I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading this book. The pacing was relentless, and the tension kept mounting. Creepy as hell.

A wonderfully chilly read that has me reaching for the author's first work, as well as queue up to read her next. That's a rare commitment for me. Highly recommend.

Full review to come on my blog.

Kyle Stein inherits a property from his grandfather known as The White Tower. The Tower is in a small village in Wales on a mountain. So he up sticks with his wife Lydia and baby son Jamie and moves into the property. Things soon take a turn for the worst when strange occurrences begin to happen.

This is the authors second book but the first one for meto read. I do have The Toll House, the first book waiting on my shelf. I really wanted to enjoy this book more than I did.

The story does have a lot that I enjoy in spooky stories. Firstly the isolated setting of the house to give that claustrophobic feel. The area where the property is set, small villages and outsiders are not always welcome. Finally a dual timeline along with the ghostly goings on.

So saying everything that I like is let down by the stories pacing. I found the story really slow and also repetitive at times. I felt like the story went around in circles with what was going on. I was glad of the dual timeline as it broke up the story and I found these sections the better part of the story.

Overall I did enjoy the book, it was just ok though. In the premise wasn't anything new and there are a lot of books out there about a family moving to somewhere remote. I will still give The Toll House ago but I feel it may be along the same lines.

Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the book to review.

4 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2024/11/05/review-hear-him-calling-by-carly-reagon/
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Certainly Delivers Plenty of Chills

I enjoyed Hear Him Calling. I expected a scary ghost story and Reagon delivers this aplenty. This is well written, dark, sinister and I would also mention potentially triggering in more ways than one for some readers.

This is a story told (mainly) over two timelines from three perspectives. As we begin the story we meet a young married couple, Kyle and Lydia as they view their soon to be house in Wales. Kyle has inherited a tower, set remotely upon a welsh mountain, isolated from the village and with only a local farm and a derelict cottage as neighbours. Straight away something feels ominous. Kyle barely knew his grandfather and so the inheritance has come as a shock but also gives the couple hope. They’re tired of the hustle and bustle of London. Lydia suffers from trauma following something that happened to her during her student years and Kyle thinks the beautiful welsh countryside will be an inspiration for her. Lydia isn’t really sold on the house though, she thinks she sees a man up the mountain waving at her, she hears someone shouting the name Martha in her head and the house is frankly a hot mess. Drab, not very well cared for – just everything feels very ‘meh’ and Lydia doesn’t really like the idea from the outset – but it’s too good a chance to miss and Kyle is set upon the move, a quick lick of paint will cheer the place up no doubt and he’s already making plans to make the tower self sufficient.

So, the couple move in. Things don’t really get any better in fact this feels like a couple that were on the verge of not being together for much longer who’ve decided that a move will surely renew their love. It really doesn’t quite work out like that for them in fact the move serves only to push them further apart. Running away from their troubles was never really going to work as they actually took their troubles with them. There’s a general listlessness from both of them when it comes to doing anything and even when they make improvements their work is constantly undone with strange stains that refuse to be cleaned and scratches appearing in the new kitchen units. A young baby and a new puppy (strangely enough that they decide to call Martha) doesn’t help the pressure and there’s an ominous feeling of the two being sucked into despair.

The second time line takes us back to a woman called Martha. Martha’s is a sad tale. She lives on the mountainside with just her brother for company. He seems to be suffering from trauma and when he loses his job their relationship changes dramatically. Suffocatingly controlling at first it turns into something horribly abusive and ends with tragedy. Martha’s story is fascinating even though it’s full of darkness and despair and I loved the way she relates her story.

The reader gradually learns of the history of the cottage and Martha and her brother as both Kyle and Lydia are experiencing their own versions of subtle horror within the house. Kyle seems more determined than ever to make it work, determined it’s a good move. Lydia is experiencing more and more episodes, lights on the mountainside, hearing noises, footsteps stamping through the house, etc. The house is definitely having a very powerful and negative effect on them both.

Then we start to learn more about Kyle and Lydia’s past. At first there were little flags with some of Kyle’s behaviour but these definitely increase. And, in spite of his insistence to stay at the tower he has no hesitation accepting invitations back to London and leaving Lydia and the baby on their own. Eventually, I found myself totally disliking Kyle and that’s putting it mildly.

This brings us to the cottage on the mountain. This place gave me the creeps. Seriously. It’s scary – that is all.

On top of this the local villagers and the neighbouring farmers are downright unfriendly, apart from the local shopkeeper who does strike up a friendship with Lydia.

Put all these elements together and there’s this dark, foreboding tale of tragedy from the past that feels like it’s now overtaking our MCs with their lives almost becoming the disaster that Marth and her brother’s was.

In conclusion I couldn’t put this down. I felt like the ending was a little abrupt and I’m still replaying some of the scenes in my head. I would also again repeat to be warned about the triggers with this one, this is a tale of abuse and misfortune that won’t be for everyone. Scary enough to give me the goosebumps and bad dreams – my advice, read it in the daylight.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

An unsettling, atmospheric and eerie story, set in an isolated house called the White Tower in north Wales.

A young family inherit a house in a bleak location, especially considering that winter is on its way. They see it as a new start and a good place to raise a family opposed to the stressful and busy life of London. However, they find the house to be less than homely with the possessions of the deceased relative everywhere as well as being cold and damp. The unwelcoming locals don't help either.

The story is told from the point of view of the husband, wife and a young woman who lived over a hundred years ago. Each has their own personal problems such as anxiety, abusive control issues and violence. Throughout, ghostly lights, voices and a few door slams make this rather a tense and spooky read, complete with first world problems just to make it relatable.

A strong, captivating start, quite well written with a good sense of place. Some of the characters are not too pleasant (in true horror or ghost story fashion) and there are a couple of disturbing features to increase the tension. Towards the end the book slows and becomes a little repetitive as if it has lost its way somewhat. Not a strong ending but the journey makes a creepy tale, perfect for these dark nights.

I don’t really know how to feel about this one. The ending was abrupt and I didn’t feel it worked well.

However, the book was well written and had a lot of promise.

A captivating tale, "Hear Him Calling," takes place in the stunning scenery of Wales. The story centers on a young family who wishes to start over in the isolated environs of a tower they inherit, with just a farm and a deserted cottage for companionship. The young couple, Kyle and Lydia, want to settle into a calmer, more peaceful life in their new home, but unanticipated obstacles derail their ambitions.

I found the first few pages of the book to be rather captivating because of its deft writing, which takes place across three separate timelines. My attention was initially sparked by the prospect of exploring Welsh folklore, but as the story went on, the folklore components appeared to fade. The storyline isn't extremely scary or fast paced, but there are a few scenes that made me shudder. These are interspersed with a few descriptions that are repeated. Besides, it ended a little too abruptly and with less impact than I had expected. This was the first book by this author and i look forward to reviewing more by this author. The cover is what drew me in and why i requested the book. If you are the type of reader that has triggers, please for your own sake look them up prior to reading this book. Know that there are services to help those that may be triggered by such subjects as delicate subjects like abortion and miscarriage.







Thank you to Sphere and NetGalley for granting me an electronic review copy.

This is a proper creepy book, one of the best I’ve read for some time. This is a perfect read as we approach the dark nights of winter and Halloween! The atmosphere the author has managed to create by the use of a foreboding location, weather and a whole host of well written characters is brilliant. The story develops at a slow and steady pace as you start to get a real sense of the people and place and what is really happening. A perfect blend of superstition, supernatural goings on modern day psychological thriller.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be recommending it to others. It was the perfect amount of tense and spooky, without taking it too far.

I only had two gripes with the book. One being that in chapter 39 it wasnt obvious to me that Jenny had replied to the email and suddenly they were meeting so that felt a little odd. The second gripe was that I found the ending quite frustrating, it didn't really feel like anything was resolved and I didn't really understand the Cerys & Griff angle.

Spooky season is fast approaching, and what better way to start off the Halloween season than a chilling haunted house story!

When Lydia and Kyle inherit Kyle’s grandfather’s converted tower house in the Welsh mountains, they are excited for a new start. However, the mysterious noises, hostile locals and creepy paintings make them start to think that they may have made a mistake…

Hear Him Calling is a well-written, slow-burn horror which creeps up on you – it is certainly not one for reading late at night when you are home alone! The chapters alternate between Kyle and Lydia who both have very different experiences in the house, as well as diary entries from Martha who lived in the house in the past. As each of these perspectives unfold, we get a bigger picture of the house and its surroundings and what or whom might be haunting it.

I enjoyed the setting of the White Tower, it was remote enough to cause lots of problems, particularly when the snow came in, but there was still interaction with the locals in the village – most of whom were quite unpleasant characters! You really felt for Lydia, just wanting to make the house a home but being prevented at every turn. It did get a little repetitive in the middle, but I really enjoyed the ending – it might divide readers, but I thought it was perfect!

Overall, Hear Him Calling is a great slow-burn haunted house horror - perfect for the dark nights of spooky season! Thank you to NetGalley & Little Brown Book Group UK – Sphere for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love this time of year when the days and the book covers grow darker. As we edge towards October, you can guarantee some new gothic or ghost tales will show up in the 'you must read this' content on one of your social media feeds.

Well, snuggle in, light a fire, add a mug of hot chocolate and snacks because once you start reading Carly Reagon's book you're going to want to keep going. Oh and make sure you keep the light on, even if you're reading on a kindle. I'd recommend it.

I read the story in a couple of days and it was a good one. There's a lot more to it than I anticipated but I think where the book shines most is in the first half where some seriously weird things happen to Lydia and Kyle after they move into Kyle's grandfather's old house up a mountain in Wales. As someone who has written ghost stories, I know how hard it is to keep the momentum going. A story of 5k words is one thing, a novel of circa 80k words is way tougher.

The pace is relentless and the book is a page-turner. I definitely fell into the - just another chapter and maybe another one category of reader.

I love Wales and have read many books set there but in 'Hear Him Calling,' the setting is sinister and isolated and the sort of place you'd likely run a mile from, but the arguments to stay are convincing and believable. Right from the start I was thinking this would not be a good place to be trapped!

The book rolls out in a way that's not unexpected but no less enjoyable as a result. And if you are a ghost story fan, this will send some shivers up your spine.

It's out on October 17th in all the usual places.

Kyle Stein inherits a tower house from the Grandfather he hasn't seen in decades. Set in a fairly remote village in Wales, The White Tower is overlooked by a mountain. Wife Lydia, hates it on sight and feels there's something sinister going on. Hearing voices calling for Martha and a stain that doesn't disappear from kitchen worktop and strange lights on the mountain make Lydia want to move away. But there's ideal space for her job as a sculptor and she soon receives a commission from a fairly discerning client
In the early 1900's the family Helford live in a remote cottage on the mountain, Brother and Sister William and Martha struggle after the death of their parents and William turns to drink.
No-one has lived in the tower long and their behaviour changes the longer they're there.
This book is a slow, tense build up sinister creepy read. It's very descriptive showcasing the remote area, the locals are unfriendly adding to Lydias torment. I found it an atmospheric read, perfect for Autumn and Halloween but maybe not one to be read at night. I feel it would make an ideal TV series.

"Hear Him Calling," is an intriguing story set in the picturesque landscapes of Wales. The narrative revolves around a young family who inherits a tower and decides to start anew in its secluded surroundings, with only a farm and a derelict cottage for company. Kyle and Lydia, the young couple, aspire to embrace a slower and quieter life in their new abode, but unforeseen challenges shatter their plans.

The book is skillfully crafted, unfolding through three distinct timelines, which kept me engrossed in the opening chapters. Initially, the promise of delving into Welsh folklore piqued my interest, although as the story progressed, the folklore elements seemed to diminish. While the plot isn't overly fast-paced or terrifying, some moments sent shivers down my spine, interwoven with some repetitive descriptions. Additionally, the ending felt somewhat abrupt and lacked the strength I anticipated.

Overall, "Hear Him Calling" is a compelling read, leaving me open to exploring more works by the author.

I'd advise potential readers to be mindful of trigger warnings, as the book touches on sensitive topics such as miscarriage and abortion.

My sincere gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher Sphere for providing me with a digital review copy (eARC). These reflections are entirely unbiased and voluntary, representing my honest opinions.

Whilst I enjoyed reading this new novel by Carly Reagon I was disappointed by the ending. Not only was it very abrupt but I just didn’t understand it. Maybe this is because I didn’t pay enough attention but in the end I was confused.

Well I seem to be in the minority here judging by the other reviews but I found Hear Him Calling really slow and the ending was abrupt and left me wondering why I wasted so much time wading through it.

Oh my goodness I actually had shivers run down my spine at the end of the book!

This is one crazy journey of a book that grips the reader right from the start and remains ominous and foreboding throughout. I could hardly put it down and read the last 100 pages in one sitting. The end is incredible!

The story is set in Wales and follows the story of a young family who move into an isolated tower that is really only close to a farm with some very unfriendly characters and a derelict cottage that has a deep sense of evil emanating from it.

There were moments when I wasn't sure if Kyle was becoming possessed by the ghost. The story moves gradually but gives enough to the reader to keep you on the edge of your seat. I liked getting to know Martha as well and I was surprised at how similar Martha and Lydia actually were. Stanley Harris was a shock and the Care Home letter was a big shock that I didn't really understand at the time. I'm glad Jamie and (dog) Martha were okay at the end.

The final scene where they return to the tower is short, shocking and totally opened my eyes to the little clues Reagon provided and I ignored. Absolutely loved it. What a brilliant read, definately one to recommend and an author to pay attention to!

Genuinely creepy

Not sure I want to go to remote Wales anytime soon if there is a house that remotely looks like this one.

A couple inherit an empty house. But is it really empty?

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Hello, I was really looking forward to reading this and reviewing it as I have heard so much about it, however sadly a different archive date was placed and I didn't realise.
Thanks to Netgalley for offering me the opportunity.

An atmospheric ghost story of trauma and control

One for fans of haunted house horror, Hear Him Calling keeps its cards very close to its sleeve, with three timelines interwoven around a mysterious abandoned cottage, and a series of unexplained phenomena.

This novel has some great ideas within it, but fails to deliver on the things that make it unique: the Welsh folklore that sits in the foreground of the first few chapters vanishes before long, the historical timelines are just grace notes, and the narrative motivations of the least empathetic characters are glossed over in the last ten percent of the book, meaning that the overall dread of the main body of the book is unrelenting, unceasing, giving nothing for the ghostly horror to contrast against. Very well written in its descriptive and character-led parts, but plot wise it felt repetitive, with the exact same threat from an unusual window repeated ad nauseam (this particular view is eerie, I get it, let's move on).

I would have loved to have read more of the historical timelines to build up the dread and mystery, but they're all wrapped up in a neat bow by a casual acquaintance of the lead characters, thrown in at the last second. All in all, a pretty standard haunted house mystery which holds back from fulfilling its potential.

Three stars.

Ooh…..now I really enjoyed this book! A really atmospheric, eerie story, set in the Majestic Welsh mountains.
I read and loved the Toll House by the same author and after now reading this one, it’s clear that she really has a knack for delivering these goose bump inducing tales.
The story itself is definitely more of a slow burn, now, in most other instances, this can frustrate me in a book… BUT, not on this occasion. When you have a story like this unfolding, the slow burn actually adds to the creep factor, the build up works hand in hand with the haunting effects of the story and compliments each other, elevating it even more.
This with authors writing style all come together to provide us, the reader, with an outstanding read.