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Broken Ghosts
Spring, 1985. Twelve year old Phoebe MacDonald's world is falling apart.
She has just buried her parents, a fire at their family home claiming both in a freak accident. Now she must leave Scotland, the only place she has ever known, and go to live with her uncle Louis and aunt Maude in their home in the Welsh woods.
As spring turns to summer, Phoebe falls slowly into the rhythm of life with her eccentric guardians in their curious home. But there is no one her age in the nearby village, and she is lonely until she meets a strange girl, Gwyneth, who wanders the surrounding forest barefoot and alone.
Outsiders both, the two girls form a strong bond, though nobody else seems to believe that Gwyneth is real. Phoebe knows better, and soon with her new friend's help, she begins to see the woods for what they truly are - a place of magic and wonder, where the line between life and death is blurred. Where spirits roam and secrets fester.
Something happened here, a lifetime ago. A wrong that yearns to be put right. The answer is within Phoebe's grasp, but will revealing it put her in grave danger?
For the woods hold a dark truth, and some will do anything to keep it in the shadows.
She has just buried her parents, a fire at their family home claiming both in a freak accident. Now she must leave Scotland, the only place she has ever known, and go to live with her uncle Louis and aunt Maude in their home in the Welsh woods.
As spring turns to summer, Phoebe falls slowly into the rhythm of life with her eccentric guardians in their curious home. But there is no one her age in the nearby village, and she is lonely until she meets a strange girl, Gwyneth, who wanders the surrounding forest barefoot and alone.
Outsiders both, the two girls form a strong bond, though nobody else seems to believe that Gwyneth is real. Phoebe knows better, and soon with her new friend's help, she begins to see the woods for what they truly are - a place of magic and wonder, where the line between life and death is blurred. Where spirits roam and secrets fester.
Something happened here, a lifetime ago. A wrong that yearns to be put right. The answer is within Phoebe's grasp, but will revealing it put her in grave danger?
For the woods hold a dark truth, and some will do anything to keep it in the shadows.
353 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2024
23 people are currently reading
397 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
October 31, 2024
I'm a bit of an outlier with this one, I thought I would love it but it didn't really do it for me, the story was a very slow burn and I found myself getting bored and distracted. The main character, Phoebe, is supposed to be 12 but comes across as much older, and though this is set in the 80s I wasn't getting that vibe at all. However, I did enjoy the Welsh setting, and the pace picked up a little towards the end so I was able to finish it. As a side note though, get a load of that beautiful cover!
2.5 stars round up.
2.5 stars round up.
October 2, 2024
3.5⭐️
A dual timeline, coming of age story with a very gentle tinge of the supernatural. I wasn't sure if I was going to get on with this book as it was a bit slow going and repetitive until halfway through. It definitely picked up after the midway point, though, and the characters really pulled the story back.
A dual timeline, coming of age story with a very gentle tinge of the supernatural. I wasn't sure if I was going to get on with this book as it was a bit slow going and repetitive until halfway through. It definitely picked up after the midway point, though, and the characters really pulled the story back.
October 12, 2025
I feel that not enough people questioned this 12 year old reading an ungodly amount of romance novels written by her uncle. Also, why was her aunt always naked?
August 11, 2024
Any one who has ever visited my blog pages before will know that I am quite a fan of JD Oswald's (aka James Oswald) mainstream crime fiction series featuring Inspector McLean. I say mainstream with a heavy application of inverted commas as Mr O has a tendency to take his stories a little outside of the everyday and introduce so more ... mystical, or otherworldy elements, something I very much approve of. Now, in Broken Ghosts, he has strayed very far from the path of crime fiction, although there are still echoes of the otherworldly in this haunting tale of loss, grief, and new beginnings, a sort of coming of age story for his tale's protagonist, Phoebe MacDonald.
From the very start of this book there is a sense of impending tragedy. It is a very simple opener, a group of pre-teens on a school outing to Edinburgh which hits more than the odd hitch and ends in overwhelming tragedy for poor Phoebe, with the loss of both of her parents in a house fire. Had circumstances been just slightly different, she feels she may have been able to save them, a fact that adds an extra layer pain to her grief, but that is nothing when compared to the fact that her whole life is about to change. Uprooted from her Coupar home and made to move to mid-Wales with her barely known Uncle Louis and his partner Maud, there is no way that Phoebe can begin to comprehend just different her summer will be. For one thing, there are no children her age in the village. For another, her new home is so remote, so traditional and unlike her own home, that it will take some considerable adjusting to. Her Aunt and Uncle have some very strange routines, at least in the eyes of a twelve year old girl, and feeling more an more isolated, she takes to exploring the woods around their cottage, and in doing so begins to expose some long buried secrets.
There is an air of melancholy that feeds through this book from the very start. To be expected given the tragic way in which Phoebe's story begins. JD Oswald has done a brilliant job in creating that sense of isolation, giving readers a vivid impression of the remote nature of Louis and maud's cottage and the very traditional village way of life that you might expect from a tiny welsh settlement. The nearest major town is Aberystwyth which, in fairness, in 1985 when the majority of the book is set, is far from the kind of cosmopolitan centre Phoebe may have experienced when visiting somewhere like Edinburgh, and that feeling of bewilderment, that inexplicable fear and anger that comes facing a future that is so far from what Phoebe had imagined really screams from the page.
There is a real sense of place that you get from the book, and although the village itself is fictional, you can tell that the author has a real feel for the area, drawing on real towns, villages and scenery to give the narrative that sense of authenticity. A number of local references made me smile, as did Phoebe's outsider perspective on the parochial feeling village community where everybody knows their neighbours. That shared history that can only come from generations of families inhabiting that same small world. There are some real characters in this story, with Uncle Louis and Aunt Maud being chief amongst the people who will come to shape Phoebe's life, but all served to inform the unsettling story which lies just beneath the surface. This is to be a summer of discovery for Phoebe, and as much as this is about her need to accept her fate and find her new path in life, there is also a mystery to be solved, even if most people don't know it yet. Llancwm has a dark history and for all the wonderful ghostly folk tales Louis spins for Phoebe, there is a strange thread of truth to them all too.
I really liked Phoebe as a character. I think the author struck the right balance in her many mood swings, from rage to tears to acceptance, portraying the move from boredom and reluctant participation in her new life, to a determination to uncover the secrets of the forest and her new, mysterious, friend, Gwyneth, really well. I liked her tenacity and her bouts of fearlessness, her kind spirit, even when some may not have deserved it. There were times when it felt she was older than her twelve years, but then that is partly to be expected given what she has experienced, and, speaking as someone who had an old soul from an early age, not so implausible. Her temper tantrums when unable to have what she wants certainly rang true, as did her retreat into books. Therein lies another secret, one that definitely brought a smile to my face. With moments of real emotion, some of tension and threat, and an undercurrent of the otherworldly, I felt myself go through a raft of emotions as I read, but all of them drawing me further into the book and Phoebe's story.
The book has a dual timeline, partly set in the present day where an adult Phoebe is called back to Llancwm to deal with matters after the passing of her Aunt Maud, and also looking back to that fateful summer of 1985 when everything in her life was to change. Despite what the title of the book ay suggest, the ghosts in this book are much more subtle, more a discovery of secrets, and laying of the past to rest than overt spooks and spectres, so if you have come looking for a scarefest, you won't find that here. It may be melancholic and mournful in tone at times, but there is also a sense of hope that builds throughout the story, and in spite of all the tragedy, some really heartwarming and tender moments as the narrative turns towards the calming and peaceful spirit of the natural world.
So, yes. This is very different to what you may have come to expect from this author, but it is a beautifully written story and one I'd heartily recommend.
From the very start of this book there is a sense of impending tragedy. It is a very simple opener, a group of pre-teens on a school outing to Edinburgh which hits more than the odd hitch and ends in overwhelming tragedy for poor Phoebe, with the loss of both of her parents in a house fire. Had circumstances been just slightly different, she feels she may have been able to save them, a fact that adds an extra layer pain to her grief, but that is nothing when compared to the fact that her whole life is about to change. Uprooted from her Coupar home and made to move to mid-Wales with her barely known Uncle Louis and his partner Maud, there is no way that Phoebe can begin to comprehend just different her summer will be. For one thing, there are no children her age in the village. For another, her new home is so remote, so traditional and unlike her own home, that it will take some considerable adjusting to. Her Aunt and Uncle have some very strange routines, at least in the eyes of a twelve year old girl, and feeling more an more isolated, she takes to exploring the woods around their cottage, and in doing so begins to expose some long buried secrets.
There is an air of melancholy that feeds through this book from the very start. To be expected given the tragic way in which Phoebe's story begins. JD Oswald has done a brilliant job in creating that sense of isolation, giving readers a vivid impression of the remote nature of Louis and maud's cottage and the very traditional village way of life that you might expect from a tiny welsh settlement. The nearest major town is Aberystwyth which, in fairness, in 1985 when the majority of the book is set, is far from the kind of cosmopolitan centre Phoebe may have experienced when visiting somewhere like Edinburgh, and that feeling of bewilderment, that inexplicable fear and anger that comes facing a future that is so far from what Phoebe had imagined really screams from the page.
There is a real sense of place that you get from the book, and although the village itself is fictional, you can tell that the author has a real feel for the area, drawing on real towns, villages and scenery to give the narrative that sense of authenticity. A number of local references made me smile, as did Phoebe's outsider perspective on the parochial feeling village community where everybody knows their neighbours. That shared history that can only come from generations of families inhabiting that same small world. There are some real characters in this story, with Uncle Louis and Aunt Maud being chief amongst the people who will come to shape Phoebe's life, but all served to inform the unsettling story which lies just beneath the surface. This is to be a summer of discovery for Phoebe, and as much as this is about her need to accept her fate and find her new path in life, there is also a mystery to be solved, even if most people don't know it yet. Llancwm has a dark history and for all the wonderful ghostly folk tales Louis spins for Phoebe, there is a strange thread of truth to them all too.
I really liked Phoebe as a character. I think the author struck the right balance in her many mood swings, from rage to tears to acceptance, portraying the move from boredom and reluctant participation in her new life, to a determination to uncover the secrets of the forest and her new, mysterious, friend, Gwyneth, really well. I liked her tenacity and her bouts of fearlessness, her kind spirit, even when some may not have deserved it. There were times when it felt she was older than her twelve years, but then that is partly to be expected given what she has experienced, and, speaking as someone who had an old soul from an early age, not so implausible. Her temper tantrums when unable to have what she wants certainly rang true, as did her retreat into books. Therein lies another secret, one that definitely brought a smile to my face. With moments of real emotion, some of tension and threat, and an undercurrent of the otherworldly, I felt myself go through a raft of emotions as I read, but all of them drawing me further into the book and Phoebe's story.
The book has a dual timeline, partly set in the present day where an adult Phoebe is called back to Llancwm to deal with matters after the passing of her Aunt Maud, and also looking back to that fateful summer of 1985 when everything in her life was to change. Despite what the title of the book ay suggest, the ghosts in this book are much more subtle, more a discovery of secrets, and laying of the past to rest than overt spooks and spectres, so if you have come looking for a scarefest, you won't find that here. It may be melancholic and mournful in tone at times, but there is also a sense of hope that builds throughout the story, and in spite of all the tragedy, some really heartwarming and tender moments as the narrative turns towards the calming and peaceful spirit of the natural world.
So, yes. This is very different to what you may have come to expect from this author, but it is a beautifully written story and one I'd heartily recommend.
June 17, 2025
This was a fantastic coming of age story and quite a cosy read. Some truly wonderful characters, not least of which the village (and forest) of Llancwm itself. I really loved this one and will absolutely read more of Oswald's
October 24, 2025
I listened to this as an audiobook and think it made the book even more enjoyable! It was definitely a cosy story that really had me immersed in vivid imagination of the characters and the settings ! I enjoyed how the book was written and really got a sense of each of the characters !
September 18, 2024
Books, particularly in the crime thriller genre, have brought me so much pleasure and enjoyment over the years. Every so often however, a book will come along and linger in my thoughts for a long time after I've closed its cover for the final time. There had been three such books to date (I'm not going to name them here, this is not their review, but if you ask in the comments, I will tell you.)
Now, there is a fourth.
Broken Ghosts is a hauntingly beautiful coming of age story. In it we follow 12 year old Phoebe who, following the death of her parents, finds herself moving to a remote area of Wales, to live with her uncle and aunt.
That's as much of the plot I'm willing to give away, except to say there is a dual timeline; 1985 and 2023. Both timelines are from Phoebe's POV.
There is an air of melancholy and poignancy throughout, but Phoebe's resilience in the aftermath of tragedy shines through.
All of the characters are likeable, some poignantly so.
I can't put into words how much I loved this book. Read it for yourself, and you'll understand what I mean.
Now, there is a fourth.
Broken Ghosts is a hauntingly beautiful coming of age story. In it we follow 12 year old Phoebe who, following the death of her parents, finds herself moving to a remote area of Wales, to live with her uncle and aunt.
That's as much of the plot I'm willing to give away, except to say there is a dual timeline; 1985 and 2023. Both timelines are from Phoebe's POV.
There is an air of melancholy and poignancy throughout, but Phoebe's resilience in the aftermath of tragedy shines through.
All of the characters are likeable, some poignantly so.
I can't put into words how much I loved this book. Read it for yourself, and you'll understand what I mean.
January 30, 2025
Broken Ghosts
Set in a beautiful valley in Wales, Broken Ghosts is the story of a girl healing from the untimely deaths of her parents, and along the way unearthing a mystery that has hung over the valley for many years. It is a story of a girl finding who she is, what she truly wants, and most of all, a girl finding where she belongs.
In the story, Phoebe makes friends with a mysterious and illusive girl called Gwyneth. She also befriends a musician/recluse who hides from the world, and learns to love the woods. The twins in the book are unpleasant, but their creepy harassment is something most young girls have unfortunately experienced. Maude and Louie are great characters and very full of life. They really try to help Phoebe be okay.
Positives
I love that it is set in Wales. Often books are set in main cities, England or America and this was a welcome change. The scenery was described just perfectly and beautifully so I felt like I was there. Phoebe is an interesting character, as are the rest of the cast, and the insular nature of the village and the deaths and pain it causes is interesting. I loved how the story was told from two time frames and loved how young Phoebe became more like her older self as it went on. Also, the subject of rich English upper class people exploiting the Welsh working classes was well explained here and woven into the story. This is something you don't usually hear about. The descriptions of the setting are beautiful, and I can imagine them very well. I really enjoyed this part of it as well.
The story comes together through gossip, and this I really did enjoy as it felt authentic. Phoebe, as a 12 year old character, did also feel authentic as well. I love how Phoebie finds the truth because she refuses to judge people.
Negatives
I feel that the story was a little slow. I feel like more could have happened throughout and there could have been more Ghosts? I guessed who Gwyneth was the moment I heard about Gwen's death, so this was not a suprise. I also knew Steve was not the culprit, but her father was. I feel like her dying in childbirth like her mother was a bit anticlimactic, even though obviously this is horrible, the same death was used for both characters and I feel like I was expecting more of a plot twist It just made me angry because as usual men deciding what women do with their bodies, so her father refusing to call an ambulance despite her begging him to, caused her to die. She'd likely be okay if it wasn't for him. Another thing to note is that I have no idea what Phoebie looks like, yet there are many descriptions of Steve and Gwyneth. I suppose this could have been done to demonstrate how, at her age, sometimes you really haven't figured out who you are yet.
Overall, I loved the setting and the characters, although I wish a little more could have happened and that there were more twists and turns, as the outcome was quite clear from the start. I did, however, love the fact that Phoebe becomes a writer and sees this little valley in Wales now as her home. I just wish it had surprised me more.
What I rated it?: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Would I reccomend it?: Yes
Would I read more from this author?: Yes
Set in a beautiful valley in Wales, Broken Ghosts is the story of a girl healing from the untimely deaths of her parents, and along the way unearthing a mystery that has hung over the valley for many years. It is a story of a girl finding who she is, what she truly wants, and most of all, a girl finding where she belongs.
In the story, Phoebe makes friends with a mysterious and illusive girl called Gwyneth. She also befriends a musician/recluse who hides from the world, and learns to love the woods. The twins in the book are unpleasant, but their creepy harassment is something most young girls have unfortunately experienced. Maude and Louie are great characters and very full of life. They really try to help Phoebe be okay.
Positives
I love that it is set in Wales. Often books are set in main cities, England or America and this was a welcome change. The scenery was described just perfectly and beautifully so I felt like I was there. Phoebe is an interesting character, as are the rest of the cast, and the insular nature of the village and the deaths and pain it causes is interesting. I loved how the story was told from two time frames and loved how young Phoebe became more like her older self as it went on. Also, the subject of rich English upper class people exploiting the Welsh working classes was well explained here and woven into the story. This is something you don't usually hear about. The descriptions of the setting are beautiful, and I can imagine them very well. I really enjoyed this part of it as well.
The story comes together through gossip, and this I really did enjoy as it felt authentic. Phoebe, as a 12 year old character, did also feel authentic as well. I love how Phoebie finds the truth because she refuses to judge people.
Negatives
I feel that the story was a little slow. I feel like more could have happened throughout and there could have been more Ghosts? I guessed who Gwyneth was the moment I heard about Gwen's death, so this was not a suprise. I also knew Steve was not the culprit, but her father was. I feel like her dying in childbirth like her mother was a bit anticlimactic, even though obviously this is horrible, the same death was used for both characters and I feel like I was expecting more of a plot twist It just made me angry because as usual men deciding what women do with their bodies, so her father refusing to call an ambulance despite her begging him to, caused her to die. She'd likely be okay if it wasn't for him. Another thing to note is that I have no idea what Phoebie looks like, yet there are many descriptions of Steve and Gwyneth. I suppose this could have been done to demonstrate how, at her age, sometimes you really haven't figured out who you are yet.
Overall, I loved the setting and the characters, although I wish a little more could have happened and that there were more twists and turns, as the outcome was quite clear from the start. I did, however, love the fact that Phoebe becomes a writer and sees this little valley in Wales now as her home. I just wish it had surprised me more.
What I rated it?: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Would I reccomend it?: Yes
Would I read more from this author?: Yes
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2024
This is a brave literary departure for James Oswald. It's astonishing and ambitious and without doubt his best book to date. Leaving the mean streets of Scotland behind he transposes his superb sense of place to a remote Welsh valley. Subtleties can be appreciated and tragedies mourned. The writing whilst melancholy is also warm and wise, and when one enters the mysterious places hidden from a rural idyll it feels inevitable that something very out of the ordinary is going to happen.
The author's grasp of the realities of grief and the connection between the living and the dead is sensitive, heart-warming and hypnotic.
This is a gorgeous tapestry of life as it was forty years ago in an almost forgotten backwater where twelve-year-old Phoebe thinks herself a stranger in a strange land. That summer of 1985 will change her forever.
The writing is so genuine it regularly brought tears to my eyes and the way in which the natural landscape lends itself to shaping Phoebe's future is extraordinarily poignant.
A book I will never forget.
The author's grasp of the realities of grief and the connection between the living and the dead is sensitive, heart-warming and hypnotic.
This is a gorgeous tapestry of life as it was forty years ago in an almost forgotten backwater where twelve-year-old Phoebe thinks herself a stranger in a strange land. That summer of 1985 will change her forever.
The writing is so genuine it regularly brought tears to my eyes and the way in which the natural landscape lends itself to shaping Phoebe's future is extraordinarily poignant.
A book I will never forget.
February 22, 2025
Listened as an audiobook. Tales of grief, loneliness and friendships. I was a little underwhelmed by the ending but actually I think added to the beauty of the story.
August 8, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and Wildfire for an advance reader copy. If you want a synopsis, click on the book.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5. I really enjoyed this book, a clever story with a touch of supernatural. Mr Oswald has a nice, easy writing style that draws you in and paints pictures in which you can immerse yourself.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5. I really enjoyed this book, a clever story with a touch of supernatural. Mr Oswald has a nice, easy writing style that draws you in and paints pictures in which you can immerse yourself.
September 28, 2025
This is a departure from the author’s usual detective crime series, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. It’s well written prose with an underlying sad tone as 12 year old Phoebe (and modern day Phoebe) grieves in the two timelines. But I think I was expecting something slightly different from the blurb which made it sound like a deep relationship with Gwynneth and how she helps Phoebe learn about the forest, etc. From what I remember, they only meet a handful of times, so I kept waiting for something more.
It’s a very slow burn book, and that will suit some people. For me, it wasn’t quite my cup of tea in the end, so I will stick with his crime series which I enjoy a lot!
It’s a very slow burn book, and that will suit some people. For me, it wasn’t quite my cup of tea in the end, so I will stick with his crime series which I enjoy a lot!
September 17, 2024
BROKEN GHOSTS
Author: J.D. Oswald
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: YA, gothic, supernatural, mystery
Review:
Broken Ghosts is a tale torn in two; a jagged line separates the life of 12 year old Phoebe in 1985, with that of her older counterpart, who haunts the pages of 2022.
This book embodies the feeling of autumn so well; both the beauty and the decay. It's a slow mystery with strange but realistic characters and some surprisingly dark moments. The atmosphere is crisp, sweet, and sorrowful, reaching out and beckoning you into the Welsh countryside.
Once again, although I rarely read them, I do love trying to guess a mystery. I didn't 100% guess correctly as I expected it to tie together in a closer fashion than it actually did but I think the resolution was a lot more realistic this way.
This is one I know I would've adored when I was a teenager - a slow burn spooky tale with a blend of realism and the supernatural. I'd highly recommend this if you're looking for an atmospheric autumnal read this season 🍂
Thank you to @headlinebooks for offering a copy in exchange for an honest review. Broken Ghosts is out on the 12th of September so keep your eye peeled 👀
Author: J.D. Oswald
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: YA, gothic, supernatural, mystery
Review:
Broken Ghosts is a tale torn in two; a jagged line separates the life of 12 year old Phoebe in 1985, with that of her older counterpart, who haunts the pages of 2022.
This book embodies the feeling of autumn so well; both the beauty and the decay. It's a slow mystery with strange but realistic characters and some surprisingly dark moments. The atmosphere is crisp, sweet, and sorrowful, reaching out and beckoning you into the Welsh countryside.
Once again, although I rarely read them, I do love trying to guess a mystery. I didn't 100% guess correctly as I expected it to tie together in a closer fashion than it actually did but I think the resolution was a lot more realistic this way.
This is one I know I would've adored when I was a teenager - a slow burn spooky tale with a blend of realism and the supernatural. I'd highly recommend this if you're looking for an atmospheric autumnal read this season 🍂
Thank you to @headlinebooks for offering a copy in exchange for an honest review. Broken Ghosts is out on the 12th of September so keep your eye peeled 👀
September 23, 2025
2.5
It was an ok read. I thought I would like it, and I really wanted to. However, I couldn't get into it and found myself getting bored.
It was an ok read. I thought I would like it, and I really wanted to. However, I couldn't get into it and found myself getting bored.
September 23, 2024
This isn't the first book I've read by J. D. Oswald, but it's definitely the one I enjoyed the most. The story itself was enjoyable, the characters were all likeable and I enjoyed the themes that ran throughout it - themes of home and belonging. It was a very well written novel, with cracking prose and chapters that weren't a slog to get through!
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC! My first one :D
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC! My first one :D
September 7, 2025
It took me a while to get into this book, but I'm glad I did because it was definitely worth it. This book is deeply ingrained with feelings of grief and loneliness, and the mystery created is simple but effective. Well worth the slow start
May 21, 2025
Audiobook. Great Narrator
July 22, 2025
beautiful narrative and the narrator brought it all to life. I was living in the valley with Phoebe
September 26, 2024
In Broken Ghosts, J.D. Oswald, or James Oswald as we usually know him, has written a beautiful, gently haunting coming of age novel. A stand-alone book, this is the story of how the orphaned Phoebe ‘Feebs’ MacDonald buried both her parents and was then whisked away from Fife in Scotland to rural Wales to live with her uncle Louis and aunt Maude in the Welsh woods.
Phoebe has to leave her friends behind; when she gets to Llangwm, a small village, community of situated on the Llangwm Pill off the River Cleddau in Wales she knows no-one and doesn’t, of course, speak any Welsh. There are no children of her age in the village and no nearby school that teaches in English. To all intents and purposes, she is completely isolated. Her aunt and uncle, both somewhat eccentric, though never cruel, don’t even have a television, so Phoebe is driven to finding her own entertainment. Pant Melyn, their house, is however full of books, including, oddly, a whole series of romance novels which have been her uncle Louis tells her have been sent for review. For Louis is an author, resting somewhat on the laurels of a book published some time ago which brought a little respectable fame.
It’s insufferably hard for Phoebe as she grieves the loss of both her parents and has to find a way through living with complete strangers, having no friends and then, to her horror, her aunt and uncle start discussing the possibility of home schooling. Her aunt Maude, though kindly, sees Phoebe as a helper for her vegetable garden and other household chores, but even then Maude has some eccentricities that cause Phoebe to wonder quite what she has come into.
James Oswald draws such beautifully rich characters that they come to life on the page. Phoebe’s grief is all too real and when she does what is really her only option and takes herself out of the house to go exploring in the woods it takes a while, but there’s something about the rich and varied countryside that, while it can be dangerous, is also slowly healing.
It is on the wooden bridge that Phoebe meets Gwyneth, a local girl about her own age. Gwynneth will be her guide through the forest, showing her local landmarks and filling her in on some of the local characters, including a pair of young male twins who should be avoided at all costs.
Broken Ghosts has a dual timeline, with 12 year old Phoebe in 1985 and then decades later, when she returns to Llangwm to bury her aunt Maude. Oswald deals with grief, questions of what home really means, loneliness and the mystical, natural way of nature to mend and heal. The sense of place permeates the book and this place is a character in its own right.
This is such a beautifully written story that it brings out feelings of love and empathy. There’s a soft subtlety to the suggestion of ghosts that hover in the background and as Phoebe roams, she will find out that there are dark secrets here that linger through generations until they can finally be laid to rest.
Verdict: Broken Ghosts is so beautifully written and full of the most interesting characters that the reader cannot fail to be entranced. Phoebe’s transition from child to adult has not been without its bumps and bruises, but the understanding of what home means is never closer nor more poignant than when she sits with the bees and ponders her future. Very highly recommended.
Phoebe has to leave her friends behind; when she gets to Llangwm, a small village, community of situated on the Llangwm Pill off the River Cleddau in Wales she knows no-one and doesn’t, of course, speak any Welsh. There are no children of her age in the village and no nearby school that teaches in English. To all intents and purposes, she is completely isolated. Her aunt and uncle, both somewhat eccentric, though never cruel, don’t even have a television, so Phoebe is driven to finding her own entertainment. Pant Melyn, their house, is however full of books, including, oddly, a whole series of romance novels which have been her uncle Louis tells her have been sent for review. For Louis is an author, resting somewhat on the laurels of a book published some time ago which brought a little respectable fame.
It’s insufferably hard for Phoebe as she grieves the loss of both her parents and has to find a way through living with complete strangers, having no friends and then, to her horror, her aunt and uncle start discussing the possibility of home schooling. Her aunt Maude, though kindly, sees Phoebe as a helper for her vegetable garden and other household chores, but even then Maude has some eccentricities that cause Phoebe to wonder quite what she has come into.
James Oswald draws such beautifully rich characters that they come to life on the page. Phoebe’s grief is all too real and when she does what is really her only option and takes herself out of the house to go exploring in the woods it takes a while, but there’s something about the rich and varied countryside that, while it can be dangerous, is also slowly healing.
It is on the wooden bridge that Phoebe meets Gwyneth, a local girl about her own age. Gwynneth will be her guide through the forest, showing her local landmarks and filling her in on some of the local characters, including a pair of young male twins who should be avoided at all costs.
Broken Ghosts has a dual timeline, with 12 year old Phoebe in 1985 and then decades later, when she returns to Llangwm to bury her aunt Maude. Oswald deals with grief, questions of what home really means, loneliness and the mystical, natural way of nature to mend and heal. The sense of place permeates the book and this place is a character in its own right.
This is such a beautifully written story that it brings out feelings of love and empathy. There’s a soft subtlety to the suggestion of ghosts that hover in the background and as Phoebe roams, she will find out that there are dark secrets here that linger through generations until they can finally be laid to rest.
Verdict: Broken Ghosts is so beautifully written and full of the most interesting characters that the reader cannot fail to be entranced. Phoebe’s transition from child to adult has not been without its bumps and bruises, but the understanding of what home means is never closer nor more poignant than when she sits with the bees and ponders her future. Very highly recommended.
October 11, 2024
J D Oswald is better known as James Oswald, the author of the much acclaimed Inspector McLean series. In Broken Ghosts, he has taken a new turn with this writing, creating a beautiful, lyrical coming of age story. Immersed in myth, folk lore and incorporating a setting that is a wonderful as the superbly created characters that populate the tale.
I love a dual time line story, and Oswald has managed to depict his lead character Phoebe perfectly, both as a young, grieving child and then in her later adult years. The two parts of the novel are seamlessly woven together, allowing the reader to take Phoebe's life journey along side her.
Twelve year old Phoebe is returning from a school trip. It's not been the greatest of days and she is looking forward to getting home. As she turns the corner of her street, she sees the emergency vehicles, just outside her home. This is the point where Phoebe's comfortable life ends. Her parents are dead, after a fire in the house. Phoebe is now alone, frightened, stricken with grief.
After spending her entire life in Scotland, Phoebe must now move to Wales. She's been given a home by her Uncle Louis and Aunt Maud. Their home, deep in a Welsh woods is nothing like Phoebe has ever known. Their style of living, whilst kind and caring, is so very strange. There are no other children nearby, no television, nothing to do. Louis is an author and the house is full of books, not having previously been a big reader, Phoebe begins to read the slightly odd romance novels that Louis is sent for review. She also has to avoid Maud's attempts to get her to help with the gardening, so begins to explore the surrounding woods. This is when she meets Gwyneth; a strange girl, around the same age, but dressed strangely and full of tales of local folk.
As Phoebe and Gwyneth's friendship develops, despite the fact that nobody else has met her, or even believes that she exists, they discover so much more about the woods and things that have happening there historically.
In the more modern part of the novel, Phoebe has returned to Wales, to close up the house after the death of Maud. During these parts, the reader learns more about the family, and about Phoebe's life since those early days in the woods.
This is a magical, enchanting novel that is an utterly compelling, and quite beautiful read. The author's ability to get into the mind of a young girl is startling and his depiction of the woods and the local landscape, along with the small community nearby is perfectly done.
Lyrical, haunting and such a wonderful novel. Highly recommended.
I love a dual time line story, and Oswald has managed to depict his lead character Phoebe perfectly, both as a young, grieving child and then in her later adult years. The two parts of the novel are seamlessly woven together, allowing the reader to take Phoebe's life journey along side her.
Twelve year old Phoebe is returning from a school trip. It's not been the greatest of days and she is looking forward to getting home. As she turns the corner of her street, she sees the emergency vehicles, just outside her home. This is the point where Phoebe's comfortable life ends. Her parents are dead, after a fire in the house. Phoebe is now alone, frightened, stricken with grief.
After spending her entire life in Scotland, Phoebe must now move to Wales. She's been given a home by her Uncle Louis and Aunt Maud. Their home, deep in a Welsh woods is nothing like Phoebe has ever known. Their style of living, whilst kind and caring, is so very strange. There are no other children nearby, no television, nothing to do. Louis is an author and the house is full of books, not having previously been a big reader, Phoebe begins to read the slightly odd romance novels that Louis is sent for review. She also has to avoid Maud's attempts to get her to help with the gardening, so begins to explore the surrounding woods. This is when she meets Gwyneth; a strange girl, around the same age, but dressed strangely and full of tales of local folk.
As Phoebe and Gwyneth's friendship develops, despite the fact that nobody else has met her, or even believes that she exists, they discover so much more about the woods and things that have happening there historically.
In the more modern part of the novel, Phoebe has returned to Wales, to close up the house after the death of Maud. During these parts, the reader learns more about the family, and about Phoebe's life since those early days in the woods.
This is a magical, enchanting novel that is an utterly compelling, and quite beautiful read. The author's ability to get into the mind of a young girl is startling and his depiction of the woods and the local landscape, along with the small community nearby is perfectly done.
Lyrical, haunting and such a wonderful novel. Highly recommended.
August 18, 2024
JD Oswald has ventured on a diiferent path from his established crime fiction series with his latest, although there are signs of familiarity in his exceptional capacity to create offbeat and compelling characters, and the presence of the supernatural in this haunting gothic story. Young 12 year old Phoebe 'Feebs' MacDonald's life is grimly shattered into tiny pieces when she returns home from a trip to discover her parents have died in a horrific fire. Broken, flailing and disorientated by grief, she is further rattled when she learns she must go live in Wales with the unconventional author, Uncle Louis, and Aunt Maude, at their remote rustic home of Pant Melyn, packed with books, a place that could not be more different from her Edinburgh.
Leaving behind her home, school, and friends, Phoebe is resentful, furious, with the threat of home schooling hanging over her, and no-one of her age group in the tiny community. She's processing her overwhelming grief, lashing out, suffering panic attacks and unexpected floods of tears, often mirroring the non-stop sheeting rain filled days that trap her indoors. To her surprise, she finds herself taking to reading books, there is nothing else to do, other than working in the vegetable garden, whilst her uncle spends his days writing in his office. It takes a while, but Phoebe starts to find herself roaming, exploring the wilderness of mountains, rivers, forests, and valleys, a beautiful, enticing natural world, bumping into a young local girl, Gwyneth, who becomes her friend and source of local knowledge.
In a entrancing dual narrative, the kind Phoebe untangles painful old secrets and mysteries, feeling more and more at home, finding solace, as she slowly comes to terms with her grief. Encountering the magic, ghosts and spirits of the idyllic rural landscape, the buzz of the bees, curious about local history, folklore, and the locals, but who exactly is Gwyneth? Decades later, with the death of elderly Aunt Maude, an older Phoebe returns, now an academic and writer, living as a recluse in a small tenement flat in Edinburgh, with a recent broken relationship behind her. Inundated by memories, settling affairs, organising a funeral, and making a necessary visit to the bees, Phoebe has to determine who she now is and where she wants to be.
Oswald is an incredible storyteller who effortlessly draws you into his imaginative intriguing melancholic puzzle of a mystery and the original characters that he creates. I cannot tell you just how excited I am when I learn he has a new book coming out, there is no way I would ever want to miss it. No doubt his many fans are likely to love this, and I would urge new readers to try this too. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Leaving behind her home, school, and friends, Phoebe is resentful, furious, with the threat of home schooling hanging over her, and no-one of her age group in the tiny community. She's processing her overwhelming grief, lashing out, suffering panic attacks and unexpected floods of tears, often mirroring the non-stop sheeting rain filled days that trap her indoors. To her surprise, she finds herself taking to reading books, there is nothing else to do, other than working in the vegetable garden, whilst her uncle spends his days writing in his office. It takes a while, but Phoebe starts to find herself roaming, exploring the wilderness of mountains, rivers, forests, and valleys, a beautiful, enticing natural world, bumping into a young local girl, Gwyneth, who becomes her friend and source of local knowledge.
In a entrancing dual narrative, the kind Phoebe untangles painful old secrets and mysteries, feeling more and more at home, finding solace, as she slowly comes to terms with her grief. Encountering the magic, ghosts and spirits of the idyllic rural landscape, the buzz of the bees, curious about local history, folklore, and the locals, but who exactly is Gwyneth? Decades later, with the death of elderly Aunt Maude, an older Phoebe returns, now an academic and writer, living as a recluse in a small tenement flat in Edinburgh, with a recent broken relationship behind her. Inundated by memories, settling affairs, organising a funeral, and making a necessary visit to the bees, Phoebe has to determine who she now is and where she wants to be.
Oswald is an incredible storyteller who effortlessly draws you into his imaginative intriguing melancholic puzzle of a mystery and the original characters that he creates. I cannot tell you just how excited I am when I learn he has a new book coming out, there is no way I would ever want to miss it. No doubt his many fans are likely to love this, and I would urge new readers to try this too. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
October 10, 2024
In a departure from his popular crime fiction novels, James Oswald’s haunting Broken Ghosts tells the story of Phoebe MacDonald, a twelve-year-old girl from Fife in Scotland forced to leave everything familiar behind after the sudden and tragic death of her parents in a house fire. She is taken to Wales to live with her mother’s brother, Louis, and his wife, Maude, in an isolated house, Pant Melyn, in the hills of Ceredigion.
There are no other children her age in the surrounding area, and this only increases her isolation. As there is no school nearby, Louis and Maude consider homeschooling, but don’t seem to be in any rush to do anything about it, leaving her to her own devices for a lot of the time. When the rain lets up, she explores the surrounding woodlands and meets Gwyneth, a young girl of a similar age, though is told no one of that name actually lives nearby.
Broken Ghosts is a dual timeline novel split between 1985 when Phoebe first arrives in Llancwm, and 2023 when she returns to Wales following Maude’s death. As in the Tony McLean books, there is a subtle suggestion of something otherworldly, but nothing scary, a benign presence. This is a coming of age novel, with a strong sense of place, well-drawn characters, and long buried secrets waiting to be uncovered. As Phoebe gradually comes to terms with her grief and loneliness, she finds solace in being in the natural world, and at times seems older than her years.
Although the village of Llancwm is fictional, James Oswald has obviously based it on real places he was familiar with (he lived in the area before moving to Scotland) and this adds authenticity to the narrative. The landscape reminded me of the TV series Hinterland, which was set in Aberystwyth and the surrounding area – there was even a mention of the Devil’s Bridge waterfall.
I was already a big fan of James Oswald’s writing, but this is masterful storytelling, melancholy but also hopeful. The landscape is brought vividly to life and is almost a character in its own right. Broken Ghosts is one of the best books I have read this year, and I look forward to reading whatever this talented writer brings out next. Thanks to Wildfire and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.
There are no other children her age in the surrounding area, and this only increases her isolation. As there is no school nearby, Louis and Maude consider homeschooling, but don’t seem to be in any rush to do anything about it, leaving her to her own devices for a lot of the time. When the rain lets up, she explores the surrounding woodlands and meets Gwyneth, a young girl of a similar age, though is told no one of that name actually lives nearby.
Broken Ghosts is a dual timeline novel split between 1985 when Phoebe first arrives in Llancwm, and 2023 when she returns to Wales following Maude’s death. As in the Tony McLean books, there is a subtle suggestion of something otherworldly, but nothing scary, a benign presence. This is a coming of age novel, with a strong sense of place, well-drawn characters, and long buried secrets waiting to be uncovered. As Phoebe gradually comes to terms with her grief and loneliness, she finds solace in being in the natural world, and at times seems older than her years.
Although the village of Llancwm is fictional, James Oswald has obviously based it on real places he was familiar with (he lived in the area before moving to Scotland) and this adds authenticity to the narrative. The landscape reminded me of the TV series Hinterland, which was set in Aberystwyth and the surrounding area – there was even a mention of the Devil’s Bridge waterfall.
I was already a big fan of James Oswald’s writing, but this is masterful storytelling, melancholy but also hopeful. The landscape is brought vividly to life and is almost a character in its own right. Broken Ghosts is one of the best books I have read this year, and I look forward to reading whatever this talented writer brings out next. Thanks to Wildfire and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.
December 2, 2025
Story/Plot: 3* the part of the story that I enjoyed is the character development of Phoebe and the budding relationship between her and her guardians.
Writing style: 3* this is a murder mystery with a dash of paranormal activity. The atmosphere isn't gothic or frightening.
Mystery: 2.5* meh. It was pretty obvious.
Characters: 3*
Phoebe McDonald: the protagonist. We are introduced to her when she's a 12 year old in the 1985 timeline and as an adult in the 2023 timelines. She loses both her parents in a fire, which takes her out of her middle class upbringing in Cupars, Fife (Scotland) to a remote village in Wales, where the locals still speak Welsh as their first language.
Louis Beard: aka Uncle Lou is the legal guardian and absent-minded uncle to Phoebe, his (much younger) sister Sian was Phoebe's mother. A local celebrity in his small village for a bestseller that he wrote decades ago. spoiler>He writes chicklit by the nom de plume Muriel Bayswater or something similar, which Phoebe takes over as a job when he can no longer write.
Maude Jenkins: aka Aunt Maude is a free-spirited, kindhearted civil partner to Phoebe's Uncle Louis. Aunt Maude would be considered an eccentric hippy back in the 80s but "alternative" today. She grows her own organic veg, is a beekeeper and bakes her own bread. She's into the environment and avoids pesticides.
Steven Lorne: the English lover of Gwyneth who mysteriously disappeared.
Jennifer Dalgliesh: best friend to Phoebe's when she lived in Cupar, Scotland prior to her parents death.
Bruce Thomas: one of a set of twins who live in a council flat in a rough and forgotten part of town. They refer to Phoebe as "little Snail" and sound creepy.
Axe Thomas: the other twin.
Meredith Ellis: aka Ellis Nant Caws (Ellis of Nant Caws farm) is an elderly farmer who lives with his son Tegwin in the remote Welsh countryside. He is saved by Phoebe when he almost has a heart attack upon setting eyes on her mistaking her for his daughter whom he calls "Gwen Bach" (meaning "Gwen dear")
Writing style: 3* this is a murder mystery with a dash of paranormal activity. The atmosphere isn't gothic or frightening.
Mystery: 2.5* meh. It was pretty obvious.
Characters: 3*
Phoebe McDonald: the protagonist. We are introduced to her when she's a 12 year old in the 1985 timeline and as an adult in the 2023 timelines. She loses both her parents in a fire, which takes her out of her middle class upbringing in Cupars, Fife (Scotland) to a remote village in Wales, where the locals still speak Welsh as their first language.
Louis Beard: aka Uncle Lou is the legal guardian and absent-minded uncle to Phoebe, his (much younger) sister Sian was Phoebe's mother. A local celebrity in his small village for a bestseller that he wrote decades ago. spoiler>He writes chicklit by the nom de plume Muriel Bayswater or something similar, which Phoebe takes over as a job when he can no longer write.
Maude Jenkins: aka Aunt Maude is a free-spirited, kindhearted civil partner to Phoebe's Uncle Louis. Aunt Maude would be considered an eccentric hippy back in the 80s but "alternative" today. She grows her own organic veg, is a beekeeper and bakes her own bread. She's into the environment and avoids pesticides.
Steven Lorne: the English lover of Gwyneth who mysteriously disappeared.
Jennifer Dalgliesh: best friend to Phoebe's when she lived in Cupar, Scotland prior to her parents death.
Bruce Thomas: one of a set of twins who live in a council flat in a rough and forgotten part of town. They refer to Phoebe as "little Snail" and sound creepy.
Axe Thomas: the other twin.
Meredith Ellis: aka Ellis Nant Caws (Ellis of Nant Caws farm) is an elderly farmer who lives with his son Tegwin in the remote Welsh countryside. He is saved by Phoebe when he almost has a heart attack upon setting eyes on her mistaking her for his daughter whom he calls "Gwen Bach" (meaning "Gwen dear")
September 7, 2025
Broken Ghosts is a bit of a departure from the Inspector McLean/Constance Fairchild books that I have come to love but at the same time there is an air of the familiar about it due to the feeling that something is different and not of this world.
After the tragic death of her parents, Phoebe MacDonald is sent to live with her uncle and his partner in Wales. She doesn’t really know them, and they don’t exactly lead the most conventional of lives. There doesn’t appear to be any children of her age in the small village and her aunt and uncle, whilst on the one hand will at times seem quite happy to leave her to her own devices, they also seem to want her to steer clear of many of the other residents.
Phoebe does eventually make one friend however there is something strange about her, no one else ever seems to have seen her and she is very sporadic in her appearances. Although this niggled in the back of my mind, it is not really until much later that you learn the truth about her and how she fits in with the locals.
The dual timeline of the book gives the reader a better understanding of how Phoebe’s life was impacted by the events of her childhood and how she came to accept her new life and all that came with it. I really liked Maud with all her eccentricities as you got the sense that she really did want what was best for Phoebe even though they were all on a huge learning curve on how to navigate their new situation.
As the book progresses you learn of another tragedy that had far reaching implications and tied several of the residents together. With Phoebe coming to live in the village, old wounds and ill feelings are brought to the surface and you wonder if time can really heal the shared grief they all feel.
With the array of characters, some of them quite colourful and the setting of the fantastic Welsh countryside, fans of James Oswalds writing will not be disappointed. Whilst it might not be the police procedurals we have come to know and love, the sense of place is ever present, and you are guaranteed to be taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. This is a book you definitely should add to your TBR pile.
After the tragic death of her parents, Phoebe MacDonald is sent to live with her uncle and his partner in Wales. She doesn’t really know them, and they don’t exactly lead the most conventional of lives. There doesn’t appear to be any children of her age in the small village and her aunt and uncle, whilst on the one hand will at times seem quite happy to leave her to her own devices, they also seem to want her to steer clear of many of the other residents.
Phoebe does eventually make one friend however there is something strange about her, no one else ever seems to have seen her and she is very sporadic in her appearances. Although this niggled in the back of my mind, it is not really until much later that you learn the truth about her and how she fits in with the locals.
The dual timeline of the book gives the reader a better understanding of how Phoebe’s life was impacted by the events of her childhood and how she came to accept her new life and all that came with it. I really liked Maud with all her eccentricities as you got the sense that she really did want what was best for Phoebe even though they were all on a huge learning curve on how to navigate their new situation.
As the book progresses you learn of another tragedy that had far reaching implications and tied several of the residents together. With Phoebe coming to live in the village, old wounds and ill feelings are brought to the surface and you wonder if time can really heal the shared grief they all feel.
With the array of characters, some of them quite colourful and the setting of the fantastic Welsh countryside, fans of James Oswalds writing will not be disappointed. Whilst it might not be the police procedurals we have come to know and love, the sense of place is ever present, and you are guaranteed to be taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. This is a book you definitely should add to your TBR pile.
January 14, 2025
Twelve year old Phoebe is devastated when she arrives home from school one day to find her house up in flames, her parents did not make it out and she is now an orphan. Phoebe is to be living under the care of her Uncle Louie and Aunt Maude.
Her aunt and uncle live in Wales; Phoebe is upset to have to leave the town she grew up in and all her close friends. Even worse when they arrive in Wales she finds herself in the middle of nowhere. Pant Melyn is in the middle of a forest, it's a world away from the life she had in Scotland. The house is old, full of books and the worst part there is no tv or internet. Phoebe is truly miserable, whilst still grieving for her parents. There is talk of her being home schooled but it never seems to happen. Instead Aunt Maud has her helping in the vegetable garden and bee keeping.
Phoebe takes herself off whenever she can, walking for miles in the forest. One day she meets a girl around her age dressed in an old fashioned dress. Phoebe is thrilled to find someone her age to talk to, Gwyneth is really quite strange but Phoebe likes her. But when Phoebe tells aunt Maud about Gwyneth she's told there isn't any young girls living anywhere nearby. Aunt Maud even hints that perhaps Phoebe has an imaginary friend. But Gwyneth is real....isn't she?
Told between two timelines, 1985 when young Phoebe arrives at Pant Melyn and present day when Phoebe is called back when Aunt Maud dies. It's a truly enchanting and magical novel, beautifully written. Although not really what I expected I did enjoy Broken Ghosts. It's a warm cwtch in book form.
Her aunt and uncle live in Wales; Phoebe is upset to have to leave the town she grew up in and all her close friends. Even worse when they arrive in Wales she finds herself in the middle of nowhere. Pant Melyn is in the middle of a forest, it's a world away from the life she had in Scotland. The house is old, full of books and the worst part there is no tv or internet. Phoebe is truly miserable, whilst still grieving for her parents. There is talk of her being home schooled but it never seems to happen. Instead Aunt Maud has her helping in the vegetable garden and bee keeping.
Phoebe takes herself off whenever she can, walking for miles in the forest. One day she meets a girl around her age dressed in an old fashioned dress. Phoebe is thrilled to find someone her age to talk to, Gwyneth is really quite strange but Phoebe likes her. But when Phoebe tells aunt Maud about Gwyneth she's told there isn't any young girls living anywhere nearby. Aunt Maud even hints that perhaps Phoebe has an imaginary friend. But Gwyneth is real....isn't she?
Told between two timelines, 1985 when young Phoebe arrives at Pant Melyn and present day when Phoebe is called back when Aunt Maud dies. It's a truly enchanting and magical novel, beautifully written. Although not really what I expected I did enjoy Broken Ghosts. It's a warm cwtch in book form.
September 12, 2024
Thank you to Federica @ Wildfire for granting my wish of a proof of this beautiful book 🥰
I knew I was going to love this book and not just because it has a stunning cover but because it is written by one of my favourite authors - James Oswald.
Phoebe is uprooted from her fairly happy life in Scotland after a fire kills both her parents and she moves to Wales to live with her estranged uncle and his partner who live a very different lifestyle to the one she's accustomed to.
As always James' writing is eloquent and beautiful! With vivid descriptions of the forests surrounding Pant Melyn, where Aunt Maud and Uncle Louis live. You can almost hear the river and the waterfall 🥰
Phoebe is very reluctant for this place to become home but I feel like she didn't realise that she was at home very quickly, roaming freely throughout her surroundings. The depiction of a preteen was perfect (I have my own preteen currently and the mood swings 🙄accurate)
I enjoyed seeing the differences and similarities between adult Phoebe and young Phoebe and how that first few months in Pant Melyn shaped her life and future.
Whilst I am used to the books from James having an occult/ghostly undertone this was so very different from the Tony McLean series but equally as brilliant! I am excited to see more from him in this vein!
I enjoyed this so much that I didn't want it to end!! More please James 🙏🏽
I knew I was going to love this book and not just because it has a stunning cover but because it is written by one of my favourite authors - James Oswald.
Phoebe is uprooted from her fairly happy life in Scotland after a fire kills both her parents and she moves to Wales to live with her estranged uncle and his partner who live a very different lifestyle to the one she's accustomed to.
As always James' writing is eloquent and beautiful! With vivid descriptions of the forests surrounding Pant Melyn, where Aunt Maud and Uncle Louis live. You can almost hear the river and the waterfall 🥰
Phoebe is very reluctant for this place to become home but I feel like she didn't realise that she was at home very quickly, roaming freely throughout her surroundings. The depiction of a preteen was perfect (I have my own preteen currently and the mood swings 🙄accurate)
I enjoyed seeing the differences and similarities between adult Phoebe and young Phoebe and how that first few months in Pant Melyn shaped her life and future.
Whilst I am used to the books from James having an occult/ghostly undertone this was so very different from the Tony McLean series but equally as brilliant! I am excited to see more from him in this vein!
I enjoyed this so much that I didn't want it to end!! More please James 🙏🏽
August 22, 2024
I am a massive fan of Mr. Oswald, having read all his Tony McLean and Constance Fairchild books, so I was keen to get my hands on this new tale – and what a tale it is. The story launches with a tragic event: Phoebe’s parents are killed in a house fire. As a result of this, Phoebe must move from Scotland to live with her scarcely known Uncle – Louis and his partner, Maude in a small village in Wales.
Throughout, it is almost possible to feel the loneliness and isolation that Pheobe experiences as a child, which is, at times, heart wrenching as she negotiates her new life without her parents or friends. There is also a tremendous sense of atmosphere – the author writes so passionately about the area, and although the village is fictional, it is clear, he is portraying real scenery. The book flits seamlessly between 1985, with Phoebe being 12, and present day with her nearing 50, which I really loved - I found myself immersed in Phoebe’s struggles to be accepted and to find peace. I became very fond of Maude with her zany ways and total acceptance of herself.
Despite the title of the book, the ghosts are subtle, and I did wonder if, by ghosts, the author was referring more to the many secrets hiding in the woods. In conclusion, this is a beautifully written story, with a successful blend of tragedy, separation and the need to belong. Very highly recommended.
Throughout, it is almost possible to feel the loneliness and isolation that Pheobe experiences as a child, which is, at times, heart wrenching as she negotiates her new life without her parents or friends. There is also a tremendous sense of atmosphere – the author writes so passionately about the area, and although the village is fictional, it is clear, he is portraying real scenery. The book flits seamlessly between 1985, with Phoebe being 12, and present day with her nearing 50, which I really loved - I found myself immersed in Phoebe’s struggles to be accepted and to find peace. I became very fond of Maude with her zany ways and total acceptance of herself.
Despite the title of the book, the ghosts are subtle, and I did wonder if, by ghosts, the author was referring more to the many secrets hiding in the woods. In conclusion, this is a beautifully written story, with a successful blend of tragedy, separation and the need to belong. Very highly recommended.
October 1, 2024
Discover the locations in the novel here
I don't pretend to know what is involved in spending hours working on a farm and tending to highland cows in the highlands of Scotland but whatever gives James Oswald the inspiration and time to think of these plots then thank you. I'm guessing the farm is surrounded by shadows and gothic fog judging by the scene setting here and in his other worldly crime novels too. This is a very special read, set somewhere fictional thank goodness as I wouldn't be brave enough to go there anyway.
Tragedy is your bookmark from the off. The scene setting in Wales and the woods is superb. Those woods around her aunt and uncles house are going to reveal a few things....
With a very young girl as the main character, there's going to be a lot of exploring and thinking but this has the added interest of survival and loneliness.
The nearest major town is Aberystwyth. And even as the book takes us only a short distance away, there is a real sense that anything could happen here, the local references are nicely done and the girl's interpretation of it all.
Llancwm. Remember that name. What did happen there in 1985?
October 2, 2024
Dual timeline story between 1985 and 2023 following Phoebe and what happens to her after her parents death. I’m not sure it’s a coming of age story but more of a here is a load of traumatic stuff that happened one summer and then coming to terms with it much later in life, story. So yeah, coming of age but only if you count coming of age when you are nearly 50.
Engagingly written and I was never bored. 3.5 stars boosted to 4 for goodreads.
Engagingly written and I was never bored. 3.5 stars boosted to 4 for goodreads.
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