I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Gallows Hill by Darcy Coates Published by Poisoned Pen Press on September 6 2022
Genres: Adult, Horror
Pages: 377
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: Creepy and unsettling, thrilling and terrifying, Gallows Hill is the perfect story to read with the lights off—if you dare.
“”It might be easier to go over everything in three parts,’ Kant said. ‘Before the bells. After the bells. And once they’re in the house.’”
I’m so glad I’ve finally read my first Darcy Coates book, and Gallows Hill was an excellent place to start. This is a slow-burn, claustrophobic horror story that creeped me out in the best way possible and made me reconsider my decision to read in bed at night. The slower pace in the first half changes drastically once you find out what’s going on, and the second half has the pace of an exciting thriller that’s hard to put down. Readers who enjoy more atmospheric horror—rather than gore or violence—should definitely add this to your Fall reading list.
Margot Hull has returned to her childhood home on Gallows Hill for her parents’ funeral, after they are discovered dead from unknown causes. Margot hasn’t been back to the town of Leafell for more than a decade, after her parents sent her away when she was eight years old. But with their deaths, Margot is now the sole heir of their business, Gallows Hill Winery, as well as the dark, crumbling mansion on the hill that has been in the Hull family for over two hundred years. With few prospects back home, Margot is determined to settle into her new life as business owner, even if she doesn’t know the first thing about making wine.
But instead of being welcomed to the town, Margot senses unfriendliness from most of the townspeople, and when she sets foot in the mansion on the hill, her unease grows. The house is dark and cold, the corridors and hallways long and twisting. The bedroom windows are secured with old padlocks, and servant’s bells are strewn throughout the house. Margot discovers a dark stain on the ceiling above her parents’ bed, and when she peers into the wardrobe mirror, she sees a corpse rather than her own face. Is it her imagination? Or is something more sinister going on? With the help of Kant, the winery manager, and Nora and Ray, the couple who run the wine store in town, Margot slowly learns the truth about Gallows Hill, including the tangled, bloody history of the Hull family. And when night falls, Margot finds herself at the mercy of a dangerous presence. Can she survive until morning? Or will she fall victim to the same fate as her parents?
I loved the sense of mystery in the first half of the book, before Margot is clued into the truth about Gallows Hill. The reader discovers the answers right along with her, and Coates drops tantalizing clues that had me forming all sorts of theories, most of which I got wrong! Margot is a fairly level-headed woman who doesn’t seem to believe in the supernatural at all, and even when confronted with strange and terrifying events, her rational mind comes up with down-to-earth explanations. This works for a while, but eventually the scary occurrences are impossible to ignore. I loved all the eerie little details Coates adds to her story—the bells (of which I can say no more without spoiling things!), the nooses that appear out of nowhere, hanging from the porch rafters, an old journal hidden in the walls of the attic—each one a mystery relating to Gallows Hill that is eventually explained.
There’s also the mystery of why Margot’s parents sent her away as a child, and why they refused any contact with her ever again. Margot can’t remember much of her early years on Gallows Hill, and Kant is able to fill in some of the blanks, but Margot is still deeply hurt by their abandonment, and her true reason for coming home is for closure. Of course we do find out why, once Kant, Ray and Nora tell Margot the truth, and I loved the way all the pieces finally come together.
The entire story takes place over the course of just a few days, which gives it a sense of urgency. The time that Margot spends in the house by herself is fraught with tension. In fact, she’s by herself for most of the story, and the reasons for that become clear later on. Coates knows how to play on basic human fears, like being afraid of the dark, a dying cell phone just when you need it most, being chased, or the fear of knowing someone is in your house, someone that shouldn’t be. All of these tropes are used to great effect and make Margot’s growing feeling of dread and desperation all the more palpable.
When all seems lost, Margot finds just what she needs in the old journal, written many years ago by one of her Hull ancestors. While I did have an idea of how the story was going to be resolved, I certainly didn’t expect the shocking reveal at the end. Coates brilliantly ties up all her loose ends with a satisfying finish, and I honestly cannot wait to read more from this talented author.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
Very, very intriguing review! It seems as if this book was written with all my narrative preferences for the genre in mind: one of the titles I MUST add to my TBR as soon as possible…
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…THERE AND BACK AGAIN…
It’s worth checking out for sure:-)
Oh wow, this sounds so creepy! I’m not familiar with this author but your glowing review definitely has me curious about this book.
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday – 10 Books I Loved So Much I Had to Get a Copy for My Personal Library
She’s written so many books. I have a lot to read now:-)
Great review, Tammy! First of all that quote at the beginning really creeps me out. And the whole description of the story makes it seem very scary as well. I love that it had a shocking reveal at the end, especially if it’s an unexpected one.
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…Book Blitz: Force of Nature by Skye Warren and Amelia Wilde + Giveaway (INT)
It’s super creepy!
Oh, this sounds so creepy and amazing! I need to read this!
It’s so good, hope you get the chance:-)
Nice. Just ordered the ebook. Perhaps this will be one of the horror books I try to read this season. 🙂
Cool, I hope you enjoy it:-)
Ooh! This one sounds good. And I’ve been curious about Darcy Coates’s books too. I’ll add this one to my TBR.
I can’t wait to read more of her books:-)
I have been leary to try another book from her after I got a dud, but maybe her newer ones are better.
I really liked this although it’s a little on the slow side and I know that doesn’t always work for you.
This is an author that I’ve also not read yet but this one is going on the list. Great review.
Lynn 😀
Lynn Williams recently posted…Can’t Wait Wednesday : The Angel Maker by Alex North
I was very impressed. I’m going to track down her other books.
Awesome review. This one’s on my TBR!
Priscilla Bettis recently posted…R.I.P. Dalton
I think you’ll love it:-)
This is such an intriguing review!! Thank you for sharing it!
I’ve seen books by this author before I think but for some reason never read any. Might have to start with this one 😀
Pages and Tea recently posted…Readers Imbibing Peril XVII – #RIPXVII
I’m so glad you enjoyed this! I love Darcy’s writing. I just read The Haunting of Leigh Harker by her and it may be my favorite book of hers yet! I’ll have to pick this one up soon. 🙂
Destiny @ Howling Libraries recently posted…Weekly Check-in: little life updates & a very sad DNF
Excellent review, Tammy. I wouldn’t dare to read it with the lights off, but I can surely read it with the lights on. I am a big fan of atmospheric horror, so, thanks for recommending this.
this sounds fantastic, I’ve gotta read it soon! I read her sci-fi horror ‘From Below’ earlier in the year and it was AMAZING. it looks like her backlist is mainly ‘haunted houses’, I’m hoping she does more like ‘From Below’ coz it’s everything I want and not enough authors do sci-fi horror, lol, but this one sounds great too.