The House Between Tides is a true Gothic novel, complete with a remote location, a creepy old house, and two heroines to root for. Hetty Deveraux in the present day and Beatrice Blake in 1910 are both a bit down-trodden by men who know what's best for them and keep to their own agendas. Both are women most readers will feel a great deal of empathy for, and both start to come to life in that remote area.
Sarah Maine brings the Outer Hebrides to breathtaking, lyrical life; her descriptions were among my favorite parts of the book. Although the plot of The House Between Tides was a bit too predictable for my taste, I did enjoy the psychological aspects of it, and the author certainly has a strong talent for characterization and setting. I look forward to her next book. I recommend it if you are fans of Kate Morton or Daphne du Maurier.
Sarah Maine brings the Outer Hebrides to breathtaking, lyrical life; her descriptions were among my favorite parts of the book. Although the plot of The House Between Tides was a bit too predictable for my taste, I did enjoy the psychological aspects of it, and the author certainly has a strong talent for characterization and setting. I look forward to her next book. I recommend it if you are fans of Kate Morton or Daphne du Maurier.
The House Between Tides, the debut novel by Sarah Maine, is the story of an old crumbling house and the secrets it hides. The premise and the structure remind me of Kate Morton's books and Natasha Solomons' The Song of Hartgrove Hall. I love the atmospheric setting and the descriptions of the natural life found there; I just find myself less engaged in the actual story.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2016/07/the-house-between-tides.html.
Reviewed based on a publisher's galley received through NetGalley.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2016/07/the-house-between-tides.html.
Reviewed based on a publisher's galley received through NetGalley.
Hetty Deveraux discovers the century-old remains of a murder victim on her family's Scottish estate. She intends to renovate the house into a hotel but she knows this person did not die a natural death. The story flips back to 1910 when her distant relative, Theo Blake, lived there with his new bride, Beatrice. Hetty uncovers secrets that still reverberate through the small island community -- and will lead her to the identity of the long-hidden body. I really enjoyed this atmospheric debut novel and look forward to reading Maine's next book.
I waver between 4 and 5 stars on this one. Four stars because, well it isn't amazing per say, the theme is not new, but it did keep my interest. By the final 100 pgs., I did not want to put the book down, so especially for a first novel it is very well done. Story is what it sets out to be, a full story with a mystery and love stories in two time periods, very entertaining.
Story of a woman who inherits an old house on a remote Scottish island, and the history of the family who lived there. Alternates between owners of 1910 and current owner (2010) who hopes to renovate the deteriorating mansion. During inspections of the rapidly failing house, a skeleton is discovered.
