richard_farley1976's review against another edition
5.0
The book's story is set within Victorian times. The main character Michael sadly is coping with the death of his Mother and is taken under the guardianship of his dead Fathers friend. The story develops around the mansion to which he is sent and the mysterious events and history of it, with a great twist at the end. I read this book after another in the series, aftering enjoying the authors style of writing. I was not dissapointed and enjoyed this great Ghost story. I look forward to the next book ive got in the series.
mariajaqi's review against another edition
5.0
Such an awesome book that i dont advise you read at night. Thank you Chris Priestly, i really felt the chills there with the cliff hanger and all. Wow. A powerfull novel that has my heart and teeth chattering with every page i turn.
kingfan30's review against another edition
4.0
A friend from work asked me if I had read this book, to which I said no and in fact I've never heard of this author. As I am willing to give nearly anything a go, into my bag it went and onto the pile once home.
This turned out to be an enjoyable read, but a little bit predictable, saying that has been written for young adults so this maybe why I spotted the twist a mile off. A good creepy, gothic novel, particularly the priest hole! Should another book by this author come up, I would certainly not turn it down.
This turned out to be an enjoyable read, but a little bit predictable, saying that has been written for young adults so this maybe why I spotted the twist a mile off. A good creepy, gothic novel, particularly the priest hole! Should another book by this author come up, I would certainly not turn it down.
thedreamwithin's review against another edition
3.0
Sehr schön geschrieben, aber es war wirklich ALLES vorhersehbar, leider.
lecrockett's review against another edition
3.0
On the day of his mother’s funeral, Michael’s family lawyer offers him a new life to live under the guardianship of the man his father defended in the war. Sir Stephen is a wealthy man and eager to take in Michael as a ward, and Michael, with nothing to his name, cannot refuse. But the journey to Hawton Mere proves to only be a precursor for what’s to come at the manor. He spots a woman in the mist, terrified, wet, and screaming — but no one else can see her. As he steps foot in the manor, stranger things begin to take hold, and each night is filled with chilling haunts.
The elder Michael recalls his visit to Hawton Mere and the strange Christmas he spent there. This epistolary beginning and ending to the book was reminiscent of Susan Hill’s Woman in Black — the reader knows no matter what the narrator encounters the narrator will live, but will clearly be haunted by it. Although not as spooky as the previous ghost stories I’ve read, I can easily see why the older Michael would still be disturbed. The creepy, massive house; the mad and deeply disturbed guardian; strange noises, creaking floors, and turning knobs; and the dripping woman from the mist looming around the moat.
The language recalls the Victorian writing style easily, and I was left quite impressed. It’s difficult to emulate that language without it sounding forced or cheesy. Priestly also threw in some classic gothic elements, like the woman in all white, a nightgown, wild among the marshes, the setting as the marshes, childhood traumas, burning manors, and everyone somehow connected to one another. Overall, it was a good, quick read.
The elder Michael recalls his visit to Hawton Mere and the strange Christmas he spent there. This epistolary beginning and ending to the book was reminiscent of Susan Hill’s Woman in Black — the reader knows no matter what the narrator encounters the narrator will live, but will clearly be haunted by it. Although not as spooky as the previous ghost stories I’ve read, I can easily see why the older Michael would still be disturbed. The creepy, massive house; the mad and deeply disturbed guardian; strange noises, creaking floors, and turning knobs; and the dripping woman from the mist looming around the moat.
The language recalls the Victorian writing style easily, and I was left quite impressed. It’s difficult to emulate that language without it sounding forced or cheesy. Priestly also threw in some classic gothic elements, like the woman in all white, a nightgown, wild among the marshes, the setting as the marshes, childhood traumas, burning manors, and everyone somehow connected to one another. Overall, it was a good, quick read.
ziwxbhld's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent young adult fiction in a gothic style. Call me shallow, but I do like the way we seem to get right into the story here, I imagine because of the intended young adult audience; The Woman In Black is an excellent novel from which this tale draws much inspiration, but I can quite happily lose a smidgin of the subtle hints and slow-build up for the sake of a rollicking good story.
I'm sure I would deserve to be roundly whipped for suggesting that M. R. James could trim a fair bit of prose from The Turn Of The Screw, so I won't - instead I'll recommend this book wholeheartedly as a quicker but just as engrossing alternative. It's truly excellent.
I'm sure I would deserve to be roundly whipped for suggesting that M. R. James could trim a fair bit of prose from The Turn Of The Screw, so I won't - instead I'll recommend this book wholeheartedly as a quicker but just as engrossing alternative. It's truly excellent.
caitlin_123a's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not normally someone who's up for a good horror story but when I was given this one I just thought, why not?
It was sooooo good! Admittedly I did cry a few times and had nightmares when I'd finished......but other than that it was great!
I couldn't put it down, regardless of how my Mind was telling me I should! I would recommend it to anyone who's up for it and doesn't scare easily :)
It was sooooo good! Admittedly I did cry a few times and had nightmares when I'd finished......but other than that it was great!
I couldn't put it down, regardless of how my Mind was telling me I should! I would recommend it to anyone who's up for it and doesn't scare easily :)
bookworm_630's review against another edition
4.0
Great, creepy story! Left me with goosebumps! Highly recommended for people who like stories that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. I'll be suggesting this to the kids who like Edgar Allan Poe stories.
speakinglatin's review against another edition
3.0
The Dead of Winter is horrorlicious. It's a scary book that actually scared me. Priestley does a great job of giving his novel a classic Gothic feel. A few times I had to remind myself that this book wasn't written in the 19th century. The prose is classic and well-written. I loved it.
The horror:
The Dead of Winter is full of frightening scenes and these moments wouldn't have worked without Priestley's truly creepy descriptions. The book played out as a movie in my head and left me terrified. I can't say much without spoiling it, but one of the scenes involving the priest's hole scared the crap out of me. I was like, "OPEN THE DOOR OPEN THE DOOR OPEN THE DOOR!"
The negative:
The mystery solved is a bit...lackluster. Don't get me wrong, the climax is exciting but the sort of "whodunit" left me wanting more. It's also too short. Much too short. It doesn't read like a full length novel, but more as a novella. I finished the book in about an hour.
The horror:
The Dead of Winter is full of frightening scenes and these moments wouldn't have worked without Priestley's truly creepy descriptions. The book played out as a movie in my head and left me terrified. I can't say much without spoiling it, but one of the scenes involving the priest's hole scared the crap out of me. I was like, "OPEN THE DOOR OPEN THE DOOR OPEN THE DOOR!"
The negative:
The mystery solved is a bit...lackluster. Don't get me wrong, the climax is exciting but the sort of "whodunit" left me wanting more. It's also too short. Much too short. It doesn't read like a full length novel, but more as a novella. I finished the book in about an hour.
lasbulle's review against another edition
3.0
Boken hade egentligen alla ingredienser som en läskig spökhistoria ska innehålla: ett hemsökt hem, någon med psykisk sjukdom, mörka korridorer, tinnar & torn, samt ett tragiskt förflutet. Blanda i det in en liten föräldralös pojke som ska fira sin första jul sedan hans föräldrar gick bort i det hemsökta slottet och du får en fantastisk grund för en skrämmande historia. Det är bara det att jag inte rycks med. Jag fastnar aldrig, kommer på mig själv med att kolla Instagram eller fastna för TV4 fakta istället. Och då är det inte tillräckligt nagelbitande utan någonting som fattas!