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The House at the Edge of the Woods
The unsolved mystery of a murder lies at the heart of this page-turning story of a young couple who are struggling to find happiness and meaning in their lives together . . . perfect for fans of Claire Douglas!___________When Ben was seven, his mother was murdered in the woods while he waited for her in their car.The case made the front pages, but her killer was never found.Thirty years later, Ben has a safe, grown-up a job, a ramshackle cottage and, most importantly, a happy marriage to Rebecca.His mother has receded to the corners of his mind, lingering only in the nightmares that won't quite go away.Then Rebecca takes on a new job, painting a fairy-tale fresco for a wealthy businessman who starts asking questions about Ben's mother . . .Is it time for the truth to come out - and for Ben to face the questions he's never dared ask before?___________Love for The House at the Edge of the Woods . . .* 'Breathtaking.' ** 'Full of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged and intrigued' ** 'Superb compelling reading. Excellent novel.' ** 'An intriguing premise and some thoughtful storytelling.' ** 'The unravelling of the story worked well ... I was fully satisfied by the end.' *
400 pages, Paperback
Published April 11, 2024
21 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Hancox
2 books9 followersRachel Hancox read Medicine and Social and Political Science at Cambridge, qualified as a doctor three months after getting married, and has juggled her family, her career and a passion for writing ever since. She worked in Pediatrics and Public Health for twenty years, writing short stories alongside NHS policy reports, and drafting novels during successive bouts of maternity leave. Rachel loves singing, cooking, gardening and pottery, and has five children, three dogs and a cat. As someone once said, she thrives on chaos.
She lives in Oxford with her husband and youngest children.
She lives in Oxford with her husband and youngest children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
January 3, 2024
3.5 rounded down
In August 1993, Kirsty Swarbrick’s car breaks down on the motorway and she leaves her seven-year-old son Ben in the car while she seeks help. That is the last time that Ben sees his mother as she is murdered in nearby woods as he waits, her killer is never found. In the present day, Ben is now happily married to Rebecca after a whirlwind romance. On the surface, Ben seems to be coping with his tragic past, but he has recurring nightmares. When Rebecca gets a commission helping with the restoration of Marchboys House, once a glorious Georgian mansion, owner wealthy businessman, Pieter Blake starts asking questions about Ben and Kirsty. Is it possible that after all this time that the past can be laid to rest? The story is told via several points of view.
I really like the premise of the novel and I feel sure that Kirsty is murder could be based on fact, perhaps that of Marie Wilkes in 1988? The authors representation of Ben and how he copes is done well and he is a likeable character, as is Rebecca. There are some strange characters, odd, maybe even alarming relationships, especially between Kirsty and her parents and some situations that raise all kinds of questions. I puzzle over Pieter’s interest and Rebecca is certainly curious about him which changes to unease. The mystery of Kirsty‘s death is intriguing and that seems to deepen and the waters get murkier and murkier. There are some fortuitous finds, growing suspicions and a lot of two and two making five.
There’s an ever present Grimm’s fairytale element which starts with Kirsty’s murder and is reinforced by the work that Rebecca is doing at Marchboys. It gives a sense of unreality to the storytelling and a nightmare element with the past like a presence you cannot see. Although I really do enjoy the fairytale approach it is perhaps slightly overdone but is a balance between good and evil.
However, the book is slow at times, especially in the first half and the different perspectives adds to the pacing issue because there’s a lot of repetition which is unnecessary. Eventually, one point of view does advance the story, which is both interesting and revealing. The novel gets better and better the deeper we go into it and I find myself drawn into and invested in Ben story. Although I have my suspicions over the outcome which does prove correct, the ending is a good one and very satisfying.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Cornerstone, for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
In August 1993, Kirsty Swarbrick’s car breaks down on the motorway and she leaves her seven-year-old son Ben in the car while she seeks help. That is the last time that Ben sees his mother as she is murdered in nearby woods as he waits, her killer is never found. In the present day, Ben is now happily married to Rebecca after a whirlwind romance. On the surface, Ben seems to be coping with his tragic past, but he has recurring nightmares. When Rebecca gets a commission helping with the restoration of Marchboys House, once a glorious Georgian mansion, owner wealthy businessman, Pieter Blake starts asking questions about Ben and Kirsty. Is it possible that after all this time that the past can be laid to rest? The story is told via several points of view.
I really like the premise of the novel and I feel sure that Kirsty is murder could be based on fact, perhaps that of Marie Wilkes in 1988? The authors representation of Ben and how he copes is done well and he is a likeable character, as is Rebecca. There are some strange characters, odd, maybe even alarming relationships, especially between Kirsty and her parents and some situations that raise all kinds of questions. I puzzle over Pieter’s interest and Rebecca is certainly curious about him which changes to unease. The mystery of Kirsty‘s death is intriguing and that seems to deepen and the waters get murkier and murkier. There are some fortuitous finds, growing suspicions and a lot of two and two making five.
There’s an ever present Grimm’s fairytale element which starts with Kirsty’s murder and is reinforced by the work that Rebecca is doing at Marchboys. It gives a sense of unreality to the storytelling and a nightmare element with the past like a presence you cannot see. Although I really do enjoy the fairytale approach it is perhaps slightly overdone but is a balance between good and evil.
However, the book is slow at times, especially in the first half and the different perspectives adds to the pacing issue because there’s a lot of repetition which is unnecessary. Eventually, one point of view does advance the story, which is both interesting and revealing. The novel gets better and better the deeper we go into it and I find myself drawn into and invested in Ben story. Although I have my suspicions over the outcome which does prove correct, the ending is a good one and very satisfying.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Cornerstone, for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
April 18, 2024
I received an AD PR copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Random Things Tours.
3.5 stars.
The House at the Edge of the Woods is a slow burn mystery thriller told via three main POV.
Ben, now grown and married, was only seven when his mother's car broke down on a dual carriageway where she was murdered as she walked to find a phone. Ben was alone in the car and didn't see the murder but he did see a white car pull up behind them.
Rebecca is Ben's wife, and they have a simple and happy life living with their two dogs. When Rebecca is commissioned to paint a fairytale mural on a ceiling at a big old house, she can't believe her luck and sets out to create a masterpiece.
Pieter is the owner of the house that Rebecca is painting in, and as pieces of the story begin to slot together, we find out just what his interest in Rebecca and Ben really are.
I wasn't keen on Rebecca for the first half of the book, especially after reading Ben's first POV - I just couldn't gel with her. The final twist was a very clever one I didn't expect but afterwards thought, 'it was right under my nose the whole time'. I did find the story dragged out a little, and some parts not fully explored, but overall, it was a great atmospheric pageturner, and I'll definitely read more from this author.
3.5 stars.
The House at the Edge of the Woods is a slow burn mystery thriller told via three main POV.
Ben, now grown and married, was only seven when his mother's car broke down on a dual carriageway where she was murdered as she walked to find a phone. Ben was alone in the car and didn't see the murder but he did see a white car pull up behind them.
Rebecca is Ben's wife, and they have a simple and happy life living with their two dogs. When Rebecca is commissioned to paint a fairytale mural on a ceiling at a big old house, she can't believe her luck and sets out to create a masterpiece.
Pieter is the owner of the house that Rebecca is painting in, and as pieces of the story begin to slot together, we find out just what his interest in Rebecca and Ben really are.
I wasn't keen on Rebecca for the first half of the book, especially after reading Ben's first POV - I just couldn't gel with her. The final twist was a very clever one I didn't expect but afterwards thought, 'it was right under my nose the whole time'. I did find the story dragged out a little, and some parts not fully explored, but overall, it was a great atmospheric pageturner, and I'll definitely read more from this author.
March 25, 2024
This was an amazing book to read, there is so many twists and turns that it will keep you on the edge of your seat. It's brilliantly written and I can't wait to read more by this author
September 12, 2024
All my reviews can be found at damppebbles.com
Seven-year-old Ben Swarbrick and his mother, Kirsty, are driving home one late August afternoon when the car they’re in starts to break down. Determined to get home before the car completely conks out, Kirsty pushes on. But before long it becomes clear that they need help from someone more qualified in car mechanics than she. Making the tough decision to leave her young son in the car, Kirsty tells Ben to lock the doors and to stay put. Kirsty makes her way into the woods to seek help and is never seen alive again. Thirty years later and now an adult, Ben rarely talks about his mother and that fateful Sunday afternoon. Pushing the horror to the recesses of his mind, reliving the trauma only in his nightmares. When Ben’s artist wife, Rebecca, is given a new commission – to paint a fairytale fresco on the ceiling of a wealthy businessman’s luxurious home – she cannot refuse such an exciting, elaborate and detailed job. But the businessman, Pieter, starts to ask probing questions about Ben. Whether Rebecca really believes Ben’s account of what happened that day. Whether Ben, a large, sturdily built seven-year-old at the time would be able to overpower his mother. Whether Ben has since suffered some form of amnesia, making him forget important details from that afternoon. Rebecca starts to doubt herself and her husband. How well does she really know Ben? Why is Kirsty’s own mother so disparaging of her own deceased daughter? And what is Pieter’s interest in a murder case from thirty years ago…?
I thoroughly enjoyed The House at the Edge of the Woods. Steeped in family drama, and woven through with lots of lovely suspense and bucketloads of intrigue. I liked Rebecca. She sees herself as a little odd, a little quirky, perhaps a little awkward. I warmed to her character over the course of the book. I particularly liked her when evidence of an event is presented to her and instead of bluffing or biding her time to think through the options, she goes all out on the truth. I thought that was rather refreshing! I really got a sense of how keen Rebecca was to discuss Ben’s trauma, talk about his mother in detail with him and how much she wanted to help him through the repercussions of that. But getting a foothold into that conversation felt virtually impossible. The more Rebecca discovers about Kirsty and the past, the closer to the truth she feels she’s getting and the greater her need for Ben to open up becomes.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I very much enjoyed The House at the Edge of the Woods. I thought the intrigue was perfectly pitched. The characters are well-written and believable. The book does have a slightly slower pace but that’s never a problem for me. There are sections which are repeated but from a different point of view each time. We see things from Rebecca’s perspective (this was the voice I enjoyed the most), Ben’s perspective, and from Pieter’s perspective. With each new viewpoint, the reader gets to see things differently, slightly skewed. I enjoyed this approach. I liked how, through different eyes, things changed quite dramatically. All in all, I enjoyed this character-driven, suspenseful mystery. The intrigue builds and builds over the course of the book leading to an unexpected yet highly satisfying conclusion. I also enjoyed that the book is partly set in Oxfordshire, my home county (the first of three books I’ve read lately set in Oxon!!). Compelling storytelling with strong characters and an atmospheric feel. I’ll be keeping an eye out for more from this author. Recommended.
Seven-year-old Ben Swarbrick and his mother, Kirsty, are driving home one late August afternoon when the car they’re in starts to break down. Determined to get home before the car completely conks out, Kirsty pushes on. But before long it becomes clear that they need help from someone more qualified in car mechanics than she. Making the tough decision to leave her young son in the car, Kirsty tells Ben to lock the doors and to stay put. Kirsty makes her way into the woods to seek help and is never seen alive again. Thirty years later and now an adult, Ben rarely talks about his mother and that fateful Sunday afternoon. Pushing the horror to the recesses of his mind, reliving the trauma only in his nightmares. When Ben’s artist wife, Rebecca, is given a new commission – to paint a fairytale fresco on the ceiling of a wealthy businessman’s luxurious home – she cannot refuse such an exciting, elaborate and detailed job. But the businessman, Pieter, starts to ask probing questions about Ben. Whether Rebecca really believes Ben’s account of what happened that day. Whether Ben, a large, sturdily built seven-year-old at the time would be able to overpower his mother. Whether Ben has since suffered some form of amnesia, making him forget important details from that afternoon. Rebecca starts to doubt herself and her husband. How well does she really know Ben? Why is Kirsty’s own mother so disparaging of her own deceased daughter? And what is Pieter’s interest in a murder case from thirty years ago…?
I thoroughly enjoyed The House at the Edge of the Woods. Steeped in family drama, and woven through with lots of lovely suspense and bucketloads of intrigue. I liked Rebecca. She sees herself as a little odd, a little quirky, perhaps a little awkward. I warmed to her character over the course of the book. I particularly liked her when evidence of an event is presented to her and instead of bluffing or biding her time to think through the options, she goes all out on the truth. I thought that was rather refreshing! I really got a sense of how keen Rebecca was to discuss Ben’s trauma, talk about his mother in detail with him and how much she wanted to help him through the repercussions of that. But getting a foothold into that conversation felt virtually impossible. The more Rebecca discovers about Kirsty and the past, the closer to the truth she feels she’s getting and the greater her need for Ben to open up becomes.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I very much enjoyed The House at the Edge of the Woods. I thought the intrigue was perfectly pitched. The characters are well-written and believable. The book does have a slightly slower pace but that’s never a problem for me. There are sections which are repeated but from a different point of view each time. We see things from Rebecca’s perspective (this was the voice I enjoyed the most), Ben’s perspective, and from Pieter’s perspective. With each new viewpoint, the reader gets to see things differently, slightly skewed. I enjoyed this approach. I liked how, through different eyes, things changed quite dramatically. All in all, I enjoyed this character-driven, suspenseful mystery. The intrigue builds and builds over the course of the book leading to an unexpected yet highly satisfying conclusion. I also enjoyed that the book is partly set in Oxfordshire, my home county (the first of three books I’ve read lately set in Oxon!!). Compelling storytelling with strong characters and an atmospheric feel. I’ll be keeping an eye out for more from this author. Recommended.
May 8, 2024
The main characters in the book are a married couple Ben and Rebecca. Ben’s mum was murdered in 1993, when he was seven years old. He met Rebecca at a party when she was 33 and after a whirlwind romance, they got married. That was six years ago now and they live in a cottage with two dogs.
Ben works as a plumber but enjoys his vegetable garden and beekeeping. Rebecca becomes an artist and is commissioned by millionaire Pieter Blake to paint the ceiling of his huge house – Marchboys House – using a fairytale theme. As the ceiling becomes more covered with beautiful and intriguing images, things start to become a bit strange. Pieter begins to ask questions about Ben and his mother, but why is he so interested?
It's an intriguing story. Not only about the circumstances surrounding Ben’s mother’s death, but there’s a lot unsaid. Rebecca seems like she’s hiding something too – or at least not saying everything – from the start. Could it be that they’re all hiding things from each other – Ben, Rebecca and even Pieter? And there’s Pieter’s young daughter, Emily, who is being brought up by her grandparents, after her mother died – strangely echoing Ben’s own childhood.
The book is written in a style different to what I was expecting. It seems more literary fiction than thriller. Instead of the pacy, action packed style associated with psychological thrillers, this is something else. It is slow paced and almost thoughtful, contemplative. I found the first hundred pages or so (Part One of the book, written from Rebecca’s point of view) very slow, but when we move on to Part Two (from Ben’s point of view), finally some of the questions are answered, though these lead to more questions instead of definitive answers, but I read Part Two really quickly and found I wanted to know what was going to happen next.
We also get to see Pieter’s viewpoint of events and then, all the different strands of the story weave together, much like branches in a scary fairytale forest.
It’s interesting finding out what happened and it kept me guessing and did hold my interest, once we got to Part Two and beyond. Not a perfect book, but well worth persevering with.
Ben works as a plumber but enjoys his vegetable garden and beekeeping. Rebecca becomes an artist and is commissioned by millionaire Pieter Blake to paint the ceiling of his huge house – Marchboys House – using a fairytale theme. As the ceiling becomes more covered with beautiful and intriguing images, things start to become a bit strange. Pieter begins to ask questions about Ben and his mother, but why is he so interested?
It's an intriguing story. Not only about the circumstances surrounding Ben’s mother’s death, but there’s a lot unsaid. Rebecca seems like she’s hiding something too – or at least not saying everything – from the start. Could it be that they’re all hiding things from each other – Ben, Rebecca and even Pieter? And there’s Pieter’s young daughter, Emily, who is being brought up by her grandparents, after her mother died – strangely echoing Ben’s own childhood.
The book is written in a style different to what I was expecting. It seems more literary fiction than thriller. Instead of the pacy, action packed style associated with psychological thrillers, this is something else. It is slow paced and almost thoughtful, contemplative. I found the first hundred pages or so (Part One of the book, written from Rebecca’s point of view) very slow, but when we move on to Part Two (from Ben’s point of view), finally some of the questions are answered, though these lead to more questions instead of definitive answers, but I read Part Two really quickly and found I wanted to know what was going to happen next.
We also get to see Pieter’s viewpoint of events and then, all the different strands of the story weave together, much like branches in a scary fairytale forest.
It’s interesting finding out what happened and it kept me guessing and did hold my interest, once we got to Part Two and beyond. Not a perfect book, but well worth persevering with.
March 28, 2024
Kirsty is driving home from her parents house with her 7 year old son Ben. She breaks down on the motorway and leaving Ben in the car goes to find help. She's then found murdered and no-one was ever found guilty. Fast forward and Ben is now married to Rebecca but still having nightmares about that day.
Rebecca takes a job painting a mural for Pieter,at Marchboys house, who takes an unnatural interest in Kirsty's death. Why is he so interested and does he know more than he's letting on.
On the whole I enjoyed this book, told in parts from the perspective of Rebecca, Ben and Pieter, I did find some parts slightly repetitive as Ben's story was similar to Rebecca's telling. I enjoyed the parts relating to Kirsty's diary. I found the ending conclusive. All in all a steady read
Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for the opportunity to read this advanced copy, my opinions are my own and not expected
Rebecca takes a job painting a mural for Pieter,at Marchboys house, who takes an unnatural interest in Kirsty's death. Why is he so interested and does he know more than he's letting on.
On the whole I enjoyed this book, told in parts from the perspective of Rebecca, Ben and Pieter, I did find some parts slightly repetitive as Ben's story was similar to Rebecca's telling. I enjoyed the parts relating to Kirsty's diary. I found the ending conclusive. All in all a steady read
Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for the opportunity to read this advanced copy, my opinions are my own and not expected
June 20, 2024
A slow burn suspense novel set in the English countryside with a strong fairytale motif.
July 8, 2025
The story line was great really unexpected
But the print !! So tiny
Made it difficult to read x
But the print !! So tiny
Made it difficult to read x
May 24, 2024
Easy read, bit of a twee ending but ok.
April 23, 2024
The story:
Ben Swarbrick was only 7 years old when his mother Kirsty was murdered. Waiting in their broken down car at the side of the road, he is also the only witness to the unknown car that drew up behind them and which must have contained her killer.
Thirty years have gone by, and Ben is now married and settled into a quiet and happy life with wife Rebecca. But when Rebecca’s work as an artist takes her to Marchboys House — on the edge of the very forest in which Kirsty was killed — secrets that have long been hidden start to emerge, threatening the happy life that Ben and Rebecca have managed to create.
My thoughts:
I was excited to get the chance to read Rachel Hancox’s latest book, having really enjoyed “The Shadow Child” a couple of years ago. If anything, I enjoyed this one even more, with its tight storytelling and two characters, Rebecca and Ben, that I warmed to straight away.
The book is told in several parts, moving between the perspectives of Rebecca, Ben, and Rachel’s employer Pieter. Rebecca is an artist, and has been commissioned to paint a large mural with a fairy tale theme on a ceiling in wealthy business man Pieter’s grand home, Marchboys.
Fairy tales permeate the book, from Rebecca’s art work, to the terrible event of Ben’s childhood — an actual monster in the deep dark woods. Rebecca is given a book of fairy stories by Pieter for inspiration, of which several are mentioned throughout the novel. And I was delighted to discover that these short tales were also included at the end of the book — perfectly expressed fairy tales in their own right, and also with underlying themes of love, loss and mistrust that are reflected in the novel.
The mystery itself centres around the events of Kristy’s death, and also the identity of Ben’s father. The discovery of some volumes of a young Kristy’s diary also gives us a chance to hear her voice, which provided both answers and more questions for Ben and Kirsty as they try to uncover the truth.
The way the various strands of the story tie up is very well done, and the atmospheric use of the fairy tale themes really appealed to me. Overall, I found this to be an engrossing, intriguing and ultimately hugely satisfying read, and one where I was rooting for the characters’ happy ever after.
Ben Swarbrick was only 7 years old when his mother Kirsty was murdered. Waiting in their broken down car at the side of the road, he is also the only witness to the unknown car that drew up behind them and which must have contained her killer.
Thirty years have gone by, and Ben is now married and settled into a quiet and happy life with wife Rebecca. But when Rebecca’s work as an artist takes her to Marchboys House — on the edge of the very forest in which Kirsty was killed — secrets that have long been hidden start to emerge, threatening the happy life that Ben and Rebecca have managed to create.
My thoughts:
I was excited to get the chance to read Rachel Hancox’s latest book, having really enjoyed “The Shadow Child” a couple of years ago. If anything, I enjoyed this one even more, with its tight storytelling and two characters, Rebecca and Ben, that I warmed to straight away.
The book is told in several parts, moving between the perspectives of Rebecca, Ben, and Rachel’s employer Pieter. Rebecca is an artist, and has been commissioned to paint a large mural with a fairy tale theme on a ceiling in wealthy business man Pieter’s grand home, Marchboys.
Fairy tales permeate the book, from Rebecca’s art work, to the terrible event of Ben’s childhood — an actual monster in the deep dark woods. Rebecca is given a book of fairy stories by Pieter for inspiration, of which several are mentioned throughout the novel. And I was delighted to discover that these short tales were also included at the end of the book — perfectly expressed fairy tales in their own right, and also with underlying themes of love, loss and mistrust that are reflected in the novel.
The mystery itself centres around the events of Kristy’s death, and also the identity of Ben’s father. The discovery of some volumes of a young Kristy’s diary also gives us a chance to hear her voice, which provided both answers and more questions for Ben and Kirsty as they try to uncover the truth.
The way the various strands of the story tie up is very well done, and the atmospheric use of the fairy tale themes really appealed to me. Overall, I found this to be an engrossing, intriguing and ultimately hugely satisfying read, and one where I was rooting for the characters’ happy ever after.
December 7, 2023
Memory is far from immutable and people don't always realise that what they remember may not be accurate. Sometimes we rewrite memories to get past our own discomfort, or to make things look the way that that we would want them to be. At other times, we hide away from truths that are too painful to confront.
Ben has experienced childhood trauma which involved a horrific incident. His mother was murdered in the woods when he was waiting in the car, at the age of only seven, for her to return. And her killer was never caught, which means that Ben could never get the answers or the closure he needed to move on with his life.
Yet, to all intents and purposes, it looks as if he has done precisely that - happily married to Rebecca and seemingly satisfied with his safe, secure job as a plumber, and their small, isolated home.
The thing is, while people may die, the past itself rarely does. It lives on in each one of us, and its legacy lives on in our descendants.
So when Rebecca's enigmatic new employer Pieter - who has hired her to paint the ceiling with a fairy tale mural (even if he seems decidedly *not* the fairy tale type! Perhaps he's influenced by his daughter Emily?) starts asking questions about Ben's mother, things go awry quite quickly. After all, why would he want to know? Is it some form of ghoulish curiosity, or does he know something more about what really happened...?
This reminded me of a case in the UK where a woman's toddler son was left alive after she was brutally murdered on the side of the highway after her car broke down well before the era of mobile phones. That story has haunted me ever since.
The book has an intriguing premise and some thoughtful storytelling. The reader is quickly drawn in, and the writing style makes for an easy read.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Ben has experienced childhood trauma which involved a horrific incident. His mother was murdered in the woods when he was waiting in the car, at the age of only seven, for her to return. And her killer was never caught, which means that Ben could never get the answers or the closure he needed to move on with his life.
Yet, to all intents and purposes, it looks as if he has done precisely that - happily married to Rebecca and seemingly satisfied with his safe, secure job as a plumber, and their small, isolated home.
The thing is, while people may die, the past itself rarely does. It lives on in each one of us, and its legacy lives on in our descendants.
So when Rebecca's enigmatic new employer Pieter - who has hired her to paint the ceiling with a fairy tale mural (even if he seems decidedly *not* the fairy tale type! Perhaps he's influenced by his daughter Emily?) starts asking questions about Ben's mother, things go awry quite quickly. After all, why would he want to know? Is it some form of ghoulish curiosity, or does he know something more about what really happened...?
This reminded me of a case in the UK where a woman's toddler son was left alive after she was brutally murdered on the side of the highway after her car broke down well before the era of mobile phones. That story has haunted me ever since.
The book has an intriguing premise and some thoughtful storytelling. The reader is quickly drawn in, and the writing style makes for an easy read.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
August 28, 2024
📖 Book Review
The House at the Edge of the Woods by Rachel Hancox; Penguin, 11th April 2024
The unsolved murder of Kirsty 30 years previously lies at the centre of this intriguing, gripping story. When the car Kirsty was driving broke down, she went for help, leaving her seven-year-old son, Ben, in the car. Kirsty never returned.
Catching up with Ben as an adult, we discover he works as a plumber and is happily married to Rebecca, who excitedly starts a new commission to paint a fairytale fresco for wealthy businessman, Pieter.
The trauma of his mother's death has significance in Ben's life as nightmares, so when Pieter starts asking questions and showing a keen interest in Kirsy's death, perhaps it is now time for the truth to emerge and the mystery to be solved.
Ben comes across as a thoroughly decent, likeable young man in a stable relationship with his devoted and supportive wife. There's a high level of suspense throughout the book, and the story is compelling and mysterious. I warmed to Rebecca's character; she appears to be an honest woman keen to get to the truth about Kirsty's death, and she encourages Ben to talk about it.
The multiple POVs examining the story through Rebecca's, Ben's and Pieter's eyes is fantastic, if a little repetitive at times, but this doesn’t detract from the pure enjoyment of this of this book, which I would not hesitate to recommend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Rachel Hancox and Penguin for providing an eARC via NetGalley; this is my unbiased review.
The House at the Edge of the Woods by Rachel Hancox; Penguin, 11th April 2024
The unsolved murder of Kirsty 30 years previously lies at the centre of this intriguing, gripping story. When the car Kirsty was driving broke down, she went for help, leaving her seven-year-old son, Ben, in the car. Kirsty never returned.
Catching up with Ben as an adult, we discover he works as a plumber and is happily married to Rebecca, who excitedly starts a new commission to paint a fairytale fresco for wealthy businessman, Pieter.
The trauma of his mother's death has significance in Ben's life as nightmares, so when Pieter starts asking questions and showing a keen interest in Kirsy's death, perhaps it is now time for the truth to emerge and the mystery to be solved.
Ben comes across as a thoroughly decent, likeable young man in a stable relationship with his devoted and supportive wife. There's a high level of suspense throughout the book, and the story is compelling and mysterious. I warmed to Rebecca's character; she appears to be an honest woman keen to get to the truth about Kirsty's death, and she encourages Ben to talk about it.
The multiple POVs examining the story through Rebecca's, Ben's and Pieter's eyes is fantastic, if a little repetitive at times, but this doesn’t detract from the pure enjoyment of this of this book, which I would not hesitate to recommend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Rachel Hancox and Penguin for providing an eARC via NetGalley; this is my unbiased review.
April 12, 2024
Thirty years ago, seven year old Ben's mum Kirsty was murdered in the woods after her car broke down, leaving Ben in the car wondering when his mum would come back, her killer was never found. Now he is happily married to Rebecca, with his mum always on his mind and in the nightmares that keep raising their ugly head. Rebecca, an artist is commissioned to paint a mural for wealthy businessman Pieter Blake, who becomes very interested in Ben's story, did he know Kirsty and will Ben finally find out the truth of what happened all those years ago?
The House at the Edge of the Woods is a slow burner, set over two timelines, 1993 and present day we meet Ben, who has never recovered properly from the childhood trauma of losing his mum and not getting the answers he so craves. Told from the points of view of all three main characters the story was, at times, repetitive but, it was an intriguing premise with many layers which, when stripped back, all came to a very satisfactory conclusion. It's a solid read from a new to me author and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
I'd like to thank Random House UK, Cornerstone and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads and Amazon.
The House at the Edge of the Woods is a slow burner, set over two timelines, 1993 and present day we meet Ben, who has never recovered properly from the childhood trauma of losing his mum and not getting the answers he so craves. Told from the points of view of all three main characters the story was, at times, repetitive but, it was an intriguing premise with many layers which, when stripped back, all came to a very satisfactory conclusion. It's a solid read from a new to me author and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
I'd like to thank Random House UK, Cornerstone and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads and Amazon.
April 18, 2024
What would it feel like to have told such a lifechanging lie? To live with a secret that grew with you – that got bigger and bigger as your understanding of life developed – but which you had to keep hidden because there was never a moment when telling the truth was possible.
Rebecca and Ben live a simple life in a cottage in a small English town – he's a plumber and she is an upcoming mural artist. When Rebecca gets a commission to paint a massive ceiling at a mansion, they both jump at the change. The rich owner, Pieter Blake, could make Rebecca's career.
At first, she loves the work. But then, Pieter starts asking questions about Ben. Because when Ben was just seven years old, his mother was murdered on a highway while he was sitting in their broken-down car. Her killer was never caught. Pieter's insinuations make Rebecca doubt Ben's version of events. Could have been lying all this time? Soon, Rebecca's thoughts are spiralling and she no longer knows who to trust.
This was a very intriguing suspense novel. I loved how for a long time, the reader doesn't know who is telling the truth and what the characters' motives are. I really felt for Ben, Rebecca's gentle giant, that is, of course, until all the questions about him arise.
The pacing was a little slow at times. I think this is definitely more of a character-focused mystery than an action-packed thriller. The book is not without tension but it's a slow burn that builds up.
Definitely worth a read.
April 16, 2024
2.5 stars.
What I liked:
✅️ different perspectives: i liked how the story is told from various characters' point of view. it gave a fresh take on the same events and it was great to see different viewpoints.
✅️ diary entries: the diary entries from ben's mum were a great addition to get to know her a little bit more.
✅️ mystery: the way it is written keeps you guessing who the killer is.
✅️ fairytales - there are some fairytales at the back of the book that were not needed, but I did enjoy them.
What wasn't for me, but might be for you:
📖 slow pace: i prefer my thrillers to be a bit more fast-paced to keep me on the edge of my seat. however, the repetition and long(ish) chapters made it feel quite slow.
📖 the reveal: the reveal of the killer didn't hit me as hard as i hoped. i wanted that jaw-dropping moment but ended up feeling a bit underwhelmed, and i still have questions.
📖 the relationship: i couldn't quite connect with ben and rebecca as a couple, especially at the beginning, which affected my overall enjoyment of the story - as rebecca was annoying me a little (just speak to your husband)
Overall, it was a decent read but also left me wanting a bit more excitement.
*book gifted
What I liked:
✅️ different perspectives: i liked how the story is told from various characters' point of view. it gave a fresh take on the same events and it was great to see different viewpoints.
✅️ diary entries: the diary entries from ben's mum were a great addition to get to know her a little bit more.
✅️ mystery: the way it is written keeps you guessing who the killer is.
✅️ fairytales - there are some fairytales at the back of the book that were not needed, but I did enjoy them.
What wasn't for me, but might be for you:
📖 slow pace: i prefer my thrillers to be a bit more fast-paced to keep me on the edge of my seat. however, the repetition and long(ish) chapters made it feel quite slow.
📖 the reveal: the reveal of the killer didn't hit me as hard as i hoped. i wanted that jaw-dropping moment but ended up feeling a bit underwhelmed, and i still have questions.
📖 the relationship: i couldn't quite connect with ben and rebecca as a couple, especially at the beginning, which affected my overall enjoyment of the story - as rebecca was annoying me a little (just speak to your husband)
Overall, it was a decent read but also left me wanting a bit more excitement.
*book gifted
December 11, 2023
#TheHouseAtTheEdgeOfTheWoods #NetGalley
Breathtaking.
When Ben was seven, his mother was murdered in the woods while he waited for her in their car. The case made the front pages, but her killer was never found. Thirty years later, Ben has a safe, grown-up life: a job, a ramshackle cottage and, most importantly, a happy marriage to Rebecca. His mother has receded to the corners of his mind, lingering only in the nightmares that won't quite go away.Then Rebecca takes on a new job, painting a fairy-tale fresco for a wealthy businessman who starts asking questions about Ben's mother Is it time for the truth to come out - and for Ben to face the questions he's never dared ask before?
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK Cornerstone Century for giving me an advance copy.
Breathtaking.
When Ben was seven, his mother was murdered in the woods while he waited for her in their car. The case made the front pages, but her killer was never found. Thirty years later, Ben has a safe, grown-up life: a job, a ramshackle cottage and, most importantly, a happy marriage to Rebecca. His mother has receded to the corners of his mind, lingering only in the nightmares that won't quite go away.Then Rebecca takes on a new job, painting a fairy-tale fresco for a wealthy businessman who starts asking questions about Ben's mother Is it time for the truth to come out - and for Ben to face the questions he's never dared ask before?
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK Cornerstone Century for giving me an advance copy.
April 11, 2024
I loved the premise of this book, but I really struggled with the start. I don't mind a slow burner but this was like someone not lighting the gas.
There are different timelines in the story, the first one set in 1993 when on her way home Kirsty Swarbrick's car breaks down on the motorway with her seven year old son Ben inside. But things take a tragic turn for the worse.
Present day and Ben is married to artist Rebecca but what happened to his mother on that fateful day still gives him nightmares.
When Rebecca is asked to commission a fairy tale story on the extremely wealthy Pieter Blake's ceiling for his fiance she jumped at the chance.
But not all is it seems, did Pieter employ her for a different reason? If so then way?
There are different timelines in the story, the first one set in 1993 when on her way home Kirsty Swarbrick's car breaks down on the motorway with her seven year old son Ben inside. But things take a tragic turn for the worse.
Present day and Ben is married to artist Rebecca but what happened to his mother on that fateful day still gives him nightmares.
When Rebecca is asked to commission a fairy tale story on the extremely wealthy Pieter Blake's ceiling for his fiance she jumped at the chance.
But not all is it seems, did Pieter employ her for a different reason? If so then way?
April 12, 2024
After a car break down on the hard shoulder 7 year old Ben is left in the car to look for help. She never returns and is found murdered. This story follows Ben in adult life when his wife gets an artists job in the big old house at the edge of the woods. Her employer seems to be taking an interest in what happened to Ben years ago and as the story unfolds we wonder why and what really happened all those years ago. Bens memory is rather jaded around the event and soon things start to unfold. There are a few twists and turns and on the whole this is an enjoyable read. I did sort of guess the end.
April 14, 2024
When Ben was seven, his mum was murdered whilst he was in the car in the hard shoulder. He thinks he remembers a white car, but that’s all - everything else is hazy.
Fast forward 30 years, Ben is grown up, he���s living with his wife Rebecca but those awful nightmares keep happening. Then Rebecca takes on a high commission painting for a wealthy local man, a man that has a keen interest in Bens mums death.
What will be uncovered over the course of Rebecca working there, will they finally work out what happened all those years ago?
I enjoyed this book, even though I saw the ending coming it was still an enjoyable read.
Fast forward 30 years, Ben is grown up, he���s living with his wife Rebecca but those awful nightmares keep happening. Then Rebecca takes on a high commission painting for a wealthy local man, a man that has a keen interest in Bens mums death.
What will be uncovered over the course of Rebecca working there, will they finally work out what happened all those years ago?
I enjoyed this book, even though I saw the ending coming it was still an enjoyable read.
April 24, 2024
I loved the premise of this book - young boy waiting in a broken down car, Mum goes off to seek help, never returns and is later found murdered. It certainly added a generous dollop of intrigue from the get go. I wasn’t sure why a wealthy businessman, Pieter Blake, might want a fairy tale fresco in the main hall of his mansion but this character really added further depth to the intrigue as he asks searching questions about Ben and his mother.
It’s a fairly slow burn, dual time line thriller which, although a little repetitive at times, maintains a good level of mystery and tension throughout culminating in a well rounded ending.
It’s a fairly slow burn, dual time line thriller which, although a little repetitive at times, maintains a good level of mystery and tension throughout culminating in a well rounded ending.
March 17, 2024
Ben's mother was murdered when he was just 7 years old and the killer has never been found. Fast forward and hes happily married to Rebecca and they have a beautifully quiet life together living in an old cottage with their two dogs. Rebecca is an up and coming mural painter and receives a commission by a wealthy man named Pieter when things start to unfold and the past catches up with them. The House at the Edge of the Woods is a decent read with just enough detail to keep you guessing but still with a satisfying twist. The multiple perspectives were quite repetitive in the first part even down to repeating the same dialogue which I thought was unnecessary. I would pick up another book by this author as I did enjoy the plot but it could have been shorter with the same effect.
December 7, 2023
I mostly enjoyed this.... the whirlwind romance of our main characters had me charmed from the start, and Ben was someone I could not help but to like a lot.
There was mystery aplenty... what did happen to Ben's mum, or rather , who happened.
I wasn't so sure about the multiple point of view, it went over too much of the same ground without too much new for my liking.
The unravelling of the story worked well though, and I was fully satisfied by the end.
There was mystery aplenty... what did happen to Ben's mum, or rather , who happened.
I wasn't so sure about the multiple point of view, it went over too much of the same ground without too much new for my liking.
The unravelling of the story worked well though, and I was fully satisfied by the end.
February 7, 2024
The book is full of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged and intrigued. The story is told from the perspectives of the main protagonists and is cleverly done with interspersed fairy tale themes. The book is a thrilling blend of mystery, suspense, and family drama that will keep you hooked until the very end. I wasn’t that keen on the complete fairy tales at the end as to me the story was already finished. Even so it’s a solid 4 stars
April 29, 2024
Superb psychological thriller with well developed characters exploring themes of parenthood, childhood, memory, loss, grief, love and hope. The structure of alternating viewpoints greatly enhances the mystery and keeps you turning the pages. Beautifully written and interwoven throughout are the themes from fairy tales that one of the characters is painting in a mural. A highly intelligent work of fiction from a very talented writer.
March 24, 2025
I found The House at the Edge of the Woods by Rachel Hancox intriguing but a bit slow. The mix of mystery, fairy-tale elements, and psychological drama was compelling, but the pacing dragged at times. Ben’s search for the truth about his mother’s murder had me hooked, but I struggled to fully connect with the characters. The atmospheric setting was beautifully done, though, and the shifting perspectives kept things interesting. Overall, it was a decent read, but not as gripping as I had hoped.
March 25, 2024
Superb compelling reading. Excellent novel.
You have to feel sorry for Ben, not really knowing who he is. Then enlightenment happens via numerous sources.
Painters, teachers, grandparents and a mother who took the secret to her deathbed with her. A book to really get into, but not if you want an early night.
Thank you for letting me read this book.
You have to feel sorry for Ben, not really knowing who he is. Then enlightenment happens via numerous sources.
Painters, teachers, grandparents and a mother who took the secret to her deathbed with her. A book to really get into, but not if you want an early night.
Thank you for letting me read this book.
April 16, 2024
This was such an atmospheric read, that start was so eerie!
I instantly felt for Ben, the heartbreak he faced through his loss and for the accusations he faced. The use of diary entries really helped to set the tone of the book, the happiness of a child growing up when as a reader you know what happens to them.
There are so many twists, which are more impactful due to the slow burn of the book. I was definitely surprised of some of the outcomes.
Add this to your TBR.
I instantly felt for Ben, the heartbreak he faced through his loss and for the accusations he faced. The use of diary entries really helped to set the tone of the book, the happiness of a child growing up when as a reader you know what happens to them.
There are so many twists, which are more impactful due to the slow burn of the book. I was definitely surprised of some of the outcomes.
Add this to your TBR.
April 22, 2024
I loved this book, absolutely loved it. The characters were brilliant, it had you questioning everyone and everything, and still worked out with such huge surprises. I couldn't have guessed at all.
Thank you so much to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you so much to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2024
An atmospheric and twisty mix of fiction and mystery: a woman who disappeared in the past, a son who's living with a trauma and trying to do his best, events that could be relavant to what is happening today and some fairy tales elements.
Surprising and twist even if a bit slow at times.
3.5 upped to 4
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Surprising and twist even if a bit slow at times.
3.5 upped to 4
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
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