The Coffin Path

By: Katherine Clements

Narrated by: Helen Longworth

Length: 12 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

An eerie and compelling ghost story set on the dark wilds of the Yorkshire moors. For fans of The Witchfinder's Sister, The Silent Companions and Susan Hill, this Gothic tale will weave its way into your imagination and chill you to the bone.

Maybe you've heard tales about Scarcross Hall, the house on the old coffin path that winds from village to moor top. They say there's something up here, something evil.

Mercy Booth isn't afraid. The moors and Scarcross are her home and lifeblood. But beneath her certainty, small things are beginning to trouble her. Three ancient coins missing from her father's study, the shadowy figure out by the gatepost, an unshakable sense that someone is watching.

When a stranger appears seeking work, Mercy reluctantly takes him in. As their stories entwine, this man will change everything. She just can't see it yet.

©2018 Katherine Clements (P)2018 Headline Publishing Group Limited

Critic reviews

"The perfect ghost story." (Manda Scott)

"Like something from Emily Bronte's nightmares." (Andrew Taylor, author of The Ashes of London)

"Spine-tingling...the scariest ghost story I have read in a long time." (Barbara Erskine)

Absolutely excellent ghost story!

So atmospheric and creepy. Narration was sublime. The story kept me at the edge of my seat and wanting more. I'll listen to this again.

The storyline was slow to develop

The story needed to be honed in. Sometimes frustrating with the dialogue.. it would leave me saying get to the point already.
Some the clues did not come together. The sounds from the bed room the rocks hitting the windows the hand prints , fire place screen and the ghost next to her at the end.

Scarcross Hall is MINE!

The Coffin Path is character driven, atmospheric, a little slow, and very creepy. Clements does an excellent job of taking her readers to the wet, cold, windy moors of Yorkshire, England. I could imagine the setting, even smell it. The narration was very good too. I'm ready for another book by Katherine Clements.

Arduous and Unsatisfying

The prose of The Coffin Path can be rather wonderful at times, with rich and elegant descriptions. Although, there is way too much sheep talk, it really does go on and on and on. I never want to hear anything else about “fly strike” ever again. There are a great many vivid descriptions of the deaths of animals which nearly had me put the book down entirely. The story, however, is the biggest problem. It is an utter let down of a novel. I am particularly annoyed by the character of Mercy who, sadly, turns into a childish and selfish jackass by the end. So, so disappointing for a character that begins with such promise. This is a tale that has great potential but I found to be sorely wanting. The narrator is very good but there are much better books out there.

Very Long With A Lot Of Irrelevant Details

This story goes on for quite awhile with not a lot happening.It seems like a very "paint by numbers" story. Think M Night Shaymalan. It is forecast in the beginning that there will be some type of a reveal. The rest of the story is simply trying to get to that reveal. Could have made it a short story and it would have been much better.

Not for me.

I have listened to many thrillers and spine tingling books. I just could not get into this. I don't get any sort of spooky feeling until Chapter 27. I made myself finish it. Lots of sheep discussion. Not my favorite.

Wait… that’s it?

I was looking for a good, creepy book for the Halloween season. This was not that. It seemed like the scary stuff was coming. Just one more chapter, just one more…. And then it was over. Honestly, the ending…. plain awful. And the title is just a creepy shell with no real importance in the book. The narrator was amazing, though. I did, indeed, feel like I was on the Moor. Best I can say. Skip it.