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cwe's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, and Mental illness
mymidnightbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
bookishbaiks's review against another edition
3.0
Overall the book was good, I was able to tell what was happening quite early on so it wasn't much of a twist
holsarmstrong's review against another edition
3.0
So, I have read The Other Girl from this author and I really liked it, so when I saw this ARC, I was super excited to get my hands on it.
This book didn't live up to my high expectations, although it wasn't a bad book at all. I love this author's writing and she can create a vivid book - almost movie-like - with her descriptions and realistic dialogue and I really like this.
However, I was way more invested in Marion and Constance's chapters than Ava's. I almost skim-read hers to get to the others and this didn't add anything to the story. I was honestly so captivated by the other two's voices that I forgot Ava was even investigating this at all. I think the book might have benefited from more of their chapters or maybe even told from Ava's mother's point of view.
However, the pacing for this story was great and I would honestly recommend this author.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book didn't live up to my high expectations, although it wasn't a bad book at all. I love this author's writing and she can create a vivid book - almost movie-like - with her descriptions and realistic dialogue and I really like this.
However, I was way more invested in Marion and Constance's chapters than Ava's. I almost skim-read hers to get to the others and this didn't add anything to the story. I was honestly so captivated by the other two's voices that I forgot Ava was even investigating this at all. I think the book might have benefited from more of their chapters or maybe even told from Ava's mother's point of view.
However, the pacing for this story was great and I would honestly recommend this author.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
readingtimeatthezoo's review against another edition
4.0
The story is based around an estate and bridge in the Scottish town of Dumbarton, north of Glasgow. Overtoun House and bridge is a sprawling estate, rumoured to be a “thin place”, where heaven and earth are only separated by a thread.
The house has an both eerie and tragic history and so was definitely the perfect backdrop for this book. The area is also home to an bridge known as the Dog Suicide Bridge. Built at the end of the late nineteenth century it was supposedly a site where over five hundred dogs have leapt to their deaths.
Set amongst 3 different periods in time, told by 3 different women, Marion, Constance and Ava this was a thrilling read across three very different generations.
Marion, who in 1929 is the new bride who moves to her husband’s estate north of Glasgow becomes the mistress of the home and its sprawling grounds. Yet after a heartbreaking number of miscarriages and her husband called away to war, Marion soon learns that life on the estate is not as she was expecting.
Constance, who in 1949 is the sickly bedridden child who can do nothing but stare wistfully out her bedroom window at the strange stone bridge and the world going on outside that she is no part of, only ever leaving her room for doctors and hospital visits.
Then Ava, who in the present day is the driven TV reporter, trying to be the perfect partner, sister, daughter and soon to mother as she discovers she is pregnant.
Anchoring these three together, albeit across different times in history is the mysterious Overtoun House.
As a TV reporter Ana is drawn to the story of this mysterious Estate, an almost ghostly presence pulling her in with an obsessive cloak. It is clear to her that there is a story here to be told, but is it a history that is best kept buried? Yet Ava can’t ignore the pull, even if it means putting herself at risk as she tries to unearth its mysteries. Who lived there before, what happened to them, why are dogs leaping to their death?
I’m a huge fan of thrillers as well as historical fiction and this all wove together nicely for me. The pace was definitely fast enough that I was kept enthralled the whole way through, and I while I knew there had to be some connection to the three women, each time I thought that I had possibly worked it out, a curve ball was thrown taking me off course.
I wish there could have been a little more of the story devoted to the historical characters of Marion and Constance, but overall this was an enjoyable read. I’d definitely recommend reading the author’s notes at the end of the book too.
The house has an both eerie and tragic history and so was definitely the perfect backdrop for this book. The area is also home to an bridge known as the Dog Suicide Bridge. Built at the end of the late nineteenth century it was supposedly a site where over five hundred dogs have leapt to their deaths.
Set amongst 3 different periods in time, told by 3 different women, Marion, Constance and Ava this was a thrilling read across three very different generations.
Marion, who in 1929 is the new bride who moves to her husband’s estate north of Glasgow becomes the mistress of the home and its sprawling grounds. Yet after a heartbreaking number of miscarriages and her husband called away to war, Marion soon learns that life on the estate is not as she was expecting.
Constance, who in 1949 is the sickly bedridden child who can do nothing but stare wistfully out her bedroom window at the strange stone bridge and the world going on outside that she is no part of, only ever leaving her room for doctors and hospital visits.
Then Ava, who in the present day is the driven TV reporter, trying to be the perfect partner, sister, daughter and soon to mother as she discovers she is pregnant.
Anchoring these three together, albeit across different times in history is the mysterious Overtoun House.
As a TV reporter Ana is drawn to the story of this mysterious Estate, an almost ghostly presence pulling her in with an obsessive cloak. It is clear to her that there is a story here to be told, but is it a history that is best kept buried? Yet Ava can’t ignore the pull, even if it means putting herself at risk as she tries to unearth its mysteries. Who lived there before, what happened to them, why are dogs leaping to their death?
I’m a huge fan of thrillers as well as historical fiction and this all wove together nicely for me. The pace was definitely fast enough that I was kept enthralled the whole way through, and I while I knew there had to be some connection to the three women, each time I thought that I had possibly worked it out, a curve ball was thrown taking me off course.
I wish there could have been a little more of the story devoted to the historical characters of Marion and Constance, but overall this was an enjoyable read. I’d definitely recommend reading the author’s notes at the end of the book too.
dumbravioli's review against another edition
4.0
Ava, an expecting mother and journalist, is seemingly unnaturally drawn to Overtoun Bridge - a mysterious bridge where it’s rumored that dogs will leap to their death for no apparent reason. Alongside Overtoun Bridge is Overtoun House, and this property is repeatedly referred to as a “thin place.” In Celtic history, a thin place is described as being a location where the distance between earth and heaven is incredibly thin.
Ava becomes incredibly involved in her work on investigating this home, while her interpersonal relationships struggle and tension boils over. Her mother is secretive about her family history, even though Ava worries that there’s something she isn’t telling her — something that might make a difference for the health & safety of her unborn baby.
Ava tries to let go of the Overtoun House and live present in the moment with her boyfriend, but the house just will not let go of Ava.
Alongside Ava, we also read the stories of two others: Marion, a woman who experiences unfortunate luck and terrible losses; and Constance, a child who is made to believe she is terribly ill, locked within a room of the home. Through reading from all points of view, the mystery begins to unravel.
I personally really enjoyed this book, though I had to trudge through the first few chapters. I was a bit disappointed that it wasn’t as eerie and suspenseful as I hoped it would be, but it was a good read I finished within a day. I would recommend it if you like mysterious places, supernatural elements, and a good thriller.
I’m inclined to give this book 3.5 stars, but I am going to give it 4 stars because Major was able to describe the Overtoun House in a way that I could see it come to life, without even knowing it was a real place until after I finished reading. When I googled it, the pictures were exactly what I had pictured in my mind. C.D. Major’s use of descriptive imagery really captured me in this story. She excels at blending present day with history and I will definitely read another book of hers soon.
I would like to thank NetGalley & Amazon Publishing UK, who provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger Warning for: suicide, animal deaths, munchausen by proxy, child and animal abuse, difficult pregnancies and/or miscarriages
Ava becomes incredibly involved in her work on investigating this home, while her interpersonal relationships struggle and tension boils over. Her mother is secretive about her family history, even though Ava worries that there’s something she isn’t telling her — something that might make a difference for the health & safety of her unborn baby.
Ava tries to let go of the Overtoun House and live present in the moment with her boyfriend, but the house just will not let go of Ava.
Alongside Ava, we also read the stories of two others: Marion, a woman who experiences unfortunate luck and terrible losses; and Constance, a child who is made to believe she is terribly ill, locked within a room of the home. Through reading from all points of view, the mystery begins to unravel.
I personally really enjoyed this book, though I had to trudge through the first few chapters. I was a bit disappointed that it wasn’t as eerie and suspenseful as I hoped it would be, but it was a good read I finished within a day. I would recommend it if you like mysterious places, supernatural elements, and a good thriller.
I’m inclined to give this book 3.5 stars, but I am going to give it 4 stars because Major was able to describe the Overtoun House in a way that I could see it come to life, without even knowing it was a real place until after I finished reading. When I googled it, the pictures were exactly what I had pictured in my mind. C.D. Major’s use of descriptive imagery really captured me in this story. She excels at blending present day with history and I will definitely read another book of hers soon.
I would like to thank NetGalley & Amazon Publishing UK, who provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger Warning for: suicide, animal deaths, munchausen by proxy, child and animal abuse, difficult pregnancies and/or miscarriages
historybooksandtea's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
perpetually_reading's review against another edition
3.0
This book began promisingly but ended with me wanting more. Major does a great job creating the tense, foreboding atmosphere that underlies a majority of this novel, but lacks in creating a fully-fledged three-dimensional character in Ava. I loved traveling through this story through multiple POVs, and I was very interested in each character. Although I could guess the "plot twists" very early on, I was still interested in how exactly the whole plot would play out. The "creepy" scenes were a bit over-the-top, and i found myself cringing more at the character's exaggerated reactions to these scenes instead. I feel like one of the struggles in the creation of this book was finding a good reason why Ava was so drawn this house in the first place. In the end it didn't seem believable and was a bit of a reach, but I kind of let it go because I found the whole plot in its entirety to be interesting. A lot of see-sawing between stars because of all these pros and cons, but in the end it's a solid 3 stars for me.
perpetuallyreading's review against another edition
3.0
This book began promisingly but ended with me wanting more. Major does a great job creating the tense, foreboding atmosphere that underlies a majority of this novel, but lacks in creating a fully-fledged three-dimensional character in Ava. I loved traveling through this story through multiple POVs, and I was very interested in each character. Although I could guess the "plot twists" very early on, I was still interested in how exactly the whole plot would play out. The "creepy" scenes were a bit over-the-top, and i found myself cringing more at the character's exaggerated reactions to these scenes instead. I feel like one of the struggles in the creation of this book was finding a good reason why Ava was so drawn this house in the first place. In the end it didn't seem believable and was a bit of a reach, but I kind of let it go because I found the whole plot in its entirety to be interesting. A lot of see-sawing between stars because of all these pros and cons, but in the end it's a solid 3 stars for me.
natalier3's review against another edition
3.0
This was my first book by Major, and it was definitely an intriguing read.
The dual timeline was interesting, and kept me engaged to see how the stories would eventually connect together.
I wouldn't categorise this novel as a thriller, more of a family drama.
It flowed pretty well, and I liked the characters, but I'm not sure I will go out of my way to read her works, unless the blurb reallly grabs me.
The dual timeline was interesting, and kept me engaged to see how the stories would eventually connect together.
I wouldn't categorise this novel as a thriller, more of a family drama.
It flowed pretty well, and I liked the characters, but I'm not sure I will go out of my way to read her works, unless the blurb reallly grabs me.