From the premise of the book, I was really looking forward to reading The Lighthouse. However I have mixed feelings about it. Firstly I felt there were too many characters so you never fully got to know any of them in depth. Secondly whilst the book did deliver a certain degree of atmosphere throughout the pages, I just felt the book wasn’t really getting anywhere. It was far too long and the ending was subpar. I would rate this book 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 as I was compelled to finish it. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and the author for the chance to review.

** “The lighthouse stands, as always, proud and silent; but now I wonder if it is pride. Or whether it’s guilt that makes it stand so tall, so defiant.” **

Fran Dorricott creates an intriguing thriller with “The Lighthouse,” a story of isolation, regrets and hidden secrets.

When several university friends come together at a lighthouse on a Scottish island, they think they’re in for a fun 10-year reunion weekend. Kira is there to photograph the lighthouse for a magazine. Joining her are wives Moira and Jesse, James, and couple Lucas and Genevieve, who is not an original member of the friend group.

As both items and people begin to go missing, the group quickly realizes they’re not going to have the restful, peaceful respite they thought they were going to have. Instead they must battle the stormy elements and their stormy personalities and pasts to discover the island’s secrets.

Telling each chapter from one of three characters’ perspectives — Kira, Genevieve and Moira — Dorricott develops a cast of characters that are actually quite unlikable, but extremely intriguing. She also creates a suspenseful plot filled with twists and turns with “never saw that coming” moments.

This book does contain a lot of language. I mean, a lot of language … to the point I felt it almost unnecessarily bogged down the storyline at times.

Fans of authors like Ruth Ware and Agatha Christie, or novels like “The Lost Village” by Camilla Sten, will enjoy “The Lighthouse.”

Four stars out of five.

Avon provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Creepy and menacing, the dominating presence of the lighthouse hangs over this novel, almost becoming a character in its own right.

The Lighthouse is a psychological thriller, packed with mystery and suspense. There are twists and turns around every corner, and for a book set across a span of just a few days, the mounting tension is managed expertly.

Despite limited characters and the setting of just the deserted, wild island, the plot moves along at pace and keeps the reader engrossed in the story. If anything, this chilling book is a masterclass in minimalist writing.

The characters are complex and varied. Despite their apparent closeness, it quickly becomes clear that there are more than a few cracks beneath the surface of this tight-knit group. From bitterness and arguments to old rivalries rearing up again, there is tension from the very start.

There are also elements of the classic Gothic horror story, with unexplained disappearances and spine-tingling ghost stories throughout. Of course, though, the creeping atmosphere of both the island and the lighthouse really help to bring the atmosphere into the spotlight. The result is a gripping, immersive read that will keep you up reading long into the night!

The Lighthouse follows 6 friends as they escape for a weekend getaway on a remote scottish island in a newly renovated lighthouse. As the weekend progresses and spooky things start happening the underlying tension within the group starts to bubble to the surface with old secrets and resentments rearing their ugly heads.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere and haunting elements to the book and think the author is very talented with her prose style however I didn't really end up loving the book because the characters drove me up the WALL lol. They were honestly all so annoying and concieted (with the exception of Genevieve - she was definitely my favourite).

I was initially sold on this book because I enjoyed the authors other book Wild and Wicked things and loved the idea of a remote scottish island and also heard it had an established lesbian couple. I did really love the setting of the book, the creepy huanting aspects of the lighthouse and surrounding barren landscape were done really well and the ghostly elements were also really enjoyable and left a lot of mystery which I think made it even creepier.

However as already mentioned I was not a big fan of the characters. The drama between them just felt like a bunch of teenage drama but trying to be adult and just needed a bit of healthy communication. I'm also not sure I understood why these people were friends because they all seemed to lowkey hate each other lol. I also was a bit annoyed by one of the characters Moira, who I think the author was trying to create a character who worked hard as a parent and just wanted a weekend off (which is very well deserved and all parents should have time off!!) but instead it came across like she hated her kid and resented her wife for waning to talk about her.

Overall I did like reading this despite getting annoyed with the characters but don't think I would ever reread it. However I think if you are a fan of spooky thrillers with great atmospheres and simmering slowly unfurling mystery you would enjoy it.

There were elements of this novel I really enjoyed - the remote, claustrophobic setting, the shifting viewpoints that were still clear and easy to follow, and the uneasy dynamic of a group of formerly close friends with secrets.
That being said, there were some things I struggled with in this story. First, despite the shifting viewpoints, I didn't feel like I really knew most of the characters. Also, none of the characters were particularly likeable - not the biggest issue if the characters are at least interesting, but these ones just kind of fell flat. I don't want to give away any spoilers, so I'll just say that the elements which were intended to be creepy or frightening were not - except the setting itself. I wasn't a fan of the ending either.
Overall, it was written well and was a quick read - but not one I will likely re-read or recommend.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the advance copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I was intrigued by this book as I love lighthouses, and initially I was drawn by the creepy atmosphere which the author creates very well. There are some good descriptions of the desolate location in which the book is set. However, I found the characters all irritating and unlikeable, and the storyline is unbelievable. The author seems to treat the 1980s like the Victorian era (as indeed do the characters) I found the ending disappointing.

Six long time friends go on a weekend getaway together to catch up and have a break from their everyday lives. They fall upon the chance to stay in a lighthouse on an island, where they will be the only inhabitants for the whole weekend. It sounds ideal, but in reality, the island is wild, and the lighthouse has a very sinister feel from the get-go... have they made the right choice of location, and will they all come back?
I thoroughly enjoyed this. I could not stop reading. The setting was absolutely fantastic. It was wild, aggressive and with the threats of mother nature and the group being the first set of people to stay there in a very long time, it really felt like dangerous, unchartered territory.
Told from three different perspectives, you got a real feel for the characters, but I liked that you were restricted from knowing what the others were thinking so it kept a real whodunit vibe.
I was not sure where this was going to go. I liked the not knowing, I didn’t guess any of the outcomes which I found wholly refreshing.
If you like a good claustrophobic thriller, this is the one to read. I sped through the pages drinking in the atmosphere and plot with absolute glee. The characters are all relatable and the real mix means that there will be someone every reader can identify with. An excellent page turner!

When Kira has the opportunity to visit a remote Scottish Island with a lighthouse and a potential holiday cottage company as a work project she sees it as a perfect opportunity to invite 5 University friends for a reunion. They've met since Uni but it seems a great idea to have a long weekend and catch up with each other. Or does it? Soon tensions are rising between them all and when James goes missing they start arguing with each other. But later James is found but seems different. Items start going missing from the cottage and everyone starts accusing everyone else. By the end of the weekend all becomes clear but as the reader I wondered if these toxic friendships would be the same again, and also why they remained as friends after uni as none of them really seemed to like each other
I loved the setting of the book, the descriptions of the setting was very atmospheric, the storyline was tense with enough suspense to make me want to read just one more page.

I loved the setting and the story! The lighthouse was the perfect place for the reunion and it gave off such creepy vibes. I couldn’t put it down and definitely recommend it!

Scotland is an evocative country, enshrouded in mystery and legends, one of my favourite countries to visit. When I read that it is the setting for this book, I was immediately intrigued. Not only that but much of the story is centered around a lighthouse (which are fascinating in themselves). I happily settled down with what promised to be a book dripping with atmosphere and suspense.

A motley crew of six thirty-something friends reunite at an isolated refurbished/repurposed lighthouse. So far so good. But one of their goals was to get drunk, very juvenile. Rather than friends the characters interacted with tension and angst. Part of it was the stories surrounding the lighthouse and general area but you would think after not seeing each other for years at least a few would enjoy being together. But they didn't. James went missing the first night, terrifying the others into thinking he may be dead. When he is found the next morning, he looks frightened and not his usual self. He blames it on drunkenness. Other occurrences scare them, too. The ending is well done though somewhat anticlimactic.

My favourite aspect is the setting. The call of Scotland is irresistible. But what was unbelievable to me were that the odd occurrences were not really explained. The characters were immature and angry.

My sincere thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this mysterious book. I enjoyed it to a point but did not love it, unfortunately.

Ten years on, old college friends get together for a week-end in an old lighthouse on an island off the coast somewhere north of Inverness. Ghosties, ghoulies and wee dramas or should that be not so wee drams? Sounded good. But, oh dear, memo to self 'do not request more ten years on old college friends' reunions .....' They were drunk before they arrived, they drank an awful lot and seemed to be drunk most of the time; they kept mislaying things which then turned up; they groaned about lack of mobile signals; they drank a bit more; they argued with each other, again.; they'd not thought to ask about how to use the radio, the only means to contact the mainland; one torch between them (+plus those on their phones of course). I reckon that they'd never been north of the M25 and seriously wondered how on earth they had remained friends, or were even friends in the first place. The descriptions of the island and lighthouse were good however, and realistic although I've never found lonely places frightening; towns/cities - now they are frightening. A few sad stories about former occupants of the lighthouse, hardly ghosties; mostly rather predicatable I'm afraid and, as I don't want to introduce spoilers, the ending is bizarre and out of left-field at one level. At another, totally predictable. Sorry, not for me after all, probably the wrong generation or something, especially as my old college friends and I have just had a 50 year reunion. Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

A very atmospheric storyline told from different points of view. They are the first group to stay at the recently refurbished lighthouse but the friendship are already strained from the beginning. A locked door, a missing bottle of wine and a missing person had me turning the pages to get to the bottom of it all. Very enjoyable

A mixed bag for me. Having read The Hunting Party and The Guest List, I found this book quite similar, but with fewer dead bodies.. A group of friends who used to be close are reunited for a weekend away. One starts behaving strangely, things begin to be misplaced or stolen and unexplained events are commonplace, Well-written, but a little cliche for me.

This was really tense in places and a very good read. Familiar plot line and structure but good enough to stand alone and for me to look for the authors other books.

The author's clunky attempts to build up tension by mentioning (multiple times) scary stories one of the characters had told, without saying what the stories were, didn't work. James going missing, missing items that came back, the locked room was suddenly open - all were damp squibs. Just by saying something is scary doesn't make it so. The female characters who had alternate chapters were indistinguishable from each other. The so-called group of friends were squabbling from the beginning - the only thing they agreed on was to get drunk. The plot was tired, predictable and unoriginal and the ending did not make sense. I lost interest half way through and skipped to the end. Try M.R. James or Susan Hill if you want a real thriller.

This is one fantastic gripping read a ride you will want to get onboard, 6 Friends or 5 plus the girlfriend but i feel that's unfair on Genevieve she's Lucas's girlfriend and has been allowed to tag along. They are from London and are heading to a Scottish island with a lighthouse for a long weekend..

So as you can guess or have probably read it's not as relaxing as expected and things definitely didn't run to plan which is good as it's a thriller so no disappointments there. James goes AWOL after heading of to collect a box of matches on the first night and after frantic searches he reappears I wouldn't tell you that apart for its in the Wright up so not a spoiler on my part. But something is wrong and that would be a spoiler if i told you so read on it's definitely worth it the thriller not necessarily my review but please read this as well as I'm taking the time to do it for you 🙂.

The friends met at Uni and now in their 30's are getting together for a freebie break and a chance to reconnect as they continue to make their pathways into life. They are each great characters in their own ways and fun to get to know, mind James the jury's still out on Him but we need Him for the plot so it's good he's there. Guess he's the loner of the pack but they all mold together to create a fantastic trail that will grip your seat to the edge of your sofa or where ever your reading and keep you guessing. As I've hinted I really enjoyed this and can't think of any reason it can't be 5 stars I hope you feel the same.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy.
I found this story to be a bit drawn out and perhaps it's a generational thing but I did not warm to the characters at all. The plot is about a group of people who were friends at university and have remained friends who get together for a reunion on a small Scottish island that is home to a lighthouse that has been turned into a holiday home. Things do not go right from the first night and from then on we are exploring the relationships between the group members and their fears. The author tries to create an aura of eeriness and fear but for me does not succeed. That being said the book is well written and I did feel the need to finish it to see the story to its ending.

Thank you for NetGalley for providing me with this book for review.

What an absolute blast of a read, it's so atmospheric, tense and creepy, I was totally gripped and couldn't read it quick enough. A new author for me, I have already ordered another of her books.

1. I'm a sucker for Agatha Christie vibe books and so whenever I stumble upon something that gives off those vibes, I'll pick it up and so it goes without saying, I had high hopes for this book.

2. The setting was good, I loved the remote island vibes with the creepy lighthouse (not sure why it was creepy but the characters insisted it was) and the ghost stories and I was excited to see where it was all heading, alas, it headed nowhere.

3. The book started quite well but slowed down to a point where it felt like it was going nowhere but I kept on reading, hoping for some revelation or something that will push the pace forward; that didn't happen.

4. I honestly didn't understand how these old friends are friends at all, there was no chemistry between them whatsoever, nothing that could suggest that they're old friends who stayed in touch for that long.

5. The ending was probably the worst part about this book and I honestly don't understand why the author chose it instead of something that could've probably redeemed the book.

Not my cup of tea but might be your cup of coffee :)

I received a gifted copy of ‘The Lighthouse’ by Fran Dorricott in return for my honest review. I took part in the cover reveal for this book, so I was really keen to read.

This book follows a group of friends as they are going on a weekend away to catch up on the island of Ora, where there is a converted lighthouse.

On the journey ghost stories were told, which had some of the friends spooked right from the start.
Then on the first night one of them goes missing and although he is found, seems to be acting strangely.

Personal belongings keep going missing, so the group start to wonder whether there is something paranormal on the island.

The tension builds causing them to air their differences, whilst they are trying to unravel the secrets of the island.

Is the island haunted? Will they survive the weekend?

I enjoyed reading this book and I liked that it was told by three points of view. The characters chosen gave you an insight into most of the groupings within the friends, so it was a varied point of view.

There was plenty of mystery throughout and was very eerie as the group of friends suspect the island is haunted.

I don’t think I really related to any of the characters but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy following their story and discovering their secret and the islands.

Overall, an eerie and tense thriller where a group of friends must unravel the mystery behind the island of Ora.