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Hearthstone Cottage
Mike Carter and his girlfriend Helen, along with their friends Alex and Kay, travel to a remote loch side cottage for a post-graduation holiday. But their celebrations are short-lived when they hit and kill a stag on the road. Alex s sister Meggie awaits them in the cottage, adding to the tension when her dog, Oscar, goes missing. Mike becomes haunted by a disturbing presence in the cottage, and is hunted by threatening figures in the highland fog. Reeling from a shock revelation, Mike begins to lose his grip on his sanity. As the dark secrets of the past conspire to destroy the bonds of friendship, Mike must uncover the terrifying truth dwelling within the walls of Hearthstone Cottage.
231 pages, Paperback
First published October 24, 2019
28 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
About the author
Frazer Lee
30 books91 followersFrazer Lee is a novelist, screenwriter, and filmmaker whose debut novel The Lamplighters was a Bram Stoker Award® Finalist. His film credits include the acclaimed feature film Panic Button. Frazer resides with his family in Buckinghamshire, just across the cemetery from the real-life Hammer House of Horror.
Connect with Frazer:
Official website: www.frazerlee.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorFrazerLee
Twitter: www.twitter.com/frazer_lee
Connect with Frazer:
Official website: www.frazerlee.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorFrazerLee
Twitter: www.twitter.com/frazer_lee
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
July 28, 2019
This book begins with a very good horror premise: four friends go to a remote loch side cottage to celebrate after their final exams, when they hit and kill a stag. The four friends (Mike, Helen, Alex and Kay) are met at the cottage by Alex's sister, Meggie. Mike begins having increasingly creepy visions/hallucinations/haunting and Meggie's dog goes missing. Is the cottage haunted? Is this witchcraft? Is Mike mentally ill? What secrets lie hidden in the cottage?
For me this book was enjoyable, but I wanted more. I wanted it to up the atmosphere, to up the creepy factor. To make things scary. When I read a book in the "horror" category, I want it to scare me, to have me hiding under the covers with a flashlight, checking under the bed, behind doors, in the closet and pulling back the shower door to see if I am home alone (come on, you know you have done this). This one wasn't scary for me. I wanted MORE.
I still came away enjoying this book and found it to be a fast read. I enjoyed watching/reading Mike unravel as he tried to figure out what was happening to him and around him. Things picked up at the end and got interesting.
Thank you to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
For me this book was enjoyable, but I wanted more. I wanted it to up the atmosphere, to up the creepy factor. To make things scary. When I read a book in the "horror" category, I want it to scare me, to have me hiding under the covers with a flashlight, checking under the bed, behind doors, in the closet and pulling back the shower door to see if I am home alone (come on, you know you have done this). This one wasn't scary for me. I wanted MORE.
I still came away enjoying this book and found it to be a fast read. I enjoyed watching/reading Mike unravel as he tried to figure out what was happening to him and around him. Things picked up at the end and got interesting.
Thank you to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 18, 2019
Creepy, Eerie and Not For The Sensitive Reader!!I
The story takes place in Scotland and surrounds two couples who have just graduated from their universities and want to enjoy a vacation before beginning their new lives. As they near the cottage (small mansion) in their rented 4×4, they see a large stag in the road and sadly they do hit the animal and cause great damage to their vehicle as well. All four of the young people are banged up and feel very bad for the animal but unfortunately their cell phones won't get a signal in this desolate part of the town where the cottage is located and cannot get any other help.
From the moment they arrive at their residence, strange things begin to happen especially to one boy in particular, but he just continues to come up with plausible excuses to assuage his concerns and fears. The couples were the best of friends but as each hour goes by they begin to feel as if they really don't know or trust one another and realize (Just maybe) they should never have come on this trip!
This was a wonderfully creepy and fun story and really had me guessing what was behind all the possibly supernatural events that were happening. Lovely Scottish, atmospheric storytelling and locations. I will definitely read more by Frazer Lee and recommend this to many horror readers! I will have to take off 1 star though because "Chapter 11" was missing in my ARC copy. Sadly, this was an important chapter because there was a character brought forward and I just didn't know who they were talking about in the future chapters and I would keep rereading previous parts of the book trying to make sense of who and what the other characters were referring too. This was very disappointing for me because I was enjoying the story but I was very confused before I finely realized a chapter was missing. (Long chapters also).
WARNING! Not for Vegans or very Sensitive readers! Horror readers can't be too sensitive though, Right?
I want to thank the publisher "Flame Tree Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this deliciously, dark novel!
I definitely recommend this book and have given a rating of 3 1/2 Terrifying 🌟🌟🌟✴ Stars!!
The story takes place in Scotland and surrounds two couples who have just graduated from their universities and want to enjoy a vacation before beginning their new lives. As they near the cottage (small mansion) in their rented 4×4, they see a large stag in the road and sadly they do hit the animal and cause great damage to their vehicle as well. All four of the young people are banged up and feel very bad for the animal but unfortunately their cell phones won't get a signal in this desolate part of the town where the cottage is located and cannot get any other help.
From the moment they arrive at their residence, strange things begin to happen especially to one boy in particular, but he just continues to come up with plausible excuses to assuage his concerns and fears. The couples were the best of friends but as each hour goes by they begin to feel as if they really don't know or trust one another and realize (Just maybe) they should never have come on this trip!
This was a wonderfully creepy and fun story and really had me guessing what was behind all the possibly supernatural events that were happening. Lovely Scottish, atmospheric storytelling and locations. I will definitely read more by Frazer Lee and recommend this to many horror readers! I will have to take off 1 star though because "Chapter 11" was missing in my ARC copy. Sadly, this was an important chapter because there was a character brought forward and I just didn't know who they were talking about in the future chapters and I would keep rereading previous parts of the book trying to make sense of who and what the other characters were referring too. This was very disappointing for me because I was enjoying the story but I was very confused before I finely realized a chapter was missing. (Long chapters also).
WARNING! Not for Vegans or very Sensitive readers! Horror readers can't be too sensitive though, Right?
I want to thank the publisher "Flame Tree Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this deliciously, dark novel!
I definitely recommend this book and have given a rating of 3 1/2 Terrifying 🌟🌟🌟✴ Stars!!
January 5, 2023
My thanks to Flame Tree Press and Netgalley. I was rather excited to get this book. It has everything I love in stories. Scotland? √ Highlands?√√ Possible hauntings/witch/maybe crazy? Heck.yes! This books had some freaking atmosphere. Then it would not. Then again..atmosphere! Then not. Truly, it was almost like this tale didn't know what it wanted to be! What it is though is good. Not great, but damn good! It was a whole twisty kind of w.t.h? My main problem was that from the beginning, I knew what was up. I hate that! I'm not sure everyone will know what's going on though. This solution is my default device. Also, what an ending!
November 24, 2019
Creepy, Eerie and Not For The Sensitive Reader!!
The story takes place in Scotland and surrounds two couples who have just graduated from their universities and want to enjoy a vacation before beginning their new lives. As they near the cottage (small mansion) in their rented 4×4, they see a large stag in the road and sadly they do hit the animal and cause great damage to their vehicle as well. All four of the young people are banged up and feel very bad for the animal but unfortunately their cell phones won't get a signal in this desolate part of the town where the cottage is located and cannot get any outside help.
From the moment they arrive at their residence, strange things begin to happen especially to one boy in particular, but he just continues to come up with plausible excuses to assuage his concerns and fears. The couples were the best of friends but as each hour goes by they begin to feel as if they really don't know or trust one another and realize (Just maybe) they should never have come in this trip!
This was a wonderfully creepy and fun story and really had me guessing what was behind all the possibly supernatural events that were happening. Lovely Scottish, atmospheric storytelling and locations. I will definitely read more by Frazer Lee and recommend this to many horror readers!
I will have to take off 1 star though because "Chapter 11" was missing in my ARC copy. Sadly, this was an important chapter because there was a character brought forward and I just didn't know who they were talking about in the future chapters and I would keep rereading previous parts of the book trying to make sense of who and what the other characters were referring too. This was very disappointing for me because I was enjoying the story but I was very confused before I finely realized a chapter was missing. (Long chapters also).
WARNING! Not for Vegans or very Sensitive readers! Horror readers can't be too sensitive though, Right?
I want to thank the publisher "Flame Tree Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this deliciously, dark novel!
I definitely recommend and have given a rating of 3 1/2 Terrifying 🌟🌟🌟✴ Stars!!
The story takes place in Scotland and surrounds two couples who have just graduated from their universities and want to enjoy a vacation before beginning their new lives. As they near the cottage (small mansion) in their rented 4×4, they see a large stag in the road and sadly they do hit the animal and cause great damage to their vehicle as well. All four of the young people are banged up and feel very bad for the animal but unfortunately their cell phones won't get a signal in this desolate part of the town where the cottage is located and cannot get any outside help.
From the moment they arrive at their residence, strange things begin to happen especially to one boy in particular, but he just continues to come up with plausible excuses to assuage his concerns and fears. The couples were the best of friends but as each hour goes by they begin to feel as if they really don't know or trust one another and realize (Just maybe) they should never have come in this trip!
This was a wonderfully creepy and fun story and really had me guessing what was behind all the possibly supernatural events that were happening. Lovely Scottish, atmospheric storytelling and locations. I will definitely read more by Frazer Lee and recommend this to many horror readers!
I will have to take off 1 star though because "Chapter 11" was missing in my ARC copy. Sadly, this was an important chapter because there was a character brought forward and I just didn't know who they were talking about in the future chapters and I would keep rereading previous parts of the book trying to make sense of who and what the other characters were referring too. This was very disappointing for me because I was enjoying the story but I was very confused before I finely realized a chapter was missing. (Long chapters also).
WARNING! Not for Vegans or very Sensitive readers! Horror readers can't be too sensitive though, Right?
I want to thank the publisher "Flame Tree Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this deliciously, dark novel!
I definitely recommend and have given a rating of 3 1/2 Terrifying 🌟🌟🌟✴ Stars!!
October 28, 2019
Two couples and one younger sister. An isolated cabin in Scotland near a loch. No cell phones. No internet. Just peace. A celebration of college graduation. Perfect getaway, right?
Wrong.
Mike Carter knows something is very, very wrong almost from the start. Hearthstone Cottage is beautiful, but has a strange vibe. Something doesn't seem right. Visions of a dead stag. Meggie's missing dog. Hallucinations and nightmares. Strange creatures in the woods. An eerie circle of stones. Local legends about a witch's execution. Surprise revelations. As Mike feels his grip on sanity ebbing away, their trip only gets worse.
I love stories like this! As I read, I kept visions of the story playing in my head like a mental movie. This would make an excellent late-night film! Has most of this story been done before in one way or another? Sure....vacay in isolated cabin gone wrong is a popular horror book and movie plot. Why not? Don't we all have a fear of being pursued by evil we can't escape or don't fully understand? A mix of our own secrets and a dark presence.......that's the stuff of nightmares. Makes for a great story!
I read most of this book sitting out on my porch after dark with a coffee and a fuzzy blanket. It just sets the perfect atmosphere for a horror story. Woods across the street rustling in the breeze...a few snapping twigs...sounds of night creatures scurrying....the velvet darkness. About halfway through the story, I had to come inside. It was creeping me out to read this tale in the dark. I love it when a horror story creeps me out enough to go running back inside! :)
Great creepy story! I thoroughly enjoyed it! This is the first book by Frazer Lee that I've read. I will definitely be reading more. I like his writing style. This story builds suspense and creepy vibes from the very start. Well-written, entertaining and definitely creepy!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Flame Tree Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
Wrong.
Mike Carter knows something is very, very wrong almost from the start. Hearthstone Cottage is beautiful, but has a strange vibe. Something doesn't seem right. Visions of a dead stag. Meggie's missing dog. Hallucinations and nightmares. Strange creatures in the woods. An eerie circle of stones. Local legends about a witch's execution. Surprise revelations. As Mike feels his grip on sanity ebbing away, their trip only gets worse.
I love stories like this! As I read, I kept visions of the story playing in my head like a mental movie. This would make an excellent late-night film! Has most of this story been done before in one way or another? Sure....vacay in isolated cabin gone wrong is a popular horror book and movie plot. Why not? Don't we all have a fear of being pursued by evil we can't escape or don't fully understand? A mix of our own secrets and a dark presence.......that's the stuff of nightmares. Makes for a great story!
I read most of this book sitting out on my porch after dark with a coffee and a fuzzy blanket. It just sets the perfect atmosphere for a horror story. Woods across the street rustling in the breeze...a few snapping twigs...sounds of night creatures scurrying....the velvet darkness. About halfway through the story, I had to come inside. It was creeping me out to read this tale in the dark. I love it when a horror story creeps me out enough to go running back inside! :)
Great creepy story! I thoroughly enjoyed it! This is the first book by Frazer Lee that I've read. I will definitely be reading more. I like his writing style. This story builds suspense and creepy vibes from the very start. Well-written, entertaining and definitely creepy!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Flame Tree Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
October 1, 2019
HEARTHSTONE COTTAGE, by Frazer Lee started off with a strong sense of "chilling" atmosphere, and just the right amount of foreboding. The location, woods, cottage, village, river were perfect additions to the "wrongness" felt as you begin your journey.
Why the two-star rating then?
Without spoilers, it's impossible to say exactly why, but there are a few things that I can mention that just bothered me, personally.
The characters--especially Mike, who is the main one that seems to be affected by whatever it is that is lingering in this cottage--were either forgettable, or unlikeable. In Mike's case, I simply couldn't like him enough to even care about what he was going through. The things with the others... were inconsistent, if nothing else. It felt like something was building up, and then there would be nothing at all for a while. In truth, the narrative style used was one I don't usually enjoy, so I realize that was a good part of my problem.
Overall, I have to say that it was the type of delivery, the lack of connection to the characters, and the fact that I figured out what was happening extremely early on that led to this one falling flat for me. Although the concept was good, I think the focus being shifted to the past events a little more would have helped me get more out of it.
Thank you to NetGalley/Flame Tree Press for an arc of this novel.
Why the two-star rating then?
Without spoilers, it's impossible to say exactly why, but there are a few things that I can mention that just bothered me, personally.
The characters--especially Mike, who is the main one that seems to be affected by whatever it is that is lingering in this cottage--were either forgettable, or unlikeable. In Mike's case, I simply couldn't like him enough to even care about what he was going through. The things with the others... were inconsistent, if nothing else. It felt like something was building up, and then there would be nothing at all for a while. In truth, the narrative style used was one I don't usually enjoy, so I realize that was a good part of my problem.
Overall, I have to say that it was the type of delivery, the lack of connection to the characters, and the fact that I figured out what was happening extremely early on that led to this one falling flat for me. Although the concept was good, I think the focus being shifted to the past events a little more would have helped me get more out of it.
Thank you to NetGalley/Flame Tree Press for an arc of this novel.
June 12, 2019
When four friends take a holiday at a remote Scottish cottage, the accidental death of a stag causes something dark to stir within it's walls.
Something that reaches out from the past, driving one of them to the edges of alcoholism and insanity.
His past sins are the catalyst.....but there are older debts, darker sins waiting in Hearthstone Cottage.....and now, there are choices to be made because what has been wronged must be repaid.
A chilling, atmospheric tale that creeps up on you like fog off a loch.
Highly recommended.
Expected publication: October 10, 2019 by Flame Tree Press
This was an eARC from Netgalley.
Something that reaches out from the past, driving one of them to the edges of alcoholism and insanity.
His past sins are the catalyst.....but there are older debts, darker sins waiting in Hearthstone Cottage.....and now, there are choices to be made because what has been wronged must be repaid.
A chilling, atmospheric tale that creeps up on you like fog off a loch.
Highly recommended.
Expected publication: October 10, 2019 by Flame Tree Press
This was an eARC from Netgalley.
December 29, 2019
3.5
I think the majority of this book can be summed up with this quote from chapter 15-
"Mike felt the fevered grip of madness clawing at the inside of his skull. He no longer knew what was real and what wasn't."
Mike, his girlfriend Helen , Amy and her boyfriend Alex are all on vacation at Alex's family cottage. They arrive unhurt after hitting and killing a stag. Almost immediately things begin happening to Mike. He's not really a likable guy so whatever Mike! Whatever is in the cottage really has it out for him. His dreams are nightmares, he sees and hears things his friends don't. For most of the book I had no idea what was going on. It wasn't until the last 20% things are explained. The setting for this story is beautiful. I loved the cottage on the loch. There is some folklore bits in here that i really loved. The characters were ok. I would recommend this book to friends and i would read more by this author.
I think the majority of this book can be summed up with this quote from chapter 15-
"Mike felt the fevered grip of madness clawing at the inside of his skull. He no longer knew what was real and what wasn't."
Mike, his girlfriend Helen , Amy and her boyfriend Alex are all on vacation at Alex's family cottage. They arrive unhurt after hitting and killing a stag. Almost immediately things begin happening to Mike. He's not really a likable guy so whatever Mike! Whatever is in the cottage really has it out for him. His dreams are nightmares, he sees and hears things his friends don't. For most of the book I had no idea what was going on. It wasn't until the last 20% things are explained. The setting for this story is beautiful. I loved the cottage on the loch. There is some folklore bits in here that i really loved. The characters were ok. I would recommend this book to friends and i would read more by this author.
November 5, 2019
Two couples head off for a celebratory post graduation stay at Hearthstone cottage. Their vacation starts off with a bang when they have a car accident near their destination, totaling their car and leaving them without means of escape should there be any spooky happenings, and there will be! There is something very wrong with this cottage and with the village itself.
After that literally smashing beginning the pace did slow down quite a bit, but rapidly accelerated at about the halfway point when Mike explores the village on his own after his girlfriend is gone for an unusually long time in a borrowed car. It was at this point that the spooky atmosphere really kicked into overdrive.
I received an advance copy for review.
After that literally smashing beginning the pace did slow down quite a bit, but rapidly accelerated at about the halfway point when Mike explores the village on his own after his girlfriend is gone for an unusually long time in a borrowed car. It was at this point that the spooky atmosphere really kicked into overdrive.
I received an advance copy for review.
November 6, 2019
2 and 1/2 stars
I so wanted to love this book. Always been keen on haunted house stories, but, alas, as much as I wanted to dig everything in this one the story overall left me a little cold. The narrative may be strong, the story well-developed but it's the characters that did for me. They weren't very likable in my humble opinion. In the end I barely cared what happened to them. A shame, for I truly had I hopes that the author would redeem himself on that part. Not meant to be, it seems. Still I would say, give it a go, if you like slow-burns in your horror. You could do a lot worse than HEARTHSTONE COTTAGE. And who knows? You may end up digging it more than I did. It happened before. In the end, it's only my two cents.
I so wanted to love this book. Always been keen on haunted house stories, but, alas, as much as I wanted to dig everything in this one the story overall left me a little cold. The narrative may be strong, the story well-developed but it's the characters that did for me. They weren't very likable in my humble opinion. In the end I barely cared what happened to them. A shame, for I truly had I hopes that the author would redeem himself on that part. Not meant to be, it seems. Still I would say, give it a go, if you like slow-burns in your horror. You could do a lot worse than HEARTHSTONE COTTAGE. And who knows? You may end up digging it more than I did. It happened before. In the end, it's only my two cents.
October 24, 2019
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
I first discovered Frazer Lee’s work by reading The Daniel Gates Adventures. The novellas were a fun time and I loved Lee’s occult leanings and descriptions
Big thanks to Flametree Press and Netgalley for offering this one up, which I hungrily snagged based on the cover and the synopsis.
The book opens up where we follow a group of young adults who’ve recently graduated from University. We are introduced to Alex, his girlfriend Kay, Mike and his girlfriend Helen, as they travel to Alex’s parent’s cottage. Hearthstone is known to have a history, which Mike is soon to find out.
Throughout Lee introduces a level of creepiness that oozed off of the pages. This worked as a positive, but at times as a negative for me. Every time it felt like Lee was really ramping things up, the creepiness would overtake things and then there’d be a subdued finale. I just kept begging Lee to build and to really let loose.
He does this a few times and that was what kept me in check, engaged.
The main character, Mike, is a bit of an annoying character, but I found that it really worked for me. I wanted things to happen to him. I wanted whatever was haunting or possessing this cottage to rip him to shreds, just to shut him up!
Along the way, Lee introduces Alex’s earthy, artsy, vegan sister to the mix and I found that worked great to increase some tension within the group dynamics.
For me, the biggest reason I ended up giving this a four-star instead of a five star, was I found Lee had Mike’s character stuck in an alcoholic/pothead state too much and with a plot shift that involved his girlfriend, he became a bit of a wet blanket at times.
The setting of this book was phenomenal and every time we would spend pages away in the hills surrounding the cottage helped to really push the story along.
Overall, I did enjoy this, but it came so frigging close to be an outstanding read at times that I wished Lee really let the back story really rip out to life.
Another fun read by Lee, an author who is quickly becoming a must-read author for me.
I first discovered Frazer Lee’s work by reading The Daniel Gates Adventures. The novellas were a fun time and I loved Lee’s occult leanings and descriptions
Big thanks to Flametree Press and Netgalley for offering this one up, which I hungrily snagged based on the cover and the synopsis.
The book opens up where we follow a group of young adults who’ve recently graduated from University. We are introduced to Alex, his girlfriend Kay, Mike and his girlfriend Helen, as they travel to Alex’s parent’s cottage. Hearthstone is known to have a history, which Mike is soon to find out.
Throughout Lee introduces a level of creepiness that oozed off of the pages. This worked as a positive, but at times as a negative for me. Every time it felt like Lee was really ramping things up, the creepiness would overtake things and then there’d be a subdued finale. I just kept begging Lee to build and to really let loose.
He does this a few times and that was what kept me in check, engaged.
The main character, Mike, is a bit of an annoying character, but I found that it really worked for me. I wanted things to happen to him. I wanted whatever was haunting or possessing this cottage to rip him to shreds, just to shut him up!
Along the way, Lee introduces Alex’s earthy, artsy, vegan sister to the mix and I found that worked great to increase some tension within the group dynamics.
For me, the biggest reason I ended up giving this a four-star instead of a five star, was I found Lee had Mike’s character stuck in an alcoholic/pothead state too much and with a plot shift that involved his girlfriend, he became a bit of a wet blanket at times.
The setting of this book was phenomenal and every time we would spend pages away in the hills surrounding the cottage helped to really push the story along.
Overall, I did enjoy this, but it came so frigging close to be an outstanding read at times that I wished Lee really let the back story really rip out to life.
Another fun read by Lee, an author who is quickly becoming a must-read author for me.
July 17, 2019
Atmospheric and surreal, this haunted house story will keep you on the edge of your seat. Four friends head for a holiday getaway and before they even arrive, creepy events begin to transpire. The main character Mike has increasingly bizarre and scary experiences that drive him to solve the mystery of the cottage the four are visiting. But the longer they stay, the more uncertain he, and the reader, are about what is real and what is not. Great flawed protagonist, descriptions that transport you into this village by a loch. Splendid twists and turns in a story with a satisfying conclusion.
February 20, 2023
We begin by following a group of young adults who’ve recently graduated from university and are introduced to Alex, his girlfriend Kay, Mike and his girlfriend Helen, as they travel to Alex’s parent’s cottage. Hearthstone is known to have a history, which Mike is soon to find out. Throughout the author introduces a level of creepiness that oozed right off of the pages. This was diffidently a positive...but at times was also a negative for me. Every time it felt like things were really heating up, the creepiness would overtake everything and then we'd have a subdued finale. I just kept hoping that things would have been allowed to build and to really come to the big conclusion that the story kept promising. The main character, Mike, was an annoying character. I kept wishing for something to get him. It would have been fine with me if whatever was haunting or possessing the cottage either ate him for lunch or rendered him speechless to just shut him up. Or Lee Frazer could have traded Mike for Meggie's dog. Okay...bad me. We are also eventually to meet Alex’s artsy, vegan sister. I liked her and found that this worked out nicely and helped to increase some tension within the group. The biggest reason I gave this a 4.5 star instead of a 5-star rating, was that the author had Mike’s character stuck in an alcohol/pothead state for way too much of the story and with a shift in the startup that involved his girlfriend, he became a literal wet blanket. The setting of this book was phenomenal. I love Scotland. It's where my grandfather was from. Overall, I really did enjoy this story and it came so close to being an outstanding read. What can I say? Blame it on Mike.
June 8, 2019
A proposed post-graduation blowout for four close university friends results in an unending nightmare for one, feckless Michael Carter, who like the Fool in Tarot, is often second-chosen and first-to-fail. But the stay at Scotland's isolated Hearthstone Cottage targets Mike with terrifyingly realistic nightmares, visions of the dead, sleepwalking, and rampant paranoia, which the others blame on his alcoholism and marijuana.
HEARTHSTONE COTTAGE is a nonstop riveting read and the suspense never slackens. Prepare to lose sleep.
HEARTHSTONE COTTAGE is a nonstop riveting read and the suspense never slackens. Prepare to lose sleep.
August 14, 2023
Two couples, Mike and Helen, and Alex and Kay are going to stay at Alex's family cabin, Hearthstone Cottage. Once they arrive, they are also greeted by Alex's sister, Meggie, though they are surprised, as she's been living abroad. That night, after everyone else is asleep, Mike starts to hear a child's laughter. He goes downstairs to look around and sees the stag they hit and killed on the drive in. He wakes up later, surprised at how real everything seemed.
The next day, he has even more vivid hallucinations while fishing with Alex, seeing Meggie dead and floating in the water. Later, Kay finds a book on local folklore in the cottage, and begins to tell the group about the last witch executed in Scotland. Kay tells them the woman was put to death right near here; put on trial after several villagers died of a strange illness. "They blamed the woman for poisoning their water and making their crops fail. She confessed to being in league with Satan and begged for a merciful death." It says she did not go quietly, however - speaking in tongues. "Apparently she performed rituals at some stone circle near here. The Spindle Stones." There, they sacrificed animals, but when livestock ran out, she took to using children instead.
Kay tells her friends she wants to go see this circle, but Meggie and Alex tell her she's in it already; the cottage was made from the stones, including the very altar written about in the book.
As days go by, Mike is plagued and tormented by more and more horrible nightmares and vivid, too-real hallucinations. The disembodied children taunt him with their incessant laughter night after night, he dreams the cottage is on fire, he hallucinates their dinner turns rotten and and fills with maggots before his eyes. He has no idea what this means, or why he is experiencing this. Even worse, his friends begin to turn on him, Helen goes missing, and he can't tell reality from dreams anymore. Will Mike make it out of Hearthstone cottage alive?
-----------------------
I really liked the premise and the writing; I was really enjoying it until it just started to get a little confusing. There was a lot going on, but not too many answers. It really eats at me if I don't get solid explanations for things in books, and I was left with a ton of questions. I kind of just had to use my imagination, but I would've loved to hear these resolutions in the book. I still thought it was really good and I had fun with it. I'm looking forward to checking out more of this authors books.
The next day, he has even more vivid hallucinations while fishing with Alex, seeing Meggie dead and floating in the water. Later, Kay finds a book on local folklore in the cottage, and begins to tell the group about the last witch executed in Scotland. Kay tells them the woman was put to death right near here; put on trial after several villagers died of a strange illness. "They blamed the woman for poisoning their water and making their crops fail. She confessed to being in league with Satan and begged for a merciful death." It says she did not go quietly, however - speaking in tongues. "Apparently she performed rituals at some stone circle near here. The Spindle Stones." There, they sacrificed animals, but when livestock ran out, she took to using children instead.
Kay tells her friends she wants to go see this circle, but Meggie and Alex tell her she's in it already; the cottage was made from the stones, including the very altar written about in the book.
As days go by, Mike is plagued and tormented by more and more horrible nightmares and vivid, too-real hallucinations. The disembodied children taunt him with their incessant laughter night after night, he dreams the cottage is on fire, he hallucinates their dinner turns rotten and and fills with maggots before his eyes. He has no idea what this means, or why he is experiencing this. Even worse, his friends begin to turn on him, Helen goes missing, and he can't tell reality from dreams anymore. Will Mike make it out of Hearthstone cottage alive?
-----------------------
I really liked the premise and the writing; I was really enjoying it until it just started to get a little confusing. There was a lot going on, but not too many answers. It really eats at me if I don't get solid explanations for things in books, and I was left with a ton of questions. I kind of just had to use my imagination, but I would've loved to hear these resolutions in the book. I still thought it was really good and I had fun with it. I'm looking forward to checking out more of this authors books.
January 5, 2022
Four friends decide to celebrate with a week away in a cottage in the Scottish Highlands.
The trip there does not go smooth as they collide with a stag on the path to the cottage.
On top of this they find that Alex's sister is unexpectedly already at the cottage on arrival.
Mike is plagued by dreams and as the week progresses suffers from hallucinations that become more and more severe. So what is real and what is not? What should you do and what should you not?
I loved the setting of the book as I have lived plenty of years in a remote cottage in Scotland that was haunted. The local folktales add to the creepy setting. I enjoyed the twist ending that put the story in perspective and certainly makes you think twice. Not just a good read but makes you think of how you would react in the same situation.
The trip there does not go smooth as they collide with a stag on the path to the cottage.
On top of this they find that Alex's sister is unexpectedly already at the cottage on arrival.
Mike is plagued by dreams and as the week progresses suffers from hallucinations that become more and more severe. So what is real and what is not? What should you do and what should you not?
I loved the setting of the book as I have lived plenty of years in a remote cottage in Scotland that was haunted. The local folktales add to the creepy setting. I enjoyed the twist ending that put the story in perspective and certainly makes you think twice. Not just a good read but makes you think of how you would react in the same situation.
June 24, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book took some time to build up, but when it delivered, it delivered big! I really enjoyed this book and the unique storyline.
August 8, 2019
Frazer Lee’s novel left me with mix feelings and although it is well written, it left me a bit cold. There is a feeling of dread through the novel that works well but on the same course, I was left not caring or having any empathy for the characters which maybe what is clouding my judgement.
The plot is extremely well handled and Frazer Lee really knows how to bring this all together. From the start, he keeps a tight rein on the proceedings without letting go. This works well within the construct of the story and when the novel finally goes into full gear at around the 82% mark, he brings out the reasoning at full force. This is what keeps the novel going and it does have it’s pay off at the end.
The characters are the basic problem with Mike, the main protagonist not being very likable and an overall mess. The character is centred on his lack of real empathy or understanding. The other characters from Alex, Kay, Helen and Alex’s sister are not very heart-warming either. Alex is egotistic, Kay is soulless and Helen is an emotional vampire whilst Alex’s sister floats in and out of the proceedings. If I am to be honest, she is probably the only emotional core in the story outside of Oscar the dog. This is where the novel is a slight let down for myself.
Although this review maybe personal , there is a lot going for this book. As for the overall novel itself, it is a fascinating read and kept me involved somewhat though I did find self, more invested in finishing the novel than in the overall character arcs. The ending gave me a good payoff and parts of the story are still niggling away at myself conscious.
Overall, it is very well written and has a very good plot but the characters themselves let it down. If there was one character that I could invest in, I might have been totally involved with the novel. The ending is a triumph for me and although it will not go down as my favourite read of the year, it will continue to haunt me for weeks to come.
The plot is extremely well handled and Frazer Lee really knows how to bring this all together. From the start, he keeps a tight rein on the proceedings without letting go. This works well within the construct of the story and when the novel finally goes into full gear at around the 82% mark, he brings out the reasoning at full force. This is what keeps the novel going and it does have it’s pay off at the end.
The characters are the basic problem with Mike, the main protagonist not being very likable and an overall mess. The character is centred on his lack of real empathy or understanding. The other characters from Alex, Kay, Helen and Alex’s sister are not very heart-warming either. Alex is egotistic, Kay is soulless and Helen is an emotional vampire whilst Alex’s sister floats in and out of the proceedings. If I am to be honest, she is probably the only emotional core in the story outside of Oscar the dog. This is where the novel is a slight let down for myself.
Although this review maybe personal , there is a lot going for this book. As for the overall novel itself, it is a fascinating read and kept me involved somewhat though I did find self, more invested in finishing the novel than in the overall character arcs. The ending gave me a good payoff and parts of the story are still niggling away at myself conscious.
Overall, it is very well written and has a very good plot but the characters themselves let it down. If there was one character that I could invest in, I might have been totally involved with the novel. The ending is a triumph for me and although it will not go down as my favourite read of the year, it will continue to haunt me for weeks to come.
November 10, 2019
I needed a good horror book after all my Christmassy reads. And this book had the most exciting premise.
2 couples going away to an isolated cabin high up in Scotland, beyond city and mobile network coverage, wanting an idyllic time was the beginning. They killed a stag in an accident, and things started happening at the cabin. Dog disappeared and visions of horror were seen by the main character Alex. Everything unraveled.
My first book by author Frazer Lee, I felt dread creeping on me as I turned the pages. The atmosphere was eerie like a horror movie. I could almost imagine the weird background score in my mind, raising my fear to a high level. But along with fear, I felt a strange thrill of wanting to be scared by the scenes as well as dreading it. I got the thrill, didn't get the fear.
The author's writing surely and certainly built up the eerie factor with visions and hallucinations, hauntings and creatures, witchy stories and old folk lores. I loved how every chapter showed me Mike's deteriorating mental health at the face of this extreme confusion. I really wanted to scream BOO at him. Lines of reality and nightmares were blurred soon. I eagerly awaited the final reveal. Twists in the path soon followed me. Tapping the kindle went faster.
Overall, I would say a fun, creepy read. Read it at twilight.
2 couples going away to an isolated cabin high up in Scotland, beyond city and mobile network coverage, wanting an idyllic time was the beginning. They killed a stag in an accident, and things started happening at the cabin. Dog disappeared and visions of horror were seen by the main character Alex. Everything unraveled.
My first book by author Frazer Lee, I felt dread creeping on me as I turned the pages. The atmosphere was eerie like a horror movie. I could almost imagine the weird background score in my mind, raising my fear to a high level. But along with fear, I felt a strange thrill of wanting to be scared by the scenes as well as dreading it. I got the thrill, didn't get the fear.
The author's writing surely and certainly built up the eerie factor with visions and hallucinations, hauntings and creatures, witchy stories and old folk lores. I loved how every chapter showed me Mike's deteriorating mental health at the face of this extreme confusion. I really wanted to scream BOO at him. Lines of reality and nightmares were blurred soon. I eagerly awaited the final reveal. Twists in the path soon followed me. Tapping the kindle went faster.
Overall, I would say a fun, creepy read. Read it at twilight.
October 26, 2019
Frazer Lee writes excellent, creepy horror and Hearthstone Cottage is an excellent example of the genre. Right from the beginning, the ingredients are there. two young couples, off on a post graduation vacation in a remote, mysterious and atmospheric location. There are already tensions within their ranks, but when a sinister presence begins to make itself known, things can only get scarier. And they do. The author racks up the suspense and whisks the reader off into ever more frightening experiences. This is a novel to curl up with on a cold winter afternoon or when the fog descends and shrouds you in its chilly clutches.
September 17, 2019
Hearthstone Cottage is the kind of classic ghost story that I love full of ancient lands and sacred stones, legends, witches curses, and mysterious happenings that cannot be easily explained. Frazer Lee brings them together beautifully.
Mike and his friends travel to a remote cottage in Scotland for a celebration/vacation after graduation. After hitting a stag in the road on the way to the cottage, Mike begins to sense an evil presence and to lose his sanity.
I found the book to be enjoyable and the kind of haunted story that is perfect to read by a warm fire on a cold Autumn night with a cup of tea by your side (and a blanket).
Mike and his friends travel to a remote cottage in Scotland for a celebration/vacation after graduation. After hitting a stag in the road on the way to the cottage, Mike begins to sense an evil presence and to lose his sanity.
I found the book to be enjoyable and the kind of haunted story that is perfect to read by a warm fire on a cold Autumn night with a cup of tea by your side (and a blanket).
June 16, 2019
Hearthstone Cottage by Frazer Lee
Review of a NetGalley eArc.
Four friends travel to the Scottish Highlands for a post graduation holiday, and of course things go terribly wrong.
Mike, a party hard kind of guy, and his girlfriend Helen begin to drift apart. Their friends Alex and Kay seem to just be along for the ride, while Alex's sister Meggie, the vegetarian artist, haunts the fringes.
This felt like a very confused book from the beginning. It starts off like a pretty traditional "folk-horror" story, with legends of witches and creepy locals mocking the city kids, but then the growing fixation on Mike's drinking and weed smoking starts to feel like an 80s slasher morality story.
There is plenty of chilling atmosphere and gross-out horror to satisfy the horror feels, but I honestly felt so disgusted by Mike as a character that I just didn't care what happened to him. The tension eventually just became a sense of wanting to know how much of what was happening was actually in his head.
Then comes the end and you realize nothing at all had anything to do with what just happened, and the story falls apart.
So disappointing.
Review of a NetGalley eArc.
Four friends travel to the Scottish Highlands for a post graduation holiday, and of course things go terribly wrong.
Mike, a party hard kind of guy, and his girlfriend Helen begin to drift apart. Their friends Alex and Kay seem to just be along for the ride, while Alex's sister Meggie, the vegetarian artist, haunts the fringes.
This felt like a very confused book from the beginning. It starts off like a pretty traditional "folk-horror" story, with legends of witches and creepy locals mocking the city kids, but then the growing fixation on Mike's drinking and weed smoking starts to feel like an 80s slasher morality story.
There is plenty of chilling atmosphere and gross-out horror to satisfy the horror feels, but I honestly felt so disgusted by Mike as a character that I just didn't care what happened to him. The tension eventually just became a sense of wanting to know how much of what was happening was actually in his head.
Then comes the end and you realize nothing at all had anything to do with what just happened, and the story falls apart.
So disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2021
I found Hearthstone Cottage, by Frazer Lee to be an interesting read. It began with four friends taking a vacation after graduating college. Right before they arrive to their cottage they have a collision with a stag, which doesn’t really kill the mood of the vacation as the book summary suggest. Mike, the main character, spoils the vacation by mainly staying drunk and high throughout the story. Mike is soon a victim of a haunting mainly through his dreams and hallucinations, and begins to lose grip on reality not knowing what’s real and what is not real. The story is well written and the pace flows smoothly. The novel seems to fall under the classification of folklore horror, but only a small amount of folklore is present. I’m giving it three stars because I liked the story, but I wish there was more effort on the main character to discover what’s haunting him instead of letting things run their course.
October 25, 2019
Being a proud Scotsman hailing from the far northeast of the country, I started Frazer Lee’s Hearthstone Cottage hoping for a strong horror novel and some nostalgia for my homeland. Unfortunately, this very forgettable supernatural thriller, which is set in the Scottish Highlands, fails to deliver on both counts and is a book which left me cold. I also found the occasional Scottish word, which is thrown into the dialogue, such as “laddie” (instead of ‘boy’), to be irritating and nothing more than a half-hearted gesture to the language or dialect.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
September 9, 2019
Frazer Lee's Hearthstone Cottage is a slow-burn horror about a group of college students haunted by a strange presence at a secluded Scottish cabin.
Carried predominately by it's air of mystery, it's a book that delivers a few strong horror sequences but is ultimately let down by a lack of depth.
Themes and views are dealt on a surface level, and the lack of subtext, along with poor dialogue and exposition, drains the story of any real tension.
This one isn't terrible, it's just mostly forgettable.
Carried predominately by it's air of mystery, it's a book that delivers a few strong horror sequences but is ultimately let down by a lack of depth.
Themes and views are dealt on a surface level, and the lack of subtext, along with poor dialogue and exposition, drains the story of any real tension.
This one isn't terrible, it's just mostly forgettable.
June 17, 2019
I really wanted to like this book, and had high expectations for it, due to other books I've read by the author. It's not a bad book, it just never seemed to jump out at me. Unfortunately. It just seems like standard horror fare. Nothing unique here sadly. Disappointing.
October 13, 2019
Hearthstone cottage sounded very promising when I requested it but sadly it didn’t live up to my expectations, I struggled to enjoy it and I found it quite repetitive, the characters weren’t very interesting and I found myself just skimming through it just to find out what happens at the end.
October 28, 2019
Another great book!
Frazer Lee has done it again! Another great story, haunting and intriguing all the way through. Great characters, well written and full of mystery as you spend a holiday with five friends, trying to uncover the secrets at Hearthstone Cottage.
Frazer Lee has done it again! Another great story, haunting and intriguing all the way through. Great characters, well written and full of mystery as you spend a holiday with five friends, trying to uncover the secrets at Hearthstone Cottage.
November 11, 2019
Thanks to Anne Cater @Things through my letter box tours and Flame Tree Press for my spot on the blog tour and a copy of the book. All thoughts are unbiased and my own. Hearthstone Cottage just made me crazy – in a completely amazing way. I seriously wish I had a brain that was as capable of such genius. I mainly stick to thrillers or fantasy but when I do pick up a good Horror, I usually become so immersed in the world I usually question why I don’t read more. This is one of these times. Book hangover central over here! Flame Tree Press have released some of my favourite books of the year. Be prepared for a suspenseful, creepy and raw read. Thank you, Frazer Lee, for scaring the crap out of me!
Outstanding writing, intriguing layers, the tension and suspense was edge of your seat stuff, relatable characters that I could see myself getting along with and the twists and turns left me aching for more. The author certainly has gained a new fan.
This book is so full of suffocating intrigue it makes you palpate trying to figure out the next bad thing that’s going to happen. This storyline seems extremely plausible especially is you know the little villages and cottages like I do that reside in the Highlands. Having stayed fifty miles north of Inverness, I know the eerie little cottages, the wilderness feeling claustrophobic at times, the air feeling stale with evil promise. These little places are great to escape everyday life, but it does feel like eyes are on you at every turn. You know you are in for a ride when the events happen before you even turn up.
The first chapter is threatening. It sets the tone straightaway, haunting and panicky. I knew this was going to be a book that I wouldn’t put down until it was finished. Boy was I right, no toilet breaks, no phone breaks…I was engrossed. It is a story of two couples Mike and Helen, Alex and Kay and Alex’ sister, Meggie. They were all excited to be spending some time at Hearthstone Cottage, Alex’ fathers’ property. They had finally got through their finals and had graduated. The hard work was over, they could finally relax and what better place than Hearthstone…right? It was in a prime location, surrounded by a loch. No tv, no internet no wi-fi, no phone signal. Escapism. Before they even get there however, they hit and kill a stag. The symbolism of the accident will come back and haunt them. The description of the dying deer had my blood pressure steadily increasing. The cottage is pregnant with a sense of impending doom. Frazer Lee has the ability to conjure fear and anxiety from his narrative alone.
Things move on from bad to worse quickly. Meggie’s dog, Oscar seems spooked and runs away. Mike starts seeing disturbing things in the loch, the fish they catch turns his stomach. Is this all happening or is the houses’ presence impacting Mike. Events take eerie turns, at night Mike seems to have scary experiences but they all turn out to be dreams. Why hasn’t anyone else experienced these things? The author uses the human psyche as a weapon. We are scared of the things that we don’t understand. Our fear can’t be explained because we can’t explain the supernatural.
Why is Mike having these experiences? Is it the weed he smokes daily? Is it the fact that he doesn’t know where he fits in the world anymore? His relationship with Helen? I didn’t understand any of it, but I was compelled to keep going, to find the answers no matter how terrible they may be.
Why didn’t they just leave?
Towards the end things just get crazier and crazier. The story is building to a crescendo. True colours become revealed. One thing this book leaves you with is questions, it makes you question even your sanity. This is a story that you can’t just forget about, you won’t come out of it unscathed.
Hearthstone Cottage is a twisty and claustrophic read. Its taut with tension and fear. Do you self a favour and add this to your TBR
Outstanding writing, intriguing layers, the tension and suspense was edge of your seat stuff, relatable characters that I could see myself getting along with and the twists and turns left me aching for more. The author certainly has gained a new fan.
This book is so full of suffocating intrigue it makes you palpate trying to figure out the next bad thing that’s going to happen. This storyline seems extremely plausible especially is you know the little villages and cottages like I do that reside in the Highlands. Having stayed fifty miles north of Inverness, I know the eerie little cottages, the wilderness feeling claustrophobic at times, the air feeling stale with evil promise. These little places are great to escape everyday life, but it does feel like eyes are on you at every turn. You know you are in for a ride when the events happen before you even turn up.
The first chapter is threatening. It sets the tone straightaway, haunting and panicky. I knew this was going to be a book that I wouldn’t put down until it was finished. Boy was I right, no toilet breaks, no phone breaks…I was engrossed. It is a story of two couples Mike and Helen, Alex and Kay and Alex’ sister, Meggie. They were all excited to be spending some time at Hearthstone Cottage, Alex’ fathers’ property. They had finally got through their finals and had graduated. The hard work was over, they could finally relax and what better place than Hearthstone…right? It was in a prime location, surrounded by a loch. No tv, no internet no wi-fi, no phone signal. Escapism. Before they even get there however, they hit and kill a stag. The symbolism of the accident will come back and haunt them. The description of the dying deer had my blood pressure steadily increasing. The cottage is pregnant with a sense of impending doom. Frazer Lee has the ability to conjure fear and anxiety from his narrative alone.
Things move on from bad to worse quickly. Meggie’s dog, Oscar seems spooked and runs away. Mike starts seeing disturbing things in the loch, the fish they catch turns his stomach. Is this all happening or is the houses’ presence impacting Mike. Events take eerie turns, at night Mike seems to have scary experiences but they all turn out to be dreams. Why hasn’t anyone else experienced these things? The author uses the human psyche as a weapon. We are scared of the things that we don’t understand. Our fear can’t be explained because we can’t explain the supernatural.
Why is Mike having these experiences? Is it the weed he smokes daily? Is it the fact that he doesn’t know where he fits in the world anymore? His relationship with Helen? I didn’t understand any of it, but I was compelled to keep going, to find the answers no matter how terrible they may be.
Why didn’t they just leave?
Towards the end things just get crazier and crazier. The story is building to a crescendo. True colours become revealed. One thing this book leaves you with is questions, it makes you question even your sanity. This is a story that you can’t just forget about, you won’t come out of it unscathed.
Hearthstone Cottage is a twisty and claustrophic read. Its taut with tension and fear. Do you self a favour and add this to your TBR
January 7, 2020
I love a good horror book. The drawn out suspense, pure terror creeping around the corner and the mind games that come with that ever taunting paranoia. When a horror film deals the audience a jump scare, they jump. But when you encounter a heart-stopping moment in a book, the effects are long lasting. The impact is that much greater because it’s in your mind, whirling around playing on your fears. Let us step inside Hearthstone Cottage, an experience that you will never forget.
Set against the mysterious backdrop of the Scottish Highlands Lee introduces the characters to the reader in the carefree way that most horrors begin with. Young people setting out on a journey with nothing but drink, sex and drugs on their minds. They have their whole lives ahead of them with endless choices and possibilities. You sense the foreshadowing that Lee has created within the first few pages. He adds the key elements for a spine-chilling horror, stranding the young characters in the middle of nowhere with no signal and damage to their vehicle, surely nothing else could possibly go wrong? It lulls the reader into that false sense of security that these characters maybe alright and will come out of this alive… cue evil laugh Muhahaha!
As the narrative progresses the reader learns more about the friendships in the group and their relationships are tested. Trust becomes a big issue as secrets that have been buried start to slowly resurface.
The whispers of folk tales and a witch who performed rituals at the The Spindle Stones is enough to get the heart racing. You listen around the fire with the characters while we learn about the witch and her sacrifices. And for a moment you feel caught in a horror movie yet it gets much darker as your mind starts to unravel to the abstract laughter of a child and the horrifying truth hidden at Hearthstone Cottage.
There is a constant presence of the supernatural entwined with Mike’s paranoia. He is not a reliable character at the best of times as he’s either drunk or high. He is lazy and self-centred and just wants to celebrate graduating with his friends. Yet as events unfold you soon start to wonder about your own sanity, struggling to distinguish the nightmares from the reality. As Mike is haunted by horrific visions he slowly starts to distance himself away from the group without realising it. Lee effectively plays with the dynamics of the characters and the setting. It adds to the element of, ‘who can you really trust and what is actually real’?
Lee creates a suffocating atmosphere that surrounds the reader in the form of fog and dead animals. It’s addictive reading as you feel that thirst for knowledge; what is happening to who and why? The constant curiosity of the mind and need for explanation is apparent here and works well within the story.
The images and metaphors that are served to the reader on a blood stained platter are chilling and disturbing. It would leave any sane person feeling a little queasy. It’s creatively done and you can’t help but admire Lee’s imagination as he writes horror with the effect to unease you and make you feel uncomfortable.
The ending caught me off guard. Lee leads the reader down one path and then quickly changes direction taking you in a full circle that leaves you questioning everything. I won’t spoil it for you dear reader but it made my blood run cold.
I give Hearthstone Cottage By Frazer Lee a Four out of Five paw rating.
Gripping from beginning to end, Lee knows how to spin a horror story that makes your flesh crawl. Filled with suspense and tension you will struggle to look away.
An intoxicating style of writing that toys with your mind. You won’t be able to look at stags the same way again…
Set against the mysterious backdrop of the Scottish Highlands Lee introduces the characters to the reader in the carefree way that most horrors begin with. Young people setting out on a journey with nothing but drink, sex and drugs on their minds. They have their whole lives ahead of them with endless choices and possibilities. You sense the foreshadowing that Lee has created within the first few pages. He adds the key elements for a spine-chilling horror, stranding the young characters in the middle of nowhere with no signal and damage to their vehicle, surely nothing else could possibly go wrong? It lulls the reader into that false sense of security that these characters maybe alright and will come out of this alive… cue evil laugh Muhahaha!
As the narrative progresses the reader learns more about the friendships in the group and their relationships are tested. Trust becomes a big issue as secrets that have been buried start to slowly resurface.
The whispers of folk tales and a witch who performed rituals at the The Spindle Stones is enough to get the heart racing. You listen around the fire with the characters while we learn about the witch and her sacrifices. And for a moment you feel caught in a horror movie yet it gets much darker as your mind starts to unravel to the abstract laughter of a child and the horrifying truth hidden at Hearthstone Cottage.
There is a constant presence of the supernatural entwined with Mike’s paranoia. He is not a reliable character at the best of times as he’s either drunk or high. He is lazy and self-centred and just wants to celebrate graduating with his friends. Yet as events unfold you soon start to wonder about your own sanity, struggling to distinguish the nightmares from the reality. As Mike is haunted by horrific visions he slowly starts to distance himself away from the group without realising it. Lee effectively plays with the dynamics of the characters and the setting. It adds to the element of, ‘who can you really trust and what is actually real’?
Lee creates a suffocating atmosphere that surrounds the reader in the form of fog and dead animals. It’s addictive reading as you feel that thirst for knowledge; what is happening to who and why? The constant curiosity of the mind and need for explanation is apparent here and works well within the story.
The images and metaphors that are served to the reader on a blood stained platter are chilling and disturbing. It would leave any sane person feeling a little queasy. It’s creatively done and you can’t help but admire Lee’s imagination as he writes horror with the effect to unease you and make you feel uncomfortable.
The ending caught me off guard. Lee leads the reader down one path and then quickly changes direction taking you in a full circle that leaves you questioning everything. I won’t spoil it for you dear reader but it made my blood run cold.
I give Hearthstone Cottage By Frazer Lee a Four out of Five paw rating.
Gripping from beginning to end, Lee knows how to spin a horror story that makes your flesh crawl. Filled with suspense and tension you will struggle to look away.
An intoxicating style of writing that toys with your mind. You won’t be able to look at stags the same way again…
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