The Residency - by C D Major (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

'So creepy you'll want to sleep with the lights on' The Sun

'Deliciously sinister and wonderfully atmospheric.' BP Walter

The opportunity of a lifetime, or the worst mistake of your life?

Life in London is hard for Ginny as a single mother barely scraping by. Once she was a promising artist with a glittering future ahead. On a whim, she applies for an artist's residency - all expenses paid - and is astonished to be accepted.

Soon, Ginny is on a boat to a remote Scottish island, her daughter by her side. But was she too hasty, attracted by the promise of security and a chance to make art again? Locals she meets are tight-lipped about the man who is Ginny's benefactor, but she senses underlying fear. Her contract contains odd rules about avoiding the gallery at the vast property where she is living, and there is an undeniable eeriness to the place. If she didn't know better, she'd swear she could hear whispers, and that the people in the paintings were changing overnight...

By the time Ginny realises what a grave mistake she has made, she is stranded. Accepting the invitation has sealed her fate and the only way to survive is through escape - or sacrifice.

An atmospheric gothic suspense novel to send a chill down your spine and keep you reading late into the night.

Praise for The Residency

'Skin crawlingly good. I was screaming at the page as the boat approached the island. C.D. Major has written a belter. Claustrophobic, isolated, unnerving... I was on edge from the first page. Loved it.' Rachel Wolf

'An unsettling, atmospheric mystery you'll race through right to the chilling supernatural twist. Loved it!' Ellery Lloyd, NYT Bestselling author of The Club

'Atmospheric, compelling, genuinely chilling. The only thing that stopped me staying up all night to finish was being too scared to read it in the dark!' Tammy Cohen

'Beautifully written and utterly chilling' Susi Holliday

'This modern gothic tale has it all. Creepy, atmospheric, and scarily addictive, you'll never look at a painting the same way again' Amanda Jennings

'A gripping Gothic delight' Anna Mazzola

'A must-read for fans of modern gothic horror' Lisa Gray

Review Quotes

"So exquisitely dark, yet so beautifully written, Cesca Major hits the perfect balance with The Residency. I read it one sitting and was totally enthralled from the outset. A horror of the modern ages. A thriller unlike any other. But ultimately a story of a mother's love. Cesca may just have invented a new genre..." - Sandie Jones, New York Times Bestselling author of The Other Woman

'I could not stop reading this breathless, fast-paced tale! If you like your novels with a very dangerous twist, you'll love this book.' Ava Glass

'A gripping Gothic delight. CD Major has decided to scare us senseless and she succeeds masterfully. A sinister Scottish tale with a big dash of the supernatural. Loved it.' Anna Mazzola

'Beautifully written and utterly chilling' Susi Holliday

'An unsettling, atmospheric mystery you'll race through right to the chilling supernatural twist. Loved it!' Ellery Lloyd, NYT Bestselling author of The Club

'Atmospheric, compelling, genuinely chilling. The only thing that stopped me staying up all night to finish was being too scared to read it in the dark!' Tammy Cohen

'An unsettling portrait of a wild Scottish island controlled by a malevolent benefactor. Struggling artist Ginny is hoping for a chance to get back on her feet but in the large old house on Stark Island things move and whisper in the night, the inhabitants are worryingly withdrawn and there is no way to leave. A tantalising blend of gothic suspense and feminine power, The Residency will keep you up at night, clutching the covers and turning the pages with desperate fingers. Deeply disturbing and utterly compelling.'
Heather Critchlow

'A creeping sense of unease builds to some genuinely terrifying moments in this unsettling and chilling tale. Beautifully written and steeped in atmosphere, this is a must-read for fans of modern gothic horror.' Lisa Gray

'Eerie and unsettling, haunting and hypnotic. A modern classic in the making.' John Marrs

'This modern gothic tale set on a remote Scottish island cut off from the world has it all. A malevolent old house, a village of people concealing a terrifying secret, and an elderly artist with a very dark past. Creepy, atmospheric, and scarily addictive, you'll never look at a painting the same way again.' Amanda Jennings

'Skin crawlingly good. I was screaming at the page as the boat approached the island. CD Major has written a belter. Claustrophobic, isolated, unnerving ... I was on edge from the first page. Loved it.' Rachel Wolf

'A deliciously sinister and wonderfully atmospheric thriller. The Residency is filled with eerie suspense and terrific characters, with an artfully crafted mystery at its centre. I loved it.' B.P. Walter/S.G. Hartnell

About the Author

C. D. Major is the pseudonym of novelist and screenwriter Cesca Major. She's been published in over 12 countries and has TV and film in development with major streamers. She's been a Reese's Book Club Pick and nominated for both the CWA and the HWA Awards. She loves teaching and has mentored for both Reese's Book Club and the Black Girl Writers.