This is the first book I've read by this author. The story was a slow burn for me but once I got into it I really enjoyed the story!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I expected a bit more but this was just ok.
Starts off pretty slow and then picks up a bit. Characters aren’t the greatest or any that I could relate to or really like.
I was expecting a bit more creepiness considering the cult theme but it was just ok.

A memorable tale with a haunting and vivid setting. The characters are well represented and the mystery made it all the more exciting.

When I first started reading this novel, I wasn't entirely sure what to think of it. The slow pace in the beginning, combined with the switching point-of-view in each chapter, left me a bit uncertain about how I'd find the rest of the book. However, I'm glad I persevered, as I ultimately found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable novel.

Clare Brown is a complex character whose past is shrouded in mystery. As she tries to evade those who are chasing her, the tension continues to mount, and the danger never feels too far away. Although she may seem like an enigma at first, as the story develops, we are slowly given insights into her motivations and actions.

As for Nuala, I found her podcast about Black Valley Farm to be a particular highlight of the book. Her character is a strong, capable woman, but she is also hiding a secret that threatens to upend everything she has worked for.

Overall, this book is a gripping crime mystery that will keep you engaged throughout, complete with a few unexpected twists and turns that will keep you on your toes. However, it's worth noting that the book does contain some potentially triggering content, so be sure to check the warnings before diving in.

For those who love books about cults you may like this one. For me , this is one of my least favourite tropes, so I struggled to connect with it.

Black Valley Farm
Sheila Burglar @sheilabsussex
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Pace: Medium

Did I request this book entirely because the word farm is in the title...yes, yes I did

But y'all The Black Valley Farm is defenitly not a farm that the cows are coming home too and it defenitly shocked the heck out of me

This plot had me in a complete chokehold. It was so addicting from the very first sentence to the very last page. Kept me guessing the entire time and man oh man was it tense

Defenitly a slow burn with a lot of "I knew it" moments happening. No major out of left field twists but that's okay. It still keeps you hanging on to every word waiting for all the clues to connect regardless

I'm a sucker for all things dark, eerie and unsettling. And this one defenitly ticked all those boxes

Only thing it was missing was the chickens of course

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

I was not expecting that!!
4.5* rounded up to 5*
A brilliant, complex, dark & chilling read which zones in on the darker sides of people.
It had a clever structure, plenty of plot & was a very fast read. Can’t wait to talk about it with my bookclub - thank you :)

***** I have received and read an e - ARC from NetGalley in exchange for giving my honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.*****

I love the premise of the book, but execution was sadly lacking for me.

The information and story were there, but it took a little too long for it to the point where it kept me interested. Had I picked this book up at a store of library, I would not have finished it because it went too slowly.

Thanks to Canelo & Netgalley for the Arc!

I wasn't very invested in this book, and had a really hard time getting into it. It's not a bad book, but I had so many other books that I was more interested in, that I ended up putting this one down forever at about 30%.

Thank you to Netgalley and Canelo for this arc

10 Years ago nine people were killed at Black Valley Farm and the only survivor has been hiding away in plain sight living a quiet life and telling no one her past, that is until the day she is thrust into the limelight after an act of bravery and her past comes back to haunt her

An intensive and thoroughly enjoyable read

Claire likes to exist on the fringes of society. She doesn’t want attention on herself, and she moves from place to place, never staying long. But when a video of her saving a child goes viral, she’s thrust into the limelight, and suddenly she finds herself the focus of some unsavory characters, who may be connected to her past - and it’s quite a doozy. Because 10 years ago she escaped a fire at a farm, home to a brutal cult, where 9 people died. And she’s been the main focus of the investigation since. Meanwhile, an investigative journalist who did an award-winning podcast about the farm tragedy has been hired by a controversial politician to work on a documentary. But there seems to be more to the story than that. What’s she hiding? And how is it all connected?

This book draws you in very quickly and just doesn’t let up until the very end. I mean, a hugely tragic fire, a cult, a woman running from everyone and everything - it’s all so irresistible! And it really delivers as the story goes on and we get into the subplots, which expand on each of these topics and more, including the story that involves the podcaster and the politician. I was hooked!

The twist toward the end was really good, and I found myself really surprised and satisfied with how everything turned out. I don’t want to spoil anything, but it wasn’t exactly happily-ever-after, but it was nicely executed and realistic, I think. I really liked that. It was right for the tone of the story.

And don’t forget to read until the very end! I know that’s generally the case, but in this book, it’s a MUST. Like a Marvel movie, you won’t get the full story if you tap out early!

Overall, this was a great book all-around. It was thrilling, had a great mystery, and a dynamite ending. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author!

Clare Brown always looks over her shoulders, never feeling at ease and always worried that somebody might find out who she really is.

She is part of a cult-like group who lived ten years ago in Black Valley Farm, obeying the rules set forth by Rosemary, or Mother, as she likes to be called. One day, the farm was found burning with people trapped inside a building. One woman was found outside stabbed to death, and Clare, or Martha, as she was known then, was the only one who survived. Or was there someone else who was able to make it out alive?

Admittedly, in the beginning, how things were related. I was wondering what Leo had to do with the story and where Arnie figured in, I was also guessing what the politician Andrea Leach's role was, but in the end, all loose ends were tied up. This was a fast read, and I highly recommend it for thriller/mystery lovers who want a page-turner they can finish within a day.

Black Valley Farms tells the story of an event that happened ten years ago, nine people were found dead at Black Valley Farm. One survivor has been hiding in plain sight. Doing her best to live her life without being recognized, she is once again in the spotlight as she is captured rescuing a small boy from being hit by a bus. People recognize her with her memorable birthmark on her face and will stop at nothing to get to the truth of what happened on the farm all those years ago.

There are a lot of characters which make it difficult to follow. I found it hard to focus on the story. There is cult like tendencies and abuse that I did not find interesting and hard to read. I had hoped for something different from the description.

Thank you to Canelo and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first time reading Sheila Bugler. I requested this book because of the premise. I love a good mystery and/or thriller. The first part of this book was mysterious. You know that 10 years ago, nine people were found dead at Black Valley Farm. The suspect was never found. We meet Clare Brown. She has spent 10 years living a lie. We then meet Nuala who made a podcast about the murders. This podcast brings unwanted attention to Clare. In the first part of the story we don’t know much about who the people were who lived on the farm. What kind of a group were they? Were they family, a cult and what was life like on the farm? I felt part two of the book was much more interesting and suspenseful as we find out more about life on the farm and the people who lived there. This is where I felt the action was. I felt it wrapped up nicely but I just thought it was ok so I am giving it three stars.

I loved the cover and blurb of Black Valley Farm, and the book does not disappoint.

It took me a little while to figure out each character, and I sometimes mixed them up in my head. Oops. However, once I got going reading, I could not stop, and I needed to know more about this podcast and what was going on. 

Clare and Nuala are the two primary characters we follow. Clare claims her parents perished in a vehicle accident, which is her background, but this is a fabrication. She had something to do with the Farm, where nine dead were discovered ten years ago. Nuala created a podcast on this tragedy, the nine bodies, but she left out a vital detail. And now, ten years later, it all comes together. Secrets from the past must be unearthed, putting people in peril. Everything is for the sake of the truth.
This was a fascinating tale. I enjoyed how the characters were presented and evolved during the novel. 

This book captivated me, but Nuala's story thread kept me on the edge of my seat! Nuala is the podcast creator investigating Black Valley Farm's events, which was a huge success! I admired Nuala's caustic demeanour and quirks. I also admired her bond with her son. In my opinion, Nuala, not Clare, was the star of this book! Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Clare and her narrative, but I adored Nuala. I'd love to learn more about her! 

Fantastic thriller with lots of action! You can see that a lot of thinking and consideration went into it. Everything connects so seamlessly! With so many little, unanticipated turns included!

What a story this was, I’m a huge true crime podcast fan and I’ve read a few mystery/thriller book lately that have the premise of a podcast unearthing the truth and this one is one of the best.

I was on the edge of my seat , it was shock after shock.

A great thriller that I finished quite quickly: Black Valley Farm by Sheila Bugler and it's out now! I received it from Canelo via Netgalley.

We follow basically two main characters: Clare and Nuala. Clare claims her parents died in a car crash and that's her history, but that is a lie. She has something to do with the Farm where 9 bodies were found ten years earlier. Nuala is the person who made a podcast about this event, the nine bodies, but she left out an important part. And it all comes together now, ten years later. Secrets of the past have to be dug up and people will get in danger. All for the truth.

This was quite the story. I liked the way the characters were described and the way they developed throughout the story. The story itself is quite an interesting one and kept me guessing most of the time.

All in all, a nice and decent thriller!

4,5/5⭐

‘Black Valley Farm’ is a gripping thriller that kept me up way past my bedtime! This is the first book that I have read by Sheila Bugler and it certainly won’t be the last as she is brilliant at writing psychological thrillers!

Her name is Clare Brown. Her parents died in a car crash. She is 27 years old. But none of this is true. Ten years ago at Black Valley Farm, nine bodies were found. The only suspect was never found. Clare has spent the last decade hiding. But when a new podcast is released that examines the events at Black Valley Farm Clare’s safety is threatened. Plus, she isn’t the only one hiding secrets and that person will not allow the truth to come out!

I was gripped by this book but it was Nuala’s thread of the story that had me on the edge of my seat! Nuala is the creator of the podcast that looked into the events at Black Valley Farm and it was a smash hit! I loved how sardonic Nuala was in her life and her mannerisms. Plus, I loved her relationship with her son. To me Nuala was the star of this book not Clare! Don't get me wrong I liked Clare and her story was enthralling but I loved Nuala. I would definitely read more about her!

Let me know if you pick this one up!

There were numerous twists and turns throughout the novel that kept me on the edge of my seat, constantly guessing what would happen next. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would eagerly anticipate reading the author's next work. The writing style was both engaging and professional, making it easy to follow along with the plot and fully immerse myself in the story. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a thrilling and captivating read.