I appreciated the shorter page count in this novel, as it meant a quicker exposition and then plunged right into the plot. I found all the ghosts and their mysterious story to very engaging, to the point I almost stopped caring about Edie and Neve's story. Some of the characterization between Edie, Neve, and Lady Elizabeth seemed a little overdone at times though. I was left wondering why on earth this older woman from the 60's who wasn't respected by anyone in society had such hold over her whole family. There wasn't really a "real world" or "supernatural" reason as to why everyone would stay and suffer her abuse. In the modern day I found some of Edie's attitudes odd too, she's really meek as a character and somewhat controlling of her teenage daughter. Also, she starts off as this portrayal of grief for her lost husband, but that plot thread is quickly dropped as ghost intrigue builds. Lest all this dissuade anyone, I did enjoy this book. I found the plot compelling, if the characters a little lacking; if you like ghost stories this book is probably for you.

I had a hard time following along with this story. I don’t know if it was the writing style of the author or just the them or plot.

Edwina “Edie” Nunn is surprised to discover that she has inherited an old castle on a remote Scottish island as the only living descendent of the Maundrell family. Now in her late forties, Edwina, recently widowed, has never known her biological family having been left at an orphanage as a baby. Her teenage daughter Neve is excited at the prospect of inheriting a castle and Edwina is eager to know more about her real family. Neither of them could have been prepared for the ghostly inhabitants (not all of whom are particularly friendly), the deep-buried secrets of the island and the tragic history of the Maundrell family, most of which occurred on Samhain. Nor were they prepared for the mystery behind the Maundrell Red – a diamond that went missing decades ago and as legend has it, is responsible for the tragedy that befell the family. With Samhain quickly approaching, and the eerie occurrences intensifying, Edie and Neve soon discover that evil lurks in various manifestations in and around the castle and there are forces at play that would keep them from discovering the truth.

With its atmospheric setting and intricate plotting, In the Lonely Hours by Shannon Morgan is a riveting read that combines elements of historical fiction, family drama, supernatural suspense and Gothic mystery. I loved the descriptions of the island, the haunted castle and Loch na Scáthanna, the Lake of Shadows. I appreciated how the author wove an element of folklore into the narrative. Presented in dual timelines (the 1960s where we meet the matriarch Elizabeth “Bitsie” Maundrell, who is pure evil, immediate family and the present-day wherein we follow Edie and Neve), the story initially unfolds at a relatively slow pace but picks up as the narrative progresses. I loved how the past is gradually revealed through old journals, local lore and ghostly visitations and thought the twists were well – executed. The novel touches upon themes of complicated mother-daughter relationships, dysfunctional family dynamics, mental health, neurodivergence, child abandonment, generational trauma, abuse and homophobia. Needless to say, some moments are dark and disturbing but we also have moments of kindness, empathy and love. The bond between Lottie and Mungo was beautifully depicted and I particularly enjoyed how Neve connects with one other ghostly visitors after getting off to a bumpy start. I enjoyed following the mystery as it is slowly unraveled and was satisfied with ending but I did think that certain aspects of the present timeline could have been explored further. I’m not a fan of the horror genre and I was glad that the novel did not venture into territory that would have made it difficult for me to read.

This isn’t a genre I dabble in much, but having read and enjoyed the author’s previous Her Little Flowers, I was eager to read her latest offering. Overall, I enjoyed this well-crafted novel and look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Many thanks to Kensington Books for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

EXCERPT: At fifteen Lottie told herself she didn't believe in magic any more, but there was something magical about the woods. A part of her still expected to spy fairies peeping out from under the rocks, or a goblin playing his flute as he leaned against a gnarled oak festooned in horsehair lichen, or a nest of pixies picnicking under the boulders that looked suspiciously like a dolmen.
Unsettled and angry, she was quite breathless as she clambered over the mossy rocks, thankful her mother's voice calling Mungo had receded, heading away from the woods.
Lottie was a born worrier. She worried about Percy and what their grandmother might do to him. She worried about Ashley Templeton, who had always been kind to her and Mungo; kindness was a rare commodity in her family. She gulped down a sob that she had misconstrued Ashley's kindness for interest.
But mostly she worried about Mungo . . . and there he was, crouched below an old oak so crooked its branches swept the ground, creating a cage of sorts - or a hiding place. He crooned to himself, concentrating fiercely on what he was burying, his red hair its usual rat's nest, a beacon of color amidst the green and the gray. At twenty, he was a tall, somewhat podgy man, but to anyone who knew him, he was no more than four mentally and did everything with the same intensity of that age.
'What are you hiding, my Magpie?'

ABOUT 'IN THE LONELY HOURS': On a small island in a remote corner of northwest Scotland lies Maundrell castle, owned by its wealthy namesake family for centuries—until now. Edwina Nunn is shocked to learn a relative she never heard of has bequeathed the castle and its land to her. What awaits Edie and her teenage daughter, Neve, is even more startling, for the castle is home to a multitude of ghosts.

Yet there’s a strange beauty in the austere architecture and the eerie, bloody waters of Loch na Scáthanna, the Lake of Shadows. Beguiled by a frightened ghost who gazes longingly out of the castle’s windows, Edie and Neve are drawn to the legends shrouding the island and the mystery of the Maundrell Red—a priceless diamond that disappeared decades before.

Is the gem really cursed, and the cause of the family tragedies that have all occurred on Samhain—Scottish Halloween? As Samhain approaches once more, Edie and Neve race to peel back the dark secrets entwining the living and the dead—a twisted story of bitter cruelty and hidden love—or they will become another Maundrell tragedy trapped in the lonely hours . . .

MY THOUGHTS: I was enchanted by this eerie story of a haunted castle and the cursed family who had occupied it. If you have ever wanted to inherit an old castle from an unknown relative, In the Lonely Hours may make you think again . . .

In the Lonely Hours is told over two timelines, the 1960s and the present time, and worked well in this format. The Maundrell family is ruled by the cruel, abusive and autocratic Lady Elizabeth Maundrell, Bitsie to a select few, whose only love is the heirloom diamond, the Maundrell Red. She uses it to control people, to get them to do her bidding, by promising it to them on her death.

A lot of the characters are unlikeable, though Lady Elizabeth really takes the cake. I would have liked more of her background so I could understand what made her that way, or perhaps she was just born evil and twisted. I felt sorry for, rather than disliked, Alice her daughter. What her mother does to her is completely unconscionable.

I liked that we met the ghosts that haunt the castle when Edie and Neve arrive, as people in their own time frame. They had a lot of unfinished business! I don't think the story would have flowed as well without the dual timeline, and the motivation of the ghosts which is slowly revealed, would have been harder to understand.

There is a lot of conflict between the characters, even between Edie and Neve at times, as Neve is a very headstrong teenager. The only true friendship is between Lottie and Mungo who adore each other, Mungo calling her 'Mungo's Lottie'. Lottie is adept at hiding Mungo to keep him from his grandmother's wrath.

The island in Loch na Scáthanna, remote and isolated, is the perfect setting for this gothic mystery.

In the Lonely Hours touches on a number of topics that are still relevant today. In the 1960s homosexuality was a crime and was considered 'curable' by barbaric treatment. Some of those same treatments were used on autistic people in an effort to 'cure' them. Doctors had fewer checks and balances on their professional behavior and treatment of patients than exist today. This greater freedom plays a large and important part in the main thread of this novel. Edie and Neve are the vehicles that allow the story of these characters pasts to be told.

There are a number of myths and legends surrounding Loch na Scáthanna that are recounted in the narrative. I found them a little overwhelming in places and felt that they disrupted the flow to a certain extent. That is my only criticism of this book.

In the Lonely Hours is this author's second book. I will be looking for her first, Her Little Flowers.

This is a compelling supernatural mystery and family drama that held my attention from beginning to end. It is atmospheric and creepy, and the best ghost story I have read in a long time.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.3

#IntheLonelyHours #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Shannon has had a nomadic past involving, but not limited to, nearly being shot in Kashmir, playing a marathon, ten-hour game of backgammon on the side of the road in Turkey, getting horribly sea-sick off the coast of Madagascar, and milking a camel in the Sahara Desert.

More recently, she moved from Africa with her husband and their four boys to the windswept moors of western England, where she gives in daily to her obsession to write. If not writing or reading, she will be collecting a worrying number of unusual and rather macabre plants, many of them poisonous as they tend to produce the most interestingly weird flowers.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Kensington Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of In the Lonely Hours by Shannon Morgan for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

A very interesting look into a gothic ghost story that gives us ghostly dysfunctional family drama! When Edie Nunn inherits a castle from a family she didn’t know she was a part of, she reluctantly takes her teenaged daughter, Neve, with her to find out more about her family and to make plans to sell the castle. They find the castle on an island rife with local yore of family curses and stories of the ghosts of the castle. When Edie and Neve begin getting visited by the ghosts, they are drawn into the story of the Maundrell family curse, lost valuable diamond, and the abuse dealt out by the matriarch Elizabeth “Bitsie” Maundrell to her family members. Local characters and the ancient shadows witch of the grotto - seeking her revenge and “payment” - add to the storyline as Edie and Neve are drawn deeper and deeper into the drama and danger surrounding their castle. Edie’s quest for finding out who her mother and family are, takes her down a path she never intended to go. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #IntheLonelyHours

Such a great gothic ghost story filled with mystery and set in Scotland. What more can you ask for!? This was my first read by this author and I can’t wait to read more!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

This is the perfect mix of the supernatural/ haunted house trope mixed with deep-seated family drama and I am totally here for it!
I was sucked in from the beginning and was completely immersed as the rest of the story unfolded. We get multiple timelines and POV's, and I loved all of it.
Edwina and her teenage daughter Neve have just found out they have inherited a castle. A CASTLE! And they are off to investigate.
They don't expect it to be EXTREMELY haunted, and that the ghosts want their secrets uncovered. I enjoyed Edwina as our main character, and I loved the ghosts! Mungo and Lottie especially. We get a past POV from Lottie and when were in her perspective I was completely sucked in.
I loved the history, the family drama, and uncovering all those family secrets!

I only finished this yesterday but haven't been able to stop thinking about it, this is one that I can't wait to add to my collection and I will definitely read it again

Happy Pub Day for Shannon Morgan! What a great read! This isn’t usually my genre, but I absolutely loved this! The author weaves a fantastic ghost story about a woman, Edwina Nunn (Edie) and her teenaged daughter, Neve. Edie inherits the Maundrell Castle in Scotland. As she and her daughter visit the castle to see and prepare its sale, many mysteries abound inside the castle and the lake nearby. I don’t want to give any more details because reading this plot without prior knowledge of details makes the story more mystical and intriguing. Just know that some characters are frightening, and some are endearing. This will keep you on the edge of your seat! I kept yelling at Edie and Neve to, “Get out! You’re in danger!” This is a page turned you will not be able to put down. Read it now! Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Books for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
#NetGalley #IntheLonelyHours #GeneralFiction #KensingtonBooks

In the Lonely Hours is the 2nd book I have read by Shannon Morgan. I love how she takes a gothic turn with her novels, with ghosts and mysteries.

Edie (Edwina) Nunn and her teenage daughter discover that Edie has inherited a castle in the Scottish Highlands. Edie was left at an orphanage when she was an infant so is shocked to discover that she had a family, a castle and apparently a missing diamond, a famous diamond, supposedly a cursed diamond called the Maundrell Red. Against her better judgement Edie agrees to go see the castle at her daughter’s insistence. When they arrive at the castle, they find, ghosts, a mysterious stranger named Cameron who has been living in the house, and the mystery of the missing diamond. Edie meanwhile is trying to make sense of her family history and why she was abandoned by her family and who her parents could be. The story is told in dual time periods. The present with Edie and Neve and the past with Lottie, Percy, Mungo (Lottie’s autistic cousin) and their hateful grandmother and matriarch Bitsie. The stories intertwine to include murder, theft and the heartbreak that only family can instill. I really enjoyed this book, I love the descriptions of the locale and I always enjoy a good ghost story.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Kensington books and the author for this Arc.

In the Lonely Hours is about a rare red diamond, a cursed family, and a woman who inherits a haunted castle in the Scottish Highlands, and it has intense Gothic vibes. Based on all of that, I expected to love this book -- but sadly, it wasn't for me.

It's no easy thing to write ghost stories for adults; it requires a certain amount of finesse to make grown-up ghost stories work without seeming silly. I'm not quite sure that Shannon Morgan has reached that level of finesse. The hauntings in this book feel somewhat juvenile, and the central characters just sort of accept the ghosts without question, and without fear. It took away from the Gothic atmosphere for me; the book never felt menacing or chilling. And although the writing is descriptive, my ARC copy was also full of dangling modifiers, which really bothered my inner grammar nerd and which I hope are amended in the published copy of the book.

The best part of the book is Mungo, a character with autism, who is based on Shannon Morgan's own son. He is relayed with tenderness and empathy, and through him Morgan shines a light on the horrific treatment of neurodivergent individuals in the mid-twentieth century. But Mungo was the only character in the book I could connect with emotionally, and I found the rest of the characters lacking in nuance, which made them uninteresting. I wanted more out of the central characters, Edie and Neve, who were grieving the recent loss of their husband and father; but their grieving and healing process is never explored in any real way. For that matter, there are so many topics worth exploring brought up in the plot -- female autonomy, treatment of LGBTQIA individuals, the effects of wealth and privilege, toxic family dynamics, Scottish lore and legends -- but Morgan barely skims the surface with any of them.

I did enjoy the back and forth timeline; the atmosphere, setting, and plot are all fantastic. But the execution of In the Lonely Hours just felt like a missed opportunity overall. Thank you to Kensington Books for the early reading opportunity.

This story is lovely. I loved the setting (so much), the history, the protagonist trying to sort out her family history, and the ghosts.
I was bawling over how this woman treated her children and grandchildren.
The ending was good too. I can't praise this enough.

Wow. I love a good ghost story but this was more.

I wish I got more of Edie’s story but other than that, I’m in love with this book. I love Mungo so much, I would read book about Mungo and Lottie.

Twisted and delightful what a family will do for a jewel. I can’t wait to read more from this author

This is not the type of book I typically read but it was just the right mix of mysterious and creepy to keep engaged to the last page.

Thank you Netgalley & Kensington Publishing for an eARC♥️♥️♥️

Warning: this book will consume your every waking moment!
I was beyond thrilled to dive into this new book, especially after falling in love with the author's previous work, “Her Little Flowers” .That book left a lasting impression on me, and I was eager to see what Shannon Morgan had in store for me next 😍
And let me tell you, this book did not disappoint! 🔥

Edie's inheritance of a mysterious Scottish castle sets off a chain reaction of secrets, lies, and family drama that will leave you breathless. Think: crumbling castles, hidden rooms, and ghosts of the past (literally!). It's like stepping into a time machine, but instead of a stuffy old history lesson, you get a thrilling adventure that'll keep you guessing till the very end.

Shannon Morgan weaves a spellbinding tale that's part mystery, part family saga, and part love letter to the power of women. With characters that leap off the page and a setting that's straight out of a fairy tale (minus the Disney-esque happily-ever-after), this book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good story.

Edie and her daughter Neve are the ultimate mother-daughter duo, navigating the twists and turns of their new life with humor, heart, and a healthy dose of skepticism. And the castle? It's a character in its own right, with secrets lurking in every corner and a history that's just begging to be uncovered.

This book is the perfect escape from reality, and who knows, you might just learn a thing or two about the power of family, love, and forgiveness along the way.♥️

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC of In The Lonely Hours by Shannon Morgan. The setting for this modern ghost story could not be more perfect, a large and secluded castle atop the Loch na Scathanna or Lake of Shadows in Scotland. Edie and her daughter Neve just find out that they are the heirs to the Scottish castle. Edie, who had been abandoned as a child and sent to an orphanage, never knew who her parents were. On insistence of Neve, Edie and Neve travel to Scotland to see the castle in hopes to find out more about Edie’s past. The story changes timelines from the past to the present, telling stories of the horrors, hauntings and behaviors of the people in the castle. Edie and Neve are determined to find out what happened here years ago. The spooky atmosphere, characters and history of this castle make it a great ghost story. I look forward to its release on July 23,2024.

In The Lonely Hours by Shannon Morgan, I usually do not like a book where there is no one to root for and when the book started and I met Edwina and her daughter Neve, I thought oh great another let down but oh no I was so wrong. When Edwina who spent her life in an orphanage inherits the Maundrell Castle she at the very least wants to know her origin story. The island was left her by an uncle she never heard of before but once her and daughter Neve move into the castle they will learn everything she wanted to know and much more she’ll wish they never heard about. There is way too much in this book to do a justified summary just know it has two POV‘s One is current tense in the other is her ancestors including the abusive Bitsy Who trust me is a real piece of work. I am not big on writing about triggers unless they have some serious ones and I must admit this but definitely has that including abuse medical abuse emotional abuse elder abuse… Although in this case I didn’t feel bad bad for the elderly woman and a lot more. I love a great haunted house with the real ghost in this book has it all Scottish legends real ghost and it all makes for an awesome awesome book. I do want to say I did not at all like Neeve or push over mother Edwina although I didn’t totally dislike Edwina I just didn’t like how she let knees push her around in a sense. I felt so bad for the little autistic boy but he wasn’t the only likable character in the book and ironically enough I really enjoyed this book it is spooky with the real ghost tragic stories and it all makes for one great read.#KensingtonBooks, #NetGalley, #ShannonMorgan, #TheLonelyOurs,

What a haunting ghost story! Edie and her daughter Neve visit their inherited castle. All too soon they realize things are not right. They hear footsteps, echoey voices and shadows.
It’s a good story that goes from present to the past.
It has a gothic feel to it. I did have a hard time getting into it at the very beginning. It becomes quite the page turner as it nears its conclusion.
Definitely add to your spooky reading list!

A ghost story set in an old castle on an island in Scotland?! Yes! I'm sold!

From GR:
In a bewitchingly melancholy, thrillingly modern ghost story for readers of Eve Chase, Megan Shepherd, and Lisa Jewell, the new inhabitants of a centuries-old castle perched on a remote island in northwest Scotland must confront its tragic and terrifying history...

On a small island in a remote corner of northwest Scotland lies Maundrell castle, owned by its wealthy namesake family for centuries—until now. Edwina Nunn is shocked to learn a relative she never heard of has bequeathed the castle and its land to her. What awaits Edie and her teenage daughter, Neve, is even more startling, for the castle is home to a multitude of ghosts.

Yet there’s a strange beauty in the austere architecture and the eerie, bloody waters of Loch na Scáthanna, the Lake of Shadows. Beguiled by a frightened ghost who gazes longingly out of the castle’s windows, Edie and Neve are drawn to the legends shrouding the island and the mystery of the Maundrell Red—a priceless diamond that disappeared decades before.

Is the gem really cursed, and the cause of the family tragedies that have all occurred on Samhain—Scottish Halloween? As Samhain approaches once more, Edie and Neve race to peel back the dark secrets entwining the living and the dead—a twisted story of bitter cruelty and hidden love—or they will become another Maundrell tragedy trapped in the lonely hours . . .

I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book. My review rating is based on the summary of this book.

5 Stars

This is a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It was a haunting and chilling story with characters that beg to be heard and ghosts that beg to be seen. Edie and her daughter Neve are in shock when they inherit a castle. More shock comes as the secrets of the past play before their very eyes. They, like most that enter onto "their" island, will forever be changed.

This was not only a ghost story. This was a book that was engaging and captivating. With the way it was written, it was meant to leave a reader wanting more and to also keep them up late into the night. I was captivated. The characters were real with their different personalities. Some are made to hate while others steal your heart. This story was one that really brought the emotion and drama. It was written well and gave me the chills on more than one occasion. With a ghost story, chills can be hard to come by, especially when you have read as many as I have. This author was able to genuinely give me a spook, and I loved it.



*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review

what. a. book.

never in my life did i think i would read AND like a book like this. multiple timeliness? nah. ghosts and haunted houses? no way. a sort of detective? NEVER.
but THIS! i couldn’t put it away. i read half the book in one sitting and my eyes were burning from the screen, but it was just TOO GOOD.

i fell in love with some characters, despised others and wanted to cry for all. i felt so connected to Mungo and Charlotte and Alice and Edie… their story was just so beautiful and so heartbreaking!!!

the writing was also very captivating and i didn’t even mind the repeating of the same story. i will definitely be reading books from this author again!!