The Toll House: Discover this autumn's most spinetingling ghost story thriller

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What made this book for me were the two timelines – leading up to Kelda and her son being in the house and what the house was like before that. There’s something strange and spooky anyway about tollhouses isn’t there. Someone in a remote house waitng for passing travellers and then taking money from them. A house in the middle of nowhere on a lone country road or close to a bridge. People pass by and never stay…. An edge-of-the-seat, nail-biting read. I loved it. -- KATE HAMER author of THE GIRL IN THE RED COAT A book that feels like it's watching you as you read it... an unsettling and gripping ghost story that'll have you looking over your shoulder until the end! -- CARI THOMAS author of THREADNEEDLE Fancy leaving our comfortable beds for this!" said White again. "Let me see; this desirable residential sepulchre lies to the right, doesn't it?"

The Toll House by Carly Reagon | Hachette UK

This recently released book took me out of my usual comfort zone... I braved the ghouls and ghosts especially for you lot so I could review this in time for the witching hour! 🧙 A beautifully written tale of hauntings, grief, and the stories folded in old houses. Carly Reagon is one to watch. -- C.J. COOKE, author of THE LIGHTHOUSE WITCHESI’d like to thank NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for approving me for an ARC of this book. I’ve recently been getting into my ghost stories and loving a spooky read for this time of year. When I saw The Toll House on NetGalley I knew this was one I would love to read and it didn’t disappoint.

The Toll House: A thoroughly chilling ghost story to keep you The Toll House: A thoroughly chilling ghost story to keep you

A house with history. That’s how the estate agent described the old toll house on the edge of the town. For Kelda it’s the perfect rural home for her young son Dylan after a difficult few years. I'm not a fan of authors spelling out characters' thoughts and feelings as though taking down dictation. I want to feel what the characters feel, not just be told they're, for example, unsettled. Show me the thing that makes the character feel unsettled and then I'll feel unsettled too. Inexplicable happenings take place within the walls and Kelda cannot shake the feeling she is being watched, paired with Dylan suffering from nightmares which seem too real with ghostly figures watching him in his room, Kelda has to look into the dark and gruesome history of this house that has seen far too much horror take place within but perhaps it’s all in her head as the pressure of her new job and the arrival of her sister start to take their toll, leaving her to wonder just what is real and what is Dylan making up? Lester and White finished their cups with irritating slowness, pausing between sips to sniff the aroma, and to discover the sex and dates of arrival of the "strangers" which floated in some numbers in the beverage. Mr. Meagle served them to the brim, and then, turning to the grimly expectant Mr. Barnes, blandly requested him to ring for hot water. The Toll House is by far, the creepiest, most chilling book I've ever read. I had to pause in the wee hours of the morning even if I wanted to finish it because I was more than a little freaked out with what was going on. Carly Reagon's writing built such a fantastic, spooky atmosphere.From a writing perspective, I liked that everything was wrapped up satisfactorily. There was no ambiguity and no loose threads that leave you wondering. The duel timeline worked well and slowly revealed the secrets and truth of The Toll House. Well, there is the house," said Meagle, "a large house at an absurdly low rent, and nobody will take it. It has taken toll of at least one life of every family that has lived there--however short the time--and since it has stood empty caretaker after caretaker has died there. The last caretaker died fifteen years ago." The creaking ceased. He crossed to the door, and, flinging it open, strode out into the corridor. As he walked his fears left him suddenly. Enjoy catching up with loved ones in our restaurant, or perhaps you’d like to cosy around the fire to share laughter between family and friends Barnes, who had taken the candle from the mantelpiece, stood peering at the sleepers in silence and dropping tallow over the floor.

Christmas at The Toll House Lancaster | Lancaster Christmas at The Toll House Lancaster | Lancaster

I was on the edge of my seat for most of the book. There were a few twists that I hadn't expected and made me gasp. The characters were endearing, especially Kelda. I couldn't help but root for her and hope for the best for her and Dylan. I loved the whole dual narrative structure as the story initially opens with Kelda and her son Dylan move into an old toll house - it's certainly a house with some history! He tugged violently at the bell-handle, and the rusty jangling of a bell sounded from a distant kitchen. He rang again. Empty rooms always delude me into the belief that I possess a deep voice," said Meagle. "To-morrow I----" It's no good," he said at last, and, turning from them, watched Meagle. "Don't you go to sleep," he said anxiously.So, definately read this. Be brave – turn off the lights and just imagine what may lie behind your walls…. As a result of this pedestrian style of writing, this novel was impossible to invest in. 'The Toll House' basically comprised: 'she did this'; 'she thought that'; 'then this happened'; 'he said that' and 'she replied'. Everything was told to me; there was no necessity for any work to be done on my part as the reader. Meagle laughed. "I only wanted to convince you," he said kindly. "There ought to be, at any rate, one ghost in the servants' hall." From a reader's perspective, this book has pace and provides all the chills. It follows a fairly well-trodden path, but it doesn't matter because it's well done and a debut to be proud of.