Bloomsbury The Haunting of Fortune Farm.

by Sophie Kirtley

Twelve-year-old Edie embarks on an exciting and chilling adventure as she searches for a long-lost Viking hoard. But there are ghosts around Edie who want the past to stay buried, and will stop at nothing to keep secrets hidden.

An emotional and spine-tingling adventure perfect for fans of The House with Chicken Legs , A Girl Called Owl and A Pocketful of Stars .

It's October half term and twelve-year-old Edie and her younger brother Pip are forced to spend their holiday at Fortune Farm, high in the Irish mountains, with their estranged grandmother Lolly. Edie has been dreading it for months – not only is Lolly's isolated cottage on the shores of Lough Einarr, the bleakest and most boring place on Earth, it's also the place where they spent all their holidays when Dad was alive. And Edie doesn't like thinking about Dad – the memories hurt too much.

When Edie uncovers a clue that could lead her to a long-lost Viking hoard, it's just the adventure she needs to take her mind off of Dad. But the adventure soon takes an unnerving and dangerous turn, as Edie discovers that Fortune Farm has more secrets, ghosts and forgotten treasures than she had ever dared to dream.

Not only must Edie protect Pip from the restless and vengeful spirit of a long-dead Viking chief, she must confront the painful memories she has tried so hard to bury deep within herself. As Edie races against time to follow the clues that will lead her to the long-lost Viking treasure, she must journey into her grief, her family's tragic and secretive history and the truth about Coco, Edie's mysterious new friend who is so much more than she seems.

Genres: Middle Grade

336 pages, Paperback

First published September 26, 2024

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before we get to the main part of the book we have a lot of background information that sets the scene for a mystery.
And as the books goes on we start to understand why the characters are how they are.
I took this to bed with me and it's a perfect book for snuggling under a blanket on a cold wet night. I couldn't put this book down, but I did find it emotional in places and if this was read to a group of children out loud then I feel this could lead to some interesting conversations.
The ending brought so much together and it had the ending it deserved.

[carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ no m’esperava que tingués aquest transfons tan heavy sobre la mort, m’ha sorprés força

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thus was a very well written tale of family secrets, ancient legends, and how we handle grief. The writing is beautiful, evoking the sense of place and a real feel for the weather and natural phenomena Edie experiences. I enjoyed the Viking element of the story, the runic clues, the reason Ivar the Restless couldn't find peace, all worked really well. I also thought the sub-plot of Coco's ghost was blended into the main story quite skillfully. The key focus of grief entwined in the wider story with varying degrees of success. For the most part it worked very well, both convincing and sensitive. I felt that the link with memory and the hauntings was nicely done overall, although the last section felt slightly more forced than the earlier parts. I did love the very end however and overall this is a good book about loss and how we can move forward.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

[Kate Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply couldn’t put this down. Full of emotion, memories and a Viking mystery to solve the haunting of fortune farm grips the reader and doesn’t let go.

An exquisitely written story following 12 year old Edie and 6 year old Pip as they visit their grandmother Lolly at fortune farm on the Irish mountains. Struggling with the lost of her father Edie discovers clues that could lead her to Viking treasure and longs to know more about it and how it can link her to memories of her father.
Part creepy ghost story, part historical quest and many parts heartwarming connections through lost, the haunting of fortune farm faces subjects not often seen in a middle grade. It was a refreshing take on the traditional spooky middle grade books and the twist at the end was fantastic and full of emotion.

Thank you Bloomsbury children, NetGalley and Sophie Kirtley for this arc.

[stefiereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I love Sophie's writing. It was a enjoyable story. Fast pace, short chapter.
However, the viking elements in the book are just not my cup of tea. Does not mean it is bad.
I very much appreciate how this book talks about grief of losing a family member, especially a father. Because I know how it feels, and through the ebbs and flows of it all, books like this feels like a balm to the pain.

If you want to read a book that has spooky vibes, eerie and cozy. This book worth reading :)

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Loved the mystery in this book and the sense of place. Read it in a day!

[Jen Nishi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A spooky ghost story with an excellent interplay between grief and memories. Beautifully written with great atmospheric tone. A good ghost story with a hint of mystery.

[Luciaaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first i thought it was a children’s book, but i read it in 4 days!!

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy read. Perfect for halloween

[Mrs Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the beginning, full of mystery and questions I couldn’t wait to discover the answers to. I loved the ending, beautifully brought together and finished in a perfect way. I struggled a little with some of the middle bits, just seemed at times it was too padded out with the same things being repeated. My favourite part was the poem throughout that added that touch more mystery.

[Navdha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A roller-coaster ride indeed.......carries a great moral value along with it ........perfect for pre teens.