An intriguing, atmospheric mystery novel from the author of The Temple House Vanishing. Set in Galway and Dublin, the novel focuses on a pair of sisters and their friends, under the shadow of a famous philosopher father with repugnant views who apparently died in a fall. The time is mainly the 1960s, narrated by one of the sisters, Aisling, but there is a criminal investigation element in the 1990s written in the third person. I found the latter much less compelling and if it wasn't for an essential part of the sisters' history being addressed, I could have dispensed with it because the writing style was not as interesting.

There is a gothic feeling to the book, with its isolated Irish setting, windswept house, strange visitors and the feeling of doom. It's about family secrets, loss, memories and guilt. Quite a sad, dark read which is moving and lyrical. I'd recommend it.

Wow! What a book. I was not expecting this. It is quite dark in places and very shocking and troubling at times. As a trigger alert, it deals with child abuse/incest and drug addiction. It was sombre and sobering as well as uplifting. A recommended read.

Irish literature seems to be having a moment right now and this book is a welcome and moving addition. It is the story of the two daughters of a philosopher with ideas harking back to the evil of the nazis in Germany - a master race, eugenics, white supremacy………..but Richard Acklehurst has a legion of devoted followers and a belief in his own rightness that makes him a difficult man for his daughters to live with. As the girls grow up they realise in very different ways the evil in their father, and they deal with it in very different ways too, but their battles with his supporters continue to shape their lives. The story explores some pretty troubling issues, but Rachel Donohue’s writing is as fluid and skilled as ever, her characters always believable (if not always likeable) and her sense of place takes the reader to the Glass House of the title in all its ostentatious glory and troubling undertones of evil.

I found this book to be a bit of a disturbing read but quite well written. The characters were okay but I thought the plot a little thin. I did like the way the relationships changed over time but still stayed true to their roots. It will probably be a popular read but it lacked something for me as I seemed to be one step ahead of the plot for most of the time.

I found this to be an okay read, Donohue has written an atmospheric, tragic read and I enjoyed immersing myself into their dark world. At the same time, not a lot happens and I found the read to be laborious and hard going at times.
I liked the main characters of Aisling, Stella, Jonathan and Naoishe, they are very likeable and they have a haunting story to tell. The other characters serve their purpose well.
This book was okay it was just lacking something for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for an advance copy.

Glass House starts with the mysterious death of Richard Aklehurst in 1963, a controversial figure known for his radical theories and ties to Oswald Mosley. In 1999, his grave is desecrated, and his daughters, Aisling and Stella, return to confront the dark secrets of their past. While the book delves into themes of the sins of the past, I felt it lost momentum toward the end. Overall though its an engaging read and I would definitely read more from this author.

This book just wasn't for me. I found it very hard to relate to the characters or get a sense of them or what the story was about. I DNF'd at 50% as I just wasn't interested enough and there was nothing to keep me reading. At 50%, I was still waiting for something to happen and found myself bored as I had no idea what the plot of the story was.

This was an ok read. I enjoyed it but it wasn't not gripping enough to make me want to read the authors other books

Thank you for the opportunity to review

I am absolutely not the right person for this book. I am a fan of fast paced thrillers, this was too much of a slow burning mystery and was more literary fiction than I am used to. I really did struggle with this one.. definitely not the right fit.

I wasn’t expecting for a book writing about a terrible man’s crimes to be so touched at the atmosphere his death leaves.

Donohue is an artist and deals with every subject sensitively and yet show us the joy of freedom beautifully.

Read it for the historical thrill and read it for the beautiful story telling.

I loved this book, it was so interesting and moving. The characters were relatable and deeply effected by the world they found them selves so effected by. Thank you for access..

4 - 5 stars

Galway, 1963.
In a modernist steel and glass mansion in Galway, lives notorious and controversial right wing philosopher Richard Acklehurst and his teenage daughters, Aisling and Stella. People from all parts of Europe make their way to The Glass House to seek him out, to hear his views; it’s as if he’s holding court. On New Year’s Eve 1963, a planned glittering party is cancelled due to wild and snowy weather, and during that subzero night, Acklehurst has a fall outside and freezes to death. Fast forward to 1999, when his defiled body is shockingly dug up from its abandoned graveyard site and the area is daubed in graffiti. The two sisters returned to Galway where past and present collide and where they may finally confront their dark family history. The story alternates between 1963 and 1999 and is principally from the perspective of Aisling.

I really enjoy the author’s previous two books and now it’s three for three as this one enthrals me from beginning to end. First of all, Rachel Donohue writes beautifully. It’s often understated , in a less is more fashion and she writes with sensitivity for her characters and readers. There are some powerful images that really stand out amongst the prose. The plot is excellent and we are definitely taken on a rollercoaster ride with Aisling and Stella, with plenty of shocking discoveries and disclosures, secrets that will make their way out with time, lies (some of which are for the ‘right’ reasons) and with justifiable vengeance. It’s riddled with tension and suspenseful moments making it a hard novel to put aside.

The characterisation is exemplary, indeed, it is a character driven mystery thriller. At the centre of the Galway universe is Richard who is a complex man. Initially, he seems to have some light in his personality but then you see he has a pitch black dark and rotten soul. His daughters are in his shadow and witnessing their interactions with him, their battles for survival, how they unravel and the impact he has over their lives even after death, is truly fascinating. These are very good character studies, none of them are run of the mill people and how they interact with each other is gripping.

The novel is dark, it’s emotional, sad and thought provoking and builds to a good ending. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Atlantic Books, Corvus for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Moving and totally gripping! I loved the duel timeline and how deeply you got to know the characters! Very well written.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for my ARC

I was absolutely gripped by this book. I loved the sense of two very different time periods, and I found the main protagonists very interesting characters. The monstrous father and his vile ways are dealt with in a very sensitive and non-sensational way, which makes the ending of the book much more powerful. This is an excellent, well-written book, and I would highly recommend it.

I really enjoyed this read. It was very character driven and I found I really liked following the sisters lives after the death of their father. It is quite a sad book but I think it shows the reality of life for some people.

I found this an absolutely fascinating read. The two sisters lives and their secrets unfolding were shocking but the support they gave each other was commendable.

Set in two timelines this is a story of Richard who is really not a nice man. When he dies his two daughters feel a sense of freedom. They can now be their own person and live without judgement of who their father was.

I really enjoyed this read. I loved the kind of historical sense that this book gave me. it did bounce quickly between past and present and I had to go back a few times to think about where i was but that said it is a well written tale and I enjoyed my reading time.

I read the glass house but to be honest i found it a very busy book ,too much backwards and forwards now it is well written but just not to my taste .

The Glass House by Rachel Donohue begins in 1963 with the mercurial and controversial Richard Aklehurst's mysterious death. Aklehurst's published theories have made him notorious, a former friend of Oswald Mosley his social circle consists of like-minded individuals who enjoy his regular parties at his modernistic Glass House, which he shares with young daughters Aisling and Stella.
in 1999 Aklehurst's grave is vandalised and his body dug up, an event coinciding with a meeting of his admirers determined to bring his theories and ideas to a wider audience. Aisling and Stella return to their childhood home equally resolved to confront the dark secrets of the past.

The book explores the familiar theme of "the sins of the past" and is quite involving,though I felt it went a bit flat towards the end. Also Richard Aklehurst's past and beliefs are rather opaque, while his political leanings are quite obvious, and he's very obviously a vile and disturbing character, I'd have liked a bit more detail.
That said it's a good read,though I enjoyed the author's "The Temple House Vanishing" a lot more.

I found this quite a sad read .Aisling and Stella live in a modernistic house in West Ireland with their Father a cold narcissistic man with Nazi leanings. When he dies unexpectantly Aisling and Stella are free to live their lives but it is not as easy as they thought .Set in two timelines 1963 and 1999 and mostly told buy Aisling The Glass House is a story full of love secrets, lies and regret .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC