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The Secrets of Tenley House
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Can fate put you in danger?
Ivy and Georgie have secrets and pasts riddled with shame and betrayal. On a cold February day, both women leave home hoping to rebuild their lives, not knowing their worlds will soon collide.
When fate eventually brings them to Tenley House, the home of a bitter, domineering matriarch who controls her fickle son and terrorises her adoptive granddaughter, the women find themselves in danger. Behind the facade of propriety, amidst secrets and lies, the truth will unfold when evil is awakened…
Hiding in plain sight and sworn to avenge the wrongs of the past, someone stalks the corridors of Tenley. They listen and wait patiently, lurking in shadows, tormenting their prey and when the time is right, they strike down the occupants of Tenley, one by one...
Deceptively dark with a creeping sense of menace, this is the tale of two young women drawn together by circumstance and heartbreak.
Can fate put you in danger?
Ivy and Georgie have secrets and pasts riddled with shame and betrayal. On a cold February day, both women leave home hoping to rebuild their lives, not knowing their worlds will soon collide.
When fate eventually brings them to Tenley House, the home of a bitter, domineering matriarch who controls her fickle son and terrorises her adoptive granddaughter, the women find themselves in danger. Behind the facade of propriety, amidst secrets and lies, the truth will unfold when evil is awakened…
Hiding in plain sight and sworn to avenge the wrongs of the past, someone stalks the corridors of Tenley. They listen and wait patiently, lurking in shadows, tormenting their prey and when the time is right, they strike down the occupants of Tenley, one by one...
Deceptively dark with a creeping sense of menace, this is the tale of two young women drawn together by circumstance and heartbreak.
339 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2019
173 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Dixon
22 books173 followersPublished by Bloodhound Books
Author of -
Over My Shoulder, They Don't Know, The Secrets of Tenley House, Liars, #MeToo, Blame. The Other Woman, Coming Home, Resistance, Birthright, Venus Was Her Name, A Good Mother, Rosie and Ruby, Anna, Tilly, Grace, Destiny, The Complete Destiny Series Box Set, The Suspense Boxset.
All titles available on Amazon -
amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00I1YV2RM
Author of -
Over My Shoulder, They Don't Know, The Secrets of Tenley House, Liars, #MeToo, Blame. The Other Woman, Coming Home, Resistance, Birthright, Venus Was Her Name, A Good Mother, Rosie and Ruby, Anna, Tilly, Grace, Destiny, The Complete Destiny Series Box Set, The Suspense Boxset.
All titles available on Amazon -
amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00I1YV2RM
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
March 7, 2019
I just didn’t know what to expect from this. But I didn’t expect that.
This is a page turner if I’ve ever come across one. I’ve got annoyed with myself because of my time span in reading this as real life is getting in the way at the mo from my reading.
Patricia Dixon has been known to me as I’ve another of her books but not read yet. Why?! I ask myself. That’s going to change. For sure.
The setting of this is in an old house that has history all of its own.
The Mother/Grandmother is an awful terrible character. I’d have kicked her out or put a boot up her bum.
No wonder her son was so like he was in character. One minute I saw him weak then when Georgie came along I had a different insight, on and off.
Oh let’s talk about Georgie. Wow what a past, what a revelation she had to reveal. But Kenneth had his own secrets that were revealed and between them they sorted out a life that worked for them......until MOTHER got involved.
There’s some powerful stuff in this book. It’s either light or it’s dark, never grey.
I absolutely loved it.
Going back in the past, present and strong women. But strength comes differently from what is strength in character to what is powerful.
This book rocked my socks off.
February 24, 2019
This is another story with a wonderful setting of a big house which seems to be under a cloud of which seems to store bad luck for it’s residents. Who doesn’t love a story with that sort of eeriness about it and the more secrets the better?
Ivy and Georgie at first seem like very different women. They are both women with troubled pasts, where as Georgie is full of life and fun, Ivy is a lot more reserved. As I got to know them both better though, they have a lot more in common than I first believed. They will do whatever it takes to get what they want.
The author certainly keeps the reader on their toes with this novel. It’s like a calm before a storm. I knew something was brewing but not quite what or when it would hit me. I thought I was very clever thinking I had it all worked out, only to be well and truly wrong.
Death’s Dark Veil is a compelling story that gently drew me in and then grabbed hold. It did take me a little while at the beginning to settle in until I got used to the different characters but after that there was no holding me back. The story gets darker and more twisted the further into it you get. Georgie is very much the star of the story and thought she was a brilliant character. If you love a good dark and sinister read, then highly recommend this one.
My thanks to Heather at Bloodhound Books for an advanced readers copy of this book, all opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Ivy and Georgie at first seem like very different women. They are both women with troubled pasts, where as Georgie is full of life and fun, Ivy is a lot more reserved. As I got to know them both better though, they have a lot more in common than I first believed. They will do whatever it takes to get what they want.
The author certainly keeps the reader on their toes with this novel. It’s like a calm before a storm. I knew something was brewing but not quite what or when it would hit me. I thought I was very clever thinking I had it all worked out, only to be well and truly wrong.
Death’s Dark Veil is a compelling story that gently drew me in and then grabbed hold. It did take me a little while at the beginning to settle in until I got used to the different characters but after that there was no holding me back. The story gets darker and more twisted the further into it you get. Georgie is very much the star of the story and thought she was a brilliant character. If you love a good dark and sinister read, then highly recommend this one.
My thanks to Heather at Bloodhound Books for an advanced readers copy of this book, all opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
April 19, 2019
This is one of those books where at the beginning everyone is introduced, and you have a feeling that they’ll be more to the story than the blurb is letting on. It took me a while to get to know all the characters, but then the pace increased and I was gripped.
I liked the mixture of dark themes with some humour, it worked well and at times put a smile on my face. This was a surprise of a book as things didn’t turn out how I thought they would. If you enjoy dark tales of revenge and secrets being slowly uncovered, then I’d recommend this book.
I liked the mixture of dark themes with some humour, it worked well and at times put a smile on my face. This was a surprise of a book as things didn’t turn out how I thought they would. If you enjoy dark tales of revenge and secrets being slowly uncovered, then I’d recommend this book.
March 3, 2019
THE Patricia Dixon pulls it out of the bag yet again.
What a book!!
Love, loss and betrayal, with added murder and deceit. What more could you want?
4.5*
What a book!!
Love, loss and betrayal, with added murder and deceit. What more could you want?
4.5*
February 23, 2019
Prepare for a book to blow your mind!As Walter Scott said “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive!” An elderly woman is in her last hours thinking about her life. She is visited by demons and knows as they grow clearer her hours are getting fewer. Before she departs this earth she has one secret she wishes to impart. We are then taken back to the 1940’s and through time telling of various lives and woe’s. A girl having been raped by her step father not daring to say anything and her mother sending her away due to the shame it would bring on the family. Little did the girl know at the time that her baby would be “stolen” from her supposedly never for her to never see her again. Forward a few years and another young woman is having the time of her life in London having escaped the clutches of her family who have not been the best parents. A man who is gay but being the 1970’s this is not something one speaks about and his mother is pressing him to produce an heir. The two young women come together both having lived lives of deceit in one way or another. Oh boy! I was so drawn to the characters in this. I took to Georgie,Ivy, and Vanessa and loved Dolly. Georgie and her love of life, Sandy waiting patiently on the side lines and Vanessa cherishing that despite being unwanted she had found such a wonderful life and stepmother. Kenneth was doing his best but with a toxic mother things were getting more and more difficult. Wow! This is a story that gives and gives. Each part having its own twists and nuances leaving you not quite knowing the path it is taking.. A very clever plot and one executed brilliantly. This took my breath away and left me with a smile. 5**
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
February 26, 2019
A very entertaining and well-written read. An easy 5-stars from me.
February 25, 2019
I am astounded by this authors books. Patricia Dixon has me reading outside of my comfort zone on occasion. This latest book is as usual, brilliant
Death's Dark Veil has it all , wrongdoings, lies, dysfunctional family, secrets, deceit , death and murder. What more can you ask for in a psychological suspense thriller. From the beginning it hooks you in and it just doesn't let you go. Great character descriptions some to loathe but also some to love. The intrigue in this book makes for a compelling read with some very unexpected revelations. Highly recommend this 5 star read.
Death's Dark Veil has it all , wrongdoings, lies, dysfunctional family, secrets, deceit , death and murder. What more can you ask for in a psychological suspense thriller. From the beginning it hooks you in and it just doesn't let you go. Great character descriptions some to loathe but also some to love. The intrigue in this book makes for a compelling read with some very unexpected revelations. Highly recommend this 5 star read.
March 3, 2019
The dark, gothic prologue sets the scene for a story that is both compelling and chilling, but I never imagined just how dark the journey was going to be.
It reminded me of the Philip Larkin poem This be the Verse with its oft quoted line - They f**k you up, your mum and dad. Well the central characters in this book have all been right royally messed up by weak fathers, cold, controlling mothers and abusive stepfathers. Little wonder they turned out as they did.
By turn we are introduced to Georgie, Ivy and Kenneth. Georgie proves to be a bit of a handful and when her manipulative and promiscuous ways are discovered she's shipped off to London out of harms way. Ivy is subservient and timid until events spiral beyond her control and see her leave home with hatred in her heart and a desire for retribution Kenneth is the second son of a mother who having lost her beloved first son and heir, finds Kenneth weak and wanting.
With the swinging sixties in full flow, Georgie and Kenneth find themselves unexpectedly drawn together in London and decide to live at Tenley House, Kenneth's sinister, childhood home. Unfortunately while he is now the master, his mother has other idea's. In fact his mother has poisonous views on most things, including his relationship with Georgie and his young adopted daughter Vanessa. Enter Sadie, who is the answer to Georgie's prayers as she oversees the household, tangles with Kenneth's toxic mother and looks after Vanessa when Georgie and Kenneth are not at home. But then people start dying...
I was drawn in from the very beginning, but I will admit that I did worry it might be too dark for me - it wasn't. It introduced me to a side I didn't know I had and I enjoyed it. It had a mix of light and shade, that kept the story line from being too bleak and I loved Georgie's London life. From the first meeting I hadn't expected to like Georgie, but she grew on me quite quickly. Like the other main protagonists she was definitely a product of her upbringing and lived on her wiles - not always legally. However, she had an empathy and compassion that redeemed her. She was a bright spirit in the gloomy house and just wanted people to be happy.
Unfortunately being happy, meant different things to different people and that is where the story took a darker turn. As the air of menace grew, I thought I knew how it would play out, but I was so wrong. My mind clearly isn't as twisted as the author's as I totally misread the signs and certainly never imagined how things would end.
Probably not the book to buy your mum for Mother's Day (unless she likes dark devilish reads) but certainly recommended for anyone who like sinister, twisted and murderous psychological thrillers.
I'd like to thank the author and publisher for providing an advanced reading copy, however that no way influenced my review.
It reminded me of the Philip Larkin poem This be the Verse with its oft quoted line - They f**k you up, your mum and dad. Well the central characters in this book have all been right royally messed up by weak fathers, cold, controlling mothers and abusive stepfathers. Little wonder they turned out as they did.
By turn we are introduced to Georgie, Ivy and Kenneth. Georgie proves to be a bit of a handful and when her manipulative and promiscuous ways are discovered she's shipped off to London out of harms way. Ivy is subservient and timid until events spiral beyond her control and see her leave home with hatred in her heart and a desire for retribution Kenneth is the second son of a mother who having lost her beloved first son and heir, finds Kenneth weak and wanting.
With the swinging sixties in full flow, Georgie and Kenneth find themselves unexpectedly drawn together in London and decide to live at Tenley House, Kenneth's sinister, childhood home. Unfortunately while he is now the master, his mother has other idea's. In fact his mother has poisonous views on most things, including his relationship with Georgie and his young adopted daughter Vanessa. Enter Sadie, who is the answer to Georgie's prayers as she oversees the household, tangles with Kenneth's toxic mother and looks after Vanessa when Georgie and Kenneth are not at home. But then people start dying...
I was drawn in from the very beginning, but I will admit that I did worry it might be too dark for me - it wasn't. It introduced me to a side I didn't know I had and I enjoyed it. It had a mix of light and shade, that kept the story line from being too bleak and I loved Georgie's London life. From the first meeting I hadn't expected to like Georgie, but she grew on me quite quickly. Like the other main protagonists she was definitely a product of her upbringing and lived on her wiles - not always legally. However, she had an empathy and compassion that redeemed her. She was a bright spirit in the gloomy house and just wanted people to be happy.
Unfortunately being happy, meant different things to different people and that is where the story took a darker turn. As the air of menace grew, I thought I knew how it would play out, but I was so wrong. My mind clearly isn't as twisted as the author's as I totally misread the signs and certainly never imagined how things would end.
Probably not the book to buy your mum for Mother's Day (unless she likes dark devilish reads) but certainly recommended for anyone who like sinister, twisted and murderous psychological thrillers.
I'd like to thank the author and publisher for providing an advanced reading copy, however that no way influenced my review.
February 27, 2019
Wow what a story! Patricia Dixon does it again. I adore her stories and all her books are so different, the only commonality being the exquisite writing. This story spans many decades and immerses the reader in each one effortlessly. The sights, sounds and feel of the swinging sixties for example is almost palpable. The themes of the story have just the right ingredients like a perfect recipe. An old spooky house, an evil crone, a handful of mixed characters and the cherry on top - the hidden murderer. Who done it? Well, you'll have to read the book to find out! Can't wait for the next book from this writer!
April 24, 2019
I particularly enjoyed the moral issues that permeate Death's Dark Veil, and how it made me consider how much people are responsible for the bad things that they do. The social mores of the mid 20th century are an important part of the book, as are the characters’ ethical choices to do good or bad. The novel has a gothic flavor with elements verging on the paranormal, in particular a creepy country house where much of the action happens. Secrets abound, and the reader never quite knows what is going to happen next. The content is dark - murder, suicide, rape, etc but this is often offset by a mischievous humor.
DDV is told in the third person over a generation or so, starting in 1950s Britain when a child born in troubling circumstances is forcibly removed from its mother. It's fast paced despite covering many years in a moderate length book. One of the main characters Ivy is an obsessive woman, who as a child is a victim of her violent stepfather who rapes her. Seemingly she will do anything to get her adopted daughter back. I took to the feisty, warm-hearted but vulnerable Georgie, who marries a well-heeled closet gay man who's under the thumb of his controlling mother, whose wife has died in mysterious circumstances after they adopted the girl. As a result, Georgie brings up the girl whom she knows very little about.
I was often surprised at where the author took me; the storytelling is excellent and once I'd got into it, I found the book hard to put down. Some may not like the role of coincidence in the novel, but to me it worked well. I gasped at the final twist, which made me see everything very differently! Recommended indeed to readers of crime fiction and psychological thrillers.
DDV is told in the third person over a generation or so, starting in 1950s Britain when a child born in troubling circumstances is forcibly removed from its mother. It's fast paced despite covering many years in a moderate length book. One of the main characters Ivy is an obsessive woman, who as a child is a victim of her violent stepfather who rapes her. Seemingly she will do anything to get her adopted daughter back. I took to the feisty, warm-hearted but vulnerable Georgie, who marries a well-heeled closet gay man who's under the thumb of his controlling mother, whose wife has died in mysterious circumstances after they adopted the girl. As a result, Georgie brings up the girl whom she knows very little about.
I was often surprised at where the author took me; the storytelling is excellent and once I'd got into it, I found the book hard to put down. Some may not like the role of coincidence in the novel, but to me it worked well. I gasped at the final twist, which made me see everything very differently! Recommended indeed to readers of crime fiction and psychological thrillers.
March 1, 2019
From page one I was drawn into this very dark tale about the complexities of women. Women who have suffered, women who are downright spiteful, women who are loved and utterly spoilt. And, one who is a cold-blooded murderer!!! I could not turn the pages fast enough!!
The eerie atmosphere hit me straight from the first page, where we meet a woman who is dying, and the ghosts of her passed have come to visit her, but before she finally passes away, she wants to rid herself of all the dark secrets that she is keeping. I could feel the evil in that room seeping straight up through the pages.
Patricia introduces us to Georgia, a golden child from a wealthy family but who because of a misdemeanour when she is younger is sent away to live in London and finds herself drawn into the seedier side of London life and living on her wits. We meet Sandy, who lives with her mum and step-dad and here Patricia writes a moving and harrowing tale of abuse and neglect which really pulled at my heartstrings.
Then there is Daphne, who marries Kenneth, a very handsome man but one who craves a different kind of life. Vanessa is their adopted daughter who they both adore and love to spoil in equal measure.
Patricia captures all her characters and the different eras perfectly, she has definitely done her homework!
But, at the heart of the book is a dark and sinister tale of vengeance. Someone is out to murder anyone who threatens to ruin their way of life!!!!
Patricia Dixon weaves a spellbinding story that kept me gripped and guessing right up until the very end, and then I was left bereft - what would I do without these women in my life now!!
The eerie atmosphere hit me straight from the first page, where we meet a woman who is dying, and the ghosts of her passed have come to visit her, but before she finally passes away, she wants to rid herself of all the dark secrets that she is keeping. I could feel the evil in that room seeping straight up through the pages.
Patricia introduces us to Georgia, a golden child from a wealthy family but who because of a misdemeanour when she is younger is sent away to live in London and finds herself drawn into the seedier side of London life and living on her wits. We meet Sandy, who lives with her mum and step-dad and here Patricia writes a moving and harrowing tale of abuse and neglect which really pulled at my heartstrings.
Then there is Daphne, who marries Kenneth, a very handsome man but one who craves a different kind of life. Vanessa is their adopted daughter who they both adore and love to spoil in equal measure.
Patricia captures all her characters and the different eras perfectly, she has definitely done her homework!
But, at the heart of the book is a dark and sinister tale of vengeance. Someone is out to murder anyone who threatens to ruin their way of life!!!!
Patricia Dixon weaves a spellbinding story that kept me gripped and guessing right up until the very end, and then I was left bereft - what would I do without these women in my life now!!
March 3, 2019
I got an advanced copy of this book and I am thrilled to be chosen. I have thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a good cross over of characters. It dealt with some very complex issues, very sensitively. You form a bond with some of the characters and you want to see it through to the conclusion, which is not what I expected. It gives you some insight into the world of people who live with restrictions and not the culture of today. I will definitely read more of Patricia Dixon.
March 20, 2019
There are some books you forget as soon as you've finished them. Others you keep going back to because they stay with you long after you have finished the. Death's Dark Veil is one of them. The denouement was shocking, and yet Patricia Dixon did not mislead the reader. There are subtle clues through the book, which when the denouement strikes, you think, 'I should have realised.' But I doubt many readers will, the story is so cleverly woven.
February 27, 2019
Another Absorbing Read from Patricia Dixon.
Death's Dark Vale, set in the nineteen-sixties, invites you into the lives of a number of interesting characters. The book begins with an enticing prologue before revealing an intriguing plot that draws you in from the outset.
We follow the journey of Georgie, born into a complicated family relationship, one that ultimately has repercussions.
Georgie relocates to London with the goal to start anew. She quickly attracts a circle of friends due to her effervescent personality. As the story progresses, Georgie also befriends a charming yet unassertive gentleman who becomes her significant other.
Georgie now has the chance to grow into and indeed excel in her new surroundings despite the dramatics of the resident meddling matriarch.
Georgie is a ballsy character, one with a past that has prepared her well for the challenge ahead!
Running alongside our main characters' story are the accounts of other family members, each with their own complex journey. Furthermore, we follow the harrowing journey of Ivy, desperate to rebuild her life after the disclosure of a shameful secret. It leads her path to cross with our main character - no spoilers here.
The book is sectioned in such a way that although there are a few crossover storylines, they flow very well, one to the next. I was curious to discover how each one would affect the other, mirroring real life.
Prepare yourself for scandal, laughs, thrills, betrayal, sinister happenings, death and murder. There's more than a fair share of death at Tenley House. What on earth is going on?
It's a credit to the author's skill in weaving a plot that holds your attention. Death's Dark Vale gives you a hint of what's to come then whips out an unexpected twist at the end.
I'd highly recommend this novel. I read it greedily over the space of a day, so cosy up and expect chills.
Death's Dark Vale, set in the nineteen-sixties, invites you into the lives of a number of interesting characters. The book begins with an enticing prologue before revealing an intriguing plot that draws you in from the outset.
We follow the journey of Georgie, born into a complicated family relationship, one that ultimately has repercussions.
Georgie relocates to London with the goal to start anew. She quickly attracts a circle of friends due to her effervescent personality. As the story progresses, Georgie also befriends a charming yet unassertive gentleman who becomes her significant other.
Georgie now has the chance to grow into and indeed excel in her new surroundings despite the dramatics of the resident meddling matriarch.
Georgie is a ballsy character, one with a past that has prepared her well for the challenge ahead!
Running alongside our main characters' story are the accounts of other family members, each with their own complex journey. Furthermore, we follow the harrowing journey of Ivy, desperate to rebuild her life after the disclosure of a shameful secret. It leads her path to cross with our main character - no spoilers here.
The book is sectioned in such a way that although there are a few crossover storylines, they flow very well, one to the next. I was curious to discover how each one would affect the other, mirroring real life.
Prepare yourself for scandal, laughs, thrills, betrayal, sinister happenings, death and murder. There's more than a fair share of death at Tenley House. What on earth is going on?
It's a credit to the author's skill in weaving a plot that holds your attention. Death's Dark Vale gives you a hint of what's to come then whips out an unexpected twist at the end.
I'd highly recommend this novel. I read it greedily over the space of a day, so cosy up and expect chills.
December 17, 2019
Not exactly my sort of book but so, so well done. It was gripping, a real page-turner. I would go so far as to say truly superb. Note to self - check out more books by this author.
February 27, 2019
An incredible read from start to finish..I couldn't put this book down and read it in one day! It grips you from the first page and goodness knows how many times I thought I had it figured out... big mistake. Each twist is followed by a turn. All of the characters harbour their own dark secrets and end up somehow intertwined. A tale of love, hate, shame, fear will have you gripped in its vice right up until the very end. I have read and enjoyed all of Patricia's books, but I have to say this is the BEST one yet.
Highly recommend this book (checkout her others too....you will not be disappointed). Put it to the top of any list you have, Mother's Day/Easter/Birthdays/Summer holiday and lose yourself in it.
Highly recommend this book (checkout her others too....you will not be disappointed). Put it to the top of any list you have, Mother's Day/Easter/Birthdays/Summer holiday and lose yourself in it.
March 3, 2019
This is an excellent book, I thoroughly enjoyed it! I love a good family saga, charting the lives of the characters over the years.
The story is about two women, Georgie and Ivy, who are both teenagers in the 1960s. Both girls leave home at the same time, but for different reasons, and their lives are destined to be intertwined throughout the years. This is a story of love and loss, of jealousy and obsession and it is written beautifully. Some absolutely heartbreaking themes, my heart broke for Ivy. The book is very dark at times with some extremely twisted characters, and I would certainly recommend it.
The story is about two women, Georgie and Ivy, who are both teenagers in the 1960s. Both girls leave home at the same time, but for different reasons, and their lives are destined to be intertwined throughout the years. This is a story of love and loss, of jealousy and obsession and it is written beautifully. Some absolutely heartbreaking themes, my heart broke for Ivy. The book is very dark at times with some extremely twisted characters, and I would certainly recommend it.
March 2, 2019
Brilliant from start to finish, I could not put it down. Patricia Dixon gets more amazing every book she writes, one of the best authors I know.
This book travels a time line of the people in the family, with their own thoughts. Then a twist towards the end that I did not see coming!
Gritty and dark in places but written with such description you could imagine it all. I really loved this and looking forward to the blog tour and publication next week.
This book travels a time line of the people in the family, with their own thoughts. Then a twist towards the end that I did not see coming!
Gritty and dark in places but written with such description you could imagine it all. I really loved this and looking forward to the blog tour and publication next week.
December 9, 2019
A house of bad luck
Georgie Nibley and Ivy Emsworth have both got secrets. London 1964, this book is very dark, and I was intrigued into it from the first page, it's a haunting tale, full of suspense, murder, madness and humour. It will keep you glued. My favourite character is definitely Georgie who is sharp and witty. It's a big page turner with everything added. a must read for gothic fans, there is something in for everyone. I really enjoyed this book. . Every chapter tells its own story that will keep you on your toes reading.
Georgie Nibley and Ivy Emsworth have both got secrets. London 1964, this book is very dark, and I was intrigued into it from the first page, it's a haunting tale, full of suspense, murder, madness and humour. It will keep you glued. My favourite character is definitely Georgie who is sharp and witty. It's a big page turner with everything added. a must read for gothic fans, there is something in for everyone. I really enjoyed this book. . Every chapter tells its own story that will keep you on your toes reading.
March 6, 2019
I love these books where the house itself is so dark and chilling that it’s actually a fully-fledged character itself. Here, the house seems to brood and shift at will, taking on the moods of its inhabitants. It’s very creepy and adds to the undercurrent of dread that runs through the entire book.
Headstrong, independent Georgie and introverted, inhibited Ivy arrive at Tenley House, the mainstay of the Tenley family – or what’s left of it. Weak Kenneth, the useless son that his witch of a mother, Phyllis, has been left with after her precious firstborn was killed in an awful hunting accident, and his adopted daughter Vanessa are also in residence, bullied constantly by the devious matriarch.
The reminders of what it meant to be different in a time when it was so vitally important to ‘fit in’ and ‘be proper’ run as a theme throughout the book, and although we are used to much more relaxed attitudes today, there are still those who believe it should be the norm to follow rules and ‘be correct’. The unwillingness to embrace anything new and forward thinking still exists among many and reading this was a reminder that these people are often a lot closer to home that one might imagine!
The twists are involved; the secrets abundant; the characters all invested in their own personal agendas. But the question remains: whose agenda is murder? Once the story draws you in, it won’t let you go until you’re done. It’s absorbing and thrilling and will make you gasp when you realise that you are ploughing the depths of an evil, threatening force.
4 dark, glossy stars for this one!
Headstrong, independent Georgie and introverted, inhibited Ivy arrive at Tenley House, the mainstay of the Tenley family – or what’s left of it. Weak Kenneth, the useless son that his witch of a mother, Phyllis, has been left with after her precious firstborn was killed in an awful hunting accident, and his adopted daughter Vanessa are also in residence, bullied constantly by the devious matriarch.
The reminders of what it meant to be different in a time when it was so vitally important to ‘fit in’ and ‘be proper’ run as a theme throughout the book, and although we are used to much more relaxed attitudes today, there are still those who believe it should be the norm to follow rules and ‘be correct’. The unwillingness to embrace anything new and forward thinking still exists among many and reading this was a reminder that these people are often a lot closer to home that one might imagine!
The twists are involved; the secrets abundant; the characters all invested in their own personal agendas. But the question remains: whose agenda is murder? Once the story draws you in, it won’t let you go until you’re done. It’s absorbing and thrilling and will make you gasp when you realise that you are ploughing the depths of an evil, threatening force.
4 dark, glossy stars for this one!
March 7, 2019
Deaths dark veil
Could be described as a rich and dark gothic tale, Tenley house has secrets and what secrets they are keeping, seeping through it’s corridors and walls, it poisons those within.
We meet an cast of characters with an array of back stories. There is frivolity, greed, love, and an abundance of the threat, but who and when it strikes keeps you on your toes.
You might not agree with the actions of some, but you will be enthralled with the descriptive.
Patricia Dixon brings these characters and Tenley alive and I felt that they were in touching distance- although some I would shrink from.
A delicious deceitful read with malevolent undercurrents running through.
I also want to mention the highly beautiful prose, some phrases I had to re read - due to the breathtaking storytelling of Dixon.
An absolutely corker of a read, highly recommend.
Could be described as a rich and dark gothic tale, Tenley house has secrets and what secrets they are keeping, seeping through it’s corridors and walls, it poisons those within.
We meet an cast of characters with an array of back stories. There is frivolity, greed, love, and an abundance of the threat, but who and when it strikes keeps you on your toes.
You might not agree with the actions of some, but you will be enthralled with the descriptive.
Patricia Dixon brings these characters and Tenley alive and I felt that they were in touching distance- although some I would shrink from.
A delicious deceitful read with malevolent undercurrents running through.
I also want to mention the highly beautiful prose, some phrases I had to re read - due to the breathtaking storytelling of Dixon.
An absolutely corker of a read, highly recommend.
March 16, 2019
My first book by Patricia Dixon. Probably it will be my last. I feel I have just finished reading a TV soap opera series' book. Did not find any thrill, much less psychological, slow story, very predictable, and not much more to comment upon. However, it was easy reading, that is why I give it 3 stars, even if the story is, in my opinion, only worth 2 stars.
March 6, 2019
he book opens from the perspective of somebody who is on the verge of dying, haunted by three demons. Two are known, one is not. Is the demon real or a figment of an old, dying lady's imagination wracked with grief and guilt?
Through the perspectives of many characters we are told varying stories which all entwine and bring this novel to a climatic, unpredictable and chilling end.
Told from a multiple perspectives, we learn about Georgie, Ivy, Kenneth, Vanessa, Sandy and Phyllis across several decades. Each with an individual story, leading them to the clutches of the miserable Tenley House and all the deception and evil lurking in every corner. Each character has something to hide, something to regret and each character is capable of malice in their own way. Each character likable, but also imperfect and suspicious.
Rich language gives depth to each character and the settings in this book. Nothing is just given lip service and the detail and description draws you completely into this story. Each chapter is like a little piece of the puzzle that slowly fits with another until the picture becomes clearer - but until the very end there's always missing pieces that prevent you from seeing the whole story.
Highly intriguing and unpredictable - I highly recommend this book for fans of slow burner mysteries with a hint of the supernatural.
Through the perspectives of many characters we are told varying stories which all entwine and bring this novel to a climatic, unpredictable and chilling end.
Told from a multiple perspectives, we learn about Georgie, Ivy, Kenneth, Vanessa, Sandy and Phyllis across several decades. Each with an individual story, leading them to the clutches of the miserable Tenley House and all the deception and evil lurking in every corner. Each character has something to hide, something to regret and each character is capable of malice in their own way. Each character likable, but also imperfect and suspicious.
Rich language gives depth to each character and the settings in this book. Nothing is just given lip service and the detail and description draws you completely into this story. Each chapter is like a little piece of the puzzle that slowly fits with another until the picture becomes clearer - but until the very end there's always missing pieces that prevent you from seeing the whole story.
Highly intriguing and unpredictable - I highly recommend this book for fans of slow burner mysteries with a hint of the supernatural.
December 9, 2019
This is a slow burn story that introduce many characters and we are taken back to the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Somehow this story was a bit over the place, jumped around, so it never grabbed me and I really did not care about any of the characters. Expected more from it.
February 26, 2019
I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review
This one was a bit all over the place which distracted from the horror and susiebcr. Could’ve used some solid editing. 2.5 rounded up
This one was a bit all over the place which distracted from the horror and susiebcr. Could’ve used some solid editing. 2.5 rounded up
March 6, 2019
A psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and no way will you put it down until you are finished. I finished it at 2.45 am.
We are introduced to two young women, both have been shamed and sent from their homes to make their own way in the world. One, Georgie has been brought up as a pampered princess, that is until she is discovered literally with her pants down when the ageing theatre manager’s wife and teenage sons popped into his office unexpectedly. Undeterred, Georgie enters her new life with vim and vigour.
The second one, Ivy is disgraced when she becomes pregnant by her stepfather. He is the headmaster of the local school and a pillar in the community, that is until after Ivy has the baby and she writes letters to all and sundry telling of his misdeeds and the result. Ivy quickly changes her name by deed poll and becomes Sandy, putting her old life behind her. But she vows to find the baby girl who was taken away from her and given to a wealthy couple for adoption.
Ivy and Georgie at first seem like very different women. But as I read further into the book I realised that not only did they each have troubled pasts but were each determined to get what they wanted and to do whatever it took to achieve that.
Both women, through different paths, find themselves in an old unhappy house that appears to be haunted by what went before.
I really recommend this book. As I said, I sat up through the night to read it to the end. And the end was totally unexpected. No way did I guess who the evil person in the house was. I’m giving this book 5 stars on Amazon and Goodreads.
My thanks to Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to read this advance copy. The book is available to purchase on Amazon.
We are introduced to two young women, both have been shamed and sent from their homes to make their own way in the world. One, Georgie has been brought up as a pampered princess, that is until she is discovered literally with her pants down when the ageing theatre manager’s wife and teenage sons popped into his office unexpectedly. Undeterred, Georgie enters her new life with vim and vigour.
The second one, Ivy is disgraced when she becomes pregnant by her stepfather. He is the headmaster of the local school and a pillar in the community, that is until after Ivy has the baby and she writes letters to all and sundry telling of his misdeeds and the result. Ivy quickly changes her name by deed poll and becomes Sandy, putting her old life behind her. But she vows to find the baby girl who was taken away from her and given to a wealthy couple for adoption.
Ivy and Georgie at first seem like very different women. But as I read further into the book I realised that not only did they each have troubled pasts but were each determined to get what they wanted and to do whatever it took to achieve that.
Both women, through different paths, find themselves in an old unhappy house that appears to be haunted by what went before.
I really recommend this book. As I said, I sat up through the night to read it to the end. And the end was totally unexpected. No way did I guess who the evil person in the house was. I’m giving this book 5 stars on Amazon and Goodreads.
My thanks to Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to read this advance copy. The book is available to purchase on Amazon.
March 4, 2019
First of all this cover is GORGEOUS. It sets the perfect tone for the novel, which itself is dark and brooding, with a huge sense of “the other shoe’s about to drop” throughout. You really get that, just from the cover.
Now on to the actual book. It is definitely a thriller, but also a family drama/saga. You really become enmeshed in the story of this crumbling family and their house, with some of the cast of characters making you feel sorry for them and some of them you just hate (ahem, Phyllis). The characters are wonderfully complex and really evoke the full spectrum of emotions. I got a total “Fall of the House of Usher” vibe from this novel.
What addds to that atmosphere is that it’s so hard to figure out whose side you should be on in some cases. It’s so murky and complicated and I loved it.
The main “thriller” aspect of this book as great, however, so don’t think the drama overshadows it. I know that when all was revealed, I had a chill going down my spine as I pictured how it was all playing out (trying not to give spoilers here!). The scenes were so vivid and the writing was very intense, so you really felt the thrills and chills.
Overall, I would definitely read more from this author and I look forward to hearing more from her in the future.
Now on to the actual book. It is definitely a thriller, but also a family drama/saga. You really become enmeshed in the story of this crumbling family and their house, with some of the cast of characters making you feel sorry for them and some of them you just hate (ahem, Phyllis). The characters are wonderfully complex and really evoke the full spectrum of emotions. I got a total “Fall of the House of Usher” vibe from this novel.
What addds to that atmosphere is that it’s so hard to figure out whose side you should be on in some cases. It’s so murky and complicated and I loved it.
The main “thriller” aspect of this book as great, however, so don’t think the drama overshadows it. I know that when all was revealed, I had a chill going down my spine as I pictured how it was all playing out (trying not to give spoilers here!). The scenes were so vivid and the writing was very intense, so you really felt the thrills and chills.
Overall, I would definitely read more from this author and I look forward to hearing more from her in the future.
March 4, 2019
This is another amazing book by the very talented Patricia Dixon, who can go from gentle love stories set in France to a psychological and horror genre.
Deaths Dark Veil had me captured from the beginning, where you are introduced to a terminally ill old lady who is visited by a demon. You don't find out until the end who the demon is, or indeed who the old lady is.
You meet Georgie and Ivy, both from unhappy families, and both escape at the same time. Their paths cross briefly almost immediately but they have no idea just how their lives will entwine in later years.
You also meet Kenneth, a sad but loving man who is afraid of his overbearing mother, and Vanessa, the child that everyone wants.
How all these lives are joined together under one roof is brilliantly explained and written. There are so many secrets, that each and every character has. There is murder, deceit, sadness and horror.
This is a book that grips you from beginning to end and I hope we see more of this from Patricia.
Deaths Dark Veil had me captured from the beginning, where you are introduced to a terminally ill old lady who is visited by a demon. You don't find out until the end who the demon is, or indeed who the old lady is.
You meet Georgie and Ivy, both from unhappy families, and both escape at the same time. Their paths cross briefly almost immediately but they have no idea just how their lives will entwine in later years.
You also meet Kenneth, a sad but loving man who is afraid of his overbearing mother, and Vanessa, the child that everyone wants.
How all these lives are joined together under one roof is brilliantly explained and written. There are so many secrets, that each and every character has. There is murder, deceit, sadness and horror.
This is a book that grips you from beginning to end and I hope we see more of this from Patricia.
April 8, 2019
Georgie and Ivy are drawn into the secrets and lies of the family once they arrive at Tenley House. Both women have had troubled lives and at first, you think this is why they appear alike.
Georgie once so animated and keen to have fun is quite different from a shy Ivy. Their paths cross again later when they meet the matriarch at Tenley House who wields much fear.
This is about revenge mainly and the duplicitous way the mind can work for someone so evil. This book draws you in and it is difficult to put this down until you have finished.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are all my own and completely unbiased. My thanks to NetGalley for this opportunity.
Georgie once so animated and keen to have fun is quite different from a shy Ivy. Their paths cross again later when they meet the matriarch at Tenley House who wields much fear.
This is about revenge mainly and the duplicitous way the mind can work for someone so evil. This book draws you in and it is difficult to put this down until you have finished.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are all my own and completely unbiased. My thanks to NetGalley for this opportunity.
October 11, 2019
Vanessa was adopted by a wealthy couple who were unable to have a child of their own. When Vanessa was a bit older, her adopted mother learned that she was pregnant and was very happy. Vanessa's grandmother, who lived in the same mansion, was a bitter, nasty woman who disliked her son, his wife and Vanessa. Vanessa's mother dies unexpectedly and the story continues with various twists and turns which are engrossing, intriguing and unexpected, as well as very well written.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author Patricia Dixon, and the publisher Bloodhound Books, for granting me an ARC to enjoy and I really did enjoy this book. It grabbed me from the first page and I found it to be a very satisfying read. Highly recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author Patricia Dixon, and the publisher Bloodhound Books, for granting me an ARC to enjoy and I really did enjoy this book. It grabbed me from the first page and I found it to be a very satisfying read. Highly recommend.
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