Platform Seven: From the writer of BBC smash hit drama 'Crossfire'

by Louise Doughty

SOON TO BE A MAJOR ITV SERIES

OVER HALF A MILLION COPIES OF APPLE TREE YARD SOLD

'The perfect thriller.' Stylist
'Scarily plausible . . . desperately moving.' Guardian
'Gripping.' Good Housekeeping

The novel from Sunday Times bestselling author

Platform Seven at 4am: Peterborough Railway Station is deserted. The man crossing the covered walkway on this freezing November morning is confident he's alone. As he sits on the metal bench at the far end of the platform it is clear his choice is strategic - he's as far away from the night staff as he can get.

What the man doesn't realise is that he has company. Lisa Evans knows what he has decided. She knows what he is about to do as she tries and fails to stop him walking to the platform edge.

Two deaths on Platform Seven. Two fatalities in eighteen months - surely they're connected?

No one is more desperate to understand what connects them than Lisa Evans herself. After all, she was the first of the two to die. . .

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Crime

512 pages, Paperback

First published August 22, 2019

About the author

Louise Doughty is a novelist, playwright and critic. She is the author of five novels; CRAZY PAVING, DANCE WITH ME, HONEY-DEW, FIRES IN THE DARK and STONE CRADLE, and one work of non-fiction A NOVEL IN A YEAR. She has also written five plays for radio. She has worked widely as a critic and broadcaster in the UK, where she lives, and was a judge for the 2008 Man Booker Prize for fiction.

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an unnerving, chilling and deeply unsettling novel from Louise Doughty, a literary blend of haunting ghost story and thriller revolving around two suicides that take place on the eponymous Platform Seven at Peterborough Station. In the very early hours of a bitterly cold November morning, a man makes his way to an isolated part of the station, far from any member of staff, thinking himself entirely alone as he walks purposefully to the edge of the platform. He is not alone, he is closely observed by the ghost of Lisa Evans, a secondary school teacher, but she is unable to intervene and prevent the tragedy that ensues. Unusually, the story is narrated by Lisa's ghost.

Amidst the background of every day life, conversations and ordinariness of the busy Peterborough Station, we learn about the repercussions of the suicides on station staff and others, such as a young police officer. As the narrative unfolds, we learn of Lisa's disturbing relationship with Dr Matthew Goodison, a man who turned out not to be who he first appeared to be, a controlling, coercive and abusive man, and members of Lisa's family. In a painfully realistic manner, Doughty outlines the difficulties of leaving abusive partners, and that unfortunately, justice is not always the end result. Despite the harrowing nature of the subject matter, Doughty manages to infuse the book with the spirit of hope that makes reading this a bearable experience.

This is a compulsive read, beautifully written, with vibrant characterisation, sensitive in its approach to its emotionally upsetting issues. It touches on tragedies, grief, love, hate, loss, suffering and domestic drama, and of finally understanding that we are not as alone as we may think. This is an emotionally engaging read that touches on a vitally important issue in society, a roller coaster of a book which packs a punch. Many thanks to Faber and Faber for an ARC.

[Lala BooksandLala · Rating 2 out of 5]

The second pick of The Literally Dead Book Club!

Also book 26 of 30 for my 30 day reading challenge.
https://youtu.be/8CA3Ep_Z1-g

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The atmospheric image on the cover and the location of this book first drew me in. It is set in Peterborough, a large town in the east of England and seemed to me an unusual choice of setting. I used to have family living just on the edge of Peterborough so I have visited many times in past.
Lisa Evans ‘lives’ in Peterborough railway station......... I say lives but more accurately, she floats! Lisa is a ghost and she died on platform seven. She has little memory of why she is there and haunts the station musing about the passengers as they pass through.
On a freezing November morning, Lisa witnesses a suicide on the same platform she died. This seems to jolt her memory to start unraveling what happened to her and why she died on platform seven that horrendous day.
This was atmospheric read and moving in respect of relationships and friendships. The power of a destructive relationship makes a compelling read.
Excellent.

[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read several books by Louise Doughty and liked them all but I thought this one was breathtakingly good and arguably her best book yet. I couldn’t put it down and was gripped from the start in this twisty tale. . I don’t want to say much about the plot as it would spoil it for future readers so suffice it to say it concerns what happened to Lisa Evans at Peterborough station. The atmosphere in the book was fantastic throughout and you could picture the action on Platform 7 and elsewhere. The book gave me so many different emotions from intrigue to empathy to shock and anger. The tension was released through little flashes of humour which I appreciated. There was a real hint of menace at times which was almost palpable. The characters were easy to picture and most of them were very likeable and sympathetic with the exception of Matt. This book showed how one event can set off a chain reaction which led to disaster. There were several themes - control and possession, love and loss, abuse and learning to recover, anger and helplessness. The ending was good and I liked the optimistic way the novel finished. It’s an unusual and daring idea to set a story in and around a station but it so worked. The author captured the hustle and bustle but also that stations can be the scene of tragedy in this superbly different story. Highly recommended.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Platform Seven is beautifully written I sank into the writing of it - and the premise was clever and involving. Told from the point of view of a ghost, haunting a train station, there is a mix of mystery and drama that was immediately engaging.

A 5* rating seemed likely, however I became less enamoured with the actual story by the time I was at the halfway stage. The prose and the way Louise Doughty uses language is second to none but genuinely I did feel it went on a bit. And on..and then on a bit more. As the ghostly figure endlessly drifted and self contemplated so did my mind wander.

The character drama elements were wonderfully done as you learned more about the people working at the station, the background to the Platform Seven suicides, but I do feel a good chunk of the middle had too much nothing happening.

Overall a good read that in my personal subjective opinion could do with a more hefty edit - beginning and ending magnificently but losing cohesion at the centre.

Still recommended though. Especially if like me you live for those odd quirky beautiful sentences that hit you when you are reading a genuinely talented writers work.

[Roman Clodia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I made the same mistake that women and girls throughout the ages and across continents have so often made, the one that is so easy, so seductive, so flattering to ourselves. I mistook possessiveness for love.

While this doesn't have the immediate compulsive grab of Doughty's Apple Tree Yard, it ends up being a more mature book by the end. Do stick with it, though - I found the first 25-30% hard going and difficult to pick up the tail of the narrative: but by the time Lisa starts telling her own story of her life with Matty, I was hooked.

There are definite shades of Into the Darkest Corner and Killing Me Softly, and a strength is Doughty's forensic application of detail and specificity as Lisa's fairy-tale romance starts to drip-feed unease before turning down some dark routes.

It's only gradually that the range of characters introduced at the start begin to make sense - and I love the way Doughty balances a troubling vision with something more life enhancing and positive. A page-turner, then, that also deals intelligently with emotive and important topics.

Many thanks to Faber & Faber for an ARC via NetGalley.

[Claire Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable, well-written, literary, thriller-y type novel. It's narrated by a ghost - Lisa - who has died on Platform Seven of Peterborough Station a short while after a man committed suicide there. As her memories gradually come back, we return to the time when Lisa was alive, and the events that led to her death. Lisa is also able to visit people who work at the station or are just travelling through and we get to know parts of their lives too - which was really well done. Everyone was completely real, the story was perfectly paced, and I was desperate to find out what happened. (My only reason for 4 stars and not 5, is that what 'powers' Doughty gives Lisa sometimes seemed a little too convenient and simply there for the story. Some people's minds she can read, but not everyone all the time, she can pass through windows and people but has to catch a train to go any distance, sometimes she can influence people but not always etc.)

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off strongly but unfortunately became incredibly boring very quickly.

I would give a big warning to people who are thinking of picking this book up because of how upsetting and triggering it is. It starts of with graphic descriptions of suicide and is quite a challenge to read.

The book also deals with abuse relationships and gas lighting. Which is also very hard to read, I don't think this book should be recommend lightly.

It is told from a unique perspective and the writing is quite interesting but the book goes on a bit of tangent and ends up being like any other thriller. It was quite a drag to get to in the end

I wouldn't say this is really a thriller, maybe more a mystery but the mystery isn't that good nor is there any big twist at the end. It is more of a character study.

I listened to the audiobook of this and I found it really haunting to listen to.

Overall, I was disappointed by this book because of the strong start and high potential it had but ultimately it let me down.

TW: graphic suicide, domestic violence, abusive relationships and gas lighting

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ghost of a girl killed by a train at Platform Seven is trapped in the station. She spends her time observing the passengers and staff. Early one morning a man at the end of the platform falls in front of a train.
Slowly Lisa's memory begins to return and now she remembers her name and the events leading up to her death.
This was a slow moving tale about relationships and consequences.
Thanks you to NetGalley and Faber & Faber for my e-copy copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Nina · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were several moments in which I contemplated not finishing Platform Seven because for the most part, it was just a really awful book. But I'm glad I finished it anyway even though reading the last quarter of it still didn't change my opinion on this book.

I read Platform Seven for the Literally Dead Book Club and I was actually quite excited for it. The book is categorised as horror which is a genre totally outside of my comfort zone but I was excited to give it a try and was expecting it to be very dark and scary. Instead however, while the plot was pretty dark the book itself just wasn't scary at all and felt more like a contemporary novel with a bit of a heavier theme. In a nutshell, it's a book about a woman whose boyfriend treats her very badly until she ends up committing suicide. It's a story I've definitely seen in other books before and the only difference really is, that she turned into a ghost after her death and is now trying to figure out whether she's remembering everything correctly and whether her death could've been prevented. You would think the chapters about her as a ghost are the most interesting ones but I actually thought the only slightly interesting part of this book was the middle section in which we went back in time to learn about her life.

So all in all, Platform Seven was unfortunately a very disappointing read and I really hope I'll enjoy this month's book club pick a lot more!

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[luce (cry bebè's back from hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

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In spite of its flaws Platform Seven is a lot more thoughtful than one might expect from its murder mystery premise.

“There was a man on the station only two hours ago who will never go home again.”

One of the least successful aspects of this book is that it tries, and doesn't really succeed, in combining two different genres and concepts together.
The first 30% or so of this novel proposes a slow and atmospheric take on the ghost story. Louise Doughty's use of the supernatural, although patchy, allows her to create a mosaic of the lives and troubles of the people working at Peterborough Railway Station. Forgotten and largely overlooked, they are forced to deal with horrific situations such as suicides. Through Lisa Evans, the ghost of a suicide victim, we follow some of the night staff in their everyday lives. Lisa is somehow able to tell what these people feel and think, and there is a sense of quiet resignation in the people she observes. Although depressive, very much so, it was interesting to glimpse the fears and desires of the people observed by ghost-Lisa. I found Dalmar, Tom, Melissa, and Andrew's lives interesting and affecting.

“What is the point where a human being stops being a human being and becomes a thing? Most people think it happens with death but Dalmar knows it can happen a long time before then if it needs to, so that other people can bear what they are seeing. ”

At times being reminded that we were seeing their lives through ghost-Lisa seemed to offset how realistic these characters were. Ghost-Lisa herself seems to fluctuated between being “a ghost, invisible and silent, nothing but consciousness” who doesn't have memories of her past, a body, or a sense of her own humanity (“When you don’t have a body, time is no longer even or consistent: it stretches and bends, folds in on itself. ”) little more than an impassive and intangible observer, and yet, she also comes across as the cliché of a ghost, one that wouldn't be out of place in A Christmas Carol.
As the narrative slowly progresses ghost-Lisa seems increasingly incongruous. Although she initially stresses that she is a mere consciousness with no links to her past, she can also 'see', 'float', and move her human-shaped-ghost-body.
Because of this I was never able to immerse myself in what she was narrating, and part of me wishes that it had all been narrated from a third perspective as it would have made ghost-Lisa slightly less off-key and more convincing.

As ghost-Lisa becomes preoccupied with the latest suicide on 'her' platform she somehow becomes able to remember her own past. The switch between ghost-story to a tale of an abusive-relationship is quite jarring.
Rather than presenting us with Lisa's whole life, Louise Doughty focuses on the last few years before her death, depicting a detailed, occasionally frustratingly so, portrait of the relationship between Lisa and her boyfriend. We follow them through nerve-racking dinners to conversations and fights that draw attention to the secret and concealed violence that dictates her boyfriend's behaviour towards her. Lisa recounts how time and again she glossed over his increasingly manipulative behaviour towards her. The realisation that her beloved boyfriend Matty is a toxic little sh*t is a slow one and first we are forced to watch as Lisa becomes increasingly alienated from her life and daily existence because of him.

While I could sort of emphasise with Lisa's difficultly in reconciling herself with her abusive relationship it a bit weird that this came to her as a 'surprise'...from their very first meeting he acts in a perturbing way towards her. Other people think that he is charming-golden-boy...but I never saw that either. Late in the novel he sings her song during her birthday party but I'm not sure that singing one song would make her friends and family believe that he is the perfect boyfriend. As ghost-Lisa sort of pre-warns us about Matty's true character, my perception of him never changed: from his first appearance to his last one he struck me as a horrible manipulator.

The scenes which feature their deteriorating relationship could at times be very repetitive and part of me wishes that we could have been properly introduced to Lisa before her relationship with Matty. At times her role seems to be confined to that of 'victim' (not that she isn't a victim but her roles seemed to be restricted to that of Matty's girlfriend) . I wish more of her personality had come through rather than having such a large part of the narrative focus on how paranoid and anxious she became during her relationship with Matty. More could have been made of her relationship with her family and best friend, so we could have at least seen Lisa 'without' Matty.

The pacing of the story was rather uneven. Occasionally the slow and ambiguous narrative could create and build tension. For example, Doughty emphasises Lisa's unease during a fight with Matty at their favourite restaurant by dragging out the description of a pepper mill:

“As he turned it over our plates, coal-black chunks of pepper fell from the end and the grinding blades made a squeaking sound like the iron wheels of a very old train creaking slowly into motion. I felt plunged into seriousness, all at once, as if I had been missing something important in the debate we had just had, as if I should have known what it was but was too dim to work it out. The squeaking of the pepper mill set my teeth on edge. I realised the waiter was going to keep going until I told him to stop, so I lifted my hand.”

In other instances however Doughty seems to loose herself in detailed and irrelevant descriptions. A few pages are wasted on ghost-Lisa taking a gander through a Waitrose where she is repeatedly amazed by the items they sell:

“Since when did doughnuts come in so many flavours; lemon icing, raspberry icing, salted caramel icing? It isn’t just the doughnuts. I traverse the aisles. Ice cream sauce comes in creamy fudge flavour, Belgian chocolate flavour, raspberry coulis flavour and – my favourite – Alphonso mango, passion fruit and yuzu. What is a yuzu? Is an Alphonso mango significantly different from any other kind of mango […] then I go and confirm my suspicions about carrots: they are, of course, even more orange than I remember […] on my way out, I drift along the salad bar, glancing into the tubs of salad one by one, wondering why so many of them contain kidney beans.”

That scene lasted way longer than it should have and it didn't really serve any purpose other than a weak reassertion that ghost-Lisa has few memories of her life.

Overall I think that the idea was better than the execution. There were scenes which were both powerful and horrific, but more often than not these were lost in a painstakingly redundant narrative which repeatedly looses itself in digressions that added very little to the overarching story.
Platform Seven seemed to contain two different books. A not entirely convincing supernatural ghost-story (where much is made of the coincidence of two suicides at the same platform) in which ghost-Lisa follows others around, making occasionally thought-provoking deliberations but frequently resorts cookie-like musing. The other narrative is an uncomfortably close look at how vicious and insidious an emotionally and psychologically abusive relationship can be. We see how Matty uses his job as a doctor to guilt-trip Lisa, how he deliberately works to erase her sense of self, her self-esteem, and her happiness.
While I wouldn't necessarily say that I 'enjoyed' reading this (given that the novel deals with many different forms of abuse) Doughty's approach to this subject was interesting and refreshing.

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Platform Seven is Ms Doughty's ninth thriller and this time the paranormal plays a substantial part in the story as our narrator is actually a ghost. It's a very dark and unsettling read with a real sense of mystery and a fiendishly twisty narrative full of surprises. It broaches some important issues sensitively and compassionately too and given that we rarely see the issue of suicide depicted in a fictional manner (although Peterborough Station is very much real) I thought it was brave and admirable. The atmosphere was built up until it became quite oppressive and the story genuinely chilling. I rarely get rattled by a book, but Doughty has penned a disturbing ghost tale that really got under my skin. Despite this, it was a compulsively readable and exquisitely written tale that deserves a wide readership.

The unnerving story follows two suicides that have taken place on Platform Seven and the impact that they had on not only the family and friends of the victims but all of the people involved including station staff, police and medical professionals. Sadly, as with all things, these deaths are only present in people's minds for a short time and then he busyness of the station and everyday life once again takes over. The narrative also touches on Lisa's experience at the hands of an abusive partner; it's not an easy read by any stretch of the imagination because of the potent topics it explores, but somehow the feeling of hope is still alive and kicking despite this. Overall, Platform Seven is an emotional story with characters that leap off the pages and into your heart and a plot that is as original as it is gripping. Many thanks to Faber & Faber for an ARC.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audio book as that was the only medium that was available via the library. I'm not sure I would have made it through reading it in print as it jumps around and has some slower, observational bits. Though, with that said, I did enjoy listening to it.

It is not a thriller. At all. It's sad and made me mad, but then, I realized it also had such a sweet nugget of joy showing how it's the little things in life that are what matters.

This was a really different book than what I would gravitate to, so I'm glad to have read/listened to it.

[Holly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't wait for this book to end. Slow start, picked up a bit in the middle but by the end I just wanted it to be over. It was a slog

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written novel by Louise Doughty and strangely is narrated by a ghost. The ghost hangs around Peterborough railway station Platform Seven, unseen by all the passengers and unsure who they were. During the early hours of the morning she witnesses a man committing suicide on Platform Seven and suddenly memories start to flood back. The ghost starts to recall that she was Lisa Evans and she also died on Platform Seven some 18 months earlier. Lisa Evans was a young secondary school teacher and had been dating the good looking Dr Matthew Goodison but unfortunately everything was not rosy. The handsome Doctor was abusive and wanted to control everything Lisa did.

This is an addictive, if not unusual type of ghost story that strangely hooks the reader although it could be described as quite slow in parts. Excellent characters and for me a nice change from my usual book genre.

[Kiera O'Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a bad book but the marketing, the cover and even the title are so incredibly psychological thriller-y, and not only is this book very much not a psychological thriller, I think readers' expectations of a fast-moving plot and sharp twists are going to affect their enjoyment of what is actually a very nuanced and moving portrayal of an abusive relationship. For me, the opening chapters dragged, and it wasn't until Lisa's flashback started that I really got into Platform Seven.

Matty's gaslighting was written very well, and if I hadn't just finished Jenny Downham's indescribably brilliant Furious Thing, which deals with the same subject, I'd be giving that section alone five stars. It absolutely flew by, and despite being set over several months and depicting insidious behaviour, actually felt a lot tighter than the rest of the book.

However, outside the flashback, there was way too much focus on minor details, like all the different types of rice Lisa despairs of in the supermarket, and all the backstories of the periphery characters that we just didn't need. The ending seemed to drag on forever, with every single tiny loose end tied up. Were the security guard or the man who bought a ukulele without his wife knowing really worth all those pages? Perhaps if it had been billed as a slice-of-life (/death) character study I'd be more forgiving.

[Cathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel has all the elements of dark fiction - paranormal, psychological, suspenseful thriller. There were parts of the story that endeared me into appreciating this read, and there were parts of the story line I had wished were more cohesive. And I expected more closure towards the end.

This is my first Louise Doughty and she weaves a most atmospheric read. If you have been in wait at a rail station or commute via rail, the writing transports you. The character is binding in her actions, of purgatory. The writing not only tells the story of Lisa, but of her confinement, and when you realize as you are following Lisa following Caleb, you feel her freedom. There are themes of regret and retribution; finality and closure. Time here plays an important part and she is vivid in her details.

A worthy read given the chance.

Upon reading the author's acknowledgements and where I am in my life: Now my parents are dead and my children grown, I value extended family more than ever. They, and the groups of people mentioned above, have shown me much generosity and kindness - arguably the purest form of love.


It Might be You

[Paula · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful.That' s 2 awfuls in a row.I really need a good book.

[Susana · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars ⭐

Trigger warnings: abuse, gaslighting, mentions of pedophilia & CSA

This book was not what I expected...

I read it because it was the May pick for the Literally Dead Book Club hosted by Kayla and I was really looking forward to it because I thought it was going to be a paranormal thriller/mystery. However, that was not what I got.

This story is really about a woman being gaslighted by her abusive boyfriend who is, surprise surprise, a total asshole. I will say that I was mildly interested in the past chapters which show the protagonist's relationship with said boyfriend, but after a few I got bored because I didn't really get what the author was trying to do with this book. And I have to say that, after finishing it, I still don't.

I genuinely don't have anything else to say as this novel is pretty forgettable. I wish I had known what it was really about beforehand as I most likely would not have picked it up had that been the case.

[Pgchuis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Initially I thought this was great. I was intrigued by the mystery of why Lisa was confined to the railway station, and what her precise state of being was. The characters she encountered and described were also fascinating.

However, once it moved to more of a straight narrative of her life with Matty, things became very predictable (Matty wasn't subtle) and depressing and I started skimming. The parallel story of Andrew and Ruth also had a rather unoriginal conclusion. Finally, the 'world-building' disappointed me: Lisa was suddenly able to leave the station because she loved Andrew? Why was Lisa still around anyway? Why could she sometimes see into the future? Why could she sometimes read people's thoughts? Why could she see the "grey swirl" in the multi-storey car park?

Well-written though.

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was far from an easy read but it was a emersive story. About sucide and mental abuse. Made me feel uncomfortable and angry but I couldn't stop reading it. I'm glad I gave Louise Doughty another go.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this, what a captivating read. It has elements of the paranormal, but is really about human relationships, love, death and grief.

Highly recommended.

[Gigi · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

Unfortunately, this book was not what I thought it would be. Because it's told through the eyes of a ghost, I was expecting a much creepier story. Instead, the main character spends a lot of time observing others at the train station and getting lost in her own thoughts, which I found tiresome.

The premise sounded promising, but the story just didn't hold my attention long enough for me to want to continue.

Thank you Netgalley and Faber & Faber for my eARC

[Richard Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contains some mild and possibly helpful spoilers

Platform Seven by Louise Doughty is an incredibly ambitious novel. At its most basic, it is an exploration of a coercive relationship, but it has plenty to say about the value of life and the lives of individuals and the communities in which they live and work. Most audaciously, the narrator is dead, which makes Doughty literally a ghost writer. There are times when the resulting book rivals anything else I will read this year, and even when the novel stumbles there is plenty to consider.

The plot falls into four main phases. The first sets up the concept, with the ghost of Lisa Evans hanging around Peterborough station. We don’t know why she is there (she can’t remember) or what she can do: her boundaries are both well- and ill-defined. She can’t, at the start, leave the station nor can she really interact with the living. We are intrigued, and we learn heaps about what really happens behind the scenes and what the lives of the station staff are like. Doughty doesn’t need to spell it out but she uses Evans’ ghostly nature as an elaborate metaphor for the human spirit. Evans is an engaging and witty narrator with matter-of-fact views about relationships and slightly self-deprecating remarks about cornflakes and Ryanair. She comes across as a perceptive and articulate everywoman, and we like her and the majority of the other characters. If the ghostly rules of engagement aren’t exactly defined, Doughty has some parallels to do with time-bending (when the clocks go back and forward) or dawn blurs into a new day. It’s not entirely convincing – unlike the accounts of the working of the station which seem utterly realistic – but it’s charming and we’re more than happy to go along with it.

But by the end of the second phase, the what has been set out, even if we don’t know the how and the why. We realise that the link between Evans and a suicide victim is not quite what it seems. Evans has realised that her former boyfriend, Matty, is responsible for her death. The third phase explores the relationship between Lisa and Matty. We know Matty is not a good man, which in some ways blunts the description of coercive control (by the time each episode of abuse occurs we’re already braced and waiting) but which leaves Doughty free to consider other types of power in relationships, including the ever-harrowing subject of child abuse. (Doughty tackles it extremely carefully: indeed it is not really described though the consequences for the victims are.)

There are some really biting moments here. Lisa’s own personal philosophy is to embrace contentment – she was quietly happy before Matty’s arrival and there is an undercurrent through which we are asked why we tolerate the Matties in our midst. (And we are shown how to spot them.) Lisa didn’t have the measure of him at the time, but now says, of the moment the police tell him of her death,

He believed himself to be a man who, through no fault of his own, had suffered a terrible bereavement.

A sentence that works on so many levels it is practically a multi-storey car park.

Finally, Doughty wraps things up. By that I mean that she explores how different characters have reacted or will react to the various events of the story. That might sound a bit basic, but Doughty makes it anything but. Despite the supernatural elements of the novel, Platform Seven is all about people making sense of their surroundings or situation, getting on, getting by, following a path or designing one for themselves. The range of characters before us is carefully assembled and we watch them all search for the thrilling within the mundane. Lisa herself needs to come to terms with her situation but the denouement doesn’t quite work for me. I am not sure why. Lisa absolutely owns the right to make the decision she does, and it’s in character. If pushed, I think it is because her declaration about it is triumphant which is understandable but jarring. I wonder if that’s what Doughty had in mind: to make us realise that we judge the outsider, the sad-hearted and even the dead. Instead of rushing to criticise, we should take joy in the vibrant and vivid colour of carrots.

I really liked Platform Seven. I think you have to be prepared to engage with it and you won’t agree with it all. But it’s definitely worth a go. And you’ll always look out for Peterborough on the railway map.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

The initial portion of the book presents an atmospheric interpretation of a ghost story, characterized by a gradual pacing. The effective use of supernatural elements constructs a complex narrative that encapsulates the lives of the personnel at Peterborough Railway Station. The characters are compelled to confront the tragic occurrences that transpire at the station, including incidents of suicide. The narrative is presented through the perspective of Lisa Evans, a ghost who was unable to leave the station after taking her own life. She possesses the ability to discern the thoughts and feelings of those around her, utilizing this knowledge to foster a sense of resignation among the individuals she observes. The fears and desires of the numerous patrons illustrate the station as a sombre space for all who traverse it. Throughout the narrative, Lisa oscillates between her existence as a ghost and her lack of memories about her past and her humanity.

In my assessment, Lisa’s narrative might achieve greater effectiveness if conveyed from a third-person perspective. As she begins to recall her past, the ghost story transitions into an account of an abusive relationship with her boyfriend. This shift contributes to a sense of confusion and disjointedness within the storyline.

The book subsequently shifts its focus from Lisa’s life story to the final years preceding her death. The depiction of the relationship between Lisa and her boyfriend, Matty, encompasses tense dinners and their ensuing conflicts, which are veiled manifestations of his violent behaviour. Consequently, Lisa becomes increasingly detached from her daily life due to Matty's influence.

While readers may initially empathize with Lisa’s character, it becomes evident from their first encounter that Matty exhibits unsettling behaviour. Although Lisa attempts to caution others regarding his manipulative tendencies, those in her life, including family and friends, perceive him as a charismatic individual. A considerable portion of the narrative concentrates on the deterioration of their relationship; however, there is little insight into Lisa’s character before this dynamic, leaving her characterized predominantly by paranoia and anxiety.

The book introduces an engaging premise, but it begins to exhibit signs of monotony in the latter half. Prospective readers should be aware that the book addresses sensitive themes such as gaslighting, graphic depictions of suicide, domestic violence, and abusive relationships, which may prove distressing for some individuals. Thus, I cannot recommend this book to all readers due to the challenging topics it explores.

While the book offers a unique perspective and the writing is commendable, the second half diverges excessively and concludes in a manner typical of thrillers. I found the reading experience arduous and required considerable effort to conclude.

The author endeavours to merge two distinct genres, yet this attempt ultimately falls short. The book oscillates between the genres of thriller and mystery but does not execute either effectively. Instead, it leans toward character study rather than plot development.

Initially, the book piqued my interest due to its promising concept; however, it ultimately did not meet my expectations. The premise appeared more compelling than the execution of the storyline. While there are moments of raw and impactful writing, the narrative often becomes repetitive, contributing little to the overarching story. "Platform Seven" seems to comprise two disparate narratives: a ghost story and the tumultuous relationship between Lisa and Matty. In conclusion, this book did not fulfil its potential. I initially rated the book 5 stars, but halfway through, I found it difficult to continue. Therefore, I would give it a rating of 2.5 stars!

[Mellisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

On Platform Seven, Lisa Evans watches a man think he's alone. He cannot see Lisa, but Lisa can see him. Lisa knows exactly what's he's going to do, and tries but fails to stop him. Lisa feels there's a connection between her and this man, and she is desperate to find out what. After all, she was the first to die on the tracks, and she can't remember what led her to that point...

This is such a unique book. Its a ghost story, but filled with such important messages. It's a thriller that's split into a ghost story and a mystery, with Lisa trying to find out what happened that day she died.

Louise is a fantastic author, her books are gripping in their own way, they are so hard to describe but so enjoyable. Each one has twists that are played down but have huge impacts.

Read this book!

[Roz]

I can tell this is not going to get any better. I’m not sure how it’s going to be horror, though..

[Valentina Vekovishcheva · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first boring thriller in my life

[Fay Flude · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I have read in some while.
An emotionally intelligent tale, Louis Doughty has crafted the most beautiful, heart-breaking, original and poignant way to portray emotional abuse, love in all its forms and how we learn to let go.
The story is narrated by a ghost, Lisa, who is trapped on Platform Seven of Peterborough train station, where her life ended. The story starts with a man who commits suicide by jumping in front of a freight train in spite of Lisa recognising what is about to happen and trying to stop him. She cannot leave the station but by following various people, listening in and analysing her thought processes she is eventually able to move beyond the confines of the station and in doing so we learn a lot more about Lisa when she was alive and the events that led to her death.
The prose is poetic, the pace slow, but in being so tension is created and the beauty in love, emotional pain and death laid bare.
The book makes for an excellent read because you become so invested in the characters' lives that you are desperate to know how things have ended up where they are, and how some situations might be resolved. The reader will also end up desperate for justice on Lisa's behalf. Dr Matthew Goodison or 'Matty,' Lisa's boyfriend, is a complex character who will make you angry, upset and ultimately baying for his blood.
Whilst the book is able to 'entertain' us as we follow the quest for truth and justice, it is mostly a novel that makes you think about some very serious issues; abusive relationships, sexual abuse, suicide, being a refugee, happiness, freedom and society's response (or lack thereof) to the needs of vulnerable people.
There is Dalmar a Somalian refugee, who was an engineer in his own country but now works on the railway and lives in the poorest part of town, Andrew and his sister who have suffered unspeakably as children but need to find their own way of saying goodbye to the past, and then there is Lisa's best friend, her parents and the neighbour who lives in the downstairs flat. Each one of these people has experienced traumatic events in their lives but what they all share is the ability to find ways to carry on living again, even though their lives are very different from 'before.' And by doing this, people who are dead but were loved can carry on living.
I am not the same person I was when I started reading this book. That is how powerful this novel is. It spoke to me on so many different levels and made me question my own beliefs and more generally how society is caught up in consumerism and the pursuit of perpetual happiness, which is of course a ludicrous goal because it just doesn't exist.
Dalmar cannot forgive himself for one act upon fleeing his country and therefore cannot allow himself to get close to another human being, young PC Lockhart is questioning whether he has really done enough and if not, is he actually cut out for a career with the British Transport Police. He understands the pain of loving another from afar, and the novel asks us to explore what true love is, making the distinction between love and possession.
This book made me weep, for the damage we cause one another, for the decisions we make and the torment we can go through. There is tragedy but there is also redemption. And as Lisa's ghostly wanderings help her to recover her memory of when she was alive, the truths are revealed in all their painful finality. Instead of the book being depressing though it is not, we rejoice in the fact that at long last Lisa can finally say goodbye and be free to choose where to spend the rest of her days.
I found it very hard to let this book go when I finished reading.
If I could award this book 10 stars I would! For me an absolute MUST read!

[Tripfiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Psychological thriller set around PETERBOROUGH



When I used to travel down the East Coast Main Line (as it was in those days, now LNER, through multiple reincarnations), with children in tow, the train would always stop briefly at Peterborough Station. It is a veritable hub of train activity. Apart from calling it Peanut Butter station, there was something about the light on the uncovered platforms that made the passengers milling about seem to appear in sharp relief. We would always invent stories about the people waiting – a spy here, a doctor there, a thief hidden behind the advertising hoarding and maybe a police officer about to arrest a vagabond.

So, what is it about this particular station that invites storytelling? Who knew it had story-filled lay lines ? And in Platform Seven (a platform that is a relatively new addition to the station apparently) there is plenty of imagination folded into the pages of this well written novel.

Lisa is a ghostly figure who lost her life just under 2 years ago on the tracks of Platform Seven. She now inhabits the station in a state of consciousness, patrolling the people who inhabit the station, monitoring the situations that arise when waves of people plough through a station concourse. She is stuck there. But why is she stuck there?

The first third portrays her sad and lonely existence (is that the right word, does a ghost “exist”?). She expatiates her detailed observations and these are often beautifully drawn, just the everyday humdrum that is station life. It can at times feel a little slow and consequently some readers may drop out at this point. The second section details her human life as was, as she embarks on a relationship with Matty, who happens to be a venerated doctor based at the local hospital. And it is here that the reader understands the powerful nature of an intimate, adult relationship which can become very skewed through pernicious and insidious abuse. The effects are immense. The last section goes back to her phantom self, now liberated from the confines of the station and enabled to explore further afield.

This is a novel that makes for an interesting construct. It ponders the nature of a purgatorial afterlife – although at times it can feel a bit woolly – but it gets into its stride when describing the intricacies of the relationship between Lisa and Matthew. It also looks at the effect of suicide on the wider community, how many people inevitably do become involved in the aftermath and the toll it can take on individuals who remain in the world. Lisa can also observe the life that comes after her demise. The story is excellent on people and setting and offers readers a chilling frisson, a read, poised on the knife-edge of life.

This is the author’s ninth novel and makes for a satisfying read after the hugely popular Apple Tree Yard.