This was an easy read but rather forgettable too I would say. It did not have the right balance of mystery for me and I thought parts of it dragged through. It did have some more exciting sections.

Ounding up to three stars

There's a lot to like in this book.
The dual timeline, the setting, the spooky goings on.
Unfortunately I didn't enjoy it that much.
I think it was the main character who had me rolling my eyes more than once.
I'm clearly not the right reader for this book.

Sweeping from Greece to an ancient castle in Ireland I enjoyed the setting, the mystery and the ghostly characters.
Told on dual timelines the characters were well drawn and likeable, even the villain of the tale.
A nice little twist or two at the end,
I did find it perhaps a little drawn out, and lengthier that it needed to be, but feel that the majority of readers will enjoy this book.

This was an entertaining mystery with a supernatural element and a familiar past to present chapter set up. The writing enabled me to visualise an atmospheric setting and I particularly liked the scenes in the tower. I did find the ending a little cliched and perhaps too neat. But overall I enjoyed this novel and will be recommending it as a good read to others.

I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a mystery/thriller set in Ireland, featuring a dual timeline and supernatural elements with a gothic feel. One timeline is in set in the 1840s (therefore dealing with the Great Famine, An Gorta Mór) and the other in more recent times, 2007.

Grace moves to Hollowpark after a long absence in order to be Skye FitzMahon's nanny. Hollowpark is home to many secrets, ghosts and an intricate maze.

This book instantly gripped and captivated me, it's full of mystery and unexpected twists.

Pub Date 05 May 2022 Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for uncorrected arc
Publisher summary:
"An old house can hold many secrets. Hollowpark in the west of Ireland certainly does. At the heart of the gardens is an intricate maze, named after a deadly poison, Belladonna. If you know the way through, it's magical, a hiding place and playground like no other. If you don't, it's a place of fear and sinister riddles, where a young girl once went missing and was never seen again.

Grace comes to Hollowpark as a nanny for young Skye FitzMahon. Soon the mysterious past of Hollowpark has seduced her. Who is the woman she sometimes glimpses in an upstairs window? Or the apparition who keeps showing up unexpectedly, pleading, 'Find me'

Our hero is Grace, a professional nanny, Grace has a routine, her summers are spent working on a Greek island and winters are spent working in temporary nanny posts in chilly Britain, that is, until a turn of events leads to her acceptance of a job in Ireland.
This is where the real adventures begin. The story unfolds over two time periods, the 1840s where we meet the then inhabitants of Hollowpark and 2007 when Grace first arrives. The author meshes these different times beautifully
Of course, all is not as it seems and, believe me, there are little twists and turns from beginning to end, all very Agatha Christie!
Oh how I enjoyed this story! You know you have found exactly the right book for you when you find yourself put off doing all those things you ought to be doing, just so as you can get back to reading this intriguing, captivating tale.
This is an ideal weekend read for those who love a good mystery that is a little "other worldly" yet is not too dark

I read this book really quickly, it was darkly atmospheric and completely gripping, with a level of unpredictability that had me on the edge of my seat. It was well written with a good storyline and characters that were well developed.I really enjoyed it.