Hello! Today I’m pleased to welcome you to JuliaPalooza for my stop on the Blog Tour for A House of Ghosts by W.C. Ryan, which is available now (links below).
About the book
Winter 1917. As the First World War enters its most brutal phase, back home in England, everyone is seeking answers to the darkness that has seeped into their lives.
At Blackwater Abbey, on an island off the Devon coast, Lord Highmount has arranged a spiritualist gathering to contact his two sons who were lost in the conflict. But as his guests begin to arrive, it gradually becomes clear that each has something they would rather keep hidden. Then, when a storm descends on the island, the guests will find themselves trapped. Soon one of their number will die.
For Blackwater Abbey is haunted in more ways than one . . .
An unrelentingly gripping mystery packed with twists and turns, A House of Ghosts is the perfect chilling read this winter.
Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US
A House of Ghosts is part wartime espionage, part ghost story and part whodunnit, and also has a lot to say about the reality and misery of war itself.
First and foremost, though, just look at that beautiful cover – this is a stunning looking book.
Second and secondmost(!) it’s got a map! I love a map and this one is very useful:
The story starts with an intriguing prologue, then there is some necessary exposition as the scene is set and we get to know our leading characters but the action really gets going once we arrive on Blackwater Island.
The island is so atmospheric! It’s got all my faves: people snowed in, raging storms, secret passages, a surly groundsman and a murderer on the loose! The writing totally brings to life the howling gales, the dark and gloomy nights, the wild and dangerous sea and the creepy desperation of Blackwater Abbey and its inhabitants.
All of the characters were well drawn and I very much liked feisty Kate and rough diamond Donovan. I also enjoyed seeing some of the more unlikable characters get what they deserved.
I did find some of the dialogue a little stilted – and that may well be because it is authentically arch 1917’s Upper Classes – but I did find myself having to reread several of the passages throughout the book, which pulled me out of the action temporarily.
All in all this is a classy, intelligent book with spooks and scares and creeps and corpses and, as such, is the perfect read for Halloween!
Thank you to Zaffre Books for my copy of A House of Ghosts and to Tracy Fenton for my spot on the tour.
If you enjoyed my review, please consider liking and/or sharing and, of course, buying the book: Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US
Verdict
The bunnies and I enjoyed this creepy read:
About the Blog Tour
Please check out the rest of the great posts on the tour for A House of Ghosts:
juliapalooza.com 