Okay, this one would be great for a spooky season read! It's full of mystery, ghosts, drama, history, love, and the place becomes a character itself.

Mystery and secrets weave together as past meets present and - you never know how life can change. Overcoming grief and loss, change in path, finding new goals can lead somewhere totally unexpected. Almost gothic, an intriguing tale

Unfortunately my time ran out on this book before I could complete it. It is still on my TBR list and I plan on reading it. Thank you to Netgalley and Mindback Media for allowing me this sneak peak. I didn't understand how NetGalley worked and it was archived before I could read it.

"Hemlock Hollow" by Culley Holderfield is a poignant and haunting novel that explores the depths of loss, redemption, and the enduring connection between people and the places they hold dear. Caroline McAlister, a college professor grappling with personal turmoil, inherits her family cabin, accompanied by a ghost from her childhood. This sets the stage for a gripping and emotionally charged journey of self-discovery.

Holderfield crafts a narrative that seamlessly weaves together Caroline's present struggles with the echoes of the past. The familial cabin becomes the focal point of a ghostly connection, intertwining Caroline's life with the spirit of Carson Quinn, whose century-old journal she discovers in the attic. The revelation of Carson's love for the same hollow that captivated Caroline in her youth adds layers to the narrative, creating a bridge between two souls separated by time.

The mystery surrounding Carson's past, including rumors of a fratricide, propels Caroline into a compelling quest for truth and justice. Holderfield skillfully unfolds the story, blending elements of mystery, historical fiction, and supernatural intrigue. The author's ability to evoke a sense of place and atmosphere adds depth to the novel, immersing readers in the haunting beauty of Hemlock Hollow.

Caroline's journey of exonerating Carson becomes more than a historical investigation; it becomes a personal reckoning with her own past. As she delves into the mysteries surrounding Carson's life, she is confronted with her own demons and the interconnectedness of her history with Hemlock Hollow. The exploration of personal redemption and confronting long-buried secrets adds a profound emotional layer to the narrative.

The prose in "Hemlock Hollow" is evocative, capturing the essence of the hollow and the emotions of the characters. Holderfield's writing style is immersive, drawing readers into the world of the novel and allowing them to experience the haunting beauty of the setting alongside the characters.

In conclusion, "Hemlock Hollow" earns its four stars for its skillful blend of mystery, supernatural elements, and emotional depth. Culley Holderfield delivers a thought-provoking and beautifully written story that lingers in the reader's mind. This novel is a compelling exploration of how our pasts shape us and how the places we love can forever hold the echoes of our lives.

Here's a quick read for you. I started this on the weekend and finished within 48 hours. It's under 300 pages.

Caroline McAlister is a college professor and lifelong skeptic who is struggling to come to terms with the recent loss of her father and the end of her marriage. She inherits her father's cabin, unaware that it comes with the ghost who haunted her childhood.

With the discovery of a journal from the 1800s, Caroline embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about the ghost, Carson Quinn, and his rumored murdering of his older brother.

There are a lot of familiar tropes in Hemlock Hollow: an old, run-down cabin; a ghost in need of peace and redemption; a murder mystery; an old journal that may hold the key. I'm OK with all of these in the right hands. Author Culley Holderfield has written a southern mystery with sharp pacing and elegant prose. Recommended.

Place love abounds in these pages. Atmospheric, haunting, full of whispers and promptings half-heard - this is an addicting read. Just one more page, one more chapter to find out where all the characters from the past and present land. I found myself waking in the wee hours of the morning to get in a few more chapters, and then by that time, why stop? This was a compelling read for me.

Caroline of the Present, Carson of the Past, Kingdom of the Happy Land, the Brightleafs, civil war echoes, Red String Order, rock and roll regrets, all the way to grand octals. . .there is something for everyone here. . . a specific bit of land, with thousands of years of use appreciated and acknowledged. There was a joyful frisson a la J. Michener - start at the elemental beginnings.

A 110% satisfying read. The reveals are timely, surprising and, of course, spot on. Hoping for more from this author!

A Sincere Thank You to Culley Holderfield, Mindbuck Media, Regal House Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review. #HemlockHollow #NetGalley

After her father dies, Caroline inherits the old family holiday cabin that they used to holiday in. She has not been there for many years and while exploring the cabin she finds a 100 year old diary written by Carson Quinn, who she discovers is later convicted of murder. She finds it hard to believe that a person who loved the cabin so much and was educated enough to be able to know the Latin names for all the local flora and fauna could be able to commit such a heinous crime and so she sets out to try and clear up the mystery. Whilst doing this we see Caroline go on a journey to discover her families roots, help solve the mystery and also discover a lot about herself that she hadn't realised

College professor and skeptic Caroline McAlister faces numerous challenges. She's lost her father, her marriage and maybe her career. Surprisingly, her father bequeaths the family cabin to her. But it comes with a ghost who haunted her childhood. And a century-old journal reveals Carson Quinn’s love for the same hollow that enthralled Caroline growing up. As she remodels her new home, she also begins sleuthing and uncovers more history of Hemlock Hollow. She may even solve a mystery that has haunted multiple families and generations in the area for nearly a century.
This book touched me deeply. While Caroline is not a very likable person, she is tenacious. And she's real. I also like the focus on nature and felt like I was in Hemlock Hollow.
One thing I would change is a better delineation between Carson's words and Caroline's story.
My favorite quote: "Any place that's been loved is forever haunted by those that loved it."

Caroline visits the cabin her late father has left her. There she finds the journal of a boy who later was convicted of murder. She decides to investigate.. Good murder mystery

I liked this book more than I thought I would when I started it. I thought it would be more of a ghost story, but it read as more of a mix of historical and present fiction. I enjoyed the characters and solving the mystery alongside Caroline. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC giveaway!

I did not realize this was a somewhat historical book. While that usually draws me in this one just didn't. The premise was good but reading it I just couldn't keep turning the pages. It did not hold my interest. I was expecting something different. Not the fault of anyone other than me. I should have read some reviews first maybe.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

HEMLOCK HOLLOW by Culley Holderfield is a lyrical and moody southern fiction novel with intertwining murder mystery and family history storylines from the past and present set in the Northern Carolina mountains. This book is more literary than genre style of writing that I usually prefer and yet it pulled me in to every aspect of the beautiful story and place.

Professor Caroline McAlister is shocked to discover the family’s cabin in Hemlock Hollow has been left to her on the death of her father. Not only is she morning the loss of her father, but the end of her marriage which all together has left her adrift personally and professionally. She decides to return to Hemlock Hollow and have the old cabin renovated. When a tin box is discovered in the attic, Caroline discovers the century old journal of the young Carson Quinn. Carson is an inquisitive young boy who loves Hemlock Hollow but then grows into a recluse that the others in the hollow believe killed his older brother.

Caroline dives into Carson’s journal and the oral and written history of the hollow to discover if the young, intelligent and nature loving boy of the journal could grow into the killer many believed him to be and discovers many truths about herself in the process.

This is a bewitching story that mixes past and present in a deeply moving depiction of southern life. Once I started reading this book, I could not stop. The characters are fully drawn, complex and memorable. The writing took me to Hemlock Hollow in both timelines in a way that made me feel as though I was present and involved in both. The ending had me tearing up as the tragedy from the past led to the emotional discoveries in the present.

I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author!

3.5 ⭐️‘s
Caroline McAlister is at a crossroads in life when her father dies. Finding out she’s inherited the family cabin, a place filled with memories and a place she thought was sold many years ago, she decides to take her inheritance money and rebuild it. After all it’s been neglected for so many years, it has good bones, but it’s dilapidated. Finding an old journal in the attic, Caroline is immediately immersed and sets out to find out about the mysterious Quinn’s that once lived in the hollow and built the cabin. Finding out that Carson Quinn was suspected of killing his brother (but never convicted), Caroline sets out to prove his innocence. Finding exactly the information she needs at just the right time, felt a bit too convenient as she puts everything together. As Caroline delves into the past, many questions about her own life are answered as well and puts her on the path to her own future. The journal entries were quite intriguing as we get a birds eye view into family and political life in the later 1800’s. A book that touches on love, family, racism, religion, and education with a ghost thrown in, this book was a good read. Thank you to Regal House Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

a really well narrated story full of beautiful description and vivid imagery. Set in the Mountains this story has a lot to offer- ghosts, love, heartache, mystery. you are sure to connect with something! my favourite element was discovering more about Carson Quinn and how he gained the reputation of murderer. His story, intertwined with the main Character Culley and is told through his journal. y only complaint is that other elements of the story and other characters weren't explored more.

Hemlock Hollow
By Culley Holderfield

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book to review!

Upon her father's death, Caroline McAlister inherits her family's vacation cabin. It has been decades since she has seen the place. The family stopped going to the Hollow after her mother passed away when Caroline was an adolescent.

Now a shell of what it once was, Caroline feels drawn to her family's special place and decides to renovate the cabin and make it her home. While contractors re-build, she begins to research the history of the cabin and the land on which it sits. As she digs deeper, the mystery grows and Caroline realizes that she is connected to Hemlock Hollow in ways she never imagined. Haunted by memories from when she was a child, she discovers who she really is and why this has always been her home.

Hemlock Hollow is a magical place where reality and fantasy merge into one.

I thought this was an OK read.
No character growth or development and some plot holes
Story felt staggered to me

Hemlock Hollow is an engaging story within a story. It is a beautifully written book that tells the story of a young woman searching for a resolution to a mystery. Caroline McAlister returned to Hemlock Hollow to restore the cabin that her father had given to her mother, and then to her upon his death. There she finds a mysterious box that contains a journal that takes her on a journey through the lives of those who lived in the hollow in the late 1800s. As she reads the journal she begins to explore the people in the journal, tracing their lives through historical records, graveyards, and family stories. She is determined to solve the murder instead, she finds romance, fascinating family tales, and relationships for herself. I enjoyed this book. It is full of interesting characters from both the past and the present, It has a dual plot, one from the past she is unraveling and her own set in the present, both are well told. There is a freshness about the story, the characters, and the setting in a beautiful hollow of Appalachia that readers will find appealing. Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Thanks to #NetGalley#HemlockHollow for the opportunity to read and review this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Hemlock Hollow by author Culley Holderfield is a surprising book and a book gem. I expected a spooky thriller/mystery story, but it was more historical fiction and family tragedy. A young woman inherits her childhood home upon her father's death and now owns a derelict cabin in the mountains of North Carolina. While moving to the homestead to begin restoration and repairs of the home in which her Mother passed, she discovers a journal barely discernable and ravaged by time. Caroline has accomplished great things in her life but also great failures, and she comes to the cabin to heal from the world's disappointments. As she delves into the journal and begins investigating a decades-old murder in the area, she solves the mystery of who murdered one of her ancestors. But most of all, she finds herself and realizes the importance of home, family, love, and history. The author writes, “One thing I think I may have learned along the way is that every person has a place, or at least should have a place. A place where he belongs, where he can sit and be free of judgment.” Mr. Holderfield also writes, “Any place that’s been loved is forever haunted by those that loved it.” What a beautiful story and a moving tale of love made even more meaningful to me having a second home in this same area of North Carolina. I reside elsewhere, but in my heart, my “true” home is North Carolina for reasons I can’t explain. Culley Holderfield describes it beautifully.   #historicalfiction #NorthCarolina #Haunting #HemlockHollow #murder #mystery #thriller #literaryfiction #love #loss #morals #home #family #book #bookstagram #read #reader #HemlockHollow @netgalley @culleyholderfield @regal_house_publishing
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I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley, Regal House Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read this book. Published December 6th.

Thank you to NetGalley and Regal House Publishing for an ARC of this story.

I love a story that takes you back and forth between present and past as you slowly unravel the happenings, and that’s what this story did. Struggling with the loss of her father and her sudden inheritance of the cabin that her mother held dear, Caroline dived into journals found at the property to work out whether the previous occupier and accused murder, Carson Quinn, was in fact guilty of killing his brother.

It’s a tale of love and longing, of family and sibling rivalry, but also of grief and heartache. I loved the journal entries of Carson; learning of his relationship with his gramps, who had a solid hand in raising him. Written well with descriptions you can’t help but see in your mind’s eye.

An interesting read that kept me enthralled.

Love is sometimes a cruel and hypnotizing mistress. Carson Quinn and Marinda fell in love at first sight. They became inseparable and a long-loving future was surely theirs.

However, Taylor (Carson’s older brother), also took a shine to Ms. Marinda! There was no question as to who she was interested in, but Taylor was never far out of the picture. Then Carson went away to college. Completing his education, he came back to Hickory Nut Gap to marry the girl he loves but discovers Taylor has taken his place with Marinda. Carson leaves his beloved Hickory Nut Gap and does not return to North Carolina for over ten years.

The tale weaves a lovely setting of Henderson County, North Carolina, and the conflict that was the “War of Northern Aggression.” Carson becomes an officer in the northern army because he and his family do not believe in secession.

This book is well written and engenders many of the wild and lovely places that are North Carolina. The description of the woods, mountains, and hollows paints a gorgeous picture of an enchanting country. Read and enjoy this tale! 4.5 stars – CE Williams