@currentlyreading__
Book 36 of 2021

Thank you to @markedwardsauthor, @NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of 'The Hollows' ahead of its publication tomorrow. If you want a jumpy and atmospheric read this is right up your street! Having read every single book by the author, 'The Hollows' seems to be more of a horror in genre than his usual psychological thriller.

Our lead character Tom is a music journalist whose career is in tatters. Having split from his wife and living on separate continents he decides to reconnect with his fourteen year old daughter Frankie. Ten days unplugged, no WiFi, no 4G and back to nature in Hollow Falls, Maine. Having not researched the area Tom is completely unaware of the dark tourism that thrives here after the murders of two local teachers twenty years previously. Ghoulish individuals flock to the site and Tom's cabin neighbours are no exception - Connie, David and Ryan. Connie is totally invested in her stay at Hollow Falls as she is creator of a true crime podcast and desperate for the first-hand experience of exactly what drives tourists there year after year.

With weirdness galore, a bit of a Stephen King/ The Hills Have Eyes vibe, this is a great read for someone who likes tension, eerie settings, the usual horror tropes and chilling characters. You only need to check out the author's recent social media to see some fantastic artwork depicting the sort of weird characters uncovered in the book.

As the holiday descends into disaster, having no 4G is the least of Frankie's problems!

Interesting. A father and his teenage daughter visit a camping resort in Maine. Unbeknownst to them the area is known for strange happenings and a particularly grisly murder. Add in freaky neighbor campers and a sweaty staff and you have the recipe for a definitely not relaxing vacation. Strange happenings fell other campers but father and daughter decide to stay. For some readers that decision may be the strangest event of the book. It’s a fun read that reminds me of horror movies where potential victims make stupid mistakes and fall into the killer’s hands, but we still watch to see what happens.

Ever since Tom and his wife divorced and she moved from England to the US, Tom only gets to see his daughter Frankie a few times a year. For their summer visitation this year, Tom has decided to take Frankie to a remote resort deep in the woods of Maine. With no cell service, Tom figures he'll get more of Frankie's attention instead of her nose being buried in her phone.

Upon arriving, Tom meets the visitors in the cabin next door and discovers that the resort land has a sordid past - two teachers on a camping trip with their students were murdered twenty years ago, and there are plenty of crime fans visiting to mark the anniversary. Tom finds himself fascinated by the story, and wonders if writing about the crime and his experiences at The Hollows could reinvigorate his writing career... until strange things begin to happen....

This was a quick and creepy read, great for fans of YA thrillers and perfect if you're looking to add some chills to your vacation this summer (especially if you happen to be staying in an isolated cabin in the woods... just sayin'). I figured out some of the big reveal before it came out, but I was still glued to the pages because I wanted to see how everything played out. This would also make a great horror movie!

British author Mark Edwards has written a number of psychological thrillers self described as where “scary things happen to ordinary people.” This is the first one I have read.

Written from some different POVs, this was a quick, engrossing read. I was hesitant at first to read it as the description alluded to the paranormal, which I do not enjoy. However, although perhaps a bit mystical, it was not totally over the top. The setting will be somewhat familiar to horror fans and, taking place in Maine, how could it not reference Stephen King? Edwards creates a good sense of place and atmosphere.

I do find it annoying when people who know they or loved ones are in danger continue to do dumb things..but then again, without that happening, there wouldn’t be a story.

I'm a big fan of Mark Edwards' books and they never disappoint! This story is set in the Maine area and knowing that Mark is a big fan of Stephen King, there are several references to him and his writing. No spoilers here though! For fans of The Magpies, Lucy Newton gets a mention too.

Tom has booked a holiday in a cabin at Hollow Falls in Maine for him and his estranged daughter Frankie (he lives in England and Frankie and his ex-wife live in the US). Unbeknown to Tom, Hollow Falls was the scene of an horrific double murder, 20 years ago which he only learns about from a couple of fellow residents who are true crime podcasters who are completely fascinated and obsessed with the double slaying. As legend goes a local oddball, Everett Miller was the chief suspect who mysteriously disappeared around the time of the murders. The bodies were laid out, almost sacrificial, on a huge, flat rock, with pagan like symbols painted on the rock in the male victim’s blood.

As Tom and Frankie’s holiday progresses they meet a whole cast of local people who are all reluctant to talk about the double murder which seems to define the local area. A whole host of creepy events occur throughout their stay, and you are willing both Tom and Frankie to get the hell out of there!

Tom, a music journalist becomes interested in the murder case and starts to do a bit of research himself but comes up against many a local who refuses to talk to him about the murders.

I loved the relationship between father and daughter and some of their dialogue resonated with me having a teenager myself!

My mind changed several times as to who the murderer was, but the conclusion of the book was both satisfying and unique and I would be interested to see if Mark might look to continue this story like he did with The Magpies.

A rip roaring read, perfect for fans of horror stories/films like Blair Witch or indeed the master of horror, Stephen King.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mark and his publishers for this ARC in exchange for a true and honest review.

I’ve read a couple of Mark Edwards books and the The Hollows has quickly become my favourite. It is such a page turner and I couldn’t put it down.

The Hollows is full of twists and it definitely surprised me in parts. It is definitely creepy and dark but I had to read on and see what happened next.

After I read this, I had to preorder it as I wanted a copy for my bookshelf. Would definitely recommend!

Have been a fan of Mark Edwards for a few years now. Always enjoy his works but this was a bit different. Not sure if I enjoyed the mysticism and the plot did seem plodding at times. but kudos to Mark for trying something different.

Would like to see more of the mystery genre from Mark in the future. To me, that is more in his wheelhouse..

Overall, a four star summertime read on the beach.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of the book.

4.5 stars. Mark Edwards is one of my favourite authors and this book certainly didn’t disappoint. It was a creepy atmospheric psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. I read this in two sittings and highly recommend it.

3.75⭐️ which I’ve rounded up as I can’t leave part stars.

I have read a few of the early books by this author which I loved.
A psychological thriller set in Hollow falls a newly opened resort in Maine. As it’s set in Maine there’s a nod to Stephen King with a cat called Cujo.

Tom Anderson is on a 10 day break trying to reconnect with his 14yr old daughter Frankie who now lives a Continent apart with his ex wife.
She is absolutely mortified that there is no WiFi or 4G connection.
Tom learns of its macabre history, with true crime obsessed fans, ’dark tourists’ flocking to visit on the 20th anniversary of a ritualistic double killing.
The book slowly reeled me in.
The holiday soon turns into a nightmare. It starts getting spooky bordering on horror.

The story is a split narrative told from Tom’s and Frankie’s point of view.

It utilises the tropes of poor decision making and keeping secrets. At times I felt the writing was a bit overly dramatic which I guess is a trope of horror. I’m not a horror reader.

My favourite quote ‘Don’t forget to leave us a review on tripadvisor’ which had me chuckling 😂😂

The author didn’t manage to fully pull this one off for me. I enjoyed it, but didn’t love it. The end increased my score.

Maine is beautiful, so picturesque, inviting and relaxing! Renting a cabin in the woods sounds wonderful, doesn't it? A place to unwind, unplug and reconnect -at least that is what Tom wanted to do with his fourteen-year-old daughter, Frankie. He sees her once a year as he lives in England and she lives with her mother in Albany, New York. Their yearly trips mean the world to him. What could go wrong? For starters, Tom did not research the camp or the dark history surrounding it. If he had looked up the camp, he might have thought twice about selecting it, but he did not do his research and now he and his daughter are knee deep in some creepy, spooky stuff.

I loved the premise of this book. A camp with a dark history. Things that go bump in the night. I love '80's horror films and this would make a good one! I read most of this book in one day as I did not want to put it down!

Tom and Frankie are camping and make friends with fellow campers David, Connie and their son Ryan. Connie has a true crime podcast which has quite the following. They are at Hollow Falls because two teachers were murdered there and left displayed on rock. The suspected killer was never found. As it turns out, the other campers are murder obsessed tourists and fans of Connie's podcast as well. Almost twenty years ago the murders occurred so this is the perfect time to go camping there, right???? WRONG!

To round out the fun, there are strange kids in town, strange whispers in the trees, the sound of wind chimes, creepy staff members amongst other things. Would you stay or would you go? Tell yourself it is all in your head or pay closer attention to the little hairs standing up on the back of your neck, alerting you that something just is not right.

I loved this book from the very first page. It is creepy with underlying tension and had me wondering how the story would unfold. I loved Frankie and Tom's POV. I also enjoyed shaking my head at them and silently thinking "Has neither of these characters seen a horror film?" There are certain things you can do to survive: don't split up, don't leave anyone alone, if alone and told to stay somewhere - stay there, stay a virgin, don't open the door to strangers, look behind you, if you fall while running - get up off the ground and keep running, don't lie there crying and begging for your life, don't say you will be right back because you won’t, remember you are not a private investigator and it is not your job to solve whodunit, etc. I am not saying these things happen in the book, but these are just a few examples of things I learned watching horror movies.

Another plus of this book is that it is spooky and atmospheric but not frightening. I loved the creepy vibe of this book. Readers know right away that something is not right. We are given glimpses into the past that alert us to the fact that something is wrong, but what? Plus, what is with the two little kids always playing in their front yard without a parent in sight??????? The town, the woods, the camp all set the stage. I am using the word 'creepy' a lot but that is the perfect word to describe this book!

Like his other books, The Hollows was well written and perfectly paced. I was transported to Hollow Falls and felt as if I were in the woods with them. Edwards is an expert at setting the stage, building plot and mounting tension. From the very first page, I knew he was going to dazzle me.

This book felt like a love letter to horror movies. I could think of several of them while reading this book. I also think this book would make a great movie! So, what is going on? Will you figure it out? Will Mark Edwards fool you? Fans of his will love this book. Edwards brings it on, and readers might not want to venture into the woods again! Plus, I enjoyed the ending! I thought the ending also played like a horror film. It ended the book perfectly for me.

So, if you want to go camping this summer grab this book, watch a couple of horror films, as both might save your life!

Dark, spooky, thrilling.

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another good thriller by the author with equal parts of suspense, atmosphere and emotions. The teenage scenes are as practically experienced by parents. Stayed late into the night to finish it. Don’t miss it.

“We are the scary ones. And these woods are ours.”

Mark Edwards is the king of psychological suspense. And any book he releases is an absolute must-read for me. But I was especially excited to read The Hollows as he mixes psychological suspense with true crime, which is one of my favourite genres.

With that now familiar mix of apprehension, malevolence and humour, Edwards slowly weaves the ominous tale, transporting us to Hollow Falls, Maine; a camping ground with a dark history that Tom Anderson knew nothing about when he arrived there with his daughter Frankie. Strange things soon begin to occur and journalist Tom can’t resist digging deeper into the mysterious tale of an unsolved double homicide that occurred there twenty years ago. But the more he learns, the stranger things become. And soon Tom must choose between solving the crime and getting out of Hollow Falls while he still can…

”Tonight marks the new moon.
A new phase - not only in the lunar cycle, but in the history of the Hollows.
A beginning, and an end."

Sinister, suspenseful and spectacular, The Hollows exceeded my already high expectations. It is so expertly written that you forget it is fiction. It is all just so flawless and authentic that you buy it, and I had to keep reminding myself that this wasn't a true crime book, that these murders are fictional, and that there was no point searching for David and Connie’s podcast as it doesn’t exist. Hollow Falls had an ominous and eerie presence that loomed over everything. It feels alive. And Edwards’ evocative imagery makes it leap from the page. This, along with the combination of the bizarre and supernatural elements, gave me Stephen King vibes. I was hooked from beginning to end and found it impossible to put down.

I really liked Tom. He and Frankie were great narrators and their complex relationship made the story even more interesting. While reading from a teenage point of view made me feel old, he got the feeling and lingo down perfectly. As always he filled the book with a cast of equally fascinating and memorable characters. Buddy and Darlene were especially creepy, giving me chills every time they appeared on the page. One of my favourite tropes in a thriller is when an author includes a mystery narrator that we assume is the killer, so I loved that he included the enigmatic third narrator. These chapters, which were told in flashbacks that lead up to the infamous crime, not only gave us an insight into the killer’s mind and motivations, but increased the tension.

"Why was this slaying so notorious? Why had it brought all these dark tourists flocking to this place."

I loved that Edwards uses this book to not only send shivers down your spine, but also to explore our fascination with true crime. As an avid true crime reader I admit to feeling called out a few times, but not in a judgmental or negative way. It is more like a commentary on the culture of true crime, exploring why so many of us are fascinated with the subject and examines the impact that a famous case has on the place where the crime was committed, it’s residents and those directly affected by the crime. He explores the phenomenon of dark tourism, and this is where I learned a lot as I had no idea just how big and lucrative an industry it has become. It is clear he’s spent a lot of time researching from how vast his knowledge is and how authentically the book reads.

Cryptic, eerie and addictive, this is without a doubt his best book yet. And that ending? Omg! This book is the perfect example of why everyone who enjoys this genre needs to read his books. I am going to need a follow up, Mr. Edwards.

Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer and the author Mark Edwards for this ARC copy of The Hollows!

This book is about a father and daughter who go on vacation together to a rustic resort in Maine. Tom had booked a two week stay for him and his 14 year old daughter, Frankie, to a resort in Maine with no access to internet and very little cell service, hoping to spend quality time together outdoors. Tom hadn’t done a lot of research when picking a place to stay and finds out the resort is a past crime scene where a ritualistic murder took place almost 20 years ago. Many of the other tourists are “dark tourists” obsessed with crime and the resorts dark past. Strange things begin happening while on vacation and it soon turns into a nightmare for Tom and Frankie.

This book was extremely well written, had excellent character development, a very descriptive atmosphere which really helped to give off the creepy vibe I was hoping for, and was extremely hard to put down. I read it in a couple days but would have read it in one sitting if I had the time, I read the last 50 percent of the book in one sitting, needing to see what was going to happen. I love Mark Edwards as an author, but was very drawn in by both the cover and description as well. I would definitely recommend this to thriller/mystery lovers and can’t wait for more of his future books! Thanks again for this creepy page turner!

The Hollows is an atmospheric, twisted, hold your breath read.

Tom brings his daughter for their vacation to the resort The Hollows where a famous murder has taken place years ago.

The writing will have you think that you are at the camp , you can almost smell the mustiness of the cabin and feel the eeriness of the woods.

The Hollows is a fast paced thriller/mystery that you do not want to miss. Lock your doors and grab your copy.

Be prepared to do nothing but read to the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK &38; Mercer.

This is a heart pounding read that grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go. Complex characters and a twisted mystery make for one heck of a psychological thriller. There are plenty of surprises to keep you guessing. I didn't figure it all out before the reveal. This is my first read by this author, but it won't be my last.

It certainly is creepy and has it’s twists but it felt more like a YA book, I guessed towards the end who crow was and his involvement in the original murders. I did enjoy the ending and perhaps there will be a revisit in the future.

With The Hollows Mark Edwards does it again! For a Brit he really captured the United States well, I thought. He also really nailed the pocast/true crime obsession that is currently happening. As the mom of a teen, the kids were written exceptionally well. The only thing I will say is that this is the first time I've figured out the ending before the reveal. However, I HIGHLY recommend this one.

Didn’t hold my attention- simplistic and I didn’t feel invested in the characters. It wasn’t a bad read, just not extraordinary!

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story is about Tom and his daughter Frankie. Tom is from the U.K. and divorced from Frankie’s mum. Frankie and her mum now live in America so he flies over to spend some quality time with his daughter. He rents a cabin at a camp called Hollow Falls. Soon after arriving strange things start happening. Tom becomes aware that Hollow Falls is famous for a double murder that occurred there almost 20 years ago. The suspected murderer is rumoured to be living in a secret cabin in the woods. Tom becomes aware that most of the other guests at Hollow Falls are dark tourists including the couple in the next door cabin who host a true crime podcast. Both Frankie, her neighbours son and Dad Tom end up more involved in the mystery than they ever wanted to.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and kept me turning those pages late into the night. Although I didn’t find the book scary as such I found it quite unsettling to the point that it invaded my dreams. The story had creepy teenagers, haunted woods and intimidating locals. I really enjoyed the relationship between dad and daughter. The true crime podcast angle was an interesting one. It would have been quite easy fir the author to get carried away and go overboard with the creepy element but I found that the author got the balance just right between light horror and thriller.

Wow! Quite the creepy book! It was scary in all the right places. Very well written. I can’t wait to pick up more by this author. Thanks to publisher for allowing me to read this this ARC.

I highly recommended you pick this up on pub date in July 21!