Unfortunately this book was not for me, it was a bit slower than I would like and it just didn't hold my attention. I am sure other people will love it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Quercus, and the author, Neil Spring, for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A spine-chilling psychological thriller from the bestselling author of The Ghost Hunters.

Fleeing from her abusive husband, estate agent Clara seeks refuge in a remote Scottish community. Struggling to make an impression at work, she plots a ‘victimless’ crime, starting a fire in a wing of Boleskine House in the hopes of forcing the property’s price down.

Inspired by the real Boleskine House – a manor overlooking Loch Ness, once home to notorious occultist Aleister Crowley – the house possesses an unsettling history of black magic and paranormal activity: a history that has attracted the attention of sinister stranger Oswald Cattenach, who is desperate to acquire the property for his own dark purposes.

Making the unpleasant discovery that Oswald witnessed her crime – and that it might not have been as victimless as she had hoped – Clara finds herself helplessly drawn into Oswald’s dark plans.

“We’re in this together, Clara. You and me. This is going to be our secret.”

The author builds tension from the very first page; Boleskine House and Loch Ness are painted in a chilling, atmospheric way, and the darkly enigmatic Oswald is an instantly unsettling figure. The creeping suspense of the first half of the book gives way to a more intense horror in the second half: this novel is not one for the faint-hearted, as it depicts some dark scenes of black magic, violence, and domestic abuse. But the violence, while uncomfortable, does not creep over into gratuitousness, and it is perhaps the insidious psychological suspense within the book that is most unsettling of all.

A complex cast of characters – Boleskine House, which seems almost to possess a life of its own, figuring among them – adds depth to the book. Clara’s reckless crime makes her difficult to like initially, though her motivations – for example, her desperate desire not to fall back into her abusive ex-husband’s clutches – stir some empathy. Clara’s relationship with Inghean – a likeable young woman with learning difficulties – serves to redeem her. There is an interesting comparison and contrast between the two antagonists, Karl (Clara’s husband), who proves capable of the occasional spark of humanity among all his terrible actions, and Oswald, who seems to lack humanity altogether – raising the question of which of the two poses the greater threat to Clara.

Neil Spring (The Ghost Hunters, 2013; The Watchers, 2015; The Lost Village, 2017) has a knack for choosing chilling real-world settings, peopling them with a cast of nuanced characters, and ramping up the suspense to deliciously chilling levels, and I’m pleased to say that I found his latest offering to be no exception.

Another great book by Neil Spring. I think this is my favourite so far. Loved the elements of the true story of the house and it's occupants and the atmospheric Scottish Highlands. I can't wait to read what he comes out with next.

I was surprisingly gripped by this book .. I say surprising because I don't normally enjoy books that are so creepy and feature occult and supernatural elements. Atferwards I found out that the plot is loosely based on real events, which is even more creepy!

*thank you to Netgalley, Neil Spring and Quercus Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

4 stars.

Ohh wow I loved this!! I have been wanting to read a book of Neil Spring's for a long time now and this beauty did not disappoint! It was creepy and the fact that it isn't based roughly on a true story just increases that. It was so enjoyable to read and really grabbed me and held on the whole way through. I'm going to have to buy this as an actual book coz I loved it that much.

Clara has run away from a violent partner to the secrets and mystical lands of Loch Ness.
Boleskine house is full of secrets and the whole village know about the years of stories.
Clara and PC Lake are linked through a missing/dead man connected to the house. They both try to find out more about its history.
Oswald Cattenach is the new owner of Boleskine house but he doesn’t plan to stay there long:
Inghean is Gale’s daughter. Gale is the manager of the estate agents where Clara worked. Inghean has learning difficulties but draws interesting pictures that scare her mother.
Truly scary story! Another great read from Neil Spring!!

I am a huge fan of thrillers but did not expect the supernatural element of this from reading the blurb. However, I found this really enjoyable and it made the story a little different to those I normally read!

The setting for the book was perfect and when I found out it was based on true events, it certainly made it that bit more spine tingling. It was a definite page turner and one I couldn’t wait to pick up to see what happened. The pace was good from the start and even with the spooky goings on, the tension came also from ‘real life’ as Clara continued to hide out from an abusive husband.

I do not want to say too much and spoil anything for future readers but I would recommend to any thriller fans looking for something a little different from the norm.

An atmospheric, creepy mystery with plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested.
A good storyline with great characterisation and the plot kept it moving along nicely.

The Burning House, an coalitionof a true story and fictional input. Inspired by the dark and disturbing history of Boleskine House an 18th-century hunting lodge situated on the shores of Loch Ness, it tells a bloodcurdling tale It explores the paranormal in particular with the fact that ever since occultist Aleister Crowley resided there, there have been many ominous and tragic occurrences in the vicinity of Boleskine. The fire which is featured in this book actually did take place but the author expertly embellishes the known circumstances of the incident with his own fictional account.

I have a little confession to make- yes yet another one. Although I have heard of Neil Spring, I haven’t actually read one of his books before. Sorry Neil. Well I can safely say that I have certainly read one of his books now. I recently read ‘The Burning House’ and I really enjoyed it but more about that in a bit.
I have to be honest and say that I didn’t take to Clara one iota but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. From fairly early on, it’s obvious that she is running away from something or somebody and that she has made a new life for herself. She feels comfortable where she is although she is paranoid that her pursuer will find out where she is. She likes the life she has and she will not stand for anything that potentially threatens that. She does something, which is illegal but she doesn’t realise that somebody knows what she has done and he has no intention of letting her forget it. Is Clara’s safety threatened? What happens?
It didn’t take me long at all to get into this book. Basically I was hooked by the end of the first paragraph and the author certainly reeled me in. I found it nigh on impossible to be parted from the book. If I did have to break up from reading then I would look for any excuse I could to get back to reading it. I was intrigued to see in which direction the story would go and I wanted to see what would happen to Clara. The more I read, the more addicted to the story I became and the more desperate to keep reading I became. The pages were turning that quickly that it was almost as if they were turning themselves and before I realised what was happening, I got to the end of the book which I was gutted about. I was enjoying the author’s writing style, the storylines and the characters so much that I wanted the book to continue.
I made the mistake of reading ‘The Burning House’ on my own and just before I went to bed. What followed was a night of scary dreams and jumping at the slightest little noise. Basically I am a wimp, who doesn’t like to be scared. I won’t be making the same mistake again. No that doesn’t mean that I won’t read any more of Neil’s books because the opposite is true. I do want to read more of his books but perhaps it would be better for me to read them during the day and when other people are around.
Reading ‘The Burning House’ was very much like being on a very scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with lots of unexpected twists and turns. There were several times when I almost had to read through my fingers because I feared what was going to happen next. See I told you I was a wimpy scaredy cat.
I don’t usually read books from the horror or supernatural genre but they do say that a change is as good as a rest. I am pleasantly surprised that I really enjoyed this change. I think a lot of it has to do with the book being so well written and the story being so plausible. I do have a vivid imagination and I do believe in the supernatural so that also helps.
In short, I really, really enjoyed reading ‘The Burning House’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Neil’s other books just as soon as I can but I will be reading them in daylight!! I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

This is not my usual type of book but there was something in the synopsis that made wish to read this book. I can confirm that the gut feeling was right: I truly enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down.
It's creepy, atmospheric, dark, it makes you feel the anxiety and the fear of the characters.
But I couldn't put it down, I had to keep on reading and reading as fast as I could.
A wonderful trip, a wonderful book.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for this ARC

Wow, If you like a scary mystery with lots of unexpected twists and turn, you will love this book. How one house can be the source of so many incidents over time is amazing. Take a trip to the banks of Loch Ness and and discover a monster that is not just in the lake.

Creepy, atmospheric, lots of twists and turns - what more do you want in a book. Really good storyline and strong characters which kept it all moving. fab read

Prior to this book I had never heard of this author. I'm so glad that I've discovered a new author.
This is a book that you the reader want to continue with the book- it is a real page turner. I must admit that I did find the style of writing eerie and slightly unsettling. It certainly deals with many dark themes.
What Neil has achieved here is an excellent plot and atmosphere. Good strong characters.
If you are looking for a book with a clear cut plot and a predictable ending then I'm sorry this is not for you.
However if you want to be taken on a journey of uncertainty, unsure of what direction you will be going then this for you.

Read it!! It is a truly epic read.

Thank you to both NetGalley and Quercus Books for my eARC in exchange for my honest unbiased review

This book was my introduction to this author and after reading this one I will definitely be looking out for more of is books now, he is one to watch for me!

I thought that this book was very well written, it had a great flow and a gripping storyline that really had me hooked. I thought it was very enjoyable and I am delighted that I was able to get my hands on a copy of the book!

It is a superb psychological thriller with a twist and I thought it was brilliant - 5 stars from me - a superb book!!

Many years ago I lived in the Highlands of Scotland - I spent a large part of my teenage years just a few miles away from one of the most famous stretches of water in the world...Loch Ness. The loch offers an amazing combination of stunning beauty surrounding a dark foreboding stretch of water - home (of course) to The Loch Ness Monster.

If you have lived in urban areas all your life it is hard to understand just how remote, isolated or atmospheric some areas in rural Scotland can be. Neil Spring captures the sense of location in The Burning House perfectly - the majority of the book is set by the Ness and Neil Spring is terrific at conveying tension and atmosphere in his writing.

We are brought to the Highlands by Clara. We first meet her as she is trying to secure the sale of Boleskine House - a large unloved property on the banks of Loch Ness which has a dark and unpleasant history. Clara works for the local estate agents. In a bid to try to improve the chances of selling Boleskine House (and get her commission) Clara has set a small fire in one of the rooms...some fire damage will bring down the asking price and her dire financial situation will be improved.

Unfortunately for Clara someone has seen her set the fire and she will find herself at the mercy of their whims. Having fled London to the Highlands to escape a violent and abusive marriage Clara is no stranger to being at the mercy of another but she will not accept her situation without a fight.

Meanwhile in London Clara's husband is unwilling to accept that his wife has gone forever. Even though months have passed since she fled their unhappy home he remains determined to track her down.

Clara finds herself a resident at the creepy Boleskine House and it is not long before strange incidents start to occur. It makes for engrossing reading and Neil Spring is a master at captivating readers with his chilling narrative.

The Burning House offers a delicious combination of large ominous house, remote location and a nearby small village (small communities always have the best secrets). The author spins a wonderfully dark tale around Clara and I just could not get enough of this story.

I had been very much looking forward to reading The Burning House as I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Neil Spring's previous books - it did not disappoint. If you want an author who delivers on the chills - look no further.

Clara is on the run, she has started a new life and all she wants is to lie low. And, she needs to sell Boleskine House, but the price is too high. So, she thinks if she only could get the price reduced a bit, then everything will be fine. A small fire will do the trick. However, someone saw her, someone that has a plan for Boleskine House, and now he has a plan for Clara as well...

From blurb may the book seem like an ordinary thriller, but this is a Neil Spring book so when weird shit starts to happen was I not surprised. Delighted, but not surprised. I wouldn't say that the book scared me or anything. However, I was intrigued. I mean Boleskine House, that's one cool place with a lot of history. For instance, Alistar Crowley and Jimmy Page are two notorious owners. And Crowley, well he pretty infamous. I didn't know this before I started to read the book. I actually didn't reflect much on the blurb since all I saw was new Neil Spring book and I wanted to read it. I've read THE GHOST HUNTERS and THE LOST VILLAGE and I loved them both. So, getting a new book was a treat.

THE BURNING HOUSE is perfect if you love to read paranormal thrillers. As with the previous books, I have read is the writing fabulous and it was nice to read a story set in modern time. Neil Spring has become a favorite author of mine and I will read pretty much anything he writes. As long as I get delightfully dark stories of course.

Wow! What a tense and chilling read that was!! From the start you are thrown into quite a chain of shocking events and the consequences of these are felt throughout the book, and leads to some very dark places for some of the characters!

Clara Jones seems to be doing her best to put an abusive relationship behind her by hiding away and creating a new life for herself. And life as an estate agent brings her to Boleskine House, a substantial home in an idyllic spot on the banks of Loch Ness, but it's a house with a very dark past and legends last a long time in this part of the world. She decides to take matters into her own hands to try and get a quicker sale and this leads to devastating consequences!

Oswald is a man on a mission - and his mission is that he must own Boleskine. For what purpose it is unclear to begin with , but Clara soon finds herself drawn into an extremely unsettling and disturbing world - one she'd thought she'd left behind when she left London.

There are a number of characters in this book who are deeply unpleasant, and that just adds to the bleak and terrifying situations that poor Clara finds herself put in. It's one of those books that just gets your blood pumping with all the action and alarmingly dark twists and turns! The action never seems to let up and I found myself gasping in shock on many occasions throughout! It's one of those books that definitely leaves a lasting and chilling impression!

Clara is an estate agent desperate to make a sale in the Loch Ness area and has her own past because she fled London in order to get away from her her abusive husband. She ends up at Boleskine House, a huge creepy Manor house, and Oswald Catternatch wants to buy it.
Both she and he have plans for the house… what will their, and the house’s fate be?
The Burning House is the first novel I’ve reviewed by Neil Spring and I definitely want to review more.

He has a gift for taking a premise that seems simple and turning it into a very scary novel.
We really get a great idea of setting and the contrast between two places traditionally thought of as beautiful (the Manor and the Loch) have a sinister side to them.
I’ve never been to Scotland or Loch Ness and the atmosphere is well portrayed. The characters are realistic and the attention to detail and pace are appropriate and captivating.

The depth of the plot is amazing and is so twisty.
In short, the book is utterly gripping scary and full of secrets and suspense.
Thanks to Neil Spring and Quercus Books for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review and an opportunity to take part in the pre- publication Blog Blast for the title.

The paperback version of the book will be out on 21 March 2019. The e-book is out now.
I really like the cover too

The Burning House, an amalgamation of a true story and fictional input, is perfect for this time of the year when the cold, dark nights jive wonderfully with the spookiness of the novel. Inspired by the dark and disturbing history of Boleskine House an 18th-century hunting lodge situated on the shores of Loch Ness, it tells a spine-chilling tale that had me in a vice-like grip and turning those pages faster and faster. It explores the paranormal in particular with the fact that ever since occultist Aleister Crowley resided there, there have been many ominous and tragic occurrences in the vicinity of Boleskine. The fire which is featured in this book actually did take place but the author expertly embellishes the known circumstances of the incident with his own fictional account.

Fast-paced, compulsively readable and a genuinely creepy plot that was royally entertaining, this is a great and highly atmospheric read. The tension slowly builds throughout until it is almost choking. It's beautifully written and features superb characterisation with characters that are memorable and more than a little quirky. This is an original tale that infuses the thrills of a psychological thriller with the mysticism and eeriness of black magic and the rural setting was exquisitely and vividly described. Living just over the border into England I have visited Loch Ness many times and this was one of the selling points for me. If you are open minded and enjoy stories that are full of chills and thrills then you cannot fail to appreciate this. However, I'd advise anyone who is jumpy to avoid this one and those who do read it, please do so in the daylight! I certainly won't forget this in a hurry. Bravo!

Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.