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Ghost Trouble
When the Public Works Department orders Grandfather to cut down the peepal tree, the Pret, a mischievous ghost, who lives there moves into the house and no one is safe from his outrageous pranks!
- GenresShort Stories
48 pages, Hardcover
First published February 23, 1989
29 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
About the author
Ruskin Bond
682 books3,569 followersRuskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He is considered to be an icon among Indian writers and children's authors and a top novelist. He wrote his first novel, The Room on the Roof, when he was seventeen which won John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then he has written several novellas, over 500 short stories, as well as various essays and poems, all of which have established him as one of the best-loved and most admired chroniclers of contemporary India. In 1992 he received the Sahitya Akademi award for English writing, for his short stories collection, "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra", by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters in India. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 for contributions to children's literature. He now lives with his adopted family in Landour near Mussoorie.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 10, 2025
With Ruskin Bond. The Man who gave me so much,,,,
Ghost Trouble is one of Ruskin Bond’s most delightful contributions to the world of humorous ghost stories.
Combining gentle spookiness with characteristic warmth, the book exemplifies Bond’s unique ability to turn supernatural tales into charming, often funny, meditations on human nature.
Unlike horror writers who rely on fear, Bond treats ghosts as whimsical beings—lonely, confused, or mischievous rather than terrifying. This humane approach transforms the supernatural into a realm of comfort and curiosity.
Ghost Trouble brings together multiple such stories, including the memorable tale of a friendly ghost who struggles to coexist with humans while navigating his own afterlife challenges.
Bond’s strength lies in his characterisation. His ghosts are full of personality: some are melancholic, some playful, and some slightly annoying but always endearing.
Instead of haunting people in malicious ways, they seem to drift through old houses, attics, gardens, and lonely roads, searching for conversation or closure.
Bond’s worldbuilding allows readers to see ghosts not as threats but as part of a larger, mysterious ecosystem—one that mirrors human emotions rather than contradicts them.
The tone of the book is light, humorous, and often nostalgic. Bond writes with an affectionate fondness for old houses, creaky staircases, and the stories that shadows might whisper.
Many tales unfold in hilly settings—Mussoorie, Dehra, and other familiar landscapes from Bond’s literary universe.
These settings create a perfect atmosphere for supernatural storytelling: misty evenings, lantern-lit rooms, howling winds, and forests that hold ancient secrets.
At the same time, the stories never feel dark or oppressive. Even when a ghost is described as eerie, Bond quickly humanises it through dialogue, emotion, or situational comedy.
The result is a collection suitable for young readers as well as adults, offering thrills without trauma, mystery without fear.
Humour is a vital thread running through the book. Bond uses timing, misunderstandings, and quirky character interactions to craft scenes that feel more like slice-of-life comedy than conventional horror.
The title story, Ghost Trouble, features a ghost whose presence complicates the lives of the living in ridiculous but entertaining ways. It’s not the ghost’s malice but his emotional awkwardness that causes all the trouble.
Underlying the humour, however, is a subtle poignancy. Many ghosts in Bond’s stories remain tethered to the world because of unfulfilled wishes or lingering memories.
Their attempts to find resolution mirror human desires for belonging, forgiveness, or understanding.
Bond gently reveals that the world of the living and the world of spirits are connected through shared emotions—loneliness, love, fear, or nostalgia.
As always, Bond’s prose is elegant in its simplicity. His descriptions create vivid mental images without being overly ornate.
The pacing is brisk, the dialogue sharp, and the atmosphere immersive. Readers who appreciate short stories with warmth and charm will find Ghost Trouble irresistible.
The book also works beautifully for classroom or family reading. Its humour and gentle mystery engage younger readers, while adults appreciate the emotional depth and narrative craftsmanship.
In essence, Ghost Trouble is a celebration of storytelling—full of charm, whimsy, and heart.
It demonstrates that ghost stories need not terrify; they can comfort, amuse, and illuminate the tender corners of the human spirit.
For fans of Ruskin Bond, it is an absolute delight.
For newcomers, it’s an ideal entry point into his supernatural universe.
Most recommended.
Ghost Trouble is one of Ruskin Bond’s most delightful contributions to the world of humorous ghost stories.
Combining gentle spookiness with characteristic warmth, the book exemplifies Bond’s unique ability to turn supernatural tales into charming, often funny, meditations on human nature.
Unlike horror writers who rely on fear, Bond treats ghosts as whimsical beings—lonely, confused, or mischievous rather than terrifying. This humane approach transforms the supernatural into a realm of comfort and curiosity.
Ghost Trouble brings together multiple such stories, including the memorable tale of a friendly ghost who struggles to coexist with humans while navigating his own afterlife challenges.
Bond’s strength lies in his characterisation. His ghosts are full of personality: some are melancholic, some playful, and some slightly annoying but always endearing.
Instead of haunting people in malicious ways, they seem to drift through old houses, attics, gardens, and lonely roads, searching for conversation or closure.
Bond’s worldbuilding allows readers to see ghosts not as threats but as part of a larger, mysterious ecosystem—one that mirrors human emotions rather than contradicts them.
The tone of the book is light, humorous, and often nostalgic. Bond writes with an affectionate fondness for old houses, creaky staircases, and the stories that shadows might whisper.
Many tales unfold in hilly settings—Mussoorie, Dehra, and other familiar landscapes from Bond’s literary universe.
These settings create a perfect atmosphere for supernatural storytelling: misty evenings, lantern-lit rooms, howling winds, and forests that hold ancient secrets.
At the same time, the stories never feel dark or oppressive. Even when a ghost is described as eerie, Bond quickly humanises it through dialogue, emotion, or situational comedy.
The result is a collection suitable for young readers as well as adults, offering thrills without trauma, mystery without fear.
Humour is a vital thread running through the book. Bond uses timing, misunderstandings, and quirky character interactions to craft scenes that feel more like slice-of-life comedy than conventional horror.
The title story, Ghost Trouble, features a ghost whose presence complicates the lives of the living in ridiculous but entertaining ways. It’s not the ghost’s malice but his emotional awkwardness that causes all the trouble.
Underlying the humour, however, is a subtle poignancy. Many ghosts in Bond’s stories remain tethered to the world because of unfulfilled wishes or lingering memories.
Their attempts to find resolution mirror human desires for belonging, forgiveness, or understanding.
Bond gently reveals that the world of the living and the world of spirits are connected through shared emotions—loneliness, love, fear, or nostalgia.
As always, Bond’s prose is elegant in its simplicity. His descriptions create vivid mental images without being overly ornate.
The pacing is brisk, the dialogue sharp, and the atmosphere immersive. Readers who appreciate short stories with warmth and charm will find Ghost Trouble irresistible.
The book also works beautifully for classroom or family reading. Its humour and gentle mystery engage younger readers, while adults appreciate the emotional depth and narrative craftsmanship.
In essence, Ghost Trouble is a celebration of storytelling—full of charm, whimsy, and heart.
It demonstrates that ghost stories need not terrify; they can comfort, amuse, and illuminate the tender corners of the human spirit.
For fans of Ruskin Bond, it is an absolute delight.
For newcomers, it’s an ideal entry point into his supernatural universe.
Most recommended.
May 26, 2019
nice story I loved it
May 5, 2020
Very nice book
May 25, 2020
A fun short read which can be enjoyed by all age groups
June 10, 2020
Øsm book
Want to read
April 30, 2021cooooooooooooooooooooooooool
May 6, 2021
Very nice book
May 27, 2021
a good one
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
November 29, 2021loved
May 17, 2024
The Book is good but i can't read it.
there it is saying that want to read , read, Currently reading...
there it is saying that want to read , read, Currently reading...
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews