This really wasn’t the book for me Had sounded more interesting than it was. It was to repetitive. Rather boring to be honest. The author needs new writing style instead of repeating herself over and over

I've really enjoyed the author's crime novels written under the name Sarah Ward and her previous novel writing as Rhiannon Ward.
The Shadowing is set in Bristol and Nottinghamshire during the Victorian era. Quaker Hester's sister Mercy is estranged from her family when Hester learns of her death in the Southwell workhouse near Nottingham. Hester travels to Southwell to discover the truth of what happened to Mercy and her baby.
I absolutely adore gothic novels and for me this had echoes of two of my favourite writers- Stacey Halls and Laura Purcell. It's a beautifully written, atmospheric and compelling novel that completely drew me in to the time and place. Hester is a wonderful creation, a strong and determined woman stepping outside the boundaries of what was expected of women at the time and particularly women of her religion. The workhouse setting was so well done and illustrated the treatment of both unmarried pregnant women and the so called 'deserving' and 'underserving' poor at the time. I like the inclusion of 'shadowings' - the ghostly figures Hester sees and feels and this added to the atmosphere of the novel.
A wonderful, compelling novel that I highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

A well-researched book with lots of local flavour. It was a little too 'supernatural' for me but there is definite promise here

The Shadowing is a very different kind of mystery novel that I normally read so I wasn´t sure what to expect.

Sent to Nottingham by her mother to find out the circumstances of her sister´s death, Hester ends up engaging the help of the inn keeper Matthew and uncovering the dirty dealing of the workhouse.

Very atmospheric and eerie, I found it very enjoyable to read, although in parts I found it a bit slow.

My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

A Quaker family are shocked to discover that the daughter they thought had run off to be married has died in a workhouse in Nottinghamshire, from an outbreak of cholera which also killed her newborn baby. Wanting to know more about the circumstances of her sister's death, Hester travels north to discover the truth, but finds that everyone is cagey and won't talk to her about what goes on in the workhouse. Suspicions raised, both by what she finds there, and by the spirit of her sister which haunts her, Hester sets out to unearth the truth but finds herself put in danger by her investigations.

I quite enjoyed reading this book. I'm not sure the supernatural elements of Hester seeing spirits added a great deal to the plot but it didn't really detract from the story either. The supporting cast in this book are probably the best part of it. I would have liked to have more about the workhouse inmates as those characters were my favourites, and created more depth to the story. More of the creepy parson would have been good too!

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

I’ve previously enjoyed crime fiction books by Sarah Ward and this is her second historical fiction novel written under the name of Rhiannon Ward.

Coming from a family of Quakers, Hester Goodwin has lived a life of frugality and plain living – grey dresses, no music, no books and she has little experience of the world outside her own which consists of visiting the sick and poor with her mother. Her father Amos is strict and unloving, her younger sister 20 year old Mercy had eloped a few years before and her name was not to be mentioned. However when word reaches them that Mercy has died in a Nottinghamshire workhouse, it is Hester who has to travel alone from Bristol to Southwell find out the circumstances of her death and how and why she ended up as a pauper in a workhouse.

The Shadowing is a dark and atmospheric story, with a sinister undertone. It is clear that her presence at the Southwell workhouse is not welcome and barely tolerated; the Master and Matron at the Southwell workhouse have their secrets and do not take kindly anyone asking questions. Hester is determined to find out the truth about what happened to Mercy, who was pregnant, especially after being told of ‘the Pale Lady’ who steals babies in the night.

Hester is rather unusual in that she has ‘shadowings’, spirits that appear to her and often accompany her – at times they can be frightening and confusing but there are others that she sees as a sign or a warning. I’m often not a fan of spiritualism in books unless its done well but here it did fit in with the natural arc of the story.

I really enjoyed this. There is a sense of unease throughout the story with the workhouse throwing a fearful shadow over the town and its inhabitants. Hester is a determined character but being rather unworldly she doesn’t always realise the danger she is putting herself in. With well drawn characters and vivid descriptions of the time and location which gave a real sense of place, I was rooting for Hester to discover what was really going on and to get to the truth for her sister Mercy. I also learned a little about the Quaker faith which I wasn’t aware of.

The Southwell Workhouse is now a National Trust property – the link has some interesting information.

My thanks to Tracy Fenton of Compulsive Readers for the tour invitation and to the publisher for the digital copy to review.

Hester was raised in a a traditional Quaker family. So when her sister, Mercy, eloped with their brothers' tutor it was a scandal, to say the least.

In the aftermath, no one was to speak Mercy's name.

But one morning, Hester wakes to find Mercy's spirit in her room. Later that morning they receive the news: Mercy has died in a workhouse in Southwell. And Hester is sent to find out more.

With spirits shadowing her, Hester begins to investigate Mercy's death. What she finds is the story of a pale lady who steals babies. But the truth is even worse. And someone will stop at nothing to make sure that truth is never revealed.

Rhiannon Ward is the gothic pseudonym for crime author Sarah Ward! And this, her second historical gothic novel, is exceptional!

Hester was raised in a mostly well-to-do traditional Quaker family. Her father is strict but after having suffered a stroke, his business isn't doing as well as it once did.

Hester has always experienced what she calls Shadowing. In other words, spirits visit her. But it's not something her father is willing to entertain, and so she not only keeps it to herself but also attempts to banish said spirits as soon as they arrive. Including that of her sister.

The day the letter arrives, her father suffers a second stroke and Hester is tasked (by her mother) with traveling to Nottinghamshire to find out more about Mercy's death. For someone who has been sheltered for so long, it's a bit of an adventure even with the tragic reason behind it.

Little is known about Mercy's fate. What happened to her husband, first and foremost? Why was she sent to a workhouse? How did she die? And as Hester learns more, namely that her sister was pregnant, the answers seem to bring about even more questions.

As with the best gothic novels, The Shadowing is absolutely brimming with atmosphere! A sense of creeping dread that builds as the story progresses—and is even tempered some in the beginning by Hester's newfound freedom! It hangs over the story, nonetheless, much the same way as the grime that Hester encounters on her journey.

I really enjoyed this one! It's a perfect read for fall and an excellent addition to any gothic fan's TBR!

"The shadowing had returned."

The Shadowing is an atmospheric and absorbing historical gothic mystery overflowing with menace. A story laced with secrets, spirits and sinister happenings, I was drawn in from the first pages right and couldn’t put it down. My mind was full of questions that I needed answers to as desperately as the characters did. And I genuinely had no idea what they were going to be.

Hester Goodwin lives in Bristol with her wealthy family in a strict Quaker home. Three years ago, her sister Mercy disappeared and none of them have heard from her since, until the day they receive a letter informing them that Mercy has died in Southwell Workhouse in Nottinghamshire. But how did her sister end up in such a place? And how did she die? Searching for answers, Hester travels to Southwell to try and answer their questions, little knowing that she is stepping into a much deeper and darker mystery than she ever imagined. One that involves spectres, missing children and cover ups.

I’ve been wanting to read Rhiannon Ward’s books since her debut last year so I jumped at the chance when the opportunity to take part in this blog tour arose. My expectations were high and I’m happy to say that she exceeded them with this magnificent novel. Eloquently and evocatively written, it wrenches you out of your own reality and into the one the author created, making you feel like you can feel a ghostly spirit behind you or that you are walking the dank corridors of the workhouse. As the secrets are slowly revealed and Hester brings the women’s plights to light I got goosebumps from the emotion and tension. Their fear was so palpable that I could feel it's cold claws raking their way down my spine. I was very glad to be reading in the daytime at that point! But, for me, one of the best things about this book is that it genuinely surprised me. I read a lot of mysteries and thrillers, so it isn’t often I’m stumped by an author. But Ward had me at a loss, suspicious of everyone and no real idea who was behind it all, and my jaw hit the floor when it was time for the big reveal.

"Don't let the angelmaker take my baby. She wants it for her own end. If I see her, it's already too late. Do you understand?"

The characters are all richly drawn and compelling, vividly brought to life by the author in such a way that you feel like they are in the room with you. I found Hester to be especially likeable and easy to root for, her naivete giving her an innocent charm that gave her an extra sweetness alongside her courage and determination. The journey to Southwell is a big deal for a woman of her age and standing, and she is both excited and full of trepidation at her task. Her fears only deepen when she arrives at Southwell Workhouse, a gloomy, bleak and eerie place where frightened women tell her stories of ‘the pale lady’ or ‘the angelmaker’, a ghostly figure who takes women’s babies. Instead of answers about Mercy, she’s left with even more questions about what happened to her beloved sister and vows to keep digging until she uncovers the truth, unaware of just how much danger she’s putting herself in.

But the pale lady isn’t the only ghostly part of the story. There are also the shadowings, visions of spirits who appear to Hester that she has experienced since childhood. Her father tried to beat them out of her but they return shortly before she learns of her sister Mercy’s death. She is too terrified of further punishments to mention them, and keenly aware that others, not just her father, will see them as the work of the Devil or Witchcraft. So she keeps them to herself, afraid of the consequences of discovery.

Captivating, dark and haunting, The Shadowing is a sensational gothic mystery with an eerie charm that lingers over every page. Perfect for the cold nights heading our way, this is ideal for reading with a cosy blanket and warm drink by the fire.

The Shadowing is the latest novel from Rhiannon Ward and this compelling tale follows Hester, a young woman who learns of her sister’s death in a workhouse. Determined to find out how her sister ended up in such a place, Hester travels to Southwell for answers. Hester is told her sister was pregnant and that they both died of cholera, despite there being no outbreak at the workhouse. Hester soon learns of children going missing from the workhouse, and a sinister pale lady who takes them. Hester must uncover what’s really going on in order to find out what really happened to her sister, but will she be strong enough to discover the truth?

The Shadowing is a dark and creeping story, full of atmosphere and tension. I was immediately hooked on this story and ended up reading it in one sitting. I really enjoyed Ward’s engaging writing style and whilst this is my first book from the author it definitely won’t be my last. I loved the mix of historical fiction and paranormal in this story and the mystery and suspense kept me turning pages because I had to know how it was going to end.

Hester is a really fascinating protagonist and I enjoyed seeing her delve deeper and deeper into the mystery. She’s a determined woman and her shadowings were really interesting. The Shadowing is a haunting story, with a strong sense of atmosphere and unease. The Pale Lady in particular fascinated me and the horror of the workhouse really came to life in the story.

The Shadowing is a book that’s hard to put down. If you’re looking for a tense and spooky Gothic tale to keep you hooked this autumn, this one is definitely worth checking out.

The Shadowing is an absorbing and authentic feeling historical gothic thriller with added suspense, mystery, a touch of the supernatural and even a slight smidgen of romance, set in Southwell, Nottinghamshire. Set during the 1830s. Hester, a wealthy and progressive Quaker, leaves Bristol to discover what happened to her sister who eloped with her lover and ended up in Southwell Workhouse in Nottinghamshire. Hester has long tried to repress the visions she has of the dead but, as residents panic about the existence of a pale lady who reputedly steals inmates’ babies, Hester finds that her ghostly friends might be the least of her worries. It isn't long before she learns the sad news that her sister, Mercy, has died and becomes instantaneously perplexed that someone from such an affluent family could have ended up living and working in such grimy, poverty-stricken surroundings.

Hester soon discovers that Mercy had been pregnant but is told she and the baby sadly died from cholera. Then Hester begins to wonder whether the old wives’ tale of the roaming Pale Lady could've had a hand in her sister’s demise, and she fears something sinister’s afoot. Can Hester do what she set out to do and find out more about her sister’s life as well as complete the extra task of investigating her death without being impeded? This is a compelling, immersive and richly atmospheric mystery, and from the moment you turn the first page the grittiness of the entirety of society comes across clearly on the page. The descriptions bring alive not only time and place but also the cast of characters, and there is plenty of suspense and twists woven into the narrative to catch you off guard. It's a relatively short read that packs a powerful punch, and I found it the ideal read for just heading into Autumn. Highly recommended.

The Shadowing follows Hester, the youngest daughter of a well-to-do family of Bristol Quakers. When the family learn that Hester’s elder sister Mercy has died at a Nottinghamshire workhouse, Hester is sent north to Southwell to find out exactly how her sister ended up in such a place, why she had not felt she could draw on the support of her fellow Friends in the area, and whether she has received the burial rites due to her as a Quaker.

As Hester journeys north, she is aware of a presence travelling with her. Beset by traumatic dreams and ghostly visions – ‘shadowings’ – since childhood, Hester knows it is Mercy who travels alongside her. And when she reaches Southwell Workhouse, she soon discovers why. Mercy was pregnant when she died – and although the Master and Mistress of the Workhouse claim both she and the child were taken by cholera, Hester soon discovers that there hasn’t been an outbreak for years.

With the reluctant aid of local innkeeper Matthew and his serving maid Joan, Hester sets about investigating what is really going on at Southwell Workhouse. Why are her new Friends – fellow Quakers Dorothea and Caroline – so reluctant for her to visit the place? Why does the young town doctor take such an interest in her visits there? And who exactly is the ghostly Pale Lady who terrifies the women and apparently steals babies in the depths of night?

As with her previous historical novel, The Quickening, Rhiannon Ward has provided a compelling and atmospheric blend of historical mystery and ghost story in The Shadowing. I was fascinated by the historical detail – from Hester’s Quaker background to the realities of life in the Workhouse, there’s a real sense of both time and place in the novel, and you can tell that the author has done her research – although it is lightly worn and woven expertly into the story.

The novel doesn’t shy away from portraying the grim realities of Workhouse life – especially for those deemed the ‘undeserving’ poor. I felt great compassion for the women (and, sadly, they were primarily women) forced to rely on the ‘charity’ of the parish due to abandonment or widowhood – and the novel does a great job of showing just how easy it would be for a young woman deemed ‘respectable’ and well-to-do like Hester to end up in a situation where her life – and her fate – is taken wholly out of her control.

Hester herself is a spirited main character. Although somewhat naïve – a result of her sheltered and strict upbringing – she is determined to get to the bottom of the unexplained deaths and disappearance at the Workhouse. I really liked the way in which Hester’s Quaker beliefs were woven into the plot, and the way in which they often ran counter to the more common ethos about who was ‘deserving’ of charity and the chance of redemption. Hester’s relationship with Matthew – the somewhat gruff and forthright publican at Southwell’s coaching in – is also really well done, moving from antagonistic to grudgingly respectful as the story progresses despite their very different upbringings and outlooks.

Although the supernatural element is stronger in The Shadowing than in The Quickening, Hester’s supernatural visitations and psychic senses are woven into the plot in a way that is wholly believable, and that adds an ever present sense of unease to the novel. Although Hester’s ‘shadowings’ are ghostly apparitions, the whole novel is imbued with an atmosphere of shadowiness (and some brilliant moments of foreshadowing), with Southwell itself quickly becoming a place of secrets and shadows, ready to leap at Hester from every corner.

Anyone who enjoyed The Quickening is sure to find The Shadowing a worthy follow-up, packed with the same level of historical detail and a brilliantly eerie atmosphere, and headed up by another strong and determined female lead. With its blend of historical mystery and supernatural happenings, The Shadowing is also the perfect fit for fans of Laura Purcell and Anita Frank, and an excellent addition to the popular genre of Modern Gothic.

Having greatly enjoyed the author’s first novel, The Quickening, I was eager to read Rhiannon Ward’s next book, The Shadowing. The Shadowing is a historical mystery, featuring a young Quaker woman named Hester who is searching for the truth about her sister’s death. What was Mercy doing in a Nottinghamshire workhouse so far from the family home in Bristol and what happened to the child she bore?

An enjoyable book, with some thoroughly sinister characters and others who turn out nicer than expected.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing a review copy in exchange for honest feedback.

The Shadowing by @sarahrhiannonward - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I really enjoyed Rhiannon Ward’s last book, The Quickening last autumn so thanks so much to @orionbooks & @netgalley for this advanced copy!

Hester, the second eldest daughter of a family of Quakers leaves home alone for the first time to undertake a journey to the Nottinghamshire workhouse where her sister died, trying to find closure for her parents by finding out how her sister ended up in such a place after her elopement, and to discover how she died. She finds the workhouse a strange, austere place, and after meeting with the superintendent and his wife she leaves with more questions than she arrived with, sure what she’s been told about Mercy’s fate is untrue, and that she must dig deeper to find answers. As is always the case with all of these wonderfully gothic novels I read, of course the truth of what she uncovered is even more horrible and sinister than she could have possibly imagined.

I raced through this atmospheric read, perfect for the changing of the seasons. While I did get a little frustrated with Hester as the main character - there were so many situations where she was just being plain stupid and naïve - I found the characters vibrant and the truth something I could not have expected. It was a relatively short read, and while I think it could have benefited from being a bit longer so characters could develop a bit more, it was still a great read I’d recommend to fans of, of course, The Quickening, but also Mrs England, The Shape of Darkness, and The Foundling.

The Shadowing will be published on September 16th!

I was excited to read this not only because of the gorgeous cover but the location of Southwell workhouse. I know the area and members in my family tree met their ends in a workhouse and I wanted to know how it would translate on paper and I wasn't disappointed. I loved this book.

Psychic Hester has seen shadowings throughout her life despite being a devout Quaker household so when she sees her sister she knows something has happened to her and is determined to discover more even if it means stepping out into the real world and facing dangers. The workhouse gave this novel an atmospheric .setting but the eeriness and tension extended beyond her visits and made me read past my bedtime. The mystery, well researched historical elements and understated spookiness made this an ideal read for Halloween.

This is a wonderful, atmospheric tale about a young woman seeking the truth about the death of her older sister.. Deliciously Gothic with a little hint of the supernatural, this is another fantastic read from the author of The Quickening (another brilliant book!). Highly recommended.

I enjoyed, “The Quickening,” by Rhiannon Ward, so was looking forward to reading her second novel. This has a similar feel, revolving around Hester, whose family are Quakers. Hester’s sister, Mercy, eloped with a man and no news arrives until a letter, explaining that she died at Southwell Workhouse. With Hester’s strict father, Amos, taken ill, her mother gives Hester to task to find out what happened to Mercy and where her body is buried. Like her previous novel, this has a sense of the supernatural about it, as Hester sees spirits, which follow her on her journey to discover what happened to her sister.

Although the task is not a cheerful one, there is the sense that Hester enjoys throwing off the shackles of her home, seeing new places and meeting new people, even if many are unpleasant. For it soon becomes clear that Southwell Workhouse does not welcome visitors, nor want to let people know what goes on inside with the unwed mothers who appear on their doorsteps. As well as this storyline, there is interesting background regarding Hester’s Quaker background. Overall, an interesting historical novel, with a sense of unease, which sees Hester grow as a character. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

A gothic, gripping story which follows Hester as she tries to discover the truth about what happened to her sister. I would love to see more of Hester and the ghosts only she can see. The perfect read for autumnal nights.

I was drawn to this one from the cover and title. All I can say is this author has gained a forever reader with me! Fantastic read.

At times a bit too slow for me,but it more than made up for it by being incredibly sinister at other times.
Following Hester to try find the truth of her sisters death,we meet plenty of odd characters on the way... a lot of whom I began to suspect of foul deeds.
The ending was quick and somewhat surprising.
A good autumn read.

The Shadowing by Rhiannon Ward

This was a really good read , so good I read in three days.
Hester who has quite a good life finds out her sister has died in a Northampton workhouse.
She sets out to find out why , and what had happened to her to end up there.
The story takes you down quite a few roads on her quest to find out the truth.
There is a Pale Lady - who is she , or is she a ghost ?
Very well written , and I look forward to other titles by this author.
Atmospheric.