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At the Bottom of the Garden: A Novel
A murderess becomes the guardian of two very unusual girls in this mesmerizing gothic novel from acclaimed author Camilla Bruce.
Clara Woods is a killer—and perfectly fine with it, too. So what if she takes a couple of lives to make her own a little bit better? At the bottom of her garden is a flower bed, long overgrown, where her late husband rests in peace—or so she’s always thought.
Then the girls arrive.
Lily and Violet are her nieces, recently orphaned after their affluent parents died on an ill-fated anniversary trip. In accordance with their parents� will, the sisters are to go to their closest relative—who happens to be Clara. Despite having no interest in children, Clara agrees to take them, hoping to get her hands on some of the girls� assets—not only to bolster her dwindling fortune but also to establish what she hopes will be her a line of diamond jewelry.
There’s only one problem. Violet can see the dead man at the bottom of the garden. She can see all of Clara’s ghosts . . . and call them back into existence. Soon Clara is plagued by her victims and at war with the gifted girls in her care. Lily and Violet have become a liability—and they know far more than they should.
Clara Woods is a killer—and perfectly fine with it, too. So what if she takes a couple of lives to make her own a little bit better? At the bottom of her garden is a flower bed, long overgrown, where her late husband rests in peace—or so she’s always thought.
Then the girls arrive.
Lily and Violet are her nieces, recently orphaned after their affluent parents died on an ill-fated anniversary trip. In accordance with their parents� will, the sisters are to go to their closest relative—who happens to be Clara. Despite having no interest in children, Clara agrees to take them, hoping to get her hands on some of the girls� assets—not only to bolster her dwindling fortune but also to establish what she hopes will be her a line of diamond jewelry.
There’s only one problem. Violet can see the dead man at the bottom of the garden. She can see all of Clara’s ghosts . . . and call them back into existence. Soon Clara is plagued by her victims and at war with the gifted girls in her care. Lily and Violet have become a liability—and they know far more than they should.
359 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 2025
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24.8k people want to read
About the author
Camilla Bruce
9books795followersCamilla Bruce was born in central Norway and grew up in an old forest, next to an Iron Age burial mound. She has a master's degree in comparative literature, and have co-run a small press that published dark fairy tales. Camilla currently lives in Trondheim with her son and cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
November 30, 2024
After the death of their parents in a mountaineering accident, 14-year-old Lily and nine-year-old Violet are sent to live with their father's sister Clara, who was estranged from her brother throughout the girls' short lives. Clara is the epitome of a fairy tale villain; she's the wicked queen from Snow White, the witch from Rapunzel, and Cinderella's evil stepmother rolled into one. She has no interest in her nieces, beyond their inheritance. Upon being whisked away from the lives they know to Clara's remote home of Crescent Hill, the girls quickly discover that their new guardian is not only cruel, she's downright murderous. And the only thing that might save them is their own burgeoning gifts of magic.
I really enjoyed the first half of At the Bottom of the Garden, with its gothic setting and the ghostly manifestations Violet and Lily encounter in their aunt's home. This book switches between the POVs of Clara, Lily and Violet, and there's a definite YA sort of tone for all three, although the writing was more palatable to me than most of the other (admittedly few) YA books I have read as an adult. However, the middle section almost to the end of the story gets bogged down in the characters behaving as repetitively as an old psychical imprint haunting: Clara being cruel and selfish, Lily angry and powerless, Violet ethereal and imperiled, over and over and over again. This constant cycle got tiresome quite quickly, and I found myself getting tired of all of the characters, good and evil, and was just ready for the story to conclude.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for a digital advanced readers copy, At the Bottom of the Garden will be published on January 28, 2025.
I really enjoyed the first half of At the Bottom of the Garden, with its gothic setting and the ghostly manifestations Violet and Lily encounter in their aunt's home. This book switches between the POVs of Clara, Lily and Violet, and there's a definite YA sort of tone for all three, although the writing was more palatable to me than most of the other (admittedly few) YA books I have read as an adult. However, the middle section almost to the end of the story gets bogged down in the characters behaving as repetitively as an old psychical imprint haunting: Clara being cruel and selfish, Lily angry and powerless, Violet ethereal and imperiled, over and over and over again. This constant cycle got tiresome quite quickly, and I found myself getting tired of all of the characters, good and evil, and was just ready for the story to conclude.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for a digital advanced readers copy, At the Bottom of the Garden will be published on January 28, 2025.
February 19, 2025
At the Bottom of the Garden by Camilla Bruce
Release date: January 2025, 368 pages
For the LineUp: Recently orphaned sisters are picked up by their wealthy aunt who has terrible secrets. The girls each have distinct paranormal gifts which threatens their aunt's ability to hide her secrets and maintain her lifestyle. The setup starts well enough, the author establishes multiple POVs between all three main characters and we get to know them very well. The development of the story is a little slow (not yummy Gothic slow, just slow, slow). Aunt Clara is over-the-top selfish and villainous. She reminded me of Cruella DeVille, which is fine, but it did affect the level of investment. The two girls are quite entertaining as young, inexperienced mediums/witches learning to use their powers. After moving into their aunt’s house, they quickly realize it’s haunted by menacing spirits (who are a bit scary at times). The ghosts reveal secrets that lead to some startling revelations. Perfect for readers who prefer spooky over scary, lighthearted, campy, psychological suspense and ghostly vibes for Spooky Season. Characters you love to hate, family drama, and just desserts.
Release date: January 2025, 368 pages
For the LineUp: Recently orphaned sisters are picked up by their wealthy aunt who has terrible secrets. The girls each have distinct paranormal gifts which threatens their aunt's ability to hide her secrets and maintain her lifestyle. The setup starts well enough, the author establishes multiple POVs between all three main characters and we get to know them very well. The development of the story is a little slow (not yummy Gothic slow, just slow, slow). Aunt Clara is over-the-top selfish and villainous. She reminded me of Cruella DeVille, which is fine, but it did affect the level of investment. The two girls are quite entertaining as young, inexperienced mediums/witches learning to use their powers. After moving into their aunt’s house, they quickly realize it’s haunted by menacing spirits (who are a bit scary at times). The ghosts reveal secrets that lead to some startling revelations. Perfect for readers who prefer spooky over scary, lighthearted, campy, psychological suspense and ghostly vibes for Spooky Season. Characters you love to hate, family drama, and just desserts.
January 19, 2025
4.5 stars!
�
Camilla Bruce is an author whose books I’ve always meant to read of, but for some reason I overlook. I’ve read her bonkers novel, You Let Me In, and it was not for me. I feel like if I read it now, it would be surely rated higher because it’s original and off-the-walls and that’s exactly what I’m looking for in a novel. Her newest novel, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GARDEN, is exactly that! �
�
Clara Woods is a killer who’s unbothered by her actions, but when her orphaned nieces, Lily and Violet, arrive, they bring trouble—Violet can see Clara’s victims and ghosts and and Lily can see energy through colors. As Clara battles her ghosts and the girls� powers, her plan to steal their inheritance begins to unravel.�
�
First and foremost, Clara is a GAY ICON. She gives full on Debbie Jellinsky Addams Family Values vibes and for that alone I almost gave this book a 5 star rating! This book dives into horror, psychological suspense, family drama, and camp. I loved every second of it. The only reason I didn’t provide a 5 star review is that the second half is much slower than the first half and I really wanted it to move faster along. That being said, this cast of characters are those you love, love to hate, and love to see chaos thrust upon them. If you want to read a campy version of Insidious or the Conjuring, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GARDEN is the perfect book for you. I am a total fan!
�
Camilla Bruce is an author whose books I’ve always meant to read of, but for some reason I overlook. I’ve read her bonkers novel, You Let Me In, and it was not for me. I feel like if I read it now, it would be surely rated higher because it’s original and off-the-walls and that’s exactly what I’m looking for in a novel. Her newest novel, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GARDEN, is exactly that! �
�
Clara Woods is a killer who’s unbothered by her actions, but when her orphaned nieces, Lily and Violet, arrive, they bring trouble—Violet can see Clara’s victims and ghosts and and Lily can see energy through colors. As Clara battles her ghosts and the girls� powers, her plan to steal their inheritance begins to unravel.�
�
First and foremost, Clara is a GAY ICON. She gives full on Debbie Jellinsky Addams Family Values vibes and for that alone I almost gave this book a 5 star rating! This book dives into horror, psychological suspense, family drama, and camp. I loved every second of it. The only reason I didn’t provide a 5 star review is that the second half is much slower than the first half and I really wanted it to move faster along. That being said, this cast of characters are those you love, love to hate, and love to see chaos thrust upon them. If you want to read a campy version of Insidious or the Conjuring, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GARDEN is the perfect book for you. I am a total fan!
January 30, 2025
Camilla Bruce’s fifth novel is a light-hearted supernatural confection about a conniving woman’s battle of wits with her wily nieces. Clara Woods is a social-climbing, diamond-loving widow who’s quietly delighted when her wealthier half-brother dies, leaving her in charge of his daughters. She assumes their fortune will now be hers, but it turns out to be locked away until they’re older � plus the girls are rather savvier than anticipated, and come with strange and unexpected abilities (Lily can sense people’s true emotions; Violet can talk to the dead). This wasn’t the creepy gothic novel I was expecting, but rather a horror-comedy � more The Canterville Ghost than The Turn of the Screw � and the joke wears thin after a while. While Aunt Clara is cartoonish in her villainy, the girls are so dull and smug that I found myself rooting for Clara anyway (at least she’s entertaining), and the ghosts� antics are repetitive. Once the setup is established, which happens early on, there’s only so much that can be done with it. The ending is a letdown too; I was hoping for a ghoulish twist. Good as undemanding fun, a bit disappointing as a spooky season pick, and not a patch on Bruce’s .
I received an advance review copy of At the Bottom of the Garden from the publisher through .
I received an advance review copy of At the Bottom of the Garden from the publisher through .
March 6, 2025
3.5 stars
February 2, 2025
If ŷ allowed half ratings, I think this book would be more like a 3.5/5 stars for me.
This book reminded me a bit of The Haunting of Hill House, specifically the tv series adaptation. The two young sisters, Violet and Lily, have these gifts that were really reminiscent of the children of Hill House.
This book featured multiple POVs, switching between the two sisters Violet and Lily and then also Clara. Clara is the closest living relative of Violet and Lily who agrees to take the two girls in after their parents tragically died.
I enjoyed the storyline of Violet and Lily but I honestly was losing interest with Clara’s POV. Something about Clara’s character just didn’t draw me in but I was intrigued by both of the children.
This book was still worth the read, but something about the overall story felt to me like it was missing the piece that would make it great.
TW: child abuse, death, parent death, murder, grief
This book reminded me a bit of The Haunting of Hill House, specifically the tv series adaptation. The two young sisters, Violet and Lily, have these gifts that were really reminiscent of the children of Hill House.
This book featured multiple POVs, switching between the two sisters Violet and Lily and then also Clara. Clara is the closest living relative of Violet and Lily who agrees to take the two girls in after their parents tragically died.
I enjoyed the storyline of Violet and Lily but I honestly was losing interest with Clara’s POV. Something about Clara’s character just didn’t draw me in but I was intrigued by both of the children.
This book was still worth the read, but something about the overall story felt to me like it was missing the piece that would make it great.
TW: child abuse, death, parent death, murder, grief
August 29, 2024
When Clara Woods’s brother and his wife go missing during a tragic climbing accident, Clara—the closest living relative—is deemed responsible for their two girls. She isn’t very interested in caring for the little brats but she IS interested in their inheritance. Clara has a secret she’s keeping from the girls though� She’s a killer. But that’s fine because the girls have their own secrets—they harness special abilities of sight—and when they join Clara in her home, getting her hands on the girls� inheritance becomes a lot more complicated than she could have imagined.
Points of view alternate between Clara; Lily, the eldest of the two girls at fourteen; and Violet, nine. I much preferred the girls� point of view, especially Violet. I found Clara’s point of view to be dull and, quite honestly, cheesy. She gives off big Count Olaf vibes which... who doesn’t love Count Olaf BUT it felt very� young adult� and like she was just a caricature of an evil villain rather than a real person.
The narrative was repetitive, monotonous, and failed to dazzle me like the synopsis did.
Thank you Random House Publishing, Del Rey, and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 01/28/2025.
Points of view alternate between Clara; Lily, the eldest of the two girls at fourteen; and Violet, nine. I much preferred the girls� point of view, especially Violet. I found Clara’s point of view to be dull and, quite honestly, cheesy. She gives off big Count Olaf vibes which... who doesn’t love Count Olaf BUT it felt very� young adult� and like she was just a caricature of an evil villain rather than a real person.
The narrative was repetitive, monotonous, and failed to dazzle me like the synopsis did.
Thank you Random House Publishing, Del Rey, and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 01/28/2025.
March 28, 2025
I had realized that, sometimes, one thing had to die for something else to live.
When sisters Violet and Lily suddenly find themselves orphaned after their parents die on a skiing trip, they are sent to live with their only living relative, Aunt Clara. At first, Clara does not want to take the girls, but when she finds out that there will be a monthly allowance as their guardian, she willingly agrees.
Not long after the girls arrive at her home (Crescent Hill), Violet and Lily start to see ghosts haunting the place. The girls realize that Crescent Hill may not be safe, especially after the ghosts reveal that their aunt is a murderer.
With no one else to turn to, they have to learn to survive on their own while avoiding their aunt's malicious plans for them in the meantime.
**This book has huge A Series of Unfortunate Events vibes.**
When sisters Violet and Lily suddenly find themselves orphaned after their parents die on a skiing trip, they are sent to live with their only living relative, Aunt Clara. At first, Clara does not want to take the girls, but when she finds out that there will be a monthly allowance as their guardian, she willingly agrees.
Not long after the girls arrive at her home (Crescent Hill), Violet and Lily start to see ghosts haunting the place. The girls realize that Crescent Hill may not be safe, especially after the ghosts reveal that their aunt is a murderer.
With no one else to turn to, they have to learn to survive on their own while avoiding their aunt's malicious plans for them in the meantime.
**This book has huge A Series of Unfortunate Events vibes.**
January 19, 2025
At the Bottom of the Garden follows sisters Lily (14) and Violet (9) as they are sent to live with their estranged Aunt Clara following the death of their parents. Aunt Clara gets more than she bargained for when Lily can *see* people's emotions and Violet, well, she can see dead people.
The synopsis describes this book as a "dark, Gothic fairy tale" about "untrained witches" which I find to be quite misleading statements. It quickly became apparent to me that this book was neither dark nor Gothic, and I tried, in good faith, to alter my expectations and lean into the book's cheesiness. This book did have some fun scenes but in the end I struggled to decipher if the cheesy writing was intentional or if this book was just bad. If you're going to write a silly, cheesy horror then fully commit to that.
I found the first half of this book to be quite enjoyable (once I had accepted this was not Gothic), despite the plot being very predictable. I felt my interest waning at the halfway point as the story became more and more repetitive. If you're looking for a book with twists and turns and shocking reveals - this is not the one. I did, however, enjoy the multiple POVs and I thought that Aunt Clara was a great terrible character. In the end, I just felt like the plot was lacking and I wished this book had embraced its (perhaps unintentional?) cheesiness.
Thank you to NetGalley and Oneworld for the opportunity to read this book.
The synopsis describes this book as a "dark, Gothic fairy tale" about "untrained witches" which I find to be quite misleading statements. It quickly became apparent to me that this book was neither dark nor Gothic, and I tried, in good faith, to alter my expectations and lean into the book's cheesiness. This book did have some fun scenes but in the end I struggled to decipher if the cheesy writing was intentional or if this book was just bad. If you're going to write a silly, cheesy horror then fully commit to that.
I found the first half of this book to be quite enjoyable (once I had accepted this was not Gothic), despite the plot being very predictable. I felt my interest waning at the halfway point as the story became more and more repetitive. If you're looking for a book with twists and turns and shocking reveals - this is not the one. I did, however, enjoy the multiple POVs and I thought that Aunt Clara was a great terrible character. In the end, I just felt like the plot was lacking and I wished this book had embraced its (perhaps unintentional?) cheesiness.
Thank you to NetGalley and Oneworld for the opportunity to read this book.
January 28, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and RHPG- Ballantine Del Rey for the pre-release copy of At the Bottom of the Garden. Below you'll find my honest review.
I've never read Camilla Bruce before, but the description for this one jumped out at me as a good Halloween-season read, so I requested an ARC. I'm so glad I did!
I loved the characters, all of whom had some interesting depths to plumb and all of the POVs had a distinctly different voice, which isn't always the case in books with rotating POVs.
I absolutely loved the strange powers and the ghosty things in this one too! I really don't want to spoil much, but I'd definitely recommend this to fans of the supernatural, magic powers, and people getting what they deserve.
I've never read Camilla Bruce before, but the description for this one jumped out at me as a good Halloween-season read, so I requested an ARC. I'm so glad I did!
I loved the characters, all of whom had some interesting depths to plumb and all of the POVs had a distinctly different voice, which isn't always the case in books with rotating POVs.
I absolutely loved the strange powers and the ghosty things in this one too! I really don't want to spoil much, but I'd definitely recommend this to fans of the supernatural, magic powers, and people getting what they deserve.
February 10, 2025
2.5/5
This was generally a disappointing read across the board for me. Based upon the book blurb and the delightfully eerie cover I had high(ish) hopes.
This was generally a disappointing read across the board for me. Based upon the book blurb and the delightfully eerie cover I had high(ish) hopes.
January 18, 2025
As the author states in her Acknowledgments, “To me, At the Bottom of the Garden is, at least in part, a book about death—or about coming to terms with death.� Certainly death has a large place in this novel which feels somewhat like a modern take on a fairy tale, with orphaned girls, aged 14 and 9, taken in, begrudgingly, by an aunt they have never met after their parents die while on a mountain climbing trip. Lily and Violet move from the place and life they have loved to a very small town and an old house that will feel like a trap.
Since their parents� deaths, both girls have developed new “abilities� that move the story into the paranormal realm that I enjoy. Rather than say too much, I will say that this complicates their existence with Aunt Clara in multiple ways. Clara as written does become almost too waspish and witchy but I really enjoyed the characters of the girls, their new abilities - with all the mixed results. I enjoyed this and found it perfect escapist reading but with a few messages hidden within.
Thank you to Del Ray and NetGalley for an eARC of this book. This review is my own.
Since their parents� deaths, both girls have developed new “abilities� that move the story into the paranormal realm that I enjoy. Rather than say too much, I will say that this complicates their existence with Aunt Clara in multiple ways. Clara as written does become almost too waspish and witchy but I really enjoyed the characters of the girls, their new abilities - with all the mixed results. I enjoyed this and found it perfect escapist reading but with a few messages hidden within.
Thank you to Del Ray and NetGalley for an eARC of this book. This review is my own.
January 28, 2025
The nitty-gritty: A trio of ghosts seek their revenge in this atmospheric but uneven story.
At the Bottom of the Garden was just OK for me. I loved some of the ghostly elements, and the overall story idea was intriguing, but the execution didn't quite work. What appears to be a more serious plot—two orphans are forced to move in with their selfish, unfeeling aunt—has many oddly silly moments that just didn’t fit the tone of the story. It didn’t help that the aunt comes across as a caricature of a villainess, a bombastic, unappealing woman who I hated from the first chapter. The orphans, fourteen year old Lily and nine year old Violet, were the best part of the story, and I thought Camilla Bruce did some interesting things with ghosts and hauntings.
Clara’s half brother and his wife have disappeared on a mountain climbing expedition, leaving their two young daughters without a guardian. Clara just happens to be their only living relative, and so she reluctantly agrees to take them in, simply because the girls are due to inherit a huge fortune once they turn eighteen. Clara wants to start a diamond jewelry design company, but that takes money. Maybe there’s a way to finagle the inheritance away from them, and if anyone can do it, it’s Clara.
Lily and Violet are distraught at losing their parents and having to leave their home to move in with an aunt they don’t even know. Aunt Clara’s house is run down and filled with dead, taxidermied animals, and for some reason, Violet can hear them calling to her. She can also see a very angry man (a ghost) at the bottom of the garden, who appears to be stuck and is trying to get out. When Violet realizes that the man is asking her to help him, she sets loose a flurry of vengeful spirits, all who seem to be going after Aunt Clara.
The story starts out strong with a few mysteries. Why are there ghosts in Aunt Clara’s house, and who are they? Why can Violet see and communicate with them, and why does Lily seem to have the ability to see people’s moods and auras? I loved the idea of the sisters having paranormal gifts, unbeknownst to Aunt Clara (at first, anyway), and the details about how Violet “releases� the ghosts were fascinating. Eventually we find out their agenda, mostly through flashbacks told in Clara’s first person narrative. The first half of the book is filled with creepy ambiance and some unsettling descriptions of the ghosts, so the haunted house vibe was strong.
I also enjoyed the characters of Lily and Violet, two young children who have to rely on each other because they’ve found themselves in an awful situation. Neither one knows why they can see and do the things they can, but they use their abilities to help them deal with living with Aunt Clara, and they always stick together and support each other no matter what.
Clara, however, almost ruined the story for me. Yes, she’s despicable and has a questionable past, and I didn’t mind the “evil aunt� persona. Unfortunately she comes across as a bumbling woman who doesn’t know how to handle her nieces. For some reason, she’s obsessed with diamonds, a trait that I just couldn’t wrap my head around, it was so odd. Her antics come across as comical rather than diabolical, especially the scenes where one of the ghosts won’t let her eat, and food goes flying as the ghost flings it away before it gets to her mouth. There are several flashback chapters where Clara explains her sad childhood, perhaps suggesting that she is the way she is because of her horrible upbringing. But honestly, I couldn’t dredge up any sympathy for her, so those chapters were sort of dull.
The middle section stalls as Clara, Lily and Violet seem to be caught in a loop, performing the same things over and over, and it isn’t until the last section when the story gets back some momentum. Clara and Lily make an interesting discovery that explains their abilities, and I did like the way Bruce resolved everything. So not my favorite of Camilla Bruce’s work, but it won’t stop me from reading her next book.
With thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
At the Bottom of the Garden was just OK for me. I loved some of the ghostly elements, and the overall story idea was intriguing, but the execution didn't quite work. What appears to be a more serious plot—two orphans are forced to move in with their selfish, unfeeling aunt—has many oddly silly moments that just didn’t fit the tone of the story. It didn’t help that the aunt comes across as a caricature of a villainess, a bombastic, unappealing woman who I hated from the first chapter. The orphans, fourteen year old Lily and nine year old Violet, were the best part of the story, and I thought Camilla Bruce did some interesting things with ghosts and hauntings.
Clara’s half brother and his wife have disappeared on a mountain climbing expedition, leaving their two young daughters without a guardian. Clara just happens to be their only living relative, and so she reluctantly agrees to take them in, simply because the girls are due to inherit a huge fortune once they turn eighteen. Clara wants to start a diamond jewelry design company, but that takes money. Maybe there’s a way to finagle the inheritance away from them, and if anyone can do it, it’s Clara.
Lily and Violet are distraught at losing their parents and having to leave their home to move in with an aunt they don’t even know. Aunt Clara’s house is run down and filled with dead, taxidermied animals, and for some reason, Violet can hear them calling to her. She can also see a very angry man (a ghost) at the bottom of the garden, who appears to be stuck and is trying to get out. When Violet realizes that the man is asking her to help him, she sets loose a flurry of vengeful spirits, all who seem to be going after Aunt Clara.
The story starts out strong with a few mysteries. Why are there ghosts in Aunt Clara’s house, and who are they? Why can Violet see and communicate with them, and why does Lily seem to have the ability to see people’s moods and auras? I loved the idea of the sisters having paranormal gifts, unbeknownst to Aunt Clara (at first, anyway), and the details about how Violet “releases� the ghosts were fascinating. Eventually we find out their agenda, mostly through flashbacks told in Clara’s first person narrative. The first half of the book is filled with creepy ambiance and some unsettling descriptions of the ghosts, so the haunted house vibe was strong.
I also enjoyed the characters of Lily and Violet, two young children who have to rely on each other because they’ve found themselves in an awful situation. Neither one knows why they can see and do the things they can, but they use their abilities to help them deal with living with Aunt Clara, and they always stick together and support each other no matter what.
Clara, however, almost ruined the story for me. Yes, she’s despicable and has a questionable past, and I didn’t mind the “evil aunt� persona. Unfortunately she comes across as a bumbling woman who doesn’t know how to handle her nieces. For some reason, she’s obsessed with diamonds, a trait that I just couldn’t wrap my head around, it was so odd. Her antics come across as comical rather than diabolical, especially the scenes where one of the ghosts won’t let her eat, and food goes flying as the ghost flings it away before it gets to her mouth. There are several flashback chapters where Clara explains her sad childhood, perhaps suggesting that she is the way she is because of her horrible upbringing. But honestly, I couldn’t dredge up any sympathy for her, so those chapters were sort of dull.
The middle section stalls as Clara, Lily and Violet seem to be caught in a loop, performing the same things over and over, and it isn’t until the last section when the story gets back some momentum. Clara and Lily make an interesting discovery that explains their abilities, and I did like the way Bruce resolved everything. So not my favorite of Camilla Bruce’s work, but it won’t stop me from reading her next book.
With thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
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March 15, 2025I'm out 75 pages in. This is cartoonish and goofy.
April 2, 2025
clarabella learns she'd taken
a serious misstep when she
decided to let two recently
orphaned nieces into her
secrets out of greed. �
a serious misstep when she
decided to let two recently
orphaned nieces into her
secrets out of greed. �
November 18, 2024
At the Bottom of the Garden is the story of Clara, a woman who has no problem killing to achieve her ends. When her nieces, Lily and Violet, fall under her care after their parents meet their end in a tragic hiking accident, they learn that Clara’s ghosts are not, in fact, resting in peace. Clara wants the girls� inheritance, but when they bring back her long lost ghosts, they become a liability.
I really enjoyed this story. Clara reminds me of Cruella de Vil, a woman everyone loves to hate. The ghost story is deliciously scary and I cheered for Lily and Violet to succeed the whole time. The plot takes some weird turns, but it was a very enjoyable read and I’d definitely read from this author again.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Writing style
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Characters
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Plot
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Premise
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pacing
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Impact
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this story. Clara reminds me of Cruella de Vil, a woman everyone loves to hate. The ghost story is deliciously scary and I cheered for Lily and Violet to succeed the whole time. The plot takes some weird turns, but it was a very enjoyable read and I’d definitely read from this author again.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Writing style
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Characters
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Plot
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Premise
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pacing
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Impact
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 1, 2025
Alternative title for this book: Call Me Glitter Bear
July 14, 2024
Thank you Netgalley, publishers, and author for giving me the chance to read this wonderful book.
I liked this story a lot. There was a bit of a "Practical Magic" vibe happening, but only if the story remained when they were children. Oh, and if you like a complicated, awful woman. I'm a little amazed with the author making me able to feel bad for Clara, our antagonist. No where does she come off as sympathetic and yet, when I read her childhood, I got a glimpse of why someone might turn out like that.
There were only two things that I think take away from the story; the pacing (which slows down in the middle), and the sisters voices. I got their character chapters mixed up a lot, because it was a bit difficult at times to distinguish from which viewpoint I was reading, they just both sounded the same (even though the chapters were named after them, it was just difficult).
I'm a little embarrassed by this, but I always thought the saying was, "If you thought (this), you have another thing coming." I learned thanks to this book that it's "think"..."If you thought (this), you have another think coming." And it really does make way more sense. SMH
I liked this story a lot. There was a bit of a "Practical Magic" vibe happening, but only if the story remained when they were children. Oh, and if you like a complicated, awful woman. I'm a little amazed with the author making me able to feel bad for Clara, our antagonist. No where does she come off as sympathetic and yet, when I read her childhood, I got a glimpse of why someone might turn out like that.
There were only two things that I think take away from the story; the pacing (which slows down in the middle), and the sisters voices. I got their character chapters mixed up a lot, because it was a bit difficult at times to distinguish from which viewpoint I was reading, they just both sounded the same (even though the chapters were named after them, it was just difficult).
I'm a little embarrassed by this, but I always thought the saying was, "If you thought (this), you have another thing coming." I learned thanks to this book that it's "think"..."If you thought (this), you have another think coming." And it really does make way more sense. SMH
January 2, 2025
I really enjoyed this story. It gave me old school VC Andrews vibes. You have a greedy old relative that becomes guardian of two rich little girls. Tale as old as time, right? Umm nope. Those little girls are special, and it will be the end of the aunt.
There is murder, mystery, magic and so much more! The story really is about grief and dealing with death, but I was in it for the girls. They are the best part of the story. And so were the ghosts. Omg the ghosts are a terrifying delight! Together, the girls and ghosts drive the aunt nuts!! I loved it!!
The story is so well written, I was immediately sucked into the setting and background. The detail in the house and its gardens, really set the tone. It was quite beautiful.
February 15, 2025
Lily and Violet have recently lost their parents during an attempt to climb K2, with no other living relatives they are sent to live with their Aunt Clara, a woman they have never met, but as long as the girls get to stay together they are willing to live with a complete stranger.
Clara has spent her entire life hating the little brother whose children she is now in charge of, but, they are extremely rich children now with their parents gone and Clara is confident she can bleed them dry before they come of age. Even if that means literally bleeding them.
I feel really bad saying this after reading the author's note, but this was so cheesy, so unrealistic, so over the top, it was good. Aunt Clara is such a classic evil stepmother type character that she's almost comical when she's doing her plotting. And of course, once Lily and Violet are introduced, none of her plotting amounts to anything. She's fallen victim to thinking she's the smartest person in the room.
Lily and Violet's powers awakening with the death of their parents was interesting, although towards the end it seemed like they probably had been there the whole time and were either weaker or the girls just hadn't recognized them yet as they had no need too. I really enjoyed Violet's character she really was a simply well written nine year old kiddo. Lily was a bit too mature for me, I get that trauma can age children (from personal experience), but some of the things she said were just a bit off. Still enjoyed her, just not as much as Violet.
The one thing that kept this from being five stars (okay maybe two reasons) is the fact that this entire story relies on the police being absolute morons and it further relies on it being set in the seventies in a rural area for readers to buy that the police are absolute morons. There is just absolutely no way that Clara got away with the stuff she got away with, not without the police doing a far more serious investigation. And Dina, the housekeeper, character. Look I liked her, I'm glad she was there for the girls but she was the adult in this situation at no point did she attempt to reach out to the girls lawyers, hell CPS even, and she flat said it was because she didn't want to lose her job. She's watching these girls get abused emotionally and Violet later physically by being forced to do something that makes her violently ill, and she's just like, "But girls, I'll lose my job!" Again, no. And hey, maybe yes, but let's not turn her into a bigger hero than she was. I'm actually really concerned as to what Dina would have actually done if Clara had attempted to kill the girls, I really didn't see Dina putting her neck on the line for them at all. And again, even this relies on being believable only because it's a rural area and there aren't many jobs. Honestly, most of this book relies on a complete misunderstanding about how children wind up with family members after the death of their parents, and/or a misunderstanding about how "primative" the seventies were, and/or a belief that small town cops are morons, and/or all of the above. I'm leaning towards all of the above, so if you are unable to suspend reality, this book is gonna drive you bonkers.
Overall, is this the best ghost story you'll ever read? Absolutely not. Is it the worst? Nope. Was it a lot of fun? It really was. Between Aunt Clara's exaggerated evilness, the ghosts' childish and petty antics, and the girls being these insanely brave kiddos in the face of their evil Aunt it was just a super fun read. I definitely recommend this for really anyone. I don't think you have to be into ghost stairs to enjoy this, to be honest. With the character tropes being what they are, it lies neatly in the fairy tale column as well.
As always, thanks to NetGalley and Randomhouse Publishing - Ballantine for the eArc!
Clara has spent her entire life hating the little brother whose children she is now in charge of, but, they are extremely rich children now with their parents gone and Clara is confident she can bleed them dry before they come of age. Even if that means literally bleeding them.
I feel really bad saying this after reading the author's note, but this was so cheesy, so unrealistic, so over the top, it was good. Aunt Clara is such a classic evil stepmother type character that she's almost comical when she's doing her plotting. And of course, once Lily and Violet are introduced, none of her plotting amounts to anything. She's fallen victim to thinking she's the smartest person in the room.
Lily and Violet's powers awakening with the death of their parents was interesting, although towards the end it seemed like they probably had been there the whole time and were either weaker or the girls just hadn't recognized them yet as they had no need too. I really enjoyed Violet's character she really was a simply well written nine year old kiddo. Lily was a bit too mature for me, I get that trauma can age children (from personal experience), but some of the things she said were just a bit off. Still enjoyed her, just not as much as Violet.
The one thing that kept this from being five stars (okay maybe two reasons) is the fact that this entire story relies on the police being absolute morons and it further relies on it being set in the seventies in a rural area for readers to buy that the police are absolute morons. There is just absolutely no way that Clara got away with the stuff she got away with, not without the police doing a far more serious investigation. And Dina, the housekeeper, character. Look I liked her, I'm glad she was there for the girls but she was the adult in this situation at no point did she attempt to reach out to the girls lawyers, hell CPS even, and she flat said it was because she didn't want to lose her job. She's watching these girls get abused emotionally and Violet later physically by being forced to do something that makes her violently ill, and she's just like, "But girls, I'll lose my job!" Again, no. And hey, maybe yes, but let's not turn her into a bigger hero than she was. I'm actually really concerned as to what Dina would have actually done if Clara had attempted to kill the girls, I really didn't see Dina putting her neck on the line for them at all. And again, even this relies on being believable only because it's a rural area and there aren't many jobs. Honestly, most of this book relies on a complete misunderstanding about how children wind up with family members after the death of their parents, and/or a misunderstanding about how "primative" the seventies were, and/or a belief that small town cops are morons, and/or all of the above. I'm leaning towards all of the above, so if you are unable to suspend reality, this book is gonna drive you bonkers.
Overall, is this the best ghost story you'll ever read? Absolutely not. Is it the worst? Nope. Was it a lot of fun? It really was. Between Aunt Clara's exaggerated evilness, the ghosts' childish and petty antics, and the girls being these insanely brave kiddos in the face of their evil Aunt it was just a super fun read. I definitely recommend this for really anyone. I don't think you have to be into ghost stairs to enjoy this, to be honest. With the character tropes being what they are, it lies neatly in the fairy tale column as well.
As always, thanks to NetGalley and Randomhouse Publishing - Ballantine for the eArc!
January 2, 2025
A story that is very much like a fairy tale, with Aunt Clara, who resembles a wicked witch, and sisters, Violet and Lily, who very much remind me of Hansel and Gretel, except they are trapped for a time in the witch's house. Whilst this book is not as dark as I'd hoped, and the narrative is often on the cheesy side, it's still an enjoyable read. And it very much fits into the realm of paranormal fairy tale.
There is a whimsical nature to the writing style. It can trap you in it's magic, making you visualise the vibrancy in the scenes, but it can also drop you from the narrative when it becomes bogged in repetition. Such a style can be frustrating, especially when you want to move onto what's happening next, but stick with it. It is worth the wait. I relished the exploration into the supernatural and the injection of moral ambiguity, especially since the latter is shown from the perspective of good and evil, but with the repetitive narrative, as previously mentioned, I can't help but wonder how a story can sometimes be its worst enemy.
On a more human level, the book is also a discussion of death - of how the living think of the dead, and if the dead really do still think about the living. I'm not sure that there is a successful discussion about grief. If there is, it becomes lost in the narrative. But I do applaud the layering in the narrative - the attempt to wind thread on many spindles.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There is a whimsical nature to the writing style. It can trap you in it's magic, making you visualise the vibrancy in the scenes, but it can also drop you from the narrative when it becomes bogged in repetition. Such a style can be frustrating, especially when you want to move onto what's happening next, but stick with it. It is worth the wait. I relished the exploration into the supernatural and the injection of moral ambiguity, especially since the latter is shown from the perspective of good and evil, but with the repetitive narrative, as previously mentioned, I can't help but wonder how a story can sometimes be its worst enemy.
On a more human level, the book is also a discussion of death - of how the living think of the dead, and if the dead really do still think about the living. I'm not sure that there is a successful discussion about grief. If there is, it becomes lost in the narrative. But I do applaud the layering in the narrative - the attempt to wind thread on many spindles.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2024
At the Bottom of the Garden ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This new novel by Camilla Bruce absolutely captivated me from the first page. I am not new to Bruce’s writing and this novel fits along side her others in that it perfectly exemplifies her eerie and unsettling way of storytelling. Camilla Bruce is very quickly becoming one of my “if they write it, I will read it� authors. There is something so truly special and unique about her pros and voice that I find once I pick one of her books up, I cannot put it down. I love how she seamlessly weaves stories of realistic people with a touch of paranormal, folklore, and mystery. I find with Camilla’s works, not long after the first page, I am begging for more answers.
Our story starts with a bang when our two young protagonist’s parents pass away and their estranged aunt offers to take them in. It does not take long before things get weird� and I mean WEIRD. We know from the start that something isn’t quite right with aunt Clara and our girls, Violet and Lily, are obviously special in a not so average way but things escalate to such a point that we realize both parties have their own plans of how this play out and neither are sharing their whole truth.
I absolutely ate this up and I am so thankful to NetGalley, the publisher, and Camilla Bruce for providing me an advance copy of this bewitching story. This was an absolute 5 star read for me.
This new novel by Camilla Bruce absolutely captivated me from the first page. I am not new to Bruce’s writing and this novel fits along side her others in that it perfectly exemplifies her eerie and unsettling way of storytelling. Camilla Bruce is very quickly becoming one of my “if they write it, I will read it� authors. There is something so truly special and unique about her pros and voice that I find once I pick one of her books up, I cannot put it down. I love how she seamlessly weaves stories of realistic people with a touch of paranormal, folklore, and mystery. I find with Camilla’s works, not long after the first page, I am begging for more answers.
Our story starts with a bang when our two young protagonist’s parents pass away and their estranged aunt offers to take them in. It does not take long before things get weird� and I mean WEIRD. We know from the start that something isn’t quite right with aunt Clara and our girls, Violet and Lily, are obviously special in a not so average way but things escalate to such a point that we realize both parties have their own plans of how this play out and neither are sharing their whole truth.
I absolutely ate this up and I am so thankful to NetGalley, the publisher, and Camilla Bruce for providing me an advance copy of this bewitching story. This was an absolute 5 star read for me.
January 31, 2025
A fairly standard haunted Gothic, but a good one nonetheless.
This follows a traditional gothic structure, but does an unusually good job with some of the supernatural elements. I liked the way Bruce explained the girls� talents, both how they were able to use them and what the cost was.
Clara is a good adversary, mostly because you can see why she became what she was even if you still can’t excuse any of it. To that end, I really appreciated the way this book ended, going a route that many authors shy away from but that is almost always the right call.
Violet is a particularly well drawn character in that she’s immensely comforting yet somehow also creepy, and that fits perfectly with who she is and what she can do.
Though this isn’t the eeriest or most atmospheric of Gothic novels, I thought the sense of place was well-rendered and the pacing satisfyingly done.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
This follows a traditional gothic structure, but does an unusually good job with some of the supernatural elements. I liked the way Bruce explained the girls� talents, both how they were able to use them and what the cost was.
Clara is a good adversary, mostly because you can see why she became what she was even if you still can’t excuse any of it. To that end, I really appreciated the way this book ended, going a route that many authors shy away from but that is almost always the right call.
Violet is a particularly well drawn character in that she’s immensely comforting yet somehow also creepy, and that fits perfectly with who she is and what she can do.
Though this isn’t the eeriest or most atmospheric of Gothic novels, I thought the sense of place was well-rendered and the pacing satisfyingly done.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
January 4, 2025
At the Bottom of the Garden by Camilla Bruce. Thanks to @delraybooks got the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When Lily and Violet’s parents die, they go to live with their mysterious and diamond obsessed Aunt Clara. The girls are special and soon the estate is filled with ghosts.
I loved the story of two sisters going to live with their mysterious aunt. It had a fairy tale feel to it, which quickly became a ghastly tale. The two sisters really make the story, as they are both very unique but rely upon each other. Aunt Clara’s secrets are left to be exposed, and though the reader has an idea from the beginning what they are, it doesn’t affect the enjoyment of the story.
“Next to diamonds, I am fairly certain that a woman’s best friend is a well-honed ax.�
At the Bottom of the Garden comes out 1/28.
When Lily and Violet’s parents die, they go to live with their mysterious and diamond obsessed Aunt Clara. The girls are special and soon the estate is filled with ghosts.
I loved the story of two sisters going to live with their mysterious aunt. It had a fairy tale feel to it, which quickly became a ghastly tale. The two sisters really make the story, as they are both very unique but rely upon each other. Aunt Clara’s secrets are left to be exposed, and though the reader has an idea from the beginning what they are, it doesn’t affect the enjoyment of the story.
“Next to diamonds, I am fairly certain that a woman’s best friend is a well-honed ax.�
At the Bottom of the Garden comes out 1/28.
January 29, 2025
3.5 stars. This book had great characters: it was so entertaining to read from three different POVs. I enjoyed entering into the minds of Clara, Lily, and Violet to get their takes on the events of the plot.
I would rate this higher, even loving the characters, except the plot dragged on so much. It got repetitive in the middle, rehashing the same topics over and over again. I think it was to emphasize just how cruel Clara was, but we already knew it from Chapter One.
Overall this was a really interesting read but slow in the middle.
Thank you to NetGalley, Camilla Bruce, and Del Rey Books for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
I would rate this higher, even loving the characters, except the plot dragged on so much. It got repetitive in the middle, rehashing the same topics over and over again. I think it was to emphasize just how cruel Clara was, but we already knew it from Chapter One.
Overall this was a really interesting read but slow in the middle.
Thank you to NetGalley, Camilla Bruce, and Del Rey Books for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 20, 2025
Interesting read. What a horrible person Aunt Clara was, guess she got what she deserved in the end. Greed doesn't make you a good person!
March 2, 2025
i fear i will never reach the high that was you let me in......camilla bruce i am still rooting for you
October 18, 2024
Clara Woods likes to get what she wants. And if she has to kill for it, so be it. Cheating husband caught with his mistress? Clara has no problem offing them and burying them in her overgrown garden. Everyone thinks they ran off together, so no one knows her crime until her nieces arrive.
Violet and Lily are orphaned when their very wealthy parents tragically die on a mountain climbing trip. Their only living relative is Aunt Clara, who is less than thrilled with this until she sees this as a way to get her hands on her dead brother's fortune. She could use the funds to help launch her diamond jewelry business, something she has always dreamed of starting. Clara's plan seems foolproof until she discovers one of the girls' secrets. Violet can see and speak to ghosts, including Clara's dead husband and his mistress. When the girls discover the crimes, Clara has no choice but to isolate them from everyone to keep her misdeeds under wraps.
I love a good gothic, dark ghost story like this. Camilla Bruce uses alternating points of view between Clara, Violet, and Lily, which allows the reader to get inside the heads of each character. Bruce weaves together witchcraft, folklore, ghost stories, and a fun twist on revenge to create almost a fairytale-like story, with Aunt Clara as the evil "step-parent." The pacing allows the story to build, the girls to understand their powers, and the reader to see Clara for precisely who she is. This book arrives on shelves January 28, 2025. Thank you to Del Rey Books for an arc of this novel.
Violet and Lily are orphaned when their very wealthy parents tragically die on a mountain climbing trip. Their only living relative is Aunt Clara, who is less than thrilled with this until she sees this as a way to get her hands on her dead brother's fortune. She could use the funds to help launch her diamond jewelry business, something she has always dreamed of starting. Clara's plan seems foolproof until she discovers one of the girls' secrets. Violet can see and speak to ghosts, including Clara's dead husband and his mistress. When the girls discover the crimes, Clara has no choice but to isolate them from everyone to keep her misdeeds under wraps.
I love a good gothic, dark ghost story like this. Camilla Bruce uses alternating points of view between Clara, Violet, and Lily, which allows the reader to get inside the heads of each character. Bruce weaves together witchcraft, folklore, ghost stories, and a fun twist on revenge to create almost a fairytale-like story, with Aunt Clara as the evil "step-parent." The pacing allows the story to build, the girls to understand their powers, and the reader to see Clara for precisely who she is. This book arrives on shelves January 28, 2025. Thank you to Del Rey Books for an arc of this novel.
February 9, 2025
I was so disappointed, and confused by my reactions to this book.
I had read Bruce's previous novel, You Let Me In, a few years ago and really loved that. It was dark, unsettling and beautifully written. So when I saw At the Bottom of the Garden, I thought that it would be right up my street. The synopsis drew me in instantly. And, at first, I was really pulled into the world that Bruce was weaving. But then, after a while, I started to have very mixed feelings.
Bruce has certainly created great characters. The novel is told from the perspectives of 3 of the characters - Aunt Clara, and then the two girls, Lily and Violet. Each character definitely has their own voice. The sticking point, for me, was that not much seemed to happen. This meant that, after initially being drawn into the novel, and reading it at quite a pace, my interest started to wean and I found myself being slightly bored with the book, whilst also kind of enjoying it still. I'm not sure that another book has had that effect on me before ... Not sure what that says about me, or this novel.
I cannot deny that it is beautifully written, and this is perhaps why I stayed with it for as long as I did despite feeling a little bored by it. I think if the plot had been tightened, and so wasn't quite so long, it could have really worked better for me. Whilst reading it, I felt as though I wanted to stay with it, to find out how the conclusion would happen, but at the same time feeling that it could have been shortened down to a novella.
I am really surprised by my reaction to this book. I thought that I was going to love it, and in some ways I did. But I was also expecting there to be more horror to this tale. This is not horror, in any way shape, or form. To me, this read like a YA book.
I had read Bruce's previous novel, You Let Me In, a few years ago and really loved that. It was dark, unsettling and beautifully written. So when I saw At the Bottom of the Garden, I thought that it would be right up my street. The synopsis drew me in instantly. And, at first, I was really pulled into the world that Bruce was weaving. But then, after a while, I started to have very mixed feelings.
Bruce has certainly created great characters. The novel is told from the perspectives of 3 of the characters - Aunt Clara, and then the two girls, Lily and Violet. Each character definitely has their own voice. The sticking point, for me, was that not much seemed to happen. This meant that, after initially being drawn into the novel, and reading it at quite a pace, my interest started to wean and I found myself being slightly bored with the book, whilst also kind of enjoying it still. I'm not sure that another book has had that effect on me before ... Not sure what that says about me, or this novel.
I cannot deny that it is beautifully written, and this is perhaps why I stayed with it for as long as I did despite feeling a little bored by it. I think if the plot had been tightened, and so wasn't quite so long, it could have really worked better for me. Whilst reading it, I felt as though I wanted to stay with it, to find out how the conclusion would happen, but at the same time feeling that it could have been shortened down to a novella.
I am really surprised by my reaction to this book. I thought that I was going to love it, and in some ways I did. But I was also expecting there to be more horror to this tale. This is not horror, in any way shape, or form. To me, this read like a YA book.
March 11, 2025
DNF at like 60%. I physically could not make myself finish this book, it was making me so angry. If I have to read about another FEELING I'm going to explode. It's just haunting with nothing else going on and I genuinely didn't care about what happened in the end. There was no mystery, no thrill, no excitement.
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