Thank you NetGalley for approving me to read this. A very good read that had me hooked, once started I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend

A fantastic gothic read that explores loss, grief, and family secrets.

I found myself immediately empathetic to protagonist Annie's situation and willing for her (speedy and unexpected) marriage to frosty and enigmatic widower Edward Stonehouse to work out.

Whisked away to Guardbridge, Edward's isolated estate on the Yorkshire Moors, Annie soon discovers that, for much of the time, her main companion will be Edward's delicate and eccentric sister, Iris. Although welcoming and kind, Iris is also fascinated by the macabre and her talents include manipulation of the Guardbridge Glass, an object through which Iris claims to speak to spirits who have passed beyond the veil but still linger near Guardbridge's walls. When Annie joins one of Iris's seances, she gets far more than she was expecting and soon the spirits of Guardbridge - and of her own past - are whispering secrets that threaten the security she has so desperately sought in the present.

This was a gloriously gothic read that is absolutely packed to brimming with atmosphere. Rebecca Netley has created a fantastic setting in the isolated Guardbridge and, unusually for a Gothic novel, has three sympathetic central characters in the figures of Edward, Annie, and Iris. Without giving away any spoilers, I thought that Netley's mastery of the tropes of the gothic genre was used to great effect as a means of exploring the psyche and traumas of her characters and their pasts (CW: grief, child loss, death of a child, mental illness, and death of a parent) in a way that felt real but kept the tension high.

Spooky rather than horrifying, this is a surprisingly tender read in which the characters are forced to confront the things that 'haunt' them as individuals whilst also keeping the ghosts of the past at bay.

I absolutely loved the author’s debut The Whistling so was very excited to read The Black Feathers. It had all I want from a Gothic mystery and was a chilling and atmospheric read.
When Annie travels to her new husband’s estate on the Yorkshire Moors in the 1800s she meets his sister Iris who gives her a mysterious warning.
I loved the isolated Yorkshire setting and felt completely immersed in and transported back to the nineteenth century. The characterisation is excellent and the novel moves at a good pace.
If like me you love Laura Purcell , Anita Frank and Stacey Halls I’d highly recommend this compelling novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Another absolute banger from Rebecca Netley, who is slowly but surely establishing herself as an auto-buy author for me.
If you're looking for an eerie story of cold, haunted hallways and the ghosts hiding within, of family secrets and family mediums, this is the story for you. THE BLACK FEATHERS delivered every single thing I look for in a gothic horror - strong characters that come alive off the page, a gripping mystery that you can guess at but are no less happy to follow unspooling, eerie ghostly figures and just creepy enough settings to bring forth goosebumps. To say this gets the job done wouldn't quite do it justice - this is perfect for spooky season and beyond.

Beautifly dark and spooky this gothic novel has all the ingredient to be a success.
I love the settings that come alive and play almost a central role in the story.
Highly recommended!

This was an enjoyable listen filled with lots of tension and unease. I felt captivated by Annie's story and discovering what happened to the first wife. Rebecca Netley has a knack for setting the scene and the isolated marshes only added to the tension. Dark, gothic and gripping!

I found this book to be an intriguing read, with a story and setting that made me want to keep reading. I think a lot of readers will enjoy this novel and I'm grateful to the publishers for the review copy via Netgalley.

Oh my word what a glorious Victorian gothic ghost story which oozes atmosphere and dread from every page. An old dilapidated mansion, foggy moors, ghostly apparitions and the sinister appearance of black feathers all add to the gripping feeling of dread. Following her marriage and birth of her son Annie and her husband return to his ancestral home where she meets her sister in law a medium and taxidermist. She learns of the sudden and mysterious deaths of her husbands previous wife and son and her life takes an unexpected turn. Who can she trust and who is telling the truth and what is the mysterious presence trying to tell her. This is a real page turner which kept me reading until late into the night and which I didn’t want to finish. I’ll certain be looking for more from this author. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

The Black Feathers is an eerie Gothic novel, a perfect book to curl up with indoors on a cold, dark night.

It’s 1852 and Edward Stonehouse is returning to Guardbridge, his family estate on the Yorkshire Moors, bringing with him his second wife, Annie, and their baby boy, John. The couple have been married for a year, but this is Annie’s first visit to the house and she is full of apprehension, having been warned by a friend that Guardbridge has a reputation as ‘a place where bad things happen’.

As Annie begins to explore the narrow hallways and dimly-lit staircases of her new home, she finds traces everywhere of Edward’s first wife, Evie, and their young son, Jacob. She longs to know what happened to them, but Edward has made it clear that the subject is not to be discussed, so she turns instead to the other inhabitants of the house – Edward’s sister, Iris, and her old nurse, Mrs North. But here Annie only finds yet more mysteries. Can Iris really communicate with the dead, as she claims, and why does she refuse to venture outside the walls of Guardbridge? And what are the black feathers appearing around the house? Is it true that they mark the spot where a ghostly presence has visited?

The Black Feathers has some obvious similarities with Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, as well as a setting reminiscent of Wuthering Heights, but there are enough original elements to make it an enjoyable read in its own right and not too derivative of older classics. I found Annie a likeable character, but Iris intrigued me more, with her passion for spiritualism, interest in taxidermy and the agoraphobia that has kept her indoors for so many years. I wanted to know what had happened to make into the person she became, and although we do eventually find out, Netley keeps us wondering before beginning to reveal the truth. Edward is equally mysterious – seen through Annie’s eyes, he is distant and aloof, a man she has married through necessity and hasn’t yet learned to trust. When we see things from his sister’s perspective, there are hints that he could be quite a different man to the one Annie thinks she has married, but again, we have to wait to find out what sort of person Edward really is and what happened to his first wife and child.

The novel is atmospheric and creepy in places, particularly when Annie begins to see some ghostly apparitions, but I didn’t find it too frightening, which is good as I don’t want to be terrified when I’m reading at bedtime! I felt that the final few chapters let the book down slightly – the unravelling of the house’s secrets involves too much exposition and long stretches of dialogue – but the final twist is clever and unexpected. Rebecca Netley has written another ghost story, The Whistling, which I haven’t read but would like to, having enjoyed this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautiful classic gothic ghost story. There were seances, creepy goings on and some slow burning twists throughout the story. The atmosphere was kept to the same standard throughout and gave the story depth and kept me thinking about it for a while after I finished.

Perfect for the spooky season and anyone who likes an atmospheric and chilling ghost story.

Annie goes to live in a sprawling old house set in the Yorkshire Moors. Edward her husband is a widower and lives also with his sister Iris who is a medium. Annie and Iris become friends but both women have their own secrets.

I quite enjoy this genre, rambling old house, family secrets and ghostly goings on. I did enjoy this book but I did feel that their are plenty of books out there very similar and I've read a lot of them.

The story certainly had atmosphere and I loved the setting. Lots of spooky goings on as the family secrets are eventually revealed. I did feel this story had Rebecca, and Bronte vibes which is not a bad thing.

I wouldn't say this book was scary but it did have some chilling moments. I'm not easily scared though when reading but more likely to jump when visual.

I think I would have appreciated this book a little bit more had I have not been unwell. Due to my health I could only read for a few pages at a time so couldn't fully immerse myself into the story.

As I enjoyed the book I would read more by the author. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the book to review.

I absolutely loved this book, another belter from Rebecca Netley, perfect for proper Autumn gothic chills. Newly wed Annie returns from her bridal tour and along with baby John, they move into her husband Edward's family estate. Guardbridge is a crumbling mansion set on bleak Yorkshire moors. His sister also lives there and Annie is immediately drawn to her and invited to her full moon séances. The tension builds and not all is as it seems. Real hold your breath moments, Annie's story gets right under your skin. The Whistling was excellent, this definitely equals the chills factor, just brilliant. Highly recommend.

Rebecca Netley delivers again! I loved The Whistling and was so pleased to read this one.

Rebecca is able to write fantastic gothic mysteries that leave the reader on edge wanting to know what is going to happen. The worlds she create are steeped in history and draws the reader in excellently.

It was a perfect October read in the lead up to Halloween with quite a few twists and turns as you root for the main character not to end up like her husband's previous wife.

Really loved it! Highly recommend.

When I say I want a spooky book this is exactly what I want. Black Feather is the perfect blend of gothic mystery and a ghost story.

I read this one so quickly and couldn’t put it down easily. The descriptions of the scary parts of the book were written in a way that gave me chills. I don’t usually get scared with books as it’s all based on imagination rather than something you see on a screen but oh my this was like I was watching The Woman in Black!

This is the perfect edge of your seat fear enticing book. The plot and the vibes go hand in hand and you don’t see the ending coming.

My only gripe is that since I now know what happens and the reveal, I can’t re-read it with the same suspense. That being said i know I’ll be saving this one for Halloween 2024!

The Black Feathers by Rebecca Netley is a haunting and eerie read. Set in the 1800s and on the Yorkshire moors, Netley lays the scene for this chilling tale. Annie is grateful to be married to Edward Stonehouse hoping to put her turbulent past behind. Unfortunately, she realises that could not be further from the truth when she finally arrives at his home Guardbridge.

Edwards sister Iris who also lives there with her long time nurse behaves strangely. She makes a point of telling her to watch out for black feathers as they are a warning that a spirit has visited that place. Annie who is of a sensible disposition ignores her sister in law. But when black feathers do appear Annie sits up and starts questioning herself. She realises that she has no idea how Edwards first wife passed away. This may seem strange to us in the 21st century but this was the 1800s. Women had very few rights if any and a married woman had no choice but to listen to her husband. Moreover, marriages were often arranged and one had no say in who their spouse would be. They were often marriages of convenience.

Netley ‘s plot is well chosen. I particularly liked how she laid out the scene and her portrayal of the different characters which were so essential to making this a successfully spooky read. It was pacy and one I could not put down. She built the suspense gradually yet steadily increased its eeriness and Annie’s dilemma keeping me in suspense throughout. The setting of the Yorkshire moors was perfect for this gothic novel and was an additional dimension to the haunting tale.

Unfortunately, Netley overtly used her main protractor Annie to have judgemental thoughts of the other characters. A more experienced writer would have been a tad subtle when expressing opinions or raising the injustices of this era. I found this a bit irritating, albeit a minor issue as I barely noticed it since the story was riveting and had me glued. The ending was unexpected and had a wicked twist to it.

The book was a superbly chilling read, atmospheric, haunting and spooky, just the type of read for darker autumnal evenings. Well done Netley.

Haunting, chilly, atmospheric. The perfect gothic novel with all the right elements. There could be ghosts, there's visions, a lonely house in the country.
Exciting and gripping
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

October is one of my favourite reading months. Autumn and Winter shout Gothic, and the bookshop shelves are filled with books with darker-coloured covers and even darker themes. You can imagine my excitement when I discovered that Rebecca Netley was publishing a new book to be released on the 12th of October entitled The Black Feathers. I loved The Whistling and so couldn't wait to drop deep into the pages of this new book. And in no way was I disappointed.
I'll never lose interest in reading books featuring big gothic mansions filled with secrets and aspects of the past that often don't want to remain there. The Black Feathers absolutely feeds my addiction.

Here's the blurb about the book:

Where ghosts tread, black feathers fall . . .

When Annie marries widower Edward Stonehouse and arrives at Guardbridge, his estate on the Yorkshire moors, she thinks she has finally put darkness behind her.

She is mistaken . . .

Edward's sister, Iris, still lives in the family home. A taxidermist and medium, she urges Annie to watch out for black feathers - claiming that they mark the spot where a spirit has visited.

At first, Annie dismisses her warnings. But, before long, an eerie almost haunting feeling takes over her.

What exactly happened to Edward's first wife? Why is Iris so disturbed?

And should Annie be watching for signs from the dead - or rather is she the one being watched?

SET ON THE YORKSHIRE MOORS IN THE 1800S, THE BLACK FEATHERS IS A GHOSTLY TALE OF MAGIC AND WICKEDNESS.

I mean, come on - what's not to love about that.

This book is proper creepy, and some shades of 'Rebecca' by Du Maurier are here with Annie living in the house and estate where Edward's now dead first wife and son lived. Edward is often away, leaving her in the company of Iris (Edward's sister) and her companion. There are also secrets and seances and strange goings on a plenty. It's a perfect read for this time of year. Light a fire, make a nice hot cup of tea and settle in. Because once you start this, you'll want to keep going to find out what the heck is happening.

I loved The Whistling, but Rebecca Netley has delivered an even more eerie, atmospheric tale in her latest book with a compelling and vulnerable main character, Annie, who has her own secrets to guard.

Highly recommended to all who love a gothic ghostly tale.

A wonderful Gothic story set in Victorian England. Annie and her new baby move to her husband's family estate on the Yorkshire moors, a house full of secrets and mysteries, and perhaps a ghost or two. Beautiful, haunting and a perfect read for long autumn nights, particularly near Halloween.

As the days get shorter and the darker nights draw in, its the perfect time of year for an atmospheric ghost story, and readers could do a lot worse than to pick up a copy of The Black Feathers by Rebecca Netley.
Set on the windswept moors of Yorkshire in a crumbling stately home called Guardbridge, the book is the story of Annie, the second wife of Edward Stonehouse, who he is bringing to live there along with their baby son John. Their marriage is one of convenience, her family eager to marry her off because of a secret burden of shame, and he, though still mourning the loss of his first wife and son, still in need of an heir. There is a coldness to the pair that seems perfectly suited to the bleak moors, but they are not the only residents of Guardbridge, Edward's sister Iris will be sharing their home. As a self proclaimed medium with a taxidermy hobby, she is not the sister in law Annie was expecting, and as the weeks pass and she sees some signs that Iris may have genuine powers Annie becomes increasingly worried that her secret will be uncovered. Meanwhile she is also beginning to question the stories she has been told about what happened to her predecessor , and soon she is seeing shadows and finding messages in unlikely places. When black feathers start to appear, which Iris assures her are the signs of a spirit whose life ended too soon, Rebecca begins to wonder if her husband might have a very dark past indeed.
This is a wonderful gothic thriller, beautifully written and highly atmospheric, with characters that the reader will fall for and really care about. There is a real focus on trauma in the book, and how its effects linger and spread into so many aspects of the characters lives. It is a real page turner of a book, and while reading it I felt like I had been swept away to another time and place, I was absolutely engrossed and did not want to put the book down .
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Having really enjoyed Netley's debut Gothic thriller, 'The Whistling' I was def up for her second one. Many thanks to the publishers and Net Galley for e-arc.
This one is set in an isolated manor house and estate, called Guardbridge, nestled somewhere in the remote Yorkshire Moors (near where I live and walk my dog!), however this plays out in Victorian times, (Bronte vibes right away), where a widower and artist, called Edward ('Jane Eyre' vibes) Stonehouse brings his second bride, our troubled heroine and protagonist, Annie, and new baby son, John to live. The walls are covered with portraits of his late wife, Evie, (shades of 'Rebecca') whose presence comes to haunt the second wife in a similar way.
Does any of that matter? The references, derivations? I think not as Netley has a spidery skill with words and creates her own glass globe world with Guardbridge and its tiny community.
Happily shivering with spooky anticipation I settled deeper under the duvet to devour the unravelling of the Stonehouse family history, sister-in-law's Iris' obsession with taxidermy and seances, the strange appearance of the titular black feathers, the strange silences of the bridegroom, (though Edward remained, to me, an oddly un-developed character, with no real grit to him), the hauntings, and the diverse supporting cast of nurse, maids, staff over all of which the hostile, relentless weather lours making Annie a prisoner of the house as much as she is of her own terrible unspoken-of history.
There is much to be revealed and much to relish in this Gothic thriller, which has real moments of pathos, and terror, but just missed the mark for me in the final few chapters. They areeffectively storm and ghost -ridden, but they were also heavily expositional with two of the characters having lengthy revelatory convos, and the final, absolute final twist was, I felt, unnecessary. So this dropped down to a 4 stars for me.