What do you think?
Rate this book
The Shadow Garden
Inspired by the classic ghost stories of M.R. James, The Shadow Garden is a chilling and compelling tale by critically acclaimed author, Andrew Matthews.
Matty Brand can see the spirits of the dead, and when she moves to Tagram House with her mother, her psychic powers reveal that two murdered children haunt the house. Matty soon becomes involved in untangling the mystery of their deaths, which she knows she must do in order to prevent another murder from being committed.
Matty Brand can see the spirits of the dead, and when she moves to Tagram House with her mother, her psychic powers reveal that two murdered children haunt the house. Matty soon becomes involved in untangling the mystery of their deaths, which she knows she must do in order to prevent another murder from being committed.
197 pages, Paperback
First published October 28, 2005
1 person is currently reading
549 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Matthews
128 books24 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Andrew Matthews was born in South Glamorgan in 1948. Andrew taught English in Hampshire after which he became a full-time writer. He lives in Reading with his wife and their cats. Andrew's work has been widely translated and he has made numerous appearances at schools and libraries throughout the UK.
Source: United Agents.
Andrew Matthews was born in South Glamorgan in 1948. Andrew taught English in Hampshire after which he became a full-time writer. He lives in Reading with his wife and their cats. Andrew's work has been widely translated and he has made numerous appearances at schools and libraries throughout the UK.
Source: United Agents.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 31, 2013
my parents brought me this book when I was 12 but I never had the guts to read it until now. the house I grew up in was quite a large 2 storey house that, like this book, "talked to itself during the night" and reading it now im glad I hadnt when I was younger or I would have had nightmares. I really enjoyed this book. it is more of a young teens book that grips you and scares you throughout but has a lovely, happy ending. definatly a good read but more for the younger crowd!
June 2, 2021
Whether you are finding a quick little anecdote for your little one, or you are in your teens yourself, The Shadow Garden by Andrew Matthews is just the right pick for you.
In fact, even if you are an adult, trying to rack a light read from the fiction bookshelf, then welcome to the world of Matty Brand. A fourteen-year-old teenager, Matty is not your average protagonist. As Mrs. Brand ( her mother ) would say in the story, Matty has “the gift” to see the dead. The story unfolds steadily, narrating the life story of the fourteen-year-old and her mother in the Derlingham village through Matty’s eyes.
The main turn in the book takes place when Mr.s Brand gets an invitation to perform the role of a full-time house-made at the Talgram House, along with taking Matty with herself. The Tangram house has been described as the only inn lying on the coast, located just outside the village. Matthew has described it as a house with bad habits that talk to itself of a night.
With the earnest need to know what is next, the voice of the book keeps you turn the pages one by one. As our previous characters escalate their path towards the Tagram house, more names come into action i.e Dr. Hobbes, the owner of the house, 10 years old Catherine who lives with Dr. Hobbes, Mrs. Chivers, Mrs. Clark, and more.
Matty, at her first glance, defines the house as :
" A Grey stone house with ivy over the walls, and mullioned windows peering out through the greenery like suspicious eyes. The house wore the ivy-like a hooded cloak that it wanted to hide under."
With each further chapter, Matty discovers unknown and unusual facts about the house and its members. She grows a good bond with Catherine, who she thinks is tangled between her dreadful past, imagination, and reality. It’s her “gift” and curious mind which helps Matty get associated with unraveling the mystery that takes place between hidden doors and gardens in the house and helps her prevent another mishap from taking place at the end.
This story could be a perfect read for your weekend reading sessions, as I finished it only in a few sittings.
During the whole read, there is a search for what is next: that is what kept me going to read this story.
Be it fiction, the story is still not like your usual fairytale reads, it has convincing plots, elaborated explanations, and an urge to unravel what comes next.
Matthew has used the perfect kind of description to explain every plot with a convincing voice of a teenager.
By all means, it could be a chilling and mysterious read who likes to take a dip into the genre. The book is meant for readers of all ages.
All the characters are not shown as an open book, instead, you get to know them steadily along with the story and all their actions.
In fact, even if you are an adult, trying to rack a light read from the fiction bookshelf, then welcome to the world of Matty Brand. A fourteen-year-old teenager, Matty is not your average protagonist. As Mrs. Brand ( her mother ) would say in the story, Matty has “the gift” to see the dead. The story unfolds steadily, narrating the life story of the fourteen-year-old and her mother in the Derlingham village through Matty’s eyes.
The main turn in the book takes place when Mr.s Brand gets an invitation to perform the role of a full-time house-made at the Talgram House, along with taking Matty with herself. The Tangram house has been described as the only inn lying on the coast, located just outside the village. Matthew has described it as a house with bad habits that talk to itself of a night.
With the earnest need to know what is next, the voice of the book keeps you turn the pages one by one. As our previous characters escalate their path towards the Tagram house, more names come into action i.e Dr. Hobbes, the owner of the house, 10 years old Catherine who lives with Dr. Hobbes, Mrs. Chivers, Mrs. Clark, and more.
Matty, at her first glance, defines the house as :
" A Grey stone house with ivy over the walls, and mullioned windows peering out through the greenery like suspicious eyes. The house wore the ivy-like a hooded cloak that it wanted to hide under."
With each further chapter, Matty discovers unknown and unusual facts about the house and its members. She grows a good bond with Catherine, who she thinks is tangled between her dreadful past, imagination, and reality. It’s her “gift” and curious mind which helps Matty get associated with unraveling the mystery that takes place between hidden doors and gardens in the house and helps her prevent another mishap from taking place at the end.
This story could be a perfect read for your weekend reading sessions, as I finished it only in a few sittings.
During the whole read, there is a search for what is next: that is what kept me going to read this story.
Be it fiction, the story is still not like your usual fairytale reads, it has convincing plots, elaborated explanations, and an urge to unravel what comes next.
Matthew has used the perfect kind of description to explain every plot with a convincing voice of a teenager.
By all means, it could be a chilling and mysterious read who likes to take a dip into the genre. The book is meant for readers of all ages.
All the characters are not shown as an open book, instead, you get to know them steadily along with the story and all their actions.
July 3, 2020
During each plot, I’m asking and expecting a little more. However, considering in mind that this one is specially for children, I give it three stars.
Well written screens and the flow is genuinely interesting .
Well written screens and the flow is genuinely interesting .
June 23, 2018
Very good:)
May 22, 2019
Could not get into this book. Nfm
December 22, 2019
Really atmospheric but a little light on story so only four stars not five.
June 18, 2021
Needed a bit more depth. I got so invested but the story seemed anticlimactic
July 16, 2015
I read this book when I was I guess 12 or 11 it has a really catchy/gripping plot and keeps your spine straight by the sudden happenings. When I read it we had a double storied house and I was the only one who had a separate room upstairs and I use to sit in my room late night, with my head nearly inside the book and the light of my bedside lamp creeping behind me but I can proudly say that I enjoyed this book very much! And yes I did scare me for nearly a week (every time I slept I thought I could hear voices- but it was just a strange sensation No more than in my mind) ;)
July 8, 2013
This was a pretty average book. It's a fun little ghost story with a lovely setting of a big old house with a rose garden and a mysterious history. The characters are diverse enough in their personalities to make them interesting, and though the ending happens rather suddenly it feels like it happened at about the right time. At about 200 pages, I think it is worth reading.
October 17, 2015
I. Freaking. Love. This. Book!
I think i must have read it about 5 times now? I just can't get enough of it! Even though Catherine was one of the most Annoying characters I have ever read about but that's okay
I think i must have read it about 5 times now? I just can't get enough of it! Even though Catherine was one of the most Annoying characters I have ever read about but that's okay
July 20, 2009
this book is one of the best books i have read, great story line, definately a catching one.
October 23, 2009
I love this book!
It sends shivers down ur spine, super creeeepy...
It sends shivers down ur spine, super creeeepy...
September 4, 2012
It was good, but a little simplistic compared to other books in this age range and genre
March 23, 2015
A nice, simple story, interesting characters. However, scary only for kids.
April 26, 2014
This was an great book! It involved me and I felt really close to the characters. I couldn't relate to the story but I loved this storyline and the concept. Therefore I gave this book 3 stars!
May 21, 2017
Lost Hearts is one of my favorite M.R. James' stories. Unfortunately, this was not a great retelling.
September 3, 2015
A cleverly written ghost story with a gothic atmosphere - great descriptive language.
July 23, 2023
ive read this book countless times, a childhood favourite
December 23, 2007
an amazingly good book based on 'lost hearts' by M.R. James. Really capturing
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews