The Short Straw: 'An intensely readable and gripping pageturner' - Alex Michaelides

In a storm, three sisters seek safety in an abandoned manor house, where they spent a troubled childhood. As the storm intensifies, they draw straws to decide who should go outside for help, but they may not be alone. The sisters must confront their family's secrets and survive the night.

Format: Hardback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 14 September 2023
Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

An outstanding thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Be sure to read it with all the lights on, as it is sure to give you chills.

Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: "All the wows!!! This book was a rollercoaster of emotions and I couldn't put it down! The plot was so well-crafted, and the characters were so well-developed that I felt like I was right there with them. The twists and turns were mind-blowing, and I was constantly guessing what was going to happen next. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller!"

Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: "One sister went out into the dark for help. Will she come back?" This book is a heart-pounding thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is full of suspense and mystery. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book, and I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller!

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 realize 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?

Read what everyone is saying about "The Short Straw":

"An intensely readable and gripping page-turner." By turns tense, shocking, and moving, and with an atmosphere you could cut with a knife. ALEX MICHAELIDES

"An addictive read that takes place over one unforgettable night where one family's secrets rise to the surface - Patricia Highsmith meets Shirley Jackson." GILLIAN MCALLISTER

"Deliciously creepy, and a fascinating study of the complex, often toxic, relationships within families." SHARON BOLTON

"Utterly gripping and unputdownable." JANE FALLON

"Having three sisters, I could relate to the sibling dynamics. . . It's twisty, gothic, and with a heartbreakingly shocking reveal." LISA HALL

"Holly creates such exquisite tension that you really can't put her books down. . . . I felt the sense of place, the weather, the cold in that house in my bones." EMMA CURTIS

"Gripping, creepy, and drenched in atmosphere." CATHERINE RYAN HOWARD

"This irresistible slow-burner will keep you guessing until the very end."

Weight: 580g
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398715462