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Return to Blackwater House
You can run from your past, but you can't escape it forever...
Rebecca Bray has moved on from a childhood she wants to forget. She has the dream fiancé, a loving stepdaughter and a career she's proud of.
But with a move back to her hometown of Cornwall, everything she wanted to bury starts to surface. And when her stepdaughter goes missing at a New Year's Eve party, Rebecca must finally face the ghosts of her past - or Ava might never come home safely...
A haunting, addictive read that will keep you up way past your bedtime, and wondering what those bumps in the night really are. Perfect for fans of Nuala Ellwood, Louise Douglas and Sophie Draper.,
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Rebecca Bray has moved on from a childhood she wants to forget. She has the dream fiancé, a loving stepdaughter and a career she's proud of.
But with a move back to her hometown of Cornwall, everything she wanted to bury starts to surface. And when her stepdaughter goes missing at a New Year's Eve party, Rebecca must finally face the ghosts of her past - or Ava might never come home safely...
A haunting, addictive read that will keep you up way past your bedtime, and wondering what those bumps in the night really are. Perfect for fans of Nuala Ellwood, Louise Douglas and Sophie Draper.,
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280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2022
45 people are currently reading
1501 people want to read
About the author
Vikki Patis
14 books200 followersThis author is also published under the pen name Victoria Hawthorne.
Vikki Patis is an author of suspense novels with a gothic twist. Her latest novel, Return to Blackwater House, was published in March 2022 by Hodder & Stoughton, and her debut horror novel will be published in 2026.
She also writes historical fiction as Victoria Hawthorne. Her debut historical suspense novel, The House at Helygen, was published in April 2022 by Quercus and later became a bestseller. The Darkest Night was published in April 2024 and was the runner-up for the ADCI Literary Prize.
She lives in Scotland with her wife, two wild golden retrievers, and an even wilder cat.
Vikki Patis is an author of suspense novels with a gothic twist. Her latest novel, Return to Blackwater House, was published in March 2022 by Hodder & Stoughton, and her debut horror novel will be published in 2026.
She also writes historical fiction as Victoria Hawthorne. Her debut historical suspense novel, The House at Helygen, was published in April 2022 by Quercus and later became a bestseller. The Darkest Night was published in April 2024 and was the runner-up for the ADCI Literary Prize.
She lives in Scotland with her wife, two wild golden retrievers, and an even wilder cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
April 11, 2022
This is the best book I have read in 2022 so far. Hands down.
I found this book to be thrilling, twisting, truly edge of the seat (of its truest meaning) book; I simply could not put it down until it was finished! It’s a truly harrowing story of generational trauma, revenge, self sacrifice in the search for justice.
I had to sleep on it, in order to be able to sit down, gather my thoughts after finishing the book and write a review that justifies how brilliant this book was and how well written it was. The characters were deep well fleshed out, all going through their own troubles, dealing with their own traumas. It truly shows that no one leaves childhood without trauma in their baggage.
The topics of emotional abuse, childhood neglect, sexual abuse and trauma and very well presented and as a survivor myself, realistic in their presentation and the weight it carries with you for the rest of your life. There is no quick fix, no easy resolution; what true justice carried out after years of pent up anger and revenge even means? How can one make the abusers pay for all the unspeakable (which should be spoken up about!) things done? Will it be satisfying finally acting out the revenge planned for years? What consequences will it have on the person and the people around them? There is no way I have ever read a book which raised so many important questions and still was one of the best (if not the best) mystery thriller. It was realistic enough, it kept me sucked in and feeling every bump on the way along with the main characters.
The mystery was delicious, dosed out in small amounts, trickled down bit by bit, which keeps you guessing and engaged. The writing I found superb, engaging and as mentioned, I simply could not put the book down and when I did, I could not stop thinking about it and couldn’t wait to pull it back out.
I truly find it hard to review a book that has left me with such a lasting impact. Even the mention of Sarah Everard in the acknowledgments, it hit so hard.
The raw authentic and empathetic way the author writes about human feelings and emotions was so real, it made me feel them too, made me tear up reading certain passages of the book. It was an emotional rollercoaster to read this book and I loved every minute of it! It was my first book from Vikki Patis, but it will not be my last, for sure.
Having given 5 stars to books before, so this book deserves undoubtably 5 stars too, but for this book, it is in a league of its own, so I would give it 10 stars if I could.
I could not suggest this book enough to anyone reading this. However, please note trigger warnings of emotional abuse, sexual abuse, child neglect and abandonment, stillbirth, drugs, and of course, murder.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this amazing book!
I found this book to be thrilling, twisting, truly edge of the seat (of its truest meaning) book; I simply could not put it down until it was finished! It’s a truly harrowing story of generational trauma, revenge, self sacrifice in the search for justice.
I had to sleep on it, in order to be able to sit down, gather my thoughts after finishing the book and write a review that justifies how brilliant this book was and how well written it was. The characters were deep well fleshed out, all going through their own troubles, dealing with their own traumas. It truly shows that no one leaves childhood without trauma in their baggage.
The topics of emotional abuse, childhood neglect, sexual abuse and trauma and very well presented and as a survivor myself, realistic in their presentation and the weight it carries with you for the rest of your life. There is no quick fix, no easy resolution; what true justice carried out after years of pent up anger and revenge even means? How can one make the abusers pay for all the unspeakable (which should be spoken up about!) things done? Will it be satisfying finally acting out the revenge planned for years? What consequences will it have on the person and the people around them? There is no way I have ever read a book which raised so many important questions and still was one of the best (if not the best) mystery thriller. It was realistic enough, it kept me sucked in and feeling every bump on the way along with the main characters.
The mystery was delicious, dosed out in small amounts, trickled down bit by bit, which keeps you guessing and engaged. The writing I found superb, engaging and as mentioned, I simply could not put the book down and when I did, I could not stop thinking about it and couldn’t wait to pull it back out.
I truly find it hard to review a book that has left me with such a lasting impact. Even the mention of Sarah Everard in the acknowledgments, it hit so hard.
The raw authentic and empathetic way the author writes about human feelings and emotions was so real, it made me feel them too, made me tear up reading certain passages of the book. It was an emotional rollercoaster to read this book and I loved every minute of it! It was my first book from Vikki Patis, but it will not be my last, for sure.
Having given 5 stars to books before, so this book deserves undoubtably 5 stars too, but for this book, it is in a league of its own, so I would give it 10 stars if I could.
I could not suggest this book enough to anyone reading this. However, please note trigger warnings of emotional abuse, sexual abuse, child neglect and abandonment, stillbirth, drugs, and of course, murder.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this amazing book!
December 28, 2021
Rebecca Bray has few fond memories of her childhood or teenage years and swore she would never return to the town where she grew up. Now, as an adult and with a family of her own, she finds herself doing just that. The house left in to her in a will is too good an opportunity to pass up on residing in, despite the bleak setting surrounding it and the even bleaker memories that encroach upon her return.
But the past soon proves to be more than distant memories when her stepdaughter disappears and she is forced to confront the secrets and lies she hid both from herself and others for the many years she has been absent.
This quickly proved itself to be SO much more than a thriller, with all I was expecting paling in comparison to everything that was actually delivered. The sinister abode and familial secrets were present at the beginning, just as they are in many other similarly set-up thriller novels, but the direction this one took was definitely different to any I have read previously.
Heartache and heartbreak, tears and tantrums marked my journey through these pages as I suffered each horrifying reveal and harrowing ordeal, trauma and tragedy, along with these quickly beloved characters. The concluding reveals had me genuinely open-mouthed and their continual arrival ensured this a read as unforgettable to my memory as it was matchless to experience.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Vikki Patis, and the publisher, Hodder & Stoughton, for this opportunity.
But the past soon proves to be more than distant memories when her stepdaughter disappears and she is forced to confront the secrets and lies she hid both from herself and others for the many years she has been absent.
This quickly proved itself to be SO much more than a thriller, with all I was expecting paling in comparison to everything that was actually delivered. The sinister abode and familial secrets were present at the beginning, just as they are in many other similarly set-up thriller novels, but the direction this one took was definitely different to any I have read previously.
Heartache and heartbreak, tears and tantrums marked my journey through these pages as I suffered each horrifying reveal and harrowing ordeal, trauma and tragedy, along with these quickly beloved characters. The concluding reveals had me genuinely open-mouthed and their continual arrival ensured this a read as unforgettable to my memory as it was matchless to experience.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Vikki Patis, and the publisher, Hodder & Stoughton, for this opportunity.
March 2, 2022
Rebecca Bray has moved on from a childhood she wants to forget. She has the dream fiance, a loving stepdaughter and a career she's proud off. But with a move back to her hometown of Cornwall, everything she wanted to bury starts to surface. And when her stepdaughter goes missing at a New Year's Eve party, Rebecca must finally face the ghosts of her past - or Ava might not come home safely.
This is a cleverly crafted psychological thriller. This is not the usual 'girl goes missing' story, it's better than that. In the first half of the book the pace is steady, it mainly tells us about the main characters, Blackwater House and Cornwall. The story has a dual timeline, Rebecca's childhood and 2020. It's told from multiple points of view. The second half of the book the pace picks up and Rebecca's dangerous past is revealed. The chapters alternate between the past and present day. This well written novel had me gripped from the first page.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HodderStoughton and the author #VikkiPatis for my ARC of #ReturnToBlackwaterHouse in exchange for an honest review.
This is a cleverly crafted psychological thriller. This is not the usual 'girl goes missing' story, it's better than that. In the first half of the book the pace is steady, it mainly tells us about the main characters, Blackwater House and Cornwall. The story has a dual timeline, Rebecca's childhood and 2020. It's told from multiple points of view. The second half of the book the pace picks up and Rebecca's dangerous past is revealed. The chapters alternate between the past and present day. This well written novel had me gripped from the first page.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HodderStoughton and the author #VikkiPatis for my ARC of #ReturnToBlackwaterHouse in exchange for an honest review.
December 3, 2023
I almost didn't finish this book because the plot and characters are so boring.
The resolution is far-fetched and there are too many plot twists for the story to feel realistic.
I'm also really annoyed with the overuse of the term gluten-free. It is used 19 times, Coeliac disease is mentioned 4 times and both things are not important to the plot.
TW: rape, stillbirth, domestic abuse, drug abuse, mentions of alcoholism
The resolution is far-fetched and there are too many plot twists for the story to feel realistic.
I'm also really annoyed with the overuse of the term gluten-free. It is used 19 times, Coeliac disease is mentioned 4 times and both things are not important to the plot.
TW: rape, stillbirth, domestic abuse, drug abuse, mentions of alcoholism
November 9, 2021
My advice for this book?
Don't read it.
Don't read it until you've cleaned your house.
Don't read it until you've sent your husband to Wicks' with a packed lunch
Don't read it until you've locked your kids in a room with every Disney movie ever made. And some food because you're not a monster.
Because you will not be able to put this book down.
I got to the 40% mark and thought, I should pace myself. This is a good book and I want to take my time and really enjoy it, maybe spread it over a long weekend.
NOPE!
Two hours later and it was gone. Like the large bar of Dairy Milk that had been beside me. Did I go through a wormhole? Where did the time go? It remains a mystery. But I got nothing done over that weekend and I could not be happier about it.
Without wanting to give spoilers, I will say this. Any time you think you know where this book is going, you don't. Shut up. Just wait. I only managed to half-predict one plot element and I think that was about 10% before the end.
Points for some bonus positive lesbian representation! The police woman investigating has an adorable dog and a doubly-adorable wife. Chefs kiss. Perfection.
My one criticism is that the Netgalley version I read had really bad formatting. Like it had been transferred into two file types and then shaken vigorously. This was my first Netgalley book, so not sure if it always does that, but either way, I am sure the finished version won't look like that so I'm not taking a star off. Fight me.
I still enjoyed it, even with the strange paragraphing and random line cuts. That's how you know it's good.
I was given access to a netgalley version of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Don't read it.
Don't read it until you've cleaned your house.
Don't read it until you've sent your husband to Wicks' with a packed lunch
Don't read it until you've locked your kids in a room with every Disney movie ever made. And some food because you're not a monster.
Because you will not be able to put this book down.
I got to the 40% mark and thought, I should pace myself. This is a good book and I want to take my time and really enjoy it, maybe spread it over a long weekend.
NOPE!
Two hours later and it was gone. Like the large bar of Dairy Milk that had been beside me. Did I go through a wormhole? Where did the time go? It remains a mystery. But I got nothing done over that weekend and I could not be happier about it.
Without wanting to give spoilers, I will say this. Any time you think you know where this book is going, you don't. Shut up. Just wait. I only managed to half-predict one plot element and I think that was about 10% before the end.
Points for some bonus positive lesbian representation! The police woman investigating has an adorable dog and a doubly-adorable wife. Chefs kiss. Perfection.
My one criticism is that the Netgalley version I read had really bad formatting. Like it had been transferred into two file types and then shaken vigorously. This was my first Netgalley book, so not sure if it always does that, but either way, I am sure the finished version won't look like that so I'm not taking a star off. Fight me.
I still enjoyed it, even with the strange paragraphing and random line cuts. That's how you know it's good.
I was given access to a netgalley version of the book in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2022
Rebecca Bray returns to her childhood town in Cornwall where she inherits Blackwater House from Gwen. She moves in with her partner Daniel and their stepdaughter Ava. Rebecca Bray didn’t have the best of childhoods. Her parents were druggies and after an incident she runs away and finds her at Blackwater House were Gwen takes her in. Gwen changes her life for the better.
Its New years Eve and Rebecca is on her own with Ava and her friends having a sleep over. By being in Black water house brings up memories she is trying to forget. When is gets a visitor, an old school friend who brings drink in to celebrate the new year. She forgets about Ava and her friends. They don’t want to her to crash the party. So, the next morning she realises that Ava has gone missing.
Thank you, Hodder, and Stoughton for an ARC Return to Blackwater House by Vikki Pattis. I must be one of the majority here, to say I have mixed feelings about this book. Yes, I like the premise of the story and it was engaging but, I just found that there was a hell of a lot of backstories about the past and felt the present storyline was lacking. Three and half stars from me.
May 25, 2022
Quite a story!
SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: out of your comfort zone, not a romance, established couple; UNICORN: safer sex, period
This story is eventually told from three points of view: Rebecca/Becks - a woman with a troubled past and current abusive relationship, her childhood acquaintance Kate - a detective and married lesbian, and the third character, Ava, is Rebecca's stepdaughter. It is a dark and intricate story that feels similar to the TV shows, "Top of the Lake" or "Broadchurch" (but with female leads.) It's not a sapphic story, but a MC and a secondary f/f couple - one of whom is Ava's aunt - are all lesbians.
Off the top of my head, I can't think of any books or authors to compare it to, but if you're familiar with either of the two shows mentioned above, they are great examples. A mystery fan that appreciates several plot twists will love this story.
SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: out of your comfort zone, not a romance, established couple; UNICORN: safer sex, period
This story is eventually told from three points of view: Rebecca/Becks - a woman with a troubled past and current abusive relationship, her childhood acquaintance Kate - a detective and married lesbian, and the third character, Ava, is Rebecca's stepdaughter. It is a dark and intricate story that feels similar to the TV shows, "Top of the Lake" or "Broadchurch" (but with female leads.) It's not a sapphic story, but a MC and a secondary f/f couple - one of whom is Ava's aunt - are all lesbians.
Off the top of my head, I can't think of any books or authors to compare it to, but if you're familiar with either of the two shows mentioned above, they are great examples. A mystery fan that appreciates several plot twists will love this story.
March 11, 2022
On my blog.
Rep: lesbian mc, biracial Black mc, Black side characters, Black sapphic side characters
CWs: domestic abuse, drug abuse, rape, past stillbirth
Galley provided by publisher
I picked up Return to Blackwater House on a whim. It sounded like it would be a creepy and thrilling read. I wouldn’t necessarily say it delivered on that, but it was definitely not a bad read to spend an hour on.
The story follows Rebecca, whose stepdaughter goes missing in Cornwall, where, a few years before, they moved to when Rebecca was given an old house in a will. Rebecca’s POV is secretive, hinting at past events and traumas she’d rather keep private. Only, everything that is happening with Ava threatens to unearth them, as the police start digging, including Kate, the second POV character.
This was a fast paced book and, at times, I felt as though that both worked for and against it. For it in the sense that you were drawn in quickly, hooked on the story and unwilling to put it down. Against because there seemed to be little or no build up to the twists that came in the second and third parts. I mean, there were obviously hints to Rebecca’s secret, but when the secret came, it felt very abrupt and untelegraphed despite that.
As a result the end of it all felt rushed. I think it would have been better to shorten the flashbacks in the first part, lengthen the investigation and add some more foreshadowing into it. For all that I just said that the fast pace was good, it did need to slow down at times.
I also think that Rebecca’s POV shouldn’t have been first person. I feel as though it’s harder to effectively hide, and yet hint at being hidden, thoughts when you’re in first person. Especially when that first person is on the way to being omniscient. When done well, it’s excellent, to be sure, but here it just wasn’t quite there. I did also feel like I got more of a sense of Kate as a character because it was in third person, compared to Rebecca, who felt a bit of a cardboard cutout.
However, as I said, it was still a good way to spend an hour or so. I sort of saw the twists coming, but didn’t enough that it never felt like the story was more of the same old thriller thing.
Rep: lesbian mc, biracial Black mc, Black side characters, Black sapphic side characters
CWs: domestic abuse, drug abuse, rape, past stillbirth
Galley provided by publisher
I picked up Return to Blackwater House on a whim. It sounded like it would be a creepy and thrilling read. I wouldn’t necessarily say it delivered on that, but it was definitely not a bad read to spend an hour on.
The story follows Rebecca, whose stepdaughter goes missing in Cornwall, where, a few years before, they moved to when Rebecca was given an old house in a will. Rebecca’s POV is secretive, hinting at past events and traumas she’d rather keep private. Only, everything that is happening with Ava threatens to unearth them, as the police start digging, including Kate, the second POV character.
This was a fast paced book and, at times, I felt as though that both worked for and against it. For it in the sense that you were drawn in quickly, hooked on the story and unwilling to put it down. Against because there seemed to be little or no build up to the twists that came in the second and third parts. I mean, there were obviously hints to Rebecca’s secret, but when the secret came, it felt very abrupt and untelegraphed despite that.
As a result the end of it all felt rushed. I think it would have been better to shorten the flashbacks in the first part, lengthen the investigation and add some more foreshadowing into it. For all that I just said that the fast pace was good, it did need to slow down at times.
I also think that Rebecca’s POV shouldn’t have been first person. I feel as though it’s harder to effectively hide, and yet hint at being hidden, thoughts when you’re in first person. Especially when that first person is on the way to being omniscient. When done well, it’s excellent, to be sure, but here it just wasn’t quite there. I did also feel like I got more of a sense of Kate as a character because it was in third person, compared to Rebecca, who felt a bit of a cardboard cutout.
However, as I said, it was still a good way to spend an hour or so. I sort of saw the twists coming, but didn’t enough that it never felt like the story was more of the same old thriller thing.
December 4, 2021
With an evocative setting and cast of carefully drawn complex characters: the brilliantly executed sense of creeping dread absolutely gripped me! Highly recommended for fans of clever psychological thrillers!
February 25, 2022
Told via the viewpoints of Rebecca and Kate, then finally Ava, this novel contains myriad plot twists as Rebecca's full backstory gradually comes to light.
The setting was rife with atmosphere - the imposing, isolated house overlooking the Cornish coast. The remote, insular village. The volatile, and often violent Daniel...
This is my first novel from this author and I quite enjoyed it. The winning combination of setting, characterization and twisty plot was very much to my liking. If pressed to pick a favorite character I would have to choose the policewoman, Kate Winters. I would love to see her return in future books.
Themes of traumatic childhoods, vengeance, secrecy, vigilante justice and atonement permeate the novel. Although some of the scenes might appear 'over the top', I recommend you just 'go with it', and attribute these to artistic license.
Recommended to all those who enjoy a psychological thriller that keeps you on your toes. Wondering who to trust, wondering how it will end...
The setting was rife with atmosphere - the imposing, isolated house overlooking the Cornish coast. The remote, insular village. The volatile, and often violent Daniel...
This is my first novel from this author and I quite enjoyed it. The winning combination of setting, characterization and twisty plot was very much to my liking. If pressed to pick a favorite character I would have to choose the policewoman, Kate Winters. I would love to see her return in future books.
Themes of traumatic childhoods, vengeance, secrecy, vigilante justice and atonement permeate the novel. Although some of the scenes might appear 'over the top', I recommend you just 'go with it', and attribute these to artistic license.
Recommended to all those who enjoy a psychological thriller that keeps you on your toes. Wondering who to trust, wondering how it will end...
February 15, 2022
I read a lot of psychological thrillers so they have to have something different or special for me to rate as 4 or 5 star, and unfortunately this one was not for me. I had high hopes after seeing the book cover and title which hinted at an atmospheric possibly gothic thriller set in Cornwall, but I found this to be a very modern thriller.
I did read this book very quickly wanting to know what happened, but I found the latter part of the book very far- fetched. There was just too much going on for me to believe in the story – murder, a missing child, abuse of all sorts, lies, secrets, deceit, mental health........... and all the ends are tied up too neatly.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to review an advance copy of this book.
I did read this book very quickly wanting to know what happened, but I found the latter part of the book very far- fetched. There was just too much going on for me to believe in the story – murder, a missing child, abuse of all sorts, lies, secrets, deceit, mental health........... and all the ends are tied up too neatly.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to review an advance copy of this book.
February 9, 2022
Rebecca Bray returns to her childhood town in Cornwall, after she has inherited a house known as "Blackwater" from Gwen. She remembers all those fond memories of her childhood and teenage years and vowed never return back to the town. She and her fiance Daniel and his daughter Ava seemed to be the perfect family, living in this new house.
But one day, Ava goes missing. And while investigating Ava's disappearance, Rebecca's past came back to her tormenting, a past she vowed to forget...
This is really a good book. Though this was actually a thriller, to me, this was actually an emotional roller coaster ride, especially when reading towards the end and you find what Rebecca's secret and past was, you feel a bit emotional and at times it was heartbreaking.
The story divides between the past--when Rebecca, Daniel and Ava moves into the house to the present, when Ava has disappeared and the police taking part in the case. In the beginning, we see a different picture of this picture perfect family but towards the middle of the book...well let's just say, it's not as picture perfect as it seems. The writing was engaging, the author doing a great job making the reader immerse into the story and making the reader feel like they are part of the story as well. I was so engrossed into the book and simply couldn't put the book down. The characters, particularly Rebecca is broken character and despite being not biological mother and daughter, Rebecca and Ava seem to have a very strong bond with each other.
Nonetheless, the ending left me emotional and it was a bit heartbreaking.
Overall, this was a good thriller, that will make you emotional as well as unputdownable--worth five stars!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
But one day, Ava goes missing. And while investigating Ava's disappearance, Rebecca's past came back to her tormenting, a past she vowed to forget...
This is really a good book. Though this was actually a thriller, to me, this was actually an emotional roller coaster ride, especially when reading towards the end and you find what Rebecca's secret and past was, you feel a bit emotional and at times it was heartbreaking.
The story divides between the past--when Rebecca, Daniel and Ava moves into the house to the present, when Ava has disappeared and the police taking part in the case. In the beginning, we see a different picture of this picture perfect family but towards the middle of the book...well let's just say, it's not as picture perfect as it seems. The writing was engaging, the author doing a great job making the reader immerse into the story and making the reader feel like they are part of the story as well. I was so engrossed into the book and simply couldn't put the book down. The characters, particularly Rebecca is broken character and despite being not biological mother and daughter, Rebecca and Ava seem to have a very strong bond with each other.
Nonetheless, the ending left me emotional and it was a bit heartbreaking.
Overall, this was a good thriller, that will make you emotional as well as unputdownable--worth five stars!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
May 3, 2022
I so very much enjoyed this story very twisty addictive and emotional. Rebecca is engaged to Daniel he has a daughter Ava who Rebecca loves like her own and will do anything to protect her. Rebecca gets Blackwater house left to her in Cornwall that was her hometown so they move from London back to there. but new years eve Ava goes missing and Daniel is in London. I cant really say much as give story away but why did Rebecca leave her home town and who has secrets its so so good. but you know with this author its gonna be good
March 2, 2022
This was a completely gripping read and very difficult to put down. Rebecca Bray had a terrible childhood and when she returns to the village where she grew up a whole host of memories rear their heads. When her stepdaughter goes missing, Rebecca realises there is much she has to confront from her past.
Brilliantly written with complex characters, a very clever plot and an atmospheric background, this is a must read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Brilliantly written with complex characters, a very clever plot and an atmospheric background, this is a must read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 17, 2022
I enjoyed the story, I just felt I wasn’t that keen on the ending. I felt that the main character had suffered so much and then the ending I just felt she took too much on herself, and I didn’t like that Ava didn’t see or have contact with her. I don’t know I enjoyed it but I’d say 4 stars rather than 5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2022
This book had such a complex storyline that I was gripped from start to finish, wondering what the next twist or reveal would be! This book was really hard to tear myself away from, it’s a storyline that you can easily become immersed. Characters, setting and storyline are all really compelling. I got to about 40% and the book just flew and flew until that completely unpredictable ending. I really like books that keep you guessing and have revelations even after you think everything has been revealed.
I also really enjoyed the setting – Cornwall is so often written as a beautiful setting (and don’t get me wrong, it is in this book) but the desolation and isolation are really clear in this book. Wonderfully portrayed by Vikki throughout. I can’t wait to read more books from this Author!
I also really enjoyed the setting – Cornwall is so often written as a beautiful setting (and don’t get me wrong, it is in this book) but the desolation and isolation are really clear in this book. Wonderfully portrayed by Vikki throughout. I can’t wait to read more books from this Author!
September 8, 2023
Morel like 2.5 stars. This book held promise. I wanted to know what was really happening, because obviously, it was something. But as I read, the writing really started to wear on me. If I had to hear one more time about how the main character couldn't eat gluten, I was going to throw the kindle across the room. I thought maybe the husband or some sinister other would use her food intolerance against her. Maybe she'd fall deathly ill. Nope. Seriously, it came up all the time for no reason. I also don't care who is allergic to dogs - especially at the end of the book. what is the point?
But ultimately, I could have dealt with the writing if the characters had been less absurd. I love a good unreliable narrator, but this was next level. This was throwing in mental illness, trauma, and addiction to move a plot along, not to develop characters. None of their actions towards the end seemed to align with who they were. Murder comes that easily to a deeply caring person? Kidnapping plots seem like a good idea? You don't visit the person who tried to save you and coved up your crimes? Yet you let them move in with you like nothing happened? None of it made any sense and was far too convenient to wrap up the book. By the end, I was angry that such a good story could go so far off the rails.
But ultimately, I could have dealt with the writing if the characters had been less absurd. I love a good unreliable narrator, but this was next level. This was throwing in mental illness, trauma, and addiction to move a plot along, not to develop characters. None of their actions towards the end seemed to align with who they were. Murder comes that easily to a deeply caring person? Kidnapping plots seem like a good idea? You don't visit the person who tried to save you and coved up your crimes? Yet you let them move in with you like nothing happened? None of it made any sense and was far too convenient to wrap up the book. By the end, I was angry that such a good story could go so far off the rails.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2022
I could not put this book down! It is written so well, fully developed, diverse, and complex characters, and a mystery that just keeps you guessing right to the end, with unexpected twists and turns along the way.
Rebecca Bray inherits Blackwater House, in the village where she grew up, and moves there with her partner and teenage stepdaughter. When she returns, she keeps seeing glimpses of a past she wants to forget. But then, on New Years Eve, her stepdaughter Ava goes missing.
The book switches between "before" and "after" Ava's disappearance, and viewpoints switch between Rebecca and the family liaison officer assigned to their case, Kate, who remembers Rebecca from childhood.
A fantastically written, haunting thriller. I will definitely be looking up more works by Patis. Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Rebecca Bray inherits Blackwater House, in the village where she grew up, and moves there with her partner and teenage stepdaughter. When she returns, she keeps seeing glimpses of a past she wants to forget. But then, on New Years Eve, her stepdaughter Ava goes missing.
The book switches between "before" and "after" Ava's disappearance, and viewpoints switch between Rebecca and the family liaison officer assigned to their case, Kate, who remembers Rebecca from childhood.
A fantastically written, haunting thriller. I will definitely be looking up more works by Patis. Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 14, 2022
I wish this novel dove deeper. The premise and plot had so much potential. A young woman with a dark and abusive childhood moves back to her home town with her husband and teenage stepdaughter. Shortly after, the stepdaughter goes missing. This novel tries to weave in childhood neglect, rape, drug abuse and domestic violence but doesn’t quite commit to taking a solid bite into these topics. I wish it sunk its teeth deeper. The characters were relatable, not sure I bought into the domestic abuse completely and thus the plot resolution was quite meh for me. How strong is the will for revenge? Wished this novel did more … but it fell a bit short for me.
February 24, 2022
★★★★ 4.5 stars
You can run from your past, but you can't hide forever...
WOW! I have to say I am always partial to thrillers set in Cornwall. No, I've never been there as I live on the other side of the world, but there is just something atmospheric about Cornwall. Imagine sitting there looking out over the Atlantic or the Channel (depending on which coast you are), you're in a sprawling house that has a few ghosts of its own and the wind whipping off the ocean and around the eaves with the rain slapping against the windows. It is the essence of creepy without being creepy.
I'd no sooner begun reading RETURN TO BLACKWATER HOUSE than I felt the same sense of foreboding as when I read Sue Watson's "The Forever Home" (also set in Cornwall). In fact, I think I pictured both houses almost identically. Woman alone in house, wind whipping around the house as the rain slaps against the windows...and then we have a missing girl, lost into the night. It was that same sense I had reading both books. It was chilling. Of course, having said that, both books are entirely different...and yet Cornwall is such a character in its own right that it feels familiar in each story that is set there.
But RETURN TO BLACKWATER HOUSE is different. It is not your usual missing child thriller followed by a frantic search thus concluding with a neat resolution. What makes this story unique is its backstory. It's complex, it's disturbing and it's chilling. A twisted tale that is as addictive as it is atmospheric. And one woman's quest for revenge and absolution.
Growing up in Cornwall, Rebecca Bray had a horribly dismal childhood. Kicked out of home for falling pregnant with her at sixteen, her mother Gemma turned to a life of drugs and alcohol soon selling herself to pay for her addictions. Becks (as she was known then) was left to her own devices. The only place she felt safe was outside under the stars...until one night she found herself at Blackwater House. The woman who lived there, through childish folklore, was rumoured to be a witch but Becks soon discovered that Gwen was a kind and gentle woman who gave a desperate fifteen year old girl a home until she went to university at eighteen. Becks loved her life with Gwen but Gwen encouraged Becks to go out and live her life. So that is what she did.
Almost two decades later, Becks has shed her old life and becomes Rebecca - engaged to Daniel with a beautiful step-daughter Ava - when she receives the news that Gwen has died and left her Blackwater House. Rebecca never thought she would return to Cornwall but maybe this is the perfect opportunity for a fresh start. And maybe, just maybe, she can finally lay her ghosts to rest.
But on New Years Eve, a difficult time for Rebecca that stirs up lots of old memories, Ava disappears in the middle of the night at her own sleepover with friends. It's 2am when distraught and in tears, friend Poppy knocks on the door of the main house alerting Rebecca to Ava's disappearance. Fraught with anxiety, she calls Daniel who is in London at a client's party and summons the police.
Enter Kate, family liaison officer, who incidentally also knew Rebecca (as Becks) when they were younger. She brings the investigative side to the story through her narrative but she also relies on her "intuition", which her DS calls "gut instinct". But she has some difficulty correlating the old Becks with the woman Rebecca and wonders if there is something she is missing.
Rebecca, however, is a deeply broken character with many ghosts that she has not been able to shake in the past two decades. She thought she had left it all behind but returning to Blackwater House has brought all the old ghosts to the surface again which is only exacerbated by Ava's sudden disappearance.
What ensues is the alternating narratives of Rebecca and Kate, beginning to a couple of months before that fateful New Years Eve and following on in the wake of Ava's disappearance. As the story unfolds, the reader begins to see a very different tale emerging that Rebecca has worked hard to keep hidden.
A fast-paced read, RETURN TO BLACKWATER HOUSE is an atmospheric and chilling thriller that is nothing you would expect. It certainly has that menacing eerie sense of foreboding throughout and I think that is best put down to the setting because in all honesty, a Victorian terrace in London would not have the same impact as the dark and chilling presence of a house situated on a rugged cliff edge in Cornwall.
It's also important to note the different aspects dealt with here - addiction, neglect, abuse, rape, teen pregnancy - enmeshed with coeliac disease. However, I think the constant reference to "gluten free" was a tad over-used to the point the reader expects some nefarious character to swap out a gluten free product then sit back and watch things pan out. Once or twice maybe, but every time Rebecca went shopping or cooked a meal? It wasn't necessary as it wasn't an actual focal point of the story.
Aside from that, my only real gripe is with the ending. I get that there needed to be an ending that wrapped things up, but "Seven Years Later" could worked just as well as a simple Epilogue that rounded everything out without notching up several chapters that really didn't go anywhere. I thought the entire Part 3 fell a little flat. I would have preferred just a simple Epilogue taking place from Ava's perspective to give readers a satisfactory explanation and ending. The rest was waffle, in my opinion. It is for this reason I have to reluctantly deduct half a star, otherwise it would have been a perfect 5 star read!
Twisted in more ways than one, RETURN TO BLACKWATER HOUSE is an exciting and engaging read that is not quite what you expect. It is most certainly an atmospheric and chilling thriller filled with suspense and twists that keep on coming.
My second read by author Vikki Patis, I look forward to more of her superbly sinister thrillers. Haunting and chilling, RETURN TO BLACKWATER HOUSE is perfect for fans of dark psychological thrillers.
I would like to thank #VikkiPatis, #Netgalley, #HodderAndStoughton for an ARC of #ReturnToBlackwaterHouse in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
You can run from your past, but you can't hide forever...
WOW! I have to say I am always partial to thrillers set in Cornwall. No, I've never been there as I live on the other side of the world, but there is just something atmospheric about Cornwall. Imagine sitting there looking out over the Atlantic or the Channel (depending on which coast you are), you're in a sprawling house that has a few ghosts of its own and the wind whipping off the ocean and around the eaves with the rain slapping against the windows. It is the essence of creepy without being creepy.
I'd no sooner begun reading RETURN TO BLACKWATER HOUSE than I felt the same sense of foreboding as when I read Sue Watson's "The Forever Home" (also set in Cornwall). In fact, I think I pictured both houses almost identically. Woman alone in house, wind whipping around the house as the rain slaps against the windows...and then we have a missing girl, lost into the night. It was that same sense I had reading both books. It was chilling. Of course, having said that, both books are entirely different...and yet Cornwall is such a character in its own right that it feels familiar in each story that is set there.
But RETURN TO BLACKWATER HOUSE is different. It is not your usual missing child thriller followed by a frantic search thus concluding with a neat resolution. What makes this story unique is its backstory. It's complex, it's disturbing and it's chilling. A twisted tale that is as addictive as it is atmospheric. And one woman's quest for revenge and absolution.
Growing up in Cornwall, Rebecca Bray had a horribly dismal childhood. Kicked out of home for falling pregnant with her at sixteen, her mother Gemma turned to a life of drugs and alcohol soon selling herself to pay for her addictions. Becks (as she was known then) was left to her own devices. The only place she felt safe was outside under the stars...until one night she found herself at Blackwater House. The woman who lived there, through childish folklore, was rumoured to be a witch but Becks soon discovered that Gwen was a kind and gentle woman who gave a desperate fifteen year old girl a home until she went to university at eighteen. Becks loved her life with Gwen but Gwen encouraged Becks to go out and live her life. So that is what she did.
Almost two decades later, Becks has shed her old life and becomes Rebecca - engaged to Daniel with a beautiful step-daughter Ava - when she receives the news that Gwen has died and left her Blackwater House. Rebecca never thought she would return to Cornwall but maybe this is the perfect opportunity for a fresh start. And maybe, just maybe, she can finally lay her ghosts to rest.
But on New Years Eve, a difficult time for Rebecca that stirs up lots of old memories, Ava disappears in the middle of the night at her own sleepover with friends. It's 2am when distraught and in tears, friend Poppy knocks on the door of the main house alerting Rebecca to Ava's disappearance. Fraught with anxiety, she calls Daniel who is in London at a client's party and summons the police.
Enter Kate, family liaison officer, who incidentally also knew Rebecca (as Becks) when they were younger. She brings the investigative side to the story through her narrative but she also relies on her "intuition", which her DS calls "gut instinct". But she has some difficulty correlating the old Becks with the woman Rebecca and wonders if there is something she is missing.
Rebecca, however, is a deeply broken character with many ghosts that she has not been able to shake in the past two decades. She thought she had left it all behind but returning to Blackwater House has brought all the old ghosts to the surface again which is only exacerbated by Ava's sudden disappearance.
What ensues is the alternating narratives of Rebecca and Kate, beginning to a couple of months before that fateful New Years Eve and following on in the wake of Ava's disappearance. As the story unfolds, the reader begins to see a very different tale emerging that Rebecca has worked hard to keep hidden.
A fast-paced read, RETURN TO BLACKWATER HOUSE is an atmospheric and chilling thriller that is nothing you would expect. It certainly has that menacing eerie sense of foreboding throughout and I think that is best put down to the setting because in all honesty, a Victorian terrace in London would not have the same impact as the dark and chilling presence of a house situated on a rugged cliff edge in Cornwall.
It's also important to note the different aspects dealt with here - addiction, neglect, abuse, rape, teen pregnancy - enmeshed with coeliac disease. However, I think the constant reference to "gluten free" was a tad over-used to the point the reader expects some nefarious character to swap out a gluten free product then sit back and watch things pan out. Once or twice maybe, but every time Rebecca went shopping or cooked a meal? It wasn't necessary as it wasn't an actual focal point of the story.
Aside from that, my only real gripe is with the ending. I get that there needed to be an ending that wrapped things up, but "Seven Years Later" could worked just as well as a simple Epilogue that rounded everything out without notching up several chapters that really didn't go anywhere. I thought the entire Part 3 fell a little flat. I would have preferred just a simple Epilogue taking place from Ava's perspective to give readers a satisfactory explanation and ending. The rest was waffle, in my opinion. It is for this reason I have to reluctantly deduct half a star, otherwise it would have been a perfect 5 star read!
Twisted in more ways than one, RETURN TO BLACKWATER HOUSE is an exciting and engaging read that is not quite what you expect. It is most certainly an atmospheric and chilling thriller filled with suspense and twists that keep on coming.
My second read by author Vikki Patis, I look forward to more of her superbly sinister thrillers. Haunting and chilling, RETURN TO BLACKWATER HOUSE is perfect for fans of dark psychological thrillers.
I would like to thank #VikkiPatis, #Netgalley, #HodderAndStoughton for an ARC of #ReturnToBlackwaterHouse in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
November 20, 2021
This is a first for me from this author and although I have a few of her books I’m annoyed at myself for waiting so long to read one.
Once I started, I found it really hard to put down. The setting was written well and set in Cornwall with the house sat on a hillside overlooking the sea it gave a slightly creepy edge to the story.
Her writing is beautiful and she managed to evoke various emotions when I read it. Psychological thrillers are my favourite genre to read and this has been a pleasure to experience such a well written story.
With its complex storyline that describes a coerced relationship in a discreet way that doesn’t overshadow the story until you’ve really got a feel for the characters was really well written.
If you like psychological thrillers you really need to add this one to your reading list.
Fabulous novel!
Once I started, I found it really hard to put down. The setting was written well and set in Cornwall with the house sat on a hillside overlooking the sea it gave a slightly creepy edge to the story.
Her writing is beautiful and she managed to evoke various emotions when I read it. Psychological thrillers are my favourite genre to read and this has been a pleasure to experience such a well written story.
With its complex storyline that describes a coerced relationship in a discreet way that doesn’t overshadow the story until you’ve really got a feel for the characters was really well written.
If you like psychological thrillers you really need to add this one to your reading list.
Fabulous novel!
April 25, 2022
I thought the plot was ridiculous unrealistic and badly written. I can see why it will appeal to the feminist brigade because every male in the storyline wasn't very pleasant (to say the least). If you have a well balanced view of the world I would avoid this book. That being said I gave 3 stars because there were parts of the book which had me a bit curious to find out what happens next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2021
I'm writing this on Sunday morning, and struggling to remember much about Friday night. And before any of you say "well, surely there's nothing unusual there", let me explain my reasoning.
It had been a long and busy week at work. I had started reading 'Return to Blackwater House' by Vikki Patis the previous weekend, putting it down with tremendous reluctance late on Sunday evening. Thereafter my reading had been limited to a few snatched chapters late at night, as I cursed the need for sleep because all I wanted to do was read more.
So on Friday, I came home as soon as I could, poured a glass of wine and picked up my kindle. The next thing I knew it was after midnight and about three-quarters of the bottle's contents had mysteriously disappeared. Also, I had come to the end of the book and my tired mind was struggling to digest what had hit it.
I've said in reviews of some of Vikki's previous novels that she really can, and does, write beautifully. But I think that she may just have surpassed herself in that prologue and first chapter. I felt every part of Rebecca Bray's sense of overwhelm as she struggles to comprehend that her fourteen-year-old stepdaughter Ava has disappeared from a sleepover on New Year's Eve. She reduces it in her head to the power of three little words - "Ava is missing" - and to the number of paces it takes her to cross her living room floor. It's wonderfully done, it's powerful and yet the way it had me well and truly drawn in seemed almost effortless.
From there ... well. I have read quite a lot of crime and psychological fiction books involving the disappearance of children and can honestly say that the plot this book follows is different to any of them. Through chapters narrated by Rebecca in both the present and the past, we are treated to a whole host of revelations, each one of which turns the book into something darker and more disturbing than I could ever have imagined it being. These are interspersed with chapters told by the police Family Liaison Officer, Kate Winters, who used to know Rebecca as a child and who is one step behind the reader in terms of what she knows. But we still feel her growing sense of unease.
As I reached the end of the novel, sitting bolt upright and wide-eyed, one of the first things I did was to flick back to the prologue and the opening chapter. Because the story had undergone such a change of direction that it almost felt as though I was reading an entirely different book to the one that I had started.
Is this a criticism? Um ... I'm not sure.
I absolutely didn't feel that twist after twist had been included almost for the sake of it. Every part of the book felt believable. But the problem for me is summed up in an admission made by the author herself in her note at the novel, in which she explains that the story has been "through the wringer" and re-written on a multitude of occasions. If I'm honest, it occasionally felt it. It just seemed a little bit disjointed, as though she had tried a bit too hard to try and find a way of fitting a number of different ideas together.
This is perhaps most apparent in the final section, in which the storyline jumps from 2020 to "seven years later". Yes, I know something similar happens in Girl, Lost and that I didn't mind it that time. But in that book, it's only the epilogue that's affected. Here, it's several chapters and they have a bearing on the main story. I found myself wondering why, if the book was to end in this way, it was necessary to start it in the New Year of 2020. 2013 would still have worked.
It's for these two reasons that I have to reluctantly deduct a fifth star. But it's as far as the criticisms go. Two points, which really are nothing more than niggles and which you really should try to ignore. Because otherwise, it's a beautifully written and compelling story in which the sense of atmosphere is palpable, the characters are well-portrayed and those that need to be are likeable. Put simply, there's a heck of a lot to like.
I must also mention - albeit a bit cryptically - another admission that Vikki makes in her author's note, this time about her own life. I'm not going to reveal what that is here, but I will say that it made me want to applaud her from the rooftops and give her a huge hug at the same time.
My thanks to the author, Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for a digital ARC of this book, which I have reviewed voluntarily and honestly. I will post my review on Goodreads now and on Amazon on publication day.
It had been a long and busy week at work. I had started reading 'Return to Blackwater House' by Vikki Patis the previous weekend, putting it down with tremendous reluctance late on Sunday evening. Thereafter my reading had been limited to a few snatched chapters late at night, as I cursed the need for sleep because all I wanted to do was read more.
So on Friday, I came home as soon as I could, poured a glass of wine and picked up my kindle. The next thing I knew it was after midnight and about three-quarters of the bottle's contents had mysteriously disappeared. Also, I had come to the end of the book and my tired mind was struggling to digest what had hit it.
I've said in reviews of some of Vikki's previous novels that she really can, and does, write beautifully. But I think that she may just have surpassed herself in that prologue and first chapter. I felt every part of Rebecca Bray's sense of overwhelm as she struggles to comprehend that her fourteen-year-old stepdaughter Ava has disappeared from a sleepover on New Year's Eve. She reduces it in her head to the power of three little words - "Ava is missing" - and to the number of paces it takes her to cross her living room floor. It's wonderfully done, it's powerful and yet the way it had me well and truly drawn in seemed almost effortless.
From there ... well. I have read quite a lot of crime and psychological fiction books involving the disappearance of children and can honestly say that the plot this book follows is different to any of them. Through chapters narrated by Rebecca in both the present and the past, we are treated to a whole host of revelations, each one of which turns the book into something darker and more disturbing than I could ever have imagined it being. These are interspersed with chapters told by the police Family Liaison Officer, Kate Winters, who used to know Rebecca as a child and who is one step behind the reader in terms of what she knows. But we still feel her growing sense of unease.
As I reached the end of the novel, sitting bolt upright and wide-eyed, one of the first things I did was to flick back to the prologue and the opening chapter. Because the story had undergone such a change of direction that it almost felt as though I was reading an entirely different book to the one that I had started.
Is this a criticism? Um ... I'm not sure.
I absolutely didn't feel that twist after twist had been included almost for the sake of it. Every part of the book felt believable. But the problem for me is summed up in an admission made by the author herself in her note at the novel, in which she explains that the story has been "through the wringer" and re-written on a multitude of occasions. If I'm honest, it occasionally felt it. It just seemed a little bit disjointed, as though she had tried a bit too hard to try and find a way of fitting a number of different ideas together.
This is perhaps most apparent in the final section, in which the storyline jumps from 2020 to "seven years later". Yes, I know something similar happens in Girl, Lost and that I didn't mind it that time. But in that book, it's only the epilogue that's affected. Here, it's several chapters and they have a bearing on the main story. I found myself wondering why, if the book was to end in this way, it was necessary to start it in the New Year of 2020. 2013 would still have worked.
It's for these two reasons that I have to reluctantly deduct a fifth star. But it's as far as the criticisms go. Two points, which really are nothing more than niggles and which you really should try to ignore. Because otherwise, it's a beautifully written and compelling story in which the sense of atmosphere is palpable, the characters are well-portrayed and those that need to be are likeable. Put simply, there's a heck of a lot to like.
I must also mention - albeit a bit cryptically - another admission that Vikki makes in her author's note, this time about her own life. I'm not going to reveal what that is here, but I will say that it made me want to applaud her from the rooftops and give her a huge hug at the same time.
My thanks to the author, Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for a digital ARC of this book, which I have reviewed voluntarily and honestly. I will post my review on Goodreads now and on Amazon on publication day.
February 21, 2022
An incredibly atmospheric read, full of unpredictable twists and turns!
Living just across the border from Cornwall and reading this book during storm Eunice made it very easy for me to imagine the setting for this brilliant thriller. As usual, Vikki has done a great job with creating a suspenseful read that also has a heart-wrenching story at the core.
Rebecca didn’t have it easy growing up, living in what can only be described as a drug den where she was left to fend for herself, she did well to get away and make something of her life. It’s been a long time since she’s been back to the Cornish village she grew up in, but now an opportunity has arisen that sees Rebecca returning for good! Bringing her fiancé and stepdaughter with her, she is hoping this will be the fresh start they need as a family, but things aren’t going to be that straightforward, especially when her stepdaughter Ava goes missing!
The chapters alternate between the present and the past as we follow the search for Ava and return to the events of Rebecca’s younger years. The first half was slightly slower paced, but I kept turning those pages, keen to know where the story was heading. I had so many questions and theories along the way and I did wonder at times whether it was going to end up being a predictable read.
Once I passed the mid-point though, this became a much faster-paced thriller, and I couldn’t put it down. With twists and turns galore, predictable this book was not! I am in awe of any author who manages to shock and surprise me with their twists, this book was so cleverly plotted for everything to weave together the way it did, so much of what happened I really didn’t see coming.
Vikki is incredibly diverse with her writing, including characters from different ethnic backgrounds and those with different sexual orientations, as well as characters who have certain food allergies. It is really refreshing to read a book like this because it is very relevant and realistic.
You may think when reading this that the characters eat a lot of takeaway pizza! Haha. This was one of my thoughts but having lived in Cornwall myself I know that the takeaway options can be rather limited. 😂
There is one particular part of this story that I absolutely loved, but I can’t say what it is without giving away a spoiler, so all I will say is that you must read this brilliant, atmospheric, chilling and emotional story.
Thank you to Vikki Patis, Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalleyfor my copy of this book. All views are my own.
Living just across the border from Cornwall and reading this book during storm Eunice made it very easy for me to imagine the setting for this brilliant thriller. As usual, Vikki has done a great job with creating a suspenseful read that also has a heart-wrenching story at the core.
Rebecca didn’t have it easy growing up, living in what can only be described as a drug den where she was left to fend for herself, she did well to get away and make something of her life. It’s been a long time since she’s been back to the Cornish village she grew up in, but now an opportunity has arisen that sees Rebecca returning for good! Bringing her fiancé and stepdaughter with her, she is hoping this will be the fresh start they need as a family, but things aren’t going to be that straightforward, especially when her stepdaughter Ava goes missing!
The chapters alternate between the present and the past as we follow the search for Ava and return to the events of Rebecca’s younger years. The first half was slightly slower paced, but I kept turning those pages, keen to know where the story was heading. I had so many questions and theories along the way and I did wonder at times whether it was going to end up being a predictable read.
Once I passed the mid-point though, this became a much faster-paced thriller, and I couldn’t put it down. With twists and turns galore, predictable this book was not! I am in awe of any author who manages to shock and surprise me with their twists, this book was so cleverly plotted for everything to weave together the way it did, so much of what happened I really didn’t see coming.
Vikki is incredibly diverse with her writing, including characters from different ethnic backgrounds and those with different sexual orientations, as well as characters who have certain food allergies. It is really refreshing to read a book like this because it is very relevant and realistic.
You may think when reading this that the characters eat a lot of takeaway pizza! Haha. This was one of my thoughts but having lived in Cornwall myself I know that the takeaway options can be rather limited. 😂
There is one particular part of this story that I absolutely loved, but I can’t say what it is without giving away a spoiler, so all I will say is that you must read this brilliant, atmospheric, chilling and emotional story.
Thank you to Vikki Patis, Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalleyfor my copy of this book. All views are my own.
February 22, 2022
This is my first book by Vikki Patis, and was a great introduction to her as an author. The story builds up into a fast-paced, action-filled thriller, which, at times, had me on the edge of my seat, racing through to see what was coming next.
The story started gradually in the first half of the book, clearly setting up the main characters (Rebecca, Daniel & Ava) and the setting, Blackwater House in a beautiful, sometimes harsh Cornish village.
Told from Rebecca’s two timelines, childhood and then Christmas 2020, the pace builds with clues about the past lives of both Rebecca & Daniel and the anomalies within their unusual relationship. I found myself on edge ‘watching’ the household interactions. Add in an alternative narrator Kate, a police officer and FLO, who Rebecca knew in her childhood and you are set for a great thriller.
What seemed like a troubling mystery suddenly gathers pace and menace in the second half as Rebecca (Becks) backstory reveals a much more troubled and dangerous past than we knew already. The twists and turns come rapidly and I was totally gripped trying to predict where the story was taking me.
There are several very challenging subjects dealt with in this book, which I felt were handled with sensitivity and understanding, whilst also creating huge empathy for the darkness and depths of some horrendously desperate situations.
The acknowledgments at the end contain a powerful reminder to the reader of the harsh realities of parts of this story.
The story started gradually in the first half of the book, clearly setting up the main characters (Rebecca, Daniel & Ava) and the setting, Blackwater House in a beautiful, sometimes harsh Cornish village.
Told from Rebecca’s two timelines, childhood and then Christmas 2020, the pace builds with clues about the past lives of both Rebecca & Daniel and the anomalies within their unusual relationship. I found myself on edge ‘watching’ the household interactions. Add in an alternative narrator Kate, a police officer and FLO, who Rebecca knew in her childhood and you are set for a great thriller.
What seemed like a troubling mystery suddenly gathers pace and menace in the second half as Rebecca (Becks) backstory reveals a much more troubled and dangerous past than we knew already. The twists and turns come rapidly and I was totally gripped trying to predict where the story was taking me.
There are several very challenging subjects dealt with in this book, which I felt were handled with sensitivity and understanding, whilst also creating huge empathy for the darkness and depths of some horrendously desperate situations.
The acknowledgments at the end contain a powerful reminder to the reader of the harsh realities of parts of this story.
February 22, 2022
This is my first book by Vikki Patis, and was a great introduction to her as an author. The story builds up into a fast-paced, action-filled thriller, which, at times, had me on the edge of my seat, racing through to see what was coming next.
The story started gradually in the first half of the book, clearly setting up the main characters (Rebecca, Daniel & Ava) and the setting, Blackwater House in a beautiful, sometimes harsh Cornish village.
Told from Rebecca’s two timelines, childhood and then Christmas 2020, the pace builds with clues about the past lives of both Rebecca & Daniel and the anomalies within their unusual relationship. I found myself on edge ‘watching’ the household interactions. Add in an alternative narrator Kate, a police officer and FLO, who Rebecca knew in her childhood and you are set for a great thriller.
What seemed like a troubling mystery suddenly gathers pace and menace in the second half as Rebecca (Becks) backstory reveals a much more troubled and dangerous past than we knew already. The twists and turns come rapidly and I was totally gripped trying to predict where the story was taking me.
There are several very challenging subjects dealt with in this book, which I felt were handled with sensitivity and understanding, whilst also creating huge empathy for the darkness and depths of some horrendously desperate situations.
The acknowledgments at the end contain a powerful reminder to the reader of the harsh realities of parts of this story.
The story started gradually in the first half of the book, clearly setting up the main characters (Rebecca, Daniel & Ava) and the setting, Blackwater House in a beautiful, sometimes harsh Cornish village.
Told from Rebecca’s two timelines, childhood and then Christmas 2020, the pace builds with clues about the past lives of both Rebecca & Daniel and the anomalies within their unusual relationship. I found myself on edge ‘watching’ the household interactions. Add in an alternative narrator Kate, a police officer and FLO, who Rebecca knew in her childhood and you are set for a great thriller.
What seemed like a troubling mystery suddenly gathers pace and menace in the second half as Rebecca (Becks) backstory reveals a much more troubled and dangerous past than we knew already. The twists and turns come rapidly and I was totally gripped trying to predict where the story was taking me.
There are several very challenging subjects dealt with in this book, which I felt were handled with sensitivity and understanding, whilst also creating huge empathy for the darkness and depths of some horrendously desperate situations.
The acknowledgments at the end contain a powerful reminder to the reader of the harsh realities of parts of this story.
April 30, 2022
Book Review: Return to Blackwater House by Vikki Patis
Rating: 🐾🐾
Genre: Thriller
Published: 3/1/22
Review: I really hate giving low ratings for books. But this one did not capture my attention. I won the book on a Goodreads giveaway so I felt obligated to read it till the end. Otherwise I would have DNF’d it early on. I felt that sometimes the chapters went off on tangents and the chapter said that it was in the present and then would switch back to a previous memory. Just a lot of jumping around and some information that I don’t think was necessary in the book. I finished it more confused than ever…
Summary: You can run from your past, but you can't escape it forever...Rebecca Bray has moved on from a childhood she wants to forget. She has the dream fiancé, a loving stepdaughter and a career she's proud of. But with a move back to her hometown of Cornwall, everything she wanted to bury starts to surface. And when her stepdaughter goes missing at a New Year's Eve party, Rebecca must finally face the ghosts of her past - or Ava might never come home safely...A haunting, addictive read that will keep you up way past your bedtime, and wondering what those bumps in the night really are.
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Rating: 🐾🐾
Genre: Thriller
Published: 3/1/22
Review: I really hate giving low ratings for books. But this one did not capture my attention. I won the book on a Goodreads giveaway so I felt obligated to read it till the end. Otherwise I would have DNF’d it early on. I felt that sometimes the chapters went off on tangents and the chapter said that it was in the present and then would switch back to a previous memory. Just a lot of jumping around and some information that I don’t think was necessary in the book. I finished it more confused than ever…
Summary: You can run from your past, but you can't escape it forever...Rebecca Bray has moved on from a childhood she wants to forget. She has the dream fiancé, a loving stepdaughter and a career she's proud of. But with a move back to her hometown of Cornwall, everything she wanted to bury starts to surface. And when her stepdaughter goes missing at a New Year's Eve party, Rebecca must finally face the ghosts of her past - or Ava might never come home safely...A haunting, addictive read that will keep you up way past your bedtime, and wondering what those bumps in the night really are.
#mybookfeatures #bookstagrammer #bookstagramit #bookstagram #bibliophile #booksaremylife #readaholic #instabooks #bookcollector #bookcollection #bookhaul #bookcommunity #bookstack #bookaholic #tbrlist #booklover #bookaddict #readinglife #bookshelf #bookrecommendations #bookreview #returntoblackwaterhouse #nikkipatis #thrillerbooks #thrillerbooksaddict
June 30, 2025
Return to Blackwater House is a haunting and atmospheric tale that had me hooked and glued to the pages. Once again Patis has delivered a first class read which I absolutely loved!
Before you think, “not another missing child story”, there is so much more to this. So much more. It is quite dark, but powerfully compelling and it evoked many different emotions within me.
Set in a fictional Cornish seaside village, that compliments the story well, it moves swiftly from the outset starting with Ava’s disappearance and moves seamlessly from current, to a few months before and past tense. The reader is given an in-depth backstory and how these events are entwined in the current storyline, Its twists and turns shock and are very well done.
The cast of characters have been well crafted and are diverse. I loved Rebecca’s character and she pulled on my heartstrings. Kate, as the family liaison officer assigned after Ava’s disappearance, is another standout.
If there is one book you need to read this year, Return to Blackwater House is it. Patis is a powerhouse in the psychological thriller genre and knows her stuff. Perfectly plotted, written, and one that pulls you in and doesn’t let go until the final page, this book is definitely one of my best reads of the year!
Before you think, “not another missing child story”, there is so much more to this. So much more. It is quite dark, but powerfully compelling and it evoked many different emotions within me.
Set in a fictional Cornish seaside village, that compliments the story well, it moves swiftly from the outset starting with Ava’s disappearance and moves seamlessly from current, to a few months before and past tense. The reader is given an in-depth backstory and how these events are entwined in the current storyline, Its twists and turns shock and are very well done.
The cast of characters have been well crafted and are diverse. I loved Rebecca’s character and she pulled on my heartstrings. Kate, as the family liaison officer assigned after Ava’s disappearance, is another standout.
If there is one book you need to read this year, Return to Blackwater House is it. Patis is a powerhouse in the psychological thriller genre and knows her stuff. Perfectly plotted, written, and one that pulls you in and doesn’t let go until the final page, this book is definitely one of my best reads of the year!
January 8, 2022
I absolutely LOVED "Return to Blackwater House" by Vikki Patis.
The storyline is a good one and I was so glad to find it wasn't another standard 'little girl gone missing' thriller as there are so many stories along those lines nowadays!.
This storyline follows Rebecca and her move back to her original hometown in Cornwall after inheriting Blackwater House from Gwen.
Taking with her to Cornwall to live- her husband Daniel and 14 year old Step daughter Ava whom she has raised from birth.
But on New Years Eve, whilst at her own sleepover- Ava dissapears in the middle of the night. The storyline unwinds from there, whilst also following the family liaison officer Kate's life (who also happened to know Rebecca when she was younger) .
I loved the plot twist in the storyline, I don't think I was quite expecting it to go that way- so it was a pleasant shock. I also loved how the storyline continued to play out after Ava had been found. This made the storyline feel more 'full' rather than rushed and tied up quickly like most thrillers tend to do
Recommended Read. 5 Stars from me! *****
The storyline is a good one and I was so glad to find it wasn't another standard 'little girl gone missing' thriller as there are so many stories along those lines nowadays!.
This storyline follows Rebecca and her move back to her original hometown in Cornwall after inheriting Blackwater House from Gwen.
Taking with her to Cornwall to live- her husband Daniel and 14 year old Step daughter Ava whom she has raised from birth.
But on New Years Eve, whilst at her own sleepover- Ava dissapears in the middle of the night. The storyline unwinds from there, whilst also following the family liaison officer Kate's life (who also happened to know Rebecca when she was younger) .
I loved the plot twist in the storyline, I don't think I was quite expecting it to go that way- so it was a pleasant shock. I also loved how the storyline continued to play out after Ava had been found. This made the storyline feel more 'full' rather than rushed and tied up quickly like most thrillers tend to do
Recommended Read. 5 Stars from me! *****
June 28, 2023
Rebecca has been left Blackwater House by Gwen an elderly lady who once befriended her. Rebecca had a very tragic and troubled childhood, her mother Gemma and stepfather Terry were drug addicts. She moved away when she started uni and met Daniel, recently widowed bringing up a baby, Ava, alone. They decide to move to Blackwater House, high up on the cliffs by the sea in Cornwall. The house is in an idyllic spot and Rebecca believes it will be an ideal place for Ava to grow up. But On New Years Eve Ava vanishes from a sleepover at the house.
The story is told by Rebecca in both the present day and past. And Kate the family liaison officer assigned to the case. Kate remembers Rebecca from their childhood and knows of her upbringing. There are lots of buried secrets and lies and for Rebecca the ghosts of her past are finally catching up with her.
I enjoyed the book and read it fairly quickly. It's quite dark in places and deals with many issues such as drug abuse, neglect and domestic violence. I will certainly be looking out for more from this author.
The story is told by Rebecca in both the present day and past. And Kate the family liaison officer assigned to the case. Kate remembers Rebecca from their childhood and knows of her upbringing. There are lots of buried secrets and lies and for Rebecca the ghosts of her past are finally catching up with her.
I enjoyed the book and read it fairly quickly. It's quite dark in places and deals with many issues such as drug abuse, neglect and domestic violence. I will certainly be looking out for more from this author.
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