Lily and Violet have recently lost their parents during an attempt to climb K2, with no other living relatives they are sent to live with their Aunt Clara, a woman they have never met, but as long as the girls get to stay together they are willing to live with a complete stranger.

Clara has spent her entire life hating the little brother whose children she is now in charge of, but, they are extremely rich children now with their parents gone and Clara is confident she can bleed them dry before they come of age. Even if that means literally bleeding them.

I feel really bad saying this after reading the author's note, but this was so cheesy, so unrealistic, so over the top, it was good. Aunt Clara is such a classic evil stepmother type character that she's almost comical when she's doing her plotting. And of course, once Lily and Violet are introduced, none of her plotting amounts to anything. She's fallen victim to thinking she's the smartest person in the room.

Lily and Violet's powers awakening with the death of their parents was interesting, although towards the end it seemed like they probably had been there the whole time and were either weaker or the girls just hadn't recognized them yet as they had no need too. I really enjoyed Violet's character she really was a simply well written nine year old kiddo. Lily was a bit too mature for me, I get that trauma can age children (from personal experience), but some of the things she said were just a bit off. Still enjoyed her, just not as much as Violet.

The one thing that kept this from being five stars (okay maybe two reasons) is the fact that this entire story relies on the police being absolute morons and it further relies on it being set in the seventies in a rural area for readers to buy that the police are absolute morons. There is just absolutely no way that Clara got away with the stuff she got away with, not without the police doing a far more serious investigation. And Dina, the housekeeper, character. Look I liked her, I'm glad she was there for the girls but she was the adult in this situation at no point did she attempt to reach out to the girls lawyers, hell CPS even, and she flat said it was because she didn't want to lose her job. She's watching these girls get abused emotionally and Violet later physically by being forced to do something that makes her violently ill, and she's just like, "But girls, I'll lose my job!" Again, no. And hey, maybe yes, but let's not turn her into a bigger hero than she was. I'm actually really concerned as to what Dina would have actually done if Clara had attempted to kill the girls, I really didn't see Dina putting her neck on the line for them at all. And again, even this relies on being believable only because it's a rural area and there aren't many jobs. Honestly, most of this book relies on a complete misunderstanding about how children wind up with family members after the death of their parents, and/or a misunderstanding about how "primative" the seventies were, and/or a belief that small town cops are morons, and/or all of the above. I'm leaning towards all of the above, so if you are unable to suspend reality, this book is gonna drive you bonkers.

Overall, is this the best ghost story you'll ever read? Absolutely not. Is it the worst? Nope. Was it a lot of fun? It really was. Between Aunt Clara's exaggerated evilness, the ghosts' childish and petty antics, and the girls being these insanely brave kiddos in the face of their evil Aunt it was just a super fun read. I definitely recommend this for really anyone. I don't think you have to be into ghost stairs to enjoy this, to be honest. With the character tropes being what they are, it lies neatly in the fairy tale column as well.


As always, thanks to NetGalley and Randomhouse Publishing - Ballantine for the eArc!


You can check out all of my reviews at my blog too! https://kellysbooknook.wordpress.com/

Lily and violet sent to live with their aunt Clara when their parents die. While living with Clara they uncover magical abilities and also learn about Clara's past murders. It was a nice story about sister relationships and overcoming challenges.

This very witchy book is the story of two sisters sent to live with a distant aunt after the death of their parents. This gave major Matilda energy, as well as Space Mountain vibes. I enjoyed reading this and hated the aunt so much, so great job! If you're fans of eerie magic and powerful sister bonds, this is for you!

The concept for this book drew me in but ultimately, I just couldn't vibe with the story itself. I couldn't stick with the slowburn and the characters, which I struggled to root for, also eroded my interest in the central conflict between the aunt and her nieces. The right reader will love this book, it's just not for me.

In a breathtaking tale where familial bonds and ominous secrets intertwine, Clara Woods finds herself thrust into the caretaker role for her nieces, the enigmatic Lily and Violet after a tragic accident claims their parents' lives on K2. Driven more by the allure of inheritance than genuine affection, Clara faces unforeseen challenges as the girls possess mysterious 'gifts' that add layers of intrigue, threatening to unveil her own sinister past and motives.

The narrative unfolds through alternating perspectives, weaving a rich tapestry of diverse viewpoints that reveal deeply buried secrets and emotional turmoil. While Violet's youthful innocence and Lily's burgeoning awareness offer compelling insights, Clara's chapters, pivotal yet occasionally theatrical, echo a villain reminiscent of timeless antagonists.

Though the plot intricately leads to a satisfying climax, the pacing can feel laborious, especially where suspense drags in the middle sections, dimming the vibrancy expected from such a rich conceptual foundation. The novel ambitiously explores supernatural abilities and moral ambiguity within a family drama but sometimes struggles to maintain momentum and fully realize its thematic potential.

In conclusion, this novel promises a remarkable exploration of supernatural abilities and moral dilemmas wrapped in a compelling family drama. While it occasionally falls short in execution, the concept holds immense promise, particularly if the impact of the girls' abilities on the unfolding events were further developed with greater depth and flair.

Thank you Random House Publishing, Del Rey, Camilla Bruce, and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

One of my highly anticipated books of next year and by my favourite author too! So take this review with a grain of salt as I might be a bit biased. Again, Camilla Bruce has killed it with the plot and characters. They shine brightly in this book. It has this sense of eeriness and unreality that I highly enjoyed. The chapters are short abd the pace is fast, so I don't think there is any chance of getting bored. I am certain this book will make waves when it gets published next year!

At the Bottom of the Garden by Camilla Bruce tells the story of Clara Woods, a cruel murderess, as she takes in her two nieces after the passing of their parents. Readers are brought into a gothic setting as they watch the weight of dangerous secrets and hidden magic threaten to tear Clara away from her strongest desires.

I did decide to DNF this book around the 29% mark. Although I was interested in the plot, I couldn't connect to the writing or the characters.

Books written in first-person and books with multiple perspectives don't always work for me, especially when the two are mixed together. This book follows the perspectives of three different characters, all written in first-person. Two of the three perspectives are Clara's nieces, Lily and Violet. Lily is fourteen and Violet is nine, but it did not seem like that when I was reading chapters from their perspectives. I found it difficult to remember which character I was reading about because their perspectives were so similar.

As beautiful as the gothic setting was, I didn't feel like there was enough description for me to get into it. This book focuses more on dialogue than description. I know a lot of people enjoy having more dialogue, so this is great for anyone who does. However, I find it easier to connect with and enjoy a story that has more description and imagery. I would've loved for the setting to play a bigger part in the portion of the story I read.

One of the aspects I did enjoy about this book is that the villain gets to be the main character. Clara is a vicious and selfish character. I always love it when the main character in a story is a little unhinged. I do wish there was a little more depth to her character, but I'm sure I missed out on some development since I didn't finish the book.

At the Bottom of the Garden is a good option for people who want a whimsical, gothic book with unique characters and a bit of mystery. It's especially great for lovers of first-person POV and dialogue over description. It's an intriguing story, but the writing style did not work for me.

Review on Goodreads (sophreadingbooks https://www.goodreads.com/sophreadingbooks) expected 1/28/2025
Review on Instagram (sophiesreading https://www.instagram.com/sophiesreading/) expected 2/11/2025

When Clara Woods’s brother and his wife go missing during a tragic climbing accident, Clara—the closest living relative—is deemed responsible for their two girls. She isn’t very interested in caring for the little brats but she IS interested in their inheritance. Clara does have a secret she’s keeping from the girls though… She’s a killer. But that’s fine because the girls have their own secrets—they harness special abilities of sight—and when they join Clara in her home, getting her hands on the girls’ inheritance becomes a lot more complicated than she could have imagined.

Points of view alternate between Clara; Lily, the eldest of the two girls at fourteen; and Violet, nine. I much preferred the girls’ point of view, especially Violet; I found Clara’s point of view to be dull and, quite honestly, cheesy. She gives off big Count Olaf vibes which who doesn’t love Count Olaf BUT it felt very… young adult… and like she was just a caricature of an evil villain rather than a real person.

The narrative was repetitive, monotonous, and failed to dazzle me like the synopsis did.

Thank you Random House Publishing, Del Rey, and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 01/28/2025.

Thank you @netgalley, Camilla Bruce, and Random House Publishing Group for this arc kindle copy of At the Bottom of the Garden. 5 stars all around for this fantastic read. I freaking loved this. The story starts off strong with the cynical Aunt Clara, acting as the closest living relative of two recently orphaned daughters from her passed brother. She accepts the girls as part of her grand scheme to getting rich and leaving behind a legacy since they have a hefty inheritance. She’s one ruthless bitch who is willing to do anything (really, anything) to get what she feels she has earned. As the story unravels, we learn that the two girls have some supernatural gifts, and they can help the living and dead with their woes…but they accidentally unearth their Aunt Clara’s dirty secrets and the real entertainment begins. I would describe this book as a mix of Lemony Snicket’s with a little Matilda mixed in. We even get our own Miss Honey. I will definitely be reading all things Camilla Bruce now. 10/10 would recommend #atthebottomofthegarden

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of At the Bottom of the Garden.

I enjoyed the author's previous book, You Let Me In and the premise of At the Bottom of the Garden was intriguing, I was pleased my request was approved.

Sadly, this didn't meet my expectations for a number of reasons:

1. Long-winded exposition from the three main POVs, Lily, Violet, and the mean old aunt, Clara

2. For a narrative revolving around supernatural abilities and ghosts, the narrative was dull and tedious. There was no urgency or suspense, no excitement or drama.

3. Lily and Violet's voices sound familiar and I found it hard to distinguish between the two and remember who was older.

It also didn't help that I hoped this would be a dark, macabre, witchy tale and it was anything but.

The writing is good, but the story tragically boring and slow.

Lily and Violet are forced to move in with their Aunt Clara when their parents die. Clara is a horrible person and only wants to be the children's guardian because of money. Greed of is not Clara's biggest sin. Oh no, she is a murderess. As Lily and Violet try to escape the grips of Aunt Clara, they discovery they have some very unique abilities that come with a price.

I really love Camilla Bruce's writing and this book was no different. The story moved at a good pace and gave off gothic horror vibes. The chapters are told through alternating POV, Clara, Lily and Violet, as we learn all of Clara's bad deeds and the gifts the girls possess. The ending was truly satisfying!

I haven’t had the pleasure of reading this author before, but I absolutely will be because this was such a great time.

This creepy, revenge fueled story Is inventive and engaging. The characters are all so multi-faceted, with their own unique voices, personalities, and morals.

When two young sisters fall into the care of their money hungry aunt, they begin to discover the trail of hatred that lurks behind her, among those she has wronged. In her drive to build her business, she will stop at nothing to secure the funding, even if that means becoming guardian to her young nieces in order to scoop up their inheritance.

Soon, she learns that these girls have a unique ability and sees dollar signs in her future. This was a wild ride. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the pacing, the vibe. So. Good.

At the Bottom of the Garden* by Camilla Bruce is a deliciously dark and twisted story that blends elements of gothic horror with a gripping psychological thriller. Clara Woods is no ordinary widow; she’s a killer who has long buried her secrets—quite literally—beneath the flower bed at the bottom of her garden. But her carefully constructed life begins to unravel when her two young nieces, Lily and Violet, arrive after the tragic death of their parents.

Clara’s motivations are clear from the start: she’s not interested in playing the doting aunt but rather in gaining access to the girls’ assets to fund her dream of creating a diamond jewelry line. But Violet has a terrifying gift—she can see the dead, including Clara’s buried past. As ghosts begin to resurface, Clara finds herself in a battle of wits and wills with the girls, who know far more than they should about her deadly secrets.

Camilla Bruce masterfully creates a tense and eerie atmosphere, where every shadow and whisper feels charged with impending doom. Clara is a fascinatingly complex character—cunning, ruthless, and unapologetically self-serving—yet you can’t help but be drawn into her twisted world. The dynamic between Clara and the girls, particularly the supernatural tension with Violet, adds layers of suspense that keep you guessing what will happen next.

The pacing is steady, with moments of creeping dread that build to a chilling climax. Bruce’s writing is sharp and evocative, painting a vivid picture of a garden that’s far from a place of peace and tranquility. While some might find the story a bit dark for their taste, it’s precisely this macabre edge that makes it such a compelling read.

*At the Bottom of the Garden* is a thrilling journey into the mind of a woman who will stop at nothing to protect her secrets, even when the past refuses to stay buried. Fans of gothic tales with a supernatural twist will find much to enjoy in this haunting and suspenseful novel.

#AttheBottomoftheGarden #NetGalley

This is definitely a slow burn, dragging out the suspense a little bit too much in places for my taste. I was hoping Aunt Clara would have some sort of redemptive quality to her, but overall she's just a horrible character that I didn't really care about. The ending of the story unfolds to reveal that we've been given little tidbits on how it'll all end like a breadcrumb trail. Overall I felt this story was fine.

When an accident on K2 takes their parent's lives, 9 year old Violet and 14 year old Lily are uprooted from their lives to go live with their estranged Aunt Clara. Aunt Clara has never met her brother's children and could have gone her entire life just fine without meeting them, until she realizes the monthly stipend she will be given for housing both children. Motivated by greed she feels she is owed by her once spoiled, now deceased brother, she takes in the children. Little does she know, her nieces are "gifted" and are about to unleash her dark secrets to the world if she can't control them.

Told in alternating chapters between the point of views of Violet, Lily, and Aunt Clara, the story slowly unfolds to reveal Aunt Clara's past and the "gifts" the two girls possess. This is definitely a slow burn, dragging out the suspense a little bit too much in places for my taste. I was hoping Aunt Clara would have some sort of redemptive quality to her, but overall she's just a horrible character that I didn't really care about. The ending of the story unfolds to reveal that we've been given little tidbits on how it'll all end like a breadcrumb trail. Overall I felt this story was fine. I'm not a huge fan of slow building stories, especially stories that don't give the full details. I wished they would have elaborated a little more on the girl's gifts, which is part of why I didn't rate this book higher.

An interesting if uneven story about family and ghosts and revenge. When Lily and Violet are orphaned, their grasping, vile aunt Clara takes them in, interested in the fortune they'll inherit. But the girls begin to develop supernatural powers, revealing Clara's worst crimes--and soon all three--plus Clara's employee Dina--are desperate for a way out. Having the villain POV is a nice twist, and the overall story is satisfying.

This book was creepy from the very first paragraph. Right away, we're in the head of a morally bankrupt character, told in the first person point of view. I was swept up in the prose, in the atmosphere, in Clara's worldview. It was all fascinating, like a car crash I couldn't look away from, and I needed to know what was going to happen next.

At the Bottom of the Garden is a bit like a dark fairy tale, where you see through the eyes of a villain, but know that ultimately, they will likely get their comeuppance. You're reading to see how it will happen, how things will start to unravel for them, both wanting them to see justice but somehow rooting for them to succeed at the same time.

We also get to see bits of the story through the child characters' (Lily and Violet) points of view, and this juxtaposition with Clara's viewpoint was particularly engaging. Honestly, from the second I picked this book up I couldn't put it down. While I wouldn't call it scary, I think this is a perfect addition to anyone's spooky season TBR.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for granting me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A great premise about witchy youngsters and their murderous, grasping aunt, but there are some real problems with this book that I just couldn’t get past.

The first-person point-of-view is easily the most difficult to write well. It’s mostly about creating a character that readers want to be inside the mind of, and having that mind make sense. This book has THREE first-person characters, two of whom are children who sound a bit too much alike, and the third is a slimy, self-righteous, self-obsessed murderer. There wasn’t enough personality written for any of the characters, and neither Lily or Violet or even the two combined was enough to balance out Clara.

I was immensely frustrated by the amount of story that was wrapped up in telling instead of showing, unnecessary dialogue, and repetition. Most of these problems could have been fixed with a change in POV, letting us see things happening instead of having each character explain them.
The epilogue was a weird infodump stuck onto the end—it was nice to know some of the reasons for the girls’ powers, but some of those details could easily have been woven into the plot.

So, yes, good idea (and great blurb, honestly), but it fell short for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing an ARC of this book.

*Note to publisher: I have rated this book on GoodReads, but my review will be published two weeks before the release date.

A lighthearted horror following two young girls navigating newfound spiritual abilities while overcoming the struggle of a greedy caretaker with a dark past.

This story was immersive, fast paced, and easy to digest. The writing flowed easily and the tiny bits of foreshadowing added really helped bring the plot to a satisfying end.

I rated it 4 stars because while it was great book, I only give the privilege of 5 stars to books that I think about for days, weeks, years after, and truly alter my brain.

I really liked this book and enjoyed getting a story from bad persons pov! I loved all the characters, I felt like the dialogue flowed really well, and it was JUST creepy enough without giving me nightmares! A great read!