A fantastic, well-written eerily, creepy, riveting second novel from this author, what more can I say. A great edge-of-your-seat read and a must for anyone looking for a tense thriller. If you haven't read CJ Tudor's debut The Chalk Man then why not? This one is just as good! Thank you NetGalley and Michael Joseph publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

The Taking of Annie Thorne by C J Tudor. Out February 21st 2019

Chilling, creepy, gripping and oh my that doll !! 5 stars



When Joe Thorne was fifteen, his little sister, Annie, disappeared. At the time, Joe thought it was the worst thing in the world that could ever happen. And then she came back.

Now Joe has returned to the village where he grew up, to work as a teacher at the failing Arnhill Academy. Not an act of altruism, but desperation. Joe has bad debts – and bad people – he needs to escape. He also has an anonymous email: I know what happened to your sister. It’s happening again.
But coming back to the place he grew up, means facing the people he grew up with, and the things they did. Five friends: Joe, Stephen Hurst, Marie Gibson, Nick Fletcher and Chris Manning. They were the five who were there that night. Something they haven’t spoken about in 25 years.
Coming back means opening old wounds, and confronting old enemies and Joe is about to discover that places, like people, have secrets. The deeper you go, the darker they get.
And sometimes, you should never come back.


I loved Chalk Man it was one of my favourite reads this year, so when Nick and Lucy said they had read this I knew I had to read it too.
From the first few pages I was hooked and what a way to start a book!!
Arnhill is a grim bleak pit town where the coal mine is now shut and the whole place screams of deprivation and you get a sense quickly that something bad happened here and is happening again.
The way the author describes the village of Arnhill I am not sure it would be on anyone’s holiday destination list.
Joe Throne has been away from Arnhill where he grew up with his family for a while. Joe is a teacher and comes back to teach at his old secondary school. When he returns, he meets up with people from his past and encounters their children whilst working at the school.
Joe has a lot of skeletons in his closet and you never see where the next one will pop out. I think the way that the author is able to portray this suspense is key to the story.
Joe’s sister Annie went missing from her room one night when he was a teenager, only to return two days later, what happened to Annie and Joe after this and is uncovered in the chilling and creepy book.
The occupants of Arnhill are equally as grim as the setting and everyone has a story, and this mostly revolves around the pit and the village and what happened there. The characters were really well developed, and I felt a real empathy for some and a real loathing for others. I also enjoyed how Joe revisited his past and saw people in a different light which is often the case with people you go to school with.
The book was so creepy in places and you never knew what was coming next. There were times I had to put it down as I needed to take in what I had just read also times when I experienced hide behind the pillow moments. Being able to make a reader feel like this is a real gift.
C. J Tudor is a fabulous storyteller and I love how she has a way of bringing the past into the present as she did in Chalk Man.
This book really unnerved me at times, but I could not put it down and it was a really fantastic book.

This is a genrally a very well written story and kept me intrigued throughout but was somewhat disappointed with what I felt was a weak ending to an otherwise good tale.

Suspense throughout and wondering what the dark secret was but felt this was never really revealed and instead of focusing on the why and what had happened to all the children the focus was on the lead character.

A lot of characters in this book that you could never warm to including the main protagonist and after reading this was left with a feeling of "so what".

''The past isn't real. It is simply a story we tell ourselves. And sometimes we lie''.
This is the first novel written by C.J. Tudor that I've read, for some incomprehensible reason I skipped ''The Chalk Man'' perhaps due to the hype and the plethora of raving reviews that set off an instant suspicion on my part. Anyway, I didn't exactly know what to expect when I started reading ''The Taking of Annie Thorne'' but, in the end, I felt thoroughly satisfied and entertained by this mixture of crime and horror novel and in many instances the prose of C.J. Tudor reminded me other acclaimed crime/horror fiction writers such as Stephen King, Yrsa Sigurdardottir and Sharon Bolton. The book is permeated by a gloomy and sinister atmosphere, hinting supernatural intervention nut never fully acknowledging it and offer a lot of suspensful moments through the unfolding of its tightly-woven plot. The protagonist Joe Thorne returns to the place where he grew up as a child, in Arnhill. where a series of unexplained disappearances, suicides and homicides have occured in the past and present. Joe, a gambler and expelled school teacher, is burdened by the grief of losing his little sister Annie, an eight-year old girl who disappeared for about 48 hours and when she returned, nobody could recognize her due to extreme behavioral changes. Joe has no friends from the past in Arnhill as his old school gang seem to be eager to shoo him away as fast as possible. This is a book that you are bound to read fast, I finished it in only two sittings, as the quality of Tudor's prose, the creepy descriptions and the excellent dialogue compose a read that you shouldn't miss. It is a book that cannot be strictly categorized in crime or horror genre and it seems to reach a harmonious balance between the two. I literally couldn't wait to see what happens next and find answers to the novel's big mysteries. The only drawback is that I found the finale to be rather weak and not at the same level with the rest of the book.but this couldn't change the overall more than positive impression of ''The Taking of Annie Thorne''. I will definitely check out future works by C.J. Tudor and Ι will try to read ''The Chalk Man'' as soon as possible.
I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ARC of this novel.

In 1992 Joe Thornes 8 year old little sister Annie goes missing from her bed, only to reappear 48 hours later, refusing to say what happened, she is so terribly different to the child she was before. Once so loveable and sweet, she is now completely unrecognisable.

This tells the story of troubled teacher Joe returning to his home town to face past demons...

A real page turner of a book, perfect for thriller fans, this will keep you guessing until the end.
Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read in return for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an arc of this book.

The Taking of Annie Thorne was creepy, atmospheric and I totally did not see the end coming.

I think this is better than The Chalk Man, in that the characters were all fab, including psycho Gloria!

Looking forward to lots more by CJ Tudor...…..

This is a creepy story, no two ways about that!
Although I have never read horror and most probably won't, this one came very close with its darkness and skittering noises and creatures of the night!
Joe Thorne is a down on his luck gambler with some very unsavoury creditors after him for money he owes. Forging a recommendation, he has returned to the town he grew up in, Arnhill, to take up the post of English teacher. The position is vacant and his for the taking because his predecessor Julia Morton and her son Ben were victims of a murder suicide that no one saw coming.
But there is something in Joe's past in this very town that he fears is revisiting. A secret about a night 25 years ago that he and his gang of then friends have buried forever. Joe's sister Annie who went missing returned completely changed and he has never been able to forget just how scary she was after.
Facing trouble in the school from students with influence and beatings outside the school from those who wish him gone so the status quo can be maintained, Joe struggles to just exist until he can use an ace he thinks he has and solve all his problems.
A complete, unapologetic anti hero, Joe does whatever needs doing to get to the point where he is no longer the hunted. But there is something he can't control and it is coming for him.. the past!

The writing gives you enough shivers so that you don't want to read this alone at night, with images of one eyed dolls staring at you and scenes in dangerous, underground coal pits.
Different from what I normally read but very gripping indeed.

I loved this book I really need to go back and read the chalk man. I understand fully why Stephen King is so impressed with CJs work.

Rather than talk about the amazing story that CJ slowly and mesmorisingly grabs the attention with and risk potential spoilers I would just say if you love classic horror stories with numerous unexpected twists and turns populated by 3d characters who suprise you by not being quite what you peg them for then this book is definitely for you.

CJ has rapidly become one of my favourite authors and I will be buying myself a copy of this next year.

I'm so glad I got the chance to read this book and hope my honest review is helpful as CJ deserves the recognition

When Joe Thorne was fifteen, his little sister, Annie, disappeared. At the time, Joe thought it was the worst thing in the world that could ever happen. And then she came back. she wasn't the same not the fun loving Little Annie that he loved, she was a stranger someone he didn't know the sister he once loved he was now scared to death off!

now after so many years away from the place he grew up in Joe returns and gets a job at his old school Arnhill Academy but why is he truly back? could it be that his on the run from the people he owes money too, could it be that he just wants to come back to a place he called home or is it because he wants REVENGE! for what happened to his Sister Annie and his school friend Chris.. Five friends: Joe, Stephen Hurst, Marie Gibson, Nick Fletcher and Chris found something a secret place when they as younger a place that screamed Danger! a place that once they go in it will never ESCAPE Them!

SECRETS,LIES,DECEPTION,BRIBERY AND MURDER!! Tie these Five people together tying them in multiple knots till they choke begging to break free of the past!!

the secrets will come out shocks will be made old battles will come back to haunt all those involved is Joe going to find out the truth to what happened to his Sister and Chris is what he thinks happened really true or is there a much darker truth going to come out that is going to be more shocking and devastating?

The Taking Of Annie Thorne has the chilling haunting Eco of The Chalk Man it takes you grips you holds you tight until you are breathless with fear and shock!

i loved C.J Tudor's first book The Chalk Man and i was worried that this book may not be as good but i think it was even better and The Chalk Man was great and creepy, The Taking Of Annie Thorne is a book that will give you chills you will find it hard to put down it's one of those books where you just want to keep reading because you want to know what happens next it's filled from the bottom till the top of the page with twists and turns it will make your head spin i truly i truly loved it i didn't see the twists coming this is a 5 star book one they i will recommend to family and friends.. thank you to the Publishers and Netgalley for letting me read this book early i loved it

I would like to thank Netgalley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for an advance copy of The Taking of Annie Thorne, a stand alone thriller set in the Nottinghamshire mining village of Arnhill.

In 1992 8 year old Annie Thorne disappeared for 48 hours and came back a different personality. 25 years later her brother, Joe, returns to Arnhill looking for ...

I thoroughly enjoyed The Taking of Annie Thorne which is a creepy thriller with horror overtones and much more going on than the synopsis suggests. It took me out of my comfort zone which is the rather prosaic realm of police procedurals and enthralled me to the extent that I read it in one sitting, unable to put it down. I have not read a horror novel before, unwilling to suspend my disbelief of what I can’t touch or logically explain, so I didn’t know what to expect. I actually found it quite easy to accept the inexplicable and just go with the flow. Much of this is, I think, due to the inviting nature of the rest of the novel which grabs you and doesn’t let go. Apart from a bit of scene setting at the outset the novel is told in the first person from Joe Thorne’s point of view. He has a very appealing cynical take on life which draws the reader in and holds the attention but the real hook is his reason for being in Arnhill. Initially it is very unclear and only unfolds throughout the course of the novel. Quite often I find this secretiveness in a novel extremely frustrating but in this case I found it intriguing and was desperate to find out more. Add to this the troubles that followed him to Arnhill and it makes for a very good read.

The novel is billed as horror so there are the requisite creepy moments with beetles and Annie Thorne’s behaviour, told in flashback to 1992, at relevant points but, to me, the real horror lay in the Lord of the Flies attitude permeating the local school. I found it fascinating and revolting.

I really liked the interplay between Joe and his old school friends as their past relationship is gradually revealed. Nothing is as it seems and the twists come thick and fast as the novel draws to a conclusion. It seems in retrospect to be a master stroke to make the novel a first person narrative because the reader is reliant on Joe for information and assessment, who, it soon becomes apparent, despite being smart, does not have the best judgement. I found it very human that he thinks he knows what happened and is acting accordingly.

The Taking of Annie Thorne is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Sometimes I find writing book reviews challenging. Have I been fair in my assessment and scoring? Have I been too harsh? Have I been too gushing in my praise for a favourite author?
And then, like today, it's a doddle.

I loved this book and I really, really love the writing style of CJ Tudor. Her debut novel 'The chalk man' was fabulous and so it was with some trepidation that I opened her new novel. Wow! I should have known, this is an excellently crafted, spooky tale with characters that, within the fear and suspense, made me laugh out loud. It's a great storyline about a teacher, Joe Thorne, who returns to his childhood village where some horrible murders have taken place and where he continues to grapple with his own personal demons, problems and nightmares.

It made me laugh, it made me cry. I was frustrated by the lead character, Joe, whilst simultaneously hoping agains hope that he'd get the upper hand and that all would become clear (it does). There are sinister undertones throughout, where you just know something horrible is going to happen, but, you're not sure what? or when?

The writing is a dream, the storyline gripping and in summary it's a 'must read' for anyone who loves a spooky, riveting tale and who doesn't?

Fabulous 5 Star read.

After having The chalk man on my wanting to read list for most of the year I was excited to be accepted to read this new book by C.J. Tudor. This book didn't disappoint and has made me want to go out and get the previous book.
This book is very easy reading and keeps you guessing throughout the book, and at times was also creepy.

I picked this up with the expectation that I might not like it much – and ended up reading it very quickly, racing through it in a handful of sittings. It's a grim, gritty thriller with elements of horror. The latter were why I couldn't quite bring myself to put it down, despite the style not really being my thing.

Arnhill is a nondescript, depressing village somewhere in Nottinghamshire. The book opens with two police officers surveying a gruesome scene: Julia Morton – a well-liked and apparently stable English teacher – has murdered her son Ben and shot herself. Around the same time, Joe Thorne, who grew up in the area, returns. He's taking over Julia's job, and running away from the debts created by his gambling addiction, but there's another reason he's back in Arnhill. 20 years ago, Joe's father crashed his car, killing himself and Joe's little sister Annie. Joe believes something links Annie and Ben, his dad and Julia – something to do with the children disappearing and coming back 'changed'.

While the protagonist isn't especially likeable and the narrative voice is typical thriller fare, the plot has a hook I found irresistible: did something supernatural happen to these families? Though the surroundings are significantly more down-at-heel, the combination of crime and horror reminded me of Elly Griffiths' recent The Stranger Diaries.

I don't want to give anything away, but the plot is quite satisfying and at the same time totally ridiculous (especially the final twist – or should that be twists?!) Not the most subtle of stories, and no doubt it will be too silly for some, but I enjoyed myself.

I really enjoyed Tudor’s last book, The Chalk Man, so was keen to read this one. It has a similar feel - a grown man faced with a troubling event from his childhood, trying to make sense of things. The plot is full of twists and turns, and the story of what happened to the narrator’s little sister Annie is haunting. You really have to pay attention as you read, because seemingly minor details come back with renewed significance later - a trait I really enjoyed.

There was an additional and slightly clunky sub plot regarding the narrator’s gambling addiction that I found quite distracting - I feel like it could have worked just as well without it. That said, Tudor’s writing is so detailed that it may well have played a more crucial role than I realised.

Sinister, creepy and told with impressive skill, C.J Tudor has done it yet again in her second book, following on from the cult favourite The Chalk Man released earlier this year. Combining "old school" horror (there's dolls, there's beetles, there's graveyards, there's witchery) with the twistiest twists, macabre backdrop and many, many secrets. Again, there are elements of Stephen King's horror/supernatural, and the kind of ghost stories you'd tell your friends at sleepovers, but told in a way that, apart from a few paragraphs, is actually not as graphic as her previous novel in it's gruesome nature, but more psychological; the fear and terror leaks out of the chapters and fills you with an overwhelming sense of dread. Just magnificent.

If you have read The Chalk Man (and if not then you definitely should, immediately!) you'll spot some excellent "easter eggs" in this book which I loved and instantly wanted to tweet about them but then couldn't because spoilers, so that was frustratingly brilliant. Actually, just like The Chalk Man, you want to talk about SO MUCH of this book, your brain frantically left trying to figure out the mysteries and how you feel about the characters (most of whom are pretty unlikeable).

Set in Nottingham (my birthplace), the perfect setting for a horror story, because the scars of industry, particularly collieries, are still visible and relevant in these villages, even when the green hills hide the spoil tips and the pit wheels have flower planters around them. Here are working class communities where families would (and still do) all know each other, and their secrets, are proud of their heritage, loyal, and suspicious of strangers (you only have to check out a few Nottinghamshire "Spotted" pages on Facebook to see this). This all plays beautifully with the idea of returning to a village you'd left behind as a teen in tragic circumstances in the 90's, as Joe Thorne did. All his old friends, and enemies, are still there, and a terrible secret they shared and hoped had been eradicated, has drawn Joe back. Can he unearth the truth and importantly can he survive it?

Bullies, gangsters, friends, teenage crushes all feature along with a sense of nostalgia, juvenile misadventure and folklore, as well as sheer terror. This book is for anyone that ever explored somewhere they shouldn't have done with friends as a kid and never told their parents.

I predict this will be a bestseller for 2019 and is ripe for a TV miniseries/drama so add it to your wishlists/preorders now.

Special thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in advance, my review is entirely my own thoughts and written in my own words.

Really enjoyed this book. Another creepy offering from this author. The writing style is excellent and you can tell the progression from the first book to this one.

Would highly recommend this book. 5 stars

Loved The Chalk Man, and absolutely love The Taking of Annie Thorne just as much.

C. J Tudor has again written a book that absorbs you into the past and present of the characters.

Unfolding a story full of mystery and horror that keeps you in suspense all the way through.

C J Tudor is a unique writer, can't wait for book 3.

Thank you netgalley, Penguin and C J Tudor for allowing me to read and review this book.

3.5 stars
MAJOR SPOILERS

Somehow this managed to be quite fun,and a lot creepy.
The fun bit comes from the attitude of our main character,and Brendan and Gloria.

The creepy part comes from dead bodies,beetles and burial pits,sinister demented murderous children.

Throughout the whole book,I kept thinking of the phrase "sometimes they come back'
Apparently a short story by King.
I think Tudor has done it better.
Some good twists along the way,and a cracking opening chapter.... definitely looking out for further books.

Well written novel that would appeal to the fan of urban legends and mysteries in a creepy small English village. Stephen King's influence shows through the pages that are filled with horrors and creepy black critters. Thanks for the opportunity to read this ARC.

My first experience of reading C.J Tudor and found it very absorbing. I was epecting a detective story but was pleasantly surprised by something a bit different. This is an unusual take on a man returning to his childhood village and as it gradually becomes clear, his motives are not totally altruistic. I found the characters were mostly well devoloped and the suspense built nicely. Several fashbacks helped set the scene for the unexpected climax and overall 'The Taking of Annie Thorne' kept me reading until late at night. Probably not a book for the squemish but I will read Tudor again - I've already bought the 'Chalk Man'.