This is a definite case of 'don't judge a book by its cover', or title for that matter, as the innocuously named Black Thorn gives little away.

But this self effacing little books sure has spikes as it tips the lives of the central characters upside down and takes them from what they thought would be life long peace, luxury and happiness, to fear, accusations, disharmony and suspicion.

The Gale family are at the heart of everything and moving to Blackthorn was mean to be the salvation for their dysfunctional family, but overnight their new start becomes the literal stuff of nightmares that threatens the very fabric of their family.

There is an absolute melting pot of emotions and motivations bubbling away just below the surface and it is hard to know who to trust - for just who is responsible for everything that went wrong, why, and how far will they go to cover their tracks?

I did enjoy the start of this book but unfortunately it soon seemed to get bogged down in unlikely characters doing unlikely things so my initial opinion soon changed. It then kept the same quite slow pace with not much in the way of thrills. Incidentally now cannot get the thought of all the bottles of urine delivery drivers might be leaving about our countryside and would be very reluctant to get involved in a letter pick!

“Black Thorn” by Sarah Hilary is a gripping thriller that delves into the dark secrets of a seemingly idyllic community. Set against the rugged backdrop of the Cornish sea, the story unfolds in Blackthorn Ashes, a new housing development that promised peace and exclusivity to its first six families. However, the dream of a forever home quickly turns into a nightmare when, just six weeks later, paradise is shattered with the death of six people, leaving the development abandoned and rife with secrets.

The narrative follows Agnes Gale, one of the surviving residents, who is resolute in uncovering the truth behind the tragic events. Her journey is fraught with danger and revelations more deadly than she could have imagined.

The characters are well-drawn, particularly Agnes Gale, whose determination and vulnerability make her a compelling protagonist. Her perspective as an autistic individual adds depth to her character and offers a unique lens through which the story is experienced. The supporting cast is equally complex, with each resident harboring their own fears and motivations that drive the narrative forward.

The setting of Blackthorn Ashes is a character in itself, with the Cornish cliffs providing a haunting atmosphere that mirrors the tumultuous emotions of the characters. The community’s isolation serves as the perfect breeding ground for tension and paranoia, as trust among neighbors erodes with each twist in the plot.

“Black Thorn” is a slow burn atmospheric thriller that explores the fragility of community and the lengths to which people will go to protect their secrets. Sarah Hilary has crafted a novel that is both haunting and moving, with a protagonist whose journey is as emotional as it is suspenseful.

I found Black Thorn on my kindle, downloaded last year from NetGalley and forgotten (I’m sorry). So in recompense and quite a lot of guilt, I bought the audiobook. I’m very glad I did. Imogen Church does a great job of reading this rather disturbing story from Agnes Gale’s point of view. She’s the adult daughter of one of the men responsible for the building and sale of the houses in an exclusive development on the Cornish cliffs.

Just weeks after moving in, six people, including children, are dead. All the remaining inhabitants are told to leave their homes as they’re deemed unsafe, and the whole development is cordoned off. Agnes is sure there’s more to it, so she decides to investigate.

There’s a really unnerving atmosphere to this story, probably made more so coming from Agnes’ point of view. She’s autistic, and even though she’s adamant that something isn’t right, she’s largely ignored because of her autism. The insights into Agnes’ personality and her inner thoughts were sensitively handled and realistic, I thought.

All of the characters were really well developed: Errol, Agnes’ friend; Christie her brother; and Trevor her fathers business partner, especially.

This was a thoroughly good listen, and I’m so glad that I (eventually) found it!

This was a fantastic psychological thriller with interesting and well drawn characters, in an original setting and situation that really caught my interest from start to finish. The tension was built early and maintained throughout the novel, and the location of Blackthorn Ashes took on a real unsettling and eerie presence throughout the book. I was equally gripped by who committed the murder and what was happening to the houses.

Black Thorn by Sarah Hilary is a character driven story that keeps you guessing throughout. Full of the kind of twists and turns I’ve come to expect from this author, it is a gripping and suspense filled psychological thriller that kept me reading long into the night.

Blackthorn Ashes was meant to be the dream but instead turned into a nightmare. Now, Agnes is trying to get to the bottom of exactly what happened at Blackthorn Ashes and why so many people died.

Agnes is a fascinating, neurodiverse character who is extremely well written. Her neurodiversity is an important aspect of who she is and her thought process is very much a huge part of the story, which is so refreshing to see in a psychological thriller such as this one.

Sarah Hilary is an author at the top of her game and Black Thorn did not disappoint. I can’t wait to read whatever she comes up with next!

Highly recommended.

Sorry for the late review- I read this in the summer but didn't review it on NG, and then when I went to read it again, bells were ringing all over the place.
I loved the setting of an exclusive estate in the heart of the countryside, I think its a really interesting area to set a story in as its so ripe for possibility of what might happen. The luxurious life-style set off the drama and the body count mounting up, The characters were well written and drove the story on well.

A slow burner with writing that draws you in. This book was beautifully written with exceptional plotting. It was multi-layered and it pulled me deep within its pages

This is a DNF for me I’m afraid. I found the writing disjointed and couldn’t get into the book despite starting it 3 times.

Whilst this book wasn’t quite what I expected from the blurb, I still found it enjoyable and intriguing. Although there wasn’t as much thriller/mystery as I expected (this could have been me misreading things), I found the book interesting and wanted to keep reading to see what happened. More of a family drama style book that thriller in my opinion!

Thank you Pan Macmillan and Netgalley.
This was up to Sarah Hilary's usual standards if not better.
A little slow, but great storyline and characters and haunting.
Highly recommend

Firstly I loved the gothic vibes of this book it was exactly what I needed around this time of year, I liked the setting and the plot and the tension was really well done with it really building up towards the end. It was a brilliant thriller that I could not put down and still highly recommend even though it wasn’t quite a five star. The only thing that let it down slightly was the more open ending, I love things to be closed off and done but that’s just a personal thing for me. Still an incredible read well worth your time!

Black Thorn is a multilayered delight that keeps you hooked from the first page with it's twist and vivid cast of characters. It's a book with so many layers that every page brings a new twist and surprise.

3.5 stars
The blurb for this book really piqued my interest but sadly it didn't quite live up to my expectations.
It was rather slow and I think the pacing overall was a bit off.
Basically, it takes too long for things to get going.
I also felt like there was some unfinished business at the end and not everything had been explained.
The writing style wasn't my favourite either.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Blackthorn Ashes is an exclusive housing development overlooking the sea in Cornwall. Six weeks after the residents move in, six of them are dead and one of the survivors is determined to discover the truth.
I was drawn to the synopsis of the novel, I love a coastal setting and Black Thorn makes the most of this and is an atmospheric and intense read. It is a real slow burn thriller and due to the slow pace of the plot it was difficult to completely immerse myself in it. I found the number of characters confusing initially and was unable to differentiate them and I found it to be a disjointed read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

do love a Sarah Hilary book. This is quite possibly my favourite yet. Black Thorn is exquisitely written, transporting and completely addictive.

Black Thorn is one of those books with a sinister and tense feel throughout. Hilary draws us in with a brilliant and tense beginning. I was hooked and instantly wanted more.

This is perfectly paced, laced with suspense and contains some great characters. This is quite intense to read and on occasions, eerie and claustrophobic.

Agnes has been brilliant. I have loved her instantly. The characterisation has been superb and she’s definitely one that kept me reading.

Hilary has included a number of twists which definitely keep you on your toes. It becomes entirely impossible to predict anything about this one.

Black Thorn is a dark, sad story which captivates you as a reader. This is the best yet by Sarah Hilary and I am a fan of all her books.

There is nothing to dislike about this book. It is a gem from beginning to end and I’ve loved every moment of this one.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Overall, a disappointing thriller that after the first chapter the pace slows to a crawl. Sadly not for me.

My thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for a copy of “ Black Thorn” for an honest review.

I haven’t read anything by Sarah Hilary before but I was really drawn in by the synopsis for this book ,
Unfortunately , I found it difficult to get into the story , and I ended up getting bored by it ,so sadly I did not finish the book .I’ve given the book an average score as it may have improved had I persevered with it .

Black Thorn by Sarah Hilary

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Blackthorn Ashes was meant to be their forever home. For the first six families moving into the exclusive new housing development, it was a chance to live a peaceful life on the cliffs overlooking the Cornish sea, safe in the knowledge that it had been created just for them.

But six weeks later, paradise is lost. Six people are dead. And Blackthorn Ashes is left abandoned and unfinished, its dark shadows hiding all manner of secrets.

One of its surviving residents, Agnes Gale, is determined to find out the truth about what happened. Even if that truth is deadlier than she could have ever believed possible . . .

My Opinion

This is a gripping book from the beginning, with a very sinister plot. Sarah Hilary drips feeds the story of what happened at Blackthorn Ashes by jumping around in the timeline but it was very easy to follow. This isn't a fast-paced novel, but it is very thought provoking. There are a lot of talking points that mean that this will make a great selection for a book club.

Rating 4/5

Black Thorn is a thriller that gradually builds up tension as its secrets are slowly revealed.
We meet the residents of a new small exclusive seaside estate at a barbecue where the friendly gathering is interrupted by one of the residents complaining of an injury they received in their garden and blames the developers for shoddy workmanship. There would appear to be problems with the properties and soon after we meet the residents we move forward in time to learn that six residents are dead.
The story gradually builds up tension and kept me hooked to find out what had occurred at Black Thorn.