Ann Smythe Books
THE GOTHIC MANSION LOOMED UP IN FRONT OF THEM, GRIM AND SILENT, ITS SILHOUETTE DRAMATIC AGAINST THE PINK-TINGED SKY.
June 1971, Alice Sanders is celebrating her sixth birthday at her family’s Cornish country home in Lostmor. By the end of the evening, an event so horrific unfolds that it changes the family’s lives forever.
Years later, following the death of her mother, Alice’s sister reluctantly returns to Cornwall for the reading of a mysterious will. Once there, with the help of newly found friends, she gradually unravels a web of secrets surrounding her family’s past and unlocks the reasons for her nightmares that she has spent a lifetime trying to escape.
Meanwhile, as a violent storm grips the sleepy town of Lostmor, a cataclysmic chain of events leads to a perilous outcome, no one could have predicted.
Reviews
What Readers Say
If you enjoyed the book, I'd be grateful if you could leave a review on any platform. Your feedback means so much and helps others discover the story.
Thrill and imaginative!
The premise was what got me intrigued to read and the book doesn't disappoint. Ann Smythe the author definitely is quite imaginative and has us enthralled with the description of the Cornish weather, locations and birds. The story has you living through the spooky nightmares Lily goes through in her dreams. Her family home bequeathed to her by her late mother rakes up unwanted memories and forces her to relive them and haunt her waking hours. She wants to solve the childhood trauma she's buried and can't recollect any because of her fear of finding the truth. I was gripped with this tug a war of nightmarish spookiness atmosphere that the author built up. There were multiple twists in the story created with sub plots. For a debut novel it truly is worth a read and the author has potential. I would have liked some chemistry built up with the couples in the story. It just seemed rushed and too acceptable and a given that they were a pair. Suddenly each couple were just like in love and available with no build up to the romance. Besides this in all, quite a fast paced read.
A very enjoyable read
Romance and mystery with family tree secrets as well as crinme solving suspense . Well written and very enjoyable. Hard to put down before the end .Highly recomnended
Reviewed in the United States
This book is an intriguing, interlocked romance/mystery. It was a fast and well written story with believable characters...and the right balance of good and evil. I will be glad to read more by this author. Happy day !!!!
Fabulous read!
I was totally drawn into this book from page one and loved that it was so fast paced. It’s so descriptive and really kept me wanting more.
A Promising Writer!
I very rarely read thrillers but this is a well rounded story, eloquently written that engages the reader from the first page. The characters are realistic and believable and the plot well thought-out with a good pace. I look forward to a follow-up.
A good read!
Really enjoyed reading this novel, which I read very quickly! The story keeps you in suspense to the end and as such couldn’t put it down. The descriptive prose threads in and out of the plot, allowing the reader to become familiar and immersed within the setting. I highly recommend the book to those avid readers looking for a bit of escapism and mystery. Congratulations to the author on publishing her first novel and look forward to the sequel.
A fantastic read!
Lily Sanders returns home after 24 years to find out she has inherited her family mansion, Penwyth House. This isn't the only thing she finds out. Over the course of her stay, Lily discovers shocking secrets about her families past. This was definitely an incredible read. I was hooked on from the first page. It's one of those books that you won't be able to put down. It contains mystery mixed with romance. You won't get bored reading it! I highly recommend it to young adults.
Well written, carefully edited and read in one sitting - entertaining romantic mystery
Loved the setting (Cornwall),enjoyed the plot (mysterious past events revealed bit by bit), interesting range of characters (main characters and supporting characters) - disappointed to finish book and delighted that there is to be a sequel.
Mysterious yet Heartfelt
What I love about this book is it keeps you guessing. Its enchanting yet modern. The real life problems of a haunted past consistent with a complicated present is relatable as hell. The different perspective gave a community feel of Lostmor and the residents problems. Certain aspects of the story hit my heart and I could not put it down. The story starts slow and it takes a while to get into but once your in you cannot put it down. Some overused tropes are used in this book which I must admit gave me a good eye roll. But overall it was an enchanting mystery with a heartfelt moral. Always be open to learning the truth. That lesson is something I will keep with me from this book and Smythe the author.
Praise for Ann Smythe
I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel by Ann Smythe, we follow Lily, the main character, as her terrible past unravels throughout this gripping story. With good sub plots and strong supporting characters it was a joy to read. It was one of those rare books that I didn't want to put down.
A wild gothic tale
A wild ride of a book with all the elements you would expect from a gothic novel. Lily returns to the house where she grew up after many years away due to a tragic accident that happened when she was a child. The house is just as it was left with secrets left to discover, but she is not the only person in Lostmor with a past. Great atmospheric descriptions of both the house and the village add to the tense plotting. This is the kind of book that keeps you reading, but I did find parts of the plot got a little too gothic perhaps! I also thought that some of the 'villains' had few redeeming qualities, which maybe made them a little unrealistic, however, this may have been a deliberate choice considering the genre. Otherwise, the rest of the characters are well drawn and I would definitely be interested in reading a follow up. I received an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Absorbing and well written
This is a captivating read, from the poignant opening scene to its bittersweet conclusion. Set in Cornwall, the story of the Sanders family begins in the 1970's at their Gothic mansion home, before fast-forwarding to 1995. Now grown up, a family member reluctantly returns to Penwyth House, their childhood home, to be confronted with shocking revelations, an abundance of twists and turns and secrets from beyond the grave to unlock! I was gripped by the cleverly layered plot and fascinating characters. By the end I didn't want to say goodbye...... Hope more books follow.
Well observed, descriptive and absorbing
Well written, compelling from the start. The characters draw you in to the story so you are keen to discover what happens to them. An absorbing, enjoyable read. I look forward to the sequel.
A great first novel
I loved this book. Well-constructed, atmospheric and addictive, with a cast of interesting, believable characters. The writing flows beautifully and moves the reader easily through the story. I read this in just a few days and miss it now I've reached the end. I am very much looking forward to Ann Smythe's next book.
Thrill and imaginative!
The premise was what got me intrigued to read and the book doesn't disappoint. Ann Smythe the author definitely is quite imaginative and has us enthralled with the description of the Cornish weather, locations and birds. The story has you living through the spooky nightmares Lily goes through in her dreams. Her family home bequeathed to her by her late mother rakes up unwanted memories and forces her to relive them and haunt her waking hours. She wants to solve the childhood trauma she's buried and can't recollect any because of her fear of finding the truth. I was gripped with this tug a war of nightmarish spookiness atmosphere that the author built up. There were multiple twists in the story created with sub plots. For a debut novel it truly is worth a read and the author has potential. I would have liked some chemistry built up with the couples in the story. It just seemed rushed and too acceptable and a given that they were a pair. Suddenly each couple were just like in love and available with no build up to the romance. Besides this in all, quite a fast paced read.
A very enjoyable read
Romance and mystery with family tree secrets as well as crinme solving suspense . Well written and very enjoyable. Hard to put down before the end .Highly recomnended
Reviewed in the United States
This book is an intriguing, interlocked romance/mystery. It was a fast and well written story with believable characters...and the right balance of good and evil. I will be glad to read more by this author. Happy day !!!!
Fabulous read!
I was totally drawn into this book from page one and loved that it was so fast paced. It’s so descriptive and really kept me wanting more.
A Promising Writer!
I very rarely read thrillers but this is a well rounded story, eloquently written that engages the reader from the first page. The characters are realistic and believable and the plot well thought-out with a good pace. I look forward to a follow-up.
A good read!
Really enjoyed reading this novel, which I read very quickly! The story keeps you in suspense to the end and as such couldn’t put it down. The descriptive prose threads in and out of the plot, allowing the reader to become familiar and immersed within the setting. I highly recommend the book to those avid readers looking for a bit of escapism and mystery. Congratulations to the author on publishing her first novel and look forward to the sequel.
A fantastic read!
Lily Sanders returns home after 24 years to find out she has inherited her family mansion, Penwyth House. This isn't the only thing she finds out. Over the course of her stay, Lily discovers shocking secrets about her families past. This was definitely an incredible read. I was hooked on from the first page. It's one of those books that you won't be able to put down. It contains mystery mixed with romance. You won't get bored reading it! I highly recommend it to young adults.
Well written, carefully edited and read in one sitting - entertaining romantic mystery
Loved the setting (Cornwall),enjoyed the plot (mysterious past events revealed bit by bit), interesting range of characters (main characters and supporting characters) - disappointed to finish book and delighted that there is to be a sequel.
Mysterious yet Heartfelt
What I love about this book is it keeps you guessing. Its enchanting yet modern. The real life problems of a haunted past consistent with a complicated present is relatable as hell. The different perspective gave a community feel of Lostmor and the residents problems. Certain aspects of the story hit my heart and I could not put it down. The story starts slow and it takes a while to get into but once your in you cannot put it down. Some overused tropes are used in this book which I must admit gave me a good eye roll. But overall it was an enchanting mystery with a heartfelt moral. Always be open to learning the truth. That lesson is something I will keep with me from this book and Smythe the author.
Praise for Ann Smythe
I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel by Ann Smythe, we follow Lily, the main character, as her terrible past unravels throughout this gripping story. With good sub plots and strong supporting characters it was a joy to read. It was one of those rare books that I didn't want to put down.
A wild gothic tale
A wild ride of a book with all the elements you would expect from a gothic novel. Lily returns to the house where she grew up after many years away due to a tragic accident that happened when she was a child. The house is just as it was left with secrets left to discover, but she is not the only person in Lostmor with a past. Great atmospheric descriptions of both the house and the village add to the tense plotting. This is the kind of book that keeps you reading, but I did find parts of the plot got a little too gothic perhaps! I also thought that some of the 'villains' had few redeeming qualities, which maybe made them a little unrealistic, however, this may have been a deliberate choice considering the genre. Otherwise, the rest of the characters are well drawn and I would definitely be interested in reading a follow up. I received an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Absorbing and well written
This is a captivating read, from the poignant opening scene to its bittersweet conclusion. Set in Cornwall, the story of the Sanders family begins in the 1970's at their Gothic mansion home, before fast-forwarding to 1995. Now grown up, a family member reluctantly returns to Penwyth House, their childhood home, to be confronted with shocking revelations, an abundance of twists and turns and secrets from beyond the grave to unlock! I was gripped by the cleverly layered plot and fascinating characters. By the end I didn't want to say goodbye...... Hope more books follow.
Well observed, descriptive and absorbing
Well written, compelling from the start. The characters draw you in to the story so you are keen to discover what happens to them. An absorbing, enjoyable read. I look forward to the sequel.
A great first novel
I loved this book. Well-constructed, atmospheric and addictive, with a cast of interesting, believable characters. The writing flows beautifully and moves the reader easily through the story. I read this in just a few days and miss it now I've reached the end. I am very much looking forward to Ann Smythe's next book.
