My Five Word TL:DR Review: Read This In One Sitting

The Cold House by AG Slatter hooked me completely.  Slatter is fast becoming one of my favourite authors, I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed four of her Sourdough novels and so was both intrigued and wary of The Cold House.  Intrigued because I want to read everything that this author writes, wary because this is a novella and I confess that short stories and novellas rarely work their magic, plus, this is a contemporary setting and, again, it’s not really my go to setting.  All that being said, I am more than happy to be proved wrong.  This is such a powerful story, probably made even more intense by the length.  It’s brimming over with atmosphere and tension, the main character’s grief is palpable and then we have the gothic and folklore elements all leading up to an unexpected conclusion that treads the path into horror.

Everly Bainbridge’s life was shattered the day her husband and daughter both died in a tragic car accident.  Since then she has walked round in a daze, mimicking life but not living it.  Her grief is so raw that it literally brings a lump to your throat and this is added to by the fact that in the wake of her husband’s death she has discovered that she didn’t really know him at all.  Unexpectedly, she is now not only a wealthy woman but she has a lawyer who seems to arrange things on her behalf including a stay in the country to help try to revive her.  Upon arrival at this remote retreat the house in question is a mansion with creepy vibes and an intriguing locked door.  The ‘Cold House’, as it is known locally has a dark history and the locals give it something of a wide berth, rightfully so, and not long after arrival Everly begins to hear her daughter’s voice calling to her and, that locked door, seems to mysteriously become unlocked.

I won’t say more about the story.  This went in a direction I wasn’t expecting at all which was actually a real treat.

The writing is wonderful and I love the way Slatter manages to pack such a punch really taking you through a run of emotions whilst somehow managing to inject humour into the story.  Everly is an easy character to follow, I really felt for her and confess she had me worried on more than one occasion.

This is wonderfully gothic tale whilst also leaning into folklore elements and the conclusion had me determined to finish the story in one sitting, I think I was holding my breath at one point (not my best idea) as the horror started to edge in and I really couldn’t see how everything was going to be resolved.  But, Slatter really pulled it off.

My only regret, as with all novellas, much like Oliver, I would have liked more.  What can I say I’m simply a glutton.

In conclusion, my initial worries were totally obliterated by this dark and punchy story.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4 of 5 stars