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mxsallybend's review
4.0
Ghost stories are one of the oldest - and most powerful - forms of storytelling. No matter how much of an unbeliever you might be in the daylight, a well-told tale under the darkness of a stormy night can unsettle anyone. I spent two seasons telling ghost stories for a living, and I watched entire audiences jump at the simple, well-timed stomp of a boot in a darkened gazebo on the edge of the lake.
And that, boys and ghouls, is where The Haunting of Henderson Close begins - a few steps below ground, in the haunted ruins of a street in Edinburgh, with a group of costumed tour guides. It begins simply, with strange noises, odd smells, and figures glimpsed out of the corner of an eye. Catherine Cavendish creates so much atmosphere here, it's almost a shame when the story takes a left-turn into weird time-slips, but the way the story continues to build on that is extraordinary.
There are multiple stories interwoven here, past, present, and in between. Where the story clutched me in its cold, dead talons was with the disappearance of one of the guides, the discovery that her home has been abandoned for years, and the revelation that her mother is long-since dead. Where those talons began to squeeze tight, drawing hot, red blood, was with the dismantling of a wall deep within the Close and the uncovering of a spoiled, broken, faded pentagram on the other side.
The Haunting of Henderson Close is more than just a ghost story, it is the story of a battle against an ancient, implacable evil. There are monsters here, and they are never far from the immediacy of the moment. What makes all that come alive, however, is the depth of the characters and the strength of the bonds between them that build alongside the story. There was a swath of story where I questioned the direction, where I might have given up on another author, but I've read enough of Cavendish's work to trust in her instincts . . . and it more than pays off, with a shockingly powerful climax.
https://femledfantasy.home.blog/2019/01/07/book-review-the-haunting-of-henderson-close-by-catherine-cavendish/
And that, boys and ghouls, is where The Haunting of Henderson Close begins - a few steps below ground, in the haunted ruins of a street in Edinburgh, with a group of costumed tour guides. It begins simply, with strange noises, odd smells, and figures glimpsed out of the corner of an eye. Catherine Cavendish creates so much atmosphere here, it's almost a shame when the story takes a left-turn into weird time-slips, but the way the story continues to build on that is extraordinary.
There are multiple stories interwoven here, past, present, and in between. Where the story clutched me in its cold, dead talons was with the disappearance of one of the guides, the discovery that her home has been abandoned for years, and the revelation that her mother is long-since dead. Where those talons began to squeeze tight, drawing hot, red blood, was with the dismantling of a wall deep within the Close and the uncovering of a spoiled, broken, faded pentagram on the other side.
The Haunting of Henderson Close is more than just a ghost story, it is the story of a battle against an ancient, implacable evil. There are monsters here, and they are never far from the immediacy of the moment. What makes all that come alive, however, is the depth of the characters and the strength of the bonds between them that build alongside the story. There was a swath of story where I questioned the direction, where I might have given up on another author, but I've read enough of Cavendish's work to trust in her instincts . . . and it more than pays off, with a shockingly powerful climax.
https://femledfantasy.home.blog/2019/01/07/book-review-the-haunting-of-henderson-close-by-catherine-cavendish/
colorfulleo92's review
4.0
This was a great spooky book for the season, intriguing plot all way through and quite entertaining
zarco_j's review
3.0
A good solid ghost story set in Edinburgh. Spooky enough to hold my interest and the author uses the beautiful city and its history to good effect.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
zooloo1983's review
5.0
So it’s 3 minutes to midnight and I have just finished this book. Day before my review day (no judgement) and 3 things need to be stated. Now for family and people who are a bit sensitive, turn away now….I am about to drop the f-bomb!….. Fuck me!!! I am not going to be able to sleep tonight nor am I going to find any coherent words for this review.
Okay, so now everyone is back with me, normal service may resume. I am not even lying when I say this book gave me chills and no it wasn’t from the ice cream I was eating. Pretty much the entirety of the book cold shivers were running through me. For over 200 pages Ms Cavendish has written a story that did not relent at any ANY point! The entity flowing around Henderson Close was strong on every page, even from the beginning. I still have chills thinking about it.
Hannah’s dream job working as a tour guide around a haunted close does sound pretty awesome. I’ve been around London Dungeons countless times and would love to work there as an actor, but in all honesty, I think it would scare the beejeezus out of me. With memory losses, disappearances, sightings, malevolent spirits, sounds and random acts of cruelty and shocks this book seriously packs a punch and it delivers. A couple of threads in Mairead and Ailsa storylines didn’t completely add up, however, most of the multiple threads were tied up in a rather shocking and unexpected ending.
I loved that we got to go back in time to see the hustle and bustle of Henderson Close and Farquhar Road, and see the derelict and dark present-day versions too. Where the book was semi light at the start, don’t be fooled it was a false sense of security as the rest of the book was dark and creepy as bloody hell. Still got shivers, not sure I can turn the light off yet!
Ms Cavendish writing is absolutely epic, to keep the intensity of the haunting and mystery surrounding Miss Carmichael’s demise going for over 200 pages with no comfort breaks has astounded me. It has blown me away, as some books peter out halfway through and pick up at the end, but The Haunting of Henderson Close didn’t, it was constant. I was about 80 pages in just sitting there thinking how can she keep this up for another 140 pages, as we seemed to be getting answers and to a resolution but nope, it was tomfoolery and she swept me along further into the dark, whispering to me to keep turning the pages, to travel further in, to try and trap me so I could never escape.
Again, Flame Tree Press you have done it! Another amazing book to add to your catalogue and I am excited to read at the beginning of the book that Ms Cavendish is writing another book. This time sun, sea and sand will be the backdrop for my reading not a creepy old house on my own!!!!
If you are like me and enjoy a good scare, seriously this is the book for you, I mean I need a stiff drink but I thoroughly enjoyed being scared as much as I was. It even got to the stage where I had to play music when reading as my imagination started to play tricks on me. I mean I believe in ghosts, and I am adamant I have seen my dads spirit three days after his death, but the feeling of foreboding I had tonight I didn’t want to feel again. This, I have to say, is completely and utterly down to the writing in this book. However, the music did not calm my nerves as I still heard random noises and hairs on the back of my neck still rose. Kudos to you Ms Cavendish, I can safely say you have frightened me but I do look forward to our next outing.
jayfr's review
3.0
A good solid ghost story set in Edinburgh. Spooky enough to hold my interest and the author uses the beautiful city and its history to good effect.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
aparker89's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
The Close is a tourist trap under the streets of Edinburgh that promises a spooky time. When Hannah shows up the spirits seem even more busy than usual. As we follow Hannah in her adventure of leading tour groups and sharing spooky stories we learn that maybe some of these tales are true!
For a story of ghosts, monsters and a murder mystery, this one takes a fun and exciting twist on haunted houses. The author makes you look hard to find the clues, well laid but also well hidden. I'm impressed by how well woven the time hops and the plot of the story weave together. This super fast-paced read provides a provocative story, lots of spooks and tension. The story ends perfectly!
For a story of ghosts, monsters and a murder mystery, this one takes a fun and exciting twist on haunted houses. The author makes you look hard to find the clues, well laid but also well hidden. I'm impressed by how well woven the time hops and the plot of the story weave together. This super fast-paced read provides a provocative story, lots of spooks and tension. The story ends perfectly!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Violence, Classism, Confinement, and Death
Minor: Blood, Grief, Torture, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, and Murder
readingwithgee_'s review
4.0
The haunting of Henderson Close is for the most part written to follow Hannah, who finds herself relocating to Edinburgh and taking up work as a tour guide after the recent split from her (cheating *cough*) husband.
But she isn't just any boring old tour guide, oh no! She's a performing tour guide, parading around the oh so spooky (and derelict) Henderson Close, dressed up along side her Co workers as the former residents of the close and feeding their paying guests "horror stories" of the terrible events which took place there back in the 1890's and the chilling events that have taken place ever since, but they're just stories.. Right?
Of course they are! Well.. Until a series of strange and unexplained evens begin taking place on the Close, including creepy sightings and what at first can only be described as "flashbacks" which affect not only Hannah, but a couple of her Co workers AND the odd, very sceptical customer too, *shudders*
Now, this is one GOOD BOOK! It's creepy, it's suspenseful and there's so many twists and turns that I almost found myself getting lost along side Hannah! And the imagery, the imagery is fantastic, Catherine Cavendish really did a great job at making you feel as though you were right there in the book, seeing everything our characters were seeing, walking the same streets, and trust me when I say (with how descriptive Catherine is) that's not always a good thing.. And I LOVED It!
The only minor things stopping me from giving this book 5 stars, if I'm going to be completely honest with you guys (and am I ever not??) is, well for one I occasionally found myself getting slightly mixed up and confused, there are several POV'S and also several time frames, and although I did love the different time jumps, I kept having to go back and see who was speaking at the time and urging myself to remember who they were and why they were important. And the other thing being that I found parts to be quite repetitive and unorganised, we kept jumping from time frame to time frame and then from location to location without much warning or build up and it felt like I was just re-reading pointless parts of the book (and multiple pointless trips to the pub) and in all honesty I could have done without it, and maybe had more of Mairead and George in there, about their pasts and their connections to the close rather than having a build up to tell us there was something connecting them and then just knowing rather than seeing like we did with most other build ups, I feel slightly cheated!
All in all I did thoroughly enjoy this read, the characters were good, the storyline and the development of the characters and imagery were even better! And I strongly reccomend this book to anybody who doesn't mind being opened up to the fear of all that goes bump in the night!
I gave this book 4 stars! Many thanks to Netgalley and Flame Tree Press for the E-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
But she isn't just any boring old tour guide, oh no! She's a performing tour guide, parading around the oh so spooky (and derelict) Henderson Close, dressed up along side her Co workers as the former residents of the close and feeding their paying guests "horror stories" of the terrible events which took place there back in the 1890's and the chilling events that have taken place ever since, but they're just stories.. Right?
Of course they are! Well.. Until a series of strange and unexplained evens begin taking place on the Close, including creepy sightings and what at first can only be described as "flashbacks" which affect not only Hannah, but a couple of her Co workers AND the odd, very sceptical customer too, *shudders*
Now, this is one GOOD BOOK! It's creepy, it's suspenseful and there's so many twists and turns that I almost found myself getting lost along side Hannah! And the imagery, the imagery is fantastic, Catherine Cavendish really did a great job at making you feel as though you were right there in the book, seeing everything our characters were seeing, walking the same streets, and trust me when I say (with how descriptive Catherine is) that's not always a good thing.. And I LOVED It!
The only minor things stopping me from giving this book 5 stars, if I'm going to be completely honest with you guys (and am I ever not??) is, well for one I occasionally found myself getting slightly mixed up and confused, there are several POV'S and also several time frames, and although I did love the different time jumps, I kept having to go back and see who was speaking at the time and urging myself to remember who they were and why they were important. And the other thing being that I found parts to be quite repetitive and unorganised, we kept jumping from time frame to time frame and then from location to location without much warning or build up and it felt like I was just re-reading pointless parts of the book (and multiple pointless trips to the pub) and in all honesty I could have done without it, and maybe had more of Mairead and George in there, about their pasts and their connections to the close rather than having a build up to tell us there was something connecting them and then just knowing rather than seeing like we did with most other build ups, I feel slightly cheated!
All in all I did thoroughly enjoy this read, the characters were good, the storyline and the development of the characters and imagery were even better! And I strongly reccomend this book to anybody who doesn't mind being opened up to the fear of all that goes bump in the night!
I gave this book 4 stars! Many thanks to Netgalley and Flame Tree Press for the E-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
kirkw1972's review
5.0
I love Edinburgh and I love ghost/horror stories so this was, for me, a brilliant read. The story flips between Hannah and her colleagues in present day, Miss Carmichael in 1881 but we also have some time slip as the modern day characters flip back in time to uncover the mysteries of Henderson Close.
I enjoyed all the characters, loved the twists as the book neared the end and found it to be a real page turner. There is so much atmosphere, it was very easy to put yourself into any of the time zones. Everything was so easy to picture and I really felt part of the story.
Now I want to go back and do the scary walks I never got to do before and see some Edinburgh ghosts for myself! It's my first book by both Flame Tree Press and Cavendish but it definitely won't be the last for either.
I enjoyed all the characters, loved the twists as the book neared the end and found it to be a real page turner. There is so much atmosphere, it was very easy to put yourself into any of the time zones. Everything was so easy to picture and I really felt part of the story.
Now I want to go back and do the scary walks I never got to do before and see some Edinburgh ghosts for myself! It's my first book by both Flame Tree Press and Cavendish but it definitely won't be the last for either.
atlantabelle's review
3.0
This book had a great premise and I thought I would love it. While I did enjoy it for the most part, I felt there was too many unneeded flaskbacks. There were characters that could have been fleshed out more and their storylines could have been explained better. That being said, it was a quick, light read that kept my attention for the most part.
ljwrites85's review
4.0
After the breakdown of her marriage and her daughter moving abroad, Hannah lands her dream job, leading tourist round the legendary Henderson Close buried under modern Edinburgh. It quick becomes a nightmare when unexplained things start happening to Hannah and her friends George and Mairead. The ghostly going on get worse, it’s clear something evil has been released. Can Hannah stop things before it gets any worse?
The Haunting of Henderson Close is fascinating ghostly read, that combines mystery with myths and legends.
There are two narratives, switching between modern day Edinburgh and the 19th century which I really enjoyed. The author does really well trying to get the atmosphere across of olden day Henderson Close, the ending stink, brutally and poverty of those less fortunate.
There is so much in this story, time slips, disappearing people, demons, intriguing characters and spooky goings on but I want to maintain that element of mystery for you so I’m not going to say too much more.
If you like a bit of a scare but not a fan of blood and guts, I would suggest you should pick this up as it’s not overly gory (*whispers* there are a couple scenes quite late on in the book, you could always skim those bits but you didn’t hear that from me).
Honestly though, this is another book that I’ve read recently that I don’t quite know what to make of the ending, did I like it, did I not? The jury is out on that.
Overall The Haunting of Henderson Close is atmospheric and creepy read with an air of mystery that will keep you hooked from beginning to end.
The Haunting of Henderson Close is fascinating ghostly read, that combines mystery with myths and legends.
There are two narratives, switching between modern day Edinburgh and the 19th century which I really enjoyed. The author does really well trying to get the atmosphere across of olden day Henderson Close, the ending stink, brutally and poverty of those less fortunate.
There is so much in this story, time slips, disappearing people, demons, intriguing characters and spooky goings on but I want to maintain that element of mystery for you so I’m not going to say too much more.
If you like a bit of a scare but not a fan of blood and guts, I would suggest you should pick this up as it’s not overly gory (*whispers* there are a couple scenes quite late on in the book, you could always skim those bits but you didn’t hear that from me).
Honestly though, this is another book that I’ve read recently that I don’t quite know what to make of the ending, did I like it, did I not? The jury is out on that.
Overall The Haunting of Henderson Close is atmospheric and creepy read with an air of mystery that will keep you hooked from beginning to end.