The Haunting of Henderson Close by Catherine Cavendish Review
This one does atmosphere perfectly.
Released January 2019
Goodreads | Amazon | Flame Tree Press
Ghosts have always walked there. Now they’re not alone…
In the depths of Edinburgh, an evil presence is released.
Hannah and her colleagues are tour guides who lead their visitors along the spooky, derelict Henderson Close, thrilling them with tales of spectres and murder. For Hannah it is her dream job, but not for long. Who is the mysterious figure that disappears around a corner? What is happening in the old print shop? And who is the little girl with no face?
The legends of Henderson Close are becoming all too real. The Auld De’il is out – and even the spirits are afraid.
About Author Catherine Cavendish
The Haunting of Henderson Close by Catherine Cavendish
Horror Fiction, 288 pagesReleased January 2019
Goodreads | Amazon | Flame Tree Press
Ghosts have always walked there. Now they’re not alone…
In the depths of Edinburgh, an evil presence is released.
Hannah and her colleagues are tour guides who lead their visitors along the spooky, derelict Henderson Close, thrilling them with tales of spectres and murder. For Hannah it is her dream job, but not for long. Who is the mysterious figure that disappears around a corner? What is happening in the old print shop? And who is the little girl with no face?
The legends of Henderson Close are becoming all too real. The Auld De’il is out – and even the spirits are afraid.
These Are My Thoughts, Please Share Yours!
I received this book in for review from Flame Tree Press. This year I’m going to do my best to read as many new ladies of horror fiction as I can and I snapped this up as soon as I noticed it was available without even reading the blurbage. I love all kinds of horror but the creepy, slow atmospheric kind has been working for me lately and this story has all of that and a little bonus gore too!
Way back in 1891 a do-gooder is brutally murdered in front of Henderson Close. Many moons later, the building is now a tourist trap where tours are given and it’s reputed to be haunted. When Hannah arrives as a new tour guide, the ghosts all seem to come out of hiding and it’s on her to figure out what the heck is truly going on. Is she losing her mind? Is she in danger? Why is she experiencing time jumps where she’s certain she’s been thrust back in time to 1891? What is going on and why won’t her bitchy employer believe her? Why am I asking so many annoying questions?! Hell if I know, these reviews write themselves.
Anyhow, this book has incredibly well written atmosphere. The author has taken care to create and set her scenes and create her characters and I appreciate that so much. You can nearly smell the stench that permeates the streets in 1891 and the dark corners of Henderson Close when the ghosties appear. It’s also very moody and creeptastic and the reader, as well as Hannah and a few friends, are left in the dark to figure out what the heck is going on. When the reveals are made in the last quarter, I have to admit that I was a wee bit confused by it all because there was too much going on and too many characters involved and it made my head hurt a little. Still, what I understood was pretty satisfying . . .
But up until that point, I was digging the story. There may (or may not) be ghosts, demons and gargoyles and there was even a surprise moment of serial killing gore. Call me crazy but I wouldn’t have minded a little more of that sort of thing!
3 1/2 out of 5
About Author Catherine Cavendish
Hello, my name's Catherine Cavendish and I write horror fiction - frequently with ghostly, supernatural, Gothic and haunted house themes.
Out now - from Flame Tree Press - THE HAUNTING OF HENDERSON CLOSE. Ghostly horror set in Edinburgh's Old Town.
Available now from Kensington-Lyrical - the NEMESIS OF THE GODS trilogy: mWRATH OF THE ANCIENTS, WAKING THE ANCIENTS and DAMNED BY THE ANCIENTS - set in Egypt and Vienna and featuring the sinister Dr. Emeryk Quintillus whose obsession has stayed with him past the grave.
My novellas COLD REVENGE, MISS ABIGAIL'S ROOM, THE DEMONS OF CAMBIAN STREET, THE DEVIL INSIDE HER and THE SECOND WIFE have now been released in new editions by Crossroad Press.
My novels THE DEVIL'S SERENADE and SAVING GRACE DEVINE have also been released in new editions by Crossroad Press, as have my novel of the Lancashire Witches - THE PENDLE CURSE - and my novellas, LINDEN MANOR and DARK AVENGING ANGEL.
I live with a long-suffering husband and a delightful black cat who has never forgotten that her species used to be worshipped in ancient Egypt. She sees no reason why that practice should not continue. Who am I to argue?
When not slaving over a hot computer, I enjoy wandering around Neolithic stone circles and visiting old haunted houses.
Keep up to date with Catherine's new projects by visiting her website here: https://www.catherinecavendish.com/
Out now - from Flame Tree Press - THE HAUNTING OF HENDERSON CLOSE. Ghostly horror set in Edinburgh's Old Town.
Available now from Kensington-Lyrical - the NEMESIS OF THE GODS trilogy: mWRATH OF THE ANCIENTS, WAKING THE ANCIENTS and DAMNED BY THE ANCIENTS - set in Egypt and Vienna and featuring the sinister Dr. Emeryk Quintillus whose obsession has stayed with him past the grave.
My novellas COLD REVENGE, MISS ABIGAIL'S ROOM, THE DEMONS OF CAMBIAN STREET, THE DEVIL INSIDE HER and THE SECOND WIFE have now been released in new editions by Crossroad Press.
My novels THE DEVIL'S SERENADE and SAVING GRACE DEVINE have also been released in new editions by Crossroad Press, as have my novel of the Lancashire Witches - THE PENDLE CURSE - and my novellas, LINDEN MANOR and DARK AVENGING ANGEL.
I live with a long-suffering husband and a delightful black cat who has never forgotten that her species used to be worshipped in ancient Egypt. She sees no reason why that practice should not continue. Who am I to argue?
When not slaving over a hot computer, I enjoy wandering around Neolithic stone circles and visiting old haunted houses.
Keep up to date with Catherine's new projects by visiting her website here: https://www.catherinecavendish.com/
Sometimes you just need more gore right? I'm glad I have this in my reading arsenal. Great thoughts!
ReplyDeleteIt never hurts, lol.
DeleteToo many characters can make things confusing.
ReplyDeleteEspecially for someone like me who can't seem to keep anything straight :)
DeleteI kind of like the sound of this one...even with the confusing number of characters. And there's still hope that maybe someday I'll find that perfectly suspenseful ghost story that doesn't disappoint at the end. :D
ReplyDeleteI think you'd enjoy this one, Lark.
DeleteI notice this happens a lot, authors try to overdo the ending so it actually becomes too much and too confusing. That's happened to me lots of times. But it sounds promising!
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely a good read, just a wee bit too busy there at the end. But then again, I am easily confused, lol.
DeleteI definitely need to check this out!
ReplyDeleteYou do!
DeleteIt did have great atmosphere. I enjoyed reading it and will definitely read books by her.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds a bit of a confused plot in places. I don't like books where I can't work out what is meant to be happening!
ReplyDeleteOh no...the worst place to get lost is at the end.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
It sounds pretty entertaining! That's too bad about the ending. I've found that often, unfortunately.
ReplyDelete