Newlyweds Hugh and Lucy become property guardians of ‘haunted’ Rook House in rural Yorkshire, unfazed by local claims about its past.

As Hugh puts it: ‘What old house standing alone in the countryside doesn’t have stories attached to it?’

The young couple regard the house as a haven to rekindle their creative sparks in beautiful, tranquil surroundings.

But it soon becomes clear that someone – or something – in Rook House has been waiting for its latest occupants… waiting to unfold a story that’s been whispered down the years but gone unheard. Now a malevolent force awakens, exploiting the hidden darkness in two people who barely know themselves – let alone each other.

Rook House has a story to tell. And if you listen too closely, you’ll end up joining the ones who never left.

My Review

I loved this book in spite of some truly horrible characters. Shows how well written it is that I hated them so much.
Firstly – Jude. What a truly dreadful woman! Conning her way into being Lucy’s friend just to get at her husband. Someone slap her please.
Secondly – Hugh. Just a weak idiot of a man if you ask me.
Finally – Elena. Lucy’s stepmother, but then I probably have stepmummy issues. I found the part when she comes to stay quite funny though.
I’m not even going to include Ezra as he’s the actual villain in the story.

Good characters – Lucy naturally, Snowy Bird and Pinky, even if the names sound like pet bunnies.

Newly married couple Lucy and Hugh are staying in the haunted Rook House as ‘property guardians.’ They are paying a peppercorn rent, though I thought they should be paid to stay there. It’s in rural Yorkshire and they are not exactly country types, having always lived in the city.

Almost immediately Lucy hears things go ‘scratch scratch scratch‘ in the night behind the walls and then voices. The house is said to be haunted by the spirit of the evil Ezra Napier whose picture ‘watches’ them from the living room wall, his wife Belle, and various family members. Others have stayed there but it’s Lucy that is more open to sensing things than Hugh or previous tenants.

I adored this book. It’s really chilling and creepy, though I was never really scared as such. I only have a couple of issues and that is the constant use of short versions of words (mainly by Jude) like mani-pedi or pretty ‘rad’ really irritating. And who text-speaks nowadays unless you’re twelve, such as ‘shops in Swsby… might b back… if u can… etc.’ But it doesn’t matter. It was brilliant.

About the Author

Gabrielle Mullarkey is an award-winning author and seasoned storyteller. Having written three previous novels and over 3,000 short stories and serials for magazines across the UK and beyond, she delivers gripping, character-driven fiction. As a journalist, she’s contributed features, travel writing and opinion pieces to a wide range of publications.

Her writing has been broadcast on radio, adapted for audio downloads, and has won or been shortlisted in writing competitions. She’s served as a writing judge, teaches creative writing for local authorities, and has led therapeutic writing workshops for hospices and mental health charities. With an MSc in Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes, Gabrielle brings rare emotional depth to her storytelling – fiction that’s as human as it is haunting.