I really enjoyed this book and was thrilled to get an advanced copy. Catriona Ward is a new auto-buy author for me!

On the outside Rob looks like she is living an idyllic life. She is a teacher and a mother to two daughters named Cassie and Annie. However appearances are often deceiving.
Rob’s marriage is toxic. She and her husband Irving fight constantly and the arguments get quite nasty. Also Rob fears that her eldest daughter Cassie could potentially harm her younger sister.
In an effort to deal with her daughter’s problems Rob takes Cassie back to the desert where Rob still owns Sundial her childhood home.
The story goes back and forth in time. Rob’s strange upbringing at Sundial is revealed. She grew up with her father and her twin sister as well her father’s companion.
Catriona Ward’s description of the desert landscape was vivid. I could feel the heat and isolation of Sundial. I found SUNDIAL to be somewhat disturbing and unsettling. However that is to be expected with a psychological horror story.
Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced digital edition of this book.

SUNDIAL by Catriona Ward
Publication: 3/1/22 by Macmillan Tor-Forge / Nightfire

A beautifully crafted gothic horror story that transitions to a psychological thriller. In a seemingly perfect suburban setting an extremely dysfunctional family arrives at the boiling point. Rob has tried to be the perfect wife and mother, but the situation is increasingly untenable, Her husband Irving is both physically and emotionally abusive culminating in
horrific fights, stemming from his unbridled anger issues. She knows he is having multiple affairs …. even with her only friend, the next store neighbor. Infidelity is the least of Rob’s problems. The older daughter, Callie, has a collection of treasured animal bones and converses with an imaginary friend. Although not observed , she suspects these animals have been killed by her daughter. When her younger daughter, Annie, almost overdoses on pill, the suspicion falls on Callie as the culprit. These acts resonate with Rob, drawing similarities with her own fraternal sister, Jack …. and harken back to their unusual childhood, cloaked with secrets while growing up at “Sundial” in the Mojave Desert. Rob flees from her home, taking Callie with her to ancestral home in the desert. She hopes this will allow her to converse and bond with Callie … away from the toxic environment created by Irving. Meanwhile, Callie is extremely wary of her mother, with ideas planted in her head by Irving. She feels she is not loved by her “unstable” mother. Irving was a master at playing psychological games with both his wife and daughters. At the Sundial desert setting, the bizarre story of her mother’s upbringing is unfolded to Callie ….this proves to be tense and intriguing. Their childhood was far from conventional and disturbing, resulting in emotional scars. Their upbringing was as much an experiment, as those imposed upon the guinea pigs, dogs and coyotes that were kept on the farm by her “hippie” scientist “parents”. Many secrets are hinted at, revealing her own extremely dysfunctional family unit. Has Rob’s heritage been genetically passed down to Callie?
Ward crafts a masterful twisted tale, woven in a convoluted tapestry of secrets and insinuations that incrementally ratchet up the tension that explodes in an unexpected thrilling denouement. This tale is permeated by an atmosphere of dread and impending doom, that is maintained to the last page. Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.

I just finished this book and wow was it good. I loved the story and the pacing was impeccable, the slow build to the climax was so masterfully done. It had a building of dread and doom that pulled you in and didn’t let you go. I recorded this book for free on NetGalley and recommend it to anyone who likes a good story that will keep you in suspense. I’m now a huge fan Catronia Ward.

3.5
I have to say I was a little bit disappointed by this one.
As someone who absolutely LOVED The Last House on Needless Street (it was on of my favorite books of 2021), this just didn’t live up to the expectations that I had.
Catriona Ward’s writing is very engaging and mesmerizing, but I just didn’t get sucked into the story as much as I wanted to.
The animal cruelty in this is just not for me, it’s a pretty big part of the story too, so it’s not something I could just skip and avoid.
I liked the creepy kid vibes that I was getting, but in the end it didn’t quite reach the potential that I thought it had.
I did enjoy most of the story, which was slightly confusing and weird, but it just didn’t live up to her previous story for me.

Sundial is a violent and graphic thriller with plenty of twists but not much substance.

I thoroughly enjoyed Catriona Ward's previous novel The Last House on Needless Street. While both books rely on dark themes and multiple perspectives, Sundial fails to replicate the delicate peeling back of layers that made TLHoNS's revelations rewarding. Sundial also suffers from my biggest complaint about TLHoNS: slow and convoluted narration in the early chapters.

Sundial follows Rob and her young daughter, Callie, as they journey to Rob's childhood home in the Mojave desert. Callie has been demonstrating some disturbing behaviors and Rob is worried that her dark family history may be repeating. The mother/ daughter dynamic is one of the most interesting elements as we get their dueling perspectives careening towards bloody conflict. Yet the isolated, derelict setting, with its abandoned runs and mysterious labs squanders its potential to be the third character in the narrative. The lurking ghosts of the past and hinted at horrors never truly emerge to threaten or disrupt the action. The story eventually stumbles upon the question of hereditary violence, but doesn't create any meaningful discussion or insights Instead the narrative relies on graphic depictions of violence and tired genre cliches to power its final act.

Content warnings: I might have avoided this novel if I knew the extent of animal cruelty depictions. Also: graphic violence, domestic abuse, forced miscarriage and cheating.

Sundial reminds me of a horror version of The Thirteenth Tale. I recommend that as a more nuanced story of creepy twins.

This was an amazing introduction to this author, the twists and turns will surely engross you. For the majority of the book I swore I knew what was happening, but the it was all laid out and unfolded so gracefully.

Okay Catriona Ward, your mind is unmatched! What a story Sundial was! With so many twists and turns, I loved every second. It was fast paced, enthralling, and atmospheric with a setting out in the desert. I also loved that we got alternating points of view and alternating timelines between the past and present.

If you haven't read a book by Ward yet, you're missing out! I can't wait to read whatever she writes next.

This is an excellent author. You feel drawn in immediately. The book is told in a way that it just feels so real. I had a LOVE/HATE relationship with the book, it scared me! Which is the point, right?! I loved that it scared me but also hated that at the same time!

An unusual novel that tells the story of two abandoned twins Rob and Jack in cages that are rescued and adopted by a couple. They live in the desert. The twins have been adopted by them. The couple is involved with experiments on dogs. They use implants to control the dogs. Jack and Rob are able to communicate secretly with bites of an apple. The couple have student assistants that help with the dogs training. One day a student leaves the complex with Jack. She ends up coming back. Rob is so glad to see her again. Rob goes to college, gets pregnant and has a miscarriage. Jack has a baby which Rob takes to raise her.

I have left out a lot that I just summarize of the book as .I don’t want to keep anyone from reading it. This story is creepy from the book with horror the book. It’s a compelling story to read. I never wanted to stop reading it, I’ tell myself one more chapter. This story is not blood and gore type of horror. It’s a story that tells about relationships between twins and family. It is about wanting “something” that always seem out of reach for every character in the book. It’s an amazing but unusual story — it’s not what you think as you read it.

"Sundial" started out as a typical thriller for me- marital problems, teenage issues, and a host of family secrets. That was until I realized this was just the beginning. That was until I actually arrived, escorted by Ms. Catriona Ward, at SUNDIAL.

When it rains, it pours and the characters of Sundial are DRENCHED as the story takes turn after disturbing turn, a tale woven with demented thread.

A revelation of betrayal padded by micro incidents, eventually leads to a shocking discovery. A woman is desperate to keep her children safe. The plot thickens.

A vacation meant to reunite mother and daughter, to end the animosity, TO KEEP THEM SAFE. The plot twists.

A deplorable urban legend. Science. Behavior modification. The secrets start to unravel.

A replica, one only seen by a daughter. Mom must never find out. Instructions. A daughter's plan.

A mother's plan. TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

A deranged father & husband's plan. The plot boils.

A chilling past revealed, true colors on full display, and fatal resolutions claim victim after victim....but who's left breathing?

One more twist snakes its way into the ending invoking profound literary whiplash that leaves its readers reeling, held hostage to their own imaginations, attempting to piece together possible outcomes of a plot left beautifully open-ended. Just remember, whatever happens, we'll always have SUNDIAL.

Forever a Catriona ward fan! I love the weird. I know it’s not for everyone and I’ll be picky about who I recommend this to, but atmosphere was spot on for me, slow build was perfectly tense! Loved.

I read Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street last year and lost a lot of brain cells trying to take in what I read, and man she delivered it again with Sundial!

I do not want to dive in too much on the details of the synopsis because I personally prefer going in blind and I also don't want to spoil any surprises for this crazy ride of a book.

I like Sundial a bit more than Needless, I think this book paced better and gripped me more than Needless. I'm usually not one who likes to see TV/Movie adaptations but I really wish this book has a chance to be adapted.

This is a great thriller if you like mysteries slowly unfurled rather than one big twist at the end. Highly recommend, and I can't wait to see what twisted stories Ward will come up with next!

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the free e-copy!

This book has such a sinister feel to it.
I really wasn't sure what to expect, the blurb didn't really give anything away.
This book is a psychological thriller and horror all rolled into one.
It all centers around a mother (Rob) and her young daughter (Callie) taking a trip out to Sundial because Rob is afraid Callie is doing some very troubling things which could also put her youngest daughter Annie at risk.
The entire book is troubling.
Rob's relationship with her husband Irving is tumultuous and at times abusive. I never felt any type of comfort whenever Irving is mentioned.
Sundial itself is a house smack dab in the desert where Rob grew up and also where she met Irving. Sundial and Rob's past is full of secrets and unimaginable horror, some of which may have bled through to how Callie behaves.
I didn't see any of what happened in this book coming. You kind of get the feeling thing's weren't quite right but I just wasn't ready.
I was very much surprised by the book, but I wasn't wowed and I also wanted a cleaner ending. There was unfinished business I wished was seen through all the way.

Catriona Ward is a gifted writer and storyteller. Like The Last House on Needless Street, this story is told from shifting points of view and is filled with twists, turns, and surprising reveals. I wasn't sure which narrator to trust until the very end. The prose is lovely, and a lot of the characterization worked for me, but some of the science at the heart of this novel took me out of the story. If you like a novel that keeps you guessing, this one might be for you. But if you are picky about
how scientific concepts are used in your fiction, or if you are averse to animal cruelty, domestic violence, or child abuse in your novels, you may want to skip this one.

Enjoyment: 4.5
Total rating: 4.79

You can't escape what's in your blood...

Rob has left her past behind and worked hard to get a suburban life as a mom and wife. Just when Rob feels she has the everyday life she craved, she starts noticing darkness in her oldest daughter, similar to the one in the family she left behind.

Rob decides to take Callie back to Sundial, her childhood home, knowing she has a hard choice to make.

Callie has noticed her mom looking at her strangely and speaking of past secrets. Callie is worried about this trip and her mom; She fears that only one of them will leave Sundial alive.

I am mesmerized by Ward's prose. She has a way of bringing us into a dark world and softening the blows with a lyrical narrative. I don't know what it is about the way she tells her stories, but it feels like walking into darkness and, at the same time, like someone you love is making you feel safe by holding your hand. On top of that, Ward isn't afraid to be original, fresh and bring her unique ideas and new takes to her stories. I will leave it at "her mind is a beautiful place, and I love visiting it through her novels" to avoid spoilers.

Sundial isn't an exception; I was surprised by its direction in the best way possible. I really admire Ward's willingness to go uncharted places. Vague, Vague - I know. I will commit to saying this, though: I find the characters in Sundial extremely interesting, they are all flawed to the point of being unlikeable, yet I couldn't help but be invested in them. Well, except for Irving, towards whom I feel nothing but despise.

Ultimately, Sundial is a novel about unconditional love, its moral "grayness," and what we are willing to sacrifice for it. (the way I read it, at least)

I am looking forward to reading more of Ward's books; she is definitely one of my fave authors. It doesn't hurt that ALL her books' covers are stunning!

Disclaimer: In exchange for an honest review, I am thankful to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley for providing a copy of Sundial.

Liked it. Didn’t love it. (But man, did I ever want to!)
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SUNDIAL is a little hard for me to review. Partially because I’m still processing it…and partly because I feel disappointed that it didn’t sink its teeth into me like #thelasthouseonneedlessstreet did.
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While SUNDIAL is fantastically written, I never felt fully invested in the plot and some of the twists made me scratch my head a bit. However, I did really enjoy the ambiguous ending 👌🏼
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Either way I definitely recommend giving it a shot, especially if you enjoyed her previous books.
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Thank you to @netgalley and @tornightfire for my #arc 💚

A doozy of a book. Thoroughly enjoyed the tension in both the present day storyline and in the flashback scenes. I could have done without the story within a story element - uses the same names as characters in the book but couldn't really tell who was a metaphor for who. This bit was confusing.

I think its just me but this is the second Catrioma Ward novel I have read this year and this one was another disappointment for me amid the hype. I feel Ward tries to be over the top with her unusual use of metaphor and simile. I think the intent is to engage the readers in a way that adds to the creepiness of the story but I just found myself weirded out and turned off on multiple occasions. I know a lot of people like Ward, so I think she just isnt for me.

Well, Catriona Ward has done it again! I was so excited to see how Ward would follow up after last years release, THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET. I think anyone who was blown away by that book was anxiously awaiting the release of SUNDIAL and was likely thinking the same thing as me: could this really be as twisty and shocking? Well it can and it was.

SUNDIAL just elevated the horror genre for me and still has me thinking through those plot twists and every creepy detail that unfolded in these pages. I closed this book and was left in awe at how Ward crafted this story. I should also mention that I inhaled this book in 24 hours - I could not put it down!

Similar to Ward’s previous novels, there were so many layers to the story and it was told from multiple perspectives which I really enjoyed. Ward has a way of sprinkling in details throughout that leaves you questioning everything and only adds to build the suspense through to the end.

I’m purposely leaving out specific details around the plot because I think it’s better to jump into this one without knowing what is going to happen. If you loved THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET, or even if you didn’t but love horror in general, I highly recommend reading SUNDIAL.

Catriona Ward has quickly become a new favorite for many of us and I cannot wait to see what twisted and terrifying book she releases next!