This book started off with promise. I was really into it. Most of the book is well written and then....it just drops. No real ending which to me, did not tie the story up. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving this book in this manner had no bearing on this review.

Set-up like murder mystery play, almost all the scenes are at one house (or just outside it) and we have a very limited number of characters (8 or so I think). And yet I still had trouble keeping track of the all the names. Go to My Grave jumps between present day and flashbacks to when the same same group of visitors to the house were teens. Unfortunately many nicknames are used between the flashbacks and present day. Thus I had a hard time keeping track of who was who until about the halfway point when things started to click.

Plot
There is a clever little twist at the end of this slow burning story. I’m tickled that I guessed the twist at 85% and felt very smart because of it (yep I'm a loser, lol). Unlike some books, when I guess the ending, I didn’t feel at all ripped off. It’s a very clever ending reveal and fits perfectly into the narrative. Catriona McPherson has done a wonderful job here of ensuring there are no cheap, unexplained or odd moments that don't fit into a logical framework of the story and align with what the reader knows of the events that transpired in the far and recent past.

Characters
With a set cast of characters, like in Go To the Grave, you usually expect to have the typical archetypes. McPherson has done a decent job of breaking the mold of the typical archetypes (ie: ditz, jock, weirdo, smart, etc.) and instead creates people who are more complex and reflect what real people are like. While I couldn't tell you a single name of a character (I'm awful with names, lol); it didn't matter because while I was immersed in the last half of the book I was following what was happening. I enjoyed the details included for each character regarding their issues, quirks and personal challenges.

Ambiance
The one thing I would have liked more of in Go To My Grave was creepiness. There is some and a few moments where things click together that is a bit too coincidental and has a creep factor; but at no time do I really remember finding it quite as creepy as I was hoping. Given the title, cover look and overall blurb of the story I expected something more. Although items randomly showing up or disappearing from rooms no one has been in does border on creepy...

Overall
The best part about Go to My Grave is that it features a dysfunctional group of family and friends. Not unlike Netflix take on The Haunting of Hill House; there is something both disturbing and comforting about a messed up family. It reminds me that everyone has a screwed up family (thank goodness!) and that we are all compensating or struggling with people and situations we've been forced into. The moral of the novel is that lying or covering up events is a poor choice as things don't just undo themselves and are never forgotten. A good reminder to all of us, regardless of age, that we've all made poor choices and hiding them is likely not a good choice; as what happens when they come back to haunt us?

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

If you know me, you know I like a suspenseful read that keeps you guessing! I will say that I figured out this one pretty early on, but I enjoyed reading it and especially liked how it went back and forth in time from the past to the present day. It’s the perfect summer read for a little excitement!

Some readers may find content of sexual abuse (not graphic) disturbing.

Thank you for my review copy via Net Galley!

I am sorry for not reviewing fully but I don’t have the time to read this anymore. I believe that it wouldn't benefit you as a publisher or your book if I only skimmed it and wrote a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for not fully reviewing!

I’m feeling really conflicted on this one. I REALLY enjoyed the first 90%, and tore through it. I got hooked to the characters, and was genuinely interested in where the story was taking me.

Mind you, there were some WEIRD family dynamics here, which I could not 100% wrap my head around. But I enjoyed the way the story was flowing. But around 90%, it lost me a bit. I found myself reading pages again, because it hit a bit of a odd spell.

Regardless, I enjoyed the overall story, and I would read more from this author!

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Summary from Goodreads:

"Donna Weaver has put everything into The Breakers, a Bed and Breakfast that she and her mother are opening on a remote stretch of beach. Now it waits - freshly painted, richly furnished, filled with flowers.

But as the guests arrive, they feel like they've been here before. Amid home-baked scones, gorgeous guest rooms, and lavish dinners fit for a king, the feeling of menace grows.

Someone has broken their vow. Someone is playing games. And then the games turn deadly... "

My Thoughts:

Go To My Grave was a dark and compelling thriller that left me wondering why I hadn't read anything by this author until now. One of the things that made me want to read this one right away was I saw a review somewhere that compared this book to the game of Clue. I loved that game as a kid so I was instantly intrigued. I can't say that I agree with the comparison but I still really enjoyed this book. This was one of those whodunnits that kept you guessing from the very beginning. And there was this sense of foreboding that was present throughout the book which I just adored for the most part. I'm not going to lie - there were times where I almost wanted to stop reading this book because of that feeling. Because you just knew that bad things were going to happen and I wasn't sure I could handle reading them. I feel like there are some serious trigger warnings here so readers be warned. This book is dark and not always easy to read because of it. (If you want specific trigger warnings just let me know). The book is told in two storylines: the present day and then what happened many years ago. The author beautifully ties these two storylines together and in such a way that I just did not see it coming. I found myself unable to stop reading as I just needed to see how it would all turn out. I'm going to admit that I was strongly satisfied with the ending as it just fit perfectly in my opinion.

Overall, I enjoyed my time reading this book immensely which feels a bit wrong to say as it was so unexpectedly dark. I don't want to harp on that too much but I just feel like it is important for readers to be aware and understand what they are getting. I spent my entire time guessing with this book and was nowhere close! This was one of those books where the author brilliantly has you guessing and wondering just trying to figure it all out. I never knew what to expect and loved every minute of it! I'm so excited that I have many more books by this author to catch up on. Question though - are all of her books on the darker side or just this one? Not that it matters but I was just curious on what to expect. I would recommend this book to fans of mysteries and thrillers.

Bottom line: A dark but very compelling read!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. Thoughts are my own.

I received an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! It was definitely a book that kept you thinking! I would definitely recommend this book to fellow readers. Thank you!

McPherson's mystery about a group of family members returning to a large coastal retreat is suspenseful, but overly twisting in its story and without a conclusive resolution.

Go to My Grave is a chilling, suspenseful tale of long kept secrets and revenge.  Donna Weaver and her mother have put everything into setting up The Breakers as a bed and breakfast, and the first guests are due to arrive.  Oddly, the house is familiar to the party that arrives, as they had stayed there one fateful summer many years before. Tempers quickly fray, and minds unravel as sinister “pranks” remind the visitors of events.  Donna is the only one that doesn’t know what happened, but the narrator tells us, piece by piece, leading readers down a path of discovery - and murder. Go to My Grave is an incredible novel, cleverly composed to maximize the impact on the reader.  If you like mysteries with a strong dose of the gothic and more than a few knife sharp twists, pick up a copy of Go to My Grave.


5 / 5


I received a copy of Go to My Grave from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.


-- Crittermom

GO TO MY GRAVE by Catriona McPherson is a dark, "creepy" mystery that will leave readers surprised and stunned. Donna Weaver is running The Breakers, a Bed and Breakfast establishment booked by a group of eight who are family and friends celebrating a wedding anniversary. But the reaction is not what she expected – yes, guests enjoy the yummy food, but they’ve been there twenty-five years ago and left then as children certain that someone had drowned and promising that the secret would "go to my grave." Chapters alternate between the present day and 1991 with a contrast between the adult holiday makers and the long ago teens sharing alcohol with two young, local girls. Despite the guest house locale, GO TO MY GRAVE is definitely not a cozy mystery. Like McPherson's earlier work, Quiet Neighbors, it is difficult to know who to trust; weird events and unusual coincidences add to the suspenseful, unsettling atmosphere. This psychological thriller received starred reviews from Kirkus and Library Journal.

For review of Quiet Neighbors:
https://treviansbookit.blogspot.com/2016/04/v-behaviorurldefaultvmlo.html

If sexual assault is a trigger for you then do not read this book. Any book with sexual assault should come with a disclaimer at the front of the book for victims.

The story is told in two timelines. The first is 1991 told from a teenage girl. The second voice is the voice of Donna in current time who is also a co owner of The Breakers. The focus is a wonderful B&B on the coast of Scotland. The element of running a B&B is a enjoyable part of this book and interesting from the two timelines. The voice of the teen tells the tale of a horrific sexual assault by some entitled spoiled boys who were never held accountable. The current day voice of Donna tells the tale of the ramifications of this event to the victim and to her friends with her that fateful night

I give this book 3 stars for the descriptions of the Scottish coast and the B&B aspect.. However the sexual assault theme should have been warned for victims at the beginning of the book as a courtesy to readers. Reading this book will make you very angry and upset as much of it follows rapists that are never held accountable.

First: before I get into the review, I would like to note that this ok deals with themes of sexual assault. If that’s something that is triggering for you, I would choose another book.

This is really a great what-the-heck-is-going-on book, perfect for a snow day or a long flight. It’s like a complex puzzle that finally all comes together in the end and creates a clear picture.

The book centers on The Breakers and its co-owner Donna, who opened the opulent bed-and-breakfast with her mother. But on the same weekend with the first guests, Donna’s mother gets the opportunity to attend a bridal show and stir up business, leaving Donna to manage the group of eight by herself. The group is in town for a family reunion/birthday bash, and things quickly becomes weird as the group realizes they have been to this house before. And things didn’t go well. And it looks like someone wants the group to pay for that.

I really enjoyed this dual-timeline story, which follows a group of secretive cousins and their reunion weekend in the present and during a birthday party 25 years before. They are an interesting bunch, and it took me a minute to get all their connections straight and remember who was who. But once I got it, it was pretty easy to stay in the moment.

The mystery itself was complex and interesting, with a lot of layers to slowly unravel as things begin to go very, very wrong and there is a really heavy sense of foreboding in both timelines. You know there’s going to be a car wreck, but you don’t know quite where or when. And when it came, I was pretty shocked. It’s quite a journey, and I was creeped out throughout.

The only thing I didn’t like is that it seems like some things weren’t explained really well - they were sort of mentioned in passing then seemingly forgotten, I guess with the assumption that you could rad between the lines and figure it out. I didn’t like that, because I’m not a read-between-the-lines person. I like things laid out, bare.

But I really did enjoy this book: once I was about halfway through, I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what was going to happen. Fans of who-dunnits or atmospheric thrillers will really enjoy this slow-burn mystery!

Here's a country week-end mystery with a difference - 8 cousins gather at a lovely B&B by the sea, where something terrible happened 25 years before.

Present Day: The story begins with the protagonist, Donna Weaver. She is hosting a family reunion weekend for eight people. Donna and her mother own and run "The Breakers" a refurbished guest house near the sea in Galloway. Her mother is attending a trade fair, so Donna is left to host, cook, and clean for the event on her own. She enjoys her job and takes the sudden turn of events as a challenge that she has every confidence of meeting.

She has a few qualms however when she meets the guests. They are an odd lot. Siblings and cousins, with spouses, they bicker and insult each other constantly. They quickly realize that they have been in this house before... twenty-five years before... Despite their dire memories of the place, they are somewhat charmed by Donna's efforts, the great food and drink, and the ambiance of the guest house which comes complete with wild black rabbits on the lawn and its own private beach.

The ensemble agree to surrender their 'devices' (laptops, phones, etc.) to Donna for the weekend in order that they can 'chill' and enjoy the family weekend. Things turn mysterious when several pranks develop. No one will take responsibility for the pranks, which turn nastier and nastier, and which are upsetting to some of the guests more than others. Donna realizes that perhaps they aren't so antagonistic as they are afraid...

The 'pranks' turn deadly serious. Donna fears that her business is doomed from the first round of guests.

1991: "The Breakers" went by a different name back then. We meet two young local girls whose mother cleans for the guest house. A rich family have rented it and are hosting a birthday party for their sixteen year old son. The two girls, Carmen (age 14) and Lyndsay (age 12) are invited to even out the numbers for the party. When they arrive they realize that the parents have gone off and left the teenagers to party unsupervised. As is predictable, they soon get out of control - then tragedy and trauma result...

MY THOUGHTS

Ever since reading "The day she died", I have been a huge fan of Catriona McPherson. I've enjoyed all of her books, though none quite so much as that one.

The first half of this novel was a bit of a slog for me, but the second half more than made up for it. I really enjoyed the 'country guest house' setting. Scotland beside the sea - what more could you ask for really? I also enjoyed the tried and tested idea of the closed circle of suspects and the way that the protagonist put up with all their griping. I learned a lot about the hospitality industry, and admire anyone who chooses that as a career. I really enjoyed the dual timeline in this case, though I suspected how they would be linked, and I was partly correct. The ending was not quite as cohesive as I would have hoped for, but that is just me. A novel of crimes kept secret, childhood trauma, and sweet revenge. Overall I would recommend this title to all who like a good mystery.

3.5 stars rounded up for NetGalley

Donna and her mother have spent their savings renovating a guesthouse in Galloway, Scotland. Their first group of guests is due for a anniversary party/family reunion weekend, and Donna has to handle the property by herself for the weekend as her mother is off promoting their services at a wedding convention. Unfortunately, this group apparently visited this house over 20 years ago, when something terrible happened--something they promised to never tell. As we expect, creepy stuff starts to happen, ratcheting up the family tension,. The alcohol flows, the characters snipe at each other. The chapters alternate between the present time, as Donna deals with this obnoxious group, and the weekend in 1979 when the family first visited the house..

For quite a while, I have been wanted to read one of this author's books. When I saw this one listed at NetGalley, I decided that this would be my first foray into her catalog. Unfortunately, I found it rather disappointing. Donna is the only likable character--actually, the others are barely distinguishable from each other. I also figured out the "mystery" almost from the first chapter. That being said, I could not believe the details of the ending. I don't want to post any spoilers, but ... come on--REALLY, PEOPLE?? The way the characters just accept everything at the end is preposterous.

I think it would have been more enjoyable had I not guessed the ending early on in the novel. The complicated and twisted family ties were crazy. Keep track of who everyone is from the beginning and how they are related. I think a lot of people will really like this book and all its family dysfunction. If you like intricate relationships with a deep mystery, this book is for you.

A bed and breakfast with a mother and daughter....what a cozy mystery.....except not. What Go to My Grave is is a book with an ominous feeling, a group of unreliable and unlikeable people.

This had the feel of an old-timey mystery - and little of "And Then There Was One" plus...some generic Mary Higgins Clark I read in high school.

Still...Catriona McPherson knows how to create an atmosphere and unlikeable people.

Thanks to netGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

3.5 Stars!

Atmospheric, menacing, and twisty!

Go To My Grave is an ominous, character-driven thriller that delves into the complex dynamics between friends and family and highlights just how parasitic some of those relationships can truly be.

The prose is gritty and taut. The characters are deceptive, plagued, and self-involved. And the plot using a back-and-forth, past/present style does a nice job of building tension as it unfolds a tortuous tale of friendship, lies, secrets, manipulation, jealousy, obsession, revenge, violence, and murder.

There is no doubt that McPherson can weave a suspicious tale that’s dark, gloomy, and tragic and highlights the scheming, selfish, dark side of human nature. And even though I thought the storyline itself was quite clever, unfortunately for me the lack of characters with any sort of moral or ethical conscience in Go To My Grave made it a little hard to like, connect, or even want to root for any of them.

Review: GO TO MY GRAVE by Catriona McPherson

This engrossing thriller kept me breathless to the end, as it subtly unfolded revelation after revelation, subtly mounting the terror for the characters and keeping readers puzzled but hungry for more discoveries.

A mother and daughter have purchased a seaside villa at Galloway, an older upper-class home, to operate a Bed & Breakfast. Their first scheduled event is a tenth-wedding anniversary plus family reunion. Turns out, all but the bride stayed here before, decades ago--with disastrous and ugly consequences. Now somebody is determined to reestablish the memories--and make someone pay.

What can be better than a mystery that takes place at a remotely located bed-and-breakfast? Catriona McPherson has written just such a book.

As a group of estranged cousins gather at the newly refurbished B&B, they begin to realize that they have been there before. It was a birthday party that they’ve never forgotten nor have they ever spoken of. Until now. Someone in the group is determined to bring the secrets to light.

Go to My Grave is a classic mystery as well as a thriller. It is filled with twists and turns, unexpected revelations and a smashing ending. If you are a fan of gothic thrillers, then this book is for you. If you have enjoyed other books by Ms McPherson, then this one will not disappoint. And, if you’re looking for a book that is a mix of mystery and atmospheric thriller, with an array of interesting characters and a lavish setting, I highly recommend this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.