Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Ballantine, and Camilla Bruce for allowing me the opportunity to read this book ahead of its publication.

I enjoyed this book, and even though I'm sure we weren't meant to like Aunt Clara, I liked her as well. It was a bit slow going, and there were moments that felt like all momentum halted. But once I sank into the book without distractions, I was in it and was able to get it finished pretty quickly. I also enjoyed the multiple POVs, and I really welcomed them as Clara slowly descended into madness/paranoia. Lily and Violet were the stars of the show, though, and their bond and abilities were what caught my attention and kept me reading.

I thoroughly look forward to reading more of Bruce's works, as this was my first impression of her writing style. I have a few people in mind who I think would like this story and I am looking forward to being able to discuss it with them.

Thank you again to NG, RHB, and Bruce for this opportunity.

When Aunt Clara chose to take her nieces, she did not do it out of love for them. SHE did it solely for how she could benefit. She wanted their money to create something for herself. She had a fascination with diamonds and diamonds she was determined to have. Once she had the girls though her whole world changed. Not only were the girls outspoken but they had special powers. Ones that Aunt a Lara was quick to utilize. What she did not expect was how her very existence would deteriorate within months. Aunt Clara had secrets, ones that could be detrimental to her life. Once Violet released the ghosts she could see Aunt Clara was in for a shock.
Never have I despised a book character as much as I did Aunt Clara. Not only for her attitude but that she felt no remorse for her actions. She felt her life or lack of what she felt she deserved was the fault of others. She was perfectly fine with causing distress to Violet and Lily. Even when faced with the consequences of her actions, Aunt Clara felt others should want to help her regardless of how it might affect others. I was glad the girls were able to find out what gift they were given and Aunt Clara hot her just dessert.

What a wonderful creepy and sweet book! I was so into this. I really loved these little girls and how they made their life work.
I will read everything by this author!

3.5 / 5 stars

This book is very campy and a little silly, but I'm not mad at it.

Clara Woods has dreams of designing her own jewelry line -- Clarabelle Diamonds -- but despite her passion, she lacks the necessary finances. Her problems seem to be solved when her wealthy brother dies during a mountaineering accident. He didn't leave her an inheritance, but his orphaned daughters need a guardian. And that role comes with a stipend.

Lily and Violet Webb don't necessarily want to live with their Aunt Clara, but they have no other living relatives. Both girls have psychic gifts that have grown stronger since their parents' deaths. Lily can see people's emotions as auras and knows when Aunt Clara is lying. Violet senses the dead and can feel them asking her to set them free. However, when she unwittingly unleashes the ghosts of Aunt Clara's murder victims, their wicked guardian concocts schemes to cash in on Violet's gift for her own gain.

The early chapters of At the Bottom of the Garden reminded me so much of A Series of Unfortunate Events (the fact that the younger sister is named Violet likely only encouraged that comparison). I have read other reviewers who also felt strong similarities between Count Olaf and Aunt Clara -- both are attempting to exploit orphans for their inheritance, and their antics feel cartoonish at times.

Once I realized that the novel seemed to be going for this now campy tone, I was fine with it and had fun reading. However, I am a little surprised that this book is not being marketed as YA. I think that many readers will be discouraged by the tone of they aren't prepared for it.

Overall, this book was a fun and quick read for me. The gothic setting, psychic sisters, and ghost shenanigans were enjoyable elements for me. The villain feels like something out of a made for TV family movie, but if you can be cool with that then this book can be some lightweight horror fun.

At the Bottom of the Garden by Camilla Bruce

Synopsis: “Clara Woods is a killer - and perfectly fine with it, too.” Clara takes in her ultra rich nieces after an unfortunate accident kills both of their parents. Despite having no interest in children, she is interested in their trust funds. But then literal ghosts from her past start appearing and drudging up bad memories. Are the girls more of a liability than she assumed they would be?

Okay I know we’re not supposed to like Clara but like I loved her? This book was on the slower paced side, and it took me awhile to get through but I throughly enjoyed it and the three three viewpoints between the girls and their aunt. It’s a story of resilience, justice, and maybe just blurs the line of morality. This one comes out 1/28 and if you’re not into scary books, I didn’t find this one scary at all.

Thank you @randomhouse and @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#books #tbr #netgalley #arc #booksta #bookstagram

Not my favorite of Camilla Bruce. I felt like it was a lot longer than it need to be. Clara Woods is a murderess. However, she did not kill her brother but he died in an accident and Clara must care for his daughters, her nieces. Clara figures this will all be well, as the girls will be very wealthy and Clara will have a monthly stipend in which to care for them. She is trying to start her own jewelry line and needs their money to make her dream come true.
However, the girls have unusual gifts. Lily can see auras and Violet can see ghosts. In fact, she can see Clara's ghosts and call them back into existence. The girls, even with their vast wealth, have suddenly become a liability that Clara will have to take care of.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for this digital e-arc.*

Thank you so much first and foremost to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early in exchange for an honest review! This book was my first Camila Brice and it was legit a scary fun time!

Thank you Netgalley & Del Rey Publishing for an eARC ♥️

Mind Blown: A Dark, Twisty, and Utterly Captivating Read🤗

I'm a huge fan of mystery and Gothic fiction, and this book totally delivered. Camilla Bruce's writing is a masterclass in atmospheric storytelling - it's like being wrapped in a damp, chilly blanket that you can't shake off, even when you want to. The setting is richly detailed, with a creepy, old-house vibe that's perfect for fans of Gothic horror.
The story centers around Clara Woods, a complex and unsettling protagonist who's both fascinating and terrifying. She's a killer, and she's okay with that. But when her nieces, Lily and Violet, come to live with her, things take a dark and supernatural turn. I loved how the author slowly revealed Clara's backstory, piece by piece, keeping me guessing until the very end.
Here's the thing: this book is not for the faint of heart. It's a twisted, Gothic horror story that'll keep you up at night, wondering what's real and what's just Clara's paranoia. But trust me, it's worth it. The tension builds slowly, until you're on the edge of your seat, wondering what's going to happen next.
As a fan of mystery and Gothic fiction, I was totally hooked from the start. The characters are multi-dimensional and flawed, the plot is suspenseful and unpredictable, and the writing is just plain gorgeous. It's like a work of art, but one that'll haunt you long after you finish 🤯

_What I Loved:_

😈- The atmospheric setting, which perfectly captures the creepy, old-house vibe of Gothic horror.
😈- The complex, flawed characters, who are multi-dimensional and relatable.
😈- The suspenseful, unpredictable plot, which keeps you guessing until the very end.

When their parents die, two young girls find themselves living with their estranged aunt.... who happens to be a serial killer and the house is filled with the ghosts of her victims.... which the girls can see and have awoken. Things are not looking good. Lily and Violet are two girls who are recently orphaned, they've got a huge fortune and according to their parents' will, the girls are to go live with their closest relative... who happens to be Clara. Clara is a killer, she's willing to do whatever it takes to get what she wants, and what she wants is money to start her own Diamond jewelry line, but with little money left after her expensive lifestyle and being told she's the girls' closest relative... this could work in her favor if she can get a hand on their money. What Clara does not expect is to be haunted by all her victims since Violet awoke them and now she has to find a way to get rid of the ghosts and get her hands on her nieces' fortune... even if it means killing them. Can Violet and Lily find a way out of their aunt's grasp or will they die just like another one of her victims? This was a fun thriller read with a hint of ghosts and gothic vibes. I loved Lily and Violet as characters and their sisterly bond was sweet. They were trying to just survive and despite being little girls, did everything they could to get out of their aunt's grasp. It's a great read for anyone looking for a quick read that has a nice gothic kind of vibe.

Release Date: January 28,2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Definite Disney tragedy/villain , practical magic , Matilda , Beetlejuice vibes for sure !!
This was such a a fun book. 👻

Aunt Clara is the worst character ever !!!
Right up there with the Grandma from Flowers ( she's still worse though)

So going into this I was expecting a mystery/thriller & no .. it's like a tragic dark fairytale YA ?
After I realized this book has magical elements I just leaned into that & went with it .
To my surprise I did enjoy this book & unpopular opinion but I actually liked the 2nd half better . Usually I read thrillers ..horror .. that kinda stuff but every so often I enjoy mixing it up & this book def did that for me.
I loved every character outside of Aunt Clara .. even her husband was kinda funny but yeah kinda annoying but can we blame him ?
For sure a nice fun quick read . ❤️

#NetGalley #Arc #AtTheBottomOfTheGarden

Clara gets strapped down with her nieces after her brother and his wife pass away, but Clara almost sees the girls as the ultimate payday because as much as she doesn't want the girls, she wants all the money that they come attached with. Clara is a killer but little does she know the girls have their own secrets and come with abilities to talk with ghosts.

At the Bottom of the Garden was almost a dark fairy tale fantasy, in my opinion. You get a bit of ghost fiction and fantasy with this book. I enjoyed both of the different types of content.

This book is told in three different POV's: Clara - who was possibly the most unlikable character I've ever come upon and her nieces - Lily and Violet. I did not enjoy Clara's POV in this story at all and it was slightly repetitive and monotonous and I hate to say it but almost immature. So, I definitely preferred the POV's of the girls in this book.

This wasn't my favorite book but I didn't downright hate it either, rather I think that it just wasn't the right fit for me, personally.

My reviews can also be found on GoodReads: www.goodreads.com/brandisbooks.

Expected Release Date: January 28th 2025.

Thank you to both NetGalley and Del Ray for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The arrival of Violet and Lily upends Clara's life. She didn't want the girls but she does want their inheritance. Problem is,. their paranormal powers have been awakened with the death of their parents who were climbing K2. Told by all three, this is a twisty albeit somewhat predictable tale of an evil woman who taken to task by children. It's not just the body of her husband in the garden, it's a lot of other things. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. The writing might seem a bit awkward in spots and the tone a bit YA but it's still a good read for a snowy day.

Well that was definitely a roller coaster of a book. The beginning was intriguing even if Clara was a very cardboard cut out villian.
The middle lost me…..the characters behavior just became repetitive and boring: The end was something that I felt like I just had to finish but it just didn’t bring me joy. Perhaps I should have just marked this one as a DNF but I kept slogging through.

The story begins with Clara Woods getting a call letting her know that her estranged brother and his wife died on an ill-fated anniversary trip, leaving behind 2 daughters that she is now the guardians of. Lily & Violet have no other living relatives, so she is their only option. Clara reluctantly agrees, but make no mistake.... she has no plans to be a loving mother to them. However, she is interested in their parents' estate, and the money she could get from taking the girls in. Greed is the only language Clara knows. When the girls arrive at Clara's home, nine year-old Violet begins seeing ghosts around the property. There is an elderly lady in the dining room, a very angry man in the flower bed at the bottom of the garden, and there is a young woman with a head wound on a stained mattress in the basement.... the basement they were forbidden to enter. The thing is, Clara Woods is a killer, and these are her victims. They are angry, and they want justice. They will not move on until they get it, and they need Lily & Violet to help them.

This book was a little bit of a slow burn, but it was still really good. Aunt Clara was a horrible person and definitely someone you would love to hate, but Lily & Violet were delightful and my heart went out to them. I enjoyed seeing the ghosts torment Clara relentlessly. If you enjoy a good ghost story, then you should definitely check this out.

Camilla Bruce’s At the Bottom of the Garden is a dark, atmospheric thriller that weaves together secrets, ghosts, and a slowly unraveling mystery. The story follows Violet and Lily, two recently orphaned sisters who are sent to live with their enigmatic aunt Clara at her secluded home, Crescent Hill. However, Clara harbors a sinister secret, and as the ghosts of Crescent Hill reveal, she is not the warm, welcoming guardian they had hoped for—she is a murderer, and now Violet and Lily must fight for their lives.


At the heart of the book lies a compelling premise: the girls’ discovery of their aunt’s dark past and their desperate struggle for survival. The setting of Crescent Hill is richly atmospheric, with the house itself playing a pivotal role in the narrative. The ghosts who haunt the house add an eerie element that helps to build suspense and tension.

That being said, the book’s pacing is a major issue. The middle portion of the novel drags considerably, with long stretches where the tension and plot development feel stagnant. While the idea behind the story is intriguing, the execution often falters, and the slow buildup may test readers’ patience. Furthermore, Clara’s portrayal as an over-the-top villain at times feels a bit too exaggerated, detracting from the otherwise chilling atmosphere

Ultimately, At the Bottom of the Garden has a lot of potential, with its eerie setting and its basic premise of hidden family secrets and supernatural intrigue. However, the slow pacing and occasionally cartoonish villain weaken its impact. While it may appeal to readers who enjoy gothic horror with a strong dose of mystery, others might find the pacing and character development a bit lacking.

Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, and Random House Publishing for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a dark fairytale-like story about two orphaned girls who end up living with their aunt (imagine “wicked stepmother”) and discover they have supernatural abilities. The aunt is as evil as they come and so incredibly greedy. I absolutely loved the two girls! Definite ghost, magic, and witchy vibes with this one!! 🙌

I did feel the pacing slowed down at times and the inactions of a minor character had me scratching my head a bit, but all in all I really enjoyed this one! 👏

Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, and Camilla Bruce for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

A scheming money-hungry woman, gets more than she bargained for when she sets her sights on her orphaned nieces inheritance in this fun story. I thought this book was original and witty, though at times the pacing seemed to be a bit off. Looking forward to exploring this author’s backlist. Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book!

As the author states in her Acknowledgments, “To me, At the Bottom of the Garden is, at least in part, a book about death—or about coming to terms with death.” Certainly death has a large place in this novel which feels somewhat like a modern take on a fairy tale, with orphaned girls, aged 14 and 9, taken in, begrudgingly, by an aunt they have never met after their parents die while on a mountain climbing trip. Lily and Violet move from the place and life they have loved to a very small town and an old house that will feel like a trap.

Since their parents’ deaths, both girls have developed new “abilities” that move the story into the paranormal realm that I enjoy. Rather than say too much, I will say that this complicates their existence with Aunt Clara in multiple ways. Clara as written does become almost too waspish and witchy but I really enjoyed the characters of the girls, their new abilities - with all the mixed results. I enjoyed this and found it perfect escapist reading but with a few messages hidden within.

Thank you to Del Ray and NetGalley for an eARC of this book. This review is my own.

A weird gothic that fits beautifully into the 1970s setting, complete with self-taught witches and an over the top villain in the style of Cruella deVille. Fun and reminiscent of the one-off gothic episodes on 70s television – or diving into an episode of The Night Gallery.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book for review.

When Violet and Lily's parents die while climbing K2, they are placed with their Aunt Clara - a cruel, selfish woman who only wants their money. The sisters soon learn of their unique abilities that ultimately lead to Violet bringing back the ghosts of three people killed by Clara. Those ghosts torment Clara who, in turn, continues her torment of the girls. Bouncing between their three viewpoints, you follow their new lives living with ghosts and each other.

I enjoyed the first 30-40 percent of this book, and the last 10-15 percent. Those portions were mysterious and had a gothic feel to them. The introduction of the abilities held by the girls was interesting and I enjoyed learning about what they could do with them. The ability to "see colors" and, in turn, know a person's intent behind their words or actions was very interesting, yet I wish it was more explored.

The middle section, unfortunately, dragged. It was often repetitive and led to me skimming more than reading. I did not enjoy reading Clara's point of view during the majority of the book - she was boring and vain with little personality. Lily was also a drag at times - the mean older sister who didn't believe the younger sister. I ultimately liked her character, but feel like she could have been more developed.

Violet was my favorite character - the brave, daring younger sister who just wanted to help the dead. Though she seemed more immature at times than a normal 9 year old, she truly carried this book.

Overall, this was a good read filled with adventure. I would recommend it, though with caution to push through the middle.