"Look, these stories - small-town legends about monters or demons or evil spirits - they're all just an excuse for people to avoid seeing the real monsters all around them. It's a way to shatter the proverbial mirror." - Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis.

In the aftermath of finishing Harrow Lake, all I could do was stare off into space for a few minutes.

What did I just read?

I have to admit that the ending absolutely blew me away. The way in which everything tied back together was masterfully done and meant that the conclusion of the book ended on a very strong and somewhat emotional note.

The premise of the story is not wholly original, but that does not mean it was not extremely creepy and suspenseful. When she finds her father, Nolan, stabbed in his study (I think it was his study, if I remember correctly, if not – I apologise) and in hospital in a critical condition, teenage Lola is whisked away to her grandmother Moira’s house in Harrow Lake. The hometown of her mother, Lorelai as well as the town which catapulted Lola’s father’s directorial fame, Nightjar – a modern horror classic. Lola’s first taste of Harrow Lake is terrifying, bone chillingly horrifying. Every tap, every whisper; a local town horrow legend, Mister Jitters, eventually feels very real to Lola.

I wouldn’t say I was terrified when I was reading this, but I was creeped out. Especially in the way the grandmother was written, she could have very easily been a serial killer and I would not have been surprised. But what I think the emphasis of this book is, and why I included the quote which opens up this blog post, is that monsters are very much human. The behaviour of the grandmother, the behaviour of the father, the past behaviour Lola’s grandfather – they are each monsters in their own way. The creepy factor of this book lies in the fact that supernatural-type monsters of local myth are legitimately nothing to the very human actions of Lola’s family.

But I do want to know, is Mister Jitters real?! I do think that the ‘supernatural’ like occurences which are peppered throughout the novel are the result of trauma. Lola is a very interesting character, in that she is an unreliable narrator and who copes with her trauma in the various ways she knows how (such as her imaginary friend, Mary Ann who appears and reappears as a result of traumatic experiences). It took me at least 150 pages to fully get into the story and to become engaged with the character of Lola. She felt bland and dull with no personality in the beginning – but then I realised, it’s on purpose as a result of trauma. Lola has never been able to actually do anything for herself – her every action, her very voice, is controlled by her father. By the end of the novel, I was hoping with everything in me that she survives and finds her own way.

The reason as to why it didn’t hit the five star mark for me is because of the fact that it took me a while to get into the story as well as the varying plot holes. There are a more than aspects to the plot that are introduced, given next to nothing in terms of attention, and then we don’t read anything else about it. I think that would have to be one of the biggest weaknesses of this book, personally – but others may very well enjoy that about this book!

Overall, I rate it 4 out of 5 stars and I highly recommend it for any readers who enjoy thrillers. It will take you for a ride as well as confuse the hell out of you.

Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis is a novel that truly terrified me. The writing is brilliantly atmospheric and created a sense of foreboding that seeped through every page.

There are some twists and turns within this novel that really leave you on edge. As the story unfolds you are given enough of the picture in the scene, but you add your own terrifying thoughts. For me this is what makes a horror story stand out, where the author terrifies you with their words but makes you frighten yourself as well. Kat Ellis, I applaud you for making me sleep with the light on.

A fuller review will be posted on my blog as part of a blog tour I’m taking part in on 5th May.

Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis

Harrow Lake is a dark, twisty, and overall creepy mystery that had me in its grasp from page 1. The story is like a nightmare, and I wondered if it was real or if the character would eventually wake up and find out it was just her subconscious talking. Full of symbolism, motifs, and metaphors, it is appealing on many different levels.

Life is tough for Lola, who has not had her mother in her life since the tender age of five and whose father, a horror movie director, is overprotective and very controlling. Lola is not allowed modern conveniences such as laptops or cell phones and even does not have her key to the suite in which they are living.

As a result, Lola thinks in terms of what reactions and responses are Optimal with a capital O. Optimal are things that her father, Nolan Nox, will be pleased by, and sticking to what is Optimal is very important to Lola. She fears negative responses from Nolan for many reasons, one of which is she is afraid to lose him like she did her mother, Lorelei. He is all she has, or so she thinks until tragedy brings her grandmother into her life, and that is where the nightmare begins.

Lola is also concerned about seeing people for who they are – seeing the real person behind the metaphorical masks—seeing the bad along with the good, especially the tells from when they are lying. She also wants people to see that in her. She desperately wants people to see the real her, even in a town that her mother grew up in and in the clothes that her mother once wore.

Music and sound are an eerie motif that plays its way throughout the novel. They indicate when Lola is afraid, like in a horror movie. Sound is instrumental in a film to suggest fear and stimulate that same reaction in the audience. The use of sound in Lola’s story is masterfully used the same way.

The last few pages are crucial for understanding the story, and I have worked very hard not to give anything away. The ending blew my mind and made me realize just how creative and how compelling the story is.

A fantastically creepy thriller, Harrow Lake is fast-paced and tense. It's definitely a page-turner. It's intended for a YA audience but is sophisticated enough for adults to enjoy too.

The story is narrated by Lola, the troubled teenage daughter of a horror film director, Nolan Nox. When her father is attacked in his New York apartment, Lola is sent to stay with her grandmother in a town called Harrow Lake. It's a sinister place and was the location for her father's famous film, Nightjar. Secrets from the family's past are revealed, while Lola tries to ignore tales of the local boogeyman, Mister Jitters, and learns that the worst kind of horror is in real life.

Lola is a fascinating character. I liked her courage and cynicism. There are only a few other characters but they're all well-drawn. The book is cinematic; I could picture the settings, scenes and people very clearly. There were some good twists, although I did guess one of the big reveals. I hadn't heard of this author before but having read this book, I want to read more from her.

If you like thrillers and horror fiction, I recommend Harrow Lake. Thank you to The Write Reads, Penguin and NetGalley for my advance copy. The book will be published on July 9th.

Part of The Write Reads blog tour.

[NB. I don't know yet what date this review will be posted on my blog]