It was the answer to their prayers: a cash-in-hand residential job in the country, in a place where no one would know them. To Bridget Sweeny and her daughter it meant a fresh start, with new names and hope for the future. But Rospetroc House, the manor house Bridget has agreed to caretake, has its own secrets: a history of high staff turnover and a reputation in the village, and it's not long before she begins to feel uneasy. Rising star Serena Mackesy's new novel tells intertwining tales of Lily, a nine-year-old East End child evacuated during the Great War and left in the unwelcoming arms of the dysfunctional Blakemore family, and of Bridget Sweeny and little Yasmin, who have their own urgent reasons for leaving London. The lives of the three connect across the decades in a chilling tale of murder and revenge on Bodmin Moor. PRAISE FOR SERENA MACKESY: ‘Brilliantly observed… a gripping read.’ The Times ‘Fresh, sparky, funny and sadly poignant.’ Big Issue ‘Perhaps the biggest gasp since A Kiss Before Dying… say no more, except – More!’ Independent
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A modern day Rebecca, mixed with a suspense-filled Gothic novel and served up the generous helpings of wit - a real treat. --Associated Press
Lock the doors, draw the curtains and hunker down. This is one scary read from an author perfectly capable of raising goose bumps even in summer months. --Kirkus Reviews
Mackesy defty juggles two realites the natural and the supernatural in her debut mystery....spare, taut and robust as haiku. --Publisher's Weekly
Lock the doors, draw the curtains and hunker down. This is one scary read from an author perfectly capable of raising goose bumps even in summer months. --Kirkus Reviews
Mackesy defty juggles two realites the natural and the supernatural in her debut mystery....spare, taut and robust as haiku. --Publisher's Weekly
Book Description
This atmospheric murder story by bestselling author Serena Mackesy is told in the manner of Steven King’s The Shining and questions our instincts about places of safety: can we ever really escape the past?
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I could very easily write a great deal about Hold My Hand, but I mustn't. It's the kind of book that would be spoiled if you knew too much in advance.
So what can I say?
Well, there's the house. Rospetroc is an old manor house on the moors of north of Cornwall. It's been passed down through the Blakemore family, but the present owner doesn't live there - he's turned it into a holiday let. He has a problem though. The locals don't like the place and won't go there, and everyone that he has employed to manage it for him has swiftly moved on.
But Bridget thinks that Rospetroc could be the answer to her prayers. She's broke and she is desperate to get Yasmin, her six year-old daughter away from her violent ex.
The story of what happens to Bridget and Yasmin at Rospetro is entwined with the story of what happened to Lily Rickets during the war.
Lily was a nine-year old child evacuated to Cornwall. She had a bad start in life and was grubby, roughly spoken and prepared to kick, bite and scratch to fight her corner. The Blakemores didn't want her, resented her and ill-treated her.
The twin storylines unravel in clear, lucid prose, and they are both chilling and completely involving.
Made so by what I think is Serena Mackesy's greatest strength - her characters. They are all wonderfully real, and their relationships and conversations are utterly believable.
Bridget's bond with her friend Carole, her gradual integration into the village community, her relationship with her daughter - all spot on. As is Lily's very different relationship with the Blakemores in a very different age.
And so I was hooked - and stayed up much later than I should on a work night to find out what happen to the characters that I really felt I knew.
My only slight disappointment was with the ending. After a dramatic build-up it was a little downbeat. Not wrong, but an "ooh" when I had been expecting a "wow".
That doesn't detract though, this really is a very well executed novel - if only all mainstream, contemporary fiction was this good!
So what can I say?
Well, there's the house. Rospetroc is an old manor house on the moors of north of Cornwall. It's been passed down through the Blakemore family, but the present owner doesn't live there - he's turned it into a holiday let. He has a problem though. The locals don't like the place and won't go there, and everyone that he has employed to manage it for him has swiftly moved on.
But Bridget thinks that Rospetroc could be the answer to her prayers. She's broke and she is desperate to get Yasmin, her six year-old daughter away from her violent ex.
The story of what happens to Bridget and Yasmin at Rospetro is entwined with the story of what happened to Lily Rickets during the war.
Lily was a nine-year old child evacuated to Cornwall. She had a bad start in life and was grubby, roughly spoken and prepared to kick, bite and scratch to fight her corner. The Blakemores didn't want her, resented her and ill-treated her.
The twin storylines unravel in clear, lucid prose, and they are both chilling and completely involving.
Made so by what I think is Serena Mackesy's greatest strength - her characters. They are all wonderfully real, and their relationships and conversations are utterly believable.
Bridget's bond with her friend Carole, her gradual integration into the village community, her relationship with her daughter - all spot on. As is Lily's very different relationship with the Blakemores in a very different age.
And so I was hooked - and stayed up much later than I should on a work night to find out what happen to the characters that I really felt I knew.
My only slight disappointment was with the ending. After a dramatic build-up it was a little downbeat. Not wrong, but an "ooh" when I had been expecting a "wow".
That doesn't detract though, this really is a very well executed novel - if only all mainstream, contemporary fiction was this good!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An excellent and very gripping book. Have read most of her books and this is is by far the best. Kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page, have recommended it to my husband who is barely speaking to me until he has finished it. Buy it and settle in for a good read.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Brilliant and chilling. Serena Mackesey is the female Stephen King. Gorgeous and deeply felt characterization, dread, pathos and beauty. Can't wait for the next.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Page-turner!
Atmospheric and creepy, this book takes hold of you by the hand (pun intended) and leads you through a thrilling tale that is both life-affirming and desperately sad. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Latin Lady
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping read!
This book is a real page turner, I couldn't put it down! Very well drawn and believable characters - loved it!
Published on 13 Mar 2011 by lucylufrank
4.0 out of 5 stars
An accomplished and chilling story
I remember enjoying The Temp by Serena Mackesy when it first came out, but wasn't keen on her follow up, Virtue. Read more
Published on 29 Nov 2009 by Nicola
5.0 out of 5 stars
A real bobbydazzler
You can't put this book down once you've picked it up - I read it in one sitting, staying up until the early hours until I'd finished. Read more
Published on 10 Nov 2008 by L. Obrien
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