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Sight Unseen
1648. Alie Gowdie marries Richard Webster during a turbulent time in Scotland’s history. Charles I is about to lose his head, and little does Alie know that she too will meet a grisly end within the year.
2019. Sarah Sutherland is struggling to cope with the demands of her day job, caring for her elderly father and keeping tabs on her backpacking daughter. She wanted to be an archaeologist, but now in her forties, she is divorced, alone, and there seems to be no respite, no glimmer of excitement on the horizon. However, she does have a special affinity with the Kilgour Witch, Alie Gowdie, who lived in Sarah’s cottage until her execution in 1648, and Sarah likes nothing better than to retreat into a world of sorcery, spells and religious fanaticism.
Her stories delight tourists as she leads them along the cobbled streets of her home town, but what really lies behind the tale of Alie Gowdie, the Kilgour Witch? Can Sarah uncover the truth in order to right a centuries-old wrong? And what else might modern-day Kilgour be hiding, just out of sight?
2019. Sarah Sutherland is struggling to cope with the demands of her day job, caring for her elderly father and keeping tabs on her backpacking daughter. She wanted to be an archaeologist, but now in her forties, she is divorced, alone, and there seems to be no respite, no glimmer of excitement on the horizon. However, she does have a special affinity with the Kilgour Witch, Alie Gowdie, who lived in Sarah’s cottage until her execution in 1648, and Sarah likes nothing better than to retreat into a world of sorcery, spells and religious fanaticism.
Her stories delight tourists as she leads them along the cobbled streets of her home town, but what really lies behind the tale of Alie Gowdie, the Kilgour Witch? Can Sarah uncover the truth in order to right a centuries-old wrong? And what else might modern-day Kilgour be hiding, just out of sight?
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 6, 2020
2 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Ireland
11 books116 followersSandra Ireland was born in England but lived for many years in Éire before returning ‘home’ to Scotland in the 1990s. She is the author of Beneath the Skin, a psychological thriller, which was shortlisted for a Saltire Literary Award in 2017. Her second novel, Bone Deep, a modern Gothic tale of sibling rivalry, inspired by an old Scottish folktale, will be published in the UK by Polygon in July, and in the US (Gallery) and Germany (Penguin) next year. She also writes poetry, often inspired by the seascapes of Scotland’s rugged east coast. Her poems have been widely published in anthologies, including Seagate III (Dundee), and New Writing Scotland. She won the Dorothy Dunbar Trophy for Poetry, awarded by the Scottish Association of Writers, in 2017 and 2018. Sandra is Secretary of Angus Writers’ Circle and one third of the Chasing Time Team, which runs writing retreats in a gloriously gothic rural setting.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 18, 2020
How much do you trust the past? This is the predominant theme in Sight Unseen. When mother of one, supermarket manager, carer and history enthusiast, Sarah is stuck in a rut. Her dream career and life never came to fruition due to the uncertainty of life. She’s the safe one, never pushing the boundaries of responsibility or willing to take a risk of any kind. Little does she know a wayward employee who keeps pushing her to the limit will awaken something that she didn’t know was missing. Sometimes these encounters are catalysts for change.
Sight Unseen was magical. It felt like a siren call. What mother hasn’t got to a certain point in their life and felt a bit stagnant? The mundane routine, the constant responsibility of being a mother and spontaneity never being part of a mother’s vocabulary can grind you down. It spoke to me on a deeper level.
This was a super original plot. A mystery of the past that was getting solved in the present. The burning of a witch that was perpetrated form a minister with a vendetta in mind. Sarah knows the story isn’t everything that it seems and aims to right the wrong that has been done to her in the method of her history tours. She’s in a special position of knowing a little something about her subject, Alie Gowdie, being a resident in the woman’s former home.
What really became of Alie in Sight Unseen? As history has proven, these unfortunate women weren’t really witches, they are just women that had interest in the unusual, were outspoken or didn’t want to conform to its society’s norms. An old journal of the minister in question, William Wilkie is discovered. Will this give Sarah an element of truth or will it be a version of the truth that panders to the minister’s own agenda? The setting and the atmosphere was hypnotising. It added another layer to the razor-sharp narrative.
Told through both Sarah and her father John’s perspective we are given the complexities of relationships between parent and child and the decline of the parent’s health. The toll it takes on both, the added responsibility and the mental strain it ultimately causes. We see how they see each other through each other’s eyes. It was heart-breaking at points but necessary and beautifully done. They had to fall slightly apart in order to be reconnected…a thread holding them together, the carer, Grant.
Grant, the young man with a troubled past. Sarah, judging him by idle gossip and pre-ordained misconceptions about him. Has a run in and he ends up leaving her employ. She believes he’s out to cause her harm ends up taking up a job as a private carer for her father. She is made to eat her words as he proves to be the making of her dad. Ultimately, you shouldn’t judge someone on initial impressions.
Sight Unseen left me completely gripped. I held my kindle for dear life and flew through the pages at an astounding rate. I devoured this book in a matter of hours and will be recommending it to all my mystery loving friends!
Thanks to Kelly @ Love Books Group for my spot on the blog tour and for organising the media pack for our use. Always a pleasure.
Sight Unseen was magical. It felt like a siren call. What mother hasn’t got to a certain point in their life and felt a bit stagnant? The mundane routine, the constant responsibility of being a mother and spontaneity never being part of a mother’s vocabulary can grind you down. It spoke to me on a deeper level.
This was a super original plot. A mystery of the past that was getting solved in the present. The burning of a witch that was perpetrated form a minister with a vendetta in mind. Sarah knows the story isn’t everything that it seems and aims to right the wrong that has been done to her in the method of her history tours. She’s in a special position of knowing a little something about her subject, Alie Gowdie, being a resident in the woman’s former home.
What really became of Alie in Sight Unseen? As history has proven, these unfortunate women weren’t really witches, they are just women that had interest in the unusual, were outspoken or didn’t want to conform to its society’s norms. An old journal of the minister in question, William Wilkie is discovered. Will this give Sarah an element of truth or will it be a version of the truth that panders to the minister’s own agenda? The setting and the atmosphere was hypnotising. It added another layer to the razor-sharp narrative.
Told through both Sarah and her father John’s perspective we are given the complexities of relationships between parent and child and the decline of the parent’s health. The toll it takes on both, the added responsibility and the mental strain it ultimately causes. We see how they see each other through each other’s eyes. It was heart-breaking at points but necessary and beautifully done. They had to fall slightly apart in order to be reconnected…a thread holding them together, the carer, Grant.
Grant, the young man with a troubled past. Sarah, judging him by idle gossip and pre-ordained misconceptions about him. Has a run in and he ends up leaving her employ. She believes he’s out to cause her harm ends up taking up a job as a private carer for her father. She is made to eat her words as he proves to be the making of her dad. Ultimately, you shouldn’t judge someone on initial impressions.
Sight Unseen left me completely gripped. I held my kindle for dear life and flew through the pages at an astounding rate. I devoured this book in a matter of hours and will be recommending it to all my mystery loving friends!
Thanks to Kelly @ Love Books Group for my spot on the blog tour and for organising the media pack for our use. Always a pleasure.
August 18, 2020
Finished reading: July 27th 2020
"Stories are like puzzles, charity shop jigsaws with half the pieces missing. It's up to you to fill in the blanks, let your mind form a version of the true picture."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
August 5, 2020
This book took me just under 3 days to read and I found it to be a very easy, compelling read. It's one of those books where there is a lot of build up and all becomes clear in the end. Throughout I was glued to finding out more, thinking I knew the answer but being perfectly surprised at the very end. I enjoyed it from start to finish, I couldn't put it down. This is the first book I have read by Sandra Ireland and I will certainly be looking into more of her books. Highly recommend.
August 15, 2020
I can say for certain here and now, that this book is definitely one of my best books of the year, it is bloody amazing, I literally finished this in one weekend I was hooked, I couldn’t put it down and it most likely resulted in the present bag under the eyes, but hey, when you have a book of this incredible quality who cares if I look like the walking dead, that’s what concealer’s for, right? LOL!
This is one of those books that you never knew you were waiting for and when it arrives in your life it feels as though it has been there all along. Reading this is like bringing home your new puppy knowing that for many years to come you will be inundated with thrills, fun, excitement and shocks, Sight Unseen alone will take you through all those emotions and plenty more besides, and as this is the first in the Sarah Sutherland series, there are going to many, many more to come, I know that this series is going to be amazing and I am so excited about what’s to come in the future.
This may be my first book by Sandra Ireland, but no-way is Sandra going to be rid of me as a reader now, her writing captivates and compels you to keep reading all the while you are being drawn further and further into her imagination, it’s a brilliantly eye-opening and compelling introduction to Sandra’s work and I cannot wait to discover more of her books. What I absolutely loved about Sarah is she is just so damn likeable, she is a genuinely kind, caring and a good friend. I felt such a huge connection to Sarah, as I aspect many other women will too.
On the surface she is a working single mother of a travelling teenage daughter, who is stuck in a dead-end job, and in her spare time she cares for her ailing father, she is a little insecure and there are fragilities to her character, she is lonely and desperately wanting more. Yet beneath that she is a passionate history lover, she loves going out dressed in her gothic clothing and doing Witch tours around her city all the while she is deeply connected to the witch who lived in her very cottage; Alie Gowder. A wronged woman who suffered the most awful treatment – as did so many poor women accused of witchcraft – Sarah is desperate to know all about Ali and discover the truth about who she really was and there is far more to Alie’s story than thought, there is darkness and villain’s lurking in the background. Sarah loves nothing better than diving headfirst into the archives to find the truth, something which I can totally relate to.
Sarah has a lot of her plate her mind-numbingly boring and a predictable job at a local supermarket, which now sees someone stealing. Her dad John is behaving rather oddly and she fears for him is there really someone who keeps popping into John’s home, or is it all his imagination? And what is it with those ‘imaginary people’ he keeps seeing? Her daughter is off travelling the world, but is she really have the greatest time?
From the very first page, I was gripped, I loved how the two stories run side by side with each other, the more we learn about Sarah and Alie the more I like both women. The witch trial is a subject that is so rarely seen in novel’s, and I applaud anyone who dives into that grisly and bloody part of our history and tells the stories of these women who were treated despicable, they suffered greatly and in re-telling their stories and bringing light to this dark passage of history these women who died horrific death may be able to find some justice.
Sight Unseen is a compelling, mysterious and thrilling read, there is just the right amount of supernatural to give it an edge and what keeps you guessing, with its many twists and turns you will be flying through the pages at record speed. Just when you think that you know the outcome then; boom something else pops up to you are left reeling and excited to find out what will come next and all the while you are urging Sarah on and wanting to know the truth about what really happened with poor persecuted Alie.
I honestly cannot say enough good things about this, I feel that my waffled review doesn’t really do this book justice. This is mind-blowingly great, I am waiting with baited breathe for the next instalment of the Sarah Sutherland Thrillers, I can’t wait!
This was a complimentary copy, which I voluntarily reviewed as apart of this blog tour.
This is one of those books that you never knew you were waiting for and when it arrives in your life it feels as though it has been there all along. Reading this is like bringing home your new puppy knowing that for many years to come you will be inundated with thrills, fun, excitement and shocks, Sight Unseen alone will take you through all those emotions and plenty more besides, and as this is the first in the Sarah Sutherland series, there are going to many, many more to come, I know that this series is going to be amazing and I am so excited about what’s to come in the future.
This may be my first book by Sandra Ireland, but no-way is Sandra going to be rid of me as a reader now, her writing captivates and compels you to keep reading all the while you are being drawn further and further into her imagination, it’s a brilliantly eye-opening and compelling introduction to Sandra’s work and I cannot wait to discover more of her books. What I absolutely loved about Sarah is she is just so damn likeable, she is a genuinely kind, caring and a good friend. I felt such a huge connection to Sarah, as I aspect many other women will too.
On the surface she is a working single mother of a travelling teenage daughter, who is stuck in a dead-end job, and in her spare time she cares for her ailing father, she is a little insecure and there are fragilities to her character, she is lonely and desperately wanting more. Yet beneath that she is a passionate history lover, she loves going out dressed in her gothic clothing and doing Witch tours around her city all the while she is deeply connected to the witch who lived in her very cottage; Alie Gowder. A wronged woman who suffered the most awful treatment – as did so many poor women accused of witchcraft – Sarah is desperate to know all about Ali and discover the truth about who she really was and there is far more to Alie’s story than thought, there is darkness and villain’s lurking in the background. Sarah loves nothing better than diving headfirst into the archives to find the truth, something which I can totally relate to.
Sarah has a lot of her plate her mind-numbingly boring and a predictable job at a local supermarket, which now sees someone stealing. Her dad John is behaving rather oddly and she fears for him is there really someone who keeps popping into John’s home, or is it all his imagination? And what is it with those ‘imaginary people’ he keeps seeing? Her daughter is off travelling the world, but is she really have the greatest time?
From the very first page, I was gripped, I loved how the two stories run side by side with each other, the more we learn about Sarah and Alie the more I like both women. The witch trial is a subject that is so rarely seen in novel’s, and I applaud anyone who dives into that grisly and bloody part of our history and tells the stories of these women who were treated despicable, they suffered greatly and in re-telling their stories and bringing light to this dark passage of history these women who died horrific death may be able to find some justice.
Sight Unseen is a compelling, mysterious and thrilling read, there is just the right amount of supernatural to give it an edge and what keeps you guessing, with its many twists and turns you will be flying through the pages at record speed. Just when you think that you know the outcome then; boom something else pops up to you are left reeling and excited to find out what will come next and all the while you are urging Sarah on and wanting to know the truth about what really happened with poor persecuted Alie.
I honestly cannot say enough good things about this, I feel that my waffled review doesn’t really do this book justice. This is mind-blowingly great, I am waiting with baited breathe for the next instalment of the Sarah Sutherland Thrillers, I can’t wait!
This was a complimentary copy, which I voluntarily reviewed as apart of this blog tour.
August 14, 2020
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I really enjoyed this book because there are just so many story-lines with few characters, that come together in a very interesting manner.
The author did a wonderful job with the characters. Sarah is mesmerizing in the lead, and I liked the various emotions she goes through. I also enjoyed her relationship with Grant. Moreover, I thought both of them had a very nice chemistry with a good mix of friendship and flirting. I didn’t think much of Grant in the beginning, but I adored him once he became John’s cater. Speaking of John, he was my favorite in the story! He is cranky and cribs a lot, but is very sweet, and I loved his story-line with the figures. I also learnt something new in the book about a syndrome which I was not aware of!
Another beauty of the story is how the author relates the past and the present with similar issues we face today. I also enjoyed the witch trials revolving around Alie Gowdie.
While I loved the above details of the story, I felt a few things could have been better. Firstly, I felt like the focus was a bit off. The story shifted focus equally between Sarah and John in the beginning, but later spent a lot of time on Sarah in the second half, pushing John aside. Also, there were some dialogues which sidetracked from the plot. On a side note, I also felt like Hannah’s relationship with Sarah was weak, and there was no closure to that part.
Apart from that, Sight Unseen was a fun story to read. It ends in a cliffhanger (which I did not see coming). Hence, I am excited to see how the story continue in the next book!
August 16, 2020
I received a copy of this book for review, with thanks to Love Book Tours, Sandra Ireland and Polygon books.
I love a good thriller book, so when I received an email about reading this book, I was completely on board straight away. This book follows Sarah, a woman with two jobs, a sick father and a daughter who is travelling away from home, leaving her constantly anxious and worried. Never thinking of herself nor her own ambitions. Yet, when an opportunity arises to look at old documents that would help her with one of her jobs, as a 'witch tour coordinator' she finds her passion for history ignited as she explores the story of Alie, a woman burned at the stake for witchcraft. Sarah, who lives in Alie's old cottage has always felt connected to Alie in a way, and this book shows how Sarah grows in her connection to Alie, but also to herself.
I really enjoyed this book, the writing and the story flowed really well and I found this book very easy to follow. I didn't expect the twists and turns that came and I love the raw look at how real life illnesses can impact upon family members and how love and kindness can rear their head in the most uncommon of places. I can't wait to see where this series goes.
I love a good thriller book, so when I received an email about reading this book, I was completely on board straight away. This book follows Sarah, a woman with two jobs, a sick father and a daughter who is travelling away from home, leaving her constantly anxious and worried. Never thinking of herself nor her own ambitions. Yet, when an opportunity arises to look at old documents that would help her with one of her jobs, as a 'witch tour coordinator' she finds her passion for history ignited as she explores the story of Alie, a woman burned at the stake for witchcraft. Sarah, who lives in Alie's old cottage has always felt connected to Alie in a way, and this book shows how Sarah grows in her connection to Alie, but also to herself.
I really enjoyed this book, the writing and the story flowed really well and I found this book very easy to follow. I didn't expect the twists and turns that came and I love the raw look at how real life illnesses can impact upon family members and how love and kindness can rear their head in the most uncommon of places. I can't wait to see where this series goes.
August 17, 2020
Sight Unseen is #1 in the Sarah Sutherland series.
Sarah has a dull job, she’s caring for her father and she’s lonely.
But she has an escape, she loves the local witch tours where she gets to dress up and share the history and her stories with others. . She is intrigued by one witch in particular and who she feels she has an affinity with, Alie, so she starts investigating her story.
This is a mystery tale with a supernatural edge. It’s a slow burn as you learn more about Sarah and Alie, the traumatic life of a woman accused of witchcraft in the past. It slowly builds to a real cliffhanger of an ending too. A clever mix of history and mystery.
Thank you to Kelly at Love Books Group for the opportunity to be part of this blog tour, for the promotional material and an eARC of Sight Unseen. This is my honest and unbiased review.
Sarah has a dull job, she’s caring for her father and she’s lonely.
But she has an escape, she loves the local witch tours where she gets to dress up and share the history and her stories with others. . She is intrigued by one witch in particular and who she feels she has an affinity with, Alie, so she starts investigating her story.
This is a mystery tale with a supernatural edge. It’s a slow burn as you learn more about Sarah and Alie, the traumatic life of a woman accused of witchcraft in the past. It slowly builds to a real cliffhanger of an ending too. A clever mix of history and mystery.
Thank you to Kelly at Love Books Group for the opportunity to be part of this blog tour, for the promotional material and an eARC of Sight Unseen. This is my honest and unbiased review.
September 23, 2020
I began reading Sight Unseen knowing I would enjoy the story. I love any fiction that draws from historical accounts of witchcraft/sorcery, ESPECIALLY fiction which unpicks sensational records to reveal the truth behind witch hunts. This novel certainly did not disappoint in that regard, and the story Sandra Ireland weaves is fascinating.
What did surprise me was just how hard I fell in love with Sarah Sutherland. A protagonist with thwarted dreams, a job in a supermarket, caring responsibilities and a nagging worry at the back of her mind that she might be drinking too many glasses of wine. I enjoyed her company so much that I read the book in one sitting.
For me, the greatest joy in this story was getting to know Sarah, who came across as one of the most believable characters I've ever read in any kind of thriller. She's divorced, her daughter's flown the nest and she feels as though she's settled for a 'good enough' life. When Sarah begins to uncover certain mysteries she dives straight in, even though she's afraid she won't be taken seriously. She's an extremely relatable character and it made me believe in the story.
I loved this novel. It's the first time I've read the beginning of a contemporary thriller/mystery series and felt devastated that I have to wait for the next instalment. I'd give this ten stars if I could.
What did surprise me was just how hard I fell in love with Sarah Sutherland. A protagonist with thwarted dreams, a job in a supermarket, caring responsibilities and a nagging worry at the back of her mind that she might be drinking too many glasses of wine. I enjoyed her company so much that I read the book in one sitting.
For me, the greatest joy in this story was getting to know Sarah, who came across as one of the most believable characters I've ever read in any kind of thriller. She's divorced, her daughter's flown the nest and she feels as though she's settled for a 'good enough' life. When Sarah begins to uncover certain mysteries she dives straight in, even though she's afraid she won't be taken seriously. She's an extremely relatable character and it made me believe in the story.
I loved this novel. It's the first time I've read the beginning of a contemporary thriller/mystery series and felt devastated that I have to wait for the next instalment. I'd give this ten stars if I could.
August 21, 2020
I love a book that draws parallels between the past and the modern day and Sandra Ireland’s Sight Unseen does not disappoint!
Set in the small Scottish town of Kilgour, the novel follows Sarah Sutherland. Long-suffering supermarket manager by day, Sarah indulges in her passion for history at night by running storytelling walks for Kilgour’s tourists, telling them tales of Alie Gowdie, the Kilgour Witch. With her marriage long ended, her daughter off travelling the world, and her aging father becoming increasingly dependant on her, Sarah worries that it might be too late to turn her passion into anything more than a side-hustle.
But when she gets asked to help transcribe the newly unearthed diaries of the Rev. Wilkie, Alie’s principle accuser, Sarah uncovers some dark secrets hiding behind the story of the Kilgour Witch. Could these long-buried truths provide Sarah with a way out of her humdrum existence? And might they be related to the ‘figures’ her father keeps seeing out of the corner of his eye? In both the past and the present, it seems Kilgour has more than a few things that some people might prefer stayed hidden.
Whilst I’m not entirely sure that ‘thriller’ is the best categorisation for Sight Unseen, I really enjoyed the pacy mystery at the heart of the book and the way the various plot strands interconnected. Without giving any of the plot away, there are some really interesting and unexpected connections between the story of Alie Gowdie and the plight of several women in Kilgour in the present day, as well as between Sarah’s investigations and her father’s ‘figures’.
Sandra Ireland has done such a good job of weaving all of the seemingly disperate strands of the plot together, and drawing parallels between the past and present. I was fascinated by the history around which the novel is based and the novel really captures the magic of archival research – that tenative hope that you might discover long-buried secrets hidden away amidst the crabbed scrawl of country parson, or the official records of a workhouse.
I found main character Sarah to be a compelling and likeable lead. Juggling the stresses of the day job with the pains of an empty nest, the regrets for roads not taken, and the strain of looking after an aging father, Sarah is fantastically relatable. Whether it’s fretting over the morality of her budding romance with a much younger man, or sinking a double gin and tonic at the end of a long day dealing with customer complaints about missing chicken legs, Sarah comes across as gloriously flawed and human. As Sight Unseen promises to be part of a series, I’m looking forward to seeing what Sarah does next given how much she develops over the course of the novel.
Sarah’s father John, the other character whose point of view we get to see, provides an interesting alternate perspective and a sympathetic portrayal of aging that is so rarely seen in books. Whilst deterioriating physically and increasingly dependant on Sarah, John is sharp, knowledgeable and determined, and I enjoyed seeing his perspective on events also described by Sarah, as well as his insights into her life and character.
As I said earlier, I’m not entirely sure I’d class the novel as a ‘thriller’. Whilst the plot is richly layered and there are plenty of secrets to be uncovered, for me the book is more of a mystery, albeit one with a page-turning pace, a compelling female protagonist, and some very contemporary themes. This suited me down to the ground but contemporary or domestic thriller fans seeking high-octane twists and turns might be disappointed if they go in expecting that from Sight Unseen, which instead offers a blend of carefully uncovered historical secrets, present-day problem-solving, and gradual character development. Fans of mystery-thrillers are, however, sure to find much to enjoy and I for one am looking forward to seeing what’s in store for Sarah in the next book!
NB: This review first appeared on my blog https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpre... as part of the blog tour for Sight Unseen. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Set in the small Scottish town of Kilgour, the novel follows Sarah Sutherland. Long-suffering supermarket manager by day, Sarah indulges in her passion for history at night by running storytelling walks for Kilgour’s tourists, telling them tales of Alie Gowdie, the Kilgour Witch. With her marriage long ended, her daughter off travelling the world, and her aging father becoming increasingly dependant on her, Sarah worries that it might be too late to turn her passion into anything more than a side-hustle.
But when she gets asked to help transcribe the newly unearthed diaries of the Rev. Wilkie, Alie’s principle accuser, Sarah uncovers some dark secrets hiding behind the story of the Kilgour Witch. Could these long-buried truths provide Sarah with a way out of her humdrum existence? And might they be related to the ‘figures’ her father keeps seeing out of the corner of his eye? In both the past and the present, it seems Kilgour has more than a few things that some people might prefer stayed hidden.
Whilst I’m not entirely sure that ‘thriller’ is the best categorisation for Sight Unseen, I really enjoyed the pacy mystery at the heart of the book and the way the various plot strands interconnected. Without giving any of the plot away, there are some really interesting and unexpected connections between the story of Alie Gowdie and the plight of several women in Kilgour in the present day, as well as between Sarah’s investigations and her father’s ‘figures’.
Sandra Ireland has done such a good job of weaving all of the seemingly disperate strands of the plot together, and drawing parallels between the past and present. I was fascinated by the history around which the novel is based and the novel really captures the magic of archival research – that tenative hope that you might discover long-buried secrets hidden away amidst the crabbed scrawl of country parson, or the official records of a workhouse.
I found main character Sarah to be a compelling and likeable lead. Juggling the stresses of the day job with the pains of an empty nest, the regrets for roads not taken, and the strain of looking after an aging father, Sarah is fantastically relatable. Whether it’s fretting over the morality of her budding romance with a much younger man, or sinking a double gin and tonic at the end of a long day dealing with customer complaints about missing chicken legs, Sarah comes across as gloriously flawed and human. As Sight Unseen promises to be part of a series, I’m looking forward to seeing what Sarah does next given how much she develops over the course of the novel.
Sarah’s father John, the other character whose point of view we get to see, provides an interesting alternate perspective and a sympathetic portrayal of aging that is so rarely seen in books. Whilst deterioriating physically and increasingly dependant on Sarah, John is sharp, knowledgeable and determined, and I enjoyed seeing his perspective on events also described by Sarah, as well as his insights into her life and character.
As I said earlier, I’m not entirely sure I’d class the novel as a ‘thriller’. Whilst the plot is richly layered and there are plenty of secrets to be uncovered, for me the book is more of a mystery, albeit one with a page-turning pace, a compelling female protagonist, and some very contemporary themes. This suited me down to the ground but contemporary or domestic thriller fans seeking high-octane twists and turns might be disappointed if they go in expecting that from Sight Unseen, which instead offers a blend of carefully uncovered historical secrets, present-day problem-solving, and gradual character development. Fans of mystery-thrillers are, however, sure to find much to enjoy and I for one am looking forward to seeing what’s in store for Sarah in the next book!
NB: This review first appeared on my blog https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpre... as part of the blog tour for Sight Unseen. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
August 9, 2020
Sarah Sutherland is the main character of Sight Unseen and she, like many women, is juggling a career with family demands. In her case, she is the manager at a local supermarket, her daughter is off backpacking round the world and not always the easiest to get in touch with and her father is in his 90s, becoming frailer and in need of her attention more often. She combines all this with running witch tours round the town of Kilgour telling the story of Alie Goudie, a woman convicted of witchcraft and executed in the 17th century and a woman who used to live in the very house where Sarah now lives.
Sarah Sutherland is a storyteller and that’s very much what Sandra Ireland is too. The stories Sarah tells and the other stories incorporated within the book are stories you can imagine sitting listening to, stories which capture the imagination and pique your curiosity. Sandra's novels weave in stories from myth, legend and folklore and are rooted in the oral tradition. More often than not there are echoes of the stories from the past in the contemporary part of the story and that’s certainly the case here as subjects as seemingly diverse as witch trials, an unusual medical condition and modern day slavery all feature.
I really liked the character of Sarah Sutherland and I’m delighted that this is the first in a planned series of books she’ll feature in. I’m particularly pleased because the book ends with some rather unexpected discoveries and more than one cliffhanger. I can’t wait to find out what happens next for Sarah as well as the other characters.
Sarah Sutherland is a storyteller and that’s very much what Sandra Ireland is too. The stories Sarah tells and the other stories incorporated within the book are stories you can imagine sitting listening to, stories which capture the imagination and pique your curiosity. Sandra's novels weave in stories from myth, legend and folklore and are rooted in the oral tradition. More often than not there are echoes of the stories from the past in the contemporary part of the story and that’s certainly the case here as subjects as seemingly diverse as witch trials, an unusual medical condition and modern day slavery all feature.
I really liked the character of Sarah Sutherland and I’m delighted that this is the first in a planned series of books she’ll feature in. I’m particularly pleased because the book ends with some rather unexpected discoveries and more than one cliffhanger. I can’t wait to find out what happens next for Sarah as well as the other characters.
August 13, 2020
In Sight Unseen we get a glimpse into the history of the past whilst following the intrepid Sarah Sutherland in the present. From keeping everyone in order at the local supermarket where she is manager, the natural worry over her daughter who is currently backpacking abroad, and the very real concern about about her elderly father who lives alone, Sarah definitely has her work cut out trying to juggle all her responsibilities. Add into the mix Sarah’s passion for history, her guided witch walks through the fictional Scottish town of Kilgour, her determination to understand more about the seventeenth mystery of Alie Gowdie, and you have all the right ingredients for a lively and entertaining read.
I really enjoyed the mix of history and mystery as both sit comfortably together in a story which kept me entertained from start to finish. Parts of it are funny, and me smile, but there are also some rather serious issues which fitted well into the overall theme of the novel. The author writes well, and brings a natural warmth to her characters so that they feel authentic and are extremely likeable, especially Sarah’s father, John, who I loved from the start. I also enjoyed Sarah’s relationship with her supermarket employees, as well as appreciating her passion for history, and her need to find out more about Alie Gowdie, a young woman who was executed for witchcraft back in the seventeenth century.
I raced through the book on a rather stormy afternoon, which gave an undeniable sense of atmosphere and I very quickly became so engrossed in the story that time passed quickly. I’m really pleased that this is the first book in the Sarah Sutherland series because as soon as I came to the cliffhanger of an ending I knew that I wanted to meet up again with Sarah and visit this fictional Scottish town again. Hopefully soon!
I really enjoyed the mix of history and mystery as both sit comfortably together in a story which kept me entertained from start to finish. Parts of it are funny, and me smile, but there are also some rather serious issues which fitted well into the overall theme of the novel. The author writes well, and brings a natural warmth to her characters so that they feel authentic and are extremely likeable, especially Sarah’s father, John, who I loved from the start. I also enjoyed Sarah’s relationship with her supermarket employees, as well as appreciating her passion for history, and her need to find out more about Alie Gowdie, a young woman who was executed for witchcraft back in the seventeenth century.
I raced through the book on a rather stormy afternoon, which gave an undeniable sense of atmosphere and I very quickly became so engrossed in the story that time passed quickly. I’m really pleased that this is the first book in the Sarah Sutherland series because as soon as I came to the cliffhanger of an ending I knew that I wanted to meet up again with Sarah and visit this fictional Scottish town again. Hopefully soon!
August 9, 2020
The originality is refreshing, and the story itself surprising. It's not the plot I imagined, but Sarah Sutherland is a complex character with relatable flaws and innate intelligence. Family drama and historical crime are at the centre of this story which has unforeseen twists and dashes of the paranormal and romance.
The supporting characters are authentic and give the story depth. John, her father and Grant are good characters and their relationship with Sarah, complex. They show different facets of Sarah's character. There is a mystery and suspense as Sarah tries to find out what happened to the women who lived in her house. She uncovers more than one historical crime and criminal elements close to home too.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
The supporting characters are authentic and give the story depth. John, her father and Grant are good characters and their relationship with Sarah, complex. They show different facets of Sarah's character. There is a mystery and suspense as Sarah tries to find out what happened to the women who lived in her house. She uncovers more than one historical crime and criminal elements close to home too.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
August 17, 2020
Sarah Sutherland is a mother to a teenage daughter who is travelling the world, a daughter to her elderly father who is becoming more and more in need of support and is holding down two very different jobs: a manager at a local supermarket and running witch tours around the local area. She finds herself struggling to cope with all the demands made of her and is drawn to the mysteries surrounding Alie Gowdie, a woman who was accused and then killed of being a witch.
I loved the historic connection of witchcraft that the book explored and too got caught up in Sutherland's research into the truth. I also enjoyed reading her father's narrative and felt great sympathy towards him especially with regards to how frustrated he felt at times with his current situation. His story is very touching and I was fascinated by Charles Bonnet Syndrome, something I had never heard of before and am so glad Sandra Ireland included this particular condition in her novel to help raise awareness and understanding of this condition.
There are several story lines that weave through this novel and I was fascinated to see how they all came together at the end. The book is left open-ended and I am convinced there is an unfinished story surrounding her daughter; for me something doesn't feel right about her current situation. I am intrigued to see where Sandra Ireland will take the next book in the Sutherland series and hope we hear much more from her father and perhaps Hannah's narrative too. Either way I will definitely be purchasing book two as I feel very much invested in the characters and enjoyed Ireland's style of writing.
Many thanks to Polygon books and Love Book Tours Group for my gifted copy of Sight Unseen and the invite to the blog tour.
I loved the historic connection of witchcraft that the book explored and too got caught up in Sutherland's research into the truth. I also enjoyed reading her father's narrative and felt great sympathy towards him especially with regards to how frustrated he felt at times with his current situation. His story is very touching and I was fascinated by Charles Bonnet Syndrome, something I had never heard of before and am so glad Sandra Ireland included this particular condition in her novel to help raise awareness and understanding of this condition.
There are several story lines that weave through this novel and I was fascinated to see how they all came together at the end. The book is left open-ended and I am convinced there is an unfinished story surrounding her daughter; for me something doesn't feel right about her current situation. I am intrigued to see where Sandra Ireland will take the next book in the Sutherland series and hope we hear much more from her father and perhaps Hannah's narrative too. Either way I will definitely be purchasing book two as I feel very much invested in the characters and enjoyed Ireland's style of writing.
Many thanks to Polygon books and Love Book Tours Group for my gifted copy of Sight Unseen and the invite to the blog tour.
August 25, 2020
The author’s fascination with the supernatural dictates the quality of the writing. If written by someone less interested, the story could have lost momentum but this book, the first of Sara Sutherland novels, is breathtakingly clever, articulate, informative and edgy. An affinity with a fictional witch, Alie Gowdie, guides the reader through the very factual injustices faced by several hundred women in Scotland in the 17th century, and shines a light on true horror. Loved this - marvelled at this - and greatly looking forward to the next Sutherland novel.
August 14, 2020
Thank you to the author, publisher and Love Books Tours for the copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
Having grown up on an island steeped in history, folklore and witchcraft, I love the promise of a good book where history has a habit of repeating itself, especially if there are myths involved. Sight Unseen did not disappoint. I loved the characters Sandra Ireland created, especially Sarah, whose different roles and responsibilities creep into one another as the story unfolds.
Having Sarah reveal the history of Alie Goudie through her history walking tours of the town made it feel as if I was part of the group following her, shivering as the past was brought to life.
As Sarah uncovers more about the town's troubled history with the unexpected help of Grant, her cheeky ex-employee, the pair realise that not everything is as it seems both in the past and right under their noses. And as for the final twist - I'll say no more... except I loved this book!
A highly recommended novel for fans of thrillers with a strong female lead, where past meets present.
Having grown up on an island steeped in history, folklore and witchcraft, I love the promise of a good book where history has a habit of repeating itself, especially if there are myths involved. Sight Unseen did not disappoint. I loved the characters Sandra Ireland created, especially Sarah, whose different roles and responsibilities creep into one another as the story unfolds.
Having Sarah reveal the history of Alie Goudie through her history walking tours of the town made it feel as if I was part of the group following her, shivering as the past was brought to life.
As Sarah uncovers more about the town's troubled history with the unexpected help of Grant, her cheeky ex-employee, the pair realise that not everything is as it seems both in the past and right under their noses. And as for the final twist - I'll say no more... except I loved this book!
A highly recommended novel for fans of thrillers with a strong female lead, where past meets present.
August 23, 2020
Absolutely captivating from beginning to end. I was drawn in immediately to Sarah's story. I cannot wait for the next book!
September 7, 2020
This is a very enjoyable read dealing with many issues both ancient and modern. I took it on a long weekend and had it read by early on the second day. There are enough twists and turns to keep avid thriller fans happy.
December 6, 2022
Meet Sarah, a manager at a supermarket, but a real historian at heart. She was born before her time, head stuck in the past, struggling to survive the future times, and with her ageing father to look after, too, there never seems enough time for herself.
But the unravelling threads of her life have only now just begun. Things that seem to have no meaning mean a lot. What could Reverand William Wilkie teach the modern-day Sarah and her interest in the 1604 witch trails??
Brilliant writing once again. I was captivated from the very moment I read this.
But the unravelling threads of her life have only now just begun. Things that seem to have no meaning mean a lot. What could Reverand William Wilkie teach the modern-day Sarah and her interest in the 1604 witch trails??
Brilliant writing once again. I was captivated from the very moment I read this.
July 26, 2020
Review to follow
January 10, 2023
Once upon a time, Sarah Sutherland dreamed of being an archeologist. Then she met a boy, got pregnant and things got a bit sidetracked. So here she is now - divorced (the ex-husband married a real archeologist), taking care of her father (unlike her, he had his only child when he was older so he is now in his 80s), living alone after her daughter took a gap year and went to Asia, working as a manager in the local superstore and leading witches' walks in her free time.
It is a perfect setup - although it is unclear what for. And that is part of the problem of this novel - it weaves too many stories at the same time and most of the characters come up almost two-dimensional in the process. Add to all of the above two separate crime stories (one in the past and one in the present), an old man's hallucinations and a skeleton (well, part of one) and the novel gets a bit too busy.
Alie Gowdie was sentenced to death as a witch in 1648. Sarah lives in her old house and tells her story during her witch's walk. So when the diary of the man who led the prosecution against her suddenly appears, Sarah jumps at the opportunity to learn more about her story (and not just because it will help her make her walks more appealing and thus win more money). In the meantime, the new cleaner in the store, Mai, appears to have her own issues. The stories that emerge both about Mai and about Alie are both modern and ancient - past and present parallel each other (minus the witches) to the point where one starts wondering if humanity ever changes.
And then there is the personal story. Sarah fires Grant from the store for being irresponsible (well, he technically leaves but...) just to find out that not only she is in love with him but that he is now her father's new caregiver. It is almost too sugary (and the whole romance development was a bit too... cute). So here she is, struggling with her budding feelings for a man who is way too young for her while worrying about her child and her father.
And yet, somehow, the end actually ties the whole mess together. The double narration - by Sarah and by her father John helps by providing details the other may not know and by allowing some ambiguity to trickle in without adding an unreliable narrator. One of the other things which I particularly liked in the novel was the way in which the author led us through the discovery of John's Charles Bonnet Syndrome - an ailment I had never heard of - and the realization of how often it is misdiagnosed and why.
The storyline that really seemed off though was the one around Hannah (the daughter). I suspect that it was left the way it was to allow a sequel to the novel (it is advertised as first in a series) but it does match and Sarah's reactions are just off considering all her other reactions in the novel.
The author's note at the end of the novel mentions that neither Alie, nor the town of Kilgour really exist but they are the sum of every woman (or man) who was called a witch in the 16th and 17th centuries in Scotland and the combination of all the small towns on the east coast of Scotland. When one thinks of witches, it is Salem that usually comes to mind but a lot of people died in the old country as well. And despite the issues I have with the novel as a whole, that aspect works - both the story and the uncovering of the "new" story.
Hopefully if there is a second novel, it will be a bit more even and without slipping into the almost comical in places where it just does not work - adding a lot of cliches at the same time did not help much. I did like the historical part of the novel though and the style of writing is not awful (despite everything) so I may look up some of her older novels.
It is a perfect setup - although it is unclear what for. And that is part of the problem of this novel - it weaves too many stories at the same time and most of the characters come up almost two-dimensional in the process. Add to all of the above two separate crime stories (one in the past and one in the present), an old man's hallucinations and a skeleton (well, part of one) and the novel gets a bit too busy.
Alie Gowdie was sentenced to death as a witch in 1648. Sarah lives in her old house and tells her story during her witch's walk. So when the diary of the man who led the prosecution against her suddenly appears, Sarah jumps at the opportunity to learn more about her story (and not just because it will help her make her walks more appealing and thus win more money). In the meantime, the new cleaner in the store, Mai, appears to have her own issues. The stories that emerge both about Mai and about Alie are both modern and ancient - past and present parallel each other (minus the witches) to the point where one starts wondering if humanity ever changes.
And then there is the personal story. Sarah fires Grant from the store for being irresponsible (well, he technically leaves but...) just to find out that not only she is in love with him but that he is now her father's new caregiver. It is almost too sugary (and the whole romance development was a bit too... cute). So here she is, struggling with her budding feelings for a man who is way too young for her while worrying about her child and her father.
And yet, somehow, the end actually ties the whole mess together. The double narration - by Sarah and by her father John helps by providing details the other may not know and by allowing some ambiguity to trickle in without adding an unreliable narrator. One of the other things which I particularly liked in the novel was the way in which the author led us through the discovery of John's Charles Bonnet Syndrome - an ailment I had never heard of - and the realization of how often it is misdiagnosed and why.
The storyline that really seemed off though was the one around Hannah (the daughter). I suspect that it was left the way it was to allow a sequel to the novel (it is advertised as first in a series) but it does match and Sarah's reactions are just off considering all her other reactions in the novel.
The author's note at the end of the novel mentions that neither Alie, nor the town of Kilgour really exist but they are the sum of every woman (or man) who was called a witch in the 16th and 17th centuries in Scotland and the combination of all the small towns on the east coast of Scotland. When one thinks of witches, it is Salem that usually comes to mind but a lot of people died in the old country as well. And despite the issues I have with the novel as a whole, that aspect works - both the story and the uncovering of the "new" story.
Hopefully if there is a second novel, it will be a bit more even and without slipping into the almost comical in places where it just does not work - adding a lot of cliches at the same time did not help much. I did like the historical part of the novel though and the style of writing is not awful (despite everything) so I may look up some of her older novels.
July 30, 2022
A really interesting 'factional' read, with lots of real, historical facts woven into a modern-day story, bridging the gap from 17th-Century witchcraft to modern-day slavery.
It was so easy to imagine/visualise the characters and setting, and to become immersed in the story, that I read this in three sittings. Given that I've hardly touched a book since Lockdown 1, this was a great re-introduction to proper reading and it was a blessing to do so with such an enjoyable book. Thanks again Sarah/Sandra for getting me back in the habit!
It was so easy to imagine/visualise the characters and setting, and to become immersed in the story, that I read this in three sittings. Given that I've hardly touched a book since Lockdown 1, this was a great re-introduction to proper reading and it was a blessing to do so with such an enjoyable book. Thanks again Sarah/Sandra for getting me back in the habit!
June 7, 2022
Fantastic start, but I found the story a bit predictable and in the end felt let down that one story line was left hanging as a hook for a follow on.
June 11, 2021
Sight Unseen is tagged as the first in a series featuring Sarah Sutherland, supermarket manager, storyteller and amateur historian. We open with Sarah dealing - or trying to deal - with warehouse worker Grant Tranter. There's also an introduction to her father, John, who is in his 90s and starting to struggle with losing his sight, and possibly more, as he sees thin, pale figures in his home, silent and ghostly. He hasn't told her about them, but he is having other strange experiences that she does know about and worry about. Finally we see Sarah at home, which is an ancient weaver's cottage much-photographed by curious tourists. She's more than happy to talk to them about one of its former occupants in particular, Alisoune (Alie) Gowdie, married to Robert Webster in 1648 according to the cottage's carved lintel - and burned as a witch.
This is the cornerstone of her second job, where she swaps the sensible suit for a dramatic dress and black cloak and steps out for Mrs Sutherland's Magical Witch Walks in the small Scottish town of Kilgour. Alie Gowdie features heavily, with various points of the town visited as Sarah unrolls the tale. In this section you feel both the depth of research and Ireland's gift for bringing the story to the fore, wearing that research lightly.
Sarah was an archaeology student, though she never finished her degree, and remains fascinated by - in some ways obsessed by - the past. Her friend Charlotte works at the town's museum, and shares a new donation: a box of papers found in an attic, including the diaries of Rev William Wilkie, minister in 1648, the town's worst period for witch trials: "We will not suffer a witch to live."
Meanwhile, Sarah contends with a new cleaner at the supermarket who is both marvellously industrious and worryingly introverted - and then having arranged for a carer to visit her father regularly, it turns out the agency has sent none other than new employee Grant. So much for getting rid of him.
I'm not entirely convinced by the speed of Sarah's thawing towards Grant, but it sparks an uptick in the pace as they explore Lumsdain House, originally set up by Rev Wilkie as a paupers' hospital, and find disturbing carvings in a door frame - an attempt at keeping a witch out? Or something - or someone - else?
The answers are found to John's ghosts - though the novel doesn't entirely go where you think it will. We also find out about the little girl, and the secret the supermarket cleaner is keeping, which is sympathetically handled. Meanwhile, the ending to Rev Wilkie's story is a Gothic delight of a scene which made me laugh out loud.
Sight Unseen is on the cosier side of crime fiction, with the deaths on its pages being centuries past. But the modern crimes perpetrated are serious ones, and Sarah's empathy towards both the ancient and modern victims ties the threads together well. She seems at the start of the novel to be an unlikely protagonist, but she turns out to be the perfect character to tell this tale. And Ireland's touch of the Gothic, and the genuinely chilling moments she creates, are both ingenious and addictive.
This is the cornerstone of her second job, where she swaps the sensible suit for a dramatic dress and black cloak and steps out for Mrs Sutherland's Magical Witch Walks in the small Scottish town of Kilgour. Alie Gowdie features heavily, with various points of the town visited as Sarah unrolls the tale. In this section you feel both the depth of research and Ireland's gift for bringing the story to the fore, wearing that research lightly.
Sarah was an archaeology student, though she never finished her degree, and remains fascinated by - in some ways obsessed by - the past. Her friend Charlotte works at the town's museum, and shares a new donation: a box of papers found in an attic, including the diaries of Rev William Wilkie, minister in 1648, the town's worst period for witch trials: "We will not suffer a witch to live."
Meanwhile, Sarah contends with a new cleaner at the supermarket who is both marvellously industrious and worryingly introverted - and then having arranged for a carer to visit her father regularly, it turns out the agency has sent none other than new employee Grant. So much for getting rid of him.
I'm not entirely convinced by the speed of Sarah's thawing towards Grant, but it sparks an uptick in the pace as they explore Lumsdain House, originally set up by Rev Wilkie as a paupers' hospital, and find disturbing carvings in a door frame - an attempt at keeping a witch out? Or something - or someone - else?
The answers are found to John's ghosts - though the novel doesn't entirely go where you think it will. We also find out about the little girl, and the secret the supermarket cleaner is keeping, which is sympathetically handled. Meanwhile, the ending to Rev Wilkie's story is a Gothic delight of a scene which made me laugh out loud.
Sight Unseen is on the cosier side of crime fiction, with the deaths on its pages being centuries past. But the modern crimes perpetrated are serious ones, and Sarah's empathy towards both the ancient and modern victims ties the threads together well. She seems at the start of the novel to be an unlikely protagonist, but she turns out to be the perfect character to tell this tale. And Ireland's touch of the Gothic, and the genuinely chilling moments she creates, are both ingenious and addictive.
January 7, 2024
Struggling with the demands of her work as a shop manager, part time storyteller, and witch-tour guide, Sarah Sutherland must also deal with looking after her elderly father. Living in a house once occupied by Alie Gowdie – a woman executed as a witch during the time of the English Civil War – Sarah is able to add a touch of realism to her stories as she leads groups of ghost-lovers around the town. While studying old manuscripts, Sarah uncovers a mystery surrounding Alie and her accuser. Meanwhile, Sarah’s father sees people in his house. Is it his imagination, the onset of dementia, or are people really walking into his house and stealing his possessions?
Set in the fictional town of Kilgour in Scotland, this is the third book I’ve read by this author. To begin with, I found the book difficult to get into due to the changing points of view (from first person to third person). I know several authors who use this technique, and it never makes any sense to me. However, knowing Ms Ireland to be a highly talented teller of tales (and pushing aside my petty irritations), I persevered. As the book progresses, we are presented with stories within stories – folklore, history and local legends combine to create an atmosphere of mystery as the heroine digs into the past. But could the past be repeating itself in the present? As a carer begins to work with Sarah’s father, he realises that the old man’s imagination may not be the only factor at work. As always with this author’s writing, the story creeps up on you, building tension and mystery as her characters search for the truth.
An engaging and highly entertaining story that will thrill anyone who loves folklore, legends, and spooky stories.
Set in the fictional town of Kilgour in Scotland, this is the third book I’ve read by this author. To begin with, I found the book difficult to get into due to the changing points of view (from first person to third person). I know several authors who use this technique, and it never makes any sense to me. However, knowing Ms Ireland to be a highly talented teller of tales (and pushing aside my petty irritations), I persevered. As the book progresses, we are presented with stories within stories – folklore, history and local legends combine to create an atmosphere of mystery as the heroine digs into the past. But could the past be repeating itself in the present? As a carer begins to work with Sarah’s father, he realises that the old man’s imagination may not be the only factor at work. As always with this author’s writing, the story creeps up on you, building tension and mystery as her characters search for the truth.
An engaging and highly entertaining story that will thrill anyone who loves folklore, legends, and spooky stories.
January 25, 2021
GRIPPING THRILLER WITH WITCHY TALE.
Sight Unseen blends dark secrets from the past and present in a gripping mystery set in the small town of Kilgour in Scotland.
This is Sarah's story, a woman who's struggling to cope as she juggles her life as a supermarket manager and carer for her elderly father, while missing her daughter who has just left home to travel afar. To the outside world Sarah appears conventional but she is far from it. Obsessed with history, and in particular the story of Alie Gowdie persecuted for witchcraft in the 17th century.
Ireland weaves the contemporary and historical story flawlessly and I was hooked from the first page. What was the truth behind the persecution of Alie Gowdie? Is Sarah's father's house haunted?
I absolutely loved Sarah, such an authentic character as she hangs onto the thread of hope in her stifling provincial life. John, her father, is also incredibly engaging, and far from a fragile victim as events unfold. Ireland draws strong parallels between injustices of the past and present.
There are points in the novel when I was genuinely scared and others when I laughed out loud. Ireland has the rare skill of writing about the deep darkness capable in humanity, while also drawing out lightness and humour.
The history from the past shines through authentically as in the process of uncovering a centuries' old crime, Sarah discovers a contemporary one.
I highly recommend Sight Unseen as a perfect read for all those who love a well-written, character-rich thriller blending past and present.
Sight Unseen blends dark secrets from the past and present in a gripping mystery set in the small town of Kilgour in Scotland.
This is Sarah's story, a woman who's struggling to cope as she juggles her life as a supermarket manager and carer for her elderly father, while missing her daughter who has just left home to travel afar. To the outside world Sarah appears conventional but she is far from it. Obsessed with history, and in particular the story of Alie Gowdie persecuted for witchcraft in the 17th century.
Ireland weaves the contemporary and historical story flawlessly and I was hooked from the first page. What was the truth behind the persecution of Alie Gowdie? Is Sarah's father's house haunted?
I absolutely loved Sarah, such an authentic character as she hangs onto the thread of hope in her stifling provincial life. John, her father, is also incredibly engaging, and far from a fragile victim as events unfold. Ireland draws strong parallels between injustices of the past and present.
There are points in the novel when I was genuinely scared and others when I laughed out loud. Ireland has the rare skill of writing about the deep darkness capable in humanity, while also drawing out lightness and humour.
The history from the past shines through authentically as in the process of uncovering a centuries' old crime, Sarah discovers a contemporary one.
I highly recommend Sight Unseen as a perfect read for all those who love a well-written, character-rich thriller blending past and present.
August 7, 2021
Sarah, a supermarket manager has always had an interest in the past and the home she lives in was actually inhabited in 1648 by Alie Gowdie, who was killed, presumed a witch.
Sarah juggles her time between her job and looking after her elderly father but always makes time for her interest or obsession with all things relating to the witch trials, sorcery and spells.
This novel focuses on her research into the period around Alie Gowdie's death and exposes secrets long uncovered.
I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it.
Sarah juggles her time between her job and looking after her elderly father but always makes time for her interest or obsession with all things relating to the witch trials, sorcery and spells.
This novel focuses on her research into the period around Alie Gowdie's death and exposes secrets long uncovered.
I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it.
October 17, 2020
I liked Sarah. Sandra is good at writing real characters in real places. Complex, flawed, people are always more interesting than superheroes and Sarah certainly has her flaws. As the story progresses her perspective changes more than her circumstances; the shift changes everything, as is so often the case with life.
Full of quirky characters and a plot that has been woven with skill, this is an engaging and compelling read.
Full of quirky characters and a plot that has been woven with skill, this is an engaging and compelling read.
November 15, 2020
I found this a huge disappointment. The three previous Sandra Ireland novels I've read have had quirky, interesting, new-minted characters, offering something out of the ordinary. This - and I'm wondering if it is YA or something? - was bland, domestic with stereotypical characters totally without spice or interest and, for me, as thrilling as a damp dishrag.
August 28, 2024
This book was okay but it was a bit dull, The atmosphere and world building was fine but needed to be flash out more. The writing was fine and the paced of plot was bit slow also the cover of the book was okay. I found the characters to be bit dull and I feel at they needed to flash out and the ending of the book was fine.
January 31, 2024
This was my chosen Summer Read 23/24 from my local Public Library. It was OK, probably only just meeting my 3 star threshold.
Being first in a series it is obvious that one storyline is left hanging, and for once I am not sure if I can be bothered pursuing it.
Being first in a series it is obvious that one storyline is left hanging, and for once I am not sure if I can be bothered pursuing it.
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