Echo Hall is a mysterious and creepy story which follows three generations of women. Each of their storylines are intertwined and all come back to Echo Hall. I am not a huge fan of horror or paranormal but this one was beautifully written.

This had a few good moments but I found the book to be too similar to other stories about creepy houses. The focus on the three women was a nice touch as it offered a generational view that is not seen too often.

Echo Hall is aptly named for two reasons. 1) when standing near Arthur's Stone, the valley acts as a natural echo chamber, and 2) the house reverberates with the echoes of the memories of previous residents.

I read a digital copy of the book and was wishing that it had come with a genealogical chart. It would be interesting to see the Flint family tree and helpful with keeping the timelines straight in your mind. Perhaps there is one included in the paper book, I'm not sure...

The depiction of how war affects the Flint family over the generations was very moving. Three generations - three wars...

This is a meandering family saga filled with loves, losses, betrayals, infidelities, childbirth, death, and, overriding it all, WAR. A few of the characters were a part of the Quaker faith and were very anti-war. Their views plays an integral part of the story. Also predominant was a feud between two sisters. A conflict so serious that it affected future generations.

Always a sucker for a old house teeming with history, I couldn't help but enjoy "Echo Hall". The inhabitants over the years suffered and loved in equal measure. Their story was overwhelmingly tragic, yet their lives were both fascinating and intriguing.

I would recommend this novel to those readers who enjoy historical fiction and inter-generational family sagas. A well rendered debut!

Echo Hall is a story that spans across generations and is centred around the lives of three women, Ruth, Elsie and rachel and their connection to Echo Hall.

With the back drop of three wars, WW1, WW2 and the Gulf war this is at times a real tearjerker of a story that has a bit of everything, love, tragedy, friendship, betrayal and even a touch of the paranormal.

Echo Hall has secrets, there maybe as many secrets as there are bedrooms it seems and when Ruth discovers some old diaries and journals in one of the locked rooms, rooms that her husband had told her were completely empty, she starts to uncover the history of the house and its previous occupants. Does history have to keep repeating itself for the Flint family or will unlocking the secrets of the past change destiny?

It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel, the weaving together of all the storylines is done masterfully and the settings are all detailed enough to be able to see the places and characters come to life across the pages. There is a distinct gothic feel to the book and I really loved the touch of the paranormal mixed with historical, it added another layer to an already multi layered tale. The whole plot is easy to follow and the switches of eras and women were seamless. Be prepared to shed a tear or two, I know I certainly did!

A great book that makes time travel a reality!

Echo Hall was published on 30 Nov 2017 so I am very late in discovering this book but I am glad that I did.

Thank you to the author Virginia Moffatt, publishers Unbound and NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest and independent review.

https://debbiesbookreviews.wordpress.com/2019/07/10/echo-hall-by-virginia-moffatt/

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for release of this book for an honest review.

This book took place in 3 different time periods. So if that is not something you like or enjoy, then this is not for you.

It does keep you entertained and there are times from the wars. I do love books that are early 1900's and this one took place then. The was strong characters and a good plot. It was however, a bit creepy at times.

I do suggest a read for it. You may end up enjoying it like it did.

I'm sad that I wasn't able to read this book, because it was too much at the same time. I guess that his book was amazing and I would love to try and read it.
Now i will have to buy one!

A sweeping saga covering three generations of a family from the beginning of the last century to present day.
It surrounds the Flint family and their family home Ecco Hall.
Present day Phoebe who was born in Ecco Hall which now belongs to the National Trust visits it for the first time since she left as a small child.
As her memories of the place unfold we are drawn back into the secrets of the place and the mystery of how her grandmother died.
Fast paced read which pulls you in from the very first page .
Fantastic

Ruth, the new Mrs Flint, arrives at Echo Hall alongside her husband Adam, who intends to carry on the management of the family's quarry.

Adam's grandfather, Jack, appears a curmudgeonly old man, but gradually Ruth develops a relationship with him and starts to explore the story of his past and that of his first wife Elsie through old letters and diaries.

Exploring themes of war and peace, conscientious objection, Quakerism, reconciliation, the narrative is threaded by the echoes and mirrors of the past. Gradually the stories piece together to reach a satisfactory close. An enjoyable, easy to read story.

I loved the concept behind this book and it does make for good reading. However, there are a few too many inconsistencies that I can't ignore.

3 stars. This was a mysterious, eerie and atmospheric story following three generations of women whose pasts intertwine through their connection to Echo Hall.

There are many secrets hidden within the rooms of Echo Hall. Newlywed and pregnant Ruth Flint arrives there 1990 where she feels drawn to search for stories of the property’s history. She uncovers pieces of the past through hidden diaries and journals along with conversations with several people who previously lived or worked at Echo Hall.

While I did enjoy this novel, there were a few times where I found myself confused between characters and timelines. After an intriguing start to the book, my interest wavered for the remainder and some parts seemed repetitive.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Unbound and Virginia Moffatt for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

While many authors have no idea how their books will be received by readers, Oxford author Virginia Moffatt knew there was an audience for her debut novel Echo Hall.
It has been put out by Unbound which combines a blend of traditional publishing and crowdfunding.
It allows writers to pitch a book idea and, if accepted, it is presented to Unbound’s reader community for support and funding.
Unbound sets the budget to produce and market the book, and if the target is reached, the novel is published.
That’s what happened with Echo Hall in which three generations of women experience love, loss and conflict in times of war.
The book, longlisted for 2015 Bridport First Novel Prize, is set against the backdrop of three wars – the 1991 Gulf War, World War II and World War I.
It follows the fortunes of three women who become involved with the Flint family, the owners of Echo Hall. It begins when Phoebe Flint visits Echo Hall in 2014, the place of her birth – now a National Trust property. But the bulk of the narrative concerns her mother, Ruth Flint, who arrives at Echo Hall in 1990 – newly married after a whirlwind romance, pregnant, and uncertain of her relationship with husband Adam.
There follows ghostly encounters, a locked door, and a set of photographs which pique her curiosity in gothic suspense style.
However, despite a distinctly creepy feel about the opening chapters, the book develops into more of a family saga. Adam and his grandfather refuse to let Ruth investigate which, of course, makes her all the more interested.
As her marriage is further strained when Adam, a reservist, is called up to fight in the Gulf War, Ruth delves deeper into the past to discover more about the vivacious Elsie who died under mysterious circumstances and the other unhappy men and women who have lived at Echo Hall.

Echo Hall is not happy place, especially not for women! Ruth''s visit is in the early 1990s when she is still getting to grips with being a mother and getting to know her husband's family,she discovers that maybe she doesn't know her husband all that well either. She is perplexed as to why part of the house is out of bounds for her, although judging from the noises coming from there it isn't out of bounds for everyone! When her husband, a reservist is called up for the Gulf War she is not overjoyed to having to remain at Echo Hall, but she decided to make the best of it, as well as find out the mystery of the locked rooms.

The story switches back to just before the first World War. Two sisters Rachel-, lively, adventurous, silent suffragette and Leah- the good daughter who is as rigid and stuffy as their parents. When Jacob Flint enters the scene Leah is instantly attracted to him, however it is Rachel he wants, even though she has no interest in him. She refuses his attentions and falls in love with a conscientious objector. This causes a rift in the family & although Jacob marries Leah she never gets over feeling second best.

Then we go to the next woman in Echo Hall- Elsie. Swept off her feet by Jack, the heir to the place, she finds herself at the beck and call of Leah and as she waits out the war, but her story is not happy either.

The author captures the atmosphere of each era and the character of these women beautifully. While not exactly being a cheerful tale it is a thoroughly absorbing one. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for giving me the chance to read & review this book

When Ruth Flint arrives at Echo Hall, her husband's family home she knows there are some dark secrets there, and with her husband off to fight in the gulf war she wants to find the secrets of the house. Spanning three wars we fnd out about the similarities of the situations of the women with their husbands off to fight in ww1 and ww2 but can peace really be brought to the house?

A good atmospheric read, but I am always a sucker for the old house and family sagas, this one is definitely worth reading though

This is an engrossing read and well told. It's told over 3 time periods starting in the 1990's and then flashes back to the 1st and 2nd world wars. I loved the setting of Echo Hall, at times quite creepy, and the story and secrets of the Flint family who have lived there over the years kept me hooked.
Recommended read.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This book had everything love and heartache and I would highly recommend this to anyone