Oh, the absolute joy of discovering a new-to-me author with a gigantic backlist! Darcy Coates, it's only been one book so far, but I think it's love.

Margot's parents sent her to live with her grandmother when she was only eight years old. Although they continued to live and thrive on their ancestral family land, running a successful winery, they never tried to make contact with Margot again. More than a decade later, Margot learns that her parents have died, together in their bed, and returns to inherit the family home and business. But she may have inherited more than just a house and a winery, because on the cursed grounds of Gallows Hill, the dead don't stay dead for long.

With a looming sense of dread, darkly disturbing atmosphere, and several frightening scenes, Gallows Hill is a perfect read for spooky season. This book truly scared me, and not many books can do that. The world of this novel is richly realized, revealed with deliberate pacing that serves to create a haunting atmosphere and ratchet up the tension by degrees, all leading to an explosive, mind-blowing conclusion that is perfectly executed. It's a slow burn, but that feels intentional, and the second half of the book more than makes up for it with lots of tense, terrifying moments. Coates' writing is somehow as gorgeous as it is horrifying, cinematic and propulsive but also evocative, rich with details that bring the setting completely, horrifyingly, to life.

A haunted land with a dark history, an ancestral curse, things that go bump in the night, bells and puppet shows, and even a golden retriever...Gallows Hill is the horror novel I never knew I always needed and one of the scariest books I've read in recent memory. I can't wait to dig into Coates' backlist!

The queen of spooky ambiance did it again! Darcy coates is just an incredible and talented writer. Her books are some of my favourite. Haunted houses and spooky ghosts are definitely one of my favourite sub genres. Darcy is able to create beautifully haunting writing which genuinely gives me the creeps, and I’m a hard one to scare

I have finally popped by Darcy Coates CHERRY with this book and it did not disappoint!

I have been told by people who have read multiple Darcy Coates books that this one definitely is more horrific and graphic than her books normally are and let me just say... I ATE IT UP! The writing was so effective with the descriptions of gore and unsettling visuals. Dare I say that this book may have actually spooked me quite a bit, which never happens.

I loved the pacing, the setting of the stunning winery, and the TWIST at the end! That scene was actually what solidified my rating, because I was constantly flip flopping between a 4-star and a 5-star rating while reading. DARCY DID THE D*MN THING WITH THAT SCENE!

This is my first Darcy Coates book, but now I want to read more of her backlist novels. There were moments throughout that genuinely terrified me. I loved the side characters and especially Marsh.

The writing was vivid and felt like a movie playing in my head. It was truly a wonderful experience.

Phew. Where to begin on this one?! Let me start by saying that I watch 31 horror movies every single October. So I consider myself somewhat tough when it comes to horror or creepy things in general. But what is it about scary books that makes them SO MUCH SCARIER than movies?!

Gallows Hill was my first Darcy Coates novel but it will NOT be my last. I loved so much about it - the cover, the imagery Coates is able to project, the way she really built the story and the characters, the slowly escalating feelings of dread until about 60% in when it's just full on terrifying.

I actually said to my best friend upon finishing Gallows Hill, "I hope they never make a movie out of this because it will be too terrifying." (That being said, please make a movie out of this!)

instagram post now linked

This book absolutely terrified me in the best way and I could NOT read it at night, which never happens to me! It was so captivating and absolutely took me out of my reality and into the story. The writing was so detailed with descriptions of the settings and other major things (spoilers so I won’t go into it) but just know that it is very detailed in a really good and enjoyable way. Highly recommend! 👻

Gallows Hill
By: Darcy Coates
⭐️⭐️⭐️/3 stars

“Coates, dispensing with any opening pretense of normalcy, ratchets up the ghostly manifestations till you can’t imagine there are any more stops to pull out—though of course there are…Catnip for fans of things that go bump in the night and eventually the day.” —Kirkus Reviews

Margot is attending the funeral of her estranged parents when she finds out that she is inheriting their home, their winery and the land. This could be a great thing BUT, rumor is, it's all cursed. And the way her parents passed is questionable as well.

When she was a child, Margot was sent away to live with her grandmother. Because of that, a lot of the book is her trying to research information on the family, the history of the area, making decisions on the winery, and the reasons for her parents giving up custody. It's a very slow burn until finally the scary things start happening. It was hard for me to keep interest at times.

After sunset is when those things that go bump in the night start to show up. Margot is now fighting for her life. Time is running out to break the curse before it's too late.

Thank you @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

A bit slow in some places, but if you enjoy suspenseful lead ups definitely recommend. Some very creepy bits and perfect for the Halloween season! Beginning that will hook you in, leave you wanting more, and an ending that will blow your mind!

First things first, I want to tell you that the Gallows Hill in this book is NOT the Gallows Hill in Salem. This story is in no way connected with Salem or the Witch Trials.

With that out of the way, this is yet another great story from Darcy Coates. She's known for her haunted house stories and those stories never fail to disappoint.

This particular story focuses on Margot Hull, recently returned home for her parents' funeral. Margot was sent away to live with her grandmother at the age of eight, and has had no contact with her parents in the intervening years.

That there is something mysterious here is abundantly clear from the beginning. A huge house on a hill, isolated from the town. Margot's complete amnesia, aside from a few vague feelings of dread, about the years she lived in the house on Gallows Hill. A centuries-old tale of murder and betrayal, townspeople who avoid the new heir to the Hull house, business, and fortune... and a strange effigy in the living room.

But this is not your normal girl-runs-from-castle Gothic haunted house. The spirits that haunt Gallows Hill are not vague, ethereal mists. No, the things that come out at night here are revenants of terrifying reality and solidity. And there are several centuries' worth of the undead, which ring the warning bells and tap at the windows and leave crumbling nooses hanging from the rafters.

Margot has mere days to figure out how to survive (along with the help of a few new friends) and more importantly, to discover why the dead do not - or can not - leave Gallows Hill, and what she must to do cleanse the hill of its evil.

This is a perfect read for the autumn season. There are wonderfully intense moments when the creatures come horrifically close to catching Margot, moments which made my heart pound and my eyes skim quickly across the page. There are a supporting cast of likable characters, especially Kant, an older gentleman who will do his best to help protect young Margot, and a dog (Marsh, short for Marshmallow) who readers are sure to love.

This is an easy read, not too gory, paced perfectly, and with just the right amount of creepy moments and mystery to keep you reading right through to the end.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher, all reviews and opinions are my own!

I’m afraid this book is going to be a DNF for me. This is my first book by this author and I’m afraid I just didn’t connect with her writing style, I did not care about the characters and found myself not wanting to pick this up.

I keep hearing that Darcy Coates is a great author but if I judge that by this book, then I might not read anymore of her books. So sad bc I really wanted to love this one. It sounded sooo good.
Ok so it was a good book in that it was pretty creepy, loved reading it at night But it was just soooo slow. It was so hard for me to get thrown it and I tried really hard bcc I have more books that I need to read and review and it put me behind. Upset about that also lol
The beginning was the worst soooo slow and got better later on and when the creepy things happened it happened fast. so much in so little time.
Coates in this book def went for all the feelings, the details and explained it all so well. You felt like you were right there next to the character, so I will have to go after another one of her books and get the Coates Experience lol
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC for me to read and be able to review. My comments and thoughts above are honest. my own and voluntary.

4.5 stars

Pairs perfectly with a lovely glass of red wine and a pair of cozy socks so you can escape without your footsteps being heard.

I started off the spooky season by reading Darcy Coates’ new novel, Gallows Hill, and for fellow lovers of stories about haunted houses, let me tell you all about why I loved this book!

First, the winery setting. I adore visiting a good winery, and this was not a good winery. I mean, in the book it actually sounds like a great winery to visit, but it is not good, and by no means should you linger.

Second, I just loved the author’s writing style. This is only my second Darcy Coates book I’ve read, and I’m darn near ready to buy all her other books, too! Her stories capture my imagination and curiosity until I’m just dying to know what creepy thing is going to be discovered next.

And finally, the theme of reckoning with the past. I adored this book for its emphasis on learning about, acknowledging, and making amends with the past. That’s what makes a ghost story a classic, after all! A ghost of past misdeeds that confronts our desire/need to ignore the repercussions of our actions or the actions of those who came before us, to avoid taking responsibility- so much so that we desperately pretend that they simply don’t exist.

But, at least in this book, they VERY MUCH DO.

And they will not be ignored.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Spoilers ahead. I will not reveal anything big - most of the review vaguely alludes to plot, structure, and characters.

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Full disclosure - this is my first Darcy Coates book. I don't know how I haven't read her before, but this was a heck of a pick to start with. Coates demonstrates a mastery of language and worldbuilding. However, the first half of the book was incredibly drawn-out to me. There was a lot - a LOT - of description of everything. There were bits that intriguied me enough to keep me going, but it felt like a slog to get through the build-up of the description of the house and atmosphere. I also found the main character to be immature and nonsensical. Some of which I can write-off as trauma and grief, but lengthy descriptions of anxiety and fear followed by...wandering around the house she's afraid of? It doesn't make sense. Overall, a good haunted house story, as long as you think of the house as the main character.

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Again, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After the mysterious deaths of her parents Margot inherits the family business, Gallows Hill Winery. Valued for it's "unparalleled produce" the winery was build on the land where hundreds of convicts were once hung. There are whispers that the ground is cursed. Now alone, Margot is starting to believe and the question remains -- will she be the next victim?

Maybe I've been immersed in the horror realm for too long - it takes a bit to truly scare me. Gallows Hill is a slow burn. The beginning was a struggle for me because I kept waiting for something scary to happen but it never did. While there were some creepy moments, it felt predictable and Margot felt a little too oblivious and flaky.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The second Darcy Coates book on this year’s Halloween reading list is a more typical haunted house book in that it’s set on land, however, this one takes place at a winery.

Margot Hull has returned to the small town where she spent the first part of her childhood in order to lay her estranged parents to rest, both of them having recently passed away on the same night, supposedly from simultaneous heart attacks. Her parents lived and worked on Gallows Hill where the family’s famous winery is also situated, but Margot hasn’t stepped foot on the supposedly cursed land since she was sent to live with her grandmother as a young child. Most of the locals won’t come near the place except Witchety (and her dog Marsh) who is hired to conduct a blessing on the perimeter every few weeks, and the staff all live on-site – rarely leaving Gallows Hill’s borders.

As Margot tries to get her head around the labyrinthine house she has just inherited, along with a successful business she knows nothing about, strange events begin happening. Bells ring in the middle of the night, points of light glow in the dark like reflections from unseen eyes, and Margot begins to learn more about the history of Gallows Hill – the hanging place for hundreds of convicts and the site of a mysterious disappearance hundreds of years ago. Can she piece together the history of her family home in time or is she destined to be the hill’s next victim?

Gallows Hill is a fairly formulaic book from Darcy Coates, but that didn’t stop me from absolutely loving it. Margot’s terror is heart-stopping as she finds herself trapped on Gallows Hill alone at night, or lost in the endless darkness of the winery’s tunnels that snake for miles below its surface. I also appreciated the meaning behind the ending, although I’m not sure I’ll ever want to drink a glass of wine again after reading this. If you’re looking for a classic haunted house novel with a twist this Halloween, then Gallows Hill is a safe bet.

4.25 stars! Since I read so many thrillers I am really picky about this genre so I don't take recommending these lightly. However, I do recommend this one! It starts off so creepy and really pulls you in all the way through. Darcy Coates has a knack for writing vivid spooky imagery and I think that's part of why I enjoyed it so much. The tension, the characters, the setting, all were done so well. I think this would be a great book to pick up this spooky season!

I devoured this book. It’s been awhile since I have experienced the urge to consume an entire book in a single sitting, and That’s exactly what happened. This is my first Coats book and I will definitely be reading more from her. I absolutely love that this story is more on the supernatural spooky side and less of the gore, body horror side of the genre. Just my personal preference on that, and it was just what I wanted it to be. So if you like spooky unputdownable reads, pick this up!

I received an arc of this around 2 days prior to its release so I’m a bit late with the review, but after reading this I’m a huge Darcy Coates fan! This book was just the right amount of scary read with the lights on Margot got the news her parents passed and left her their entire estate and winery even after giving her up to her grandmother and leaving her with mysterious scars all over her body. After the funeral she learns of the cursed ground and the hauntings that happen every night. As Margot tries to unravel the mystery and break the curse she stands to gain everything if she can survive the night.
I will be enjoying anything this author publishes after this book and seeking out her prior books 5/5⭐️

trigger warning
<spoiler> loss of parents, trauma, grief, mutilation, gore, pet death (long ago), memory loss, implied lynching </spoiler>

Margot gets notified her parents died. Her mother and father, who dumped her with her grandmother and never even called or wrote. Now that they're dead, there is a funeral to attend, and a horse to set to rights.

Bad news: Your parents are dead.
Good news: You're the new owner of a winery.
Bad news: The winery has a curse on it.

<i>Very</i> atmospheric, very spooky. The ending made me happy.
I liked the characters, the pacing. The setting - that house that has been added to over the centuries and that looks like a smaller and low-budget version of the Winchester Mystery House. (Please don't expect any content to do with the Winchester Mystery House. There is none in here, that comparison is my own.)

This is the second book by the author I gave five stars and I have a further arc which I am excited for now that this was this great. It seems the author can do one thing, ghost stories, but do them really well and I'll take it.

The arc was provided by the publisher.

The Gallows Hill was passed onto Margot after her parents were found dead in their bed.Margot never knew about her parents she was sent to her grandma when she was a small kid.While attending the funeral, she really wanted a glimpse of memory of the House and the winery but no such memory exist in her head.

As the new Owner Margot want to learn more about the House and the Winery business that has been taking place over the years.She is relieved that she doesn't have to think about financial issues but yet distressed about taking care of the business all alone.The beginning days in the huge house was intimating for her to explore each and every corners and to learn what door leads to what.However the house and the property gets more weird each time.She doesn't want to take these speculations and supernatural things to head but then it becomes hard to not notice.The bell ringing,the nooses and the noises the house makes in the night lead her to dig all the hidden history behind the Gallows Hill.

How long can she survive the nights when the house itself doesn't want her to Survive??

My thoughts:

This is my first Darcy Coates book and definitely enjoyed the spooky and chills it gave me.She wrote the horror parts very well with all the required tension and grip to make the reader on the edge.I loved the backstory and the characters but wanted it more deep and the conclusion to be much more impactful and reasonable.Margot was brave and active throughout the book which made the reading much more interesting.The fear never got her and her curiosities kept the book real adventurous.
The book was written in so much detail that each night with detailed description felt a little boring to read.The ending also felt a bit rushed and flat but she did gave the closure it requires.

Overall I enjoyed the ride throught the book.If you want a book with spooky and chill situations alone with a simple plot then you must pick this book.