Hawthorn cover art

Hawthorn

A Scottish Ghost Story

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Hawthorn

By: Elaine Thomson
Narrated by: Lorne MacNaughton
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About this listen

For fans of Michelle Paver and Sarah Waters, the first in a haunting quartet of ghost stories set in the wilds of Scotland.

'I was so impressed by Hawthorn' MICHELLE PAVER, author of Dark Matter

'Delightfully brooding and gloriously gothic, Hawthorn sucked me in like the deepest bog, refusing to let me go' CJ COOKE, author of The Book of Witching

'Reminded me of The Little Stranger. . . a hugely entertaining and evocative treat' BRIDGET COLLINS, author of The Binding

'A new classic' SARA SHERIDAN, author of The Fair Botanists

_________

Caithness, October 1871.

The Ordnance Survey are charting Scotland's most remote north-easterly county, a bleak landscape of endless moorland and lonely crofts. When a strange vision leads cartographer Robert Sutherland out onto the moor, an accident leaves him inches from death. He is taken to Leask House, to recuperate under the care of Mrs. Sinclair and her beautiful daughter Isabel.

At first, Robert thinks the dreadful visions that plague him at Leask House are the result of the laudanum he has been prescribed. But as events take ever stranger and more terrifying turns, Robert begins to wonder whether his presence at Leask House is really a coincidence at all.

Someone - or something - has summoned him here.

And they don't intend for him to leave.

©2025 Elaine Thomson (P)2025 Hachette UK Limited
Historical Horror Mystery Fantasy Exciting Paranormal

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All stars
Most relevant
Beautifully told story which had me gripped until the very end. Could hardly put it down. Felt i was there, in the desolate moorland, the herring fisheries of Wick, the old house at Leask. The narration was amazing with huge range of characters and with some Gaeliec thrown in. Best book of the year.

Gripping

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Loved Hawthorn. The tension builds as the story unfolds. Brilliantly narrated. Super creepy. I finished it in two sittings. Can’t wait for the next one. Reminded me of Michelle Paver’s book Wakenhyrst.

Brilliant

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What a cracking supernatural yarn- very enjoyable! The history, setting and references to the Gaelic language and Scottish myth are really fascinating- I want to find out more. There also seems to be a nod to Japanese ghost stories and horror films I think, which fans of supernatural and ghost fiction will enjoy, and is all to the good. The narrator is excellent- voices and accents conveyed well- as a Sassenach myself, I particularly enjoyed Ashton - affectionate mocking of English condescension! Will be seeking out more from this author.

Atmospheric

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Excellent narration helped to make this an enjoyable listen. A good story with a couple of interesting twists and turns. Perhaps some of the descriptions of the ‘visitor’ could have been expanded as there was some repetition.

A good story

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This is a brilliant ghost story. Beautifully read. The atmosphere, location, characters, it really is a perfect example of it's type. I'd love to see this as Christmas ghost story on the telly. The twist at the end is genius.

Captivating.

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