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Monday, October 9, 2023

The Hollows by Mark Edwards

 

The plot:  Tom Anderson and his teenage daughter, Frankie, have come to Hollow Falls, a cabin resort nestled deep in the woods of Maine, for their summer vacation. Tom lives in England, so these ten days each summer is his only time with his daughter. But what they don't know is that twenty years ago this very week there was a double murder in the woods, and the murderer was never found. Rumor around the resort is that he's still hiding somewhere in the woods. But as eerie as those past murders were, there's something else going on at the resort...something that seems to be threatening Tom's daughter in particular. And Tom finds himself torn between leaving with Frankie before their week together is up, or staying and  trying to figure out the truth of those past murders in order to resuscitate his own writing career.

My thoughts:  Mark Edwards knows how to write a compelling pyschological thriller where "scary things happen to ordinary people". Between the resort's dark past and the creepy things happening to Frankie there's a nice build-up of suspense. It's also very atmospheric. And I liked the push and pull between Tom and Frankie, too, as Tom constantly struggles to deal with her teenage attitude and still be a good dad. Their relationship felt very real. And the mystery of what really happened in the past, and how it connects to the present, kept me guessing right up to the end. I didn't love the epilogue (and felt it was completely unnecessary!), but the rest of the book was great. 

Happy Reading!

32 comments:

  1. One thing I've learned from reading this type of novel and watching a few movies with similar plots is, "Run, fool, run while you have the chance!"

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    1. :D Exactly! If you don't, bad things are going to happen.

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  2. I love the atmosphere you've described in this one. Definitely adding it to my list!

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    1. It's a fun thriller with lots of good tension and suspense.

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  3. I love that feeling of tension building and a creepy atmosphere. Too bad about the dialogue, though, because I love a good dialogue. It can make a good book even better.

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    1. The dialogue was fine, it was the epilogue at the end that I didn't love; it felt unnecessary and a little annoying.

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    2. Ugh, I meant epilogue. I swear, I think one thing and then type something else. LOL

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    3. Happens to me all the time! It's like my fingers and my brain are no longer connected. ;D

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  4. This sounds very compelling! And I love atmospheric thrillers, they're totally my jam lately. May have to get this one :)

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    1. I think you would like this one. It's a page-turner.

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  5. There are times I could have done without the epilogue of books I have read. This sounds wonderful other than that, Lark. I love a good atmospheric thriller.

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    1. I love a good atmospheric thriller, too. (Just not that epilogue.)

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  6. I have this one through Kindle Unlimited (I think) and it does sound like something I'd enjoy. Wondering about that epilogue, though. Sometimes they can ruin a satisfying ending.

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    1. If you read this one, I advise just skipping the epilogue. It doesn't add anything to the story and just ended up irritating me.

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    2. I will do that for sure! Thanks for the heads up. :)

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  7. Scary things happen to ordinary people is one of the scariest tropes! I kind of like my victims nice and awful so I don't worry about them! This does sound good and I do love an atmospheric thriller.

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. And Tom and his daughter Frankie are very ordinary people just trying to have a nice vacation together when strange and scary things start happening around them.

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  8. You have really been getting into this spooky season. This one is also probably too scary for me, but you never know, I might try it someday.

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    1. This one's not at scary as Gallows Hill. There's just good tension and suspense in it.

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    1. I liked how the suspense keeps growing throughout the book.

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  10. I tend to enjoy a good psychological thriller at times.

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    1. There's a lot to like about this one. A definite 4-star read.

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  11. Another book that sounds perfect for the season. I love a good atmospheric read, so I'm adding this to my wishlist. Great review, Lark! :)

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    1. It's a good one. And it kept me guessing. :D

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  12. This sounds like a great read! I've only read one book by this author - The Retreat and I enjoyed it. Will have to check out this book.

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    1. He's definitely an author I'd like to read more of.

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  13. This sounds like a good gift for my friend in Maine!

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    1. :D I always love that Maine setting...in any book. Someday I really want to go there.

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  14. Hi Lark, I am a fan of the gothic and so once I hear that a novel is set in a haunted mansion or a cabin in the woods I'm in!. I like isolated settings too. And I would also magine it's difficult for a writer to create a believable parent child relationship and it sounds like in The Hollows the author has succeeded

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    1. Isolated settings are so great...whether it's on an island, in the woods, or at some haunted mansion. They are some of my favorite books to read! :D

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