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The Ruin of Delicate Things

Beverley Lee (Goodreads Author)

4.10 · Rating details · 203 ratings · 74 reviews

Barrington Hall is a place of secrets - something Dan Morgan has worked hard to forget. But when a heart-breaking loss brings him back to the place where he spent his childhood summers, Barrington Hall will do what it must to make him remember.

Faye Morgan blames her husband for the death of their teenage son. She doesn’t want to leave the place Toby called home. But after ...more

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Paperback, 342 pages

Published April 7th 2020 by Ink Raven Press

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Mar 21, 2020 Sadie Hartmann rated it really liked it

If you haven't read Beverley Lee's Gabriel Davenport Vampire Trilogy, you should remedy this post-haste! As soon as I heard that Lee was working on a tale of 'grief and horror', I was eager to get my hands on it.
The Ruin of Delicate Things is an appropriate title and a good indicator of what's in store for readers. Dan Morgan, grief-stricken over a tragic loss, brings his heartsick wife, Faye to his childhood manor called Barrington Hall.
Nestled in the woods, the cavernous Barrington Hall seems If you haven't read Beverley Lee's Gabriel Davenport Vampire Trilogy, you should remedy this post-haste! As soon as I heard that Lee was working on a tale of 'grief and horror', I was eager to get my hands on it.
The Ruin of Delicate Things is an appropriate title and a good indicator of what's in store for readers. Dan Morgan, grief-stricken over a tragic loss, brings his heartsick wife, Faye to his childhood manor called Barrington Hall.
Nestled in the woods, the cavernous Barrington Hall seems to enshroud the broken couple immediately. Lee expertly texturizes the couple's transition into their new lifestyle with foreboding darkness. The growing tension between Dan and Faye creates this separation that forces them to experience things individually, with only the reader seeing what is happening to them.
Faye finds herself exploring the grounds and sees a strange boy fliting here and there. Dan struggles alone with repressed memories of his childhood.
Along with these psychological horrors, Lee employs other ways to prey on her readers' fears.
There are some seriously creepy moments.
The first half of the book is a bit of a slow burn. Lee's writing is skilled and compelling enough to hang with some of the mundane, often repetitive scenes of dialog, descriptions of the house & grounds, etc. in order to paint the gothic setting and advance the character development.
About halfway through, the actual horror elements begin to emerge, new characters add to the layers of mystery and danger; the pacing is much more, ALIVE.
Reader discoveries are effective hooks to keep reading the next chapter and the next and the next.
The ending is a veritable fever-dream of dark fantasy elements and full-stop horror.
There are plenty of literary devices and surprises to keep the reader on their toes.
It took some time for this story to finally get the engine to turn over and start purring, but once it did-this became utterly bewitching.

March 21st, 2020: Just finished last night! I've been reading this on and off for about a month now, sandwiching Beverley's rich, atmospheric prose in between other, grittier (more raw) books. Readers looking for horror more like Shirley Jackson's style will love Lee's storytelling voice. Also, fans who would enjoy gothic, suspense-horror infused with elements of dark fantasy should bookmark this read.

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Feb 21, 2020 Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows) rated it it was amazing

There's something about the author being a friend that gets you even more excited but also even more nervous to read their new work. I already knew Bev was extremely talented from reading The Gabriel Davenport trilogy but I still didn't expect the brilliance that is The Ruin of Delicate Things.

Dan and Faye have lost their son and in that, their connection to each other. When Dan heads back to his childhood home at the bequeath of his aunt, he's also heading back to memories that had been buried ...more

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Feb 20, 2020 books1001 rated it it was amazing

The Ruin of Delicate Things by - @thecon - Book Review.
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First and foremost thank you to you Bev for sending me over an advanced reading copy, feeling super blessed!
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The story follows Dan and Faye Morgan, married couple on the seek to heal their marriage after the tragic death of their only son.
Dan receives news of his Aunts passing and the cottage from his childhood that has now come into his possession, thinking this would be perfect idyllic setting to heal the marriage wounds, Dan and Faye tra ...more

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Feb 07, 2021 Ross Jeffery rated it it was amazing

The Ruin of Delicate Things is a Gothic romp of a novel that combines the beauty of past masters into a meandering tale of grief, guilt, tragedy, retribution and healing of past wrongs.

Also what a title - it perfectly sums up this book, and what it does to you if you fall under its bewitching spell.

I’ve enjoyed some of Beverley Lee’s short fiction previously and I can testify now that her longer fiction is even more macabre and beautiful, it doesn’t take her long to cement the small town vibe w The Ruin of Delicate Things is a Gothic romp of a novel that combines the beauty of past masters into a meandering tale of grief, guilt, tragedy, retribution and healing of past wrongs.

Also what a title - it perfectly sums up this book, and what it does to you if you fall under its bewitching spell.

I’ve enjoyed some of Beverley Lee’s short fiction previously and I can testify now that her longer fiction is even more macabre and beautiful, it doesn’t take her long to cement the small town vibe with all of its hidden intricacies and unspoken secrets. We’re also offered the creeping unease of horror and what you expect from the Gothic in a matter of pages, Lee ensures that this is going to be one hell of a ride that will chill the very marrow in your bones.

The Ruin of Delicate Things is fully immersive and pulls at your heart strings, the work around grief in this book is truly masterful and it’s used to smother you in its cool and unforgiving embrace. And then the horror, which is sewn deftly into each paragraph will rock the reader to their very core, it’s a subtle horror that harks back to the brilliance of Shirley Jackson, a horror that leaves its mark on the reader long after you’ve finished reading.

As I’ve said comparisons can (and should) be made to Shirley Jackson with regards to the work Lee accomplishes so well with the sense of place – that being Barrington Hall. Barrington Hall is put across in so much detail, every line and brick and dark corner of that place is explored and given life. I’d go as far as to say that I enjoyed this offering more than I did ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ - there was more tension here than I found in those pages, and that is probably one of the biggest compliments I could bestow upon Lee and her magnificently horrifying story. I’d also say that the gothic elements of this are on par with Sarah Perry’s ‘Melmoth’ which in my opinion is one of the greatest Gothic horrors of recent times – The Ruin of Delicate Things is Gothic horror blended perfectly with dark fantasy, it’s an experience one won’t forget easily.

Touching on the Gothic horror and dark Fantasy now. The book is told in two parts, the first of which is a beautiful study on the Gothic, the sense of place, the tone of the horror that Lee weaves into the prose and the surrounding town, it is perfection. The second part of the book takes all the brilliance of the first part but ramps it up to eleven, it is full blown survival horror that bleeds into it elements of dark Fantasy, even a folklore vibe can be felt as we sense that the whole small town are aware of something that is not being said to these out-of-towners – a dark secret that they don’t want to or will not utter because of the consequences of those actions, instead the townsfolk remain aloof add a little bit odd and allow our protagonists to discover the horrors of this place all by themselves.

What took me back and made me stare in wide eyed amazement is Lee’s prose, it’s an utter delight, I’ve highlighted many chapters, some of her paragraph structures caused me to pause once I’d read it and read it again, not because it was confusing but because it was absolutely stunning, I just had to read it again and again to let it sink in, masterful stuff!

The character work and location work on show is a sheer masterclass, the locations (the town, woods, Barrington Hall) all become characters in their own right, adding an additional layer to the deep and beguiling story that Lee unravels before our eyes. Both of our main protagonists are wonderfully put across on the page, you can root for them, cry with them, hide in fear alongside them, cheer them on and you can’t help but become totally invested and enraptured with their plight and the horrors that come to pass.

The Ruin of Delicate Things showcases a writer who is at the top of her game, a stunning and haunting tale that will ruin you if you let it, pick up a copy now and see if you enjoy your time at Barrington Hall.
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Feb 13, 2021 Paul Preston rated it it was amazing

Ruin is a beautiful soft watercolor full of light pastels. However this art is transforming before your eyes. There is a splash of dark in the background, growing, multiplying, quickly taking over. The light fades, the paper is torn, crumpled, stepped on. Darkness has infiltrated and you are left with sorrow and awe. The masterpiece is tainted and grotesque and still absolutely gorgeous.
Beverley Lee will sucker punch you repeatedly and you will enjoy it. Complacency will settle in and as she ge ...more

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Jan 05, 2021 Christopher Henderson rated it really liked it

Beverley Lee spins an atmospheric tale of tragedy, guilt, and unhealed wounds, with an opening scene that weaves its spell perfectly, ensuring you will be pulled ever deeper, losing yourself in a plot that entwines the Gothic horrors of a haunted house with the older, more sinister realm of Faerie. Wonderful stuff.

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Mar 07, 2021 Well Read Beard rated it really liked it

Shelves: my-books

This book is "weighted down with the anchor of grief." This story rises out of that grief, it's built on that cornerstone, but also loss, and guilt, and bitter darkness. There is a lot to like here, folk horror elements, gothic horror, woodland cottage/remote village/huge haunted mansion setting, ghosts, mythical woodland creatures. All quality stuff, but then you get to that real stuff, that painful stuff. The revenge, remorse, retribution, regrets. There is an element here that talks about wha This book is "weighted down with the anchor of grief." This story rises out of that grief, it's built on that cornerstone, but also loss, and guilt, and bitter darkness. There is a lot to like here, folk horror elements, gothic horror, woodland cottage/remote village/huge haunted mansion setting, ghosts, mythical woodland creatures. All quality stuff, but then you get to that real stuff, that painful stuff. The revenge, remorse, retribution, regrets. There is an element here that talks about what fills that hole when you lose something. An idea that something can climb in that empty space and grow and fester. A parasitic hatred. A vengeance so deep-seeded that what was lost is forgotten to the point that only that vengeance remains.

I have heard some call it slow-burn. My buddy Wayne Fenlon, said that it wasn't. Well, for me it was. There was definitely this sense of starting in total darkness in this story. The author would illuminate certain pieces along the way to guide the reader, but some of those things felt oddly placed. Not in a bad way, almost in like an original way? All I am saying is that the revelation of key elements to the story seemed strangely placed, some later in the book than I would have expected. The book is divided into two parts. Within the Woods and Within the Walls, which sets the author up to kind of do that thing to us twice. Right about the time we start to get our wits about us and know our way around the cottage and the woods, we enter Barrington Hall, where again, we know very little about what lies within these walls. So, for me there were multiple levels of shrouded story, mutliple levels of shocking reveals. The two tiered setting where both pieces had things to show us, and then the mystery of the creatures, the historical inhabitants of Barrington Hall, the townspeople's involvement, and of course our main characters Dan and Faye. Levels, all I am saying is the story had levels. And yes, I am thinking about Shrek and onions and layers. I'm sorry.

This book has a different feel to me after having read it than it did while I was reading it. I think at some point I was willing to say it was too slow, that nothing really happened until this. But looking back, so much happened before that. It defintely made me feel and think, and I think there was some misdirection along the way. I kind of feel that there were elements that when illuminated either the light was too dim, or I didn't look long enough and looking back I am still not sure about some story points. Like, I know what that part was, but it's still somewhat shrouded. What I mean by misdirection, just little things along the way that we stop and look at, things that I thought would play a bigger role than they did. I am thinking about the headboard, the lightning tree, some other things.

The setting is great, again, you get the Woodland cottage, the remote village, the woods, and the crumbling gothic mansion on a lake. There is a lot to explore.

I think when I set out to write this review, I was at a 3. 3 stars, as a matter of fact I am sure of it. But writing this review has made me reevaluate. I loved the setting, I loved the split in the story. There are levels upon levels of loss here. Generational loss. Everyone has lost something and they are all dealing with it differently. I think I felt that slow burn and being left stumbling through the darkness as a negative while reading it. But looking back, it is playing out more as a positive. More as an original way to tell the story.

One final element that I really liked. The country, remote setting and how horror and death could thrive here, much more than the city. "It was easy to forget about it here in the city, but out here death lived and breathed." In the city, there is always this idea that when real trouble strikes you are surrounded by other people. I will give you an example. One of my biggest fears is bad weather. Tornados and such. Mostly started when I had little humans that I was responsible for, but also when I relocated to a hill in the middle of nowhere. I remember when that stuff would come up in the city. I remember you couldn't see it coming, because of being surrounded by other buildings. I remember listening and waiting on the front porch and actualy talking with the neighbors. There was this unspoken idea that there was safety in numbers and at least in a worst case, if it got me it was gonna get them too. Now, out here, alone - You can watch it brew, you can watch it come together, and you can watch its slow advancement towards your home, your family, everything you have built - and there ain't a goddamn thing you can do about it. For me, that's horror. For me that's why remote, country horror always makes more sense.

A couple of other lines I really liked that I chose not to write complete paragraphs about
"Memory is a fickle beast, and only gives your crumbs when you are starving for a banquet."
"Karma was a bitch with a very long memory."
"The weight of hindsight." P. 207

I really liked the final page. Kind of the ending after the ending. It talks about darkness. It delves a bit more into that city vs country thing. I want to read this entire section to you. But I can't and I won't.
"Some people think darkness comes in only one shade."

...more

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May 22, 2020 Charles Edwards-Freshwater rated it it was amazing

Are you a fan of deliciously dark and creepy tales? I certainly am, which is why Beverley Lee's latest offering is one of the most exciting book releases for me this year. Better yet, I am thrilled that it lived up to my expectations.

Following the story of Dan and Faye, a London couple who take up residence in seemingly idyllic woodland cottage after inheriting it from a weird aunt, The Ruin of Delicate Things soon gets dark and twisted, beckoning in things that go bump in the night and revealin ...more

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May 21, 2020 TheCrookedHouse rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A Fairytale with razor sharp teeth

I found myself much impressed and fully invested right from page one. Beverley's descriptions and details border on poetic and the storyline is unique with a blending of whimsical fantasy and cold blooded terror. The use of multiple povs with the characters is flawlessly executed and I'm happy to say that I connected with each character, including the monster. ...more

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Aug 09, 2020 Emily Crow rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle-unlimited, read-in-2020, england, horror, dark-fantasy

Because of the cover, I was afraid this was going to be a generic haunted house story. But it’s not. (Although there is a haunted house.)

This one is unusual, very well written, with likable characters and an excellent setting. I would definitely recommend it to fans of dark fantasy/horror.

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Dec 12, 2020 Elle Zerfas rated it it was amazing

This was beautifully written and as creepy as it was pretty. Loved it

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Feb 24, 2020 Ruth Miranda rated it really liked it

Well, how do I start this? Beverley Lee is not a new author to me, and as an immense fan of her previous work, I was on tenterhooks to see what her dark, devious mind would come up with following the Gabriel Davenport Series. And boy, she did not let me down.
This tale is dark, it is twisted, it is breathtaking. But it is also heartwrenching and so, so sad. It grabs you by the cavities of your heart and fills them what emotions one normally tends to keep at bay - who wants to wander through the l ...more

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Apr 09, 2020 D Gillis rated it it was amazing

Faye and Dan Morgan retreat to a house in the woods where he spent his childhood summers in an attempt to escape the crushing loss of their son. Dan has no real memories of his time there—he is haunted and doesn’t even know why. Beverley Lee does a wonderful job creating a sense of foreboding. Both Faye and Dan know something is off right from the start but this couple is so detached from each other that they don’t compare notes. Their estrangement is not helped by the odd atmosphere both at the ...more

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Oct 19, 2020 MK-reads rated it it was amazing

I think it's pretty safe to say this is my favorite book of 2020. All the things I love are inside. Haunted house/ ghost story, old family secrets, mysterious old home hidden away in the woods, and the fair folk. A dark gothic fairytale that feels like it was written just for me. ...more

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Nov 24, 2020 Nora rated it it was amazing

Following the story of Dan and Faye, a London couple who has recently lost their son and take up residence in a seemingly idyllic woodland cottage after inheriting it from an aunt Dan used to spend his summers at as a child. But the upcoming childhood memories bring back things that would better be forgotten and buried. There is somethings about the woods that hum dark secrets and do not promise anything good. Faye finds herself pulled into this strangly dark world of her husbands past and risks ...more

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Feb 03, 2021 G.R. Thomas rated it it was amazing

I read this quite some time ago and I'm horrified I forgot to write up a review. Another truly creepy book by Beverley Lee. Very different from her previous series. It was dark from the very first page. You just knew something was off with the main characters, something awful was going to happen, but you can't predict it. The pace of intrigue remains for the entirety of the story, and when you get into that creepy house... shivers up my spine! As usual, the writing is beautiful, the language poe ...more

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Feb 21, 2021 Wayne Fenlon rated it it was amazing

Easily a five star read for me. Short chapters, wonderfully vivid writing with characters you generally care about. This was an absolute pleasure to read.
If you're looking to immerse yourself in something that deals with grief, guilt and a little mystery, then pick this one up. Yeah, there's a little creepiness at times, too.
I've heard some say this was a bit of a slow burn but I didn't get that at all. I thought the pacing was spot on.
First class the whole way.
Highly recommended ...more

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Nov 24, 2020 tyoung2058 rated it really liked it

Ghost, faeries. A slow start but somehow couldn't put down. ...more

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Aug 17, 2020 Kev Harrison rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The Ruin of Delicate Things sets out its stall fairly quickly as a haunting, with the creepy forest, creepier cottage and grief-stricken couple thrown into the middle of it all, ready to be chewed up and spat out by the environment. Or so I thought. It is, in fact, a story with many more twists than that in the tale.
The small town vibe is exploited to the full, with elements of folk horror and a sense of there being an open secret which the couple are not in on pervading everything. Then, as we ...more

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Apr 26, 2020 Alyson Rhodes rated it it was amazing

Beverley Lee is a new author to me and one I was delighted to discover. I was totally gripped and absorbed in this Gothic tale of a haunted house, a haunted man, a forest which hums with secrets and ghosts which cannot be laid to rest, whilst it is also an exploration of what grief and loss can do to a person and a marriage. The protagonist, Dan Morgan, inherits his aunt Lucinda's cottage in the woods where he spent his childhood summers (until something terrible happened - which somehow Dan ha ...more

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May 07, 2020 Elaine rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-stars, kindle, g-borderline-horror, kindle-unlimited, sg-folkl-mythol-retells

Dang! This turned out to be much better than I expected.

At first it's a story about a couple who've lost their teen son and are trying to heal and re-bond. Dan decides to bring his wife to the summertime home of his childhood after he receives word that his aunt has passed and has left him her cottage. This section, which takes up the first half of the book, lays all the groundwork for the big show later. The town elders all appear to believe there's a supernatural something ((view spoiler) ...more

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May 05, 2020 Lydia rated it it was amazing

“We harvest our fear carefully. Always knowing we can switch on a light if the latest download crosses the line between sanitised scares and a dread that threatens to seep into our bones.”

Beverley has done it again. Her stunningly poetic words tug at your heartstrings despite the dark and tragic story unfolding before you. The loss of a child, a mother’s grief and a father’s forgotten secrets set the stage for unprecedented atrocities in this beautifully dark tale. My love for the strange and u ...more

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Feb 25, 2020 Sarina Langer rated it it was amazing

I read an early(ish) version of Lee's newest dark tale, and I felt so fortunate when it landed in my inbox. I fell in love with her writing with The Making of Gabriel Davenport and couldn't wait to see what she'd done next!

This story is everything the perfect horror needs to be. I'm a huge wimp, so I don't do well with stories that are outright horrifying or gory for the sake of being gory. It was Lee's first books that made me realise that I had the genre all wrong, and The Ruin of Delicate Thi ...more

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Oct 21, 2020 Catherine McCarthy rated it it was amazing

The Ruin of Delicate Things: what a title, and it sums up this story to perfection.
Grief, guilt, tragedy, it’s all there, but interwoven through a tale set in a cottage, in a woods, with an abandoned mansion nearby. Yes, all the elements which make for a fantastical, spooky ride.
For me, Beverley Lee’s descriptive skills are spot on. Right from the start I was immersed in every scene, with Barrington Hall, in particular, vividly depicted. This gave it a gothic feel which I love.
I found myself em ...more

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Apr 21, 2020 Julie Embleton rated it it was amazing

The Ruin of Delicate Things by Beverley Lee

As a huge fan of Beverley’s work, I knew this book would have me sucked in from page one and that’s exactly what I got. Right from the get-go, Beverley turns the creepy on. Foreboding oozes from the pages as Dan and Faye, retreat to the countryside where Dan’s Aunt has bequeathed him her cottage in the woods. He hopes the quaint location will assist in mending his marriage, but his idyllic notions quickly vanish as forgotten childhood memories begin to The Ruin of Delicate Things by Beverley Lee

As a huge fan of Beverley’s work, I knew this book would have me sucked in from page one and that’s exactly what I got. Right from the get-go, Beverley turns the creepy on. Foreboding oozes from the pages as Dan and Faye, retreat to the countryside where Dan’s Aunt has bequeathed him her cottage in the woods. He hopes the quaint location will assist in mending his marriage, but his idyllic notions quickly vanish as forgotten childhood memories begin to emerge.

As always, with Lee’s writing, characters come to life. Atmosphere is delivered in spades, while suspense and apprehension build so well, I was ready to snap by the end. One of the standout aspects for me is Barrington Hall itself. We all know a building like it; one which stand derelict and brooding, where even the idea of crossing its threshold has your spine turning cold. As it looms over the lake in its delicious gothic gloom, I wanted to yell at Dan and Faye to run away from its sinister presence and never turn back. But there wouldn’t be a story if they did and Lee’s history behind the Hall is so damn haunting, I still can’t get it out of my head.

The Ruin of Delicate Things is not simply a tale of things that go bump in the night. Lee has woven the loss of a child, a dissolving marriage and profound loneliness into this tale. Blended with the horror, it makes the decline of Dan and Faye all the more heart-wrenching. It’s impossible not to connect on an emotional level with Lee’s characters. I wanted a happy ending for them, I longed for resolution and peace. Does it happen? Ha, you’ll have to read to find out.

I read this book in two sittings, the first where I just dipped my toes in by reading three chapters, the second where I read until two in the morning. Afterwards, I had to leave the light on. The final few chapters are so frightening and packed with suspense, I dare anyone to put the book down unfinished—or sleep soundly.

The Ruin of Delicate Things will grab hold of you and not let go. It’s yet another incredible tale from the mind of Beverley Lee. A well deserved five stars.

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May 03, 2020 Tracy rated it it was amazing

Wow fantastic, definitely the best book I’ve read so far this year. A masterpiece.

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May 31, 2020 Tanya rated it it was amazing

Creepy, amazing, and so well written!! Gave me chills and made me jump a few times, so I very highly recommend!!

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Apr 11, 2020 Elisha Belden rated it it was amazing

Gripping, suspenseful, and ultimately magical — Beverly’s novel, The Ruin of Delicate Things, shows you the effect one horrible person can have on the world around them. It’s a novel you won’t want to miss out on!

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Feb 24, 2020 Becky Wright rated it it was amazing

What does horror mean to you?
For me its subtle, creeping, that foreboding feeling that leaches up your spine threatening to choke you. A sensation that keeps you from sleeping, as you lay in the dark, long after the pages are closed. For me, these are the best horrors, ones that are tethered to your spine with sparking emotions rather than the graphic blood spatter of a slasher massacre.

The Ruin of Delicate Things, from the very first chapter, reached into my soul grasping all those inner fears ...more

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May 11, 2020 Lee-ann rated it it was amazing

“𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙚𝙧𝙪𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚.”

This was my first experience reading one of Beverley’s books, and like a fly in a spiderweb, I was immediately trapped in this mesmerizing array of poetic prose and vivid imagery. A beautifully written dark horror/ fairytale full of grief and layered with long forgotten secrets.

The place holding these secrets is Barrington Hall, and Dan Morgan has suppressed the awfu “𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙚𝙧𝙪𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚.”

This was my first experience reading one of Beverley’s books, and like a fly in a spiderweb, I was immediately trapped in this mesmerizing array of poetic prose and vivid imagery. A beautifully written dark horror/ fairytale full of grief and layered with long forgotten secrets.

The place holding these secrets is Barrington Hall, and Dan Morgan has suppressed the awful childhood memories of what happened there. When his teenage son dies, his wife Faye blames him, and Dan decides to take her back to the place he grew up in, a place connected to Barrington Hall and all its nightmares. Faye finds herself pulled into this strange and dark world, risking herself to find the answers to her husbands tragic past. Will Dan and Faye make it thru this together or will it pull them further apart?

“𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪; 𝙞𝙛 𝙞𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙, 𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙝.”

I really enjoyed Beverley’s writing and will definitely be picking up her series, The Making of Gabriel Davenport! There was a seamless flow throughout and I always like shorter chapters. I loved the gothic feel to this story and thought the character development was fantastic! I would recommend this to a vast array of readers, ones that enjoy fantasy, horror, fairytales, dark fiction or really just someone wanting to experience something original and beautifully written.

I give The Ruin of Delicate Things ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ enthusiastic stars! ...more

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About Beverley Lee

Beverley Lee

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Beverley Lee is a freelance writer currently residing in the south east of England. In thrall to the written word from an early age, especially the darker side of fiction, she believes that the very best story is the one you have to tell. Supporting fellow authors is also her passion and she is actively involved in social media writers’ groups.
The Gabriel Davenport Series (The Making of Gabriel D ...more