What a brilliant follow-up to „The Chalk Man“!

I was drawn into the story immediately. And I also fell immediately for Joe Thorne. He is not at his best. His gambling addiction led him into depts. The guy he owes is getting impatient. So he returns to his home town to work at his old school as a teacher because he has a plan to get money. But he is not welcome there. Something dark happened when he was a kid and his old friends don’t want him to tell their secrets.

Joe is a unique character. I liked him from the first page. The story has a dark and eerie atmosphere. Something is absolutely creepy about this town. I would not call this book a thriller. It is more a psychological mystery story with a slightly supernatural touch. For me this was an excellent mix and made the book unputdownable for me. It was a highly entertaining and gripping read. I really enjoyed “The Chalk Man”. But “The Taking of Annie Thorne” is even better because of its well-crafted story, the unique characters and the creepy atmosphere. I happily put C.J. Tudor on my elusive list of favorite authors.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for this ARC.

Yet another cracker from C J Tudor! How this is only her second novel is beyond me. Some people can be taught to write, some are born with the gift but it’s certainly the latter with C J Tudor.

“Joe Thorne’s little sister Annie went missing. After 48 hours she returned but she wasn’t the same.”

I’ve never really liked the term ‘page-turner’ but this definitely falls into that category. It was very reminiscent of an early Stephen King novel but I won’t say the name as it may be a potential spoiler for those who may have read it. It’s a creepy read and the village of Arnhill is not somewhere I’d like to be during the day, let alone at night.

Another 10/10. Absolutely superb!

Absolutely loved this book. Totally different.to everything else I’ve read this year. Almost a bit of a pet semetary vibe to it. I also found it very sad at parts. Would highly recommend this book it really is addictive, thanks for the preview.

Thank you very much for allowing me to read an advanced copy! This story centres around Joe Thorne, and his sister Annie who goes missing. Annie comes back but isn’t the same!

I absolutely loved this, it’s so different to what I usually read. It’s creepy, and if you love horror or scary films you’ll love this! It’s probably the best book I’ve read for a very long time. Literally kept me on the edge of my seat until I’d finished it. Will be buying a copy to read again.

I read this on holiday which meant I spent the first day or so sleeping on a sun lounger because I was up all night reading. I LOVED this book! It reminded me a little of Pet Sematary and the idea that death is not something to be tampered with. I will be recommending this to everyone I know.

Excellent book with a great storyline. Characters that are so well written. I would highly recommend this book to anyone!

This book was amazing it started slowly but then it took off and I found myself unable to put it down. I had read The Chalk Man by this author and I loved it so I was hoping this book would be as good, I need not have worried and although I was convinced I had worked it all out I hadn't and the ending was brilliant.

This was a really spooky story especially as a lot of it involved children. You need some imagination to create a storyline like this. At times the tension was almost unbearable and there was a real twist in the tale which made a great conclusion. I can't say I enjoyed it but I definitely couldn't put it down, the need to know was all consuming..

Another absolutely brilliant book from CJ Tudor! I read this in one sitting as I couldn't put it down. Lots of twists, and shocks as expected and different from anything I've read before.

Absolutely brilliant. I really enjoyed the chalk man but I think I enjoyed this more. Great story and I’ve not been able to put it down. 10/10.

After reading and thoroughly enjoying this author's first book I was really looking forward to this one and I wasn't disappointed! One of this year's not to be missed books!

Thank you to Netgalley, CJ Tudor and Penguin Michael Joseph for my ARC of the Taking of Annie Thorne.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book by this author; The Chalk Man which I read last year, and I enjoyed The Taking of Annie Thorne just as much. It is a brilliant combination of thriller and horror that chills you to the very bones.

Joe Thorne is returning to his hometown of Arnhill. A place he swore he'd never return to, but here he is, taking up a teaching place at the run down academy. Joe is followed by a trail of bad debts and a desperation to get himself out of trouble. Which means a return to the past. Twenty five years ago he and four friends were involved in something they'd all rather forget. Something which fills Joe with fear and disgust if he just thinks about it. But his return to the village is bringing the past back to haunt them all.

So firstly I'd like to talk about the setting. This was hugely atmospheric, I think more so because I grew up in a village much like Arnhill and actually don't live too far away from Nottingham where the fictional village of Arnhill is placed. An old mining town full of folk who don't take kindly to strangers, run down pubs and miner's welfare's and of course the looming shadow of the abandoned pit. Not to mention all the people who used to work there and cannot let that legacy die. It's a very claustrophobic atmosphere and C.J Tudor nailed that perfectly.

Joe was a great character, complex, deceptive but also strong and enduring. His life had been a patchwork of horrors since he was 15 and yet somehow he has managed to stay alive and relatively sane (depending on who you talk to). The supporting characters too were excellent from the fiendish and feisty Gloria, to Brendan the Irish recovering alcoholic.

As for the twists and turns of the story nothing surprised me more than that ending! Absolutely excellent from start to finish I devoured this book in a matter of hours.

Another EXCELLENTLY creepy tale here in C J Tudor's follow up to her debut, a shivery, beautifully written and haunting tale where past meets present and all is, well, fairly horrible to be honest. But SO GOOD.

We have the small village haunted by it's past and it's present - a returning resident out to right the wrongs and a ghostly, terrifyingly realistic feeling central plot that will keep you turning those pages. Although once it gets dark, perhaps putting it aside for some Enid Blyton might be wise....if you want to sleep.

The sense of place is cleverly claustrophobic, the main protagonist is engagingly divisive and some of the descriptive prose will send you running for cover. A read from under the axe proof duvet novel, if you are irrationally disturbed by dolls and creepy kids then maybe a good cup of camomile tea to the side might also be wise...

Fuller review to follow upon publication. In my humble opinion though another sure fire hit for Ms Tudor.

Recommended.