The Hollows

I’m a fan of Mark Edwards and have enjoyed all his previous books, I was delighted to receive an ARC of his new book The Hollows.
Tom is looking forward to travelling to America from his home in England to spend time with his fourteen year old daughter Frankie. He has booked a ten day trip to a cabin resort in Maine called Hollow Falls.
Strange things start to happen after they arrive. Items are going missing from cabins, there are rumours of ghostly figures and then he finds out that this place is famous for a double murder that happened twenty years ago.
I enjoyed this book and read it in a day because I didn’t want to put it down. The story was creepy and full of tension.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Tom’s life is in pieces; his marriage is over and his career as a journalist is headed south fast. He decides to spend some quality time with the daughter he rarely sees. They decide to spend their break at the Hollow Falls, in a cabin in a remote corner of Maine. The cabin is creepy as hell and strange noises plague father and daughter. It’s not until they meet a couple of true crime again podcasters that they learn about the grisly murders that occurred there twenty years earlier. No one was ever convicted and the woods are now filled with social media “wannabe” detectives trying to solve the case. It looks like Tom’s chance for a peaceful vacation are out the window. Edwards provides his trademark creepy plotline, and fans will eat it up

This is another great book by Mark Edwards and he remains one of my favourite authors.
The book is dark, creepy and atmospheric. It easily drew me in and I finished it in one sitting.
It’s not my favourite one from him but I would definitely recommend it.

Another great book by Mark Edwards. Just the right amount of twists and turns, a very atmospheric and spine-chilling read. It's easy to feel yourself right there in a cabin the woods, which is spooky enough without all the eerie goings on, as Mark has a knack of immersing the reader in the book so it feels as though you are living through the characters' adventures. The dark tourism angle is really interesting, if a little macabre when you think about it, but it was different and with all the true crime shows on TV it's easy to see why scenes of crimes and killers may have a following. The characters are all very likeable - well most of them - and like the majority of Mark's books this would make a great film. If you're a fan of Mark's previous books, this won't disappoint.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Great storyline, great characters and there was a lot of twists and turns along the way. Enjoyed it. Not read anything from this author before shall be looking out for other titles.

3-4 stars for An original, chilling read, but not my favorite Mark Edwards book. While, I did plow through it quite easily, something was missing for me and it seemed a bit juvenile in writing, almost, a bit hard for me to explain, as it wasn’t bad, but a bit slow and just not as well written as most of this authors books. I had most of it figured out, but do think had there been more of a development of both the stories and characters, it would have easily been a 5 star mind blower. I would still highly recommend, but do think it’ll be on the less riveting list of Edwards’! Does have a few good chills, thrills, and even a shock or two!

Great story. This is the second book that I have read from this author and will be looking out for future books.

Having thoroughly enjoyed Mark's previous books I was delighted to find this latest title.

It's a dark and creepy tale and you could imagine finding yourself in the cabin resort, complete with strange people and even stranger happenings.

A chilling tale though not my favourite Mark Edwards book.

3.5 stars

Mark.does again with this Crazy, deeply book!
I got this one through Edelweiss A month ago and read but I'll still leave the same review here! 😊
I loved this book! It was simply amazing. I actually enjoy all his books but this was on a whole other level.
The he writes is just beyond anything I've read before! And I was honored to have read The Hollows
Thank You All for the approval!

I have read most of Mark Edwards books and always find them to be exciting, fast paced addictive novels and this one was no different. The book grips the reader early on on continues to build up the tension and suspense throughout.

Tom is single again following the breakup of his marriage and with a struggling career in journalism is looking to reconnect with his fourteen-year-old daughter, Frankie. He is eager to spend quality time with Frankie so he decides to take her to a cabin resort deep in the woods of Maine called Hollow Falls.

Hollow Falls is no ordinary holiday location and there is something very eerie about the place. This only increases when Tom meets true-crime podcasters David and Connie and they tell him of the areas chilling past. It is the twentieth anniversary of a double murder that occurred in Hollow Falls and caused the resort to shutdown. The crime was never solved, and now the woods are overrun with murder-obsessed tourists looking to mark the grim anniversary.

It soon becomes obvious that this holiday is not going to turn out the way Tom had hoped and that there are some deeply disturbing going on at Hollow Falls. Tom’s hopes of a dream vacation turn into a nightmare as he and Frankie are faced with a choice: uncover the truth, or get out while they still can.

Addictive mystery story that the reader will find difficult to put down.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The Hollows, as with a lot of novels by Mark Edwards, totally invites binge reading, which is pretty much what happened to me. I settled down for a couple of chapters and then didn’t put it down until I was done.

Its a King-esque plot for sure, dark and creepy woods, scary kids, weird goings on, a local urban legend coming to life and a Father and Daughter caught in the middle.

The plot fairly rocks along, descriptively chilling and I’m not embarrassed to say it caused one or two odd dreams the night I finished it. What Mark Edwards does better than almost anyone else is to get under the readers skin without them even realising it until the lights go out..

I thought this was excellent. Addictive and unpredictable, edgy and haunting. A definite tick in all the right horror thriller boxes.

Recommended. Hey at least it’s out in July – plenty of sunshine hopefully to chase the demons away.

The Hollows reminded me of the 1980s horrors movies I was so fond of watching back in the day, minus the dramatic music! The eerie location of Hollow Falls, a cabin resort deep in the woods of Maine, adds to the scary movie vibe. Hollow Falls has a gruesome history, it’s the 20th anniversary of a double murder, a crime which was never solved. Tom and his young daughter Frankie’s dream trip turns into their worst nightmare as events take an unpleasant turn. The Hollows has it all, odd characters, strange happenings, paganism, mystery, local urban legends, creepy dark woods, layered with lashings of suspense. 

I love the way the author puts ordinary people into the most frightening situations and then throws everything at them. You can’t help thinking, ‘what would I do in a similar situation?” I thought the book was slow to begin with. It seemed to take a while to get to the crux of the story. I appreciate Edwards used this time to set the scene, build on the atmosphere and introduce the reader to an array of characters, but I felt some parts added little to the story and slowed the pace of the read. 

Weird things happen to Tom and Frankie, inhuman faces at the windows of their cabin, random items going missing, unexplained noises in the night. Each event feels like it’s leading up to something far more threatening. As events escalate, the tension grows and evil radiates from the pages. I enjoyed the second half of the book more it’s here, the tension ramps up a notch, the plot becomes far more sinister, and the mood of the book darkens. This was an entertaining, creepy read, but it’s not my favourite book from the author, I’m afraid.

A divorced man in the UK whose teenage daughter lives in the US plans a special vacation in Maine with his daughter. It is a beautiful resort – brand new, spacious cabins, and a location vibrant with nature and plenty of activities. Other than a lack of Wi-Fi or 4G, his daughter made a friend and began to enjoy some of the activities. But the mysterious comments, suspicious actions, and discussions about a double murder on the property twenty years earlier put visitors on edge and wanting to learn more. In twists and turns as Mark Edwards weaves so well, you’re never too sure which characters can be trusted and which are leading you to the wrong conclusion.

Tom has travelled from the U.K to America to collect his fourteen year old daughter, Frankie from his ex wife. They are going to have a 10 day cabin holiday at a resort called Hollow Falls in Maine.

With strange things happening soon after they arrive, it’s not long before Tom hears how there was a double murder that occurred here almost twenty years ago.

I’m not saying anymore as you need to read this book with no spoilers! It is a steady read that was filled with tension. I found myself feeling apprehensive as to what was going to happen next! Some great characters & fantastic descriptive writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Mark Edwards at his best! This is the kind of story he excels at - creepy locations and even creepier people. Tom and Frankie are a father and daughter on holiday at a Maine resort in the woods, Hollow Falls. He lives in the UK while she lives in the US with her mother so this is his only time each year to see her. He's having trouble bonding, as she's a 14 year old teenager and he is the typical middle aged, not-as-cool-as-he-thinks dad.

Shortly after they arrive, they're befriended by a family in the next cabin - a middle-aged couple and their teenage son, Evan. They're here because of the horrifying murders that took place 20 years ago in this location, which Tom knew nothing about. The parents run a true-crime podcast and this anniversary is a big event for them, with many fans joining them here at Hollow Falls to visit the scene of the crime. Even though he tries to ignore all of the macabre history, Tom finds himself growing more and more intrigued by the murders and the supposed perpetrator who vanished.

At separate times, he and the teenagers both venture into the tiny town of Penance, but soon find that the locals don't appreciate the trash and noise that vacationers bring with them. The tourism dollars they bring in doesn't seem to factor in to their opinions, of course. Or maybe they're just tired of their town being defined by a decades old crime, no matter how they try to move on. Frankie and Evan manage to upset the local teens right away, with an insulting post on social media. She feels this is why strange events start occurring - dead animals, ant infestations, visions of horned creatures, etc. Tom experiences it too, and he believes it's not just teenagers that are unsettled, but maybe the spirits of the forest, as well. The more he probes into the history of Hollow Falls the more he fears for himself and Frankie. After all, the killer was never caught and there are so many potential new victims...

This was such a good read - suspenseful, with plenty of action and dark humor in the creepiest of settings. A must read for any Mark Edwards fan!

Wow!!!! If I could give this more than 5 Stars I would! What a book, I am not sure my review will do this book justice. I have read all of Mark's books and this is definitively the best one yet! I have only just finished reading this and my heart is still pounding. The book is so gripping from the first to the very last page. This would make an excellent Movie!! From fantastic characters to an amazing plot and the end, well let’s just say it has left me with my jaw on the floor. Well done Mark for an absolutely outstanding book. This one gets a standing ovation from me!!!!!!

Mark Edwards does it again in a twisty page turner that keeps you guessing. I love how every book of his explores a different facet of the horror genre, and this one did not disappoint. I loved Maine for the setting, feeling a little Stephen King-esque.

Tom decides to reconnect with his fourteen-year-old daughter, Frankie by bringing her to Hollow Falls, a cabin resort deep in the woods of Maine. From the outset there’s something a little eerie about the place and when Tom meets true-crime podcasters David and Connie, he receives a chilling warning. Hollow Falls has a gruesome history: twenty years ago this week, a double slaying shut down the resort. The crime was never solved, and now the woods are overrun with murder-obsessed tourists looking to mark the grim anniversary.

In typical Mark Edwards fashion, you get the impression from the outset that anyone could be the actual villain. I loved the creepy location and creepier people. I loved the dark tourism angle - definitely feels apt in the age of true crime obsessions and provided a weird sense of escapism during these pandemic times. One of my favorite authors and this one did not disappoint. Thank you SO much to Mark and NetGalley for the ARC - can't wait to read what's next!

I have just finished reading a review copy of The Hollows, the latest book from Mark Edwards. This is definitely one of my favourites of his – possibly even my favourite. I tend to say The Retreat is my favourite – largely because that it was the first one of his that I read and the level of mystery involved – not only in terms of the storyline, but also not knowing what genre the book was (I will re-read The Retreat soon and write a post on it). The only reason why I hesitate on saying The Hollows being my favourite is simply because that I have become so familiar with Mark’s book, I tend to have a feel of where the book may go in terms of style and so it doesn’t have the same level of tension perhaps as when I first read The Retreat. Perhaps when I’ve read The Retreat again, I will feel differently.

There is much that I love about The Hollows. As usual, the characters are wonderful – one the best aspects of Mark’s characters is always how ordinary most of them seem (at least to me) and how much you could imagine yourself being in the situation that the protagonist finds themselves. Perhaps that was all the more the case in this book due to my own research interests relating to “dark tourism” which features throughout the book. If you are not familiar with “dark tourism” (and the concept does get explained more in the novel) it’s where people travel to a place that is connected with death or tragedy. I have looked at this in relation to my research on the flight JL123 crash in particular (see my article in Mortality, ‘Developing a Model to Explain Modifications to Public Transportation Accident Memorials‘ or my book Dealing with Disaster in Japan), so I am familiar with the concept, although I have major reservations about its usage and usefulness.

It was interesting to see in the Acknowledgements that Mark refers to Sarah Lotz – author of The Three and Day Four – that introduced him to the concept; if you’ve not read Sarah’s books, you really should pick those up too.

So, based on my own research, and sites related to death that I have visited, there were elements of The Hollows that hit a little close to the bone for me. That made the book even more enjoyable in an odd masochistic way. As I said, it’s easy to identify with many of the characters in Mark’s books – and I found it particularly easy this time. The only issue I had with any of the characters was the name of one of the main ones – Frankie. As I am spending time on many days writing a book related to Frankie Goes To Hollywood, or Frankie for short, it did lead to some odd associations in my mind.

One thing that I particularly enjoyed about The Hollows were the “Easter Eggs” referring to some of Mark’s other novels. I love these sorts of “Easter Eggs” and have included some in my novels (and also some of my academic books, I guess) – and am particularly happy with a couple of those that I included in my most recent book, FOUR. Mark says at the end of the book that you can email him to check that you spotted them all – a great way to get engagement with your readers, but perhaps having them listed on a website or blog would be easier. I should probably do the same one day – although I have already hinted and commented about some of them in posts about my books (follow the “Easter Eggs” tag).

I really don’t want to say anything more about the plot. It’s a fabulous book and I would urge you to read it. Hopefully we will also get to see it (and Mark’s other books) on the big screen – or at least as a TV adaptation.

The Hollows was another one of those books – like with Shadow of a Doubt by Michelle Davies – where I was desperate to get to the end to find out what happened, but desperately didn’t want it to end as I was enjoying it so much. Having not come across an existing term to describe this feeling, I will called it ‘confliction’ – I would like to drop the ‘l’, to make it ‘confiction’, but perhaps the ‘con’ sounds overly negative.

Here are links to Mark’s other books which I have already written posts about:

Follow You Home
Here To Stay
The House Guest

For more information about The Hollows see information about the book on Amazon.

Having read a few novels from Mark Edwards I was delighted to be given a chance by
NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Mark Edwards to read The Hollows prior to publication. This is yet another great read from this author.

Tom has travelled to America from England to collect his teenage daughter, Frankie, from his ex-wife who lives in the States. He has booked a cabin in ‘Hollow Woods’ and soon discovers that there had been a double murder years ago. Not only that, it appears some of those who have booked the other cabins are there to visit the crime scene on the twentieth anniversary of the killings.

There is no internet connection or 4G network leaving Frankie annoyed with her father for booking such a place. Then strange things begin to happen and both Frankie and Tom are caught up in the middle.

This sent shivers down my spine at times with the atmospheric setting and weird individuals who occupy the other cabins as well as the locals from the nearest town. Many twists and turns from beginning to end and brilliantly descriptive writing which made me feel as if I was there as the story unfolded.

Great read. Highly recommended.

This is another gripping story from the author Mark Edwards, Tom takes his Daughter Frankie on Vacation to The Hollows to stay in a cabin in the woods, and lots of strange things start to happen, two people had been murdered 20 years ago, the people from a town called Penance are not very happy with the situation and lots of people coming to stay at the Cabin site, its one of those books that you find difficult to put down it keeps you on your toes to what is going to happen next, for me the plot was very cleverly though out and how two things would come together explaining how it all concludes in the end, its a very creepy story and was not anything like his previous books, I would recommend you read this you cannot go wrong,

Wow!! This book is terrifyingly terrific and guaranteed to give you chills. I have devoured this book and been completely unable to put this one down.
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I have read many books by @markedwardsauthor and this is quite possibly my favourite. This is filled with a mix of characters, true crime links and a very creepy setting.
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There have been parts of this book that have literally given me shivers. I have been completely pulled into this one and felt as though I have been right there with the characters.
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This is a book that shows just how fantastic an author Mark Edwards is! I have absolutely been unable and unwilling to put this one down.
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An absolute delight to read and a definite five star read that should be added to the TBR!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow, WHERE TO BEGIN? If you know me, you know Mark Edwards is my favorite author and The Hollows is the PRIME example of why!

Tom and his daughter Frankie are taking a father daughter trip to The Hollows because he doesn’t get to see her much being that they now live in different countries. Unbeknownst to Tom, The Hollows has a dark and eerie past. It just so happens while they are there, Famous True Crime Podcaster Connie and her husband and son are also vacationing at The Hollows because of the upcoming anniversary of a gruesome murder of two teachers. Tom starts to dig more into what really happened on that horrible night over 20 years ago and starts to find that similar events are currently happening to the resort guests. Is the killer back? Who is trying to get rid of Tom and the other resort guests? Is something paranormal going on?

Mark has done it again. I caught myself looking over my shoulder while reading! This particular book had such an eerie vibe and it was almost scary! Chilling, suspenseful, atmospheric, and thrilling! Checked all of my boxes. I read this book in 2 days, I literally could not put it down! There is something about Mark’s writing that is so nostalgic. His writing style and his descriptions are like nothing I have ever read, very unique.

I would 10/10 recommend this book to anyone! Just when I think Mark’s books couldn’t get any better, another book comes out and I’m stunned. Bravo, Mark.

Unnerving Chiller Thriller...
Hollow Falls, Maine. A cabin resort set deep within woodland. The ideal place to relax, recuperate and spend some quality time? Or something else entirely? With a well drawn and credible cast of characters and a tension mounting storyline this is an unnerving chiller thriller to put your teeth on edge and keep you turning the pages. Worthy of everything the reader has come to expect from this very talented author.

I was lucky to receive an ARC of Mark Edwards new book, The Hollows. I really enjoyed it, the storyline was brilliantly written, and I found myself eager to see what would happen next. I didn’t want to get to the end.

Dark and spine tinglingly creepy. To say the least. Set at a camp deep in the woods with a set of disturbing twins how could you go wrong. Add some dark fans, a true crime podcast, teenage angst and some gross murder scenes and you’ve got an entirely entertaining read. Well worth the afternoon of page turning. Mark Edwards set the tone in horror novels.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc

The Hollows is a truly gripping mystery thriller - gritty, fear-inducing with plenty of action and dark humour. This was an excellent and addictive read!
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Tom and his fourteen years old daughter Frankie comes to the cabin resort *Hollow Falls*, deep in the woods of Maine to spend their ten-day holidays, but shortly after they arrive strange things starting to happen...
The Hollows has a dark and eerie past when they get to know some of the details of the history, Tom starts to dig more into what really happened and soon enough his trip turns into a nightmare...
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I was thankful to receive an ARC of this book and I really enjoyed it, can't wait to read what's next!

Do you love wonderfully written realistic characters and a creepy stay in the woods?
Then this is the book for you.
Mark has again written a book that is both terrifying and a story that could happen to anyone.
When Tom takes his teenage daughter Frankie to a retreat in Maine he thinks it's the perfect getaway for both of them since his divorce from Frankie's mum three years ago and him living in the UK and Frankie living in Albany he wants to spend as much time as possible with her.

What Tom didn't realise when he booked the cabin in the woods at Hollow Falls was that there had been a double murder twenty years previously and that people have booked to see where the murderers had been committed.

Including a 'famous podcaster' wanting to know the truth of what happened that fateful night when two teachers who were staying at Hollow Falls with a school camping trip ended up murdered .

Tom decides to take an interest in the old murders but what has he stumbled upon and is he not just putting his life at risk but that of his daughter?

Tom Anderson is trying to reconnect with his daughter, Frankie, in their once a year get together. This year, he takes her to Hollow Falls, a camp resort in Maine, where unbeknown to him, a double murder had taken place and the crime was never solved. This is The Hollows by Mark Edwards.

The characters were well written and had the kind of story chemistry that all good books have. The story starts out slow with the normalcy of a father and daughter camping trip. Some light moments of humor; a fat cat named Cujo, the eye rolls when dad tries to be hip and then slowly, the author starts drawing the reader in with the spookiness of the woods; dark, shadowy and rustling noises that you just know can’t be good. To this he adds the lifeless and disturbing small town of Penance, and before you know it, your breathing gets heavier as you try to ignore the goose bumps on your arm and the way you jump at every little sound. The final quarter of the book is packed full of action and surprises that ends in a wild ending.

One of the things I loved about this book was the nods to Stephen King. It was like looking for hidden objects and quite fanatical seeing how the author connected it all to his story.

Thank you to Mark Edwards for the opportunity to read this 5-star book. My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.

Another great thriller but Mark Edwards!!

I love his storytelling and ability to scare you with the actions if people.

Cannot wait for the next read!!

Mark Edwards is quickly becoming a favorite horror writer of mine! The Hallows was so very good! Creepy, spine-chilling and atmospheric, I have to admit I slept with the light on! A few lightly disturbing scenes but nothing extreme at all. Every book I read of his is just better than the least! Oh and what an ending!!!

Another great book by Mark Edwards!
Camping in the woods can be creepy enough but this story adds a lot more. Well written with descriptions that make you feel like you’re there walking through the woods with the characters. And the plot twists keep you guessing and wanting more. I’m hoping this is book one of two!
So easy to dive right into this book but so hard to put it down… Excellent job Mark Edwards!

If you have never read a book written by Mark Edwards then you are missing out.
The Hollows has me gripped from the beginning with dark scary woods, strange people, unsolved murders, I couldn’t put the book down. Tom lives in England while his teenage daughter Frankie lives across the pond with her mother.
Tom has booked a trip away for some father daughter time, at a log cabin retreat called The Hollows in Maine, Frankie is not impressed as there is no WiFi. Their first day there and they are told it’s the anniversary of two unsolved murders with lots of ‘dark’ tourists there marking the anniversary. Then strange things start to happen, strange faces at windows, dead animals, what next? This is a great book with lots of twists and turns which will keep you guessing right until the very end. Could there be a sequel?

I am a huge fan of Mark Edwards' books. If you have never read one of his books, you are most certainly missing out!
His latest, The Hollows, is another win! Tom Anderson is a divorced journalist living in the UK. Once a year he travels to the US to spend time with his teenage daughter, Frankie, who lives with her mom. This year he plans a vacation for the two at a beautiful resort in the deep woods of Maine called, The Hollows. While he is looking forward to some father/daughter time, Frankie is less impressed... especially with the lack of WI-FI leaving her with no access to her phone.
As they are settling in, they find out that these woods have a history. It is the location of 2 unsolved murders. It also happens to be the anniversary of these murders, drawing in many curious 'dark tourists'. This begins the roller coaster of creepiness that doesn't stop until the end of the book.

The Hollows is definitely another win for Mark Edwards!!!

4.5 stars

Tom Anderson lives in the UK, is divorced from his American wife who now lives in Albany with their daughter Frankie. Tom flies to the US and rents a cabin in Hollow Falls, Maine for some much needed off the grid father/daughter time. In the next cabin are David and Connie Butler and their son Ryan. They are ‘dark tourists, true crime buffs with Connie being a well known true crime podcaster. They tell Tom the ‘Hollows Horror Story’ from 1999 ..... Tom finds himself drawn in despite himself.

Where to start with this one? First of all, it’s well written, it’s a visual read with some very atmospheric descriptions that sends chills down the spine and the atmosphere is maintained from start to finish. The deeper into the storyline you go it becomes a horror/thriller crossover and it would make a great Halloween read. There are some creepy characters, some are pure evil and with the nearest small town of Penance feeling like a ghost town of the Wild West that adds to the creep factor. If you add in the spooky, ghostly woods of Hollow Falls you have some good settings. The woods feel alive and eerie and the author gets that across so well it raises the hairs on the back of your neck. At the start of the book it just feels strange then the fear, threat and danger begins to build. I love that it has a Grimm's fairy tale feel with a big added dose of paganism and animism which is mixed in with the present day and the past. The plot becomes very twisty, unpredictable, ghostly and scary with several good nods to Stephen King. The novel is fast paced, easy to read and I eagerly gobble it up! The dark tourism angle is a good one and very believable with the true crime interest that many people have. My only negative is that I’m not convinced the Epilogue is needed as although it does give an air of uncertainty I think it would have been more powerful without it!

Overall another compelling and immersive read from Mark Edwards and one that would make a great film which you might want to watch from behind the sofa!!

With thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I won't deny for a second that I love Mark Edward's books. There hasn't been a title that I haven't been anxious to read or that I could put down after opening. The Hollows was no exception. From the first page, I was intrigued and the maze of awesome continued throughout. Several times I thought I had it figured out only to discover I was wrong. I don't believe there will ever be a time that I'll go camping and won't be pulling images from this book. Great story and so worth the ride!

Tom is a divorced music journalist living in the UK, his teenage daughter Frankie now lives with her mom in Albany, USA. Each year, since the split, Tom flies to America to spend some much needed time with his daughter, this year he has booked them a ten day stay in a log cabin at Hollow Falls, deep in the woods of Maine. As soon as they arrive, Tom feels that something isn't quite right, then he meets podcasters David and Connie and discovers that Hollow Falls was the scene of a very gruesome crime twenty years earlier, which has never been solved, and is now visited by 'dark tourists' who love nothing better than a true crime to get their thrills. When strange things start happening to him and Frankie, Tom needs to decide whether to stay and try to get to the truth or leave, but nothing is ever that simple, is it?

Hollow Falls is the perfect setting for this story; log cabins set deep in the woods of Maine, weird things happening, things going missing, wind chimes and whispering, there's definitely a touch of Stephen King to this one. The plot is well researched and extremely well executed, with Edwards drip-feeding the detail of the story in just the right measure to keep you intrigued and wanting more. The chapters flow seamlessly, the characters are authentic and the story is believeable. Throughout the book, if I closed my eyes I could imagine myself right there in Hollow Falls, living that nightmare alongside Tom and Frankie, and it gave me the creeps. It's an intense, unpredictable read told in past and present, with many twists along the way, which I devoured in less than 24 hours. Mark Edwards is an expert in his field, drawing you in like a moth to a flame, keeping you hooked throughout and then spitting you out at the end, wondering what the hell just happened. You did it again Mark!

I'd like to thank Mark Edwards, Amazon Publishing and Netgalley for sending me an ARC of this book, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

#TheHollows #NetGalley
Senseless. Avoid it.
Unnecessary blabbing. Mindless dialogues and length just mesed it up. Didn't expect this from Mark Edwards.
I'm crow, I'm fox. What's it?
Didn't work for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Mercer for giving me an advanced copy of this psychological thriller.

I was so excited to read the new Mark Edwards book, and I'm pleased to say that I really enjoyed it.

I loved how the creepy tension didn't let up for the whole book and some of the characters and scenes were genuinely chilling. I really liked the focus on 'dark tourism' and some of the pagan and animism stuff was interesting to read about too. Mark did a good job of writing from a teenage girl's perspective, sometimes when authors attempt this it can be a bit cringeworthy. I thought the side characters were well-described and it was nice to be able to picture both the characters and the setting so vividly.

My only negatives were that I felt we got to know Frankie a lot better than we got to know Tom (I couldn't even remember his name an hour after finishing the book) and I didn't really like the epilogue.

I would definitely recommend this as it was an enjoyable, creepy read.

Wow! I'm never sure what to write in a review, but I think this is my new favorite from Mark Edwards!

The Hollows will grab you from the beginning and keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. The story is creepy and chilling, and moves along at a nice pace. This would be a great book to read near Halloween, or in the winter months when it gets dark out much earlier. I think this book is much more in the horror/thriller genre and reminiscent of Stephen King.

Thanks to Mark Edwards and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy. The review and opinions are my own.

I always love Mark Edwards’s books and was excited to read this one. I was not disappointed.

Tom, a music journalist is divorced from his wife who has moved back to Albany, USA with their daughter Frankie. Tom has taken a couple of weeks off to have a holiday with Frankie.

They go to Hollow Falls cabin resort in some woods in Maine to spend some quality father Daughter time together.

They make friends with the people in the next cabin who tells them about a double murder that happened in Hollow Falls.

Then strange things start to happen……

This book was dark and creepy and definitely had an air of Stephen King about it. It was gripping with lots of twists and turns and as always I loved it.

Thank you for the opportunity to read the ARC.

Tom is divorced and lives in the UK whilst his ex wife and 14 year old daughter Frankie live in America. He doesn't see his daughter often enough, so when they can have time together, he decides to take her away to a cabin resort where there is no WiFi, and where they can share outdoor persuits such as walking in the woods and archery.

The couple in the next cabin, David and Connie, are podcasters, who gleefully tell them that there was a famous murder that took place in the woods and that the murderer was never found. The best part of the trip for Frankie is that David and Connie have a son, Ryan, about her age, and soon the two are spending time together. Unfortunately Ryan's temper gets them into a whole heap of problems that none of them envisiged!

Factor in some eerie woods, wind chimes ringing from somewhere deep in the forest, and some scary faces in the night, and Mark Edwards is on to a winner. I found myself holding my breath on several occasions, and wanting to sooth my frazzled nerves many times. It has just the right level of creepy, and you finish the book wanting more. A very well written, well thought out book, and one I highly recommend.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4029448579

Loved this read it was so creepy but also had a fast paced plot line the kept me hooked from the start. This was my first Mark Edwards book and it most certainly won’t be the last I was so impressed with the way it was written and the story just flowed but best of all it had an excellent ending that took me by surprise.
Set in Hollow Falls,Maine Tom has taken his daughter Frankie for what was supposed to be an activity type holiday but this turns out to be nothing like the adventure it was supposed to be and not at all like a holiday i would want to be on!
The story is full of some real strange and scary characters right from the start and the book just got better and better and more exciting as it progressed.
So if you like a good mystery with some crazy characters with a huge dose of creepiness you have it here in this thoroughly enjoyable read.
My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am not really sure what to say about this book, a very different read from Mark Edwards.

I have read all his previous books and enjoyed them all but this was very different and to be honest I wasn't keen.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

For me, this title is back to the Mark Edwards I know and enjoying reading! I felt one of his previous titles just lost its way a bit and was a little heavy on unnecessary violence but this one is much more about the twists and turns and mystery of what’s going on!

Tom plans on a lovely holiday with his daughter Frankie, to help them reconnect as she now lives thousands of miles away with her mum. With the promise of a quiet cabin holiday, horse riding and archery Tom is all ready for a great time, maybe even find time to start turning his life around. But is everything as it seems? Is there a secret in these woods that they just aren’t prepared to give up? Should Tom just pack up and take Frankie somewhere else?

You will get sucked into this one from the start and won’t want to put it down. As the book progresses the suspense grows. We meet more characters and find out more about them, but just how well do we know them? Mark has a great way of keeping the suspense but gradually letting the story reveal its secrets.
When you pick up this title be sure to leave yourself plenty of time as you will soon become fully immersed and won’t want to come up for air until you know what’s going on.
As with all Marks books, everything is described so well you will feel that you are there, seeing what the characters see, you can fully imagine the area, feel the darkness and suspense of the woods.
Another great read from a great author!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and most importantly the author, for the chance to read this book, in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll read anything by Mark Edwards, he is a fantastic author whose books I have read for years now. When I saw The Hollows, I knew I had to read it and I was not disappointed. Right away I was pulled in by the character of Tom, taking his daughter on a trip to Maine. Who doesn’t want to go to Maine? Besides Tom’s daughter. But once there, they learn a mysterious murder took place years ago at this very spot. And when things start to happen around them, Tom definitely questions his decision of vacation destination.

Look here:

With his marriage over and his career in freefall, journalist Tom decides to reconnect with his fourteen-year-old daughter, Frankie. Desperate to spend precious time together now that they live an ocean apart, he brings her to Hollow Falls, a cabin resort deep in the woods of Maine.

From the outset there’s something a little eerie about the place—strange whispers in the trees, wind chimes echoing through the forest—but when Tom meets true-crime podcasters David and Connie, he receives a chilling warning. Hollow Falls has a gruesome history: twenty years ago this week, a double slaying shut down the resort. The crime was never solved, and now the woods are overrun with murder-obsessed tourists looking to mark the grim anniversary.

It’s clear that there’s something deeply disturbing going on at Hollow Falls. And as Tom’s dream trip turns into a nightmare, he and Frankie are faced with a choice: uncover the truth, or get out while they still can.

Coming out on July 8.

Mark Edwards doesn't know how to write a bad book! He is definitely one of my go to authors, you can rely on him to deliver a page turning thriller.
This one is set in Maine, in a wooded holiday resort which has some dark history and then some! I really liked the main character Tom and did feel for him being estranged from his daughter Frankie, however, they meet up for holidays and this year Tom has taken Frankie to the godforsaken wifi free Hollows resort for some father daughter bonding time.
Very tense and definitely a page turner, small town America with a touch of Blair Witch. This is not a criticism, just my perspective, it was a bit too otherwordly and mystical at times for me, and I'm still not 100% sure of the motivations behind some of the characters,
The epilogue was amazing, I think there very well could be another book from this which would go someway to explaining the motivations I was wittering on about!

Entertaining Page-Turner!

“Don’t forget to leave us a review on TripAdvisor.”

The Hollows is a psychological thriller about a vacation that turns into a horror story.

Tom, a flailing music journalist, travels from England to the U.S. excited to spend a two-week vacation at a rustic resort in Maine with his 14-year-old daughter, Frankie. Tom is a bit disappointed to discover that Hollow Falls is not all that is cracked up to be.

Having not done a basic google search, Tom did not realize that Hallow Falls is the location of a unsolved ritualistic murder that took place 20 years ago. The resort is teeming with “dark tourists,” visitors obsessed with sensational crimes and serial killers who are eager to visit the site of the murder. On top of some odd tourists, strange staff members, and adjacent to a creepy town inhabited by even creepier people, Tom and Frankie’s vacation becomes less and less relaxing and quite strange. Tom and Frankie find themselves getting swept up in the murder mystery, and they soon find themselves in danger.

The narrative is split primarily between Tom and Frankie, and there are also a few other voices mixed in. Tom is likable, if not forgettable. I found Frankie’s chapters a bit more interesting to read.

In a nod to horror films, the setting provides the perfect backdrop for tension and suspense. The dark woods, the eerie town of Penance, and the creepy sets of twins add to the horror-themed atmosphere. There are references to horror movies and several of Mark Edward’s previous novels. There are also nods to the paranormal. The tone is eerie, as is the atmosphere, building to a creepy conclusion. However, The Hollows is not particularly a scary read.

This is the second book in a row that I have read in which a crime occurs at a place with Hollows in the name (Hollow’s Edge is the other from Megan Miranda’s Such a Quiet Place). Maybe this is a message to stay away from places with Hollows in the name?

Overall, this was a fun, fast-paced read fueled by both the atmosphere and Mark Edwards’ dark humor.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Mark Edwards is the Master of creepy atmospheres. I am fan of his work and I was delighted to see that there was a new book of him with topics that ticked all of my boxes.

Music journalist Tom goes on vacation with his daughter. He is divorced, his ex-wife lives in the US with their daughter Frankie while he stayed back in England. Every year he spends a holiday with Frankie. This year he chooses a cabin resort in rural Maine. On arrival he learns that twenty years ago a murder happened at this resort. There is a podcaster and some dark tourist also staying at this resort for this macabre anniversary. Tom is not into this kind of stuff but soon his interest is piqued. Then strange things are happening and his daughter Frankie is entangled deeper into the story which seems to repeat itself.

This was a fun, quick and entertaining read. I love how Mark Edwards always manages to create such a creepy atmosphere in his books. The story is far-fetched and a bit over the top but still it is highly entertaining. I read this book in two sittings and enjoyed it.

Creepy camp slasher thriller meets mysterious occult. The Hollows hooked me immediately. This is one of Mark Edwards’ best.

Yesterday was my 10 year anniversary of discovering this author in my early days of Kindle... That book was Killing Cupid, co-authored with Louise Voss, and was the first step on an amazing journey.
Anyway, I digress but it seemed important to me so, well...
Once again Mr Edwards has shot and scored a blinder with this book (Euros are coming up so I gotta get a footie ref into my review). It's gripping and chilling and, well, everything else you'd expect from him. I made sure I cleared the decks before diving in as I knew that once I started, it wouldn't let me put it down. And it didn't. Start to finish in a day, mostly lying on my hammock in the sun. Sheer pleasure...
So, we follow Tom and Frankie on a single-father / daughter holiday at a cabin resort deep in the Maine woods. Yep, it's set in the US but don't let that put you off! As you would expect both from the setting and the author, it's a wee bit (lot) creepy in them there woods. To put the icing on the chilling cake, their cabin-neighbours are true-crime podcasters and they are more than eager to share the awful history of the camp site. In fact, it's coming up to the 20 year anniversary of the double slaying of two teachers which, quite rightly, forced the closure of the campsite soon after. Creepy huh!? Which makes what happens next all the more chilling as it appears that the killer was never brought to justice, the prime suspect having disappeared shortly after the incident. Weird things start to happen, disturbing things. But with little choice in the matter, our duo have to stick it out, and so become determined to uncover the truth and put the crime to bed once and for all, hopefully without getting killed themselves!
Oh My Days. I blooming loved this book. OK so for full disclosure I did wonder about a few of the characters' choices going along, but, I've never been in their shoes and so who am I to judge and, anyway, would have made a very short story had they done what I would have. But then also, I'm a bit of a wus all told too.
Anyhow, they stuck it out and what followed was classic Edwards, Chilling, spooky, heart-in-mouth action, all played out by some really well crafted characters. All delivered in the authors no-nonsense, no waffle or padding, own inimitable way. And with an ending that both satisfied and left enough open for me to wonder about myself. Will there be a sequel...?
Oh and if you are a fan of the author and have devoured everything he has ever written (I have that shiny badge) you might spot a few Easter Eggs along the way. Don't worry if you are new to him though (where have you been, sort it out) as not knowing is no penalty.
So... all that's left for me is the sadness that now I have read this, I have to wait a while for the next one. Hey ho. I'll be ready when the author is... My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

What a wild ride!! I absolutely loved this book. I may be biased as Mark Edwards is one of my ultimate favorite authors, but I cannot help myself as his books are so enthralling and keep me turning the pages with anticipation.

The Hollows centers itself in the woods around a resort and the dark lurking past that keeps surfacing in one way or another. There were two malicious deaths that took place with two teachers that caused a big following by thrill seekers.

The characters themselves were very well thought through and gave a lot of depth into each one and how they relate to each other. I felt a lot of their emotions as fear was crippling especially when walking in the woods. Each sentence brought me closer and closer to feeling like I was wearing one of the masks or running for my life from the snap of a twig in the story.

I have read several of Mark Edwards; novels and this is my 2nd favorite. The Retreat so far is the best in my opinion and this is a close second. Mark has a pure talent when it comes to dark and mysterious stories and I hope this one has a sequel! I felt as though this novel itself gave a lot of closure, but that ending!! OH MY!!! Not what I expected and now I can’t wait to see what happens next if Mark Edwards makes another book.

Thank you Mark Edwards for allowing me to be a part of your review team as well as NetGalley for supplying me with the advanced reader copy. Until next time!

Mark Edwards books are always fast paced and full of tension. I read this book in one session as it was completely addictive and spellbinding. Tom is on a trip with his teenage daughter Frankie, to a resort set deep in woodland. Unknown to him, a double murder occurred there and the murderer was never found. The author is a master of psychological thrillers and he has another winner with The Hollows. You won't sleep easy after reading this one! Another brilliant read which I highly recommend. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

CW: ghosts/spirits, murder (of people and animals), sacrificial killings

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Tom just wants to take his daughter on vacation somewhere peaceful, but after arriving, he realizes that there may be more to Hollow Falls than he could have expected. A murder took place 20 years ago, and since then, people have been visiting to "see where it happened" - a phenomenon called dark tourism. When things start to go wrong, Tom begins to question whether the killer is looking to strike again, and what it will take to keep his daughter Frankie safe.

This book was filled with twists, and though some of the outright evilness of some of the characters was off-putting, it of course added to the story. The book was a bit crazy, and the ending was satisfying until the epilogue, but I can see the point of adding that in too. A good thriller if you don't mind too much fictional death!

A father and daughter take a vacation at a woodland resort, unaware of its dark and disturbing past.  I am a big fan of Mark Edwards and I have read most of his books.  Sadly this is not one of my favourites.  It is a bit dialogue heavy and the internal monologue of the father (Tom) is very repetitive at times, with constant questions - what about this? what about that? what about something else?      The setting is quite atmospheric, particularly the rundown town next to the resort.  And I always love creepy kids in a book.  Generally, and sadly, this book wasn't a hit for me but it is a very quick read and the ending was really well done.

I've been highly anticipating The Hollows as I'm a big fan of Mark Edwards' writing, and his newest story has once again confirmed to me why he is one of my favorite thriller authors. It was literally hook, line and sinker as soon as I started reading the first chapter, and I kept turning page after page as I simply couldn't stop reading. Suspenseful, twisted, highly engaging and with a hint of the occult: this story isn't afraid to go dark while keeping you entertained you along the way. Without doubt a new favorite!

The first thing that stands out is the setting, which is both perfectly described and sets the perfect eerie tone for this story. The new resort surrounded by the woods with a dark history, the ritualistic double murder that took place there almost twenty years ago, the small seemingly deserted town of Penance with its ominous feel, the woods themselves... They all help setting the right atmosphere and backdrop for the plot, and definitely help this story dipping its toe in the horror genre. The same goes for the references to the occult, the supernatural and the strange things happening in and around the resort, which only highten the creepy atmosphere. It's without doubt part of the reason this story worked so well for me!

The writing was once again spot on and I couldn't help but devour page after page. The plot itself is brilliantly designed and developed, with lots of twists to keep you busy along the way... The building up of tension and suspense is well handled as the story slowly works towards those final escalations and reveals. Oh yes, The Hollows is definitely one of those stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Like I said before, rather than the dark psychological thriller genre of his previous two books, this one is more a crime thriller that dips its toes in the horror genre... And SO good if you can stomach the more graphic scenes and violence among other things.

The story is told mainly using a dual POV structure, switching between music journalist Tom and his daughter Frankie. The two POVs complement each other perfectly and are used to help describe what is happening during their time at the resort. We also get glimpses inside the head of the killer and flashbacks to the past; especially towards the end as we slowly discover the truth about past and present events. The characters themselves were interesting enough, although I did feel there was more focus on the plot and actions than an extensive development. That said, I personally wasn't that bothered by it as I was too busy trying to figure out what was really going on.

In short, The Hollows turned out to be yet another fantastic story that is both highly suspenseful, twisted and simply addictive. I love that we have a dark crime thriller with a horror vibe this time around, and the hints at the occult only enhanced the reading experience for me. Without doubt a winner if you enjoy the genre! I simply couldn't stop reading it once I started the first page.

Absolutely loved this book - Edwards is channelling his Stephen King influence heavily with this one - a brilliant small town mystery with genuinely creepy moments, and perfectly relatable characters. This one is going to be huge.

Mark Edwards is at the top of my favorite authors and must read list, and this book just further cements that opinion. His villians are always absolutely, chillingly diabolical, and he's raised the bar with this collection of ne'er do wells. Set in an atmospheric, (supposed to be) serene cabin resort vacation spot, the weird starts almost immediately, and escalates to page turning tension not long after. I really liked his main characters in this book, the father/daughter pair were very true to life, and very likeable. I was rooting for them the whole way through. I also really enjoyed the true crime twist. I'm not so far gone as to be a "dark tourist" but I do enjoy dateline and several podcasts, and bringing that aspect into this story was a genius way to cohesively tie it all together. Great work, absolutely loved it!!

Tom and his teenage daughter Frankie are vacationing at Hollow Fall, a remote woodland camp where, Tom quickly finds out, a ritual murder took place twenty years previously. The main suspect was never caught, and rumour is that he lives in the woods, still. A rumour Tom laughs off until strange things start happening - sightings of strangers in animal masks, things going missing from the camp. Meanwhile Frankie is in involved in a drama of her own with some sinister locals. With the two finding themselves enmeshed deeper and deeper in the camp's secrets, it soon becomes clear that there is more to Hollow Falls than anyone suspected.Tom and Frankie need to figure out who's behind the strange occurrences before that someone finds them...

I enjoyed this novel from Mark Edwards well enough, but something was missing for me from this one - I am a big fan of his books, but this one wasn't my favourite. Some of the characters were a little melodramatic for my liking, and although I like the haunted camp trope, I don't think it was used to full effect. Still - an enjoyable read from a writer who is very good at what he does.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher, who granted me a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this! I was thoroughly gripped right from the beginning. It was definitely a book I didn’t want to put down. Twisty, dark and addictive.

Mark Edwards is one of my favourite authors and one of the first self-published authors I came across when I started my Facebook group, The Fiction Café. It felt like such a long time since I read his previous book The House Guest so was looking forward to diving into this book!

It starts with a great chapter detailing a father and daughter vacation. The opening chapters of his books are always intriguing. You know your going into a book that will include some kind of ‘different’ twist within the storyline, whether that a hint of supernatural or mystery! This one was great! I won’t say what it is as it’s not in the blurb so don’t want to give spoilers!

The opening chapters left me with a creepy feeling so I knew I was going to love it. Leaving me on edge while reading a book is always a good sign!

The story soon switched to a dark theme and their holiday turns a bit sinister with weird things going on and descends into historical murders and true crime written as fiction. I loved the mentions of previous true crime serial killers as it’s something that’s always fascinated me. The fictitious historical murder in the story was superbly written and really put the sinister edge to the storyline which I come to expect with this authors novels. The Hollows had elements of themes that interest me and the writing of this fiction novel was spot on in terms of research.

Another fabulous novel about ordinary people dealing with the extraordinary happenings!

One way I judge my books is if I stop reading them, put them down and read one or two other books before picking them up again. Let me just say that this did not happen while reading this book. I was interested in the plot and wanted to keep reading to find out what happened nest. The author took the "sacred ground" theme to a whole new ballgame with his characters. Although I guessed who one of the main "bad" guys was before it was revealed, it didn't make any difference in my wanting to pursue the story. I have not read books by this author before, but now I will look for some.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story is about Tom and his daughter Frankie. Tom is from the U.K. and divorced from Frankie’s mum. Frankie and her mum now live in America so he flies over to spend some quality time with his daughter. He rents a cabin at a camp called Hollow Falls. Soon after arriving strange things start happening. Tom becomes aware that Hollow Falls is famous for a double murder that occurred there almost 20 years ago. The suspected murderer is rumoured to be living in a secret cabin in the woods. Tom becomes aware that most of the other guests at Hollow Falls are dark tourists including the couple in the next door cabin who host a true crime podcast. Both Frankie, her neighbours son and Dad Tom end up more involved in the mystery than they ever wanted to.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and kept me turning those pages late into the night. Although I didn’t find the book scary as such I found it quite unsettling to the point that it invaded my dreams. The story had creepy teenagers, haunted woods and intimidating locals. I really enjoyed the relationship between dad and daughter. The true crime podcast angle was an interesting one. It would have been quite easy fir the author to get carried away and go overboard with the creepy element but I found that the author got the balance just right between light horror and thriller.

Wow! Quite the creepy book! It was scary in all the right places. Very well written. I can’t wait to pick up more by this author. Thanks to publisher for allowing me to read this this ARC.

I highly recommended you pick this up on pub date in July 21!

Wow what a book!!!. I was scared in lots of places..Mark always manages to make you feel right in the midd!e of the plot and there were lots of parts that were downright creepy!!!. I had no choice but to keep reading this book and found I was at the end very quickly!!.
The story tells about a murder happening in a small clearing in some woods . Right where this group of people were camping. The next day the victims were discovered and the rumours started. ....
Then in present day at this campsite that is now famous for said murder, things start ahppening. Things start disappearing, from cabins and creepy faces appearing at Windows in the middle of the night. Something isn't right!.
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to have a free ARC book for an honest review.

Mark Edwards is an excellent author. As a mother of a young teen I love the idea of family bonding with my kid. Easily fell into step with Tom and Frankie. Really dark and twisted journey they have and I am here for it! Great book! Perfect for book club.

It certainly is creepy and has it’s twists but it felt more like a YA book, I guessed towards the end who crow was and his involvement in the original murders. I did enjoy the ending and perhaps there will be a revisit in the future.

With The Hollows Mark Edwards does it again! For a Brit he really captured the United States well, I thought. He also really nailed the pocast/true crime obsession that is currently happening. As the mom of a teen, the kids were written exceptionally well. The only thing I will say is that this is the first time I've figured out the ending before the reveal. However, I HIGHLY recommend this one.

“We are the scary ones. And these woods are ours.”

Mark Edwards is the king of psychological suspense. And any book he releases is an absolute must-read for me. But I was especially excited to read The Hollows as he mixes psychological suspense with true crime, which is one of my favourite genres.

With that now familiar mix of apprehension, malevolence and humour, Edwards slowly weaves the ominous tale, transporting us to Hollow Falls, Maine; a camping ground with a dark history that Tom Anderson knew nothing about when he arrived there with his daughter Frankie. Strange things soon begin to occur and journalist Tom can’t resist digging deeper into the mysterious tale of an unsolved double homicide that occurred there twenty years ago. But the more he learns, the stranger things become. And soon Tom must choose between solving the crime and getting out of Hollow Falls while he still can…

”Tonight marks the new moon.
A new phase - not only in the lunar cycle, but in the history of the Hollows.
A beginning, and an end."

Sinister, suspenseful and spectacular, The Hollows exceeded my already high expectations. It is so expertly written that you forget it is fiction. It is all just so flawless and authentic that you buy it, and I had to keep reminding myself that this wasn't a true crime book, that these murders are fictional, and that there was no point searching for David and Connie’s podcast as it doesn’t exist. Hollow Falls had an ominous and eerie presence that loomed over everything. It feels alive. And Edwards’ evocative imagery makes it leap from the page. This, along with the combination of the bizarre and supernatural elements, gave me Stephen King vibes. I was hooked from beginning to end and found it impossible to put down.

I really liked Tom. He and Frankie were great narrators and their complex relationship made the story even more interesting. While reading from a teenage point of view made me feel old, he got the feeling and lingo down perfectly. As always he filled the book with a cast of equally fascinating and memorable characters. Buddy and Darlene were especially creepy, giving me chills every time they appeared on the page. One of my favourite tropes in a thriller is when an author includes a mystery narrator that we assume is the killer, so I loved that he included the enigmatic third narrator. These chapters, which were told in flashbacks that lead up to the infamous crime, not only gave us an insight into the killer’s mind and motivations, but increased the tension.

"Why was this slaying so notorious? Why had it brought all these dark tourists flocking to this place."

I loved that Edwards uses this book to not only send shivers down your spine, but also to explore our fascination with true crime. As an avid true crime reader I admit to feeling called out a few times, but not in a judgmental or negative way. It is more like a commentary on the culture of true crime, exploring why so many of us are fascinated with the subject and examines the impact that a famous case has on the place where the crime was committed, it’s residents and those directly affected by the crime. He explores the phenomenon of dark tourism, and this is where I learned a lot as I had no idea just how big and lucrative an industry it has become. It is clear he’s spent a lot of time researching from how vast his knowledge is and how authentically the book reads.

Cryptic, eerie and addictive, this is without a doubt his best book yet. And that ending? Omg! This book is the perfect example of why everyone who enjoys this genre needs to read his books. I am going to need a follow up, Mr. Edwards.

Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer and the author Mark Edwards for this ARC copy of The Hollows!

This book is about a father and daughter who go on vacation together to a rustic resort in Maine. Tom had booked a two week stay for him and his 14 year old daughter, Frankie, to a resort in Maine with no access to internet and very little cell service, hoping to spend quality time together outdoors. Tom hadn’t done a lot of research when picking a place to stay and finds out the resort is a past crime scene where a ritualistic murder took place almost 20 years ago. Many of the other tourists are “dark tourists” obsessed with crime and the resorts dark past. Strange things begin happening while on vacation and it soon turns into a nightmare for Tom and Frankie.

This book was extremely well written, had excellent character development, a very descriptive atmosphere which really helped to give off the creepy vibe I was hoping for, and was extremely hard to put down. I read it in a couple days but would have read it in one sitting if I had the time, I read the last 50 percent of the book in one sitting, needing to see what was going to happen. I love Mark Edwards as an author, but was very drawn in by both the cover and description as well. I would definitely recommend this to thriller/mystery lovers and can’t wait for more of his future books! Thanks again for this creepy page turner!

The Hollows is an atmospheric, twisted, hold your breath read.

Tom brings his daughter for their vacation to the resort The Hollows where a famous murder has taken place years ago.

The writing will have you think that you are at the camp , you can almost smell the mustiness of the cabin and feel the eeriness of the woods.

The Hollows is a fast paced thriller/mystery that you do not want to miss. Lock your doors and grab your copy.

Be prepared to do nothing but read to the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK &38; Mercer.

This is a heart pounding read that grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go. Complex characters and a twisted mystery make for one heck of a psychological thriller. There are plenty of surprises to keep you guessing. I didn't figure it all out before the reveal. This is my first read by this author, but it won't be my last.

Maine is beautiful, so picturesque, inviting and relaxing! Renting a cabin in the woods sounds wonderful, doesn't it? A place to unwind, unplug and reconnect -at least that is what Tom wanted to do with his fourteen-year-old daughter, Frankie. He sees her once a year as he lives in England and she lives with her mother in Albany, New York. Their yearly trips mean the world to him. What could go wrong? For starters, Tom did not research the camp or the dark history surrounding it. If he had looked up the camp, he might have thought twice about selecting it, but he did not do his research and now he and his daughter are knee deep in some creepy, spooky stuff.

I loved the premise of this book. A camp with a dark history. Things that go bump in the night. I love '80's horror films and this would make a good one! I read most of this book in one day as I did not want to put it down!

Tom and Frankie are camping and make friends with fellow campers David, Connie and their son Ryan. Connie has a true crime podcast which has quite the following. They are at Hollow Falls because two teachers were murdered there and left displayed on rock. The suspected killer was never found. As it turns out, the other campers are murder obsessed tourists and fans of Connie's podcast as well. Almost twenty years ago the murders occurred so this is the perfect time to go camping there, right???? WRONG!

To round out the fun, there are strange kids in town, strange whispers in the trees, the sound of wind chimes, creepy staff members amongst other things. Would you stay or would you go? Tell yourself it is all in your head or pay closer attention to the little hairs standing up on the back of your neck, alerting you that something just is not right.

I loved this book from the very first page. It is creepy with underlying tension and had me wondering how the story would unfold. I loved Frankie and Tom's POV. I also enjoyed shaking my head at them and silently thinking "Has neither of these characters seen a horror film?" There are certain things you can do to survive: don't split up, don't leave anyone alone, if alone and told to stay somewhere - stay there, stay a virgin, don't open the door to strangers, look behind you, if you fall while running - get up off the ground and keep running, don't lie there crying and begging for your life, don't say you will be right back because you won’t, remember you are not a private investigator and it is not your job to solve whodunit, etc. I am not saying these things happen in the book, but these are just a few examples of things I learned watching horror movies.

Another plus of this book is that it is spooky and atmospheric but not frightening. I loved the creepy vibe of this book. Readers know right away that something is not right. We are given glimpses into the past that alert us to the fact that something is wrong, but what? Plus, what is with the two little kids always playing in their front yard without a parent in sight??????? The town, the woods, the camp all set the stage. I am using the word 'creepy' a lot but that is the perfect word to describe this book!

Like his other books, The Hollows was well written and perfectly paced. I was transported to Hollow Falls and felt as if I were in the woods with them. Edwards is an expert at setting the stage, building plot and mounting tension. From the very first page, I knew he was going to dazzle me.

This book felt like a love letter to horror movies. I could think of several of them while reading this book. I also think this book would make a great movie! So, what is going on? Will you figure it out? Will Mark Edwards fool you? Fans of his will love this book. Edwards brings it on, and readers might not want to venture into the woods again! Plus, I enjoyed the ending! I thought the ending also played like a horror film. It ended the book perfectly for me.

So, if you want to go camping this summer grab this book, watch a couple of horror films, as both might save your life!

Dark, spooky, thrilling.

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another good thriller by the author with equal parts of suspense, atmosphere and emotions. The teenage scenes are as practically experienced by parents. Stayed late into the night to finish it. Don’t miss it.

Have been a fan of Mark Edwards for a few years now. Always enjoy his works but this was a bit different. Not sure if I enjoyed the mysticism and the plot did seem plodding at times. but kudos to Mark for trying something different.

Would like to see more of the mystery genre from Mark in the future. To me, that is more in his wheelhouse..

Overall, a four star summertime read on the beach.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of the book.

4.5 stars. Mark Edwards is one of my favourite authors and this book certainly didn’t disappoint. It was a creepy atmospheric psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. I read this in two sittings and highly recommend it.

3.75⭐️ which I’ve rounded up as I can’t leave part stars.

I have read a few of the early books by this author which I loved.
A psychological thriller set in Hollow falls a newly opened resort in Maine. As it’s set in Maine there’s a nod to Stephen King with a cat called Cujo.

Tom Anderson is on a 10 day break trying to reconnect with his 14yr old daughter Frankie who now lives a Continent apart with his ex wife.
She is absolutely mortified that there is no WiFi or 4G connection.
Tom learns of its macabre history, with true crime obsessed fans, ’dark tourists’ flocking to visit on the 20th anniversary of a ritualistic double killing.
The book slowly reeled me in.
The holiday soon turns into a nightmare. It starts getting spooky bordering on horror.

The story is a split narrative told from Tom’s and Frankie’s point of view.

It utilises the tropes of poor decision making and keeping secrets. At times I felt the writing was a bit overly dramatic which I guess is a trope of horror. I’m not a horror reader.

My favourite quote ‘Don’t forget to leave us a review on tripadvisor’ which had me chuckling 😂😂

The author didn’t manage to fully pull this one off for me. I enjoyed it, but didn’t love it. The end increased my score.

Aight, this was very enjoyable! Cults, communion, and crime in a dark forest, what's not to like?!
Very atmospheric and spooky. The tension keeps building up throughout the story and ends on a cut-throat ending. I know how cliched "unputdownable" sounds, but I think it's quite a compliment, especially when you have a short attention span, and so many books calling out to you! :D

And this is just as much a YA (14-year-olds saving the day and all!) as it is an adult read. I liked the grisly details and true-crime fanatics (talk about being relatable!) but we don't do YA here! I would have loved a bit more background story about the weird kids and the super weird lady, but it was still a very enjoyable read. Is there a sequel coming?

Very much recommended, especially if you like YA.

@currentlyreading__
Book 36 of 2021

Thank you to @markedwardsauthor, @NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of 'The Hollows' ahead of its publication tomorrow. If you want a jumpy and atmospheric read this is right up your street! Having read every single book by the author, 'The Hollows' seems to be more of a horror in genre than his usual psychological thriller.

Our lead character Tom is a music journalist whose career is in tatters. Having split from his wife and living on separate continents he decides to reconnect with his fourteen year old daughter Frankie. Ten days unplugged, no WiFi, no 4G and back to nature in Hollow Falls, Maine. Having not researched the area Tom is completely unaware of the dark tourism that thrives here after the murders of two local teachers twenty years previously. Ghoulish individuals flock to the site and Tom's cabin neighbours are no exception - Connie, David and Ryan. Connie is totally invested in her stay at Hollow Falls as she is creator of a true crime podcast and desperate for the first-hand experience of exactly what drives tourists there year after year.

With weirdness galore, a bit of a Stephen King/ The Hills Have Eyes vibe, this is a great read for someone who likes tension, eerie settings, the usual horror tropes and chilling characters. You only need to check out the author's recent social media to see some fantastic artwork depicting the sort of weird characters uncovered in the book.

As the holiday descends into disaster, having no 4G is the least of Frankie's problems!

Interesting. A father and his teenage daughter visit a camping resort in Maine. Unbeknownst to them the area is known for strange happenings and a particularly grisly murder. Add in freaky neighbor campers and a sweaty staff and you have the recipe for a definitely not relaxing vacation. Strange happenings fell other campers but father and daughter decide to stay. For some readers that decision may be the strangest event of the book. It’s a fun read that reminds me of horror movies where potential victims make stupid mistakes and fall into the killer’s hands, but we still watch to see what happens.

Ever since Tom and his wife divorced and she moved from England to the US, Tom only gets to see his daughter Frankie a few times a year. For their summer visitation this year, Tom has decided to take Frankie to a remote resort deep in the woods of Maine. With no cell service, Tom figures he'll get more of Frankie's attention instead of her nose being buried in her phone.

Upon arriving, Tom meets the visitors in the cabin next door and discovers that the resort land has a sordid past - two teachers on a camping trip with their students were murdered twenty years ago, and there are plenty of crime fans visiting to mark the anniversary. Tom finds himself fascinated by the story, and wonders if writing about the crime and his experiences at The Hollows could reinvigorate his writing career... until strange things begin to happen....

This was a quick and creepy read, great for fans of YA thrillers and perfect if you're looking to add some chills to your vacation this summer (especially if you happen to be staying in an isolated cabin in the woods... just sayin'). I figured out some of the big reveal before it came out, but I was still glued to the pages because I wanted to see how everything played out. This would also make a great horror movie!

British author Mark Edwards has written a number of psychological thrillers self described as where “scary things happen to ordinary people.” This is the first one I have read.

Written from some different POVs, this was a quick, engrossing read. I was hesitant at first to read it as the description alluded to the paranormal, which I do not enjoy. However, although perhaps a bit mystical, it was not totally over the top. The setting will be somewhat familiar to horror fans and, taking place in Maine, how could it not reference Stephen King? Edwards creates a good sense of place and atmosphere.

I do find it annoying when people who know they or loved ones are in danger continue to do dumb things..but then again, without that happening, there wouldn’t be a story.

I’ve read a couple of Mark Edwards books and the The Hollows has quickly become my favourite. It is such a page turner and I couldn’t put it down.

The Hollows is full of twists and it definitely surprised me in parts. It is definitely creepy and dark but I had to read on and see what happened next.

After I read this, I had to preorder it as I wanted a copy for my bookshelf. Would definitely recommend!

I'm a big fan of Mark Edwards' books and they never disappoint! This story is set in the Maine area and knowing that Mark is a big fan of Stephen King, there are several references to him and his writing. No spoilers here though! For fans of The Magpies, Lucy Newton gets a mention too.

Tom has booked a holiday in a cabin at Hollow Falls in Maine for him and his estranged daughter Frankie (he lives in England and Frankie and his ex-wife live in the US). Unbeknown to Tom, Hollow Falls was the scene of an horrific double murder, 20 years ago which he only learns about from a couple of fellow residents who are true crime podcasters who are completely fascinated and obsessed with the double slaying. As legend goes a local oddball, Everett Miller was the chief suspect who mysteriously disappeared around the time of the murders. The bodies were laid out, almost sacrificial, on a huge, flat rock, with pagan like symbols painted on the rock in the male victim’s blood.

As Tom and Frankie’s holiday progresses they meet a whole cast of local people who are all reluctant to talk about the double murder which seems to define the local area. A whole host of creepy events occur throughout their stay, and you are willing both Tom and Frankie to get the hell out of there!

Tom, a music journalist becomes interested in the murder case and starts to do a bit of research himself but comes up against many a local who refuses to talk to him about the murders.

I loved the relationship between father and daughter and some of their dialogue resonated with me having a teenager myself!

My mind changed several times as to who the murderer was, but the conclusion of the book was both satisfying and unique and I would be interested to see if Mark might look to continue this story like he did with The Magpies.

A rip roaring read, perfect for fans of horror stories/films like Blair Witch or indeed the master of horror, Stephen King.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mark and his publishers for this ARC in exchange for a true and honest review.

Amazing!
Another home run by Mark Edwards.
This book has everything I enjoy.
Suspense, mystery, fear.
I couldn't stop reading once I started, I felt I needed to find out the mystery of hollow falls as much as the main character did and in the end I was not disappointed.

Thanks to Netgalley and axon Publishing UK for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tom is a divorced dad from the UK who has come to the US to take his daughter on their annual vacation. They unknowingly find themselves at a wooded retreat that is the subject of much interest from true crime enthusiasts die to a murder that took place there several years back.

I had trouble with this book. I have liked the several other books I have read from this author and this one has great reviews from other readers but I never got into it and skimmed the end just to be done. Maybe I just have too much going on and haven't been able to get immersed in a book lately but I also think this one had too many characters to keep straight which is a pet peeves of mine and usually causes me not to enjoy a book. I will certainly r ad the next from this author due to past enjoyment.

With his marriage over and his career in freefall, journalist Tom decides to reconnect with his daughter, Frankie. Desperate to spend time together now that they live an ocean apart, he brings her to Hollow Falls, a cabin resort deep in the woods of Maine. From the outset there's something a little eerie about the place - strange whispers in trees, windchimes echoing through the forest - but when Tom meets true-crime podcasters, David and Connie, he receives a chilling warning. Hollow Falls has a gruesome history: twenty years ago this week, a double slaying shut down the resort. The crime was never solved.

This is a steady paced, tense and atmospheric read. A double murder had taken place around Hollow Falls twenty years ago. The plotline will have you guessing until the end. It's also quite creepy. There is certainly a mixed bag of characters and you'll quickly be suspecting every single one of them. The storyline held my attention throughout, never knowing what was coming next.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #AmazonPublishingUK and the author #MarfkEdwards for my ARC of #TheHollows in exchange for an honest review.

This was such an interesting read for me. I have read another of Mark Edwards books before so I had a rough idea of the writing style. I was not disappointed and really enjoyed this.

It was an interesting concept of people's choice of holiday due to the history or myth about the place. It was an intriguing book and I was gripped throughout and wanted to find out whether the myths about the hollow were true and if they were who was it.

Towards the end of the book there is a change in scenario and I was on the edge of my seat, it was such a good twist. I wasnt expecting that happened to happen.

Brilliant!

Another great book from Mark Edwards.
Tom only sees his daughter Frankie once a year as her Mum moved to America with her.
He books a holiday in Maine in a cabin in the middle of the woods so he can spend some quality time with his daughter.
When Tom speaks to others that are staying there he realises a lot of people come here due to the murders that took place twenty years ago.
Tom knew nothing of this and is intrigued by the stories that are being told.
Frankie makes friends with Ryan and soon they’ve got themselves in trouble with the local teenagers.
Things start going missing from the cabins and a dead animal is found near their cabin with its throat slit, so Frankie and Ryan try to put things right.
Things start to escalate and the final few chapters definitely had me on the edge of my seat.
This is a gripping thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Oh the visuals with this one! Super creepy!! Very atmospheric and dark just like you would expect from Mark Edwards.
Tom is divorced and his wife and teen daughter have moved back to the States while he stays in England and tries to revive his flagging writing career. Every year, he gets to spend his vacation with his daughter and this year he’s rented them a cabin in Hollow Falls, Maine for some much needed rest off the grid. When they get there, they meet the family in the next cabin who happen to be “dark tourists” and have a true crime podcast. Despite his reservations they tell Tom the story of what happened in The Hollows back in 1999 and what brings people back there year after year. The nearest town is called Penance and it seems fitting for the history of what has happened here. The woods are super creepy and the fear of the things that go bump in the night grows as the story unfolds. There are strange kids in town, creepy wind chimes and staff members that don’t seem to want to reveal what they know. The underlying stress makes you want to scream at some points! This is going to make an epic summer camp movie someday!
Thanks to Netgalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

WARNING…do not read this book if you are camping, or, considering camping soon. You have been warned.

“Don’t forget to leave a review on TripAdvisor!”

Tom, a failing music journalist travels to the US from England to spend some well-needed vacation time with his daughter, Frankie. His relationship with her mother deteriorated, they went through a divorce and she moved to Albany with their daughter. He only has one week a year with her and he books a vacation in Hollow Falls, a place with a history, a dark tourist hotspot, and an eventual new chapter in its horror story.

Frankie and Tom have a strained relationship mainly due to the distance and her raging teenage hormones. As the chapters fly by, their relationship gets closer right in front of the reader’s eye. It’s normal, an everyday relationship that is held back by decisions made by adults that don’t know everything. It’s not their usual holiday, but Tom thinks it’s worth a shot if only he did a quick google search before booking! They don’t know Hollow Falls grisly history and they are about to have it smack bang in their faces!

Hopefully, this won’t be the last vacation they have together.

This book creeped me out. The atmosphere was perfect. Take a walk through the woods, expect to hear the ominous tone of windchimes, the ability to get lost at the drop of a hat, and mysterious creatures with the faces of a fox, Goat, and a Crow. Oh, and why do things mysteriously disappear? The chill was a permanent feature descending my spine. A set of creepy twins, a ghost town by the name of Penance, and the suspense of what happening twenty years ago.

Hollow Falls was the scene of a brutal double murder twenty years ago. Two lovers were killed in the act, shall we say. The resort has attracted “dark tourists” and teamed with even creepier staff members, things are off from the get-go. Mark Edwards has taken me back with a distinct nod to 80’s horror – it feels very Camp Crystal Lake. He knows how to anchor the creepiness into a genuine horror story.

Edwards also injects the potential disaster that social media presents in this story. We have a scene where Frankie loses her phone and all data is wiped, her address noted, the school attended noted, everything…that aspect of the story is horrifying. Just how easy it would be for someone to find you if they wanted to. I flew through this story, it’s compulsive and it only takes Edwards a chapter or less to reel you in. The unease is there from the start, the characters become darker, and in the end, are the shadows ever safe?

The Hollows is dark and intricately twisted…so hard to put down that I’m sure it almost needed prising out of my hands. If you go down to the woods today, you’re in for a big surprise…

Mark Edwards is one of my favourite authors. I discovered him on Kindle Unlimited about a year ago and have been devouring his fast-paced, scary, page-turning books ever since. Sometimes I find writers in this genre can simply roll out the same tired stories every time, but each of Edward's novels is completely different from his others.

I was immediately drawn into this story, as is typical of Edward's books. I particularly loved the setting of the woods. It is set in Maine and I love that he threw in some Stephen King references throughout...especially Cujo the cat! It definitely gave some Friday the 13th/Sleepaway Camp vibes with the campgrounds setting.

The main characters are very likeable. They are modern, everyday people and make decisions that aren't completely stupid, unlike a lot of horror novels and movies. I actually felt like I would have done and said some of the things that Tom and Frankie did. I like that it wasn't just told from Tom's POV but we got Frankie's teenage viewpoint as well. It was clever to use the current world's obsession with true crime podcasts as part of the storyline and I really enjoyed the character's of Connie and David.

The murder mystery plot is an unusual one for sure but not so far-fetched that it could never happen. The local townspeople are a creepy bunch and it's hard to not suspect each and every one of them. I like having several characters to be suspicious of so you don't immediately assume whodunnit. Edward's novels are always full of twists and this was no exception.

If you are already a fan of his work then I will say you won't be disappointed, and if you are yet to read his work then The Hollows is a great place to start!

(Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC; all thoughts are my own).

Totally gripping, I love the style of Mark Edwards books they keep you guessing all the way through, you think you know but then you turn a page a WHAM you’re shocked! Amazing read, highly recommend

Seriously creepy story of a camping trip from hell. Tom is a divorced father who is excited to take his daughter on a camping trip to a beautiful resort in the woods in Maine. They have a beautiful cabin with no WiFi or distractions, so they can spend quality time together. What Tom didn’t realize is the resort is home to a bizarre double murder that happened twenty years ago that week. As Tom meets the locals he finds out that many people come to the resort are crime buffs and want to learn more since the suspected killer disappeared into the woods and was never found. Excellent thriller that is seriously scary. Do not plan a camping trip anytime soon if you are planning on reading this book. Highly recommended!

Tom's writing career is in tatters, he is divorced and his wife has taken his teenage daughter and moved to America. He is getting to spend a vacation with daughter Frankie and chooses a cabin in Maine. Knowing nothing about the history of 'The Hollows', he is hoping for a relaxing, peaceful break for the two of them...

This was one dark and atmospheric read! The setting is perfectly creepy and all the characters well drawn to add into the unsettled nature of the story.

Recommended if you are looking for a gripping thriller, just not if you are going to a cabin in the woods any time soon!

Welcome to The Hollows, a new holiday park in deepest darkest Maine, well rainy at least. In my imagination, I picture an upmarket, less commercial significantly smaller set up Centre Parcs type woodland location that’s all nice and new…. but as Tom and Frankie discover, this ain’t Cumbria (other locations are available) and the locals aren’t quite the same as our friends from the North.

The Hollows is told by father and daughter Tom and Frankie on their annual holiday, spending quality time together when they spend most the year opposite sides of the Atlantic. Frankie is your typical teenager trying to be cool and Tom is trying his best to reconnect with his ever-maturing daughter. Intertwined with Tom and Frankie’s narrative is that of a teenager, one infatuated with an adult. Having read a number of Edwards’s books, I knew this voice was significant, the why and how was the question! How this voice fits with the deaths at Hollow Falls or in the modern day jigsaw intrigued me.

For me this is a classic Edwards read. It’s got his signature unnerving tension, the mind games and the crucial high impact ending. The nods Edwards inserted to his other novels made me smile as I went along – they lightly fractured the tension before I was plunged back in to the sinister goings on in what I imagined to be a picturesquely atmospheric woodland. The Hollows is definitely a creepy place and not one I’ll be visiting anytime soon. I need my holidays to be relaxing, not a holiday from hell!

I love Mark Edward’s books and this new one does not disappoint. It’s dark and very very twisted more so than some of his other books and has put me off cabins in the woods in America for the foreseeable. In this book we meet Tom and his daughter Frankie who are spending some quality time together over the summer in The Hollows camp ground. As they start to explore this remote site they find out that the site was the home of a terrible event some years ago and has a cult following of people who like to visit. As some scary and concerning events start to unfold this book takes a really dark twist which will leave your heart racing.

Best to make sure you have nothing planned for the day, when you start this book as you won't be able to put it down!!

Totally hooked in from the start and read this chilling and creepy story in one sitting.

Tom takes his daughter Frankie away on their annual visit with each other, to a cabin in the woods and quickly learns that it's the site of a gruesome murder some years ago and attracts tourists obsessed with the crime that was never solved.

Such a tense book as strange things start to happen again and they have to decide to either leave or try to uncover the truth!

I can always count on Mark Edwards giving me an entertaining fast read! The premise here is a twenty year old murder of two teachers, a local suspect who vanished possibly living in the woods, and a cult with members wearing animal masks. What?! Tom and his daughter Frankie arrive at Hollow Falls, a cabin resort in Maine without WiFi. They meet dark tourists, those who are obsessed with the unsolved case. There’s something creepy going on at the resort and with the locals. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for a gifted copy. This is my honest review.

Did you love all those Friday the 13th movies? What about the Geico commercial with the kids and the guy with the chainsaw? If so, you will love this book! It takes place at a picturesque Maine resort (fancy campground) with a scary event in its past that people still talk about. It has even become a tourist attraction! Then, while Tom and his daughter Frankie are staying at Hollow Falls, spooky things start happening again. This is truly classic horror that stays just this side of feeling campy! Character development takes a back seat to the evolving story and setting, but that is what you expect in a story like this! A great summer read as long as you aren't out in the forest.

As always an eerie and chilling offering from this author.

After the breakdown of their marriage Tom’s wife returns to her native home of America taking their daughter, Frankie with her leaving Tom behind in England.

Once a year Tom makes the trip to America to spend two precious weeks with Frankie. This year he has booked a cabin in the area of Hollows Falls for them. On arrival Frankie is dismayed by how remote they are and the lack of WiFi.

Upon meeting the inhabitants of their next door cabin, David and Connie butler, Frankie seems more interested in spending time with the Butlers teenage son, Ryan leaving Tom to his own devices. During this time Tom discovers that Hollows Falls was the place of a horrific murder some 20 years ago of 2 teachers who were supervising a school trip. Their bodies were laid out and occult type symbols drawn around them. Since this time hollow falls has been a tourist attraction for the macabre and ghoul hunters much go the locals chagrin with many stories of the place being haunted.

Tom decides to delve more into hollows falls history but soon wishes he hadn’t!

I highly recommend this book particularly if you are looking to read a thriller that is abit different from the norm. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy following Mark Edwards on social media as he’s very engaging and I love the lives and events he does. After attending a live about Hollows I was absolutely ecstatic to have been accepted to read it! (Thank you NetGalley and Amazon publishing).

Mark’s writing style is very easy to follow, it was a really nice read. Fast paced yet descriptive enough that you could set the scene and not confusing.

I liked the clever storyline. Love the idea of a holiday camp that isn’t as it seems. I liked the back story and the different creepy characters. Fox, Crow and Goat were very spooky add ons, that set the story really well.

The characters were good and relatable (well some of them haha) which made the story even more exciting as it ‘could have been you’ kind of thing.

Despite the eerie goings on, the Hollows sounded such a nice place, very peaceful and pretty. Mark really made you want to go even though it was a disaster for Tom and Frankie.

Highly recommended read and I can wait to check more of Mark’s work out.

I really enjoyed Mark Edwards "The Hollows"

I didn't connect with it as much as some of his other novels, but it was still chilling in some places, and overall not a bad storyline.

I did like the cliffhanger at the end, oooooooh part 2 coming!?!
and also the mentioning of Lucy the Dark Angel from a previous book by the author!

Would recommend

2.5 rounded to 3 stars/5.

Frankie and her dad travel to the woods of Maine for a relaxing vacation and soon come to realize the resort town has a dark past that may not totally be remaining in the past.

Let me start by saying that I love Mark Edwards’ books. I really wanted to like this one. And it started out great. But the turn it took was a risk, and to me it entered the realm of silliness rather than scariness. There was never a point where I was scared and the atmosphere never was serious, in my opinion.

I enjoyed the beginning of the book, and then it went south, for me. I hate to give away too much of the plot for fear of spoiling it.

I will add that one of the points of view of the story is told from a teenager. To me, that always puts the book in the realm of YA and I really am not a YA fan. I think that I need to do some more research and see if there are any teenager narrators in the books that I read in the future and if there are, I should avoid them.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a big fan of Mark Edwards, so I was excited to receive a copy of The Hollows. There were aspects of the book that I wasn’t a huge fan of (especially when it looked like we were going into the mystical or supernatural) BUT we veered back on course and I loved it. Another super creepy one from Edwards that I should KNOW by now not to read at night! Looking forward to his next book!

"The Hollows" by Mark Edwards
Thomas & Mercer
July 8, 2021
10: 1542026822
335 pages
Psychological Thriller


Since his divorce, Tom Anderson, a British music journalist, finds himself at odds. His ex has taken his daughter Frankie back to live in the States, and Tom misses her terribly. He arranges a quiet ten-day vacation with Frankie at Hollow Falls, a camp in the forests of northern Maine. Here, he plans to reconnect with the 14-year-old and let her know how much he cares for her.

Frankie, your typical teenager, is upset when they arrive. She finds the area spooky and creepy, for she is not used to being isolated in the woods.

It is opening week, and Greg Quinn, the manager, checks them into their cottage while Vivian, his assistant, is stand-offish. Frankie immediately labels them as weird. When she learns there is no Wi-Fi out in the "middle of nowhere," she complains, but Tom is relieved, for he hopes to spend quality time with Frankie without her being glued to her cell phone.

They meet their next-door neighbors, David Butler, his wife Connie, and 15-year-old son, Ryan. David tells Tom they are there for a reason; this is more than a vacation.

Connie is a Podcaster dealing with true crime with quite a following. David mentions the deaths of two local schoolteachers that took place 20 years ago. They hope to gain more information about the alleged killer, a young man named Everett Miller, who bludgeoned the two teachers. Speculation is Everett disappeared—maybe to Canada—but it’s rumored he is still alive and roaming these deep woods.

One night, Tom swears he sees someone staring at him in the window. But this is not human; it has the features of a goat. Shaking his head, Tom starts to think the spookiness and the stories of the area are getting to him. He says nothing, not wanting to disclose what he saw, believing others will think he's nuts.

Frankie and Ryan become friends and hang out together. Before long, they begin to sense an eeriness surround them. When Frankie complains to Ryan about no cell service, he suggests they walk over to Penance, the next town.

"'They've got to have 4G there,' he said. 'Or we'll be able to find a Subway or a Dunkin' or something. Somewhere with Wi-Fi.'

"'It's just cruel,' Frankie had said, hoping Ryan could tell she was being ironic. 'Expecting us to exist without internet.'

"Despite what she'd said to her dad, she wasn't that bothered about the lack of a connection. It was nice to have a break from all the drama in the WhatsApp group she was in, and Sienna and Abby would be able to catch her up when she got home.

"The real reason she'd wanted to go on this little expedition was walking beside her. Fifteen years old, six feet tall, fit as hell. He looked just like Harry Styles. Actually, that would be one good reason to get back online. To share a picture of Ryan. Her friends would freak."

As they walked into Penance, they run into a couple of local teens bouncing a basketball. Ryan stops to ask if there is somewhere they can get onto Wi-Fi, but the kids stare at them, saying nothing. They leave, and the boy asks if they're staying at Hollow Falls. When Ryan says they are, he asks if they've seen any ghosts.

"'What?' Frankie said.

"The boy looked at her like she was a moron. 'I asked if you'd seen any ghosts.'

"His voice was odd. Like it hadn't broken properly yet. His eyes, though huge like an anime character's, were sleepy. Was he stoned? . . . .
. . . "'You're trespassing,' said the boy, staring right into Frankie's eyes.

"'It was so great to meet you guys,' said Ryan, after a stunned pause. 'Come on, Frankie.' And he walked away quickly. Frankie followed."

Ryan laughed as they got away from the kids, stating they are freaks though Frankie surmises Ryan is as flustered as she. They walk around spotting a few stores and take pictures on their phones. Noticing a signal of not password-protected Wi-Fi, Frankie is excited to use her phone. While she peruses her messages, Ryan posts photos on his Instagram site along with comments, but she doesn't think anything of it until he shows her what he wrote:

"Come to the asshole of the world! Penance, ME. Where the dogs in the junkyard have higher IQs than the people. #Penance #shithole #vacationfromhell."

Though shocked, Frankie doesn't say anything, not wanting Ryan to think she is a spoilsport. But she admitted, "This place was a shithole. A weird, creepy shithole." She thinks Ryan's comments are mean but believes he is upset by how the kids treated them, so she lets it go.

The days pass. She feels comfortable with Ryan yet spooked by the gossip going around about the history of the place. Then strange things begin to happen. The Penance kids seem to be on a path to revenge. Apparently, they don't like their town being denigrated, so they go after Frankie and Ryan. When Frankie discovers a gutted rabbit near the cabin, she knows it can only be those kids trying to scare them. And—their efforts are working, for even Tom is beginning to think they should leave.

Nikki, a local who owns the bookstore in Penance, confronts Tom, warning him to take Frankie and go, stating they are in danger. And when he encounters the juveniles throwing rocks at Ryan and Frankie, he insists they cut their vacation short. But their leaving doesn't happen soon enough before mayhem strikes.

Tom shares his point of view in specific chapters showing how he is handling his failed marriage, his down-the-tubes career, and how he tries to protect Frankie. His angst and horror are highly apparent as time passes and more incidents occur.

Meanwhile, Frankie hopes to come to grips with her relationship with her dad and also with Ryan. Never before knowing a boy before like him, she doesn't want to lose his friendship. They are both young, yet they show maturity in their situations while looking out for each other.

"The Hollows" is bursting with trepidation, and the descriptive location adds to the foreboding in this novel. It is reminiscent of that old saying, "Watch out for what goes bump in the night!" The power of this tale builds until the climactic ending, where one only wants to breathe a sigh of relief.

Again Mark Edwards tops my list of being one of the best pyschological authors I have come across. All his books draw you in. Divorced UK based Tom wants to spend some time with his teenage daughter who lives in the US with her mother. He takes her to Hollow Falls, it just so happens it coincides with the 20 year anniversary where there had been some murders. Definitely a 5 star read, as are all his books.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This was my first book by Mark Edwards. And boy, was I enthralled with it from the first chapter! This story totally gives off the creepy vibes that the cover has. We follow Tom and his daughter, Frankie, who are estranged most of the year due to her parents divorce. Tom decides to take Frankie on a vacation to Hollow Falls, which is a camp in the middle of the woods in Maine. I immediately liked Tom off the bat. Little do they know that Hollow Falls has a very dark history. The history of what happened at Hollow Falls is revealed to the reader early in the book. I found it hard to put this down, and found it to be a quick read. I will say, however, that things got a tad drawn out at about the 70% mark, but that's my only issue. I just liked the writing style, and the way the author made you feel like you were in Hollow Falls yourself. Vivid descriptions of the woods, the eerie characters throughout the book and it was just a fun read. 4 stars!

Divorcé Tom Anderson is bringing his 14 year old daughter Frankie to Maine where he rents a cabin in Hollow Falls (some much needed father-daughter time). No Wifi - a great start to their holiday for Frankie!! When they arrive, he meets couple David and Connie Butler and their son Ryan. They are ‘dark tourists, who are fascinated by murders and tell Tom about a murder that took place in 1999 at the Hollows. Connie herself is a successful podcaster and they take Tom to the site of the murder. Despite himself, journalist Tom develops an interest in what went on in 1999, can see a book in the making and decides to investigate further himself.

Meanwhile, there are strange people around Hollow Falls from the owners to the guests to the people in the local town. Everyone is cagey about the murders. Also strange things are happening, a dead rabbit, figures appearing at windows, ants in Frankie's bed. Despite this, Tom is anxious to fix it all and make it a holiday to remember for his daughter but things just seem to be going from bad to worse.

Another great read from Mark Edwards, although not my favourite from him. If you are looking for a great mystery thriller with some nail biting scariness, then this is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley, Mark Edwards and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Hollows by Mark Edwards are just a fantastic read and this one was no different........It was a brilliant book and I was gripped from the very first few pages and I loved it! Mark You have done it again.

I highly recommend this book and all of his books. by Mark Edwards.

Big 5 stars from me.

Well, this was a lot of fun!

If you have a fondness for slasher pics – especially the nostalgia of those movies from the glory days of Friday the 13th et al, this should be right up your alley!


It’s slice, dice, and DON’T RUN INTO THE WOODS!

I liked our characters – even the petulant teens – and loved that there was a little ‘backwoods’ atmosphere to everything.

Definitely an entertaining read!

*ARC via Net Galley

I was fortunate to have received an advanced copy of this book and finished it within 2 days it was that good.

The book features Tom and his daughter Frankie on a trip to America in some cabins in Maine. Little did they know that The Hollows holds a dark secret that would soon unravel during their stay.

I particularly liked the reference to a true crime podcast by couple David and Connie and the mention of real serial killers as I know people do book specific places to stay because of the history so this was very close to reality. I.e. the Cecil Hotel

As mentioned in the Acknowledgements I did not spot the references to Mark’s previous books but this was clever to drop hints for anyone who did notice them.

Another great one from Mark Edwards! The setting, the characters, the dark,, all come together to make for a perfectly creepy read. Thanks to NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book.

I have read several of Mark Edwards books in the past and enjoyed them. This one fell a little flat for me. There were plenty of creepy characters and strange things happening. My main objection was to the main character Tom. Tom is Frankie's father and seemingly a good dad, so it makes no sense that he would repeatedly leave Frankie alone when he knows her life is in danger. He then hesitates to call the police when bad things start to happen and, this was the worst offense, FALLS ASLEEP. That one really got to me. Had it not been for Tom's poor decision making I would have rated this book much higher.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Creepy novel about some crazy people. It would make a great horror film.

The Hollows is fast paced and thrilling. Recommended for fans of suspense with a touch of horror.

Content Warning: past homophobia mentioned

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own.

Thanks netgalley for giving me an early copy of this book.
The beginning and the end was really good, The middle was a little bit boring and got silly.
The hollows was as a sacred wood according to folklore and. Certain locals wanted to keep it that way.
A resort was opened up near the woods, and the holiday makers threw rubbish on the ground, made bonfires and were destroying the wild life.
Tom had flown over from. England to see his daughter Frankie who lived with his divorced wife in America to have a holiday and had decided to go to the resort for a holiday without internet. To enjoy sailing and the outdoor life.
But everything was not as it seemed and before long they were frightened for their life.

Another Mark Edwards book is always something to be happy about. His books are very varied & are always worth a read. This time the setting is Maine- the land of Stephen King & there are a lot of echoes of Stephen King in this story. Tom is divorced & living in the UK. In order to reconnect to his teenage daughter Frankie he has booked a cabin in the woods that offers lots of outdoor activities. Frankie is somewhat put out by the lack of wi-fi & when she goes in search of signal with young Ryan from thee next door cabin they fall out with some locals. Tom discovers that the site has a murky history & the site attracts true crime buffs. The atmosphere created is suitably spooky & although at times the characters didn't quite gel it was still a worthwhile read & I enjoyed it. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

I received this book from the publishers via Netgalley for a review. Mark Edwards has done it again, a very good thriller good character's and very well plotted. Loved everything this author has written and this is no exception.

Mark Edwards does it again, gripping and twisty as always, this is an unusual and frightening book.
Reminiscent of the six stories series by Matt Wesolowski this story of a father on holiday trying to reconnect with his teenage daughter in an eerie location in America where once a terrible murder took place which has left ripples of horror in the beautiful woods and the nearby run down small town. Taut and tense and a great beach read.

This opens like an American teen horror film set in a creepy forest. The adults are odd, obsessed with superstition, historical murders and conspiracy theories. I think I've seen this film many times.

What I like about Edwards' books is how 'scary things happen to ordinary people', which is his tagline. But this books is set in Maine and I associate the place with Stephen King not the ordinariness of middle-aged Englishmen. It seems as if he is trying to appeal to the American market by reaching out to King fans, perhaps, or Americans in general, and using words like 'flashlight' and 'candy' and suchlike. It doesn't gel with me.

The story is straightforward enough: a divorced man wants to spend some time with his teenage daughter who lives with her mother, so he arranges a holiday for them both in said creepy forest. Immediately she goes off with a teenage boy while a host of weird things happen involving creatures and missing objects.

The story is told in the first person (the English father) interwoven with the daughter's perspective and someone from the past who joins some kind of cult. Slightly banal until the last quarter when the life-or-death situations arise due to feeble motivations. Easy to read if Americanisms don't get in the way, and the ending is tense and action-packed.
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​ajsefton.com

Ooo this was good.

Some authors write to build an exciting scene say at 50% but Mark has sneaked in a tension session before then and that scene is written so well. So gripping. It happens again a little bit later on too. Both build up to a "gasp out loud" moment. Great!

I enjoyed the relationship between divorced Tom and his 14 year old daughter Frankie. Trying to bond on a holiday near the woods that has a mystery surrounding it. The atmosphere of those woods give you the creeps so the writing is doing it's job. Tom meets David and Connie and their son Ryan and they seem to make a new friendship with trying to sol e the mystery from 20 years ago.

Written from Tom's perspective in some chapters and from the author in others it certainly strings you along. The ending is quite good as it makes you think how it could carry on. Clever

It was an amazing and suspenseful read. Creepy setting and good interesting characters. Could become a classic! Well done again Mark Edwards!,

Brilliant book. Yet again, I this is is the storyline that iis believable, it could happen to anyone...and and that is what makes it creepier. The characters are relatable and there are unexpected turns to the story. Great.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mark Edwards and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Welcome to Penance, Maine, home of Hollow Falls, a low key resort with tons of outdoor activities including canoeing, archery, swimming and also, murder. If you include some eerie woods where a famous murder happened, some scary faces and teens running around with animal masks on, you have yourself a horror story.

Tom, a washed up music journalist, lives in the UK, far away from his 14yo daughter, Frankie and ex-wife. He sees her twice a year and wants to make that time matter. He decides to take Frankie to Hollow Falls for two weeks for some bonding time, where there is no wifi. Unfortunately, he does not do his research and knows nothing about the horrific murder that took place 20 years ago and that the murderer has never been caught.

When Tom and Frankie meet the family that is renting the cabin two doors down, they become intrigued by the mystery of the unsolved murder. David and Connie, are podcasters, who tell them about the murder and the fact that the 20th anniversary is coming. Frankie is immediately intrigued by Ryan, their 15yo son, who shortly gets them into trouble with the locals by his quick temper.

Mark Edwards never disappoints. His writing catches you from the very first page and leaves you holding your breath until the very last. This book is creepy and the fact that the antagonists are children will really frighten the reader. I highly recommend as a good horror story that will keep you awake long after you put it down.

Another great read by this amazing author. The Hollows has an intriguing well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start. Can't wait to read what the author brings out next, highly recommend this book, it's a great story.

Mark has done it again! I am working my way through his books and so far I have not been disappointed at all!

Once again he has created an exciting and gripping story that keeps you guessing. Just when you think you have it figured out, he makes you question everything. The way he writes puts you right in there with the characters because he makes it so easy to visualise with his fantastic descriptions of each location. I always looks forward to Marks books and am excited for the next!

Wow was that a pretty creepy book! While I did enjoy my time with this book, I wasn't completely shocked at the twists. I'm so glad I read this when I did and not while camping! The mood of the book was a big strength. I think maybe I just read too many of these books to have not guessed what was going to happen. So while this book was good, I'd put it in the middle of the road. I will continue to read Edwards' books but prefer some of his others to this one.

Tom's life is falling apart. His marriage is over, his career is on its way down and he's lost his relationship with his daughter. In an effort to reconnect with the fourteen-year-old Frankie, Tom books a vacation in a remote part of Maine, hoping that a tech-free vacation will help repair their relationship. Instead they are thrust in the middle of a former murder scene. Years ago on the same weekend a double murder closed the resort and the criminal was never found. Now the woods teem with true-crime fanatics and creepy things happen with increasing frequency. Tom begins to fear for their safety and he and Frankie must decide to whether to escape to safety or solve the crime once and for all. A very exciting read! Thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read the ARC.

This book had me scared to turn the page after dark! Mark Edwards did an excellent job of creating suspense, realism and creepiness. I am going to read more books from this author.

Another cracker from Mark Edwards! Tom is divorced from the mother of his 14 year old daughter Frankie so decides to take a trip with Frankie to spend some time with her. They go on camping trip to the Hollows which is a campsite with a history. Strange things start happening, are they related to the past?
An excellent read this book is quite creepy. There is a tension running through it as you are never sure what is going to happen next. I could not put this book down!
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Mark Edwards for granting me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review

Great thriller. Loved the story, the characters and the grip it had on me. Had to finish it in one sitting!
Will really make you think the next time you plan a vacation in the woods!! I will definitely be looking for more by this author.

Tom takes his daughter Frankie into the woods at a fancy smancy new camp called the Hollows. Once there he meets some people that have a true crime podcast.


Tom then discovers that the Maine woods has some secrets including the murder of a couple of teachers years ago. That's why the pod casters are there. It's the anniversary of the murders. *insert some spooky music* IS the murderer still in those woods twenty years later? Was it some kind of weird sacrifice?

Guess what? I didn't hate this book. I actually enjoyed the heck out of it. It kept me reading and just had the touch of spooky going the whole book through. Yes please.


Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

Another superb offering from Mark Edwards, he never disappoints. Even if this is the first book by this author you read, it is worth it and you will definitely want to read more.

This was my first book by Mark Edwards and it did not disappoint. Engrossed from page one, I read it in one sitting. With twists and turns that keep you guessing, The Hollows is an intense, creepy and atmospheric read that grabs you from page one.

Ooooh what an excellent read! Journalist dad Tom and his daughter Frankie are spending time together in Hollow Falls, a cabin resort deep in the woods of Maine. Frankie's parents are divorced - Tom lives in the UK and Frankie lives with her mum in the US. From the get go we're introduced to the notion of 'Dark Tourism' because the resort was the scene of a ritual murder exactly two decades earlier. Tom and Frankie find they're staying in a cabin next to husband and wife crime podcast duo and their teenage son. From the off there is something wrong: there are the hostile locals, the mysterious voices and sounds in the woods, naturally there's zero phone reception or wifi (the later in line with the back to nature vibe) and when someone dies Tom recognises he really, really shouldn't have brought his daughter here. Tightly worked thriller, fast paced, with strong characters - thoroughly enjoyed it (especially the ending!).

Thank you to the publishers Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer and of course Mark Edwards for giving me the chance to read this book.

I have read a couple of Mark's books before so I was really looking forward to this one.

I was not disappointed. I was hooked from the front cover. Thank you Mark for keeping me so entertained. I did think that parts were slow but over all a very good read.

can not wait for the next book.

A great old fashion scary “campfire” story to keep you guessing until the end. However the story doesn’t end at the end! Will there be a sequel?

I usually absolutely LOVE Mark Edwards, so I jumped at the chance to preview his new book from NetGalley. While I found it entertaining, and I didn't hate it, it's not even close to the same caliber as his other offerings. Maybe it was just the whole podcast angle that seemed a little too "of the moment," or maybe it was the fact that I couldn't connect to the characters. However, the mystery was pretty good, and it's a super fast read. Problem is, it feels like he wrote it super fast, too. If you've never read Mark Edwards, please do, but don't start with this one.

Okay, so I was looking at my older books and apparently I had already read a lot of this- to 35%! Hardly a good sign is it?
I have loved some of Edwards' previous books- Here To Stay was fantastic! This book, read like a totally different author!
The characters were way off the mark for me- the teenagers were SO unrealistic at times, and the decisions they made were also rarely believable. I do struggle to read books that have unlikeable characters, and it does turn into an unlikeable book.
Rather disappointing, but I hope Edwards is back to form in his next novel.

“Welcome to Hollow Falls” begins this newest thriller by Mark Edwards. Written in his usual talented fashion, the tale incorporates a bit of the ordinary and magical, horror and death, and is touched with irony and wry humor.
Told from first person POV of Tom, the divorced British father of daughter Frankie, the story follows their misadventures and subsequent danger during their vacation at a creepy former summer camp in rural Maine. The revitalized resort has a history of murders on the grounds and mischief from nearby townspeople who want the forested land to remain “natural”.
There is much action and scheming by an eccentric cast of characters, and Tom rolls through it driven by his fatherly dedication to protect and save his daughter, come what may.
The tone of the story is menacing, with unseen threats around every corner. Given the mysterious disappearance of a character at the end, one wonders if we may be treated to a sequel by this master of the chiller thriller!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, NetGalley, and the author for this ARC. This is my unbiased review.

English Tom, divorced from his American wife holidays in Maine with teenage daughter Frankie. He has chosen to stay at a fairly fancy campsite in a large, old woodland. So far so good, in fact loved the start but then the characters started making stupid decisions, each one more idiotic than the last and I found all that beyond irritating. Anyone sensible would have packed up and left immediately, but not these two! I had to force myself to continue. Nor was I keen on the way it ended. There were the makings of a great story, deep dark woods, strange inhabitants of the small town but then it all fell apart and it was all downhill from there. I usually love books by Mark, but this one, no.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. Another great read from Mark, it is well written with engaging characters. A great plot that hooked me from the beginning, with plenty of creepiness and twists to kept me reading to the end! Highly recommend for fans of this genre.

Divorced dad takes teen daughter on annual holiday, and his choice of resort leaves something to be desired.
Though Hollow Falls is a beautiful area, it has a dark history. Nearly twenty years ago a couple were slaughtered in the woods and the Maine woodland seems to be harbouring secrets. Secrets that someone knows more about than they ought to.
Upon learning the unpleasant truth about their chosen holiday destination, Frankie and her father Tom are resolved to make the best of their choice. Unfortunately the number of strange and unusual events rises…and it seems that the town remains a place to fear.
When we’re first introduced to the resort it felt rather generic in tone. There were unsettling descriptions of the environment and I fully expected one of our modern guests to get injured in some way. This likelihood is heightened when Frankie and Ryan (the boy from the cabin next to them) manage to offend two neighbourhood kids who have something of a reputation for causing trouble.
As the strange occurrences escalate in tone, there’s a shift in focus to the events in the area at the time of the original crime. These details created a much more unsettling feel, with it becoming increasingly obvious that more than one person in the present has details they want to keep hidden.
Before too long we’re caught up in a very unusual turn of events. The sense of danger grows, and it was increasingly obvious they were dealing with some seriously unhinged behaviour. By the time we got to the end we had answers, some of them rather different to those we expected, but the most terrifying element was the clear sense of threat being posed by our lone perpetrator as our story fades. I don’t know if there’ll be a continuation of the story, but just the hint of how it could develop has made me p,eased I finished reading this during the day!
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this before publication.

I enjoyed this book, characters were interesting mix of people and you were kept guessing most the way through. Well written. Would recommend

I am a big fan of Mark Edwards, and having read a number of his books now, I couldn’t wait to add this one to my list. Within a couple of pages, I knew this was going to be Mark’s creepiest book yet. A remote resort in the woods with no phone signal or WiFi, a mysterious, unfriendly town complete with a deeply disturbing set of twins, and a trip to The Hollows really is the stuff of nightmares. I absolutely could not put this book down from start to finish, and not just because I was scared it would haunt my dreams if I tried to sleep before knowing the outcome! Mark’s writing just gets better and better with every book, and I look forward to what comes next.

I like most of Mark Edwards books, not this one. Stopped reading about a quarter of the way through.

Having not read any books by this author before I don’t know what to expect but I am so glad I took the chance and absolutely loved it.
I have now found a new favourite author so thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for my drc 🙏

I read this in TWO DAYS and I am currently a pregnant, busy mom of a toddler. This book kept me interested and pretty captivated throughout and took me to some interesting places within the characters worlds. The character development was pretty on point and I believe they played a huge part in the smooth flow of the story, pulling you through quickly like a strong tide. The plot was easy to get submersed in and I was pleased with the ending overall. There is definitely more that you can imagine happening after reading the epilogue. Well written as per usual for Mr. Edwards and I am of course looking forward to his next book.

His best book ever!
Creepy, atmospheric, chilling and completely gripping.
This was a one sitting reading as I just couldn’t put it down.
The best book I’ve read for ages.
Definitely deserves 5 stars plus some!

Suspenseful and pulse racing, this story kept me on my toes late into in the night. I have read a few of the author’s books and enjoyed them all so this one goes up there with all my favourite books ever.

Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

The Hollows by Mark Edwards



Title - The Hollows

Author - Mark Edwards

Genre - Horror, Thriller, Mystery

Published - July 2021

Pages - 335



Tom is a journalist, and with his marriage over and his career falling apart he decides to reconnect with his daughter Frankie. He decides to take her to Hollow Falls, a secluded cabin deep in the woods. Hollow Falls is rather eerie but when Tom meets true-crime podcasters David and Connie he finds out about Hollow Falls's gruesome past. Twenty years ago to the day, a double murder took place, they never caught who did it. Now on the anniversary, the woods are crawling with murder-obsessed tourists. There is clearly something going on in these woods. Tom and Frankies holiday quickly turns into a nightmare and they have a choice to make, solve the crime or get out while they still can.



The woods in The Hollows is the perfect setting for this eerie and creepy book, With subtle hints to horror films, Mark's previous books and the paranormal this book has an eerie tone creating the perfect atmosphere for this wonderful book leading right up to its creepy conclusion.



As usual with Mark Edwards the characters and the world created in this book are fantastic. I really enjoyed it. The book was well written, easy to follow, and kept me hooked. It was fast-paced and overall a brilliant read. I expect nothing else from this author, to be honest.

A very easily binged read that has historical serial killer summer camp murder vibes. Kept me on the edge of my seat from about the 40% mark and I killed off the last 50% in one sitting because I just had to know! A classic dark thriller with twists and turns that kept me guessing all the way to the end (I did guess wrong several times) this was my first Mark Edwards book and after reading the "about the author" realise he's a local author so I will be suggesting him to my local bookclub too!

The Hollows is a psychological thriller with supernatural elements. Tom and his teenage daughter Frankie are on holiday staying in a cabin in The Hollows. Little do they know that a tragic event occurred here several decades ago which has attracted tourists to visit on the anniversary.
Unexplained events keep happening around the woods and as Tom and Frankie become more involved with the locals, things seem to turn more sinister.
I found the start of this book to be gripping and couldn’t put it down, but my interest waned as I felt the novel wasn’t one thing or another. The ending did disappoint me as the narrative became quite strange and unbelievable.

The Hollows is an absolutely fantastic read! One I had been eagerly awaiting to read! The book is full of wonderful characters.
An eery setting in a remote cabin retreat, where years ago, was the location of a terrible tragedy, makes for a suspenseful read. Full of twists, turns and shocks you won't see coming!
If you have read some of Mark's previous works then I'm sure you will spot some Easter eggs within the story too, along with some nods to Stephen King!
I'm a huge Mark Edwards fan, I think he certainly knows how to write a good book!

I love podcasts and books with podcasts and this was no exception! Creepy and atmospheric. Another great read from this author! 4 stars, will definitely read more by Mark.

would like to thank Netgalley for this early copy of Mark Edward’s new book THe Hollows. I can honestly say this is one of his best books yet (it would be a close contest between this and Follow You Home). Anything set around woods with ritualistic undertones will always be good with me and this book gave me plenty of that and more.

It is set in both the past and present and how both come together at the end. It had me guessing to the end and this made it all the more exciting. I can honestly say if I had had the opportunity to read this in one sitting then I would have done, but life gets in the way sometimes. I wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone who has read Mark’s work and knows how good his writing is and those who have yet to read any of his work.

The Hollows Mark Edwards
I am a huge fan of Marks books, but this one didn't quite hit the mark for me, although I am probably in the minority.
I did like the setting though.
I dipped into the audio for a short while, and the narrator seemed quite monotone, so this book is definitely one for reading rather than listening to.
I did stick with it until the end, and will still get Marks next book without reading the blurb.