It's a chilling, gothic thriller that brings the debate of nature versus nurture at the forefront. Has Robert inherited his biological psychopath father's malicious nature? Or is he the sweet boy Amy raised him to be?

There are plenty of twists and turns in the novel. Moreover, the author knows how to craft an atmospheric setting.

I read it as a standalone as the author gave a brief description of the events of Book 1. This is a chilling story. I wouldn't say it was a page-turner as I felt some of the parts dragged a bit. But, overall, I enjoyed reading it.

Heather Atkinson continues her Alardyce trilogy with the second spine-chilling and heart-stopping instalment, The Cursed Heir.

Edinburgh, 1896 and the family at Alardyce have all gathered to celebrate the engagement of the estate’s heir, Robert, to his childhood sweetheart. His mother Amy is thrilled to see her beloved son betrothed to the woman he loves with all of his heart, but this precious moment is tarnished by darkness and fear. Amy is terrified that Robert might be just like his biological father: a cruel, heartless and devious man who cares only about himself and who didn’t care who he hurt as long as his nefarious objectives were met. As disturbing news about Robert reaches Amy, she cannot help but wonder whether her son can ever be saved or whether his father had condemned him to a terrifying future.

When Robert’s in town, the streets of Edinburgh are not safe and with the distance between her son and his stepfather Henry increasing with each passing day, Amy has got a lot to lose. Will she manage to break the curse that has Robert in its grasp? Can a mother’s love vanquish and destroy the darkness that has claimed her son’s heart? Or will Robert be lost to his mother and his family forever?

Heather Atkinson’s The Cursed Heir is the perfect Halloween read. Full of atmosphere, menace, jeopardy and foreboding that will send many a shiver scuttling down readers’ spines, The Cursed Heir is a creepy page-turner that will make readers jump out of their skin. Heather Atkinson brilliantly evokes Victorian Edinburgh and this deftly written tale about the ties that bind, the darkness within and the lengths we go to for the people we love is sure to keep readers engrossed, entertained and terrified all through the night!

The characters are just so well written and realistic, the tension is built so effectively and you really do have no idea where the storyline is going or what the outcome is going to be!

⭐⭐⭐.5 -- The cover on this one is amazing!

I pretty much felt about this book as I did about book one. It was okay. At times it felt repetitive, and "more of the same" with a different "baddie" 🤷🏻‍♀️ That said, this author excels at atmospheric settings and twists and turns. And Robert is exceptionally well written and comes across very chilling at times. However, I am a little on the fence about whether I will read book three or not because i feel like this story is being drug out a little too long.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

I am a new fan of the author after reading The Gallowburn series. Oh how I love grit lit! I knew I had to give this series ago. Although being totally honest, I have to admit that historical crime has never been anything I’ve really read until recently when I read the first book in the series.

OH MY GOD what a book! We are transported back to the Victorian times. It sure has hell doesn’t disappoint it is dark, twisty and incredibly gritty! The book kicks off where the last one ended. So you need to read them in order.

I love that the author has taken her normal style of writing\genre and woven a story into the backdrop of 1896! Making me feel like I was there in the story. It is full of suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I seriously couldn’t put it down. I loved it that much I am definitely going to be reading more historical crime books.

This book is absolutely brilliant I cannot recommend it enough. Giving it all the stars! Try it, I guarantee you won’t regret it!

Massive thank you to Rachel Gilby for the blog tour invite and for introducing me to Heather Atkinson 😃

The CursedHeir, by Heather Atkinson. You have to believe me when I say what an outstanding read this story was. If you love family drama. Secrets. Enemies who stalk your halls at night.
Mistrust among the eyes that look into your very soul. Well this book oozes with it. I was entertained from beginning to end. The characters are phenomenal. Without giving to much away about Robert I have to say simply is his character is bloody marvelous.
I mean his character is a force to be reckoned with. Every time he came across a person, mainly his father I was freaking scared out of my mind. That I will say is excellent research and writing of a character. I also believe that Andrew is the same way. The parents Amy and Henry are a powerful couple that ruled the family with strength.
Amy is fantastic. I love her strong force and her fearless nature. This is a fantastic page turner for those readers who love to finish a terrific book in one sitting, curled up in their covers. You will gravitate to the entertainment of the family drama and mystery that surrounds the family and friends. You may even enjoy the excitement surrounding the early morning walks after the many snowstorms.
I without a doubt am looking forward to the next installment of Amy and Henry’s battle to keep their family safe. I give this book two snaps and a, Andrew I suggest if you want to spare your family jewels. I suggest sniffing somewhere else. Until next time my fellow readers… read on!

This is the second book in the series, although there is enough detail about what has previously taken place for it to work perfectly well as a standalone. This is the first time I have come across this author but I will certainly be keeping an eye out for future releases, such is the quality of the writing.

As a piece of historical fiction, the characters are firmly set within the Victorian era. Each is carefully portrayed allowing the reader to build up a clear picture as the narrative develops. Rush and Magda, in particular, are especially likeable as they do their utmost to support Amy and thwart Robert.

There are plenty of twists and turns to be found and while some of the actions that take place are gruesome, they are a necessary part of the plot.

A hugely enjoyable and interesting read!

With thanks to the author and Rachel at Random Resources for the opportunity to participate in the tour.

I made a mistake requesting this book before having read the first. Once I got through that, I realised that the style was not my thing. The characters and their behaviour were very off putting. I think more familiar readers of gothic thrillers would prefer this tale more than I did. I was unable to read it all the way through to the end.
It confirmed all the things I was suspecting. I think it was the narrative style that was not my thing. I think it would work for readers of this genre. Since I did not read the entire thing, I will be unable to provide a full-length review of the book.

My Review: This is quite a story. It’s laced with violence, fear, love, family, secrets. It’s fascinating, disturbing and very unputdownable. I wasn’t sure what to think at times but it still had me turning page after page. I recommend you decide for yourself after reading the blurb if you want to dive in. It’s a little bit magical too.

1896, Alardyce House, Scotland. The heir to the house Robert is celebrating his engagement to his childhood love Jane. But his mother Amy realises that her son has a dark nature like his biological father and fears for his young fiancee...
The Cursed Heir is the second book in the Alardyce trilogy. The events from the first book The Missing Girls of Alardyce House are quickly caught up on in the first chapter so I would advise reading the books in order or reading this as a stand alone.
Amy is devastated when she realises that her treasured son has the same sadistic tendencies as his father. She is made aware of his violent behaviour towards one of the maids and fears what he will do next. It also brings back awful memories of her own torture from the first book.
This book is full of conflict as Amy battles with her own conscience as well as her son's proclivities. As a parent, she wants to think the best of her child and loves him dearly. Yet he also scares her and she fears for the safety of others.
There is a lot of darkness and adult content in this book as it contains instances of violence as well as several sex scenes. I enjoyed the sinister atmosphere and mentions of ghosts and witches, but Amy's fears are very real and human.
The Cursed Heir is a dramatic novel full of history, emotion and danger.

Amy's son, Robert, is now all grown up and engaged to his childhood sweetheart. But Robert has dark secrets of his own and if he is anything like his father and uncle, he is also dangerous.

This is actually the second book in a series, which I was not aware of, and although this does work as a stand-alone I did feel I had missed out on a lot as the novel references things relations and connections to the past that I found to be confusing; and wish I had read the first novel.

This is definitely a gothic novel, which is very dark in places; it is written very well, with a gripping storyline that was atmospheric from the start.

This isn't my usual genre, but I did enjoy it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of The Cursed Heir by Heather Atkinson. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

I went into this book expecting a lovely gothic suspense novel and was slightly disappointed. From the beginning, we don't get any build-up to Robert being a psychopath. I did not read the first book, so maybe I missed some context, but the plot didn't work for me. We jump right into the mother suspecting her son's actions. Also, how Amy deals with her son is odd. Also, her angst circles a lot, with nothing changing. I will not be continuing this series. I give this book 2/5 stars.

Those who have read the first book in this gothic series will be able to pick up the story very quickly as it follows on from where book one left off. For those new readers to this trilogy the author gives a very good run down of what has gone before so it is entirely possible to read as a standalone story although of course, it does make sense to read from the start of the trilogy.

In The Cursed Heir we meet again with Robert, Amy's now grown up son, who has just become engaged to his childhood sweetheart. All would be well except Robert has a brooding secret and a rather dark and nasty side to his personality which his mother is dismayed to discover bears all the traits of his biological father. What then follows is a rather dark story of how Robert deals with his split personality disorder which wreaks havoc on the lives of all those who care for him. Robert is hellbent on following his own path even though it puts his family in grave danger.

The author writes this Victorian gothic melodrama very well and brings a decidedly chilly edginess to this second story which matches that of the first book very well. The continuation is seamless and whilst I enjoyed delving deeper into the dark side of Robert's life I also welcomed the return of the other characters we got to know so well in book one. Amy's husband Henry does all he can to protect his wife but sometimes the forces of evil are just too strong.

This is the second book in The Alardyce Trilogy. I’ve not read the first book and while I didn’t feel it was essential to have read it, I do think it might have helped with some of the background understanding. The history from book 1 was explained but I feel I missed out on the character and relationship development having not read the first book.

I enjoyed this book although it wasn’t quite what I expected. It’s noted as a historical mystery and while I agree with the historical part, I didn’t feel there was much mystery to it. However, as historical fiction it works really well. The characters were well-written and the descriptions of events and locations was really well done and gave a lot of depth to the story. There was an underlying sense of dread and foreboding through much of the story and that, combined with the unfolding narrative, made for a chilling read.

Understandably I found the book quite dark. The actions of some characters, the claustrophobia of being snowed in for days, the poorly lit streets, and more, all combined to create a dark, tense, almost gothic atmosphere which I found quite gripping. While the book wasn’t quite what I had expected I found I struggled to put it down as I was constantly wondering what was going to happen next. There’s a lot of suspense in this story and a few unexpected turns which definitely helped keep me engaged while I was reading.

If you like dark historical fiction then this is definitely worth checking out, though I would suggest reading the first book, The Missing Girls of Alardyce House, before this one.

This was my first Heather Atkinson novel and whilst I thought the blurb sounded intriguing, I had no real expectations about it. Wow! I am so pleased I had the chance to read it! I would love to see a TV series made of this! So dark, gritty, thrilling, I was totally enthralled from start to finish. I love the dark, almost gothic feel to it, set in my favourite period,the Victoria era, the author sets the scene perfectly. I definitely need to read more by Heather Atkinson!

I tried I really did, but the found the text repetitive and sorely lacking in suspense and horror.
This was a book that I had to start twice as the first time, I just gave up. I only ended up reading it as it was given to me for a review by RachelsRandomResources - a blog tour organiser.

I wasn't aware this was book 2 in the series so I decided to read that one first. I absolutely loved the gruesome and twisted storyline and I couldn't wait to read this one. The bar had been set really high with the first and I enjoyed this one just as much.

The story continues straight after the last book finished and has switched to the son/nephew of the evil duo from book one with Robert now 17. I found this a slower read to begin with but it soon became the dark and twisted read I was expecting and hoping for. The ending sent a shiver down my spine and I cant wait for the final book in the series.

You do need to read these in order to understand and follow the books.

This is the second book in the Alardyce Trilogy and whilst it could suffice as a standalone I do highly recommend that the first book "The Missing Girls of Alardyce House" be read before this one. Only then can the reader fully appreciate the background as well as the lengths applied by some of those therein.

THE CURSED HEIR is a chilling follow-up to the first, even more disturbing, book following on the legacy it seems that Matthew has left behind. After escaping the torturous cellar with the death of Matthew and Edward then tried and hanged for his murder and that of several others, Amy married Henry and went on to have three children with him, making their home at Alardyce House. Now Robert has grown and is becoming a young man...but just what else is he becoming?

Edinburgh, 1896: It's Boxing Day and Amy Alardyce has awoken from the most horrific nightmare where she was bound and at the mercy of her torturers - Edward Alardyce, her cousin, and Matthew Crowle, the father of her illegitimate son Robert. It is as if she right back there in Edward's basement and the horror she experienced at their deviant hands. But she awakens to find it was just a dream...one that had seemed so real.

But now she has a new problem on her hands. Yesterday, her beloved son Robert announced his engagement to Jane, the niece of Esther, the one time wife of Matthew and victim of his abuse. Even worse, she witnessed for herself the lascivious leer and malicious grin that swept over her son's face as he gazed upon one of their maids. It is a look she knows all too well. One she saw on Matthew's face, as well as Edward's as he tortured her. But this cannot be. Robert is her sweet beautiful son. But he also shares some of the more unpleasant and deviant traits of his dead father.

Amy confides in her husband Henry before sharing her fears with Jane's guardian and aunt, Esther and husband William, who have loved and cared for Jane for most of her life. Together they know they must do everything to stop the wedding from ever going ahead for fear that he will be the ruin of young Jane. This leads to separating the young couple by any means necessary to a dramatic chase to Gretna Green to stop the impending marriage from proceeding.

Despite his looming darkness, Amy is sure she can reach the kind the gentle side of her beloved son before it's too late. But is it already too late? She enlists the help of a local herbalist, Magda, who returns from the previous book whilst Henry secures someone loyal and able to keep a close eye over Robert. But is it enough?

Then when a young maid is found beaten and bloody in the snow one morning, Amy's hopes of ever reaching her son are dashed. But Robert denies any knowledge of the incident as we delve deeper and deeper into this dark and sinister tale. Is someone setting Robert up? Or is he truly his father's son?

THE CURSED HEIR is never more aptly titled as we watch Amy and Henry battle with the concept that their son Robert may have inherited his biological father's sinister and evil traits. As the reader, we are privy to each of the character's thoughts but even we question just how far the apple really does fall from the tree.

The story unfolds with plenty of twists and shocks along the way as some secrets are kept even from our view. And when they come, how will those at Alardyce House and beyond react? Amy sees and speaks to Matthew in her dreams and often nightmares where he promises she will join him soon. But are they just dreams? Or something far more sinister? Is Amy's life in danger?

THE CURSED HEIR picks up right where the first book ended but the opening pages are just like being thrust back to that very moment of horrifying torture at the hands of Matthew and Edward. I swear I was having flashbacks myself! This book isn't as horrific as the first but it is still equally chilling.

I enjoyed the part everyone played although there were a couple of loose ends in Amy's maid Hazel and Robert's friend Andrew that I hope will be tied up in the final installment to this dark trilogy. I think my favourites were Rush and Magda. Nothing got past those two and I do hope to see more of them to come.

The final curtain, when it fell, gave a glimpse into what is to come...and I cannot wait to see how THAT plays out!

Overall, an addictive, albeit disturbing, and very chilling gothic thriller that will keep you up late into the night turning the pages until the very end.

I would like to thank #HeatherAtkinson, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheCursedHeir in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

This is the second book in this series and while it can be read on it's own it would be best to read them in order. as this book starts straight after the first book ends. It’s full of action with lots of twists, turns and surprises along the way. I found I was unable to put this down until the end. I received an early review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Wow this book was fantastic I couldn't put it down this is a must read book absolutely fantastic . So good to read this so soon after 1st book .