Morgan's TOP 5 in 2025 | Heap Earth Upon It - Chloe Michelle Howarth

Morgan says... Haunting and page turning, Howarth's words will have you hooked from the first page. Told through the perspectives of the O'Leary siblings and their welcoming neighbour Betty, this book explores the dangers and comforts of obsession. The sibling's secret past is gradually revealed as Howarth utilises the coastal Irish landscape to its fullest gothic potential. Captivating as well as devastating, I read this in a day. 

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January 1965. The orphaned O'Leary siblings - Tom, Jack, Anna and Peggy - arrive in the village of Ballycrea, tight-lipped about their troubled past and desperate for a fresh start. After being met with suspicion from most of the locals, the family are thrilled when they're taken under the wing of their well-respected neighbours, Bill and Betty Nevan, who offer them work, companionship and an opportunity to fit in.

But for one of the O'Learys, this new friendship sparks an intense attachment that makes the dynamic dangerous for all. It's difficult to bury secrets, but almost impossible to bury feelings...