Sundial

Catriona Ward Press Reviews

The new face of literary dark fiction -- Sarah Pinborough

Elegantly horrifying, this tale of a family's darker-than-dark past drives the knife in deep and isn't afraid to twist. It's a desert-dust nightmare with a scorpion's sting, and I loved it -- Emma Stonex, author of The Lamplighters

Sundial plumbs the psychological depths and traps of toxic relationships, expertly mixing suspense, shocks, and menace. It's a wild, twisted family gothic unlike any you've read before and one you won't soon forget -- Paul Tremblay, author of A Headful of Ghosts

Catriona Ward has done it again. What happens when the evil in our souls destroys the good? When the ghosts we see are real? A unique and superbly written psychological horror from a talented writer at the top of her game -- Essie Fox, author of Somnambulist

There's dark and then there's Catriona Ward dark. Ambitious, brutal and breathtakingly original, Sundial horrifies and impresses in equal measure -- Tammy Cohen, author of When She Was Bad

Sundial confirms Catriona Ward as one of the brightest stars in horror fiction. As compelling and unique a voice for the twenty-first century as Shirley Jackson was for the twentieth -- Christopher Golden, author of Road of Bones

Evocative, lyrical and beautiful, with a lightness of touch at the darkest moments. What a clever, interesting novel, which has so much to say about families, the shadow of the past and the power of story telling to redeem. I absolutely loved it -- Araminta Hall, author of Perfect Strangers

Even better than The Last House on Needless Street. Dark and unsettling, creepy and enthralling -- Lisa Hall, author of The Party

I absolutely adored it. Sundial is a book that will scorch the chambers your heart with the ferocity and heat of a desert wind. It lingers long afterward, like the sting of a slap -- Matt Wesolowski, author of Six Stories

A mesmerising and extraordinary book. Chilling, fascinating and shocking -- Roz Watkins, author of The Devil's Dice

Absolutely, stunningly, heartbreakingly wonderful. A wild beast of a book -- Virginia Feito, author of Mrs March

Gothic in the blistering heat of the desert sun. Sublime writing. Astonishing and wonderful -- Kate Griffin, author of Kitty Peck and the Music Hall Murders

A genius piece of storytelling. This is true horror, the horror of everyday life that we make ourselves blind to, horror that is brutal, truthful, terrifying -- Alma Katsu author of The Hunger

Sundial could only have sprung from the brilliant, twisty mind of Catriona Ward. I loved it. Unnerving and clever, disturbing and beautiful. I know I'll read it again and again - and I can't wait -- Holly Watt, author of To The Lions

Superb... another knockout. Evocative and lyrical, it's a heat-soaked Gothic nightmare - and a true masterclass in storytelling -- Katie Lowe, author of The Furies

Catriona Ward is an absolute talent. She has written a novel so rich and beautifully layered about the lengths we go to when we are in a state of primitive fear. Sundial is spellbinding -- Liv Matthews, author of The Prank

Oh god this book. Dark and visceral and original. I loved it -- Louise Beech, author of I Am Dust

Brilliant. It gradually becomes more disturbing and twisted as the layers are peeled back. Excellent and unnerving. I loved it -- Guy Morpuss, author of Five Minds

A truly visceral ride into the darkest of family gothic: disturbing, shocking, brutal and all too believable. When you think there's no more, the layers keep peeling back. -- Vicky Newham, author of Turn a Blind Eye

I'm pretty sure my life will never be the same again. Sundial is a masterpiece -- J.M. Hewitt, author of The Life She Wants