Two sisters Joanna and Caroline and a summer of 1990. Something happened which caused the 2 sisters to fall out, and later Jo was called to identify her sister’s body. Was it a suicide, if so, why?
Written cleverly by Rebecca Griffiths in the dual timeliness, the present and 1990, the story slowly rolled on, providing me with clues as the pages turned, some of them were just a sleight of the hand to distract me.
What happened in the summer of 1990 with the disappearance of a child and Caroline causing a storm in the village with her flaming words left life as they knew it in shreds. Each went their own way, but a sliver of their old selves were firmly entrenched in the past.
The book was a slow burn read with routine and mystery intertwined. I liked how Joanna started investigating the past to get to the truth. The explosive end made up for the slow release of suspense with a massive secret being revealed in the last page. I enjoyed the last 20%. It was rocking
Overall, an enjoyable story recommended for readers who love a slow uncovering of layers.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!!
All my reviews can be found here
Rebecca Griffiths grew up in rural mid-Wales and went on to gain a first class honours degree in English Literature. After a successful business career in London, Dublin and Scotland she returned to mid-Wales where she now lives with her husband, a prolific artist, their three vampiric cats as black as night, and pet sheep the size of sofas.
In a dark, dark wood
In Summer 1990, Caroline and Joanna are sent to stay with their great aunt, Dora, to spend their holidays in a sunlit village near the Forest of Dean. The countryside is a welcome change from the trauma they know back home in the city; a chance to make the world a joyful playground again. But in the shadowy woods at the edge of the forest hide secrets that will bring their innocence to a distressing end and make this a summer they will never forget.
There was a dark, dark house
Years later, a shocking act of violence sends Joanna back to Witchwood. In her great aunt’s lonely and dilapidating cottage, she will attempt to unearth the secrets of that terrifying summer and come to terms with the haunting effects it has left on her life. But in her quest to find answers, who can she trust? And will she be able to survive the impending danger from those trying to bury the truth?
Publication Date: 6th December 2018
Publisher: Sphere
53 Responses
This sounds really good, Shalini! I’m becoming a fan of those slow burns with a rocking finish. Love your review!
I still get very impatient Jonetta… But the last 20% made up for the slow read.. Quite authentic and atmospheric it was
I just mistook this book as lauras review 😄
Who is Laura?
Lel2403 😊
I thought she is Lesley… 😂 😂 Hence lel
I thought it was short for lesley too😬
Then the mystery deepens… Who is Laura😂😂😂😂🤔🤔😂😂😂😂
oh nooo her name is laura.. i mistook her name for lesley too !
Whaaaat… She gave me her name as Lesley for the blog tours
Must be a nick name?😂 I checked on her ‘about me’ just to make sure 🤔 anyways leave it. I don’t wanna unindate your comment section with her name 🙈
Hahaha I have been searching for her… No wonder she didn’t respond to Lesley 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤷♀️🤷♀️
😂🤗
Glad you dug it. It doesn’t sound like my normal speed, but I might consider it if my to read pile ever thins.
Will it ever? Hehehe… I keep adding and not reading them…. Sighhh
Sounds good! I may have to give it a read 🙂
Thank you so much… Just re-followed you… Haven’t been getting your post notifications happy 2019 💞 💕
Great review! 🙂
Thank you Hannah😘😍
😊🙂
I am not much of a slow burn type reader, but this one does sound interesting. Nice review, Shalini!
Thank you ❤️ 💜 I too don’t like slow burns I am too impatient 😂😂
Terrific review Shalini! This one sounds like a good one! I’ve seen it around and I think I need to check it out!
It was slow but had quite a dark atmosphere
Brilliant that it ended on such a high- great review!
Thank you so much… I agree.. ❤️
Glad you enjoyed it. I can’t believe that 1990 was so ‘long ago’. Lol. That was just the other day!
Yp I can look back and shudder, I was studying for pre-meds… Exams yuck *shudder* I hate exams
Haha. Thankfully that part is behind you!
Rocking is always good, Shalini! ♥️ Wonderful review! 🔥
I like the sound of an explosive end! Sounds like a blast. 😛 Great review!
Thanks Lashaan…. I still like faster books
Looks good haven’t heard of this! Wonderful review as always!💕
This was a surprise to me too.. I had forgotten i had this from NG. I didn’t see too many reviews on WP
Yes! I have not seen any reviews for this?
I am fond of slow burners, and this definitely sounds like my kind of book! Awesome review Shalini!🤗
Kimmmm how are you, girl? Happy 2019 darling💞💞
Hanging in Shalini. How about you?🤗
I am good… With good days and bad days… I sleep off the bad ones 😂😂
Sleep is good.😴
Sounds like a cool read! Interested…
This was a slow burn atmospheric read …
Ooooh this looks like one I should read! Great review dear 💕
Ooooh Britts… I hope we get to read more books together 😍😍😘
Yes, we really need to! We need to figure out what books we both have on our TBRs and just start tackling them!! I read so much faster when we do our buddy reads 😅😘
Me tooo…. Had I know n you are reading divergent, I would have joined you
I was actually reading The Hunger Games! I’ve read the Divergent series but I was thinking of doing a reread on it. Is it on your tbr?
Apparently I have 5000 books on my Amazon cloud over the years I have bought acc to an Amazon executive 😳😳🤣🤣 when did I do that
Nice review. I’m afraid slow burns don’t always appeal to me. If it’s a thriller or suspense novel, I find I’m disappointed if I’m not on the edge of my seat, or at least fully enthralled, in a short period of time. But 4 stars is a great read, so it’s worth thinking about.
Me too… But nowadays with most books bring slow burns, I have learnt to adjust to the pace.
But you are right I like fast thriller
Both mysteries are interesting–the one you reviewed and the Lesley/Laura conundrum.😉 Good review. I don’t know how I would like the slower pace, but I think the “routine and mystery intertwined” is an intriguing approach.
Thank you so much ❤️.. It was a slow atmospheric read