“One sister went out into the dark for help. Will she come back?

Returning from a difficult visit to their father, three sisters find themselves lost in a storm. Together, they seek safety in an abandoned manor house, a place where they spent a troubled childhood clinging to each other for support, before one day fleeing with their parents in the dead of night.

As the storm intensifies, the sisters draw straws to decide who should go outside to get help. But as they separate, they realise they might not be alone. . . Why did the family leave so suddenly all those years ago? Who else is hiding in the house? And will the sisters survive the night?”

Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to share my review of The Short Straw by Holly Seddon. The Short Straw was published by Orion Books on 18th January 2024 and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio and digital formats. I chose to read a free eARC of The Short Straw but that has in no way influenced my review.

Estranged sisters Nina, Lizzie and Aisa are reluctantly reunited for one day to celebrate their father’s birthday. Following the awkward, uncomfortable lunch the sisters pile into Nina’s Mini Clubman and hit the road, hopeful they won’t have to deal with each other again for a while. But a storm hits and older sister Nina makes the executive older sibling decision to leave the road. With the petrol gauge looking alarmingly low and the sisters now off the beaten track, it’s a race to find somewhere to stop before they become stranded and officially lost. Thankfully Nina remembers that the sisters used to live fairly close to where they are so decides to rally her siblings and walk the rest of the way to Moirtwaite Manor, a manor house their mother used to work at. On arrival, it becomes clear that things have changed significantly in the intervening years. The manor is uninhabited, cold, dark and creepy. Knowing that they can’t stay in the house overnight, they decide to pick straws to see which sister should go for help. But where is the real danger? Is it outside in the cold, dark, unforgiving storm? Or is it hiding in the shadows of the crumbling manor house…?

The Short Straw is the first book I’ve read by Holly Seddon, which I was surprised about as I’ve only ever heard brilliant things about Seddon’s books. The one thing I can guarantee though is that The Short Straw won’t be the last of the author’s books I pick up. I’m a fan of character-driven novels and I thought the sisters in The Short Straw were exceptionally well written. They stood tall from the page and I am 100% here for that! Always. I’m not sure you could get three more different women if you tried. Headstrong Nina is the oldest and oh boy, don’t her siblings know it. Nina takes charge in situations but she’s hiding something from her sisters that she’s too ashamed to share. Lizzie is the middle child, timid, hesitant and unsure of herself. I loved how her character developed throughout the novel. And Aisa is the youngest. Feisty, independent and unapologetic – she can’t help but feel small, sad and difficult around her family. Three very believable siblings are thrown into a situation that puts their familial bond to the test.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Short Straw is a compelling family-based drama with a touch of the gothic which I found engaging throughout. The characters are outstanding, the setting is full of atmosphere and gave me the shivers on a several occasions, and the plot is well-paced. I struggle to call the book a thriller though and I don’t think I’m alone in feeling this way. A slow-burn mystery, yes. A gothic-inspired drama, absolutely. I think if you go in expecting a thriller, you may be a little disappointed. If you go in expecting strong characters trying to make sense of what is going on around them, revisiting the past and questioning what they thought they knew, then you will most likely love this book. I enjoyed the flashbacks to the past where we met the girls’ mother, Rosemary. She becomes as much of a main character as her daughters do, in my opinion. Rosemary’s life story unfolds before the reader’s eyes, helping us piece everything together ready for the reveal at the end. All in all, I very much enjoyed The Short Straw and the family dynamic between the female lead characters. They’re all completely different and their relationship is so complex that I often wondered if they really understood one another. An engaging, compelling, thoughtful novel about family and the secrets we keep. Recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of The Short Straw. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

The Short Straw by Holly Seddon was published in the UK by Orion Books on 14th September 2023 and is available in hardcover, audio and digital formats with the paperback to follow (please note, the following links are affiliate links which means I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | Waterstones | Foyles | bookshop.org | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop | damppebbles amazon.co.uk shop | damppebbles amazon.com shop |

Holly Seddon is the international bestselling author of TRY NOT TO BREATHE, DON’T CLOSE YOUR EYES, LOVE WILL TEAR US APART, THE HIT LIST and THE WOMAN ON THE BRIDGE.

After growing up in the English countryside obsessed with music and books, Holly worked in London as a journalist and editor. She now lives in Kent with her family and writes full time.

Alongside fellow author Gillian McAllister, Holly co-hosts the popular Honest Authors Podcast. You can find her on Twitter @hollyseddon, Instagram and Facebook @hollyseddonauthor.