The Village

Written by Caroline Mitchell

Narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden

From the bestselling author of the DI Amy Winter series comes a thriller about a shocking disappearance—and the village that has conspired to keep the truth buried.

Ten years ago, the Harper family disappeared. Their deserted cottage was left with the water running, the television playing cartoons, the oven ready for baking. The doors were locked from the inside.

Overnight, the sleepy village of Nighbrook became notorious as the scene of the unsolved mystery of the decade, an epicentre for ghoulish media speculation.

For crime journalist Naomi, solving the case has turned into an obsession. So now, with Ivy Cottage finally listed for sale, it’s her chance to mount an investigation like no other. And her husband and stepdaughter don’t really need to know what happened in their new home… do they?

But Nighbrook isn’t quite the village she expected. No one wants to talk to her. No one will answer her questions. And as she becomes increasingly uneasy, it’s clear that the villagers are hiding something—that there is something very dark at the heart of this rural idyll. And the deeper she digs, the more it seems her investigation could be more dangerous than she ever imagined… In raking up the secrets of the past, has she made her own family the next target?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Jan 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9781713625018

Caroline Mitchell

A former police detective, Caroline Mitchell now writes full-time. She has worked in CID and has also specialised in roles dealing with vulnerable victims—high-risk victims of domestic abuse and serious sexual offences. The mental strength shown by the victims of these crimes is a constant source of inspiration to her, and Mitchell combines their tenacity with her knowledge of police procedure to create tense psychological thrillers. Originally from Ireland, she now lives in a pretty village on the coast of Essex with her husband and two children. You can sign up for her newsletter at www.caroline-writes.com, or follow her on Twitter (@caroline_writes) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/CMitchellAuthor).

Reviews for The Village

[zeenia shah · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Naomi moves into Ivy Cottage with new husband and stepdaughter, determined to solve the decade old mysterious disappearance of the Harper family. I could feel Naomis frustration, thwarted and ostracized by the villagers at every turn. The story moves at a fairly brisk pace but the end is bogged down by all the revelations.

[Jessica Wilbourn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderfully written. Great book and unexpected perfect ending. Highly recommended.

[hope929 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great ending! The book was interesting all of the way through.

[Cindy Naughton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Engaging story from the beginning. Good twists, and turns along the way. I didn’t figure it out at all, the story had to tell me. I like, when a book keeps that type of engagement.

[Karin Haines · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved all of the twists!! It was a very well written and planned book.

[dianalskidmore · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Unable to read the books completely- three have Buffered and not been available to completely read.

[M Jennifer Ledesma · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved the fact that I didn't have a clue about the twist to the ending of this story.
What a great listen as I worked on a puzzle.

[carole888fort · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I’ve just finished reading a book that is completely entrancing and well worth the time. The Village by Caroline Mitchell is a psychological thriller which is set in the village of Nighbrook in the UK. It concerns Ivy Cottage, which is almost a character in this book. Ten years ago, the Harpers, who were living in the cottage, disappeared, never to be seen again. The house was found empty, with cookies ready for the oven and other normal signs of a family getting on with their day. All were gone except for the family dog. Fast forward to the present and Naomi, a journalist who has always been fascinated with the Harpers’ story, purchases Ivy Cottage when it comes on the market and moves in with her husband and step-daughter. And that is when it becomes clear that the people of Nighbrook have many secrets. The Village is completely suspenseful and it feels like it has several endings. Just when you think you have figured it out, the plot veers into another direction. The author, Caroline Mitchell, is a former police detective and the narrative shines with her experiences. This is my first Mitchell book but I will make a point of reading many more. This book stands apart from the usual in this genre. Highly recommended. Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[susan.h.schofield · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The premise of this book sounded like a good thriller - 10 years ago a family disappeared without a trace and now a crime reporter has purchased their house and hopes to solve the mystery. But this book was just too all over the place. There was the initial mystery, the village cover up, the relationship between Naomi and Morgan, the relationship between Dawn and Morgan and the flashbacks to 10 years earlier. I had pretty much figured out one of the `twists` fairly early on. The relationship between Morgan and Naomi and Morgan and Dawn changed too quickly to believable. I have not read anything else by Caroline Mitchell so I don't know how it compares to her other books. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

[helsky · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Crime journalist Naomi, with her new husband and stepdaughter, buy a house, Ivy Cottage, in the village of Nightbrook. It's the former home of the Harper family that disappeared without a trace ten years ago. Naomi is determined to solve the mystery. The villagers of Nightbrook do not wish them a warm welcome. Instead they seem to be doing their best to drive them away.This book has a creepy vibe from the very beginning. The truth is revealed so slowly and gradually, that I could not stop reading as I wanted to know what happens next. There are so many twists and turns. I thought I had everything figured out, but the story took a turn into something completely unexpected.Most of the characters felt very real. The family dynamics and Morgan's struggles to accept her new stepmother were portrayed so well. As well as the downward spiral of the Harper family. Great reading.