I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It was a well written book. I hope to read more books by this author.

The Secret of Cold Hill is perfect for readers who like spooky rather than creepy in their horror stories.

Jason and Emily Danes move into their new home on Cold Hill, and right away strange things begin to happen. Shadowy figures roam the hallways of the house, thumping noises can be heard from the attic studio, lights turn on and off for no reason. Scariest of all, Jason, an artist, and Emily, a caterer, can hear people talking in their house -- sometimes right in the same room that they're in. Adding to their unease is a sense of isolation resulting from the fact that they are only the second family to have moved into their new housing development.

Peter James, author of the Det. Roy Grace police procedural series, has turned his deft hand to a new genre with this series, with mixed results. The story is very readable, because James is so skilled at writing narrative and dialogue. But the plot felt repetitive, consisting of a series of odd things happening, Jason and Emily talking themselves into believing that nothing strange is happening, and then more odd things happening. I did enjoy how James resolved the storyline.

This is the second book in the series, but I didn't feel I was missing anything by not having read the first book before I read this one.

**I'll be posting this review to Amazon.com shortly as well.

The Secret of Cold Hill by Peter James is simply a ghost story and who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned ghost story and what better setting than the English countryside. Emily and Jason Danes have decided to buy a house in the country and the one they fall in love with is a new build on an estate previously occupied by an old mansion. When they move in, they realize that there are few other residents with the exception of the eccentric older couple across the way: Maurice and Claudette Penze-Weedell. Before long, the young couple begin to notice that all is not well in the new home. Sounds are heard and sightings begin to appear in the homes of the Danes and the Penze-Weedell. You will have to read this book to learn more. Close the curtains and turn up all the lights: you are in for quite a story. Thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.