An enjoyable, but not flawless, book

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I deliberated on whether I should give A House of Ghosts a score of 3* or 4* but, feeling generous, decided on the latter.

This novel is classified as crime and mystery, but it also contains elements of war-time espionage and the supernatural . It may sound complicated, but it's really easy to follow.

Donovan and Cartwright are drafted to attend a house party on an island off the coast of Devon, where a seance is planned to try to contact the sons of Lord and Lady Highmount and Kate Cartwright's brother, missing in action, presumed dead. Their attendance, however, is needed in order for them to try and uncover the espionage element of the story, although Kate's ability to see ghosts is one of the reasons she is a good candidate for the job.

Seances take place, the weather turns nasty, phone lines are down and escape from the island is impossible. An assailant on the loose adds to the tension, which gradually builds throughout the book.

There are lots of characters involved and an awful lot going on, but it's an entertaining, fairly gripping, novel with a satisfying ending. I enjoyed the book and read it in a couple of days, but it was not without flaws. For example, in one chapter Elizabeth Highmount is talking to her husband Francis, but she calls him Edward, and another slight niggle was referring to a painting of a naval battle as a portrait; small criticisms which ought to have been spotted and corrected.

The cover is absolutely lovely and, despite its flaws, I would happily recommend this book.