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jenpaul13's review
4.0
Locations can evoke memories, and on Halloween night in Evie Gaughan's Betwixt, the worlds of grieving individuals can collide.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Mourning the loss of her husband, Catherine escapes her home and seeks out the location of their first trip together, a remote cottage called Hollowbrook. Making her way to the cottage on a stormy October night, she crosses paths with a mysterious man, by hitting him with her car. When the man refuses to allow emergency services to be called, Catherine insists on looking after him for the night to make sure that he's okay. Sitting up late to drink and talk about their respective woes, Catherine learns that the man is searching for his girlfriend and she promises to help him find her. When she wakes in the morning and he's gone, she realizes that she wants to go home. On her way she stops to chat with the cottage owner, revealing far stranger things than she bargained for.
A brief, but touching and haunting story develops a palpable atmosphere and a narrative that captures attention. Though the story's revealing moment was fairly predictable and not overly shocking, it was still enjoyable and handled in a good manner. While characterization could have been developed more, there was a good sense of the three primary players in the short time readers were following their lives and how they intersected. The ending provides a decent thoughtful punch, but I would have liked to have a little more to more fully provide closure to their lives instead of the more abrupt ending provided.
Overall, I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Mourning the loss of her husband, Catherine escapes her home and seeks out the location of their first trip together, a remote cottage called Hollowbrook. Making her way to the cottage on a stormy October night, she crosses paths with a mysterious man, by hitting him with her car. When the man refuses to allow emergency services to be called, Catherine insists on looking after him for the night to make sure that he's okay. Sitting up late to drink and talk about their respective woes, Catherine learns that the man is searching for his girlfriend and she promises to help him find her. When she wakes in the morning and he's gone, she realizes that she wants to go home. On her way she stops to chat with the cottage owner, revealing far stranger things than she bargained for.
A brief, but touching and haunting story develops a palpable atmosphere and a narrative that captures attention. Though the story's revealing moment was fairly predictable and not overly shocking, it was still enjoyable and handled in a good manner. While characterization could have been developed more, there was a good sense of the three primary players in the short time readers were following their lives and how they intersected. The ending provides a decent thoughtful punch, but I would have liked to have a little more to more fully provide closure to their lives instead of the more abrupt ending provided.
Overall, I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
paulaz's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
fictionophile's review
5.0
Catherine Ryan, a solicitor working in Galway, has recently lost her husband. Still grieving, she decides to revisit 'Hollowbrook' a cottage that they went to together to rekindle fond memories.
The night she chooses to visit Hollowbrook is 'All Hallow's Eve', and as all good ghost stories go... It was a dark and gloomy night...
So gloomy and foggy, that Catherine actually hits a person with her car while she is looking for the drive to the cottage. Seemingly unharmed, her victim introduces himself as Sergeant Andrew Montague. She takes him to the cottage to access his injuries, if any. It is the least she can do...
"When someone you love is gone, there is no comfort. Just a readjustment to life without them."
MY THOUGHTS
After reading a review of this short story by a fellow bookblogger, I thought it would be the perfect late October read. I was right!
Some might call it a gothic ghost story, some might say it was a time-slip love story, whatever you call it "Betwxit" is an excellent story to be read at this time of year.
A story that explores loss and eternal love.
If you're looking for an atmospheric, quick, seasonal read, then this is the one to pick. Highly recommended.
The night she chooses to visit Hollowbrook is 'All Hallow's Eve', and as all good ghost stories go... It was a dark and gloomy night...
So gloomy and foggy, that Catherine actually hits a person with her car while she is looking for the drive to the cottage. Seemingly unharmed, her victim introduces himself as Sergeant Andrew Montague. She takes him to the cottage to access his injuries, if any. It is the least she can do...
"When someone you love is gone, there is no comfort. Just a readjustment to life without them."
MY THOUGHTS
After reading a review of this short story by a fellow bookblogger, I thought it would be the perfect late October read. I was right!
Some might call it a gothic ghost story, some might say it was a time-slip love story, whatever you call it "Betwxit" is an excellent story to be read at this time of year.
A story that explores loss and eternal love.
If you're looking for an atmospheric, quick, seasonal read, then this is the one to pick. Highly recommended.
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