Helpful Score: 1
**Thank you Doubleday and Netgalley for providing this in exchange for an honest review**
This book completely blindsided me. Of course the story itself interested me (why would I request it if it didn't?), but when I noticed it was told through journal entries, Blair Witch style camera footage, and letters, my excitement was dampened. This isn't a writing style I'm fond of. There have been a couple exceptions, but these books usually end up as DNFs or 1 Star reads. In this case, I can't wait to throw my money at Amazon for a hardcover copy.
A is a young Englishman who has just been left a house, and a fortune, in VA by a second cousin twice removed. Seeing as A never knew his cousin, Ambrose, existed, he is understandably surprised by this. A and his mute, teenage companion, Niamh, set off to claim his inheritance. It doesn't take long to figure out all is not right with Axton House, and that's not counting the ghost haunting the bathroom. A starts having nightmares, only they aren't like any nightmares he has ever had before. These feel real. Someone breaks into Ambrose's office. The safe has been opened and the contents left inside. What was the thief looking for? They find coded messages Ambrose wanted sent to friends. What do they say? Why are all the names also coded? Was he a Mason? Was he part of a cult? Why did he have a huge gathering every December 21st? Why did all the servants have to leave the property before the guest arrived? What caused Ambrose to throw himself out of a window, just like his father had?
This started out a little slow, but by 10% I was hooked. I honestly loved everything about this title. The characters were well developed. Niamh has joined my all time favorite characters. The setting is deliciously creepy. The supernatural elements creeped me out. The mystery kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Buy it, borrow it from the library, do whatever you need to do to get your hands on this book. If you enjoy it half as much as I did, it'll be well worth your time.
This book completely blindsided me. Of course the story itself interested me (why would I request it if it didn't?), but when I noticed it was told through journal entries, Blair Witch style camera footage, and letters, my excitement was dampened. This isn't a writing style I'm fond of. There have been a couple exceptions, but these books usually end up as DNFs or 1 Star reads. In this case, I can't wait to throw my money at Amazon for a hardcover copy.
A is a young Englishman who has just been left a house, and a fortune, in VA by a second cousin twice removed. Seeing as A never knew his cousin, Ambrose, existed, he is understandably surprised by this. A and his mute, teenage companion, Niamh, set off to claim his inheritance. It doesn't take long to figure out all is not right with Axton House, and that's not counting the ghost haunting the bathroom. A starts having nightmares, only they aren't like any nightmares he has ever had before. These feel real. Someone breaks into Ambrose's office. The safe has been opened and the contents left inside. What was the thief looking for? They find coded messages Ambrose wanted sent to friends. What do they say? Why are all the names also coded? Was he a Mason? Was he part of a cult? Why did he have a huge gathering every December 21st? Why did all the servants have to leave the property before the guest arrived? What caused Ambrose to throw himself out of a window, just like his father had?
This started out a little slow, but by 10% I was hooked. I honestly loved everything about this title. The characters were well developed. Niamh has joined my all time favorite characters. The setting is deliciously creepy. The supernatural elements creeped me out. The mystery kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Buy it, borrow it from the library, do whatever you need to do to get your hands on this book. If you enjoy it half as much as I did, it'll be well worth your time.
