What do you think?
Rate this book
Hewhay Hall
2013 Epic Award Winner for Best Horror
An unsung hero's destiny—Slater's house of horrors.
Fire-fighter Jude Elliott loses part of his leg trying to rescue a family held hostage during a terrorist attack. He journeys to mysterious Hewhey Hall, where it is told there are wondrous, magical cures. Little does Jude know that his destination is Slater The Prince of Envy's lair where demons reside and courageous souls are tormented... Can Jude escape Slater's house of horrors, or will he suffer for all of eternity?
An unsung hero's destiny—Slater's house of horrors.
Fire-fighter Jude Elliott loses part of his leg trying to rescue a family held hostage during a terrorist attack. He journeys to mysterious Hewhey Hall, where it is told there are wondrous, magical cures. Little does Jude know that his destination is Slater The Prince of Envy's lair where demons reside and courageous souls are tormented... Can Jude escape Slater's house of horrors, or will he suffer for all of eternity?
154 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 18, 2012
1 person is currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Susan Roebuck
5 books112 followersSusan Roebuck was born and bred in the soft south of the UK but was exported to Portugal after meeting her husband in London. She now lives overlooking the mighty Tagus River which is a wonderful source of inspiration.
She loves being in her adopted country and believes that Portugal has a huge heart, which the world should know more about. Portugal also doesn’t appear in many English-language novels and Susan hopes that, now, that will change.
"Joseph Barnaby" is about a farrier who, in order to avoid a deadly vendetta against him, finds solace in the island of Madeira.
“Forest Dancer” is her fourth novel but it is her second one set in Portugal (in the forests near Lisbon).
“Rising Tide” was her first book (third one published) set in Portugal, in a tiny fishing village on the beautiful, rugged Alentejo coast. One of the themes of this book is man against the sea.
They are both contemporary romance/suspense stories.
Her first novel was “Perfect Score”, set in 1960s USA and is a LGBT romance/suspense covering many social issues of the time – including having to cope with dyslexia.
“Hewhay Hall” is a dark fantasy which won the EPIC (Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition) Award in 2013 in their horror category.
Do pop over to any of her social media sites and say hello. Susan loves to hear from readers.
She loves being in her adopted country and believes that Portugal has a huge heart, which the world should know more about. Portugal also doesn’t appear in many English-language novels and Susan hopes that, now, that will change.
"Joseph Barnaby" is about a farrier who, in order to avoid a deadly vendetta against him, finds solace in the island of Madeira.
“Forest Dancer” is her fourth novel but it is her second one set in Portugal (in the forests near Lisbon).
“Rising Tide” was her first book (third one published) set in Portugal, in a tiny fishing village on the beautiful, rugged Alentejo coast. One of the themes of this book is man against the sea.
They are both contemporary romance/suspense stories.
Her first novel was “Perfect Score”, set in 1960s USA and is a LGBT romance/suspense covering many social issues of the time – including having to cope with dyslexia.
“Hewhay Hall” is a dark fantasy which won the EPIC (Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition) Award in 2013 in their horror category.
Do pop over to any of her social media sites and say hello. Susan loves to hear from readers.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 18, 2017
Heroes Never Give Up
Jude disobeyed orders to save lives, but lost his leg in the process. As an unsung hero, he wants to be whole again. When he hears of the miracles to be had at Hewhay Hall, he goes in search of the magical place, but winds up a prisoner along with a host of other unsung heroes. Jude's courage never dims, though the odds seem impossible in this supernatural tale. While there are terrifying moments, there are tender ones, too. Well worth reading!
Jude disobeyed orders to save lives, but lost his leg in the process. As an unsung hero, he wants to be whole again. When he hears of the miracles to be had at Hewhay Hall, he goes in search of the magical place, but winds up a prisoner along with a host of other unsung heroes. Jude's courage never dims, though the odds seem impossible in this supernatural tale. While there are terrifying moments, there are tender ones, too. Well worth reading!
August 26, 2012
Hewhay Hall is a charming novella, one for a single sitting. It's the story of Jude, whose desperation to feel whole again after losing a leg while trying to rescue a family from an imminent bomb blast, leads him to seek out the elusive and mythical Hewhay Hall. I shan't say too much about Hewhay Hall and who it is for, because it will spoil some of the revelations in the story... but it has fallen into bad hands and bad ways. Can our hero rescue himself from his dire circumstances or the other captives he finds there... before his family blunder into the same situation in their attempts to get him back?
There is plenty of horror here, and false leads, so you wonder frequently which are the voices or characters you should be trusting...the lovely Verity, the bog-wights, Gush, or the mad Wiccan next door? But there is also love... even when it doesn't know how to express itself any more... and heroism.
Roebuck has taken an unusual premise and so made her horror relevant to the atrocities which have affected our terrorist-torn cities. Although the story flows past these questions, they are still there... how do we cope after bombings and war? How do we welcome those affected back into our homes and communities; and what is left for them of the lives they used to lead? Do we speak the same language any more?
This story is also nicely planted in the real world, with characterisation which paints vivid pictures of daily life - a verisimilitude which only makes the horror bite deeper.
There is plenty of horror here, and false leads, so you wonder frequently which are the voices or characters you should be trusting...the lovely Verity, the bog-wights, Gush, or the mad Wiccan next door? But there is also love... even when it doesn't know how to express itself any more... and heroism.
Roebuck has taken an unusual premise and so made her horror relevant to the atrocities which have affected our terrorist-torn cities. Although the story flows past these questions, they are still there... how do we cope after bombings and war? How do we welcome those affected back into our homes and communities; and what is left for them of the lives they used to lead? Do we speak the same language any more?
This story is also nicely planted in the real world, with characterisation which paints vivid pictures of daily life - a verisimilitude which only makes the horror bite deeper.
June 1, 2012
When I first got Hewhay Hall for the blog tour, I wasn't sure what to expect, mainly because I've never really read books in this genre: adult-ish, with a tinge of horror (call me a wuss, but oh well). Anyway, I could say that I was in for a small surprise, because this book was creepy. And I don't usually get creeped out easily. So Susan Roebuck definitely did a good job with the horror, because even though I slept soundly, the nightmares and everything that happened in Hewhay Hall made my skin crawl.
I wasn't quite sure about the characters, though. I couldn't connect with them--but that was because the main character, Jude, is an adult, and he's lost a leg, and he's ready to believe that this place, Hewhay Hall, can really cure him, while his wife is worried about his journey there and everything. I can't deny that he's brave, though. As in, real brave. He risked his life to rescue a family during a terrorist attack, and he risked his life again to try and get the people in Hewhay Hall out. You can just see just how noble he is.
One thing I didn't like about this book was that Roebuck tended to ramble while she was writing. Like, she's be talking about Jude's wife and her relationship with her teenage sister, and then Roebuck would start throwing in unnecessary info about them both and about their surroundings, which made the book drag on and made my attention waver. Of course, it's good that we get to really know the characters of a book, but then adding in too much is called an info-dump, which defeats the purpose of getting to know the character entirely.
The descriptions were good. The author really described things in detail: how Jude first saw Hewhay Hall, the people he met, his surroundings. That really helped me picture everything more realistically.
Overall, this was a good book, but again, I don't usually read these genres. I'd recommend this for fans of psychological horror, though. I don't think you'd be disappointed.
3 1/2 stars.
Want more reviews? Check out my blog!
[image error]
I wasn't quite sure about the characters, though. I couldn't connect with them--but that was because the main character, Jude, is an adult, and he's lost a leg, and he's ready to believe that this place, Hewhay Hall, can really cure him, while his wife is worried about his journey there and everything. I can't deny that he's brave, though. As in, real brave. He risked his life to rescue a family during a terrorist attack, and he risked his life again to try and get the people in Hewhay Hall out. You can just see just how noble he is.
One thing I didn't like about this book was that Roebuck tended to ramble while she was writing. Like, she's be talking about Jude's wife and her relationship with her teenage sister, and then Roebuck would start throwing in unnecessary info about them both and about their surroundings, which made the book drag on and made my attention waver. Of course, it's good that we get to really know the characters of a book, but then adding in too much is called an info-dump, which defeats the purpose of getting to know the character entirely.
The descriptions were good. The author really described things in detail: how Jude first saw Hewhay Hall, the people he met, his surroundings. That really helped me picture everything more realistically.
Overall, this was a good book, but again, I don't usually read these genres. I'd recommend this for fans of psychological horror, though. I don't think you'd be disappointed.
3 1/2 stars.
Want more reviews? Check out my blog!
[image error]
August 10, 2016
Hewhay Hall by Susan Roebuck:
This dark fantasy/horror novel tells the story of Jude, a firefighter who has lost his leg in a courageous act. His fall into a dark house of horrors, prompted by his wish for a new leg, is well-plotted and very creepy. I found Verity Slater (the baddie) to be a great projection of every man (or woman’s) fantasies, and what we would give up in order to satisfy them.
Jude and Tess lived a very normal life in London before Jude lost his leg, and it is this image that Jude keeps returning to in his head as he fights to stay sane and get out of the crazy house. As Tess and eventually her younger sister, Leah, are drawn into the imaginary/abandoned estate, the reader is shown that this is not so much a horror story, but the story of the love between Tess and Jude. It is a testament to Ms. Roebuck’s skill that is stays endearing and touching as well as creepalicous.
However, I was a little bit thrown by how easily both Tess and Jude succumbed to Slater’s strange magic. I mean, if they are each other’s true love, they kind of capitulated a little too quickly for me. And I also found Leah’s story to be a little bit off – we are sort of thrust into this “I was bullied, I miss Jude and Tess being together” rather quickly, and then I never really got any closure with Leah.
Having said that, this is definitely a story that sticks with you and keeps you up at night, full of strange creatures and vivid imagery. The non-traditional ending was also very appreciated – I thought I knew where this one was going, but I was way off! Tess and Jude are very real and believable; you can feel the pain of Jude’s tragedy as the real horror of the novel. Would recommend this to anyone who loves a dark story and I look forward to more of Ms. Roebuck’s work.
This dark fantasy/horror novel tells the story of Jude, a firefighter who has lost his leg in a courageous act. His fall into a dark house of horrors, prompted by his wish for a new leg, is well-plotted and very creepy. I found Verity Slater (the baddie) to be a great projection of every man (or woman’s) fantasies, and what we would give up in order to satisfy them.
Jude and Tess lived a very normal life in London before Jude lost his leg, and it is this image that Jude keeps returning to in his head as he fights to stay sane and get out of the crazy house. As Tess and eventually her younger sister, Leah, are drawn into the imaginary/abandoned estate, the reader is shown that this is not so much a horror story, but the story of the love between Tess and Jude. It is a testament to Ms. Roebuck’s skill that is stays endearing and touching as well as creepalicous.
However, I was a little bit thrown by how easily both Tess and Jude succumbed to Slater’s strange magic. I mean, if they are each other’s true love, they kind of capitulated a little too quickly for me. And I also found Leah’s story to be a little bit off – we are sort of thrust into this “I was bullied, I miss Jude and Tess being together” rather quickly, and then I never really got any closure with Leah.
Having said that, this is definitely a story that sticks with you and keeps you up at night, full of strange creatures and vivid imagery. The non-traditional ending was also very appreciated – I thought I knew where this one was going, but I was way off! Tess and Jude are very real and believable; you can feel the pain of Jude’s tragedy as the real horror of the novel. Would recommend this to anyone who loves a dark story and I look forward to more of Ms. Roebuck’s work.
March 14, 2014
The author describes Hewhay Hall as a dark fantasy and here I would immediately disagree.
While the ending is bittersweet, the core of the story is one of courage and love that ultimately celebrates truth and justice.
The central character is a British fireman Jude who has been horribly injured in a bomb-blast during an emergency response situation.
The incident has left him an unemployed amputee who struggles to reassess his role as able-bodied man, bread-winner and husband. Not surprisingly this puts stress on his marriage to Tess whose own world has been disarranged by this single event.
But when Jude meets a mysterious stranger who promises to make him whole, it seems an offer too good to be true.
And you know what they say about things that are too good to be true...
Ms Roebuck continues a fine tradition of well-crafted British ghost stories in the tradition of MR James and the traditional Ghost Stories For Christmas which were a staple of winter TV viewing.
The supernatural universe the author creates is very well crafted and the narrative thread worked through the story is always believable and always compelling with the revelation behind title imaginatively realised at the end.
As I mentioned at the beginning of the review this is not the typical supernatural horror and I'd be reluctant to label it as such. It is more akin to a human character study done within a supernatural universe. In that vein Hewhay House more closely resembles the work of American authors Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti.
This is the first of Ms Roebuck's books I've read and I'm looking forward to more titles of hers in this genre.
While the ending is bittersweet, the core of the story is one of courage and love that ultimately celebrates truth and justice.
The central character is a British fireman Jude who has been horribly injured in a bomb-blast during an emergency response situation.
The incident has left him an unemployed amputee who struggles to reassess his role as able-bodied man, bread-winner and husband. Not surprisingly this puts stress on his marriage to Tess whose own world has been disarranged by this single event.
But when Jude meets a mysterious stranger who promises to make him whole, it seems an offer too good to be true.
And you know what they say about things that are too good to be true...
Ms Roebuck continues a fine tradition of well-crafted British ghost stories in the tradition of MR James and the traditional Ghost Stories For Christmas which were a staple of winter TV viewing.
The supernatural universe the author creates is very well crafted and the narrative thread worked through the story is always believable and always compelling with the revelation behind title imaginatively realised at the end.
As I mentioned at the beginning of the review this is not the typical supernatural horror and I'd be reluctant to label it as such. It is more akin to a human character study done within a supernatural universe. In that vein Hewhay House more closely resembles the work of American authors Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti.
This is the first of Ms Roebuck's books I've read and I'm looking forward to more titles of hers in this genre.
August 7, 2012
Hope. It’s such a simple word. Yet it’s what drives most of us. Hope for a brighter future. Hope for wealth, happiness, health. So when firefighter Jude Elliot loses a leg due to a bomb explosion, he has a hard time adjusting and suffers from traumatic stress disorder. But hope flairs anew in Jude as he discovers there is a place called Hewhay Hall – a place with innovative medicine and refined rehabilitation. It might just be able to turn Jude’s life around. So begins Jude’s quest to find the elusive Hewhay Hall. But all is not what it seems. For Hewhay Hall holds a dark seductive mistress and birdlike creatures. So what begins as a hopeful journey into the dark English swampland quickly turns to survival against evil.
HEWHAY HALL by Sue Roebuck is a true page turner. It held my attention from page one with its distinctive characters and unique setting. Then came the horror of Hewhay Hall and I was hooked till the very end. Jude Elliot was as likable as they come. Equally compelling was Tess as she tries desperately to find Jude. Miss Verity Slater was vile and fascinating. I couldn’t wait to see what made her tick and was not disappointed in the find. HEWHAY HALL was a fascinating read that made me squirm a bit. I really enjoyed this horrific tale and would like to see more works from this talented author. Wonderful read!
HEWHAY HALL by Sue Roebuck is a true page turner. It held my attention from page one with its distinctive characters and unique setting. Then came the horror of Hewhay Hall and I was hooked till the very end. Jude Elliot was as likable as they come. Equally compelling was Tess as she tries desperately to find Jude. Miss Verity Slater was vile and fascinating. I couldn’t wait to see what made her tick and was not disappointed in the find. HEWHAY HALL was a fascinating read that made me squirm a bit. I really enjoyed this horrific tale and would like to see more works from this talented author. Wonderful read!
May 23, 2014
Wow...that's my first impression after finishing story. I wasn't quite sure what to expect coming into this--it sounded interesting, for sure, but after reading, I really don't think the blurb does this book any justice. This is dark and gritty, with one foot planted in a very sobering, real world, while the other rests in the darkest corners of the imagination. Jude, a firefighter who is at the lowest point in his life following the loss of his leg in a horrific accident, goes off in search of hope, something that will give him back his life--a mysterious place called Hewhay Hall. The problem is, the place doesn't seem to exist. Or does it? The answer lies with someone named Verity Slater, or so he's led to believe. What follows is both unexpected and terrifying. I will not spoil what happens, but I will say that nothing is quite what it seems (and in some cases, they are much worse). The characters are well drawn, the imagination top notch, and I think that anyone who reads Neil Gaiman, or even Stephen King would appreciate this story. I hope that this author continues to write in this genre, because I truly think she has a gift for it.
October 15, 2013
Susan Roebuck's Hewhay Hall is brilliantly written. Although this is not typically my genre of choice, I could not put this book down. I was entranced from the first chapter. The main characters are incredibly well written and believable. Jude, Tess and Leah had my heart and brain fully engaged in their story. By times the hair was standing up on the back of my neck and by times my heart was weeping... this story has something for everyone.
The plot takes some unanticipated twists that will keep you on the proverbial edge of your seat.
I don't want to give away any of this plot, but I will say this.... Read this book. You will not regret it. Love this book!
The plot takes some unanticipated twists that will keep you on the proverbial edge of your seat.
I don't want to give away any of this plot, but I will say this.... Read this book. You will not regret it. Love this book!
May 22, 2012
Hewhay Hall is a brilliant read. Compelling, scary and packed full of atmosphere. Jude, Tess and Leah - the main characters - work well. They're real and credible and the relationship rings true, with just the right amount of conflict. The suspense and build up of terror is excellent and I stayed up rather later than I should as I couldn't put it down. Clever ending too, which I am not revealing. This is also a highly original plot and written in such a visual way, it demands a film! In short - loved it!
June 3, 2012
Review to follow....
July 12, 2012
Full Review: http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/1/post/2...
This was a premise with a lot of potential but, unfortunately, much of that potential failed to materialize. The lead character never quite gels and it is very difficult to share any sympathy for him even after the reader has gotten to know him a little better. The events that befall him, as he searches for Hewhay Hall never seem very credible and when you meet his wife and daughter, you can kind of see why his marriage is failing because, as supporting characters, they are both extremely irritating!
I wasn’t convinced either by the style of writing either. There was very little of any redeeming value about this book I am sorry to say and I found it virtually impossible to find anything to like about it which is a real shame because I don’t like being unduly critical of any book and always try hard to find something positive to say about the stuff I read even if I don’t necessarily enjoy it.
This was a premise with a lot of potential but, unfortunately, much of that potential failed to materialize. The lead character never quite gels and it is very difficult to share any sympathy for him even after the reader has gotten to know him a little better. The events that befall him, as he searches for Hewhay Hall never seem very credible and when you meet his wife and daughter, you can kind of see why his marriage is failing because, as supporting characters, they are both extremely irritating!
I wasn’t convinced either by the style of writing either. There was very little of any redeeming value about this book I am sorry to say and I found it virtually impossible to find anything to like about it which is a real shame because I don’t like being unduly critical of any book and always try hard to find something positive to say about the stuff I read even if I don’t necessarily enjoy it.
May 23, 2015
I loved this story with it's supernatural twists and turns. Jude Elliot is a hero. A firefighter who lost his leg saving lives. Jude doesn't feel like a hero, in fact just the opposite. he feels like he has let people down and that his handicap is ruining his families life. Jude and his wife Tess are raising Tess' seventeen year old sister Leah. When Jude meets a man named Joe who promises him a way to fix his missing leg, Jude is ecstatic and headed for the mysterious Hewhay hall, only to find things are not what they seem. The author did an amazing job bringing this story to life. The novel is suspenseful, with a mix of horror and thrills that will keep readers glued to the pages. I liked the ending of this story and think other readers will find it one they will remember, great job.
July 13, 2012
I'll admit to approaching this book with some trepidation. The author's previous - and debut - novel was a male/male romance set in cowboy country. How would she handle a dark supernatural tale? The answer is: pretty damned well. Roebuck's writing style is different from my own but I have to say that in parts my skin crawled and that little icy bicycle ran down my spine. That was a pleasant surprise. We get some good characters, too. The barmy local medium is just like someone I know. And in true Roebuck style there's no skimping on the sense of place. A commendable foray to the dark side and I hope she'll follow it up with more.
Read
March 19, 2017Well, it's my book! How can I review it LOL
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews