Three sisters run out of petrol and break down right near the big house where their mum used to work when they were children. They separate to go and get help, and then gradually it comes back to them what happened in the house when they were kids. It's quite a creepy story, but it's very slow to unravel and a lot of it is about the strained relationships between the sisters - but it's never really clear why they're strained, or why this experience somehow reunites them. I didn't like most of the sisters, they seemed faintly obnoxious other than Lizzie. A lot happens that isn't fully explored or explained, just hinted at, which was frustrating. Without wanting to give much away I found it difficult as a result to picture what had happened at the end, since the author had been so coy about the house's past under the Brigadier. It's kind of a family drama set in a horror thriller setting, it wasn't bad but I didn't rush to finish it.

I really enjoyed the suspense and thrilling aspects of this book and really like the author writing style. I haven't read anything from this author before and I definitely would pick up a book in future. Will be recommended to friends!!

The nights are drawing in, there’s a little chill in the early morning air and Autumn is just around the corner, a perfect time to read The Short Straw.

A storm in the middle of wild Cumbria, three sisters packed into a mini, tensions simmering, and suddenly, bang, the car is off the road and they are stuck.

Stranded in Moirthwaite, the village they grew up in, no coincidence just their destiny, their fate.

Cue Seddon’s ominous, forbidding house Moirthwaite Hall. Abandoned, empty, just waiting for Nina, Lizzie and Aisa.

Oh, how I loved Seddon’s imagery, the dust , the darkness, the noises, the sense of foreboding as they opened the big front door and entered into its domain.

Memories of their childhood flashed before them, their mother Rosemary its housekeeper, the owner, William, his daughter Jane. There were happy times, but also times that were bewildering, that didn’t make sense.

It was a smart move by Seddon to bring them back, to remember those times, to unravel the past and more importantly to unravel themselves.

But first there was bickering, who was going to get help, the simmering tensions almost erupting to the surface. Finally, Aisa dispatched, angry, frustrated but determined to be the one that saved them all.

We were left with Nina and Lizzie, their exploration of rooms long forgotten, stirred memories both good and bad. Nina, the leader, the strong one, Lizzie, timid, scared, the noise, and the feelings of being followed lingered.

As we suddenly found each of them alone, Seddon took us inside their minds, their thoughts, their emotions, the constraints of their personalities, their relationship with each other.

You knew it was all inextricably linked with the house, their parents and what happened all those years ago. Seddon switched us between past and present, their own voices, those of their mother Rosemary.

As night turned to morning, the house itself began to give up its secrets, the realisation that maybe they were not alone, gave rise to heart thumping moments, moments of holding your breath of turning the pages as fast as you could.

The secrets were grim, shocking, but the jigsaw puzzle of their past was slowly solved, the final two pieces their own decisons about their futures and a better understanding and closeness between each other.

This was my first Holly Seddon experience and I was not disappointed, her ability to combine everything I wanted in a spine chilling thriller with the personal vulnerabilities of her characters was wonderful and it won’t be long before I find myself engrossed in another one of her novels.

I loved this book it was such a great read. Things the first from this author and I’ll be reading more in future.

Slow burn thriller that has a real feminine power driving both story time lines. Heartbreaking, yet satisfying conclusion. Bravo!

I've come to expect a great read when I start a book by Holly Seddon. This one did not disappoint.

Atmospheric in bucketloads. (Really it would be a great novel to read in the spooky season of autumn). Moirthwaite Manor Cumbria, a derelict house in a remote location - in a raging storm...

Three sisters who have not been very close in recent years. They have little in common, yet the familial bond remains strong. Nina, the judgmental older sister, who is always calm in a crisis and works as a midwife; Lizzie, the meek and sensible middle sister who works at an animal rehoming shelter; and finally, contrary, independent, Aisa, the youngest, reputed to be the 'brat' who travels from place to place pet/house sitting. All three sisters have secret fears and hide behind a false facade.

The premise of them ending up in exactly the same house as where they suffered a childhood trauma stretches the imagination somewhat, but despite that, the story kept me enthralled. Which is safer? Staying in the foreboding old house, or, braving a deadly storm?


Sibling relationships and repressed childhood memories are themes running throughout this novel which has more than a touch of modern gothic. A creepy story which is riddled with simmering suspense and complex familial undercurrents. Recommended!

4.5 stars rounded up

"The Short Straw" by Holly Seddon is a psychological thriller that had me hooked from the very first page. The book follows the story of three sisters: Nina, Lizzie, and Aisa Kelsey. While travelling in a storm, they get stranded and take shelter in Moirthwaite Manor, which is an ominous and abandoned mansion with a dark and foreboding presence. As they face the unsettling atmosphere within the house, they also have to deal with their haunted past and the mysteries surrounding their family's sudden departure years ago. The tension rises as they draw straws to decide who should go outside and seek help, and they soon realize that they might not be alone in the eerie mansion.
From the moment the sisters set foot in Moirthwaite Manor, the atmosphere of the story was thick with tension and unease, evoking a sense of dread and impending danger that kept me riveted throughout. Seddon's masterful storytelling created a palpable sense of claustrophobia and suspense, drawing me deeper into the shadows of the haunted house alongside the protagonists.
I was captivated by the dual timeline narrative, which seamlessly shifted between the dark and stormy night at the manor and the haunting flashbacks narrated by the sisters' late mother, Rosemary. The gradual unravelling of the house's sinister history intertwined with the sisters' struggles and grief added layers of depth to the narrative, making for a compelling and emotionally resonant read.
The dynamic between the sisters was fraught with tension, conflict, and raw emotion, mirroring the storm raging outside and the darkness lurking within the confines of Moirthwaite Manor. The exploration of themes such as grief, mother-daughter relationships, and abandonment added a poignant layer to the thrilling suspense, grounding the story in relatable and human experiences despite the supernatural elements at play.
Overall, "The Short Straw" is a riveting and atmospheric thriller that expertly weaves together family drama, ghostly hauntings, and heart-pounding suspense. If you're a fan of dark and immersive psychological thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end, this book is a must-read. Holly Seddon has crafted a haunting and electrifying tale that will leave you mesmerized and haunted by its eerie allure.

Wow, I loved this book from start to finish. The house was like a character of its own. Eerie and intense with secrets hiding in every dark corner. I loved the sisters. They were all different enough to tell apart whilst also having their past in common. I was honestly on the edge of my seat the entire time and the ending blew me away!

Thank you Orion Publishing and Netgalley for this amazing thriller.
I'm a fan of Holly anyway, but this is definitely her best book so far.
I cannot recommend enough - sit down when you start to read this as you won't want to put it down.

“The Short Straw” is a riveting read that will appeal to fans of twisty psychological thrillers. Seddon’s skillful storytelling and nuanced character development make this novel a standout in the genre, and ensure that it will keep readers hooked until the very end.

I throughly enjoyed this book!

It’s a fabulous story, packed with nervous tension thrown in for good measure! On a cold and windy evening, three siblings with VERY different lives are on their way home after a visit to their father.

The car runs out of fuel and they find themselves stranded outside the home they shared …. and the property their Mother spent her whole life working In…

It’s shared across two timelines, the past and present and discusses relationships and grief.

It’s a fantastic slow burner type book but one that you won’t want to put down. You HAVE to carry on reading to see where it’s going and what happens!

If you like books with spooky twists, events and goings on this one is definitely for you!

Thankyou netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

Unfortunately I couldn't get into it and had to DNF

Another gripping, fast paced story from a very talented author, which will join my never ending TBR list. Can't wait for the next one.

This was far from one of the best books that I have read, but it was a decent read, where certain parts come back to me so easily when thinking about it, which is a miracle in itself. I thought that I had guessed what the ending of this was going to be, but I was so wrong and the actual ending was a shock and is one of the things that stays with me. Although the first two thirds were a little bit blah, with basic writing style that dragged, the ending upped my rating and feelings towards this read. Well, parts of the ending.

What was really nice about this book was the whole relationship and dynamic between the three main characters, who were sisters. You don’t get to see that often, or at least I haven’t read a lot of books where the main relationships highlighted, was that of sisters. This was actually really nice, even if it’s thankfully not depicting the same relationship between myself and my two sisters, it was still something that connected me to this read.

I don’t know if I would recommend reading this book, and I probably wouldn’t pick up another book by this author, simply because I wasn’t a fan of her writing sadly.

I chose to read a free eARC of The Short Straw but that has in no way influenced my review.

Estranged sisters Nina, Lizzie and Aisa are reluctantly reunited for one day to celebrate their father's birthday. Following the awkward, uncomfortable lunch the sisters pile into Nina's Mini Clubman and hit the road, hopeful they won't have to deal with each other again for a while. But a storm hits and older sister Nina makes the executive older sibling decision to leave the road. With the petrol gauge looking alarmingly low and the sisters now off the beaten track, it's a race to find somewhere to stop before they become stranded and officially lost. Thankfully Nina remembers that the sisters used to live fairly close to where they are so decides to rally her siblings and walk the rest of the way to Moirtwaite Manor, a manor house their mother used to work at. On arrival, it becomes clear that things have changed significantly in the intervening years. The manor is uninhabited, cold, dark and creepy. Knowing that they can't stay in the house overnight, they decide to pick straws to see which sister should go for help. But where is the real danger? Is it outside in the cold, dark, unforgiving storm? Or is it hiding in the shadows of the crumbling manor house...?

The Short Straw is the first book I've read by Holly Seddon, which I was surprised about as I've only ever heard brilliant things about Seddon's books. The one thing I can guarantee though is that The Short Straw won't be the last of the author's books I pick up. I'm a fan of character-driven novels and I thought the sisters in The Short Straw were exceptionally well written. They stood tall from the page and I am 100% here for that! Always. I'm not sure you could get three more different women if you tried. Headstrong Nina is the oldest and oh boy, don't her siblings know it. Nina takes charge in situations but she's hiding something from her sisters that she's too ashamed to share. Lizzie is the middle child, timid, hesitant and unsure of herself. I loved how her character developed throughout the novel. And Aisa is the youngest. Feisty, independent and unapologetic - she can't help but feel small, sad and difficult around her family. Three very believable siblings are thrown into a situation that puts their familial bond to the test.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Short Straw is a compelling family-based drama with a touch of the gothic which I found engaging throughout. The characters are outstanding, the setting is full of atmosphere and gave me the shivers on a several occasions, and the plot is well-paced. I struggle to call the book a thriller though and I don't think I'm alone in feeling this way. A slow-burn mystery, yes. A gothic-inspired drama, absolutely. I think if you go in expecting a thriller, you may be a little disappointed. If you go in expecting strong characters trying to make sense of what is going on around them, revisiting the past and questioning what they thought they knew, then you will most likely love this book. I enjoyed the flashbacks to the past where we met the girls' mother, Rosemary. She becomes as much of a main character as her daughters do, in my opinion. Rosemary's life story unfolds before the reader's eyes, helping us piece everything together ready for the reveal at the end. All in all, I very much enjoyed The Short Straw and the family dynamic between the female lead characters. They're all completely different and their relationship is so complex that I often wondered if they really understood one another. An engaging, compelling, thoughtful novel about family and the secrets we keep. Recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of The Short Straw. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

Three estranged sisters reluctantly reunite to celebrate their father’s birthday, following the lunch they all travel back together in the oldest sister’s car.
A storm hits and they decide to take shelter at an old Manor House where their mother use to work.
Drawing straws as to who should go for help, this is where the real tense drama starts - is it safer out in the storm or in the crumbling creepy Manor House with it’s deadly secrets.
This family based story is very atmospheric and had a gothic feel in parts.
All three sisters were well written characters - completely different and complex.
Loved how the dual timeline made them revisit their past and we see the back story with their mother Rosemary and it all pieces together for the big reveal at the end - the unspeakable secret that binds the family together.
The short chapters made for a pacy read, with each chapter alternating between the sisters.
The perfect read for a dark stormy evening, like we’ve just had.
Thanks @hollyseddonauthor, @orionbooks & @netgalley for the tension packed read

I have been a fan of Holly Seddon’s books for quite a few years now so am delighted to be able to share my review of her latest The Short Straw.

Already from the title you get a feeling of what’s to come, no-one wants the short straw right!? The mere thought of picking the short straw evokes feelings of dread! This is exactly what happens to three sisters (Nina, Lizzie and Aisa) whose car breaks down on a stormy night in the middle of nowhere. Luckily (or not as the case may be) they are within walking distance of Moirthwaite Manor, a house their mother worked at when they were children. This book starts with a bang and just gets creepier by the page.

The sisters take shelter in the manor and must draw straws on who must go back out into the wild weather and return with help. To be honest I’m not sure where I’d rather be – spooky, abandoned manor filled with spiders (eek), a creepy doll’s house and bad memories or wandering in the dark woods with a storm thrashing! Actually, give me all the stormy weather over spiders!

All is not as it seems in the manor and slowly the sisters remember things that had happened when they sometimes accompanied their mother to work. We also get to read her side of the story which adds to the intrigue…Rosemary slowly reveals the events and what happened to make her leave the job so quickly and uproot her family.

I loved how the sister’s dynamics were portrayed and how we got an understanding into why they all reacted so differently to what was happening. There’s nothing more compelling than reading a family drama! I couldn’t wait to see how all their stories would fit together and deliver the truth.

The setting was very reminiscent of a gothic horror to some extent – if it was a TV series I would have been struck by all the jump scares! With short chapters and the story being told over one night (with flashbacks), I found the book easy to follow and hard to put down. Highly recomment!!

At the beginning I was concerned that with 3 sisters being the key characters that it would be a struggle for each of them to have their own unique identities. I needn’t have worried, Holly Seddon’s characterization was brilliant, even when more female protagonists were added you could still appreciate their individuality.

The story also flowed very well, and the plot was rather intriguing. And for me at least, the delivery through time hopping and perspective switching worked brilliantly.

I would say though that you needed to suspended reality a bit too much. Some of the coincidences and decision making were rather ridiculous. Regardless, at the end of the day it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley and Orion for a Review Copy.

The plot was intriguing but it didn’t fully grab my attention to start with. It definitely picked up the pace from about halfway through though. There are two stories running side by side: the present day (the sisters) and the past (their mother). In the chapters narrated by the sisters, every time the author had built up some tension, the chapter would end and move on to another sister’s voice. Because this change wasn’t always a continuation of the tension, it felt like there were several anti-climaxes in a row. It was the mother’s story which kept me reading but I enjoyed the ending of the sisters’ story.

I didn't want to put this book down once I started! It follows 3 sisters who are fairly estranged from one another, who end up broken down and having to seek shelter in an old spooky house from thier past. There are POV's from each sister and their mum in the past, with short chapters that leave you wanting more. I found the twists quite unpredictable but the ending did feel a little rushed.
Overall I'd really recommend this!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me an advance reader copy of this book.