What do you think?
Rate this book
House of Straw
Traumatised by the tragic death of her twin brother, Brianna falls into a state of deep depression, isolating herself from the world and all those that care about her. When a twist of fate reveals that she has a half-sister she finds a new purpose in her life and sets out to find her sibling, desperately hoping she can fill the void left in her world.
Poppy has not enjoyed the same privileged lifestyle as her sister while growing up. Abandoned into the care system at the age of eight, she has encountered both physical and sexual abuse for most of her life. Passing through the hands of more care homes and foster families than she can remember, the damaged product of a broken upbringing, Poppy has never found a place to feel truly safe. Kicking back at society, she turns to drug abuse and acts of extreme violence to escape from reality.
When the two siblings are finally united, they discover that they have much more in common than their DNA. Their paths are shrouded with sinister secrets of betrayal and regret and both girls share a deep-rooted hatred for one of their parents. As the dark truths of their lives are unveiled they realise that nothing can ever be the same again...
Poppy has not enjoyed the same privileged lifestyle as her sister while growing up. Abandoned into the care system at the age of eight, she has encountered both physical and sexual abuse for most of her life. Passing through the hands of more care homes and foster families than she can remember, the damaged product of a broken upbringing, Poppy has never found a place to feel truly safe. Kicking back at society, she turns to drug abuse and acts of extreme violence to escape from reality.
When the two siblings are finally united, they discover that they have much more in common than their DNA. Their paths are shrouded with sinister secrets of betrayal and regret and both girls share a deep-rooted hatred for one of their parents. As the dark truths of their lives are unveiled they realise that nothing can ever be the same again...
- GenresFiction
409 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 20, 2018
16 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 6, 2019
This review can be found on. www.bookread2day.wordpress.com
I read this book in my bed, as in the evenings I don’t watch the telly, I prefer to read in the quiet of my bedroom, while everyone else is downstairs watching the TV.
House of Straw has a mixture of horror, and a ghostly feeling, with finding a half sister.
The horror of what happened to Bree’s twin brother made me cry.
Bree is haunted by her twins brothers accident in her car.
The scene of horror within this story, is one that on rare occasions I’ve heard about on the news.
The Scene Of Horror
Bree made her way to the car that was stationary in front of her it was halfway on a railway track.
Bree walked to the car to get them to move off the railway track, but she couldn’t see anyone inside, but heard noises, she could hear a child, that sounded like a small child sobbing. With not being able to help on her own, she went to get her drunken brother, Jamie, out of her car to help.
The shaking barrier was coming down across the railway track, behind their car. Jamie started their car shunting forward the car in front.
Bree was standing by the railway line seeing the train lights getting closer, and before she knew it,the train had smashed into her car. Jamie her twin brother was gone.
House of Straw is not a book to be missed, as there is so much more that happens in this page turning novel, but to say any more would spoil it.
I have found a new author Marc Scott to follow, all I’m now waiting for is the next novel.
I read this book in my bed, as in the evenings I don’t watch the telly, I prefer to read in the quiet of my bedroom, while everyone else is downstairs watching the TV.
House of Straw has a mixture of horror, and a ghostly feeling, with finding a half sister.
The horror of what happened to Bree’s twin brother made me cry.
Bree is haunted by her twins brothers accident in her car.
The scene of horror within this story, is one that on rare occasions I’ve heard about on the news.
The Scene Of Horror
Bree made her way to the car that was stationary in front of her it was halfway on a railway track.
Bree walked to the car to get them to move off the railway track, but she couldn’t see anyone inside, but heard noises, she could hear a child, that sounded like a small child sobbing. With not being able to help on her own, she went to get her drunken brother, Jamie, out of her car to help.
The shaking barrier was coming down across the railway track, behind their car. Jamie started their car shunting forward the car in front.
Bree was standing by the railway line seeing the train lights getting closer, and before she knew it,the train had smashed into her car. Jamie her twin brother was gone.
House of Straw is not a book to be missed, as there is so much more that happens in this page turning novel, but to say any more would spoil it.
I have found a new author Marc Scott to follow, all I’m now waiting for is the next novel.
July 27, 2020
This is an author who certainly knows how to start and end a story!
From the opening chapter, the author had my full attention. The story flicks between two half sisters Bree (Brianna) and Poppy. The two sisters couldn’t be anymore different. Bree has had a relatively privileged upbringing whilst Poppy has been in and out of different homes in care and is barely scraping a living.
Poppy you can’t help but feel empathy for even though she isn’t the most likeable of characters but then what she has been through has a lot to do with that. Through her character we are taken on a journey which involves domestic, sexual as well as drug abuse. Her story is not an easy one to read about but it helps explain the person that she has become.
Bree, I was never fully sure what to make of her. She is grieving over the loss of her twin brother and I think finding out she has another sibling, gives her something to latch onto. I cant say that Bree was that likeable either although along with Poppy, you got glimpses of something softer, they just never seemed to last for long.
House Of Straw was a dark and at times uncomfortable read that holds some real punches. It had me go through a whole array of emotions and kept me gripped throughout. The ending sent me in to turmoil with the revelations that both shocked and surprised me. Definitely wasn’t prepared for just how dark and twisted this turned out to be but it has left me very keen to read more by the author.
My thanks to the author for a readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
From the opening chapter, the author had my full attention. The story flicks between two half sisters Bree (Brianna) and Poppy. The two sisters couldn’t be anymore different. Bree has had a relatively privileged upbringing whilst Poppy has been in and out of different homes in care and is barely scraping a living.
Poppy you can’t help but feel empathy for even though she isn’t the most likeable of characters but then what she has been through has a lot to do with that. Through her character we are taken on a journey which involves domestic, sexual as well as drug abuse. Her story is not an easy one to read about but it helps explain the person that she has become.
Bree, I was never fully sure what to make of her. She is grieving over the loss of her twin brother and I think finding out she has another sibling, gives her something to latch onto. I cant say that Bree was that likeable either although along with Poppy, you got glimpses of something softer, they just never seemed to last for long.
House Of Straw was a dark and at times uncomfortable read that holds some real punches. It had me go through a whole array of emotions and kept me gripped throughout. The ending sent me in to turmoil with the revelations that both shocked and surprised me. Definitely wasn’t prepared for just how dark and twisted this turned out to be but it has left me very keen to read more by the author.
My thanks to the author for a readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Read
July 23, 2020Oh my!! When I chose to review the book, I didn’t know that I start with a GASP and end in a sigh. My first read by author Marc Scott, and believe me, he had me holding my breath at the opening scene which happened in the first couple of chapters. One of the best thriller-y yet horrifying scene to imagine. That wouldnt leave my mind anytime soon. No more railway crossings for me. EVER.
Two half sisters, unknown to each other, with the same father, Poppy and Bree. This was their story alone and when life intersected them.
My first read by this author, I was quite shaken up with the details of their lives. The writing though graphic, brought out the pathos in me at the way life turned out for them. Some of them wrenched my heart. The author managed to put great emotions into my heart with the subtleties of the scenes.
This might not be my normal read in these troubled times (my mind is too tired) but it made a great impact on me. The author wrote the realities of life in small doses so that I could cope up with the visual imagery in my mind.
Both the sisters were etched with a hand of reality. They were good when they wanted to be, and very very bad when they really wanted to be. The author sure had a wicked mind while writing their parts. The story culminated with a shocker that I never could have imagined. Whoa…
After this, I need a cozy read about unicorns and rainbow. Overall a different read for sure. I still can’t seem to take a deep breath.
Two half sisters, unknown to each other, with the same father, Poppy and Bree. This was their story alone and when life intersected them.
My first read by this author, I was quite shaken up with the details of their lives. The writing though graphic, brought out the pathos in me at the way life turned out for them. Some of them wrenched my heart. The author managed to put great emotions into my heart with the subtleties of the scenes.
This might not be my normal read in these troubled times (my mind is too tired) but it made a great impact on me. The author wrote the realities of life in small doses so that I could cope up with the visual imagery in my mind.
Both the sisters were etched with a hand of reality. They were good when they wanted to be, and very very bad when they really wanted to be. The author sure had a wicked mind while writing their parts. The story culminated with a shocker that I never could have imagined. Whoa…
After this, I need a cozy read about unicorns and rainbow. Overall a different read for sure. I still can’t seem to take a deep breath.
March 28, 2023
The author of House of Straw has a knack for captivating readers from the very first chapter. The book follows the lives of half-sisters Bree and Poppy, who come from vastly different backgrounds.
Poppy's character, though not necessarily likeable, elicits empathy from readers as her journey through domestic, sexual, and drug abuse is revealed. On the other hand, Bree's character is more difficult to understand as she struggles with grief and the discovery of a new sibling.
Despite some discomfort, House of Straw is a gripping and emotional read that keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the shocking conclusion. This book is definitely not for the faint of heart, but for those who are up for a dark and twisted ride, it's a must-read. Our sincere thanks to the author for providing us with a reader's copy of this book, and all opinions expressed in this review are our own and unbiased.
Thanks to the Author and the RR book tours for sending me an Arc.
Connect with me via:
Instagram Facebook Twitter Blogger
Poppy's character, though not necessarily likeable, elicits empathy from readers as her journey through domestic, sexual, and drug abuse is revealed. On the other hand, Bree's character is more difficult to understand as she struggles with grief and the discovery of a new sibling.
Despite some discomfort, House of Straw is a gripping and emotional read that keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the shocking conclusion. This book is definitely not for the faint of heart, but for those who are up for a dark and twisted ride, it's a must-read. Our sincere thanks to the author for providing us with a reader's copy of this book, and all opinions expressed in this review are our own and unbiased.
Thanks to the Author and the RR book tours for sending me an Arc.
Connect with me via:
Instagram Facebook Twitter Blogger
July 21, 2020
Wow, now this story has a flavour of nature versus nurture about it as you follow the lives of two half-siblings, sisters who have the same father, and how each of them turns out. The story begins with tragedy. I really can’t imagine what life would have been like if my brother had died but I think you must feel like part of you has been torn away when that sibling is a twin. Brianna or Bree as she will only answer to and Jamie were extremely close to the point of a few steps too far and their mother had worryingly separated them. But one particular night in a terrible fluke accident that they were both involved in, Jamie died. Bree fell into a severe depression.
Poppy, her older half-sister that she hadn’t known the existence of, had a very hard life and after her mother died her father put her in care at just age eight. Poppy suffered abuse throughout be it in a foster home or communal children’s home. Not long out of prison she was pulling her life together on days her abusive boyfriend wasn’t pulling her down.
The story drops back to how and when their mothers crossed the path of their father and the stories of each of their childhoods and the relationship of Bree and Jamie. Bree and Poppy seem opposites in everything, to begin with. Bree is desperate for a sibling connection while Poppy wants no hangers-on.
There is something really disturbing that niggles you as you read, a clever story, and explicit writing, impulses and twists. I became entwined in it all, pulled in and invested in the two oddball sisters’. I am smiling because I know them now. This is quite a story and quite an ending.
I wish to thank Books on the Bright Side for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
Poppy, her older half-sister that she hadn’t known the existence of, had a very hard life and after her mother died her father put her in care at just age eight. Poppy suffered abuse throughout be it in a foster home or communal children’s home. Not long out of prison she was pulling her life together on days her abusive boyfriend wasn’t pulling her down.
The story drops back to how and when their mothers crossed the path of their father and the stories of each of their childhoods and the relationship of Bree and Jamie. Bree and Poppy seem opposites in everything, to begin with. Bree is desperate for a sibling connection while Poppy wants no hangers-on.
There is something really disturbing that niggles you as you read, a clever story, and explicit writing, impulses and twists. I became entwined in it all, pulled in and invested in the two oddball sisters’. I am smiling because I know them now. This is quite a story and quite an ending.
I wish to thank Books on the Bright Side for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
October 12, 2020
House of Straw turned out to be a lot darker than I expected from reading the synopsis and it's always good when a book surprises you. It's very hard-hitting from the start as we read about the death of Brianna's twin brother, Jamie, but there's much more to this story than meets the eye.
Brianna, who prefers to be known as Bree, spirals into a pit of despair after Jamie's death and she only has one friend for support. Bree's relationship with her mother is almost non-existent and it only gets worse when she finds out that she has a half-sister, Poppy. If I thought Bree was a damaged character, Poppy is smashed beyond repair.
Poppy's life is a stark contrast to Bree's and it was heartbreaking to read about her past and present. Poppy's story is so devastating that it was often hard to read the graphic details and I felt myself recoiling in horror as her abuse was described. As much as the violence had me wincing as each blow was dealt, some of the words used in the sex scenes had me cringing. I'm not a prude by any means but I think it's better to leave some things to the imagination.
Although the storyline is gripping and intriguing, it took me a little while to get used to the writing style as the speech is quite stilted. It feels a bit odd for characters who are a little rough around the edges to be speaking the Queen's English, for example using 'I am' instead of 'I'm'. I did get used to it though, it just meant that speech didn't flow as well as it could have done.
I found it really interesting that both Poppy and Bree try to pin the blame for absolutely everything and anything on anybody but themselves; it's almost as if it's in their genes. It's really quite startling that some people don't accept responsibility for their own actions and waste so much time blaming others that they get stuck in a rut of negativity. I loved the thread of blame running throughout the novel; it's woven into the story brilliantly.
Shocking and hard-hitting, House of Straw is a very good first novel from Marc Scott and I'll be keeping an eye out for his new novel coming later this year.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Brianna, who prefers to be known as Bree, spirals into a pit of despair after Jamie's death and she only has one friend for support. Bree's relationship with her mother is almost non-existent and it only gets worse when she finds out that she has a half-sister, Poppy. If I thought Bree was a damaged character, Poppy is smashed beyond repair.
Poppy's life is a stark contrast to Bree's and it was heartbreaking to read about her past and present. Poppy's story is so devastating that it was often hard to read the graphic details and I felt myself recoiling in horror as her abuse was described. As much as the violence had me wincing as each blow was dealt, some of the words used in the sex scenes had me cringing. I'm not a prude by any means but I think it's better to leave some things to the imagination.
Although the storyline is gripping and intriguing, it took me a little while to get used to the writing style as the speech is quite stilted. It feels a bit odd for characters who are a little rough around the edges to be speaking the Queen's English, for example using 'I am' instead of 'I'm'. I did get used to it though, it just meant that speech didn't flow as well as it could have done.
I found it really interesting that both Poppy and Bree try to pin the blame for absolutely everything and anything on anybody but themselves; it's almost as if it's in their genes. It's really quite startling that some people don't accept responsibility for their own actions and waste so much time blaming others that they get stuck in a rut of negativity. I loved the thread of blame running throughout the novel; it's woven into the story brilliantly.
Shocking and hard-hitting, House of Straw is a very good first novel from Marc Scott and I'll be keeping an eye out for his new novel coming later this year.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
July 24, 2020
I absolutely love to discover new authors and Marc Scott is certainly a new author for me. I read the synopsis for 'House Of Straw' and it certainly sounded like an interesting read. I wasn't wrong either because it was certainly a very interesting read, which I really enjoyed but more about that in a bit.
I can honestly say, hand on heart that I did not like the character of Bree one bit. In fact if I could have jumped inside the pages of the book to give her a slap with a wet fish I would have done. To say that her attitude stinks is an understatement. She seems to treat people around her like dirt and she is very self centred. That's what I think at any rate. I did have a teensy weeny bit of sympathy for her when her brother died in horrific circumstances but I can honestly say that I neither liked her nor warmed to her.
It took very little time for me to get into this book. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page, I knew that I was going to be in for an interesting read and that I would find it difficult to be parted from the book for any great length of time. I was spot on too. I found it difficult to be parted from the book because there was that much going on that I didn't dare be apart from the book for any great length of time for fear on missing out on something or some vital part of the plot. This wasn't a book that I was able to read over the course of a single day but I did manage to binge read it over the course of a few days. I was intrigued by the story and I needed to know what happened to Bree and so those pages just kept turning.
'House Of Straw' is well written. The author has a writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. He has a way of drawing you into the story. Once he has your attention, he will not let you have it back until the very last word on the very last page. 'House Of Straw' is a dark and twisted plot with more twists and turns than you would find on a 'Snakes & Ladders' board. I also found the book to be quite scary at times and I would find myself almost reading through my fingers as I feared what was going to happen next. I was gripped by the story and on the edge of my seat.
In short, 'House Of Straw' is an interesting read, which I would definitely recommend. I will definitely read more of Marc's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
I can honestly say, hand on heart that I did not like the character of Bree one bit. In fact if I could have jumped inside the pages of the book to give her a slap with a wet fish I would have done. To say that her attitude stinks is an understatement. She seems to treat people around her like dirt and she is very self centred. That's what I think at any rate. I did have a teensy weeny bit of sympathy for her when her brother died in horrific circumstances but I can honestly say that I neither liked her nor warmed to her.
It took very little time for me to get into this book. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page, I knew that I was going to be in for an interesting read and that I would find it difficult to be parted from the book for any great length of time. I was spot on too. I found it difficult to be parted from the book because there was that much going on that I didn't dare be apart from the book for any great length of time for fear on missing out on something or some vital part of the plot. This wasn't a book that I was able to read over the course of a single day but I did manage to binge read it over the course of a few days. I was intrigued by the story and I needed to know what happened to Bree and so those pages just kept turning.
'House Of Straw' is well written. The author has a writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. He has a way of drawing you into the story. Once he has your attention, he will not let you have it back until the very last word on the very last page. 'House Of Straw' is a dark and twisted plot with more twists and turns than you would find on a 'Snakes & Ladders' board. I also found the book to be quite scary at times and I would find myself almost reading through my fingers as I feared what was going to happen next. I was gripped by the story and on the edge of my seat.
In short, 'House Of Straw' is an interesting read, which I would definitely recommend. I will definitely read more of Marc's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
October 24, 2019
I read this book in a day. I found I was immediately pulled into the story, intrigued about what was happening and interested in the history of the characters, particularly Poppy. After reading the synopsis I did assume that Bree and Poppy would meet much sooner and their relationship would develop further than it did, but the story is much more about their pasts, and how they came to be where they are now.
The reader is thrown headfirst into the story, within the first 20 pages there is a dramatic, tragic event, and although it doesn’t continue in quite such a fast-paced way throughout, I found I was gripped throughout most of the book. The middle of the book is a bit slower, filling in a lot of the backstories of the characters. Generally I found this really interesting, and very harrowing in parts, particularly with regards to Poppy. I struggled to like the character of Bree however, but there wasn’t as much about her so maybe that was why.
The story jumps around quite a lot, moving from past to present, character to character, but it was easy enough to follow - the story is told in third person so the tone of voice remains much the same throughout.
The story is very descriptive, sometimes a little repetitively so - for example, Matt the chef is a Geordie, and this fact was mentioned almost every time the character made an appearance in the story. I also found the dialogue a little robotic at times, as I was reading it I realised how few contractions there were when the characters were speaking, which sometimes made it feel a little stilted.
Overall, I think this is a really good thriller. It kept up momentum throughout the book, and while I did find the ending a little far-fetched and a bit disturbing in points, I still really enjoyed it, and found it was a satisfying conclusion.
The reader is thrown headfirst into the story, within the first 20 pages there is a dramatic, tragic event, and although it doesn’t continue in quite such a fast-paced way throughout, I found I was gripped throughout most of the book. The middle of the book is a bit slower, filling in a lot of the backstories of the characters. Generally I found this really interesting, and very harrowing in parts, particularly with regards to Poppy. I struggled to like the character of Bree however, but there wasn’t as much about her so maybe that was why.
The story jumps around quite a lot, moving from past to present, character to character, but it was easy enough to follow - the story is told in third person so the tone of voice remains much the same throughout.
The story is very descriptive, sometimes a little repetitively so - for example, Matt the chef is a Geordie, and this fact was mentioned almost every time the character made an appearance in the story. I also found the dialogue a little robotic at times, as I was reading it I realised how few contractions there were when the characters were speaking, which sometimes made it feel a little stilted.
Overall, I think this is a really good thriller. It kept up momentum throughout the book, and while I did find the ending a little far-fetched and a bit disturbing in points, I still really enjoyed it, and found it was a satisfying conclusion.
June 6, 2020
Bree has just lost her twin brotherJamie whom she was close to in a tragic accident that she was part of herself. She keeps seeing a small girl dressed in a sowester as if she is staring at her. Poppy has a violent boyfriend and has had a troubled past. She now works in a restaurant which she both enjoys and does well at. Cameron, her boyfriend has other ideas and takes all her money to fulfill his habit. Poppy does her best to sort out the bills and is at danger of eviction as the rent is way overdue, Cameron being selfish doesn't contribute at all from his “pay”- he is a dole scrounger. We go back in time to when Poppy was in care and to before she was born. There are several brutal scenes in this from the accident to Poppy being abused as a child. This is quite a “wordy” read if you get my meaning- there are excellent, although at times disturbing, graphic descriptions of abuse, sex and violence. For me, some of the characters being rough around the edges for want of a better term and the others perfectly normal with regard to speech, the language didn’t really fit. Everything was put in full rather than the abridged which I believe they would have used. for example “ I am now going” rather than “I’m going”. This (to me) would have given it a better flow and a more raw character and real life persona. It was as if english was not their first language. That said its a clever complex read and a hard hitting one.
March 24, 2023
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
Thank you to my partner, R & R Book Tours, and the author, Marc Scott. I appreciate the gifted ecopy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!
1. The Evil and Vile - When I read the things that Poppy had to endure within the confines of the foster care system, I found myself holding my breathe. It deeply saddens me knowing that these things happen and scar the poor young children for life. I wish there was a way to ensure the safety of all 💔
2. Unthinkable Grief - The accident that takes the life of Bree’s brother, Jamie, is so heart-wrenchingly sad. I was stunned for quite some time after it.
3. Unfaithfulness - It is never at the forefront of one’s mind what the act of betrayal will do and continue to do to the lives of everyone involved. This novel site brings all of it crashing down.
4. Mystery - Who is the girl in the yellow rain coat? Who is the drowning man? —— We do get the answers and I’m still trying to wrap my head around those answers.
5. Sad - Every part of this story is centered around such sadness. Even when the characters are at their happiest, the sadness just lurks in the background. My heart broke for each and every character in one way or another.
What a moving and heart-wrenching story revolving around the lives of family who don’t even know they’re family. The ending definitely shocked me and was not something that I predicted as I read the story. Another highly recommended read from me to you!
Thank you to my partner, R & R Book Tours, and the author, Marc Scott. I appreciate the gifted ecopy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!
1. The Evil and Vile - When I read the things that Poppy had to endure within the confines of the foster care system, I found myself holding my breathe. It deeply saddens me knowing that these things happen and scar the poor young children for life. I wish there was a way to ensure the safety of all 💔
2. Unthinkable Grief - The accident that takes the life of Bree’s brother, Jamie, is so heart-wrenchingly sad. I was stunned for quite some time after it.
3. Unfaithfulness - It is never at the forefront of one’s mind what the act of betrayal will do and continue to do to the lives of everyone involved. This novel site brings all of it crashing down.
4. Mystery - Who is the girl in the yellow rain coat? Who is the drowning man? —— We do get the answers and I’m still trying to wrap my head around those answers.
5. Sad - Every part of this story is centered around such sadness. Even when the characters are at their happiest, the sadness just lurks in the background. My heart broke for each and every character in one way or another.
What a moving and heart-wrenching story revolving around the lives of family who don’t even know they’re family. The ending definitely shocked me and was not something that I predicted as I read the story. Another highly recommended read from me to you!
July 25, 2020
OMG what an opening chapter. I felt numb as I read the events of that tragic evening. The thought of losing a sibling is heart breaking but I know that twins have a very different relationship… I work with three twins and they are all very tight!
These are two women connected by fraternal blood and DNA but couldn’t be more different… but mentally both messed up by the cards life has dealt them. This story really hammers home that money does not necessarily make you happy. Poppy’s story was heartbreaking and yet to see her change over the years because of her upbringing was upsetting in a different way. Bree on the other hand was so insular after losing Jamie, determined to push everyone away. But one conversation with a six year old … kids can be so perceptive it’s scary!
It was addictive reading as the narrative switched between Poppy, Bree and the past. I really wanted to see how the two sisters’ relationship developed particularly with their such different backgrounds. How would this story end? Who was the girl in the yellow coat? That was one mystery I couldn’t solve. Scott has written a complex domestic noir, emotionally charged book. I really enjoyed it!
These are two women connected by fraternal blood and DNA but couldn’t be more different… but mentally both messed up by the cards life has dealt them. This story really hammers home that money does not necessarily make you happy. Poppy’s story was heartbreaking and yet to see her change over the years because of her upbringing was upsetting in a different way. Bree on the other hand was so insular after losing Jamie, determined to push everyone away. But one conversation with a six year old … kids can be so perceptive it’s scary!
It was addictive reading as the narrative switched between Poppy, Bree and the past. I really wanted to see how the two sisters’ relationship developed particularly with their such different backgrounds. How would this story end? Who was the girl in the yellow coat? That was one mystery I couldn’t solve. Scott has written a complex domestic noir, emotionally charged book. I really enjoyed it!
July 27, 2020
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
I thought that this was a fantastic story – it had me well and truly hooked, it kicked off with a bang and left me reeling at the end – it was bloody excellent!!
This book is well developed, it is well written and it has some fabulous characters, they are so well developed and I loved following them through the story and liked the hidden depths and secrets that came out as I moved through the book. I was glued to the story and was pressing the button on my kindle so fast, it was a proper page turner (or clicker)!
The characters are really well developed and the interaction is great. I loved the descriptions in the book, the plot was complex and there were plenty of twists and turns for me to keep me fully engaged too
I was hooked by this one – it was a story that held my attention from start to finish - it is 5 stars from me for this one – very highly recommended and a gripping read – I really loved it!!
I thought that this was a fantastic story – it had me well and truly hooked, it kicked off with a bang and left me reeling at the end – it was bloody excellent!!
This book is well developed, it is well written and it has some fabulous characters, they are so well developed and I loved following them through the story and liked the hidden depths and secrets that came out as I moved through the book. I was glued to the story and was pressing the button on my kindle so fast, it was a proper page turner (or clicker)!
The characters are really well developed and the interaction is great. I loved the descriptions in the book, the plot was complex and there were plenty of twists and turns for me to keep me fully engaged too
I was hooked by this one – it was a story that held my attention from start to finish - it is 5 stars from me for this one – very highly recommended and a gripping read – I really loved it!!
July 26, 2020
This debut novel is not an easy read. There is so much heartache and sadness and there are points in the book where I had to put it down to take a breath. However, it is a thought-provoking novel of the foster care system and mental illness.
The story of two half-sisters, Bree and Poppy, and their unfathomable pasts is very well-written and will make you angry at the injustices they suffered from their parents, authorities, and others.
The characters are well-developed and have very deep dark secrets that are gradually and skillfully revealed throughout the story including a real shock at the end.
Overall, this is a realistic and extremely horrific portrayal of love gone wrong, abandonment, and loneliness. An emotional and fast-paced thriller with a gripping plot. A warning that the book has triggers of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
Thank you to Mr. Scott for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
The story of two half-sisters, Bree and Poppy, and their unfathomable pasts is very well-written and will make you angry at the injustices they suffered from their parents, authorities, and others.
The characters are well-developed and have very deep dark secrets that are gradually and skillfully revealed throughout the story including a real shock at the end.
Overall, this is a realistic and extremely horrific portrayal of love gone wrong, abandonment, and loneliness. An emotional and fast-paced thriller with a gripping plot. A warning that the book has triggers of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
Thank you to Mr. Scott for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
July 23, 2020
First I want to thank Marc Scott and BOTBSPublicity for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.
House of Straw by Marc Scott is a book that is very emotional, tragic, and suspenseful at times.
I loved how strong of a bond that Bree and her brother Jamie had. She just adored him! My heart broke when he was killed in a tragic accident and tore Bree’s life apart.
Marc’s writing was intense when it came to writing the accident scene! It was so deep, intense, suspenseful, and so very tragic. It was one of the most powerful scenes of the book.
Another character my heart broke for was Polly. Polly had such a difficult life.
There are definitely some secrets and shocking moments in this book.
Marc dedicated this book in memory of Ian. He was a beautiful soul who he called his friend on this uncertain journey.
House of Straw by Marc Scott is a book that is very emotional, tragic, and suspenseful at times.
I loved how strong of a bond that Bree and her brother Jamie had. She just adored him! My heart broke when he was killed in a tragic accident and tore Bree’s life apart.
Marc’s writing was intense when it came to writing the accident scene! It was so deep, intense, suspenseful, and so very tragic. It was one of the most powerful scenes of the book.
Another character my heart broke for was Polly. Polly had such a difficult life.
There are definitely some secrets and shocking moments in this book.
Marc dedicated this book in memory of Ian. He was a beautiful soul who he called his friend on this uncertain journey.
June 5, 2023
This was a dark and addicting read. I will warn you, there are moments that may make you extremely uncomfortable, and depending on what you've experienced in your life, you may find those moments triggering. Poppy and Brianna are so different - but bound together by some dark secrets. My heart absolutely broke for Poppy and all she's had to go through - but I love her spirit, and how she hasn't let it break her. I did like both Poppy and Brianna as characters, and I found the way their differences were highlighted and the way they bonded very interesting. The plot moves along fairly swiftly, and there are a few mysteries wrapped up in the plot (that do get resolved by the end, but keep you wondering until you discover the solution). I cannot recommend this enough if you're looking for a dark, emotional book that will have your heart racing.
July 29, 2020
Whew! House of Straw by Marc Scott is a dark and twisted tale, that kept me immersed in this story. I was on a Rollercoaster from page one, and the ride didn’t stop until the last page. I read this late into the night because I couldn’t put it down.
The characters are intriguing. Some are meant to be disliked and others are meant to be cared for. They are all well-rounded and their character back stories are deep.
Honestly, you really just need to read this. House of Straw has all the elements I look for in a great book. And the twists! Wow. Highly recommended!!
Rating:
5/5☆
*I recieved a free copy of this book from BOTBS Publicity in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
The characters are intriguing. Some are meant to be disliked and others are meant to be cared for. They are all well-rounded and their character back stories are deep.
Honestly, you really just need to read this. House of Straw has all the elements I look for in a great book. And the twists! Wow. Highly recommended!!
Rating:
5/5☆
*I recieved a free copy of this book from BOTBS Publicity in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
July 23, 2020
This book had the wow factor for me. It sucked me in from the start and I was gripped all the way through.
In a tragic accident Bree lost her twin brother Jamie. She’s not dealing with the loss very well. We also have Poppy who hasn’t had a good life so far and her present life isn’t much better. My heart went out to her.
This is a well written descriptive and complex story. I’m really looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
In a tragic accident Bree lost her twin brother Jamie. She’s not dealing with the loss very well. We also have Poppy who hasn’t had a good life so far and her present life isn’t much better. My heart went out to her.
This is a well written descriptive and complex story. I’m really looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
May 30, 2023
2 sisters, or 2 half sisters as Poppy would say. Untangling the threads of their lives until they came face to face, and it couldn’t of gone worse. Brees obsessional love for her twin brother who just died and Poppys childhood of trauma and prison stays, combine the two and chaos is ensured along with secrets spilt
March 22, 2023
The very first chapter of House of Straw is like a punch in the gut - totally sucks the breath right out of you and instantly connects you with the main character. Fans who like edge-of-your-seat thrillers, multiple POVs, and exploring the Nature vs. Nurture debate will get a kick out of this one!
March 20, 2023
Dark and twisted, loved it!
September 2, 2021
House of Straw is a thriller novel which depicts the intertwining lives of two half-sisters. Brianna and Poppy lead very different lives, and after the death of her twin brother, Brianna falls into a deep depression. She feels as if she will... read the full review here: https://www.amybucklesbookshelf.co.uk...
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews