The story focuses on Loo (Lucia) and Bee (Bianca) who live with their parents and siblings in a run-down cottage, isolated and ridiculed by the locals. The chapters are told from the point of view of multiple characters and flit between 1976, when Loo and Bee were children to the present day where Loo, now Lucy, is an adult and her mother Cathy lives in a care home suffering from dementia.
In 1976 a paranormal investigation is conducted at their home, Iron Sike Farm, by Professor Michael Warren and Simon Leigh after strange and possibly paranormal activity is reported to have happened.
Now, in the present day, Nina is determined to continue with the investigation and discover exactly what happened all those years ago. Cathy is happy for Nina to complete the investigation whilst Lucy is dead set against it.
Will digging up the past uncover secrets that are best left buried?
The story reminded me a little of the Enfield Poltergeist. The actual case of an alleged haunting of a young girl, Janet, in Enfield, U.K. This is a case that has fascinated me since I was very young and so I was in my element here. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson also sprung to mind. The paranormal investigation being conducted in an old and creepy house. And, just like Hill House, Iron Sike Farm is a fascinating character in its own right.
The story draws the reader in with wonderfully realistic characters that are relatable and likeable or unlikeable in the case of Bee.
Mason has achieved the perfect balance between plot and character that keeps the story moving at an ideal pace whilst leaving the reader always needing more. Just one more chapter…Just one more… this will absolutely be the last chapter tonight!
The supernatural elements to this story were excellently written with just the right amount of nail-biting tension that reminded me of actual cases of alleged poltergeist activity. Just my cup of tea! (Or glass of gin as the case may be!)
This has been one of my favourite books I have read this year, I genuinely enjoyed reading The Wayward Girls and cannot wait to read more by Amanda Mason in the future.
Thank you to Zaffre Books and Readers First for the copy of this book.