catriona ward – Pleasant Nights

Title: Little Eve

Author: Catriona Ward

Genre: horror

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

This book is the third of Catriona Ward’s that I’ve gotten from NetGalley. The Last House on Needless Street was one of the best I read in 2021. And Sundial was delightfully disturbing. So, when I saw she had a new book out, I knew I had to read it. And wow, was this one excellent. Last House is still my favorite of hers, but this one was outstanding.

From Goodreads: On the wind-battered isle of Altnaharra, off the wildest coast of Scotland, a clan prepares to bring about the end of the world and its imminent rebirth.

The Adder is coming, and one of their number will inherit its powers. They all want the honor, but young Eve is willing to do anything for the distinction.

A reckoning beyond Eve’s imagination begins when Chief Inspector Black arrives to investigate a brutal murder, and their sacred ceremony goes terribly wrong.

And soon all the secrets of Altnaharra will be uncovered.

This description doesn’t even begin to explain how insane this book is. Altnaharra’s secrets are plentiful, right down to the cellar where atrocities occur. The story jumps narrators and time periods, so it’s important to keep track and who and when you are in the story. I’m having a hard time explaining anything without spoilers because so much occurs that is better revealed as you read. But, like Ward’s other books, so much happens that you don’t see coming. She’s a master of writing the subtle plot twist. I absolutely recommend all her books. She’s a fantastic writer, and I can’t wait to read her next.

Sundial

Title: Sundial

Author: Catriona Ward

Genre: horror

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I LOVED The Last House on Needless Street. It was one of the best books I read that year. Top 10. So, when I saw that Ward had another book coming out, I knew it was going to be one I was going to read. And, even better, I got this one from NetGalley to review. This one wasn’t quite as good as Needless, but I still enjoyed it and will recommend it.

From Goodreads:

All Rob wanted was a normal life. She almost got it, too: a husband, two kids, a nice house in the suburbs. Far from her childhood home, Sundial, hidden deep in the wild Mojave Desert.

But beneath the veneer, Rob is terrified for her oldest daughter, Callie, who collects tiny bones and whispers to imaginary friends. Rob sees a darkness in Callie, one that reminds her too much of the family she left behind.

Running from her past has led her directly back to it — what’s buried at Sundial could never stay a secret forever, and Rob must risk one last trip out there to protect her family, and her future.

I had no idea what was going to happen in this story. Callie seems to be so disturbed. But so does Rob because her marriage is pretty rough. The way she and her husband interact is far from healthy. And when she can Callie get to Sundial, the real story begins. We learn about Rob’s childhood. She tells it in bits and pieces, so the true horror doesn’t come for a while. The best thing about this book is that I never knew what was coming around the next turn. The characters are so unhinged that anything was possible. Ward is 2 for 2 in my book, and I’ll definitely be looking for more from her.