I received this book via the publisher, HighLine Editions. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Those We Fear by Victoria Griffith Published by HighLine Editions on 2016-04-01
Length: 220 pages
Reviewing eARC Rating:
What do you get when you cross The Turn of the Screw and Jane Eyre with Psycho? Victoria Griffith's latest thriller.
When Maria becomes a summertime au pair to the children of a Scottish lord, she discovers the family is living under the shadow of two suspicious deaths. Vanishing portraits, cloaked figures, and bizarre shrines add up to a compelling Modern Gothic psychological mystery.
Those We Fear by Victoria Griffith is an intense, psychological mystery centered around the Harley estate in Scotland. After witnessing her mother’s death, Maria enters witness protection and takes a job out of the country as the au pair to two children home for the summer. When she arrives at the estate though, odd things begin happening and Maria thinking she would be safe finds herself in danger once again.
Maria is one of those characters that is easily forgettable. She was the core of the story but I honestly can’t tell you much about her. She’s an artist, her mother was murdered in front of her, and now she’s living in a new country with a new name and no friends. She’s jumpy, has nightmares, and is seeing things that do not make sense at the Harley estate.
Her only consolation is Jonathan, the older brother to the two children she is au pair for. Like her, he is still grieving their mother and they can relate to one another. The problem though with Jonathan is that he is unpredictable. His emotions are all over the place. I didn’t care for the insta-love between the two either. It was a little too much too quick in my opinion.
What really makes this book great though is the mystery. Maria arrives at Harley thinking she will be safe, but quickly learns that something is happening on the estate. Something wants her gone, something is haunting the children and she is determined to figure it out! This is one of those books that will keep you up thinking all night. There are tons of twists, surprises, and all the good things that come with psychological thrillers. Add in a ghost or two and it is truly terrifying.
Overall I liked the book. I was hooked on the story, not wanting to sit it down for anything. I wanted to figure out the mystery. It reminded me of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. If you’re like that classic mystery, than you will love this one!
Final Conclusion:
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