Hold your breath by B.P. Walter.
A brilliant read. I have mixed emotions while reading this book. I loved the ending though. 5*.

Hold Your Breath by B.P. Walter is told from the unique first person perspective of a ten year old girl and, as such, is compulsively readable. I was immediately drawn into Kitty's world, and found her voice to ring true and unfiltered. The truth behind the voice is eventually challenged, however, but whatever you believe of her story, the character of Kitty Marchland is one you will not soon forget.

When Kitty Marchland is ten years old, in 1987, her father uproots the family to take up residence in an isolated cottage in the woods. Kitty struggles to make sense of this new reality, and is further unsettled when an unknown man and woman arrive to help her father 'cure' her mother's mental illness. Kitty is left to her own devices, and a sinister plot begins to unfold, both within the cabin, and also in the deep, dark woods. Fast forward to 2020, and Kitty has written a book detailing her experiences in 1987 and beyond, but just how much of her story is rooted in the truth?

This is a novel that was a very pleasant surprise. The alternating timelines each held my interest throughout, and the voice of Kitty Marchland as sole narrator of events really inserted me into the story as a whole. I will definitely be adding this author to my TBR.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC.

This book was so much different from what I expected, but in a good way. A fast paced, gripping read from start to finish.

I found myself hooked from the very first chapter. The book carried this fantastic, creepy vibe to it. The thought of living out in the woods was scary and even more so when certain events happened.

I loved the time switches and reading about the events that happened in the past and present. I enjoyed watching how they interlocked together and how the past led to the events of the present. The plot was so intriguing, and I loved how the author peppered information throughout the novel instead of us finding out everything all at once. I loved that nothing much was given away in the present chapters, and we got to find out everything in the past.

I got the feeling Kitty was an unreliable narrator but not until closer to the end. It made the ending better - because all this stuff came out and shocked me, and it got me thinking what else was an embellishment of the truth.

The ending was so twisty, and I loved it. It was interesting to see how everything wrapped back around and tied up. It left me thinking about what happened next to Kitty and what came from everything. It gave me a dose of intrigue whilst also tying up the most important questions.

BP Walter is fast rising to be a great psychological thriller writer. This book is incredible and fast paced and suspenseful. Perfect read xxx

Kitty Marchland has always known that her family aren’t like others. But when her father uproots them to a remote cottage in the woods, she realises that her parents are keeping secrets from her – secrets that could unravel everything.

Years later, Kitty starts to question what really happened out in the forest. When the police revisit a suspicious death, she must examine her most painful memories – and this time, there’s nowhere to hide…

The story jumps between 2020, 2018 and 1987, and it is told from Kitty's point of view, Kitty witnesses a lot in the short time she spent in the cottage in the woods, things a 10 year. old should not have to witness.
I struggled with this book as there is no real mystery to this story and the ending was very blah.\
Thank you to Net galley for an advanced copy for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for the preview of this fantastic book. It was exciting gripping & exciting to read. The book grabbed by attention from page one & kept me entertained during lockdown as a result of the Corona virus! I enjoyed the time hopping in this book & the characters were likeable. A really great read

Hold Your Breath by B P Walter is the first book that I have read by this author. Katherine Marshland has had a novel published. She says it is a fictionalized version of her life. But what is truth and what is fiction? As a child, she knows her mother has changed and is not well. In fact, she suffers from some type of mental illness. When her father temporarily moves them from their home to a cottage in the middle of the woods, he attempts to cure his wife without having to institutionalize her.

The book jumps back and forth in time from 2020 to 2018 to 1987. I found this broke up the flow of the book for me. However, the characters were quite compelling and definitely had flaws and virtues. The plot twists were interesting, but what is reality? The pace is more of a slow burn. I’m still not 100 percent sure of everything that occurred in 1987.

The ending felt very odd to me and is somewhat inconclusive. However, the book is very different and this will appeal to many readers. It does have several strong themes running through it including violent assault, mental illness, suicide and other themes that would be spoilers.

Overall, I am glad I read this novel. It is dark and disturbing and has some unusual twists. If this sounds like something you would enjoy, then I recommend that you check it out.

Thanks to Avon Books UK and B P Walter for a complimentary ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

I’m torn about this one.

It starts off great, good writing, characters and creepy suspense aplenty. The flipping of chapters between past and present are handled well.

Kitty was an odd character, very mature in some ways and then quite young in others. Her retelling of her time in the woods is a combination of fairy tale and horror story.

I think the twist somewhat negated much of the insanity that preceded it. Perhaps that was the intent, to bring us back to reality? Still there was too much water under the bridge to fully get me back on board. Then the final meet up in the woods - why? Is this a happily ever after moment we’re getting?

It was quite different and well written. I was entertained up until the big reveal but I think some readers will be satisfied with it.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Avon Books UK for a copy in exchange for a review.

I absolutely loved this creepy story, have not read one like this for a long time.
Kitty lives with her parents she knows they are different from most parents.
One day her father told her to pack all her things and told her they were going away for a little while.
They packed up and went to live In a cottage in the woods.
That is when the story got really good as her mother was a mess, and people came to see what they could do for her.
Thanks for letting me read this great story, can I have more creepy stories to read.
Loved it.

Big thank you to @netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this ARC.

Wow. This book was not what I expected or like any other Thriller I've actually read! It was dark but I have to say it wasn't dark throughout. It goes back from 1987 to now... With Katherine's character present and to her 10 year old self. In 1987, her father took her and her mother to live in the woods miles away from their home to get Katherine's mother 'help'. Back to present and she's being interviewed by police regarding a murder all those years ago..

I've never been scared by a book so far.. Until now. I'm not sure, the whole 'paranormal' side of it was crazy and although I do watch things like that etc, my imagination was soo vivid following the words in the book. The story being told by 10 year old Katherine 'Kitty' made it that extra bit better, because as an adult, it was quite obvious her mum had ongoing mental health issues, but as a 10 year old she couldn't understand why her mum wasn't the same anymore.

The darkness didn't carry on through to the ending.. The twist actually shocked me. The last few chapters when everything pieces together kinda made it a lot less scary! But then the very last chapter with the 'man' I absolutely LOVED.

This is my first novel by B P Walter and I will definitely be looking for more!! 😍

This is by far the best book I have read so far this year, a haunting thriller that leaves the reader in suspense for the duration of the novel. The story flips back and forth from 2020 to 1987, when Kitty, a ten year old girl, is taken to a remote cabin in the woods, where a strange man and woman work with her father to try to heal her mother's mental illness. The method of treatment involves disturbing exorcisms that leave Kitty questioning her father's motives and her safety within the cabin. Kitty is forced to spend the hours during her mother's treatments roaming the forest where she is befriended by Adah and Levi, who also become entwined in the sick treatments that her mother is enduring. As an adult in 2020, Katherine publishes a "based on truth" fiction novel detailing the events of her childhood in those woods, as a method of therapy and revenge for the pain her father inflicted upon her...the problem is that the truth behind the events that happened in the woods all those years ago could have dire consequences for Katherine. I love this book and can't wait to read more by B P Walter!

B P Walter is one of my favourite authors.

I honestly loved the book, A Version of The Truth and was so happy to receive his new novel.

It did not disappoint.

This story is told from the perspective of Kitty, a 10 year old girl, who knows something just isnt right with her family!

The book had me engrossed right from the first page.

It was an exciting read and the ending rounded the book up nicely.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

This book was like a 3.5 for me. I liked the dark overtones, of it, and wish it would have stayed as dark as it was throughout, but the ending just felt like fluff.

Kitty is 10 years old in 1987when she and her parents go on an odd "vacation" in the woods. While there, strange things keep happening as her dad and two of his friends try to help her mother overcome her demons. Told in varying perspectives of Kitty at ten and Kitty as an adult, the narrative is chilling and strong...until it isn't. It seems as though the author was afraid to let the story stay truly dark...as in possession, evil, and exorcism dark, and therefore lightened it up a bit. It's still not a joyride in the park, but the ending just ruined the rest of the book for me.

The story is about an author who has published her true story in the form of fiction,and the consequences of it. The narrative is simple and told through the eyes of a ten year old, her longing for a happy family, her exaggerations, inquisitive nature. I don’t know if people still do all that was mentioned. The final part was dragging and could have been shorter. It would have made the book precise. More of a domestic noir.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC copy.

Hold your breath is definitely a slow burn of a thriller. That isn't the style I normally like, so I did have to push thru to see it pick up pace, but it was worth it for me. If you like slow burns, then you will enjoy this one as all the pieces slowly come into place. The story is told past and present through Kitty, from when she was 10 to now. You can really feel as if you are in the story with her and it gives you some crazy woah moments.

When Kitty was a child her father moved her and her family to a cabin in the woods. But now, there is a murder case open and it is directly connected to her childhood. In order for it to be solved, she is going to have to go back and figure out what really happened and what traumatic memories she holds.

32 years ago Katherine Marchland’s father moved her family to a deserted cabin in the woods. In the present Katherine is forced to relive traumas from her past when police reopen a murder case from her childhood. What really happened during the time her family spent in the woods?

I really enjoyed this book. I found myself needing to continue on to figure out the mystery and I was shocked at the twists. The story is mainly told from the perspective of 10 year old Kitty. Kitty witnesses many things during her time in the forest that have deeply affected her development through the years. This story was actually heartbreaking. Tackling the subject of mental illness is always hard, and this book did it through the eyes of a 10 year old who doesn’t really know what mental illness means.

Prepare yourself for the present day sections of this book. They drop bombs. I found myself shocked every single time. If I had one complaint, it would be that at times the 1987 chapters felt a bit slow. But if you’re looking for a slow burn story where you’re REALLY in the mind of the main character, it’s perfect.

There was a Paul Tremblay vibe about this book I really enjoyed. You have a hard time deciding if there’s a supernatural element or not.

Overall, this is a well crafted thriller that I really enjoyed.

What I love most about Hold Your Breath is that the story is told from the perspective of a ten year old. The plot is complex, emotional, and hard to put down! This is the first book I’ve read by B P Walter, and it definitely won’t be my last!

This is the first book I read from this author and overall I’ve enjoyed it. The story shifts between the present and the past and although I didn’t find it a page turner I didn’t put the book down.. What I liked the most was the point of view form a ten year old child, described with many details and strong voice. I’d certainly recommend this book for mystery and thriller readers.

I absolutely loved this book for so many reasons. This book is written from the perspective of a 10 year old girl, named Kitty. The story starts with a string of emails to now grown Kitty from detectives investigating a horrible accident that happened many years ago when her father took her and her mother to a 'rustic' cabin in the woods for a short holiday. I was immersed in Kitty's world. It was herd to read such a deeply heartbreaking story from the perspective of such a young girl, but I was hooked on the first chapter.'
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and just when I thought everything had fallen into place, there was a another little twist. It was fantastic!
If you love twisty mystery thrillers, you will love this book!

Katherine tells her story through the eyes of a ten year old. She talks about how hard done by she is, her father is ignoring her, her mother had her own problems so Katherine, known as Kitty, makes life as difficult as she can for her family and those she comes in contact with. Kitty is the adored only child so expects the world to revolve around her but when strange and unexpected things happen Kitty fights back with disastrous consequences.