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The Haunting of Hurst House
When she moves to a small coastal Cornish village, Mercy Willow hopes to start a new life. She has a brand new job as an estate agent, and she's determined to put the past where it belongs and get on with building a new future. But will that be easy in a village that has more than its fair share of ghosts?
Determined to sell the un-sellable Hurst House, Mercy gets straight to work. Hurst House was once the scene of a terrible tragedy, and many of the locals believe that the place is best left untouched and undisturbed. Mercy, however, thinks it just needs a lick of paint and a few other improvements, and that then she'll be able to find a buyer in no time.
Soon, Mercy discovers that parts of Hurst House's past are still lingering. Strange noises hint at an unseen presence, and an old family secret is about to come bursting back to life with terrifying consequences. Meanwhile, Mercy herself has a dark past that she'd rather keep hidden. After all, her name isn't really Mercy Willow at all, and she's running from something that has already almost killed her once.
The Haunting of Hurst House is the first book in the Mercy Willow series, about an estate agent in deepest Cornwall who develops the unusual ability to communicate with ghosts.
Determined to sell the un-sellable Hurst House, Mercy gets straight to work. Hurst House was once the scene of a terrible tragedy, and many of the locals believe that the place is best left untouched and undisturbed. Mercy, however, thinks it just needs a lick of paint and a few other improvements, and that then she'll be able to find a buyer in no time.
Soon, Mercy discovers that parts of Hurst House's past are still lingering. Strange noises hint at an unseen presence, and an old family secret is about to come bursting back to life with terrifying consequences. Meanwhile, Mercy herself has a dark past that she'd rather keep hidden. After all, her name isn't really Mercy Willow at all, and she's running from something that has already almost killed her once.
The Haunting of Hurst House is the first book in the Mercy Willow series, about an estate agent in deepest Cornwall who develops the unusual ability to communicate with ghosts.
326 pages, Paperback
Published October 23, 2022
455 people are currently reading
529 people want to read
About the author
Amy Cross
664 books1,685 followersAmy Cross writes novels and short stories in a number of genres, mainly horror, paranormal and fantasy. Books include The Farm, Annie's Room, The Island, Eli's Town and Asylum.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
December 5, 2022
Clever plot but it didn't hang together!
This was a story of a "Miss Mouse", who wouldn't say boo to a goose but who's outward demeanour hid a much darker secret. It should have been an outstanding story but none of the characters were in any way believable, one dimensional in fact. Save the best until last, as the saying goes, and that was certainly true of this story. A sequel beckons but not for me I'm afraid.
This was a story of a "Miss Mouse", who wouldn't say boo to a goose but who's outward demeanour hid a much darker secret. It should have been an outstanding story but none of the characters were in any way believable, one dimensional in fact. Save the best until last, as the saying goes, and that was certainly true of this story. A sequel beckons but not for me I'm afraid.
February 5, 2023
Mostly this took way too long to get to the point - ghosts didn't really appear until nearly the end, and I really didn't pick this up to read about a troubled real estate agent running from her mysterious past as the main plotline.
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July 29, 2024-1 star. I got 5 chapters in, about 40 pages, and I'm done. The MC is whiney, high strung, an idiot, and a pushover. The boss is a jerk and a very flat character, just there so the mc isn't talking to herself, and the coworker is a cheery backstabbing hr violation. Instead of relaxing and enjoying a book, I'm annoyed and procrastinating reading. So I'm DNFing this lousy excuse for a book.
December 27, 2022
Terribly written, had to put it down.
January 19, 2023
The Haunting of Hurst House is the first book in the Mercy Willow series, a series about real estate agent Mercy Willow. Running away from her past, Mercy is desperate to build a new life for herself working as a real estate agent in a small village. Unfortunately, her new career isn’t off to a great start, so Mercy vows to herself that she will do the unthinkable.
She will sell the house no one can sell. Hurst House. Scene of a terrible tragedy, a house that has lain abandoned for years. If she can sell this house, then she can sell any house.
But Hurst House isn’t an ordinary house. Strange noises haunt its corridors, during the renovation, items move from one room to another over night… Then again, Mercy Willow is no ordinary real estate agent, either, so if anyone can pull this off, it’s her.
I liked parts of this book, but other parts were just too far-fetched. The twist about the family who had lived in Hurst House just seemed too impossible for me, not believable at all. Apart from that, I liked the story overall and Mercy is an intriguing protagonist because there’s obvbiously parts about her that the reader doesn’t know yet. I will definitely pick up the next book in the series.
She will sell the house no one can sell. Hurst House. Scene of a terrible tragedy, a house that has lain abandoned for years. If she can sell this house, then she can sell any house.
But Hurst House isn’t an ordinary house. Strange noises haunt its corridors, during the renovation, items move from one room to another over night… Then again, Mercy Willow is no ordinary real estate agent, either, so if anyone can pull this off, it’s her.
I liked parts of this book, but other parts were just too far-fetched. The twist about the family who had lived in Hurst House just seemed too impossible for me, not believable at all. Apart from that, I liked the story overall and Mercy is an intriguing protagonist because there’s obvbiously parts about her that the reader doesn’t know yet. I will definitely pick up the next book in the series.
January 27, 2023
Not really horror
This book took a long time to get started. There was a beautiful old house, a cute contractor, an adorable child, a few other characters and lots of words. I almost gave up part way through. I didn't find it scary.
The twist was unexpected and I did like the ending - sort of. I absolutely loved Lily. But I didn't like Mercy enough to continue the series.
This book took a long time to get started. There was a beautiful old house, a cute contractor, an adorable child, a few other characters and lots of words. I almost gave up part way through. I didn't find it scary.
The twist was unexpected and I did like the ending - sort of. I absolutely loved Lily. But I didn't like Mercy enough to continue the series.
December 17, 2022
very good story!
Several twists in this creepy story. Mercy Willow is a new real estate agent. With a goal of selling the old Hurst house in which lies a mystery.
Several twists in this creepy story. Mercy Willow is a new real estate agent. With a goal of selling the old Hurst house in which lies a mystery.
March 12, 2023
The story starts ok. A woman is trying to start a new life in a new town. But the rest of the book is too unlikely. It's readable, but... meh
March 26, 2023
This book is extraordinarily badly written nonsense. It is a puzzle how it ever got published.
February 26, 2023
This genre falls into what I like to call "pallet cleansers." Easy reads I can usually get through in a couple settings. I don't think I noticed until after I started that this was a first in a series.
And man, sometimes certain books in a series can feel like setups for the next book (I usually find this in the second of a trilogy) but boy, was this whole book a setup. The plot was interesting enough to keep me engaged, but man, the HOLES.
And yet, I've already started the second one, so it couldn't have been that bad.
And man, sometimes certain books in a series can feel like setups for the next book (I usually find this in the second of a trilogy) but boy, was this whole book a setup. The plot was interesting enough to keep me engaged, but man, the HOLES.
And yet, I've already started the second one, so it couldn't have been that bad.
March 30, 2023
Finally, stories for real estate agents
For Mercy Willow it's a new job in a new place. She is the newest hire in a new place, and seeing as she can't sell a house, (or she gets ripped off), she sets her sights to fix up and sell an impossible to sell house. A tragedy, and the reputation for being haunted make it a rough go for the new agent in town. Do read this story. It's the first in the Mercy Willow series. I'm on to the next.
For Mercy Willow it's a new job in a new place. She is the newest hire in a new place, and seeing as she can't sell a house, (or she gets ripped off), she sets her sights to fix up and sell an impossible to sell house. A tragedy, and the reputation for being haunted make it a rough go for the new agent in town. Do read this story. It's the first in the Mercy Willow series. I'm on to the next.
April 28, 2023
RA
Some writers can spend hundreds of pages, in beautiful prose, telling you absolutely nothing. Amy is not one of those writers. My word for her rich and unfettered imagination would be "Unafraid". She fearlessly creates her own worlds and scenarios with no regard for literary propriety, or even basic logic at times. Her stories are always clunky, but always absolutely brilliant! This far fetched yarn is one such brilliant start to a series.
Some writers can spend hundreds of pages, in beautiful prose, telling you absolutely nothing. Amy is not one of those writers. My word for her rich and unfettered imagination would be "Unafraid". She fearlessly creates her own worlds and scenarios with no regard for literary propriety, or even basic logic at times. Her stories are always clunky, but always absolutely brilliant! This far fetched yarn is one such brilliant start to a series.
May 2, 2023
Hurst house
I am in awe with the book I was given one of these books in this series and I bought the whole set. Willow is a real character and I can't wait to see how this series goes. As far as books go it's a fairly fast read. Lots of great people full of excitement and a sense of horror. It had a few things I dud not see happening but wow amazingly wonderful.. I think its a book people won't be able to put down.
I am in awe with the book I was given one of these books in this series and I bought the whole set. Willow is a real character and I can't wait to see how this series goes. As far as books go it's a fairly fast read. Lots of great people full of excitement and a sense of horror. It had a few things I dud not see happening but wow amazingly wonderful.. I think its a book people won't be able to put down.
May 27, 2023
A modern, sinister tale in the traditional horror genre of blood and gore. We have an abandoned haunted house with a troubled past and evil inhabitants. I found the story slow, but it did get better as it went along. The main character works as an estate agent and is interesting, but her backstory isn't explained in sufficient detail, which is a shame. There are some interesting twists at the end that I didn't see coming.
December 5, 2024
What a rollercoaster ride!
So many twists and turns made this ghostly storyline really fascinating! I absolutely enjoyed it from beginning to end. I would have liked Mercy and Nathan to get together. Maybe in a later book! Would also like to know how Jessica and Mercy became one in the same body! Is it a Sybil sort of thing??? Or does she have a demon named Jessica?? So many questions that I hope get answered in the coming books!!!
So many twists and turns made this ghostly storyline really fascinating! I absolutely enjoyed it from beginning to end. I would have liked Mercy and Nathan to get together. Maybe in a later book! Would also like to know how Jessica and Mercy became one in the same body! Is it a Sybil sort of thing??? Or does she have a demon named Jessica?? So many questions that I hope get answered in the coming books!!!
January 30, 2023
I enjoyed it. Was it the best book I ever read? Well no but it was good. I like when the whole story isn’t given away too soon. It kept my interest but was an easy read and not filled with grammatical errors like so many books seem to be. First in a series but I feel like it’s fine as a stand alone as well.
January 31, 2023
Quick Read
This definitely held my interest and was very well written. I admit to struggling a bit with the murderous side of Willow and how it emerged. Perhaps in future books she goes into more depth about Willow/Jessica’s past but it left me with more than one question.
Still I read it in two evenings and will probably read more of this author.
This definitely held my interest and was very well written. I admit to struggling a bit with the murderous side of Willow and how it emerged. Perhaps in future books she goes into more depth about Willow/Jessica’s past but it left me with more than one question.
Still I read it in two evenings and will probably read more of this author.
February 1, 2023
Slow
I love Amy Cross, this book was not even close to her other books. Little character development, if you don't know the characters, you aren't feeling with or against them. Also, I believe this character is related to a series of Amy's that I loved. This book just didn't catch me. On to another book.
I love Amy Cross, this book was not even close to her other books. Little character development, if you don't know the characters, you aren't feeling with or against them. Also, I believe this character is related to a series of Amy's that I loved. This book just didn't catch me. On to another book.
May 31, 2023
The best thing about this author's stories is that you're never quite sure what will happen...usually a delicious twist. I was a little aggravated by Mercy at first; too vague and indecisive, but things do improve.
A great start to an unusual series with fitting characters and threads of mystery and intrigue.
Recommended.
A great start to an unusual series with fitting characters and threads of mystery and intrigue.
Recommended.
December 9, 2023
Well... I don't usually say too much about a book I thought was rubbish, but this book was definitely in that category. It was boring, dull & no hint of a thriller until the last few pages. I kept thinking "Somethings going to happen soon" but alas it didn't. Then when it did, it was quick & over in a few minutes, a bit like a terrible lover! Sorry! I almost stopped reading it many times, but persevered until the bitter end. Wished I hadn't.
October 14, 2024
Mercy Willow
The more I read from Amy Cross. I find I really like the way she spins a yarn. I started this book and read in on sitting. I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Maybe Mercy and Nathan have a chance to hook up.
Great read. I definitely recommend this book.
The more I read from Amy Cross. I find I really like the way she spins a yarn. I started this book and read in on sitting. I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Maybe Mercy and Nathan have a chance to hook up.
Great read. I definitely recommend this book.
March 26, 2025
interesting.
I’ve really enjoyed this book! It’s simple story but, written in such an interesting way that, you can’t actually stop yourself from reading it! Also, good with details and twisted ideas, makes this one to be put on my favourite top 100 :).
I would strongly recommended.
I’ve really enjoyed this book! It’s simple story but, written in such an interesting way that, you can’t actually stop yourself from reading it! Also, good with details and twisted ideas, makes this one to be put on my favourite top 100 :).
I would strongly recommended.
December 21, 2022
The Haunting of Hurst House (book 1)
This book really kept me engrossed . I would keep thinking about this story until I had time to get back to it , so now it's time to start book 2
This book really kept me engrossed . I would keep thinking about this story until I had time to get back to it , so now it's time to start book 2
January 15, 2023
Didn't see that happening
A very different, but entertaining story. (In more ways than one). I'm reading along thinking that the story is going in a predictable way, and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, an unpredictable curve in the story. Touche!
A very different, but entertaining story. (In more ways than one). I'm reading along thinking that the story is going in a predictable way, and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, an unpredictable curve in the story. Touche!
January 29, 2023
Gloomy
Gloomy story that kinda gets under your skin and makes you irritable. Only finished the book because I needed to know how it was ever going to wrap up. Hated the unbelievable twist at the ending.
Gloomy story that kinda gets under your skin and makes you irritable. Only finished the book because I needed to know how it was ever going to wrap up. Hated the unbelievable twist at the ending.
February 2, 2023
A bit slow and sluggish to start with, then it picked up a little just over the half way mark and then it positively sizzled! Moral of the story!😂 Persevere with the first half because you’re going to love the rest!
March 28, 2023
Haunting
It's not your typical ghost story! I loved all the twist and turns. The characters was well placed in the story. I think it's a good if not great read. Going to continue reading the following book in th series.The
It's not your typical ghost story! I loved all the twist and turns. The characters was well placed in the story. I think it's a good if not great read. Going to continue reading the following book in th series.The
April 8, 2023
Unrealistic and disappointing
This story was way out there in terms of plausibility. Reads like a first draft, and some plot points could have been better thought through. Characters are unrealistic and come off as caricatures. Could have used a good edit.
This story was way out there in terms of plausibility. Reads like a first draft, and some plot points could have been better thought through. Characters are unrealistic and come off as caricatures. Could have used a good edit.
April 20, 2023
Brilliant
This was a good read, though I have read other Mercy Willow books it was good to learn about Jessica. Amy doing what she does best, a riveting read! I will be reading the other Mercy Willow books, but in order!
This was a good read, though I have read other Mercy Willow books it was good to learn about Jessica. Amy doing what she does best, a riveting read! I will be reading the other Mercy Willow books, but in order!
July 28, 2023
Strange story
I managed to finish the book, it did have sections that were very interesting. Though Mercy needs to get help for her dual personality. The story had ups and downs throughout. It’s a book that you need to finish, just to find out what happens in the end.
I managed to finish the book, it did have sections that were very interesting. Though Mercy needs to get help for her dual personality. The story had ups and downs throughout. It’s a book that you need to finish, just to find out what happens in the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews