The Residency
A gothic suspense novel set on a remote Scottish island that will keep you up all night
Will be published approx. on 13. August 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
336 pages
978-1-83598-425-3 (ISBN)
Description
'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 tightlipped 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
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 tightlipped 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
Reviews / Votes
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. Walters * 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 * Ginny's eager for a new start when acclaimed painter, Sir Philip Eastwick-Lang, offers her a residency on the idyllic Scottish island of Stark. But she soon finds herself in a waking nightmare, controlled by dark forces, driven by misogyny and spite. Macabre and unsettling, The Residency is a gothic delight. * Olivia Issac Henry * 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 * So exquisitely dark yet so beautifully written, C D Major hits the perfect balance with The Residency. I read it in 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. Major may just have invented a new genre. * Sandie Jones * 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 * 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 * 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 * 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 *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-83598-425-3 (9781835984253)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
C. D. Major
The Residency
A gothic suspense novel set on a remote Scottish island that will keep you up all night
E-Book
approx. 08/2026
Canelo
€5.99
Not yet available
Person
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.