Thank you to NetGalley and Cranthorpe Millner for the opportunity to read this terrific book.

Emma Woodhouse has done it again. I loved this just as much as her other books, especially Mercy, and I love the the way she brings history to life.

What made this particularly special for me was the local history. Knowing that this is all rooted near the area where I live made it feel even more fascinating and personal. I love discovering the stories hidden in places I know, and Ann Morgan’s story is both compelling and haunting.

The research and historical detail are brilliant, but it never feels like you’re being given a history lesson. It’s immersive, atmospheric and completely absorbing, and I found myself thoroughly invested in Ann’s story.

Another fantastic read from Emma. If you enjoy historical fiction with a darker edge, fascinating real-life inspiration and a strong sense of place, this is absolutely one to pick up.

Ann Morgan: Hellish Beauty immediately caught my attention. A real woman, a murder, accusations of witchcraft, obsession, and a story that authorities seemingly tried to erase from history? I was in.

What I really appreciated about this book was learning Ann Morgan’s story. Knowing that it was pieced together from historical records made it even more fascinating, and you can tell a lot of research went into bringing her back to life on the page. There were several moments where I found myself thinking about how easily women like Ann simply disappeared from history unless someone took the time to dig them back up.

There were a few slower sections for me, which kept this from being a five-star read, but overall I really enjoyed it. The history, folklore, murder, and darker elements worked really well together without losing sight of the fact that there was a real woman at the center of it all.

Four stars. This is definitely one I would recommend to readers who love historical fiction and nonfiction, witchcraft and folklore, true crime, and stories about women history tried to forget.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.