A story told in split timelines through the eyes of two abused women. There are a lot of heavy themes in this book. The horror is more based on what humans can do to each other rather than focussing on ghosts or the supernatural. Well written and the sections written in a local vernacular added extra depth to the character of Mary.

The story is horrifying and Neville's telling of it faultless. The present day reality in this house is depressing and Sara's experience of coercive control is uncomfortable to read. But when we are brought back into the history of the house by Mary and we are introduced to the unexpected and disturbing history of it's inhabitants, then the emotional rollercoaster begins.. It's a really great read but not a comfortable one.

Such a brilliant story with so much depth, characters and twists and turns. Not your average ghost or thriller tale. Wasn't sure how it was going to end but was not disappointed.

I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical at the beginning of this book. I usually read police procedurals but I'm a fan of Stuart Neville so I was willing to see how it went....
I only loved it! I loved the splitting of the storyline between Sara and Mary and the ghosts of the past affecting the present day. Plenty of intrigue and a very interesting end meant that I got through it in double quick time. Definitely recommend!

This is an expertly crafted tale, you kind of know where it's going and it's really dark and you really don't want to go there........but you can't put it down! Pretty grim in spots.

Sara and her husband Damien relocate to Ireland, moving into a farmhouse undergoing renovation that has been bought for them by Damien's father. The farmhouse is called "The Ashes" because of all the ash trees surrounding it. Early one morning, only a couple of days after moving in, an old woman turns up claiming the house is hers.

We then have two parallel stories. The old woman, Mary, lived at the farmhouse as a child. Slowly we discover the harrowing story of Mary's upbringing. Sixty years ago the farm was owned by a father and his two sons. These men kidnapped at least three women and kept them locked in the farmhouse. The women lived in squalor, doing all of the cooking and cleaning, beaten if they did anything wrong. They were forced to sleep with the men and as a result became pregnant, Mary was the only child to survive.

Alongside Mary's story we discover that Sara's home life is equally harrowing. Sara's story is one of coercive control and emotional abuse. Her husband slowly isolates her from all her friends, controls her finances and monitors her phone.

Stuart Neville shows that abuse isn't simply physical, it can be far more subtle, Damien's constant reminders to his wife that everything he does is for her benefit and that he loves her make your skin crawl. As for Mary's story, I was shocked as it dawned on me that sixty years isn't actually that long ago.

This is a griping read, you simply want to know what happens to all the characters. The interwoven stories move with pace and you are willing on the female characters on.

I read this in one sitting, I just could not put it down. It was dark, creepy, twisty, chilling and tense. I lovedthe writing, I loved the charcaters, the setting and the storyline.. I really enjoyed it.

What a fantastic read! Read this in one sitting couldn’t put it down.
Enjoyed the story of Sara and Mary and how it was all cleverly interwoven.
As I’m from Northern Ireland it was great to read the book with the wording just like we talk.
The twists and turns were great and the story of Mary and her life was very sad.
Highly recommended read from a fantastic author.
Great to see Stuart Neville back and looking forward to further books

This is really creepy, seriously dark and dangerously clever.
Possibly a little too much for me, but I can see why so many people would be fascinated by it.

An intense, page-turning thriller that I read in two days. Truly excellent!

I like my thrillers with dual timelines and past ghosts, which is exactly what Stuart Neville delivered with this excellent book. Set in an oppressive house in Ireland, Sara is trying to adjust to her new life after a difficult past. When Mary Jackson bursts in, convinced Sara is in her house and talking about the children, she becomes obsessed with what happened there 60 years ago, and how an entire family was wiped out in one night.

I knew from the blurb that if this was done well, I would love it. And boy, was it done well! Set between several narratives and timelines, the author cleverly brings you closer and closer to the truth before switching to the alternative timeline again. I myself became a little obsessed with finding out what happened on that night, and the ending was just as eerie and climactic as promised.

A sensational thriller that will be heading straight into my top books for 2022 already.