April 2023 Group Read with Guest Author: Gallows Hill by Darcy Coates Darcy Coates

[Darcy]

Lindsay wrote: "Also made me very happy I don't drink wine..."

If I'm being honest, (view spoiler)[the grub-in-grape scene is the one I can't forget. I had to spend a minute imagining the texture and sensations to write it, and now it's a little harder to add grapes to my shopping basket, ha. (hide spoiler)]

[Tom]

I rarely quit on a book after I have made it half way through but there is an exception for everything. Darcy very skilled at using words to paint horrific visual images. I read her book From Below earlier this year and really enjoyed it. In Gallows Hill, her description of the decrepit old house with its winery at the top of a hill with an old gallows tree nearby really made me want to engage with this story. For some reason, though, it never happened.

Perhaps what bothered me the most, though, was the performance of the audiobook's narrator. From the very first page, her voice imparted such a feeling of fear and horror I began to think it couldn't really be that bad. Tension is something that needs to be built. If it is constant, the readers become inured to it.

If you are interested in reading this book I don't wish to dissuade you but I recommend reading it rather than listening to the audio recording of it. That said, I wish Darcy a long and successful career and thank her for participating with the Horror Aficionados group.

[Kelly B]

This book definitely had some creepy moments. I was home alone one of the nights I was reading it, and managed to freak myself out a bit.

I could never (view spoiler)[have a dog door in my house. I would be paranoid someone or an animal or snake or something would come in. (hide spoiler)]

The most frightening thing for me was (view spoiler)[those bells ringing in the middle of the night, especially before Margot knew what they were for (hide spoiler)]

I had a feeling that (view spoiler)[the bodies would end up being in those wine barrels. (hide spoiler)].

[Jennifer]

I finished the book a few days ago. I enjoyed it and thought the ending was great but I did find it a little bit too long at the start. It took quite a while before it really got going.

I liked how the age old question of 'why didn't she just leave' is tacked, even Margot asks herself that. And we know why everyone else didn't leave too.

The writing was great, I like books to be quite descriptive so I can see the surroundings and what's going on and I really felt part of this story and got to know the characters pretty well.

I've not read a book by Darcy before and it won't be my last. Thank you for taking us to Gallows Hill Darcy!

And now I know why I don't like wine! :D

[Jodi Ann]

I've made it to about the mid-point and I am enjoying the writing quite a bit.

[Kenneth]

Tom wrote: "I rarely quit on a book after I have made it half way through but there is an exception for everything. Darcy very skilled at using words to paint horrific visual images. I read her book [book:From..."

I find that with audiobooks from time to time. I usually buy both the physical and audio copies of the group reads. That way, I can read at home or listen while on the move. Sometimes, the audio narrator just doesn’t work for me. This one is doing that, and it’s at no fault of the story. I’m enjoying the story when I’m reading it, but the audio narrator’s voice isn’t matching with what I think the characters should sound like in my head. Once I stopped listening to it and only read it, I’m enjoying the story much more.

[Tom]

Kenneth wrote: "Sometimes, the audio narrator just doesn’t work for me. This one is doing that, and it’s at no fault of the story...."

👍

[Denis (deez_bookish_adventures)]

I agree with that 100% Kenneth, I thought more than once that the narrators voice was too loud and excited for the scene and it took me out of the story a little bit.

[L. Smashing]

Kelly B wrote: "This book definitely had some creepy moments. I was home alone one of the nights I was reading it, and managed to freak myself out a bit.

I could never [spoilers removed]

The most frightening thi..."

I also could never have a doggy door, I've seen too many horror movies and true crime stuff.

(view spoiler)[As for the wine barrels, I actually didn't think the bodies would still be there, but I knew they had something to do with it. The only think is, the bodies must've been stored somewhere else before the wine barrels because the barrels were made after they were all dead. (hide spoiler)]

[Hayley]

Finished this this past weekend, and wanted to sit with it for a while before I typed up my final thoughts.

I absolutely loved this book! As I said before, Margot is an absolute badass, and held together so much better than I ever would have done. I love the idea of the talismans, and the Watcher (after finding out he is meant to protect I'd have named him Wally and dragged him everywhere with me in the house. Because things are less scary when you name them. That is why I name the spiders in my house). And (view spoiler)[how even though she became a zombie because of the hill, Clementine the dog is still a Very Good Girl because even a haunted, vengeance-fueled hill cannot take the goodness out of a dog (hide spoiler)].

Also, Darcy, I think you hold tension better than just about any horror author I can think of. I read From Below last year and in that one as well as Gallows Hill the scares started early and the tension never flagged. I had a blast with this book, and I'm so glad you joined us this month!

[Michael]

I am behind due to other obligations. Hoping to at least begin reading this in the next day or so.

[Rachel]

I read Gallows Hill in February because I devour every book Darcy puts out as soon as humanly possible. I started with The Carrow Haunt in 2020 and was hooked. Now when I’m browsing the horror section at the bookstore I make sure to point folks toward my favorite horror author. Thanks for your stories, Darcy!

[Michael]

I read Chapter 1 last night, just before lights out. Great introduction. It really "sets the table" for what is to come. The presence of fine wine means this will be a first class meal.

[Michael]

I love a mystery embedded within a good horror tale, and this one seems to have it. Only 11% in, but already empathizing with Margot. There are two unanswered questions so far that will keep me reading in order to find out . . .. (view spoiler)[ 1) What are the specifics about the death of Margot's parents? Every explanation so far is very vague, and 2) Why did her parents send 8-year old Margot off to be raised by her grandmother? Did she do something wrong? Were they afraid for her safety? (hide spoiler)]

[Brenna]

Just finished! Once the action really kicked in, I was hooked. I was genuinely scared too, the descriptions of the dead were so vivid and disturbing - loved that! It's hard to write a haunting so well. And the ending was great. I had a lot of fun reading this one! Thanks for being here Darcy!