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beckyyreadss's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Thank you, Michael Joseph Penguin Publishing, for sending this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is based on Elspeth. She arrives on a remote Scottish island to become a nanny to a young child named Mary. Elspeth hopes she can bond with her. Until she learns that for reasons no one will explain, Mary has not spoken for months. And the girl’s silence is not the only mystery. What happened to Mary’s twin William? Why did their previous nanny disappear so suddenly? And is the whistling Elspeth hears at night just the storm outside? Or is something else happening out there?
I wanted this book to scare the ghosts out of me and from the context of the book, I thought it could. The setting of this book and the build up to it was brilliant. You could picture both Skelthsea and the house and all the nooks and cranny that could go on in an old house. It was perfect for a dark night’s read. However, the events of this book just didn’t scare me, I wanted more of a mysterious, build up tension and then the big boo and I hoped it would freak me out. But it was just a bit bland. The main character seemed to assume something supernatural had happened quite quickly within the book and it was just case closed. I was hoping it was some evil ghost that was doing it, but it wasn’t. I thought the villain wasn’t very scary and was a bit of a stereotype that it just my soul. I would have loved to be shocked at who was actually causing all the trouble.
I would recommend this mystery if you are into gothic thriller of it, or you are just starting out in the thriller category and want to start with a light mystery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Murder and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Bullying, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
what_heather_loves's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I received an advanced copy from the publisher.
"And then, through the silence, the widow's whistle began to whine and a shape emerged, one that seemed cut out of something blacker than the night itself."
In 1860, alone following the deaths of her family, including beloved sister Clara, Elspeth Swansome takes a post as a nanny on a remote Scottish island, Skelthsea. It's autumn and Skelthsea is small but beautiful. When Elspeth arrives at the largest house in the island, Iskar, it is cold, tired and series. Her mistress, Miss Gillies, badly disfigured by a childhood accident, is quiet and distant. Her charge, nine year old Mary, is grieving the sudden death of twin brother William, and has ceased to talk. Elspeth is shocked but determined to do her job well and help Mary blossom. As autumn turns to winter it becomes apparent that all is not well at Iskar. Elspeth hears strange noises at night, footsteps, a lullaby and a chilling whistle. She discovers a number of tragedies have befallen the house and its occupants. Will she be next?
Centred on Elspeth, Iskar and the landscape and climate of Skelthsea, this is an atmospheric read. How hard life was for women during this period. I became fond of Elspeth, and Mary, as she struggled and as conditions deteriorated along with the supporting characters. Beautifully written, the fear builds as the novel progresses, revealing more of the characters' pasts and ultimately, the cause of the haunting. Perfect for Halloween, this is enthralling, chilling and spooky historic fiction, an impressive debut that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
"And then, through the silence, the widow's whistle began to whine and a shape emerged, one that seemed cut out of something blacker than the night itself."
In 1860, alone following the deaths of her family, including beloved sister Clara, Elspeth Swansome takes a post as a nanny on a remote Scottish island, Skelthsea. It's autumn and Skelthsea is small but beautiful. When Elspeth arrives at the largest house in the island, Iskar, it is cold, tired and series. Her mistress, Miss Gillies, badly disfigured by a childhood accident, is quiet and distant. Her charge, nine year old Mary, is grieving the sudden death of twin brother William, and has ceased to talk. Elspeth is shocked but determined to do her job well and help Mary blossom. As autumn turns to winter it becomes apparent that all is not well at Iskar. Elspeth hears strange noises at night, footsteps, a lullaby and a chilling whistle. She discovers a number of tragedies have befallen the house and its occupants. Will she be next?
Centred on Elspeth, Iskar and the landscape and climate of Skelthsea, this is an atmospheric read. How hard life was for women during this period. I became fond of Elspeth, and Mary, as she struggled and as conditions deteriorated along with the supporting characters. Beautifully written, the fear builds as the novel progresses, revealing more of the characters' pasts and ultimately, the cause of the haunting. Perfect for Halloween, this is enthralling, chilling and spooky historic fiction, an impressive debut that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Death
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, and Murder
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