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The Haunting of Abney Heights: A Gothic mystery
When Meg returns to London, she knows she’ll be facing ghosts from her own troubled past. She doesn’t expect to be so unsettled by the place where she’s staying--even if is a former asylum.
Investigating the mysterious deaths of two asylum patients, Meg discovers an intriguing Edwardian world of steampunk spiritualism, genteel gay romance, and radical therapies. Digging deeper, she begins to realise something evil lurked behind the asylum’s liberal façade. Did the patients find out? Was that why they were killed?
Deciphering a coded document takes her nearer the heart of the asylum’s secrets and reveals shocking truths about Meg’s own life. Her grip on reality crumbles as the dark Edwardian past begins to overtake her. Can she survive the damaging path to the final piece of the puzzle?
Investigating the mysterious deaths of two asylum patients, Meg discovers an intriguing Edwardian world of steampunk spiritualism, genteel gay romance, and radical therapies. Digging deeper, she begins to realise something evil lurked behind the asylum’s liberal façade. Did the patients find out? Was that why they were killed?
Deciphering a coded document takes her nearer the heart of the asylum’s secrets and reveals shocking truths about Meg’s own life. Her grip on reality crumbles as the dark Edwardian past begins to overtake her. Can she survive the damaging path to the final piece of the puzzle?
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 3, 2022
79 people are currently reading
586 people want to read
About the author
Cat Thomas
6 books17 followersCat Thomas writes Gothic tales, spooky sci-fi and other twisted fiction. Her debut novel, SYNTHETIC, was published in 2019 and her second novel, THE HAUNTING OF ABNEY HEIGHTS, was released in October 2022.
She's also combined the areas of technology, literature and culture when teaching and running projects in universities. Her research has explored the unsettling idea of the fragmented online self.
Cat’s writing is sometimes unsettling, sometimes funny but always lively.
Originally from the South Wales Marches, Cat lives in East London, UK.
Connect with Cat on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/twistedficti...
She's also combined the areas of technology, literature and culture when teaching and running projects in universities. Her research has explored the unsettling idea of the fragmented online self.
Cat’s writing is sometimes unsettling, sometimes funny but always lively.
Originally from the South Wales Marches, Cat lives in East London, UK.
Connect with Cat on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/twistedficti...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
October 30, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy!
The Haunting of Abney Heights is not a horror book. It's a historical fiction murder mystery and a passive one. The main character, Megan, is a genealogist/archivist, who she gets assigned by a woman named Betty Gardiner to unravel the mystery of Betty's great aunt Emmanuelle. Emmanuelle Murray (Elle) was a patient in The Abney asylum in 1907. In June 1907., Elle tragically died on the grounds of the asylum. On the same day of Elle's death, her friend, Lucy, is also found dead in the Abney park cemetery. While Megan's task is to shed light on Elle's life and death, the more information she gathers, the more obsessed she becomes with the two Edwardian ladies. This unexpected mystery rattles Meg to her core when she finds herself engrossed with the history of Abney Heights to the extent of deliberately disregarding her history that lurks in the shadows.
In the present day, Abney Heights is a luxurious apartment complex owned by Monarch. Megan is staying in one of the apartments of The Abney Heights while she combs through the former asylum archives. Once the story starts developing, we are introduced to a few characters who will be assisting Megan in solving the mystery. As with most historical fiction, the book has two timelines. The present-day timeline is written partially as a regular narrative and partially as Uzi's messages (Uzi is one of the residents in the complex), whereas the past timeline is in the form of dr. Wood's diary entries (Elle and Lucy's doctor), and later Elle's diary entries. I am not a big fan of dual timelines because the present-day timeline is often not as intriguing as the one set in the past. This was partially true in this story too.
Why it worked: Megan is a refreshing protagonist. She's a middle-aged divorcée with no kids, has an unusual job, and has a Ph.D. in fairy tales. Her sidekick is her childhood friend, Antoine Byrne, an editor for the local paper – The Hackney Comet, who also lives in the Abney complex. The other characters who make up the 'Scooby Gang' are Uzi, Uzi's boyfriend Rowan, and Megan's college mentor Benedict. They're a fun group with a good dynamic.
Why it didn't work: It was passive and bit underwhelming. The detective work consists of the characters gathering around in Megan's or Antoine's apartment, or a local cafe, The Happy Cat, to discuss what they've read in the diary entries. No real action happens until the very end. Also, this should not be in the horror category. Absolutely nothing remotely scary or creepy occurs until the end. One mildly scary scene does not a horror make (sorry Grammarly, I'm keeping this sentence). Megan's background story falls flat. It takes too long to develop because Emanuele's story overshadows the present-day plot. I think that is why Thomas decided to incorporate the twist at the end, which elevates Megan's history and makes it more relevant.
One more thing I must address with minor spoilers: the gay romance. Firstly, why not just use the term lesbian instead of 'gay women'? Secondly, the alleged queer romance is barely there. I find that it is also a historical fiction trope - the stories include lesbians but the romance is superficial, so it feels more like queer baiting. For the most part, the romance feels one-sided or as if the writer forgot to include the other character's contribution. Towards the end, the romance becomes more intense and complex and serves as a plot device rather than a stand-alone love story.
Don't get me wrong I had a fun time reading this book. I recommend it to fans of Edwardian history, murder mysteries, complex plot, and lovely descriptive writing. If you want a haunted asylum, you're not going to get it.
The Haunting of Abney Heights is not a horror book. It's a historical fiction murder mystery and a passive one. The main character, Megan, is a genealogist/archivist, who she gets assigned by a woman named Betty Gardiner to unravel the mystery of Betty's great aunt Emmanuelle. Emmanuelle Murray (Elle) was a patient in The Abney asylum in 1907. In June 1907., Elle tragically died on the grounds of the asylum. On the same day of Elle's death, her friend, Lucy, is also found dead in the Abney park cemetery. While Megan's task is to shed light on Elle's life and death, the more information she gathers, the more obsessed she becomes with the two Edwardian ladies. This unexpected mystery rattles Meg to her core when she finds herself engrossed with the history of Abney Heights to the extent of deliberately disregarding her history that lurks in the shadows.
In the present day, Abney Heights is a luxurious apartment complex owned by Monarch. Megan is staying in one of the apartments of The Abney Heights while she combs through the former asylum archives. Once the story starts developing, we are introduced to a few characters who will be assisting Megan in solving the mystery. As with most historical fiction, the book has two timelines. The present-day timeline is written partially as a regular narrative and partially as Uzi's messages (Uzi is one of the residents in the complex), whereas the past timeline is in the form of dr. Wood's diary entries (Elle and Lucy's doctor), and later Elle's diary entries. I am not a big fan of dual timelines because the present-day timeline is often not as intriguing as the one set in the past. This was partially true in this story too.
Why it worked: Megan is a refreshing protagonist. She's a middle-aged divorcée with no kids, has an unusual job, and has a Ph.D. in fairy tales. Her sidekick is her childhood friend, Antoine Byrne, an editor for the local paper – The Hackney Comet, who also lives in the Abney complex. The other characters who make up the 'Scooby Gang' are Uzi, Uzi's boyfriend Rowan, and Megan's college mentor Benedict. They're a fun group with a good dynamic.
Why it didn't work: It was passive and bit underwhelming. The detective work consists of the characters gathering around in Megan's or Antoine's apartment, or a local cafe, The Happy Cat, to discuss what they've read in the diary entries. No real action happens until the very end. Also, this should not be in the horror category. Absolutely nothing remotely scary or creepy occurs until the end. One mildly scary scene does not a horror make (sorry Grammarly, I'm keeping this sentence). Megan's background story falls flat. It takes too long to develop because Emanuele's story overshadows the present-day plot. I think that is why Thomas decided to incorporate the twist at the end, which elevates Megan's history and makes it more relevant.
One more thing I must address with minor spoilers: the gay romance. Firstly, why not just use the term lesbian instead of 'gay women'? Secondly, the alleged queer romance is barely there. I find that it is also a historical fiction trope - the stories include lesbians but the romance is superficial, so it feels more like queer baiting. For the most part, the romance feels one-sided or as if the writer forgot to include the other character's contribution. Towards the end, the romance becomes more intense and complex and serves as a plot device rather than a stand-alone love story.
Don't get me wrong I had a fun time reading this book. I recommend it to fans of Edwardian history, murder mysteries, complex plot, and lovely descriptive writing. If you want a haunted asylum, you're not going to get it.
April 11, 2023
When Meg returns to London, she knows she’ll be facing ghosts from her own troubled past. She doesn’t expect to be so unsettled by the place where she’s staying… even if is a former asylum.
Investigating the mysterious deaths of two asylum patients, Meg discovers an intriguing Edwardian world of steampunk spiritualism, genteel gay romance and radical therapies. Digging deeper, she begins to realise something evil lurked behind the asylum’s liberal façade.
Did the patients find out? Was that why they were killed?
Deciphering a coded document takes her nearer the heart of the asylum’s secrets and reveals shocking truths about Meg’s own life. Her grip on reality crumbles as the dark Edwardian past begins to overtake her. Can she survive the damaging path to the final piece of the puzzle?
I quite enjoyed the general storyline of this novel and the themes of mental health treatment and persecution of sexual orientation, which was refreshing to be seen set in a historical context but with a modern perspective and outlook. Generally as ghost stories go I felt it fell more into the mystery genre than anything, as I was expecting more spooky shocks, and even though the storyline was intriguing, the writing still for me was a little stilted and the story dragged at times which made getting through certain chapters difficult. Nevertheless an overall enjoyable read.
I quite enjoyed the general storyline of this novel and the themes of mental health treatment and persecution of sexual orientation, which was refreshing to be seen set in a historical context but with a modern perspective and outlook. Generally as ghost stories go I felt it fell more into the mystery genre than anything, as I was expecting more spooky shocks, and even though the storyline was intriguing, the writing still for me was a little stilted and the story dragged at times which made getting through certain chapters difficult. Nevertheless an overall enjoyable read.
November 20, 2022
I'm a huge fan of non-gory supernatural suspense, so I liked this one a lot. It takes a long time for the suspense and action to get going, a lot of this is about the archives and research part, but since I liked the main characters of the Scooby Gang, that was fine.
Also I like eating recipes from books, so that's a A+ character trait there.
Also I like eating recipes from books, so that's a A+ character trait there.
Read
March 27, 2023DNF @3%
November 5, 2022
the story setting is dramatic. Also it was in two time lines 1907 and present times. Megan is
a genealogist/archivist and she has been asked to find out whatever she could on a particular
inmate of the institute Elle. The present day institute was earlier a asylum, and to Megan
resonated with the heaviness and unhappiness of what those institutes were at the time.
Delving into Elle's history and sad end, we also delve into the life of Lucy. A person also
an inmate of the asylum, admitted for hysteria by her fiancee and family who became very close to.
Elle. Though not openly spoken of Elle was admitted because she was a lesbian and Dr Wood who
was in charge at the asylum worried over the increasingly close relationship between the two women.
The story weaving the daily workings of the asylum, with Dr Wood's modern approach of integrating
the inmates as much as possible into public life showed up historically the manner in which
mental incapacity was treated, the stigma attached to it and for many the hopelessness for
the future.
The present day building was apartments and Megan lived there whilst unravelling the task
she was set to. it had strands of historical fictiin, along with two mystery murders which
were solved decades later and altogether was a very interesting read set in Edwardian tim
a genealogist/archivist and she has been asked to find out whatever she could on a particular
inmate of the institute Elle. The present day institute was earlier a asylum, and to Megan
resonated with the heaviness and unhappiness of what those institutes were at the time.
Delving into Elle's history and sad end, we also delve into the life of Lucy. A person also
an inmate of the asylum, admitted for hysteria by her fiancee and family who became very close to.
Elle. Though not openly spoken of Elle was admitted because she was a lesbian and Dr Wood who
was in charge at the asylum worried over the increasingly close relationship between the two women.
The story weaving the daily workings of the asylum, with Dr Wood's modern approach of integrating
the inmates as much as possible into public life showed up historically the manner in which
mental incapacity was treated, the stigma attached to it and for many the hopelessness for
the future.
The present day building was apartments and Megan lived there whilst unravelling the task
she was set to. it had strands of historical fictiin, along with two mystery murders which
were solved decades later and altogether was a very interesting read set in Edwardian tim
November 24, 2022
First up – the cover art is gorgeous and eye catching.
Second up – I see Goodreads users are describing this as horror and I can’t help but feel this may put potential readers off if horror isn’t their thing. Conversely, horror fans will be left disappointed. I would describe this more as a very solidly written Gothic mystery.
This is the first book I have read by Cat Thomas and I love her writing. It’s the kind of writing that you somehow instinctively recognise as British. It’s understated yet conveys everything it needs to and implies a little bit more and that really appeals to me. I like the way the story is told too, in two time frames. The contemporary story is told in the first person by Meg, a middle aged divorcee who is none too happy to be back in her childhood neighbourhood, with its accompanying bad memories, due to work commitments. The Edwardian era story unfolds mainly through the journal entries of Ella, a young woman who was a patient at the asylum, and of Doctor Woods, the psychiatrist who was treating Ella and the other patients.
I liked the characters too. Meg has a difficult childhood back story which she is being forced to revisit both by being back in the place where she was so unhappy, and by also having to deal with a trunk of her mother’s belongings which she has been able to avoid until now. She gains a small but dedicated group of supporters in the course of her research and I liked the dynamics of the group, the Scoobys as she nicknames them.
What I felt was lacking, considering the title, was a real feel for Abney Heights, the building which had originally been an asylum. We were led in the direction of it being creepy but I never felt that sense of unease which would have added to my reading experience.
I did see the twists coming, but it didn’t detract from the story, and there was a completely wild card chapter near the end which I definitely didn’t see coming.
#Netgalley #CatThomas #TheHauntingofAbneyHeights
Second up – I see Goodreads users are describing this as horror and I can’t help but feel this may put potential readers off if horror isn’t their thing. Conversely, horror fans will be left disappointed. I would describe this more as a very solidly written Gothic mystery.
This is the first book I have read by Cat Thomas and I love her writing. It’s the kind of writing that you somehow instinctively recognise as British. It’s understated yet conveys everything it needs to and implies a little bit more and that really appeals to me. I like the way the story is told too, in two time frames. The contemporary story is told in the first person by Meg, a middle aged divorcee who is none too happy to be back in her childhood neighbourhood, with its accompanying bad memories, due to work commitments. The Edwardian era story unfolds mainly through the journal entries of Ella, a young woman who was a patient at the asylum, and of Doctor Woods, the psychiatrist who was treating Ella and the other patients.
I liked the characters too. Meg has a difficult childhood back story which she is being forced to revisit both by being back in the place where she was so unhappy, and by also having to deal with a trunk of her mother’s belongings which she has been able to avoid until now. She gains a small but dedicated group of supporters in the course of her research and I liked the dynamics of the group, the Scoobys as she nicknames them.
What I felt was lacking, considering the title, was a real feel for Abney Heights, the building which had originally been an asylum. We were led in the direction of it being creepy but I never felt that sense of unease which would have added to my reading experience.
I did see the twists coming, but it didn’t detract from the story, and there was a completely wild card chapter near the end which I definitely didn’t see coming.
#Netgalley #CatThomas #TheHauntingofAbneyHeights
December 3, 2022
Meg, a freelance genealogist, returns to her hometown for a gig. She is researching an early 20th century patient at the former asylum-turned-luxury-condos, and ends up moving into the building for the duration of her work. While Meg is uncovering Ella’s experience as an Abney Asylum patient, she is also forced to uncover the ghosts of her own past. As Meg attempts to exorcize the ghosts of her biological family’s past, her family of choice, a delightful cast of quirky characters, has her back.
The tension builds slowly in “The Haunting of Abney Heights,” but Cat Thomas reminds the reader throughout that something is a little off in both the contemporary timeline and the early 20th century timeline. The atmosphere is dark and moody. The action comes to a head beginning in the last third of the book and is much darker than what I was expecting.
I enjoyed the story and will read more by Cat Thomas. This book would be good for those who like novels with a gothic feel, ghost stories, and early 20th century mysteries.
Content warning: child abuse.
Thanks #NetGalley and #BooksGoSocial for providing an ARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own. The book is available now!
The tension builds slowly in “The Haunting of Abney Heights,” but Cat Thomas reminds the reader throughout that something is a little off in both the contemporary timeline and the early 20th century timeline. The atmosphere is dark and moody. The action comes to a head beginning in the last third of the book and is much darker than what I was expecting.
I enjoyed the story and will read more by Cat Thomas. This book would be good for those who like novels with a gothic feel, ghost stories, and early 20th century mysteries.
Content warning: child abuse.
Thanks #NetGalley and #BooksGoSocial for providing an ARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own. The book is available now!
December 1, 2022
The Haunting of Abney Heights is more thoughtful and researchy mysterious than ghostly in a scary way.
There are clues, diaries, journals, observations, acts of blackmail, and terrible goings on. All with an undertone of mysterious sinisterness and control over delicate women. And much much more!
Except some startling revelations too!
The Haunting of Abney Heights also references the common belief at the time that homosexuality was a sign of mental illness, or perhaps society's non acceptance of it, triggering mental illness.
What a mystery! What happened to these two inmates of the asylum? Ella Murray and Lucy Northaway...
What did they mean to each other? Were they murdered? And were they victims of cruel treatment, electro therapy, spirit writing and other strange treatments, at the hands of the asylum's Dr Woods?
Were they experimented on... used as mental health guinea pigs. And reduced to having no rights of their own?
One slight distraction was the different tone in Uzi's messages but further into the tale these are explained.
Beautifully written, great characterisation, and dialogue. Though serious in subject matter still manages to be amusing and quirky in parts, somewhat different but in a imaginative way. I thoroughly enjoyed and can recommend.
ARC copy from author, unbiased review given. Many thanks for sharing your book with me.
There are clues, diaries, journals, observations, acts of blackmail, and terrible goings on. All with an undertone of mysterious sinisterness and control over delicate women. And much much more!
Except some startling revelations too!
The Haunting of Abney Heights also references the common belief at the time that homosexuality was a sign of mental illness, or perhaps society's non acceptance of it, triggering mental illness.
What a mystery! What happened to these two inmates of the asylum? Ella Murray and Lucy Northaway...
What did they mean to each other? Were they murdered? And were they victims of cruel treatment, electro therapy, spirit writing and other strange treatments, at the hands of the asylum's Dr Woods?
Were they experimented on... used as mental health guinea pigs. And reduced to having no rights of their own?
One slight distraction was the different tone in Uzi's messages but further into the tale these are explained.
Beautifully written, great characterisation, and dialogue. Though serious in subject matter still manages to be amusing and quirky in parts, somewhat different but in a imaginative way. I thoroughly enjoyed and can recommend.
ARC copy from author, unbiased review given. Many thanks for sharing your book with me.
October 30, 2022
When an old asylum is made into new modern exclusive apartments Meg is hired to chronicle all the papers associated with the asylum. When she stumbles on the murders of two previous patients there’s more questions than answers like what does this have to do with vampires in the psychical research society? There’s so much to this book in so many different side stories and questions and all diaries and letters I couldn’t stop reading it and didn’t at all know how it would end but what an ending. I love in the old mystery and one that’s accompanied by diaries is even better. There’s much more to this mystery than the brief summary I have given but there’s too much to put into a simple bio about the book. Just know if you love gothic mysteries and ghost stories you get it all in the haunting of Abney Heights just make sure you have time to read and you won’t be interrupted because this book is so good you’re not want to stop. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate most of my review.
November 8, 2022
2.5/5.0
This should have been exactly up my street - a creepy old asylum, historical murder mystery and vengeful ghosts. But unfortunately this book missed the mark for me.
The whole book was slightly underwhelming and then I found the ending to be too far the opposite way. It felt as though the author was trying to make up for the rest of the plot in the very last chapter. And quite honestly the twist just annoyed me with how implausible it was.
I closed the book still not really knowing anything about the group of main characters or how they related to each other or where they all seemed to pop up from.
There was nothing haunting or spooky about this book. I was craving dark undertones and jump scares but nothing delivered. So if you're looking for a true horror read this definitely isn't for you.
The ideas behind this book are great and I thought main character Meg could have been a refreshing protagonist if she was fleshed out a little more. It was an easy read and I didn't not enjoy it, I just unfortunately wouldn't be raving about it to my friends.
This should have been exactly up my street - a creepy old asylum, historical murder mystery and vengeful ghosts. But unfortunately this book missed the mark for me.
The whole book was slightly underwhelming and then I found the ending to be too far the opposite way. It felt as though the author was trying to make up for the rest of the plot in the very last chapter. And quite honestly the twist just annoyed me with how implausible it was.
I closed the book still not really knowing anything about the group of main characters or how they related to each other or where they all seemed to pop up from.
There was nothing haunting or spooky about this book. I was craving dark undertones and jump scares but nothing delivered. So if you're looking for a true horror read this definitely isn't for you.
The ideas behind this book are great and I thought main character Meg could have been a refreshing protagonist if she was fleshed out a little more. It was an easy read and I didn't not enjoy it, I just unfortunately wouldn't be raving about it to my friends.
October 4, 2022
This is definitely my kind of book. I read Cat's first novel and loved it so I was eagerly (but nervously) awaiting more from her. The author is a friend of mine and I live near Abney Park Cemetery but that did not influence my opinion - I am a retired English teacher and avid reader so I have high standards! The gothic elements in this novel are the equal to those of Poe, Dickens, Collins and they are enhanced by the parallel modern timeline and the characters that inhabit the creepy building. I enjoyed the inclusion of the actual and radical history of Stoke Newington and the feminist perspectives of the characters. But probably most important of all - it was a really good story that unfolded at a perfect pace with mystery and suspense holding my attention to the last page.
November 2, 2022
I enjoy Gothic stories, which is why this story appealed to me.
I liked this a lot - it was a mystery rather than a horror/ghost story, but it had the dark, eerie atmosphere that I was hoping for. There was some time-shifting, and recently I've been into reading a lot of books like that. There were a few narratives, and I was interested in each character's perspective. The story held my attention and I read most of it in one sitting.
I don't know if there are any more books featuring these characters, but I would definitely be interested in reading more books by this author.
I liked this a lot - it was a mystery rather than a horror/ghost story, but it had the dark, eerie atmosphere that I was hoping for. There was some time-shifting, and recently I've been into reading a lot of books like that. There were a few narratives, and I was interested in each character's perspective. The story held my attention and I read most of it in one sitting.
I don't know if there are any more books featuring these characters, but I would definitely be interested in reading more books by this author.
December 4, 2022
This novel was a very interesting read. It was part ghost story, part mystery and life in an asylum. The story revealed itself through journal entries and case notes. As you read, you discover the horrible things that went on in the asylum. Some due to the lack of regulations for dealing with mental illness (or what was considered mental illness) and some due to the deviance of men and women. As Meg and her friends dig further into the mystery, other revelations surface that are life changing. When the conclusion comes around the reader is dumbfounded.
August 27, 2024
Don't get me wrong, the writing is good, the premise is interesting, so there are things to like about this book, but the multiple povs in different forms drag the story down to a very slow pace, and for this reason it takes a really long time to get going. It also left me grasping as to whose story I was on now and trying to remember what had happened in their past story. I was expecting it to be creepier but it's more of a historical mystery, then the end is almost too fast for the rest of the book.
I'd read more by this author, but there was as much I liked about this book as that which I did not like, so it landed on a solid three stars
I'd read more by this author, but there was as much I liked about this book as that which I did not like, so it landed on a solid three stars
January 23, 2023
Shoutout to Gwillion Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review 'The Haunting of Abney Heights'.
I enjoyed this novel, and had a generally good experience while reading. The plot was simple, but also had layers, and there were a few good twists- the ending felt like a bit of a disappointment, if only because the rest of the book was playing out so well. It was rushed, and felt less than ideal, given what had come before.
The characters had little development, but it didn't feel extremely necessary to further the plot. I didn't mind, and they got the job done. It did, at times, feel like they were vehicles for the story, rather than a driving factor, and that things were happening without them. Because all our narrators (in my opinion) are unreliable due to one thing or another, there were gaps that could have been filled, but the story still worked without being air-tight, so I didn't mind all that much. More of a CBB than a necessity to enjoy.
Overall, I would recommend this book as a light read, and I am curious about Cat Thomas' other works- I'll have to check them out in the future.
I enjoyed this novel, and had a generally good experience while reading. The plot was simple, but also had layers, and there were a few good twists- the ending felt like a bit of a disappointment, if only because the rest of the book was playing out so well. It was rushed, and felt less than ideal, given what had come before.
The characters had little development, but it didn't feel extremely necessary to further the plot. I didn't mind, and they got the job done. It did, at times, feel like they were vehicles for the story, rather than a driving factor, and that things were happening without them. Because all our narrators (in my opinion) are unreliable due to one thing or another, there were gaps that could have been filled, but the story still worked without being air-tight, so I didn't mind all that much. More of a CBB than a necessity to enjoy.
Overall, I would recommend this book as a light read, and I am curious about Cat Thomas' other works- I'll have to check them out in the future.
November 26, 2022
“Ghosts are less annoying than your neighbours.’
Really enjoyed this. Megan is employed by a woman called Betty Gardner to look into the death of a relative of hers in an asylum in Edwardian Stoke Newington (North London). Soon, she finds out that another woman also died there in mysterious circumstance at the same time. This sets up a historical murder-mystery. I was totally absorbed in the ‘who-dunnit’ (or maybe, a ‘what-creature-dunnit ) side of the story, but also in the life and social circle of Megan in the latte and organic veg world of Stokey. I did actually laugh out loud at the dry (affectionate) wit about the gentrification of Stoke Newington. Recommended.
I’d like to see Megan involved in a few more cases.
Really enjoyed this. Megan is employed by a woman called Betty Gardner to look into the death of a relative of hers in an asylum in Edwardian Stoke Newington (North London). Soon, she finds out that another woman also died there in mysterious circumstance at the same time. This sets up a historical murder-mystery. I was totally absorbed in the ‘who-dunnit’ (or maybe, a ‘what-creature-dunnit ) side of the story, but also in the life and social circle of Megan in the latte and organic veg world of Stokey. I did actually laugh out loud at the dry (affectionate) wit about the gentrification of Stoke Newington. Recommended.
I’d like to see Megan involved in a few more cases.
November 25, 2022
i went into this book thinking it would have a horror theme to it but i was mistaken its more a gothic mystery which i still found fascinating. i love the way this flows between the characters and timelines, each character starts coming to life the further you read.
this is a slow burner for me which makes a nice difference for me, it kept me just interested enough to keep going when i needed to do other things. this is my first book by this author and i can see myself wanting to read more from her.
Thank you to Netgalley/BookGoSocial/Cat Thomas for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
this is a slow burner for me which makes a nice difference for me, it kept me just interested enough to keep going when i needed to do other things. this is my first book by this author and i can see myself wanting to read more from her.
Thank you to Netgalley/BookGoSocial/Cat Thomas for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2022
As an old asylum is being renovated into an exclusive apartment building, Meg is asked to go through the asylum’s records for genealogy purposes. She is also asked to try to decipher a coded diary of one of the patients who had died there. In the midst of this, she meets up with old friends who are also curious of the two women patients who died on the premises. But the more Meg reads from the journals of the two women and the doctor treating them, the more disturbed she becomes. What happened in the asylum at the turn of the century and why did the two women die?
The Haunting of Abney Heights by Cat Thomas is an interesting story that moves you between Edwardian England and today, unfolding a story of the past that may affect the people of the present. Meg reads through three different journals—Ella’s, Lucy’s, and Dr. Wood’s—to try to learn the reason why Ella and Lucy ended up dead on the premises. I did enjoy the story but found reading each journal to be tedious. I would have rather the journals been played out by the characters for a faster-paced story. Still, the story writing is impeccable and the story line quite unique. I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good gothic mystery.
The Haunting of Abney Heights by Cat Thomas is an interesting story that moves you between Edwardian England and today, unfolding a story of the past that may affect the people of the present. Meg reads through three different journals—Ella’s, Lucy’s, and Dr. Wood’s—to try to learn the reason why Ella and Lucy ended up dead on the premises. I did enjoy the story but found reading each journal to be tedious. I would have rather the journals been played out by the characters for a faster-paced story. Still, the story writing is impeccable and the story line quite unique. I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good gothic mystery.
March 8, 2024
This dual timeline, part epistolary novel is set in a converted manor house, Abney Heights, which was formerly an asylum during the Edwardian period. The asylum is also the site of the unexplained deaths of two of its former inmates, and this mystery becomes the thing drawing main character Meghan Morgan deeper into the asylum's and her own past.
Meg is a genealogist/archivist and is contracted by a wealthy American woman, Betty Gardiner, to help her find any information on Betty's great aunt Emanuella Murray, who was a resident of the asylum in 1907. Betty has Emmanuella's diary from that time, but it's all written in code, so Meg has an additional task while going through the papers from the asylum's archives.
Meg's childhood friend Antoine lives in Abney Heights; he's a journalist, and is thrilled by the possibilities of Meg's research, seeing an opportunity to write an interesting historical piece about the asylum and the mysterious deaths.
Also staying at Abney is Uzi, an artist who has an unusual way of seeing the world, which influences her haunting paintings. (Amusingly, she also has named Antoine's cats Mulder and Scully.)
As Meg deciphers the diary, she is introduced to Dr. Wood, the psychiatrist treating Emmanuella and Lucy (the two women who died) and the partially innovative and partially kooky ideas he had for treatments. The kookier involved the use of a steampunkish box to deal with hysteria. Ella's diary also reveals that she was a lesbian and suffragette, and had been raped. Her trauma and sexual orientation were why she was at the asylum, and also revealed that she and Lucy developed a very close relationship, even though Lucy was there to deal with her issues prior to her marriage to a stodgy, respectable man.
Meg, Antoine, Uzi, Uzi's lover and Betty all discuss each new revelation from the diary in a series of texts and emails, hypothesizing what could have happened to the two women, a la Scooby Gang. Interestingly, the more time Meg spends at Abney Heights, the more she gets the sense that the place is haunted due to weirdoccurences. And Uzi's certainty there is a ghost present only adds to the tension.
Ella's secrets also begin pointing to a possible connection with Meg's own family, from whom Meg is estranged.
What really happened to Ella and Lucy is fascinating and sad, and it highlights how homophobia has destroyed lives for years. Author Cat Thomas skillfully uses the diary entries to create the heavy atmosphere of the asylum and Ella's fraying happiness. Meanwhile, the group texts of the Scooby Gang provide some levity in a dark story about mental illness and its dubious treatments.
Thomas' gothic manor house and its messy past are well conceived, and there's a growing sense of menace permeating Ella's recounting of her days leading up to hers and Lucy's deaths. There's a great feeling of creepiness in both timelines, and the characterization is well done, helping us sympathize with Meg's reluctance to connect with others because of her family, and with Ella, full of optimism upon her arrival at Abney, to her turmoil near her death. The author balances both the horror of the historical situations and the quirkiness of her present-day characters well; this is a dark and entertaining story.
Thank you to Netgalley and to BooksGoSocial for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Meg is a genealogist/archivist and is contracted by a wealthy American woman, Betty Gardiner, to help her find any information on Betty's great aunt Emanuella Murray, who was a resident of the asylum in 1907. Betty has Emmanuella's diary from that time, but it's all written in code, so Meg has an additional task while going through the papers from the asylum's archives.
Meg's childhood friend Antoine lives in Abney Heights; he's a journalist, and is thrilled by the possibilities of Meg's research, seeing an opportunity to write an interesting historical piece about the asylum and the mysterious deaths.
Also staying at Abney is Uzi, an artist who has an unusual way of seeing the world, which influences her haunting paintings. (Amusingly, she also has named Antoine's cats Mulder and Scully.)
As Meg deciphers the diary, she is introduced to Dr. Wood, the psychiatrist treating Emmanuella and Lucy (the two women who died) and the partially innovative and partially kooky ideas he had for treatments. The kookier involved the use of a steampunkish box to deal with hysteria. Ella's diary also reveals that she was a lesbian and suffragette, and had been raped. Her trauma and sexual orientation were why she was at the asylum, and also revealed that she and Lucy developed a very close relationship, even though Lucy was there to deal with her issues prior to her marriage to a stodgy, respectable man.
Meg, Antoine, Uzi, Uzi's lover and Betty all discuss each new revelation from the diary in a series of texts and emails, hypothesizing what could have happened to the two women, a la Scooby Gang. Interestingly, the more time Meg spends at Abney Heights, the more she gets the sense that the place is haunted due to weirdoccurences. And Uzi's certainty there is a ghost present only adds to the tension.
Ella's secrets also begin pointing to a possible connection with Meg's own family, from whom Meg is estranged.
What really happened to Ella and Lucy is fascinating and sad, and it highlights how homophobia has destroyed lives for years. Author Cat Thomas skillfully uses the diary entries to create the heavy atmosphere of the asylum and Ella's fraying happiness. Meanwhile, the group texts of the Scooby Gang provide some levity in a dark story about mental illness and its dubious treatments.
Thomas' gothic manor house and its messy past are well conceived, and there's a growing sense of menace permeating Ella's recounting of her days leading up to hers and Lucy's deaths. There's a great feeling of creepiness in both timelines, and the characterization is well done, helping us sympathize with Meg's reluctance to connect with others because of her family, and with Ella, full of optimism upon her arrival at Abney, to her turmoil near her death. The author balances both the horror of the historical situations and the quirkiness of her present-day characters well; this is a dark and entertaining story.
Thank you to Netgalley and to BooksGoSocial for this ARC in exchange for my review.
September 24, 2024
This was more of a historical mystery than a spooky thriller. It was an easy read, although some of the plot points were just a bit too convenient for my liking. I liked the exploration of women's mental health in the early 1900s and the trauma experienced by the two femail characters in that time. The modern day timeline was fine but there was too many characters in the "Scooby Gang" and some of them felt a bit irrelevant.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to Netgalley, BooksGoSocial and the author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to Netgalley, BooksGoSocial and the author.
November 2, 2022
I really enjoyed "The Haunting of Abney Heights" by Cat Thomas. I'm vaguely familiar with the area and have been wanting to visit the cemetery for a while, so definitely will after reading this book. It did feel as if it was set in the past, thanks to the 1907 diary entries and loved that it was a mystery that was being unravelled over 100 years later. Not the predictable ending that I was expecting, so great stuff!
October 25, 2022
There's much to parse in this British contemporary/Edwardian Ghostly mystery. The Narrator, a former academic, now a freelance genealogist, carries a trunk load of baggage from childhood and adolescence. She's currently staying in a Renovated Edwardian Asylum while working through the Asylum archives for the Development corporation. It's also the area of London in which she grew up, and the penthouse resident is her bestie while growing up.
Additionally, she is contracted by a San Francisco resident to uncover the mysteries of one of the gentlewoman inmates. There's enough Supernatural Interference to keep the cauldron boiling, which in turn creates danger and potential fatality. Caution: the unraveling of the Asylum narrative reveals some very ugly facts, disturbing to some (many) readers. The reading is not as fast-paced as I would have hoped, as discovering the truths from 1907 is spaced out through journal entries, and our Narrator is constantly involved in her own past drama.
Additionally, she is contracted by a San Francisco resident to uncover the mysteries of one of the gentlewoman inmates. There's enough Supernatural Interference to keep the cauldron boiling, which in turn creates danger and potential fatality. Caution: the unraveling of the Asylum narrative reveals some very ugly facts, disturbing to some (many) readers. The reading is not as fast-paced as I would have hoped, as discovering the truths from 1907 is spaced out through journal entries, and our Narrator is constantly involved in her own past drama.
September 24, 2023
“An old asylum, a hidden diary and a secret that casts long shadows”
Megan Morgan is an archivist/genealogist with a doctorate in fairy tales. She is hired by a woman named Betty to look into the mysterious death of her great aunt Ella Murray, who in 1907 was found dead on the grounds of Abney Asylum, where she was being confined. When she contacts the health authority to look at the records, she is in turn hired for her skills as an archivist by Monarch, the development company that is turning the Victorian asylum into luxury flats.
On the grounds of the Stoke Newton building, Meg runs into a friend from her adolescence, Antoine Bryne who is an editor with the Hackney Comet and happens to be one of the few residents at Abney Heights.
Together with some friends, they work to solve the mystery behind Ella’s death as well as the suspicious death of another patient, Lucy Northaway. Along the way, Meg discovers the truth behind her own family’s secrets.
This book had a strong start with spooky nighttime vibes at the former asylum. It also had a solid finish. However, the book could have done with more supernatural or unexplained spooky happenings throughout.
The story is told mainly in first person from Meg’s perspective, but there are also sections from Ella’s diary throughout and the head doctor’s notes as well as a couple of his papers which reminded me of Freud’s writings. In my opinion, the present timeline was the weaker of the two. The diary entries and doctor’s notes are what kept me reading.
BooksGoSocial provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Megan Morgan is an archivist/genealogist with a doctorate in fairy tales. She is hired by a woman named Betty to look into the mysterious death of her great aunt Ella Murray, who in 1907 was found dead on the grounds of Abney Asylum, where she was being confined. When she contacts the health authority to look at the records, she is in turn hired for her skills as an archivist by Monarch, the development company that is turning the Victorian asylum into luxury flats.
On the grounds of the Stoke Newton building, Meg runs into a friend from her adolescence, Antoine Bryne who is an editor with the Hackney Comet and happens to be one of the few residents at Abney Heights.
Together with some friends, they work to solve the mystery behind Ella’s death as well as the suspicious death of another patient, Lucy Northaway. Along the way, Meg discovers the truth behind her own family’s secrets.
This book had a strong start with spooky nighttime vibes at the former asylum. It also had a solid finish. However, the book could have done with more supernatural or unexplained spooky happenings throughout.
The story is told mainly in first person from Meg’s perspective, but there are also sections from Ella’s diary throughout and the head doctor’s notes as well as a couple of his papers which reminded me of Freud’s writings. In my opinion, the present timeline was the weaker of the two. The diary entries and doctor’s notes are what kept me reading.
BooksGoSocial provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2022
My cousin lived in Stoke Newington and I have actually walked through Abney Park as it exists today, so I was excited to read this book.
This book goes back and forth between the events of 1907 (told from a few different perspectives) and the present-day storyline. Meg is visiting Abney Heights to do some genealogical research and help archive the old paperwork from back when the newly developed condos were a psychiatric hospital. The Abney Heights building and cemetery proved to be a very atmospheric setting.
My biggest gripe with this book was that the title didn't align with the story. There wasn't really a haunting. The story progressed with a lot of interludes of present-day storyline that didn't always feel relevant and dragged down the story and pacing. Moreover, the ending was rushed and extremely far-fetched.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gwillion Press for the opportunity to review this book ahead of publication. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
This book goes back and forth between the events of 1907 (told from a few different perspectives) and the present-day storyline. Meg is visiting Abney Heights to do some genealogical research and help archive the old paperwork from back when the newly developed condos were a psychiatric hospital. The Abney Heights building and cemetery proved to be a very atmospheric setting.
My biggest gripe with this book was that the title didn't align with the story. There wasn't really a haunting. The story progressed with a lot of interludes of present-day storyline that didn't always feel relevant and dragged down the story and pacing. Moreover, the ending was rushed and extremely far-fetched.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gwillion Press for the opportunity to review this book ahead of publication. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
July 24, 2023
Overall I enjoyed this book. I just wanted more, the characters and plot needed more depth. It felt like it only got going at the end. I think a few more chapters and improved description would have made this book amazing!!!!!
Definitely more of a mystery book.
Definitely more of a mystery book.
November 16, 2022
Actual Rating: 2.5/5.
When Meg, a genealogist starts a job for Betty Gardiner about her great aunt Emmanuelle (Elle) and the mystery that surrounds her and her death, the last thing she expected was to be swept into a steampunk world of Abney Asylum. Coincidentally, Meg is currently living at the brand new luxury apartments Abney Heights, which used to be the old Asylum. Following the leads of an old journal and asylum archives, the story follows dual timelines while Meg and her crew of friends solve her families mystery.
The Haunting of Abney Heights was a solid murder-mystery novel. The timeline of Elle and Lucy heavily overshadows the present day line. At the asylum, the women's lives were penned by a Doctor and then further on by Elle herself, whom of which was part of the asylum because of a love of women. Just in case it wasn't glaringly obvious, Elle and Lucy fall in love and continue a romantic relationship during the course of the book. Minor spoilers: don't expect a love story though, this is purely in there as a plot device to further the story. My next little issue - this is in no way a horror novel. It's not scary, creepy or quirky in any way. This fits very well into the historical fiction or mystery genre, but don't come running if you are expecting a spooky read. The haunting mentioned in the title feels like it is a euphemism for the haunted life lived by the two women in the asylum.
This one would be great for fans of Briget Collins and Sarah Penner.
When Meg, a genealogist starts a job for Betty Gardiner about her great aunt Emmanuelle (Elle) and the mystery that surrounds her and her death, the last thing she expected was to be swept into a steampunk world of Abney Asylum. Coincidentally, Meg is currently living at the brand new luxury apartments Abney Heights, which used to be the old Asylum. Following the leads of an old journal and asylum archives, the story follows dual timelines while Meg and her crew of friends solve her families mystery.
The Haunting of Abney Heights was a solid murder-mystery novel. The timeline of Elle and Lucy heavily overshadows the present day line. At the asylum, the women's lives were penned by a Doctor and then further on by Elle herself, whom of which was part of the asylum because of a love of women. Just in case it wasn't glaringly obvious, Elle and Lucy fall in love and continue a romantic relationship during the course of the book. Minor spoilers: don't expect a love story though, this is purely in there as a plot device to further the story. My next little issue - this is in no way a horror novel. It's not scary, creepy or quirky in any way. This fits very well into the historical fiction or mystery genre, but don't come running if you are expecting a spooky read. The haunting mentioned in the title feels like it is a euphemism for the haunted life lived by the two women in the asylum.
This one would be great for fans of Briget Collins and Sarah Penner.
August 9, 2023
At 90% read, I was giving this book a 5. The story line alternates from the present to Edwardian England. The characters in Edwardian England are presented in the psychologist’s notes as well as in a deciphered diary of one of the main characters.
This book is filled with Edwardian history and many issues that were pushed under the carpet in those days - gays, pedophilia, gender bias, horrible psychological “cures,” ghosts, and the mores of that time period in England as contrasted to those in America. All this added to a creepy, “haunted” old psychiatric hospital, unreliable electricity, and strange text messages make for a great gothic novel.
The characters interact and the reader can’t help but becoming interested in the Edwardian characters as well as in the present-day ones. The characters have depth, and we come to love/hate them.
So, why the 3? It’s totally based on the ending. First, the conclusion was way too coincidental. I’ll leave it at that. Secondly, ghosts pop up in the last 10% of the book. Really? Ghosts are used to make the conclusion of the book, when the reader had seen neither hide, nor hair, nor ectoplasm of a ghost in the first 300 pages.
The ending and/or the ghosts killed this rating.
This book is filled with Edwardian history and many issues that were pushed under the carpet in those days - gays, pedophilia, gender bias, horrible psychological “cures,” ghosts, and the mores of that time period in England as contrasted to those in America. All this added to a creepy, “haunted” old psychiatric hospital, unreliable electricity, and strange text messages make for a great gothic novel.
The characters interact and the reader can’t help but becoming interested in the Edwardian characters as well as in the present-day ones. The characters have depth, and we come to love/hate them.
So, why the 3? It’s totally based on the ending. First, the conclusion was way too coincidental. I’ll leave it at that. Secondly, ghosts pop up in the last 10% of the book. Really? Ghosts are used to make the conclusion of the book, when the reader had seen neither hide, nor hair, nor ectoplasm of a ghost in the first 300 pages.
The ending and/or the ghosts killed this rating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2025
3.75 star rating
I loved the overall story - unfortunately parts dragged a bit for me. But the plot twists definitely made up for this.
I didn't expect the dark turn near the end 😲
I enjoyed the multiple Pov's - especially Ella's diary entries. So tragic and sad.
The connection with the main characters, past and present, was written well. Im glad Meg found some sort of closure at the end.
I kept thinking Meg and Antoine were going to hook up, especially as he kept looking at her in a different type of way towards the end but nope. Damn lol
If you like a gothic mystery, based in an Aslym, then I would definitely recommend this book for you.
I loved the overall story - unfortunately parts dragged a bit for me. But the plot twists definitely made up for this.
I didn't expect the dark turn near the end 😲
I enjoyed the multiple Pov's - especially Ella's diary entries. So tragic and sad.
The connection with the main characters, past and present, was written well. Im glad Meg found some sort of closure at the end.
I kept thinking Meg and Antoine were going to hook up, especially as he kept looking at her in a different type of way towards the end but nope. Damn lol
If you like a gothic mystery, based in an Aslym, then I would definitely recommend this book for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2022
What a delightful read. I loved the plot twists!
Aaaand many other literal references were smartly woven into the story: Dickens, Wells, and Bram Stoker to name a few...
The most curious thing about this book is that it weaves a lot into it, however, is very easy to follow and reads really well and quickly. There is history, there are ghosts, there are gothic thriller vibes, and hints of steampunk even… I mean, I can be a fussy reader, but this was really interesting!
Aaaand many other literal references were smartly woven into the story: Dickens, Wells, and Bram Stoker to name a few...
The most curious thing about this book is that it weaves a lot into it, however, is very easy to follow and reads really well and quickly. There is history, there are ghosts, there are gothic thriller vibes, and hints of steampunk even… I mean, I can be a fussy reader, but this was really interesting!
November 12, 2022
Well, this certainly turned out different than I thought it was going to when I first went in. I thought we were getting a spooky, haunting about a once Asylum turned into flats. What I believe we got was a historical family mystery.
Meg is hired by family member Betty to find out what happened to Ella, a family member who died at the Asylum many years prior under suspicious circumstances. Employing the help of her friends, they find another suspicious death at the same time and try to unravel the mystery surrounding the two deaths.
I'd say this was more of a story of haunted pasts than a true haunting story. There was only a small bit towards the end that might qualify it as a haunting story. It's told in two different timelines and the chapters are set up interestingly enough - between the current timeline and then the diary, articles pertaining to the period or the doctors own journal. However the pacing of this was quite slow and it lost me at times.
It was an interesting read once it all came together at the end. Just not what I thought it would be.
Meg is hired by family member Betty to find out what happened to Ella, a family member who died at the Asylum many years prior under suspicious circumstances. Employing the help of her friends, they find another suspicious death at the same time and try to unravel the mystery surrounding the two deaths.
I'd say this was more of a story of haunted pasts than a true haunting story. There was only a small bit towards the end that might qualify it as a haunting story. It's told in two different timelines and the chapters are set up interestingly enough - between the current timeline and then the diary, articles pertaining to the period or the doctors own journal. However the pacing of this was quite slow and it lost me at times.
It was an interesting read once it all came together at the end. Just not what I thought it would be.
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