Those Who Dwell in Mordenhyrst Hall

by Catherine Cavendish

A new historical chiller from terrifying pen of Catherine Cavendish...

Evil runs deep at Mordenhyrst Hall…

When Grace first sets eyes on the imposing Gothic Mordenhyrst Hall, she is struck with an overwhelming sense that something doesn’t want her there. Her fiancé’s sister heads a coterie of Bright Young Things whose frivolous lives hide a sinister intent. Simon, Grace’s fiancé, is not the man she fell in love with, and the local villagers eye her with suspicion that borders on malevolence.

Her friend, Coralie, possesses the ability to communicate with powerful spirits. She convinces Grace of her own paranormal gifts – gifts Grace will need to draw deeply on as the secrets of Mordenhyrst Hall begin to unravel.

Genres: Gothic

256 pages, Paperback

Published February 13, 2024

About the author

Hello, my name's Catherine Cavendish and I write suspense novels, novellas and short stories of the ghostly, haunted, creepy kind that include supernatural, paranormal, Gothic and other, related themes.

Coming in 2026:

MATILDA'S RETREAT - Alone and isolated on a windswept moor, the centuries’ old building had seen its fair share of owners and more than its quota of dark legends when Lynn Schofield and her husband visited their friends there. From the moment they cross the threshold, it’s clear there is something very wrong here. Behind the walls is a house unlike any other and the horrors it has witnessed are embedded in its very fabric, ready and waiting for the next victim. Published by Crossroad Press, February 2026

GHOSTS OF CHANTERLANDS - Chanterlands is home to more than just the living. There’s the spectral lonely boy in whose room Pamela sleeps and, in the long-neglected attic, she discovers a sinister secret of this once-great house. But greater danger awaits Pamela during that summer long ago when war raged all over Europe and the safety her mother had wished for her took a dark and fatal turn. Published by Flame Tree Press, August 2026

Out Now:

THE STONES OF LANDANE - When Jonathan agrees to accompany his girlfriend, Nadia, on a trip to Landane, he imagines a short relaxing break in the countryside, but he quickly discovers that Nadia isn’t just drawn to the ancient Neolithic stone circle, she is obsessed by the megaliths. One in particular holds a fascination for her. Within hours, her personality begins to change, and it isn’t long before Jonathan starts to fear for her sanity. All too soon he realizes, it isn't only Nadia who is in danger

THOSE WHO DWELL IN MORDENHYRST HALL - Evil runs deep at Mordenhyrst Hall… When Grace first sets eyes on the imposing Gothic house, she is struck with an overwhelming sense that something doesn’t want her there. Her fiancé’s sister heads a coterie of Bright Young Things whose frivolous lives hide a sinister intent. Simon, Grace’s fiancé, is not the man she fell in love with, and the local villagers eye her with suspicion that borders on malevolence.

Her friend, Coralie, possesses the ability to communicate with powerful spirits. She convinces Grace of her own paranormal gifts – gifts Grace will need to draw deeply on as the secrets of Mordenhyrst Hall begin to unravel.

THE AFTER-DEATH OF CAROLINE RAND - Alli is caught between fantasy and reality, past and present, in the life of a famous singer from the 1960s and soon learns that evil infests the once-holy building she called home. Before long, Alli's fate will be sealed, and she will learn about her role in the after-death of Caroline Rand. It begins with a chilling greeting: "Welcome to The Columbine, Miss Sinclair. You are expected."

DARK OBSERVATION - is published by Flame Tree Press. In the dark days of war-torn London, Violet has more to fear than bombs. From deep within the Earth, demonic forces are rising.

IN DARKNESS, SHADOWS BREATHE. Carol and Nessa are strangers with one thing in common, they are in the hands of an entity that knows no boundaries and crosses dimensions - bending and twisting time itself - where danger waits in every shadow

THE GARDEN OF BEWITCHMENT. Historical haunted Gothic horror set in the wilds of the Yorkshire moors - pure Bronte country - with a Bronte theme.

And - THE HAUNTING OF HENDERSON CLOSE. Ghostly horror set in Edinburgh's Old Town.

My Nemesis of the Gods trilogy - WRATH OF THE ANCIENTS, WAKING THE ANCIENTS, and DAMNED BY THE ANCIENTS - features evil archeologist Dr. Emeryk Quintillus who is obsessed with reincarnating Egypt's long-dead Queen Pharaoh, Cleopatra, and is out now in new editions from Crossroad Press who also publish my novels, THE DEVIL'S SERENADE, SAVING GRACE DEVINE and my novel of the Lancashire Witches - THE PENDLE CURSE.

THE CROW WITCH AND OTHER CONJURINGS is my first short fiction collection and is published by Weird House

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Haunting Atmosphere"

Small backstory:

Simon and Grace are planning to get married but when Simon brings Grace to Mordenhyrst Hall to meet his family Grace feels out of sorts with not only the mansion and the village but also she feels that she doesn't belong at Mordenhyrst Hall as she is not welcomed as she would hope. But something is not right as there is something sinister not only lurking in the mansion but in the village as well! Something haunting - something off - something does not feel right, but what is it?

That is about all I can give on a small backstory without giving away spoilers so if you want to know more then go read this book!

Thoughts:

Once again author, Catherine Cavendish has grabbed me with her atmospheric haunting tale of Mordenhyrst Hall - a mansion that has many secrets and characters that are weaved within magnificently! You become attached to some characters and others you wish would just go away!

The story moves along at a great clip and the author describes details of the mansion, village and characters making you think that you have been pulled straight into the book as if you were experiencing and seeing what is being described in the story!

I have read many books by this author and I am always impressed by how fast she is able to pull me into her stories and keep me there for the duration of the book! Giving this book five "Sinister Suspense" stars!

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those Who Dwell in Mordenhyrst Hall is another study in atmosphere and character development from one of the best, Catherine Cavendish. Catherine could teach a master-class on successfully creating atmosphere in novels. You can see, hear, even taste and smell the location of her stories. She takes the time and does the research to make sure the reader is transported to wherever it is she wants to take them.

Mysterious occurrences abound in this tale from a small village in the 1920's. It felt like the characters from The Great Gatsby went to the house in Mexican Gothic and invited guests. The main character, Grace, is absolutely lovely and the reader is constantly tense just wanting the poor young woman to marry her love and have a happy life. The man she has fallen for is Simon Mordenhyrst, son of the Earl of Mordenhyrst. Everything is magical until Grace and Simon travel from London to Mordenhyrst Hall to meet Simon's family and announce their engagement.

The Earl has a reputation for being a philanderer, and Simon's sister Cecilia has a reputation for being an awful human being. And the family home is practically a castle. But the house and Simon's family have secrets, and the longer Grace stays there, the less safe she seems.

I highly recommend this (and any of Catherine's work) for lovers of Gothic horror.

[Russell James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic Gothic horror story with a splendid combination of mystery, suspense, and the supernatural. Catherine Cavendish paints characters that jump off the page, the good Grace into your heart and the evil Cecelia into your nightmares. A haunted estate, a creepy village, and family curses are all done with the authenticity only a seasoned British writer can deliver. As with every Catherine Cavendish book I've read, you will not be disappointed, except that the novel has to end.

[Erica Robyn Metcalf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those Who Dwell in Mordenhyrst Hall by Catherine Cavendish is an unsettling tale of love, secrets, and monsters set in a sprawling estate that holds power over a small, isolated town.

This is another amazingly mysterious and thrilling tale from Catherine Cavendish! I had an absolute blast reading this book!

Horror fans, this gothic horror story will have you ready to leave an extra light on while reading as you may just hear footsteps when no one else is around or see ghostly figures lurking… And watch out for any birds of prey!

Check out my full review here:
https://www.ericarobynreads.com/those...

[Paula Learmouth · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Grace falls in love with Simon her family warned her something wasn't right with Simon and his family. Arriving at Mordenhyrst Hall Grace knows this isn't going to be easy, especially when Simon's sister, Cecilica makes it clear from day one she doesn't want Grace there. Grace's future father-in-law is the one that bothers her the most, she not sure why, but there is something creepy about about him. It's not long before Grace feels a presents at Mordenhyrst Hall and it doesn't feel safe.
This book has it all if you mystery, gothic and horror. I have to say this book had me from the beginning, I didn't want to put it down until the end. I have to say at one point I'm sure I could hear footsteps

[Lauren Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very intriguing read! I loved the authors descriptions throughout, she really made the book come to life and there was some great character development. I really enjoyed how the history of the house unfolded and secrets came to light from a small town which held many secrets. The story was really quite eerie and it has me still thinking about it days after finishing it. I do love a good spooky story and this was definitely that! The ending came as quite a shock and I did not see it coming!

If you enjoyed eerie, gothic thrillers then this is definitely a book for you!

[Daniel R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

When she meets Viscount Simon Mordenhyrst, Grace Sutcliffe finds herself smitten. When he proposes marriage, she is surprised and pleased. Her own family has earned their money and place through hard work not because they are landed nobility as the Mordenhyrst family is. Instead of having a village to control and a vast number of servants who all know their place, the Sutcliffes have a large home and grounds in Yorkshire. If she goes through with the marriage, Grace will be leaving her station, something her father Acton Sutcliffe frowns upon. But she is young and in love and eager to be swept away by romance. It is 1928, after all, a time for women to throw aside the expectations and stuff traditions …

However, when Grace arrives in Mordenhyrst Hall, she discovers herself well and truly a fish out of water. The servants have their roles and dislike being asked to perform tasks assigned to others. She is assigned an Aide, Nell, to help with her dressing, bedtime turndowns, and whatnot … And she’s been assigned a room that no one would want: The Lemon Room is aptly named, and pretty, and quite possibly haunted by Simon’s mother. Who thought it would be a good idea for the nouveau-riche girl to sleep there? Why Simon’s own sister, Lady Cecilia Mordenhyrst. If Simon is a dear away from the house, he becomes someone quite different when he is in proximity to his catty, chilly, and meanspirited sibling. Cecilia dislikes Grace on sight and seems eager to do everything in her power to force her away from Simon. Her passion for doing so is more than a sister concerned for her brother or even a noble concerned about those of lower standing staying in their place. What could her agenda be? Surely not something … unwholesome.

While staying in the strange hall, Grace finds herself caught up in mystery. Ghostly presences, a lusty patriarch, strange encounters with unusual birds, a history of turmoil, nightmares, drastic behavior changes, Cecilia and Simon’s even cattier friends, a resentful village whose populace all bear similar features to the aforementioned patriarch …

Grace is not completely isolated, however. She makes a few friends, including Sykes, landlord of the village pub, and Coralie, an American medium from New Orleans. Both of these allies will be necessary if Grace is to get to the bottom of the mysteries surrounding Mordenhyrst Hall and the ones who call it home. She will need answers because her life is at stake, and more than that, the lives of her friends and family.

Catherine Cavendish delivers another fine blend of gothic and creature horrors with the evocatively titled Those Who Dwell in Mordenhyrst Hall. The author’s craft is as solid as we’ve come to expect. The prose engages, the plotting is swift, and there is atmosphere aplenty. One of the nicer touches this time around is the 1920s period, which is evoked well through a nice blend of character elements and period details/description. Cavendish’s fiction is often fascinated with history, and this latest volume is no different However, it is history with a cinematic edge, a sort of Hammer Horror Film for the mind’s eye with terrific, creepy locations and an engaging mystery that shifts gears into a morality play of good versus evil.

Cavendish’s text bakes the period into its storytelling marrow. Sure, we get the occasional quip about the era (this is 1928, not 1828, Dad!). However, this is a time when the world is trying to recover from the damages of World War I, when so many young men needlessly lost their lives in the trenches on the Continent. Grace lost her own brother, and the specter of his lost life haunts the opening half and pretty well drives her to oppose the evils she finds. It’s a clever use of history to appeal to character.

Regular readers of Cavendish’s fiction will find some sly nods to elements from previous books. The author’s fiction might not be taking place in the same shared universe, but they certainly have commonalities between them, both from a thematic as well as a literal sense. There are creepy foliage as we may recall from The Garden of Bewitchment and a perfectly lovely visage hiding a monstrous heritage as we found in Dark Observation. Ghosts and ancient evils that comingle with humanity stand alongside psychic danger and paranormal powers.

While some of the author’s previous books have amped up the doom and gloom, building to an atmosphere of despair, we seldom lose all hope for our plucky heroine here. Grace is initially overwhelmed, but with a little help she might actually succeed against these dangers. This dose of optimism and hope may not play well with all readers, but it’s a welcome switch from the oppressive darkness of stories like “The Oubliette of Elie Loyd,” novels like Dark Observation, or novel cycles like Nemesis of the Gods.

Those Who Dwell at Mordenhyrst Hall is an entertaining shocker. Though the ending may not appeal to fans of horror that veers into the darkest abyss possible and never quite comes out, it’s got enough punch to satisfy readers looking for a little sunshine along with their gloom-shrouded narratives. This is yet another enjoyable read from the Queen of Gothic Horror.
#
A special thank you to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for supplying an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[A.R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book didn’t blow me away, but didn’t bore me, either. Plenty of action. I liked how it’s a period piece in the roaring twenties.

[Runalong · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and atmospheric period horror where a snobbish upper class family disapprove of Claire a middle class woman marrying the eligible heir. But soon things get decidedly more spooky and I was impressed with the direction things went in- a lot of fun to read

Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...

[Adele Marie Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore books of this nature. Set in the 1920s, a decade I love to read about, this novel sets the characters in an era that brought so much change to the British countryside and the way of life before the Great War.
The author has researched this era meticulously and it shows from the smallest details of kitchen life in a big house to the fashions of the day.
Secrets and puzzles follow our heroine from the first day she sets foot in Mordenhyrst Hall. Ghostly apparitions tangle with the changes she sees in her fiance when he is around his sister who runs things as if she is the Queen of Mordenhyrst Hall. His sister takes an instant dislike to our heroine is a distant, cold, flapper typical of the era, she runs around with a gaggle of friends who are just as hedonistic as she is. Our heroine discovers horrific secrets, helped by a wonderful medium from America and her guide.
This was a wonderful read and if you are a fan of H P Lovecraft you will enjoy it just as much as I did.
I will read more of Catherine Cavendish's writing. A subtle blend of gothic with ancient folklore this novel stands out from the crowd.

[Fatguyreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those Who Dwell in Mordenhyrst Hall is my first read by Catherine Cavendish, and let me tell you, It certainly did not disappoint.

Horror is not usually my type of read, although I have read quite a few Stephen King and James Herbert novels, so I was a little apprehensive going into it, but I really did enjoy it, and read it in only two sittings.

What we have is quite an unsettling tale of love, secrets, intrigue and other worldly creatures, set in the sprawling Mordenhyrst Hall estate, which holds incredible power over a small local town.

I like to cover design and colours used, they perfectly set the tone and atmosphere for the novel.

It’s a story full mystery, thrills and scares and I found Catherine’s writing style to be good and the story flowed well. Character depth was great and the author’s descriptions of Mordenhyrst Hall and the surrounding area are top notch, enabling us, the readers to perfoectrlyt imagine that place and time in our minds.

Horror fans, be sure to pick up a copy, I’m sure you’ll love it.

4 stars from me.

[Shehanne Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

When down to earth Grace Sutcliffe meets Viscount Simon Mordenhyrst, it may not be love at first sight but it is soon after, which is always bad news in a horror story. And Catherine Cavendish is well versed in the Gothic tradition where there’s no happy ending either. All the signs are there from early on that this will not end well, and not just because Grace, is marrying well above her station into a very strange family who are not exactly rushing to throw the confetti. The estate is strange, the house is strange and the village and villagers are all in the same bracket. On the surface it would be silly to ask, can love possibly win the day?
So I’m not going to give any spoilers here. I am going to say that the Twenties setting is wonderfully captured, and evoked with an amazing attention to detail and Grace is a very likeable, sensible heroine. And yes, there’s amazing attention to detail for the horror aspects too, with a surprise and I thought, excellent, ending--which works with the title too when I stepped back and thought about it. Horror at its finest.

[Josef Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for fans of horror

For a full review, please go to https://areviewerdarkly.blogspot.com/... and follow me on X @josenher

[Magdalena Hanell · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was ridiculous. Trash lit. Avoid!

[Angi Plant · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve always enjoyed the occasional horror or supernatural story. It’s my first book by this author. This book was good in its pacing and tension. Because it was in the horror bracket I think I expected more than it was going to deliver. Its setting was interesting and well thought out but it felt like it could have been expanded upon to make a more complex character story. I’d recommend it to anyone interested in starting to read the genre that won’t send them off to hide in a corner. It’s a readable story and I enjoyed the genre change.
With thanks to Anne Cater, the publisher and the author for this advanced reading copy of the book