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The House at Helygen
'DARK, DISTURBING AND UTTERLY COMPELLING' LIZ FENWICK
An atmospheric historical suspense novel rich with familial secrets. The House at Helygen is a twisted tale of dark pasts, murderous presents and uncertain futures.
2019
When Henry Fox is found dead in his ancestral home in Cornwall, the police rule it a suicide, but his pregnant wife, Josie, believes it was murder. Desperate to make sense of Henry's death she embarks on a quest to learn the truth, all under the watchful eyes of Henry's overbearing mother. Josie soon finds herself wrestling against the dark history of Helygen House and ghosts from the past that refuse to stay buried.
1881
New bride Eliza arrives at Helygen House with high hopes for her marriage. Yet when she meets her new mother-in-law, an icy and forbidding woman, her dreams of a new life are dashed. And when Eliza starts to hear voices in the walls of the house, she begins to fear for her sanity and her life.
Can Josie piece together the past to make sense of her present, or will the secrets of Helygen House and its inhabitants forever remain a mystery?
PRAISE FOR THE HOUSE AT HELYGEN
'Inventive, haunting and skilfully crafted' Phoebe Wynne
'Mysterious, atmospheric and chilling' Anita Frank
'Haunting and emotional' Lisa Hall
'I could not put it down' Louise Beech
'Leaves you breathlessly wanting more' Nydia Hetherington
'A chilling, unforgettable, historical drama' Karin Nordin
'I absolutely loved this novel' Helen Scarlett ,
An atmospheric historical suspense novel rich with familial secrets. The House at Helygen is a twisted tale of dark pasts, murderous presents and uncertain futures.
2019
When Henry Fox is found dead in his ancestral home in Cornwall, the police rule it a suicide, but his pregnant wife, Josie, believes it was murder. Desperate to make sense of Henry's death she embarks on a quest to learn the truth, all under the watchful eyes of Henry's overbearing mother. Josie soon finds herself wrestling against the dark history of Helygen House and ghosts from the past that refuse to stay buried.
1881
New bride Eliza arrives at Helygen House with high hopes for her marriage. Yet when she meets her new mother-in-law, an icy and forbidding woman, her dreams of a new life are dashed. And when Eliza starts to hear voices in the walls of the house, she begins to fear for her sanity and her life.
Can Josie piece together the past to make sense of her present, or will the secrets of Helygen House and its inhabitants forever remain a mystery?
PRAISE FOR THE HOUSE AT HELYGEN
'Inventive, haunting and skilfully crafted' Phoebe Wynne
'Mysterious, atmospheric and chilling' Anita Frank
'Haunting and emotional' Lisa Hall
'I could not put it down' Louise Beech
'Leaves you breathlessly wanting more' Nydia Hetherington
'A chilling, unforgettable, historical drama' Karin Nordin
'I absolutely loved this novel' Helen Scarlett ,
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 14, 2022
66 people are currently reading
2194 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Hawthorne
2 books40 followersThis author is also published under the pen name Vikki Patis.
Victoria Hawthorne is an author of gothic historical fiction. Her debut novel, The House at Helygen, was published by Quercus in April 2022, and later became a bestseller. The Darkest Night was published in April 2024 and was the runner-up for the ADCI Literary Prize.
She also writes psychological suspense with a gothic twist as Vikki Patis. Return to Blackwater House was published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2022, and her debut horror novel will be published in 2026.
She lives in Scotland with her wife, two wild golden retrievers, and an even wilder cat.
Victoria Hawthorne is an author of gothic historical fiction. Her debut novel, The House at Helygen, was published by Quercus in April 2022, and later became a bestseller. The Darkest Night was published in April 2024 and was the runner-up for the ADCI Literary Prize.
She also writes psychological suspense with a gothic twist as Vikki Patis. Return to Blackwater House was published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2022, and her debut horror novel will be published in 2026.
She lives in Scotland with her wife, two wild golden retrievers, and an even wilder cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
April 4, 2022
Described in the blurb as "An atmospheric historical suspense novel rich with familial secrets and strong female protagonists. The House at Helygen is a twisted tale of dark pasts, murderous presents and uncertain futures."
I will not argue with any of that. The atmosphere is dark, there is plenty of suspense and some of the females are so strong they are aggressive. The story darts backwards and forwards between the 1840's, the 1880's and today and the murders are plentiful indeed.
I very much enjoyed the Cornish setting and was absorbed by the plot especially as it related to the present day. I feared for Willow's life every time her mother left the room and that alone kept me sitting on the edge of my seat.
My only criticism would be that the author got rather carried away with her "twisted tale of dark pasts." There were murders, drownings, people locked in attics, people who were quite insane, suggestions of haunting, buildings burning down and more. In the end it was all a bit of a muddle. I think I must have become jaded with historical fiction being set in multiple timelines and this may have to be the last one I try for a while.
Lots of people will love this book but for me it was just okay.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I will not argue with any of that. The atmosphere is dark, there is plenty of suspense and some of the females are so strong they are aggressive. The story darts backwards and forwards between the 1840's, the 1880's and today and the murders are plentiful indeed.
I very much enjoyed the Cornish setting and was absorbed by the plot especially as it related to the present day. I feared for Willow's life every time her mother left the room and that alone kept me sitting on the edge of my seat.
My only criticism would be that the author got rather carried away with her "twisted tale of dark pasts." There were murders, drownings, people locked in attics, people who were quite insane, suggestions of haunting, buildings burning down and more. In the end it was all a bit of a muddle. I think I must have become jaded with historical fiction being set in multiple timelines and this may have to be the last one I try for a while.
Lots of people will love this book but for me it was just okay.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 24, 2022
When Henry Fox is found dead in his family’s ancestral home in Cornwall, the police rule it as a suicide and his pregnant wife Josie doesn’t believe he killed himself. Henry’s mother Alice is rather cold and aloof, she’s always made Josie feel like she wasn’t good enough for Henry and Alice accepts the official verdict.
For Josie it makes no sense, Henry was so excited about becoming a father, they had just finished renovating their apartment and had plans to start a business venture at Helygen House. Josie’s in shock, however she’s determined to find out what really happened to Henry and she's sure someone killed him. The atmosphere at Helygen House has always been odd, Alice's attitude hasn't helped and the house seems haunted.
Helygen House has always been passed down the to the eldest male heir, starting with the original owners Harriet and Edmund Fox in 1847, and then Eliza and Cassius Fox in 1881. Eliza arrives at the estate as a excited new bride, then she meets her mother-in-law Harriet and she’s a severe and forbidding woman. Cassius is busy with his business interests, Eliza feels rather dejected and alone. The house has an eerie feeling, Eliza's sure she hears voices at night and baby crying? At times Eliza thinks she's going mad, she can't tell anyone and she misses her parents.
The dual timeline story alternates between the 1840’s, 1880’s and the present time. Both Eliza and Josie feel that Helygen House has a dark and disturbing past and if only the walls could talk.
I received a copy of The House at Helygen from NetGalley and Quercus publishing in exchange for an honest review and it’s a story about a house that's the location of so many tragic and unexpected deaths over the years. Victoria Hawthorne has written a debut novel full of drama, suspense, mystery, intrigue and sinister family secrets, it keeps you guessing until the end and four stars from me.
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For Josie it makes no sense, Henry was so excited about becoming a father, they had just finished renovating their apartment and had plans to start a business venture at Helygen House. Josie’s in shock, however she’s determined to find out what really happened to Henry and she's sure someone killed him. The atmosphere at Helygen House has always been odd, Alice's attitude hasn't helped and the house seems haunted.
Helygen House has always been passed down the to the eldest male heir, starting with the original owners Harriet and Edmund Fox in 1847, and then Eliza and Cassius Fox in 1881. Eliza arrives at the estate as a excited new bride, then she meets her mother-in-law Harriet and she’s a severe and forbidding woman. Cassius is busy with his business interests, Eliza feels rather dejected and alone. The house has an eerie feeling, Eliza's sure she hears voices at night and baby crying? At times Eliza thinks she's going mad, she can't tell anyone and she misses her parents.
The dual timeline story alternates between the 1840’s, 1880’s and the present time. Both Eliza and Josie feel that Helygen House has a dark and disturbing past and if only the walls could talk.
I received a copy of The House at Helygen from NetGalley and Quercus publishing in exchange for an honest review and it’s a story about a house that's the location of so many tragic and unexpected deaths over the years. Victoria Hawthorne has written a debut novel full of drama, suspense, mystery, intrigue and sinister family secrets, it keeps you guessing until the end and four stars from me.
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/KarrenReadsH...
April 11, 2022
It was 2019 when Henry Fox and his pregnant wife Josie moved into Helygen House with their dog Ivy, looking forward to their future with the plans for renovation ready to start. The only blot on the horizon was Alice, Henry’s mother. Josie could tell she wasn’t welcomed by her mother-in-law and wondered why. But it wasn’t long after they’d arrived that Henry was found dead by shotgun, in their kitchen, with it being deemed suicide. Josie knew Henry would never have killed himself – he was looking forward to the birth of their daughter, and the continuation of their plans for Helygen House too much to leave Josie alone.
Back in the 1800s Helygen House had been passed down through the generations to the male heir. Harriet had had seven children and only one had survived. Cassius was the heir to Helygen House and his current wife Eliza always felt uneasy around Harriet. She was delighted to fall pregnant but devastated to miscarry not long afterwards. But as Eliza searched for the dark secrets she knew the house was riddled with, she had no idea how fraught with danger her future would be.
Narrated by Josie in 2019 and Eliza and Harriet in the 1800s, The House at Helygen by Victoria Hawthorne is filled with dark secrets, evil intentions and dreadful acts which flowed through the generations of the Fox family, until the current day. Josie’s baby daughter Willow was adorable, Ivy was a loyal and loving pet, and Rosie a strong, intelligent and determined young woman. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Back in the 1800s Helygen House had been passed down through the generations to the male heir. Harriet had had seven children and only one had survived. Cassius was the heir to Helygen House and his current wife Eliza always felt uneasy around Harriet. She was delighted to fall pregnant but devastated to miscarry not long afterwards. But as Eliza searched for the dark secrets she knew the house was riddled with, she had no idea how fraught with danger her future would be.
Narrated by Josie in 2019 and Eliza and Harriet in the 1800s, The House at Helygen by Victoria Hawthorne is filled with dark secrets, evil intentions and dreadful acts which flowed through the generations of the Fox family, until the current day. Josie’s baby daughter Willow was adorable, Ivy was a loyal and loving pet, and Rosie a strong, intelligent and determined young woman. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2024
This was enjoyable until the last sixty or so pages when it fell apart and became preposterous.
The Victorian story had some good ideas, and likewise the 2019 time frame, too, but meshed together it didn't work as the connections and "secrets" of Helygen House were disjointed and the culmination was simply unbelievable in the central characters' objectives, reasoning and deeds.
Not for me.
The Victorian story had some good ideas, and likewise the 2019 time frame, too, but meshed together it didn't work as the connections and "secrets" of Helygen House were disjointed and the culmination was simply unbelievable in the central characters' objectives, reasoning and deeds.
Not for me.
August 22, 2022
Moving between past and present, The House at Helygen starts off mysterious, progresses to sinister and concludes as full-on melodrama. If you’re looking for a book with the vibes of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca or Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, you’re in the right place. The present day Helygen House even has a west wing previously destroyed by fire. And if you were looking for a modern day equivalent of Rebecca‘s Mrs Danvers then look no further than Josie’s mother-in-law, Alice, who in her habits and attitudes seems a woman ‘from another time entirely… who doesn’t live in the modern world at all’, closely followed by Eliza’s mother-in-law, Harriet, in the 19th century story.
Told from the point of view of two women, separated by over a century but who share many of the same experiences, plus the voice of a third woman through means of a journal, that narrative device beloved of historical novelists, The House at Helygen contains everything you might want from a historical suspense novel.
The author creates a brooding sense of menace which gradually builds as the house reveals it secrets and the dark past of the families who have occupied it. A silhouette glimpsed in a doorway, an unexplained cry in the night, a shadowy figure under a willow tree (very The Turn of the Screw), something scratching against a window ‘like fingers clawing to get in’. And then there’s the disquieting atmosphere of some of the unused rooms of Helygen House where past and present seem separated by a mere whisper. Josie’s friend, Flick, sums it up well. ‘It just feels weird in here. Like something isn’t quite right. Like the air has been disturbed, and we’re trespassing. Like we shouldn’t be in here at all.’
The House at Helygen is a skilfully crafted story of obsession, secrets and what might be a grim inheritance.
Told from the point of view of two women, separated by over a century but who share many of the same experiences, plus the voice of a third woman through means of a journal, that narrative device beloved of historical novelists, The House at Helygen contains everything you might want from a historical suspense novel.
The author creates a brooding sense of menace which gradually builds as the house reveals it secrets and the dark past of the families who have occupied it. A silhouette glimpsed in a doorway, an unexplained cry in the night, a shadowy figure under a willow tree (very The Turn of the Screw), something scratching against a window ‘like fingers clawing to get in’. And then there’s the disquieting atmosphere of some of the unused rooms of Helygen House where past and present seem separated by a mere whisper. Josie’s friend, Flick, sums it up well. ‘It just feels weird in here. Like something isn’t quite right. Like the air has been disturbed, and we’re trespassing. Like we shouldn’t be in here at all.’
The House at Helygen is a skilfully crafted story of obsession, secrets and what might be a grim inheritance.
Read
February 9, 2022Dark, disturbing and uttering compelling. I couldn’t put it down.
July 14, 2022
Dark & disturbing set over multiple generations.
Couldn't put this one down and read it in a day
Couldn't put this one down and read it in a day
January 16, 2023
This was just not my cup of tea at all.
March 12, 2024
This is a really dark and tense book that I flew through as it was very fast paced..
August 8, 2022
(3.5 stars)
This book, for me, is one of those that I finished with quite a lot of jumbled up thoughts in my head. It's taken me a while to work out where to start, but I'm going to begin with the first line of the blurb: "An atmospheric historical suspense novel rich with familial secrets and strong female protagonists. The House at Helygen is a twisted tale of dark pasts, murderous presents and uncertain futures."
It doesn't lie. There are strong female protagonists aplenty, the past is dark indeed and the present has a gruesome murder in it that, after the gentle and happy introduction, gives the reader a short, gasp-inducing shock before compelling them to read on with renewed vigour.
The only word that I'd take a slight issue with is 'historical'. That's correct ... to a point. But the historical narratives of Harriet in the 1840s and Eliza in the 1880s are interspersed with that of Josie in 2019. And it's probably fair to say that the 'present day' story takes up about half of the book. However, I didn't mind this in the least because the story continues at a perfect pace and switches between the three timelines effortlessly. The parallels and contrasts between Josie and Eliza's stories are interesting, whilst the characters of Harriet and Eliza are as unlikeable as they're clearly meant to be. But they're intriguing. I breezed my way through the first two-thirds of the novel and found myself wondering two things: how is this going to end? And: how do these stories relate?
Unfortunately, it's here that the book starts to fall down a little bit, because the ending is so dramatic that it felt a little bit manic. And actually, the stories didn't seem to me to relate all that well. I can't go into detail without giving away spoilers, other than to say that the answer lies in what we're not told rather than what we are. I couldn't help but feel that it might have worked better had the reader been given a clue much earlier, so that we knew something that the present-day Josie didn't and could have watched her search for the answer that was staring her in the face ... if only she knew what to look at.
I also felt that the 'present' narrative of Josie was that bit better written than the 'past' ones of Eliza and Harriet. Maybe it's the author's experience of having written modern psychological and domestic fiction (as Vikki Patis), or maybe it's that I find it easier to imagine 'what if' scenarios in the present day than I do in the past, when I know that the events described will already have happened. But either way, I felt that the 'Eliza' and 'Harriet' chapters actually provided a bit of relief from the fantastically tense 'Jodie' ones, and I'm not sure that was the intention.
There are a few other niggles too. Even though Vikki goes to the trouble to explain that the name of the house is pronounced "Hel-ee-gan" (with the stress on the second syllable), I still couldn't help but pronounce it 'Heligan' as per the real-life property in Cornwall. I wished that the house in the novel had just been called something else. And when coming up with the name for a proposed yoga studio, why stop at 'Feel Fabulous with Flick'? Surely it's only one small step from there to 'Feel Flicking Fabulous', and - irrationally, I know - it bugged me that neither author, editor nor beta-readers had thought that one through.
Mostly, though, my problem was that I couldn't help but make comparisons to 'A Shadow Beyond' by Emma-Nicole Lewis, which has nailed the concept of a historical time-slip novel to something close to perfection. And I have to be brutally honest and say that 'The House at Helygan' is not as good. Perhaps it's an advantage that the other book is about twice as long, and I also think it helps to tell a story based on a true historical event. But the key difference is that 'A Shadow Beyond' is able to bring history to life. 'The House at Helygen' only manages to make it enjoyable to read about.
I'm sorry if this review has come across as negative, because that isn't really fair. I enjoyed this book very much and thought that it was a fine first effort at branching out into a different genre. I suspect, however - although I kind of hope I'm wrong - that it's more likely to be enjoyed by fans of the other Vikki Patis novels than it is by historical fiction readers looking for a new author.
My thanks to the author, Quercus Books and Netgalley for my digital ARC of this book, which I have reviewed voluntarily and honestly. I will post my review on Goodreads and Instagram now and on Amazon after publication.
This book, for me, is one of those that I finished with quite a lot of jumbled up thoughts in my head. It's taken me a while to work out where to start, but I'm going to begin with the first line of the blurb: "An atmospheric historical suspense novel rich with familial secrets and strong female protagonists. The House at Helygen is a twisted tale of dark pasts, murderous presents and uncertain futures."
It doesn't lie. There are strong female protagonists aplenty, the past is dark indeed and the present has a gruesome murder in it that, after the gentle and happy introduction, gives the reader a short, gasp-inducing shock before compelling them to read on with renewed vigour.
The only word that I'd take a slight issue with is 'historical'. That's correct ... to a point. But the historical narratives of Harriet in the 1840s and Eliza in the 1880s are interspersed with that of Josie in 2019. And it's probably fair to say that the 'present day' story takes up about half of the book. However, I didn't mind this in the least because the story continues at a perfect pace and switches between the three timelines effortlessly. The parallels and contrasts between Josie and Eliza's stories are interesting, whilst the characters of Harriet and Eliza are as unlikeable as they're clearly meant to be. But they're intriguing. I breezed my way through the first two-thirds of the novel and found myself wondering two things: how is this going to end? And: how do these stories relate?
Unfortunately, it's here that the book starts to fall down a little bit, because the ending is so dramatic that it felt a little bit manic. And actually, the stories didn't seem to me to relate all that well. I can't go into detail without giving away spoilers, other than to say that the answer lies in what we're not told rather than what we are. I couldn't help but feel that it might have worked better had the reader been given a clue much earlier, so that we knew something that the present-day Josie didn't and could have watched her search for the answer that was staring her in the face ... if only she knew what to look at.
I also felt that the 'present' narrative of Josie was that bit better written than the 'past' ones of Eliza and Harriet. Maybe it's the author's experience of having written modern psychological and domestic fiction (as Vikki Patis), or maybe it's that I find it easier to imagine 'what if' scenarios in the present day than I do in the past, when I know that the events described will already have happened. But either way, I felt that the 'Eliza' and 'Harriet' chapters actually provided a bit of relief from the fantastically tense 'Jodie' ones, and I'm not sure that was the intention.
There are a few other niggles too. Even though Vikki goes to the trouble to explain that the name of the house is pronounced "Hel-ee-gan" (with the stress on the second syllable), I still couldn't help but pronounce it 'Heligan' as per the real-life property in Cornwall. I wished that the house in the novel had just been called something else. And when coming up with the name for a proposed yoga studio, why stop at 'Feel Fabulous with Flick'? Surely it's only one small step from there to 'Feel Flicking Fabulous', and - irrationally, I know - it bugged me that neither author, editor nor beta-readers had thought that one through.
Mostly, though, my problem was that I couldn't help but make comparisons to 'A Shadow Beyond' by Emma-Nicole Lewis, which has nailed the concept of a historical time-slip novel to something close to perfection. And I have to be brutally honest and say that 'The House at Helygan' is not as good. Perhaps it's an advantage that the other book is about twice as long, and I also think it helps to tell a story based on a true historical event. But the key difference is that 'A Shadow Beyond' is able to bring history to life. 'The House at Helygen' only manages to make it enjoyable to read about.
I'm sorry if this review has come across as negative, because that isn't really fair. I enjoyed this book very much and thought that it was a fine first effort at branching out into a different genre. I suspect, however - although I kind of hope I'm wrong - that it's more likely to be enjoyed by fans of the other Vikki Patis novels than it is by historical fiction readers looking for a new author.
My thanks to the author, Quercus Books and Netgalley for my digital ARC of this book, which I have reviewed voluntarily and honestly. I will post my review on Goodreads and Instagram now and on Amazon after publication.
April 17, 2022
Henry Fox is found dead in his kitchen, apparently by his own hand. His heavily pregnant wife Josie can’t believe this to be true. He had everything to look forward to including a new baby and a new venture within in his ancestral home. His mother who lives in the big house is quite forbearing and deems that Henry must have been hiding secrets.
I quite enjoyed this book. It is a dual timeline story set in the 1800’s with two stories in that era narrated by Harriet and Eliza and Josie narrating the contemporary era.
It did have a suspenseful atmosphere with a gothic feel. The historical era is set in shorter chapters but I sometimes felt that they were a bit to much of repetitive nature, so sometimes I got a bit confused in which time frame I was in for the 1800’s.
Overall a good story, suspenseful gothic feel and entertaining for a number of hours.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.
I quite enjoyed this book. It is a dual timeline story set in the 1800’s with two stories in that era narrated by Harriet and Eliza and Josie narrating the contemporary era.
It did have a suspenseful atmosphere with a gothic feel. The historical era is set in shorter chapters but I sometimes felt that they were a bit to much of repetitive nature, so sometimes I got a bit confused in which time frame I was in for the 1800’s.
Overall a good story, suspenseful gothic feel and entertaining for a number of hours.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.
October 27, 2025
2.5 stars
November 28, 2021
The House at Helygan by Victoria Hawthorne
2019
When Henry Fox is found dead in his ancestral home in Cornwall, the police rule it a suicide, but his pregnant wife, Josie, believes it was murder. Desperate to make sense of Henry's death she embarks on a quest to learn the truth, all under the watchful eyes of Henry's overbearing mother. Josie soon finds herself wrestling against the dark history of Helygen House and ghosts from the past that refuse to stay buried.
1881
New bride Eliza arrives at Helygen House with high hopes for her marriage. Yet when she meets her new mother-in-law, an icy and forbidding woman, her dreams of a new life are dashed. And when Eliza starts to hear voices in the walls of the house, she begins to fear for her sanity and her life.
I really enjoyed reading this novel , loved the characters Josie and Eliza in the timelines and how their story eventually came together.
I do have to say I was a little put off by the house being called Helygan ! Everytime I read this I immediately thought of Helligan which is also in Cornwall. Wish it was called something else .
2019
When Henry Fox is found dead in his ancestral home in Cornwall, the police rule it a suicide, but his pregnant wife, Josie, believes it was murder. Desperate to make sense of Henry's death she embarks on a quest to learn the truth, all under the watchful eyes of Henry's overbearing mother. Josie soon finds herself wrestling against the dark history of Helygen House and ghosts from the past that refuse to stay buried.
1881
New bride Eliza arrives at Helygen House with high hopes for her marriage. Yet when she meets her new mother-in-law, an icy and forbidding woman, her dreams of a new life are dashed. And when Eliza starts to hear voices in the walls of the house, she begins to fear for her sanity and her life.
I really enjoyed reading this novel , loved the characters Josie and Eliza in the timelines and how their story eventually came together.
I do have to say I was a little put off by the house being called Helygan ! Everytime I read this I immediately thought of Helligan which is also in Cornwall. Wish it was called something else .
December 3, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this intriguing tale of dark family secrets that unravel down the generations with devastating consequences. Mysterious, atmospheric and chilling.
August 7, 2022
Alternating between the 1840s, 1880s and the present time, this is a twisty historical suspense novel from bestselling Author, Vikki Patis, known for her psychological thrillers.
If you’ve read Vikki’s book, Return to Blackwater House, also published this year, you’ll now what I mean when I say the house is a character in itself. It has charm (a little), suspense (a lot) and lots of dark secrets to unravel. And they unravel in a very theatrical way through the generations of families who have lived in the house since the 1800s. I was absolutely hooked on getting to the end to find out exactly what was going on but at the same time I didn’t want it to finish.
Cornwall, a gothic atmosphere, a beautiful but terrifying ancestral home… the ingredients for the perfect book are woven nicely together by Victoria Hawthorne’s expert pen.
If you’ve read Vikki’s book, Return to Blackwater House, also published this year, you’ll now what I mean when I say the house is a character in itself. It has charm (a little), suspense (a lot) and lots of dark secrets to unravel. And they unravel in a very theatrical way through the generations of families who have lived in the house since the 1800s. I was absolutely hooked on getting to the end to find out exactly what was going on but at the same time I didn’t want it to finish.
Cornwall, a gothic atmosphere, a beautiful but terrifying ancestral home… the ingredients for the perfect book are woven nicely together by Victoria Hawthorne’s expert pen.
October 29, 2022
Oh my goodness, my heart was in my mouth for most of this! What an absolute gem of a story. A dual-timeline historical fiction jewel from Victoria Hawthorne. Dark secrets abound, and just when you think you have worked out what has happened, you are thrown down another well of haunting happenings, both present and historical. Beautifully crafted, chilling, sometimes a tad brutal but not upsettingly so, this was an unputdownable read - interrupted in my case by travel, time zones, tiredness, but always a joy to come back to. Delighted to finish last evening. What a finish! Brava! Victoria Hawthorne.
March 23, 2022
I haven't read a book by this author before. This is her first one in the 'historical mystery' genre and I found it hard to put down.
It does flit between different time periods as we meet various members of the Fox family who live at Helygen House. But dark sinister things happen at this property.
It was a most compelling read that I highly enjoyed.
It does flit between different time periods as we meet various members of the Fox family who live at Helygen House. But dark sinister things happen at this property.
It was a most compelling read that I highly enjoyed.
July 4, 2023
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
August 22, 2022
2019: Josie and Henry Fox have big plans to save Henry's rambling, ancestral home, Helygen House in Cornwell. They are committed to making this a family home for themselves and the child Josie is carrying, and turning the estate into a going concern - even if Henry's stern mother Alice disapproves of all the changes they have planned to the house and grounds she see as her home.
When Henry is found dead in the house, apparently after committing suicide, Josie is convinced that it was murder, but who would want to kill Henry? Josie is determined to find out the truth, but this is proving difficult with overwhelming grief, a new born to look after, and a mother-in-law that she is not sure has her and her daughter's best interests at heart. As Josie digs into the dark past of Helygen House, she finds herself jumping at shadows, and fearing that there really is something wrong with this place.
1881: Eliza Fox arrives at Helygen House with her new husband Cassius, full of hopes about their married life together, but her mother-in-law Harriet is far from welcoming towards her and her new husband is not quite the man she thought he was. The atmosphere in this house is strange, and Eliza gets the feeling that there are secrets she has not been told about her new home - secrets that threaten not only her sanity, but her life.
The story is told in two timelines that flip back and forth between the present and the past, in true timeslip style, but rather than just sticking with the narratives of our two brides Josie and Eliza as they navigate their way through the sinister pitfalls of Helygen House, Hawthorne also throws in a nice little curve ball by bringing in the voice of Harriet too. This proves to be very clever story telling as it not only weaves mystery through the parts of the story told through Josie and Eliza as they uncover some uncomfortable truths about the lives they find themselves living, but also allows us a fascinating glimpse of the one person that dictates how their fates play out - Cassius.
There are family secrets galore here as you gradually put together all the little pieces of the twisty parallel mysteries in both time lines, building suspense notch by notch, until all the skeletons come tumbling out of their respective hiding places in two cracking climaxes, that bring everything together in a way that has dangerous consequences for Josie. There are lovely echoes that reverberate through time too, especially in terms of seriously creepy mother-in-laws, and motherhood, and Hawthorne plays up the underlying Gothic atmosphere of voices from beyond the grave scarily well.
I gobbled this one down in one sitting, and really enjoyed how Hawthorne threads the theme of women's rights subtly throughout the story. She also delivers with deliciously satisfying endings in both timelines, which I applaud. There is a lot here that reminded me of the way Stacey Halls captures your imagination, gives you a good dose of an unsettling drama, and urges you to take a good hard look at the injustices that face her female characters, so if you are a fan of Hall's writing then you will find a lot here to enjoy. Haunting, and highly recommended for some historical fiction chills.
When Henry is found dead in the house, apparently after committing suicide, Josie is convinced that it was murder, but who would want to kill Henry? Josie is determined to find out the truth, but this is proving difficult with overwhelming grief, a new born to look after, and a mother-in-law that she is not sure has her and her daughter's best interests at heart. As Josie digs into the dark past of Helygen House, she finds herself jumping at shadows, and fearing that there really is something wrong with this place.
1881: Eliza Fox arrives at Helygen House with her new husband Cassius, full of hopes about their married life together, but her mother-in-law Harriet is far from welcoming towards her and her new husband is not quite the man she thought he was. The atmosphere in this house is strange, and Eliza gets the feeling that there are secrets she has not been told about her new home - secrets that threaten not only her sanity, but her life.
The story is told in two timelines that flip back and forth between the present and the past, in true timeslip style, but rather than just sticking with the narratives of our two brides Josie and Eliza as they navigate their way through the sinister pitfalls of Helygen House, Hawthorne also throws in a nice little curve ball by bringing in the voice of Harriet too. This proves to be very clever story telling as it not only weaves mystery through the parts of the story told through Josie and Eliza as they uncover some uncomfortable truths about the lives they find themselves living, but also allows us a fascinating glimpse of the one person that dictates how their fates play out - Cassius.
There are family secrets galore here as you gradually put together all the little pieces of the twisty parallel mysteries in both time lines, building suspense notch by notch, until all the skeletons come tumbling out of their respective hiding places in two cracking climaxes, that bring everything together in a way that has dangerous consequences for Josie. There are lovely echoes that reverberate through time too, especially in terms of seriously creepy mother-in-laws, and motherhood, and Hawthorne plays up the underlying Gothic atmosphere of voices from beyond the grave scarily well.
I gobbled this one down in one sitting, and really enjoyed how Hawthorne threads the theme of women's rights subtly throughout the story. She also delivers with deliciously satisfying endings in both timelines, which I applaud. There is a lot here that reminded me of the way Stacey Halls captures your imagination, gives you a good dose of an unsettling drama, and urges you to take a good hard look at the injustices that face her female characters, so if you are a fan of Hall's writing then you will find a lot here to enjoy. Haunting, and highly recommended for some historical fiction chills.
June 16, 2022
This chilling historical thriller was unlike my usual read, however I've read the author's other novels written under the name Vikki Patis so I was keen to read this.
The plot begins with Josie, pregnant with her first child and just 6 weeks away from her due date, finding her husband, Henry, dead in the kitchen of their home, Helygen House, that they're sharing with Henry's mother. The police rule it as suicide, but Josie isn't convinced as they've not long moved house, and Henry was excited for their first child, and looking forward to some upcoming business ventures.
The story switches between Josie in 2019, and Eliza who lived at the house in the late 1880s, which occasional snippets from Eliza's mother in law Harriet. In all three timelines there is a haunting undercurrent, spooky happenings, and an air of gloom.
The book does deal with baby loss and child death quite extensively, so avoid if this is a trigger. I was just ever so slightly disappointed in the ending which felt a bit too rushed in comparison to the pace of the rest of the book, but the many twists and turns on the way made it a real page turner, so I've rounded up from 4.5 stars. It was really nice to have a book with only female protagonists, and the way Victoria Hawthorne writes is engaging and captivating. I would absolutely read another historical thriller from Hawthorne.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The plot begins with Josie, pregnant with her first child and just 6 weeks away from her due date, finding her husband, Henry, dead in the kitchen of their home, Helygen House, that they're sharing with Henry's mother. The police rule it as suicide, but Josie isn't convinced as they've not long moved house, and Henry was excited for their first child, and looking forward to some upcoming business ventures.
The story switches between Josie in 2019, and Eliza who lived at the house in the late 1880s, which occasional snippets from Eliza's mother in law Harriet. In all three timelines there is a haunting undercurrent, spooky happenings, and an air of gloom.
The book does deal with baby loss and child death quite extensively, so avoid if this is a trigger. I was just ever so slightly disappointed in the ending which felt a bit too rushed in comparison to the pace of the rest of the book, but the many twists and turns on the way made it a real page turner, so I've rounded up from 4.5 stars. It was really nice to have a book with only female protagonists, and the way Victoria Hawthorne writes is engaging and captivating. I would absolutely read another historical thriller from Hawthorne.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2025
I very rarely read and review books in the historical fiction genre as they are not to my taste, but being a big fan of Victoria Hawthorne’s, (under pen name Vikki Patis), psychological thrillers, I knew that with her at the helm it was going to be a fantastic read and I was right!
The House at Helygen is a dark, sinister and atmospheric tale that I could not put down. I was completely captivated by the haunting vibe of the house, which holds so many disturbing secrets and is a character within itself. The plot is well thought through and I enjoyed putting the pieces of the puzzle together.
Set over duel timelines, past and present in Cornwall, I throughly enjoyed being transported to the 1800’s for Eliza’s viewpoint and how that part of the story merges in the present with Josie’s. I really liked their characters and each bring the story to life so vividly through Hawthorne’s impeccable writing.
The House at Helygen is a highly addictive historical mystery with plenty of suspense, intrigue and murder. A family saga with generations of dark secrets to uncover, this is a very entertaining tale that I highly recommend you checking out.
The House at Helygen is a dark, sinister and atmospheric tale that I could not put down. I was completely captivated by the haunting vibe of the house, which holds so many disturbing secrets and is a character within itself. The plot is well thought through and I enjoyed putting the pieces of the puzzle together.
Set over duel timelines, past and present in Cornwall, I throughly enjoyed being transported to the 1800’s for Eliza’s viewpoint and how that part of the story merges in the present with Josie’s. I really liked their characters and each bring the story to life so vividly through Hawthorne’s impeccable writing.
The House at Helygen is a highly addictive historical mystery with plenty of suspense, intrigue and murder. A family saga with generations of dark secrets to uncover, this is a very entertaining tale that I highly recommend you checking out.
June 2, 2022
This book is the definition of suspenseful writing! I could not wait to see what was going to happen as the story progressed.
The House at Helygen follows three timelines from the point of view of three women; Josie in the present day, Harriet in the mid-1800s and Eliza in the late 1800s. They are all women who are living in the Helygen estate and you get to follow their storylines as they move in (or grow up in) the house. Through this, you can witness how they manage their relationships, friendships, and all of the drama that comes with their family.
I love reading books with more than one timeline and Victoria Hawthorne managed to write this in such a beautiful way. The timelines intertwined with one another so well and I loved how twisted and spooky the storyline was. I'm so excited to read the other works of Victoria Hawthorne, I will definitely have to add her books to my tbr list soon!
The House at Helygen follows three timelines from the point of view of three women; Josie in the present day, Harriet in the mid-1800s and Eliza in the late 1800s. They are all women who are living in the Helygen estate and you get to follow their storylines as they move in (or grow up in) the house. Through this, you can witness how they manage their relationships, friendships, and all of the drama that comes with their family.
I love reading books with more than one timeline and Victoria Hawthorne managed to write this in such a beautiful way. The timelines intertwined with one another so well and I loved how twisted and spooky the storyline was. I'm so excited to read the other works of Victoria Hawthorne, I will definitely have to add her books to my tbr list soon!
July 5, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
This book is written from the points of view of 3 main female characters although it is based around 4, 2 sets of mother- / daughter-in-law relationships, Josie & Alice from the present and Eliza & Harriet from the past. I do not intend to deliver any spoilers as the plot is far too good to give away any surprises, the gradual reveal of unfolding events confirmed some of my suspicions and threw a few major surprising twists right to the final page. The emotions of each woman are clearly described, and it is impossible to feel no sympathy or understanding for the daughters-in-law, and Harriet. I was completely enthralled by this novel, I couldn't put it down and have signed up to follow the author while I look forward to whatever she write next!
This book is written from the points of view of 3 main female characters although it is based around 4, 2 sets of mother- / daughter-in-law relationships, Josie & Alice from the present and Eliza & Harriet from the past. I do not intend to deliver any spoilers as the plot is far too good to give away any surprises, the gradual reveal of unfolding events confirmed some of my suspicions and threw a few major surprising twists right to the final page. The emotions of each woman are clearly described, and it is impossible to feel no sympathy or understanding for the daughters-in-law, and Harriet. I was completely enthralled by this novel, I couldn't put it down and have signed up to follow the author while I look forward to whatever she write next!
January 30, 2023
It took me quite a while to become really engaged with this book. The flitting about from the present to the past and back to the present was a little bit overdone causing confusion and the need to turn back the pages to check up on things. Eventually I did become interested enough to read on to find out what happened to Josie and her unpleasant mother-in-law. The plot becomes a bit too convoluted at times and I couldn't say that the chapters flowed easily from one to another.
The novel is very much dominated by female characters with the exception of Cassius. There was a bit too much about pregnancies and babies for the average male reader, it would certainly appeal more to ladies, especially those maybe concerned with women's rights .
Despite its faults I did enjoy the read in the end.
The novel is very much dominated by female characters with the exception of Cassius. There was a bit too much about pregnancies and babies for the average male reader, it would certainly appeal more to ladies, especially those maybe concerned with women's rights .
Despite its faults I did enjoy the read in the end.
August 15, 2023
This book follows three different timelines of three women who have married into the Fox family of Helygen House as the woman in the present day timeline, Josie, digs into the family history after her husband's death and the ghosts it contains that refuse to stay buried. I picked this book up on a whim from my local library and found it to be a very pleasant read. It is nothing particularly special or mind-blowing but it was still a very enjoyable read. I liked the characters and found them easy to root for. I really liked how the timelines blended together and how the past influenced the present. It did get a little unhinged towards the end but I liked how it all wrapped up. This was also a very fast read and one that kept me turning the pages. I would recommend it for fans of historical suspense.
July 10, 2022
Spread across three timelines, Josie is married to Henry Fox, heir to Helygen. They are expecting their first child and have made plans for many alterations to the property due to its upkeep costs, much to Henry’s mother’s disdain.
In 1881, Eliza is the wife of Cassius Fox and is an excited new bride to his ancestral home. Things are not however as they seem and she encounters many surprises in the property – in particular, that of her in-laws – Harriett and Edmund Fox forty years earlier.
In the present day, Henry meets his death, apparently suicide according to his mother and the police. But Josie knows that this cannot be the case. She sets to uncover the mystery.
A good read, I would rate it 3 stars.
In 1881, Eliza is the wife of Cassius Fox and is an excited new bride to his ancestral home. Things are not however as they seem and she encounters many surprises in the property – in particular, that of her in-laws – Harriett and Edmund Fox forty years earlier.
In the present day, Henry meets his death, apparently suicide according to his mother and the police. But Josie knows that this cannot be the case. She sets to uncover the mystery.
A good read, I would rate it 3 stars.
January 25, 2025
I finished this book last night & wasn't sure what I thought about it. I rated it 2 stars but upgraded it to 3. I just wasn't crazy about this book, but I gave it 3 stars because it was one of those books I had to read until the end. It was...okay. The flipping back from the presence to 1881, then time before that was a bit much. I felt like there were a few loopholes to this story, & certain parts were exaggerated. The majority of the events occurred at the Helygen House or on the property. I felt a little claustrophobic-like I was stuck inside the home. The house had many dark secrets & a few characters went to an extreme to keep those secrets hidden. There's always the crack in the story where the secrets seep out of the darkness intensifying the suspense.
May 31, 2023
If an author's job is to keep you turning the pages, then I'd have to declare this one a success.
I found myself not wanting to put this book down. It was ghostly, although not a ghost story as such. It was, however, a mystery, and for the most part I think the mystery unravelled at about the right pace. As the cover suggested, it was dark but compelling; a "resolving the events of today lies in understanding the events of the past" kind of a novel.
This was the first book I had read by this author, and all in all I enjoyed this; it kept drawing me back in, keen to see how it would all work out, so I'm happy to give this a solid four stars; it gets a big thumbs up from me 👍
I found myself not wanting to put this book down. It was ghostly, although not a ghost story as such. It was, however, a mystery, and for the most part I think the mystery unravelled at about the right pace. As the cover suggested, it was dark but compelling; a "resolving the events of today lies in understanding the events of the past" kind of a novel.
This was the first book I had read by this author, and all in all I enjoyed this; it kept drawing me back in, keen to see how it would all work out, so I'm happy to give this a solid four stars; it gets a big thumbs up from me 👍
January 6, 2022
[ could not put this well-written book down. The beautiful ancestral home at Helygen is the setting for family
intrigue across two eras. Both In the 19th and 2ist centuries, we meet two new brides Eliza and Josie, and their
two prickly mothers-in-law, the not-so-perfect backdrop for sinister retribution. The wonderful house and
gardens hide a host of evil secrets from the past which mingle with the present..
A tense, shocking tale. of obsession and hope. The mystery keeps the pages turning..
intrigue across two eras. Both In the 19th and 2ist centuries, we meet two new brides Eliza and Josie, and their
two prickly mothers-in-law, the not-so-perfect backdrop for sinister retribution. The wonderful house and
gardens hide a host of evil secrets from the past which mingle with the present..
A tense, shocking tale. of obsession and hope. The mystery keeps the pages turning..
April 7, 2022
Disturbing tale of how our past history can affect our future one. The Fox family have lived through some hard times and Helygen House is at the centre of it all. The book twists between Victorian and modern times and has you rooting for various people at various times. Victoria Hawthorne brings both exquisite detail and exciting reading and I felt that I couldn't read it fast enough. I received an arc of this book from the publisher and this is a true and honest opinion of the book which I give freely.
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