Horror novelist Lucas Radcliffe decides to go to a writer's retreat so he can make some progress on his latest novel. He meets the owner, Julia Marsh, and later learns about her husband's drowning two years ago while he was trying to save their daughter. Lily's body was never found. Julia believes Lily is still alive. Lucas wants to help Julia, so he hires a private investigator to see what she can find out about Lily. The P.I. uncovers the fact that another young girl disappeared in 1980.
People in the smalltown talk about the legend of the Red Widow, an immortal that feeds on children every 35 years. Lucas doesn't believe in myths; but starts to wonder what is going on when mysterious things start to happen. Other writers at the retreat claim they hear a child singing at night. They say someone was in their room. And possessions begin to vanish. Lucas digs to uncover the truth of what happened to Lily and who is haunting the retreat.
I have mixed feelings about this book. It was kind of creepy. Lucas was a horror novelist and I kept getting the feeling I was reading a horror story. Was the Red Widow a real thing?
The story moves between telling the story of what is happening in the present, to two years ago before Lily disappeared. This gave us a lot of information to work with. Unfortunately, it didn't help me figure out what was going on. I didn't care for the resolution of the story. I just couldn't see how something like that could happen. So, I'll say the book was just OK for me. My rating: 3 Stars.
People in the smalltown talk about the legend of the Red Widow, an immortal that feeds on children every 35 years. Lucas doesn't believe in myths; but starts to wonder what is going on when mysterious things start to happen. Other writers at the retreat claim they hear a child singing at night. They say someone was in their room. And possessions begin to vanish. Lucas digs to uncover the truth of what happened to Lily and who is haunting the retreat.
I have mixed feelings about this book. It was kind of creepy. Lucas was a horror novelist and I kept getting the feeling I was reading a horror story. Was the Red Widow a real thing?
The story moves between telling the story of what is happening in the present, to two years ago before Lily disappeared. This gave us a lot of information to work with. Unfortunately, it didn't help me figure out what was going on. I didn't care for the resolution of the story. I just couldn't see how something like that could happen. So, I'll say the book was just OK for me. My rating: 3 Stars.
This is not the first I've read of Mark Edwards' books ... but it is the best! Reminds me a bit of a horror story within a horror story .. although this isn't really a horror story at all.
Lucas, a horror novelist, has checked into a remote writer's retreat. When his girlfriend was killed, he lost his ability to write. Maybe what he needs is a long quiet, relaxed stay without the sight and sounds of a busy city. Too bad that's not what he gets.
Julia has opened her home and made it into a writer's retreat. Two years ago her husband drowned and her young daughter disappeared. She thought keeping busy with new people in her home would quiet the voices in her head that insist her daughter is still alive. Too bad that doesn't work.
Lucas gets lost in the superstitions and stories that seem to permeate small villages. Secrets are buried under many years of stories and rumors. It gets serious when Lucas starts hearing voices ... a girl singing ... he's either losing his mind or could it possibly be a spirit from the other side. Lucas is a realist and as a novelist, begins to research.
The one story that around is of a witch/woman who demands a sacrifice every 35 years. The townspeople take a child and tie her to a tree in the forest. The child disappears and every parent takes a breath knowing 'their' child was not taken.
Past and present come together to create a perfect storm. Who ... or what ... seems to be haunting the retreat?
This is one of the most compelling books I've read in a long time. I was drawn in from the very beginning and it didn't let go until the final word .. an ending I promise the reader will never see coming.
Many thanks to the author / Amazon Publishing / TBC Reviewer Request Group / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this terrifying crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Lucas, a horror novelist, has checked into a remote writer's retreat. When his girlfriend was killed, he lost his ability to write. Maybe what he needs is a long quiet, relaxed stay without the sight and sounds of a busy city. Too bad that's not what he gets.
Julia has opened her home and made it into a writer's retreat. Two years ago her husband drowned and her young daughter disappeared. She thought keeping busy with new people in her home would quiet the voices in her head that insist her daughter is still alive. Too bad that doesn't work.
Lucas gets lost in the superstitions and stories that seem to permeate small villages. Secrets are buried under many years of stories and rumors. It gets serious when Lucas starts hearing voices ... a girl singing ... he's either losing his mind or could it possibly be a spirit from the other side. Lucas is a realist and as a novelist, begins to research.
The one story that around is of a witch/woman who demands a sacrifice every 35 years. The townspeople take a child and tie her to a tree in the forest. The child disappears and every parent takes a breath knowing 'their' child was not taken.
Past and present come together to create a perfect storm. Who ... or what ... seems to be haunting the retreat?
This is one of the most compelling books I've read in a long time. I was drawn in from the very beginning and it didn't let go until the final word .. an ending I promise the reader will never see coming.
Many thanks to the author / Amazon Publishing / TBC Reviewer Request Group / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this terrifying crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
