When Ailsa inherits a manse in rural Scotland, she discovers that until her estranged father can be either found or pronounced presumed dead, she only owns half the estate. With no other option, Ailsa moves into the manse with hopes of a quick turnover so she can get back to London and her job in news broadcasting.
However, generations of enmity and superstition surround the house, and Ailsa discovers that small towns don't forget the past as quickly as she may have hoped.
I absolutely love the mood and mystery of this book, it is full of Gothic tension and surreal beauty. The characters are phenomenal and the setting is deeply effective. The constant question of whether or not there is something supernatural happening kept me on my toes, looking for clues and hidden details. The concept of a house being a character as well as a setting is a time-honoured Gothic technique, but Elliott brought new life to an old idea, mixing the classic with the contemporary. The creepy elements were expertly written. Elliott didn't push the limits too far, keeping the tone consistent and classy even as the dark threat closes around Ailsa and her friends.
There is also a touch of quirkiness in this book which is incredibly enjoyable. The paragraphs between each chapter describing different ideas of where Ailsa's father might be now, for instance. The author has a whimsical side which she uses conservatively, creating the correct balance of witty and deadly serious.
The characters were all very well developed and thought through, and each of them drew my interest in a very realistic way. They felt like people I might meet in a new place, like people I have met in various situations, relatable but not boring. I enjoyed the end-of-youth wistfulness that Ailsa was going through, realising that she was past the age of romantic flings and recklessness with a touch of sadness. She handles her new situation with admirable grace, trusting herself as far as she can, but also adapting to the fact that she may not know herself as well as she once thought.
The wrap-up of this novel was fantastic, with some exciting twists as well as lots of tied up ends, but just enough ambiguity to leave you excited and conspiratorially sure that you know what happened. Overall, I loved it! 5 Stars.
However, generations of enmity and superstition surround the house, and Ailsa discovers that small towns don't forget the past as quickly as she may have hoped.
I absolutely love the mood and mystery of this book, it is full of Gothic tension and surreal beauty. The characters are phenomenal and the setting is deeply effective. The constant question of whether or not there is something supernatural happening kept me on my toes, looking for clues and hidden details. The concept of a house being a character as well as a setting is a time-honoured Gothic technique, but Elliott brought new life to an old idea, mixing the classic with the contemporary. The creepy elements were expertly written. Elliott didn't push the limits too far, keeping the tone consistent and classy even as the dark threat closes around Ailsa and her friends.
There is also a touch of quirkiness in this book which is incredibly enjoyable. The paragraphs between each chapter describing different ideas of where Ailsa's father might be now, for instance. The author has a whimsical side which she uses conservatively, creating the correct balance of witty and deadly serious.
The characters were all very well developed and thought through, and each of them drew my interest in a very realistic way. They felt like people I might meet in a new place, like people I have met in various situations, relatable but not boring. I enjoyed the end-of-youth wistfulness that Ailsa was going through, realising that she was past the age of romantic flings and recklessness with a touch of sadness. She handles her new situation with admirable grace, trusting herself as far as she can, but also adapting to the fact that she may not know herself as well as she once thought.
The wrap-up of this novel was fantastic, with some exciting twists as well as lots of tied up ends, but just enough ambiguity to leave you excited and conspiratorially sure that you know what happened. Overall, I loved it! 5 Stars.