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The Stopped Heart
Internationally bestselling author Julie Myerson’s beautifully written, yet deeply chilling, novel of psychological suspense explores the tragedies—past and present—haunting a picturesque country cottage.
Mary Coles and her husband, Graham, have just moved to a cottage on the edge of a small village. The house hasn’t been lived in for years, but they are drawn to its original features and surprisingly large garden, which stretches down into a beautiful apple orchard. It’s idyllic, remote, picturesque: exactly what they need to put the horror of the past behind them.
One hundred and fifty years earlier, a huge oak tree was felled in front of the cottage during a raging storm. Beneath it lies a young man with a shock of red hair, presumed dead—surely no one could survive such an accident. But the red-haired man is alive, and after a brief convalescence is taken in by the family living in the cottage and put to work in the fields. The children all love him, but the eldest daughter, Eliza, has her reservations. There’s something about the red-haired man that sits ill with her. A presence. An evil.
Back in the present, weeks after moving to the cottage and still drowning beneath the weight of insurmountable grief, Mary Coles starts to sense there’s something in the house. Children’s whispers, footsteps from above, half-caught glimpses of figures in the garden. A young man with a shock of red hair wandering through the orchard.
Has Mary’s grief turned to madness? Or have the events that took place so long ago finally come back to haunt her…?
Mary Coles and her husband, Graham, have just moved to a cottage on the edge of a small village. The house hasn’t been lived in for years, but they are drawn to its original features and surprisingly large garden, which stretches down into a beautiful apple orchard. It’s idyllic, remote, picturesque: exactly what they need to put the horror of the past behind them.
One hundred and fifty years earlier, a huge oak tree was felled in front of the cottage during a raging storm. Beneath it lies a young man with a shock of red hair, presumed dead—surely no one could survive such an accident. But the red-haired man is alive, and after a brief convalescence is taken in by the family living in the cottage and put to work in the fields. The children all love him, but the eldest daughter, Eliza, has her reservations. There’s something about the red-haired man that sits ill with her. A presence. An evil.
Back in the present, weeks after moving to the cottage and still drowning beneath the weight of insurmountable grief, Mary Coles starts to sense there’s something in the house. Children’s whispers, footsteps from above, half-caught glimpses of figures in the garden. A young man with a shock of red hair wandering through the orchard.
Has Mary’s grief turned to madness? Or have the events that took place so long ago finally come back to haunt her…?
512 pages, Paperback
First published February 4, 2016
About the author
Julie Myerson
22 books170 followersJulie Myerson is the author of nine novels, including the internationally bestselling Something Might Happen, and three works of nonfiction. As a critic and columnist, she has written for many newspapers including The Guardian, Financial Times, Harper’s Bazaar, and the New York Times.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 402 reviews
January 25, 2019
This book was honestly one of the most powerful I have ever read. In terms of stirring emotion, incredible writing and characters that just took my breath away, I cannot, cannot rave about this book enough. When I put this book down I was in a whirlwind of thoughts and feelings and it was somewhat like being shell-shocked. I have never read anything from Julie Myerson before but by golly I will not hesitate to now. What an absolutely spectacular book.
Some memories are too powerful to live only in the past.
During a ferocious storm, a red-haired stranger appears in the garden of a small farming cottage. Eliza and her parents take him in. But very soon, it’s clear he has no intention of leaving.
A century later, Mary and Graham have experienced every parent’s worst nightmare. Now, escaping the memories and the headlines, they have found an idyllic new home in rural Suffolk. A cottage, a beautiful garden. The perfect place to forget. To move on. But life doesn’t always work that way.
There is an undercurrent all through this book of edge of your seat tension, like with every moment you are waiting for something to happen, it's palpable. The incredible thing is that once things DID happen and I was witness to them I was still stunned, shocked and speechless.
This book takes a stranger who enters a family home and turns it into something so much more complex than I could ever have forecast. Let me just rave about the characters for a while. Indulge me. There are characters in this book that I despised with every single bone in my body and those that I embraced and wanted to protect and care for. The depth of each character, their presence in the book, their humanness, just everything was freaking brilliant.
The book took me to some dark places in the human psyche and shocked me with choices made by human beings towards other human beings. Truly, I now believe that some people are just born in darkness and it follows them wherever they go. The Stopped Heart is an exceptional work of fiction that had me feel every single emotion on the spectrum, I could NOT put this book down. Life stopped from the moment I started to read it. I can't do it justice with this review.
There are some incredible scenes in this book and some that just truly shocked me to the core. One particular scene actual made my stomach turnover and I am never, ever affected in that way with fiction. I mean I read horror, graphic crime and a lot of dark fiction but sometimes the scariest thing on the planet is what a person is capable of. It's as simple as that. This is not a comfortable book to read but I hope you will read it and love it as I did.
If you like a book with some depth, characters that you can touch and feel and are not afraid to tread where you have maybe never trod before then do not miss this book. Absolutely one of my favourite reads of 2016 so far and an entry into my long-list for my Top Ten Reads of 2016.
The final outcome of this book quite literally devastated my heart in a million pieces. Never mind the anger and sense of injustice I felt. Holy moly - I won't ever forget this book and I rarely read a book more than once but know I just have to with this one. Julie Myerson, I salute you.
Thanks to the publisher via NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, and author Q&A events come to: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
Some memories are too powerful to live only in the past.
During a ferocious storm, a red-haired stranger appears in the garden of a small farming cottage. Eliza and her parents take him in. But very soon, it’s clear he has no intention of leaving.
A century later, Mary and Graham have experienced every parent’s worst nightmare. Now, escaping the memories and the headlines, they have found an idyllic new home in rural Suffolk. A cottage, a beautiful garden. The perfect place to forget. To move on. But life doesn’t always work that way.
There is an undercurrent all through this book of edge of your seat tension, like with every moment you are waiting for something to happen, it's palpable. The incredible thing is that once things DID happen and I was witness to them I was still stunned, shocked and speechless.
This book takes a stranger who enters a family home and turns it into something so much more complex than I could ever have forecast. Let me just rave about the characters for a while. Indulge me. There are characters in this book that I despised with every single bone in my body and those that I embraced and wanted to protect and care for. The depth of each character, their presence in the book, their humanness, just everything was freaking brilliant.
The book took me to some dark places in the human psyche and shocked me with choices made by human beings towards other human beings. Truly, I now believe that some people are just born in darkness and it follows them wherever they go. The Stopped Heart is an exceptional work of fiction that had me feel every single emotion on the spectrum, I could NOT put this book down. Life stopped from the moment I started to read it. I can't do it justice with this review.
There are some incredible scenes in this book and some that just truly shocked me to the core. One particular scene actual made my stomach turnover and I am never, ever affected in that way with fiction. I mean I read horror, graphic crime and a lot of dark fiction but sometimes the scariest thing on the planet is what a person is capable of. It's as simple as that. This is not a comfortable book to read but I hope you will read it and love it as I did.
If you like a book with some depth, characters that you can touch and feel and are not afraid to tread where you have maybe never trod before then do not miss this book. Absolutely one of my favourite reads of 2016 so far and an entry into my long-list for my Top Ten Reads of 2016.
The final outcome of this book quite literally devastated my heart in a million pieces. Never mind the anger and sense of injustice I felt. Holy moly - I won't ever forget this book and I rarely read a book more than once but know I just have to with this one. Julie Myerson, I salute you.
Thanks to the publisher via NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, and author Q&A events come to: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
September 4, 2016
This book was honestly one of the most powerful I have ever read. In terms of stirring emotion, incredible writing and characters that just took my breath away, I cannot, cannot rave about this book enough. When I put this book down I was in a whirlwind of thoughts and feelings and it was somewhat like being shell-shocked. I have never read anything from Julie Myerson before by by golly I will not hesitate to now. What an absolutely spectacular book.
Some memories are too powerful to live only in the past.
During a ferocious storm, a red-haired stranger appears in the garden of a small farming cottage. Eliza and her parents take him in. But very soon, it’s clear he has no intention of leaving.
A century later, Mary and Graham have experienced every parent’s worst nightmare. Now, escaping the memories and the headlines, they have found an idyllic new home in rural Suffolk. A cottage, a beautiful garden. The perfect place to forget. To move on. But life doesn’t always work that way.
There is an undercurrent all through this book of edge of your seat tension, like with every moment you are waiting for something to happen, it's palpable. The incredible thing is that once things DID happen and I was witness to them I was still stunned, shocked and speechless.
This book takes a stranger who enters a family home and turns it into something so much more complex than I could ever have forecast. Let me just rave about the characters for a while. Indulge me. There are characters in this book that I despised with every single bone in my body and those that I embraced and wanted to protect and care for. The depth of each character, their presence in the book, their humanness, just everything was freaking brilliant.
The book took me to some dark places in the human psyche and shocked me with choices made by human beings towards other human beings. Truly, I now believe that some people are just born in darkness and it follows them wherever they go. The Stopped Heart is an exceptional work of fiction that had me feel every single emotion on the spectrum, I could NOT put this book down. Life stopped from the moment I started to read it. I can't do it justice with this review.
There are some incredible scenes in this book and some that just truly shocked me to the core. One particular scene actual made my stomach turnover and I am never, ever affected in that way with fiction. I mean I read horror, graphic crime and a lot of dark fiction but sometimes the scariest thing on the plant is what a person is capable of. It's as simple as that. This is not a comfortable book to read but I hope you will read it and love it as I did.
If you like a book with some depth, characters that you can touch and feel and are not afraid to tread where you have maybe never trod before then do not miss this book. Absolutely one of my favourite reads of 2016 so far and an entry into my long-list for my Top Ten Reads of 2016.
The final outcome of this book quite literally devastated my heart in a million pieces. Never mind the anger and sense of injustice I felt. Holy moly - I won't ever forget this book and I rarely read a book more than once but know I just have to with this one. Julie Myerson, I salute you.
Thanks to the publisher via NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, and author Q&A events come to: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
Some memories are too powerful to live only in the past.
During a ferocious storm, a red-haired stranger appears in the garden of a small farming cottage. Eliza and her parents take him in. But very soon, it’s clear he has no intention of leaving.
A century later, Mary and Graham have experienced every parent’s worst nightmare. Now, escaping the memories and the headlines, they have found an idyllic new home in rural Suffolk. A cottage, a beautiful garden. The perfect place to forget. To move on. But life doesn’t always work that way.
There is an undercurrent all through this book of edge of your seat tension, like with every moment you are waiting for something to happen, it's palpable. The incredible thing is that once things DID happen and I was witness to them I was still stunned, shocked and speechless.
This book takes a stranger who enters a family home and turns it into something so much more complex than I could ever have forecast. Let me just rave about the characters for a while. Indulge me. There are characters in this book that I despised with every single bone in my body and those that I embraced and wanted to protect and care for. The depth of each character, their presence in the book, their humanness, just everything was freaking brilliant.
The book took me to some dark places in the human psyche and shocked me with choices made by human beings towards other human beings. Truly, I now believe that some people are just born in darkness and it follows them wherever they go. The Stopped Heart is an exceptional work of fiction that had me feel every single emotion on the spectrum, I could NOT put this book down. Life stopped from the moment I started to read it. I can't do it justice with this review.
There are some incredible scenes in this book and some that just truly shocked me to the core. One particular scene actual made my stomach turnover and I am never, ever affected in that way with fiction. I mean I read horror, graphic crime and a lot of dark fiction but sometimes the scariest thing on the plant is what a person is capable of. It's as simple as that. This is not a comfortable book to read but I hope you will read it and love it as I did.
If you like a book with some depth, characters that you can touch and feel and are not afraid to tread where you have maybe never trod before then do not miss this book. Absolutely one of my favourite reads of 2016 so far and an entry into my long-list for my Top Ten Reads of 2016.
The final outcome of this book quite literally devastated my heart in a million pieces. Never mind the anger and sense of injustice I felt. Holy moly - I won't ever forget this book and I rarely read a book more than once but know I just have to with this one. Julie Myerson, I salute you.
Thanks to the publisher via NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, and author Q&A events come to: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
April 10, 2016
2.5 stars. DNF at roundabouts 20%.
First let me say this: this is not a bad book. Its very much a case of "It's not you, it's me." I think that many people will really enjoy this! I hope so! But for me it was not working for several reasons.
1) I had very high expectations. Almost every review is practically glowing with praise! So, when I couldn't find any magic, any creepiness, any anything I was disappointed.
2) None of the characters in either perspective / time captured my interest. When I think of every book that I have truly enjoyed, there always has to be at least one character that I can connect with. Even the worlds best plot and storytelling can't win me over if the characters aren't there. When I think about NOS4A2, one of my favorite books I've read this year so far, I think about what a fantastic original plot it had! But none of it would be the same without Vic McQueen, who I love more than is probably healthy. Characters trump plot for me, always.
3) Boredom. Holy shit, the boredom. Every time I put my Kindle away, I had zero motivation to pick it up again. Every time I was reading it, I wanted not to be. If not for Goodreads, there's a chance I would have forgotten I was even reading it. I couldn't get into it even a teensy bit.
I know The Stopped Heart is a book that many people are going to love, but I don't think it's for me. It's not captivating or exciting me, and I think I'm better off moving on to a new read than forcing myself through. I may give it a shot again someday off in the future, but today is not that day.
Thanks to Edelweiss & Harper Perennial for the digital review copy!
May 23, 2016
It was a book I couldn't stop reading and then it just ended. That's it. It was done. Nothing was explained, no loose ends were tied up. It turned out to be a giant waste of time with no real point to the story. The writing is great. The story lines and build up to what I thought were going to be this huge reveal were terrific until it just stopped. Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm lowering this to two stars. That's how annoyed I am. Also, it seemed to have a little too much gratuitous violence at the end...especially in the descriptions of murdered children. If I'm going to spend hours bonding with characters and you're going to violently kill them and describe it, there had better damn well be a point to it. But there wasn't. So read it if you like, just be prepared for questions that go unanswered. The main one being...wtf was the point of this?!
February 1, 2016
This is an exceedingly atmospheric haunting ghost story told over two time lines. In the present, we have Mary and Graham who have escaped to the country to make a fresh start after a family tragedy. Little do they know that their new house was host to its own family tragedy 150 years ago and we watch events then unfold through the eyes of Eliza, daughter of the house at the time. It is a haunting read that is quite chilling at times, one that really got to me. I especially liked the characters and, indeed, both time lines has people who are just downright creepy who you wouldn’t want to go near at all.
There is no demarcation between each time line in the book, so sometimes it did get just a little confusing until I realised that the modern day segments are told in third person and the historic parts in first person. Once I got used to it, it wasn’t too bad at all changing from one time frame to another.
It is a good read which very cleverly drew me in, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Many thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for the review copy,
There is no demarcation between each time line in the book, so sometimes it did get just a little confusing until I realised that the modern day segments are told in third person and the historic parts in first person. Once I got used to it, it wasn’t too bad at all changing from one time frame to another.
It is a good read which very cleverly drew me in, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Many thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for the review copy,
February 7, 2016
The one thing "The Stopped Heart" has achieved is to ensure that I read this authors back catalogue. This is some beautiful writing right here.
It is a story full of atmosphere, a truly emotional look at love, loss, life, death and all the stuff inbetween. Julie Myerson weaves a haunting and evocative web here as we learn about Mary, living with devastation, caught up in the moment unable to move on. Alongside her and us the readers, is Eliza, 100 years earlier, about to experience some devastation of her own.
As the narrative links the two characters, through event and circumstance, through emotion and a hint of other, Julie Myerson writes with true sense of feeling, painting a real picture of different lives lived in the same area many years apart. Tragedy links the two - this is both horrific and very real throughout - you know that something is coming for Eliza but trust me you will not be prepared. And Mary, her loss is tangible, you can taste it - as she struggles to maintain her relationship with her Husband, also grieving, as she tries to find some semblance of a life worth living, this is beautifully done.
This is about memory. About events echoing down the ages. About hearts broken into a million pieces and the struggle to mend them. I loved it.
It is a story full of atmosphere, a truly emotional look at love, loss, life, death and all the stuff inbetween. Julie Myerson weaves a haunting and evocative web here as we learn about Mary, living with devastation, caught up in the moment unable to move on. Alongside her and us the readers, is Eliza, 100 years earlier, about to experience some devastation of her own.
As the narrative links the two characters, through event and circumstance, through emotion and a hint of other, Julie Myerson writes with true sense of feeling, painting a real picture of different lives lived in the same area many years apart. Tragedy links the two - this is both horrific and very real throughout - you know that something is coming for Eliza but trust me you will not be prepared. And Mary, her loss is tangible, you can taste it - as she struggles to maintain her relationship with her Husband, also grieving, as she tries to find some semblance of a life worth living, this is beautifully done.
This is about memory. About events echoing down the ages. About hearts broken into a million pieces and the struggle to mend them. I loved it.
May 8, 2016
I loved this, raced through it, and would happily read it again. There were two narratives which overlap in a ghostly way, and I never wished to be reading the other, which means they were both as interesting as each other. In fact there are three, because there is the history of the couple who come to live in a house and what happened to them. These sections are very disturbing echoes of what is happening in the present and the past, and give just enough away about what happened.
It was atmospheric and creepy - perhaps 3-stars spooky (I've yet to find a book I've read as an adult 4 or 5 stars-spooky, but I'm still looking).
There was only one slightly false note - the explanation about the male neighbour felt slightly rushed and therefore less credible. But this is very minor thing in a great book.
It was atmospheric and creepy - perhaps 3-stars spooky (I've yet to find a book I've read as an adult 4 or 5 stars-spooky, but I'm still looking).
There was only one slightly false note - the explanation about the male neighbour felt slightly rushed and therefore less credible. But this is very minor thing in a great book.
May 25, 2016
I loved this book. I was entranced by both the story, and the writing. I quickly devoured the 500 pages ... and then suddenly it was over, and I was confused. Did I miss a few pages? How did the two stories combine? How did it actually end? I feel like I read it, but I'm still waiting to find out how it comes together.
May 5, 2016
I turned the last page of this book on Sunday. I put it on a side table and mulled it over for a little while, thinking about it every time I caught a glimpse of it lying on the table. How was I going to try and write a review when I couldn’t even decide whether I liked the book or not?
Fair warning here, the words “time line” are going to be WAY overused in this review.
Mary and Graham Coles are desperately trying to carry on with their lives after the devastating crime that took their two daughters. As many people do, they decided that a change of location might help with the healing process. Graham finds a cottage on the outskirts of a small village and instantly falls in love with it and the large garden leading to an orchard. It even has a quaint “apple shed” at the far end of the property. Mary is not so sure and one very early morning before they moved she got out of bed, got in the car and drove to look at the cottage one more time. Before she even got to the door she heard someone whisper her name. Determined to start their new life she agreed to move anyway. Soon after they befriend another childless couple and things begin to look like they may work out after all. But – looks can be deceiving.
This story is told in multiple time lines, the present (Mary and Graham), the not too distant past (their tragedy) and 150 years into the past (the, also tragic, history of the original family in the cottage). Multiple time lines is never a deal breaker for me when reading a book, in fact truth be told, I enjoy that particular writing tool. In “The Stopped Heart” it became rather confusing. The time line would switch suddenly from one paragraph to the next in the same chapter. It was always a sudden jolt that I never quite got used to.
I really enjoyed the story being told within each time line. All through the book there were hints and glimmers – even bright flashes at times – that the stories were interconnected, but when I finally got to the end of the book I felt that only one of those “bright flashes” had come to fruition. The story kept twisting and spinning; the threads tantalizing my imagination, yet those threads did not ever connect. I expected so much more to come together at the end, particularly one specific story thread. Again, hints and teasing, then it never happened and I was quite disappointed.
Yet, there was a definite “spine chilling” aspect to each time line that I loved. Some ghosts, a mysterious stranger, an abduction, some murders and a deliciously creepy stalker character … those were the elements that kept me reading. And, is it a ghost if it is a glimpse of a presence from the future?
All wonderfully written.
And then … and then …
I got to the end and rather than having an “AHA!” moment I was left with a “WTF” that came at me out of the blue and somehow didn’t even make sense?
Conflicted about this one? I’d say!
I’m going to give it 3-stars and call it done. After all that I still would not hesitate to recommend this book to fans of twisted stories with a supernatural element. In fact I’d love to hear the opinion of others about this one.
Fair warning here, the words “time line” are going to be WAY overused in this review.
Mary and Graham Coles are desperately trying to carry on with their lives after the devastating crime that took their two daughters. As many people do, they decided that a change of location might help with the healing process. Graham finds a cottage on the outskirts of a small village and instantly falls in love with it and the large garden leading to an orchard. It even has a quaint “apple shed” at the far end of the property. Mary is not so sure and one very early morning before they moved she got out of bed, got in the car and drove to look at the cottage one more time. Before she even got to the door she heard someone whisper her name. Determined to start their new life she agreed to move anyway. Soon after they befriend another childless couple and things begin to look like they may work out after all. But – looks can be deceiving.
This story is told in multiple time lines, the present (Mary and Graham), the not too distant past (their tragedy) and 150 years into the past (the, also tragic, history of the original family in the cottage). Multiple time lines is never a deal breaker for me when reading a book, in fact truth be told, I enjoy that particular writing tool. In “The Stopped Heart” it became rather confusing. The time line would switch suddenly from one paragraph to the next in the same chapter. It was always a sudden jolt that I never quite got used to.
I really enjoyed the story being told within each time line. All through the book there were hints and glimmers – even bright flashes at times – that the stories were interconnected, but when I finally got to the end of the book I felt that only one of those “bright flashes” had come to fruition. The story kept twisting and spinning; the threads tantalizing my imagination, yet those threads did not ever connect. I expected so much more to come together at the end, particularly one specific story thread. Again, hints and teasing, then it never happened and I was quite disappointed.
Yet, there was a definite “spine chilling” aspect to each time line that I loved. Some ghosts, a mysterious stranger, an abduction, some murders and a deliciously creepy stalker character … those were the elements that kept me reading. And, is it a ghost if it is a glimpse of a presence from the future?
All wonderfully written.
And then … and then …
I got to the end and rather than having an “AHA!” moment I was left with a “WTF” that came at me out of the blue and somehow didn’t even make sense?
Conflicted about this one? I’d say!
I’m going to give it 3-stars and call it done. After all that I still would not hesitate to recommend this book to fans of twisted stories with a supernatural element. In fact I’d love to hear the opinion of others about this one.
May 25, 2016
This is a hauntingly beautiful story and so well written. Mary and Graham Coles have bought a cottage in the Suffolk countryside. Though it isn’t explained until well into the book, you know that they have gone through a tragic event and are trying to make a new start. Mary does her best to try to settle in but she’s plagued by glimpses of a red-haired man and a group of children who are there one minute but gone the next. Is she going mad or is the house haunted?
Alternating with Mary and Graham’s story is the story of a family who lived in the house a century and a half ago. A 13-year-old girl, Eliza, lives there with her parents and younger brothers and sisters. Her little sister, Lottie, seems to know the people who live in the present-day part of the book and wants to name her kitten “Merricoles”, her version of the name “Mary Coles”. But Lottie also thinks she was once dead so no one listens to her. A mysterious red-haired man, James Dix, is discovered under a fallen tree after a storm. His entry into this family starts a disturbing escalation towards a terrible violence that you know is coming and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.
This isn’t your usual haunted house story, not at all. There are moments in this book when you wonder just who is haunting who. Can a grief be so deep that it can break through the barriers to a tragedy from the past? The two stories weave together in such a chilling way. There is also an exploration of the dark side of love and trust, both in Mary’s growing relationship with her neighbor, Eddie, and Eliza’s relationship with the venomous James. This is a terrifying story and a heart-wrenching one. There are many layers to the book and it’s one that I’m sure will reveal different layers when re-read. It’s profoundly deep and disturbing. The only fault I can find with it is that I felt parts of it went on for a bit too long. But it’s a story that I will not soon forget. Highly recommended.
Alternating with Mary and Graham’s story is the story of a family who lived in the house a century and a half ago. A 13-year-old girl, Eliza, lives there with her parents and younger brothers and sisters. Her little sister, Lottie, seems to know the people who live in the present-day part of the book and wants to name her kitten “Merricoles”, her version of the name “Mary Coles”. But Lottie also thinks she was once dead so no one listens to her. A mysterious red-haired man, James Dix, is discovered under a fallen tree after a storm. His entry into this family starts a disturbing escalation towards a terrible violence that you know is coming and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.
This isn’t your usual haunted house story, not at all. There are moments in this book when you wonder just who is haunting who. Can a grief be so deep that it can break through the barriers to a tragedy from the past? The two stories weave together in such a chilling way. There is also an exploration of the dark side of love and trust, both in Mary’s growing relationship with her neighbor, Eddie, and Eliza’s relationship with the venomous James. This is a terrifying story and a heart-wrenching one. There are many layers to the book and it’s one that I’m sure will reveal different layers when re-read. It’s profoundly deep and disturbing. The only fault I can find with it is that I felt parts of it went on for a bit too long. But it’s a story that I will not soon forget. Highly recommended.
September 13, 2016
Can someone PLEASE explain to me the correlation between the two time periods, other than the occasional cameo of James' ghost? Paula Hawkins, author of "The Girl on the Train," has said this book is "bloody brilliant." I found this book neither spooky nor gory, although I do find Eddie to be a serious creep. (Also, his character's plot twist was just bizarre.)
I wanted to like this book, I really did. But you can't always get what you want.
I wanted to like this book, I really did. But you can't always get what you want.
July 17, 2016
It had such promise! A page turner! Certainly easy to read. while it did keep me reading I just kept waiting for so much more!! I couldn't believe that there wasn't a real connection between past and present. I had so hoped and was looking forward to the discovery of the past by the present owners of the cottage. Disappointed!
April 14, 2016
I tried so hard to like this because the reviews and synopsis sound amazing. The story is actually two different stories set more than 100 years apart. We have young Eliza and her family living on a farm at the turn of the century. Their world is turned upside down when a red headed stranger comes in the midst.
Then we have Mary and Graham who have recently moved into the same place. The two are recovering from a horrible tragedy. This is a great plot, but I was completely torn with how to rate this book. Let's look at the pros and cons.
Pros
•Some parts did make me feel actually scared and I was afraid to turn out the lights.
•The writing is brilliant and the atmosphere is chilling.
•Mary's back story.
• Lottie
• The ending on Eliza's side was disturbing!
Cons
•I was bored the majority of the time.
• The dialogue between Mary and Eddie drove me nuts for some reason.
•I have no clue how Eddie played into this.
• The ending on Mary's side...so lost.
Overall, lots going on, great atmosphere and plot, but the characters...meh.
Then we have Mary and Graham who have recently moved into the same place. The two are recovering from a horrible tragedy. This is a great plot, but I was completely torn with how to rate this book. Let's look at the pros and cons.
Pros
•Some parts did make me feel actually scared and I was afraid to turn out the lights.
•The writing is brilliant and the atmosphere is chilling.
•Mary's back story.
• Lottie
• The ending on Eliza's side was disturbing!
Cons
•I was bored the majority of the time.
• The dialogue between Mary and Eddie drove me nuts for some reason.
•I have no clue how Eddie played into this.
• The ending on Mary's side...so lost.
Overall, lots going on, great atmosphere and plot, but the characters...meh.
December 2, 2015
God, this was SO GOOD. It is going in my list of top books to look out for in 2016, that's for sure, and I actually feel so privileged to have read an advance copy of it.
Set over two time scales - the present day and an unspecified date in the past - the stories of two families living in the same house decades apart is so intricately woven together, its just beautiful. There are some strong characters, none of whom seem particularly happy, and the events that occur are in turn shocking and emotional. It's not so much of a 'twisty' plot line as secretive and intriguing - Myers has done an excellent job of hooking the reader's attention and sloooooowly drawing out events and information so that the reader is completely unable to put the book down until they know all the secrets and lies have been exposed.
One that I will definitely be recommending to EVERYONE I know, The Stopped Heart is an addictive, compelling read, sure to hook any reader.
Set over two time scales - the present day and an unspecified date in the past - the stories of two families living in the same house decades apart is so intricately woven together, its just beautiful. There are some strong characters, none of whom seem particularly happy, and the events that occur are in turn shocking and emotional. It's not so much of a 'twisty' plot line as secretive and intriguing - Myers has done an excellent job of hooking the reader's attention and sloooooowly drawing out events and information so that the reader is completely unable to put the book down until they know all the secrets and lies have been exposed.
One that I will definitely be recommending to EVERYONE I know, The Stopped Heart is an addictive, compelling read, sure to hook any reader.
November 29, 2015
Wow just wow
March 19, 2018
Parents of murdered children move to country house haunted by unrelated murdered children.
Parts of this ghost story were very good, dark and creepy. Mary, the grieving mother, is a convincing character and her sensitivity to the ghostly presence in the house makes sense. The rest of the characters are not half as convincing (I kept thinking Eddie must be a hallucination because holy crap, he was bizarre) and as for the plot line, well, every twist is visible miles away, making the slow progress frustrating. The disturbing Eliza-James scenes were especially drawn-out for no good reason. A little bit of child abuse goes a long way, people.
It's a pity, because at times this was a gripping four star read. I didn't mind the loose threads, but I've had enough graphic violence against little girls to last me a lifetime.
Parts of this ghost story were very good, dark and creepy. Mary, the grieving mother, is a convincing character and her sensitivity to the ghostly presence in the house makes sense. The rest of the characters are not half as convincing (I kept thinking Eddie must be a hallucination because holy crap, he was bizarre) and as for the plot line, well, every twist is visible miles away, making the slow progress frustrating. The disturbing Eliza-James scenes were especially drawn-out for no good reason. A little bit of child abuse goes a long way, people.
It's a pity, because at times this was a gripping four star read. I didn't mind the loose threads, but I've had enough graphic violence against little girls to last me a lifetime.
November 12, 2020
Time has long been a concept that has proven mysterious to many - myself included. The way it seems to 'go fast' or 'slow down' when in fact the minutes and seconds remain the same... Einstein concluded in his later years that the past, present, and future all exist simultaneously. Perhaps Julie Myerson was reading Einstein when she came up with the premise for this outstanding novel.
Mary and Graham Coles move from London to an old farm cottage in Suffolk. They are 'starting over' after a horrific tragedy has decimated their family. As the title suggests, Mary said her 'heart stopped' when it happened and she has spent her days since numbed by grief. Theirs is an unthinkable life. Tiptoeing around each other for fear that wounds barely closed will open up again. Their life is a limbo of sorts. Existing - because that is what you do when living is just too hard...
As is the style of many novels with stories set in two time periods, "The Stopped Heart" has two narratives - one in the present with Mary and Graham Coles - and one over 150 years ago with a farm family who once lived in Mary's and Graham's house. The thing that irked me and probably other readers as well, is that when reading this novel there was NO warning when the narrative switched from one story to another. I mean NO warning - not even a wider space between paragraphs. I found this extremely disconcerting - until I realized that the author most likely did this on purpose to convey the fact that time in all of its mystery is perhaps as Einstein suggested. It is happening simultaneously.
Mary Coles is a conduit between the present and the past. She can 'see' the children who lived in her house over a century and a half before. But no, this is not really a ghost story. The reason? Well, Lottie, the four year old of that long ago family, can 'see' Mary in the future as well. Confused? Well read this marvelous book for yourself.
The family suffered many hardships common to their time. Hard, back-breaking work, too little money, too many children. One child followed another before the last baby was even weaned. When a storm fells a massive tree in the back garden, a stranger is pinned beneath it. He is not dead as the family first surmised, but only injured. He stays with the family and helps them work the farm. But James Dix is not as he seems to the casual observer. The depths of his depravity show themselves over the chapters of the book. As evil and vile a villain as you are ever likely to read of...
The eldest daughter, Eliza, is wary of this red-headed stranger who introduces her to knowledge that no thirteen year old should know. He is a womanizer, a charmer, but so very much more.
The weary mother and the eight children are heartrendingly captured by Julie Myerson's words. I knew and loved them all.
Meanwhile, back in the present, Mary and Graham have befriended a childless couple who live nearby. Then, the husband of the couple, Eddie, seems to want more from Mary than she is prepared to give. And all the while, she is hearing children's chatter and seeing a red-haired man walking in the garden.
This novel is beautifully written. The characters leap off the page with their clarity. The description and events are so realistically rendered that I felt I WAS there. It was an expose on the devastation of grief as well as a chilling portrayal of obsession. I've read some reviews that said the ending let the story down. I disagree. In my mind it couldn't have ended any other way. A chillingly dark, atmospheric, historical suspense thriller, which I will recommend to all who don't mind a dash of paranormal. Definitely one of my favorites this year so far...
Thanks so much to Harper Perennial via Edelweiss for providing me with a digital ARC of this novel for review purposes.
This review was originally published on the blog: Fictionophile
Mary and Graham Coles move from London to an old farm cottage in Suffolk. They are 'starting over' after a horrific tragedy has decimated their family. As the title suggests, Mary said her 'heart stopped' when it happened and she has spent her days since numbed by grief. Theirs is an unthinkable life. Tiptoeing around each other for fear that wounds barely closed will open up again. Their life is a limbo of sorts. Existing - because that is what you do when living is just too hard...
As is the style of many novels with stories set in two time periods, "The Stopped Heart" has two narratives - one in the present with Mary and Graham Coles - and one over 150 years ago with a farm family who once lived in Mary's and Graham's house. The thing that irked me and probably other readers as well, is that when reading this novel there was NO warning when the narrative switched from one story to another. I mean NO warning - not even a wider space between paragraphs. I found this extremely disconcerting - until I realized that the author most likely did this on purpose to convey the fact that time in all of its mystery is perhaps as Einstein suggested. It is happening simultaneously.
Mary Coles is a conduit between the present and the past. She can 'see' the children who lived in her house over a century and a half before. But no, this is not really a ghost story. The reason? Well, Lottie, the four year old of that long ago family, can 'see' Mary in the future as well. Confused? Well read this marvelous book for yourself.
The family suffered many hardships common to their time. Hard, back-breaking work, too little money, too many children. One child followed another before the last baby was even weaned. When a storm fells a massive tree in the back garden, a stranger is pinned beneath it. He is not dead as the family first surmised, but only injured. He stays with the family and helps them work the farm. But James Dix is not as he seems to the casual observer. The depths of his depravity show themselves over the chapters of the book. As evil and vile a villain as you are ever likely to read of...
The eldest daughter, Eliza, is wary of this red-headed stranger who introduces her to knowledge that no thirteen year old should know. He is a womanizer, a charmer, but so very much more.
The weary mother and the eight children are heartrendingly captured by Julie Myerson's words. I knew and loved them all.
Meanwhile, back in the present, Mary and Graham have befriended a childless couple who live nearby. Then, the husband of the couple, Eddie, seems to want more from Mary than she is prepared to give. And all the while, she is hearing children's chatter and seeing a red-haired man walking in the garden.
This novel is beautifully written. The characters leap off the page with their clarity. The description and events are so realistically rendered that I felt I WAS there. It was an expose on the devastation of grief as well as a chilling portrayal of obsession. I've read some reviews that said the ending let the story down. I disagree. In my mind it couldn't have ended any other way. A chillingly dark, atmospheric, historical suspense thriller, which I will recommend to all who don't mind a dash of paranormal. Definitely one of my favorites this year so far...
Thanks so much to Harper Perennial via Edelweiss for providing me with a digital ARC of this novel for review purposes.
This review was originally published on the blog: Fictionophile
April 25, 2016
This was a disturbing, sinister sort of read. Set between two timelines this tells the tale of Mary and Graham, a couple who move to the English countryside into a house with a dark presence to escape the memories of a tragedy that claimed the lives of their two young daughters. The other storyline is about a mysterious drifter, James Dix who seems to show up out of nowhere to a farming family 125 years ago. What was disturbing about this was the drifter was a violent pedophile who wreaked havoc in the community and caused the deaths of a few young girls in this novel. Sometimes I cringed reading the descriptions of violations the drifter describes with the young girls he seduced. Mary and Graham's storyline also added to the creepy element of this with Mary seeing some of the children of this farming family in and around her new house. An odd factor to Mary and Graham's story was when they befriend a couple, Deborah and Eddie. Without already giving away too much, this part of the novel was a little off-putting and didn't make sense to me. But, this is a worthwhile read that had me riveted with a need to find out more till the end, it also left me haunted at it's conclusion.
June 1, 2016
I enjoyed this book much more after I talked to friends about it--while I was initially confused at the parallels between characters and time periods, more possibilities kept popping up as I discussed it. It is complicated; I couldn't help but draw conclusions that weren't necessarily the right ones and the book wore on. But in hindsight, it is an intricately woven story that can't be rushed and needs a lot of afterthought. Preferably with someone else who has read the book!
June 13, 2016
So I will always finish a book if I get past 10% or so. Mostly because if I like the writing style, I will be able to tolerate the plot, however inconsistent and flawed. I got to that 10% point here and was sold - by Eliza's narration especially - and between that and the 4- and 5- star reviews I was expected to really enjoy this.
The summary is a good set-up for a thriller - 150 years in the past a stranger happens upon a family after a storm and gradually settles in. He is supposed to be enigmatic to the reader . Fast forward to the present and a new couple is moving into the same house. Mary and Graham Coles are relocating out of London to get away from their own recent family trauma, which gets revealed somewhere in the middle of the book.
Here's where things get kind of clumsy: somehow, Mary and the children from this past family can see and hear each other at points. There's no feasible reason for this. There were a lot of loose ends on both timelines which is fine - I don't always expect a neatly wrapped up story... but I do expect that the probable solutions to those hanging threads make some kind of sense.
If you don't really care about plot holes and just want a chilling story, you will get that here. There were some parts that are satisfyingly horrific, but ultimately it wasn't enough to mask the sloppy narrative for me. A disappointing 2 stars.
The summary is a good set-up for a thriller - 150 years in the past a stranger happens upon a family after a storm and gradually settles in. He is supposed to be enigmatic to the reader . Fast forward to the present and a new couple is moving into the same house. Mary and Graham Coles are relocating out of London to get away from their own recent family trauma, which gets revealed somewhere in the middle of the book.
Here's where things get kind of clumsy: somehow, Mary and the children from this past family can see and hear each other at points. There's no feasible reason for this. There were a lot of loose ends on both timelines which is fine - I don't always expect a neatly wrapped up story... but I do expect that the probable solutions to those hanging threads make some kind of sense.
If you don't really care about plot holes and just want a chilling story, you will get that here. There were some parts that are satisfyingly horrific, but ultimately it wasn't enough to mask the sloppy narrative for me. A disappointing 2 stars.
February 26, 2016
This is a superb book, interweaving past and present in a totally believable. Way. Do not read this book if you have small children though. It will break your heart. I want to read more of hers now. I listened on Audible and it could not have been better read
June 5, 2016
I just can't handle stories with murdered children, at least not with a new baby around. And this book had a LOT of bloody murders of children.
May 6, 2020
This is really a supernatural story which I did enjoy but felt the ending fell a bit short and didnt really tie up loose ends. The story is set in two time periods, 150 years apart and it was sometimes confusing as to which was which.
April 22, 2017
Where do I even begin? Stephen King is named to be the all-time horror writer, but not one of his books could frighten the hell out of me like this one did. The story isn't just scary; it's disturbing, it's horrifying, it's creepy and it's very very dark. It's a very draining story recounting the lives of two people: Eliza and Mary Coles, their lives told simultaneously as the horror and sadness which unfolded before them, one told as it progressed, one told in retrospect.
This is a very oppressive book, I can't stress enough. Eliza was a girl brimming on a tender age of thirteen. She was naive, unbeknown to the ways of the world. She had a wonderful family which was eventually destroyed by the sudden appearance of one person: James Dix. This person- this being- is the depiction of evil. It's not as simple as saying he's a villain because that is an understatement. What I find absolutely God-awful is this family being torn apart by this form of evil, this devil in disguise, after finding him under a fallen tree. They took him in because he had no family, and he destroyed them one by one. From the very beginning Eliza knew she didn't like James Dix; like Eve knew that the serpent found in the Garden of Eden was bad news. But, also like Eve, Eliza was drawn by the vicious beauty and deadly charm. I won't go into too much details, but as a reader who read from Eliza's point of view, I was thoroughly disgusted and chilled by how casual some scenes were described as if the author was talking about the weather. There were so many blasphemies I wanted to shout at the book because there were so many (in only what I could describe) f*ckeries.
And then, there's Mary Coles. She isn't as straightforward as Eliza because her story is told in hindsight. This is a woman who has experienced the worst nightmare any mother could ever have imagined. Moving to a new house in the countryside, she "sees" people. Ghosts that haunt the house which was once inhabited by Eliza's family. There are similarities in regards to Mary "seeing" the past and Eliza's sister, Lottie, "seeing" the future: Mary Coles. Unlike Eliza's life, Mary has a chance to turn over a new leaf and start afresh with her husband, Graham. Despite the regrets with Eddie, a creepy neighbour who isn't the most stable friend in the world, Mary does have a hopeful ending.
I can understand why some people dropped this book right away because it was a little slow at the beginning. But once the introductions were over, the book was gripping and haunting. The story-telling was top notch and frightening; the simple words to depict acts of evils really make a lasting impression in your mind. Although it was fantastically told, I wouldn't pick this up again. It's the way Myerson described this kind of evil reminds me of something Michael Caine said as Alfred Pennyworth in 'The Dark Knight': some men just want to watch the world burn. That statement pretty much explains the villain in the story: there's no reason as to why some people are evil. They are evil because that is what makes them tick, seeing others in misery and suffering. This kind of evil cannot be explained and it is, unfortunately, terrifying but true.
This is a very oppressive book, I can't stress enough. Eliza was a girl brimming on a tender age of thirteen. She was naive, unbeknown to the ways of the world. She had a wonderful family which was eventually destroyed by the sudden appearance of one person: James Dix. This person- this being- is the depiction of evil. It's not as simple as saying he's a villain because that is an understatement. What I find absolutely God-awful is this family being torn apart by this form of evil, this devil in disguise, after finding him under a fallen tree. They took him in because he had no family, and he destroyed them one by one. From the very beginning Eliza knew she didn't like James Dix; like Eve knew that the serpent found in the Garden of Eden was bad news. But, also like Eve, Eliza was drawn by the vicious beauty and deadly charm. I won't go into too much details, but as a reader who read from Eliza's point of view, I was thoroughly disgusted and chilled by how casual some scenes were described as if the author was talking about the weather. There were so many blasphemies I wanted to shout at the book because there were so many (in only what I could describe) f*ckeries.
And then, there's Mary Coles. She isn't as straightforward as Eliza because her story is told in hindsight. This is a woman who has experienced the worst nightmare any mother could ever have imagined. Moving to a new house in the countryside, she "sees" people. Ghosts that haunt the house which was once inhabited by Eliza's family. There are similarities in regards to Mary "seeing" the past and Eliza's sister, Lottie, "seeing" the future: Mary Coles. Unlike Eliza's life, Mary has a chance to turn over a new leaf and start afresh with her husband, Graham. Despite the regrets with Eddie, a creepy neighbour who isn't the most stable friend in the world, Mary does have a hopeful ending.
I can understand why some people dropped this book right away because it was a little slow at the beginning. But once the introductions were over, the book was gripping and haunting. The story-telling was top notch and frightening; the simple words to depict acts of evils really make a lasting impression in your mind. Although it was fantastically told, I wouldn't pick this up again. It's the way Myerson described this kind of evil reminds me of something Michael Caine said as Alfred Pennyworth in 'The Dark Knight': some men just want to watch the world burn. That statement pretty much explains the villain in the story: there's no reason as to why some people are evil. They are evil because that is what makes them tick, seeing others in misery and suffering. This kind of evil cannot be explained and it is, unfortunately, terrifying but true.
April 1, 2016
From past to present, a cottage in a remote English village, provides a chilling setting. Talented, Julie Myerson delivers an emotional, atmospheric haunting tale, THE STOPPED HEART --dual time periods, over a hundred and fifty years apart linked by tragedy. (love the cover)
Mary, a former publicist, is left devastated by the deaths of her daughters. She and husband attempt to build a new life in a rural cottage. Eliza is a 13-year-old farmer’s daughter, living in the same house a century earlier. How do the two stories connect? Crimes of the past. Secrets. Lies.
Eliza, resides in a small 19th century English farming community. She lives on a farm with her large family, tending to her younger six siblings. One night there is a storm. An old tree fell. A man came just like the rain, lightening, thunder, and a raging storm. The cold and blackness.
A city boy (definitely not country), James Dix, the red-haired mystery stranger is pinned under the tree. It missed him by an inch. He recovers and Eliza’s father hires him to help out on the farm. Eliza, the oldest-- does not care for the man; however, others seem to be under his spell. She thinks he is evil.
Lottie, the younger sister, four years old-- has a gift and sees things. Reincarnation. The dog does not like James. She thinks she was a dog before she died. He weaves himself into their lives.
A hundred and fifty years later, Mary and Graham Coles are looking at buying an old rundown cottage. A former orchard. Escaping their own tragedy, they buy the old cottage in a remote English village, hoping for a fresh start. Mary is drawn to the home far away from London, friends and reminders of their loss – their daughters. (we learn about this further on into the novel). Graham hopes this will pull her out of her depression.
The neighbor Eddie.
However, soon there are echoes of the past. A sense of voices, a dark presence, a red haired man in the orchard. Kids, steps and floors creak, doors. Shouts. A magpie.
A connection – two parallels, linked. The author cleverly and slowly peels back the dark layers at her own pace, keeping the reader glued to the pages. The setting feels real and the narrators, Elizabeth Knowelden and Lucinda Clare delivered a chilling performance.
A clever spine-chilling INTENSE and haunting story. Evocative, a twisted blend of Gothic, supernatural, horror, ghosts, mystery, and psychological suspense. Loss, grief, pain, love, hearts broken, madness, memories, emotional devastation. For fans of Tana French and Kate Morton.
My first book by the author, and look forward to more!
JDCMustReadBooks
Mary, a former publicist, is left devastated by the deaths of her daughters. She and husband attempt to build a new life in a rural cottage. Eliza is a 13-year-old farmer’s daughter, living in the same house a century earlier. How do the two stories connect? Crimes of the past. Secrets. Lies.
Eliza, resides in a small 19th century English farming community. She lives on a farm with her large family, tending to her younger six siblings. One night there is a storm. An old tree fell. A man came just like the rain, lightening, thunder, and a raging storm. The cold and blackness.
A city boy (definitely not country), James Dix, the red-haired mystery stranger is pinned under the tree. It missed him by an inch. He recovers and Eliza’s father hires him to help out on the farm. Eliza, the oldest-- does not care for the man; however, others seem to be under his spell. She thinks he is evil.
Lottie, the younger sister, four years old-- has a gift and sees things. Reincarnation. The dog does not like James. She thinks she was a dog before she died. He weaves himself into their lives.
A hundred and fifty years later, Mary and Graham Coles are looking at buying an old rundown cottage. A former orchard. Escaping their own tragedy, they buy the old cottage in a remote English village, hoping for a fresh start. Mary is drawn to the home far away from London, friends and reminders of their loss – their daughters. (we learn about this further on into the novel). Graham hopes this will pull her out of her depression.
The neighbor Eddie.
However, soon there are echoes of the past. A sense of voices, a dark presence, a red haired man in the orchard. Kids, steps and floors creak, doors. Shouts. A magpie.
A connection – two parallels, linked. The author cleverly and slowly peels back the dark layers at her own pace, keeping the reader glued to the pages. The setting feels real and the narrators, Elizabeth Knowelden and Lucinda Clare delivered a chilling performance.
A clever spine-chilling INTENSE and haunting story. Evocative, a twisted blend of Gothic, supernatural, horror, ghosts, mystery, and psychological suspense. Loss, grief, pain, love, hearts broken, madness, memories, emotional devastation. For fans of Tana French and Kate Morton.
My first book by the author, and look forward to more!
JDCMustReadBooks
May 16, 2016
Whoa. The toughest part for me about this novel, to be brutally honest (aside from the graphic, wholly inappropriate 'sexy-time scenes') was getting past my weird bias/belief that British people simply do not act as out of control 'crazy' as some of these characters; especially men. Soooo. Just typing that, I understand how naive and weird that sounds. Leaving that out, this novel is a page-turner, to be sure. I was never freaked out or super scared, I was simply appalled at the casual... violence and craziness.
I liked the main modern day character (Mary) despite her... poor choices and by that I simply mean in forging 'friendships' etc after her ordeal. I really liked the 150 year old(from the 1850s, is what I mean) character Lottie-- the stuff that comes out of her mouth and her family's reaction to her, generally speaking, is super funny and just... delicious.
Finally, I want to say I would have never known about this book normally, so I'm very glad it was a solid recommendation from my favorite satirical author, Laurie Notaro.
I liked the main modern day character (Mary) despite her... poor choices and by that I simply mean in forging 'friendships' etc after her ordeal. I really liked the 150 year old(from the 1850s, is what I mean) character Lottie-- the stuff that comes out of her mouth and her family's reaction to her, generally speaking, is super funny and just... delicious.
Finally, I want to say I would have never known about this book normally, so I'm very glad it was a solid recommendation from my favorite satirical author, Laurie Notaro.
November 8, 2019
It was a very good story...well written and well told... however the constant switching from past to present was a bit annoying. It would have been easier and a smoother transition to have stated that it was "past" or "present" at the start of that section. Oh well...no one asked for my input:) I love supernatural, physiological suspense stories and this one was building to a stunning conclusion...but then it was like the door closed and someone said "That's all folks." We never found out what actually happened to the villain or what the future was to hold for the couple or the family in the past. That was disappointing and it lost the book half a star. Still very worth the reading time.
October 26, 2016
The author is skilled in using dialogue and jumping back and forth chronologically. That said, I did not enjoy any of the story. All women are victims (of sexual and physical violence), and they weakly fall for sick, dangerous, predatory men. I found no redemption in any character, and reading it unsettled and disturbed me.
November 30, 2019
Two and a half stars rounded up to three. I really wanted to like this book. The plot was great. Mary and her husband Gordon have suffered a devastating tragedy. They move to the country for a fresh start. There is a second storyline about Eliza, a young girl who lived in the house a hundred and fifty years ago. The book just plodded, it took me a long time to read and I'm a fast reader. I liked the characters, even though Mary and Eliza both did things that didn't make sense to me. The back and forth storylines did not work in this book, they were abrupt and did not flow smoothly. Overall, a disappointment.
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