Thornwood House in Aussie Readers

Oct 13, 2016 Brenda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie-authors, mystery, contemporary-fiction, 2013-release, own-read, psychological-thriller

The shock of Tony’s death was only surpassed by the fact that he’d left her an old homestead called Thornwood House, located in Magpie Creek in Queensland – a place she had known nothing about until his will was read. Audrey Kepler and her eleven year old daughter Bronwyn’s journey to view the old and long abandoned homestead had Audrey changing her mind – her view that they would sell Thornwood House and buy in their home city of Melbourne was broken when both Audrey and Bronwyn fell in love wi ...more

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Aug 06, 2013 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it liked it

Shelves: aussie-author, provided-by-publisher, arc-are

An Australian gothic novel, Thornwood House is a haunting story of mystery and murder spanning four generations.

When Audrey Kepler inherits a neglected homestead in rural Queensland she decides to make it a home for herself and her eleven year old daughter. The childhood home of her daughter's late father, Anna is surprised to discover Thornwood House harbours a tragic history. In 1946, Tony's grandmother, Aylish was murdered in the grounds, a crime his grandfather, Samuel, was accused of commit
An Australian gothic novel, Thornwood House is a haunting story of mystery and murder spanning four generations.

When Audrey Kepler inherits a neglected homestead in rural Queensland she decides to make it a home for herself and her eleven year old daughter. The childhood home of her daughter's late father, Anna is surprised to discover Thornwood House harbours a tragic history. In 1946, Tony's grandmother, Aylish was murdered in the grounds, a crime his grandfather, Samuel, was accused of committing. Two generations later, Tony's teenage sister Glenda died in the same clearing, though her death was ruled accidental. Plagued by vivid dreams, Audrey develops an obsession with the deaths and as she digs into the past uncovers secrets that may threaten any future happiness.

What particularly impressed me about Thornwood House was Romer's vivid descriptions of the Australian landscape, the contradictions of the bush, its dangers and its beauty, nurtures the haunting atmosphere of the story. I could easily visualise Thornwood House, and the other locations important to the story. Overall, I thought the writing to be expressive and evocative.

I think the mystery of Aylish and Glenda's deaths were well plotted, the author offers deft misdirection and clever twists, at least one I didn't see coming at all. Though Audrey is the primary narrator, Aylish and Glenda find a voice through letters, diary entries and dream visions.

Sadly I have to admit that I grew somewhat impatient with Audrey, I have never been a great fan of the gothic heroine despite finding the other elements of the genre appealing. For me, Audrey's obsessive nature was tiring after a while, seven years seems far too long to be pining after a man who treated her as Tony did and I found the way her obsession transferred to Samuel creepy, but not in a good way.

I did enjoy Thornwood House despite not really connecting with Audrey. It is well written novel, atmospheric with a well crafted plot. An impressive debut from Anna Romer and I will definitely be picking up her next book. ...more

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Sep 09, 2013 Kathryn rated it really liked it

Shelves: reading-list-2014, 4-stars, fiction, australian-authors, audiobooks, added-due-to-being-on-a-shortlist, released-2013

I thought this was a great debut novel and look forward to reading more of Anna Romer's work. It had a bit of the thriller about it, with a 2-generations-old mystery surrounding old Thornwood House. I was listening to this one as an audiobook and I got to the point of the final 3 hours (of 16.5) one evening, and I had to decide whether to keep going for another hour or 90 minutes and then stop, continue to the end (and get to bed later than usual), or stop right then and continue at another time ...more

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Feb 05, 2017 Kira rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction, romance, paranormal, mystery, aussie-author, contemporary, own

Just before Christmas I brought a stack of books to read over the holidays. Some were on kindle, some were paperbacks. I read Anna Romer's Lyrebird Hill while on holiday, but didn't have a chance to review it properly, although I did rate it 4★. So when I returned from holidays and sorted through the paperbacks I bought, I knew I had to read Thornwood House next.

Audrey is a great character. She's insecure but also strong-willed, and wants to do the best she can for her daughter, Bronwyn. At the ...more

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Jun 14, 2014 Sheree rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviews, historical-fiction, contemporary-fiction, aussie-author, read-in-2014

4.5 stars

That ethereal cover caught my eye, (reminiscent of Picnic at Hanging Rock) the synopsis appealed and when I discovered Thornwood House was the work of Australian author Anna Romer, I had to have it. Thornwood House is a beautiful atmospheric read, where the past and present collide in dark secrets and obsession.

Audrey Kepler welcomes the chance for a fresh start with her daughter Bronwyn when she inherits an old homestead in the small town of Magpie Creek in South East Queensland. Thor ...more

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Oct 01, 2013 Tango rated it really liked it

This is a great debut novel. Full of vivid description of the Australian landscape, with a gothic-style story and intriguing characters, the book makes for compelling reading. The story is told through first person narration along with letters and diary entries which Romer handles quite effectively (if a tiny bit too conveniently in places). The central mystery will keep you guessing until the end and makes the second half of the book a real page turner.

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