The narrative, gracefully conceived, beautifully achieved, races along

Atmospheric... Harwood's writing adds a layer of ironic distance to fog effects, black-hearted villains and other old chestnuts

Brilliantly atmospheric dark mystery... Try this if you like being scared out of your wits

Everything you could possibly ask for from a novel in this genre

Harwood again proves himself a gifted storyteller... Seamlessly plotted, it is utterly compelling and full of suspense

A brilliant, post-modern Gothic tale

Harwood hops between narratives and time to give us a full history of the hall and its occupants, and his research, while impressive, never overwhelms the plot or his characters. Collins and Braddon would be proud

An entertaining read

John Harwood's brilliant second novel, a gripping, dark, mystery set in late Victorian England

An elegant, original and exciting mystery story

Superbly realised... reminds us that the real horrors lurk within the reader's mind

Pears is in a class of his own; no one else could possibly succeed in making the world of big finance so hugely entertaining.

this thoughtful, thoroughly satisfying novel... clever storytelling to reach imaginative heights