Lie of the Land is an insular, chilly thriller set against a backdrop of the Black Country. Jemma and Rory’s relationship is on the rocks and she isn’t sure what she wants, simultaneously keeping him at arm's length while going along with his plan to take their relationship to the next level. Rory suggests moving in together, and despite Jemma’s half-hearted protests, they end up buying The Rocks, a dilapidated cottage that they can “fix up”. Their only neighbours, couple Ed and Catherine and their daughter, Amber, are friendly enough if not a little overeager for Jemma’s taste.

As soon as we set foot in The Rocks, we are assaulted by the sense that something is really not right. The house, and even the Black Country itself, takes on a sinister personality of its own as Jemma grows increasingly unsettled and claustrophobic, with the author describing it as “a migraine of a landscape”. It is quiet and isolated, and the author masterfully builds up the atmosphere in relatively few pages. Despite its short length, this is definitely a slow burn, but unfortunately the plot never quite seems to catch fire.

The writing style of this novel is quite unique, with “Jemma will say now” and “Jemma tells how” sprinkled throughout, telling the reader that the narrative voice is untrustworthy. However, I feel the effectiveness of this is diminished when it’s used in almost every sentence - it became repetitive and took me out of the story. I also got the sense that the author was building up to a big, surprising, twisted finish, and when it arrived, the ending fell a bit flat for me. There were lots of elements that felt important to the plot that were never revisited or properly explained.

Overall, this is a quick, atmospheric read which I’d recommend for those who love an ambiguous ending and to be kept guessing throughout a book. 2.5/5

This was a different kind of read for me and it did take me a few chapters to really settle I got the book but once I did I was gripped. Rory and Jemma’s coming together while Rory still had a partner is the start then the couple buy a fixer upper house in the Midlands.
The neighbours and the lives of Rory and Jemma come together in a sinister shocking way and the outcome isn’t what I was expecting.
Good story line dealing with toxic relationship issues so possible triggers for some but I found it enthralling.

I was initially drawn to this book because of the title and the atmospheric cover. After reading the synopsis it seemed even more compelling. The idea of having a haunting and atmospheric story that was intertwined with deeper themes and human issues sounded ‘right up my street.’

I was aware, before starting the text, of the unusual writing style. The narration and constant ‘she’ll say it was…’ and ‘she’ll tell how it was…’ was not for me personally but I did not mind it and could get into the story despite this.

Initially I quite liked the story and was excited to read more however i felt that the characters were not really likeable and I really didn’t care what happened to them. Unfortunately this, along with the way it was written, felt like I was reading a detailed plan of how the novel WOULD be written rather than reading the novel itself. The writing style did not help this as it was almost as if the author was saying ‘then this will happen, next we’ll look at this, then XYZ will take place etc.’ I appreciate that the author was trying to write as if the main character thoughts were tumbling onto the page it just felt like it was more the author’s thoughts and plans for the story were tumbling out and they lacked depth and clarity.

As such I was not drawn in or gripped at all. The atmosphere I was so looking forward to was never forthcoming and it was a real slug to get to the end.

The ending itself was anti-climatic and disappointing and, perhaps it is just me, but I really felt like it just didn’t make sense. It qas almost as if there wasn’t a clear idea of how it would end so it just stopped.

It’s a shame as the idea behind this book is fantastic and the storyline could have been brilliant but under-developed and unlikeable characters, along with a writing style that kept the reader at arms length rather than bringing them into the story, left it being a lacklustre read for me and one I really didn’t enjoy.

If you're looking for an unsettling read, look no further. This is one of the most unsettling books I've ever read.

Jemma and Rory buy a house together. Their relationship hasn't had the best start, based as it is on his infidelity with tragic consequences for his ex fiancee.. The house is a doer upper. Rory can't resist it with its cheap price and promise of a good profit but Jemma is not so sure. It is a character in its own right with its creaking and sighing and mysterious noises. Next door their neighbours live in luxury. Jemma dislikes Ed (whom Rory seems unduly influenced by) while Catherine is a more attractive figure.

The style of writing is unusual with its use of the future tense, 'Jemma will say, Jemma will tell you'. I enjoyed this but I wouldn't want to read this tense as a matter of course. It did however fit very well with the enigmatic nature of the novel.

If you like clear cut endings you probably won't take to this but if you enjoy thinking about a book long after you've read it then this is ideal. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

I started off liking this one, the writing style made me feel that we can't believe anything we're being told, that the narrator is flawed, but the style soon got a bit tedious and i felt that the storyline, even though intriguing and haunting, was maybe dragged out for longer than it needed to be, i lost interest about 3/4 through.

Lie of the Land is a gripping dark domestic literary thriller set against the backdrop of the gritty Black Country in the Midlands, UK. The story follows Rory and Jemma, who embark on a relationship despite Rory already having a girlfriend. Before long, they find themselves purchasing their first home together, a dilapidated property in a less-than-inviting neighbourhood.

The house, aptly named ‘The Rocks,’ is a run-down fixer-upper that immediately leaves Jemma feeling reluctant and uneasy, as she grapples with her feelings of commitment. From the outset, it becomes clear that the house holds an unsettling charm, almost as if it has a sinister presence of its own. The situation takes a darker turn when a horrific accident involving their new neighbours forces both Jemma and Rory to confront their inner demons.

The themes of toxic relationships, secrets, and deceit are expertly woven throughout the narrative, amplified by a judgmental voice that drives the plot towards its chilling resolution. The atmospheric writing is undeniably poetic, enveloping the reader in the eerie, compelling world that Jemma and Rory inhabit.

As unexpected events unfold, the sense of unease grows, not just within the house but in the neighbourhood as well, where even the neighbours harbour their mysteries. The ending is both surprising and unsettling, leaving readers reflecting on the dark undercurrents of relationships and the haunting nature of the environment.

Overall, Lie of the Land is a masterfully crafted thriller that explores the complexities of love, fear, and the unseen forces that shape our lives, making it a captivating read from start to finish.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview.

This very short read is a domestic thriller about a couple whi purchase a creepy old house with dodgy neighbours.

For a book with 'few' pages it is filled drama, well written and the plot is intriguing. I was thinking one thing that might happen then totally unexpected something else did.

I actually wish it was a full sized novel.. its brilliant ..

Throughly amazing, excellent, spell binding, creepy and torturous. The story reads with a third person telling it which only heightens the drama. If your requirements are to be utterly terrified and perpelxed pick this out, you wont be disappointed. Unwaveringly good.

This book was a pleasant surprise.
It is way more dramatic, eerie and unsettling than I could hoped for.
I have some reservations concerning the conclusion....but all in all, this is a cool mystery/horror read for October.

Creepy, atmospheric and gripping! I really enjoyed this book although at times I struggled with the writing style. I would definitely recommend it though as the story is brilliant. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC

I found this absorbing, mysterious and foreboding throughout. The use of the future tense, eg. Jemma will say, etc. was intriguing, as though she was going to tell the whole story to someone in the future - at a trial, maybe? The strange sounds and smells added a touch of horror, as did the house which was crumbling, cold and damp, despite having had work done to it. The neighbours were weird and drew Jemma and Rory into their clutches. Jemma remains inscrutable and out of it, living in her own head most of the time. The ending is ambiguous and unsatisfying, though, so not five stars.

This was a really good book that gripped me from the beginning. I would definitely recommend this book to others. I believe it would be a must on library shelves. I look forward to more from this author.

Lie of the Land is domestic fiction with a thriller edge and just a sprinkle of horror set in the UK's Black Country. Jemma and Rory have recently started a relationship and bought a fixer-upper in the Midlands. Jemma is ready for neither. Hadley-Pryce takes you gently by the hand and leads you into a bleak, unsettling place where everyone and everything is just a bit…off.

Overall, this is a deeply unsettling fever dream of a novel. It's a quick read, but you won't relax the entire time. The brisk pace keeps you engaged, making it a domestic horror that delves into the awful feeling of being absorbed into another person's life.

The narrative voice takes some getting used to with its constant "Jemma will tell you" and "Jemma will say." It sets up a distrust of our main characters, and their actions don't do much to change that over the course of the novel. Of course, the secondary characters don't seem especially trustworthy, either. You'll be constantly off balance and questioning.

Regarding the characters, Hadley-Pryce did a fantastic job populating her bleak landscape with people ranging from "the worst" to "seems fine, but is probably the worst." The true horror is that these characters are entirely believable. I found myself identifying with some and being repulsed by others.

I won't spoil the ending for you. Still, if you're not okay with a certain
amount of ambiguity, you'll likely be disappointed by this one. I actually went back and reread the last 30-ish pages to make sure I hadn't missed anything. There's definitely more going on than meets the eye, but there are no neat, easy answers at the end of this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Salt Publishing for the ARC.

Jemma and Rory buy a “doer-upper” semi in the Black Country. Odd neighbours, weird noises in the night etc.
There is a constant feel of unease about this story which is beautifully described. The narrative style, however, did not work for me.
And I was quite cross at the end when it all just petered out.

Thank you NetGalley and Salt Publishing for the eARC.
This was a difficult read for me. The constant use of she says/tells was exhausting and therefore I got bored, lost interest and dnf. Sorry!

The book is atmospheric and writing is poetic. The characters were mysterious. Rory and Jemma buy their own house in the grimy midlands. The house seems to be eerie, compelling and dark. There is something just so unsettling about it. While all the unexpected happenings and accidents surrounds them. The neighbour is mysterious too. The ending was so unexpected and unsettling.

Thanks to the Author and Netgalley.

I feel a bit conflicted on this one, the writing style didn't really work for me.
The constant "she says/tells" was a bit much. That's just me.
However, the story was good, and there's a real sense of unease through the whole thing.

This is a 'read now' book on netgalley which I rarely look at, preferring to request books instead. My (now I realise incorrect) opinion is that the read now books generally lack quality and are to be avoided.

However, this book drew me in. The synopsis sounded intriguing and, at only 176 pages, my thoughts were that if it was rubbish, I wasn't wasting much time on it.

And how pleased I was to be surprised by the quality of this book, it really gripped me and Hadley-Price is a very gifted, poetic, lyrical writer who gave this novel a great sense of foreboding..

I was very surprised but this book is a 5 star for me