Hare House: An Atmospheric Modern-day Tale of Witchcraft – the Perfect Autumn Read

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The story is told by an unnamed protagonist who arrives on the remote estate of Hare House in Scotland having left her job at an all-girls school in London in mysterious circumstances. Calming, neutral tones in the lounge make it warm and cosy; fire up the wood burner and sink into the sofas, curling up with a good book or watching your favourites on the TV while your canine companions snooze on the rug.

My difficulties with this were partly linked to the fact that the tension between the psychological and the supernatural wasn’t resolved in a way I found particularly convincing, and partly to the representation of older and/or single women which seemed quite stereotypical.

The restoration is being led by project champion Nick Andrews, who is leading an enthusiastic and growing group of willing volunteers to give it a new role as a creative community hub for all of Littleborough’s residents.

There is a triple aspect open plan kitchen/dining room with fitted base and eye level units, granite worktops with upstands, an island with built-in cupboards, Belfast sink, breakfast bar and two under counter fridges, integrated Miele appliances including five combi ovens, dishwasher, four-door Aga and walk-in pantry.Whilst all the ends aren't quite tied up, the writing is exquisite and the heart-racing conclusion is just as satisfying. Ruth is a fantastic host and couldn't do enough for us, even when I asked if they could turn the external lights off so we could see the Gemenids meteor shower. There was a lot that I loved about the atmosphere of this one: the southwest Scotland setting; the slow turn of the seasons as the narrator cycles around the narrow lanes and finds it getting dark earlier, and cold; the inclusion of shape-shifting and enchantment myths; the creepy taxidermy up at the manor house; and the peculiar fainting girls/mass hysteria episode that precipitated the narrator's exile and complicates her relationship with Cass.