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Brodmaw Bay
Another masterpiece of suspense from the author of the acclaimed The House of Lost Souls
It's the perfect seaside village—no crime, no one from the city. When things start to go badly wrong for James Greer in London, Brodmaw Bay seems to be calling him and his family. There's a perfect house, excellent schools—and welcoming neighbors who assure the Greers that they'd be delighted to have some new blood in the Bay. But perhaps the village isn't so much welcoming them as luring them, to something ancient and evil.
It's the perfect seaside village—no crime, no one from the city. When things start to go badly wrong for James Greer in London, Brodmaw Bay seems to be calling him and his family. There's a perfect house, excellent schools—and welcoming neighbors who assure the Greers that they'd be delighted to have some new blood in the Bay. But perhaps the village isn't so much welcoming them as luring them, to something ancient and evil.
345 pages, Hardcover
First published November 10, 2011
13 people are currently reading
597 people want to read
About the author
F.G. Cottam
19 books478 followersReading is a cheap and totally effective way of being transported to another world. The same is true of writing. Mundane concerns only afflict your characters if you decide you want them to.
University was where I first thought seriously about fiction; hearing about Hemingway's iceberg theory and Eliot's objective correlative and having the luxury of time to ponder on the mechanics of the novel.
My first writing was journalism and pieces for I-D, Arena and The Face brought me to the attention of mainstream magazine publishers. In the '90's I edited FHM when it still majored on sport and fashion rather than Hollyoaks starlets and weather girls. Then I launch-edited the UK edition of Men's Health magazine and then came to the conclusion that if I didn't try to write some fiction it was never going to happen.
I read all kinds of fiction, but write stories with a paranormal element I think really because history fascinates me and ghosts allow the past to resonate shockingly, scarily and I hope convincingly, into the present.
I got off to an encouraging start but have suffered a few disappointments since then. I wouldn't in honesty want to do anything else, though. If I write a terrible novel it's my fault entirely. If I write a good novel, it's entirely my achievement.
University was where I first thought seriously about fiction; hearing about Hemingway's iceberg theory and Eliot's objective correlative and having the luxury of time to ponder on the mechanics of the novel.
My first writing was journalism and pieces for I-D, Arena and The Face brought me to the attention of mainstream magazine publishers. In the '90's I edited FHM when it still majored on sport and fashion rather than Hollyoaks starlets and weather girls. Then I launch-edited the UK edition of Men's Health magazine and then came to the conclusion that if I didn't try to write some fiction it was never going to happen.
I read all kinds of fiction, but write stories with a paranormal element I think really because history fascinates me and ghosts allow the past to resonate shockingly, scarily and I hope convincingly, into the present.
I got off to an encouraging start but have suffered a few disappointments since then. I wouldn't in honesty want to do anything else, though. If I write a terrible novel it's my fault entirely. If I write a good novel, it's entirely my achievement.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
November 20, 2014
I had been looking forward to the release of Brodmaw Bay for a very long time - I added the title to my Goodreads shelves in March, and have been anxiously awaiting it ever since. My expectations were high, and I have to admit that when I saw the cover design, I was a little disappointed; it lacks the beautiful artwork and lettering that decorated the author's previous novels, and this led me to worry that it would be less subtle, and more of a gory horror story than the chilling, slow-burning and tense paranormal tales I have come to know and love. When the book arrived, I dropped everything to read it and raced through it in a matter of days, and I'm pleased to report that it was anything but a letdown.
James and Lillian Greer, and their children Jack and Olivia, appear at first glance to be the family that has it all. Two successful, wealthy and happily married parents with two good-looking, intelligent and confident children, they live an ostensibly perfect life in a beautiful London townhouse. But their idyllic life isn't what it seems, and there are cracks beneath the surface. At the beginning of the story, James is visiting his son in hospital - Jack has been brutally beaten by a gang of boys on the bus home from school, and this event proves to be the catalyst that begins to tear the family apart and leads to James becoming convinced their tight-knit bonds can only be salvaged through an escape from London. While in the hospital, James picks up an illustrated children's book called Brodmaw Bay, filled with beautiful paintings of the titular seaside village which he is convinced are the work of his artist wife. Lily, however, has no memory of visiting the bay or creating the illustrations. This is followed by a series of other odd incidents which seem to push the Greer family more and more towards investigating Brodmaw Bay, until they start to believe a move there is both fated and inevitable...
At first, I wasn't sure what I was supposed to think of James, who comes out with opinions that, at times, seem straight out of the pages of the Daily Mail after Jack is beaten up. But this is tempered by sections written from the other characters' points of view and it soon becomes apparent that the point is that the characters are flawed; this is precisely how they come to be 'lured' to Brodmaw. James, for all his liberal pretensions, has a knee-jerk, reactionary response to his son's attack; but he is a loving and devoted family man, and while Lily is more reasonable and perhaps more optimistic in her overall outlook, she's hiding a potentially destructive secret from her husband and children, and has her own reasons for wanting to flee London. The characters are a good balance - they're flawed enough that you can understand how they're drawn to the bay, but essentially sympathetic enough that you're on their side even though they might have made some serious mistakes. The village itself is a fascinating place which will have you eagerly turning the pages to learn more - the details, from the desecrated church to the young, empty-eyed ghost to the eccentric locals, are spooky, convincing and totally bewitching.
My only real complaint about this story is that I wanted MORE! More about the village and its strange traditions, more about the residents of Brodmaw and their undoubtedly fascinating histories, more about the nature and origins of the Singers and the Harbingers, and especially more about the Penmarricks. I wished there could've been another couple of hundred pages about the Greers' life in the bay before things started to get really weird. In fact, for me personally, the book could have been twice its length, and I would still have lapped it up. However, I know this would probably have been offputting for a lot of readers, especially those new to the author, so I can understand why the book doesn't go over the top with its detail. Arguably, it's better this way; your imagination can fill in the gaps.
While it hasn't displaced Dark Echo as my personal favourite of the author's work (but I don't think anything ever will because, as I've said before, that book holds a very special place in my heart), Brodmaw Bay is even better than last year's The Waiting Room and deserves to draw in a whole new audience. It has shades of truly classic ghost stories, such as those by M.R. James and Edgar Allan Poe, and I would also enthusiastically recommend it to anyone who loves the classic horror film The Wicker Man. It's a perfect winter read, released just in time for those dark, foggy evenings; I probably read the book a bit too quickly, due to my excitement over it finally being released, so my advice to other readers is to savour every page!
James and Lillian Greer, and their children Jack and Olivia, appear at first glance to be the family that has it all. Two successful, wealthy and happily married parents with two good-looking, intelligent and confident children, they live an ostensibly perfect life in a beautiful London townhouse. But their idyllic life isn't what it seems, and there are cracks beneath the surface. At the beginning of the story, James is visiting his son in hospital - Jack has been brutally beaten by a gang of boys on the bus home from school, and this event proves to be the catalyst that begins to tear the family apart and leads to James becoming convinced their tight-knit bonds can only be salvaged through an escape from London. While in the hospital, James picks up an illustrated children's book called Brodmaw Bay, filled with beautiful paintings of the titular seaside village which he is convinced are the work of his artist wife. Lily, however, has no memory of visiting the bay or creating the illustrations. This is followed by a series of other odd incidents which seem to push the Greer family more and more towards investigating Brodmaw Bay, until they start to believe a move there is both fated and inevitable...
At first, I wasn't sure what I was supposed to think of James, who comes out with opinions that, at times, seem straight out of the pages of the Daily Mail after Jack is beaten up. But this is tempered by sections written from the other characters' points of view and it soon becomes apparent that the point is that the characters are flawed; this is precisely how they come to be 'lured' to Brodmaw. James, for all his liberal pretensions, has a knee-jerk, reactionary response to his son's attack; but he is a loving and devoted family man, and while Lily is more reasonable and perhaps more optimistic in her overall outlook, she's hiding a potentially destructive secret from her husband and children, and has her own reasons for wanting to flee London. The characters are a good balance - they're flawed enough that you can understand how they're drawn to the bay, but essentially sympathetic enough that you're on their side even though they might have made some serious mistakes. The village itself is a fascinating place which will have you eagerly turning the pages to learn more - the details, from the desecrated church to the young, empty-eyed ghost to the eccentric locals, are spooky, convincing and totally bewitching.
My only real complaint about this story is that I wanted MORE! More about the village and its strange traditions, more about the residents of Brodmaw and their undoubtedly fascinating histories, more about the nature and origins of the Singers and the Harbingers, and especially more about the Penmarricks. I wished there could've been another couple of hundred pages about the Greers' life in the bay before things started to get really weird. In fact, for me personally, the book could have been twice its length, and I would still have lapped it up. However, I know this would probably have been offputting for a lot of readers, especially those new to the author, so I can understand why the book doesn't go over the top with its detail. Arguably, it's better this way; your imagination can fill in the gaps.
While it hasn't displaced Dark Echo as my personal favourite of the author's work (but I don't think anything ever will because, as I've said before, that book holds a very special place in my heart), Brodmaw Bay is even better than last year's The Waiting Room and deserves to draw in a whole new audience. It has shades of truly classic ghost stories, such as those by M.R. James and Edgar Allan Poe, and I would also enthusiastically recommend it to anyone who loves the classic horror film The Wicker Man. It's a perfect winter read, released just in time for those dark, foggy evenings; I probably read the book a bit too quickly, due to my excitement over it finally being released, so my advice to other readers is to savour every page!
December 1, 2011
Book description
When his young son is brutally attacked on his way home from school, James Greer decides he’s had enough. Disillusioned with London life and concerned for the safety of his family, he feels the time has come to move somewhere a little quieter. A chance discovery leads him Brodmaw Bay -a picturesque village on the coast of Cornwall. The locals are friendly and welcoming, if a little eccentric, and James is convinced he’s found the perfect home for his family.
But was it really sheer coincidence that drew him there? There seems to be an inexplicable connection between the village and Jame’s wife. And when strange sightings and dark nightmares start plaguing his children, it soon becomes clear that a greater and more sinister force is at work. Perhaps the village isn’t so much welcoming them as luring them. To something ancient and evil. As it has lured others before…
My review
The author writes this dark tale well and you really get into the plight of this london family from the offset. The story starts with an incident that is very common in todays day and age, mugging. Many Londoners have done the same as this protagonist and up and left the lost London to the sticks and greener pastures. He chooses Broadmaw Bay or should i say it chose him to be part of its rightful populace, i love his descriptions of London and Cornwall. He immerses you insidiously with an over shadowing dark presence of horrors and the dead. The House of Lost Souls his other novel looks also very creepy and haunting. This was a creepy and haunting read from a solid writer, who is one to watch put for.
Also here on my webpage
When his young son is brutally attacked on his way home from school, James Greer decides he’s had enough. Disillusioned with London life and concerned for the safety of his family, he feels the time has come to move somewhere a little quieter. A chance discovery leads him Brodmaw Bay -a picturesque village on the coast of Cornwall. The locals are friendly and welcoming, if a little eccentric, and James is convinced he’s found the perfect home for his family.
But was it really sheer coincidence that drew him there? There seems to be an inexplicable connection between the village and Jame’s wife. And when strange sightings and dark nightmares start plaguing his children, it soon becomes clear that a greater and more sinister force is at work. Perhaps the village isn’t so much welcoming them as luring them. To something ancient and evil. As it has lured others before…
My review
The author writes this dark tale well and you really get into the plight of this london family from the offset. The story starts with an incident that is very common in todays day and age, mugging. Many Londoners have done the same as this protagonist and up and left the lost London to the sticks and greener pastures. He chooses Broadmaw Bay or should i say it chose him to be part of its rightful populace, i love his descriptions of London and Cornwall. He immerses you insidiously with an over shadowing dark presence of horrors and the dead. The House of Lost Souls his other novel looks also very creepy and haunting. This was a creepy and haunting read from a solid writer, who is one to watch put for.
Also here on my webpage
March 25, 2016
I took to reading Brodmaw Bay with much gusto as a newly converted fan of his writing and concepts. I went in with high expectations prepared to be chilled to the bone and scared witless. It was not quite that extreme but still a creepy and atmospheric read.
What's the book about?
James Greer is a game developer living in busy London with his wife and two children, when his son Jack falls prey to a gang of young thugs and ends up in hospital James begins to rethink their lives and location. He discovers a book depicting pictures of a place called Brodmaw Bay and feels drawn to visit the location.
Strange dreams and things start to touch each member of the family, nobody is really taking a lot of notice of it at this point.
His wife Lillian, a successful illustrator has her own reasons for wanting to leave London too, so after exploration of this tiny coastal town on the West Coast of England, they buy a house and relocate to Brodmaw Bay.
My Review:
I found Brodmaw Bay initially to be a slow pull of a book, I was looking for a bit more action in the first half of the book. The writing is sublime however, F.G. Cottam writes with intricate detail and descriptiveness that really helps you picture the places, people and situations you are reading about. For a while I was wondering why this book had a creepy side as promoted, but kept being drawn in and read on...
Ancient pagan rituals are still practiced in this small town, in fact the only church in the town is totally desecrated and full of strange artifacts and objects, this is not a church-going community. The family are welcomed in warmly by the town's inhabitants and become part of this community very quickly. It was as though they were expected.
But all is not as it seems and spooky and ghostly things start to occur. What are the secrets of this town and is the town and it's people willing to give them up? With great atmospheric build up F.G. Cottam portrays a place that is seeped in tradition, lost in history and smothered in secrets.
The book has a sense of underlying evil and easily captures the darkness of the ancient pagan rituals and beliefs that hover over and in this place.
As pieces come together through the writing, the book's creepy elements start to increase and by the last chapter, the finale that I did not want to happen I was horrified, and a bit spooked. Good job I read this during the day.
For me, this book is not really horror, but certainly has a ghostly, other-worldly, creepy element to it if that's your thing. I liked it. If you are expecting loads of really scary stuff upfront it's not here, it's a book that loops it's tendrils around you and takes you on a meandering journey until you are sunk in and the secrets are revealed.
I picked up one typo in the paperback version, where the name Jack is used instead of James in the first chapter. (I'm training to be a proof reader). I had a library copy and someone had crossed out the incorrect name and replaced it.
Atmospheric, haunting and a really good book.
What's the book about?
James Greer is a game developer living in busy London with his wife and two children, when his son Jack falls prey to a gang of young thugs and ends up in hospital James begins to rethink their lives and location. He discovers a book depicting pictures of a place called Brodmaw Bay and feels drawn to visit the location.
Strange dreams and things start to touch each member of the family, nobody is really taking a lot of notice of it at this point.
His wife Lillian, a successful illustrator has her own reasons for wanting to leave London too, so after exploration of this tiny coastal town on the West Coast of England, they buy a house and relocate to Brodmaw Bay.
My Review:
I found Brodmaw Bay initially to be a slow pull of a book, I was looking for a bit more action in the first half of the book. The writing is sublime however, F.G. Cottam writes with intricate detail and descriptiveness that really helps you picture the places, people and situations you are reading about. For a while I was wondering why this book had a creepy side as promoted, but kept being drawn in and read on...
Ancient pagan rituals are still practiced in this small town, in fact the only church in the town is totally desecrated and full of strange artifacts and objects, this is not a church-going community. The family are welcomed in warmly by the town's inhabitants and become part of this community very quickly. It was as though they were expected.
But all is not as it seems and spooky and ghostly things start to occur. What are the secrets of this town and is the town and it's people willing to give them up? With great atmospheric build up F.G. Cottam portrays a place that is seeped in tradition, lost in history and smothered in secrets.
The book has a sense of underlying evil and easily captures the darkness of the ancient pagan rituals and beliefs that hover over and in this place.
As pieces come together through the writing, the book's creepy elements start to increase and by the last chapter, the finale that I did not want to happen I was horrified, and a bit spooked. Good job I read this during the day.
For me, this book is not really horror, but certainly has a ghostly, other-worldly, creepy element to it if that's your thing. I liked it. If you are expecting loads of really scary stuff upfront it's not here, it's a book that loops it's tendrils around you and takes you on a meandering journey until you are sunk in and the secrets are revealed.
I picked up one typo in the paperback version, where the name Jack is used instead of James in the first chapter. (I'm training to be a proof reader). I had a library copy and someone had crossed out the incorrect name and replaced it.
Atmospheric, haunting and a really good book.
November 6, 2011
Every once in a while I pick up a new book by a new author hoping to be rewarded. In 2009 I ordered “The House of Lost Souls” by F.G. Cottam from amazon. Before I was halfway through it I ordered his second novel “Dark Echo” from amazonUK because I didn’t want to wait for the U.S. publication of it. Then there was the “Magdalena Curse”, “The Waiting Room” and this novel, the newly released “Brodmaw Bay”. Each of which ordered from across the pond as soon as they were available. Needless to say I was rewarded in spades and continue to be so.
“Brodmaw Bay” works on many levels. As a moving and real story of family dynamics. An elegy for a lost and simpler time, while being a cautionary tale getting what you wish for most and being disillusioned by it, and most of all a chilling tale of supernatural horror.
His characterizations of the Greer family are spot on. Literate, gorgeously written and unlike a lot of horror fiction - fully fleshed out and relatable. When lead character James Greer’s son is the victim of violence in London the family makes good on it’s promise to move away to a safer, quiet and idyllic locale. Through a series of incidents (I’ll avoid spoilers here) they choose Brodmaw Bay. But it’s Brodmaw Bay that has chosen them. This lovely seaside village is definitely not what it appears to be.
Bringing together a Britain both modern and quaint - exploring the dichotomy between the two, druid lore of the past that reaches into the future always seeking for renewal and “fresh blood” to sustain well being fueled by evil, and the ghostly apparition of a young girl looking for revenge against the people who perpetrated her murder in a horrid sacrifice nearly a century previous. The writing and pacing are flawless, there’s no usual horror schlock here, a slow building sense of dread that culminates in a climax that’s both as horrific and thrilling as any I’ve read in quite a while.
Here F.G. Cottam gathers threads from previous masters of the horror genre like Arthur Machen, Lovecraft, Tryon and M.R. James while weaving something entirely his own. If you like horror novels and you haven’t read Cottam, do yourself a favor and pick one up - you won’t be disappointed, he‘s one of the best out there. And if you have, well then you’re “locked on” already.
“Brodmaw Bay” works on many levels. As a moving and real story of family dynamics. An elegy for a lost and simpler time, while being a cautionary tale getting what you wish for most and being disillusioned by it, and most of all a chilling tale of supernatural horror.
His characterizations of the Greer family are spot on. Literate, gorgeously written and unlike a lot of horror fiction - fully fleshed out and relatable. When lead character James Greer’s son is the victim of violence in London the family makes good on it’s promise to move away to a safer, quiet and idyllic locale. Through a series of incidents (I’ll avoid spoilers here) they choose Brodmaw Bay. But it’s Brodmaw Bay that has chosen them. This lovely seaside village is definitely not what it appears to be.
Bringing together a Britain both modern and quaint - exploring the dichotomy between the two, druid lore of the past that reaches into the future always seeking for renewal and “fresh blood” to sustain well being fueled by evil, and the ghostly apparition of a young girl looking for revenge against the people who perpetrated her murder in a horrid sacrifice nearly a century previous. The writing and pacing are flawless, there’s no usual horror schlock here, a slow building sense of dread that culminates in a climax that’s both as horrific and thrilling as any I’ve read in quite a while.
Here F.G. Cottam gathers threads from previous masters of the horror genre like Arthur Machen, Lovecraft, Tryon and M.R. James while weaving something entirely his own. If you like horror novels and you haven’t read Cottam, do yourself a favor and pick one up - you won’t be disappointed, he‘s one of the best out there. And if you have, well then you’re “locked on” already.
January 31, 2016
I took up this book right after finishing "the Colony Resurrection"...desperate to immerse myself in another Cottam novel. reading the blurb I wasn't sure what to expect as the plot seemed slightly different from the other Cottam's that I had read. It explored a different kind of horror - but equally scary and fascinating. It explorers the kind of rural horror that is dealt with in films like Wicker Man and Lovecraftian themes. What it has in common with Cottam's other novels is that it is brilliantly written, very atmospheric and it has a heart. It is as scary as it is touching.
August 20, 2020
Well! He did it again. This book lulls you into a false sense of security and then wham! Brodmaw Bay immediately appealed to me as a place to live, picturesque, I have loved folk music since I was a child and sang in a folk group, and yes I wore the floaty frocks of the sixties and seventies. It all seemed so Swallows And Amazons but the underlying tension started to build so subtly that it was hardly noticeable until, like the family in the story, you were already so involved you were part of it. The author did suggest that I may like to get in some energy-saving light bulbs for when I read this; oh no, they would be no good at all! What is required with this one is a couple of the old 150-watt bulbs, one for my bedroom and one for the landing, to be left on all night. My idyllic village which seemed designed just for me turned out to be something akin to the island in the Wicker Man.
The author makes wonderful use of the English language combined with the natural ability of an old fashioned storyteller and the knack of being able to frighten you out of your wits.
Wonderful Book!!!!!!!!!!!
The author makes wonderful use of the English language combined with the natural ability of an old fashioned storyteller and the knack of being able to frighten you out of your wits.
Wonderful Book!!!!!!!!!!!
March 11, 2016
This is the 4th novel that I have read by F. G. Cottam, and I must say that I am hooked by his writing. I have 3 more that I am waiting for in the mail. His horror stories don't involve the blood and gore that many in this genre contain. Instead, his books involve unseen horrors which are even worse. This book contains ancient witchcraft and rituals as well as ghosts and true evil. The Greer family is a loving family going through various upheavals, when they decide to move to the small picturesque Cornish fishing village of Brodmaw Bay. It was as if they were drawn there and belonged there. They are immediately accepted with open arms and made to feel at home. Then the fun begins! Like they say about when something seems too good to be true...... Cottam is an excellent author who weaves a tale that really gets you involved. I was so taken by the village that I actually googled the area, thinking how nice it would be to move to a place like that. His characters are interesting and nicely developed. I also like they way Mr. Cottam uses the epilogue to tie up loose ends and especially as a way to help the reader unwind.
April 16, 2014
I have to admit that I am a huge F.G. Cottam fan girl, but setting that aside, I can't see giving this book less than 5 stars. What you have here is a captivating tale that really shouldn't be so captivating: Brodmaw Bay succeeds in making the pretty tired Wicker Man/The Lottery/We-Can-Only-Guarantee-Our-Quaint-Lifestyle-Through-Human-Sacrifice trope very engaging. This could only have been done through truly remarkable writing. You know, writing of the superior sort which F.G. Cottam always delivers and delivers here in spades. While I had some trouble buying into all the characters - particularly in our hero's reaction to certain events that will remain unnamed (but if you read it you should immediately know what I am talking about) - and find the story line/central conceit overdone, somehow Cottam made it work. I guess he is just that talented. Highly recommended supernatural horror story.
As a further note, I listened to this as an audio book so my impressions are based on that. As an audio book, this truly excels. They narrator is just perfect to set the tone for the novel.
As a further note, I listened to this as an audio book so my impressions are based on that. As an audio book, this truly excels. They narrator is just perfect to set the tone for the novel.
August 23, 2025
Brodmaw Bay is another gripping read from F.G Cottam. It is a good old-fashioned tale of pagan rites and ghostly apparitions. Cottam knows how to hook his reader and also how to scare them. Read it if you dare....with the light on.
Update: I have recently listened to Brodmaw Bay on audio book, narrated by the wonderful David Rintoul, who once again did an exceptional job. It's been 12 years since I read Brodmaw Bay for the first time. I found it just as eerie now, as I did back then. Maybe more so, because I listened to it at night.
Update: I have recently listened to Brodmaw Bay on audio book, narrated by the wonderful David Rintoul, who once again did an exceptional job. It's been 12 years since I read Brodmaw Bay for the first time. I found it just as eerie now, as I did back then. Maybe more so, because I listened to it at night.
February 8, 2019
Slow
This book may have been better had it not been so agonizingly slow. I'm not certain if all of the books by this author are this way or if this was just a one time thing. I struggled to finish because it seemed to drone on and by the time I got to the end I was thoroughly disappointed because it was such a predictable ending.
This book may have been better had it not been so agonizingly slow. I'm not certain if all of the books by this author are this way or if this was just a one time thing. I struggled to finish because it seemed to drone on and by the time I got to the end I was thoroughly disappointed because it was such a predictable ending.
October 18, 2013
You need to get past the author's socio-political views - which seem slightly to the right of Atilla the Hun. Still, if I can do it so can you! If you manage that this is a good page turner, pretty spooky - a bit Wicker Man revisited.
January 28, 2012
James and Lillian Greer and their two children, Jack and Olivia have a great life living in London until Jack is viciously mugged on a double decker bus for his mobile phone. Sitting next to his son's hospital bed, James discovers a book hiding on a bookshelf all about an idyllic Cornish sea side village called Broadmaw Bay.
His son's mugging has brought their exciting cosmopolitan life in London to a nasty end and James sees no future for them in the Capital. He googles Broadmaw Bay and falls in love with a more calm, peaceful way of life in the South West of England. After making an initial visit to Broadmaw Bay, James seems to have set off a strange series of events linked to his wife. Their children see an apparition of a young girl calling herself Madeline, and most frightening of all is the evil creature that Olivia calls the Spookmeister that is taunting them from their garden.
The family finnally make the move from London to Cornwall and move into a spacious house on a cliff top overlooking the bay. The community seem very welcoming, in fact too over welcoming and after Olivia finds a secret hidden note from the previous owner written during world war one, James fears for the life of his family as the true horror of what goes on in Broadmaw becomes apparent.
I loved this book, my second F.G. Cottam novel after The Waiting Room. It builds tension slowly but surely and introduces us to an evil community that on the outside seems to be an idyllic Coastal hideaway that the 21st century has forgotten. The ending is dramatic and unexpected. Wonderful!
His son's mugging has brought their exciting cosmopolitan life in London to a nasty end and James sees no future for them in the Capital. He googles Broadmaw Bay and falls in love with a more calm, peaceful way of life in the South West of England. After making an initial visit to Broadmaw Bay, James seems to have set off a strange series of events linked to his wife. Their children see an apparition of a young girl calling herself Madeline, and most frightening of all is the evil creature that Olivia calls the Spookmeister that is taunting them from their garden.
The family finnally make the move from London to Cornwall and move into a spacious house on a cliff top overlooking the bay. The community seem very welcoming, in fact too over welcoming and after Olivia finds a secret hidden note from the previous owner written during world war one, James fears for the life of his family as the true horror of what goes on in Broadmaw becomes apparent.
I loved this book, my second F.G. Cottam novel after The Waiting Room. It builds tension slowly but surely and introduces us to an evil community that on the outside seems to be an idyllic Coastal hideaway that the 21st century has forgotten. The ending is dramatic and unexpected. Wonderful!
December 27, 2014
F.G. Cottam is one of the best in creating atmosphere. I can't help but like his books and the first 3/4 of this book is really good. What falls apart is the last part where he departs from his premise. If I went into that, it would be a spoiler and I don't want to do that.
Jack Greer is a young boy who is assaulted in a mugging. As he recovers, his father and mother, James and Lillian Greer, decide London is no longer the place for them and for their young daughter, Olivia.
Then James finds Brodmaw Bay with its friendly people, beautiful vistas and idyllic atmosphere. The move also comes with a mystery as his artist wife discovers she illustrated a children's book with scenes of the village. The problem is she has no memory of doing so.
Where the story fell apart for me was at the very end where the premise of the village was abandoned by the author.
Cottam gets five stars for atmosphere and scene setting and three for not keeping to the basis of what the town was about.
Jack Greer is a young boy who is assaulted in a mugging. As he recovers, his father and mother, James and Lillian Greer, decide London is no longer the place for them and for their young daughter, Olivia.
Then James finds Brodmaw Bay with its friendly people, beautiful vistas and idyllic atmosphere. The move also comes with a mystery as his artist wife discovers she illustrated a children's book with scenes of the village. The problem is she has no memory of doing so.
Where the story fell apart for me was at the very end where the premise of the village was abandoned by the author.
Cottam gets five stars for atmosphere and scene setting and three for not keeping to the basis of what the town was about.
April 25, 2013
It’s very rare these days that I find a book that genuinely gives me a good fright. What’s perfect about this book is how subtly it’s done. I've read a lot of horror books where the "monster" is thrown in your face every other chapter and it dulls the shock of what’s supposed to give the story its fear factor. That being said, I’m not going to give an in-depth synopsis on the novel, as a few who've reviewed it have already done so.
What I will say is this: If you are looking for a book that’s easy to pick up but hard to put down that will give you the major heebie-jeebies and leave you scared to look out the windows, then look no further. You've found it.
After reading this book, I look forward to making my way through F.G.Cottam’s work hoping I’ll find that elusive scare in his other works. So, kudos to you, Mr Cottam. I thank you sincerely.
What I will say is this: If you are looking for a book that’s easy to pick up but hard to put down that will give you the major heebie-jeebies and leave you scared to look out the windows, then look no further. You've found it.
After reading this book, I look forward to making my way through F.G.Cottam’s work hoping I’ll find that elusive scare in his other works. So, kudos to you, Mr Cottam. I thank you sincerely.
May 17, 2017
Cottam always seems to come up with original entertaining ghost stories that could nearly be perfect . For me, they are let down by the shallow characters & cliche descriptions of said characters. His obsession with physical perfection, and also material labels, irritates me to distraction.
In this book, the pace was at the same suspenseful speed until the last forty pages or so, where it just seemed to be all thrown together for as quick an ending as possible.
It feels very incomplete to me. I think it could have been so much greater or, as the annoying children of the book would say, so much more epic, than it is if the ending were as long and detailed as the rest of the story. I would have liked more detail and more explicit telling of exactly what all the village people have been doing for their long lives.
I really enjoyed it but there's so much missing.
In this book, the pace was at the same suspenseful speed until the last forty pages or so, where it just seemed to be all thrown together for as quick an ending as possible.
It feels very incomplete to me. I think it could have been so much greater or, as the annoying children of the book would say, so much more epic, than it is if the ending were as long and detailed as the rest of the story. I would have liked more detail and more explicit telling of exactly what all the village people have been doing for their long lives.
I really enjoyed it but there's so much missing.
September 29, 2012
I'm a sucker for a book that involves sinister goings on in small towns, but throw in one of my favourite places Cornwall, Happy Days!
Although a great read I have given 4 stars due to its predictability. Well paced, perfect lengh, well character driven and plenty of eerie and chilling moments to keep me happy.
Could easily be turned into one of those wonderfully dark small or large screen British chiller film.
This is my first book from the author will be definitely be keeping my eye out for his other novels.
Although a great read I have given 4 stars due to its predictability. Well paced, perfect lengh, well character driven and plenty of eerie and chilling moments to keep me happy.
Could easily be turned into one of those wonderfully dark small or large screen British chiller film.
This is my first book from the author will be definitely be keeping my eye out for his other novels.
April 11, 2014
I really enjoyed this book, so much so that I will definitely be checking out the author's other books. The story is well written, with several plot twists and plenty of creepy moments. I would highly recommend this book to any reader who enjoys classic English horror, as this story definitely, to me, had a nostalgic atmosphere albeit in a modern setting.
October 25, 2016
Good read - and had so much promise. I thought it got a bit 'muddy' in the end - perhaps because the story goes on for a good while, building up the suspense levels - and then *boom* - it wraps up in ten pages that seemed rushed to me. The ending was a bit predictable, but there were some really unexpected twists to it, as well. Definitely worth the read.
March 1, 2014
"The Shadow over Ibnsmouth" written by Dennis Wheatly in the 21st century.
October 1, 2024
Nope.
Writing was horrible
Writing was horrible
August 28, 2020
Another stuffy feel of dust of yesteryear in my throat after reading F. G. Cottam. Another book that feels like someone wanted to get a book from the 1950s published and quickly added a "possibly negro" (the reader made him sound black - not sure if he is) police officer to represent the minority groups and a bit of modern technology, Toss in the wife earning more and the husband's "modern attitude" of it not bothering him at all and think that will make up for the fact that the book still sounds like a stereotypical 1950s book. I just finished this book as the 4th F. G. Cottam book in less than 10 days. And in each book where there is a family there is always a boy and if there are other kids he is always the first born and is followed - yes you guessed it - by a girl!!! Yes, and the women although put in positions of "big girl" are all rather on the weak side. Some of the characters are also inconsistent. I have now ready 4 of his books and wasn't that wrapped in any of them. Good material but the writing style just makes me feel like a 1950s commercial where the weak woman cooks in the kitchen so the dinner is ready for when her important hubby comes home.
September 28, 2018
Brodmaw Bay seems to be the perfect refuge for James Greer and his family. When his young son is the victim of a brutal mugging, Greer wants to leave London - the sooner the better - for the charming old-fashioned fishing port he has just discovered. But was finding Brodmaw Bay more than a happy accident? What is the connection between the village and his beautiful wife? When his friendly new neighbours say they'd welcome some new blood - in a village where the same families seem to have lived for generations - are they telling the whole truth? Perhaps the village isn't so much welcoming them as luring them. To something ancient and evil. As it has lured others before .
Cottam is always an author to read if one likes spooky, detailed books. It is a quick read, which surprises the reader at the end.
Cottam is always an author to read if one likes spooky, detailed books. It is a quick read, which surprises the reader at the end.
January 6, 2018
There are some horror tropes that seem to be done to death and can only come back as shambling literary zombies. But occasionally such a dead trope is miraculously revived, and this is what happens in this book. Nothing is as trite as a young couple coming to live in a small town and discovering...fill in vampire neighbors, serial killers, monsters in the basement, or a really bad planning committee. I don’t expect much from such novels except the pleasure of familiarity. But this one manages to surprise. With echoes of “The Wicker Man” and references to World War 1 poetry, it also has an interesting political subtext, very relevant in the age of Brexit. A beautifully written homage to classic horror.
October 3, 2017
My first FG Cottam book and certainly not my normal read.
The characters in the book are developed rather well, especially for this type of novel. I felt that half way through it, the author could have written 15 different stories and endings in several genres simply from the strength of the characterizations and the setting that FG Cottam had painted.
Yes, the ending felt a little rushed, and the reader needs to let loose of reality to enjoy Brodmaw Bay, but it was a nice change from my normal readings. I will definitely revisit FG Cottam in the future.
The characters in the book are developed rather well, especially for this type of novel. I felt that half way through it, the author could have written 15 different stories and endings in several genres simply from the strength of the characterizations and the setting that FG Cottam had painted.
Yes, the ending felt a little rushed, and the reader needs to let loose of reality to enjoy Brodmaw Bay, but it was a nice change from my normal readings. I will definitely revisit FG Cottam in the future.
August 16, 2017
I highly recommend this atmospheric novel. I've read quite a few of this author and the books rarely disappoint. This one is particularly good for its descriptions of a Cornish village. Sure, the idyllic life isn't what it seems to be, but I enjoyed the beauty and tranquility while it lasted. Creepy, well written, and not too far-fetched (as horror goes).
October 14, 2018
Quietly menacing
Another great story by F. G. Cottam evoking the rural and regional England familiar in all his work. The simmering evil of the Bay is beautifully described. The pagan rituals seem quite convincing. The main characters are well written with human flaws and frailties. Would love to see Alex McCabe reappear in future work!
Another great story by F. G. Cottam evoking the rural and regional England familiar in all his work. The simmering evil of the Bay is beautifully described. The pagan rituals seem quite convincing. The main characters are well written with human flaws and frailties. Would love to see Alex McCabe reappear in future work!
February 26, 2020
I am a fan of FG and this is a really good read - couldn’t put it down! Good characters, and the suspense continued to build as the story progressed. The ending is sort of expected, but it is done well and did give me some surprise.
August 25, 2018
Not one of his best, but atmospheric and creepy.
December 22, 2019
too slow... nothing is happening and then the affair?!... didn't finish...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2020
DNF. Dreadfully slow plot.
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