Haverscroft

Synopsis

Longlisted for the Not the Booker Prize 2019

Kate Keeling leaves all she knows and moves to Haverscroft House in an attempt to salvage her marriage. Little does she realise, Haverscroft’s dark secrets will drive her to question her sanity, her husband and fatally engulf her family unless she can stop the past repeating itself. Can Kate keep her children safe and escape Haverscroft in time, even if it will end her marriage?

Haverscroft is a gripping and chilling dark tale, a modern ghost story that will keep you turning its pages late into the night.

Praise for this Book

‘An atmospherically creepy ghost story that keeps you guessing till the end! Sally Harris is one to watch.’ —Angela Clarke

Reviews of this Book

‘The writing is taut and fluid. Both the atmosphere of the old house and the wider family dynamics are evoked with skill. Whatever one thinks of a place harbouring the spirit of past deeds this story could throw shade over certainties. Recommended, but exercise caution if reading after dark.’ —Jackie Law, neverimitate

‘There are some genuine spine chilling moments in this book which made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, which is of course testimony to some great writing skills! There is a particular scene involving a mirror which had me steadfastly refusing to look into my vintage dressing table mirror for a good few hours I can tell you! If you’re in the market for a traditional haunted house mystery to have you listening just that little bit more closely to the creaking of your house at night … do yourself a favour and buy yourself a copy of Haverscroft. You won’t regret it.’ —Amanda Chatterton, Bookish Chat

‘★★★★ Haverscroft is a very modern ghost/psychological story. It’s written in an apparently effortless and easy style, which I’m sure this was a lot of hard work to achieve. The uncomplicated prose allows the mood and atmosphere of the novel to seep into your pores – this a genuinely gripping tale.’ —Paul Burke, NB Magazine

‘This is a wonderfully atmospheric, creepy, ghost story, which kept me gripped throughout. The writing includes wonderful suspense and this kept the pages turning. I really wanted to discover the ending but enjoyed the build up to it. A great read!’ —Jera's Jamboree

‘As a seasoned reader of ghost stories and horror, I expect something a bit more innovative from the genre, and Haverscroft definitely isn’t that sort of book: it delivers familiar beats rather than genuine surprises. What it does do really well is to show how the inexplicable is so often entwined with the domestic. Kate’s role as a wife and mother is key to the events of the novel – one imagines this story could not have been built around a male protagonist. As well as Rebecca, I was put in mind of Kate Murray-Browne’s The Upstairs Room, Brandi Reeds’ Oak Avenue and some of Alison Moore’s short stories.’ —Blair Rose, NB Magazine