I am a big fan of Peter James, especially the Roy Grace series, but I’m afraid that I was disappointed with this book. It was supposed to be a spooky ghost story but I found it lacked any tension, had unbelievable characters and a totally predictable ending. Sorry, not the book for me, but I can’t wait for the next Roy Grace book!
Thanks to Netgalley and Pan MacMillan for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

So, i have read a few Peter James books in my time but my mum is the biggest fan and has read every single Roy Grace. A few years ago i won a twitter contest to get a signed book, so i got her a signed copy of The House On Cold Hill.

Roll on mothers day and i saw that this was a stage show, so with a bit of travel we went to see it. Now, i have never read the book but oh my god it was good! Apprently so true to the book too, so when i spied the sequel i have been so excited to actually read it. (and amazingly i was approved on netgalley for it!)



So, Cold Hill House has now long gone and in its a place a new modern luxury development. From the very first page the atmosphere for this book is set. Its not long before the residents of Cold Hill are making themselves known once more.



We meet Jason & Emily as they move into the development and some of the first other residents Maurice and Claudette. All seems well for both couples as they have finally settled down in their forever homes. But no one apparently lives past their fortieth birthday and with Jasons big day looming - is this still true?



The more of this you read, the creepier it gets.I had chills, i never usually opt for horror as such,a simply thriller will do me but despite this creeping me out, and actually scaring me ( i didnt know a book could even be scary) I couldnt put it down. I wanted to know what was going to happen, but i also didnt.



I found this was brilliantly paced, tense and get your heart racing kind of read. Full of tension, drama and alot of creepy spooks. I honestly recommend this so much, and especially at this time of year!





*Free in exchange for a review*

Loved this! I don’t go for this genre usually but it sounded like something I’d enjoy watching so I thought I’d give it a go. Really creepy with great characters! If you like creepy films as well you’ll like this. Could easily picture this being made into a film!

#TheSecretOfColdHill #NetGalley I must admit to seeing a book by Peter James available for review and pressing request before reading all the blurb. I am a huge fan of Peter James crime thrillers but this is not one of those I'm afraid. A light hearted 'ghost' story with some gore and humour. Although the book itself was well written, I found the story too far fetched and this genre did nothing for me. Note to self - Must pay more attention win the future!

If you are looking for a ghost story this will fit the bill.
The characters are all interesting and well drawn ranging from seemingly normal to unconventional and rather strange.
The plot moves along carrying the reader with it, there`s humour as well as tension and unease as the story unfolds.
When Jason and Emily move into their new house on an upmarket estate near Brighton things begin to go wrong, apparitions, unexplained noises and dire warnings from the locals.
An enjoyable read for a cold winters evening by the fire even if the ending is predictable.
Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the chance to read this as an ARC.

I enjoyed this spooky ghost story from Peter James. Normally I read his thrillers, but this was a nice change from them. I found the story quite fun. It was different from the books I usually read, but I liked it and I would read another one of his spooky stories. Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

It's a scary ghost story. It's ludicrous, it's far fetched. I think seeing the previous book as a play earlier this year spoiled this for me - the stage version did no favours (I wasn't sure at times if it was meant to be scary or funny), and I read this with the types of actors' voices running through my head like dialogue. It did nothing for me, and just seemed too ridiculous. #thesecretofcoldhill #netgalley

I read The House on Cold Hill a while back and thoroughly enjoyed it so was delighted to get the opportunity of reading this sequel. This is a really spooky, creepy tale with a diverse cast of characters. I was reading it last thing at night which perhaps wasn't such a good idea! Very cleverly written and just when I thought I had it figured out another twist showed that I was wrong. I loved it and hope Peter James writes more ghost stories soon.

I am a big fan of Peter James novels and especially enjoy the Roy Grace series but he does write exceptionally good ghost stories.
By my own admission I am not a prolific reader of this genre and feel far more at home with the psychological thriller but such is Peter James writing that I always entertained by his novels.
This is the 2nd book in the 'House on Cold Hill' series but can easily be read as a standalone but I would definitely recommend reading the other book as well.
Cold Hill House was replaced by a new modern development housing but the haunting memories of the house remain. The site is still under construction but one by one the new families are arriving to move into their dream houses. The first two families arrive but are very different, Maurice and Claudette Penze-Weedell have picked this home for their retirement while the much younger couple Jason and Emily Danes are looking for the house they can fulfil their dreams in.
Things start smoothly but both couples sense a feeling of others in their new homes. This only gets worse when one of the locals points out that nobody has ever survived beyond forty in Cold Hill House and no one has ever truly left.
This is a great read with strong characters and an addictive story. There are even touches of humour within the haunting chills.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Macmillan for supplying me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

have recently read these two books back to back. Book 1, The House on Cold Hill and Book 2, The Secret of Cold Hill.
While I have to say they are no where near as gripping as Peter James Roy Grace series they were not unlikeable. I found I could put the book down and wasn't desperate to pick it up. I'm not sure if reading the books back to back spoilt my experiences as I found the books very samey. With maybe different characters. One almost felt like a duplicate of the other within different timelines.
One thing I will say, while reading these I leaned on my phone at the side of me and freaked out when Siri started talking to me, so the book certainly had the creepy effect it gives out, on me.
There are parts that are creepy, parts that you think you know just what is going to happen but then some good shifts that make you think all over again.
Over all I enjoyed both books, but wouldn't be in a rush to read any more in this series if there was ever to be any.
If you like a spooky read then now would be a good time to read them, around Halloween would really add to the atmosphere of these books and I feel book 2 has been released in perfect time for the cold, dark nights we are about to face.

Excellent! I have read several books by Peter James, but it's the first i have read different from the DS Roy Grace series. Living on the South Coast myself and not far from Brighton, this book made it all the more interesting for me. Now whenever i pass certain places mentioned in his book, I will be thinking of 'The Secret of Cold Hill'. I have read several ghost stories over the years, but i would say that this is the first time that a ghost story has gripped me to the point that i couldn't turn the next page quick enough. Highly recommended.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review, which i have voluntarily given.



*Waiting for Amazon to publish my review*

I have read all of the Roy Grace series by Peter James and found them enthralling but this is my first read of anything else he has written including ‘The House On Cold Hill’, which is the precursor to this, ‘The Secret of Cold Hill.’

The story took me by storm. After the first chapter I was hooked, totally and completely and this novel is so far outside of my usual read that it is quite a surprise how much I enjoyed it.

Putting beliefs aside this is a creepy, scary, nail biter surrounding Emily and Jason who have just moved into a new house on a brand new housing estate which is practically empty apart from one couple, the Penze-Weedels, who as the name suggests, are a little off-beat.

The characters are interesting and some quite eccentric with a fast-paced plot, leading the reader in several different directions and beliefs. At times I laughed out loud, only to be taken aback within the next few sentences with what was happening.

This is a full on ghost story with twists and turns and so many clever nuances, which lead through to a brilliant conclusion.

Thanks to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and Peter James for my ARC in return for my honest review.

All in all and utterly brilliant read. Highly recommended.

I was so excited to read this book after loving ‘The House On Cold Hill’ but don’t worry if you haven’t read it as this one can be read as a stand-alone. I do however highly recommend reading the first in the series as you would be missing out if you didn’t !!

A new housing estate is being built on the grounds of Cold Hill House, which has been demolished after a fire. Local artist, Jason and his wife, Emily move into one of the new houses on the estate. The estate is till being built but they do have a couple living opposite them, Maurice and Claudette, other than that there are no other current residents. As soon as they move in weird things start to happen and some previous tenants make themselves known !!

This is a great scary book that is perfect for the darker evenings of this time of year. I absolutely loved it and found the mystery and plan creepiness to be perfect. A must read for Halloween or to be perfectly honest anytime of year !!

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

I'm so glad I had the honour of getting an email to receive an ARC of this book. I had to first read the House on Cold Hill first as this one is number two.

Wow these are both brilliant. I love a spooky story that isnt horror. Great plot and definitely enjoyable. I've read the DI Roy Grace series by Peter James and so it was nice to read something else of Peter's. Certainly a very nice change to my usual genre.

Highly recommend especially considering its nearly Halloween!!

This is a new experience for me as I love the authors Roy Grace series, Cold Hill House was an imposing mansion in its heyday but having been razed to the ground by fire and hopefully all the negative history surrounding it. Now the builders are in and have built a new estate with modern houses and also on the site of the mansion a new mansion with all the latest mod cons and voice-operated gizmo's put the telly on shut the blinds etc you've got my drift. also on site newer smaller houses so everyone is catered for. The big house was bought by an artist and opposite the Penze-Weedel's house which they bought for there retirement. As the only 2 places oiccupied the neighbours are not really neighbourly friendly, as the Penze-Weedel seems to lower the tone on the estate.. Within a short time, both couples are experiencing goings-on they can't really explain. It is quite creepy at times and I managed to finish it quite quickly, and for all sense and purposes, the only true person to fare here financially is the estate agent.
Don't think this is one of Peter James's best works but entertaining nevertheless. Many thanks to Pan Macmillen and Netgalley for a copy to review.

A sequel book but stands well on its own. Cold Hill House has been razed to the ground and the site prepared for a new housing estate. Jason, a renowned artist and his wife , a caterer , move into the state of the art house with every mod con imaginable. The loft room he feels will inspire him in his painting . The only other inhabitants are a bizarre couple who live opposite and the antithesis to Jason and Evelyn. The house and the estate have secrets to tell and people start to appear and trouble the inhabitants. There have been previous householders on the estate but they have all died shortly after moving in. A set of bizarre and creepy events start to haunt Jason and Evelyn along with their neighbours . The estate agent did not tell Them that no one lived past 40 in the house and Jason’s 40th is looming!
A gripping easily read book full of creepy experiences to make you shiver and look over your shoulder

I really enjoyed House on Cold Hill and this is a great follow on book.
A new housing estate has been built where the old house was originally, but all the locals keep well away as they know the story of the house.
Emily and Jason fall in love with their new house and move in just before Christmas.
There’s only one other house that’s occupied near them, and they meet each other soon after moving in.
Emily and Jason go to the local pub but are met with a frosty reception due to not being born and bred in the village.
They start to hear voices at home and then both see a woman who makes them feel really uncomfortable.
More and more strange things start to happen and Jason starts to believe that he won’t see his fortieth Birthday, as per the story about the house.
This is a chilling read that gave me the creeps as I couldn’t imagine living in a house like this one.
A great ghost story - thanks to Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Jason Danes a successful painter and his wife Emily move into a new build house. Everything should be absolutely marvellous ,shouldn't it ? Well not if you are sharing your home with unwelcomed " others".
They moved in just before Christmas and with things being so busy both Jason and Emily get very stressed.
These " others" show themselves in seemingly everything they do. Perhaps they just don't want them there in their house.?

The story moves along at great pace but the outcome is pretty well obvious .Still, a great ride and certainly creepy for those who like their books in this genre .

Not the usual Peter James book for me, I do enjoy the Roy Grace series ,still a welcomed change.Certainly worth a read.

My thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for this ARC of The Secret of Cold Hill, the sequel to The House on Cold Hill that I read four years ago. So, four years have passed; Cold Hill Manor has been demolished and a development of luxury homes now stand on the site. Jason and Emily Danes have purchased 47 Lakeview Drive, Cold Hill Park and are excited to move in. Jason is a successful artist and Emily runs a catering business. The perfect couple. The house opposite is occupied by Maurice and Claudette Penze-Weedell (I am convinced this couple are based on Hyacinth and Richard Bucket!). Spendthrift Claudette and hen-pecked Richard, seemingly desperate to befriend the Danes...

And then unexplained events start to occur on both sides of the road. The 'things that go bump in the night' are back! With a vengeance... Peter James does this so well. He knows how to rack up the tension and, with a different slant, he adds the phenomenon of timeslip.... Get your head around that for complete enjoyment!

It's another pot-pourri of paranormal activity from Mr James with a very clever ending.

I loved the Roy Grace series by Peter James so was looking forward to reading a different book by him. It was a really good creepy ghost story and nothing like the Roy Grace books at all. Perfect for a night wrapped up in front of the fire. I am just glad I don’t live alone as not sure I would be able to get to sleep!!! I didn’t realise this was the second in the series so will definitely read the first book but it worked great as a stand-alone. Look forward to reading more of Peter James books.