{NELL MONTAGUE 2} : A LONG TIME BURNING.

 And now for something that little bit different, today its the turn of the Blog Tour for this paranormal mystery thriller to stop by Pen and Paper.

A LONG TIME BURNING by J.A.HIGGINS.

Genre ... Paranormal Mystery Thriller

Publication Date ... 1st October 2022

​Standalone Second Book in the Nell Montague Mystery series

Estimated Page Count ... 277

⚠️ Author Content Warnings ... Cannibalism, witchcraft, burning at the stake.

Purchase Link ... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B7CDCQV1

Nell has had a terrible year, so she travels to North Chase to find some true Christmas magic. But the town has its own problems; its solstice festival is tainted by the disappearance of two teenage boys and a witch’s curse is blamed.

Then, nine-month-old Ava is threatened. Has a medieval killer been awoken or does something else haunt the woods?

​Nell must battle through horrific nightmares and face her own demons to expose the truth before another child is spirited away. There is magic in the air this Christmas, but behind the tinsel and baubles glitters a terrifying secret that one family has hidden for centuries, and only Nell can uncover it.

In my opinion there are those series in which to have read from the beginning is imperative and than there are those that read perfectly well as a standalone novel no matter when/where you begin reading the series; the second book in the Nell Montague series, to my mind, the reading of A Long Time Burning would doubtlessly have been enhanced had I read the first book in the series, Finding Ruby. 

Covering the period from the 5th of November through to Christmas Day itself I thought this a very passable festive ghost story that whilst set in the present day does take you back in time to discover just how the curse came about.

Icy fear rippled over her skin which rose in response. Horror movies tried their hand at the cackle of an asylum, but this was something else. It was quieter now, almost a giggle, and this was somehow worse. The giggle of an evil child with blood on its small hands. Like the small child who had stood by the door. Suddenly, a cold breath hit her as if someone was stood right beside her, giggling an inch away from her ear. The image from the television screen hit her again, of the tiny children shivering, and the figure creeping up on them. The dreams she had endured all spoke of children and dolls.  

I have to admit I did find this something of a slow burner and certainly during the earlier chapters I found myself lost off at times by all the differing threads to the story; by the change of focus from one character to another; from one happening to another but, oh my goodness, delightfully creepy, the atmosphere as chilling as North Chase in December, I found myself engrossed as to the goings on at the centre of which is Nell Montague who finds herself pulled into the spooky and mysterious goings on that plague the village and its inhabitants. 

Whether past or present, real or imagined, satisfyingly spooky, this is definitely a read to curl up with on a cold winter's eve.

J A Higgins was born and raised at Porton Down in Wiltshire, and currently works for the NHS in Salisbury. She has always been fascinated by history, crime and the unexplained.

A Long Time Burning is the second book in the Nell Montague Mystery series which explores how horrors from the past are still very relevant today. The first book, Finding Ruby, was a Page Turner Book Award winner in 2021.

With thanks to Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for organising a paper copy. Agree or disagree with me, all opinions are my own. No financial compensation was asked for nor given. Threats of violence towards my favourite teddy bear went unheeded as did promises of chocolate.

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