Ghost stories are something that I truly enjoy reading. The description of Lay Me to Rest instantly appealed to me. The book did turn out to be a bit different than I expected, less sinister and more tragic. I think I just imagined more evil things when I read about Annie finding a small wooden box that isn't supposed to be found. I guess my mind went directly to more sinister things when I read the blurb. However, there are still ghosts in the book. Plenty of them and Annie seems to be a catalyst that will not only bring them forth, but also be the one that could put them to rest.

Lay Me to Rest is the first book in the series about Annie Philips (at least I hope is a series since the book ended with a cliffhanger). She's recently widowed and has found herself not only bereft of her husband, but pregnant with his child. Through the book will we learn more about what happened to him and that their marriage was not at the strongest point when he died. Personally, do I think that this is one of the strongest points of the book, showing how Annie was before her husband died. She's not only grieving for her husband, she is also feeling guilty. And, now she has gone away for a while to find herself, but instead, she finds herself in a haunted house.

The story is interesting, although I did find it a bit predictable now and then. However, I was a bit surprised over some of the things that happened. But, it just shows that you don't really know what's hiding behind a person's facade. What thrilled me was the ending that it was not over for Annie, that this seeing ghost thing seems to be the start. It's why I hope there will be more books.

The sudden death of her husband only barely behind her, Annie discovers that she is pregnant. In an effort to bring herself out of a deep depression and to begin to celebrate the new life inside of her, she takes her sister's suggestion to spend some time in the Welsh countryside. The visits are beautiful, the neighbors are dear, but something in the little cottage does not want her there. Or does it? Annie spends much of her time trying to escape the horrors but it is only by truly examining the past can she be set free. 
Despite the spooky overtones, you'll find yourself drawn to the country and enjoying the Welsh terminology throughout. Annie is both wounded and brave and you'll be rooting for her all the way!

I was really looking forward to Lay Me To Rest after reading the blurb but somehow missed that this is a ghost story as well as a mystery. Thankfully I loved it and read the whole book in less than a day. Opening with a decidedly spooky prologue, this really is a chilling paranormal psychological thriller. When Annie Philips goes to stay in a remote cottage in North Wales she is looking for a relaxing retreat following the devastating death of her husband. She is also six months pregnant and terrified about bringing up a child alone. At first the cottage looks to be the ideal place for her to relax and begin to look forward after suffering such a devastating tragedy. However, before long it seems that somebody really doesn't want Annie there...
As a sceptic about all things supernatural, I had to put my prejudices aside but with such an involving plot that was actually very easy. I was intrigued to discover just what - or who - was creating the terrifying disturbances. Although set in 2009 there's something timeless about Lay Me To Rest; it has the petrified yet inquisitive protagonist - who may or may not be an unreliable narrator, supporting characters with their own dark secrets, a mysterious box, visits from beyond the grave, and the mild mannered Reverend Evans and his wife, Nia who are called in to perform an exorcism. and who turn out to be a wealth of knowledge on all things paranormal and who facilitate Annie's communication with the spirit world.
The mystery when it is solved isn't altogether surprising but that really didn't matter, it's the engrossing storytelling that pulls the reader in here. If I had to criticise anything it would be the ending which I think may divide opinions. Although I understand the need to set the scene for the next book in the series, it could be argued that there's almost too much of the next story here. Perhaps it would have been better to have finished a bit sooner with just the hint of more to come as I did feel the concluding chapters meant that delicious feeling of unease, where I would have jumped at the slightest noise, faded a little. However, this really is a minor gripe and I am delighted at the prospect of reading a sequel with further ghostly encounters.
Telling ghost stories is a Christmas tradition, and Lay Me To Rest has all the elements of a dark and unnerving tale with its themes of birth and death, past and future, retribution and forgiveness. Curl up on the sofa, light a few candles and enjoy being spooked by this engaging and poignant book this festive season!

There is a bit of a paranormal element in this book and at first, I was a little skeptical but the more I got into the book, that all melted away and I found myself really enjoying it.

The setting was wonderful, I’ve never actually been to Wales but I really want to go now, the author easily sets the most beautiful and idyllic scene, well before things start to get a bit spooky, and I found myself invested in it straight away.

The writing was quite formal at points, not in a way that made it difficult to understand as it flowed well but I thought it sometimes affected the tone of the story.

I liked Annie immensely, she seemed so genuine and even though she was going through a very tough time she was still she was able to own up to her mistakes and be willing help others. All the characters were so nice which makes the goings on even more shocking because you don’t really want to believe it.

The only thing I really wasn’t keen on was the ending, it is a perfect gateway to another book (which I will definitely be reading when it comes about) but it felt like such a big departure from the tone of the rest of the book that it felt a little clunky.

This for me was an unexpected read but I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to seeing what Annie has to deal with next.

This book ticks all the boxes for me and I couldn't wait to read it!!  I loved the setting for the book and its an area I have visited on holiday several times and it's very atmospheric.

The book intrigued me right from the outset, I love a good paranormal thriller and was really pleased with how the book was written. There is plenty of suspense and I was left guessing more than once. The characters are great and help to give the book a really creepy edge.

I really enjoyed it and hope to see more from this author in the future, 4 stars from me, it's a very enjoyable book and one I'd definitely recommend for those seeking out new authors in this genre - I have a feeling she will be one to watch!

Annie deserves a break after the devastating death of her husband, Graham. His death has hit Annie particularly hard when she is faced with the sobering reality that she put her work before her marriage. Nothing will ever bring Graham back, but Annie has a chance at redemption when she finds out that she is pregnant. Her sister's friend offers her his cottage in Wales and Annie jumps at the chance but her relaxing break turns into anything but relaxing.

Annie finds that she's not alone in the cottage when she is woken from her slumber by the ghostly whisperings of a spirit called Ani. Ani doesn't want to share her house with anybody and, naturally spooked, Annie calls for help. The local vicar and his wife help Annie to understand why this spirit is reaching out to her. Only by uncovering a terrible crime and long buried secrets, can Ani finally be laid to rest.

This was quite a creepy book and I was scared at times with Annie being pregnant and vulnerable; I didn't know how far these malevolent spirits would go. Annie hadn't encountered anything like this before but it would appear that she has opened the floodgates and soon encounters more spirits when she goes back home. There are a few tantalising loose ends scattered around at the end of the book that left me eager to read more of Annie's story so I am desperately hoping that there's a sequel to Lay Me To Rest.

A thriller with a paranormal edge, Lay Me To Rest is fast-paced, gripping and utterly compelling.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

I would like to thanks the publisher for the copy received.

I’ve always enjoyed paranormal fiction, sometimes I’m disappointed but I’m happy to say that Lay Me To Rest was one that worked for me and I am thrilled that it looks like there will be at least one more book.
Annie has gone to Wales for a few weeks holiday. The farm cottage she is to stay in was recommended by a friend of her sister. Newly widowed and pregnant with her first child she is looking forward to spending a few days on her own before her sister arrives. But straight away she senses a threat. And it is not one from the living. Whilst some of the occurences seem almost poltergeist they are not the only strange things to happen. The spirits are not just in the cottage, they follow her and seem to want to her help. Even though she has never believed in ghosts she knows that there is something wrong and tries to work out what has happened in the past and how she can be left alone. As well as the paranormal activity there is also a disappearance and Annie’s attempts to rebuild her life.
I liked Annie, she was finding it difficult to deal with decisions she had made in the past and was struggling to move on after the death of her husband. I could only admire her will, coping with what was happening in the cottage and knowing that she had to be strong for her unborn child. Many of the other characters were also likeable and just how I imagine them to be in a rural setting.
I was a little confused when the events in Wales were resolved earlier than expected, but life continued to be unusual for Annie when she was back home. This part of the storyline was if anything more sinister than earlier in the book and left me in anticipation for what was to come.
Strong characters, plenty of ghosts and a cracking storyline, I can’t wait to read more.

I don't often pick up thrillers, but I was greatly tempted by the blurb for Lay Me To Rest - and damn, I enjoyed this read! Set predominantly in rural North Wales (as an ex-pat, I love reading anything set in the Motherland), the beautiful landscape is the background for terrible deeds and terrifying events. There's a strong supernatural thread in this thriller and I had to read it with all the lights on. The fact I was reading it in an old holiday cottage added an extra frisson to the whole thing.
Annie Philips, recently widowed and pregnant with her first child, decides to take up the offer of a holiday cottage in North Wales. The location comes at the recommendation of her sister’s colleague, Peter, and it is Peter who offers to drive the bereaved Annie to Tyddyn Bach, a small cottage on the farm of the lovely Will and Gwen Parry. They know what it is to lose someone they’ve loved – their son, Glyn, died nearly ten years ago – and so this seems to be the perfect place for Annie to rest and take stock of her life and impending motherhood. However, as we know from the Prologue, this is not going to be the case – very quickly, Annie finds herself at the mercy of a malevolent force, hellbent on revenge. Long shadows are cast by love affairs of the past.
I tore through this novel at a high speed, desperate to know how events would unfold. There are nice touches which add to the atmosphere – my great grandmother had a print of the rather sinister Salem – and I liked the calm and reassuring Nia a good deal. Clark’s descriptions of the Welsh landscape in high summer juxtapose brilliantly with the chilling developments and I found Annie both a believable and sympathetic character. I’m hoping we’re going to see more of her … I may not read thrillers very often – but I’ll certainly be looking out for more novels by E. A. Clark.

Dark, disturbing and engrossing, Lay Me to Rest is a delightfully spine-tingling Gothic chiller readers will have to read with the light on!

Annie Phillips is going through hell. Devastated and broken by the death of her husband, Annie is flabbergasted when she discovers that she is carrying his baby. Plagued by too many memories and more anguish and heartache than she can handle, Annie realises that the only way she can go forward and move on with her life is if she starts over. A fresh start is just what she needs at the moment, so she packs her bags, leaves her life behind and heads off to a remote cottage in Angelsey, where she hopes to grieve, rest, recuperate and hopefully rebuild the broken fragments of her shattered life and devastating existence.

Amidst the snow-capped mountains of North Wales, Annie feels that she can finally begin to see some light at the end of the tunnel. She soon begins to settle quickly and feel that she can finally find a place she can call home. With her mysterious new neighbour Peter helping her out, Annie feels that things might finally start going right for her – until she makes a shocking discovery that frightens her to her very core and puts in motion a horrifying turn of events that could end up threatening her new-found happiness.

Annie has discovered a small wooden box inlaid with brass and mother of pearl. This box was not supposed to be discovered by Annie for it awakens dark and dangerous forces that could end jeopardising not just her life, but that of her unborn child as well.

Will Annie find her way out of the nightmare she has found herself stuck in? Is escape from her new home possible? Or will she end up trapped in this malignant horror forever?

Stephen King meets Nicci French in this nail-biting, frightening and riveting tale of secrets, deceptions and nightmares guaranteed to send chills down readers’ spines and keep them turning the pages with trembling fingers as they find themselves completely and utterly mesmerized by this captivating read.

Lay Me To Rest is a sensational tale full of jaw-dropping twists and turns, heart-pounding intrigue and terrifying plot twists which makes for compulsive reading. However, before they start reading this book, readers should make sure that the doors and windows are locked because this is one frightening read that will make them jump out of their skin!

Annie is a young widow who discovered she was pregnant after her husband died in an accident. Overcome by guilt for various reasons, her sister convinces Annie to go away for a break to a lovely cottage in Anglesey. Unfortunately, Annie's arrival stirs up all sorts of things and there's no chance of getting some peace and quiet. But even when she finally leaves the cottage, the worst isn't over yet.

I didn't particularly get the feeling from the book description that this story would involve paranormal / supernatural events, which aren't usually my thing. Unless it involves the Winchester brothers. If I had known, I may not have picked it up and that would have been a bit of a shame. At its base, this is really an intriguing mystery and I do so enjoy trying to solve a mystery. The opening chapter really sets the tone. It made me sink just that little bit deeper into my warm, comfortable blanket and wish I hadn't started reading this at night.

I don't want to reveal too much about the plot but don't let the paranormal vibe put you off or you'd miss out on quite an entertaining read. It's all quite deliciously creepy! While I enjoyed the way it was written, it did somehow feel out of place with the time period but I really enjoyed how the author managed to combine the paranormal with crime fiction. I also loved the setting and the various characters we were introduced to.

Overall, this is a quick read, perfect for the cold, winter nights! The ending seems to suggest there may be a follow-up at some point too so if you're into your paranormal suspense stories, you may want to give this a go.

It’s so nice to see a novel set in Wales, they seem to be few and far between, so I jumped at the chance to read this. And thankfully it didn’t disappoint!

I’ve not veered into the paranormal side of thrillers before, but this has definitely encouraged me to try out more. The atmosphere Clark build up throughout this novel is wonderfully tense, and we’re kept on edge as the story builds.

While this is a paranormal novel it is very much focused on humanity with the ‘other worldly’ aspect woven seamlessly creating this fantastic novel.

I highly recommend picking this up

Unfortunately, this book was archived before I got chance to read it.

The book opens with Annie in a dark place emotionally. She’s suffering from depression and taking antidepressants after the death of her husband and subsequently finding out she’s pregnant. Her sister suggest she should take a break and journey to a little cottage in Anglesey. When she arrives at the cottage strange things start happening to her.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and it’s been on my tbr for a few months now and I thought I’d read it because I wanted something a little spooky to get me into the Halloween spirit. It kind of reminded me of Ghost Whisperer with Jennifer Love Hewitt (anyone remember that show?) but in a bit of cheesy way rather than a scary way.

It was a quick and easy read but it lacked any suspense or tension until I got about 50% to 60% of the way in. The only reason I read so far in was the element of mystery, like who was this ghost and why was it picking on Annie?

I really did feel for Annie but I felt like she was believed far too easily about the ghost, which obviously didn’t know the rules of how to haunt someone because at one point it showed up in the middle of the day! And I also didn’t find it particularly terrifying either.

The ending felt like it was tacked on at the end like an afterthought, as if the author wanted to do a certain amount of words so she decided to stick a few chapters on the end.

Overall a promising debut novel but I just wanted more scariness.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the Publishers for this review copy, given in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Rachel for organising the blog tour and finding me a space on it!

Annie is recently widowed. Just after her husband died she also found out that she was 5 weeks pregnant with his child. Needless to say the last few months for Annie have not been good ones. Her sister suggests a break and she has a friend, Peter who uses a holiday cottage on a farm in Wales. Annie agrees to go, with Peter giving her a lift there and her sister following in a few days. It’s a quaint little cottage situated on the farm of old Mr and Mrs Parry, but after a couple of nights there Annie soon begins to realise that she’s not the only one in the cottage.

What can I say about this book! From reading the blurb, I certainly didn’t expect it to be a paranormal book! I expected it to be a thriller and a bit creepy, but certainly not ghostly! I think if I had known it was going to be a ghost story, I may have not chosen it. I don’t mind a spooky tale, but some of them are a bit ‘far-fetched’! I’m glad to say I didn’t find this one like that at all. I loved this one, and to be honest, reading it on the weekend before Halloween just couldn’t have been more appropriate! I started this book this morning and have literally tore through it for the rest of the day (needless to say, not much else has been done!).

It’s not just a ghost story, it’s also a story of love and loss, and not just for Annie. A lot of the characters have their fair share of grief in some way throughout the group, and I have to admit I was reaching for the tissues in parts, particularly towards the end. With regards to the ghost part, it was a thoroughly creepy and spooky read, very much setting my nerves on edge throughout the whole book – if I could have read from behind a cushion I would have done! Perhaps Annie’s recent loss and her pregnancy has made her more susceptible to the spirits left behind, but she certainly uncovers a whole load of secrets that have been hidden for many years. There were lots of twists throughout the story which kept me gripped and the ending was particularly chilling! I’m hoping there will be a sequel to carry on the story of Annie’s new found psychic abilities.

A very much enjoyed read that was not only perfect for this time of year, but for all year round. I shall be sleeping with one eye open tonight!

Five Creepy Stars!

I enjoyed this easy to read story about a woman who is widowed and pregnant and struggling to come to terms with everything, so takes a vacation at a quaint old place in the Welsh hills.
The main characters are solid and likeable and the scenery is both comforting and foreboding, very atmospheric.
With a supernatural twist and a few turns along the way, the plot ends satisfactorily, leaving it open to carry on a similar type of novel of which I will be looking forward to reading.

Annie is still reeling from the loss of her husband when she finds out she's pregnant. After sleep walking through the first six months of her pregnancy she realises (with the help of her sister) she needs to try and make a fresh start so begins with an extended stay in a farmhouse cottage in Anglesey. It's meant to be peace and quiet, relaxation. But someone doesn't want her in the cottage. And her presence has disturbed them in ways she could never have predicted. Now she has to wonder if she's inadvertently put both her and her unborn child in danger.

Somehow I missed this was a paranormal novel when reading the blurb but it's no spoiler to say it's a full on ghost story. And a pretty darned creepy one. It won't scare the pants off you but it's definitely unnerving (although it must be said I am a wuss!). But it was very enjoyable albeit in a totally unexpected way!

A likeable read. The writing was somewhat flowery but it was still enjoyable.

Annie has lost her husband to a terrible accident. The only thing keeping her going is the knowledge of their unborn child. Hoping to escape the tragic circumstances, her sister and Annie have decided to take a holiday away. While there Annie encounters a ghostly apparition. What this spirit has to communicate, turns her holiday, upside down. Things are happening on this farm that are scary and mysterious.
I enjoyed this book. It held my attention. It had a lot of twists in the storyline that were surprising.
5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC copy of this book.
I thought it was a well written, very descriptive, creepy and chilling thriller.
I would love to read whatever the author decides to write next.

Interesting first novel but didn't quite hit the mark for me. This started out very well but seemed to fizzle off towards about the 50% mark. Then at the end it all felt rushed like it needed to be done in so many pages and no more. There were also quite a few editing issues in this.