Overview

We follow an unnamed narrator who leaves London after a serious incident at a girls’ school where she worked. She retreats to a rented cottage on a remote Scottish estate in Dumfries and Galloway, hoping for quiet and distance. Instead, she finds herself drawn into the lives of the estate owners, Grant and his younger sister Cass. Local folklore, worry dolls, and the constant presence of hares create a sense of unease. As winter closes in and snow cuts the estate off from the outside world, small tensions grow into something far more threatening.

Writing & Atmosphere

We admired how controlled and restrained the writing is. Hinchcliffe describes the landscape with care, from frozen fields to dark woodland paths, and lets the setting do much of the work. The mood builds slowly, with ordinary details taking on weight as the story progresses. Nothing is rushed, and the cold, isolated environment seeps into every scene.

Characters

The narrator keeps much of herself hidden, which makes her an uneasy guide. We are never entirely sure what she is telling us or what she is holding back. Grant and Cass are equally difficult to read, shifting between kindness and something more disturbing. Their shared history and grief hang heavily over the estate. The few local figures we meet add to the sense that everyone knows more than they are saying.

Themes

Hare House looks closely at gossip, blame, and how stories are shaped to make sense of fear. We saw strong ideas around modern witchcraft, not as magic, but as a label placed on women who do not fit. Memory, guilt, and isolation all play a role, showing how easily a person can be remade when cut off from the wider world.

What Worked

• Setting: the Scottish Lowlands feel real and oppressive, especially as winter takes hold.
• Slow reveal: the past emerges bit by bit, changing how we read earlier events.
• Folklore elements: hares and local beliefs are woven in naturally and never feel forced.

Minor Quibbles

• The quiet approach may feel restrained for readers expecting a sharper or more dramatic ending.
• Some questions are left open, which will divide readers who prefer clear answers.

Final Thoughts

We found Hare House tense and unsettling in a measured way, relying on atmosphere and doubt rather than shocks, and letting the cold seep in slowly.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)