Girls of Brackenhill

A Thriller

By: Kate Moretti

Narrated by: Sarah Mollo-Christensen

Length: 10 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Haunted by her sister’s disappearance, a troubled woman becomes consumed by past secrets in this gripping thriller from the New York Times best-selling author of The Vanishing Year.

When Hannah Maloney’s aunt dies in a car accident, she returns to her family’s castle in the Catskills and the epicenter of a childhood trauma: her sister’s unsolved disappearance. It’s been 17 years, and though desperate to start a new life with her fiancé, Hannah is compelled to question the events of her last summer at Brackenhill.

When a human bone is found near the estate, Hannah is convinced it belongs to her long-lost sister. She launches her own investigation into that magical summer that ended in a nightmare. As strange happenings plague the castle, Hannah uncovers disturbing details about the past and startling realizations about her own repressed childhood memories.

Fueled by guilt over her sister’s vanishing, Hannah becomes obsessed with discovering what happened all those years ago, but by the time Hannah realizes some mysteries are best left buried, it’s too late to stop digging. Overwhelmed by what she has exposed, Hannah isn’t sure her new life can survive her old ghosts.

©2020 Kate Moretti (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“A Gothic chiller filled with secrets, lies, and things that go bump in the night. I was riveted from the first page to the last.” (Riley Sager, New York Times best-selling author of Lock Every Door)

“Finally, an honest-to-goodness gothic ghost story, full of everything you need in a story like this - a creepy castle, suspicious townspeople, and a dying old man who may just have answers to everything. In Moretti’s deft hands the story unspools with an expert unfolding of clues. As the deaths pile up, you’ll feel just as disoriented and full of unnamed dread as Hannah the main character, trying to figure out what really happened to her sister all those years ago. Oh. And wait’ll you see what’s in the basement....” (Emily Carpenter, best-selling author of Until the Day I Die)

Kept me guessing...

And in some ways, I still am. Interesting story line populated with flawed people, as most people are. Left wondering if Brackenhill will claim another or if the broken ill-spirit of Brackenhill is now soothed.

Great story, will never forget it.

Reminded me of my childhood, spent a lot of my summers visiting a place like this, playing in the woods. still wonder if my memories were real or dreams. Related to being that age, relationships, loves, etc. will definitely read more of her books. also loved the narration. will definitely recommend.

Very interesting tale!

I found this book to be very intense and at times ethereal. It was difficult to know the truth from fantasy. As we were meant to feel by the author. It was like experiencing firsthand what the main character was going through. Past and Present weaved seamlessly together! Very enjoyable.

Interesting Thriller

This book was an interesting web of Thrilling and questionable actions. The protagonist, Hannah, just couldn’t let go of the things that happened to her family and tried so hard to recall the memories that hung on the edges of her mind. Quite the tale! I enjoyed the narrator but thought she sounded like she was whispering all the time, still, great job.

Creepy, Gothic Mystery

I was a little iffy on if I was going to like this book or not. I don't typically dig into historical mysteries or goth type mysteries! Although, don't get me wrong, this book is not really a historical mystery, it just dives into the past a little more than what I usually read, but once I got started and really got into this book, I was really digging it!

One thing that I thoroughly enjoyed about this book was the vivid setting that Moretti gives you! You totally feel like your in this old gothic, totally creepy castle while reading this book, so I have to hand it to Moretti for her vivid imagery in this book!

The story captured me and kept me interested throughout! What's not going to capture your attention about an opening sentence of, "I didn't mean to kill her". This book was full of twists and turns that I totally didn't see coming and totally enjoyed reading about throughout. It was chalked full of interesting and in debt characters that made you feel invested in the story.

Girls of Brackenhill is narrated by Sarah Mollo-Christensen and I think she did an excellent job! There are no other titles that are coming to my recollection that I've listened to of hers, but I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another book she narrates, without a doubt!!

I have actually only read a few books by Kate Moretti, but this book showed me that this girl has a knack for putting the reader in her setting, which is something I really enjoyed about this book! Overall, it was a totally creepy, unpredictable read, that I am thrilled to have gotten the chance to read!!

Fantastic psychological thriller!

Hannah’s sister went missing 17yrs ago, during the sisters annual summer stay with their aunt and uncle...in an old castle. Now Hannah’s aunt has died in an auto accident and she is back to move her ailing uncle to a nursing home. When human remains are located on the castle grounds, Hannah begins her own investigation into what happened all those years ago. To add to the complication is Hannah’s first boyfriend, Wyatt, the one who precipitated the argument with her sister on the night she disappeared. As we follow the events from that period in Hannah’s childhood, we believe that we know where things are headed. Except things are not what they seem. So many secrets! Throw in Hannah’s continued attraction to the man who broke her teenage heart and her doubts about her feelings for her fiancé, and you find yourself riveted. The story is well written and keeps you guessing.

Surprising read

I really enjoyed this a lot, despite me not really being that into thrillers. It had me guessing until the end. Definitely a good read.

mysterious

loved the mystery and the voice fit the story
kept you guessing to the very end

Good read.

It was a little difficult to get used to the back and forth between time at first. Then, I kind of enjoyed hearing about the past, it tied it all together. I do wish the ending had been a little clearer. However, overall a good read that kept me coming back.

I couldn't put it down

I love stories about what could be around us. Some people claiming to see while others either can't or refuse to see. Just when I thought I had the story figured out, it took a turn and left me wondering all over again. It would be scary, yet awesome to visit a really old castle like the one in this story. Great read.