Maiden Point

by J.T. Croft

Don’t be afraid, let go...

Bereaved and crushed by terrible guilt, discredited psychiatrist James Marshall grapples with the pain and demotion back to his home town on the Cornish coast, seeking solace in the professional wilderness away from a former high-flying career. But when he stumbles upon a strange woman wandering alone on the wild and dangerous headland of Maiden Point, their fates quickly collide… and he’s brought face-to-face with his own family’s secrets and links to the supernatural.

Emily remembers nothing of her past. Stuck in the grip of amnesia, she struggles to piece together her identity – and what led her to the fateful clifftop. Lost in a world of local legends and incredible coincidences, James must decide whether to believe her stories of a paranormal protector… or if her tales are nothing more than psychological trauma.

As his grip on reality begins to unravel, he’s faced with the increasingly difficult task of sifting fact from fiction. A strange music box, a lullaby, and a curious family heirloom yield valuable secrets that lead him deeper and deeper into a reality that his rational mind dismissed as mere superstition.

And when the woman’s past finally catches up with her, can James unearth the truth to save the past and present maidens of Maiden Point?

Perfect for fans of authors including Sarah Maine, Laura Purcell, and Wendy Webb, Maiden Point is a hauntingly beautiful novel that grapples with timeless themes of redemption, regret, and overcoming the ghosts of the past, all set on the rugged and beautiful Cornish coastline. Scroll up and grab your copy today…

Genres: Historical Fiction

422 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 8, 2022

About the author

J. T. Croft is a Gothic and speculative fiction author with a passion for tales both fantastical and supernatural.

An avid fan of Gothic fantasy and ghost stories, J. T. imbues his work with strong emotional themes designed to tug readers’ hearts and make them think. His stories roam between good and evil, exploring the grey area between with a melancholy, bittersweet, and strangely charming feel.

J. T. Croft is enchanted by the works of Edwardian ghostwriters such as M. R. James, E. Nesbit, and E. F. Benson, as much as the Gothic works of Laura Purcell, Susan Hill, and Daphne du Maurier.

When not writing, he enjoys listening to podcasts, drinking coffee, and spending time with his partner and their grey tabby in Worcestershire, UK.

Website - www.jtcroft.com
Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/jtcroftauthor/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jtcroftauthor
Twitter - https://twitter.com/jtcroftauthor
BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-t-c...

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of ARC reading Maiden Point, and
can honestly say, it is absolutely some of Justin's
finest work yet. Truly compelling from start to finish,
it was so difficult to put down. I thought it would be
difficult to top the brilliant 'A House of Bells', but
Justin really has pulled out of the bag again. Super
read, highly recommended.

[Richard Brulotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are into ghost and paranormal stories -- J.T. Croft NEVER disappoints. Not one of your run of the mill paranormal books, Croft's imagination takes you in so many atypical directions. At first read, I had decided that this was definitely going to be something different -- truly a psychological mystery, but was I surprised! A sucker for anything set in the Cornish countryside of England and well developed characters, I was hooked after the first chapter. James Marshall, a psychiatrist who finds himself at a very low point in his life, struggles to find his way back and is faced with a very difficult case. At first I was sure this would be a book about someone with multiple personalities, but as usual -- the paranormal crept in. If you haven't picked up one of Croft's books, then do so now. Croft's paranormal stories are not your usual ghost stories and take you places you least expect. The further into the book I got, the more driven I was to cast aside anything I needed to be doing and spent all my time reading to find out how this story was going to end. The frenetic ending will leave you truly exhausted, but very satisfied. In fact, I loved the Marshall character so much that I hope Croft will revisit him and his psychiatric cases as this book made for one great read!

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Isabel Pasrod · Rating 1 out of 5]

When November started, I was not ready to let go of spooky season just yet. So I decided it was time to read Maiden Point, a psychological ghost story. Unfortunately for me, there wasn’t enough spookiness.

There were a couple of things that prevented me from fully enjoying this story:
-Work: for the first half of the book, I felt like I was an uncomfortable third wheel in a work environment among mental health professionals.
-Dialogues: also, for that first 50% percent of the book, I found there were a lot of things about the story and certain characters told through dialogue and not enough from the third person narrator. I’ve never read a book like this before so I guess I was a bit disconcerted.
-Pacing: to me, the story doesn’t pick up until that halfway mark. So the first half did make me struggle to keep reading.
-That twist: there was a reveal at around that same 50% percent mark that made me so angry. To me, that needn’t be there. The story still could’ve worked without including, shall we say, a surprise character.
-Unprofessional: the main character, James, had already been demoted and warned about his position, so the way he acted all throughout the novel, so unprofessionally, didn’t really make sense for me.

At about 60%, the story and pacing sort of drastically changed into a mystery thriller which made me finally feel invested in the characters and the plot. The ending was a happy one actually, but I was a bit confused about certain marriage because I did not see that coming. Too out of the blue for me.

Overall, Maiden Point was not exactly the kind of read I was looking for. It didn’t have a lot of paranormal happenings and the story felt too serious for my liking.

Remember the enjoyment of a book is personal and subjective. What I didn’t like, you might love. Personally, this wasn’t for me, but no doubt it will find readers who truly enjoy James’ story.

Thanks to the author for sending my an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan M Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very unusual story!

This is a new twist on the Gothic spectrum.

James struggled in so many ways. The death of a patient by suicide and his wife's death due to leukemia. His fathers illness. The unbalance of his new patient and the expectations of his career. I think the best phrase in the book is" just let go."

[Christine RN-H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take a day off, make yourself comfortable at your favourite reading place and ensure you're not going to be disturbed for a couple of hours before opening Maiden Point - this is one of those "just one more chapter" novels that will keep you on your toes until the very end with its unexpected twists and turns. The past invades the present, the supernatural the rational in this captivating and highly entertaining piece, and there is everything the reader can wish for: suspense, action, romance, struggles to overcome personal tragedies, eerie elements and the beautiful Cornish landscape. I particularly enjoyed the authors eloquence regarding comparisons - some text passages still linger in my memory.

For psychiatrist James Marshall, the last half year has been the worst time of his life. Ever struggling to step out of his father's (an eminent authority in psychiatry) shadow, James now stands accused of having gone rogue in the treatment of his latest case and thus being responsible for its fatal outcome. While highly qualified and much needed in the chronically understaffed mental health sector, James is deemed unfit to deal with patients unsupervised. Having barely avoided dismissal, he finds himself relegated to his insignificant Cornish hometown, where he is to practice under the close supervision of Caroline, his line manager, whose fondness of James might jeopardize her own career if he were to screw up again. To add insult to injury, James is to undergo constant evaluation and therapy himself during this time of probation. In all objectivity, though, James indeed has accumulated a lifetime's worth of issues that could well compromise his judgement: the loss of his mother at a young age, his upbringing by his emotionally distant, workaholic, controlling and now terminally ill father Edward, the recent death of James's wife, his professional failure... Entangled in loss, grief, resentment and guilt, James is at a dead end, doubts the very foundations of his life script and therefore takes little interest in the talk of the town, the mysterious disappearance of a young woman after her failed attempt at suicide at the cliffs of Maiden Point. Yet it is James who stumples upon the confused and highly vulnerable stranger, and to his dismay Caroline makes him take on her case, wanting him to face and overcome the trauma of the suicide of a patient. James's new charge, battered and bruised beyond what her recent ordeal could explain, can't remember who she is or what brought her to Maiden Point, but keeps offering up bits and pieces of memories from a past incompatible with the experiences of a modern-time-woman like herself. It seems fairly obvious what is happening - trauma seems to have led to the creation of an alter ego called "May Dene", a young woman like its apparent creatress, but unlike her a capable, determined personality who takes over whenever her deeply unhinged host can't deal with a situation. Still, this working hypothesis presents too many loose ends to sit comfortably with James. By now he should know better than to act on his intuition, but once again he seems to loose all perspective in a case, heedless of all warnings. It does not help that local folklore and age-old traditions are still going strong in this part of the world, and that the strangest coincidences take place; it's as if James were allowed tantalizing glimpses of hidden truths and connections. Yet, James is confronted all the time with the fact that he seems to be the only one to see through outward appearances, and as a psychiatrist he knows what that might mean... "May Dene", the supposed alter ego, presents herself as an educated, well-bred daughter of local rural gentry, belonging to an era long gone by, and she is quite the opposite of her host, who evidently is firmly rooted in the lower classes of some modern city. "May" seems ever more real, following her own agenda, able to convincingly evoke visions of a bygone age in a matching archaic way of speech, even lending her host abilities not easily accounted for today. Horsemanship, artistic drawing and pleasant conversation once were cultivated in a young lady in order to raise her value on the marriage market, but in the 21st century these skills no longer feature in female education. When James's charge is finally identified as Emily Dunn, her case takes on an altogether unexpected dimension as the police uncovers her being on the run from a dangerous criminal to whom she was accomplice before she made off with his car and a significant amount of money belonging to a Mafia boss. So the last thing Emily needs is to attract national media interest - which she unfortunately does when she spectacularly rescues a child at a local fair from possibly getting killed when the horse he rides at that time bolts. Emily's place of hiding is now common knowledge, and it can only be a question of time until her past (or "May's"?) catches up with her... and whoever happens to stand between her and her pursuers when that happens is likely to end up as a collateral damage. James has little time left to figure out if Emily is truly deranged, faking it all in order to manipulate him, or if "May" is a conscious mind that somehow survived the death of the body it originally inhabitated. Caroline urges James to enlist the help of his father, in the hope that Edward's influence ensures that his sons 's final evaluation of Emily's case follows conventional psychiatry, thus restoring his damaged professional reputation, while bringing about a sort of closure for both men before it's too late. James grudgingly accedes to a collaboration with his father, who not only proves to still be the same old puppet master, but also apparently has already met "May", way before James did. History seems to repeat itself over again, with James being but a pawn in a game he does not understand...

Annotation: I had the pleasure of receiving an ARC of Maiden Point in exchange for a honest opinion.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another intriguing story that is well written. A psychological ghost story that will haunt you to binge read. The characters and plot, the scenery , impossible to not love.

[Becky Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

MAIDEN POINT by J.T. Croft is a book that hit the spot, whether because it was the right book at the right time or something about the story that lingers behind my ribs.

The story is set on the Cornish coast and follows James Marshall, a recently bereaved psychiatrist, who stumbles upon a naked and bewildered woman on the dangerous headland of Maiden Point. The woman is suffering from amnesia, but she has memories of another woman from long ago. James is determined to unravel the mystery. There is far more to this story, but to avoid spoilers, I urge you to read it.

The book is a masterstroke. The author's meticulous research and attention to detail are evident in the way all the facts align perfectly. The dialogue and prose flow effortlessly, drawing the reader into the story. This captivating tale will stay with me.

This book is perfect for lovers of gothic fiction, rural mysteries, and quality writing.

[melissa p. bulyko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant storyline, incredible pace and compelling characters

I wish this author had 12 more books for me, now I've discovered him. I read House of Bells first, and loved it so much, I could not imagine liking anything else as much. This book was different, but brilliantly conceived and written. What an incredible concept, even after all the various iterations of this type, without spoiling anything. And anything based in Cornish history and background grabs me immediately. This book was wonderful.

[Audrey Stars in Her Eye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sharing the spirit of Gene Brewer's K-PAK, readers are presented with two options: everything is just a psychological condition or something supernatural is happening.

After losing his wife and becoming over-attached to his last patient, psychiatrist James Marshall is demoted back to his hometown on the Cornish coast. This allows a bit of professional slow down instead of his overreaching high-flying career. But when he just can't keep things low-key in his life. While traversing the local cemetery, James stumbles upon a woman who can not remember where she is and why. The only fact they can come up with is that she was going to throw herself from Maiden's Point but somehow didn't. Lost in a world of local legends and incredible coincidences, James and his charge Emily must decide whether to believe her stories of a paranormal protector or if it is a side effect of psychological trauma. A strange music box, a lullaby, and a curious family heirloom reveal valuable secrets and push James toward ghosts. But has stress cracked James for good?

This question is up for readers to decode until the end. J. T. Croft finally gives a lovely conclusion. But I really would have liked more of the supernatural aspect. The majority of the book doesn't really go into the supernatural but does create great psychological discussion. It all flows nicely to the conclusion though. Unlike K-PAK though, there is no ambiguity here; Croft lets you know one way or the other what is going on.

I am a huge fan of Croft's short stories. After reading this, I think those are his best work. I feel like there is a lot of filler and repetition in the book that I don't find in his shorter work. I expected a bit more complexity of the characters now that was space and time to flesh them out. I'd love to see him use the space a novel allows a little bit more concisely, moving the story along or fleshing out charterers.

I enjoyed the story. I love psychological mysteries, and this is what James faces I enjoyed the inclusion of hypnosis, family trauma for both the therapist and the client, and the supernatural mystery led by tiny breadcrumbs. I wanted bigger bread crumbs, but when I arrived at the metaphorical bread loaf, the story ends in a beautiful way that is worth waiting for.

I have yet to read Croft's other novel so this is the only experience I have with his longer work. Maiden's Point has a great story that needed a little sharping and a little bit more depth.

I received an ARC from the writer; all opinions are my own.

[Sara-Louise Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up after reading A House of Bells, which I loved. Although I did enjoy this book, I didn't like it as much as the former. The first half of Maiden Point is very dialogue heavy, and sees us, as readers, essentially bear witness to various discussions between psychiatry professionals. Although this provides relevant and interesting background information, I personally think this could have been condensed. My concern is that some people will put down the book before they've got through that first half.

I will say, though, that the payoff for sticking with it is totally worth it. In the second half of the book, the pace picks up dramatically and the unfolding story becomes much more riveting. Additionally, there is far more description, creating an intriguing atmosphere and making it a more enjoyable read.

The story itself is very good, with well developed, believable characters. The main character is somewhat ambiguous: while I didn't actively dislike him, I was definitely unsure of him. However, as the book went on I developed a better understanding of this complex character, and found myself routing for him more and more.

One of the reasons I was somewhat disappointed with the book at first is that, based on the blurb, I was expecting similar gothic vibes to A House of Bells. For me, this didn't feel like a gothic novel, but that's OK. Had I gone into it without that expectation, I think I'd have enjoyed it more from the start.

With all that being said, I'm definitely glad I read this book. It deals sensitively and gracefully with some heavy themes, and carries an overall message that I found touching and meaningful. I already have several more of JT Croft's books downloaded onto my kindle TBR!

[Jennifer Newbold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another way of being

An intricate tale of psychiatry overlapped by something far older; with an added hint of history and folklore, it’s the kind of thing I usually fall for. Is there another way of being, apart from the consciousness we think of as everyday life?

I found the story compelling, but the execution needed some polishing. At times the writing was unwieldy and unclear (which was particularly awkward when it concerned psychiatric practice, of which I know practically nothing). It required me to go back and re-read, which interrupted the flow of the narrative. I also wanted to feel more invested in the main characters, but they seemed to keep themselves at arms-length. At times the protagonist isn’t even likeable, which is something I appreciate in a protagonist. But this wasn’t completely developed, and so I didn’t have the satisfaction of experiencing his change of attitude first-hand.

Regardless, Croft addresses an unusual premise successfully, and that in itself makes the book worth reading.

[G.R. Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

character drive. paranormal suspense

Intriguing suspense story with a paranormal edge. I love an imperfect protagonist and James is very much that, yet, despite a past that questions his ability to think clearly as a psychiatrist, he sticks to his instincts, follows through and believes in his convictions. This story drew me in perfectly, I easily slipped into the authors world… a truly bittersweet story

[L.B. Stimson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second novel I’ve read by Croft. Maiden Point is described as a “Hauntingly Beautiful Psychological Ghost Story.” This description nails it. The writing is evocative and threaded with the poetic prose of Gothic Horror while blending this writing style within a novel set in modern times.

There are plenty of twists to keep the reader engaged as the cast of characters struggle with the challenges of their broken lives. At times I was certain I had figured out one of the mysteries only to be surprised at the next turn of events.

I shall be reading more from this author.

[Julia Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite a good story and I enjoyed it. I think there was perhaps too much psychology and behavioural science inserted in the story which held up the plot a bit. But I knew from the beginning who May was so I wasn't surprised by the ending.
I thought James a flawed hero and those are usually the best kind.
I would recommend Maiden Point for anyone who enjoys a psychic story with a twist.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

not my favorite

Gothic horror or ghost stories are apt to be quite wordy and you go in expecting thus. However this one was too wordy and I found myself skipping a lot of superfluous dialogue especially concerning Marshall. Its was very good as a usual JT Croft but not anywhere near a favorite of theirs.

[Julian Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Modern day Gothic Goodness

Love me a great gothic story and this one checks all the boxes. Yes, it’s modern day - but it’s got everything and it’s a treat. JT continues to deliver with his continued collection of stories guaranteed to chill and warm the heart. Recommended. ❤️❤️❤️

[Pamela Trebotich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good gothic tale

I loved all the characters in this novel. I enjoyed how the author used the present day and the long distant past to tell this story. I've read several gothic novels and I really enjoy them.

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay. Rough start. It was sooooo slow. I nearly stopped a dozen times. But once I got about 1/3 in, I felt the need to stick it out. The ending was solid. Too much dialouge and not enough description.

[David Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mesmerizing

Great character development with just a touch of the paranormal..the correlation between mental illness and past lives was thought provoking.

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring. Stopped at page 20.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my 2nd J.T. Croft book, and it definitely had mystical supernatural elements in it. I wasn't a fan of the male protagonist at first. It took me a while to warm to his character, but eventually, I did.