Brilliantly written, twisty and dark. I really enjoyed this book. I found the beginning of the story a little slow but it soon picked up pace and I was hooked, I raced through it in 2 days. I’ll be recommending this to everyone.

Venturing into the haunting world crafted by Rebecca Thorne in "The Grief House" was an exhilarating journey through a tapestry of horror, thriller, and the supernatural. From the very beginning, I was captivated by the enigmatic protagonist, Blue, and the eerie atmosphere that permeates the grief retreat.

Blue, a former tarot card reader with the ability to perceive the supernatural, sets the stage for a narrative that defies expectations. The grief house, initially a haven for mourning and healing, unfolds into a sinister realm where secrets lie shrouded in the shadows. Thorne skillfully blends genres, offering a thrilling concoction of horror and suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat.

The setting, a secluded estate with no phones and no wifi, adds an extra layer of isolation, intensifying the atmospheric tension. The storm raging outside mirrors the tempest of emotions and hidden truths brewing within the characters. The suspenseful beginning gradually evolves into a heart-pounding tale of true horror as the plot unravels.

The originality of the plot and Thorne's masterful storytelling left me engrossed throughout the entire reading experience. The sinister vibes, coupled with the thrill of uncovering buried secrets, created an unputdownable narrative that exceeded my expectations. The transition from a thriller to true horror was executed flawlessly, adding depth and complexity to the storyline.

"The Grief House" is a compelling read that seamlessly weaves together elements of grief, supernatural encounters, and a chilling mystery. Thorne's exploration of the characters' hidden depths and the escalating sense of dread kept me eagerly turning the pages. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to fellow readers who relish a riveting thriller with supernatural twists—a journey that promises both heart-pounding fear and the satisfaction of unraveling a gripping mystery.

This was a great book that combined thriller, suspense and supernatural in an unforgettable combination. The characters were well written and their development over the course of the book was only part of what kept me hooked. I did find the first part of the book a little slow for me, that was, until the twists started and concepts were starting to click into place. The story is told through multiple POV (and split timelines) but the MC was Blue, a young woman struggling to come to terms with the loss of her mum and who possess a special gift. This is definitely a ghost story worth reading and I look forward to more from this author.

Thanks NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for the opportunity to read this book.

3.5 stars
This is a good supernatural thriller with an original storyline.
Blue heads to a retreat to deal with her grief after losing her Mum three years ago.
Blue had a special relationship with her Mum as she home schooled her and tried to encourage her spiritual gifts.
Once she’s at the retreat it’s clear Mr and Mrs Parks are hiding something and when the guests are left stranded at the house due to high water levels, things go from bad to worse.
A good read that I enjoyed.
Thanks to Raven Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This story follows Blue who finds herself at a grief retreat with a special gift, one she wants to keep a secret, because she can see the dead, especially those souls who are not at peace. However, she isn’t the only one with secrets at this retreat.

I found this book a bit of a struggle to get in to if I’m honest. There were a lot of characters to take in leaving me sometimes having to think about who was who which did interrupt my flow of reading, this also then made the storyline drag in places. However, despite wanting to put it down and move on to something else, I did persevere and at around the 40% mark the story did pick up, growing to be a lot more immersive—possibly because the storytelling and the writing seemed to improve from that point on.

In the end, It turned out to be an okay read, nothing wow. It was an unusual story with the paranormal element and would be good for the Spooky Season. I did find that the sensitive subjects of bereavement and mental health were well written and that’s what my rating is based on.

Fantastic thriller, the suspense was crazy! Fantastic characters, Creepy, exciting, tense, and also very sad, moreso Blue's loneliness.

I am quite divided by this novel, I liked the character Blue and the mix of mystery and supernatural and the story was original but i didn't engage with it fully, I felt it dragged in places and as it jumps about a bit from the past to the present it was a bit disjointed also the ending was a bit of a letdown.

If you love a horror and mystery thriller combined this is for you. I enjoyed the elements in this book. The chapters are named after Tarot cards and mixed genre thriller/horror. This book is written in now and then times.

Everyone is lying
But the dead know the truth

Blue has booked herself into a week-long grief retreat at Hope Marsh House; this isn't her usual getaway but she's hoping it will help her deal with the secret she's been carrying since her mother's death 3 years prior.

On arrival it's raining and there's something strange about the house. Not all guests have arrived, and the Parks try to cling to normality as the storm worsens and cuts them off. One of the guests disappears in the night, and Blue is left wondering who she is stranded with and what secrets hide behind their grief.

I devoured this novel; I couldn't remember what it was about other than being centered around grief. It was a slow beginning and it took me a little to warm up to Blue; once you got to know a bit about her everything seemed to fall into place about why she was the way she was.

There's something unsettling about Hope Marsh House but finding out what it is takes time. The Parks seem to be the perfect hosts, but are they what they seem or is Blue slowly losing her grip on reality?

The narrative flicks between present Blue and past Blue and about a third of a way through a third narrative is added and it takes a bit to figure out what relevance this has to the overall story.

This is one I'd recommend for people who enjoy a slower start to a book, but one that is very well written. Everything is revealed in time in relation to the story and does not feel rushed. This is a very clever book that falls in the horror thriller genre due to the mystery aspect but also the unsettledness to it and nothing being what it seems.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bloomsbury publishing, and Rebecca Thorne for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review

This is a perfect read for dark stormy nights. Blue has always been special, from her unique eyes to her ability to see what others can’t. Troubled by her childhood spent with a mother who can barely function to the trauma of having to do “psychic readings” Blue is a damaged adult unable to function in the world. 3 years after her mothers death she checks into Hope House for a retreat specifically dealing with grief. As the storm floods rise, preventing the guests from leaving Blue learns the truth behind Hope House and knows that not all the occupants will make it through the night.
This was a great fast paced read that shifted through different perspectives until all the threads combine in the final scenes. From the dark brooding scenery to the claustrophobic house the sense of fear is real.
Thanks to #netgalley for the advance copy.

A fantastic gothic read that really unsettled me as I was reading to the point I started to scare myself while reading at night. The Grief House is a tense read that was incredibly compelling. I loved the mix of horror and supernatural as secrets slowly become revealed. I was desperate for Blue to escape the house though I didn't know why until much later on. It felt claustraphobic and dangerous from the moment Blue arrives at the retreat.
It was a surprisingly moving read as the secrets of the guests and Blue herself are revealed, so much tragedy, it was easy to feel overwhelmed just like Blue. A very well written and clever novel I really loved the character of Blue and was on her side from the outset. A great book that I would love to see on the screen.

Blue arrives at a week long grief retreat in the countryside. However when she arrives only a few other guests have managed to turn up and then one disappears. What secrets does everyone hold and will Blue discover the truth?

This was a well written thriller and definitely created a dark, creepy atmosphere. I enjoy books that combine genres and liked that this had some horror vibes; although I’m not as much of a fan of the supernatural in novels. The story is told in multiple timelines and sometimes felt slightly choppy and confusing. I found that although it was a good mystery, I was never gripped with the storyline and found it a bit drawn out. Overall this is an intriguing read and will be great for those who enjoy thrillers and supernatural stories. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this copy in return for an honest review.

Ex-tarot card reader Blue attends a grief retreat following her mother's passing. When a strands everyone, and as the tension rises, a guest mysteriously disappears. Will Blue uncover the truth amid a web of lies?

This book feels quite spiritual and supernatural - each chapter i
Refers to a tarot card, adding a mystical touch to the narrative. The character development is realistic and engaging, and the author skillfully delves into Blue's clairvoyant journey through the use of chronological jumps in the narrative to allow the reader to understand how her past affects her present.

But it's not just about the mystery – this book also explores grief and its impact, shedding light on mental health. If you're into the creepy, dark, and slightly supernatural vibes, this is your ideal read. Perfect for fans of horror, thriller, and mystery genres, this book is a must for your reading list!

Overall I did enjoy this read. I thought it was very good at giving a sense of unease and foreboding, with some good characters and setting with a unique exploration of grief. I did find the time jumps easy to follow, however felt we didn't spend long enough in each 'time' before jumping back to the next so found it almost frustrating when I wanted the story to move forward in the current time. On balance a good read for the genre and I did get into it reasonably quickly.

Unfortunately, this just wasn't for me. I felt like the first part dragged a bit and the story was hard to follow. The characters were good though. I also felt like this book wasn't like the description.

This sounded perfect for me.
Dark intense thriller which a side of horror.
But sadly I found myself getting lost and confused with the time jumps don't always being so clear.
With multiple characters and stories to follow it became a little difficult for me to stay invested in the main story.

Ex Tarot card reader Blue attends a grief retreat after the passing of her mother. The storm worsens and leaves everyone stranded. One night a guest dissappears. Will Blue find the answers?
Everyone is lying..
But the dead know the truth..

I enjoyed this book. I liked that each chapter is named after a tarot card. Great character development. The author went into great detail of Blues Clairvoyance journey. Written in a then and now timeline, from Blue from a young age to her adult life now.
This book covers different types of grief and the impact it can have on individuals. Also topics of mental health.

A perfect creepy, dark and hints of the supernatural read.
If you enjoy the horror/thriller genre and mystery I would recommend this book!

A 4 star read 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you @NetGalley for this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. #TheGriefHouse

If you enjoy a mystery thriller with an actual supernatural element, then this will be a pick for you.

The story follows Blue, a child psychic who was put on the tarot reading circuit by her Mother and Step-Father when she was young. She had to grow up way to fast with the things she saw and went through, and had a strange co-dependent relationship with her Mother. Three years after her Mother died, she has booked to go to a Grief Retreat, in an old house in the middle of nowhere. But with a storm coming in, and a house full of strangers, can Blue believe the things she feels and sees, or are they just delusions of her sick mind?

I loved this book, I loved the way it was laid out, the chapter titles, and the few chapters from different perspectives were fun. The characters are deeply flawed and that makes them even more fun. This is a must read, you wont be disappointed.

Wow! Where to start?

This book had the vibes of Shirley Jackson’s Haunting of Hill House which I adored too!

Blue joins guests at Grief House after struggling with the death of her mum three years prior, is all as it seems? Molly & Joshua only welcome in four guests this time due to the weather, the floods mean others can’t make it. Then one guest disappears - but they all can’t leave because of the flood, so what happened to him?

Blue senses things, she’s hoping no one else picks up on her gift, but then she starts seeing things within the house, smelling things and she knows everything isn’t as cosy as first made out.

This book switches between Blue being a young child and exploring her gift to help her mum pay bills, to then being at Grief House and trying to find out what happened there all those years ago.

The Grief House grabbed me and refused to let me go until I finished the whole thing in one sitting. There were elements of both horror and thriller that made me want to know what was coming next - all of the protagonists were hiding something and this made me question who was being truthful throughout. The writing was great and, yeah, the plot could be a little predicable but sometimes you want to be able to sit back with a novel that’s just a good read and doesn’t leave you trying to work out hidden meanings. If you’re looking for a creepy read while the nights draw in then give this a go, I don’t think you’ll regret it.