What do you think?
Rate this book
The Ghost Hunters #2
The Lost Village
A haunting thriller with an unforgettable twistThe remote village of Imber - remote, lost and abandoned. The outside world hasn't been let in since soldiers forced the inhabitants out, much to their contempt.But now, a dark secret threatens all who venture near. Everyone is in danger, and only Harry Price can help. Reluctantly reunited with his former assistant Sarah Grey, he must unlock the mystery of Imber, and unsurface the secrets someone thought were long buried. But will Sarah's involvement be the undoing of them both?Readers LOVE Neil 'What a fantastic, spooky, action packed, page turning thriller ... the best I've read in ages ' Amazon reviewer'In my opinion, this is his best work to date with a compelling story that blends just the right amount of truth and fiction to keep the reader completely hooked ' Amazon reviewer'Neil Spring is Agatha Christie meets James Herbert' STEPHEN VOLKAlso by Neil The Ghost HuntersThe Watchers
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 19, 2017
97 people are currently reading
905 people want to read
About the author
Neil Spring
6 books357 followersNeil Spring is the author of several novels, many of which are inspired by real events.
His debut novel, The Ghost Hunters, was adapted into a critically acclaimed television drama for ITV starring Rafe Spall.
The Haunted Shore is his fifth novel and is out 15 Oct 2020. Preorder: https://amzn.to/2CCMxv9
Originally from South Wales, Neil lives in London and can be contacted via his website, www.neilspring.com, or followed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Neilspring.a..., and on Twitter as @neilspring.
Neil is represented by the literary agency, Curtis Brown.
His debut novel, The Ghost Hunters, was adapted into a critically acclaimed television drama for ITV starring Rafe Spall.
The Haunted Shore is his fifth novel and is out 15 Oct 2020. Preorder: https://amzn.to/2CCMxv9
Originally from South Wales, Neil lives in London and can be contacted via his website, www.neilspring.com, or followed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Neilspring.a..., and on Twitter as @neilspring.
Neil is represented by the literary agency, Curtis Brown.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
September 11, 2017
This is historical fiction based on real events. This is a terrific read as the autumn days get shorter, for Halloween, and for whenever a spooky ghost read is what will fit the bill. An elderly Sarah Grey, once assistant to the famous ghost hunter, Harry Price, hears of the discovery of a spirit child's body in the lost village of Imber, on Salisbury Plain in 1978. This drives her to write about her experiences of Imber village, first in 1914 as a child, when it was taken over for the war effort by the army, and where her father was stationed, destined to never return home and later in 1932, when she and Harry investigate paranormal happenings, horrors, and ghosts. Promises made by the army and the government that the village would be returned fail to materialise making it a highly political and volatile issue.
A significant visit to Brixton Picture Palace to explore the odd goings on there lead to Sarah and Harry meeting coincidentally. Sarah has left Harry's employ and their personal relationship led to consequences that have her feeling haunted and guilty. Vernon Wall, a journalist despised by Harry, is instrumental in getting Sarah and Harry into Imber to help the army in some confidential investigations. There has been the terrible burning of Sergeant Gregory Edwards, and the haunted sounds of the cries of children and women, and more on the site, heard by soldiers which has the army worried. They want nothing to impede the annual visit to Imber church service at St Giles by the grieving and resentful villagers, seen as a crucial PR exercise. There are the ghostly sightings of a young badly nourished boy, also summoned through seances led by a trusted army man, Sidewinder. The ghost boy is the dead son of Oscar Hartwell, a man who lost all 4 of his children. Hartwell used to be the local bigwig of Imber living in the large house, now used as kill house in army training. He is the central focus and leading light for the campaign to return Imber. As Sarah and Harry investigate, they uncover horrors and evidence that practically has arch sceptic Harry Price convinced that the paranormal and ghosts exist. For Sarah, Imber village takes her back to the past and a truer understanding of exactly who she is.
The author does take some liberties but essentially this novel is based on fact. Neil Spring has written an atmospheric ghost story located in a lost village where feelings naturally run high amongst former locals. What I really loved was the character of Sarah Grey, a woman with a strong interest in the supernatural, visited by visions, or possibly hallucinations, in love with Harry Price but knows his marriage forbids a relationship between them. Through the course of the novel Sarah is on a journey that reveals so much about her complicated identity and she is instrumental in arriving at the truth. This is a wonderful and thrilling tale of the ruthless in humanity, ghosts and the paranormal. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
A significant visit to Brixton Picture Palace to explore the odd goings on there lead to Sarah and Harry meeting coincidentally. Sarah has left Harry's employ and their personal relationship led to consequences that have her feeling haunted and guilty. Vernon Wall, a journalist despised by Harry, is instrumental in getting Sarah and Harry into Imber to help the army in some confidential investigations. There has been the terrible burning of Sergeant Gregory Edwards, and the haunted sounds of the cries of children and women, and more on the site, heard by soldiers which has the army worried. They want nothing to impede the annual visit to Imber church service at St Giles by the grieving and resentful villagers, seen as a crucial PR exercise. There are the ghostly sightings of a young badly nourished boy, also summoned through seances led by a trusted army man, Sidewinder. The ghost boy is the dead son of Oscar Hartwell, a man who lost all 4 of his children. Hartwell used to be the local bigwig of Imber living in the large house, now used as kill house in army training. He is the central focus and leading light for the campaign to return Imber. As Sarah and Harry investigate, they uncover horrors and evidence that practically has arch sceptic Harry Price convinced that the paranormal and ghosts exist. For Sarah, Imber village takes her back to the past and a truer understanding of exactly who she is.
The author does take some liberties but essentially this novel is based on fact. Neil Spring has written an atmospheric ghost story located in a lost village where feelings naturally run high amongst former locals. What I really loved was the character of Sarah Grey, a woman with a strong interest in the supernatural, visited by visions, or possibly hallucinations, in love with Harry Price but knows his marriage forbids a relationship between them. Through the course of the novel Sarah is on a journey that reveals so much about her complicated identity and she is instrumental in arriving at the truth. This is a wonderful and thrilling tale of the ruthless in humanity, ghosts and the paranormal. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
February 18, 2018
I found The Ghost Hunters to be pretty awesome, but this book was fabulous! I was thrilled to learn that the Ghost Hunters would get a sequel and I was even more thrilled when I got the book to read. And, what a book. From the first page was I hooked and the story kept its hold on my wall the way until the end. You don't have to read the first book, to read this one, but I would recommend you do that to get to know Sarah Grey and Harry Price from the start, how they met, how Sarah started to work for him and what went wrong.
The Lost Village is a captivating tale. I was curious to learn what the connection between Sarah and the village. And, is Imber really haunted? And, what has the movie theater that is said to be haunted to do with everything? Is there some connection between the movie theater and the village? Sarah and Harry reunite to solve the mystery of Imber. But, their past is between them and the village is not a very peaceful place. This case could be the end of them...
Neil Spring is a very talented writer and I sure hope that he will write at least one more book about Sarah and Harry. Although, to get this one was more than I hoped for and it was very bittersweet to turn the last page. It's an extraordinary tale and I recommend it warmly!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
The Lost Village is a captivating tale. I was curious to learn what the connection between Sarah and the village. And, is Imber really haunted? And, what has the movie theater that is said to be haunted to do with everything? Is there some connection between the movie theater and the village? Sarah and Harry reunite to solve the mystery of Imber. But, their past is between them and the village is not a very peaceful place. This case could be the end of them...
Neil Spring is a very talented writer and I sure hope that he will write at least one more book about Sarah and Harry. Although, to get this one was more than I hoped for and it was very bittersweet to turn the last page. It's an extraordinary tale and I recommend it warmly!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
December 8, 2017
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The perfect accompaniment to a chilly October evening, The Lost Village blends together fact and fiction to form a creepy tale filled with ghosts and long-forgotten memories.
Most of the action is centered on the 'lost village' of Imber. Found on the Salisbury Plains, many years ago soldiers forced the inhabitants out to use it as a military base in the first World War. Once a year the inhabitants are allowed back to visit former loved ones buried in the churchyard. However, mysterious ghostly sightings that have driven the soldiers mad, and rumors of the church bells ringing on their own have started to occur in Imber, with many inhabitants claiming it's the former inhabitants rearing up to reclaim their forgotten village. Only Harry Price and his former assistant Sarah Grey can unravel the truth. Is this an elaborate hoax? Or the work of the undead?
After a brief prologue involving an elderly Sarah and a ghostly visitation, we jump straight into the action with a younger Sarah investigating the Brixton picture house, which has a notorious reputation for ghost sightings. I found myself feeling as though I was there with Sarah as she explores the dark rows of seats, and there's an almost palpable tension created as she realises that the 'ghost light', usually left on by the last employee to leave on an evening, is switched off. This opening scene was a great introduction to the overall feel for the rest of the novel, which was deeply atmospheric, creepy and filled with paranormal activity.
The plot itself, where we find Harry and Sarah in Imber, is fast paced, with plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing until the end. Just when I thought I'd figured something out or solved a mystery, the author threw something unexpected in, which kept me on my toes and allowed me to really enjoy this. It's not often I'm taken by surprise by a story-line, and I was pleasantly surprised. I also liked how the plot all linked together - from the picture house to Imber and the elderly Sarah we see at the beginning. It was cleverly done, and showed that all aspects of the story had a purpose and were thoughtfully considered.
I loved the relationship between Harry and Sarah, which was complex and almost love/hate. It's acutely apparent that Sarah is in love with Harry, but regrets from her past prevent her from acting on this. She also knows just how deeply under Harry's spell she is, and hates herself for it. I loved that aspect of her character. I also liked the fact that the author does not try to present Sarah as anything other than what she is - she feels like a 'proper' person from her time period. There's no 'modern' ideologies, which is great, and nothing about her feels forced.
Harry is more complicated a character. As we only see things from Sarah's perspective, it's hard to get a grasp on who he really is and how he feels about Sarah. He often comes across as quite abrasive, and short with people who do not share is opinion. At one point in the story he's also appears to complete drop his own perspectives about the paranormal after one particular incident, which felt a bit out of place for him - especially as Sarah is convinced that it's a hoax.
My main issue with Sarah and Harry was that I felt there wasn't any proper closure between the two characters at the end. I wanted the two of them to talk about their past together, which never happened - and so much was left unspoken that I was a little bit disappointed at the potential that was missed there.
However, I found this an exceptionally well written tale with a great amount of atmospheric detail that kept me enthralled to the end.
The perfect accompaniment to a chilly October evening, The Lost Village blends together fact and fiction to form a creepy tale filled with ghosts and long-forgotten memories.
Most of the action is centered on the 'lost village' of Imber. Found on the Salisbury Plains, many years ago soldiers forced the inhabitants out to use it as a military base in the first World War. Once a year the inhabitants are allowed back to visit former loved ones buried in the churchyard. However, mysterious ghostly sightings that have driven the soldiers mad, and rumors of the church bells ringing on their own have started to occur in Imber, with many inhabitants claiming it's the former inhabitants rearing up to reclaim their forgotten village. Only Harry Price and his former assistant Sarah Grey can unravel the truth. Is this an elaborate hoax? Or the work of the undead?
After a brief prologue involving an elderly Sarah and a ghostly visitation, we jump straight into the action with a younger Sarah investigating the Brixton picture house, which has a notorious reputation for ghost sightings. I found myself feeling as though I was there with Sarah as she explores the dark rows of seats, and there's an almost palpable tension created as she realises that the 'ghost light', usually left on by the last employee to leave on an evening, is switched off. This opening scene was a great introduction to the overall feel for the rest of the novel, which was deeply atmospheric, creepy and filled with paranormal activity.
The plot itself, where we find Harry and Sarah in Imber, is fast paced, with plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing until the end. Just when I thought I'd figured something out or solved a mystery, the author threw something unexpected in, which kept me on my toes and allowed me to really enjoy this. It's not often I'm taken by surprise by a story-line, and I was pleasantly surprised. I also liked how the plot all linked together - from the picture house to Imber and the elderly Sarah we see at the beginning. It was cleverly done, and showed that all aspects of the story had a purpose and were thoughtfully considered.
I loved the relationship between Harry and Sarah, which was complex and almost love/hate. It's acutely apparent that Sarah is in love with Harry, but regrets from her past prevent her from acting on this. She also knows just how deeply under Harry's spell she is, and hates herself for it. I loved that aspect of her character. I also liked the fact that the author does not try to present Sarah as anything other than what she is - she feels like a 'proper' person from her time period. There's no 'modern' ideologies, which is great, and nothing about her feels forced.
Harry is more complicated a character. As we only see things from Sarah's perspective, it's hard to get a grasp on who he really is and how he feels about Sarah. He often comes across as quite abrasive, and short with people who do not share is opinion. At one point in the story he's also appears to complete drop his own perspectives about the paranormal after one particular incident, which felt a bit out of place for him - especially as Sarah is convinced that it's a hoax.
My main issue with Sarah and Harry was that I felt there wasn't any proper closure between the two characters at the end. I wanted the two of them to talk about their past together, which never happened - and so much was left unspoken that I was a little bit disappointed at the potential that was missed there.
However, I found this an exceptionally well written tale with a great amount of atmospheric detail that kept me enthralled to the end.
September 13, 2017
I greatly enjoyed the first novel featuring Harry Price and his assistant, Sarah, as well as Neil Spring’s stand alone novel, ‘The Watchers,’ so I was delighted to read the sequel to ‘The Ghost Hunters.’ We meet up with Sarah as an elderly lady, when there is a news story relating to an investigation that she took part in, back in 1932. Reminded of those events, Sarah sets down her story on paper and confronts what happened to her as a young woman.
The book revolves around the village of Imber, on Salisbury Plain, which, according to this novel (the author admits he has changed events a little) was requisitioned by the army during the first world war. Imber, previously a thriving, if isolated, community, was left a ghost village – the inhabitants only allowed to visit the village once a year to visit the graves of their dead. This has led to anger and resentment, as the villagers believed that, once the war was over, they would be allowed back.
Sarah is recruited by journalist, Vernon Wall, to look into Imber for the army. Of course, it is not Sarah, but Harry Price they really want and that they hope Sarah can convince to help look into what lies behind the strange happenings at Imber, before the evacuated village is once again opened to the public. The soldiers based nearby are full of rumours of strange lights, murmured voices and ghostly sightings. With everyone spooked, can Price, the great sceptic, discover what is behind all the stories.
This is an interesting and atmospheric novel, with an evocative setting. As readers of ‘The Ghost Hunters,’ will know, the relationship between Price and Sarah has been strained and this also helps make the novel interesting. There are also an excellent cast of characters; including the resentful Oscar Hartwell, whose family owned much of Imber before it was evacuated, the Commander of the army base and his assistant, Sidewinder, whose family hail from those parts, and, the journalist, Vernon Wall. Events in the village will cause everyone involved to reassess their thoughts on the supernatural and Sarah will have to confront her own past, as well as face danger to her own life. I hope to see more, both in this series, and from this very talented author.
The book revolves around the village of Imber, on Salisbury Plain, which, according to this novel (the author admits he has changed events a little) was requisitioned by the army during the first world war. Imber, previously a thriving, if isolated, community, was left a ghost village – the inhabitants only allowed to visit the village once a year to visit the graves of their dead. This has led to anger and resentment, as the villagers believed that, once the war was over, they would be allowed back.
Sarah is recruited by journalist, Vernon Wall, to look into Imber for the army. Of course, it is not Sarah, but Harry Price they really want and that they hope Sarah can convince to help look into what lies behind the strange happenings at Imber, before the evacuated village is once again opened to the public. The soldiers based nearby are full of rumours of strange lights, murmured voices and ghostly sightings. With everyone spooked, can Price, the great sceptic, discover what is behind all the stories.
This is an interesting and atmospheric novel, with an evocative setting. As readers of ‘The Ghost Hunters,’ will know, the relationship between Price and Sarah has been strained and this also helps make the novel interesting. There are also an excellent cast of characters; including the resentful Oscar Hartwell, whose family owned much of Imber before it was evacuated, the Commander of the army base and his assistant, Sidewinder, whose family hail from those parts, and, the journalist, Vernon Wall. Events in the village will cause everyone involved to reassess their thoughts on the supernatural and Sarah will have to confront her own past, as well as face danger to her own life. I hope to see more, both in this series, and from this very talented author.
November 23, 2017
‘I have a bad feeling I can’t shake. A sense that there’s something deeper out in that village. Something darker.’
After reading Neil Spring's The Ghost Hunters #1 last year, and thoroughly enjoying it, I was very excited to see The Lost Village (The Ghost Hunters #2) available to request on NetGalley. I was over the moon when I was accepted to read more about Harry Price and Sarah Grey's adventures into the paranormal.
Unlike other books about ghostly goings-on that I've read, Spring gives the genre a bit of twist, in that the main protagonists agenda is to debunk and expose fraudsters who claim they can contact the dead.
What we get is a fascinating insight into how far people will go to convince others of the existence of an afterlife, whether it's for entertainment purposes in order to make a few quid, or perhaps merely to 'cover up' something truly sinister and evil that's occurring in this very real life of ours.
Both main characters in this story were absolutely superb, very much a chalk and cheese coupling that works a treat. Price, a bolshy individual with real focus on finding an explanation for everything, and the sweet, but spiritually sassy Miss Grey, doing her upmost to tolerate Price, but not allowing him to manipulate her beliefs in any way. Between the two of them, their paranormal investigations are meticulous and fascinating.
The story itself is written beautifully, it reads with atmosphere and injects dread and fear into the reader. There are some pretty ghastly scenes that are described with just enough detail to chill to the bone, without being unnecessarily graphic or bloody.
Spring has a real poetic ability in setting a scene. I was transported to the lost village of Imber every time I picked this up. The bleakness of Salisbury Plain and it's typically unpleasant weather all woven into a story of mystery and multiple layers that fitted together perfectly, like a spooky jigsaw puzzle.
'Sometimes I think locations speak to us, like our dreams do. We don’t always know exactly what they’re trying to tell us, but when those messages are imbued with meaning, we sense it acutely.'
This book undoubtedly deserves 5 stars. It is clever, educational, atmospheric and incredibly entertaining. I would recommend it to readers who enjoyed Susan Hills 'The Woman in Black'.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, Quercus Books and the author, Neil Spring for allowing me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review. It was a pleasure.
After reading Neil Spring's The Ghost Hunters #1 last year, and thoroughly enjoying it, I was very excited to see The Lost Village (The Ghost Hunters #2) available to request on NetGalley. I was over the moon when I was accepted to read more about Harry Price and Sarah Grey's adventures into the paranormal.
Unlike other books about ghostly goings-on that I've read, Spring gives the genre a bit of twist, in that the main protagonists agenda is to debunk and expose fraudsters who claim they can contact the dead.
What we get is a fascinating insight into how far people will go to convince others of the existence of an afterlife, whether it's for entertainment purposes in order to make a few quid, or perhaps merely to 'cover up' something truly sinister and evil that's occurring in this very real life of ours.
Both main characters in this story were absolutely superb, very much a chalk and cheese coupling that works a treat. Price, a bolshy individual with real focus on finding an explanation for everything, and the sweet, but spiritually sassy Miss Grey, doing her upmost to tolerate Price, but not allowing him to manipulate her beliefs in any way. Between the two of them, their paranormal investigations are meticulous and fascinating.
The story itself is written beautifully, it reads with atmosphere and injects dread and fear into the reader. There are some pretty ghastly scenes that are described with just enough detail to chill to the bone, without being unnecessarily graphic or bloody.
Spring has a real poetic ability in setting a scene. I was transported to the lost village of Imber every time I picked this up. The bleakness of Salisbury Plain and it's typically unpleasant weather all woven into a story of mystery and multiple layers that fitted together perfectly, like a spooky jigsaw puzzle.
'Sometimes I think locations speak to us, like our dreams do. We don’t always know exactly what they’re trying to tell us, but when those messages are imbued with meaning, we sense it acutely.'
This book undoubtedly deserves 5 stars. It is clever, educational, atmospheric and incredibly entertaining. I would recommend it to readers who enjoyed Susan Hills 'The Woman in Black'.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, Quercus Books and the author, Neil Spring for allowing me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review. It was a pleasure.
December 13, 2017
An intriguing premise: a fictional tale featuring the famous real life ghost hunter Harry Price, set amidst the ruins of the lost village of Imber on Salisbury Plain, which was taken for military training, its community cruelly forced from their homes, ripped from their roots by the needs of the army and a nation at war. Ghosts are said to roam Imber; strange things are happening, a ghostly blacksmith is heard weeping in the night, a hollow-eyed phantom of a boy seen wandering through the woods, a soldier has been driven to set himself on fire by ghostly assailants. It sounded magnificent and just my thing - and sometimes it is, when the story picks up and gets some pace and momentum, it is a really engaging read, but mostly, I’m sorry to say I found it dreadfully dull. The style and the story are sadly cliched; it seems to have taken me forever to read - almost a month for a book I would have ripped through in a few days if I’d been enjoying it, rather than wading through each night with a sigh, desperately trying to stay awake long enough to finish the chapter. The story is badly overwritten. It meanders and blunders about, at times drawn out almost to snapping point, so all the tension is lost, the exact opposite of a page turner. It’s not helped by the characters who are all so unpleasant, I couldn’t warm to any of them. Harry Price in particular comes across as an arrogant boor and the protagonist Sarah Grey is bland and stiff and never comes to life as a believable human woman.
It’s such a pity, because the idea is good, the premise original, the setting atmospheric, but something went badly awry in the execution and the much vaunted 'twist' was fairly predictable. I think it needs a really hard edit - about 100 to 200 pages cut clean away - to bring out the plot and the suspense that are there, buried under the weight of all that unnecessary padding and fuddle.
It’s such a pity, because the idea is good, the premise original, the setting atmospheric, but something went badly awry in the execution and the much vaunted 'twist' was fairly predictable. I think it needs a really hard edit - about 100 to 200 pages cut clean away - to bring out the plot and the suspense that are there, buried under the weight of all that unnecessary padding and fuddle.
October 22, 2017
I really enjoyed 'Ghost Hunters' the first book in this series so was delighted that the author is doing more. This one is full of twists and turns and doesn't let up right from the beginning as Harry Price and Sarah Grey go off on yet another adventure to debunk spiritual happenings.
One thing I do like is how nothing is 100% debunked though and while the majority of events in this story boil down to the dastardly do-ings of man there's still just a few things that can't be explained away by science.
The story (based on real life events and a real village) of Imber is fascinating and makes me long for a bit of a road trip down to Wiltshire to see it myself. And for me, that's one of the signs of a good book setting. Do I want to go? Even with the scary ones. And I'm all for going to go scare myself in an abandoned village.
Plot wise the relationship between Harry and Sarah is strained with mistrust. As per usual Price knows far more than he's letting on. I do wonder why she sticks around someone who is not really that likeable and very good at upsetting people but as she says herself 'he's famous worldwide' (a bit paraphrased). Or as is mentioned elsewhere in the book she's curious...and curious enough to put up with him.
It's quite a pacy read, the main bulk of events take place over a very short space of time. The characters are really well drawn and for the most part likeable. I'm not entirely sure I'd get on with the real Harry Price but that's a personal thing and doesn't detract from the book. In fact I enjoy it when others take him down a peg or two.
Overall another brilliant read.
Free arc from netgalley
One thing I do like is how nothing is 100% debunked though and while the majority of events in this story boil down to the dastardly do-ings of man there's still just a few things that can't be explained away by science.
The story (based on real life events and a real village) of Imber is fascinating and makes me long for a bit of a road trip down to Wiltshire to see it myself. And for me, that's one of the signs of a good book setting. Do I want to go? Even with the scary ones. And I'm all for going to go scare myself in an abandoned village.
Plot wise the relationship between Harry and Sarah is strained with mistrust. As per usual Price knows far more than he's letting on. I do wonder why she sticks around someone who is not really that likeable and very good at upsetting people but as she says herself 'he's famous worldwide' (a bit paraphrased). Or as is mentioned elsewhere in the book she's curious...and curious enough to put up with him.
It's quite a pacy read, the main bulk of events take place over a very short space of time. The characters are really well drawn and for the most part likeable. I'm not entirely sure I'd get on with the real Harry Price but that's a personal thing and doesn't detract from the book. In fact I enjoy it when others take him down a peg or two.
Overall another brilliant read.
Free arc from netgalley
October 9, 2017
I loved reading this book and the introduction to the authors notes. The village of Imber on Salisbury Plain is very real. A ghost town out of bounds, abandoned at the outbreak of the Second World War. For the novel to work it was necessary for the author to change the date of this abandonment to 1914, and although some characters are indeed based on historical figures, the author has taken liberties with places and names and historical events to transport readers to a place his characters were able to explore. Imber truly is a creepy location remote, dangerous and eerily deserted. I loved reading about Harry Price a ghost hunter. Harry Price was a real psychical investigator a maverick who achieved infamy during the inter-war period for his other worldly investigations, and although this story is entirely imaginary, some of it was inspired by Price's own writings and experiences. A spooky psychological drama based on a true story.
July 13, 2018
OMG I so loved this audiobook it was totally brilliant and now I must read other stories by this author.
I listened late at night when I should have been asleep but the story was just too good to turn the audiobook off.
The dark room and the wonderful narration certainly added to the story and I was tempted to turn the bedside light on a couple of times. I'm hoping any other books by this author are as good because this audiobook would take some beating. Really enjoyed. Highly recommended.
I listened late at night when I should have been asleep but the story was just too good to turn the audiobook off.
The dark room and the wonderful narration certainly added to the story and I was tempted to turn the bedside light on a couple of times. I'm hoping any other books by this author are as good because this audiobook would take some beating. Really enjoyed. Highly recommended.
October 8, 2017
Classic horror at its best Neil Spring is an elegant author of what I would term as classic horror. In his writing just like an artist he paints a picture and relies on the reader to look at that picture and use his imagination to envisage the story. In The Lost Village he again teams two of his favourite ghost hunters Harry Price and his assistant Sarah Grey. They have travelled to the former village of Imber on Salisbury Plain to help understand strange and ghostly sightings including the tragic disfigurement of Sgt Gregory Edwards. I love Spring's writing style and his simple but effective use of language which is a joy to read yet somewhat disturbing and creepy...."The winter sun was sinking beneath the spires of Westminster and casting a pink hue across the London skyline".... "I froze. Around me, the trees seemed to shimmer, as if I were seeing them through a haze. At first, there was absolute silence. The air had become chillingly cold, freezing, and then I thought I heard, faintly.....low whispering"......"Price was standing in the centre of the wrecked mill, next to the battered table and chairs. A length of rope dangled from his right hand. Wearing his black frock coat that fell to his knees, he exuded the sinister presence of a Victorian Executioner".....
The Lost Village is really the story of displaced inhabitants attempting to reclaim what the army has stolen. Once a year they are invited back but this will be no ordinary visit as a chain of events sets in motion a terrible reckoning, and a sickening revelation ensuring that Imber will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. I particularly liked the cover of this novel with its dark angry skies and the picture of a man approaching wearing his trademark black coat, all which really adds to the atmospheric, macabre tale. Many thanks to the good people at Quercus publishing for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.
The Lost Village is really the story of displaced inhabitants attempting to reclaim what the army has stolen. Once a year they are invited back but this will be no ordinary visit as a chain of events sets in motion a terrible reckoning, and a sickening revelation ensuring that Imber will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. I particularly liked the cover of this novel with its dark angry skies and the picture of a man approaching wearing his trademark black coat, all which really adds to the atmospheric, macabre tale. Many thanks to the good people at Quercus publishing for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.
November 19, 2017
Oh my what a creepy story! I enjoyed Ghosthunters both the book and TV series even though I keep visualising Harry Price as Derek Acorah! It has taken me a while longer to read this mainly because I have been busy but I was determined to get really stuck in and finish it. It is a very atmospheric book, dark, brooding and yes Creepy. I am always fascinated by these type of books and have read a book before based on the village of Imber. It has made me want to go and see it for myself now. The story is full of twists and turns and whether you believe in the supernatural or not it still makes a riveting good read and so perfect for a dark winter's night. Would make another good film/drama.
March 19, 2018
THE LOST VILLAGE, by Neil Spring is a follow up novel to his book GHOST HUNTERS. In this we revisit the famous ghost-hunter and spiritualist-debunker, Harry Price, as he and his former assistant, Sarah Grey, are thrust together once again. Neither one believes that it's a "chance encounter", but rather, something that was meant to be.
". . . Why not name this encounter for what it is? Synchronicy! Meaningful coincidence . . . We were drawn here."
They are called upon to visit the English village of Imber--a literal ghost town since the army forced out its occupants and took control of the town for war-training exercises.
"The lost village has a secret that must be told."
This book is very much "Sarah's", in that everything seems to center around her, and the . . . familiarity. . . she feels in this place.
". . . Imber is where it always was, waiting for its people to come home."
While I loved the history behind the real-life town of Imber that inspired this novel, I did feel that this could have easily been shortened by a couple hundred pages and made into a more engaging, faster paced book. The excess of information regarding Sarah's "recent" past, didn't really seem to have any bearing on the mystery at hand. In fact, I found myself pulling away from the story mentally, only to re-engage when the plot shifted more concretely to the eerie town.
". . . this village of barren beauty was eternal, a place where the past and present met in uneasy union."
Overall, I loved the union of Price and Sarah, but there was just too much time shifting involved in this one. Instead of focusing solely on the present, and the incredible mystery presented in this village, we jump forwards and backwards in time to Sarah's past with Price (which we knew about from GHOST HUNTERS), and her future, when she's in her 70's, looking back upon these incidents in her past. This is probably more due to my own personal taste, but in this type of "historical fiction", I would have much preferred to stay with the troubled village and their job in Imber, rather than have it sectioned into pieces of past, present, and future.
"Sometimes, knowing the answer to a question is worse than not knowing . . . "
I did enjoy the mystery of Imber, and the fact that it was based on a real village made it that much more captivating. A good novel, that I felt could have been made even better with less "excess" information.
". . . Why not name this encounter for what it is? Synchronicy! Meaningful coincidence . . . We were drawn here."
They are called upon to visit the English village of Imber--a literal ghost town since the army forced out its occupants and took control of the town for war-training exercises.
"The lost village has a secret that must be told."
This book is very much "Sarah's", in that everything seems to center around her, and the . . . familiarity. . . she feels in this place.
". . . Imber is where it always was, waiting for its people to come home."
While I loved the history behind the real-life town of Imber that inspired this novel, I did feel that this could have easily been shortened by a couple hundred pages and made into a more engaging, faster paced book. The excess of information regarding Sarah's "recent" past, didn't really seem to have any bearing on the mystery at hand. In fact, I found myself pulling away from the story mentally, only to re-engage when the plot shifted more concretely to the eerie town.
". . . this village of barren beauty was eternal, a place where the past and present met in uneasy union."
Overall, I loved the union of Price and Sarah, but there was just too much time shifting involved in this one. Instead of focusing solely on the present, and the incredible mystery presented in this village, we jump forwards and backwards in time to Sarah's past with Price (which we knew about from GHOST HUNTERS), and her future, when she's in her 70's, looking back upon these incidents in her past. This is probably more due to my own personal taste, but in this type of "historical fiction", I would have much preferred to stay with the troubled village and their job in Imber, rather than have it sectioned into pieces of past, present, and future.
"Sometimes, knowing the answer to a question is worse than not knowing . . . "
I did enjoy the mystery of Imber, and the fact that it was based on a real village made it that much more captivating. A good novel, that I felt could have been made even better with less "excess" information.
October 17, 2017
The Lost Village is a welcome return for Harry Price and Sarah Grey, last seen in 2013's The Ghost Hunters. It's told in flashback, as an elderly Sarah sees a vision of the famous paranormal researcher and feels compelled to record the tale of one particular case they tackled together.
Like The Ghost Hunters, this story is set in a real place: the 'ghost village' of Imber in Wiltshire. The background given in the novel is all true: during the Second World War, the residents of Imber were forcibly evacuated so the village could be used as a training area for the army. When the war ended, the locals were not allowed to return, partly due to a proliferation of unexploded bombs and grenades – indeed, this is still the case today. In The Lost Village, these facts make Imber a breeding ground for anger, resentment, and possibly even vengeful spirits. Former residents claim the place is haunted by the Imber dead, angry at being separated from their families. Commander Williams of Westdown Camp, which controls Imber, appeals to Harry after a spate of eerie incidents unsettle his men. One encounter even seems to have driven a soldier insane.
I thought this book, at almost 500 pages, would take a long time to get through, but I underestimated its readability. The combination of an intriguing supernatural conundrum and a real – undeniably creepy – location is dynamite. I loved these characters in the first book and was happy to have them back; Sarah and Harry have built-in chemistry as well as emotional appeal, keeping the narrative afloat as mystery is piled on mystery.
The disadvantage of this amount of detail is that the plot becomes more convoluted than it needs to be, with a web of coincidences connecting Sarah to Imber. While suspension of disbelief is an obvious necessity for any story involving ghosts, some of the events in The Lost Village stretch credulity to its limits. (I adored the early sequence about Brixton Picture Palace, and wish this had been left to stand on its own.) But there's a confidence to the writing here that wasn't present in The Ghost Hunters.
I hope there are more Harry Price and Sarah Grey adventures to come. If absorbing historical fiction with a spooky twist sounds like your thing, The Lost Village makes for a perfect Halloween read.
I received an advance review copy of The Lost Village from the publisher through NetGalley.
TinyLetter | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr
Like The Ghost Hunters, this story is set in a real place: the 'ghost village' of Imber in Wiltshire. The background given in the novel is all true: during the Second World War, the residents of Imber were forcibly evacuated so the village could be used as a training area for the army. When the war ended, the locals were not allowed to return, partly due to a proliferation of unexploded bombs and grenades – indeed, this is still the case today. In The Lost Village, these facts make Imber a breeding ground for anger, resentment, and possibly even vengeful spirits. Former residents claim the place is haunted by the Imber dead, angry at being separated from their families. Commander Williams of Westdown Camp, which controls Imber, appeals to Harry after a spate of eerie incidents unsettle his men. One encounter even seems to have driven a soldier insane.
I thought this book, at almost 500 pages, would take a long time to get through, but I underestimated its readability. The combination of an intriguing supernatural conundrum and a real – undeniably creepy – location is dynamite. I loved these characters in the first book and was happy to have them back; Sarah and Harry have built-in chemistry as well as emotional appeal, keeping the narrative afloat as mystery is piled on mystery.
The disadvantage of this amount of detail is that the plot becomes more convoluted than it needs to be, with a web of coincidences connecting Sarah to Imber. While suspension of disbelief is an obvious necessity for any story involving ghosts, some of the events in The Lost Village stretch credulity to its limits. (I adored the early sequence about Brixton Picture Palace, and wish this had been left to stand on its own.) But there's a confidence to the writing here that wasn't present in The Ghost Hunters.
I hope there are more Harry Price and Sarah Grey adventures to come. If absorbing historical fiction with a spooky twist sounds like your thing, The Lost Village makes for a perfect Halloween read.
I received an advance review copy of The Lost Village from the publisher through NetGalley.
TinyLetter | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr
September 15, 2020
Great follow up to and even better than The Ghost Hunters story.
I hope there will be more to come.
I hope there will be more to come.
April 8, 2018
3.5 *
On the 1st November, 1943, the 150 residents of Imber, a village on the Salisbury Plain, were ordered by the Ministry of Defence to vacate their houses – Imber was needed for army training in view of the planned invasion of Continental Europe. Most villagers did not put up any protest – they felt they were doing their part for the war effort and, in any case, they were promised they would get back their homes once hostilities were over. Not that leaving Imber was easy – the village blacksmith of forty years cried his eyes out. Ominously, he would be the first person to die after the evacuation and would return to the village only to be buried there. The war finished but the residents were never allowed to return to Imber, which remains, to date, army property, its buildings crumbling due to decades of shelling and neglect.
It is a poignant story and one which has inspired contemporary composer Giya Kancheli’s eerie choral work "Little Imber". Imber is also the setting of Neil Spring’s latest “ghost novel”, The Lost Village. As the author himself admits in the introduction, he has, for plot purposes, changed the date of the evacuation from 1943 to 1914, but he otherwise remains remarkably faithful to the background story, even managing to weave into his plot certain historical details and characters (weeping blacksmith included).
“The Lost Village” is a sequel to “The Ghost Hunters” and, once again, features (a fictionalised version of) real-life ghosthunter Harry Price. When the Army requests Price to investigate some strange apparitions and supernatural goings-on at Imber, he is reluctantly joined by the narrator, Sarah Grey, previously his assistant, lover and, secretly, the mother of his child. They make a strange team – Harry consistently and almost irritatingly sceptical; Sarah, who is possibly psychic herself, more open to the possibility of the existence of a spirit world. But their new assignment will make Price rethink his certainties whilst bringing Sarah face to face with some personal demons.
At around 500 pages, this novel is definitely a slow-burner and, at times, I found myself wishing that the book had gone through some more judicious editing. That said, its length gives the author enough space to build a ghostly atmosphere whilst developing the “human” stories behind the supernatural derring-do. In the last chapters, then, the plot really picks up and becomes decidedly Gothic – apart from the supernatural elements (including a chilling seance scene), there are every Goth’s favourite tropes: crumbling buildings, foggy graveyards, hidden family secrets, madness, and obsession. As well as a concluding action sequence which could grace a Hollywood blockbuster. This could make a fun club read for Halloween.
On the 1st November, 1943, the 150 residents of Imber, a village on the Salisbury Plain, were ordered by the Ministry of Defence to vacate their houses – Imber was needed for army training in view of the planned invasion of Continental Europe. Most villagers did not put up any protest – they felt they were doing their part for the war effort and, in any case, they were promised they would get back their homes once hostilities were over. Not that leaving Imber was easy – the village blacksmith of forty years cried his eyes out. Ominously, he would be the first person to die after the evacuation and would return to the village only to be buried there. The war finished but the residents were never allowed to return to Imber, which remains, to date, army property, its buildings crumbling due to decades of shelling and neglect.
It is a poignant story and one which has inspired contemporary composer Giya Kancheli’s eerie choral work "Little Imber". Imber is also the setting of Neil Spring’s latest “ghost novel”, The Lost Village. As the author himself admits in the introduction, he has, for plot purposes, changed the date of the evacuation from 1943 to 1914, but he otherwise remains remarkably faithful to the background story, even managing to weave into his plot certain historical details and characters (weeping blacksmith included).
“The Lost Village” is a sequel to “The Ghost Hunters” and, once again, features (a fictionalised version of) real-life ghosthunter Harry Price. When the Army requests Price to investigate some strange apparitions and supernatural goings-on at Imber, he is reluctantly joined by the narrator, Sarah Grey, previously his assistant, lover and, secretly, the mother of his child. They make a strange team – Harry consistently and almost irritatingly sceptical; Sarah, who is possibly psychic herself, more open to the possibility of the existence of a spirit world. But their new assignment will make Price rethink his certainties whilst bringing Sarah face to face with some personal demons.
At around 500 pages, this novel is definitely a slow-burner and, at times, I found myself wishing that the book had gone through some more judicious editing. That said, its length gives the author enough space to build a ghostly atmosphere whilst developing the “human” stories behind the supernatural derring-do. In the last chapters, then, the plot really picks up and becomes decidedly Gothic – apart from the supernatural elements (including a chilling seance scene), there are every Goth’s favourite tropes: crumbling buildings, foggy graveyards, hidden family secrets, madness, and obsession. As well as a concluding action sequence which could grace a Hollywood blockbuster. This could make a fun club read for Halloween.
October 20, 2017
A good, solid, creepy ghost story.
The village of Imber, taken over by the army, is wonderfully described so that you can see it very clearly.
The story is full of misdirection and surprises.
Well worth a read for fans of atmospheric horror.
Grace
The village of Imber, taken over by the army, is wonderfully described so that you can see it very clearly.
The story is full of misdirection and surprises.
Well worth a read for fans of atmospheric horror.
Grace
March 1, 2020
I've never read any other books of this series, I didn't even know there was a series like this, but I'd say, this book was fantastic. It really has some really horrifying stuff in it. I also didn't know it was a historical fiction and my saddles were done the moment I got to know it.
Everything in this story links perfectly. The village, the theater, the road, people, everything connects. The village is not the most friendly place and the people are not the most welcoming lot. The forest, the abandoned buildings, all those ghosts running around, it was creepy as hell.
Very well written, carefully developed plot and an unexpected ending. Quite good horror that can keep you awake for a little and think about it. If you do a bit of a google search on Imber village, that will help to place the ghosts and the dolls in right place. Will add a bit more spice to the book.. that's for sure.
Everything in this story links perfectly. The village, the theater, the road, people, everything connects. The village is not the most friendly place and the people are not the most welcoming lot. The forest, the abandoned buildings, all those ghosts running around, it was creepy as hell.
Very well written, carefully developed plot and an unexpected ending. Quite good horror that can keep you awake for a little and think about it. If you do a bit of a google search on Imber village, that will help to place the ghosts and the dolls in right place. Will add a bit more spice to the book.. that's for sure.
March 19, 2018
THE LOST VILLAGE, by Neil Spring is a follow up novel to his book GHOST HUNTERS. In this we revisit the famous ghost-hunter and spiritualist-debunker, Harry Price, as he and his former assistant, Sarah Grey, are thrust together once again. Neither one believes that it's a "chance encounter", but rather, something that was meant to be.
". . . Why not name this encounter for what it is? Synchronicy! Meaningful coincidence . . . We were drawn here."
They are called upon to visit the English village of Imber--a literal ghost town since the army forced out its occupants and took control of the town for war-training exercises.
"The lost village has a secret that must be told."
This book is very much "Sarah's", in that everything seems to center around her, and the . . . familiarity. . . she feels in this place.
". . . Imber is where it always was, waiting for its people to come home."
While I loved the history behind the real-life town of Imber that inspired this novel, I did feel that this could have easily been shortened by a couple hundred pages and made into a more engaging, faster paced book. The excess of information regarding Sarah's "recent" past, didn't really seem to have any bearing on the mystery at hand. In fact, I found myself pulled away from the story mentally, only to re-engage when the plot shifted more concretely to the eerie town.
". . . this village of barren beauty was eternal, a place where the past and present met in uneasy union."
Overall, I loved the union of Price and Sarah, but there was just too much time shifting involved in this one. Instead of focusing solely on the present, and the incredible mystery presented in this village, we jump forwards and backwards in time to Sarah's past with Price (which we knew about from GHOST HUNTERS), and her future, when she's in her 70's, looking back upon these incidents in her past. This is probably more due to my own personal taste, but in this type of "historical fiction", I would have much preferred to stay with the troubled village and their job in Imber, rather than have it sectioned into pieces of past, present, and future.
"Sometimes, knowing the answer to a question is worse than not knowing . . . "
I did enjoy the mystery of Imber, and the fact that it was based on a real village made it that much more captivating. A good novel, that I felt could have been made even better with less "excess" information.
". . . Why not name this encounter for what it is? Synchronicy! Meaningful coincidence . . . We were drawn here."
They are called upon to visit the English village of Imber--a literal ghost town since the army forced out its occupants and took control of the town for war-training exercises.
"The lost village has a secret that must be told."
This book is very much "Sarah's", in that everything seems to center around her, and the . . . familiarity. . . she feels in this place.
". . . Imber is where it always was, waiting for its people to come home."
While I loved the history behind the real-life town of Imber that inspired this novel, I did feel that this could have easily been shortened by a couple hundred pages and made into a more engaging, faster paced book. The excess of information regarding Sarah's "recent" past, didn't really seem to have any bearing on the mystery at hand. In fact, I found myself pulled away from the story mentally, only to re-engage when the plot shifted more concretely to the eerie town.
". . . this village of barren beauty was eternal, a place where the past and present met in uneasy union."
Overall, I loved the union of Price and Sarah, but there was just too much time shifting involved in this one. Instead of focusing solely on the present, and the incredible mystery presented in this village, we jump forwards and backwards in time to Sarah's past with Price (which we knew about from GHOST HUNTERS), and her future, when she's in her 70's, looking back upon these incidents in her past. This is probably more due to my own personal taste, but in this type of "historical fiction", I would have much preferred to stay with the troubled village and their job in Imber, rather than have it sectioned into pieces of past, present, and future.
"Sometimes, knowing the answer to a question is worse than not knowing . . . "
I did enjoy the mystery of Imber, and the fact that it was based on a real village made it that much more captivating. A good novel, that I felt could have been made even better with less "excess" information.
July 3, 2018
"Some forgot about that nowhere place at the foot of the valley. Even me. Until, of course, I was made to remember. Not by anyone living.
But by a dead man."
Such enticing words, dripping with promise. So many clues, scattered like the proverbial bread crumbs. A deserted village, its residents driven out by the army who claims the land as a training ground. Only once a year are the former inhabitants allowed back in, to honor their dead. But are the dead truly gone?
Sarah Gray and Harry Price used to work together to help unmask the charlatans claiming paranormal activities are real. Together they must find out if the village of Imber is really haunted or if other, more diabolical games are being played out.
This is an amazing story that weaves in real details almost seamlessly. The village of Imber is real, and so is the story behind its abandonement. All the time I was reading, I had the feeling this was a homage to the place, a slice of fiction constructed upon something real so that its history won't be forgotten.
There are a couple scenes of delicious creepiness, and the big reveal at the end was worth the wait. I loved every minute of it, from Sarah's incredible past to Harry's annoying but driven need to find the truth behind the mystery.
If you love a good ghost story based on real places give this book a try.
p.s. After finishing the book I discovered this was actually book 2 in a series but it felt like a standalone story so I wasn't bothered by that. I liked it so much I just got book 1 on my Kindle. I look forward to another great ghost story.
But by a dead man."
Such enticing words, dripping with promise. So many clues, scattered like the proverbial bread crumbs. A deserted village, its residents driven out by the army who claims the land as a training ground. Only once a year are the former inhabitants allowed back in, to honor their dead. But are the dead truly gone?
Sarah Gray and Harry Price used to work together to help unmask the charlatans claiming paranormal activities are real. Together they must find out if the village of Imber is really haunted or if other, more diabolical games are being played out.
This is an amazing story that weaves in real details almost seamlessly. The village of Imber is real, and so is the story behind its abandonement. All the time I was reading, I had the feeling this was a homage to the place, a slice of fiction constructed upon something real so that its history won't be forgotten.
There are a couple scenes of delicious creepiness, and the big reveal at the end was worth the wait. I loved every minute of it, from Sarah's incredible past to Harry's annoying but driven need to find the truth behind the mystery.
If you love a good ghost story based on real places give this book a try.
p.s. After finishing the book I discovered this was actually book 2 in a series but it felt like a standalone story so I wasn't bothered by that. I liked it so much I just got book 1 on my Kindle. I look forward to another great ghost story.
September 13, 2017
Oh i enjoyed this so much. I was lucky enough to receive this advanced copy from Neil via facebook, and i was absolutely delighted to meet up with Sarah and Harry again. I've been hoping for a follow up to The Ghost Hunters, and as this book is set in Imber which i've heard about since i was a child having grown up in the next county , i couldn't wait to get my hands on it.
Neil's writing style is rite up my street, he has a way of drawing you into the story and making you care about the characters and its so interesting with twists and turns and things happening that you just wouldn't think of.
Its creepy and unthinkable and dark and i want to read it again.
A brilliant book worth every one of the 5 stars and i would highly recommend it to anyone .
Neil's writing style is rite up my street, he has a way of drawing you into the story and making you care about the characters and its so interesting with twists and turns and things happening that you just wouldn't think of.
Its creepy and unthinkable and dark and i want to read it again.
A brilliant book worth every one of the 5 stars and i would highly recommend it to anyone .
December 22, 2023
I picked up this book in a charity shop drawn initially by the cover and then by the blurb which showed it was based on the real life ghost hunter Harry Price. I had enjoyed an ITV one off drama some years ago about his famous investigation of Borley Rectory and wondered if this novel was connected: subsequently I realised that the book was number 2 in a series, and that the first book had indeed provided the basis for that drama.
Unfortunately it did not live up to the initial promise. The story is told by Price's assistant Sarah (who appeared in the drama and in book 1 - I don't know if she was a made up character or not) who is in her 70s in 1978 and is writing down the story for the benefit of posterity, after the village in which it is set has just come up in the news again. Back in 1932, a journalist friend approached her to ask if she could persuade Harry to help the army investigate a series of seemingly supernatural happenings which have unnerved the army personnel based there. By this time she was estranged from him, having had a child in secret and given him up for adoption given that Price was married and to have a child out of wedlock was an enormous stigma for both mother and child at that time. She had just met him, seemingly by coincidence, at a cinema which she had gone to investigate, as she was psychically drawn to the place.
The upshot is that they both travel to the village of Imber, a real life place (but in the book a change is made from the actual history - the village was taken over by the army in WWII, not WWI as depicted). She goes by train and is stranded by a line blockage, having to set out on foot the rest of the way. Enroute she encounters a strange boy and also a man who helps her by giving her a lift. Both prove to be important in the rest of the story though I won't say any more about the plot.
I found the characters unappealing sadly. Price is an arrogant boor and Sarah is a colourless wet blanket. I didn't find the mystery behind the various supernatural manifestations convincing or the triangle between Price, Sarah and her journalist friend. Also, given that she marries the latter according to the 1978 framework, it is odd that she settles on a man whom she views as betraying her as badly as Price.
A major problem I had was the sheer number of anachronisms that constantly jolted me out of the story. There are a number of places where expressions were used that just would not have been used in the 1930s such as "Tell me about it" or it was "a tough gig". Ambulances did not have sirens at that time - even cursory viewing of old films and even 1960s TV series would have shown that all emergency vehicles at the time used clanging bells. And there were several mentions of metres when the metric system did not start to be used in the UK until 1973 - a woman in her 70s just would not use it. There were other things too which I've unfortunately forgotten, having not managed to write the review while the book was still fresh in my mind, but it just did not come across as well researched for the period.
The style of writing is also quite plodding and I didn't therefore find the story suspenseful or spooky at all.
Given these issues I found it quite a chore to finish it. I only did so to find out what happened but I can't say I enjoyed it and so can only give it a 1 star rating as I didn't like it.
Unfortunately it did not live up to the initial promise. The story is told by Price's assistant Sarah (who appeared in the drama and in book 1 - I don't know if she was a made up character or not) who is in her 70s in 1978 and is writing down the story for the benefit of posterity, after the village in which it is set has just come up in the news again. Back in 1932, a journalist friend approached her to ask if she could persuade Harry to help the army investigate a series of seemingly supernatural happenings which have unnerved the army personnel based there. By this time she was estranged from him, having had a child in secret and given him up for adoption given that Price was married and to have a child out of wedlock was an enormous stigma for both mother and child at that time. She had just met him, seemingly by coincidence, at a cinema which she had gone to investigate, as she was psychically drawn to the place.
The upshot is that they both travel to the village of Imber, a real life place (but in the book a change is made from the actual history - the village was taken over by the army in WWII, not WWI as depicted). She goes by train and is stranded by a line blockage, having to set out on foot the rest of the way. Enroute she encounters a strange boy and also a man who helps her by giving her a lift. Both prove to be important in the rest of the story though I won't say any more about the plot.
I found the characters unappealing sadly. Price is an arrogant boor and Sarah is a colourless wet blanket. I didn't find the mystery behind the various supernatural manifestations convincing or the triangle between Price, Sarah and her journalist friend. Also, given that she marries the latter according to the 1978 framework, it is odd that she settles on a man whom she views as betraying her as badly as Price.
A major problem I had was the sheer number of anachronisms that constantly jolted me out of the story. There are a number of places where expressions were used that just would not have been used in the 1930s such as "Tell me about it" or it was "a tough gig". Ambulances did not have sirens at that time - even cursory viewing of old films and even 1960s TV series would have shown that all emergency vehicles at the time used clanging bells. And there were several mentions of metres when the metric system did not start to be used in the UK until 1973 - a woman in her 70s just would not use it. There were other things too which I've unfortunately forgotten, having not managed to write the review while the book was still fresh in my mind, but it just did not come across as well researched for the period.
The style of writing is also quite plodding and I didn't therefore find the story suspenseful or spooky at all.
Given these issues I found it quite a chore to finish it. I only did so to find out what happened but I can't say I enjoyed it and so can only give it a 1 star rating as I didn't like it.
November 14, 2017
Very slow and was tempted to put it down not even half way through. But I persevered and I'm glad I did as this was a very good story. Here's to hoping for another story about Harry Price and Sarah Grey in the future
January 3, 2018
Very entertaining and spooky tale!
November 10, 2017
Neil Spring writes supernatural stories that reader from page one, can loose themselves in.
After reading his other two books " The Ghost Hunters , & The Watchers, I eagerly waited for his third novel.
I was not disappointed, this was the creepiest one yet.
Set in the lost village of Imber ,Salisbury, there have been complaints of voices, echoing through the village, ghostly howling of a dog, and the church bells that ring by themselves.
Long lost secrets, that should have stayed hidden are coming to the fore, putting all those who reside near Imber in danger. Help is needed, and that help comes in the shape of Harry Price, notorious ghost hunter( see The Ghost Hunters) and his former partner Sarah Grey.
Once you start to read, Imber will haunt you, the cold, grey dampness of the village along with the silence, will get into your bones, you will feel the icy chill, as Sarah and Harry delve deeper into the evil past of this haunted village, a village where the dead don't sleep.
After reading his other two books " The Ghost Hunters , & The Watchers, I eagerly waited for his third novel.
I was not disappointed, this was the creepiest one yet.
Set in the lost village of Imber ,Salisbury, there have been complaints of voices, echoing through the village, ghostly howling of a dog, and the church bells that ring by themselves.
Long lost secrets, that should have stayed hidden are coming to the fore, putting all those who reside near Imber in danger. Help is needed, and that help comes in the shape of Harry Price, notorious ghost hunter( see The Ghost Hunters) and his former partner Sarah Grey.
Once you start to read, Imber will haunt you, the cold, grey dampness of the village along with the silence, will get into your bones, you will feel the icy chill, as Sarah and Harry delve deeper into the evil past of this haunted village, a village where the dead don't sleep.
January 16, 2018
This was the first book I completed in 2018, and I have to say I was very impressed. The plot centres on the real life village of Imber in Wiltshire, a village that was abandoned during the Second World War so the army could use it for training purposes. The displaced residents were promised that they would one day be allowed to return to their homes but for some reason that never happened. Imber remains a ghost village to this day, used only by the army to train its soldiers. I thought that sounded like a pretty intriguing premise for a story and the book itself proved to be just that and a whole lot more besides. It wasn't particularly scary, in fact, I would class it more as a mystery-thriller with supernatural elements than an actual ghost story, but it still contained some genuinely creepy and unsettling moments, with one or two bordering on being quite disturbing. The story moved along at a good pace, although there was the occasional slower section, and there were plenty of twists and turns thrown in to keep you on your toes, many of which I did not see coming. I also really enjoyed Neil Spring's writing style which is quite naturalistic and unflashy but suits the tone of the story really well. Another thing I should mention is this is a follow-up to The Ghost Hunters but it is written in such a way that you do not need to have read 'The Ghost Hunters' to understand it or to enjoy it. Reading that book first would definitely enrich the experience of reading this as you would have greater understanding of the two main characters, their backgrounds, how they met etc, but there is nothing in this that you will not understand if you decide to read this book first. I now plan on going back and reading it based on my enjoyment of this one.
All in all, this was a great way to kick off a brand new year of reading. I think pretty much anyone could enjoy this book, but I particularly recommend it for those looking for a good mystery-thriller to get caught up in. Go ahead and step into the lost village of Imber, you may well be surprised (and a little shocked) by what you find there...
All in all, this was a great way to kick off a brand new year of reading. I think pretty much anyone could enjoy this book, but I particularly recommend it for those looking for a good mystery-thriller to get caught up in. Go ahead and step into the lost village of Imber, you may well be surprised (and a little shocked) by what you find there...
December 6, 2018
The Lost Village is inspired by real historical events (or at the very least a real place). It is described as "A Haunting Page-Turner With A Twist You'll Never See Coming!"
I can't say I found it page-turning. Fairly dull really and more trudging. The whole book is quite cliche from the plot to its characters. Along with just a bit too much character-finds-out-information-the-reader-won't-find-out--about-till-later-torty that I was, frankly lacking in interest when it came to the (cliche and quite seeable) twist.
Not one I'd recommend.
I can't say I found it page-turning. Fairly dull really and more trudging. The whole book is quite cliche from the plot to its characters. Along with just a bit too much character-finds-out-information-the-reader-won't-find-out--about-till-later-torty that I was, frankly lacking in interest when it came to the (cliche and quite seeable) twist.
Not one I'd recommend.
April 7, 2018
I am very excited that Ghost Hunters is now continuing as series after absolutely loving the first book, The watchers and also the tv adaptation.
It is exactly the type of read for cosying up in the evening if you want want creepy, atmospheric and mystery.
Please continue and fingers crossed we’ll get another tv show !
It is exactly the type of read for cosying up in the evening if you want want creepy, atmospheric and mystery.
Please continue and fingers crossed we’ll get another tv show !
June 22, 2021
Loved the premise of this book but I think that was about all I did love.
The author tried to create an atmosphere and some suspense but I thought it was just cheesy. The characters were poorly drawn out, the plot was dull, dialogues contrived and the most of the twists were quite predictable.
It's a no for me unfortunately.
The author tried to create an atmosphere and some suspense but I thought it was just cheesy. The characters were poorly drawn out, the plot was dull, dialogues contrived and the most of the twists were quite predictable.
It's a no for me unfortunately.
February 6, 2018
Such a gripping read, chock full of twists and turns, one more shocking and surprising than the next culminating into the perfect ending to a perfect ghost story.
January 5, 2019
It was a good read but most of the action is at the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews