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The Hiding Place
Nell Galilee, her husband and twelve year old step-daughter Maude rent a holiday cottage by the sea, needing time and space away from home after Maude became involved in some troubling events. Nell grew up in this small, wind-blown town and has mixed feelings about returning, and it isn't long before she is recognised by a neighbour, seemingly desperate to befriend her. The cottage too has been empty for some time, and from the start Nell feels uncomfortable there. Something isn't quite right about this place . . .
Maude, furious about being brought here against her will and her father's attention falling so often elsewhere, soon finds herself beguiled by the house's strange atmosphere. There are peculiar marks in the roof beams above her bedroom, and in another room, a hiding place, concealing a strange, unnerving object.
As the house gradually reveals its secrets, Nell becomes increasingly uneasy - and Maude spellbound. But these women - and the women that surround them - are harbouring their own secrets too, and soon events will come to a terrible head . . .
A brilliant, unsettling and chilling novel of mothers and daughters, truth and deception and the lengths people will go to, to obtain power over their own lives, The Hiding Place is the second chilling novel from the acclaimed author of The Wayward Girls.
Maude, furious about being brought here against her will and her father's attention falling so often elsewhere, soon finds herself beguiled by the house's strange atmosphere. There are peculiar marks in the roof beams above her bedroom, and in another room, a hiding place, concealing a strange, unnerving object.
As the house gradually reveals its secrets, Nell becomes increasingly uneasy - and Maude spellbound. But these women - and the women that surround them - are harbouring their own secrets too, and soon events will come to a terrible head . . .
A brilliant, unsettling and chilling novel of mothers and daughters, truth and deception and the lengths people will go to, to obtain power over their own lives, The Hiding Place is the second chilling novel from the acclaimed author of The Wayward Girls.
400 pages, Hardcover
Published October 14, 2021
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932 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
January 8, 2022
Between 3.5 and 4 stars ⭐️ I feel a little bit uncertain about my feelings for this book, but I am going to do my best to put them into words.
The Hiding Place follows Nell who has to return to her hometown with her Husband and stepdaughter. However, the house they are staying in seems strange, with unusual markings and objects dotted around. Are they safe?
I am going to start with what I loved. I loved the inspection of different types of motherhood in this novel. But as a warning, this book may be triggering for anyone struggling with fertility. I’ve also been saying for a while that I wanted a book that actually scared me, and this did exactly that. I made a mistake of reading it in the dead of night (I do not recommend this!). I found the story and the real life aspects it was based on really interesting, I didn’t want to put the book down…even when my heart was racing!
However, I really struggled with how this book was written. I personally loved the plot (although it won’t be for everyone) but the writing felt disjointed and was extremely hard to follow. Perspectives would change within the same chapter without any clear indication that this was happening or whose perspective it had changed to. I had to keep going back over what I had read to try and follow who it was. I love books with multiple points of view, but they MUST give some indication of whose perspective is being used for me to enjoy them. The way this was written just made the book harder to read than it needed to be. That being said, I am looking forward to delving into more of this authors work because I did enjoy this novel overall.
I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys a horror novel, it would be a great October read! However, please be aware that the writing style may not suit everyone. I want to thank Netgalley, Bonnier Books UK, Zaffre Books and Amanda Mason for allowing me to read this book and give my personal thoughts.
The Hiding Place follows Nell who has to return to her hometown with her Husband and stepdaughter. However, the house they are staying in seems strange, with unusual markings and objects dotted around. Are they safe?
I am going to start with what I loved. I loved the inspection of different types of motherhood in this novel. But as a warning, this book may be triggering for anyone struggling with fertility. I’ve also been saying for a while that I wanted a book that actually scared me, and this did exactly that. I made a mistake of reading it in the dead of night (I do not recommend this!). I found the story and the real life aspects it was based on really interesting, I didn’t want to put the book down…even when my heart was racing!
However, I really struggled with how this book was written. I personally loved the plot (although it won’t be for everyone) but the writing felt disjointed and was extremely hard to follow. Perspectives would change within the same chapter without any clear indication that this was happening or whose perspective it had changed to. I had to keep going back over what I had read to try and follow who it was. I love books with multiple points of view, but they MUST give some indication of whose perspective is being used for me to enjoy them. The way this was written just made the book harder to read than it needed to be. That being said, I am looking forward to delving into more of this authors work because I did enjoy this novel overall.
I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys a horror novel, it would be a great October read! However, please be aware that the writing style may not suit everyone. I want to thank Netgalley, Bonnier Books UK, Zaffre Books and Amanda Mason for allowing me to read this book and give my personal thoughts.
November 19, 2024
What a waste of me morning 🥱 (that boring I completely forgot to come on here and rate it when I finished 🤣😭)
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October 21, 2022Nell, Chris & 12 year old step daughter Maude go on a holiday to Elder House it’s dark floors in kitchen are damp & smells of rotten food makes the house unbearable , Nell doesn’t want to stay.
Maude finds interesting carvings in the house that interest her mesmerised to say the least.
I just couldn’t get into this one I didn’t like The Wayward Girls & this is the second I DNF think I have done my dash with this author no rating.
Maude finds interesting carvings in the house that interest her mesmerised to say the least.
I just couldn’t get into this one I didn’t like The Wayward Girls & this is the second I DNF think I have done my dash with this author no rating.
October 10, 2021
Nell Galilee has reluctantly returned to her insular home town for a family party after nearly seven years away following the death of her father. Husband, Chris, was behind the decision to combine attending the party with taking his twelve-year-old daughter, Maude, away for a holiday in the wake of problems at school. Recently Nell and Maude’s relationship has disintegrated and Maude is craving her father’s attention after her mother’s remarriage and the recent birth of a step-brother. A last minute booking by Chris sees the trio staying at Elder House, an imposing house overlooking the surrounding houses of Bishops Yard and backed up against a cliff. Although the house has a wealth of history it has none of the inviting features of a holiday let and Nell feels uncomfortable from the start with a smell of damp, decaying earth filling her senses. Chris is distracted by a problem at the gallery the couple own and Nell, by her desperate need to know if she has conceived, whilst Maude is acting like a spoilt brat. It doesn’t take long for neighbour Carolyn Wilson, a supposed old school friend that Nell struggles to remember, to impose and start pestering Nell about the shadowing patch of land behind the house that she calls the drying ground. Clearly keen to befriend Nell she seems to have a fixation about Elder House and an evident dislike towards the far less abrasive Gina Verrill, owner of Rowan Cottage, also situated within Bishops Yard.
Maude, meanwhile, is taken with a series of carvings in the beams of her attic room and rather entranced by the house, however it is the discovery of a void in the wall and a hiding place that gives up a curious object which concerns the entire family. When Chris returns home to see to work issues, relations between step-daughter and step-mother turn ever more fractious with Maude reading up on the history of Elder House and local folklore. The relationship between Nell and Maude, who is constantly spoiling for a fight with her step-mother, simmers with tension but as the story unfolds there are several other troubled mother and daughter relationships that prove equally fascinating. For me this was the most compelling aspect of the novel which I found a disjointed read with frequent and abrupt changes of perspective that made it hard to gain any traction as to what was going on. I did not find the strange noises or things being moved around the house unsettling but the more of these incidents I read about without the story actually going anywhere meaningful, the more frustrated I got! A further point of confusion was that I couldn’t envisage the set-up of Bishops Yard or where Gina or Carolyn’s cottages and the drying ground were situated in relation to Elder House. Overall a slow-moving story with the entire mystery of Elder House rattled through at breakneck speed in a denouement that leaves no opportunity for reflection.
Maude, meanwhile, is taken with a series of carvings in the beams of her attic room and rather entranced by the house, however it is the discovery of a void in the wall and a hiding place that gives up a curious object which concerns the entire family. When Chris returns home to see to work issues, relations between step-daughter and step-mother turn ever more fractious with Maude reading up on the history of Elder House and local folklore. The relationship between Nell and Maude, who is constantly spoiling for a fight with her step-mother, simmers with tension but as the story unfolds there are several other troubled mother and daughter relationships that prove equally fascinating. For me this was the most compelling aspect of the novel which I found a disjointed read with frequent and abrupt changes of perspective that made it hard to gain any traction as to what was going on. I did not find the strange noises or things being moved around the house unsettling but the more of these incidents I read about without the story actually going anywhere meaningful, the more frustrated I got! A further point of confusion was that I couldn’t envisage the set-up of Bishops Yard or where Gina or Carolyn’s cottages and the drying ground were situated in relation to Elder House. Overall a slow-moving story with the entire mystery of Elder House rattled through at breakneck speed in a denouement that leaves no opportunity for reflection.
March 31, 2022
When Nell, her husband Chris, and 12 year old step daughter Maude return to Nell’s sleepy seaside home town, for a family reunion party, they rent out the magnificent and historic Elder Cottage. Nestled close to the cliffs it has a wealth of history and has been beautifully renovated. But something feels not quite right there…
As the family attempt to settle in, some of Nell’s old friends and acquaintances appear. Nell can barely remember them and feels ill at ease socialising with them. When her errant husband Chris has to rush back to work he leaves Nell and Maude left behind, in this mysterious, old house. With odd noises, strange marks in the beams and a secret hiding place revealing an eerie yet intriguing object, it soon becomes apparent that there is much more going on in this house than anyone could have imagined.
This book was filled with darkness, foreboding and malevolence. Wonderfully witchy and spooky, it’s absolutely perfect for October. It sent chills down my spine and made me look over my shoulder on a few occasions. Brrrrr! 🎃
As the family attempt to settle in, some of Nell’s old friends and acquaintances appear. Nell can barely remember them and feels ill at ease socialising with them. When her errant husband Chris has to rush back to work he leaves Nell and Maude left behind, in this mysterious, old house. With odd noises, strange marks in the beams and a secret hiding place revealing an eerie yet intriguing object, it soon becomes apparent that there is much more going on in this house than anyone could have imagined.
This book was filled with darkness, foreboding and malevolence. Wonderfully witchy and spooky, it’s absolutely perfect for October. It sent chills down my spine and made me look over my shoulder on a few occasions. Brrrrr! 🎃
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December 7, 2022I'm not going to rate this because the polite version of my opinion is that it was a complete mess. I really hate this growing trend of 'gothic thrillers' which aren't thrilling or gothic and appear to be written by people who don't understand the genre. I'm glad I borrowed this from the library rather than buying it as I originally intended. Ok, a few thoughts:
- I don't need characters to be likeable but they do need to be compelling. Until the last fifth of the book, pretty much any of the characters could have been substituted by any of the others. Nell was easily the worst. A sort of blank canvass whose entire personality was a combination of selfishness, whininess and depression as things happened around her and she did nothing. Worse, this lack of agency did not seem to be a deliberate choice but something that directionlessly happened.
- this is a commentary on different types of mother-child relationships and perhaps parenthood in general. Every mother in this book (bar one who was probably neutral) was utterly shit. I am fully behind mothers being their own people and having flaws, making mistakes and having their own lives. I want to see this represented in fiction; it bugs the hell out of me when female characters get relegated to the sidelines just because they've had a baby. That said, there was literally no positive representation of a mother-child relationship. And I don't mean a saccharine 'mother of the year aren't women all sacred goddesses' bollocks type representation, I mean a strained, ordinary relationship with a parent doing the best she could. The less said about the fathers the better.
- the dialogue was appalling. It didn't sound like speech and it was full of heavy exposition. To counteract this and mimic speech patterns, the author choose to use em dashes to show pauses in speaking rhythm. It didn't work and was absolutely infuriating to read. Try the judicious use of the ellipsis and maybe actually listen to how people speak.
- The plot doesn't get going until 50 pages from the end. 90% of the previous material is concerned with mysterious concealment of information for no other purpose than to be mysterious. Which all falls apart during the big (James Bond villain style) reveal. Red herrings are supposed to serve a purpose. Sub plots are supposed to support the main plot. And yes details can be great for setting but labouring a detail when you clearly don't have much of an interest in creating that setting comes across as ham fisted at best. The pace plods and never really delivers when it finally speeds up.
The most annoying thing is that I should by rights be exactly in the target audience for this one, and yet it appears to be someone who wants to use 'gothic' and 'thriller' as marketing labels without actually delivering on the promise. The supernatural has its own logic. You don't have to explain everything by the end of the book but your audience should at least feel that you know what you're talking about.
It was an interesting concept that could have been a good ghost story with an atmospheric setting. It did not work for me. Do not recommend.
- I don't need characters to be likeable but they do need to be compelling. Until the last fifth of the book, pretty much any of the characters could have been substituted by any of the others. Nell was easily the worst. A sort of blank canvass whose entire personality was a combination of selfishness, whininess and depression as things happened around her and she did nothing. Worse, this lack of agency did not seem to be a deliberate choice but something that directionlessly happened.
- this is a commentary on different types of mother-child relationships and perhaps parenthood in general. Every mother in this book (bar one who was probably neutral) was utterly shit. I am fully behind mothers being their own people and having flaws, making mistakes and having their own lives. I want to see this represented in fiction; it bugs the hell out of me when female characters get relegated to the sidelines just because they've had a baby. That said, there was literally no positive representation of a mother-child relationship. And I don't mean a saccharine 'mother of the year aren't women all sacred goddesses' bollocks type representation, I mean a strained, ordinary relationship with a parent doing the best she could. The less said about the fathers the better.
- the dialogue was appalling. It didn't sound like speech and it was full of heavy exposition. To counteract this and mimic speech patterns, the author choose to use em dashes to show pauses in speaking rhythm. It didn't work and was absolutely infuriating to read. Try the judicious use of the ellipsis and maybe actually listen to how people speak.
- The plot doesn't get going until 50 pages from the end. 90% of the previous material is concerned with mysterious concealment of information for no other purpose than to be mysterious. Which all falls apart during the big (James Bond villain style) reveal. Red herrings are supposed to serve a purpose. Sub plots are supposed to support the main plot. And yes details can be great for setting but labouring a detail when you clearly don't have much of an interest in creating that setting comes across as ham fisted at best. The pace plods and never really delivers when it finally speeds up.
The most annoying thing is that I should by rights be exactly in the target audience for this one, and yet it appears to be someone who wants to use 'gothic' and 'thriller' as marketing labels without actually delivering on the promise. The supernatural has its own logic. You don't have to explain everything by the end of the book but your audience should at least feel that you know what you're talking about.
It was an interesting concept that could have been a good ghost story with an atmospheric setting. It did not work for me. Do not recommend.
October 25, 2021
I really hate giving negative reviews of books but sadly this one missed the mark for me. The concept is a good one - woman returns to hometown after being away for a while, she stays in a spooky house and the neighbours are odd - but it just didn’t go anywhere. I thought it was because I was listening to the audio version and I’d missed something but I went back and read the physical book to check and the ending is so confused. In the last few chapters each paragraph comes from a different character’s point of view which makes it difficult to follow; short sharp chapters from each of them would’ve been better. And people kept changing location all the time, flitting from one place and conversation to another with little explanation. On top of that it’s the slowest slow burn I think I’ve ever read, I kept waiting for something to happen but apart from hearing footsteps nothing ever really did, and none of the characters are likeable. Nell is awful, Chris is awful, Maude is awful and Carolyn is awful. I felt sympathy for Evie and Kim but they weren’t developed enough for me to actually like them and everything going on was too confusing to properly understand either of them.
I would never normally write a negative review but I’m genuinely so perplexed by this book that I thought I would in the hope that someone else will come along and convince me that it’s actually great. I’m still so unsure about what actually happened, it was all so odd and confusing. I’m not sure whether the house was haunted or whether it was just a mad neighbour? I’ve no idea what went on with the shoe, and what happened with Maude and Carolyn/Nell, or what Evie was doing at the end outside. No clue, even after re-reading. I thought the fact that Nell is pretty much estranged from her family was going to be relevant but it wasn’t, I thought the husband going away was going to be important but it wasn’t? Not sure whether he was cheating, not sure what Maude bullying someone had to do with anything, not sure whether Evie lost her place in school for stealing or being gay? Not sure whether Carolyn had a hand in Nell losing her baby somehow during the dinner or if she made Maude cut her foot? Not sure how Maude hurt her hand or whether that was relevant? Not sure whether there was a ghost and if there was who it was, the doctor or the son or someone else? Not sure how Carolyn kept affecting the lights and how she managed to cause the death of Kim’s dad with the fuse box? Not sure what happened between Nell and Carolyn when they were younger really apart from Nell being a bit mean somehow? Not sure why Evie didn’t know they’d lived in the house before? Not sure what the significance of the drying ground was or whether the old monastery’s location was important. Not sure whether any of it matters? I’m just confused and unsure what it was all for really.
I feel like I must’ve missed something as I’ve seen a fair few positive reviews on the blog tour and usually books like this are exactly my type of thing. But I just spent the whole time reading/listening and re-reading trying to make it all come together into something worthwhile, and it just didn’t work for me. I really wish I’d read it as part of a readalong or book club as I’d have loved a back on forth on this for some potential clarity. If you’ve read it and loved it please give me a shout as I’d love to discuss it with others - I’m always open to different interpretations!
I would never normally write a negative review but I’m genuinely so perplexed by this book that I thought I would in the hope that someone else will come along and convince me that it’s actually great. I’m still so unsure about what actually happened, it was all so odd and confusing. I’m not sure whether the house was haunted or whether it was just a mad neighbour? I’ve no idea what went on with the shoe, and what happened with Maude and Carolyn/Nell, or what Evie was doing at the end outside. No clue, even after re-reading. I thought the fact that Nell is pretty much estranged from her family was going to be relevant but it wasn’t, I thought the husband going away was going to be important but it wasn’t? Not sure whether he was cheating, not sure what Maude bullying someone had to do with anything, not sure whether Evie lost her place in school for stealing or being gay? Not sure whether Carolyn had a hand in Nell losing her baby somehow during the dinner or if she made Maude cut her foot? Not sure how Maude hurt her hand or whether that was relevant? Not sure whether there was a ghost and if there was who it was, the doctor or the son or someone else? Not sure how Carolyn kept affecting the lights and how she managed to cause the death of Kim’s dad with the fuse box? Not sure what happened between Nell and Carolyn when they were younger really apart from Nell being a bit mean somehow? Not sure why Evie didn’t know they’d lived in the house before? Not sure what the significance of the drying ground was or whether the old monastery’s location was important. Not sure whether any of it matters? I’m just confused and unsure what it was all for really.
I feel like I must’ve missed something as I’ve seen a fair few positive reviews on the blog tour and usually books like this are exactly my type of thing. But I just spent the whole time reading/listening and re-reading trying to make it all come together into something worthwhile, and it just didn’t work for me. I really wish I’d read it as part of a readalong or book club as I’d have loved a back on forth on this for some potential clarity. If you’ve read it and loved it please give me a shout as I’d love to discuss it with others - I’m always open to different interpretations!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2024
A real slow burn in the gothic horror vain. Set in Whitby, the former hometown of Nell who's returned with husband Chris and his daughter Maude in a holiday home called Elder House.
The house clearly has a history, there's a few characters who feel uncomfortable with the house.
The chilling creepier moments didn't really happen until the end, but the backstory resolves itself well.
A little too slow, I could have done with a few more scares throughout.
The house clearly has a history, there's a few characters who feel uncomfortable with the house.
The chilling creepier moments didn't really happen until the end, but the backstory resolves itself well.
A little too slow, I could have done with a few more scares throughout.
October 18, 2021
It seemed like the perfect book for me when I was staying in Scarborough for a short break, and I went to Whitby for the day. I downloaded the book and strolled through the streets and Abbey listening to this strange story.
It had been seven years since Nell’s father had passed away, which was the last time she had been back to Whitby. She had received an invitation from a relative inviting the family to a forthcoming family reunion party. As soon as they arrived at the cottage, it felt like it was a big mistake. The place was big enough to house fourteen guests, and there was only Nell, her husband Chris and his daughter Maude, who at twelve was having a tough time adjusting to her mum’s partner and the addition of a baby. She wasn’t going to make the holiday easy for anyone.
The holiday home sat among other properties high on a hill overlooking Whitby and felt daunting rather than having character. There was a strange smell to the place too. When one of the neighbours bobs in, she tells Nell that they used to go to school together, but Nell has difficulty remembering the woman. Nell was now a designer of sought after jewellery. Then Chris has to leave to deal with something in the gallery they own. Things go downhill rapidly after Nell and Maude find a hiding place in the cottage with a disturbing and unusual object.
Oh my, this seemed anything but a relaxing getaway for the family. The author adds subtle changes that are happening, and these steadily increase. It seems that everyone has their secrets as well as house keeping them. The story snowballs and grows with secrets of the past, desperation and folklore. Witchy happenings and beliefs, superstitions and desire. A great October read.
I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book, which I have reviewed honestly.
It had been seven years since Nell’s father had passed away, which was the last time she had been back to Whitby. She had received an invitation from a relative inviting the family to a forthcoming family reunion party. As soon as they arrived at the cottage, it felt like it was a big mistake. The place was big enough to house fourteen guests, and there was only Nell, her husband Chris and his daughter Maude, who at twelve was having a tough time adjusting to her mum’s partner and the addition of a baby. She wasn’t going to make the holiday easy for anyone.
The holiday home sat among other properties high on a hill overlooking Whitby and felt daunting rather than having character. There was a strange smell to the place too. When one of the neighbours bobs in, she tells Nell that they used to go to school together, but Nell has difficulty remembering the woman. Nell was now a designer of sought after jewellery. Then Chris has to leave to deal with something in the gallery they own. Things go downhill rapidly after Nell and Maude find a hiding place in the cottage with a disturbing and unusual object.
Oh my, this seemed anything but a relaxing getaway for the family. The author adds subtle changes that are happening, and these steadily increase. It seems that everyone has their secrets as well as house keeping them. The story snowballs and grows with secrets of the past, desperation and folklore. Witchy happenings and beliefs, superstitions and desire. A great October read.
I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book, which I have reviewed honestly.
December 22, 2022
Genuinely frightened me, which is all I ask of a good ghost story!
October 21, 2021
I'm not usually a seasonal reader but have found myself consuming quite a few ghostly tales this October. Amanda Mason has set The Hiding Place in that ultimate of gothic seaside towns; Whitby, on the North Yorkshire coast. I adore Whitby and have spent some wonderful breaks there, it has that eerie feeling about it with the Abbey overlooking everyone and everything.
Nell Galilee was brought up in Whitby but hasn't been back since her father died around seven years ago. She and her husband Chris are having problems with his twelve-year-old daughter Maude who lives with them. Nell and Maude used to get on well, but lately, and especially since Maude's mother produced a new baby, their relationship has gone downhill. When the invitation to a family party in Whitby arrived, they decided to use the opportunity to have a family break, despite Nell's feelings about her hometown. The family have booked Elder House; an imposing holiday let that sits in Bishops Yard, nestled against the cliff beneath Whitby Abbey.
There's something about Elder House that spooks Nell straight away. There's that smell, the dim lighting, the overpowering cliff edge that blocks out the view. Strange noises and a feeling that they are not alone in the house. Gradually, Nell's unease begins to affect Chris and Maude too and what was supposed to be a healing family break becomes a battle of wills, and a constant stream of mysterious events.
The author cleverly and meticulously ties in local legend and folk lore, giving this contemporary story a historic feel. There's talk of witches and spells and curses, the discovery of old shoes and broken mirrors that leave a chill down the spine.
However, this is not just a ghostly story, it's also one of long held grudges and hidden secrets. There are truths to be discovered about all of the characters and the author has skilfully created a cast who are realistic and lifelike.
Dark and brooding, atmospheric and chilling, The Hiding Place is the perfect autumn read. Close the curtains though and make sure you are not alone in the house when you read this one!
Nell Galilee was brought up in Whitby but hasn't been back since her father died around seven years ago. She and her husband Chris are having problems with his twelve-year-old daughter Maude who lives with them. Nell and Maude used to get on well, but lately, and especially since Maude's mother produced a new baby, their relationship has gone downhill. When the invitation to a family party in Whitby arrived, they decided to use the opportunity to have a family break, despite Nell's feelings about her hometown. The family have booked Elder House; an imposing holiday let that sits in Bishops Yard, nestled against the cliff beneath Whitby Abbey.
There's something about Elder House that spooks Nell straight away. There's that smell, the dim lighting, the overpowering cliff edge that blocks out the view. Strange noises and a feeling that they are not alone in the house. Gradually, Nell's unease begins to affect Chris and Maude too and what was supposed to be a healing family break becomes a battle of wills, and a constant stream of mysterious events.
The author cleverly and meticulously ties in local legend and folk lore, giving this contemporary story a historic feel. There's talk of witches and spells and curses, the discovery of old shoes and broken mirrors that leave a chill down the spine.
However, this is not just a ghostly story, it's also one of long held grudges and hidden secrets. There are truths to be discovered about all of the characters and the author has skilfully created a cast who are realistic and lifelike.
Dark and brooding, atmospheric and chilling, The Hiding Place is the perfect autumn read. Close the curtains though and make sure you are not alone in the house when you read this one!
December 31, 2021
2 1/2 stars. This book was a mess. Nothing really happened until 2/3 in, and it tries very hard to be mysterious but the very mediocre writing fails it. I found it hard to sympathize with the characters and just thought they fought over the smallest, dumbest things. It throws in weird side stories for no reason and build them up to be something big by being mysterious about it, like the break up with Tyler, and Evie being troubled cause she’s gay, or that Maude was a bully. They didn’t add to the story at all, and the conclusion was messy and not clear.
November 30, 2021
Definitely a novel about mothers and daughters, in the broadest sense of the relationship term, but for me, not unsettling or chilling as the blurb promises. Rather it was a very slow telling with a rapid fire ending, told through multiple POVs. Good premise but not for me.
October 10, 2021
Nell, husband Chris and his daughter Maude are renting a seaside holiday cottage to attend an anniversary party for one of Nell's relatives.
But things aren't what they seem, the cottage is strange, odd carvings in the beams, concealed items behind wall panels including a child's shoe.
The house is affecting them all, Maude loathes her stepmother Nell, Chris has left to sort out a work crisis so its just Nell and Maude.
With things intensifying both between them, supernatural happenings increasing and their neighbours acting weird Nell fears for them as something dark is coming closer and closer.
What strange force is at work and what does it want?
A cleverly woven, slow burn ghost / supernatural novel with an historical slant.
Totally my kind of read and perfect for this time of year.
But things aren't what they seem, the cottage is strange, odd carvings in the beams, concealed items behind wall panels including a child's shoe.
The house is affecting them all, Maude loathes her stepmother Nell, Chris has left to sort out a work crisis so its just Nell and Maude.
With things intensifying both between them, supernatural happenings increasing and their neighbours acting weird Nell fears for them as something dark is coming closer and closer.
What strange force is at work and what does it want?
A cleverly woven, slow burn ghost / supernatural novel with an historical slant.
Totally my kind of read and perfect for this time of year.
October 8, 2021
Chris, Nell and twelve year old Maude go to stay at Elder House in a coastal town for a family celebration. The house has lots of history and ghostly goings on.
I've read The Wayward Girls by the author and enjoyed it very much so was looking forward to this book. I liked this book but felt slightly disappointed with it too.
The story follows the family as they settle into the house and what follows afterwards. I love stories set in old houses and Elder house has a lot to offer with it history.
I enjoyed the coastal setting, which is most definitely Whitby. I've been to Whitby and the town is full of history so it's the perfect setting for the story.
As Nell gets to know the neighbours it's obvious things are not quite right and something is been kept hidden. As the story progresses everything all makes sense and comes together.
The house of course had its ghosts with footsteps, hidden objects and possessions going missing. Again for me old houses with ghosts are my thing. Disappointingly though I felt the story wasn't creepy enough. I didn't feel any sense of foreboding and I felt the story needed a little more spook.
There are also plenty references to witches and witchcraft, which again is great and set in Whitby is just perfect. Again I would have liked this angle explored a bit more.
I enjoyed the story but for me it lacked what it was trying to be. I would still recommend this book and author and will read more books by her as they come out.
Thank you to the publisher via Readers First for the book.
I've read The Wayward Girls by the author and enjoyed it very much so was looking forward to this book. I liked this book but felt slightly disappointed with it too.
The story follows the family as they settle into the house and what follows afterwards. I love stories set in old houses and Elder house has a lot to offer with it history.
I enjoyed the coastal setting, which is most definitely Whitby. I've been to Whitby and the town is full of history so it's the perfect setting for the story.
As Nell gets to know the neighbours it's obvious things are not quite right and something is been kept hidden. As the story progresses everything all makes sense and comes together.
The house of course had its ghosts with footsteps, hidden objects and possessions going missing. Again for me old houses with ghosts are my thing. Disappointingly though I felt the story wasn't creepy enough. I didn't feel any sense of foreboding and I felt the story needed a little more spook.
There are also plenty references to witches and witchcraft, which again is great and set in Whitby is just perfect. Again I would have liked this angle explored a bit more.
I enjoyed the story but for me it lacked what it was trying to be. I would still recommend this book and author and will read more books by her as they come out.
Thank you to the publisher via Readers First for the book.
October 1, 2021
The front door rattled gently on its hinges and something - the wind, surely - nudged against it.
Nell Galilee, her loving husband and twelve-year-old stepdaughter Maude decide to get away from it all and rent a holiday cottage by the sea, which is perfect to spend some time and space away from the pressures and stresses of home after Maude became involved in some events which most people would say troubling, but Nell would class and disturbing and worrying, too.Nell grew up in this small, wind-blown seaside town but she’s far from happy to be back after so many years away and shortly after their arrival, she is spotted by a neighbour, who seems perhaps a bit too keen to befriend her.
The cottage too has not seen any inhabitants for quite some time and Nell soon wonders that maybe this place isn’t such a paradise after all…
Meanwhile, Maude is furious with being brought here and with her fathers attention falling elsewhere, soon finds herself absorbed with the house’s strange and unsettling atmosphere: marks carved into rafters, a hiding place concealing something that would unsettle anyone who finds it and as the house reveals more of its secrets, Nell becomes increasingly nervous, yet Maude is spellbound.
Just what secrets is this house hiding, and will it end up consuming Nell and Maude entirely?
Chilling, atmospheric and memorable, this is one book you will be thinking about long after you finish it.
Nell Galilee, her loving husband and twelve-year-old stepdaughter Maude decide to get away from it all and rent a holiday cottage by the sea, which is perfect to spend some time and space away from the pressures and stresses of home after Maude became involved in some events which most people would say troubling, but Nell would class and disturbing and worrying, too.Nell grew up in this small, wind-blown seaside town but she’s far from happy to be back after so many years away and shortly after their arrival, she is spotted by a neighbour, who seems perhaps a bit too keen to befriend her.
The cottage too has not seen any inhabitants for quite some time and Nell soon wonders that maybe this place isn’t such a paradise after all…
Meanwhile, Maude is furious with being brought here and with her fathers attention falling elsewhere, soon finds herself absorbed with the house’s strange and unsettling atmosphere: marks carved into rafters, a hiding place concealing something that would unsettle anyone who finds it and as the house reveals more of its secrets, Nell becomes increasingly nervous, yet Maude is spellbound.
Just what secrets is this house hiding, and will it end up consuming Nell and Maude entirely?
Chilling, atmospheric and memorable, this is one book you will be thinking about long after you finish it.
October 26, 2021
Review
This book was so interesting. I really enjoyed reading it. It's such a good page turner. I kept needing to know more.
I had suspicions as to what was happening early on but they were soon squashed when the real culprit was revealed and I was completely wrong.
I loved the witchy element to it and I really enjoy books that venture into wicca and witchcraft.
I'm looking forward to reading more by Amanda.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book was so interesting. I really enjoyed reading it. It's such a good page turner. I kept needing to know more.
I had suspicions as to what was happening early on but they were soon squashed when the real culprit was revealed and I was completely wrong.
I loved the witchy element to it and I really enjoy books that venture into wicca and witchcraft.
I'm looking forward to reading more by Amanda.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 5, 2021
Set in Whitby (although it's never actually named) this supernatural tale with lots of atmosphere is a slow burn of a read. Nell, her husband and stepdaughter return to Nell's roots for an extended family break, they stay at Elder House, tucked away in Bishop's Yard at the base of a cliff face. Elder House has existed for centuries and has a dark hidden past, the family find that the dark essence of the house seeps into their life, when things start to go wrong Nell wonders if the house is at the heart of their worries. This is a novel about the past, relationships (especially mothers and daughters), our roots and the supernatural, the tension builds slowly rather than jump scares. A great read for those dark evenings.
April 11, 2023
An easy read, although a bit slow. It lost me a few times. The build up at the beginning was good, but that's all it seemed to do, keep building up and the ending was a big meh.
April 10, 2025
I understand why it was in the bargain section at Chapters.
January 19, 2022
The Hiding Place is the second novel by Amanda Mason, author of The Wayward Girls, and like its predecessor it's a creepy, slow-build ghost story full of mystery, ambiguity and psychological horror.
It's set in Whitby, famously atmospheric and beloved of goths, but also a popular seaside holiday destination for families. Nell Galilee has come back to her home town with her husband Chris and Maude, her 12-year-old stepdaughter, to attend an anniversary party for some relatives and enjoy an extended holiday. The property they've booked is Elder House, an ancient building recently renovated and located with along with two other homes in one of Whitby's famous historic yards.
As soon as they arrive, Nell feels uncomfortable - but it is the house that's the problem, or her own anxieties? We know Nell and Chris are trying for a baby without success. We also know that there's some tension between Nell and Maude, and that Maude has mysteriously been taken out of school and isn't allowed to use the internet - why? Nell and Chris run a business together, but although it's been left in the capable hands of a manager, Chris seems to be taking an awful lot of emails and phone calls.
Elder House, tucked under the looming cliffs and the gothic ruins of the abbey, is full of ancient and sinister secrets. Is it really the right place for a family simmering with unspoken secrets of its own?
It's no spoiler when I say that no, it absolutely is not, and soon strange things start to happen. There's a damp, rotten smell that only Nell seems to notice. Things go missing and spark arguments. There are unexplained noises, and the lights flicker. And then a crack appears in the wood panelling, suggesting something might be hidden inside.
For Nell, there's also the baggage that inevitably accompanies a return to a home town after a long period away. Nell has no siblings and her parents are dead, and to an extent she feels like an outsider, yet at the same time the town is full of distant relatives, hazy memories and former classmates. Carolyn, who lives with her husband and teenage daughter Evie in another house in the yard, remembers Nell from school, but Nell can't recall her at all. Carolyn seems to be feuding with Gina, the third occupant and an expert in local history and folklore, while Evie and Gina's granddaughter Kym seem to be forming an unlikely friendship. It's clear that all them are connected to Elder House one way or another, but how?
The main characters in The Hiding Place are women and that difficult mother-daughter relationships are key to the intrigue. The few male characters are peripheral to the plot and, interestingly, not attuned to the house's eerie ambience. The book has a strong female energy to it, with themes of fertility and witchcraft surfacing as the story unfolds.
There's a fantastic sense of place in this book, with Elder House and the yard appearing almost as characters in their own right, steeped in dark history. The yard is a troubled spot, inhabited by troubled people, and the underlying feeling is that the location and the characters are feeding off each other. Nell feels threatened, almost poisoned, by Elder House, while Maude develops a bond with it that feels unhealthy, almost mutually co-dependent.
Amanda Mason has a tremendous gift for evoking an oppressively unsettling atmosphere, and for creating characters who are struggling with guilt, jealousy and loss whose relationships are full of mismatched parts and jagged edges. The Hiding Place is more a gradual descent into fear than a rollercoaster thrill-ride, and it's all the better for it: this is a cleverly plotted, engrossing ghost story that feels very personal to its characters. Excellent stuff.
It's set in Whitby, famously atmospheric and beloved of goths, but also a popular seaside holiday destination for families. Nell Galilee has come back to her home town with her husband Chris and Maude, her 12-year-old stepdaughter, to attend an anniversary party for some relatives and enjoy an extended holiday. The property they've booked is Elder House, an ancient building recently renovated and located with along with two other homes in one of Whitby's famous historic yards.
As soon as they arrive, Nell feels uncomfortable - but it is the house that's the problem, or her own anxieties? We know Nell and Chris are trying for a baby without success. We also know that there's some tension between Nell and Maude, and that Maude has mysteriously been taken out of school and isn't allowed to use the internet - why? Nell and Chris run a business together, but although it's been left in the capable hands of a manager, Chris seems to be taking an awful lot of emails and phone calls.
Elder House, tucked under the looming cliffs and the gothic ruins of the abbey, is full of ancient and sinister secrets. Is it really the right place for a family simmering with unspoken secrets of its own?
It's no spoiler when I say that no, it absolutely is not, and soon strange things start to happen. There's a damp, rotten smell that only Nell seems to notice. Things go missing and spark arguments. There are unexplained noises, and the lights flicker. And then a crack appears in the wood panelling, suggesting something might be hidden inside.
For Nell, there's also the baggage that inevitably accompanies a return to a home town after a long period away. Nell has no siblings and her parents are dead, and to an extent she feels like an outsider, yet at the same time the town is full of distant relatives, hazy memories and former classmates. Carolyn, who lives with her husband and teenage daughter Evie in another house in the yard, remembers Nell from school, but Nell can't recall her at all. Carolyn seems to be feuding with Gina, the third occupant and an expert in local history and folklore, while Evie and Gina's granddaughter Kym seem to be forming an unlikely friendship. It's clear that all them are connected to Elder House one way or another, but how?
The main characters in The Hiding Place are women and that difficult mother-daughter relationships are key to the intrigue. The few male characters are peripheral to the plot and, interestingly, not attuned to the house's eerie ambience. The book has a strong female energy to it, with themes of fertility and witchcraft surfacing as the story unfolds.
There's a fantastic sense of place in this book, with Elder House and the yard appearing almost as characters in their own right, steeped in dark history. The yard is a troubled spot, inhabited by troubled people, and the underlying feeling is that the location and the characters are feeding off each other. Nell feels threatened, almost poisoned, by Elder House, while Maude develops a bond with it that feels unhealthy, almost mutually co-dependent.
Amanda Mason has a tremendous gift for evoking an oppressively unsettling atmosphere, and for creating characters who are struggling with guilt, jealousy and loss whose relationships are full of mismatched parts and jagged edges. The Hiding Place is more a gradual descent into fear than a rollercoaster thrill-ride, and it's all the better for it: this is a cleverly plotted, engrossing ghost story that feels very personal to its characters. Excellent stuff.
October 8, 2021
I read this book at the perfect time, it was raining heavily outside with a fierce wind blowing a gale in my coastal town. I sat in my armchair by the window and picked up this book. Absolutely perfect choice. This books strong suit is the intrigue and atmosphere that is apparent from the first page and doesn't let up till the end.
It has a perfect mix of supernatural and thriller elements which really puts you at the edge of your seat and the unreliable narrators really add to the fact that you as the reader begin to question what is real and whats not.
The writing is chilling at points but still manages to be fast paced but not rushed, something that can definitely happen when the writer is trying to make a profound impact. Each time I had to put this book down I was itching to pick it back up and carry on.
The characters are complex and the small town setting really adds to the vibe of the story so all in all I would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a ghost story to read by the fire as we go into the winter months.
It has a perfect mix of supernatural and thriller elements which really puts you at the edge of your seat and the unreliable narrators really add to the fact that you as the reader begin to question what is real and whats not.
The writing is chilling at points but still manages to be fast paced but not rushed, something that can definitely happen when the writer is trying to make a profound impact. Each time I had to put this book down I was itching to pick it back up and carry on.
The characters are complex and the small town setting really adds to the vibe of the story so all in all I would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a ghost story to read by the fire as we go into the winter months.
October 9, 2021
When Nell goes to her old family town for a party she is reluctant to spend time there. Her partner, Chris, is distant and they are struggling with stepdaughter Maude. Their holiday home is an eccentric place, which seems to have a history of strange events linked to it. However, she is determined to make the most of it.
Elder House is a strange place. They hear unexplained noises, there’s an unusual atmosphere and lights keep cutting out. Nell doesn’t want to admit to her difficulties, but the unwelcome attention from an old schoolmate that Nell doesn’t remember adds to the sense of unease.
When Maude finds a child’s shoe hidden behind a panel in her room the marks burnt into beams take on a more sinister air. Increasingly withdrawn, it’s hard to see why Nell stayed.
Atmospheric, and a thought-provoking read. My main issue was that the ARC I received was very hard to follow, with sections of narrative muddled, making it hard to keep track of who was involved and exactly what was happening.
Elder House is a strange place. They hear unexplained noises, there’s an unusual atmosphere and lights keep cutting out. Nell doesn’t want to admit to her difficulties, but the unwelcome attention from an old schoolmate that Nell doesn’t remember adds to the sense of unease.
When Maude finds a child’s shoe hidden behind a panel in her room the marks burnt into beams take on a more sinister air. Increasingly withdrawn, it’s hard to see why Nell stayed.
Atmospheric, and a thought-provoking read. My main issue was that the ARC I received was very hard to follow, with sections of narrative muddled, making it hard to keep track of who was involved and exactly what was happening.
October 16, 2021
The Hiding Place is a chilling, atmospheric thriller that will definitely stay with me. It’s a perfect book to read at this time of year as the nights draw in and Halloween approaches.
As frequent readers of my blog may know I love books that feature creepy houses so this book instantly appealed to me. I really enjoyed slowly exploring the house and discovering it’s disturbing secrets. I was very intrigued by Maude’s discoveries and was soon trying to work out what happened there.
The coastal setting was perfectly for this book as the town has a real life history of witchcraft making the book seem more realistic The atmosphere in the book slowly increases with things gradually becoming stranger and stranger. I found myself reading faster as I neared the end, both wanting to find out what was happening and not sure I would like the answer. The ending was brilliant and I thought the conclusion very clever.
Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Zaffre for my copy of this book.
As frequent readers of my blog may know I love books that feature creepy houses so this book instantly appealed to me. I really enjoyed slowly exploring the house and discovering it’s disturbing secrets. I was very intrigued by Maude’s discoveries and was soon trying to work out what happened there.
The coastal setting was perfectly for this book as the town has a real life history of witchcraft making the book seem more realistic The atmosphere in the book slowly increases with things gradually becoming stranger and stranger. I found myself reading faster as I neared the end, both wanting to find out what was happening and not sure I would like the answer. The ending was brilliant and I thought the conclusion very clever.
Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Zaffre for my copy of this book.
October 16, 2021
Ooh, a rather spooky read...
I don't read a lot of spooky/horror type books, so The Hiding Place by Amanda Mason was something a bit different for me.
However, I couldn't have picked a better month of October to read this tale of spooky going ons in a rather old house. The plot and suspense builds nicely as we get to see the relationship between Nell and her step-daughter Maude unravel.
There were times when I was a little confused as to who was who and how they were related, so it missed the 5 stars for that. Otherwise, I found it to be quite an engaging read, one that I preferred to read safely in the day - rather than at bedtime.
I really felt as though I got to know the house, perhaps better than some of the characters who seemed a bit on the periphery to the main story. The atmosphere of the house was well described and definitely eerie, actually had me quite spooked at times.
Perfect Halloween read!
Thanks to Readers First for providing an ARC.
I don't read a lot of spooky/horror type books, so The Hiding Place by Amanda Mason was something a bit different for me.
However, I couldn't have picked a better month of October to read this tale of spooky going ons in a rather old house. The plot and suspense builds nicely as we get to see the relationship between Nell and her step-daughter Maude unravel.
There were times when I was a little confused as to who was who and how they were related, so it missed the 5 stars for that. Otherwise, I found it to be quite an engaging read, one that I preferred to read safely in the day - rather than at bedtime.
I really felt as though I got to know the house, perhaps better than some of the characters who seemed a bit on the periphery to the main story. The atmosphere of the house was well described and definitely eerie, actually had me quite spooked at times.
Perfect Halloween read!
Thanks to Readers First for providing an ARC.
October 20, 2021
This read invited me innocently into the first 100 or so pages of this family’s strained circumstances and soon turned sinister and unsettling pretty quickly. Mason does a brilliant job at creating an atmospheric setting of a house with plenty of history and secrets hidden in its walls and floors, which gave me plenty of goosebumps as the house has a life of its own. The small town community also adds to the claustrophobic feelings and sense of unease. I couldn’t help but be drawn into the fascination of past secrets and tragedy coupled with tales of witchcraft and magic protection that are explored.
As well as the supernatural elements there’s also an intriguing exploration about mothers and daughters, and the role that they play towards each other. The strained relationship between Nell and Maude was engaging given their individual emotional desires.
This gave me vibes similar to Laura Purcell and Stacey Halls reads.
As well as the supernatural elements there’s also an intriguing exploration about mothers and daughters, and the role that they play towards each other. The strained relationship between Nell and Maude was engaging given their individual emotional desires.
This gave me vibes similar to Laura Purcell and Stacey Halls reads.
October 7, 2021
A haunting tale with classic ghost story tropes. I found The Hiding Place to be fast paced with just enough mysteries to keep me hooked. There was a good balance of intrigue surrounding the character’s pasts and motives that slowly get drip fed to the reader contrast with mystery surrounding the house and its supernatural aspects. I flew through the book in 2 days eager to find out what was truly going on.
The conflict between Nell and her stepdaughter Maude was interesting to follow but I didn’t feel too attached the characters themselves and found I didn’t particularly care about their wellbeing during the climax. Unfortunately, part of the ending was slightly predictable for me but there were still many surprises so it’s a solid 4 star read.
I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for an atmospheric spooky seasonal read as it’s perfect for this time of year. It’s just unsettling enough without keeping you up all night!
The conflict between Nell and her stepdaughter Maude was interesting to follow but I didn’t feel too attached the characters themselves and found I didn’t particularly care about their wellbeing during the climax. Unfortunately, part of the ending was slightly predictable for me but there were still many surprises so it’s a solid 4 star read.
I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for an atmospheric spooky seasonal read as it’s perfect for this time of year. It’s just unsettling enough without keeping you up all night!
January 7, 2022
3.95⭐
The ending is slightly anticlimactic but I had thoroughly enjoyed the book until then. Maybe enough wasn't made of the ghosts or creepy old house but I liked the characters and the plot rattled along.
The ending is slightly anticlimactic but I had thoroughly enjoyed the book until then. Maybe enough wasn't made of the ghosts or creepy old house but I liked the characters and the plot rattled along.
November 27, 2025
This was interesting, I think is the best word.
I liked the premise and the way we were fed little bits as the story went on, and the open ending, but I also didn't like the open ending - what happened between them all?
Probably not one I'd recommend, but one i enjoyed enough to finish.
I liked the premise and the way we were fed little bits as the story went on, and the open ending, but I also didn't like the open ending - what happened between them all?
Probably not one I'd recommend, but one i enjoyed enough to finish.
March 5, 2024
Excellent. A real.page turner
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