This is an incredible book about sisterhood, motherhood, and what it means to be and to raise a daughter. I loved this book so much and the alternating perspectives between Rob and her daughter Callie kept the story moving at top speed. The tension and pacing of this book is perfect, and when the final reveals fall into place, I gasped out loud. Definitely recommend this book to fans of horror and fans of fiction centered around unhinged women.

Catriona Ward never fails to satisfy and surprise, with each new work bringing new page-turning dread. What I love most about her recent work is how deftly she wields the inversion. Cliffhangers and twists at the end of every chapter can become cheap, but Ward is so talented that this never happens. Each turnabout is entirely earned and nothing about the way to that turn feels forced. She can emotionally devastate with uncomplicated language; the flow is impeccable. I will say that one of her stock tropes involves bringing up hideous animal abuse only to have it later surmounted or subverted by equally hideous child abuse. But in the hands of so skilled a writer, none of it comes off as gratuitous.

I absolutely loved The Last House on Needless Street, but found Sundial far less enjoyable and much more of a slog to get through. Don’t get me wrong, Sundial is an original and unique psychological thriller worth a read, and it touches on many of the same themes as TLHoNS, but in contrast to her prior book, it takes a bit too long to draw the reader in and the plot twists fail to land with much oomph. Good not great, but I’ll still be sure to follow Ward’s future writing with interest.

Unsettling. That’s the best word I can find to describe Ward’s latest novel. It’s told in multiple POV’s in a nonlinear narrative which some readers found hard to follow, but that I personally love because it allows for the story to slowly unfold, the secrets to slowly be revealed for the picture to finally come into view, although the reader’s perspective will continuously change because much like The Last House on Needless Street, the heroes and villains aren’t so easily distinguishable.

Ward takes us deep into the Mojave Desert (a place that I already find creepy due to all the real-life disappearances that occur there every year). Rob and Jack are twins living with their research scientist parents Mia and Falcon. They live a somewhat hippy-ish life, isolated from anyone of their own age. Something terrible occurred in that desert and initially the reader isn’t sure exactly what it is or how it all ties in with Rob’s present – now married to a professor whose equal parts charming and terrifying in his subtle cruelty. But what’s got Rob worried is her older daughter Callie, who displays the typical signs of serial killers and thinks that the only way she can save her daughter is by taking her to the one place she vowed to never return to: Sundial. And so a terrible family saga unfolds.

I read this book in a matter of days, because I was so invested with wanting to know what exactly happened at Sundial, because from the very first page the prose is steeped in blood and dread and you know that the journey you’re about to embark on will be a dark one. It’s difficult to use the word “enjoyed” in terms of reading this book because of the unsettling things that occur that leave you cringing or feeling sick, but I did want to know more so it kept me flipping the pages well into the night.

There’s a story within a story, and I wish I understood the symbolism behind it because I’m quite unsure exactly what it revealed (if it revealed anything at all).

Overall I loved the darkness of this novel but if you’re a reader who detests any forms of animal cruelty in literature, then steer clear of this read – you’ve been warned.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Rob’s daughter Callie is exhibiting some disturbing behavior. Tension is high between Rob and her husband Irving. To work through the situation and take a break from her marital troubles, Rob takes Callie to her childhood home in the California desert that she inherited from her parents. The trauma that unfolds takes an alarming turn that defies the imagination as memories come to the surface and Rob reveals her fears for Callie.

This novel was a suspenseful rollercoaster ride as Rob viewed her past through a new lens and came to understand the truth of her origins. The multiple narrators helped the mystery unravel ever so slowly while keeping me on edge. It was difficult to put this one down and impossible for me to predict where the story would end. A truly unsettling story that reels you in until you can’t escape without knowing Rob and Callie’s fates.

If you love psychological horror and suspense, this one’s a must-read. This is the second work from Catriona Ward that I’ve read, and I can’t say enough about her atmospheric writing and gift for suspenseful storytelling. She is a master of this genre.

This is my second book by Catriona Ward and I loved it just as much as Needless Street. The elements of mental health wrapped into Ward’s stories make them so much more than horror to me. One thing is for certain and that is that this book will keep you guessing. You’ll be constantly on the edge of your seat and not knowing what comes next.

A twisted phenomenon.
Many thanks to MacMillan Tor/Forge and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I absolutely LOVED The Last House on Needless Street, so I was anticipating the release date for this one. The creepy vibes were plentiful throughout the story, along with tons of gore (NOTE: if gore, experimentation, and abuse bother you, please consider skipping this one). The different points of view, twisty storyline, and flashbacks make for an engaging read. There are a lot of moving parts to this one, but the payoff is there is you stick with it!

Thanks to Netgalley, Catriona, and Tor Nightfire for an advance copy of Sundial.

Rob is your run-of-the-mill suburban mom…for a suburban mom in a Catriona Ward book. She’s worked hard for a good life. Her husband isn’t the most supportive or loving, but more concerning is the eldest of their two daughters seems to be disturbed. Her only friend is imaginary, she collects animal bones and recreates their bodies as artwork, and she may have tried to hurt her little sister. Rob needs to intervene and nip this behavior in the bud, so she takes Callie and goes for a girls retreat at her family’s house in the desert – Sundial. On the flip side, Callie is worried about her mom lately and thinks she may have sinister intentions on this trip. Past and present familial troubles come to a head as these two women try to understand each other and overcome their struggles.

It’s so hard to review Catriona’s books. They’re so unique and strange. I chose to go into this one blindly…so blindly that I kept seeing a piranha on the cover instead of a desert scene? What?! I loved the setting and the contrast between the timelines – Sundial when Rob was growing up versus Sundial when Rob returns with Callie.

These characters are all so flawed and so traumatized by circumstances out of their control (for the most part) that it was easy to sympathize and root for them despite their moral compasses being a little off. Rob truly is desperate to be a good mom and her internal struggle takes the stage for the majority of this book. Additionally, Catriona does a fantastic job with Callie’s inner monologue/conversations with “Pale Callie.”

Overall, Catriona has done it again, her stories are creepy, unsettling, lonely, provocative, and downright bizarre. And I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.



Last note – please be aware that animal cruelty is a theme throughout this book.

If you love psychological horrors or Catriona Ward's writing, please do not miss out on the experience that Sundial has to offer. Though I should warn readers that it is very much a dark read – one that I found to be borderline too much at times. So read with caution!

Rob always dreamed of having one of those idyllic perfect lives. You know, the ones that seem almost too good to be true? For a moment there, it seemed like she had it too – a family consisting of a husband and children, a lovely house, the works.

Then she found out the true meaning of the phrase. This life was too good to be true, and something very dark lurking beneath the surface. It all comes to a head when Rob catches her daughter whispering to imaginary friends and collecting the bones of animals. That, as they say, is only the beginning.

“Kids are mirrors, reflecting back everything that happens to them. You’ve got to make sure they’re surrounded by good things.”

As a massive fan of Catriona Ward's horror novels, I knew that I had to give Sundial a try. Even though I was mildly afraid of it, knowing that her writing has the power to tear me apart and leave me forever haunted.

Once again, Ward uses a world of horror to address multiple subjects. It's fascinating to see how she lays out her world. It's also terrifying, but that's kind of the point, right? I'll admit that I didn't see more of the twists and turns of this book coming – for better or worse. That's for you to decide, I suppose.

The thing I enjoyed the most about Sundial is that it made you think. Some of these subjects have been discussed before, such as the nature versus nurture debate. Other subjects had a unique spin, which I appreciated even if they were darker versions of similar themes.

PREFACE 1: there is animal abuse in this book- do not pick up if this is a trigger for you.

2nd PREFACE: I have this weird issue with books or movies that are set in the Southwest....there is something about the rocks/dirt and basically no grass that terrifies me (message me if this is a real thing, please). I live in Upstate NY so we have this beautiful, colorful scenery I'm used to.

After reading The Last House on Needless Street- I am a C. Ward JUNKIE, I tell ya! I will pick up anything she has written, so even though the desert was making me squirm I had to read this. And did this book in general make me squirm. I can't say I connected with the writing as much as I did in Needless, I felt that some parts were disjointed and confusing and I had to go back and re-read to make sure I had a grasp on what was going on. I did try to decipher and dissect every little detail and definitely didn't come close to guessing what was to come. There are a lot of things going on in the present which keeps things interesting, but Ward didn't stop there....had some blast from the past moments that made my skin crawl. Layered and intense, Ward brilliantly delivered a story that will have you guessing up to (and even after) the last page.

This is madness. It’s the first time I read a book by Catriona Ward, and it surely won’t be the last one. I admit I got a bit confused in the middle of the book because of the flashbacks and the different points of view, but I finally understood why it was written that way. Everything fits perfectly, makes a lot of sense after all. It has been an amazing journey, and I’d love to read this one again. I might say that I wasn’t expecting so many sensitive topics on the book, I was a surprised. But they are all connected and written in a subtle way. Catriona’s writing is outstanding.

Well, this book started out disturbing with Rob and Irving and their abusive relationship, and constant cheating (Irving) while trying to raise their children who have issues of their own and then got really intriguing while still creepy and disturbing when Rob takes Callie to Sundial. The thing with Catriona's books is to not even try to guess where the story will take you because you will always be totally wrong. I liked the past bits of the book best, with Jack and Rob and the dogs, though the present twist with Callie and Rob was also quite interesting. I was not a fan of the book within the book and don't think it needed to be added but I did enjoy the rest of the story.

I think I liked Last House on Needless Street best but this was certainly interesting and the ending blew me away.

Sundial, Catriona Ward's second novel, contains the beautiful prose that readers first experienced in The Last House on Needless Street. Ward weaves a story that hooks you from the start and won't let you go until you learn the secrets of Sundial.

This book is not quite as captivating as The Last House on Needless Street, and triggers abound: child abuse, animal testing and abuse, and violence are three of the most significant. However, for the reader who is looking for a strong storyline and well-drawn characters, these triggers will not pose a problem.

Most readers who enjoyed Ward's first novel will also find this a worthy successor, and one that stands on its own merits. Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed the book although I have to say I was not impressed. I felt that, at times, it was too far stretched, even for a pice of speculative fiction. The bits that I enjoyed the most were the chapters about Sundial and the experimentation that took place in the compound because I love books about cults and close self sufficient communities.
There's some plot twists in the book regarding the characters identities, some of them I was able to predict, some others were completely unexpected.
It was a very good reading experience although I didn't like the fiction inside fiction parts because the writing style is intentionally sloppy and also I didn't really see the point of include that in the novel.

I've been in such a horror mood lately.

Catriona Ward is an amazingly spooky writer, and Sundial is no exception. It's strange and scary and made me want to keep the lights on while reading (I typically read in the dark with my kindle lit up). It was just. Oh my gosh so scary in the BEST ways.

So good.

I was really looking forward to this one but it doesn’t work for me. It starts with a woman who is convinced her husband is having an affair because her youngest child gets the chicken pox. Her other daughter is a creepy child and her husband is a jerk. I’m tired of domestic thrillers and there was nothing here to captivate my attention. DNF I’m giving this 3 stars because I can find no fault with the technical aspects, it’s just plot elements that don’t work for me, personally.

Haunting and insanely disturbing, Sundial is everything nightmares are made of.⁣
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Rob has always wanted to escape her past at Sundial. And it may seem as if she has - until her own daughter starts showing signs of a darkness she knows too well. ⁣
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So she must go back to the desert - for both her daughter’s sake - and in hopes of having any sort of ‘normal’ future for her family. ⁣
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But what even is normal, when everything that happened to her at Sundial as a child was so horrific and terrifying… because “you can't escape what's in your blood…⁣"⁣
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Just a warning that this one may be bit much for dog lovers out there… and I’m a huge one. But as dark and disturbing as that part of the story was - I could easily separate myself from the fiction of it - as it was definitely a necessary part of this horror story, and done really well. ⁣
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So unique, gruesomely original, and an epic mindf*ck of uncomfortable and gutwrenching twists!

SUNDIAL :: Catriona Ward

Holy cats. If you've read Catriona Ward's prior novel, The Last House on Needless Street (which I HIGHLY recommend), you know not to believe a word she writes (in the best way ever). For me, this only amped the tension up to 11 in her latest, Sundial. Although I'm not generally one for genre labels, someone called this psychological horror and I can't really quibble with that. I took a dip into the "horror" genre a couple of years ago and promptly discovered Ward and Stephen Graham Jones, who are now two authors I trust implicitly to give me creeptastic entertainment.

Rob and her husband Irving have two daughters, Callie and Annie. The issues with this foursome are evident right away. Irving is a serial cheater with anger issues, but he's not even the most troubling aspect--elder Callie is way too into dead things and Rob fears if she doesn't get her away from the family, Annie is going to end up as one of those dead things. Yet Irving has some level of control, forcing Rob to take drastic measures.

Rob absconds with Callie to Sundial, a supremely messed up property she inherited from her parents. Rob believes the only way to deal with the darkness in Callie is to divulge her own (and the property's) dark past, then make the hardest decision of her life.

The POV changes quite a bit throughout and the twists and arcs are many. Though they feel hard to grasp, it's mostly because Ward never lets the reader in on what is real or what any character's true motivation is. Some of the chapters are actual passages from author Rob's series books, which she writes with real names and then changes. They shed murky light on some of Rob's former trauma, yet nothing clear enough to make out.

Rob also revisits the past with Callie, and the prior goings on at Sundial were less than stellar. Fold in Callie's discussions with some kind of mysterious "friend." Is the friend real? Imaginary? Who is the monster? Why is Callie saving bones of the dead and where does she get them? What hold does Irving have over Rob?

Ward is a magical writer, because I was enrapt with what was going on even though I had no idea what was really going on. All you can hope to do is hold onto enough of the pieces to put together the puzzle with as few missing pieces as possible. It was a wild, magical ride that I continued to think about for days after finishing. I found this much more complex than Needless Street and I'm very happy I read that first. It gave me a little insight into Ward's style and thus I wasn't worried about not having a clue. I knew I just had to hold on and she would take me where she wanted me to go. I will gladly get on her E-ticket rides as long as she keeps opening the gates.

I read this last month, and thought I had added my review.
I found this book just ok. I had a lot of issues really sympathizing with Rob as a character. She just came off, as that typical thriller main character, bleak and a little too whiny. She and her husband were horrible to each other the whole time. It was just really hard to stay with the story, and not dwell on the characters. The ending was well done, which is a big reason for my rating. I am still interested in this author and her writing, and will pick up more books in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.