The best part of this novel is the setting of an island in the Outer Hebrides. The author conveys not only its wild, sometimes cruel beauty but also its otherworldliness as a "thin place" between reality and the magical world. There is also an interesting theme about mental health and its relationship to the supernatural. The story winds up being a bit convoluted, but it ends on an intriguing note (is reincarnation possible?). Recommended for all libraries.

I read this novel while on holiday in Scotland and it was such a thrill to recognize the area in which the novel takes place but beyond that this is a great thriller. It starts off well and keeps momentum up throughout the entire book. I really did not predict how it would turn out and I loved the central mystery. Excellent and original plot. I can't wait to read Johnstone's next book.

I love books set in cold ,desolate locations so this one peaked my interest from the beginning. While the story was complicated because of the dual timelines, the character development and overall ambiance of the story kept me engaged.

Not usually a slow burn type of reader but I enjoyed this story very atmospheric thanks NetGalley for the ARC

This book pulled me in and didn’t let go until the very end!

Set in a small fishing town in Scotland, Maggie goes back to this little village to figure out what really happened to Robert Reid in the 1990s. The catch? Maggie believes that he was murdered, and that she’s Robert reincarnated. Dead birds, rough and rocky beaches, and strange and secretive townspeople come together in this amazing gothic mystery. The plot twist at the end left me flabbergasted, and I can’t wait to read more by this author!

The Blackhouse was deliciously dark. Reading this was like standing in the middle of a forest as a dark, windy storm descended. I could smell, taste, feel the sea that was an ever present entity in this thriller. It was its own character. I fell in love with the setting just as much as I fell in love with Carole Johnstone’s writing all over again. This will be a fantastic spooky season read.

I think going into books blind is my new favorite thing because this book surprised me. It was so creepy and uncomfortable yet at the same time its entertaining and chilling. I am so grateful to have been able to read this ARC but I am deff going to buy this book when it comes out. I love it.

This was absolutely not my usual read. The premise was amazing though and I just had to check it out. My issue is that I know nothing about Scotland and very little about Norse mythology. This was book was brilliant so I spent a whole lot of time looking up terms so I could picture it. I learned a lot.,
I also loved the story.
This is a very twisty and delightful story.
The end though - how could you do that to me?

An interesting mystery novel with a fresh twist: the protagonist believes she's the reincarnation of a murdered man. The setting of the Outer Hebrides is always atmospheric and perfect for dramatic mystery novels like this one. It made for a menacing backdrop as the protagonist struggled with the threats and obstacles thrown in her path by the people of the island. The cast of characters was well balanced with a variety or personality types, and most of them were well developed.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was the writing style. I found the narration a little choppy and hard to follow, and too often bogged down by the protagonist's somewhat repetitive thoughts and feelings. That said, the overall plot was solid, so I still thought this was a decent mystery.

“The Blackhouse” by Carole Johnstone is a gothic, supernatural thriller set on the coast of Scotland. The story is told in two time periods and by two narrators: Maggie and Andrew. I had a hard time putting this one down. The setting is a character in itself.
The ending was a tiny bit disappointing, but all in all, a great read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!! It had everything I love in a mystery from an isolated setting deep in the Scottish Hebrides to a slightly unreliable narrator. The remote island where the action takes place created a virtual "closed room" type atmosphere. The story kept my interest and kept me guessing until the very end. The shift between the two time frames was well integrated and instilled more ominous tension to the story. If I had any criticism, it would be that the female protagonist sometimes seemed to weak and indecisive and a bit repetitive. Her inability to move forward did not take much away from what was overall a great story.

Wow. This was a very, very good book. So many twists and turns I never saw coming. I really enjoyed the story and the characters. It was bittersweet to finish because of just how powerful the story really is. Definitely recommend!!

A gothic and atmospheric story taking place on a the remote isle of Scotland’s Outer Hebrides.

Maggie MacKay has returned 20 years later to the island and is immediately recognized as the 5 year old who pronounced murder many years ago. Her mother, a filmmaker and entourage filmed this moment and it tore the island in two. Many years later, following the death of her mother, Maggie is determined to get to the bottom of the claim and the story. It is certainly not easy to make inroads in the small community and secrets seem to nip at her heels everywhere she turns.

In the 1990's Robert Reid moved to the island. His story is interspersed with Maggies and it is not until the end of the book that the ties become apparent. If you like gothic tales, deja vu, reincarnation and Norse myths, The Blackhouse is for you!
#Scribner #TheBlackhouse #CaroleJohnstone

I thought this would be perfect for me and I was right! For the fans of all things gothic, creepy and engaging. I'd happily read more from this author.

Hard to get into, easier to finish. Thank you for the ARC. I liked Mirrorland, though I recall I had the same issue with it.

THE BLACKHOUSE
BY: CAROL JOHNSTONE

I really had a lot of excitement when I discovered that Carole Johnstone had written her second novel called, "The Blackhouse". Her debut called "Mirrorland," really blew me away with how fantastic it was. I will leave a link to my review of "Mirrorland," at the end of this review, in case anyone is interested. It remains in my top five thrillers of all time and is a favorite of mine which I highly recommend. "The Blackhouse," was well written and unique, but out of the two of them, I enjoyed "Mirrorland," as my favorite of the two novels Carole Johnstone has written. I do think that "The Blackhouse," proves what a talented Author Ms Johnstone is. I say that because she wrote her second novel to be so original and deeply atmospheric. It is a Gothic thriller--mystery with a terrific conclusion. Everything wasn't tied up in a neat little bow. It wasn't the ending that I had expected, and for that reason I have good things to say about this second offering.

Maggie has been living in London and after her mother dies, Maggie holds a secret or many secrets about her mother, she returns to a tiny village in Scotland. Maggie had been living in London, but she was originally from Scotland. She isn't welcomed by a few in this tiny cliff side seaside village. The reason being is because some people on the Island think she is there to stir up trouble. When she was five years old her mother and her visited this same small village where Maggie proclaimed she was a man named Andrew and she claimed that some people in that village murdered him. Andrew changed his name to Robert Reid and lived in the same Blackhouse where Maggie is currently staying. She soon finds out that Robert Reid only lived there a year before he drowned. She was told that Robert was hard to get along with and never liked anybody in the village. He was a sheep farmer and was married to a woman named Mary and had one son named Calum.

Robert Reid has his own chapters alternating with Maggie's. Maggie has returned twenty years after Robert's death and she has a romantic relationship with Will. Will has a farm near the Blackhouse and when him and Maggie meet sparks fly. He offers to take her to a town where she gets Robert's death certificate which she is interested in what date that he died.

Robert is a haunted soul who also has tremendous guilt over something he thinks he was responsible for that caused a tragedy, when he was just a boy. His name being originally Andrew, he changed it because of the secret that he carries.

This has a plot that I have never come across before and I think it is very clever. Carole Johnstone never disappoints with her rich character development. And what a twist at the end of this eerie novel. Not everything is what it seems. Robert slowly explains his year that he lived in this village before he died. Maggie is determined to find out the secrets some of the people in this tiny cliff side village are hiding. As she digs deeper she finds out more information about what happened to Andrew/Robert. Some people are hiding some vital keys to determining what happened on this Scottish Island surrounded on all sides by ocean and a place called Terror Mountain and Coffin Road. There is also an archaeological dig happening. I already knew that bodies could be preserved that are buried in the bog and that happens to be the case here.

This was a terrific story that is rich in Scottish folklore and Norse mythology. The names of the places are translated after they are introduced making this easy to follow. A dark tale for mystery and psychological thriller fans. My review for Mirrorland can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... Enjoy!

Publication Date: January 3, 2023

Thank you to Net Galley, Carole Johnstone and Scribner for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheBlackhouse #CaroleJohnstone #Scribner #NetGalley

THE BLACKHOUSE
BY: CAROL JOHNSTONE

I really had a lot of excitement when I discovered that Carole Johnstone had written her second novel called, "The Blackhouse". Her debut called "Mirrorland," really blew me away with how fantastic it was. I will leave a link to my review of "Mirrorland," at the end of this review, in case anyone is interested. It remains in my top five thrillers of all time and is a favorite of mine which I highly recommend. "The Blackhouse," was well written and unique, but out of the two of them, I enjoyed "Mirrorland," as my favorite of the two novels Carole Johnstone has written. I do think that "The Blackhouse," proves what a talented Author Ms Johnstone is. I say that because she wrote her second novel to be so original and deeply atmospheric. It is a Gothic thriller--mystery with a terrific conclusion. Everything wasn't tied up in a neat little bow. It wasn't the ending that I had expected, and for that reason I have good things to say about this second offering.

Maggie has been living in London and after her mother dies, Maggie holds a secret or many secrets about her mother, she returns to a tiny village in Scotland. Maggie had been living in London, but she was originally from Scotland. She isn't welcomed by a few in this tiny cliff side seaside village. The reason being is because some people on the Island think she is there to stir up trouble. When she was five years old her mother and her visited this same small village where Maggie proclaimed she was a man named Andrew and she claimed that some people in that village murdered him. Andrew changed his name to Robert Reid and lived in the same Blackhouse where Maggie is currently staying. She soon finds out that Robert Reid only lived there a year before he drowned. She was told that Robert was hard to get along with and never liked anybody in the village. He was a sheep farmer and was married to a woman named Mary and had one son named Calum.

Robert Reid has his own chapters alternating with Maggie's. Maggie has returned twenty years after Robert's death and she has a romantic relationship with Will. Will has a farm near the Blackhouse and when him and Maggie meet sparks fly. He offers to take her to a town where she gets Robert's death certificate which she is interested in what date that he died.

Robert is a haunted soul who also has tremendous guilt over something he thinks he was responsible for that caused a tragedy, when he was just a boy. His name being originally Andrew, he changed it because of the secret that he carries.

This has a plot that I have never come across before and I think it is very clever. Carole Johnstone never disappoints with her rich character development. And what a twist at the end of this eerie novel. Not everything is what it seems. Robert slowly explains his year that he lived in this village before he died. Maggie is determined to find out the secrets some of the people in this tiny cliff side village are hiding. As she digs deeper she finds out more information about what happened to Andrew/Robert. Some people are hiding some vital keys to determining what happened on this Scottish Island surrounded on all sides by ocean and a place called Terror Mountain and Coffin Road. There is also an archaeological dig happening. I already knew that bodies could be preserved that are buried in the bog and that happens to be the case here.

This was a terrific story that is rich in Scottish folklore and Norse mythology. The names of the places are translated after they are introduced making this easy to follow. A dark tale for mystery and psychological thriller fans. My review for Mirrorland can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... Enjoy!

Publication Date: January 3, 2023

Thank you to Net Galley, Carole Johnstone and Scribner for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheBlackhouse #CaroleJohnstone #Scribner #NetGalley

THE BLACKHOUSE
BY: CAROL JOHNSTONE

I really had a lot of excitement when I discovered that Carole Johnstone had written her second novel called, "The Blackhouse". Her debut called "Mirrorland," really blew me away with how fantastic it was. I will leave a link to my review of "Mirrorland," at the end of this review, in case anyone is interested. It remains in my top five thrillers of all time and is a favorite of mine which I highly recommend. "The Blackhouse," was well written and unique, but out of the two of them, I enjoyed "Mirrorland," as my favorite of the two novels Carole Johnstone has written. I do think that "The Blackhouse," proves what a talented Author Ms Johnstone is. I say that because she wrote her second novel to be so original and deeply atmospheric. It is a Gothic thriller--mystery with a terrific conclusion. Everything wasn't tied up in a neat little bow. It wasn't the ending that I had expected, and for that reason I have good things to say about this second offering.

Maggie has been living in London and after her mother dies, Maggie holds a secret or many secrets about her mother, she returns to a tiny village in Scotland. Maggie had been living in London, but she was originally from Scotland. She isn't welcomed by a few in this tiny cliff side seaside village. The reason being is because some people on the Island think she is there to stir up trouble. When she was five years old her mother and her visited this same small village where Maggie proclaimed she was a man named Andrew and she claimed that some people in that village murdered him. Andrew changed his name to Robert Reid and lived in the same Blackhouse where Maggie is currently staying. She soon finds out that Robert Reid only lived there a year before he drowned. She was told that Robert was hard to get along with and never liked anybody in the village. He was a sheep farmer and was married to a woman named Mary and had one son named Calum.

Robert Reid has his own chapters alternating with Maggie's. Maggie has returned twenty years after Robert's death and she has a romantic relationship with Will. Will has a farm near the Blackhouse and when him and Maggie meet sparks fly. He offers to take her to a town where she gets Robert's death certificate which she is interested in what date that he died.

Robert is a haunted soul who also has tremendous guilt over something he thinks he was responsible for that caused a tragedy, when he was just a boy. His name being originally Andrew, he changed it because of the secret that he carries.

This has a plot that I have never come across before and I think it is very clever. Carole Johnstone never disappoints with her rich character development. And what a twist at the end of this eerie novel. Not everything is what it seems. Robert slowly explains his year that he lived in this village before he died. Maggie is determined to find out the secrets some of the people in this tiny cliff side village are hiding. As she digs deeper she finds out more information about what happened to Andrew/Robert. Some people are hiding some vital keys to determining what happened on this Scottish Island surrounded on all sides by ocean and a place called Terror Mountain and Coffin Road. There is also an archaeological dig happening. I already knew that bodies could be preserved that are buried in the bog and that happens to be the case here.

This was a terrific story that is rich in Scottish folklore and Norse mythology. The names of the places are translated after they are introduced making this easy to follow. A dark tale for mystery and psychological thriller fans. My review for Mirrorland can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... Enjoy!

Publication Date: January 3, 2023

Thank you to Net Galley, Carole Johnstone and Scribner for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheBlackhouse #CaroleJohnstone #Scribner #NetGalley

This is a dark and scary mystery. It is difficult to discern what has happened, what is happening, what might happen...the story moves slowly but comes to a resounding ending. This book was sent to me by Netgalley for review. I am still not sure what did happen.

I've read a few books set in Scotland, most recently, Once There Were Wolves, so I was thrilled to get approved for this one. It's a great atmospheric suspenseful read. This is set in two time periods, which makes it extra suspenseful because you become aware of things that present-day Maggie doesn't know quite yet. Really great read!

This was a fantastic read! In this novel, we follow Maggie, who is returning to a small island in the Scottish Outer Hebrides that she had visited when she was young. Why? Because as a young child, she insisted she was reincarnated and the man she once was was murdered. Her mother took her to this locale--with a video crew in tow--to uncover the truth. Back then, all it did was anger the locals and leave her with bad memories of the experience. Now her mother is dead, and Maggie is back to learn the truth.

The setting is great, the characters are persuasive and engaging, and the plot keeps you guessing. Is Maggie really a reincarnated man? Or did her mother "plant" memories in her head? Was there a murder? Or was the man a troubled soul who had his own demons? The author does a great job of letting the reader walk that line for most of the book. I was thoroughly entertained.

I haven't read Johnstone's first novel, but certainly will now. If you like dark mysteries with a hint of (potential) supernatural set in eco-gothic settings, than you'll love this one!

Dark and Brooding

The Blackhouse is a slow-burn novel about a 5-year-old girl who claims to be the reincarnation of a murdered man.

When Maggie was 5 years old, she believed she was to be reincarnated with the soul of Andrew, a man from the Outer Hebrides. 20 years later, she investigates what really happened to make her believe she was Andrew, leading her to expose buried secrets.

The plot is complicated and has many layers in two different timelines--one in the 1990s the other in the present. There are many characters to keep track of in the past and present timelines. However, there are only two narrators: Maggie and Robert.

Maggie’s character felt distant to me. I liked her, but I couldn’t connect with her. However, by the end, she got under my skin. Robert’s character is dark and disconcerting.

I found the beginning of the book to be very confusing due to the many characters to keep track of. Additionally, the narrative doesn't operate linearly, adding further confusion. Once I figured out what was going on, I was sold, but it took a bit to get there.

The Blackhouse is a well-crafted, slow-paced, atmospheric read. The elements of the violent sea, the desolate farmland, and the blackhouse felt alive. This was my favorite part of the novel, as Johnstone transported me to the Outer Hebrides. The plot is weighty, and Maggie got under my skin. In addition, myths, reincarnation, and elements of otherworldliness play a role, creating a strangeness that appealed to me, and were especially impactful in creating a slightly weird yet, satisfying ending.

If you are willing to be a patient reader, there is a solid payoff.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Scribner in exchange for an honest review.