A newly divorced 30-something named Carrot moves in with her uncle to help him run his unique “Wonder Museum,” which is filled with a wide assortment of weird and wonderful things. When he falls ill, Carrot is left to run the museum alone. She soon discovers a hole in the wall, which leads to a mystical world of beauty – and nightmares.

While Kingfisher draws inspiration from Algernon Blackwood’s classic “The Willows,” I found that this version of the story didn’t quite capture the depth and intrigue of the original. The pacing in the first half felt slow, and the writing style was often repetitive, with more narration than action, which detracted from the suspense.

However, the book does pick up steam in the second half, particularly when Carrot discovers a diary from a previous explorer of the strange dimension. I do think that Kingfisher missed an opportunity to elaborate on this subplot, as I found myself more interested in hearing about that character’s adventures than returning to Carrot’s narrative.

While “The Hollow Places” has its strengths, such as its imaginative premise and unique setting, I had to fight against shelving it before I reached the end. Readers looking for a tightly woven narrative with more suspense might find it challenging to get through. That said, those who enjoy character-driven stories with a touch of the bizarre may still find this book worth reading.