The Ghosts of Merry Hall

by Heather Davey

In modern-day England, a mother and daughter move into a crumbling Victorian house through which wind whistles eerily, floorboards creak ominously and things go bump in the night.

The ghost of a girl who performed in Victorian freak shows haunts this chilling gothic ghost story, reminiscent of Laura Purcell’s The Silent Companions and Alice Hoffman’s The Museum of Extraordinary Things.

In 2025, following the break-up of her marriage, cash-strapped single mother Nell moves into the crumbling Merry Hall with her teenage daughter, Fern, to housesit for its evasive owner. She’s determined to make a new life in the gloomy Victorian mansion but the noises, moving objects and strange smells in her new home make her increasingly unsettled.

In the 1840s, showman Abel Wenham seduces Dolly, a talented albino girl and makes her the star of his performing collection of freaks. But after she becomes pregnant with his child, he discards her and imprisons her at Merry Hall, where her only solace is the company of fellow performers Ida the Bear Lady and the Jack the Posturer. They plan to escape with Dolly and her child and set up in business, but Wenham has other ideas.

Is Dolly, just one of the ghosts that haunt Merry Hall, reaching out across the centuries to right the wrongs of the past?

‘Dark, unsettling and beautifully written, this gothic chiller is full of surprises. Terrifying but impossible to put down – I loved it!’
Carly Reagon, author of The Toll House and Hear Him Calling

‘A darkly gleaming gem of a novel about the persistence of memory and the dangers lurking in the shadows of an old and brooding house.’ A. J. Elwood, author of The Other Lives of Miss Emily White and The Cottingley Cuckoo

‘A mesmerising and original gothic tale that I struggled to put down. Beautifully written, dark and delicious. I literally dropped everything to read it in two days!’
Jody Cooksley, author of The Small Museum

‘The Ghosts of Merry Hall is a gothic treasure chest full of seedy secrets and eerie charm. I loved Dolly Dove from the start.’ Verity M. Holloway, author of The Others of Edenwell

Genres: Horror, Gothic, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Mystery, Supernatural, Fiction

399 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2025

Reviews

[ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this atmospheric ghost story. The dual timelines were so well done. Nell and Fern’s modern-day struggles were just as compelling as Dolly’s tragic tale in the 1840s. The setting of Merry Hall is eerie and alive, with every creaking floorboard and cold gust adding to the tension.

It’s the perfect blend of gothic, historical fiction, and emotional drama. If you enjoy ghost stories with real depth, this one’s for you.

Would I recommend this book to you? Yes

Expected Release Date: 09/16/2025

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the early access. All thoughts in this review are my own.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unputdownable.

[Sara Jesus · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the ones that love read ghost stories in the winter. For the ones that enjoy your stories just a little spooky with a complex mother and daughter relationship. Especialy for the readers that a good freaky show this book is the one.

"The ghosts of Merry Hall" is the journey of Dolly Dove that is the prime act of a circus freak show, she is an albino girl that wants to find her brother and belives in the powerful man that swer eternaly love to her. We also follow Nell and her daughter Fern, they have no home and Nell accept to live in Merry Hall even too the place in ruins. These two lives we collide in the much expect way.

This book show us the importance of that to not trust in strangers, that the love betteween a mother and daughter is powerful enought to fix anything and maybe the ghosts to not live only in the houses. Sometimes we live with ghosts in our journeys, we all have shadows who don't want to let us go.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a publisher or copywriter, if you’re going to compare your book to something really great, you need to deliver on that promise. Here, it’s a comparison to The Silent Companions, “The ghost of a girl who performed in Victorian freak shows haunts this chilling gothic ghost story, reminiscent of Laura Purcell's The Silent Companions”, yet there is nothing at all here remotely like that book other than an old home.

The multiple first person narrators lost me, especially the one set in current time. Dolly’s story was much more interesting and she had a clearer voice.

Another DNF for me.

[Cody · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC

I’d like to thank Titan Books and NetGalley for the chance to give “The Ghosts of Merry Hall” a read in return for an honest review.

“The Ghosts of Merry Hall” is a novel that had a ton of potential. With dueling storylines, we get to see the lives of two women, each in different time periods, but living similar situations. I was equally intrigued to read Nelly’s story as I was Dolly’s, but it came to a point pretty pretty early on where the novel’s setup became dreadfully repetitive. Chapter after chapter became predictable, ending the same way, only to start the same in the next chapter. As I continued to read, I found myself figuring out exactly where the book was going to go, and to no surprise, ended exactly as I thought it would. At times, it was an atmospheric read, but ultimately wasn’t as spooky as I was hoping it would be. This would make a great novel for anyone wanting to get into horror without getting too scared, but this was a bit too easy for me to get through. Despite the odd setup, this novel is worth checking out!

Be sure to check “The Ghosts of Merry Hall” when it is published on September 16, 2025.

[Kamiye · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to gather my thoughts. I didn't dislike the book, but I also didn't love it, love it. I think it's well-written, and the timeline split is well-done. There are a LOT of chapters, and at times it felt a bit dragging.

The story of this book is a series of bad decisions, and it keeps going, and going, and going. Dolly, for starters, in the 19th century, and then Nell (with her daughter Fern) in the present time. What kept me interested was learning more about the past and Dolly's history. By the first page, we already have an idea of what's going to happen in the present.

I still think this book can find its readership. Pick it up if you like:

- Ghost stories and horror
- Past and Present timeline mix
- Mysteries and solving them
- To give a chance to a debut novel

Thank you Titan, for the opportunity to haunt Merry Hall with Dolly.

[The Pastel Bookshelf]

DNF @41%

[Rachel Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, though this was a little slow at times, it was still well written. I love dual time lines and loved the way Dolly featured in the past and present day within the story. It wasn't a particularly scary story but did have the vibe of an old fashioned ghost story, perfect for long, dark evenings ☺️

[Emma Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect ghost story for reading in a snow bound cabin wish I had one but just as good reading at home with the duvet tucked up And light firmly on! This books one of the creepiest stories I’ve ever read as a debut novel it absolutely holds its own against other writers of this genre. It had me reading into the early hours I had to finish it , it creeped me out and spooked me .i loved the cross over between ghost story and historical fiction and set in a creepy old house of dreams or souls I say nightmares. Thank you to Titan books and the author for the ARC in and wait for more from Heather Davey

[Rosie Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely a gripping page turner and beautifully written 👻

[Trina Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

When all of your favourite genres merge together in one book you know you're in for a great read.
1847 and Dolly Dove is the latest acquisition for Abel Wenhams travelling show. Cast as the Ghost lady, he feels he's going to make lots of money from her. Living in Merry Hall, Dolly quickly falls for his charms, against the views of her fellow performers.
2025 and Nell and her daughter Fern take the opportunity of cheap rent to stay in Merry Hall. But from the outset there are strange noises and things going missing or appearing. Rotting vegetables and strange smells don't add to the character of the house and it isnt long before they regret moving in. But the house hasn't finished with them as there's still a tale to be told.
If you love your historical fiction novels to have a paranormal gothic theme then you'll love this book, it's dark and creepy and very atmospheric. I loved it

[Denise Ruttan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this creepy, atmospheric haunted house story set in a remote English countryside town at a crumbling manor that's been home to generations of a cursed family.

Nell, in search of a fresh start with her sixteen-year-old daughter Fern after a tough divorce, moves to Bodwick, a small village that her troubled, alcoholic mother always spoke fondly of. She takes a job at a local pub with a creepy history of carnival shows and, desperate to make it on her own, takes an offer for a house sitting gig at Merry Hall.

But all is not what it seems at the ominous old manor, and Nell rationalizes away the odd occurences in her determination to live independently after a controlling marriage.

The story then has a dual timeline in the past with another character, Dolly's point of view, an albino dancer who worked in shows and came under the orbit of Abel Wenham, who recruits her for his touring production of freaks. I became quite frustrated with how naive Dolly was in her innocent love for the smarmy Abel, but I liked the look into Victorian circus acts and the dual timelines were handled well.

At times Nell could seem infantalized which I don't always care for in portrayals of middle-aged women, but she had been completely dependent on her husband as a stay at home mom so it was understandable. She came into her own as she fell apart and then confronted the horrors of the house, which was really a truth that didn't want to be buried amid dark family secrets. I appreciated her character's remarkable transformation.

I love Gothic horror when it's actually creepy and this fit the bill on that. I sometimes guessed what would happen but I appreciated the way the author painted the spine-tingling atmosphere. There may not be much new you can do with the trope of a creepy, haunted Gothic manor, but I enjoyed this author's take on the trope and liked the English countryside setting. I also appreciated the complicated relationship that Nell had with her daughter. This was a girl who acted like an angry, grieving teenager and not a grade schooler.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Joey Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story, my goodness it’s takes you on such a journey through time. From Dolly’s sad and tragic story, to the struggling relationship of mother and daughter. This story was everything, honestly I was gripped and wanting to read it as quick as I possibly could, it was just that good.

Dolly, sweet precious Dolly, telling you her tale of what happened, to what she was struggling through now as a ghost. Her character was so unique telling the story of an albino girl in the mid eighteenth hundreds, working for a man she thought loved her, performing her singing, dancing act. But you learn her ghost story unfolding within the story and that was some of my favourite parts reading Dolly’s story.

Nell and Fern our mother and daughter duo, worked so perfectly with this story. Their strained relationship, built this brilliant wall around what was happening. I loved seeing everything unfolding around them, from their own unexpected story and the story of what happened once at Merry Hall. Being haunted, being creeped out and even being attacked within the halls, they both gradually become more and more spooked over time. But each act causes more strain on their already wavering relationship. The way it was written surrounding them was so creatively done.

I honestly loved this book, it’s so haunting, so scary, so sad and so tragic. You feel every little thing within the chapters of this story. You can feel the characters pains both new and old, you feel the fear from everyone. So many tragic events took place within the walls of that building and unlocking it all, seeing what the girls were going through whilst staying there. It gets so damn creepy and scary and you honestly feel so much for all three girls within the span of the story.

This book also comes with so much mystery to unfold, it’s a constant tale, a story that weaves gradually and you want to solve it, though that’s not particularly easy to do, you want to figure out why these evil things keep happening, why they happened in the first place. It’s so much fun unwinding the story as each chapter continues and it never disappoints you not even once.

This whole book is so perfectly crafted and created, you are thrown into this perfectly haunted house and with very little information, but you instantly know it’s bad. You know something horrendous occurred there. I had the best time reading this, unlocking all the secrets and learning Dolly’s story.

[Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well… that was not what I expected.
What began as a promising whisper of haunted halls and lingering spirits quickly drifted into a painfully slow start… the kind of yawn-inducing haze where you keep rereading the same sentence.

I really went into this thinking it would chill me, or at least make me glance nervously into dark corners. But the haunting only truly flickered to life toward the end in a brief and eerie spark that finally felt like the book waking up.
Unfortunately, the ending snuffed that spark out just as quickly.

I can’t really say much more without giving spoilers, but I have to admit, the writing is undeniably graceful. The dual timeline dances between past and present with an elegance that should have enraptured me and yes, there were moments where I thought, „Here it comes…the story is awakening.“
But still… I cannot ignore my inner critic, that relentless voice that weighs every shadow and every word. And so, I am compelled to settle on three stars.

Maybe I’ve simply become too accustomed to truly terrifying books. Maybe my expectations were perched far too high. Or maybe this story was, quite simply, a little too dull for my taste.

Either way, “The Ghosts of Merry Hall” just wasn’t for me. It was not bad, not great, just a soft echo of what it could have been.
And to be honest, I cannot stand echoes… they unsettle me, but not in the deliciously spine-tingling way I hope to be haunted from a ghost story.

[Becky Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a dual timeline ghost story that began in the Victorian era when Dolly, a talented young performer, met a charismatic showman and came to live at Merry Hall. The timeline switches to January 2025 with Nell and her daughter Fern recovering from the fallout of a destroyed marriage. Nell is trying to figure out her future by looking at the past. Nell’s mother was from the Merry Hall area. Money is an issue, so when the new owner of Merry Hall offered to allow them to say, it was a big help. Nell and Fern find themselves trapped in terror as the ghosts of Merry Hall drag the living into the lives of the dead.
I enjoyed this read. It is saturated in gothic vibes: secrets, ghosts, a crumbling old house, and tons of atmosphere. There is a constant tension and constant dread. The main characters are well-developed. The same cannot be said of any of the other characters. I did not find any of the characters lovable and only a few were remotely likable. The characters comment on the selfishness of other characters, yet. I didn’t feel that any of them were at all disinterested.
The writing is very good with only a couple things the editor missed. It’s a fun read, and I really liked the ominous vibes.

[ClaireJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of haunted house books, this book is for you! It is written in dual timelines from Nell and Dolly’s point of view. Nell is set in the present as a struggling newly single mum who moves into the haunted Merry Hall with her teenage daughter. Dolly’s perspective is from the 1840’s and also as a ghost in the present. These perspectives worked so well, giving a rich and powerful story.

I loved Nell and Dolly equally. Dolly’s short life was incredibly tragic to read about, my heart broke for her. It was also emotional reading about Nell’s desperation to make a good life for her daughter.

With gothic atmospheric vibes and a house that has witnessed lots of trauma within its walls, the spookiness is immense! Dolly wants to tell Nell and her daughter what happened to her in the house but the evil ghost of Abel Wenham is there too and he is pretty scary to read about!

The Ghosts of Merry Hall is out tomorrow and I highly recommend! It’s now one of my favourite haunted house books ever! A phenomenal gothic chiller of a ghost story.

[Christine]

Probably 3.5 stars - I think this had a lot going for it. The atmosphere, the setting, especially the earlier timeline, really great.

But there were a couple times where it just seemed like the characters just pounced on others a little too quickly? Like goodness gracious, we're not dealing with pathological liars or practical jokers here, especially when it came to Fern and Nell.

[Mienreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️
This story was haunting but not scary. I loved the spooky winter vibes and I felt a cold chill just picking up this book. There were some pacing issues and the main character was frustrating at times. Nell is a pretty strong contender for worst mother of the year award. Her decisions were really selfish and she made everything about her, neglecting her daughter’s needs and wants most of the time.

[Manon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
This was surprisingly entertaining! The premise sounded good, but I am always a bit hesitant with horror stories. However, this one was told in such an easy and compelling voice that I had to keep reading! The characters were intriguing, and Merry Hall was a superb setting. Can definitely recommend!

[Susan Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merry Hall is anything but merry as the tales of two times is woven throughout the book. We have Dolly, beautiful, enigmatic, talented and naive whose Svengali will flaunt her to the heights and then crush her heart and worse. He is a truly evil man and it is no wonder that 150 years later he and Dolly are still battling for her voice to be heard.

Enter Nell and Fern. When Fern’s father announces he no longer loves Nell and wants to shack up with her best friend, Nell’s entire world is shattered. For some vague reason, she escapes to the village where her late mother was born. There is a lot of serious baggage in Nell’s past and considering the decisions she makes, there is going to be a lot in the future. In fact, Nell verges on the unlikeable because her choices are all made on what she thinks is best for her. Fern, a bewildered teenager, is not happy and things go from bad to worse when they move into Merry Hall.

There is a lot going on, some of it downright spooky and dangerous. Nell is not one to give up on an idea, even when it becomes obvious it is a very bad one. She does finally see the light and the two get out with their lives but not before ghost Dolly is heard and acknowledged. There is then a story within the story whereby the reader realizes why the two are so impacted by everything. In between all this is a story that will have you turning pages to find out what is going to happen next. If you read it in bed, expect to be tired the next morning.

Five purrs and two paws up.

[Lynne Aubrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved everything about this book, a gothic ghost story with dual timelines set in the modern day and the 1840's.
The story is told by two POV's Nell and Dolly.
Dolly is a ghost who wants to get her story out there about her life at Merry Hall and what happened to her, but the ghost of abhorrent Abel Wenham tries to prevent this.
In my opinion great work for a debut novel.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this 3.5 if I could. It was certainly interesting and I wanted to see how everything tied together in the end, but it was admittedly difficult to get through. More tragic than terrifying. A tale of sadness and lost dreams.

[Nicola Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

5* purely for the beautifully written narrative. I’m hardcore when it comes to ghost stories so I didn’t find it particularly creepy. A compelling split narrative earns it the 5 stars though. Definitely one to curl up with on a dark and chilly autumn night.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars actually, rounded up for ghosts.

[Rebecca Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually didn’t know what to make of this at first but I love female history threading through time. Would recommend massively.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. it was such a gripping story I couldn't put it down. The duel timelines and the development of the story was perfect.

[Dawn Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ghost story really scary in places

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

eh, I didn't love it. the victorian characters were good - a little cliché but pretty fully realized. the modern day characters were fairly awful. especially Nell, who was apparently perfectly content for almost 20 years as stay at home wife, going to yoga and buying lattes, but as soon as her husband asks her to leave their posh London home, she's suddenly "I cannot ask him for a penny and must do this on my own". so she takes her 16 year old daughter to a small town and a rented room in a grotty house. a town that maybe her mother (a drunk, now dead) lived. she's asks one person "hey did you know my mom".

then she moves into a spooky semi derelict mansion as a caretaker (but she got to pay a grand a month?) the owner promptly vanishes, and mother and daughter both become increasingly "haunted".

and don't get me started on their laughable but successful "research" with the most poorly written librarian ever.

petty ugh.

[Zoë · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this really quickly, which is a credit to the writing because it easily flowed, and learning about Dolly’s story was interesting, but I just don’t think it did it for me overall. I’ve never read a ghost story before but it didn’t really scare me - maybe because I don’t believe in ghosts? I didn’t feel very connected to the characters, and didn’t like them that much. It felt like there wasn’t that much happening for a while and when stuff did happen it was really weird… and by the end I was just wondering what was really achieved by the characters. Idk, not for me.

[Scorchy · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a debut novel, this is very good.

I was a little unsure in the beginning chapters, but I was drawn to the story, so I carried on, and I'm very glad I did because by the end, I was genuinely unable to put it down.

I like the way the chapters are divided - the time difference is handled incredibly well, and the shortness of the chapters is incredibly useful when I'm pressed for time.

The story is paced really well, it's interesting, intriguing and very well written. It manages to tell a story set in 2025 in a way that doesn't feel cringy and blends the Victorian incredibly well. Would definitely recommend