Mercy lives at shawcross Hall with her father and servants. This is a book written about a bygone era where old wives tales and superstitions ruled lives along with the changing months of the year. Mercy runs a sheep farm and a stranger (Ellis) appears to help with lambing - but who is he. Mercy leans on him more and more as her fathers health declines. However, it seems the Devil is afoot and all sorts of unexplained things happen - Fire, illness and death occur. Who can Mercy trust? She turns to Ellis more and more and eventually agrees to marry him to enable her to keep the farm following the death of her father. But there is a twist at the end. Who is Ellis and can he be trusted?

Overall a very atmospheric and chilling story. I enjoyed the setting and the strong, independent character of Mercy. However I found that he story was very slow and dragged a lot in the middle section, and some of the action became repetitive, although it did pick up again at the end.
I would have preferred this novel to have been a bit shorter and more suspenseful - however I did enjoy it and it was a good, creepy read overall.

A chilling and atmospheric novel set against the North Yorkshire Moors and the backdrop of the aftermath of Cromwell’s attempt to seize power. Rich in historical detail, the novel adds a further dimension in a time where people were suspicious of incomers and those who practised different religions. A worthy ‘ghostly’ tale that had moments of genuinely freaking me out – no easy task that.

I might be posting this review WAY in advance of its publication date but this was such a perfectly timed read in the run up to Halloween. The Coffin Path is a gothic ghost story set in the seventeenth century at an isolated farm and manor house on the wild Yorkshire moors.

The book starts out from the perspective of Mercy Booth, a woman who challenges the expectations of the time about how a woman should behave. She sees herself as the mistress of Scarcross Hall (what a name!) and expects to inherit it when her father passes away. Scarcross is run down and the source of local rumour and superstition; the arrival of a mysterious stranger coincides with events that bring these to the fore. The man is Ellis Ferriby and as the narration switches between him and Mercy we see a different perspective on the period and gradually discover the secret that haunts him.

The controlled pace allows us to get to know and understand the characters as they face the sinister and mysterious events. Verging between the menace of a more corporeal threat versus an ethereal one, the tension is gradually ramped up through the book. As the incidents increase they take their toll on the inhabitants and the farm’s workers and gradually Mercy comes under more and more pressure and becomes more and more isolated.

The location could perhaps be credited as the third main character – the wilds of the moors, the remote location and the unforgiving weather all play their part. This isn’t a book that’s heavy on historical scene-setting – the period is obviously important for a number of reasons but it provides the backdrop to the story, rather than being the driver for it.

There was a point where I suspected that this might become something of a formulaic romance but while the relationship between the two main protagonists could take that direction the author kept the tone of the writing true to their personalities and anything that does (or doesn’t) happen avoids any predictable clichés. Both characters have their flaws but are immensely likeable and both are presented with situations which put them to the test.

The climax is thrilling and there was a sudden ‘aha’ moment which I hope I haven’t misinterpreted… A chilling and eerie story this is bound to make many lists as a ‘must read’ book for next Halloween.

Beautifully written atmospheric ghost story. Even though I guessed the twist I loved every minute of it.

The Coffin Path is an eerie tale that takes place on the Yorkshire Moors in the 17th century. It’s a hard place to live, the bleakness, the years after the war and its in a remote area that is reliant on good weather to make a decent living. And there is a rumour that has never gone away of an evil presence on the moors and especially at Scarcross Hall, the home of Mercy and her father.
The novel has two narrators. Ellis, who has recently arrived in the area and Mercy. Ellis has a barely hinted at past and at first Mercy doesn’t trust him. But, when all her regular workers abandon her he is one of her only allies. There isn’t much of his narration that covers the sinister events, apart from what happens with the livestock.
Mercy is the character who is affected most by what is happening. She can see her father’s health deteriorate with what is occurring as well as changing behavior of Sam, a young boy who lives nearby. Most of her narration had me warily looking over my shoulder and tensing at every noise I heard. If I had a fire screen it would have been removed from the house, it was one of the creepiest parts of the novel, and it brought me out in goosebumps more than once.
As well as being a ghost story it was also a historical one. The English Civil War had an impact on the area and many of the characters in the novel were affected by it. Some of them were living in poverty and suspicious of those who had a different religion. Many of the locals weren’t likeable, but living in fear of losing everything and listening to tales of witchcraft and unexplained occurences must have made a difficult situation to live in. I imagine that this was an accurate description for the time.
I enjoy a ghost story, but I have found it difficult lately to find one that kept me on edge. The Coffin Path has made up for recent disappointments, it is one of the eeriest books that I have read for a few years. And with the addition of historical fiction in a period of time that had an impact locally.
With thanks to the publisher for the copy received.

This is an atmospheric ghost story and the setting on a remote moor, adds to the isolation the main characters feel when facing the various strange occurrences at the hall. It is quite slow to start and you may guess the ending, although the final third of the book is a proper page turner. Mercy is a strong lead character and you do empathise with all she goes through. I was hoping for a more classic ghost story/chiller, however 'The Coffin Road' is well worth a read.

I write this review because i enjoyed the book and also because I was privileged to receive an early copy from Netgalley and the publisher; Headline Review. I took this volume on holiday to read during the nights when the heat of Italy would not let me sleep. By three o'clock I was chilled by the tale and thereafter I read it during the day. I was reminded of the the 19th century romantics and of course Suisan Hill. The moors so evocative of ghosts and treacherous old places of evil are well served by the authors clear prose and her subtle page turning plot. Bring on more I say - but next time I might wait for winter nights and a log fire with the door firmly bolted.
A good five star read.

Sometimes you get a good feeling when you start reading a book, like a gut instinct, that it's going to be good. 'The Coffin Path' is set on the moors and this atmosphere is the perfect place for a gothic story. The first scene dives straight into action with Mercy helping a ewe who is struggling to give birth. It's the beginning of a chilling story. When she's going home after helping the ewe Mercy feels like she is being followed, later on there is a hint that there has always been a curse at Scarcross Hall.

The beginning drew me in and I was hooked until the viewpoint change to a new character which also changed the tone of the story from the gothic but not for good. The mystery surrounding the new character soon kept me riveted allowing me to put my doubts aside and not stop reading until the surprising conclusion. I really enjoyed this book. It's a gothic ghost story with mystery and drama. The atmosphere and setting is amazing and the characters are people you will care about. It's one of those books where words fail me, how can I capture it in one sentence or paragraph? The one thing that stays with me besides the character of Mercy, is the imagery of the moors.

As a lover of both ghost stories and historical novels I was very much looking forward to this book.

This book is set in a 17th century village where superstitions abound despite the puritan church. Scarcross Hall sits on top of the moor casually employing both locals & transient workers for the lambing and harvesting periods. As her father is faltering through age the running of the farm falls to Mercy, a woman who is happier in men's clothing and amongst the livestock than with the typical womanly pursuits of the time. There have always been rumours about the Hall but strange happenings start to occur.

I love a good ghost story. I enjoy the suspense that builds throughout the book to a point that a door banging elsewhere in the house will make me jump. Unfortunately I felt that this ghost story really lacked suspense. Yes, there are lots of strange happenings - lambs found mutilated, handprints on the walls, missing items and so on. However, these just don't build up the atmosphere throughout the book. The actions were there but the suspense was lacking. I think much of the reason is down to the historical content.

In order to have a good book you need to have a good background in which to set the story. An excellent example of historical background can be seen in the works of Karen Maitland. In her books you can almost smell the early centuries in which they are set. Unfortunately the setting for this book was quite poor. In fact I did think throughout the book that this could have been set anywhere from the 14th century through to the Victorian age. I know that rural life didn't change overly much during this period but that is why the author needed to make this particular historical background stand out. The local church & pastor plan a significant part in this story but I never felt the stricture of the puritan church upon the lives of the pastor or people.

There are some good characters in this book - Mercy the daughter of the farm is a strong woman who tries to lead a man's life. I found it surprising in this period of history that no one in the village minded her dressing as a man & doing the man's work. Agnes, her old retainer, was also written quite well. Elias, a transient worker who plays a major part in this book, seemed as if he was a well written character until he had a massive personality change in the closing chapters. There had been no inkling of the personality change throughout the story so it came as a a big shock and really didn't work for me.

There are far too many loose ends at the closing of this book. We never get answers for many of the events which left me wondering why I had bothered. What had caused the lambs deaths? or the handprints? We find out what causes the dragging noises (actually quite obvious) but no explanation as to why.

All in all this was not a book I enjoyed. Although the characters weren't too bad, the historical background was poor, the suspense lacking and ending full of loose ends and holes. I won't be in any hurry to read another book by this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

An eerie, atmospheric read that re-uses many Gothic tropes and seems to draw inspiration especially from Wuthering Heights: the Yorkshire moors, the twisted family relationships, the 'big' house.

For me, it would have had more impact if the book had been shorter and tighter, and some of the descriptive writing tips over into over-heated purple prose, especially around the idea of witchy women. All the same, a compelling atmosphere of dread keeps the pages turning.

4 stars for this chilling ghost story set in seventeenth century Yorkshire.

The Coffin Path tells a menacing and absorbing story. The main character is Mercy Booth, a strong and unconventional woman in her early thirties. The third person narrative focuses mainly on her perspective but also on that of Ellis Ferreby, a man who enters the novel at its beginning as a mysterious stranger. From the beginning, the reader can sense that the meeting and developing relationship of these two characters is significant.

The setting is compelling: Scarcross Hall, the coffin path, the Yorkshire fells, and the standing stones known as the White Ladies dominate the story with their haunting wildness. It is a dangerous landscape:
'One wrong step can put a man in the peat bog, leave him sinking and drowning in thick black mire. One slip could send him tumbling into the brook: a broken bone, a stray rock, a body dragged down to the bridge in the village. Such things can end a man.'
More than this, there is a palpable sense of evil, particularly at the White Ladies and in Scarcross Hall.

It was only towards the very end of the book that, for me, the power of the horror slackened a little, perhaps because the ambition of the writing meant that there were very many plot-strands to be brought to a head all at once. Nevertheless, I recommend that you don't read any of this novel after dark (or in a remote house, or during a snow-storm...)

I was reminded at times of Wuthering Heights, and also of Laura Purcell's The Silent Companions, but The Coffin Path has its own strong voice and I am going to seek out other writing by Katherine Clements.

Excellent descriptive writing, the beauty of the landscape , the hard lives of those who live and work within it and the the malevolence stalking the family were all there. All the lies and deceits lead to a heartbreaking conclusion. Definitely a book club pick.

The title, cover and description of this book made me jump at the chance to read it - a ghost story set in the 17th century on the wild and unforgiving Yorkshire moors . What's not to like?

Mercy Booth lives with her father and housekeeper in Scarcross Hall, a once grand property, now neglected and run-down. Life is hard and sheep farming, the source of their income, a tough occupation in the often hostile environment. Mercy works hard, hands-on and all feminine fripperies forgotten, as her father becomes increasingly infirm and preoccupied with the strange things happening at Scarcross, a house with a troubled past.

The annual call for assistive labour brings Ellis Ferriby to Scarcross, a man who also has a secretive and troubled past, which is gradually revealed as the book goes on. His initial distance and aloofness gradually thaw as hIs help becomes invaluable to Mercy as more and more eerie happenings take place terrifying all at the hall.

I enjoyed the author's writing which was effectively descriptive and obviously well researched historically. I could appreciate the.hardship and struggle of living in that time. The characters were well described and believable. I can't say I was ever terrified but I was entertained and although I was a bit disappointed with the conclusion (the subject of the twist seems to have been used in so many other books, films and TVs dramas I could see it coming long before the end) the story gathered pace in an exciting way and I was eager to know the ending.