An historical novel with a message for today. Inspired by the story of a religious cult in 1850s rural Somerset The Taking of Irene Hart follows three women - Hestor and her two daughters Ruby and Irene. Recently widowed Hestor comes under the influence of Rev Peters and signs over her possessions and joins his community, taking the girls with her. Irene has been prone to seizures and Ruby wants to ensure her sisters safety, but headstrong Ruby isn't as under the influence of Rev Peters as her mother. She starts to question what is happening in the community and dares to ask questions. She is helped in this by local policeman Philip who also has questions to ask about what is happening behind the walls of this closed community.
An interesting and thought-provoking read.

The Taking of Irene Hart by Madeleine Reiss is an historical novel that shows how little women were respected in the Victorian age of England. Hester becomes widowed and falls under the spell of a con-man selling religious salvation. Hester's daughter's Ruby and Irene are forced to join their mother in the religious cult, leading to tragedy and trauma.
The story shows the lack of respect and the lack of voice that women in Victorian England had. It shows how women, during this time had no support when left widowed, leaving them to latch on to any chance of salvation whether financially or spiritually despite the consequences. The trauma these women faced in lieu of God's instructions was horrendous.
The story was well written, despite the difficult topic. It was told from multiple viewpoints so it occasionally was difficult to keep track of who was telling the story. It occasionally was so slow paced that you wondered if anything was going to happen. However, if you can look past that and continue with the story, it was an interesting look at a real event that took place in history.
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for the advanced copy.

Based on a true story of a cult in the ninteenth century this is an emotional book of heartreak and a thriller that is gripping.

Inspired by real events in England of the mid-19th Century, this book is a dark and heartbreaking story about a religious cult. By targeting and manipulating the grieving, the cult uses their religious beliefs to bring about complete submission, which results in estrangement from families, bad behaviour and even loss of life. A compellingly dark read.

The Taking of Irene Hart is a historical true story about a cult in 1856. The way this story is written is both intriguing and heartbreaking. Reiss' writing transported you into the time with her writing. The darkness that transpired really made for a fascinating read.

This is a dark and heartbreaking story inspired by true events that took place in England in the mid 1850's. It is about a religious cult that manipulates people in grief by taking advantage their religious beliefs with the ultimate goal of complete submission.This ultimately leads to the estrangement of individuals from their family, to bad behavior and sometimes even to suicide.It describes the religious fanaticism and how it can destroy people and human relationships.
This is not a light story but a strong punch that conveys many messages.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK One More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m really not sure how to review this one. The premise was intriguing, a historic fiction set in the throes of a religious cult. Somehow I expected a little more though, and while I enjoyed the book I felt a little unsatisfied at the end. It was enjoyable and the characters were well written and the plot was enjoyable but I guess I just expected a little more from the summary. I’m glad I read it and I enjoyed it but it’s not going to be on my highlights reel.

A Gripping and Atmospheric Thriller ★★★★☆

The Taking of Irene Hart by Madeleine Reiss is a compelling psychological thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. The novel weaves together past and present as it unravels the mystery of Irene Hart’s disappearance, blending suspense with deeply emotional storytelling.

Reiss does a fantastic job of building tension, creating an eerie and unsettling atmosphere that lingers throughout the book. The characters are well-developed, particularly the protagonist, whose journey to uncover the truth is both heart-wrenching and gripping. The writing is immersive, and the plot twists are well-paced, keeping me engaged without feeling forced.

The only reason I’m giving it four stars instead of five is that certain plot points felt slightly predictable, and I wished for a bit more depth in some of the secondary characters. However, these are minor issues in an otherwise engrossing read.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers with strong emotional depth, The Taking of Irene Hart is definitely worth picking up!

Thank you net galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review

The Taking of Irene Hart is a historical true story about a cult in Somerset in 1856. The men and women live behind a boundary wall and have been promised eternal life and sainthood by the cult leader in return for all their money and worldly possessions. A widow is taken in by the charisma of the leader and her and her 2 daughters go to the commune to start a new life full of promise for eternal life behind the wall. However all is not what it seems. The local policeman has been investigating unexplained deaths of women in the commune and the surprising discovery of a body new born baby from the commune being abandoned outside the wall . Surprise because everyone is supposed to be celibate and no marriage is ever consummated in the normal way just in a spiritual way . Ruby is the head strong daughter of the widow and Irene is the sickly daughter afflicted with seizures . . The cult leader takes a special interest in Irene because he believes she can see the future while having a seizure.
There is a sense of menace and secrecy throughout the story and some surprising twists and turns. This book is well worth the read.
4 stars

Well to say that this book was different is an understatement this book would not have been my choice as I was unaware of the author if it had not came up as a suggestion.
This book tells the story of the Hart family set in the 1850 I do love a good thriller book but this was a fascinating book based on a true story that told the tell of the Hart women after their father passed and their mother became overwhelmed with her new life and in turns she becomes intrigued with a travelling preacher man reverend Peters who promises them eternal life.. With the interest Reverend Peters has on the family and especially that of the youngest child Irene and her visions will make you feel uneasy and question his motives towards welcoming them into the Garden kingdom walls. This is a gothic history thriller with twists around that of a life within a commune alongside a police officer who unfolds a story of the finding about a baby found in a bush why is it there and what has happened to its mother.
The build up of the characters are very good and the writing reflects this and will have you looking towards the mother and questioning why does she not see what is happening there is very strong characters in this books which will make you feel uneasy though the role of the constable is very well incorporated into the story.
This is a dark, gripping gothic read which will hold you to wanting to find out what happens behind the walls of the garden kingdom and what happens to those who live there.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for this eCopy to review

'The Taking of Irene Hart' by Madeleine Reiss is a historical gothic thriller, it was a compelling, if somewhat unsettling, read.

The story is set in 1859 Somerset, England, and it centres on widow Hester Hart and her two daughters, Ruby and Irene. Hester, seeking spiritual solace, decides to join a secretive religious community led by the charismatic Reverend Peters. Once inside, the family's lives are drastically altered.

I was immediately drawn into the oppressive atmosphere of the community. Reiss does a fantastic job of creating a sense of unease and dread. The community's strict rules, the reverend's manipulative charisma, and the growing sense of isolation all contributed to a truly gothic feel.

Irene, who suffers from seizures and is believed by the community to have second sight, is a particularly intriguing character. Her vulnerability and the way she's exploited by the community were deeply disturbing. Ruby, the headstrong sister, becomes the voice of reason and resistance. I was rooting for her as she began to suspect that something sinister was happening within the community's walls.

The plot unfolds as Ruby uncovers dark secrets and a twisted philosophy that threatens her family's safety. The suspense builds as she realizes that they're not just fighting for their souls but for their very lives. The shocking discovery that throws the community into scrutiny adds a layer of urgency and danger.

If you enjoy historical gothic thrillers with a touch of mystery and suspense, you'll likely find this book engaging

In 1859 widow Hester Hart falls under the spell of the charismatic Reverend Peters and signs over all her worldly goods to his secretive religious community and moves with her two daughters into the "Garden Kingdom". The daughters, Ruby and Irene, are like chalk and cheese (or silk and hemp as their mother says) with Ruby being more pragmatic than Irene. Irene suffers from seizures and experiences visions which some in the Community interpret as meaning she has second sight.

Inspired by a true story, this is a well-written novel of atmospheric suspense with a pervasive feeling of impending doom. The characters are well fleshed out and I especially liked the police officer, Constable Philip Hodge. Obviously this type of cult has been around for a very long time and there will always be followers looking for something to believe in. The ending was exactly what I had hoped for. A solid 4-star read. And what a lovely cover too.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, via Netgalley, for approving my request to read an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: February 13, 2025.

I found this book rather far-fetched, and quite frustrating to read, until I reached the end and read that it was based on true events.
As an illustration of how people can be persuaded to believe something, and follow someone, this is an interesting book. I found some of the characters annoying - the mother who is completely taken in by the charlatan leading the 'cult', the sister who allows herself to be manipulated.
It improved as it went on, but the book left me unconvinced.

et in Somerset in the 1850s, it is not until you read the author’s afterword that this is based upon a real cult that was in Somerset in this period. Therefore, after reading it, this little piece of information makes you look at what you have read with a different eye, if you see what I mean. After the death of their father, Ruby and Irene Hart are taken by their mother, Hester, to live in a community called the Garden Kingdom, having fallen under the spell of The Beloved, or Pastor Peters, and handed over all of her money and property to him. Irene suffers from what are called ‘takings’, seizures, and so Ruby, who is a super, strong character, is protective of her. Their mother has given them no choice in this matter and while Irene feels more accepted within this community, Ruby is appalled that this is to be her life. As the book progresses, we see the manipulation of Pastor Peters and how he separates these women from the rest of the town. He makes them believe that only by living in the Garden Kingdom will they be able to achieve eternal life. But Ruby realises that not is all it seems. And so does Constable Philip Hodge who is determined to find out the truth about a baby that was found abandoned outside the walls of the community. Especially as marriages within the Garden Kingdom and spiritual and not physical. He also wants to find out the truth about the suicide of a young woman from the community who was found hanged outside. He believes something rotten is going on within the walls of the community and that Pastor Peters rather than being a spiritual leader is in fact a dangerous man. This is an excellent read and although it is dark and you do feel the horror that is within the Garden Kingdom, especially as it is based on fact, you are on the side of Ruby as she fights to protect her sister, you cheer on Constable Hodge as he stands firm before Pastor Peter and the dramatic finale will reveal all. A book has everything, history, scary moments, shocking events, secrets, and even romance.

La famiglia Hart, Hester e le figlie Ruby e Irene, è in lutto in quanto il padre è morto da poco in modo inaspettato. Ruby, la figlia maggiore, riesce a convincere la madre ad uscire a fare una passeggiata.
Durante questa passeggiata, incuriosite da un gruppo di persone, incontrano il reverendo Peters. La madre, colpita dalle parole e dai modi del reverendo, inizia a partecipare ai suoi sermoni fino a quando comunica alle figlie che si è spogliata dei suoi averi (ossia ha ceduto casa e patrimonio al reverendo) e loro andranno a vivere nella comunità del reverendo, “Garden Kingdom.”.
L’agente Philip Hodge trova una bambina appena nata abbandonata fuori dalle mura della comunità e cerca di trovare chi l’ha abbandonata e perché.
La storia è liberamente ispirata a una storia vera di una setta religiosa presente nel Somerset nel periodo (1859) in cui avvengono le vicende narrate.
La storia mi è piaciuta molto. L’alternanza delle vicende di Ruby all’interno della comunità e delle indagini di Hodge all’esterno rende la storia più avvincente, con il ritmo giusto di narrazione. La storia principale è quanto succede nella comunità: all'inizio c’è un’atmosfera ovattata quasi paradisiaca, sembra andare tutto bene, fino a quando, combinando le indagini di Hodge e lo scetticismo di Ruby, tutto diventa claustrofobico, ansioso e sopratutto è necessario agire in modo urgente.
Molto consigliato!

It is 1859 and in Bridgwater, Somerset the Hart family; eldest daughter Ruby, her sister Irene and their mother Hester, have been in full mourning for six months. It was Ruby that found the body of her father in his study and time literally seems to have stopped. Hester has withdrawn into herself and
‘hoarded her sorrow, lingering over its heft, counting its facets and piling up its weight, leaving Ruby no way to share the extent of the loss, or even to expend her own.’
But the two girls persuade Hester to accompany them on a shopping expedition and it’s there that their lives take a decisive turn. Ruby remembers it as when their lives changed forever. A man is preaching to a gathering on the street. He is called Rev Peters and he talks about a commune of believers called the Garden Kingdom. Hester is entranced and comes back to life again. She follows him around the country and life for Ruby and Irene improves as they are allowed to see their friends again. Ruby and Cousin Anna are discussing the latter’s forthcoming wedding although for Ruby:
‘it was galling to expend so much energy expressing enthusiasm for table napkins.’
Then Hester announces they are all going to live at the Kingdom and that she has sold all their worldly possessions to gain entry. They will all become as Hester describes it:
‘Brides of Christ’
But Irene has a secret. She suffers from fits or ‘takings’ as she calls them in which she has visions of the future and talks about what she has seen afterwards. It ruined her blossoming romance with a man called William who was shocked by seeing her during one of her ‘takings.’
But in Yaxton where the Kingdom is located, an abandoned baby has been found under a hedge. PC Philip Hodge is investigating and trying to find the mother. He suspects that it might be connected to the Garden community and is reluctantly allowed to interview some of the residents. Several members of the community have their own reasons for being there and regard it as a safe haven. Men and women are separated and there are no children. They are all interested in Irene’s ‘takings’ which begin to increase after she is prescribed a tincture.
A member of the Kingdom, a girl named Hattie, is found in the orchard having committed suicide with a note pinned to her chest. When Philip discovers that there have been other suicides in the same place in successive years he realises that the apparently idyllic community is hiding a dark secret.
Hattie had recently given birth….
As Irene’s visions become darker and Rev Peters resolves to take a Bride Ruby begins to discover the other side of the Kingdom…
The idealistic community with a canker at its heart is one that has appeared in several novels and the fact that it is based on a real life one in Somerset in the 19th century makes it even more convincing. The inspiration for the book was that the residents of the real life community were supposedly not as clean living as they professed to be. But the Kingdom is really a cult with its own rules and punishments.
I liked the way in which the author built up the atmosphere from when the Harts arrive and it all seems very idyllic and welcoming. But Ruby and Philip gradually become privy to what lies beneath the surface. I felt that there were hints of Midsommar in parts of the text. A really dark, Gothic influence pervades the book with a sense of doom. This contrasted with the happy residents who do not see anything even when people seemingly vanish never to be seen again. Hester is totally taken in and happy to be there forever.
There was a subplot with William that didn’t seem to go anywhere but Ruby was an engaging character, forceful and determined, as she sought to care for the increasing frail Irene. She realises that Irene is being cruelly exploited.
Philip was another strong character as he pressed on trying to solve the mystery of the baby while having his own problems at home and facing indifference and hindrance by his superior, Jowler. He recognises that Rev Peters is a man:
‘possessed by his own dogma.’
This is a wonderful piece of historical fiction with some evocative descriptions. However, towards the end the narrative dragged a little as revelations tumbled out but the plotting was immaculate.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

BOOK: THE TAKING OF IRENE HART
AUTHOR: MADELEINE REISS
PUB DATE: FEBRUARY, 2025
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REVIEWThanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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I liked this book because it was different. A religious cult in the late 1800s? Sign me up! Plus, the author said it was based in a real life story. This just shows that we're not really different from those in the past.
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Anyway, the book follows Ruby Hart, who followed her mother, Hester, alongside her epileptic younger sister, Irene, to the Garden Kingdom after her mother lost her senses after her husband and their father's death. Irene also has 'sightings' when she has seizures predicting the future. Hester didn't make any impression on me at all. She was my least favorite character here, even more than the villains, because she was weak and failed to protect her young daughters.
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This book was slow paced, but it will keep you engaged, wanting to know the next thing. The other main character was Inspector Philip Hodge, he was a dedicated police officer and a good person in general. He started investigating the cult when he found a newborn baby abandoned in the compound. I admired his doggedness.
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Now, through Ruby, the female main character, we were able to experience what leaving in the community did. It was just like how cults are described. The gullible followers and the charismatic leader who thinks he's a God wannabe. I liked Ruby's description. It was similar and engaging. I liked it.
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I liked the book, but I wanted more of an epilogue, especially the aftermath and the lives of Ruby and Philip. Regardless, it was good, and I'm glad I read it. I'd definitely recommend it.
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I read this book with a touch of morbid fascination. Based loosely upon a cult in Victorian Somerset it tells the story of a widow, Hester, and her two daughters Irene and Ruby. Hester is swayed by the charismatic Reverend Peters and sells her property and gives all her monies to him so that she and her daughters may join the cult. It is difficult to place yourself in that situation, I certainly hope that I wouldn't be taken in by such a way, however it is clear that even today, when people should be better informed, that such cults still exist. It is interesting to see how the story develops, including an abandoned baby and a police constable who is uneasy with the commune. Not really my cup of tea, but I can see that many people would enjoy it and have scored it accordingly.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

This is a very dark and disturbing novel taking you deep into the realms of religious cults and their lasting effects on individuals.
A well structured book with well portrayed characters

The Taking of Irene Hart was an emotive, uncomfortable and intriguing read. I think cults are a fascinating topic and this book was no exception to that. The characters were interesting and I loved Ruby! I enjoyed the twist at the end and so happy that the sisters managed to stay together through everything. The book was on the slower side but well paced for the story being told. Historical fiction isn’t my usual genre but I enjoyed reading The Taking of Irene Hart!