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Ghost Song
The old Tarleton music hall is the subject of a mysterious building restriction that has kept it closed for more than 90 years. When Robert Fallon is asked to survey the structure, he finds clues indicating that its long twilight sleep may contain a sinister secret. Joining forces with researcher Hilary Bryant, Robert discovers the legend of the Tarleton's ghost, a mysterious figure that was first glimpsed during the era of Toby Chance, a charismatic performer who vanished suddenly and inexplicably in the early 1900s. After almost a century the Tarleton's dark silence is about to end, but there are those who find its reopening a threatening prospect. As Robert and Hilary delve into the macabre history, they both become menaced by the secrets of the past.
471 pages, Hardcover
First published February 2, 2009
33 people are currently reading
1131 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Rayne
46 books305 followersAka Frances Gordon, Bridget Wood
After a convent education, which included writing plays for the Lower Third to perform, Sarah Rayne embarked on a variety of jobs, but - probably inevitably - returned again and again to writing. Her first novel appeared in 1982, and since then her books have also been published in America, Holland and Germany.
The daughter of an Irish comedy actor, she was for many years active in amateur theatre, and lists among her hobbies, theatre, history, music, and old houses - much of her inspiration comes from old buildings and their histories and atmospheres. To these interests, she adds ghosts and ghost stories, and - having grown up in the Sixties - good conversation around a well-stocked dinner table.
After a convent education, which included writing plays for the Lower Third to perform, Sarah Rayne embarked on a variety of jobs, but - probably inevitably - returned again and again to writing. Her first novel appeared in 1982, and since then her books have also been published in America, Holland and Germany.
The daughter of an Irish comedy actor, she was for many years active in amateur theatre, and lists among her hobbies, theatre, history, music, and old houses - much of her inspiration comes from old buildings and their histories and atmospheres. To these interests, she adds ghosts and ghost stories, and - having grown up in the Sixties - good conversation around a well-stocked dinner table.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
October 18, 2016
Actual rating is 3.5 stars.
I am slightly torn on how I feel about this book. On the one hand, it was an intriguing historical mystery centred around an old theatre in London in which two storylines, 1914 and the present day, intertwine and combine to create a page turning read. Despite being close to 500 pages in length, I flew through this book in four days. I just couldn't put it down and was desperate to see how things would pan out. The characters, with a couple of exceptions, were well drawn and I enjoyed going on their journey with them. The storyline was well plotted and took several twists and turns that caught me off guard. However, there were a few things that happened that I felt were unrealistic and/or convenient. . These things were quite frustrating and took a fair bit of shine off the book for me but I still rather enjoyed it when all was said and done. There are certainly far worse books out there.
I would recommend this book if you like well-written historical mysteries with a hint of the paranormal thrown in for good measure. Don't go into it expecting a full blown ghost story because it isn't one but it would certainly make a good companion for the cold, dark days ahead.
I am slightly torn on how I feel about this book. On the one hand, it was an intriguing historical mystery centred around an old theatre in London in which two storylines, 1914 and the present day, intertwine and combine to create a page turning read. Despite being close to 500 pages in length, I flew through this book in four days. I just couldn't put it down and was desperate to see how things would pan out. The characters, with a couple of exceptions, were well drawn and I enjoyed going on their journey with them. The storyline was well plotted and took several twists and turns that caught me off guard. However, there were a few things that happened that I felt were unrealistic and/or convenient. . These things were quite frustrating and took a fair bit of shine off the book for me but I still rather enjoyed it when all was said and done. There are certainly far worse books out there.
I would recommend this book if you like well-written historical mysteries with a hint of the paranormal thrown in for good measure. Don't go into it expecting a full blown ghost story because it isn't one but it would certainly make a good companion for the cold, dark days ahead.
September 16, 2015
I read this book a couple of years ago and I had hoped for a nice ghost story, but although the book was ok so was it not as haunting and creepy to read as I'd hope it would be.
January 25, 2017
Another reasonable Sarah Rayne novel.
This time the setting is in an abandoned music hall in Southwark.
I'm beginning to get the feel for Ms Rayne's writing. Abandoned buildings, mysterious pasts...and raving lunatics.
I haven't read a book of hers that DOESN'T have a completely insane, murderous, psychopath in it.
If the story is good, it's enjoyable, but if the story isn't gelling properly, then it starts to get irritating, and, in this case, bloody unbelievable.
Suspension of belief required for this one.
This time the setting is in an abandoned music hall in Southwark.
I'm beginning to get the feel for Ms Rayne's writing. Abandoned buildings, mysterious pasts...and raving lunatics.
I haven't read a book of hers that DOESN'T have a completely insane, murderous, psychopath in it.
If the story is good, it's enjoyable, but if the story isn't gelling properly, then it starts to get irritating, and, in this case, bloody unbelievable.
Suspension of belief required for this one.
August 30, 2016
Ghost Song by Sarah Rayne
4.5★'s
From The Book:
The old Tarleton music hall is the subject of a mysterious building restriction that has kept it closed for more than 90 years. When Robert Fallon is asked to survey the structure, he finds clues indicating that its long twilight sleep may contain a sinister secret. Joining forces with researcher Hilary Bryant, Robert discovers the legend of the Tarleton's ghost, a mysterious figure that was first glimpsed during the era of Toby Chance, a charismatic performer who vanished suddenly and inexplicably in the early 1900s. After almost a century the Tarleton's dark silence is about to end, but there are those who find its reopening a threatening prospect. As Robert and Hilary delve into the macabre history, they both become menaced by the secrets of the past.
My Thoughts:
Loved the whole idea behind this book. The ghost was always there but you were never really allowed to see it...it just lurked in the shadows and waited. The old theater and the people that populated it in it's heyday in 1914 to the people that were curious about the legends and the stories that surrounded it in the present were more than intriguing. The story has several twists and turns as it takes the reader through the decades but it never allows the reader to guess the ending. Highly recommend this to all historical buffs...paranormal enthusiasts and anyone that just wants to brave a dark and stormy night with a shivery tale.
4.5★'s
From The Book:
The old Tarleton music hall is the subject of a mysterious building restriction that has kept it closed for more than 90 years. When Robert Fallon is asked to survey the structure, he finds clues indicating that its long twilight sleep may contain a sinister secret. Joining forces with researcher Hilary Bryant, Robert discovers the legend of the Tarleton's ghost, a mysterious figure that was first glimpsed during the era of Toby Chance, a charismatic performer who vanished suddenly and inexplicably in the early 1900s. After almost a century the Tarleton's dark silence is about to end, but there are those who find its reopening a threatening prospect. As Robert and Hilary delve into the macabre history, they both become menaced by the secrets of the past.
My Thoughts:
Loved the whole idea behind this book. The ghost was always there but you were never really allowed to see it...it just lurked in the shadows and waited. The old theater and the people that populated it in it's heyday in 1914 to the people that were curious about the legends and the stories that surrounded it in the present were more than intriguing. The story has several twists and turns as it takes the reader through the decades but it never allows the reader to guess the ending. Highly recommend this to all historical buffs...paranormal enthusiasts and anyone that just wants to brave a dark and stormy night with a shivery tale.
February 6, 2010
This novel centres on a mysterious music hall. The story jumps from the past (1914) when it was a vibrant place full of noise and people to the present when it stands empty and abandoned, nursing its secrets, with an eerie and haunted atmosphere. The gradual telling of these secrets and the effect of this place on the characters makes for an enjoyable and page turning read.
May 7, 2013
Not one of my favourite Raynes at all! The storytelling was lazy and the core premise was utterly ridiculous! Disappointed!
June 25, 2016
I had a hard time getting through the first chapter with its too-detailed descriptions of the old, closed music hall, but the story picked up for about a hundred pages before it got too complicated and nonsensical. It jumps around in several peoples' timelines, unnecessarily introduces a historical event (dumb), brings in a strange creeper of a guy, and one character's plotline takes a bizarre turn that also adds nothing to the story. I read the first half of the book because I was enjoying it, but the second half became more of an obligation: I didn't hate it enough to quit but didn't like it enough to do more than skim the rest. Too bad, because without the actual historical event shoe-horned into it, there could have been a tighter story there.
I originally gave this book two stars but after I finished my spoilery rant my dislike grew. Ugh. Downgrading.
I originally gave this book two stars but after I finished my spoilery rant my dislike grew. Ugh. Downgrading.
April 2, 2011
Sorry in my opinion after a good beginning it was a silly story, repetitive and badly written.
January 24, 2020
I enjoyed this book, although for me it started so.what slowly. I am glad I persevered though as it really became interesting and packed with twists and turns. With 2 storylines and switching between the past and present it potentially could have become very confusing, however, the author dealt with this well and the storylines worked well.
July 18, 2020
Very long...skimmed through one third of it. It was okay...good characters, but none I really cared about. Well written with some good mysteries and twists, but just took too long to get to the wrap ups.
August 28, 2024
Had a twist that I didn't see coming, which was very exciting. Loved it and would recommend it to all mystery lovers 😉
March 6, 2025
Disappointing compared to the other books I’ve read by this author.
April 5, 2019
An unexpectedly lovely story for a ghostly book. The mysteries kept me going and there were some twists and moments of suspense and even horror but this is not really a scary tale as much as a heartwarming tale.
June 21, 2017
Taking place in London, Ghost Song focuses on the Tarleton, an old music hall that closed in 1914 and has remained unopened for almost a hundred years due to a clause in the last owner’s will stating that the theater should not be opened for at least 50 years after his death.
Robert, a surveyor hired to inspect the theater, and Hilary, who works for the Harlequin—an Historical Preservation society that maintains the Tarleton—are both drawn in to the theater’s history when Robert makes an interesting discovery in the cellars—a hastily constructed brick wall erected in such a way as to cut off most of the under-stage area. Determined to find out what’s behind the wall, both Robert and Hilary start sleuthing, and begin uncovering information that seems to raise more questions than it answers, especially the most important question of all: Who, or what, is the Tarleton ghost?
The book flips back and forth between the present day, and 1914 when the theater was in its heyday.
I thought Ghost Song was a decent read in that it had good pacing, and enough characters to make a good, "final reveal," but it's definitely not a "creepy" sort of ghost story, and the below three points are the reason for my two-star review:
Point 1: Dialogue
Some authors write great dialogue, and some do better with scenes. Rayne is definitely one of the latter. In fact, I came thisclose to putting the book away altogether after the third chapter because the dialogue was painful to read. If you ever heard two people talking the way Robert and Hilary do on their first meeting, you’d worry that there was something medically wrong with them. Stiff, awkward, and obvious doesn’t even begin to describe how stilted Rayne’s dialogue can get, so if you pick this book up, just beware. It wasn’t until Chapter seven, when Rayne launches into Shona’s backstory, that I really started to get into the book. When there’s not a lot of dialogue, Rayne definitely shines, but when there is…just try to find something to bite down on and muscle your way through it.
Point 2: The Revenge Scheme
I found the entire construct of Anton’s scheme to discredit Toby in order to hurt his parents to be waaaaaaay too ephemeral to stand as an actual revenge plot. From the very beginning, the entire plan to have Toby travel to Austria in order to be on-site at the assassination of the Archduke, is based entirely on a set of coincidental occurrences, with nothing even resembling intent. In fact, the only reason Toby does end up going, is due to Sonia, who isn't even aware of Anton's plan. It simply makes no sense for Anton to have spent the last 30 years planning his revenge, only to leave it up to casual happenstance.
To put it another way, Anton's plan would be like if you spent 30 years crafting a revenge scheme that consisted of waiting for your victim to move to California, where they MIGHT die in an earthquake.
Point 3: The Cellar Wall
The cellar wall really bugged me, and here’s the reason: Why did they brick up fully half of the cellars? I feel like it would have made much more sense to move poor Rinaldi’s body into some corner, and then build a wall around it there, where more than likely, it would never be noticed.
Instead, they build this HUGE wall that not only cuts right through the cellar, but also necessitates that the entrance to the stage trap be sealed off. I feel like taking this approach basically guarantees that someone is going to start poking around, and, in fact, that’s exactly what happens. Basically they left Rinaldi's body where it fell, and built the wall around him instead of moving him, which would have made SO MUCH MORE SENSE. Seriously. The inefficiency of this move baffles me to no end.
In the end, the book's not bad, but there's definitely parts of it that could use some shoring up.
Robert, a surveyor hired to inspect the theater, and Hilary, who works for the Harlequin—an Historical Preservation society that maintains the Tarleton—are both drawn in to the theater’s history when Robert makes an interesting discovery in the cellars—a hastily constructed brick wall erected in such a way as to cut off most of the under-stage area. Determined to find out what’s behind the wall, both Robert and Hilary start sleuthing, and begin uncovering information that seems to raise more questions than it answers, especially the most important question of all: Who, or what, is the Tarleton ghost?
The book flips back and forth between the present day, and 1914 when the theater was in its heyday.
I thought Ghost Song was a decent read in that it had good pacing, and enough characters to make a good, "final reveal," but it's definitely not a "creepy" sort of ghost story, and the below three points are the reason for my two-star review:
Point 1: Dialogue
Some authors write great dialogue, and some do better with scenes. Rayne is definitely one of the latter. In fact, I came thisclose to putting the book away altogether after the third chapter because the dialogue was painful to read. If you ever heard two people talking the way Robert and Hilary do on their first meeting, you’d worry that there was something medically wrong with them. Stiff, awkward, and obvious doesn’t even begin to describe how stilted Rayne’s dialogue can get, so if you pick this book up, just beware. It wasn’t until Chapter seven, when Rayne launches into Shona’s backstory, that I really started to get into the book. When there’s not a lot of dialogue, Rayne definitely shines, but when there is…just try to find something to bite down on and muscle your way through it.
Point 2: The Revenge Scheme
I found the entire construct of Anton’s scheme to discredit Toby in order to hurt his parents to be waaaaaaay too ephemeral to stand as an actual revenge plot. From the very beginning, the entire plan to have Toby travel to Austria in order to be on-site at the assassination of the Archduke, is based entirely on a set of coincidental occurrences, with nothing even resembling intent. In fact, the only reason Toby does end up going, is due to Sonia, who isn't even aware of Anton's plan. It simply makes no sense for Anton to have spent the last 30 years planning his revenge, only to leave it up to casual happenstance.
To put it another way, Anton's plan would be like if you spent 30 years crafting a revenge scheme that consisted of waiting for your victim to move to California, where they MIGHT die in an earthquake.
Point 3: The Cellar Wall
The cellar wall really bugged me, and here’s the reason: Why did they brick up fully half of the cellars? I feel like it would have made much more sense to move poor Rinaldi’s body into some corner, and then build a wall around it there, where more than likely, it would never be noticed.
Instead, they build this HUGE wall that not only cuts right through the cellar, but also necessitates that the entrance to the stage trap be sealed off. I feel like taking this approach basically guarantees that someone is going to start poking around, and, in fact, that’s exactly what happens. Basically they left Rinaldi's body where it fell, and built the wall around him instead of moving him, which would have made SO MUCH MORE SENSE. Seriously. The inefficiency of this move baffles me to no end.
In the end, the book's not bad, but there's definitely parts of it that could use some shoring up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. A departure for me again, not for the first time in the past two weeks, but I have been feeling the need to pull back a little from my usual reading choices of high body count/gory murders/serial killers. The thrust of the story is, a Surveyor is appointed to take a look at a disused Music Hall in Bankside, London. He discovers a wall in the basement that doesn't fit in with the structure and the building itself and what may be behind the wall, become almost an obsession. The society who manage the Music Hall, are very guarded about it's ownership and why it has never been sold or renovated, with the property being so valuable. One of the people who work for the Society, is equally fascinated by the history of the building and together they try and investigate further. This story flips back between 1914 and the present day, and we get a comprehensive tale of what happened in the years leading up to the closure of the Music Hall and why it closed so suddenly. It's an intriguing tale with secrets of the past coming to light that some people would prefer they remain buried. A great read and an author I will be visiting again.
July 11, 2013
This is my first Sarah Rayne novel and whilst Ghost Song is managing to keep me going back for more, I must admit at times Ghost Song a bit of a hard slog.
I love the old music hall scenario, the descriptions of the characters that once graced the Tarleton's stage, its hallways and dressing rooms and its ghosts, you can almost smell the mustiness after its been shut up for so long.
Ghost Song is one of those books that crosses from one story and era to the next (three in fact) which I understand it has to do to tie the old with the new but there are some sections of the old that I felt went off on an unnecessary tangent. Still the mystery and intrigue has been enough to keep me reading and I have the feeling that the ending is going to be worth waiting for.
Update read
Well just as I thought, two separate past's linked to meet up with the present in Ghost song and it all cleverly made sense. I loved a lot about this book but I still feel that it wasn't the easiest of reads. I will be interested to see what other people think. I will look up more from this author.
I love the old music hall scenario, the descriptions of the characters that once graced the Tarleton's stage, its hallways and dressing rooms and its ghosts, you can almost smell the mustiness after its been shut up for so long.
Ghost Song is one of those books that crosses from one story and era to the next (three in fact) which I understand it has to do to tie the old with the new but there are some sections of the old that I felt went off on an unnecessary tangent. Still the mystery and intrigue has been enough to keep me reading and I have the feeling that the ending is going to be worth waiting for.
Update read
Well just as I thought, two separate past's linked to meet up with the present in Ghost song and it all cleverly made sense. I loved a lot about this book but I still feel that it wasn't the easiest of reads. I will be interested to see what other people think. I will look up more from this author.
May 20, 2009
I really wanted to give this five stars, I've read all of Sarah Rayne's previous books and I thought they were much better than this one. Not that it was bad, it was a good story and well-written, but I just got the feeling as I was reading that there was something missing.
Normally, her books have a twist that you can't see coming a mile away, but with this one I guessed it long before it was revealed and I felt disappointed. I loved the character of Toby Chance and I would have been quite happy to just have the book focus on him. It seemed flat somehow when it was about the other characters but it came alive whenever the Toby sections were there. I think the author must have a soft spot for Toby too!
Normally, her books have a twist that you can't see coming a mile away, but with this one I guessed it long before it was revealed and I felt disappointed. I loved the character of Toby Chance and I would have been quite happy to just have the book focus on him. It seemed flat somehow when it was about the other characters but it came alive whenever the Toby sections were there. I think the author must have a soft spot for Toby too!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2011
This had a great plot and was full of complicated joins, similar to 'Dark Dividing'. She is so clever at mixing time and creating real characters. I was never bored. And a ghost!
July 3, 2020
" The rating for this book is 4.6"
Suspense and thriller that keeps you till the end of the book. A secret that has been exposed. The "mysteries" of the past that clearly defines the character of each individual in this book.
Tarleton, the music hall that was shut down for more than 90 years since 1914. Toby plays an important part with his intriguing personality which shows courage and strength that showed the love for his passion forever. He disappears since 1914 without any trace in the county. Two stories are described which is the present as well the history relating to the Tarleton. With the history of Toby, here is an important person named Caley. He loves Tarleton more than anything else in the world. He is strongly attached to its history and this place. He becomes a part to find the truth that gives him an outlook of his past. "How would a keeper be related to a music hall like Tarleton's history?"
Robert Fallon surveys the historic building that gets him baffled when he researches the structure of the building.
The plot with twists is the secrets related to Tarleton and its shutdown. It was hidden for years with Toby and Shona. She is a dominant character. She prefers those suits her adaptability and preferences. Both, Robert and Hilary perform a great act by unfolding the truth to get mysteries in public and begin a new start. Their risks and personal interest in historic buildings were beyond understanding.
This arises a question how did Anton win the hearts of the audience after Toby went missing? Toby was the main lead as well as a sensation to win the hearts of women. There is a glimpse of an unknown shadow in the past and present.
Shona is a mysterious boss. Her hidden lies tie-up with unexpected consequences resulting in torment and violence which leaves Hilary bewildered.
The cover page made me believe that it could be a haunted book. It contains a good combination of ghosts, suspense, thriller, and mystery. All in one which gives a satisfactory read. Guaranteed. I would recommend this book! <3
Suspense and thriller that keeps you till the end of the book. A secret that has been exposed. The "mysteries" of the past that clearly defines the character of each individual in this book.
Tarleton, the music hall that was shut down for more than 90 years since 1914. Toby plays an important part with his intriguing personality which shows courage and strength that showed the love for his passion forever. He disappears since 1914 without any trace in the county. Two stories are described which is the present as well the history relating to the Tarleton. With the history of Toby, here is an important person named Caley. He loves Tarleton more than anything else in the world. He is strongly attached to its history and this place. He becomes a part to find the truth that gives him an outlook of his past. "How would a keeper be related to a music hall like Tarleton's history?"
Robert Fallon surveys the historic building that gets him baffled when he researches the structure of the building.
The plot with twists is the secrets related to Tarleton and its shutdown. It was hidden for years with Toby and Shona. She is a dominant character. She prefers those suits her adaptability and preferences. Both, Robert and Hilary perform a great act by unfolding the truth to get mysteries in public and begin a new start. Their risks and personal interest in historic buildings were beyond understanding.
This arises a question how did Anton win the hearts of the audience after Toby went missing? Toby was the main lead as well as a sensation to win the hearts of women. There is a glimpse of an unknown shadow in the past and present.
Shona is a mysterious boss. Her hidden lies tie-up with unexpected consequences resulting in torment and violence which leaves Hilary bewildered.
The cover page made me believe that it could be a haunted book. It contains a good combination of ghosts, suspense, thriller, and mystery. All in one which gives a satisfactory read. Guaranteed. I would recommend this book! <3
November 19, 2023
As the title suggests, there are ghosts in this story. But most are friendly ghosts--theater ghosts.
The author builds a rich history around the Tarleton Music Hall, an Edwardian London staple up until World War I, when the theater was mysteriously closed. The lives of multiple characters, past and present, are entwined with the Tarleton, from Toby Chance, one-time manager and performer, to Caley Merrick, whose birth parent left him a box of photos and theater memorabilia, and a mystery to unravel. Each character brings their own obsessions to their interactions with the Tarleton. Some of those obsessions include murder.
Ms. Rayne does an admirable job of using the time-hopping plot lines to tell the stories of her characters, spanning from the late 1800s up to the present day. I find this story-telling device frequently annoying, as the time-hopping too often interrupts plot A with plot B, just as the suspense in plot A reaches a peak. Perhaps the subject matter in this book made me less critical of this device, since I am a life-long theater-goer, and very much enjoyed all of the characters and theater denizens.
One story device I continue to find irritating is the author's tendency to end a plot A chapter with a line... that is then repeated to start the following plot B chapter with a character in a different time. She did this multiple times in her book The Death Chamber, before dropping it after several chapters (thank god). She slipped in a few in this book as well. By the third time, it becomes a literary speed bump, pulling me completely out of the story. Her editor really should coach her away from doing this.
That said, this book was great fun, with just enough spookiness (courtesy of a madwoman and her own ghosts) to up the suspense, while the Tarleton and its people made the mystery engrossing and intriguing. The characters are well developed and distinctive, and there is a nice attention to theater history and pre-war London politics.
If you haven't tried Sarah Rayne, this is a good volume with which to begin.
The author builds a rich history around the Tarleton Music Hall, an Edwardian London staple up until World War I, when the theater was mysteriously closed. The lives of multiple characters, past and present, are entwined with the Tarleton, from Toby Chance, one-time manager and performer, to Caley Merrick, whose birth parent left him a box of photos and theater memorabilia, and a mystery to unravel. Each character brings their own obsessions to their interactions with the Tarleton. Some of those obsessions include murder.
Ms. Rayne does an admirable job of using the time-hopping plot lines to tell the stories of her characters, spanning from the late 1800s up to the present day. I find this story-telling device frequently annoying, as the time-hopping too often interrupts plot A with plot B, just as the suspense in plot A reaches a peak. Perhaps the subject matter in this book made me less critical of this device, since I am a life-long theater-goer, and very much enjoyed all of the characters and theater denizens.
One story device I continue to find irritating is the author's tendency to end a plot A chapter with a line... that is then repeated to start the following plot B chapter with a character in a different time. She did this multiple times in her book The Death Chamber, before dropping it after several chapters (thank god). She slipped in a few in this book as well. By the third time, it becomes a literary speed bump, pulling me completely out of the story. Her editor really should coach her away from doing this.
That said, this book was great fun, with just enough spookiness (courtesy of a madwoman and her own ghosts) to up the suspense, while the Tarleton and its people made the mystery engrossing and intriguing. The characters are well developed and distinctive, and there is a nice attention to theater history and pre-war London politics.
If you haven't tried Sarah Rayne, this is a good volume with which to begin.
Read
April 8, 2020You know, I thought I'd read this book before but I realized I'd been remembering a different one and this was actually a BRAND NEW TO ME SARAH RAYNE MYSTERY. And I really really wanted to like it but there was one issue that kept me from totally enjoying it 100%. Follow me if you dare into SPOILER LAND:
December 7, 2018
A thriller about an abandoned Edwardian music hall and the people emotionally invested in it, in both the past and the present. I enjoyed much of the book, and happily overlooked some leaps of logic (a few of which were so odd that I thought they must be plot points, clues, or foreshadowing - they weren't), but the answer to the novel's central mystery is so ridiculous and painfully illogical that it overshadowed the rest of the book - and that it took nearly 500 pages of sprawling storylines to get there only compounded the frustration.
May 19, 2024
An old music hall, The Tarleton, has stood empty by ordinance for ninety years. Of course, many stories about ghosts and vanishing have come to the foreground. The date is coming to reopen and Robort, the assayer, and Hilary, a researcher with the company that holds the estate, both set out to find out as much as they can. Things take a turn for the serious when a body is found holed up in a wall.
Full of details of thespian life during the Edwardian era. The characters take centre stage until all the secrets unravel together at the end making this a psychological thriller.
Full of details of thespian life during the Edwardian era. The characters take centre stage until all the secrets unravel together at the end making this a psychological thriller.
August 5, 2018
I'm afraid I found this not so ghostly tale rather dull and laboured. The central conceit - that a theatre needed to be closed to protect a particular secret - was ludicrous, as that secret could have been covered up much more easily. The glimpse into the heydays of Music Hall was interesting and the book would have been better had it stayed there and not messed about with worn and risible serial killer themes.
August 30, 2019
I'm finding Sarah Rayne's books are rather repetitive with regards to certain themes such as bodies behind walls and old letters being discovered that explain everything... I wasn't crazy for this one. I wasn't really all that fond of any of the characters, I would start getting interested in one of the storylines and then it would jump to another - too much jumping around. I skimmed some parts after the first half went so slowly and I just wanted to get this one finished.
May 25, 2017
Even though the central story revolves around the theater and it's ghost there are MANY side stories. I was a little perturbed at first, like, here we go again, another character and their story. But that quickly subsided because each side story was fascinating in itself and eventually tied into the central story.
I will definitely be looking into other books by Sarah Rayne.
I will definitely be looking into other books by Sarah Rayne.
February 11, 2019
This isn't really a ghost story in the traditional sense, tho ghosts are suggested. It is the story of a musical theatre in London and the people involved in its past & its present. The book goes back & forth in time seamlessly, and everything is tied together logically at the end. And excellent book that I highly recommend!
November 13, 2020
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I was hooked. The book kept me guessing until the very last page, I loved it!!!! I found that I grew very attached to the Tarleton and Toby himself. I never guessed that Shona had inherited her fathers insane ness. There were so many different stories and aspects that all had a connection to The Tarleton. I will definitely read this book again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2019
The twists were unique and the characters were extremely likable.
June 10, 2019
This has everything, mystery, drama and chilling suspense all wrapped inside a fantastic story-line.
Loved it.
Loved it.
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