Hold Your Breath

Hold Your Breath by author B P Walter is a dark and creepy thriller that does not disappoint!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As children, we expect our parents to keep us safe, or at least to try. Kitty Marchland knew her family was atypical, still when they move to a little house in the middle of nowhere, she begins to believe that her parents are hiding something from her. It’s not until she’s an adult that Kitty begins to worry that her parents may have had something to do with a potential murder. There is a creeping sensation of dread in this story, a worry that those who are supposed to keep us safe, may have, in fact done the opposite

Kittys family is not a typical family like someone would aspect. They move to a house in the nowhere and Kitty begins to think her parents hiding something from her. IKittyworries that her parents had even something to do with a murder. The book is well written it has a deep plot and a good writing style.

B P Walter is one of my favourite authors.

I honestly loved the book, A Version of The Truth and was so happy to receive his new novel.

It did not disappoint.

This story is told from the perspective of Kitty, a 10 year old girl, who knows something just isnt right with her family!

The book had me engrossed right from the first page.

It was an exciting read and the ending rounded the book up nicely.

The police have called Katherine in for an interview relating to a crime decades earlier when she was a child. Affectionately called Kitty as a girl, her father moves the family to a remote cottage due to her Mother’s mental health in the hope for a cure.
Told between now and then the ‘cure’ has damaged Kitty, the family and other lives beyond repair. Will the police determine what exactly happened?
I was so excited to read this as his previous book was one of my favourites but sadly I didn’t find this one as good. Don’t get me wrong it’s a great read but it lacked an edge for me.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

The words I’m about to write can do no justice to Hold Your Breath. This is a masterpiece of a story and you NEED to read it!

Set in 1987 Kittys dad decides they should go away for a while until his unwell wife recovers. Moving to a house in the middle of the woods things get steadily worse and worse. Modern day Kitty has written her childhood memories down and it has been published but now the police want to talk to her.....

The modern day sections were short and moved the story along well but the 1987 scenes absolutely shocked me! This is dark and gritty fiction at its finest!

#HoldYourBreath #NetGalley
A dark thriller.
Katherine Marchland, a famous writer of mystery novels receives a call from DI Cousins who tels her to present at the police station for an interview, she tells her that it's not a formal interview and she would go if you wants to. Against her will, she goes there for the interview. Although she herself is aware of the fact why she was called. Many years ago when she was ten years old, in 1987, a terrible thing happened in the woods when she moved there with her parents. And now the police found what happened then.
The story is told in alternative present and past. At first it's successful in maintaining a good suspense and holds it till 85% but then it's pace becomes slow. I personally felt that.
The main character is Katherine and she's an ok protagonist not too good. The whole thing happened when she was young. It would become more suspenseful if the main character of this story was DI Cousins and the author shows her views in every chapter.
Narration of the story is simple and as i said earlier that its starting is good but end was a bit dragging.
Overall its a one time read for thriller readers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for giving me an advance copy of this book.

"She holds my gaze for a couple of seconds, then presses on. 'What you say in this interview will be recorded. We will take into account what you tell us today when we decide whether to pursue formal arrest and any potential criminal charges. You have not brought any legal representation with you, and I believe you declined the offer of a solicitor to be appointed for you?"
I nod again. "yes."
She produces a folder from her bag under the desk. 'I trust you have an idea as to why you're here?' It's said like a question, and she raises her eyebrows at me.
'I do. i'm here because...' I take a deep breath, trying to stop my speech becoming shaky, 'because of what happened in the woods, All those years ago."

"Hold Your Breath" by BP Walter was my first 5 star book of 2020! I devoured every twisted, scary, heartbreaking morsel of this book in two days!
I absolutely loved this book for so many reasons. This book is written from the perspective of a 10 year old girl, named Kitty. The story starts with a string of emails to now grown Kitty from detectives investigating a horrible accident that happened many years ago when her father took her and her mother to a 'rustic' cabin in the woods for a short holiday. I was immersed in Kitty's world. It was herd to read such a deeply heartbreaking story from the perspective of such a young girl, but I was hooked on the first chapter.'
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and just when I thought everything had fallen into place, there was a another little twist. It was fantastic!
If you love twisty mystery thrillers, you will love this book!

Hold Your Breath is my first experience of BP Walter as an author, and it certainly won't be the last. Gritty and complex, this novel is a dark exploration of the nuances of family life, and the experiences that follow us from childhood into adulthood.

I absolutely loved this book for so many reasons. This book is written from the perspective of a 10 year old girl, named Kitty. The story starts with a string of emails to now grown Kitty from detectives investigating a horrible accident that happened many years ago when her father took her and her mother to a 'rustic' cabin in the woods for a short holiday. I was immersed in Kitty's world. It was herd to read such a deeply heartbreaking story from the perspective of such a young girl, but I was hooked on the first chapter.'
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and just when I thought everything had fallen into place, there was a another little twist. It was fantastic!
If you love twisty mystery thrillers, you will love this book!

32 years ago Katherine Marchland’s father moved her family to a deserted cabin in the woods. In the present Katherine is forced to relive traumas from her past when police reopen a murder case from her childhood. What really happened during the time her family spent in the woods?

I really enjoyed this book. I found myself needing to continue on to figure out the mystery and I was shocked at the twists. The story is mainly told from the perspective of 10 year old Kitty. Kitty witnesses many things during her time in the forest that have deeply affected her development through the years. This story was actually heartbreaking. Tackling the subject of mental illness is always hard, and this book did it through the eyes of a 10 year old who doesn’t really know what mental illness means.

Prepare yourself for the present day sections of this book. They drop bombs. I found myself shocked every single time. If I had one complaint, it would be that at times the 1987 chapters felt a bit slow. But if you’re looking for a slow burn story where you’re REALLY in the mind of the main character, it’s perfect.

There was a Paul Tremblay vibe about this book I really enjoyed. You have a hard time deciding if there’s a supernatural element or not.

Overall, this is a well crafted thriller that I really enjoyed.

What I love most about Hold Your Breath is that the story is told from the perspective of a ten year old. The plot is complex, emotional, and hard to put down! This is the first book I’ve read by B P Walter, and it definitely won’t be my last!

This is the first book I read from this author and overall I’ve enjoyed it. The story shifts between the present and the past and although I didn’t find it a page turner I didn’t put the book down.. What I liked the most was the point of view form a ten year old child, described with many details and strong voice. I’d certainly recommend this book for mystery and thriller readers.

The story is about an author who has published her true story in the form of fiction,and the consequences of it. The narrative is simple and told through the eyes of a ten year old, her longing for a happy family, her exaggerations, inquisitive nature. I don’t know if people still do all that was mentioned. The final part was dragging and could have been shorter. It would have made the book precise. More of a domestic noir.

B P Walter is one of my favourite authors.

I honestly loved the book, A Version of The Truth and was so happy to receive his new novel.

It did not disappoint.

This story is told from the perspective of Kitty, a 10 year old girl, who knows something just isnt right with her family!

The book had me engrossed right from the first page.

It was an exciting read and the ending rounded the book up nicely.

I absolutely loved this creepy story, have not read one like this for a long time.
Kitty lives with her parents she knows they are different from most parents.
One day her father told her to pack all her things and told her they were going away for a little while.
They packed up and went to live In a cottage in the woods.
That is when the story got really good as her mother was a mess, and people came to see what they could do for her.
Thanks for letting me read this great story, can I have more creepy stories to read.
Loved it.

Big thank you to @netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this ARC.

Wow. This book was not what I expected or like any other Thriller I've actually read! It was dark but I have to say it wasn't dark throughout. It goes back from 1987 to now... With Katherine's character present and to her 10 year old self. In 1987, her father took her and her mother to live in the woods miles away from their home to get Katherine's mother 'help'. Back to present and she's being interviewed by police regarding a murder all those years ago..

I've never been scared by a book so far.. Until now. I'm not sure, the whole 'paranormal' side of it was crazy and although I do watch things like that etc, my imagination was soo vivid following the words in the book. The story being told by 10 year old Katherine 'Kitty' made it that extra bit better, because as an adult, it was quite obvious her mum had ongoing mental health issues, but as a 10 year old she couldn't understand why her mum wasn't the same anymore.

The darkness didn't carry on through to the ending.. The twist actually shocked me. The last few chapters when everything pieces together kinda made it a lot less scary! But then the very last chapter with the 'man' I absolutely LOVED.

This is my first novel by B P Walter and I will definitely be looking for more!! 😍

This is by far the best book I have read so far this year, a haunting thriller that leaves the reader in suspense for the duration of the novel. The story flips back and forth from 2020 to 1987, when Kitty, a ten year old girl, is taken to a remote cabin in the woods, where a strange man and woman work with her father to try to heal her mother's mental illness. The method of treatment involves disturbing exorcisms that leave Kitty questioning her father's motives and her safety within the cabin. Kitty is forced to spend the hours during her mother's treatments roaming the forest where she is befriended by Adah and Levi, who also become entwined in the sick treatments that her mother is enduring. As an adult in 2020, Katherine publishes a "based on truth" fiction novel detailing the events of her childhood in those woods, as a method of therapy and revenge for the pain her father inflicted upon her...the problem is that the truth behind the events that happened in the woods all those years ago could have dire consequences for Katherine. I love this book and can't wait to read more by B P Walter!

The book begins with Kitty, now an adult, on her way to a police station where she will need to relive the moments that have tormented her all her life. The action alternates between 1987 and 2020, as we learn what happened to Kitty all those years ago.

Katherine/Kitty's tale is a disturbing one, and no wonder she became a traumatized adult. As we learn more and more about her past we cannot help but feel for this child, who had no one to rely on.
At the same time you cannot help to relate to her highstrung father, especially if you are a parent. Nathan had such a huge responsibility on his shoulders and was merely human, after all. The readers who have children of their own can surely relate to how being hammered with questions, when you are dead tired, feels like. And Nathan does have a couple of moments when he realizes he is not being the best father, nor dealing with things the best possible way by far.
As I was reading, even though I flinched through the eyes of Kitty, I believed he had her best interests in mind. However, the fact remains that, when trying to shield her from all the nastiness, he pushed her away in such a way that you cannot help but wish you could help her.

For the most part, there is little I would have changed in this book, except for the title, I found it much too generic.
It is quite well written. You really feel like you are seeing things through the eyes of a 10-year-old, and not just any 10-year-old, but Kitty, who has a very unique personality. And you cannot help but feel for the adult Katherine as well.

However, during the last fifth or so of the book, things radically change, the focus dramatically shifts and you have to start requestioning all characters in your mind. This break of pace was intimidating at first, but I could have gone with it, had it been differently approached. However, as the book comes to an end, the last 10% or so, I couldn't help but feel I was just wandering around with the character which, granted, was much to the point, but that last scene killed me. It just made no sense for me whatsoever.

Still, for most part of the book, I was extremely engaged in reading this, and would have finished the book in one sitting had I had the chance. It was something different, all right.

A fantastic thriller which had me holding my breath as the pages turned.

Told in dual timelines from the POV of Kitty, I was pulled into the book from the beginning as she tried making sense of why her parents shifted to an isolated cottage in 1987.

My first book by this author, I was overtaken by the creepy atmosphere when sinister things started happening. The author's writing made my fear come to the forefront. The plot was intriguing, the clues were hidden well in the prose. And the ending was quite unexpected.

Quite a twisted mind the author had ...

Rather a strange topic......the main character's mother is possessed by evil. Don't let that put you off it's not supernatural hocus pocus.
Story flows well explaining the strange goings on in the woods. Little twist at the end.
Rather enjoyed it

As I started reading this book I really did not know what I was expecting. At first I was intrigued, but the more I read the more I was hooked. A dark creepy thriller which had me sat on the edge of my seat. What are Kitty's parents hiding? Why did they have to move? All in all a really good thriller which I found very hard to put down. For me it felt unfinished as I wanted to know what happened next????
Thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for the ARC.

Hold your breath by B.P. Walter.
A brilliant read. I have mixed emotions while reading this book. I loved the ending though. 5*.

Hold Your Breath by B.P. Walter is told from the unique first person perspective of a ten year old girl and, as such, is compulsively readable. I was immediately drawn into Kitty's world, and found her voice to ring true and unfiltered. The truth behind the voice is eventually challenged, however, but whatever you believe of her story, the character of Kitty Marchland is one you will not soon forget.

When Kitty Marchland is ten years old, in 1987, her father uproots the family to take up residence in an isolated cottage in the woods. Kitty struggles to make sense of this new reality, and is further unsettled when an unknown man and woman arrive to help her father 'cure' her mother's mental illness. Kitty is left to her own devices, and a sinister plot begins to unfold, both within the cabin, and also in the deep, dark woods. Fast forward to 2020, and Kitty has written a book detailing her experiences in 1987 and beyond, but just how much of her story is rooted in the truth?

This is a novel that was a very pleasant surprise. The alternating timelines each held my interest throughout, and the voice of Kitty Marchland as sole narrator of events really inserted me into the story as a whole. I will definitely be adding this author to my TBR.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC.

This book was so much different from what I expected, but in a good way. A fast paced, gripping read from start to finish.

I found myself hooked from the very first chapter. The book carried this fantastic, creepy vibe to it. The thought of living out in the woods was scary and even more so when certain events happened.

I loved the time switches and reading about the events that happened in the past and present. I enjoyed watching how they interlocked together and how the past led to the events of the present. The plot was so intriguing, and I loved how the author peppered information throughout the novel instead of us finding out everything all at once. I loved that nothing much was given away in the present chapters, and we got to find out everything in the past.

I got the feeling Kitty was an unreliable narrator but not until closer to the end. It made the ending better - because all this stuff came out and shocked me, and it got me thinking what else was an embellishment of the truth.

The ending was so twisty, and I loved it. It was interesting to see how everything wrapped back around and tied up. It left me thinking about what happened next to Kitty and what came from everything. It gave me a dose of intrigue whilst also tying up the most important questions.

BP Walter is fast rising to be a great psychological thriller writer. This book is incredible and fast paced and suspenseful. Perfect read xxx

Thank you to Netgalley for the preview of this fantastic book. It was exciting gripping & exciting to read. The book grabbed by attention from page one & kept me entertained during lockdown as a result of the Corona virus! I enjoyed the time hopping in this book & the characters were likeable. A really great read

Loved this
The plot was engaging and I found it gripped me from the beginning. Also had a good ending. Worth a read.

I have to say this book was completely different to what I was expecting but in a good way. Quite a dark story within a story that had me hooked right from the beginning. A cracking surprise, will definitely be recommending to my family and friends

Hold Your breath - the perfect title for this dark read that will keep you up all night even after you've finished it!
Kitty, a kid with interesting parents. A loner who connects with insects over humans. A child caught up in the worst nightmare of all. When your parents let you down and the world stops making sense who is there to turn to?
As a grown up she's still affected by the trauma of her past just as the police are still delving deep in to what hsppened all those years ago.. The end is a gasp-worthy shock.

I read the author’s first novel last year and really enjoyed it so when I saw he had a new one coming out and that it was on netgalley I knew I had to request it. It didn’t take me long to read this one at all, thank you lockdown!
This novel for me felt more of a very dark and twisted family drama than a thriller. It had a slightly different structure to it than a usual thriller and I really enjoyed that aspect of it.
The story follows 11 year old Katherine in 1987 as she recalls some horrific memories of her mothers declining mental health and how in the 80s it was not taken very seriously. Her father decides to take matters into his own hands to try and help her in what can only be described as a truly horrifying series of events.
The story reads much like you’d expect a person who’d lived through a traumatic experience to be relaying what happened to them. Katherine decides to write a book about her experiences as a child and that’s when all the truths and untruths start coming to the surface.
I thought all the characters were written well and I really sympathised with Kitty (Katherine). Especially not understanding at such a young age what is going on with her mother. The story kept me gripped in a completely different way to the books I usually read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

How reliable is Kitty as a narrator? After all, she was 10 years old in 1987 when the events she's coping with in 2020 happened. Much of the novel is written from her 10 year old perspective. She's suddenly found herself living in the woods with her mother and father, and her mother has mental health issues. No one, especially not her father, will tell her what's going on (and she's a persistent kid). No spoilers but know that there's a big twist coming. This slowly builds suspense and while you might be as at sea as Kitty is initially, you, as an adult might get it sooner than she does. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A page turner.

Wow! This is an unusual story of being possessed. The story is from the prospective of a 10 year old girl, Kitty, who is uprooted by her Dad and her possessed Mum. Some scenes can be uncomfortable reading but that is what makes this book appealing. You HAVE to find out what's going on and does Kitty finally makes friends with humans rather than little creatures of the animal world.

Although I feel the ending is sudden and could be carried on a little bit more in some more explanation (but I don't know how), I did enjoy the sudden connection between Kitty and the guy who saved her from the river (without giving too much away). Read it and you'll see what I mean.

It's brilliant read so don't miss out

I really enjoyed this book, the characters and storyline grabbed me from the beginning. It didn't take me very long to whizz through it, whereas on one hand I wanted to finish it but on the other hand I wanted to savour it. Really cleverly written and in great detail, the ending was also a surprise to me and left me wanting to know if there is more to come. Highly recommended.

Read it in 48h, couldn't put it down. The story of Kitty's disturbing few weeks in an abandoned cottage with her parents in the 80s reminded me of The Loney and Pine as well as a bit of Woman in the Window and Atonement. It's a creepy cabin-in-the-middle-of-the-woods set up, with Kitty's mother experiencing some sort of psychotic episode and Kitty left to roam the surrounding woods by herself, letting her imagination run wild as she tries to understand why she's here and the 'treatment' her mother is receiving. Alternating between Kitty's present-day interview in a police station, and her memories of that time, the uncomfortable truth of those few weeks and who was harmed during them, slowly comes to light.

This book kept me wanting to know more and more. The start doesn't start off too well but when it does it does . !
The ending was superb. It is written in the perspective of a 10 year old girl. and it takes you on a journey. I really liked this book.

4-5 stars, this was quite the book, which unfortunately I can’t give a full five stars because I almost gave up in beginning! If you find yourself thinking it will not be fast enough, or even a bit confused in the beginning don’t give up, I promise it’s worth continuing. It’s a very gritty book, which gets very good after the beginning and starts to be unputdownable. The author writes in a way that is dark, chilling, and twisty! I thought it was intriguing and really gave me a little shock at the end. I really recommend getting a copy and giving it a chance!
Will make sure to buzz it up on all the different platforms!

Review for 'Hold your breath' by B.P.Walter

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Avon books publishers

This is the first book that I have read by this author but it won't be my last.

This book is written from Kitty's (Katherine) perspective mainly from when she was a child via an interview.

The book is written using the past and present in 3 different timelines which are 2020, 1987 and 2019. All timelines run smoothly into each other so it doesn't leave readers confused.

THE plot is quite dark, disturbing and sinister and includes trigger themes such as suicide, strong language, child abuse, mental health and rape. I would not recommend it to readers who are easily offended.

The storyline is unique and the descriptions very good. I was dragged straight in and found it an excellent page turner. I would class this book as a psychological thriller and I quite enjoyed the twists. The book does calm down during the last 10% but I did quite enjoy the ending although it didn't really go out with the bang I would have hoped for considering the rest of the book hence 4/5 instead of 5/5.

THE characters were all compelling, strong, well defined and believable although Kitty herself annoyed me with her attitude a few times but then she is a typical 10 year old child. The father wasn't much of one and didn't give her much form of love and seemed to push her away quite alot so I couldn't really blame Kitty for being the way she was.

I would recommend this to fans of mystery, murder, gore, psychological thrillers, suspense, horror and dark books. I would NOT recommend to readers who are sensitive to bad language.

368 pages

£2.99 to buy on kindle. I think this is a very good price for this book.

Rated 4/5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Co.uk and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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#HoldYourBreath #BPWalter #AvonBooks #NetGalley #BookReview

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What a brilliant and disturbing read! I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

"I need to ask you to present yourself at Wickton Close Police Station, Newcastle tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. to be interviewed under police caution."
2020........A telephone call that Katherine has been waiting for and dreading.

In 1987 Katherine and her mother and father leave their home in Grays in Essex to go and stay in a cottage in the woods in Northumbria. Katherine's mother is not well and this move is meant to help her. What happened in this cottage is shocking beyond words.

"I genuinely believe the things I witnessed in that cottage in the woods and the area surrounding it damaged me irrevocably."

Its a book about mental illness; about the impact on families, how it can destroy lives, about revenge and the subsequent impact on peoples lives.

A brilliant must read the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.