Beneath the Shadows [Hardcover]

Sara Foster (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 5, 2012

In this thrilling gothic suspense debut by Sara Foster in the tradition of Rosamund Lupton and Sophie Hannah, a young mother searches Yorkshire's windswept moors for the truth behind her husband's mysterious disappearance.

 

THE ANSWERS ARE HIDING BENEATH THE SHADOWS

           

When Grace’s husband, Adam, inherits an isolated North Yorkshire cottage, they leave the bustle of London behind to try a new life. A week later, Adam vanishes without a trace, leaving their baby daughter, Millie, in her stroller on the doorstep. The following year, Grace returns to the tiny village on the untamed heath.  Everyone—the police, her parents, even her best friend and younger sister—is convinced that Adam left her. But Grace, unable to let go of her memories of their love and life together, cannot accept this explanation.  She is desperate for answers, but the slumbering, deeply superstitious hamlet is unwilling to give up its secrets. As Grace hunts through forgotten corners of the cottage searching for clues, and digs deeper into the lives of the locals, strange dreams begin to haunt her. Are the villagers hiding something, or is she becoming increasingly paranoid? Only as snowfall threatens to cut her and Millie off from the rest of the world does Grace make a terrible discovery. She has been looking in the wrong place for answers all along, and she and her daughter will be in terrible danger if she cannot get them away in time.

 

"A haunting tale of loss and one woman's search for the truth no matter the consequences. This vividly written novel will leave you breathless and as chilled as the starkly beautiful North Yorkshire moors where this compelling story unfolds.” –Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of These Things Hidden

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Beneath the Shadows

“Australian author Sara Foster uncovers a rich vein of atmosphere in the North Yorkshire moors in her intense psychological thriller about a woman trying to rebuild her life after her husband disappears. A touch of the supernatural and family ghost tales add to the already spooky landscape that blankets Foster's debut. But Foster's dabbling in the occult doesn't detract from the realistic fears and down-to-earth problems explored in Beneath the Shadows. Foster uses the sub-genre of the quiet, non-violent English village mystery to gracefully weave in the themes of loss, grief and abandonment….  Foster skillfully uses the village's isolation and the moors where "the raw, untouched vistas had the power to stop your mind" as a metaphor for Grace's own isolation…  The absorbing plot of Beneath the Shadows shows that a quiet, non-violent mystery can pack a lot of punch.” –South Florida Sun-Sentinel

“From the opening paragraphs of Australian author Sara Foster's beguiling gothic debut Beneath the Shadows, I knew I was going to enjoy it….  The story is rich with references to Daphne du Maurier's classic gothic romance "Rebecca," which made me love the book even more. Foster's captivating story is steeped in secrets locked in attics and hidden in cellars, good sisters, bad sisters, a ghost, a couple of brooding handsome men and almost as many characters with mother issues as a Sophocles play.” --Carole Barrowman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

 

"Sara Foster's Beneath the Shadows is a haunting tale of loss and one woman's search for the truth no matter the consequences. This vividly written novel will leave you breathless and as chilled as the starkly beautiful North Yorkshire moors where this compelling story unfolds.” –Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of These Things Hidden

 

“Melding dark elements of Daphne du Maurier, Minette Walters and Hitchcock, Sara Foster has crafted a moody, modern Gothic for today's generation.  Beneath the Shadows keeps you guessing right up until the last atmospheric page and establishes Foster as a new master of the psychological suspense genre.” --Julia Spencer-Fleming, New York Times bestselling author of One Was a Soldier

“Though the case has long grown cold, Grace pursues every lead with a fury, unwilling to relegate Adam to the past. Often near panic, she pushes on in the face of her suspicions, nightmares and strange happenings, untangling a dark web of treachery, secrets and deceit. Foster builds on Adam’s shocking disappearance to create the creepy atmosphere of unseen threat—and things that go bump in the night—a mystery set in snowbound Northern Yorkshire, where the worst thing of all is finding no answer for the loss of a loving husband.” –Curledup.com

“Set in England’s desolate moors, this page-turner has just the right amount of mystery.” –InStyle (Australia)

 

“As winter snows start to cut them off from the world, Grace finds the answers lie in unsuspected places.  Heart-stopping moments are ahead for her… and us.” –Women’s Day (Australia)

 

“Loss, grief, abandonment, and search for truth are dark themes woven through [Australian] author Sara Foster’s latest book, Beneath the Shadows.  Combining elements of mystery, psychological thriller, romance, and ghost story, [the] novel leaves readers guessing until the very end.” –West Australian (Perth)

 

“Sara Foster slowly unravels the mystery in this highly engaging thriller… Secrets [Grace] uncovers in the cellar, not to mention the ghostly antics of the grandfather clock, further enhance this very readable novel’s Gothic flavor.” –Canberra Times

 

“Sara Foster overtly appropriates the tone, atmosphere and themes of classics from Wuthering Heights to Rebecca, delivering a modern gothic that has the charm and suspense of Susan Hill’s ghost stories.” –Saturday Age (Melbourne)

 

 “If you’ve ever fantasized about leaving all the chaos of the city behind and opting for a more peaceful existence in a small town, you might think again after reading Beneath the Shadows… [The novel] is full of intrigue and wonderfully dark descriptions of ghosts that haunt the moors.  It’s a perfect choice for summer holiday reading on the beach—rather than in the dark of night!” –Good Reading Magazine

 

“A mystery-suspense novel so thrilling it forces you to burn the midnight oil.” –Flourish Magazine

 

“The opening chapter of this book doesn’t just grab you. It reaches out and hooks you… Against a backdrop of lonely moors, windswept cliffs, winter snow and eerie myths, the mystery plays out. The village in which it is set is populated by characters that appear to be a mixture of The Vicar of Dibley and a gothic horror story… With spooky clocks, snowstorms, cursed chairs, family secrets, ominous portents, greasy letters written on glass, taciturn locals and a few ghosts, there’s something here for everyone who enjoys a good shiver up the spine. The moors, bleak, beautiful and unforgiving, provide the perfect backdrop.” –Media Culture Reviews

 

“A winning evocation of novels such as Wuthering Heights, The Turn of the Screw, Jane Eyre, Great Expectations… as well as the natural sights and sounds of the Yorkshire landscape… All this is combined with the literary trope of a family with too many buried secrets to produce a work that casually merges classicism and contemporary to winning effect.” --abookadaytillicanstay.wordpress.com

 

“An intricately woven tale inspired by classic stories such as Wuthering Heights and Rebecca. The suspense and unexpected twists will leave you guessing all the way through.” –chicklitclub.com

 

“I devoured this book in just a couple of hours yesterday afternoon… Beneath the Shadows draws together an intriguing mystery, an atmospheric and gloomy setting that steals over you as you read it and an interesting and varied cast of supporting characters to create a psychological thriller that will definitely leave you wanting more from this author! …I think this novel has a little something for most readers – a really well written mystery with whispers of the supernatural, a dark and gothic setting with a modern-day twist, characters that you can warm to and that make you really think – who knows more than they’re letting on, who is not as friendly as they appear.” --1girl2manybooks.wordpress.com

 

“I was mesmerised by Sara’s writing, and completely pulled in by the story… This is a book that is once again full of secrets and mysteries, it keeps you guessing all the way through, wondering what happened, what will happen, and why is the village being so mysterious.” --thehungrybookshelf.wordpress.com

 

 

About the Author

Sara Foster is the international bestselling author of Beneath the Shadows. Born and raised in the UK, she worked for a time in the HarperCollins fiction department in London, before turning her hand to freelance editing and writing in her spare time.  Sara moved to Western Australia in 2004, where she lives with her husband and young daughter. 

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books (June 5, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312643365
• ISBN-13: 978-0312643362
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #355,217 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sara Foster is the bestselling author of three psychological suspense novels, COME BACK TO ME, BENEATH THE SHADOWS, and SHALLOW BREATH. Born and raised in the UK, she worked for a time in the HarperCollins fiction department in London, before turning her hand to freelance editing, and writing in her spare time.

It wasn't until 2007 that she decided to take seriously her aim of getting published, and she took time out from editing to finish her first book. COME BACK TO ME was published in Australia in 2010 and reached the Sydney Morning Herald top ten Australian bestsellers list. Her second book, BENEATH THE SHADOWS, reached No. 4 on the Australian Sunday Telegraph bestsellers list, and has been published in the USA/Canada and Germany. In 2011 she was nominated for Cosmopolitan Australia's Fun Fearless Female awards in the author category.

Sara loves to travel, and has taken extended trips to South America, Asia, and all around Australia. She writes for the female-friendly travel website www.holidaygoddess.com, and is one of the contributors to their Handbag Guide on New York, Paris, London and Rome. She is also very proud to have been one of the original editors of the bestselling Kids' Night In series, which has been raising money for the charity War Child since 2003.

Sara moved to Western Australia in 2004, where she lives with her husband and young daughter.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Contemporary Gothic, with a Mystery twist June 14, 2012

By N. Kohler

Format:Hardcover

Call me crazy, but I am all sorts into moors right now. I'm reading another book, inspired by Jane Eyre and I decided to pick up another book that had been sitting on my ereader, just begging to be read. I won an e-copy of this through a contest. So totally excited!

Sara Foster's debut Beneath the Shadows is a contemporary gothic novel that surprised me quite a bit. I was under the impression that gothic novels were only historical. Boy, was I wrong!

In the beginning, I was hooked. It only took about 5 pages before I literally could NOT put the book down and ended up reading it in a nearly marathon, nonstop session. The character of Grace is clear. You see her navigate the cautious path of an abandoned woman trying to regain a sense of self as well as carve out a life of her own for her child's sake. I don't envy her, she almost seems to calm, until you see her shaken. From the beginning, I kept thinking about motives and who could have been responsible for what. Yes, I thought foul play from the beginning,

I really enjoyed how real all of the characters seemed, despite some of the more fantastical elements the spooky environment would lend to them. I've never been to England, but I picture the countryside being spooky and having fantastical elements that would prompt spooky nights and probably bad dreams. From the middle of the book, I was thinking there would be a link to another character, but I was wrong. Which I LOVED! So rare is it that I can read a book and be surprised, that I love when it happens and want to read more and more from the author.

Sara Foster gives the reader a great story, coupled with a really fantastic cast of unforgettable characters.... People who read Beneath the Shadows will be drawn in and really excited to see what happens next, even if they aren't necessarily gothic fans. This is a gothic novel that reads contemporary. While I wouldn't call it a beach read (only because you won't get spooked), I would say this is a perfect `I want to stay up all night' book. Because you WILL stay up all night, drawn into the story and the characters and even the ghosts in this book.

Yes, there are ghosts...what `gothic' novel would be without ghosts?

I cannot say enough about how fantastic I found this book to be and you can now go get it--it's been out for just over a week. So rather than keep you here, I would suggest you go buy it now.

Special thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for making this possible. I was provided an egalley copy as part of winning a contest. Author Sara Foster has a website you can go and look around Read more ›

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling read... June 17, 2012

By jaffareadstoo

Format:Hardcover

Grace, Adam and their tiny daughter Millie, move from the hustle and bustle of London to an isolated cottage on the Yorkshire moors. Hawthorn Cottage, once belonged to Adam's now deceased grandparents, and offers the young family, a refuge and a haven, but when Adam goes missing after just one week, and with no clues to his whereabouts, Grace must learn to live without him.
A year after her husband's disappearance, Grace returns to the cottage, ostensibly to pack up their belongings before putting the cottage up sale, but the wild and windswept beauty of the moors acts as a backdrop to a story that abounds with superstition, suspicion and deadly secrets. And as the finger of the past starts to point at long forgotten memories, Grace suspects that somewhere in the village lies the truth about Adam's disappearance.

This stunning psychological thriller grips from the very first page. Sara Foster has created a very believable story; she allows a skilful blend of words and reader imagination to help build the tension, and sustains a rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish.
This was a really easy book to get into, I found myself reading it almost in one sitting, and even several days after finishing the story, I still want to remember the details.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A fluid, gripping suspense novel set in a delightfully gothic location June 17, 2012

By Taylor Christine

Format:Kindle Edition

Beneath the Shadows by Sara Foster tells the story of Grace, a young London woman who moves to North Yorkshire with her husband and newborn after her husband inherits a Yorkshire cottage from his grandparents. A week after the family arrives in Yorkshire, Grace's husband Adam vanishes without a trace. The only clue in his disappearance is a baby carriage, left at Grace's front door and carrying her infant.

Why I Chose This Book:
The cover intrigued me. A cold, winter night and a lonely baby carriage? I had to find out what this story was about. Also, I love suspense novels with gothic overtones that are set in remote, cold locations.

My Thoughts:
This is the best modern fiction novel that I've read in a long time. Sara Foster, a first time novelist delivers an intriguing, smooth, and mysterious novel full of quirky villagers and Northern Yorkshire traditions. The plot is refreshingly simple. A young mom moves back into a remote cottage after her husband disappears to pack up and sell the family cottage. Only a handful of characters enter the plot, but they are lively and complex.
The storyline is sweet but not overly sentimental and the author doesn't pull any gimmicks to push the mystery along. The author portrays Sara's relationship with her sister and struggle to function and grieve her husband's sudden disappearance vibrantly. The end of the novel was perfectly sincere and had me tearing up and wishing that the book wasn't over.
I rarely give a book a five, but this novel certainly deserved it.... If you're looking for a mysterious and touching novel that you'll move through quickly, try Beneath the Shadow

The Numbers:
* Overall Rating: 5
* Character development: 5
* Writing Quality: 4
* Plot: 5
* Fluidity: 5
* Originality: 5
* Genre: Contemporary Gothic Suspense
I was given a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Read more ›

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beneath the Shadows by Sara Foster June 14, 2012

By Patricia E. Reid

Format:Hardcover

Adam, Grace and baby Millie leave the hustle and bustle of London to settle in a cottage in North Yorkshire that Adam inherited from his grandparents. The area is beautiful but isolated. The cottage seems to have its own personality and is filled with the possessions of Adam's grandparents. Grace is confident the family can adjust and be happy there.

One day, Adam leaves a note for Grace that he has something to discuss with her when he returns from walking Millie. Grace is curious, but as the old grandfather clock ticks away the minutes she begins to get nervous. It seems that Adam has been gone a long time for a little walk. When Grace hears a noise at the door, she opens it to find her daughter, Millie, in her carriage but Adam is nowhere near. Grace calls the police and a search is immediately conducted but with no success. It appears that Adam has disappeared without a trace.

Grace's parents take her away from the cottage because they feel that it is not a healthy environment for their daughter or their grandchild. A year goes by with no news of Adam and Grace cannot let go of her memories, or the hope that he will come in the door at any time. Grace decides to return to Yorkshire with Millie. She hopes that living in the cottage and sorting through all the many boxes stored in the attic and the basement will help her come to terms with her situation and help her decide what to do with the cottage.

Grace's neighbor, Meredith Blakeney, invites Grace to visit her. Annabel, Grace's sister, comes from London to visit and help Grace sort things out. She also meets Ben, a man staying in the area to housesit, and he agrees to come to the cottage and do some renovations....

Grace spends the nights alone letting her thoughts wander to the many tales of ghosts and demons that locals tell about the area. She is also worried about the grandfather clock that seems to have a mind of its own, slowing down and starting up again without warning.

As Grace unpacks boxes she finds letters written by Adam's deceased mother as well as other items that make Grace feel more and more that Adam did not just leave, but met with a tragic ending.

"Beneath the Shadows" is a gripping story that keeps the reader interested every step of the way. Grace has many bad moments and times when she wanted to just run away but in spite of her fears she is able to stay in Yorkshire and eventually solve the mystery of Adam. The conclusion comes as a surprise but was a brilliant ending. Read more ›