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The House of Ashes: The most chilling thriller of 2022 from the award-winning author of The Twelve Kindle Edition
'One of Ireland's finest crime writers' - STEVE CAVANAGH
'Chilling and compelling' - VAL McDERMID
'Terrifying' - CHRIS BROOKMYRE
'Thrilling' - CHRIS WHITAKER
'Stunning' - MARK EDWARDS
'Brilliant' - ADRIAN McKINTY
'Haunting' - LIZ NUGENT
'Superb' - WILL DEAN
____________________________
For Sara Keane, it was supposed to be a second chance. A new country. A new house. A new beginning with her husband Damien.
Then came the knock on the door.
Elderly Mary Jackson can't understand why Sara and her husband are living in her home. She remembers the fire, and the house burning down. But she also remembers the children. The children who need her, whom she must protect.
'The children will find you,' she tells Sara, because Mary knows she needs help too. Sara soon becomes obsessed with what happened in that house nearly sixty years ago - the tragic, bloody night her husband never intended for her to discover. And Mary - silent for six decades - is finally ready to tell her story . . .
The House of Ashes is the stunning new 2022 thriller from the award-winning master of the genre, Stuart Neville - perfect for fans of John Connolly, Alex North and Brian McGilloway.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherZaffre
- Publication date3 Feb. 2022
- File size4.6 MB
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Review
A stunning and haunting thriller. I loved it ― LIZ NUGENT, No.1 bestselling author of OUR LITTLE CRUELTIES
Brutal and compelling, but written with huge heart and empathy. A visceral and haunting thriller ― DOUG JOHNSTONE
Stuart Neville writes crime fiction that is edgy, compelling and always deeply humane. This might well be his masterpiece ― MARK BILLINGHAM
Superb. Some extraordinary (and beautiful) melancholic scenes. Poignant, compelling and immersive. ― WILL DEAN
Unsettling but deeply rewarding ― IRISH TIMES
Unforgettable ... A gut-wrenching novel of psychological suspense. Neville has outdone himself. ― Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
Shocking, heartbreaking and scary - we love it ― WOMAN&HOME
Beautifully drawn ― GUARDIAN
Soulful, lyrical, elegiac and utterly terrifying . . . You can buy this book, but it will own you ― CHRIS BROOKMYRE
A brilliant, atmospheric novel from Stuart Neville that plays with chronology and the idea that evil can linger in the dark places...Neville writes with care and empathy and his characters will stay with you for a long time. In a storied career this may well be Stuart Neville's best book ― ADRIAN McKINTY
Stuart Neville is a powerhouse of deep, dark emotional fiction. One of Ireland's finest crime writers ― STEVE CAVANAGH, Sunday Times bestselling author of THIRTEEN
Moving, thrilling, tragic. The House of Ashes is a phenomenal achievement from a crime fiction Titan ― CHRIS WHITAKER, author of WE BEGIN AT THE END
A stunning novel. So dark, so compassionate, so beautifully written. An instant classic ― MARK EDWARDS
About the Author
He has since published nine more critically acclaimed books, two of which were under the pen name Haylen Beck, as well as a short story collection, The Traveller and Other Stories.
Product details
- ASIN : B094QMDBXN
- Publisher : Zaffre
- Accessibility : Learn more
- Publication date : 3 Feb. 2022
- Language : English
- File size : 4.6 MB
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 305 pages
- ISBN-13 : 978-1838775346
- Page Flip : Enabled
- Best Sellers Rank: 134,745 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 166 in Northern Irish Crime
- 2,691 in Psychological Fiction (Kindle Store)
- 2,792 in Noir Crime
- Customer reviews:
About the author

Stuart Neville's debut novel, THE GHOSTS OF BELFAST (published in the UK as THE TWELVE), won the Mystery/Thriller category of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and was picked as one of the top crime novels of 2009 by both the New York Times and the LA Times. He has been shortlisted for various awards, including the MWA Edgar, CWA Dagger, Theakstons Old Peculier Novel of the Year, Barry, Macavity, Dilys awards, as well as the Irish Book Awards Crime Novel of the Year.
He has since published nine more critically acclaimed books, two of which were under the pen name Haylen Beck, and a short story collection. BLOOD LIKE MINE will be published in August 2024.
Stuart's novels have been translated into various languages, including German, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Swedish, Greek and more. The French edition of The Ghosts of Belfast, Les Fantômes de Belfast, won Le Prix Mystère de la Critique du Meilleur Roman Étranger and Grand Prix du Roman Noir Étranger.
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Customers find the book an amazing and well-written read, describing it as a great achievement. The story receives mixed reactions from customers.
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Customers find the book to be an amazing and unbelievable fantastic read.
"...Characters are so believable and haunting. A great story and well worth the read" Read more
"...It’s harrowing but believable...." Read more
"In my eyes, the best book ever published was “The twelve”. This is the same writer.I love his books" Read more
"What an amazing read this was. The plot so intense and gripping I found it really hard to put down...." Read more
Customers find the book to be a great achievement, with one customer noting that the denouement is satisfactory.
"...Well done Stuart Neville, a great achievement." Read more
"Horrific storyline but well executed and certainly gripping...." Read more
"...There's no great reveal or big twist. But the denouement is satisfactory. This is a realistic psychological thriller and I loved every word...." Read more
"A brilliant writer. Another great book...." Read more
Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book.
"...I would describe the book as thought provoking. Well written...." Read more
"...What a great read Author totally fantastic did not want to put book down" Read more
"...The House of Ashes , very well written but. what was the point of it ?..." Read more
"A brilliant writer. Another great book...." Read more
Customers have mixed reactions to the book's story, with one describing it as a realistic psychological thriller with twists, while another finds it not suitable for the faint of heart.
"...Characters are so believable and haunting. A great story and well worth the read" Read more
"...The book is not for the faint hearted. Some reviewers have described it as depressing. I would describe the book as thought provoking...." Read more
"...The dual timelines show how the past impacts a person's life and the tension of what occurred 60 years ago to its awful conclusion resonates..." Read more
"What an amazing read this was. The plot so intense and gripping I found it really hard to put down...." Read more
Top reviews from United Kingdom
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 April 2024Format: Kindle EditionVerified PurchaseI read this in one day. Characters are so believable and haunting. A great story and well worth the read
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 March 2022Format: Kindle EditionVerified PurchaseHorrific storyline but well executed and certainly gripping.
When I first started the book I thought, ‘not another domestic abuse saga’, having read a number with the same theme recently. However, this was different. The author marries events from 60 years previously with events of the present- successfully. It’s harrowing but believable.
Sara and Damien have moved to a house on the outskirts of Belfast which has been bought cheaply by Damien’s father (Francie) and is being renovated. Happenings occurred in the past by a previous farming family of 3 despicable men and two women with children. The plot is narrated by some of the characters, the main contributors being Sara and a surviving child, Mary. It’s not a pleasant story that is revealed. History repeats itself- showing that in some circumstances life doesn’t change.
None of the men, present and past, have any redeeming qualities. They are portrayed as abusive, violent excuses for humans.
The book is not for the faint hearted. Some reviewers have described it as depressing. I would describe the book as thought provoking.
Well written. The author should be proud to have highlighted the underbelly of family life whether readers wish to acknowledge or not.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 March 2025Format: Kindle EditionVerified PurchaseBought for book club I attend. Very graphic author. The book wasn't a style I like
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 February 2022Format: Kindle EditionHaving recently re-read The Twelve by this author, which is also set in Northern Ireland and has supernatural elements, I was delighted to receive an ARC of The House of Ashes. The basic premise of this novel is a path that has been trodden many times before – a troubled person in the present day being drawn into a brutal piece of history which ultimately affects her own life. The shifts between the two timelines is neatly done and the plot moves along smoothly to its expected conclusion.
I found the sections featuring Mary, from six decades ago, the more satisfactory with the time period well-researched and the storyline given enough time to grow organically. It got a bit 'purple prose' at times but I was OK with that, knowing that similar situations to that described have, in fact, happened in real life.
Sara, in the present day sections, was a bit of a two-dimensional character, moving swiftly through the well-worn tropes of coercively controlled wife with a suicide attempt in the near past; the useful person to help her with just the access she needed to research Mary's story; the well-placed shopkeeper who knew Mary and could fill in the gaps. I felt that too much was glossed over here. Her husband was a nasty piece of work from the beginning, with no sense of the charming man who had attracted her in the first place; her suicide attempt took place after one conversation with a friend. I really wanted a much more fleshed out back story.
I’m struggling with awarding stars as Mary’s story is a definite five star, while Sara’ episodes are rushed and formulaic – probably only two-and-a-half, if such a thing were possible.
A disappointment, overall. I had expected much more from this author.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 February 2024Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseIn my eyes, the best book ever published was “The twelve”. This is the same writer.I love his books
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 February 2022Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseFront and central this is a book about a house and all its inhabitants over 6 decades. But beneath the surface it's so much more than that. The dual timelines show how the past impacts a person's life and the tension of what occurred 60 years ago to its awful conclusion resonates strongly with the character in the present who is being led down a similar path in a more contemporary setting. There's no great reveal or big twist. But the denouement is satisfactory. This is a realistic psychological thriller and I loved every word. I am eagerly anticipating Neville's next novel.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 May 2022Format: Kindle EditionVerified PurchaseWhat an amazing read this was. The plot so intense and gripping I found it really hard to put down. I loved Sarah and Mary, but detested all of the men except Tony. I loved how this novel went from the past to the present and described every part of the story in detail. Some shocks and a few twists, absolutely loved it!
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 June 2023Format: Kindle EditionVerified PurchaseThis was one of the best books I have read in years
What a great read
Author totally fantastic did not want to put book down
Top reviews from other countries
- Ada ArtpeghReviewed in Germany on 23 June 2022
3.0 out of 5 stars Too exaggerated
Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseStereotyped characters: traumatised villains and idiots. An occasional exception. Not enough insight as far as the backstories of the characters are concerned. Lacks 50 to 100 pages. Ending? Could be better.
- Blue EyesReviewed in the United States on 28 October 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars This is the tale of Sara and Mary
Sara is in an abusive/controlling relationship with her husband, Damien, who, after a failed suicide attempt, has moved her from her friends and family in England to Ireland.
Mary is an old lady at present in a care home, but her home was in the house that Sara and Damien are living in compliments of Damien’s father Francie.
Sara and Mary meet when Mary “escapes” from the home and arrives at her old home demanding to know why Sara is in her house. Damien arrives and takes control, but Sara’s curiosity is aroused and she is determined to find out more about the house she is living in and about Mary.
The book is told in multiple view points - Sara, Mary, and Mary’s “Mothers” - as Mary was raised in unusual circumstances.
Not an easy book to read - a lot of physical or mental abuse.
- tio jacaréReviewed in the United States on 3 February 2022
4.0 out of 5 stars Well written. Depressing
Well written but, given the Cheeto hatred in the world, hard to read. Depressing how cruel Homo sapiens are.
- MeganReviewed in the United States on 13 December 2021
3.0 out of 5 stars Take It or Leave it
I expected a bit more suspense and thrill.
- Robert M. BairdReviewed in the United States on 1 October 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Complex timeline and multiple narrators and brilliant
Perhaps the best by Neville yet. A repeated theme in his books are haunted and abused narrators who see the innocent dead. He describes great violence and death which happens to despicable men who abuse the helpless and weak. One accepts the supernatural element as coming from terror and pain. A complex and tragic story brilliantly told.