About At The Bottom of the Garden: A murderess becomes the guardian of two very unusual girls in this mesmerizing gothic novel from acclaimed author Camilla Bruce.

Sometimes, in life as well as in novels, a house isn’t just a house. It takes on a life and an identity of its own, colored by the memories of what has happened inside its walls, as well as the people who live there. Some houses become coveted treasures, others mausoleums for the dead. Some houses turn into traps, snaring the inhabitants inside. These special houses can be haunted, but sometimes their power comes from what they represent. Some of them shout loudly about how extraordinary they are, while others only show their true colors slowly and over time.

For instance, all the houses in all of my books – from hovels to castles – start out as a blueprint of my grandparents’ house. I don’t know when or why it happened, but I always begin with that specific house, the way that it looked in my childhood, then I add and subtract rooms as needed. All the kitchens in my work are incarnations of my grandmother’s kitchen, though, considering what kind of books I write, I’m not sure how happy she would have been about that. Since it became my go-to, her poor kitchen has seen a plethora of murder, ghosts and monsters, but also – to be fair – quite a few housekeepers, which I don’t think she would have minded all that much.

Clearly, to me, that house is the house. It’s what my mind turns to when told to invent a house. Maybe it’s a shortcut – an easy tool for a lazy writer’s brain – or maybe there is something deeper at work: I still dream about that house, a lot. Maybe it has put down roots in my subconscious and taken on a life of its own? Just a thought.

In my new novel, At the Bottom of the Garden, the special house is called Crescent Hill, and the antagonist, Clara Woods, is willing to cross quite a few lines to get her sticky mittens on it. It’s not quite a gothic mansion in size, but it does have the flair, with its carved wooden stairs, overgrown garden and collection of taxidermy animals. The outer walls are painted cyan blue. It also holds secrets – lots of them – which is the most important thing for a gothic house.

Here are some other novels with powerful houses that the characters are willing to fight, live, die – and even kill – for.

The September House by Carissa Orlando

Margaret’s house on Hawthorn Street is not like other houses. It is already inhabited when she and her husband, Hal, move in. There is a man in a cupboard; a pack of mangled kids; a mostly helpful housekeeper, and something – or someone – horrible lurking in the basement. Margaret doesn’t mind though. It is her house, and she means to stay. She has made a set of rules for co-habiting with the dead, and is convinced that as long as she doesn’t break them, everything will be fine. Then Hal suddenly disappears, causing her estranged daughter to come home, just in time for September: the house’s worst season, complete with bleeding walls and horrific screams in the night. Margaret doesn’t want her daughter to know what is going on, but is it possible to shield her? And what, exactly, happened to Hal? This house wears its secrets on its sleeves, but still keeps a few of them hidden. Maybe the biggest mystery of them all is where Margaret ends and the house begins, as the lines between them keeps blurring.

The Beloveds by Maureen Lindley

Ever since the day her younger sister, Gloria, was born, Betty Stash’s life has been ruined. Gloria is everything Betty is not: beautiful, radiant, kind and charming – honey to Betty’s vinegar and salt. Over the years, and without a second thought, she has taken everything from Betty, including her best friend and her husband to-be. Betty’s jealousy and resentment runs deep, but she has one card up her sleeve: Pipits, the family home, has always loved Betty back. She and the house have a special bond that nothing in this world can break. The house even talks to Betty through the walls. So when their mother dies, leaving the house to Gloria, who can blame Betty for being irked? Facing this final indignity, she takes up arms, deciding to fight for what is hers, and soon she has irrevocably crossed the line to the point of no return. This house is powerfully entwined with its person, both as a symbol and a source of love, and if you – like me – don’t mind a complex and unsympathetic protagonist, The Beloveds might just be your cup of tea.

Nestlings by Nat Cassidy

Ana and Reid are reeling from the difficult birth of their daughter, which left Ana in a wheelchair, when they catch an unexpected break: The two of them have won a lottery where the prize is an affordable apartment in the prestigious Deptford building, complete with stunning architecture and a view of Central Park. It almost seems too good to be true. Navigating new parenthood and Ana’s disability is hard, though. So hard that it takes a while for them to notice the strangeness lurking in the corners of their new home. The neighbors are pretty eccentric, true, and the gargoyles adorning the building are creepy – but you are willing to put up with a lot for the apartment of your dreams. There is no explaining away the needle-like marks on baby Charlie, though, or the sudden disappearance of visitors to their home. This house is like a hive, with many individuals living together in a complex structure. It is undoubtedly beautiful; an object of desire and the fulfilment of a dream. But what is truly hiding behind its delectable walls?

The Underhistory by Kaaron Warren

Pera Sinclair is the only survivor after her family home was the target of an attack by airplane. She has spent the years since trying to coming to terms with what happened, and also rebuilding Sinclair House into a perfect replica of the house that was lost. Every room of the house holds memories of the past, which Pera – now an elderly woman – gladly shares on the tours she offers in the building. During the last tour of the season, a group of escaped convicts appears and join the group, looking for valuables to steal. Pera realizes at once who they are, but must continue the tour as not to endanger the young children present. As the tour continues, the past and the present are woven together, while Pera prepares to protect Sinclair House – its secrets and memories – from yet another attack. This house is both a memorial and a mausoleum, keeping Pera’s past alive.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

No list of beguiling houses is complete without a mention of this classic. Without the existence of this novel, we might not have had so many other books about bewitching houses to enjoy. There is a reason why it’s still being widely read – I, for one, didn’t feel normal for a week after cracking its cover for the first time. Maybe it’s the setting: a group of sensitives of various flavors who come together to conduct an experiment, or maybe it’s Elanor: a protagonist that is so painfully sad and insecure that it’s impossible not to feel something for her. Or, maybe it’s just Hill House with its many – shifting – rooms, and the way it subtly seduces with a promise of belonging and home. Whatever the reason, this novel will forever hold the power to send chills down even the sturdiest of spines, and make you look twice (twice) at the shadows in your own home.

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Cross My Heart by Megan Collins

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She has his dead wife’s heart; the one she wants is his. The author of The Family Plot brings her signature prose to a twisty novel about a heart transplant patient who becomes romantically obsessed with her donor’s husband.

The Last Room on the Left by Leah Konen

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The caretaker at an isolated mountain hotel finds herself fighting for her life—and sanity—in this twisty, addictive thriller.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

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A group of young women in a home for unwed mothers in 1970s Florida who find a book to witchcraft—a guide which may just be the key to regaining their power or the source of their worst nightmares.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

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A twisty domestic thriller about an author who travels to a remote Scottish island to write his next book…only to run into a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife.

The Weekend Guests by Liza North

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In the vein of Lucy Foley’s chilling, atmospheric mysteries, a compulsive, psychological thriller about a group of old university friends whose seaside reunion will end in betrayal and murder.

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young

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In this captivating atmospheric novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Unmaking of June Farrow, a woman investigates her twin brother’s mysterious death while confronting the ghosts of her own haunted past.

The Crash by Freida McFadden

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A gut-wrenching story of motherhood, survival, and twisted expectations, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden delivers a snowbound thriller that will chill you to the bone.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay

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Two former serial killers trying to keep their past buried realize that old habits die hard in this “wildly original, razor-sharp thriller” (Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of All the Colors of the Dark).

Call Her Freedom by Tara Dorabji

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A sweeping family saga following one woman’s struggle to protect her culture and her family amidst the backdrop of a military occupation.

Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson

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From the USA Today bestselling author of The Dead Girl in 2A and The New Neighbor comes a chilling new thriller that forces the question: are murderers always the bad guys?

Head Cases by John McMahon

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Head Cases follows an enigmatic group of FBI agents as they hunt down a murderer seeking his own justice in this electrifying―and commercial―series debut.

At The Bottom of the Garden by Camilla Bruce

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A murderess becomes the guardian of two very unusual girls in this mesmerizing gothic novel from acclaimed author Camilla Bruce.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan

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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets First Lie Wins in this electric, voice-driven debut novel about an elusive bestselling author who decides to finally confess her true identity after years of hiding from her past.

We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin

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A moving story about two very different sisters, and a love letter to childhood, growing up, and the power of imagination—from the bestselling author of Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead and Interesting Facts About Space.

The Perfect Home by Daniel Kenitz

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Fixer Upper meets Gone Girl in this suspenseful and witty domestic thriller set in the world of home renovation TV—featuring a woman who becomes public enemy #1 after a horrifying discovery prompts her to flee her celebrity husband with their twin babies.

Old Soul by Susan Barker

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The Historian meets Under the Skin in this searingly provocative literary horror novel about one woman’s determination to stay alive at any terrifying cost.

We Rip the World Apart by Charlene Carr

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Weaving the women’s stories across multiple timelines, We Rip the World Apart reveals the ways that simple choices, made in the heat of the moment and with the best of intentions, can have deep and lasting repercussions―especially when people stay silent.

The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang

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An empowering, uplifting tale of two women from opposite sides of society, and their extraordinary journey of sisterhood, betrayal, love and triumph.

The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha

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A billionaire is primed to announce the succession plan for his company to his family at a lavish reunion, but at least one person won’t make it through the week alive. . . Most family reunions end in tears. This one will end in murder.

The Girls of the Glimmer Factory by Jennifer Coburn

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From the author of Cradles of the Reich comes a poignant and inspiring tale for fans of The Forest of Vanishing Stars and The German Wife about resistance, friendship, and the dangers of propaganda, based on the real story of the Nazi “show camp” Theresienstadt.

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis

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From New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis, an utterly addictive new novel that will transport you from New York City’s most glamorous party to the labyrinth streets of Cairo and back.

Presumed Guilty by Scott Turow

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New from the author of Presumed Innocent, the #1 bestseller that redefined the legal thriller and is the basis for Apple TV+’s most-watched drama series ever.

Tartufo by Kira Jane Buxton

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Written in the same enchanting style and raucous humor that defines Hollow Kingdom and Feral Creatures, Tartufo is a reflection on the interconnectedness of life in all its manifestations—and how holding on to harmony in the face of hardship can grow something beautiful and rare beneath the surface.

The Kennedy Girl by Julia Bryan Thomas

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From esteemed author Julia Bryan Thomas comes a novel for readers who loved the fashion and glamour of The Second Life of Mirielle West and the clandestine intrigue of The Secrets We Kept, showcasing a journey to France through the eyes of a wide-eyed American orphan who becomes embroiled in an international espionage scheme.

What January releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 24 New Fiction Books Releasing In January 2025 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

If you couldn’t get enough of Wednesday and need a fix of something dark and spooky then fear not! We’ve rounded some Wednesday approved reading recommendations that can fill the hole in your life until Season 2.

Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth
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In 1902, at Brookhants School For Girls, Flo and Clara start The Plain Bad Heroine Society in Honour of notorious and scandalous young writer Mary MacLane. Before long, the girls are found dead, attacked by a swarm of yellowjackets, with MacLane’s book, the first a series of macabre deaths which plague the school until it’s closure. Over a century later, this tale inspires a book by literary prodigy Merritt Emmons. When her book is adapted into a film, starring ‘it girl’ Harper Harper’ and former child star Audrey Wells, the trio return to Brookhants, revisiting the past, and the curse.

A spooky dark academia with a mystery at its core, dual timelines and hint of the supernatural, Plain Bad Heroines is the perfect read for a Wednesday fan.

A Lesson In Vengeance by Victoria Lee
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Felicity Morrow has return to Dalloway School a year after her girlfriend’s death. She is determined to make a new start and not let the dark history of the school drag her down. However, when she is placed in her old dorm, Godwin House—said to be haunted by the spirits of five students who died, she is once again drawn to the witchcraft and occult lore that surrounds the school. Enter ‘it-girl’ Ellis Haley, a captivating young writer eager to delve into the schools mysteries for her second novel. For Ellis, Felicity is the perfect person to help her research her book and uncover the dark secrets at Dalloway.

From the dark academia vibes, to witchcraft and occult rituals, and dark secrets, Dalloway isn’t too far removed from Nevermore.

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean
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For centuries a number of families across Britain have lived secluded, hiding their true natures as ‘Book Eaters’—literally beings that consume the pages of books for sustenance. Once in a while a ‘Mind Eater’ is born, feeding instead on the minds of humans. When Devon Fairweather’s son is born a Mind Eater, she escapes in an attempt to protect him from those who would do him harm, or worse use him to do harm.

While not strictly ‘dark academia’ in that it’s not set in a school or university, The Book Eaters is very dark, all about books and secretive families with supernatural abilities, a little bit like the Addams, but much darker!

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace
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Orphaned Signa Farrow has been passed from guardian to guardian as each of her relatives has met with an untimely death. When she is taken in by the Hawthornes—her only remaining relatives, and it seems her cousin is being poisoned, she is determined not to let it happen again. Not only can Signa can see ghosts, which Wednesday would appreciate, but she must solve the mystery of who is targeting her relatives, with the aid of Death himself.

A dark fantasy mystery in a gothic manor house, with a few balls and dancing in there too!

Triflers Need Not Apply by Camilla Bruce 
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A fictionalised account of the life of notorious female serial killer, Belle Gunness. The real life Gunness is thought to have killed at least 14 and as many as 40 people. Belle’s modus operandi involved inviting bachelors and widows to her rural farm under the pretence of looking for a husband, only to rob and kill them.

This historical fiction may not have the dark academia aspect but it is full of murder—which of course our favourite heroine has a keen interest in!

The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky
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As the new girl at Manchester prep Rachel Chavez is struggling to fit in. Sound like anyone we know? 

Until she attracts the attention of the Mary Shelley club—a secret society dedicated to orchestrating pranks that spread fear across the school. But when someone targets the club itself Rachel must help them get to the bottom of who is behind this.

Since we know Wednesday is a Shelley stan and loves invoking fear, I’m sure she would be Head of the Mary Shelley club and solving a good mystery is right up her street!

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
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An alternative and fantastical history of witches set in 1890’s ‘New Salem’. Witches and witchcraft exist but due to the persecution of witches, magic has been diminished to little more than charms and rhymes. The Eastwood sisters join the Suffragists, fighting for not just the right to claim their power, but their lives in the face of extremist forces who would see New Salem purged of witches for good. 

If you loved the historical storyline of Wednesday and enjoy a witchy read, The Once and Future Witches is perfect for you!

What other books would you recommend for fans of Wednesday? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Books To Read If You Can’t Wait For ‘Wednesday’ Season 2 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Push by Ashley Audrain
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A tense, page-turning psychological drama about the making and breaking of a family–and a woman whose experience of motherhood is nothing at all what she hoped for–and everything she feared.

In the Garden of Spite by Camilla Bruce
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An audacious novel of feminine rage about one of the most prolific female serial killers in American history–and the men who drove her to it.

Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner
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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner, a propulsive thriller featuring an ordinary woman who will stop at nothing to find the missing people that the rest of the world has forgotten

Find Me in Havana by Serena Burdick
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From the bestselling author of THE GIRLS WITH NO NAMES, a new historical novel based on the dazzling story of one of Hollywood’s most celebrated Hispanic actresses and her daughter’s search for closure.

The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly
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From the author of the international bestseller The Light Over London and The Whispers of War comes a poignant and unforgettable tale of five women living across three different times whose lives are all connected by one very special place.

Our Darkest Night by Jennifer Robson
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To survive the Holocaust, a young Jewish woman must pose as a Christian farmer’s wife in this unforgettable novel from USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Robson—a story of terror, hope, love, and sacrifice, inspired by true events, that vividly evokes the most perilous days of World War II.

A Splendid Ruin by Megan Chance
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A spellbinding novel of dark family secrets and a young woman’s rise and revenge set against the backdrop of the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

Waiting for the Night Song by Julie Carrick Dalton
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A startling and timely debut, Julie Carrick Dalton’s Waiting for the Night Song is a moving, brilliant novel about friendships forged in childhood magic and ruptured by the high price of secrets that leave you forever changed.

If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier
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When her favourite true crime podcast host goes missing, an adrift young woman plunges headfirst into the wild backcountry of Northern California and her own dangerous obsession.

Lie, Lie Again by Stacy Wise
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Lies, Secrets, and Revenge: For three women with so much to hide, there’s no such thing as a little white lie…

Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
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In the tradition of Wrench and Twelve Years a Slave, this harrowing story follows an enslaved woman forced to barter love and freedom while living in the most infamous slave jail in Virginia.

Bloodline by Jess Lourey
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Perfect town. Perfect homes. Perfect families. It’s enough to drive some women mad…

What January 2021 fiction books are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post January 2021 Fiction Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The following recently released debut thrillers range from traditional detective stories to dark, gritty, serial killer chases to domestic suspense novels to gothic-style tales with magical elements, and almost everything in between. Some have been written as the start to a new series and some are standalones, but all of them are highly rated and highly recommended.

DEATH IN THE FAMILY by Tessa Wegert
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An impressive combination of a traditional Agatha Christie-style locked-room mystery, with a young, gifted detective who is suffering from PTSD who is still learning who to trust in her new job and environment. Tessa Weggert introduces us to Senior Investigator Shana Merchant as she works to solve a mysterious disappearance on a small private island. We learn a lot about Merchant through her work on this case, but there is plenty more of her backstory to be unfolded. Weggert has written such a dynamic character that we can’t wait to see her in her next adventure!

THE GOOD DETECTIVE by John McMahon
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P.T. Marsh really IS a good detective, but his life has been tragic in the last year.  Struggling with his private life has left him not always making the best decisions, and sometimes those decisions have far-reaching consequences. Thinking he is helping a stripper get out of an abusive relationship, Marsh starts a chain of events that lead back to his job, his father-in-law, and multiple murders in the area. Likeable detectives aren’t always easy to find, but Marsh comes across as genuine, but not perfect, real, but not too-good-to-be-true, and someone who truly wants to make a difference.  

BLOOD ORANGE by Harriet Tyce
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A domestic thriller that will often leave the reader feeling like a voyeur, but also unable to look away. Alison is a young, successful lawyer with an attentive husband, a precocious daughter, and seems to have it all. But she is also having an affair with one of her colleagues, and drinking too much, and she’s starting to feel things unravel. When she takes on a new client – who willingly admits to stabbing her own husband – Alison thinks this might be the opportunity to straighten out the various threads of her life that have gotten out of control. Power, jealousy, betrayal, love, and hate are all added to the mix and this disturbing tale will keep you on the edge of your seat.

HOLD YOUR TONGUE by Deborah Masson
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Fans of M.J. Arlidge’s books about DCI Helen Grace should definitely be paying attention to Deborah Masson.  Similar in tone, Hold Your Tongue gives us an entirely new detective squad to get acquainted with. This dark and gritty serial killer hunt, with all its twists and turns, may not be for everybody, but for those of us that live for these twisted tales, it is a MUST! Masson also has a sequel currently scheduled to come out later this year!

MAN OF THE YEAR by Caroline Louise Walker
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Walker gives us a novel of domestic suspense set in a world where there just might not be a “good guy” to cheer for. Dr. Robert Hart has been named Citizen of the Year in his elite seaside town. His beautiful (second) wife and his son are there to celebrate with him. His son’s college roommate is also there, and the troubled young man changes the balance of power in the home. As the balance of power shifts, so does everything else in Dr. Hart’s life. Readers will hold their breath as they watch (mostly unlikable) people try to undo the damage they themselves have done.

NO BAD DEED by Heather Chavez
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Heather Chavez hits the ground running with this fast-paced, menacing story. We meet veterinarian and mother of two, Cassie Larkin on her way home from work where she witnesses a crime. She calls 911, but against the advice of the operator, she gets out of the car. From that point forward she throws her happy, suburban life into absolute paranoia and chaos! Unfortunately, the paranoia is contagious, and Chavez will definitely have you looking over your shoulder. The book, however, is fantastic, with unique characters and nerve-wracking tension!

YOU LET ME IN by Camilla Bruce
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A bit more gothic-horror than true thriller, this book quickly becomes very hard to categorise. Fans of Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls, or Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children Series will find some similarities here. The entire book is written as a manuscript for Cassandra Tipp’s niece and nephew with instructions they are to follow upon her death or disappearance in order to obtain their inheritance. Occasionally written in second person, the reader feels very much a part of the story, as if they are being spoken to directly.

WOMAN ON THE EDGE by Samantha M. Bailey
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Told from two alternating points-of-view, Woman on the Edge is the story of Morgan Kincaid who, while waiting for the subway on her regular trip home from work has a woman thrust her baby into Morgan’s arms, and then jump in front of the oncoming train! (That’s not a spoiler – it is on the back cover and happens in the first 3 pages.) But faster than the blink of an eye, Morgan’s life, which was already going through some very trying times, is turned upside down by this seemingly random act. 

 Do you have any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Eight Outstanding Debut Thrillers You Might Have Missed appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Fans of Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls or Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series will find much familiarity here as similar elements of magical realism are used throughout the story. When it all comes to a conclusion and the fantastical elements begin to be stripped away by more rational thought, the heartbreak will feel familiar, too.

The entire book is written as a manuscript for Cassandra Tipp’s niece and nephew with instructions they are to follow upon her death or disappearance. Occasionally written in second person, the reader often feels very much a part of the story, as if they are being spoken to directly.

Cassandra Tipp is a well-known recluse, she has been acquitted of murder (more than once), and now she has disappeared. Literally disappeared, as there is no body left behind to be found. What she has left behind is a manuscript and very specific instructions. Her adult niece and nephew are her only heirs, and they must follow the instructions exactly, and must read her final manuscript in order to claim their inheritance.

That final manuscript is the real star of the show. Cassandra is ready to set the record straight. After all the rumours and the gossip throughout the years, she is going to give the full story, as well as her estate, to her sister’s son and daughter.

While Cassandra tells her version of her life’s story, she includes some of the thoughts and deductions of her court-appointed therapist that she has been required to see off and on over the years. It’s these passages that give the reader genuine insight into what the fantastical elements of her story are truly about, and what the use of them reveals about Cassandra’s life. It is soul-crushing and heart-breaking and will stay with you long after you have finished the final page.

Camilla Bruce is a Norwegian writer who readers should definitely keep an eye on. Her ability to combine elements of Seanan McGuire, Shirley Jackson, Tana French, and Patrick Ness (among others) makes this a truly exciting debut! I have a feeling I am going to be re-reading this in the fall, when we are all looking for books with that perfect spooky-vibe.

You Let Me In is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers as of April 21st 2020.

Will you be picking up You Let Me In? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

You Let Me In delivers a stunning tale from debut author Camilla Bruce, combining the sinister domestic atmosphere of Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects with the otherworldly thrills of Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean At The End of The Lane.

Cassandra Tipp is dead…or is she?

After all, the notorious recluse and eccentric bestselling novelist has always been prone to flights of fancy – everyone in town remembers the shocking events leading up to Cassie’s infamous trial (she may have been acquitted, but the insanity defense only stretches so far.)

Cassandra Tipp has left behind no body – just her massive fortune, and one final manuscript.

Then again, there are enough bodies in her past – her husband Tommy Tipp, whose mysterious disembowelment has never been solved, and a few years later, the shocking murder-suicide of her father and brother.

Cassandra Tipp will tell you a story – but it will come with a terrible price.  What really happened, out there in the woods – and who has Cassie been protecting all along?  Read on, if you dare…

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