Hawthorn

I was so impressed by Hawthorn. Elaine Thomson’s style is elegant and highly readable, her period detail is deftly touched in, and she immerses the reader in the unsettling atmosphere of her remote, marshy setting – MICHELLE PAVER, author of WAKENHYRSTDelightfully brooding and gloriously gothic, Hawthorn sucked me in like the deepest bog, refusing to let me go. Sly, evocative, atmospheric writing that slips under the skin. – CJ COOKE, author of THE BOOK OF WITCHINGA new classic – SARA SHERIDAN, author of THE FAIR BOTANISTSHawthorn is a joy - if I can say that about such a creepy, atmospheric, menacing book - and reminded me of The Mist in the Mirror and The Little Stranger, which are two of my very favourite novels. I particularly loved the vividness of the setting - the sense of place as a character in itself - and the narrative voice, with its sly not-quite-trustworthy ambiguity. It’s a hugely entertaining and evocative treat for anyone who loves ghost stories. – BRIDGET COLLINS, Sunday Times bestselling author of THE BINDINGI have long loved Elaine Thomson’s work and Hawthorn is no exception. You’ll find a masterful rendering of time and place, a compelling central character, a vivid supporting cast - and best of all - the promise of more books in the quartet to come. Twisty, atmospheric and unsettling, this is an absolute fireside treat – JESS KIDD, author of THE NIGHT SHIPI loved Hawthorn. It succeeds on so many levels: ghost story, thriller, brilliantly realised historical setting and acute psychological study. At the centre of everything, invading our senses from beginning to end, are the haunting, haunted black peat bogs of the wild Caithness moors. Bravo! I can’t wait for the rest of the series. – SALLY MAGNUSSON, author of THE NINTH CHILDI thoroughly enjoyed Hawthorn. It was creepily addictive and visually stunning and authentic in its descriptions of place and time. A great read. – LIN ANDERSON, author of the Rhona MacLeod seriesHawthorn is one of the most deliciously eerie ghost stories you’ll ever read; a tale of the Uncanny soaked in the icy darkness of the north-east, it’s a deadly bog that sucks you in and freezes your breath with every beautifully chilling word! – LESLEY MCDOWELL, author of CLAIRMONTLyrical, beautifully written, and gripping – PHILIP MILLER, author of THE GOLDENACREChilling and enthralling - Elaine Thomson at the top of her game – Olga Wojtas, author of MISS BLAINE’S PREFECTHawthorn is unsettling and wonderfully atmospheric. A combination of dark psychology and inexplicable happenings will keep you guessing. Victorian gothic at its best. – CARLY REAGON, author of THE TOLL HOUSE

Elaine Thomson is a Scottish author, who has written several historical novels under the name E. S. Thomson. Her work has been longlisted for the CWA Endeavour Historical Dagger, and shortlisted for the Saltire Prize, the Scottish Arts Council First Book Award and the William McIlvanney Crime Book of the Year Award. Hawthorn is the first in a planned quartet of ghost stories, all set in Scotland during the four ‘turning points’ of the year: Samhain, midwinter, midsummer and the spring equinox.