5.0 out of 5 stars … “Owl Manor had been home to too much atrocity — it had been defined by it.”
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2020
“From chills running down your spine, to thrills that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and more… This story takes you deep into Owl Manor and its current occupants… You can feel the atmosphere surrounding you, enclosing you, terrifying you… Once you start reading, you will not be able to stop… The gifted storytelling by Ms. Harrison will leave you gasping for breath and wondering what could possibly happen next… When you get to the end, you will be left begging for the final book in this trilogy… I am (im)patiently waiting and Book 3 cannot come so enough… Owl Manor might be “a grotesque place with a grotesque history,” but I cannot get enough of it!
– Gabi Rosetti
5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautifully Written Victorian-Style Romantic/Thriller
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2020
This is a book that harkens back to the Victorian thrillers where the language itself brings an unmistakable ambience to the read. Harrison lovingly describes small details like the fireplaces and the sculpted owls that populate the sinister edifice. There are a number of characters and many of them get a chapter devoted to their POV. We see a slowly growing evilness perpetuating through the place and how it affects nearly everyone dwelling within. It’s a slowly building wave of darkness reaching its peak at the end of the book.
I have to say, the action builds a tad slowly for my taste, only really reaching a peak towards the end. But as a Victorian-style thriller, I would say it’s constructed in a manner characteristic of the type. For what it is, it is very well done. Harrison has a terrific grasp of writing and knows how to create emotions and physical sensations with well-crafted language. This is one of those books that’s enjoyable just because of the way it’s written.
This is a shining example of a romantic thriller/horror story.
– E.A. Wicklund
5.0 out of 5 stars A classic and classy gothic tale
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 20, 2020
Owl Manor is a dark, gothic tale set in a spooky old house on a mountainside swept by high winds, snow and drama.
The story revolves around the arrival of Abigail to take up her ownership and the running of Owl Manor. It has a murky past that has never left the house, like the mist that surrounds it. Abigail too is withdrawn and cold, having just been jilted at the altar. Very soon guests arrive, each with their own agenda and that is the catalyst for change. Then murders follow. It becomes clear who the murderer is. Or does it? The tale darkens and, like all good gothic tales, the house is cut off and the occupants have to deal with the growing menace of the situation on their own.
The book is very much in the style of the classic gothic tales, full of eery descriptions and unsettling scenes. From the start the owls watch over proceedings and you wonder if they are good or evil omens, guardians or aggressors. They are clearly more than just birds. The action builds slowly, as does the tension and it ends dramatically. Perhaps I would have liked more twists to the tale and a faster pace, but it is true to itself and its classic gothic origins.
– Martin Talks
5.0 out of 5 stars ABSOLUTELY A KICK A$$ READ!!! Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2020
OMFG!! I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a phenomenal edge of your seat read & need the lights on to read it!! You’ll have to read the first book, but you’ll fly thru it in no time because I couldn’t put that book down & the only reason I’d stop was because I needed to get my heart rate down!!! And this book is off the charts!! Incredible detail, that’s what makes this author so unique, no holding back & that’s the whole point of what makes it scary as hell!! You’ve read what the book is about, so I don’t waste time with details because you just need to read them!! So what are you waiting for??? Buy the books & be prepared for one helluva great scare!!!
– JacqueB63
5.0 out of 5 stars Good as the first
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2020The author writes wonderful tales of gothic horror weaved with truths of historical past. Book #2 of Owl Manor Trilogy follows the life of Abigail as the proprietor of the home she lived in as a teen. After a failed engagement she returns to it and turns it into a long term Inn. Most of the people who come to stay seem to have their own hidden secrets. Like Abigail herself who struggles with emotions due to not getting the love & attention from her mother she fights her own internal ghosts. Add that to the actual ghosts of the Manor, shady guests, creepy storms & owls always watching.
You get a fabulously written story with feelings & emotional struggles many people go through themselves woven into a dark gothic feel with some historical accuracy of the times the story is set into. I breezed through book #1 and #2 it’s so well written and descriptive. Eagerly awaiting to find what Zita Harrison will give us in book #3, the conclusion of this trilogy.
– Amazon customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderfully creepy gothic horror!
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2021
Zita Harrison plunges us into a macabre mystery drama with Owl Manor-Abigail! After fleeing the horrors of Owl Manor, Abigail must return years later with no where else to turn. But when mysterious happenings and ghostly presences begin to reemerge, she must trust in an unexpected ally to figure out the manor’s sinister secrets before it’s too late. I loved the creepy setting of Owl Manor, and Harrison’s characters Abigail and Victor are intriguing with their depth and mysterious pasts! This is an all around fascinating read, bringing back the creepy gothic feel of the days of Poe and Shelley. If you love horror/suspense with a classic feel, definitely take a stroll in the chilled halls of Owl Manor!
– Joshua Grant
5.0 out of 5 stars Gothic Fiction at its Best.
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2020
When it comes to a gothic horror story this one is on point. It feels like an old school gothic novel like Hill House or Wuthering Heights. The writing is flawless and one of the best I have read. The characters are alive and so is Owl Manor. I couldn’t stop reading. Must read for gothic lovers.
– Nate Fincham
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