Book Review – Blackthorn Wood by Paula Hillman -@ pj_hillman @Bloodhoundbook @KellyALacey @lovebookstours #Ad #LBTCrew #BookTwitter

Blackthorn Wood is one of those books that is hard to read, but that I needed to get to the end of as soon as possible. I had to know what happened, and my heart was pounding as I envisioned the possibilities.

About the Book

From the author of Seaview House comes Blackthorn Wood: What happens when bullying becomes lethal?

Every workplace has its dark corners, places where the power-hungry lurk, where resentment and grudges fester. Former deputy head teacher] Cassie Clifton knows this. It’s why she’s no longer working. And it’s why she hasn’t left her home for more than two years.

Cassie’s husband has encouraged her to work with a therapist to recover from the damage she’s suffered after workplace bullying and a drunken staff party that took a violent turn. Freddy’s counseling and support helps Cassie take her first tentative steps back into the world. But the threat hasn’t disappeared—and once she understands the malevolent machinations going on around her, she will have to confront her fears head-on . . .

My Thoughts

I feel like I need to preface this by saying I have severe (possibly extreme) anxiety, for which I do receive treatment. I have some agoraphobic tendencies and thought patterns. My mother actually had a stint of severe agoraphobia. Many people don’t know that it’s not just not leaving your house, but the fear of getting into a situation you can’t get out of – like getting stuck in an elevator. All of that is to say, I connected to Cassie on a strong level. And Hillman did some amazing representation of what it’s like to be inside the mind of someone with anxiety. The constant confusion. Am I crazy? Is this really happening. Do they hate me? Is that person out to get me? It’s exhausting and very hard to talk yourself out of those thoughts.

As a neurodivergent with a mental illness, I always appreciate realistic representations of either of these life experiences. Many people don’t understand the realities of what it’s like. Instead, they see “funny” ones like “Monk” or people with Tourette’s yelling curse words (that is only a small portion of cases) and don’t see more realistic representations. I even caught myself at one point thinking Cassie was being silly. Then I realized I knew exactly how she felt.

Hillman’s development of the mean girl clique, but as grown-ups, was so real, too. Everyone thinks that doesn’t happen as adults. And, thank God, it happens less, but in workplaces and cities the world over there are social groups you can’t get into unless you have the right name, clothes, skin color, or zip code. And vicious little girls frequently grow up into vicious women who raise vicious little girls, repeating the cycle all over again. It’s not always the case, but it happens.

The characters were raw, real, and surprising. Their flaws were big and loud. They were so human, and Blackthorn House became almost a character unto itself. My favorite characters were Jax and Freddy. I wish we could all have Freddy as our counselor. I think the world would be a better place. There was another character who seemed a friend right up until the end, who I really liked. That betrayal was a huge twist, and it hurt my heart. But in a good book and writing way.

I am so grateful to the author and Love Books Tours for including me on this tour. This is my second read with Paula Hillman, and I’ll definitely be back for more!

Who’s It For?

Anyone who loves a dramatic, domestic thriller will enjoy this. The twists and turns are full of catty, schoolyard bullying drama – but it’s the adults this time doling out the harsh words. If that sounds like a good time, pick up this book.

Content Warnings: Bullying, Hostile Workplace, Depression, Severe Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Agorophobia, Therapy, Hypnotherapy, Child Services, and More. This list is not meant to serve as a full list of all topics a person might find offensive or triggering.

About the Author

Paula Hillman lives in Cumbria, in a large industrial town called Barrow-in-Furness. Ship building is at its heart, and because of its location on the coast, as well as on the foothills of The Lakes, she is heavily invested in the natural history of the place. She studied science at college and specialised in it for her bachelor’s degree in teaching, but her heart has always been tied up with books and reading.

She is married to a photographer and have two adult children. She is a passionate advocate for local communities. Barrow people are community driven and welcoming, and their character is unique in so many ways. She wants to capture all of this in the books she writes.