The dialogue gives Victorian vibes rather than late 1970s, so the story may well appeal to readers of gothic tales. This is a horror spin on The Secret Garden with a bit of Rebecca in there, too.
This will be a hit with fans of bestselling psychological thriller author B.P. Walter, writing here as S.G. Hartnell.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

Possible spoilers

3.5 ⭐


I was a little way into this before I cottoned on to the familiar storyline. I know. I'm slow.
I was very pleased to discover it was an updated re-imaganing of the secret garden.
But sinister.
As we went on, it got darker and darker.
That tutor was giving off very dodgy vibes.
Overall I enjoyed this mix of new and familiar, and although I guessed a few of the plot lines, I was pleasantly surprised by the way a few others went.
Entertaining.

Unfortunately I had to dnf this one as it wasn't going anywhere. I didn't care about any of the characters and it was very slow. Didn't seem very horror to me, and I loved the secret garden as a child. Apologies for not being able to finish it.

Medlock is a gothic reimagining of The Secret Garden, with atmospheric and haunting world-building that will keep you wanting to turn the pages almost faster than you can read them.

Welcome to Marwood Manor, shrouded in mystery, grief and family secrets.

𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙧, 1978: Mrs Medlock is the housekeeper at the manor. One night, a distant relative to the Lord and Lady of the manor arrives on the doorstep, Mary a young inquisitive girl whose parents have died of the flu. That inquisitive nature sets off a deadly sequence of events, where Mrs Medlock finds herself thrust into the centre of it all.
𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙧, 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙮: Natalie, a potential tutor for Rupert, the Lord and Lady’s son, arrives at the manor and sits down with Mrs Medlock, but before she agrees to taking the job, she wants to listen to everything the housekeeper has to say. And there’s a lot that Mrs Medlock has to say.

I don’t want to say too much about this book plot-wise because I truly feel like it’s one best gone into blind. What I will say, is that how the story unravels through Mrs Medlock’s storytelling and diary excerpts, was utterly consuming and I couldn’t put this one down.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book!

Wow, I'll say wow wow wow non-stop for this book. It's an unputdownable thriller with a strong gothic ambience.
Welcome to Marwood Manor, the property of Lord Ashton, where you'll be welcomed by Mrs Medlock, the housekeeper.
Here also lived Rupert, the son of Lord Ashton, who's remained in his room for years because he seemed to get health issues.
Mrs Medlock got busier with more children coming into the Manor. From Mary, the orphan,  a sole survivor of influenza in Scotland; then Ernst and his tutor, Mr Quint.
The Marwood Manor with the dark secrets kept by Mrs Medlock for twenty years, and it's finally about to be revealed.
It becomes a bit gory and creepy prior to the end of the story.
The ending is brilliant!! And I think it deserves my 5 stars.

1978. Mrs Medlock has dedicated the past two decades to Marwood Manor, serving as its dutiful housekeeper and one of the last remaining staff, tending to the Lord and Lady and their frail young son while guarding the estate’s many secrets.

For twenty years, she has been the silent keeper of Marwood’s past—its whispered scandals, its hidden truths, and the secrets buried within the walled garden. Out of sight, but never truly forgotten.

But when a distant relative, Mary, arrives seeking refuge and determined to uncover the manor’s mysteries, Mrs Medlock realises the past may no longer stay buried. And some secrets, once unearthed, can never be silenced ..

Medlock is a contemporary gothic horror reminiscent of The Secret Garden. It’s a slow-burning tale that expertly builds tension without relying on cheap scares. Instead, it fosters an ever-present sense of unease, that leaves a growing dread as the secrets of Marwood Manor begin to surface.

At the heart of the novel is Mrs. Medlock, the long-serving housekeeper, who gradually unravels under the weight of both time and the horrors she has kept buried. Her transformation - from unwavering and disciplined to resigned and utterly broken - is one of the book’s most compelling and heartbreaking aspects.

Alongside her, Mary’s resilience and determination drive the story forward, making her a fascinating counterpart to the weary Mrs. Medlock. Every character is fully realised, adding layers and authenticity to the eerie atmosphere.

The pacing is deliberate, allowing the mystery to unfold at just the right speed. The final third delivers a chilling crescendo with unsettling revelations. The novel’s gothic atmosphere, coupled with its haunting secrets and slow-burn horror, makes for an immersive and deeply unsettling read.

From its opening line “Everybody died that night” to the final pages, Medlock is a beautifully crafted and deeply atmospheric novel - a must-read for fans of gothic fiction.

A huge thanks to NetGalley, Sphere, Little Brown Books, and BP Walter / SG Hartnell for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I liked how this book was kind of a mash-up of various different pieces of Gothic fiction. There were call outs to Secret Garden (definitely Gothic literature even if it was for kids), The Turn of the Screw and Rebecca. These were just the ones that I noticed. But somehow or other the characters were also rather underwhelming and I just ... didn't care. It was interesting that Thatcher turned up at one point. But it felt completely unconvincing that it was supposed to be taking place in the late 1970s/80s. The portrayal of the servant class did not match up. I can't come up with a long review of this as I didn't really engage with it particularly. I was expecting a servant story on similar lines to Longbourn or Nelly Dean and this one is far more forgettable than that.

This is a dark reimagined tale of The Secret Garden. The author has created such a perfect setting like the one in the classic. The characters are intriguing and curious while some of the characters are mysterious and secretive. The book is filled with mystery, secrets, strange happenings and twists. I must say this is a dark gothic reimagining of the classic tale. There are mysteries of the manor and locked garden then there is someone who is harbouring secrets. I loved the atmospheric setting and shocking revelations at the end. I thought the book was dark, unsettling, mysterious and gripping. The author did a good job because they didn’t include the racism part.

It’s 1978 Mrs Medlock is a housekeeper at Marwood manor, and she has been there for twenty years. She is one of the last members of staff at the manor and she has a lot of secrets to tell.
When the Lord and Lady of the manor decide to take a trip to America she is left to look after the children. But strange things start happening when one of the children Rupert comes to stay with his tutor Mr Quint. Strange people start to arrive and weird things start to happen.
I thank Hodder and Stoughton for a very early copy of Medlock as it’s not due to be published until October 2025. I enjoyed this the story of the goings on in Marwood Manor. This is a slow burn of a story and doesn’t really pick up until the last third of the story. The only thing bugging me about this one is the timeline. It might be a bit trivial for some but, it is supposed to be set in the 70’s. For me personally, thought it had a more Victorian feel to it for first two thirds of this story or it might be just me. 4 stars from me.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

The build-up was a little slow but it kept my attention and was a quick read. The final third of the book took a turn I wasn't expecting.

4.5 stars rounded up

In what is intended to be a horror version of The Secret Garden, Hartnell transplants the story of orphan Mary (now from Scotland), the strict housekeeper Mrs Medlock, the ailing cousin (now Rupert) and that forbidden garden to Oxfordshire in the late 1970s.

Most of the names have also been changed, and now there is a second (living) lady of the manor and a third child – teenage Ernest and his tutor Mr Quint.

Between Mrs Medlock’s secret and the creepy lascivious Mr Quint and his cult of followers, the plot becomes increasingly bizarre.

What could have been a turn-of-the-screw re-imagining of The Secret Garden (if that was ever needed) turns into a ludicrous reworking that leaves so little of the original story that the association no longer makes sense.

For me too slow its an easy read, laid back summer days escapism suitable. I found myself getting waylaid and wandering off to other things. Just couldnt get into a flow with this, saying that i loved the secret garden as a child.