What a fabulous and engaging story A House of Ghosts is. I found myself thoroughly engrossed in it.
It's set in 1917, the First World war is raging on and it's taking its toll on almost every family. The story begins with Kate Cartwright and a mysterious man named Donovan being sent by the Secret Intelligence Service to Blackwater Abbey on Blackwater Island just off the coast of Devon. It's no coincidence that Kate knows something of Blackwater Abbey and its occupants, Lord and Lady Highmount.
This is rather a tangled web of a story, featuring (lots of) ghosts, séances and spiritualists. The Highmounts have lost two sons and Kate has lost a brother and the reason for the gathering is to try and contact them in the spiritual world. I found this side of the story absolutely fascinating, especially Kate's own abilities which she tries to keep hidden.
I love island stories. There's something about the remote feel of them that really grabs me and that was definitely the case here. Couple that with stormy weather that cuts the guests off from the mainland and you have a sinister tale indeed. The Abbey is portrayed brilliantly as a place with so many hidden passages and recesses. It's the perfect place for ghostly and real life goings on.
The story flits mostly between Kate and Donovan's viewpoints and I really liked both characters and how their stories intertwined as they worked together to solve more than one puzzle. I can't help hoping they might reappear in another book because there is so much potential there.
I sometimes find ghost stories too implausible but I didn't find that here. I thought the ghostly element was done so well. However, despite being a story of ghosts this is not a scary book. It's more of a spy thriller/country house mystery with ghosts thrown in which is perhaps why I liked it so much. It's an incredibly well-plotted story and it really kept me guessing. It's alive with tension (a smidgen of which might be sexual!) and full of atmosphere. It's really such a great read and I loved the time I spent reading it.
It's set in 1917, the First World war is raging on and it's taking its toll on almost every family. The story begins with Kate Cartwright and a mysterious man named Donovan being sent by the Secret Intelligence Service to Blackwater Abbey on Blackwater Island just off the coast of Devon. It's no coincidence that Kate knows something of Blackwater Abbey and its occupants, Lord and Lady Highmount.
This is rather a tangled web of a story, featuring (lots of) ghosts, séances and spiritualists. The Highmounts have lost two sons and Kate has lost a brother and the reason for the gathering is to try and contact them in the spiritual world. I found this side of the story absolutely fascinating, especially Kate's own abilities which she tries to keep hidden.
I love island stories. There's something about the remote feel of them that really grabs me and that was definitely the case here. Couple that with stormy weather that cuts the guests off from the mainland and you have a sinister tale indeed. The Abbey is portrayed brilliantly as a place with so many hidden passages and recesses. It's the perfect place for ghostly and real life goings on.
The story flits mostly between Kate and Donovan's viewpoints and I really liked both characters and how their stories intertwined as they worked together to solve more than one puzzle. I can't help hoping they might reappear in another book because there is so much potential there.
I sometimes find ghost stories too implausible but I didn't find that here. I thought the ghostly element was done so well. However, despite being a story of ghosts this is not a scary book. It's more of a spy thriller/country house mystery with ghosts thrown in which is perhaps why I liked it so much. It's an incredibly well-plotted story and it really kept me guessing. It's alive with tension (a smidgen of which might be sexual!) and full of atmosphere. It's really such a great read and I loved the time I spent reading it.