Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
What an excellent audiobook. I loved the creepy setting at the castle in Scotland. Perfect narration. Well written and held my interest.
I loved the two separate timelines and both were easy to follow along with.
How can you not love an audiobook with a creepy haunted castle?

IN THE LONELY HOURS was a great story, it's filled with secrets and a ton of creepiness which is up my alley. I like the dual timelines, it helped with the overall pace of the book. Highly recommend!

"the dead have always been restless here"

On a remote Scottish island, in an ancient and beautiful castle, lies a horde of ghosts and tales of a priceless gem that has cursed the Maundrell family for generations. When the castle is passed to descendant Edwina—Edie—she is left to untangle the secrets of her unknown family’s past before the curse gets her and her daughter too.

In the Lonely Hours displays a touching portrayal of a mother-daughter relationship with Edie and Neve who work together to unlock the secrets of the Maundrell family and of Edie’s mysterious past. They’re annoying at times but Neve is fifteen, so, you know… To be expected, probably.

Readers weave though a past and present timeline which helps to gain more knowledge and insight in to the family. The past timeline is packed with drama from very dysfunctional family dynamics. It’s a bit of a slow start with a lot of background and history of the island but Morgan managed to keep my attention through her compelling characters and the lush, sprawling descriptions of the land. The plot became convoluted at times with a full cast of characters, ghosts, witches, etc; it was a lot to keep straight.

This novel provides the gothic horror vibes that one would want in a story like this: old arched entrances; ornate and elaborate structures; winding ivy; a dark, mysterious well… I loved this oppressive castle! I wanna visit! I would consider this to be a very cozy, gothic horror and would recommend it for readers wanting to expand into the horror genre but maybe don’t know where to start or for readers of Darcy Coates.

And though it’s not all narrated in a Scottish accent (mostly English) I was worried to listen. I often times have difficulty understanding most Scottish accents (sorry, friends across the pond!) but I really enjoyed this narration by Siobhan Waring. Some of the words were difficult to understand though that’s likely due to my own lacking and unfamiliarity with Scottish territory rather than the narration. With all of that said, I think the narration was incredibly captivating and added another layer of not only believability but enjoyability.

Thank you RBmedia and NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review! Available this Tuesday, 07/23/2024! *Quotes are pulled from an advanced reader copy and are subject to change prior to publication*

The narration in this book cannot be beat. I mean the little whispers, the creaking, and the echoes were so perfect! I was listening while removing wallpaper from a bedroom we are remodeling and I kept stopping to just be in the moment. Most audiobooks do not do that to me.
The story is fun too! I loved the mythology and history. I LOVED our ghosts. I cried over the autistic man. Although at first I imagined him with down syndrome.
I had a blast listening to this one. I loved the story too.