This is the first book i have read from Neil Spring and i think it will be the last.The book for me was just a long drawn out story of devil worship and human sacrifices which didn't interest me at all.The plot when i read it did seem interesting but about half way through i began to lose interest but i stuck with it but it never improved ,for what it's worth the book centres around Boleskine House on the shores of Loch Ness which is sold by Clara the estate agent who has escaped her abusive husband in London,It's bought by Oswald who it transpires is a devil worshipper and Clara is tricked into moving in with him which is when things take a turn for the worst.Don't get me wrong other readers may well enjoy this book but i just couldn't wait to finish it and at 512 pages long it did seem to drag on forever unfortunately ! No sorry not for me a 2 star read at best.

This is a really good read. This is not normally my type of book but I really enjoyed this one. The way it is written drew me in from the start and the dark happenings had me clued to the story. The way events intertwined and the descriptions of Oswalds control all made this a wonderful creepy and haunting read. I will definitely be reading more books by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Well... Neil Spring certainly hasn't disappointed with his latest offering. This story follows Clara, an estate agent in a small town off the coast of Loch Ness. She is a woman with a past, a survivor of domestic abuse trying to start a new life off the beaten track. She's tasked with selling Boleskine House, a forbidding mansion that also harbours a secretive and dark past, and so begins this exciting, and oppressively spooky tale.

As you may be able to tell, I really enjoyed this book. I've been excited to read it since it was announced, and it didn't let me down. There are some fantastic characters to meet, some likable, others... not so much! We also have a seriously creepy villain.

Thanks so much to Quercus and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this early.

I have enjoyed all of Neil Spring’s novels so far and I was delighted to receive his latest, for review. Clara Jones is hiding out, in a small community on the shores of Loch Ness. Working as an estate agent, she is desperate to make a sale and earn some commission. On the run from her abusive husband, she has fled London and wants to make a new life for herself. When she has the opportunity to sell Boleskine House, a house with a very dark history, to the enigmatic Oswald Catternach, she finds herself pulled into his plans.

This is a very creepy read indeed, which features old secrets, black magic and also a storyline which deals with domestic violence, and stalking, set very much in the real world. This combination of crimes we can understand, and empathise with, alongside the supernatural, works very well. Neil Spring writes sympathetic and well rounded characters and some extremely unsettling scenes. The brooding setting of Loch Ness, with its combination of tourists, looking for Nessie, alongside old superstitions, works very well.

It is hard to write too much about this novel, without giving away the plot and I have no wish to do that. However, I will say that Neil Spring is an author who seems to be growing with each novel. He does not make life easy for the reader, with happy endings for each character; nor does he make every ‘bad’ character irredeemable. Life is not like that and so we have shades of grey, alongside an exciting and enjoyable read. Loved it. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

This was my first book by Neil Spring who is a new author to me and it most certainly won't be my last. A thriller but with a an undertone of magic which made it a very chilling and atmospheric read, It's set amongst the beauty of Loch Ness and that all adds to to the creepiness that builds throughout the book and leads to a really good conclusion. A clever and entertaining read with some real dark moments I enjoyed it a lot.
My thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

After escaping her despicable, abusive husband in London, Clara moves to a village close to Loch Ness in Scotland where she hopes to recover and start a new life. She has found work in the town's Estate Agents office and is tasked with selling a property on the banks of the Loch. With an extremely sinister history and rumoured to have been built on the foundations of an ancient church, the house has changed hands many times during its history, a history that includes whispers of black magic and numerous tragedies. No wonder the place has been empty and neglected for so long. But now it appears that there is someone who is very keen on buying Boleskine House, provided the price is right. This is a story about the Loch Ness monster, but not the one you are expecting.

For me this is Neil Spring's best work. As with all Spring's books, the story is partly based on real events/places, with a huge dollop of fiction added to the mix. This book is very dark at times, and not just the 'supernatural' parts. Clara's suffering at the hands of her husband is appalling. But this is generally a hugely entertaining read with some extremely chilling, gory moments and a highly atmospheric setting.

I should not have read this at night. But I did. I don't think I've had a book that quite made me jump and shiver in the same way as this one did. A major reading experience.

I have passed this site many many times having been to countless holidays in and around Loch Ness so was well aware of the legend and the strange goings on. The area of Loch Ness is even more stunning in real life and I don';t think you can get a sense of the creepiness and eeeriness of the area until you've been there...but with this book you can. It took me back there, placed me right at the heart of Scotland's spookiest house and left me there in the dark!

There are shocks and scars from the start, but this is not just a ghost story but one which marries the legend of the area with black magic, a graveyard full of ghosts and a house with secrets in its charred walls. Neil really has brought the place to life and given it more and I was captivated throughout. Whatever you believe or don't believe (and some might think certain parts are beyond the realms of even the most furtive imagination) you can't help but be taken in with this world of legend and true fact mixed with a Spring dose of literary goodness.

I'm not going to mention the plot as there are lots of dark moments to enjoy. Yes, some of it is far-fetched, but then so too is the legend that has haunted this place for years and years. I enjoyed the way the author mixed the legend of Nessie too ( it's not just a tourist attraction but based on real facts and many people take this very seriously) so maybe read this with a pinch of salt, but remember, most of this is based on what is already believed.

Very clever and entertaining. Perfect for the long winter nights. In fact I would recommend this on the kindle as the paperback isn't out until March 2019 anyway and the back light on the kindle paperwhite takes this reading experience to another place...

OMG WHAT A BOOK!!!!!
A psychological thriller with a touch of magic- BLACK MAGIC.
This was a real page turner, I finished this book in two sittings. Clara has run away to Scotland to hide from her abusive husband. Clara takes on the role of an estate agent and is trying very hard to sell Boleskine House, this is no normal house and has a very dark history. Enter a stranger who really wants the house but why?
My husband has not heard a word from since I started this book. This is a real rollercoaster ride of tension and suspense. This book is creepy and set my heart racing. I did not want this book to end. I will definitely be looking out for more by this author. Highly recommended.
I would like to thank the author Neil Spring, Quercus Books and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for giving an honest review.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Quercus Books and the author, Neil Spring, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of The Burning House in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
I have to admit, I jumped at the chance to review this offering from this author. I read his other three novels, back to back, only a couple of months ago and loved them. But, we are not here to talk about his previous work. We are here to talk about The Burning House.
This is a spooky story based on actual fact. I thought the storyline was well written with engaging characters. Some you can feel for and some you can loathe. I found it eerily creepy, and it kept me glued to my chair until I turned the last page.
I also loved how descriptive it was. I could imagine myself on the shores of Loch Ness, the atmosphere was so rich. 4.5 stars from me. I have already pre-ordered my printed copy.
Definitely well worth a read for fans of the creepy. Neil Spring just gets better and better.