Thank you Netgalley, Laura Eliot and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to give my unbiased opinion of this book.
It was a good story but not a great one. I like Laura Elliot's style of writing but found some of the situations she describes a bit far fetched.. Cornelia, the dummy, was an inspired idea..
I would like to read another Laura Elliot book.

Thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for the ARC which I received in exchange for my honest review. The Tinderbox is an aptly named novel. The author does a great job of setting a scene that is so volatile that it could explode with just the slightest provocation. The book starts out with a call being made to authorities by a young girl who is on danger. How did this young girl find herself in danger and will she make it out alive? Read on.

Narrated in alternating points of view, the book works backwards from the call to explain how Sophy and her daughters find themselves to be at Hyland Hall caring for the mysterious, Jack Hyland. There is a real sense of gothic foreboding in the novel including a creepy ventriloquist doll!

If you are looking for an old school suspense replete with a crumbling mansion, dubious characters with questionable motives and hidden agendas, check out The Tinderbox.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I was left a bit muddled with this one. The beginning really dragged me in and I couldn't wait to get started.
Sophies relationship with her husband has fallen apart due to his addiction to gambling. With no money, and no house, Sophie takes a job as a live-in nurse for Jack Hyland. With her two daughters she moves into the derelict home which has been ravished by disasters.
The setting is brilliant and adds atmosphere as well as acting as a problem topic between mother and daughter.
After the start though I started to loose interest a bit. The plot is dragged out and it turns from being a slow burner to their being too much detail where it is not needed. The ending is also made WAY too long, and I started to get a bit fed up.
I also wouldn't be able to categorise this book properly. It's not really a thriller, its not really a romance, nor a mystery. In fact I guesses the whole 'mystery' very very quickly which put me off a bit.
The use of different narratives is carried out well, and I especially enjoyed the glimpses into the past through Jack.
All in all it is not a bad book, however, I wouldn't read it again.

I love this author’s style of writing and have her read past work. Whilst I enjoyed this book I did guess the ending about halfway through which was abit of a disappointment however it still is a good read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Tinderbox is a psychological thriller crossed with a contemporary gothic-tinged mystery, and I found it compelling right from the start as it opens with a bang. The story begins with a newsflash on Southern Stream FM where host Gavin Darcy informs listeners that the station had received a call in the early morning hours from a young girl who claimed to be being held at gunpoint, but the call was disconnected before she could state her location and it is believed that a shot was fired before the call abruptly ended. We are then introduced to Sophy Kingston whose marriage to Luke has all but disintegrated due to his gambling addiction. When a prospective buyer comes for a viewing of the house she must sell, she is offered a chance at a fresh start working as a live-in nurse for the reclusive Jack Hyland, who was severely disfigured in a fire that ripped through the stables on his estate. Sophy and her two daughters, 14-year-old Isobel and 10-year-old Julie, make the move from Dublin to dilapidated Hyland Hall in Clonmoore near Cork in Ireland, but Jack’s nephew Victor Coyne soon makes it clear that his uncle will not be needing her as he is to live in a nursing home.

However, she has an employment contract drawn up by Jack's solicitor, which is legally binding, and Victor concedes. The two girls are creeped out by the mansion and plead with Sophy to leave but she needs this opportunity more than ever. When Jack returns home, having been discharged from hospital, he imposes rules and states that they should never venture upstairs. As the girls' discontent with their new home grows, so does the tension and no one could have known the devastation the soon to be revealed secrets would cause. This is a sinister, compulsive and atmospheric thriller with a whole lot of tension and a thoroughly enthralling plot. The suspense was ratcheted up little by little as the story progressed, and I never would have guessed the skeletons in the closet that were about to be exposed. It is told from the perspectives of Sophy and Isobel giving a fully rounded experience of life inside Hyland Hall, and I found the characterisation really impressive. I felt for the two youngsters as I know I wouldn't like living in a chilling-looking house and you could feel their fear on every page. Highly recommended.

I was excited to read this as the premise sounded like something I would enjoy and all the reviews I had seen. I have to say, I just thought it was okay. I found it moved very slowly and was too long. I didn’t really care for the characters and couldn’t connect with any of them.

Not sure I would read this author again. Just wasn’t my thing.

2.5/5 but rounded to 3 for the rating system.

Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the eARC.

What a journey I've just been on as I visited Hyland Hall with Sophy, Isobel and Julia.
Sophy and her husband Luke have recently split up and finding herself about to become homeless due to his gambling debts she takes on a job nursing an old man who has been injured in a fire at his stables in Hyland Hall. She moves herself and the girls into his ramshackle mansion.
The story is told from Sophy, Isobel and Jack's perspective as they try to settle into their new life.
I felt it was a little slow to get going but once it did I struggled to stop reading and put it down.
Another fantastic book by Laura.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title

An emergency call to the local police regarding a possible hostage situation launches this psychological thriller. Sophia, a mother with two daughters, moves to the countryside for a new beginning, after her marriage breaks down. Their new residence is a decrepit manor house, whose frail elderly owner hires her as his nurse. The two daughters react very differently to their new surroundings and imposed rules, as the tension mounts until a dramatic and unexpected finale. The story is told from two characters’ perspectives and draws you in slowly. Whilst the characters and plot are well developed, the tension is a slow burn until the surprising family revelations that herald dramatic action. This is my first experience of Laura Elliot novels and I enjoy it with its gothic horror sentiment. Overall, a rating of three and a half stars. Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the eBook copy for review purposes.

Wow. The Tinderbox was a slow burn of a build up but did not disappoint. The characters developed easily and I began to love the interchanged isobel and sophy narrative as it leant a depth to their family dynamic. Overall it was a lovely story of love lost, found and a lesson that family isn’t always what it seems. I couldn’t put it down.
Thank you netgalley Laura Elliot and bookouture for giving me the pleasure of reading this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of “The Tinderbox” in exchange for my honest review.

This book was difficult to put down. It is told through the voices of Sophy and her older daughter Isobel. Another portion of the book is Jack Hyland’s memoir. Sophy Kingston and her daughters Isobel (14) and Julie (10) move to Hyland Hall in Clonmoore about 1 hour from Cork, Ireland. The girls are not happy about having to move from Dublin after their parents marriage fell apart because of their dad’s gambling.

Sophy is a nurse and she is charged with taking care of Jack Hyland who was seriously burned when trapped in his stables. He’s reluctant to meet with his nephew Victor Coyne who lives next door. He spends a fair bit of the book trying to charm Sophy and win over her daughters.

The underlying theme of the book can be what happens when plain old greed takes over common sense and the destruction it leaves in its wake.

The Tinderbox by Laura Elliott
The Tinderbox is a fantastic psychological thriller, and I really enjoyed it.
You are straight into the storyline when a young girl makes a call to the emergency services, then we go back in time a bit to learn the story of Sophy and her two daughters Julie and Isobel, who are starting a new life after divorce. Sophy is a nurse and Jack needs care following an accident so Sophy moves her family into Jack's home.
I really enjoyed getting to know the characters, and felt they were well written, and I really got to know them well. I loved the rural Irish setting of this book, and felt the author did a brilliant job building this storyline, and I enjoyed this book more and more with each page.
This was my first book by this author, and I very much want to read more of her books.

A dark creepy read. The first half of this book seems to set the scene for the second half. There are a few tense moments and a few surprises. It is a good read but I was not caught up in the story the way I like to be.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Wonderful! This author never disappoints. Compelling, heart warming, thought provoking with several twists. A beautifully written, poignant, pacy story of loss, betrayal, heartache, family and above all love. Very highly recommend this brilliant book from this incredible author who raises the (very high) bar with each book. Just fabulous. Please read this one.

A great plot with well written characters and suspense that held my attention to the end. I could feel the wide range of emotions as I was reading. I highly recommend The Tinderbox to others interested in this category as it’s well worth the read.

This fine novel has the tropes of strangeness: the dilapidated old manor house; the shop mannequin with a high-pitched voice; the remote marshy lake; the friend who drives a hearse; the reclusive old man who has returned from the dead not once, but three times. It is a novel which thrives on its strangeness.
Hyland Hall is a place of fear and dread. The writing is compelling, tense and brilliant. As secrets and lies are revealed the pace gains momentum for an unforgettable finale. The clever character arcs would be the envy of any writer.

Oh wow. I haven't read any Laura Elliot novels before but this one........... I've read until 03:13am cos I couldn't put it down and needed to finish it before I sleep! The Tinderbox is full of different emotions - heartache, new love, sadness, loneliness, thrills, fear. It's told by Sophy, the mum, Jack, mum's employer and Isobel mum's daughter. We learn that Sophy's youngest daughter, Julie can only express get true emotions and thoughts through the help of Cornelia, her ventriloquist dummy who also turns out to be a heroine in her own right but there is so much more to this story than meets the eye.

The Tinderbox - Laura Elliot

The story begins with a young girl being held at gunpoint calling the garda.
Sophy and Lukes' marriage has broken down and they have lost everything to Lukes gambling addiction.
Sophy is offered a lifeline,  home and wage for both her and her two daughters, in return for caring as a nurse for the disfigured Jack Hyland.
We follow the family and events that lead them to the hostage situation. The author slowly revealing secrets and the undercurrents that build to the horrific standoff.
I found this book slow starting however, it really does build the tension and once the plot begins to unfold it's a real page turner.
The different perspectives the author has used are interesting a different give a really comprehensive understanding of events. Told from the mother Sophys perspective the thoughts and feelings are more restricted, giving the feeling something is held back and the reader wouldn't get the full setting of the family dynamic. But with the added perspective of her teenage daughter this gives a raw and emotional edge to the story.
The addition of Jack's journals are a perfect narrative and really help to build tension.
The running theme throughout this book that looks can be deceptive is intriguing. The subject is handled so well. I found myself surprisingly becoming really good of the characters despite appearances or the initial introductions.
Addictions also addressed as a theme a d is handled with sensitivity but also keeping a very real edge
It is a real dark and atmospheric read. It's really quite spooky in places, the suggestions.of really harrowing events and the foreboding setting make for a tense and suspenseful read. The addition of Cordelia the mannequin was really clever to add to the sinister vibe. I found myself on more than one occasion referencing the legend of Dr Faustus and questioning how far a person would go to get what they want. Also the 'people are not what they may seem' topic frequently had me comparing or thing of 'A picture of Dorian Grey'
In all this thriller although dark and twisty covers many different avenues, family, love (even romance), revenge, prosperity, morals and much more. I found it really thought provoking awswell as an excellent read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the pre release. I look forward to exploring many more of Laura Elliots' books.

Absolutely adored this book. I have literally been unable to put this one down and have completely devoured this entire book in just one sitting. Sophy had it all- two daughters and a loving husband... That is until he gambled it away and left them with absolutely nothing.
This has been a captivating read which has gripped me from very early on. I have found myself addicted and have devoured the entire book in just one sitting. This is definitely a page-turner which keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I have really felt for Sophy in this one, her husband caused the change in circumstances and on occasions this book has given me shivers. The setting of Hyland Hall has an eeriness about it and really has heightened the curiosity of this book.
This is a well-written plot which has been completely unique to anything I have read previously. There is no way I saw the ending coming and have been left completely shocked by this one. I love anything set in Ireland so this has been a winner for me.
This is a definite five star read and one I highly recommend. I cannot wait to read more by this author.

I absolutely loved this book from Laura Elliot , great story and well written. Not the first I’ve read from this author and it doesn’t disappoint. I look forward to the next from herb

This book could be a good deal shorter. There is just too much detail where it is unwarranted and the ‘ending’ went on far too long and was completely unbelievable. There is simply no way that the children would have been released to anyone while the siege was ongoing.

It didn’t really fit into any category properly. It’s not romantic enough to be a proper romance but it’s not a thriller either. It doesn’t know what it is- I think this is why I struggled with it.

I quite liked the character of Isobel, but she was the best of a weak, silly, bunch.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.