Review of ‘Harrow Lake’ by Kat Ellis

A fantastically creepy thriller, Harrow Lake is fast-paced and tense. It’s definitely a page-turner. It’s intended for a YA audience but is sophisticated enough for adults to enjoy too.

The story is narrated by Lola, the troubled teenage daughter of a horror film director, Nolan Nox. When her father is attacked in his New York apartment, Lola is sent to stay with her grandmother in a town called Harrow Lake. It’s a sinister place and was the location for her father’s famous film, Nightjar. Secrets from the family’s past are revealed, while Lola tries to ignore tales of the local boogeyman, Mister Jitters, and learns that the worst kind of horror is in real life.

Lola is a fascinating character. I liked her courage and cynicism. There are only a few other characters but they’re all well-drawn. The book is cinematic; I could picture the settings, scenes and people very clearly. There were some good twists, although I did guess one of the big reveals. I hadn’t heard of this author before but having read this book, I want to read more from her.

If you like thrillers and horror fiction, I recommend Harrow Lake. Thank you to The Write Reads, Penguin and NetGalley for my advance copy. The book will be published on July 9th.

Part of The Write Reads blog tour, from April 27th – May 16th.

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