My thanks to HarperCollins U.K. Audio for a review copy via NetGalley of the unabridged audiobook edition of ‘The Last House on the Cliff’ by Anne Wyn Clark. The audiobook is narrated by Gloria Sanders.

The novel is primarily set during the summer of 2014, with flashbacks to past events and occasional asides. Most of the book is told from the perspective of Lowri Morris (nee Owen), who has returned to Anglesey, North Wales with her young daughter, Ruby, following the death of her Aunt Gwyn. She had spent periods of her childhood there and had good memories though the disappearance of a local girl had brought these visits to an end.

We learn that Lowri’s first husband had died five years ago when Ruby was only two. Lowri wanted a father figure for Ruby and married again too quickly though had ‘repented at leisure’. They now are divorced. When Lowri receives news of her aunt’s death, she sees this as an opportunity for a fresh start.

Gwyn Owen had lived at Ty Coed Pinwydd, a rambling 18th Century stone house and the last house on the narrow road to the cliffs. Gwyn had established a funeral home there assisted by Elis and Awel, who are distant cousins. They also live at Ty Coed Pinwydd. They have concerns about the future of the business and house following Gwyn’s death.

Almost as soon as Lowri and Ruby settle in, strange things start to happen. Ruby reports visits by an old woman and a creepy doll keeps turning up. At the wake following the funeral Ruby goes missing!The police conduct a search though Lowri feels the answers lie in her family’s past. No further details to avoid spoilers.

In a similar manner to her debut, ‘Whisper Cottage’, this was a slow burn with a focus upon establishing its characters and the atmospheric setting. Although quite a compelling mystery, there were issues for me with its pacing and some plot elements.

I felt that Lowri’s background, introduced in the opening chapters, was rather cluttered. Then as the story progressed I found some aspects of the plot not particularly convincing and the ending seemed quite rushed.

With respect to the audiobook, I found Gloria Sanders an excellent reader who was a pleasure to listen to.

Overall, while my response was mixed, I still enjoyed the mystery with its many revelations coming as a surprise. I certainly plan to read her future novels.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

(Extra note: I had hoped for more spooky goings on given its location though reminded myself that despite the presence of a creepy house incorporating a funeral business this wasn’t meant to be a Welsh version of ‘The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’.)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to listen to this audio book in return for an honest review.

The last house on the cliff was fantastic. Written and narrated beautifully. A thriller jam packed with intrigue, characters that are written so well, that you almost know them personally. and thoroughly well thought out and executed plot, that worked perfectly. Never a dragging moment just a moving disturbing twisting tale that was believable and chilling. Fantastic! #Jorecommends

The Last House on the Cliff, by Anne Wyn Clark is a tense atmospheric thriller with lots of twists and turns set in a remote house (also housing an undertakers!) on the coastal path on the island of Anglesey.

It centres on Lowri, and her young daughter Ruby, returning to Anglesey for her Aunt Gwyn’s funeral. Lowri had spent her childhood summers with her Aunt Gwyn and has great affection for her and happy memories of her summers in Anglesey.

The idyll of her childhood summers is far removed from the Anglesey of today. Things turn a little creepy when Lowri becomes unnerved by the feeling that she’s being watched in her aunt’s house, and Ruby is convinced that she’s being visited by an old lady. These occurrences in a such remote house made it feel very unsettling. As I was listening to the audiobook, I thought perhaps the book might take a paranormal turn. Then, Ruby goes missing………. Without wishing to give away any spoilers, the story shift gears at this point and family secrets and the proverbial skeletons in the closets are revealed.

I find island mentality interesting with the islanders versus ‘outsiders’. This was amplified by the authors use of Welsh words sprinkled throughout the book and also with some characters speaking in Welsh added to the feeling that Lowri was an ‘outsider’ having grown up in the West Midlands. I enjoyed the twists and turns and how all the threads at the end built to quite the crescendo ending.

The narration, by Gloria Sanders, was excellent and made it a very ‘easy listen’.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers HarperCollins UK Audio for the audio-ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Let me begin by saying that I really enjoyed this book. The cover is slightly misleading, it looks like a murder mystery/thriller in the vein of writers like KL Slater. The last house on the cliff, though is much more of a family saga with deep buried Secrets hidden in the beautiful rugged landscape of the Isle of Anglesey.

Lowri and Her daughter Scarlett return to the house where she spent much of her childhood for the funeral of her beloved aunt Gwyn. All is not well on the island however, and an undercurrent of violence and mystery circles the house and the story of a family troubled by generational trauma.

I enjoy the fact that Lowry is a slightly unreliable narrator and a pretty flawed human being. She makes some choices and reacts in ways that Are occasionally stupid but always human. She’s a tiny bit petulant and although her trauma explains much of her attitude I can see why she would wind the other characters up!

I enjoyed the thriller element and was genuinely group to the end. One thing I would like to flag to the author above all, is that in The words she gives Lowri about her parents for demonstrates a basic misunderstanding of how bonds are formed outside the biological. I won’t give any more detail than this as I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone!

This is a good summer read, it’s spooky, it’s gripping and the invocation of the Welsh landscape is lovely.

I listened to the audiobook version of this novel. The narration was good and easy to listen to.

Lowri spent many childhood holidays at her aunt Gwyn’s home in Anglesey, but they lose touch as Lowri gets older. When her aunt dies, Lowri goes back for the funeral with her young daughter, Ruby. Gwyn ran a funeral home, so it’s a bit cliche when Ruby and Lowri start seeing a mysterious figure watching them. Then Ruby goes missing.

The setting of this book was quite well described and the creepy atmosphere of the house brought an eerie element to the story. You can imagine someone lurking in the shadows.

I didn’t really warm to any of the characters and they were all a bit flat and boring. I found it difficult to keep track of who was who as there are quite a lot of people. I’m not sure if this would have been easier if I’d read the book rather than listened to it.

The plot was predictable at times, then got a bit far fetched and ridiculous in the second half of the book. I found it lacked credibility and ended up being quite boring and I just wanted to get it finished.

This book started off as a promising read but the plot had too many characters and wasn’t believable for me.

Thanks to Harper Collins UK Audio and NetGalley for a copy to review.

I had read the books blurb before I started listening. None the less the mood set in the early narrative gave me chills. Something wasn’t right, but what and what outcome as the characters were being skilfully introduced. This feeling stayed with me throughout, something I’m sure the author was trying to convey. The only thing that frustrated me in the book was the portrayal of the Police as inept; but I decided to accepted this fault, almost ignored it, and not let this stop me enjoying the rest of the plot. Thank you to Harper Collins UK Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine freely given.

A dark and creepy book, i loved the setting and although a was quite slow to get going once it did it had twists and turns running all the way thorough to keep you guessing. i loved the setting and descriptions of the area in Anglesey, they were stunning. i could really imagine myself there.
The main character Lowri is the main character and provides a great focus for the story. She is complex yet also relatable, and there are plenty of skeletons hiding in the family closet, just waiting to be uncovered. A good solid mystery and psychological thriller.

The Last House on the Cliff tells the story of Lowri, who spent her summers as a child staying with her Auntie Gwyn on the remote island of Anglesey. Many years on, Lowri hears of her aunt's death and returns to Wales with her daughter, Ruby, for the funeral. Things take a strange turn as Ruby keeps seeing a strange woman, a rag doll repeatedly appears and Lowri has the sense of being watched. As the story develops, we start to unravel the secrets and lies at the heart of the family.

Firstly, I loved the location for this novel; the island is dark and atmospheric and the cliff drop is a constant reminder of possible peril. The house in question is old and creepy, with hidden rooms and dark corridors that can hide the many secrets of the family.

The book started so well and I was very quickly drawn in to the story of Lowri and her daughter as well as the history of the house on the island. However, the excitement didn't quite continue as I had hoped. From about half way through, the plot took a turn and it almost felt as though the author was trying hard to get in as many plot twists and surprises as she could. It therefore fell a little flat in the second half.

I did enjoy the book, but it was definitely a case of it being a book of two halves.

My thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for sending me an ARC in return for an honest review.