Cover Image: The Thin Place

The Thin Place

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Member Reviews

Loved The Thin Place such a great mystery which is a genre I enjoy can't wait to read more from CD Major

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‘Heaven and earth are only three feet apart, but in thin places that distance is even shorter.’ Celtic proverb
I’ve never heard of thin places and was intrigued by the thought. I gave this 4⭐️.
This horror thriller was just that. A horrifying bridge with a creepy manor looking over it and which is where most of the story takes place. It’s really hard to scare me but this one came close a few times. It’s well written all though disturbing and unsettling at times. And I enjoyed the twist at the end.
Thanks Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley.

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Well Written, Spooky and Atmospheric.

It would have been a 4-star read if it wasn't for the supernatural undertones/elements that didn't really need to be there and felt thrown in quite randomly. I mean, with a remote Scottish castle, the setting was just perfect and exquisitely atmospheric. The unexplained deaths were eerie, mysterious and sinister enough and I felt like there was absolutely no need for the supernatural stuff.
It was a bit slow, but overall I found it well written and entertaining (even if I couldn't stand Ava's character at all!).

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This story follows the lives of three women, from various generations, who are all linked together by one place - Overtoun House.
I found myself initially intrigued by this story, to being utterly captivated by the end. Perfectly paced with characters that are well developed throughout, this is certainly a book I shall be recommending to others.

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"The Thin Place" by C.D. Major is a novel that offers a blend of mystery and supernatural elements but falls short of fully capitalizing on its intriguing premise. The story follows journalist Ava Brent as she investigates the enigmatic Overtoun Estate, a place shrouded in myth and mystery.

The book's strengths lie in its atmospheric writing and the way it weaves the history of the estate into the narrative. Major effectively captures the eerie and unsettling atmosphere of Overtoun, making it a compelling setting for a paranormal mystery. The incorporation of the local legend of a 'thin place' adds an intriguing layer of mystique to the story.

However, while the atmosphere is well-executed, the pacing of the novel is uneven. The plot takes time to develop, and the suspenseful elements come into play relatively late in the story. Some readers may find themselves waiting for more substantial thrills and chills.

Additionally, the character development is somewhat lacking, making it challenging to fully invest in Ava's journey. The supernatural elements, while intriguing, are not fully explored or explained, leaving certain plot points feeling unresolved.

Overall, "The Thin Place" is a decent supernatural mystery with a compelling setting but could benefit from tighter pacing and more in-depth character development. It earns a three-star rating for its atmospheric writing and potential, but it may leave some readers wanting more in terms of plot and resolution.

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Whoa!!

I loved the sound of this book straight away. I was drawn to the creepy premise, which spoken to my lifelong love of horror books, but was pleasantly surprised to find this was so much more.

Told in alternating chapters from the POV of three women spanning three different eras and their unsettling connections to Overtoun house, this story completely drew me in. The stories are tragic, sad, terrifying, and captivating.

I absolutely love everything about this book. CD Major is a great writer who really knows how to keep her readers gripped. 10/10

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Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience

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"The Thin Place" is a novel that attempts to delve into the realms of supernatural and psychological suspense, but falls short of its potential. While the premise is intriguing and the atmospheric descriptions are well-crafted, the pacing of the story feels uneven and the plot lacks the necessary depth to fully captivate the reader. The characters, though initially promising, don't receive enough development to make them truly compelling. While the book has its moments of suspense and intrigue, it ultimately doesn't quite reach the heights it aspires to. Overall, "The Thin Place" is a decent read for fans of supernatural mysteries, but falls short of delivering a truly memorable or gripping experience.

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1.5 stars

A complete miss for me.

This was a backlist NetGalley title that I’m glad to cross off my list but in hindsight, it should have been a DNF. I was hoping for an intriguing, gothic mystery but this failed to deliver on any aspect of that.

There were three women narrating three timelines. From the start the perspective changes felt choppy and lacked flow. I didn’t like the main character from the present day and she set a negative tone for me throughout. I did find one of the past timelines intriguing and it was what kept me curious enough to continue reading. Unfortunately that piece of the novel wasn’t enough to make it enjoyable.

Before starting the book, I knew there would be difficulty with the death of dogs as part of the main storyline but there were unnecessary details included that made my stomach churn. I do not recommend this book to animal lovers (or anyone for that matter!) - it’s uncomfortable and upsetting on many levels.

Overall, this was not a winner for me and I cannot recommend it. Thank you to the publisher for my digital review copy!

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This is a delightfully strange story. You won’t know what’s going on. Told from two POVs and and timeframes. You won’t know who one of the narrators are until close to the very end.

Things seem to be stalled but don’t be fooled, just keep reading.

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DNF

There was not enough for me to keep reading, I felt like I was trying to will the book to life and it continued to fall short

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I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Great mystery/drama novel. Highly recommend.

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With some gothic elements this story had me intrigued enough to keep reading but unfortunately didn't love it. I was hoping for a darker read with a bit more thriller & more from the historical element, but I felt it backed off a little in favour of keeping things safe making for a slower read.

I'm usually a fan of multiple timelines but I didn't feel there was enough from the past & the Constance timeline telegraphed the Munchausen storyline rather than building the suspense.

The writing style is good, I'd just have liked a little more bite.

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This book was everything I look for in a book. It was so exciting. The plot was fantastic. It really had me on the edge of my seat, and my heart racing. It was very well written and flowed well.

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The Thin Place is written from the point of view of three women in three different periods of time. It is about the mystery surrounding the Overtoun Estate which is a real place in Scotland. The title refers to the "thin place" between the real world and the spiritual world and it's great to see how the author brings the story of these three women together in such a creepy, mysterious way!

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I was instantly intrigued by the concept of this book. A thin place is a Celtic term for places where the boundaries between the afterlife and Earth are...well, thinner. I'm a huge sucker for gothic stories, and this book did not disappoint. Definitely a fun read with some nice twists and great characterization. I would definitely read more by this author.

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The Thin Place by CD Major is a slow burning mystery thriller revolving around an old mansion called the Overtoun Estate. The title The Thin Place refers to the place where heaven and earth meet, where the veil is lifted. The story alternates from the POV’s of three different characters; Marion in 1929, Constance in 1949 and Ava in the current day.

Marion is unhappily married to Hamish West, Constance is a sick bedridden child and Ava is a reporter working on a piece about the estate. The Overtoun Estate is the thread that binds these three together and throughout the entire book you feel the large house looming in the background ever present. In this way, the estate is a character in and of itself.

I found the storyline started off slowly but once it got going I was invested in what was going on. The author writes the alternating POV’s seamlessly from past to present day. She does a good job at leaving one chapter off at a little cliffhanger before starting another.

Now while I enjoyed reading The Thin Place, I did have some qualms. First of all, I do have to mention trigger warnings for child abuse, dog death and death of a loved one as this was a very heavy read. I even found that an unnecessary scene was added at the end of the book almost in order to really get the reader before the final page is turned.

Also there was an awkwardness between Ava and her mother. It just didn’t sit quite right with me and the main issue between them felt almost forced as far as how her mother was behaving.

Unfortunately the reason given that Ava was drawn to Overtoun Estate made no sense to me. I felt a little bit cheated with that. Also of note, the Overtoun Estate is a real place in Scotland, I thought that was interesting.

While I had some issues with this one I think if you enjoy dark, mysterious thrillers that move at a slower pace, you might enjoy The Thin Place by CD Major. Even though I had a few qualms with it, I was up late nights reading and I enjoyed the creepy atmosphere surrounding the estate.

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I’d like to thank NetGalley for approving me for an ARC of this book. I found the audio version on Scribd so opted for a listen this time.

This was the first book by C.D. Major that I have read but it certainly won’t be my last. Told from three POV and a dual timeline story there was plenty of mystery and intrigue from the start. I also loved the authors notes at the end where she explains this is based on real stories.

I didn’t care much for Ava, her obsession with the thin place and complete lack for her own wellbeing irritated me at times. I could understand why her family were so frustrated with her. I was also frustrated with her mother too as if she’d been honest with Ava then maybe she wouldn’t of felt the need to go investigating herself.

Marion and Constance’s stories were dark and deeply disturbing. I had figured out what was happening quite early on and as the story proved my predictions right I couldn’t help but feel for both the characters. Some might find it easier to side with Constance and yes what she went through was horrendous but I could also understand what bought Marion to that point.

This was a dark and twisted tale that I absorbed in one day. It was an easy story to follow and great to listen to. Would definitely recommend to fellow mystery lovers who like a bit of history thrown in.

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Another example of a drama masquerading as a thriller. There were elements of the gothic here but not enough to elevate the plot to something more than average. Not for me I'm afraid

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A great read, a pageturner, descriptive, atmospheric, it was chilling and full of suspense. Wanted to read in 1 go.

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