Secrets and lies will chill you to the bone
The Thin Place by CD Major
Who doesn’t love a good mystery? Was it you? Was it him? Was it that weird woman in the house at the end of the street who never opens her curtains?
We’re all a bunch of nosy parkers so when a synopsis for a book leads with, ‘She has to know the truth about Overtoun Estate, but there is a reason it has stayed buried for so long’, it was impossible for me to let it lie.
CD Major’s latest novel, The Thin Place, sees journalist Ava Brent investigate the dark mystery of Overtoun Estate – a ‘thin place’ that’s steeped in myth and legend.
What is a ‘thin place’, I hear you ask? It’s an old Celtic term for a place where the gap or veil between heaven and earth is closer.
Ava has no idea just how dangerous things are going to become for her.
The locals are wary of Overtoun. It’s ravaged by the secrets it keeps but, when Ava starts to ask questions, the locals don’t like it and brush her off. Before she knows it, she’s all but sucked in by the house. So, what are the secrets? Once Ava discovers the history of a sick little girl who once lived there, she begins to understand why the estate is so woeful.
But of course it’s not as straightforward as that. When she finds an ominous old message etched into the wood of a windowsill, Ava wonders exactly what horrors the house is protecting. And is she in a safe enough place to find out?
To add another layer of stress, Ava is pregnant with her first child.
Soon her life begins to unravel, she receives chilling threats and the house and bridge keep pulling her back. I’ve read CD Major’s stuff before and I love her writing style. She is adept at creating such addictive atmosphere that you are right there with Ava from the very first word.
She spectacularly builds mystery in a compelling and immersive way and, when you get to Overtoun House, you’ll have shivers down your spine.
Major brings the house to life with such class that the storyline will chill your blood too so be prepared and have a comforting, warm cup of tea next to you when you sit down to devour this one.
One thing you should keep an eye out for – just because Ava is the main character, this doesn’t mean you will like her or agree with all of her actions. Especially with her obsession with the past. But we can’t all be spiffingly good characters all the time, can we?
You might pick up on some of the clues yourself but, if you’re anything like me, the ending will take you completely by surprise. Always a joy in a new book.
Are you ready to visit Overtoun Estate?