There were lots of things to like about this book- the imagery was exceptional, capturing the magnetic pull we have with others, and the idea that so much more exists in the world around us. It was labeled as a horror fiction novel; however I did not get a horror vibe from this novel. There were moments that gave me the shivers, but I would categorize it as supernatural/science fiction. It's the 'Secret World of Og' meets 'Stranger Things'. Main character, Jessica, is hard to like at times. I was most drawn to the supporting characters, Anthony and Mark. The novel was a tad confusing at times as it tried to explain the complexity of what was happening in the novel. Given that at times it comes from a child's perspective, it didn't necessarily make the novel feel too underdeveloped. It was a unique read and again, the imagery was quite magical- would make for a great movie!
Thank you #NetGalley and #CollectiveInkLimited for the ARC :)

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"𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑳𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒉𝒆'𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅."

Twenty years ago, six-year-old Olivia vanished in the small town of Driftwood, leaving her babysitter, Jessica, haunted by the mystery. Though she has no memory of that night, Jessica is plagued by nightmares of two girls falling into darkness. Olivia’s disappearance was just the first in a series of child vanishings, sparking a myriad of conspiracy theories and local legends.
When author Elliot Reed arrives in Driftwood seeking inspiration for his next novel, he joins forces with Jessica in a desperate search for answers. As they dig deeper, they often find themselves at odds with the police, uncovering unexpected and chilling secrets that could change everything.

𝘈 𝘎𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴 is Lorna Selley's debut novel, featuring a captivating and haunting storyline. Selley has crafted a perfect thriller with combinations of psychological suspense, a chilling atmosphere and the paranormal.

The characters are imperfect and can have moments where they are frustrating but this makes them more human and relatable. There is a romance element in the book which I didn’t find very appealing. While it had its sweet moments, I believe it would have been better as a much more subtle subplot.

Even so, the story of the missing children is so intriguing and I loved watching the characters delve into solving this mystery. It was heartbreaking, uncanny and a unique take on the theme of child disappearance.

I think this is a very creative and interesting debut and I look forward to seeing what Selley comes up with next!

Release date: 1st November 2024

Thank you NetGalley, author and publisher for my ARC of this book.

Fabulous and creepy. Can't wait to read more by this author

5/5

The back holler feel is fantastic. As someone who grew up in the piedmont of North Carolina, the setting here rings true, and I love it! The plot however feels incomplete to me, and I had difficulty jumping between characters.

The blurb for this book was fantastic and had me really excited to read

What appears to be a a straightforward missing girl mystery is in fact something different!

The descriptions and attention to detail was fantastic and I imagine fans of stranger things will love this book

Unfortunately for me it fell a bit flat. The characters weren’t very likeable and the love story between Jessica and Elliot was frustrating and felt contrived.

It felt as though the author had blended several genres and for me it didn’t work.

Most of the action happens in the latter stages of the book. Resulting in what felt like a rushed and unsatisfactory conclusion.

This book was. perfect. If you enjoyed Anni Taylor's series I think you would love these. The intrigue. The discussion around childhood trauma. The writing. Everything was great. I need another book stat.

I don’t have many words for this book because it’s left me just speechless. It was so unexpected in the best of ways.

2.5 stars rounded to 3. The story has a lot of potential, but is marred by an unnecessarily simplistic, almost YA tone (mind, it's not marketed as young adult), a bizarre, light mood, and a romantic atmosphere which seemed to come out of nowhere. Everything felt forced and didn't gel properly, as if someone had collated several drafts together by selecting fragments rather an overall story.

"A Glimmer in the Hollows" by Lorna Selley is an intriguing read with a richly developed setting and a plot that takes unexpected turns, delivering a pleasant surprise. The story's direction is refreshingly original, though the ending feels a bit rushed, leaving some elements underexplored. At times, the book has a youthful tone that might appeal to fans of young adult fiction, which could be a hit or miss depending on your preferences. Overall, it's a solid read with its share of strengths and some areas that could have been polished further

In A Glimmer in the Hollows we follow Jessica, a woman living in Driftwood haunted by the disappearance of Olivia, a 6 year old that vanished the night Jessica was babysitting her. Two decades later her past comes back to taunt her, making her remember the night everything changed.

The blurb of A Glimmer in the Hollows was phenomenal and i was very excited to read it. The first few pages promised a very eery and atmospheric writing, helping to set me in the mood to really enjoy the book.

I wasn’t much of a fan of any of the characters. Although i sympathized with Jessica a few times, it was also easy to dislike her. The same can be said about Elliot. They came off as pretty immature and annoying.
I must say i really enjoyed the somewhat romantic sub-plot Jessica and Elliot had going on, it made me excited. I really enjoyed how it started but it soon turned old news - the characters just kept circling each other again and again, never finding one another.

The whole plot came off as a bit of a surprise, i didn’t really expect it to go in the direction it went and i’m glad for it. On the other end, i do wish we had a few more pages to read. The ending felt rushed and it made me feel like something was missing - it all concluded in a very quick manner. Nevertheless, it was extremely fun to read this book.

**A Glimmer in the Hollows* is a spellbinding tale that entwines mystery, suspense, and the eerie folklore of a mist-shrouded mountain town. This atmospheric novel is a gripping exploration of secrets buried deep within the shadows of Driftwood State Park and the dark recesses of memory.

The story begins with a chilling premise: the mysterious disappearance of six-year-old Olivia Garcia in Driftwood State Park twenty years prior. Jessica Paige, her babysitter that fateful night, has lived with the haunting memory and fragmented visions ever since. Now, as a troubled adult, Jessica is driven by her nightmares and a consuming need to uncover the truth behind Olivia’s vanishing and the local legends that seem to veil the town in darkness.

Jessica’s quest leads her into the heart of Driftwood’s enigmatic forest, where she encounters two feral boys who appear to hold the key to her past. As she befriends and protects them, the boundaries between reality and myth blur, revealing layers of Driftwood’s sinister history. The author's vivid descriptions of the Appalachian setting create a palpable sense of foreboding, making the forest itself a character in the story—a dark, oppressive presence that mirrors the characters' inner turmoil.

Enter Elliot Reed, a bestselling author with a fascination for the paranormal. His arrival in Driftwood, coinciding with Jessica’s investigation, brings a new dynamic to the story. Elliot’s charm and professional curiosity offer both a potential ally and a romantic interest, complicating Jessica’s search for answers. Their joint exploration of Driftwood’s legends leads them deeper into the town’s unsettling mysteries, providing a fresh perspective on the folklore and adding a layer of intrigue to the narrative.

**A Glimmer in the Hollows** excels in its rich, atmospheric storytelling and complex character development. The novel deftly balances Jessica’s personal journey with the unfolding mystery, creating a compelling blend of psychological tension and supernatural elements. The interplay between Jessica’s fragmented memories and the local legends adds depth to the narrative, making the reader question what is real and what is imagined.

The author’s ability to weave a sense of unease and suspense through both the setting and the characters is commendable. The forest’s haunting presence, combined with Jessica’s unsettling visions and the enigmatic behavior of the feral boys, keeps readers on edge, eagerly turning pages to uncover the truth.

This novel is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and supernatural mysteries. It offers a hauntingly immersive experience, blending personal trauma with eerie folklore and suspenseful storytelling. **A Glimmer in the Hollows** is a mesmerizing journey into the dark heart of Driftwood, where every shadow hides a secret, and every memory is tinged with the unknown.

Wow wow wow. I loved this. It took me a bit to get into, I'll admit, but once I did I couldn't stop reading. I even dreamt about this book. I did not see where it was going until it went there, but man I loved it.

The cover grabbed me, but unfortunately the story didn't match up. The book showed some promise but couldn't stand up to an annoying main character and an unnecessary romantic plot line that left me uninterested.

Really not for me...I found this book completely daft. There was no redeeming feature: the characters were two dimensional, the plot was bizarre and not well crafted.
I forced myself to read as much as I could, then skimmed to the end, reading the last 10%, which confirmed my decision not to waste too much time with the middle.

A Glimmer In The Hollows by Lorna Selley Book Review
A substantial debut from author Lorna Selley. The story takes place in Driftwood; a mountain town where 6 year old Olivia Garcia disappeared two decades earlier. Now, her babysitter for that fateful night must claw back unremembered fragments from her past in order to find her missing charge.

When a famous author turns up in the town, the stage is set for an investigation that is delicious to follow. Characterisation and backstories are beautifully written, along with vivid descriptions of the town and surrounding area. The story went into places I didn't expect and I applaud the author for this, mixing local legend with something else that has been here even longer.

No trigger warnings to report. This is a hugely promising start for a career that should go from strength to strength. If you like inspired writing, with a multitude of spooky moments and white knuckle tension, this may well be for you. 4 stars!

The cover of this as well as title, is what drew me in to reading this book. Definitely disappointed after finishing this…the MC was very annoying & I know sometimes a character is MEANT to be annoying but this wasn’t that. Also the love story felt contrived. Very slow to get to the mystery part, ending felt rushed

4.8 stars! I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is by far one of the best books I’ve ever read and I am still in shock that this is a debut novel. I immediately got sucked in and had a hard time putting it down. The woods were so immersive I felt like I was actually there, and the abduction plot was an added bonus! I can’t wait to read more by this author!

(Publication Date: November 1, 2024)

Ok, so....

A Glimmer in the Hollow is a book that hooks you right away, so be prepared to stay up late into the night... If you dare!
There's an eerieness to this tale that had me so unnerved... and a mystery that had me turning the pages....
Let's just say I got very little sleep last night.
Lorna Selley has written a banger of a supernatural horror / mystery novel that I was pretty impressed with, especially with this being a debut.
I wasn't bored once, and stayed invested in the story from start to finish.
I'll be recommending this to my horror loving friends this Halloween.

My only nitpicks...
I DID find it difficult to fully connect with the main character through the majority of the novel, and I also didn't care for the romantic elements.... but that's very much about my personal preferences; I think these elements will work well for others. And they didn't impact my overall enjoyment of the book.

3.65 / 5

Thanks to Netgalley and Collective Ink for an ARC eBook in exchange for my honest opinion.

Well, I enjoyed the atmosphere this story delivers and I was intrigued, for the most part, in the mystery regarding the missing children.
But I couldn't at all relate, connect or even care for the main protagonist. Also, the romance part didn't work for me and this book is way too long for what's trying to achieve.
I'm sure this book has its audience, but unfornately I ended up not being part of it.

I enjoy the suspenseness of this novel from beginning until the end. And I also like the supernatural works that is included also in the story. Hopefully, I can dive in through the story and enjoy the experience myself.