Reviews

The Haven by Fiona Neill, Fiona Neill

rhalfie29's review

5.0

I loved the Betrayals so was excited to read this latest from Fiona Neill, and wasn't disappointed - another pacy thriller with a human mystery at the heart. I found the setting / theme of this novel really unique and intriguing, a really intense but believable portrayal of an off-grid community. I liked how the different characters brought to life different ways / reasons for engaging with this kind of lifestyle (which from personal experience I found accurate!), from real 'earth mother' types, to more superficial engagements, to darker motives still.
I was truly hungry to find out what had happened and found myself coming back to it and speeding through the last sections.
I did find the very very ending a little flat (not in what actually happens, which was a good and satisfying twist) but the way it's delivered - in a few sentences as if in a rush??) but it didn't really detract from my enjoyment of this highly readable and exciting thriller, a great holiday read.

snazzybooks's review

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

The Haven is a strange, unsettling, mysterious book that kept me reading on! 

The book follows the Sawyer family as they embark on a radical lifestyle change, leaving behind their comfortable lives for the mysterious eco-community known as "The Haven." Fueled by Rick's obsession with the enigmatic Mo he met at a festival, they head into the remote English wilderness. 

The narrative cleverly flips between the present, where teenager Cassia finds herself in danger, and the past, gradually revealing the events leading up to this critical moment. This structure maintains a constant sense of mystery, urging the reader to piece together the puzzle. I think this dual narrative works really well. 

While all the characters may not necessarily be likeable, Neill portrays them with a depth that makes them feel real. The idyllic descriptions of The Haven's way of life are punctuated with a growing sense of unease, masterfully building tension throughout the novel. 

There are a fair few moments which you need to suspend your disbelief for, and I can see why this might put some readers off, but I enjoyed the rest of the book so much that I didn't mind this. Fiona Neill highlights how seemingly rational people can be swayed by manipulation. We see the family start off (mostly) in high spirits but slowly the tone of the book changes with the family as their spirits sink and they no longer feel safe. And it ends with a bang!