I found this to be a bit plodding but I enjoyed the ending ( )

Claire Cooper is eight years old when one Hop-tu-naa ( the Manx Halloween ) her mother goes missing. Ten years later Claire and her friends take part in a dare for Hop-tu-naa which goes very wrong.

First time for me to read a book by this author and I enjoyed it. The book appealed to me as the story is set at Hop-tu-naa which is the Halloween custom on the Isle of Man. Each part of the story is set either around or on October 31st. I didn't know anything about the Isle of Man or its customs so did find that part of the book interesting.

The story was quite compelling and did hold my interest. It has Agatha Christie vibes where the characters are killed off one by one, each on Hop-tu-naa. The story does have a few twists and turns. The story was a little predictable with one of the reveals.

I would read more by this author and enjoyed the fact that this story was set around Halloween. I found the book just ok but enjoyed it in parts. ( )

This is the first book I’ve read that takes place on the Isle of Man, and I appreciated what the setting added to the story. This thriller primarily takes place over the course of several Halloweens (Hop-tu-Naa), beginning with the one where Claire’s mother mysteriously disappears. Did she run away from her difficult life? Or did her creepy old employer do her in? Claire is sure it was old Mr. Caine, but the repercussions from one disastrous night are making her doubt herself. And now that she is a police officer, can she solve her own crime before all of her friends are killed?

I haven’t read any other Chris Ewan books, but I wouldn’t hesitate to add him to my list! ( )

Eh this was ok. Pretty color-by-numbers for a thriller though. I wondered if he'd tie everything up including mum's fate and he did so at least it was satisfying on that count. In other ways it wasn't though; the villain is obvious and an experienced reader won't be thrown by the one other suspect. I was annoyed by the italicized sections where the bad guy talks about himself and his situation using "you" all the time, as in you really hate these people and can't wait to take your revenge. Ugh. ( )

Dark Tides – A Dark Manx Thriller

Chris Ewan with Dark Tides introduces us to some of the darker aspects of Manx folklore and spins it in to a wonderful thriller. Anyone that knows anything about the Isle of Man knows that some of its folklore can be quite dark but nothing can compete with Hop-tu-naa, the Manx Halloween. Ewan has woven a wonderful thriller in to the night of Hop-tu-naa drawing out the darkest of evil spirits.

Claire Cooper’s mother goes missing presumed dead on 31st October 1995 when she returns Claire home and heads back to her employer Edward Caine in the big house with his ill son. Little did she know that the date would hang heavy in her family for years after. As she gets older she hangs out with her teenage friends on Hop-tu-naa and they take part in various dares every year. One year those dares go one step to far but it would be that dare that would have repecutions over the years eventually coming full circle to Claire.

After university Claire is a member of the Manx police and is working when one of her teenage pals is killed in a car crash. The following two years another one of those pals she used to do the dares with is killed and she thinks she knows who is behind it. Unfortunately there is no proof and what proof there is points in a different direction. It is only when Claire and her childhood boyfriend are the last ones standing do things start to become clear and then it is a race against time to save lives and more importantly save her own life.

There are some wonderful twists and turns in this thriller and the use of the Hop-tu-naa brings the ultimate twist. As a reader you are pleading that Claire can remain safe but deep down you know she is the ultimate target even though you know it is coming you are not prepared for what happens. Chris Ewan uses a deep and well researched knowledge of Manx folklore and weaves it wonderfully in to the story. The only regret is that the book comes to an end but it is worth every minute that you spend reading it! ( )