1772, young Hettie Gale abused and left to fend for herself is to hang. Charged with the drowning of her young son. Now, Alice has returned to her childhood holiday home as her cousin Fluer has gone missing. Alice soon becomes involved in the story of Hettie Gale.

I really enjoyed this book. I always enjoy a dual timeline story and this one is no exception.

The story does have some dark themes and opens with Hettie and the sexual abuse she receives. So be warned if this is not for you. It won't be the only occurance either as young Hettie doesn't have much.

The story does alternate between Alice and Hettie. Alice gets embroiled in the story of Hettie and as the story progresses the truth does come out.

With all small villages there are plenty of ghostly tales, superstitions and folklore which is always a big win for me. Alice in her quest for the story of Hettie uncovers diaries, visits museum and libraries to piece everything together. I did particularly enjoy the diary entries. There is a love interest which I could take or leave. It didn't spoil my enjoyment but I don't think it was needed.

I had a fun time with this book. There was plenty to hold my interest. I would certainly read more by the author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

I enjoyed it. However I think I enjoyed the chapters from Hettie's perspective much more than those from Alice's perspective. There was also this weird, misplaced love story for Alice and I hated it. The guy was a walking red flag. If the book had just been Hettie's story and not Alice's it would have been a much stronger book. Also, trigger warning for the first few pages for child SA/incest.

Best book I read in a long time, well written, interesting, heartbreaking and fascinating, Thank you for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

First of all I would like to say thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For a debut novel this was absolutely fantastic! It was fast paced and had a dual timeline it was the perfect combination for a solid historical fiction.

Some scenes in this book completely broke my heart but it helped to make the story more powerful. It had great pacing and character development. I was invested from the start in learning the trust about the mysterious disappearances and was left guessing for quote a lot of it.

I think even if you are new to historical fiction, the dual timelines helps to slowly introduce you to the historical aspect of the book.

I love this sort of novel, with the dual timeline, the past and the present and all the intricacies that that involves.
This is an eerie and atmospheric read at times, with a clear distinction between the times of now and the 1700’s. Such a stark contrast that the author has brought to life.
The characters are written with depth, and are emotive, engaging and have inner strength that really shines through.
This was a book that I easily got lost in and thoroughly enjoyed, would highly recommend this to anyone.

This is a genre I usually go for, but I’m super glad I gave this a chance as I loved it. The dual timeline gave us different perspectives and added new layers and understanding to the story. It really had everything - brilliant character development, emotional and heartbreaking scenes, and a plot that kept me engaged to the very end. I’m excited to read more from this author in the future.

Dark, complex, well researched and well plotted. Really appreciated it
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A debut novel that predicts great things from Tess Burnett. The character development in this book is beyond compare to any I've read in awhile.....and I read alot. Whether its the 1700's Hettie Gale and her tormentors or the present day Alice as she searches for her cousin,Fleur, there's a 3 dimensional feel to all of them. The story evokes so many emotions it's a wonder I didn't throw my kindle at points. When you tie all of that together, you get a book that's very hard to set down and leaves you grateful you were not a young woman in the 1700s. 5 very BIG stars.

I liked the premise behind this novel, with its setting between the past and the present and the layered mystery.

Hettie’s story was heartbreaking, and showed the grim reality of life for women in the 1700s. Her story and voice was really interesting, and I’d have liked to hear a bit more of it.

Alice’s story in the modern day was interesting, and we got to see her finding more about Hettie and developing new relationships and reliving memories.

However, I didn’t feel like the stories of the three women always connected, leaving some gaps and questions. The novel’s subplots didn’t feel like they quite knitted together.

This was an entertaining and interesting read, but there were a few things missing for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Hanging of Hettie Gale by Tess Burnett is a gripping historical novel that delves into themes of injustice, resilience, and the fight for truth. Set against a richly detailed backdrop, Burnett masterfully brings to life the struggles of the protagonist as she navigates societal norms and personal trials. The narrative is both poignant and thought-provoking, with well-drawn characters that evoke empathy and understanding. This compelling tale keeps readers on the edge of their seats, making it a powerful and unforgettable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books as well as the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
#NetGalley #BloodhoundBooks #TessBurnett #TheHauntingofHettieGale

Title: The Haunting of Hettie Gale
Author: Tess Burnett
Format: eBook
Publisher: Bloodhound Books
Publication Date: October 7, 2024
Themes: feminism, historical horror, family relationships,
Trigger Warnings: rape, incest, gang rape, hanging, child death, pedophilia,

I adored this. The story follows Hettie Gale (1700s) and Alice (present day) as their stories converge through Hettie’s journals that Alice finds while looking for her missing cousin. They soon realize their stories aren’t that different.

What a debut! This was a wonderful novel. The author demonstrates some serious writing chops, weaving her compelling characters together with her duel timelines. My heart broke for Hettie’s plight. There are some scenes of rape in this novel that are very upsetting without a lot of detail. It’s a very effective way to gain sympathy for the character without resorting to a lot of gory detail. The two characters, Hettie and Alice, are strong and compelling women. Each woman has her own distinctive voice and both are forces to be reckoned with. My only complaint about this novel is that I wish it were longer.


All in all, The author is one to watch. I can’t wait to see what else she writes. I highly recommend this novel!

Stomachs lurch, clench, twist, knot, flutter a lot in this dual aspect novel about an 18thC child murderess and a modern day woman whose cousin is missing on the Moors.
Over 50 mentions of tea and 50 of tears (fall, stream, prick, build, run down, flow, shed, sniffed back, wet, cloud, mingle, scald, escape) make this a rather moist story.
The plot itself will require the reader to abandon a fair amount of logic, mainly that a character that arrived to search for a missing person will instead go off and research an 18thC wrongly convicted woman: “(…)that she was becoming obsessed with something that happened centuries ago, something she could do nothing about, when she should be actively doing something about Fleur.”
Still, the story has a good pace and climactic reveal.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for this eCopy to review

The Hanging of Hettie Gale is an atmospheric and haunting story. Burnett weaves a tale that spans centuries, bringing to life the eerie, windswept moors and the chilling events that transpire there. Hettie Gale's tragic story, set against the backdrop of the 1700s, is compelling, drawing me into a world of superstition and injustice.

In contrast, the contemporary storyline featuring Alice McKenna's quest to uncover her cousin's disappearance and its connection to Hettie's fate adds a layer of intrigue and urgency that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Burnett's skilful storytelling, vivid descriptions, and characterisation make this novel a gripping read from start to finish. Each twist and turn left me wanting more, and the seamless blending of historical and modern elements created a rich, immersive experience.

The Hanging of Hettie Gale is a must-read for anyone who loves a good historical mystery with a gothic twist.

What a fabulous debut novel.
Incredibly emotive, but with a fast pace and a fantastic dual timeline that is the epitome of a brilliant historical mystery!
I adored this. Some scenes broke my heart to read, but it made it all the more powerful. I'm a huge dual timeline fan, and this was executed perfectly.
Bravo, Tess Burnett!

Tess Burnett's debut book is everything you could want in a Gothic story~ Murder, revenge, ghosts, vengeance, and retribution. I loved this book and it is perfect for fans of C.J. Cooke and Simone St James.

It's difficult to put into word just how much I enjoyed this book. A beautifully written tragedy. The dual timelines are so skillfully interwoven coupled with the dual narrative. The description of the setting drew me in. I was so intrigued with Hettie's story which was definitely what kept me reading and trying to finish the book in one sitting. A fantastic read.

The Hanging of Hettie Gale was a wonderful supernatural mystery.

Alice has always been fascinated by the tale of Hettie Gale a young woman accused of murdering her son and hanged in 1776. Alice spent her summers as a child visiting the moors where Hettie was hanged. The cottage her family stayed in belonged to her wealthy aunt and uncle. Now her aunt and uncle are dead and her selfish, difficult cousin Fleur has disappeared. The local police contact Alice and she returns to the cottage to help in the search for her cousin. Fleur is not the only person to have mysteriously disappeared over the past 200 years. As Alice searches for her cousin, she finds herself drawn further and further into the story of Hettie. She feels the spirit of Hettie guiding her on her quest. Was Hettie really guilty of killing her young son? Or was she the victim of a corrupt court and townspeople? With the assistance of diaries from the women of the Denny- Hurst family, the family from the local manor house, Alice starts to piece together what really happened to Hettie and all the missing people over the past two centuries. The Ghost of Hettie is felt throughout the book and the horrors that she endured are the reason why she and her son cannot rest. From the 1st page we see the atrocites committed against Hettie and understand why her soul is not at rest. I loved this book, The mystery of what happened to Hettie and her son, the diaries of the Denny-Hurst women, women trying to make a mark in a man’s world were fascinating. I enjoyed the build up to the resolution of what happened to Fleur and all the other missing people over the years. I look forward to the next book by this author,

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Bloodhound Books and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

If I could, I would love to give Tess Burnett’s “The Hanging of Hettie Gale” more than five stars. This paranormal and ghostly historical fiction tale certainly deserves a lot of attention.

“The Hanging of Hettie Gale” is set in The Moor of England in the late 1700s and introduces us to such an outstanding character, Hettie, but under absolutely horrific circumstances. From the very first chapter, we are with Hettie in what you think is one of the worst moments of her life. Life is certainly not easy for Hettie, and it is heartbreaking and devastating to read. It left me with all sorts of emotions. She is such a kind soul and becomes such a loving and protective young mother. Her voice is reflective of the time period, setting, and her lack of education, which really made her character come alive for me, and I love her even more.

With only a few years of being a mother to her golden child, an abominable and heinous crime is committed against Hettie, yet she is charged with murder - leading to her conviction and hanging.

Jurors, judges, soldiers, and neighboring families have their secrets to keep. History has a tale that survives centuries.

And now, The Moor is known to be haunted, and bodies continue to disappear in the last place Hettie’s son was known to be alive in 1772.

In a dual narrative set centuries apart, Burnett weaves another storyline into Hettie’s. It’s present day, and Alice is returning to their family cottage in The Moor to search for her missing cousin. They spent their childhood summers at Crag Cottage and grew up reading stories about Hettie, who lived not far from their cottage, and the ghost who drowns their victims in the surrounding waters.

Alice has always felt this strange connection to Hettie since she was a young girl. Ever since she first read her story and visited the tiny barn, she lived in so long ago with her young child. She always wondered more about her. Alice always felt a cool breeze and would notice black crow feathers as if Hettie was there, trying to tell her something. And now that she’s back to find her cousin, who was last seen walking towards The Moor, these feelings and connections to Hettie are even stronger.

The storyline weaves between Alice and Hettie as Alice meets with locals, visits museums and libraries, and reads through old diaries and deathbed confessions to piece together what really happened that dreadful day that Hettie was charged with murder. She realizes that if she can solve this mystery, she may be able to find her cousin.

I was fascinated by Burnett’s skillful storytelling, intricate plots, and connecting details to piece together the mystery.

I feel the need to touch on Hettie once more. The author’s writing creates a compelling and emotional character in Hettie. There are so many lines I would love to quote here, but there is a paragraph towards the end where Hettie (as a ghost) talks about watching the others who came to the pond over the years, die. And how maybe (as a ghost) she could have saved them, but she watched them die and then wondered if that made her a bad person. And what she says after that about being watched herself by the soldiers, during her sentencing, while she stood at the Hanging Tree, and while she died while they cheered, was so very profound and moving. I didn’t want the story to end - simply for this character.

Thank you, #NetGalley, #TessBurnett, and #BloodhoundBooks for eARC in exchange for my honest review. I absolutely loved this book!

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Incest, gang rape, sexual abuse, thoughts of pedophilia by a character, child death.

I absolutely loved this book. The characters captured my imagination and I could really get into them and as for the storyline it kept me interested from start to finish. First by this author for me and I will 100% be reading more. As an arc I am pleased to have had the opportunity to read and review this book. I don’t feel my words would do this book justice. What an absolutely fantastic read this book turned out to be. I couldn’t put it down so I didn’t and finished it in the day devouring every page turn.
The 243 year old unsolved crime, wrongly accused and hanged young Hettie Gale the tortured soul still roaming the lands trying to get justice.
Alice , living in London lost after the death of her mother, receives a call asking for info on her missing cousin. Cousin Fleur whom Alice as a child had spent holidays with at Fleurs family cottage has disappeared and Alice makes the decision to travel to the cottage to help the Police find Fleur.
Alice becomes enthralled in the history of the village particularly the death of young Hettie who was sentenced to death by Hanging at a young age for the murder of her 3 year old son.
The story takes Alice through a ghostly dark past bringing everything to the present.
Will Alice solve the mystery and rewrite history and will Hettie story surprise and shock everyone and as for Fleur what does become of her???
Give it a read to find out you won’t be disappointed !

This was such a good book, I couldn't believe it was over already. The way it was written, it was so detailed I felt like I could actually see what was happening

I highly highly reccomend it!