to get lost this mysterious, captivating, dysfunctional family drama.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Thomas&Mercer for sharing this gripping ARC in exchange my honest review.
It begins fast, a prologue from past: a girl’s killing and we turn back to present time to meet Hannah getting a phone call inform her estranged Aunt had a traffic accident and as a next of kin, she had to drive to the hospital which meant she had to drive to the haunted place where she repressed her worst childhood memories. Her dear fiancée accompanies her. But as soon as they reach the hospital, they find out her aunt is dead. First instinct of Hannah is running away without looking back like she did 17 years ago but now she needs to stay and turn back to their family castle located in the Catskills. An eerie, dark, bleak, suffocating place, full of family secrets.
As soon as she comes back to the place, Hannah’s blurry memories about her past start submerging. She has memories about her own sister Julie’s disappearance that she is scared of facing them. She thinks she may be involved with her disappearance because of her never ending nightmares where she finds herself holding a shovel, burying something or someone?
And now she uses her mental shovel to dig out more about her family’s past and she starts to think car accident that ends her aunt’s life may be a murder and somebody try to harm her family. Sometimes you gotta learn the truth in expanse of ruining your own life and changing your reality.
It was fast, gripping, moving, exciting book with so many whirlwind twists. Some of them were easy to predict and some of them were really witty and surprising. Hannah has so many flaws but she was still connectable character. As you learn more about her past you start to empathize with her and her sister.
It was solid, well-written, satisfying four starred read for me. This author never disappoints me and thankfully she helped me to get lost this mysterious, captivating, dysfunctional family drama.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Thomas&Mercer for sharing this gripping ARC in exchange my honest review.
November 2, 2020
Happy publications day!!!
A book that starts out saying..." I didn't mean to kill her" is defiantly going to get my attention and get it fast! I was instantly drawn into this dual timeline with that single sentence.
Brackenhill is an estate in the Catskills with 33 rooms. Sounds delightful doesn't it? It was delightful for two young girls that spent their summers there with their aunt and uncle. It was fun and glamorous...until it wasn't. Until one of the girls disappears......
Hannah swore she wouldn't step foot in Brackenhill again..yet she is forced to when her aunt dies suddenly and her uncle is on his deathbed. The house that holds secrets..the house that Hannah has terrible dreams about...the house that makes her sleepwalk...the house...Brackenhill...
This book was a really slow burn for me. I did struggle a bit at times. I was left with some unanswered questions at the end. I really wish we had a bit more clarification on some things but overall it did work for me. I thought the very ending was clever and I liked the idea of it implying what was to come.
Thank you so much to Thomas and Mercer for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
A book that starts out saying..." I didn't mean to kill her" is defiantly going to get my attention and get it fast! I was instantly drawn into this dual timeline with that single sentence.
Brackenhill is an estate in the Catskills with 33 rooms. Sounds delightful doesn't it? It was delightful for two young girls that spent their summers there with their aunt and uncle. It was fun and glamorous...until it wasn't. Until one of the girls disappears......
Hannah swore she wouldn't step foot in Brackenhill again..yet she is forced to when her aunt dies suddenly and her uncle is on his deathbed. The house that holds secrets..the house that Hannah has terrible dreams about...the house that makes her sleepwalk...the house...Brackenhill...
This book was a really slow burn for me. I did struggle a bit at times. I was left with some unanswered questions at the end. I really wish we had a bit more clarification on some things but overall it did work for me. I thought the very ending was clever and I liked the idea of it implying what was to come.
Thank you so much to Thomas and Mercer for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2020
Kindle First Pick for October 2020!
I've read quite a bit of Moretti's backlist, and I highly respect her work as an author. Brackenhill has a tried and true plot that will be familiar to most seasoned readers of psychological suspense, and I think the strength of this story is more in its encompassing atmosphere and compelling narration, rather than any unsuspected twists and turns. As you can probably tell from my rating, this isn't my favorite novel from Kate Moretti, but don't let that stop you from giving this one a try; I mainly struggled with the pacing and the lack of full closure at the end of the story. As a reader, I think this one was just not a full on hit for me, but will look forward to the author's future works with as much gusto as I anticipated this one.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
I've read quite a bit of Moretti's backlist, and I highly respect her work as an author. Brackenhill has a tried and true plot that will be familiar to most seasoned readers of psychological suspense, and I think the strength of this story is more in its encompassing atmosphere and compelling narration, rather than any unsuspected twists and turns. As you can probably tell from my rating, this isn't my favorite novel from Kate Moretti, but don't let that stop you from giving this one a try; I mainly struggled with the pacing and the lack of full closure at the end of the story. As a reader, I think this one was just not a full on hit for me, but will look forward to the author's future works with as much gusto as I anticipated this one.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
October 30, 2020
Kindle First - October
The book started out good enough for me, but quickly went downhill. I’m glad a lot of people liked the book, I’m just not one of them. I didn’t care for any of the characters but the dog and the ending left a lot to be desired.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
The book started out good enough for me, but quickly went downhill. I’m glad a lot of people liked the book, I’m just not one of them. I didn’t care for any of the characters but the dog and the ending left a lot to be desired.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
October 21, 2020
A crumbling gothic castle in the Catskills, missing girls, deaths, apparitions and some family secrets best left alone all make up this mystery.
Hannah receives a phone call in the middle of the night telling her that her Aunt Fae has been grievously injured in a car accident. Apart from Fae's husband Stuart, who is near death from cancer, Hannah is Fae's closest relative but Hannah hasn't seen Fae for seventeen years. Not since she and her older sister Julia used to spend there summers with Fae and Stuart at Brackenhill Castle on a rambling estate in the Catskills. For five years the girls enjoyed their summers there until the last summer when Hannah was 15 and Julia 17. Nothing was the same that summer and then towards the end Julia disappeared.
Hannah had mostly put her time at Brackenhill behind her and got on with her life, while missing Julia and wondering what happened to her. She's recently engaged to Huck, a lovely dependable man who agrees to come with her to Brackenhill but knows nothing about it or Hannah's time there. Despite the three hour drive to get there, she doesn't fill him in, so it's all a bit of a shock when they arrive at the castle. Hannah soon realises there is a lot she doesn't know about Fae and also about Julia's last summer with her. When it's time for her to return home, Huck goes alone and Hannah stays to get answers to her questions, slowly unravelling as time goes on.
Although I enjoyed the novel, I found the pacing of the book a little slow initially, with most of the secrets unfolding in the second half. I was also somewhat disappointed in the almost cliched device used for the big revelation of what happened to Julia. I was expecting something a little more cunning to top off the main mystery, although we are left wondering if its the right explanation. I was also expecting a more creepy, atmospheric feel to the story with the crumbling mansion and the appearance of ghosts from time to time but it never got very scary, expect perhaps for the time the girls explored the creepy basement . 3.5★
With many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for a copy to read
Hannah receives a phone call in the middle of the night telling her that her Aunt Fae has been grievously injured in a car accident. Apart from Fae's husband Stuart, who is near death from cancer, Hannah is Fae's closest relative but Hannah hasn't seen Fae for seventeen years. Not since she and her older sister Julia used to spend there summers with Fae and Stuart at Brackenhill Castle on a rambling estate in the Catskills. For five years the girls enjoyed their summers there until the last summer when Hannah was 15 and Julia 17. Nothing was the same that summer and then towards the end Julia disappeared.
Hannah had mostly put her time at Brackenhill behind her and got on with her life, while missing Julia and wondering what happened to her. She's recently engaged to Huck, a lovely dependable man who agrees to come with her to Brackenhill but knows nothing about it or Hannah's time there. Despite the three hour drive to get there, she doesn't fill him in, so it's all a bit of a shock when they arrive at the castle. Hannah soon realises there is a lot she doesn't know about Fae and also about Julia's last summer with her. When it's time for her to return home, Huck goes alone and Hannah stays to get answers to her questions, slowly unravelling as time goes on.
Although I enjoyed the novel, I found the pacing of the book a little slow initially, with most of the secrets unfolding in the second half. I was also somewhat disappointed in the almost cliched device used for the big revelation of what happened to Julia. I was expecting something a little more cunning to top off the main mystery, although we are left wondering if its the right explanation. I was also expecting a more creepy, atmospheric feel to the story with the crumbling mansion and the appearance of ghosts from time to time but it never got very scary, expect perhaps for the time the girls explored the creepy basement . 3.5★
With many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for a copy to read
November 18, 2020
3.5 stars
I enjoy a book that has a big frightening house as one of its characters and Brackenhill was definitely a scary place!
Hannah Maloney is troubled. Not only has she just lost her aunt to a car accident, but she also lost her sister many years ago, although Hannah believes her to have just run away. Poor Hannah also has a terminally ill uncle living in the old family castle in the Catskill mountains that Hannah also has to contend with. Going back to Brackenhill with her fiance, she confronts the many secrets and rumors that surround both her aunt and the castle while contending with her own battery of secrets.
Seventeen years have passed since her sister disappeared, but then a human bone is found and Hannah thinks the worse that this bone belongs to her sister. Uncovering the secrets of Brakenhill brings Hannah up against her own past and the many secrets she holds deep within her.
This book was wonderfully atmospheric although it moved quite ponderously in some places. The house had that creepy ominous vibe to it which made for a fine background. However that ending was so nebulous that it left me scratching my head and wondering if I had somehow missed something. Recommended for those who love a menacing house and a sinister group of characters.
I enjoy a book that has a big frightening house as one of its characters and Brackenhill was definitely a scary place!
Hannah Maloney is troubled. Not only has she just lost her aunt to a car accident, but she also lost her sister many years ago, although Hannah believes her to have just run away. Poor Hannah also has a terminally ill uncle living in the old family castle in the Catskill mountains that Hannah also has to contend with. Going back to Brackenhill with her fiance, she confronts the many secrets and rumors that surround both her aunt and the castle while contending with her own battery of secrets.
Seventeen years have passed since her sister disappeared, but then a human bone is found and Hannah thinks the worse that this bone belongs to her sister. Uncovering the secrets of Brakenhill brings Hannah up against her own past and the many secrets she holds deep within her.
This book was wonderfully atmospheric although it moved quite ponderously in some places. The house had that creepy ominous vibe to it which made for a fine background. However that ending was so nebulous that it left me scratching my head and wondering if I had somehow missed something. Recommended for those who love a menacing house and a sinister group of characters.
October 29, 2020
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Kate Moretti, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
When seeking a story guaranteed to offer strong plot lines, stellar characters, and twists at every turn, one need look no further than the work of Kate Moretti. She uses these and other ingredients to keep the reader on the edge of their seat in her latest thriller, Girls of Brackenhill, where a woman is forced to return to her past in order to put her present in order. Recommended to those who need a surprise or two in their reading experience.
It was a call out of the blue that shocked Hannah more than anything. Her Aunt Fae had been in a horrible car accident and Hannah’s presence was urgently requested. Agreeing to take the six hour journey, Hannah and her fiancé make their way to sort things out, which includes time spent at the Brackenhill, an isolated piece of property that locals call a haunted castle, but Fae and her partner call home. Brackenhill has a long and sordid history as being home to many mysterious goings-on over the years, which may be why the locals have given it such an ominous reputation. It is also the last place Hannah’s sister, Julia, was ever seen.
Once Hannah learns and comes to terms with Fae’s death in the accident, she must determine how to deal with her uncle, who has been clinging to life for a long while and still lives in Brackenhill. Hannah agrees to stay at on the property to put things in order, though the past comes bubbling back to the surface. Over a number of summers, Hannah and Julia spent their time here, getting into teenage trouble and finding love. However, after Julia went missing, Hannah left and never returned. It’s been seventeen years, yet for Hannah it seems like yesterday.
When Wyatt McCarran arrives at the door, another layer of Hannah’s past comes crashing back. While Wyatt is now a police officer investigating Fae’s accident, he was Hannah’s first love and the boy who broke her heart. Awkward and yet trying not to let it engulf them, Hannah and Wyatt seek to put the past in order while also deal with the issues at hand. This is further complicated when a jaw bone is found on the Brackenhill property, leaving the possibility open that it could belong to Julia.
As Hannah spends even more time at Brackenhill, some of her troubled past comes to the surface and she begins to question much of her life over those summers. New mysteries emerge and Hannah is not prepared to ignore things, which proves troubling to many. Hannah learns more about some of the gaps she could not have understood as a teenager, though these prove to be more painful than she could have predicted.
Hannah’s troubles with sleepwalking return while she is at Brackenhill, causing her more grief than she could have imagined. While trying to settle her uncle as he slips into his final days, Hannah remains determined to discover what happened to Fae and how it may relate to Julia’s disappearance. Brackenhill may have a sordid history, but it is a handful of locals who hold the key to solving the mystery, each possessing their own piece of the puzzle. It’s up to Hannah to bring it all together before she falls apart!
Having read one of Karen Moretti’s novels before, I knew a little of what I ought to expect with this piece. That being said, there is a constant curiosity as to what the narrative will bring and how things will come together in the end. Moretti strings the reader along with some great work in two time periods, meshing them together effectively when needed to add impact to her work.
Hannah’s role as protagonist is obvious, but there is a lot about her that remains veiled in mystery. The reader slowly discovers what they need to know throughout the narrative, which splits between present day and flashbacks. This builds a solid foundation of backstory, though the gaps are plentiful and the reader is forced to piece things together for themselves. Hannah’s growth in the present time hinges on her understanding of that past, as she reestablishes old connections and tries not to let them cloud her judgement.
Moretti’s use of supporting characters helps solidify the strength of the novel, in my opinion. The two timelines can be difficult to juggle while also being essential to understand the central plot. These characters both support Hannah in her discovery, as well as impede her on occasion. Moretti creates great development for all involved and injects effective banter to offer depth to her plot, without confusing the reader with too many threads to manage.
The story works well and builds throughout, using the two timelines to weave a strong foundation. There are moments the reader is thrust into the middle of one mystery, only to find themselves learning about another. The intensity of the narrative never dissipates, which is fuelled by Moretti’s use of short chapters to keep the reader on their toes. There is no time to breathe, let alone put the book down, which adds to the book’s allure. Mysteries intertwine and a set of characters leave the reader guessing about how Brackenhill might tie it all together. Those familiar with Moretti’s work and curious readers alike will take something away from this book, likely solidifying their desire to find more by the author in short order.
Kudos, Madam Moretti, for another strong piece. I can rely on you to always bring something unique to my reading experience.
Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful comments by other reviewers.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/re...
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
When seeking a story guaranteed to offer strong plot lines, stellar characters, and twists at every turn, one need look no further than the work of Kate Moretti. She uses these and other ingredients to keep the reader on the edge of their seat in her latest thriller, Girls of Brackenhill, where a woman is forced to return to her past in order to put her present in order. Recommended to those who need a surprise or two in their reading experience.
It was a call out of the blue that shocked Hannah more than anything. Her Aunt Fae had been in a horrible car accident and Hannah’s presence was urgently requested. Agreeing to take the six hour journey, Hannah and her fiancé make their way to sort things out, which includes time spent at the Brackenhill, an isolated piece of property that locals call a haunted castle, but Fae and her partner call home. Brackenhill has a long and sordid history as being home to many mysterious goings-on over the years, which may be why the locals have given it such an ominous reputation. It is also the last place Hannah’s sister, Julia, was ever seen.
Once Hannah learns and comes to terms with Fae’s death in the accident, she must determine how to deal with her uncle, who has been clinging to life for a long while and still lives in Brackenhill. Hannah agrees to stay at on the property to put things in order, though the past comes bubbling back to the surface. Over a number of summers, Hannah and Julia spent their time here, getting into teenage trouble and finding love. However, after Julia went missing, Hannah left and never returned. It’s been seventeen years, yet for Hannah it seems like yesterday.
When Wyatt McCarran arrives at the door, another layer of Hannah’s past comes crashing back. While Wyatt is now a police officer investigating Fae’s accident, he was Hannah’s first love and the boy who broke her heart. Awkward and yet trying not to let it engulf them, Hannah and Wyatt seek to put the past in order while also deal with the issues at hand. This is further complicated when a jaw bone is found on the Brackenhill property, leaving the possibility open that it could belong to Julia.
As Hannah spends even more time at Brackenhill, some of her troubled past comes to the surface and she begins to question much of her life over those summers. New mysteries emerge and Hannah is not prepared to ignore things, which proves troubling to many. Hannah learns more about some of the gaps she could not have understood as a teenager, though these prove to be more painful than she could have predicted.
Hannah’s troubles with sleepwalking return while she is at Brackenhill, causing her more grief than she could have imagined. While trying to settle her uncle as he slips into his final days, Hannah remains determined to discover what happened to Fae and how it may relate to Julia’s disappearance. Brackenhill may have a sordid history, but it is a handful of locals who hold the key to solving the mystery, each possessing their own piece of the puzzle. It’s up to Hannah to bring it all together before she falls apart!
Having read one of Karen Moretti’s novels before, I knew a little of what I ought to expect with this piece. That being said, there is a constant curiosity as to what the narrative will bring and how things will come together in the end. Moretti strings the reader along with some great work in two time periods, meshing them together effectively when needed to add impact to her work.
Hannah’s role as protagonist is obvious, but there is a lot about her that remains veiled in mystery. The reader slowly discovers what they need to know throughout the narrative, which splits between present day and flashbacks. This builds a solid foundation of backstory, though the gaps are plentiful and the reader is forced to piece things together for themselves. Hannah’s growth in the present time hinges on her understanding of that past, as she reestablishes old connections and tries not to let them cloud her judgement.
Moretti’s use of supporting characters helps solidify the strength of the novel, in my opinion. The two timelines can be difficult to juggle while also being essential to understand the central plot. These characters both support Hannah in her discovery, as well as impede her on occasion. Moretti creates great development for all involved and injects effective banter to offer depth to her plot, without confusing the reader with too many threads to manage.
The story works well and builds throughout, using the two timelines to weave a strong foundation. There are moments the reader is thrust into the middle of one mystery, only to find themselves learning about another. The intensity of the narrative never dissipates, which is fuelled by Moretti’s use of short chapters to keep the reader on their toes. There is no time to breathe, let alone put the book down, which adds to the book’s allure. Mysteries intertwine and a set of characters leave the reader guessing about how Brackenhill might tie it all together. Those familiar with Moretti’s work and curious readers alike will take something away from this book, likely solidifying their desire to find more by the author in short order.
Kudos, Madam Moretti, for another strong piece. I can rely on you to always bring something unique to my reading experience.
Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful comments by other reviewers.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/re...
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
December 5, 2020
When a few days ago my friend Kim told me she was starting this book I decided to join in for a buddy read as "Girls of Brackenhill" seemed to be the perfect read for Halloween. Dead and missing girls, a suspicious car accident, family secrets and a spooky castle, it had all the ingredients to be a great read. Sadly, I was pretty disappointed.
It had a very promising beginning, with a girl being murdered in the woods and Hannah's return to the castle where she spent her childhood summers and where her sister Julia went missing, presumed dead, years ago. Despite the strong starting point the story didn't manage to grab me as much as I expected, and it was mainly dued to two reasons.
One, the pacing was way too slow. Halfway through the book and nothing much had happened yet. And two, Hannah. She came as so self-righteous and self-centered I could not connect with her at all. She's an unreliable narrator, and that's always a plus, but at the same time she acted so childlishly with those around her that she became quite annoying pretty soon. I was specially bothered by the way she treated Huck. How can you expect for him to be there 100% for you when you're hiding so many things from him? How is he supposed to understand you?
On the good side the writing was good and the atmosphere created around the castle and the woods was quite creepy. Although it could have been exploited a little bit more, there were some spooky scenes that gave me a bit of anxiety, like the first time Hannah and Julia go down to the basement. But if there was a distressing fact I'm sure to never forget it was the coffin birth description. Disturbing much?!
At around the 60% mark I started to suspect where the story was going and I really hoped I was wrong, cause that particular thing has been done so many times it feels like an easy way out. Turns out I was right. The actual ending felt quite unresolved and confusing, leaving a few loose threads and not offering full closure.
Although I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd like, it was another fun buddy read with Kim (I actually enjoyed more talking about the book with her than the book itself)
It had a very promising beginning, with a girl being murdered in the woods and Hannah's return to the castle where she spent her childhood summers and where her sister Julia went missing, presumed dead, years ago. Despite the strong starting point the story didn't manage to grab me as much as I expected, and it was mainly dued to two reasons.
One, the pacing was way too slow. Halfway through the book and nothing much had happened yet. And two, Hannah. She came as so self-righteous and self-centered I could not connect with her at all. She's an unreliable narrator, and that's always a plus, but at the same time she acted so childlishly with those around her that she became quite annoying pretty soon. I was specially bothered by the way she treated Huck. How can you expect for him to be there 100% for you when you're hiding so many things from him? How is he supposed to understand you?
On the good side the writing was good and the atmosphere created around the castle and the woods was quite creepy. Although it could have been exploited a little bit more, there were some spooky scenes that gave me a bit of anxiety, like the first time Hannah and Julia go down to the basement. But if there was a distressing fact I'm sure to never forget it was the coffin birth description. Disturbing much?!
At around the 60% mark I started to suspect where the story was going and I really hoped I was wrong, cause that particular thing has been done so many times it feels like an easy way out. Turns out I was right. The actual ending felt quite unresolved and confusing, leaving a few loose threads and not offering full closure.
Although I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd like, it was another fun buddy read with Kim (I actually enjoyed more talking about the book with her than the book itself)
October 26, 2020
Spooky, eerie & captivating thriller
As a kid, Hannah spent several summers at Brackenhill, her aunt and uncle's beautiful mansion in the Catskills. Joined by her older sister, Julia, they enjoyed a peaceful time away from their troubled mother and her boyfriend. But that final summer, Hannah made the journey home alone after Julia disappeared. Now, seventeen years later, Hannah is back at Brackenhill, accompanied by her calm and steady fiance Huck, to deal with the aftermath of her Aunt Fae's death. Her uncle Stuart is quite ill and Hannah must handle the necessary affairs. But once at Brackenhill, long buried memories flood to the surface, along with some undiscovered family secrets.
"She'd escaped Brackenhill once. She could do it again."
I read this completely captivating thriller in one breathless day. It's such a wonderfully eerie and ghostly mystery that excellently captures the spooky atmosphere of Brackenhill. I'm all for a read with a creepy castle, ghostly happenings, and a history of missing girls. Told in a then (Hannah and Julia's summers at Brackenhill) and now format, Moretti sucks you in from the beginning, making the reader feel as if they are a part of the haunted happenings at Brackenhill.
"The Ghost Girls of Brackenhill are an urban legend."
The result is a twisted and dark story--a true Gothic ghost tale. I figured out a few pieces, but still found this impossible to put down. Moretti excels at weaving in the devastation of family secrets and small town mystery. As Hannah unravels the mystery of her family history and her sister's disappearance, we do as well, and you'll share her sense of dread and the overall foreboding that sweeps across the pages.
I wished the ending offered a bit more resolution, but this is an excellent, haunting, and spooky supernatural read. You'll be madly flipping the pages (with the lights on)! 4+ stars.
I received a copy of this novel from Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in return for an unbiased review.
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As a kid, Hannah spent several summers at Brackenhill, her aunt and uncle's beautiful mansion in the Catskills. Joined by her older sister, Julia, they enjoyed a peaceful time away from their troubled mother and her boyfriend. But that final summer, Hannah made the journey home alone after Julia disappeared. Now, seventeen years later, Hannah is back at Brackenhill, accompanied by her calm and steady fiance Huck, to deal with the aftermath of her Aunt Fae's death. Her uncle Stuart is quite ill and Hannah must handle the necessary affairs. But once at Brackenhill, long buried memories flood to the surface, along with some undiscovered family secrets.
"She'd escaped Brackenhill once. She could do it again."
I read this completely captivating thriller in one breathless day. It's such a wonderfully eerie and ghostly mystery that excellently captures the spooky atmosphere of Brackenhill. I'm all for a read with a creepy castle, ghostly happenings, and a history of missing girls. Told in a then (Hannah and Julia's summers at Brackenhill) and now format, Moretti sucks you in from the beginning, making the reader feel as if they are a part of the haunted happenings at Brackenhill.
"The Ghost Girls of Brackenhill are an urban legend."
The result is a twisted and dark story--a true Gothic ghost tale. I figured out a few pieces, but still found this impossible to put down. Moretti excels at weaving in the devastation of family secrets and small town mystery. As Hannah unravels the mystery of her family history and her sister's disappearance, we do as well, and you'll share her sense of dread and the overall foreboding that sweeps across the pages.
I wished the ending offered a bit more resolution, but this is an excellent, haunting, and spooky supernatural read. You'll be madly flipping the pages (with the lights on)! 4+ stars.
I received a copy of this novel from Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in return for an unbiased review.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ PaperBackSwap ~ Smashbomb
May 25, 2020
Ok... what just happened?!
I'm SO confused!! Hmm.. there are SO many unanswered questions that I have right now. Uhg... I hate books that leave you feeling even more confused and an ending that doesn't make sense. GRR!!
There was so much going on in the castle and it was hard to differentiate if Hannah was dreaming all these things that were happening in the castle or is it real life?
I feel like sometimes authors leave you with so many questions but sometimes it can be a bit too much. I personally, don't like when things don't add up at the end. The ending just threw me for a loop since I was left confused and nothing added up to me.
Overall, was a pretty good mystery but was hoping for something more.
3 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Pub day: 11/1/20
Published to GR: 5/25/20
I'm SO confused!! Hmm.. there are SO many unanswered questions that I have right now. Uhg... I hate books that leave you feeling even more confused and an ending that doesn't make sense. GRR!!
There was so much going on in the castle and it was hard to differentiate if Hannah was dreaming all these things that were happening in the castle or is it real life?
I feel like sometimes authors leave you with so many questions but sometimes it can be a bit too much. I personally, don't like when things don't add up at the end. The ending just threw me for a loop since I was left confused and nothing added up to me.
Overall, was a pretty good mystery but was hoping for something more.
3 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Pub day: 11/1/20
Published to GR: 5/25/20
March 2, 2024
As a constant reader for the majority of my 58 years, I have become quite adept at predicting where most writers are taking their plots: who is most probably guilty, who will love whom (ugh!), and why? I don't mean to imply that I always get it right, but that I'm usually close.
Girls of Brackenhill is a different type of bird altogether. First, I found it unpredictable. This novel is a modern (southern gothic), slow-burn, horror tale told in two distinct timelines: the past (17 years ago) and the present. Also, there's a transplanted European castle in the United States. (Talk about setting and mood. There's loads of that.)
The story begins with a late-night call. Hannah is the contact person for her Aunt Fae, who died in a car accident. Hannah must come to identify the body and attend to the myriad, substantial and sundry responsibilities of surviving one's relatives, not the least of which is finding a caregiver for her completely incapacitated uncle. Hannah's return to her aunt's home triggers dormant memories of her youth, when her sister ran away from home and there were whisperings of her aunt's dabbling in witchcraft, disappeared children, and dark rituals performed on the castle grounds of Brackenhill.
The novel is perfect for a creepy, Halloween read. Not an out-and-out horror, although I found it horrifying. I would definitely recommend this Kate Moretti book, highly. (It may have been my first Kate Moretti, but it won't be my last.) Four and a half stars for the slow-burn quality, but because it was a negligible critique, I will round it up to five.
Girls of Brackenhill is a different type of bird altogether. First, I found it unpredictable. This novel is a modern (southern gothic), slow-burn, horror tale told in two distinct timelines: the past (17 years ago) and the present. Also, there's a transplanted European castle in the United States. (Talk about setting and mood. There's loads of that.)
The story begins with a late-night call. Hannah is the contact person for her Aunt Fae, who died in a car accident. Hannah must come to identify the body and attend to the myriad, substantial and sundry responsibilities of surviving one's relatives, not the least of which is finding a caregiver for her completely incapacitated uncle. Hannah's return to her aunt's home triggers dormant memories of her youth, when her sister ran away from home and there were whisperings of her aunt's dabbling in witchcraft, disappeared children, and dark rituals performed on the castle grounds of Brackenhill.
The novel is perfect for a creepy, Halloween read. Not an out-and-out horror, although I found it horrifying. I would definitely recommend this Kate Moretti book, highly. (It may have been my first Kate Moretti, but it won't be my last.) Four and a half stars for the slow-burn quality, but because it was a negligible critique, I will round it up to five.
March 11, 2020
A looming castle, a woman haunted by her sister's unsolved disappearance, and long buried secrets clawing their way up to the surface — Kate Moretti deftly weaves it all together in a gripping gothic ghost story of the first order. GIRLS OF BRACKENHILL is full of chills, thrills, and dark surprises. You won’t stop turning the pages until the stunning end — and even then you’ll be sleeping with the lights on. Don’t miss it!
March 22, 2020
This was a wonderful gothic mystery to get lost in! Hannah hasn't been back to her family's mansion in the Catskills since she was a teen and her older sister disappeared. However, she's called back when her aunt is involved in a tragic accident and she needs to return to her uncle. Along the way, she discovers memories long forgotten, ghosts that need to be laid to rest, and secrets that should have been kept buried. This story will keep you guessing and give you chills deep into the night. Loved it!
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2020
The Girls of Brackenhill, a mystery/thriller, was a solid 4 stars.
The book centers around main character Hannah-after a tragic accident (involving her aunt), she returns to her family’s castle located in the Catskills. The castle, which was a magical place to Hannah as a child, was also a dark place full of secrets and a place where her older sister Julia was last seen. Upon returning, Hannah is forced to revisit her past and slowly starts to remember memories that’s she’s repressed over the years-shocking and devastating memories. To make matters worse, Julia’s disappearance isn’t the only mystery that plagues this dark place-her aunt’s accident may have not been an accident after all.
The Girls of Brackenhill was an interesting read and kept me fully engaged throughout the entire book. A quick read that’s full of twists and turns-readers will not be disappointed. Highly recommended to fans of crime and mystery/thriller books. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book centers around main character Hannah-after a tragic accident (involving her aunt), she returns to her family’s castle located in the Catskills. The castle, which was a magical place to Hannah as a child, was also a dark place full of secrets and a place where her older sister Julia was last seen. Upon returning, Hannah is forced to revisit her past and slowly starts to remember memories that’s she’s repressed over the years-shocking and devastating memories. To make matters worse, Julia’s disappearance isn’t the only mystery that plagues this dark place-her aunt’s accident may have not been an accident after all.
The Girls of Brackenhill was an interesting read and kept me fully engaged throughout the entire book. A quick read that’s full of twists and turns-readers will not be disappointed. Highly recommended to fans of crime and mystery/thriller books. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2020
I had high hopes for this book but, it let itself down quite a lot by the ending which was very confusing. The book wasn’t exactly a thriller or a crime or even a gothic horror, it was a mixture of all three but I found it quite a disappointment all the way through hence the three stars.
I’m sure other readers would love it so, I don’t want to put anyone off but, I have read better than this. Shame.
I’m sure other readers would love it so, I don’t want to put anyone off but, I have read better than this. Shame.
February 21, 2023
I'll never sleep again and it's all this book's fault.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a review
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a review
January 28, 2020
Finally, an honest-to-goodness gothic ghost story, full of everything you need in a story like this—a creepy castle, suspicious townspeople, and a dying old man who may just have answers to everything. In Moretti’s deft hands the story unspools with an expert unfolding of clues. As the deaths pile up, you’ll feel just as disoriented and full of unnamed dread as Hannah the main character, trying to figure out what really happened to her sister all those years ago. Oh. And wait’ll you see what’s in the basement…
May 5, 2023
I always look forward to reading Kate Moretti and Girls of Brackenhill provided me with an amazingly gothic and eerie tale of sisters, secrets, and a creepy old castle. There are quite a few moving parts in this story, and while I did see some things coming so it wasn't as twisty as I had hoped it would be, it was still everything else I could want. There is a ghost story side that I truly loved, and I don't think the basement rooms of Brackenhill will ever leave my mind. The book alternates between Hannah's viewpoint in both past and present, and through "then" chapters we come to understand what her relationship was like with her sister and what their home life was like. There are some heartbreaking aspects to the story to be sure, but the supernatural elements and mystery are the larger chunks of what makes the plot.
The audiobook is on Kindle Unlimited so I obviously couldn't resist grabbing that, and I really enjoyed listening to Sarah Mollo-Christensen. While I wouldn't rank this in my top 10 as far as audiobooks go, it was still very, very good, and I really enjoyed the narration. I do have to say that I was a little disappointed by the loose ends that were left at the end, and I would have loved some explanation on more than one thing. For someone who prefers closure over ambiguousness, I was left a little unsatisfied, but I don't think everyone is going to have this problem. I thought Girls of Brackenhill was a slower burn as opposed to being fast-paced but it fit the storyline perfectly and I honestly wouldn't have had it any other way. Another stunner from Moretti with a gorgeous cover to boot, and I can't wait to see what's coming for us in her next novel!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The audiobook is on Kindle Unlimited so I obviously couldn't resist grabbing that, and I really enjoyed listening to Sarah Mollo-Christensen. While I wouldn't rank this in my top 10 as far as audiobooks go, it was still very, very good, and I really enjoyed the narration. I do have to say that I was a little disappointed by the loose ends that were left at the end, and I would have loved some explanation on more than one thing. For someone who prefers closure over ambiguousness, I was left a little unsatisfied, but I don't think everyone is going to have this problem. I thought Girls of Brackenhill was a slower burn as opposed to being fast-paced but it fit the storyline perfectly and I honestly wouldn't have had it any other way. Another stunner from Moretti with a gorgeous cover to boot, and I can't wait to see what's coming for us in her next novel!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
October 17, 2020
A dark and beguiling gothic mystery with a touch of the supernatural, Girls of Brackenhill has everything you want in a story at this time of year: a creepy castle, long-buried secrets, mysterious townspeople, and a troubled woman who’s (literally and figuratively) haunted by her sister’s disappearance.
When Hannah’s aunt dies in a car accident, she returns to her family’s castle to help with the dying uncle her aunt left behind. But when a human bone is found near the castle, Hannah becomes convinced it belongs to her sister, who disappeared seventeen years ago.
But this is no ordinary castle. We have creepy townspeople and mysteries appearances and rooms that seem to shift within the castle walls. Just like the castle Hannah is staying in, she becomes more disoriented the longer she stays. And as she becomes more consumed by the past, she uncovers more details about what happened that summer.
A perfect gothic thriller as those dark autumn nights close in!
When Hannah’s aunt dies in a car accident, she returns to her family’s castle to help with the dying uncle her aunt left behind. But when a human bone is found near the castle, Hannah becomes convinced it belongs to her sister, who disappeared seventeen years ago.
But this is no ordinary castle. We have creepy townspeople and mysteries appearances and rooms that seem to shift within the castle walls. Just like the castle Hannah is staying in, she becomes more disoriented the longer she stays. And as she becomes more consumed by the past, she uncovers more details about what happened that summer.
A perfect gothic thriller as those dark autumn nights close in!
October 17, 2020
Oh my goodness! This book was so frustrating! The synopsis made it sound really good and it just wasn’t. I kept waiting for it to pick up and actually become scary, but it never did. I am someone who scares very easily, and not once in this book did I feel scared or any suspense. Many of the twists were pretty predictable. The main character was not held accountable for her actions.
The ending just ruined it for me. So many questions that were brought up throughout the book were never answered or addressed. There didn’t feel to be a resolution at all at the end. No closure.
Many people love this book, but I was not pleased with that ending. I feel it would have been a much better book had it been written from the perspective of the missing sister instead.
The ending just ruined it for me. So many questions that were brought up throughout the book were never answered or addressed. There didn’t feel to be a resolution at all at the end. No closure.
Many people love this book, but I was not pleased with that ending. I feel it would have been a much better book had it been written from the perspective of the missing sister instead.
June 23, 2020
Kate Moretti masterfully leads her readers down a haunted, twisted path where nothing is how it first appears, and people may not be who they think they are. With long-buried family secrets, an eerie castle, and a distinct gothic feel,
Girls of Brackenhill
is as compulsive as it is deeply unsettling. Suspenseful writing at its finest.
June 30, 2020
I’m in the minority with my 2 star rating but I just tried several times to get into this book but I’m sad to say I just cannot connect to any of the characters! Sorry to say but I gave up at 58% which is longer than I usually last on a book I’m not liking. I tried, I really did! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.
November 2, 2020
Spoiler Alert-Don’t read
If the main character buries her sister alive and that’s just fine and dandy this book is for you. So far fetched, no real conclusion. No likeable characters. Repetitive to the point of skipping whole chapters. Hated this book in case you couldn’t tell. Best thing about this book was that it was free.
If the main character buries her sister alive and that’s just fine and dandy this book is for you. So far fetched, no real conclusion. No likeable characters. Repetitive to the point of skipping whole chapters. Hated this book in case you couldn’t tell. Best thing about this book was that it was free.
November 6, 2020
So, I'm a slump again. A perfect time to read something that's not romance, I guess!
Hmmm... what can say about this one? It's kinda scary. I kinda like the ending (which was shocking since I hate ambigous ending). The twist was not that surprising... the method though, bone-chilling.
May I say, I like this better than Home Before Dark which both involved supposedly haunted mansion and somewhat similar heroine. The cheating though, I can see it from miles away. What's with thriller authors that really like to include messed-up love relationship in their books? Who hurts you people??? Can't we have healthy relationship and amazing twists and turns?? Can't we??
Hmmm... what can say about this one? It's kinda scary. I kinda like the ending (which was shocking since I hate ambigous ending). The twist was not that surprising... the method though, bone-chilling.
May I say, I like this better than Home Before Dark which both involved supposedly haunted mansion and somewhat similar heroine. The cheating though, I can see it from miles away. What's with thriller authors that really like to include messed-up love relationship in their books? Who hurts you people??? Can't we have healthy relationship and amazing twists and turns?? Can't we??
February 22, 2022
This was such a hard one to rate as the mystery was going well until the end when I was left with several unanswered questions. I also wasn’t that keen on the dialogue as some lines had me scratching my head in confusion as it didn’t sound like the way people speak.
December 4, 2020
Chilling, thrilling and atmospheric.
Essentially, everything you want in a good Gothic mystery.
Essentially, everything you want in a good Gothic mystery.
March 26, 2020
Thank you Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
**
I love this book. Don't let the length of time it took me to read this deter you. It's this dang coronavirus that made it hard for me to get into anything honestly. But Kate Moretti has done a fantastic job creating a twisted haunting tale.
**
Now a grown woman, Hanna, is returning to Brackenhill; A looming castle perched on a hill. Brackenhill once held a dear place in her heart. Her mother would send Hanna and her older sister Julia here during the summers to spend time with their Aunt Fae; and possibly just get the kids out of the house.
The first few summers there were nothing shy of magical. Then on their last summer there things were changing. Julia no longer wanted to include Hanna in things... Julia befriended Ellie and all but left Hanna behind. Strange this is though; Ellie is a missing girl... ran away they say the year before the girls last fated summer there.
The reason it was their last summer was because Julia went missing. Hanna has thought her whole light the Julia just ran away. The town people blamed Fae. You see, Julia wasn't the first girl to go missing from Brackenhill. But will she be the last?
*
Seriously I can't stress enough how much I enjoyed reading this book. It gave me just the right amount of crazy people, haunted house, pitch fork town people vibes. I loved this can hope to be reading more by Kate in the near future. :)
**
I love this book. Don't let the length of time it took me to read this deter you. It's this dang coronavirus that made it hard for me to get into anything honestly. But Kate Moretti has done a fantastic job creating a twisted haunting tale.
**
Now a grown woman, Hanna, is returning to Brackenhill; A looming castle perched on a hill. Brackenhill once held a dear place in her heart. Her mother would send Hanna and her older sister Julia here during the summers to spend time with their Aunt Fae; and possibly just get the kids out of the house.
The first few summers there were nothing shy of magical. Then on their last summer there things were changing. Julia no longer wanted to include Hanna in things... Julia befriended Ellie and all but left Hanna behind. Strange this is though; Ellie is a missing girl... ran away they say the year before the girls last fated summer there.
The reason it was their last summer was because Julia went missing. Hanna has thought her whole light the Julia just ran away. The town people blamed Fae. You see, Julia wasn't the first girl to go missing from Brackenhill. But will she be the last?
*
Seriously I can't stress enough how much I enjoyed reading this book. It gave me just the right amount of crazy people, haunted house, pitch fork town people vibes. I loved this can hope to be reading more by Kate in the near future. :)
March 24, 2020
Forgive me for this.....
...but WHAT just happened?!
I actually don’t even know. I don’t understand the ending AT all. I don’t want to give anything away with my review... so I’ll try to be very careful about how I write this, so bare with me if this is quite vague.
Is she crazy? Has she been hallucinating this whole time? Did she do it? What happens between the “crazy” woman in the tower and the ending?! I get that there’s a five month separation between the tower scene and the ending...but I’m left feeling like I woke up from a dream and have NO idea what happened.
So let me say this, GREAT story, GREAT mystery... I was literally so confused until it started to unravel to reveal the truth behind the past 17 years...there was so many weird things that happen in the Brackenhill castle that can’t or aren’t explained...and it’s fascinating. Like is Hannah dreaming all these weird things that happen, or are they really happening?
So many questions left unanswered to be honest. I was expecting more from this book than what I got I think, but it was a good read...the ending just threw me for a loop because I don’t feel like I got any closure...it just ended with so many unanswered questions on my end.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher of this novel for allowing me to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
...but WHAT just happened?!
I actually don’t even know. I don’t understand the ending AT all. I don’t want to give anything away with my review... so I’ll try to be very careful about how I write this, so bare with me if this is quite vague.
Is she crazy? Has she been hallucinating this whole time? Did she do it? What happens between the “crazy” woman in the tower and the ending?! I get that there’s a five month separation between the tower scene and the ending...but I’m left feeling like I woke up from a dream and have NO idea what happened.
So let me say this, GREAT story, GREAT mystery... I was literally so confused until it started to unravel to reveal the truth behind the past 17 years...there was so many weird things that happen in the Brackenhill castle that can’t or aren’t explained...and it’s fascinating. Like is Hannah dreaming all these weird things that happen, or are they really happening?
So many questions left unanswered to be honest. I was expecting more from this book than what I got I think, but it was a good read...the ending just threw me for a loop because I don’t feel like I got any closure...it just ended with so many unanswered questions on my end.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher of this novel for allowing me to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
March 29, 2022
The way this started out; I wasn't too sure about it. I think at one time, I had even thought about not finishing.
I kept reading and I'm glad I did.
At first, I was prepared on giving it 3 stars but hey, the writing and story line became better.
Its a slow burn, so if you're not into those; you may not like it.
Its only 311 pages but felt longer. It should have been scaled down.
I really enjoyed the mystery and the story line. It was actually a pretty nice plot.
I came to really enjoy the writing style of the author and hope to read more from her. I ordered more by her.
I'd recommend this one.
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