The Haunting by Titchmarsh, Alan Reprint Edition

by Alan Titchmarsh

How can the mysterious disappearance of Anne Flint in 1816 and the drowning of a young girl in a chalk stream so long ago possibly affect the life of schoolteacher Harry Flint some two centuries later? Having left his job and with a failed marriage behind him, Harry begins to research his ancestors. The deeper he digs, the more he realizes that the past is closer than he had ever imagined.The Haunting is a story of love and betrayal, intrigue and murder. Where people are not what they seem, and the past is no more predictable than the future...

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Audiobook, Ghost Stories

Paperback

First published September 1, 2011

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very light but easy read with a little bit of history, a little bit of ghostliness and quite a lot of romance. It is not the best of this author's novels but it goes down easily like an iced cupcake with a cup of tea and does not give the reader anything to worry about. The main characters are nice, friendly people who will obviously sort things out to every one's satisfaction in the end. I passed the book on to my mother who will love it.

[C. (Comment, never msg). · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the characters of the 2010 and 1816 timelines but one star dropped for committing a misleading faux-pas. Fans seeking paranormal mysteries buy titles like “The Haunting"! Never employ such a title, if your book is not about a haunting! Paranormal elements need not be horrific but instead, inspiring. Why limit mystical choices to monsters? Literature needs novels about ghosts that aren’t horror stories; not another foray into historical fiction. Those are churned-out by the millions.

This genealogical mystery was perfect for the simple tale of identifying a spirit. I am annoyed that it was plain fiction, containing only a fleeting vision and cold spots at the end. I am stunned that a book’s very title was applied so poorly. A dual protagonist timeline, never a style I favour, tacked on another plain story. I want the relatable present day reaction, of characters experiencing awe over meeting a spirit.

Another star dropped for abruptly showcasing extreme Alzheimer’s violence. It is an ailment close to my heart but was only used to make an unconnected topical statement. British authors: for foreign readers, please specify separate vocabulary words for “lawn”, “yard”, and “property”. Those do not translate as “the garden”, sweepingly generalized. That is the patch of soil where plants grow. If you mean the yard, write “the yard”.

Alan Titchmarsh crafted the nice story of a likeable man retiring, relocating, researching a gap in his genealogy, and falling in love. I cheered on the 1816 heroine, enjoying how well events connected the principal characters. However, I sought the electricity of solving old questions and a ghost appearance; not an additional living protagonist. We need the awe of uncovering tangible secrets, artifacts, and spirits from the perspective of our timeline. Surely there are mysteries of antiquity and wonderment for adventurers today.

[Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first novel I have read by Alan Titchmarsh. I thought it was really good but not what I expected! I thought both story lines were good and I looked forward to every chapter. I will certainly give his other books a try.

[Felicity Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a pretty cover, perhaps a bit too pink but still pretty and very glittery - you can't really see it here but trust me it is liberally sprinkled with silver glittery bits.

Anyway,

An OK read, what I would describe as undemanding and perfect for these lengthening autumn nights.

The Haunting is a nice gentle, thankfully non-sloppy, totally inoffensive (any real shows of passion are left up to the readers imagination) tale of romance and intrigue that takes place over two time zones set centuries apart. Not always easy to do, Mr Titchmarsh expertly and seamlessly manages to intertwine the historical and modern.

Not able to recommend this one as highly as I might otherwise as to me the author's strengths lie not in his characterisations BUT in his powers of description and in particular his observations on nature which, given that he is probably better known as a gardening expert, I suppose is only to be expected.

Conversations also proved a bit of a sticking point for me in that they just weren't somehow or other convincing - nothing I can put my finger on, they just didn't always ring true. Also, more to do with me than any fault on the authors part, I have the tendency to give voices to characters and given Alan's well known and distinctive voice I found myself unable to do so hearing only his strong Yorkshire accent which I confess did mar my overall enjoyment of the book.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

All very convenient have everything just falls into place but a relaxing read in these strange times.

[Fluffychick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harry is a sadly disillusioned History teacher in his early forties, although he seems much older in his manner and lifestyle! Still getting over his brief but disastrous marriage he's resigned from his job and decides to buy a quaint but neglected cottage by the river. He is quickly enamoured by Alex, his new neighbour who lives alone with her daughter, Anne. New love distracts him from his search for his ancestors but through his new home and an unexpected find from his best friend Rick, history finds him. Running alongside and eventually coinciding with the modern story is the tale of Anne Flint, a fifteen year old housemaid with aspirations who finds excitement isn't all it's cracked up to be when her adventure quickly leads to tragedy.
It was pretty much as I expected - a gentle paced, easy read. I enjoyed it, but felt there was a much "bigger" story to be made of the idea. The whole "haunting" element was a bit of a red herring and the decline of his old headteacher is quickly forgotten; it all felt a bit rushed and skimmed over as if a more extended and in depth book had been hacked about. Due to this, none of the characters were really memorable and I thought the modern day Anne had so much potential. Shame really as I liked what was there but just wanted more.

[Paula Sealey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having been a fan of Mr Titchmarsh for many years through his gardening programmes, I was intrigued to find he wrote novels as well. I was extremely surprised to find this an unputdownable book, incredibly well written and full of wonderful descriptive text.

Set in 2010 and 1816, we are treated to two storylines that weave nicely together. Harry, recently divorced and unsure of where his life is taking him begins to research his ancestors, and finds ties with Anne Flint, a house servant in the 1800's who becomes embroiled in a tragic death.

I'll certainly be adding more of Alan's books to my reading list.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was better than I expected. I only chose it because it meant I could tick off one the Pop Sugar list, 'a book written by a celebrity', I usually avoid 'celebrity' books like the plague. What can I say, I've read a lot worse!

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another gem from Mr Titchmarsh. It was so different to his other novels but, still very enjoyable. I love that all his books are so different each one is unique. I recommend this one as it’s has a ghost and is very well written.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An exciting start in both 1816 and 2010 -- a missing maid! an upper class girl in her clothing, drowned in a stream! a recently divorced history teacher researching his genealogy and searching for his dream house! -- soon gives way to a fine but muted romance in the present day and rather sad circumstances for the past. (Right about the time she had to accept her fate as a reluctantly willing prostitute for the night -- because after all, he is rather handsome! this is sexy kind of! might as well make the best of it if she can't escape, right? -- is where I lost all enchantment with it.) The threads did come together in the end, but I would rather have given up and made up my own story for where Anne Flint went. All in all, not a bad plot in either timeline, just not quite what I was expecting.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story by Alan Titchmarsh. It has very short chapters which makes it a easy read. It's two stories in one, in 1816 Ann is a housemaid in a manner house, in 2010 Harry Flint is a history teacher and at a turning point in his life, after a failed marriage he decides to leave his job and move house, a fresh start. The chapters usually alternate between Ann and Harry, the mystery was the connection between them which is revealed in the end. Would recommend, a lovely light read.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

i dont think one can go wrong with an Alan Titchmarsh novel, they are good and well thoughtout but gentle and easy to read, rather than any great depth and plot of a fast paced action novel.

[Becki Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually really warmed to it. Wish could of played out both stories more!

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish at more than 150 pages in. Very slow and boring.

[Dark-Draco · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm going to be completely honest and say I have absolutely no idea what genre the author was aiming for - whether it was historical, romance, supernatural or mystery, it fell seriously short of any.

That's not to say it wasn't an ok read - it was enjoyable on some level. There's two stories here and the chapters bounce from one to the other. At first it has huge promise - a missing 18th century maid, a dead body in the river and a modern teacher who decides to buy a house on that same river. And then it kind of dwindled a bit.

The mystery is soon solved as the reader begins to follow the maid's adventures. The romance is a bit unbelievable and somewhat forced. And the supernatural haunting is all but non-existent ... I expected this to be the thing that tied the two stories together, but instead you get a mish-mash of ancestry hunting, odd coincidences and things happening that have absolutely no real impact on the plot line.

So overall, ok, but a bit boring and disappointing.

[Anam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harry Flint is tired of his boring life, being history teacher to a bunch of ungrateful twelve year olds who ask why they should be studying the past, and his failed marriage to barrister Serena. He wants new start, a beautiful beginning, rather than a happy ending. His interests range from history to genealogy to lives of saints. He wants to trace his family history, so far he is stuck on Merrily Flint, he can’t seem to go further back beyond Merrily. Harry buys a cottage on the banks of a chalk stream, the river Itchen Parva. Little does he know that his family history was made on the banks of this same river, and that a connection is about to be forged between him and his next-door neighbor Alexandria Overton and her daughter Anne, a connection which goes back centuries. He also discovers that his friend and fellow teacher, Rick Palfrey’s ancestors too lived on this land. But who is the lady in white Anne sights in Harry’s home, what is she carrying, and why is there an icy draught in his cottage in June? And is Sir Marcus Carew of dubious descent or is he really related to Sir Thomas Carew of the 1800s?

Though the name of the book says ‘haunting’, this book does not haunt in the stereotypical way with gaudy screams, ghosts with OTT make-up and doors banging. In this haunting, the past gets too close to the future and shapes the lives of all those who are associated with it. As Harry says, we need to learn about the past because the past shapes the present, which in turn shapes the future. Written in beautiful language, with the narrative switching between 1816 and 2010, The Haunting stays with you, and haunts you.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Haunting is set in two frames with some interwoven historical detail. It tells the story of Anne Flint, a young housemaid in 1816, who is caught up in the elopement of the young mistress of a neighbouring house, and present day protagonist, Harry Flint, a disillusioned history teacher, seeking a new start after a failed marriage.

Overall, it's a nice easy read. I thought the dual time element was really well done, and the story captured the historical feel without getting overloaded with unnecessary detail.

I read it quickly over a couple of days, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Liz Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is set in two different times. Loved the 1816 story, the present day story was really dull, unexciting and predictable.

Also didn't like the way the beginning of the book was constantly switching times so it was hard to get into the characters.

Would have been a much better book if the present day storyline was removed.

[Patrianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alternating between 1816 and 2010, I initially knew the connection but couldn't quite grasp its significance until the two worlds collided at the very last chapter. Done without elements of fantasy and science fiction, this novel weaves two timelines in breathtaking language and pace with just a touch of comprehension.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as it was a little different & also set in Winchester & surrounding villages so it was easy to picture the scene.Always love it when Alan Titchmarsh writes a love scene.....he's so good at them!!Very enjoyable read .

[Nicola Clough · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't my normal sort of book for reading and wasn't sure I would enjoy it but it was quite good and quite enjoyed it. Tells two different stories one from the present day and one from the 19th century and tells the story of love.

[Nik Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Alan Titchmarsh’s eighth novel (published 2011) and the first of his that I’ve read. Titchmarsh is a gardener who became a broadcaster in TV and radio. His first novel was published in 2001.

The Haunting (an over-used title) is an episodic tale alternating between two time periods: 1816 and 2010.

In 1816 a housemaid Anne Flint goes missing at the same time as the daughter of the local lord is found dead by the stream. The mysterious death is compounded by the fact that the dead girl is wearing Anne’s clothing…

In 2010 history teacher Harry Flint is nearing the end of his tenure at St Jude’s School. He is still recovering from a failed marriage and purchases Mill Cottage where he will spend his time with his many books and tracing his ancestry…

Gradually, with consummate ease, the mystery is resolved.

The book relies on several coincidences, but that’s no bad thing. Life is full of them. The same goes for the plethora of clichés – people use them all the time.

The characters, both main and subsidiary, are rounded and interesting. There’s humour and pathos, and humane warmth. Certain unsavoury aspects in the past are dealt with off-stage.

The recounting of a death is restrained and very affecting.

Titchmarsh excels in description of both place (especially evocative with his broad knowledge of plants, trees and wildlife) and character: viz.

April 16, 1816: ‘Air as clear as crystal; the sort of day when the whole world seems to sparkle and glisten – freshly laundered by a shower of rain, buffed up by the gentlest of breezes and then polished to perfection by clear sunlight.’ (p1) Then the same words are used for April 16, 2010 (p11). Emphasising parallels in time.

‘Around her shoulders lay an elaborate wrap that had seemingly once belonged to a member of the fox family blessed with three heads and five feet, and upon her head sat a collection of feathers which, had they been seen in the road, would have been identified as an unfortunate thrush who had come off badly in an argument with a coach-and-four.’ (p143)

Author intrusion is not greatly apparent until the last (ill-judged) paragraph.

[Beverley Davenport Wilkes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cozy story which follows the lives of Harry Flint, a history teacher in 2010 and Anne Flint a house maid in 1816. This is a tale in which Harry is determined to make some changes in his modern and perhaps mediocre life. In parallel, the life changing events that Anne was drawn into are uncovered to reveal how intertwined the past and the present can be. The events are centred around a small village in the country, giving the author ample opportunity to draw on his extensive knowledge of plants and flowers, as they are described and referred to at several points in the story. The haunting itself is not ghoulish or spine chilling, but more reflective of strong feelings and emotions still echoing from the past. A light mystery, romance and historical novel which although not a classic in the making, is nonetheless a satisfying read that grabs the interest and ample to keep you turning pages on a cold winters day by the fire, or a hot summers day on the beach.

[Sagarika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was like a warm cup of tea on a winter morning - it was soothing, beautiful and fresh. Accompanied by a simple yet new storyline, imagery was also vividly used by the author to paint picturesque landscapes and settings. The characters felt real and the progress of events in the plot was quite believable and not dramatically exaggerated. In all, The Haunting is a story of people - how the people from our past and people who come into our lives are intertwined to create a complex masterpiece.

I would recommend this quaint and charming book to everyone who has a love for the English countryside and historical fiction. 4/5 stars for The Haunting.

[Ben Peck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I surprisingly really enjoyed this one.
Started it on the car ride to Shabba’s and finished a few days after getting home, sat dogsitting in Fra’s back garden. Everyone was surprised by the fact it wasn’t a gardening book.

“The baby was Merrily. The knocking of the doorway from one room to the other had reunited them.”

Sure, some ‘twists’ were fairly obvious, but I’m sure they were meant to be - because some revelations actually quite shocked me!

And yes, there wasn’t much haunting for a book called The Haunting, but I enjoyed it just the same!

Got it from a old telephone box - turned free book shop on a walk with Nan in Addingham.

[Lorna Dykstra · Rating 3 out of 5]

YAn easy, pleasant and fast-paced read. I found the plot to be predictable at times and some coincidences had me raising my eyebrows a few times. The characters were flawed but lovable, although Harry's frequent bouts of low self-esteem grated a a bit on my nerves. Anne was my favourite character and her fate almost made me tear up. Life certainly wasn't easy for women in the 19th century, so I'm thankful we've come a long way since then.
If you're looking for a ghost story, this isn't it. There's only a hint of the supernatural which is a bit of a let down if you were looking for a spooky read. I would recommend this book if you're looking for an uncomplicated story that won't mess with your head.

[Bowerbird · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining tale, if rather fanciful. Two stories in one, as we learn of the fate of the housemaid at the manor, whose imagination leads her astray. Then when a century later, a disillusioned history teacher moves into the area he discovers his own links with the past. Though the ghost makes a limited appearance, love is definitely in the air for the modern day protagonists.
I have read several books by Alan Titchmarsh. They don't ask too much of the reader but they do make good light holiday reads.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright, I enjoyed the story till there was some minor segments of a haunting and wondered why there was suddenly a talk about ghosts in the new house, it then hit me that this book was literally titled the haunting!

It feel like the writer enjoyed the story so much that he forgot his intention was to make it a ghost story and threw in a few pages of casual paranormal nothing into the mix towards the end, over though I did enjoy the story of Anna Flint, I didn't care as much for the others.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure what I make of this book, I liked it and disliked it in equal measure, think I liked the historical part better than the modern part, coincidence that the daughter is called Anne and looks like her namesake? I didn't understand that, it would have been great if the Manor house was still lived in by the Carews, that would have been interesting and if Henry had worked for the Lord of the Manor. Loved the descriptions of the flowers and shrubs. Overall I feel it was a weak story and a rushed ending.

[Pradeep P · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story kept me engaged until I finished reading. I liked how the two timelines were narrated simultaneously and merged together at the end. I was able to empathize with Anne Flint and felt sad for how her story had ended. Other than this rest of her story was convincing and believable. I liked the newer timeline better as Harry's story and character kept me engaged than Anne's and also due to the fact that it had fewer characters to remember. Overall, I liked the book and would recommend it if you like to read a pretty good mystery and romance.