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larry_yonce's review against another edition
3.0
The Fox brothers
Clifford receives a disturbing letter from younger brother Simon. Simon warns his brother not to come to him, but Clifford sets out anyway. What unfolds is a grisly tale of murder and mutilation. The entire story is effectively told in a series of letters.
Clifford receives a disturbing letter from younger brother Simon. Simon warns his brother not to come to him, but Clifford sets out anyway. What unfolds is a grisly tale of murder and mutilation. The entire story is effectively told in a series of letters.
pekoegal's review
3.0
This was an "okay" short story. I was hoping for a bit more atmosphere-building - a few more bumps in the night and voices in the shadows. If you were a fan of Edgar Allen Poe, you'll probably find this to be right up your alley, as it has a lot of the same pacing and themes (though a bit more bloody than Poe).
ratgrrrl's review
4.0
Genuinely Great Modern Gothic
CW: Alcoholism, Animal Harm (Dearth of a Dog), Torture (including reference to a child being abused), Pregnant Person Stabbed in Stomach
I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this as I tend to find modern horror, particularly gothic horror, and epistolaries are of wildly varying quality, and I can also find epistolaries too slow and unengaging. Abbot's Keep certainly kept me gripped and was an interesting and creepy.
I do think there are some issues with the pacing and arrangement of information and creepy action, which is partly due to the epistolary framing, but could have been managed better. I also found the hammering of the motif in the end, while interesting learning about how names for things can change over time in different languages, felt a bit odd and concentrated. Having more allusions to it throughout the book could have been more effective, which, with the country estate and the dog, could easily have been done. The idea was interesting though. I think my criticism could be distilled into the flow of the story not being as natural, fitting, and effective for the genre.
Regardless, this is still a solid 4+ and a genuinely well-written and interesting example of modern gothic horror and I will absolutely be seeking out more from this author. I would recommend it for horror fans and anyone interested in checking the genre out, especially as it is in the Audible Included library.
The performance is really rather good, particularly in the emotional and creepy moments. My only complaint was that there was so little to mark the different correspondents that I was actually a little confused as to who was who and who was writing at times.
I feel like I've been overly critical, but, honestly, that's just because I actually enjoyed and thought about it enough.
CW: Alcoholism, Animal Harm (Dearth of a Dog), Torture (including reference to a child being abused), Pregnant Person Stabbed in Stomach
I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this as I tend to find modern horror, particularly gothic horror, and epistolaries are of wildly varying quality, and I can also find epistolaries too slow and unengaging. Abbot's Keep certainly kept me gripped and was an interesting and creepy.
I do think there are some issues with the pacing and arrangement of information and creepy action, which is partly due to the epistolary framing, but could have been managed better. I also found the hammering of the motif in the end, while interesting learning about how names for things can change over time in different languages, felt a bit odd and concentrated. Having more allusions to it throughout the book could have been more effective, which, with the country estate and the dog, could easily have been done. The idea was interesting though. I think my criticism could be distilled into the flow of the story not being as natural, fitting, and effective for the genre.
Regardless, this is still a solid 4+ and a genuinely well-written and interesting example of modern gothic horror and I will absolutely be seeking out more from this author. I would recommend it for horror fans and anyone interested in checking the genre out, especially as it is in the Audible Included library.
The performance is really rather good, particularly in the emotional and creepy moments. My only complaint was that there was so little to mark the different correspondents that I was actually a little confused as to who was who and who was writing at times.
I feel like I've been overly critical, but, honestly, that's just because I actually enjoyed and thought about it enough.
mike_brough's review
4.0
This is the first of this author's books that I've read and I can say it won't be the last.
Well-drawn characters drive a tight story which takes a couple of unexpected turns. It's only 80 pages but it tells an involving story as well as anything 3 or 4 times its length.
Definitely recommended.
Well-drawn characters drive a tight story which takes a couple of unexpected turns. It's only 80 pages but it tells an involving story as well as anything 3 or 4 times its length.
Definitely recommended.
affiknittyreads's review against another edition
1.0
DID NOT LIKE. The beginning was a kind of neo-Victorian-gothic type story and then it turned into something else entirely and was horribly violent. Was only 30 minutes from the end and didn’t even bother finishing it.
urthwild_darknessbeckons's review against another edition
4.0
Abbot’s Keep is a ‘Modern Gothic’ novella coming in at only 134 pages, set in England between December 1980 to March 1981;a ghost story in the form of letters between a wife and two estranged brothers.
I can confirm that the unmistakable sound of an internal groan was heard when I opened the pages of this paperback and found myself faced with a series of letters. You will not be surprised to learn given the rating that my dismay was short lived.
I thought the plot by itself was fantastic and very evocative of the genre, partial destroyed houses, cavernous cellars, missing pilfered treasure, monks, alcohol, mad brothers and death.
The character ‘Clifford Fox QC’ was a corporate barrister and yes, perhaps as a result of his profession, he would have been used to being matter of fact and rational, however, given the circumstances, I do believe that he could have been shown to be far more unnerved by what he had seen before his story concluded. It could surely only have served as an enhancement.
There were slight editing issues, they did not detract for me and if you are the type of reader that can ignore them you will be much entertained.
I found the story very immersive and it is best read in one long burst for the sake of tension, author Benedict Ashforth is certainly one to watch.
Received in exchange for an honest review.
Urthwild
I can confirm that the unmistakable sound of an internal groan was heard when I opened the pages of this paperback and found myself faced with a series of letters. You will not be surprised to learn given the rating that my dismay was short lived.
I thought the plot by itself was fantastic and very evocative of the genre, partial destroyed houses, cavernous cellars, missing pilfered treasure, monks, alcohol, mad brothers and death.
The character ‘Clifford Fox QC’ was a corporate barrister and yes, perhaps as a result of his profession, he would have been used to being matter of fact and rational, however, given the circumstances, I do believe that he could have been shown to be far more unnerved by what he had seen before his story concluded. It could surely only have served as an enhancement.
There were slight editing issues, they did not detract for me and if you are the type of reader that can ignore them you will be much entertained.
I found the story very immersive and it is best read in one long burst for the sake of tension, author Benedict Ashforth is certainly one to watch.
Received in exchange for an honest review.
Urthwild
erindigsegypt's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
muddyevil's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
etakloknok's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0