The Animals at Lockwood Manor by Jane Healey

 It's a long time since I read an actual book! I love my kindle and even like reading on my phone. But it is nice now and then to hold a paper version. This book was a gift, as it had my last name in the title: Lockwood. Also the reader hails from Edinburgh. So plenty to endear me to the writer and the book. It was fine, but somewhat oldfashioned. But if you love books like Rebecca and Jane Eyre this one is for you. I give it a 3.5 

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A decent British suspense story in the vein of daphné du Maurier, set in war time England. The stuffed animals evacuated from the British museum and the large old manor all add to the ghostly setting.
Hetty is our fish out of water heroine, dealing with an authoritarian Lord Lockwood, his fragile daughter and, well things that disappear and move in the night. It all felt somewhat old fashioned, even though there was a lesbian story plot. If you've never read Rebecca or Jane Eyre you will love this book, I thought it was well written but nothing new or surprising.

Darkly Wood II: The woman who never wore shoes by Max Power

Regular readers of this blog will know that I have reviewed quite a few titles of this talented Irish writer. This is the second book to his Darkly Wood series. So when there was a free promotion I had no issue with snapping it up. It did not disappoint. 5 stars.Click on the picture to take you to Amazon.

Book one had a young girl Daisy May and a sweet love story at its heart. Book 2 has the same girl at its centre but she’s now a grandmother. She’s not a happy woman; shaped and scarred by her experience in Darkly Wood. Her obsession with finding out the truth about Darkly Wood has led her to be estranged from her daughter and granddaughter Holly. When Holly goes missing, Daisy knows that she is not finished with Darkly Wood, and Darkly Wood has not finished with her.

It’s been a while since I’ve read Darkly Wood (book1) but it must have made an impact as I had no problems remembering what happened. By the end of book 2 I realised this one would stay with me a while too. I’m sure a few gruesome and unpleasant characters will be featuring in my nightmares; I expect a visit from mr Wormhold any night now. Not something I look forwards to as he was a truly terrifying character. Darkly Wood is a dark Gothic horror with a fair amount of blood and gore. As in book 1 the main narrative alternates with other tales from the wood. This works well as it helps fill in the background of some of the other recurring characters, building to a climax where it all makes sense. The ending shows that there is more trouble to come and I know Max Power is putting the finishing touches to Darkly Wood 3. Recommended.