Apparently everyone hated this book but it is the first book I've read in a long time where I just read and enjoyed it and wasn't distracted by how much I HATED EVERYTHING, and that is all I ask for in a book. Also I hate supposedly "good" books (I'm looking at you, The Fault In Our Stars, and your ironic hipster drivel) so maybe I should start looking for more 2 star reviews.

This book was so devoid of strong feelings of hatred that I loved it. Not because it was great, because it wasn't. But because it was actually good enough. In the same way that Nancy Drew is good enough. I just read it and enjoyed it and that was all.

I had absolutely no expectations going in, no idea what it was about, nothing, and it was blissful.

I really wanted to like this book. When I read the back of the book it sounded like an intriguing mystery. The reviews on it weren't great but they weren't horrible and I figured I'd give it a shot.

Unfortunately, what was said in the good reviews I found not to be true. This book, for me, was not a quick read, mostly because I didn't find it that mysterious. I read it slowly because I didn't find myself addicted. It wasn't really BAD, it just wasn't GREAT either. And the mystery? I guessed it nearly from the get go. The entire time I found myself gathering clues for an ending I had already guessed.

The part that I did like from the book was that it had interesting back stories. I wanted to find out what would become of Jessica and her husband after his affair. And I wanted to know what kind of trouble Jessica's daughter was getting herself into. Although the main mystery didn't really interest me, I did like the other storylines and almost wished that the author would have gone further into them.

All in all I can't highly recommend this read, but it also wasn't a total waste. I'd say if someone wants to lend you their copy it's worth a shot but don't go out and buy it.

This assured debut from Charlotte Williams is perfect for fans of the psychological thriller very much on a par with Erin Kelly, Sophie Hannah et al. Focusing on the professional and personal life of psychologist Jessica Mayhew, balancing the demands of a difficult family including a wilful teenage daughter and a snake-in-the-grass husband, Jessica’s life is further complicated by the arrival of a troubled new patient, Gwydion Morgan. Morgan places many demands on Mayhew emotionally and professionally, as events from his childhood reveal a dark tale of jealousy and murder.

Williams skilfully interweaves this two disparate areas of Jessica’s life into a fluid and engaging narrative, and although for me personally, the guilty party was quite evident in the murder plot, I was carried along quite nicely by the dilemmas facing Jessica. There was a good intergration within the book of psychological detail and the professional treatment of psychological disorders which made for an interesting curve in the central plot as Jessica’s professional life plays such a central role. Her family life, focusing on the demands of a difficult teenage daughter and the rebuilding of trust with her husband after his sexual indiscretion, also had an extremely authentic feel leading the reader to feel great empathy with Jessica’s woes. Her relationship with Gwydion Morgan also makes for an interesting dynamic, professionally and personally and likewise her interaction with other members of the Morgan clan, a family steeped in jealousy and untruths. One aspect of the book I felt was particularly good was William’s depiction of place and atmosphere especially in relation to the central setting of the rugged west coast of Wales. She captured perfectly the wild beauty of the area, and there was also a nice little sojourn in Sweden as Jessica attempts to untangle the complicated threads of Morgan’s troubled family history. All in all a good thriller and certainly an author I would read again.

Therapist Jessica Mayhew's professional life is good but her personal life is in turmoil. Her husband cheated on her with a younger woman. Although he said it was a one time thing , Jessica can not help easily forgive and forget. That is why when her newest client, Gwydion has a freak out moment and needs Jessica's help, she decides to pay Gwydion a house visit and stay for a while. To give herself space from her husband. When Jessica arrives at the house, she learns a secret about Gwydion's family. One that drags Jessica into the mix and into danger.

I was really looking forward to reading this book. It sounded a little like it might be a gothic psychological thriller or maybe it had to do with the book cover. Sadly, I was not feeling this book as much as I had hoped to. Don't get me wrong as it is alright but none of the characters reached out and connected with me on an emotional level. In addition, I found them to be somewhat dull. I know if I had connected with the characters better then I would have liked this book more. The story line was fine as I did read this book really fast. The mystery surrounding Gwydion and his family was not really a big secret. The author tried to make the secret dark but it did not come off that way. Finally, the ending was a little of a let down. I was like "really, this is how it is going to end regarding Jessica and Gwydion?"

Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings

A psycho therapist gets caught up in a client more than she ever has and at the same time she is dealing with drama in her home life, this book definitely had the eery feeling from beginning to end. Set in Wales, and with a fantastic cover, the author did a fantastic job of setting the stage for a dark and cold story with quite a mystery involved.

There was quote a lot of psychology words wrapped up in the story, but I may have skimmed over that part to find the story. A who dun it with a fantastic twist at the end, although I may have predicted a few parts, I was a little bit surprised with the killer's identity. I think the simplicity in the characters was superb. I was thankful that the author didn't muddle the story with describing and spending time with any of Jessica's other clients who weren't central to the story.

Please read my review here: http://mwgerard.com/review-the-house-on-the-cliff/

I have mixed feelings about this book. It kept me interested but I felt like I saw the ending coming a mile away. I was hoping Charlotte Williams would have a plot twist in there somewhere because I couldn't have possibly guessed the ending so early into the story. But no such luck. It was an easy, quick read. Nothing mind blowing or life changing.