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A House of Ghosts
Finalist for the Irish Book Award for Crime Fiction Book of the Year, a Classic Cozy Big-House Mystery Haunted by the Specters of World War One—For Readers of Agatha Christie and Simone St. James
Winter 1917. As the First World War enters its most brutal phase, back home in England, everyone is seeking answers to the darkness that has seeped into their lives. At Blackwater Abbey, on an island off the Devon coast, armaments manufacturer Lord Highmount has arranged a spiritualist gathering to contact his two sons, both of whom died at the front.
Among the guests, two have been secretly dispatched from the intelligence Kate Cartwright, a friend of the family who lost her beloved brother at the Somme and who, in the realm of the spiritual, has her own special gift; and the mysterious Captain Donovan, recently returned from Europe. Top secret plans for weapons developed by Lord Highmount’s company have turned up in Berlin, and there is reason to believe enemy spies will be in attendance. As the guests arrive, it becomes clear that each has something they would rather keep hidden. Then, when a storm descends, they find themselves trapped on the island. Soon one of their number will die. For Blackwater Abbey is haunted in more ways than one . . . .
An unrelenting, gripping mystery, packed with twists and turns and a kindling of romance, A House of Ghosts is the perfect cold-weather read.
Winter 1917. As the First World War enters its most brutal phase, back home in England, everyone is seeking answers to the darkness that has seeped into their lives. At Blackwater Abbey, on an island off the Devon coast, armaments manufacturer Lord Highmount has arranged a spiritualist gathering to contact his two sons, both of whom died at the front.
Among the guests, two have been secretly dispatched from the intelligence Kate Cartwright, a friend of the family who lost her beloved brother at the Somme and who, in the realm of the spiritual, has her own special gift; and the mysterious Captain Donovan, recently returned from Europe. Top secret plans for weapons developed by Lord Highmount’s company have turned up in Berlin, and there is reason to believe enemy spies will be in attendance. As the guests arrive, it becomes clear that each has something they would rather keep hidden. Then, when a storm descends, they find themselves trapped on the island. Soon one of their number will die. For Blackwater Abbey is haunted in more ways than one . . . .
An unrelenting, gripping mystery, packed with twists and turns and a kindling of romance, A House of Ghosts is the perfect cold-weather read.
371 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2018
409 people are currently reading
5903 people want to read
About the author
W.C. Ryan
4 books156 followersW. C. Ryan is also known as William Ryan, who has won acclaim for his historical crime novels in the Captain Korolev series. The first book, The Holy Thief, was shortlisted for a Crime Writer's Association's New Blood Dagger, a Barry Award, the Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award,, and the Theakston's Crime Novel of the Year. The second, The Bloody Meadow, was shortlisted for the Ireland AM Crime Novel of the Year, and the third, The Twelfth Department, was also shortlisted for the Ireland AM Crime Novel of the Year as well as the CWA's Historical Fiction Dagger and was a Guardian Crime Novel of the Year. Hi s books have been published in eighteen countries. William lives in London and teaches creative writing at City University.
(source: Amazon)
(source: Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 920 reviews
September 14, 2018
As the dark autumn nights begin to draw in, WC Ryan gives us historical fiction in the form of a dark supernatural novel set on a isolated Blackwater Island, off the Devon coast. This takes place in the Winter of 1917 where a ferocious battle is taking place between Germany and Britain and its allies to win the war at any cost. In this story of the military intelligence services, there are concerns that key pieces of strategic knowledge are finding their way into German hands. Kate Cartwright is a woman with rather special talents and gifts working in the coding breaking section. She has lost her brother, Arthur, reported missing in action in the trenches in Europe and her fiance, Rolleson Miller-White has broken off their engagement, which fortunately she is not too upset about. Captain Robert Donovan has intimate knowledge of the horrors of trench warfare, but is now working in espionage routing out traitors.
Kate has been tasked to accept an invitation from family friends, the armaments manufacturer Lord Francis Highmount and his wife, Lady Elizabeth, to join a party of guests at their island planning spiritualist activities to contact the dead, specifically the sons they have lost to the war, Reginald and Algernon. She is to go undercover, taking her ex-fiance, Rolleson, pretending they are still together, and Donovan is to be Rolleson's valet. The weather is frightful, with heavy winter storms and snow blizzards, Blackwater Island and Abbey are cut off from the mainland. The Abbey is an atmospheric place exuding an army of ghosts from the past that can be felt by the present day inhabitants, some more than others. Two well known mediums have been invited, Count Dmitri Orlov and Madame Feda, to conduct the seances. A troubled soldier, a tunneler, Private Albert Simms, is under the medical care of Dr Reid. Kate has brought with her an old family heirloom, the FitzAubrey Glass Mirror, which yields its secrets only to the women in the family. Kate and Donovan find no-one is who they appear to be in this story of lies, deception, traitors and spies as danger in the form of murder, attacks and sabotage swirl around them as the worst of raging storms cuts them off from the outside world and help.
The supernatural elements are not key to the central focus of the novel but they do lend a tremendous amount of atmosphere to this almost Agatha Christie like tale of remote islands, aristocrats, an ancient haunted country house in the form of the Abbey, and, of course, a party of guests. There is plenty of tension and suspense as Kate and Donovan follow the leads to try and identify the perpetrators of the dark deeds that begin to take place in a creaking house full of ghosts and secrets. The war time losses, the need to hunt down traitors and get ahead of the Germans in the war are captured beautifully in this period piece. I found this a wonderfully entertaining read that is perfect for this time of the year. Many thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for an ARC.
Kate has been tasked to accept an invitation from family friends, the armaments manufacturer Lord Francis Highmount and his wife, Lady Elizabeth, to join a party of guests at their island planning spiritualist activities to contact the dead, specifically the sons they have lost to the war, Reginald and Algernon. She is to go undercover, taking her ex-fiance, Rolleson, pretending they are still together, and Donovan is to be Rolleson's valet. The weather is frightful, with heavy winter storms and snow blizzards, Blackwater Island and Abbey are cut off from the mainland. The Abbey is an atmospheric place exuding an army of ghosts from the past that can be felt by the present day inhabitants, some more than others. Two well known mediums have been invited, Count Dmitri Orlov and Madame Feda, to conduct the seances. A troubled soldier, a tunneler, Private Albert Simms, is under the medical care of Dr Reid. Kate has brought with her an old family heirloom, the FitzAubrey Glass Mirror, which yields its secrets only to the women in the family. Kate and Donovan find no-one is who they appear to be in this story of lies, deception, traitors and spies as danger in the form of murder, attacks and sabotage swirl around them as the worst of raging storms cuts them off from the outside world and help.
The supernatural elements are not key to the central focus of the novel but they do lend a tremendous amount of atmosphere to this almost Agatha Christie like tale of remote islands, aristocrats, an ancient haunted country house in the form of the Abbey, and, of course, a party of guests. There is plenty of tension and suspense as Kate and Donovan follow the leads to try and identify the perpetrators of the dark deeds that begin to take place in a creaking house full of ghosts and secrets. The war time losses, the need to hunt down traitors and get ahead of the Germans in the war are captured beautifully in this period piece. I found this a wonderfully entertaining read that is perfect for this time of the year. Many thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for an ARC.
dnf
October 19, 2019DNF at page 100
This ticked all by boxes for a perfect October read (or anytime of year):
✔️ WWI setting
✔️Ghosts
✔️Spies
✔️Gothic vibe
✔️A winter storm
✔️a locked door mystery on an isolated island off the coast of England
✔️ A murder
It was a dark stormy day when I settled in for what I hoped would be a spooky chilling story.
Unfortunately by page 100 there still was no murder, I couldn’t keep all the characters straight, and my eyes were glazing over with boredom.
Onto the DNF pile it went.
This ticked all by boxes for a perfect October read (or anytime of year):
✔️ WWI setting
✔️Ghosts
✔️Spies
✔️Gothic vibe
✔️A winter storm
✔️a locked door mystery on an isolated island off the coast of England
✔️ A murder
It was a dark stormy day when I settled in for what I hoped would be a spooky chilling story.
Unfortunately by page 100 there still was no murder, I couldn’t keep all the characters straight, and my eyes were glazing over with boredom.
Onto the DNF pile it went.
November 9, 2019
I surprisingly found this to be a book that I think was probably better on audio. Surprising to me, because I have had much better luck listening to non fiction, than fiction. I wouldn't say this is a ghost story, though there are certainly ghosts, a medium and a seance as well as a few who have the ability to actually see these ghosts.
Takes place in an old house, on the coast of Devon, where some have gathered to contact the sons they had lost in the war. Air masks, schemes, military and other secrets, an arms manufacturer and a wounded soldier keep the plot clipping along. When bodies start to drop, secret passages revealed, the suspects are plenty. I think I would call this a historical ghost story, if there is such a genre. There are certainly elements of both included.
The narrator, Esther Wane, did in my opinion a terrific job. Her narration gets a 4+. Listening to this it reminded me of an old Agatha Christie novel, which was surprising. There were a few things I might have rolled my eyes at had I been reading, but listening to it made it seem more interesting and enjoyable.
From the ending it seems there might be more writing featuring our two main character, Kate and Donovan. If so I will be listening.
ARC from Edelweiss.
Takes place in an old house, on the coast of Devon, where some have gathered to contact the sons they had lost in the war. Air masks, schemes, military and other secrets, an arms manufacturer and a wounded soldier keep the plot clipping along. When bodies start to drop, secret passages revealed, the suspects are plenty. I think I would call this a historical ghost story, if there is such a genre. There are certainly elements of both included.
The narrator, Esther Wane, did in my opinion a terrific job. Her narration gets a 4+. Listening to this it reminded me of an old Agatha Christie novel, which was surprising. There were a few things I might have rolled my eyes at had I been reading, but listening to it made it seem more interesting and enjoyable.
From the ending it seems there might be more writing featuring our two main character, Kate and Donovan. If so I will be listening.
ARC from Edelweiss.
October 19, 2019
You have to work very hard to make a book that includes an eerie house on an island, a multitude of ghosts, people who can see said ghosts, a spy network, WW 1, and a seance during a storm, dull and boring. And this book worked very hard to do just that!
November 23, 2025
11-22-25 A re-re-read. Just as good as the first time! Great ghost story/mystery.
A House of Ghosts
W.C. Ryan
This book features a haunted house and it does have plenty of ghosts but the main story is the many mysteries! The ghosts are just there and watch the show! Lol! There is an island just off the mainland and several people are invited. It's a big mansion and the year is 1917. Miss Cartwright is asked to come with her fiancé but she has called off the wedding so she is asked to go with Mr Donavan. They both work for C, a secret organization for the war department.
Everyone at the house has their own reasons for being there. There is also supposed to be a famous psychic doing a seance at some point.
The author really sets the atmosphere for the year, (speech, styles, war-related themes, etc), and a mysterious mansion.
I love that two of the ones that arrive at the mansion can really see ghosts but one pretends not to. Also, lots of fascinating and curious mysteries happen and they just keep piling on before anyone can solve one, another happens!
I like the simple and charming romance that starts to bud between Donavan and Cartwright!
Although I hoped for a good scary haunting book when I picked this book, I am glad it is just like it is! The evil was the living and the harmless ghosts enjoyed the show.
A House of Ghosts
W.C. Ryan
This book features a haunted house and it does have plenty of ghosts but the main story is the many mysteries! The ghosts are just there and watch the show! Lol! There is an island just off the mainland and several people are invited. It's a big mansion and the year is 1917. Miss Cartwright is asked to come with her fiancé but she has called off the wedding so she is asked to go with Mr Donavan. They both work for C, a secret organization for the war department.
Everyone at the house has their own reasons for being there. There is also supposed to be a famous psychic doing a seance at some point.
The author really sets the atmosphere for the year, (speech, styles, war-related themes, etc), and a mysterious mansion.
I love that two of the ones that arrive at the mansion can really see ghosts but one pretends not to. Also, lots of fascinating and curious mysteries happen and they just keep piling on before anyone can solve one, another happens!
I like the simple and charming romance that starts to bud between Donavan and Cartwright!
Although I hoped for a good scary haunting book when I picked this book, I am glad it is just like it is! The evil was the living and the harmless ghosts enjoyed the show.
October 5, 2018
I was expecting a spooky ghost story from this book as the cover promises, but I was let down.
It's a normal crime book, which takes place in a remote house. And there are ghosts, but they didn't have much to do with the story.
It took a lot of effort to understand who is who at the beginning of the book, as the writer used names, surnames alternating. It was very confusing.
It says there's a crime, but crime didn't happen until 70% of the book. And the whole thing together with the wrap up was a bit silly. I got bored as well in the middle, was hard to continue.
So, I wouldn't recommend this as a ghost mystery, or even as a mystery.
It's a normal crime book, which takes place in a remote house. And there are ghosts, but they didn't have much to do with the story.
It took a lot of effort to understand who is who at the beginning of the book, as the writer used names, surnames alternating. It was very confusing.
It says there's a crime, but crime didn't happen until 70% of the book. And the whole thing together with the wrap up was a bit silly. I got bored as well in the middle, was hard to continue.
So, I wouldn't recommend this as a ghost mystery, or even as a mystery.
September 14, 2018
This novel is a mix of ghost story, mystery, with a touch of espionage and even a little romance. It is 1917 and WWI has been going on for three, long years. Almost every family in Britain has been touched by loss and this includes Kate Cartwright, whose brother was recently killed. Kate is working as a code-breaker, when she is asked by Captain Sir Mansfield Smith-Cumming (known as ‘C’ and Head of the Secret Intelligence Service) to take up the offer of a visit to Black Water Abbey, home of Lord and Lady Highmount, on Black Water Island; a remote island off the coast of Devon. She had, initially, refused the suggestion, even though her parents were visiting, as she was once engaged to Reginald Highmount, recently also killed in the war, along with his brother. The invitation had also included her fiancé, Rolleston Miller-White, but this relationship has also broken down.
As well as the awkward discomfort about her personal relationships, Kate is unwilling to attend the winter solstice at Black Water Abbey, knowing that the purpose for the visit includes two guests involved with spiritualism. Although Kate can, herself, see spirits, she has no sympathy with séances. However, when told that some Top Secret Plans have recently been taken from Lord Highmount, an arms manufacturer, and ended up in German hands, she knows she has no choice. Accompanying her, and Rolleston to the island, is Captain Donovan, masquerading as Miller-White’s ‘man,’ but really there as all of the guests now at the island were also present when the plans were stolen. Donovan and Kate need to join forces to keep Lord Highmount safe and protect sensitive documents.
All of the guests seem to have a motive for wishing Lord Highmount ill; many of which involve his production of weapons and the carnage wreaked by the war. The storm tossed island, with its assorted cast of possible suspects give a good sense of atmosphere. This is, in places, a little busy in terms of plot. There are secret passages, bad weather, an island cut off from outside help and more than a touch of mystery at every turn and that is not mentioning the stream of spirits that seem to surround Kate. I liked Kate and Donovan, though, and hope they return in further adventures, as I feel they have more to offer. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
As well as the awkward discomfort about her personal relationships, Kate is unwilling to attend the winter solstice at Black Water Abbey, knowing that the purpose for the visit includes two guests involved with spiritualism. Although Kate can, herself, see spirits, she has no sympathy with séances. However, when told that some Top Secret Plans have recently been taken from Lord Highmount, an arms manufacturer, and ended up in German hands, she knows she has no choice. Accompanying her, and Rolleston to the island, is Captain Donovan, masquerading as Miller-White’s ‘man,’ but really there as all of the guests now at the island were also present when the plans were stolen. Donovan and Kate need to join forces to keep Lord Highmount safe and protect sensitive documents.
All of the guests seem to have a motive for wishing Lord Highmount ill; many of which involve his production of weapons and the carnage wreaked by the war. The storm tossed island, with its assorted cast of possible suspects give a good sense of atmosphere. This is, in places, a little busy in terms of plot. There are secret passages, bad weather, an island cut off from outside help and more than a touch of mystery at every turn and that is not mentioning the stream of spirits that seem to surround Kate. I liked Kate and Donovan, though, and hope they return in further adventures, as I feel they have more to offer. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
November 4, 2020
4.5
I bought this book because I'm familiar with the previous work of William Ryan and I loved the cover but also because I am a huge fan of stories where people are trapped in a house, with bad weather and a mystery going on and I wasn't disappointed! I really enjoyed reading this book! The mystery was good, I liked the main characters Donovan and Kate as personalities also the dynamic between them and the romance was delightful! If William Ryan decides to write another book with them I would happily follow their adventures!
I bought this book because I'm familiar with the previous work of William Ryan and I loved the cover but also because I am a huge fan of stories where people are trapped in a house, with bad weather and a mystery going on and I wasn't disappointed! I really enjoyed reading this book! The mystery was good, I liked the main characters Donovan and Kate as personalities also the dynamic between them and the romance was delightful! If William Ryan decides to write another book with them I would happily follow their adventures!
August 31, 2018
A House of Ghosts is a shiver inducing beautifully written and immersive story – think Agatha Christie meets M.R. James but done in Mr Ryan’s own indomitable style, which if you’ve read “The Constant Soldier” you’ll know is pretty damn fine.
Its a perfectly pitched mystery, set in wartime, a place and time the author brings to descriptively vivid life. The story itself is most excellent, spies and nefarious goings on, in a haunted house cut off by a storm where nobody is being entirely honest.
Our two main protagonists, Kate and “Donovan” are wonderfully drawn and highly engaging plus ghosts. Yes well, it is a house full of them and not necessarily of the other worldly kind.
I loved it, from the claustrophobic and literally haunted setting to the intelligent mystery elements and all the way to the terror filled finale. Oh and there’s some thought provoking truths about that time in our history thrown in for good measure. A story with many layers which is overwhelmingly entertaining throughout.
Lots of brownie points for this one. Don’t be scared. The dead can’t hurt the living…can they?
Highly Recommended.
Its a perfectly pitched mystery, set in wartime, a place and time the author brings to descriptively vivid life. The story itself is most excellent, spies and nefarious goings on, in a haunted house cut off by a storm where nobody is being entirely honest.
Our two main protagonists, Kate and “Donovan” are wonderfully drawn and highly engaging plus ghosts. Yes well, it is a house full of them and not necessarily of the other worldly kind.
I loved it, from the claustrophobic and literally haunted setting to the intelligent mystery elements and all the way to the terror filled finale. Oh and there’s some thought provoking truths about that time in our history thrown in for good measure. A story with many layers which is overwhelmingly entertaining throughout.
Lots of brownie points for this one. Don’t be scared. The dead can’t hurt the living…can they?
Highly Recommended.
February 10, 2019
I listened to this novel on audio via my local library's BorrowBox service!
A historical crime novel filled with a mysterious house and spooky ghosts? SIGN. ME. UP
After hearing so many mixed reviews about the lack of scares, I was a little worried going into A House Of Ghosts. But I can say with my hand on my heart, that the audiobook made me shiver and kept me edge of my seat excited for the plot twists thrown throughout. Set during the final years of WW1, main character Kate arrives at Blackwater Abbey based off the coast of Devon after being invited to attend a spiritualist gathering. The Lord Highmount is trying hard to contact his two missing sons that had been lost on the battlefield. Each of the guests invited all arrive with hidden secrets and during a fierce storm, a terrible accident happens. But with one event comes many more and soon, someone will end up... dead.
The novel is split into two POVs: Kate and Donovan. Both of them turn detective as they try to work out which guests are up to foul-play. I enjoyed both of those perspectives and how they worked well together as a pair. There were other plot elements such as ghosts (Alice jumps for personal joy!), secret passageways and good old detective fun. It was a long listen, a little slow and at times, I did lose track of some of the extended cast of guests. I loved the narrator, he was atmospheric and his speech was clear to understand. If you like Christie's Poirot with a hint of horror, this is for you!
A historical crime novel filled with a mysterious house and spooky ghosts? SIGN. ME. UP
After hearing so many mixed reviews about the lack of scares, I was a little worried going into A House Of Ghosts. But I can say with my hand on my heart, that the audiobook made me shiver and kept me edge of my seat excited for the plot twists thrown throughout. Set during the final years of WW1, main character Kate arrives at Blackwater Abbey based off the coast of Devon after being invited to attend a spiritualist gathering. The Lord Highmount is trying hard to contact his two missing sons that had been lost on the battlefield. Each of the guests invited all arrive with hidden secrets and during a fierce storm, a terrible accident happens. But with one event comes many more and soon, someone will end up... dead.
The novel is split into two POVs: Kate and Donovan. Both of them turn detective as they try to work out which guests are up to foul-play. I enjoyed both of those perspectives and how they worked well together as a pair. There were other plot elements such as ghosts (Alice jumps for personal joy!), secret passageways and good old detective fun. It was a long listen, a little slow and at times, I did lose track of some of the extended cast of guests. I loved the narrator, he was atmospheric and his speech was clear to understand. If you like Christie's Poirot with a hint of horror, this is for you!
May 4, 2022
The open spirituality of my Mom and a ghost story in a grade 4 reader, fuelled my passion. I realized we can interact with spirits! I have sought stories like it ever since. Most books and films represent spirits negatively. The rare mysteries involving secret passageways and all that goodness, are for kids. Would grown-ups not go positively bonkers to explore them? I dislike historical and war fiction. I love real history, naturally aged books, and modernity that show dreamers we can be adventurers today! The electric, subtle paranormal presences of this 2018 hardcover present from my spouse, rose above those conundrums.
William C. Ryan aced my favourite genre: “paranormal mystery”, approaching spirits with wonderment and awe. We need stories simply about spirits as a fact of life. MOST AUTHORS OVERLOOK THIS! Pure, compelling mysteriousness is rare too. “A House Of Ghosts” is original, well-written, and another emerged this January 2022! This novel is so good, there are numerous ghostly scenes that would make deliciously atmospheric films. This is how to write about spirits!
I loved acquainting Kate Cartwright, her lovable parents, and Robert Donovan. Even though this was set in 1917, war themes delivered a message and were not used lightly. We witness growth, every character starting out secretively and slowly earning familiarity with readers. Humour colourfully arises from the hosts, the Cartwright family, and Kate wryly observing frauds because she honestly can see spirits.
In the middle of these delights, with spirits surreally enriching the ambiance around its characters; I was so enchanted, it dawned on me that here was my perfect book! What an ecstatic feeling! I found this Irish author’s e-mail address and told Bill what this book means to me. He replied that he is glad and bid me to enjoy his second ghost mystery.
William C. Ryan aced my favourite genre: “paranormal mystery”, approaching spirits with wonderment and awe. We need stories simply about spirits as a fact of life. MOST AUTHORS OVERLOOK THIS! Pure, compelling mysteriousness is rare too. “A House Of Ghosts” is original, well-written, and another emerged this January 2022! This novel is so good, there are numerous ghostly scenes that would make deliciously atmospheric films. This is how to write about spirits!
I loved acquainting Kate Cartwright, her lovable parents, and Robert Donovan. Even though this was set in 1917, war themes delivered a message and were not used lightly. We witness growth, every character starting out secretively and slowly earning familiarity with readers. Humour colourfully arises from the hosts, the Cartwright family, and Kate wryly observing frauds because she honestly can see spirits.
In the middle of these delights, with spirits surreally enriching the ambiance around its characters; I was so enchanted, it dawned on me that here was my perfect book! What an ecstatic feeling! I found this Irish author’s e-mail address and told Bill what this book means to me. He replied that he is glad and bid me to enjoy his second ghost mystery.
September 10, 2018
3.5 stars from me as I enjoyed this but also found it ever so slightly too long. There are traces of Agatha Christie in the ill-assorted house party on an island cut off by a storm and with a nefarious killer on the loose... a bit of the Famous Five with secret passages galore... a supernatural overlay as the house is packed with literal ghosts which pretty much everyone can see... an amiable romance... and even an all guns blazing shoot out at the end! Mixed in with all the drama are some more sympathetic portraits of grieving families and men traumatised by WW1.
Personally, I found there was too much packed into one story and not enough atmosphere or tension. It's also irritating that when people reveal things to other characters the information is withheld from us - an artificial way of supposedly building suspense that in my case annoyed. So I'm not sure the shifting tones quite came together, but this is a fun read all the same.
Personally, I found there was too much packed into one story and not enough atmosphere or tension. It's also irritating that when people reveal things to other characters the information is withheld from us - an artificial way of supposedly building suspense that in my case annoyed. So I'm not sure the shifting tones quite came together, but this is a fun read all the same.
December 27, 2018
I would say that A House of Ghosts is a book that is perfectly all right. It's neither scary nor that thrilling to be perfectly honest. However, it's a good story. It's a story to be read when it's dark and stormy outside and you are all alone in a house (far far away from civilization preferably). Of course, it's perfectly all right to read it in bed in the dark as I did. Not that stormy outside, but I was alone.
Anyway, I got sidetracked. The story in itself is interesting, and it has everything you want in a mystery book. An isolated place, people with secrets, a promise of romance and of course ghost. Who doesn't love ghosts? I just wish the story had been a bit more tense, a little more thrilling. Then, it would have been perfect! As it is I was interested in the story. Loved the setting, an island is always a nice place for a murder mystery. Kate and Donovan worked great as the main characters in this book. And, yes I would recommend this book.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
Anyway, I got sidetracked. The story in itself is interesting, and it has everything you want in a mystery book. An isolated place, people with secrets, a promise of romance and of course ghost. Who doesn't love ghosts? I just wish the story had been a bit more tense, a little more thrilling. Then, it would have been perfect! As it is I was interested in the story. Loved the setting, an island is always a nice place for a murder mystery. Kate and Donovan worked great as the main characters in this book. And, yes I would recommend this book.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
November 15, 2020
A Goodreads friend recommended this mystery story, mentioning that there were spies, ghosts,WWI and England in it. Loving all thoses elements, I will add that there are also secret passages, a storm, and something that I love maybe even more. I love what I would call old-fashioned English mysteries. I started reading them in my teens, with books that my mother passed onto me. I absolutely adore the droll understatement that comes accross in a lot of these mysteries. W. C. Ryan captures this perfectly. It really hit my funny-bone!
Maybe not the perfect mystery, but one that I adored following its journey. This is one book ,of all the books I read this year, that held my attention perfectly and completely. And I am highly recommending it.
Maybe not the perfect mystery, but one that I adored following its journey. This is one book ,of all the books I read this year, that held my attention perfectly and completely. And I am highly recommending it.
September 25, 2018
No way could I start off my review with anything other than the cover. It is simply stunning. It's one that if you read on the kindle, you will without a doubt buy a physical copy just to show it off on your book shelf. It really is that eye catching.
The blurb was also something that attracted me to this book. It just sounded so wonderfully dark and steeped in mystery. I couldn't wait to start turning those pages to see if what was inside was every bit as good as the look and sound of the book.
The story is broken up into chapters alternating between certain characters. Mainly Kate and Donovan who just happened to be my favourite characters through out the book. Donovan has an air of mystery around him whilst Kate held a certain appeal for me, especially for the era she lives in where women are definitely classed as the weaker sex. She is no damsel in distress though and is more than capable of looking after herself.
An abbey set on a secluded island is always going to be a great setting for this sort of genre. It adds to the whole mystery of the story. Throw in a spiritualist and you know you are onto a winner. It certainly had me intrigued as to what direction the author was going to take me.
A House Of Ghosts is a deliciously dark and captivating read. It does have a slight feel of an Agatha Christie novel, mainly the secluded house and the time setting but that's where it ends as the author certainly makes his own mark and stands out in their own right. It will keep you guessing and as usual, could never have foreseen the outcome. Definitely one to go on your must read pile.
My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The blurb was also something that attracted me to this book. It just sounded so wonderfully dark and steeped in mystery. I couldn't wait to start turning those pages to see if what was inside was every bit as good as the look and sound of the book.
The story is broken up into chapters alternating between certain characters. Mainly Kate and Donovan who just happened to be my favourite characters through out the book. Donovan has an air of mystery around him whilst Kate held a certain appeal for me, especially for the era she lives in where women are definitely classed as the weaker sex. She is no damsel in distress though and is more than capable of looking after herself.
An abbey set on a secluded island is always going to be a great setting for this sort of genre. It adds to the whole mystery of the story. Throw in a spiritualist and you know you are onto a winner. It certainly had me intrigued as to what direction the author was going to take me.
A House Of Ghosts is a deliciously dark and captivating read. It does have a slight feel of an Agatha Christie novel, mainly the secluded house and the time setting but that's where it ends as the author certainly makes his own mark and stands out in their own right. It will keep you guessing and as usual, could never have foreseen the outcome. Definitely one to go on your must read pile.
My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
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January 1, 2021I enjoyed this, although I think the title could be a little misleading.
'House of Ghosts' does in fact contain... a house of ghosts, but it is simply where the story is set. The ghosts themselves don't really play a significant part in the book, or provide any 'scares' - they furnish the backdrop to what is a murder mystery, set during the first world war.
Blackwater Abbey is on an island where a group of invited guests gather, which then gets cut off from the mainland in a storm - a classic (& familiar) scenario. But I still found this an enjoyable read as many elements of the story were not the ones we have come to expect in this set-up.
If you enjoy this classic type of mystery (as do I) then I'm sure you will not be disappointed.
I will certainly look forward to reading more work by this author.
'House of Ghosts' does in fact contain... a house of ghosts, but it is simply where the story is set. The ghosts themselves don't really play a significant part in the book, or provide any 'scares' - they furnish the backdrop to what is a murder mystery, set during the first world war.
Blackwater Abbey is on an island where a group of invited guests gather, which then gets cut off from the mainland in a storm - a classic (& familiar) scenario. But I still found this an enjoyable read as many elements of the story were not the ones we have come to expect in this set-up.
If you enjoy this classic type of mystery (as do I) then I'm sure you will not be disappointed.
I will certainly look forward to reading more work by this author.
August 24, 2024
I seem to read a lot of stuff that is just plain bonkers and this is right up there with the best of the bonkers.
Not a ghost story, more of a whodunnit/espionage thingy. There is a supernatural element but it’s just so strange, the ghosts are literally just hanging around, checking things out, having a wander and peering over people's shoulders. I laughed a few times but I am not sure I was supposed to. I did, however, love the character Kate Cartwright, I hope she gets her own story one day, a secret agent who can see dead people is just what the world needs right now.
Sherlock Holmes meets BBCs Ghosts meets You Rang M’lord (with guns) A generous 3.
Not a ghost story, more of a whodunnit/espionage thingy. There is a supernatural element but it’s just so strange, the ghosts are literally just hanging around, checking things out, having a wander and peering over people's shoulders. I laughed a few times but I am not sure I was supposed to. I did, however, love the character Kate Cartwright, I hope she gets her own story one day, a secret agent who can see dead people is just what the world needs right now.
Sherlock Holmes meets BBCs Ghosts meets You Rang M’lord (with guns) A generous 3.
October 7, 2019
It KILLS me to give a book this rating but this one definitely deserves it.
http://www.crimesegments.com/2019/10/...
I ask you, how could any mystery/ghost-story fan not enjoy a novel with a remote island setting, a storm that makes it impossible for anyone to leave, a former abbey/old house where spirits roam freely, a mystery involving spies, a murder, and best of all the promise of a seance to bring forth even more spirits? These are all elements that tick my own mystery/supernatural-reading buttons, but when all was said and done, I was left completely unfazed. By page 85 I was ready to scream because nothing had happened; by page 155 I was rejoicing that something had finally happened; even the dustjacket blurb promise that "soon one of their number will die" doesn't happen until over one hundred pages after that. Given the fact that blurbers for this book referred to it as a "chilling ghost story," "a multilayered, gothic masterpiece," or "unbearably creepy," I had high hopes, but I was seriously let down. Even the ending was a big what?? and believe it or not, I had a huge chunk of this thing figured out long before getting there. And let's not even go there with the ghosts that haunt Blackwater Abbey -- I don't even get why they were included. Trust me, traditional ghost stories over the ages are part of my reading bread and butter, and while the blurber who said to "think Agatha Christie meets M.R. James" may get it right on the Christie end, this is definitely NOT M.R. James.
Looking at what other readers think, I seem to be in the minority of people that didn't care for this book. Many of them are absolutely thrilled by this novel giving it very, very high ratings in the usual places; sadly I'm not one of them. And that's okay. I honestly can't recommend it at all. Read it at your own risk.
http://www.crimesegments.com/2019/10/...
I ask you, how could any mystery/ghost-story fan not enjoy a novel with a remote island setting, a storm that makes it impossible for anyone to leave, a former abbey/old house where spirits roam freely, a mystery involving spies, a murder, and best of all the promise of a seance to bring forth even more spirits? These are all elements that tick my own mystery/supernatural-reading buttons, but when all was said and done, I was left completely unfazed. By page 85 I was ready to scream because nothing had happened; by page 155 I was rejoicing that something had finally happened; even the dustjacket blurb promise that "soon one of their number will die" doesn't happen until over one hundred pages after that. Given the fact that blurbers for this book referred to it as a "chilling ghost story," "a multilayered, gothic masterpiece," or "unbearably creepy," I had high hopes, but I was seriously let down. Even the ending was a big what?? and believe it or not, I had a huge chunk of this thing figured out long before getting there. And let's not even go there with the ghosts that haunt Blackwater Abbey -- I don't even get why they were included. Trust me, traditional ghost stories over the ages are part of my reading bread and butter, and while the blurber who said to "think Agatha Christie meets M.R. James" may get it right on the Christie end, this is definitely NOT M.R. James.
Looking at what other readers think, I seem to be in the minority of people that didn't care for this book. Many of them are absolutely thrilled by this novel giving it very, very high ratings in the usual places; sadly I'm not one of them. And that's okay. I honestly can't recommend it at all. Read it at your own risk.
February 24, 2019
This is one of those books where I'm glad I didn't read the reviews online on certain sites first because there didn't seem to be a lot of love for it and for me it wasn't as bad as I would have thought reading the reviews.
It does have a good feel for And Then There Were None to it in the set up of the book. You can see the house and surrounding island so well. It was't hard to picture it at all. There's a lot less people die on this though and it has a lot more ghosts. I quite liked the added addition of ghosts pottering about the place giving a bit of atmosphere even if ultimately they didn't do much and they weren't overly scary.
I enjoyed the story, I liked trying to guess who was doing the haunting and where all the red herrings went to. I liked the setting of World War One and the back story to how some of the people arrived at the house and I enjoyed the 2 main characters.
Overall not a bad book for a lazy Sunday afternoon of reading
It does have a good feel for And Then There Were None to it in the set up of the book. You can see the house and surrounding island so well. It was't hard to picture it at all. There's a lot less people die on this though and it has a lot more ghosts. I quite liked the added addition of ghosts pottering about the place giving a bit of atmosphere even if ultimately they didn't do much and they weren't overly scary.
I enjoyed the story, I liked trying to guess who was doing the haunting and where all the red herrings went to. I liked the setting of World War One and the back story to how some of the people arrived at the house and I enjoyed the 2 main characters.
Overall not a bad book for a lazy Sunday afternoon of reading
October 12, 2023
Giving 3.5 ⭐️ for this one
November 27, 2018
If books could win awards for their covers then "A House of Ghosts" would win hands down, such beauty - black with gorgeous gold etching, just truly beautiful and worth every penny just to adorn your bookcase. I guarantee that this will be the main talking point from a lot of reviewers and rightly so.
The premise of the story is based on a World War One military espionage theme with elements of the supernatural. The tone of writing for the era of the book is spot on and I could quite clearly hear the voices of that time in my head as I read.
I liked the story in general but I would have liked either more on the ghosts rather then them just 'appearing' in the background or the plot completely without them since to be honest they didn't really feature enough to give the book it's name in my opinion. What surprised me was the ease with which all the characters seemed to be un-phased by these supernatural visions - had I seen just one of the many and varied apparitions I would have fainted on the spot! The inclusion of a 'magic mirror' didn't quite work for me and really needed you to suspend disbelief. The atmospheric description of the island and the house were eerily spooky and since the story was set during a raging storm this made the location even more sinister.
I thought the combination of Donovan and Kate was superb and it was good to see them understand each other's tactical thoughts and I'd love to see them develop their relationship further in a future book.
Very Agatha Christie in its creation this story was easy to follow with an uncomplicated plot that enabled me to read this in a couple of days. However, I wouldn't say it was gripping, I did still enjoy reading it though and can see it being more of a read for the older generation looking for a more genteel read.
The author W C Ryan is the pseudonym for the well established William Ryan and I would be happy to read more involving these characters again.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for the beautiful cover.
The premise of the story is based on a World War One military espionage theme with elements of the supernatural. The tone of writing for the era of the book is spot on and I could quite clearly hear the voices of that time in my head as I read.
I liked the story in general but I would have liked either more on the ghosts rather then them just 'appearing' in the background or the plot completely without them since to be honest they didn't really feature enough to give the book it's name in my opinion. What surprised me was the ease with which all the characters seemed to be un-phased by these supernatural visions - had I seen just one of the many and varied apparitions I would have fainted on the spot! The inclusion of a 'magic mirror' didn't quite work for me and really needed you to suspend disbelief. The atmospheric description of the island and the house were eerily spooky and since the story was set during a raging storm this made the location even more sinister.
I thought the combination of Donovan and Kate was superb and it was good to see them understand each other's tactical thoughts and I'd love to see them develop their relationship further in a future book.
Very Agatha Christie in its creation this story was easy to follow with an uncomplicated plot that enabled me to read this in a couple of days. However, I wouldn't say it was gripping, I did still enjoy reading it though and can see it being more of a read for the older generation looking for a more genteel read.
The author W C Ryan is the pseudonym for the well established William Ryan and I would be happy to read more involving these characters again.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for the beautiful cover.
January 18, 2023
I decided to give this a second chance, because I enjoyed Ryan's The Winter Guest so much. I thought, could I have been wrong? Was I having a bad day? It happens.
And the answer is ... no. The Winter Guest may have had its faults (see my review), but before it goes off the rails, its sense of time and place, and the way Ryan makes use of the ghostly presences who haunt the main character is genuinely uncanny, and works well with the mystery.
Here, there is no sense of time or place, and the ghosts that Kate Cartwright is cursed with the ability to see add nothing to the plot. They are mentioned from time to time, trooped out (sometimes literally) in case the reader has forgotten that this is a lame ghost story, as well as a lame mystery.
I finished it. I forced myself, although the last 100 pages are spinning things out for its own sake. A poor Agatha Christie pastiche, with ghosts. Such a shame, given that Ryan has demonstrated that he can do so much better ...
Original Review
You see Dead People. Imagine what that would be like, to move through every room, walk down every street brushing against the spirits of those who have gone before ...
Well, you're going to have to keep imagining, because you're sure not going to get any idea of what it would be like from this simply terrible, really awful book. Downton Abbey meets Ghostbusters. P.G. Wodehouse meets The Haunting of Hill House. The Telephone Directory meets the most boring conversation you've ever been stuck in, with little hope of escape ... Honestly: characterization is nil, writing style is clunky and ungrammatical. ( ... Donovan swung [the car] around blind corners and down steep hills with abandon, despite the snow that covered the road, all the while smoking a chain of foul-smelling cigarettes. I never realized that snow could smoke ...) Period detail and sense of place, nonexistent ...
I'm being as hard on this as I am because this is yet another poorly written and ill-conceived book that has been praised to the skies, by blurb writers and reviewers who ought to know better. Grrr.
And the answer is ... no. The Winter Guest may have had its faults (see my review), but before it goes off the rails, its sense of time and place, and the way Ryan makes use of the ghostly presences who haunt the main character is genuinely uncanny, and works well with the mystery.
Here, there is no sense of time or place, and the ghosts that Kate Cartwright is cursed with the ability to see add nothing to the plot. They are mentioned from time to time, trooped out (sometimes literally) in case the reader has forgotten that this is a lame ghost story, as well as a lame mystery.
I finished it. I forced myself, although the last 100 pages are spinning things out for its own sake. A poor Agatha Christie pastiche, with ghosts. Such a shame, given that Ryan has demonstrated that he can do so much better ...
Original Review
You see Dead People. Imagine what that would be like, to move through every room, walk down every street brushing against the spirits of those who have gone before ...
Well, you're going to have to keep imagining, because you're sure not going to get any idea of what it would be like from this simply terrible, really awful book. Downton Abbey meets Ghostbusters. P.G. Wodehouse meets The Haunting of Hill House. The Telephone Directory meets the most boring conversation you've ever been stuck in, with little hope of escape ... Honestly: characterization is nil, writing style is clunky and ungrammatical. ( ... Donovan swung [the car] around blind corners and down steep hills with abandon, despite the snow that covered the road, all the while smoking a chain of foul-smelling cigarettes. I never realized that snow could smoke ...) Period detail and sense of place, nonexistent ...
I'm being as hard on this as I am because this is yet another poorly written and ill-conceived book that has been praised to the skies, by blurb writers and reviewers who ought to know better. Grrr.
August 29, 2019
If you are in need of a cozy mystery with gothic undertones, then A House of Ghosts will be a perfect read for you. An isolated mansion, horrid weather, bad house guests and a few ghosts added to the mix make for a delicious little book - a perfect novel to curl up with a nice cuppa something.
November 3, 2024
This review pains me to write because this book, A House of Ghosts, started so promising, and I got abnormally excited on an Agatha Christie vibes level.
Off the Devon coast of England, there is a small island containing a huge gothic mansion known as Blackwater Abbey. Owned by Lord and Lady Highmount, Blackwater Abbey is the setting for a covert investigation by two undercover intelligence operatives, Kate Cartwright and Captain Donovan.
The story is set at the tail end of WWI in the winter of 1917, and on the island all communications with the mainland are lost as a motley crew of people are gathered there for a séance as Lord and Lady Highmount seek to try to contact their sons who died in the war. Come on now, this book should be perfect for an October read!
Well, not as much as you’d think. With about 70% of the book under my belt I still didn’t have any dead bodies, a real mystery, or any real ghost action beyond an odd backdrop of ghosts casually observing the occupants. I kept reading and hoping for a mind-bending twist, but nothing happened. I wanted to love this book and felt my Agatha Christie vibes slipping through my fingers like sand.
At that 70% mark we finally have a death and a mystery on our hands. Unfortunately, there was nothing mind-bending about it, and the ending was downright disappointing. I got a little twitchy feeling like this was going to be a real bummer of a review, and I despise leaving negative reviews because I have mad love for authors in general, but there was a light at the end of the tunnel that pulled this book up to 3 stars for me.
What saves this story is the dialogue between the two main characters. Kate and Donovan are very formal in the way they speak to each other, but many of their conversations had me laughing out loud. I also enjoyed the “will they or won’t they” romantic undertones as they grew closer. This author writes humorous sarcasm very well, and I am fluent in that language!
The period vibe is there and although I didn’t guess the ending, I can’t blame myself for that because the ending was just random and not fulfilling.
Off the Devon coast of England, there is a small island containing a huge gothic mansion known as Blackwater Abbey. Owned by Lord and Lady Highmount, Blackwater Abbey is the setting for a covert investigation by two undercover intelligence operatives, Kate Cartwright and Captain Donovan.
The story is set at the tail end of WWI in the winter of 1917, and on the island all communications with the mainland are lost as a motley crew of people are gathered there for a séance as Lord and Lady Highmount seek to try to contact their sons who died in the war. Come on now, this book should be perfect for an October read!
Well, not as much as you’d think. With about 70% of the book under my belt I still didn’t have any dead bodies, a real mystery, or any real ghost action beyond an odd backdrop of ghosts casually observing the occupants. I kept reading and hoping for a mind-bending twist, but nothing happened. I wanted to love this book and felt my Agatha Christie vibes slipping through my fingers like sand.
At that 70% mark we finally have a death and a mystery on our hands. Unfortunately, there was nothing mind-bending about it, and the ending was downright disappointing. I got a little twitchy feeling like this was going to be a real bummer of a review, and I despise leaving negative reviews because I have mad love for authors in general, but there was a light at the end of the tunnel that pulled this book up to 3 stars for me.
What saves this story is the dialogue between the two main characters. Kate and Donovan are very formal in the way they speak to each other, but many of their conversations had me laughing out loud. I also enjoyed the “will they or won’t they” romantic undertones as they grew closer. This author writes humorous sarcasm very well, and I am fluent in that language!
The period vibe is there and although I didn’t guess the ending, I can’t blame myself for that because the ending was just random and not fulfilling.
July 3, 2020
A House of Ghosts takes place in December 1917 against the devastating and destructive backdrop of the First World War. Lord and Lady Highmount have arranged for a house party to take place in their home of Blackwater Abbey on the island of Blackwater. Stricken by their grief over losing their two sons during the fighting, with the unusual history of the Abbey and the approaching winter solstice. The Highmount’s want to use the party, the two invited mediums and the rest of the attending guests in an attempt to contact the dead and hopefully communicate with the spirit’s of their two sons.
Blackwater is a fictional island located off the coast of Devon and Blackwater Abbey on the island is the setting for the story told in A House of Ghosts. Blackwater is an isolated and remote destination and Blackwater Abbey a mysterious and haunting setting that is brimming with history, is full of secrets and that thanks to the Highmount’s and their eclectic mix of guests an array of lies too. Due to a severe storm raging. With the wind howling, the sea churning and the waves crashing any travel from off the island is impossible and until the storm passes the guests are trapped at Blackwater.
Lord Highmount’s company (Highmount Industries) makes armaments and munitions for the war effort. Some of their secret weapons plans appear to have fallen into the hands of the enemy and there’s thought to be a spy at large leaking, passing on the information to the German’s. All of the guests have their own agenda for attending the party and some have fallen under suspicion of being the traitor. The house party is seen as the ideal opportunity to further investigate those individuals, gather information and unmask the spy.
The story is predominantly told from the alternating perspectives of Captain Robert Donovan and Kate Cartwright. Donovan is a hard man, a killer, damaged by the war, the things that he has seen and the things that he has done. Kate is resilient, determined and independent. Both are likeable and well-drawn characters. Donovan works for the Secret Intelligence Service and Kate is a codebreaker. Kate’s family are old friends of the Highmount’s and after initially turning down the invitation to the party. Kate accepts to aid in the investigation alongside Donovan who will be there undercover in the guise of Kate’s fiancé’s manservant. The chapters are short and they consistently move the story forward. Ryan writes in such a way that he vividly brings both his characters and his brooding, creepy and claustrophobic setting to life. Easily drawing you in, keeping you intrigued and maintaining a sense of tension throughout in a story that is darkly evocative.
The ending ties the story told in A House of Ghosts up rather nicely. But, should Ryan choose to revisit with his characters somewhere down the line then the door is left open for potential sequels. There’s also a slight dash of romance towards the end. Now, usually, romance has me running to the hills but, honestly, I didn’t mind it. As I mentioned, it’s only a smidgeon but it fits in with both the characters and the story. After the dark themes of grief, loss, trauma and the psychological impact on those who have been affected by the war (both those who have fought in it and the families who have lost loved ones to it) I felt that it was a nice way to end the book, a flickering candle flame, a light in the dark.
I have to be honest and say that A House of Ghosts wasn’t entirely what I was expecting. The title of the book isn’t a misnomer and Blackwater Abbey really is ‘a house of ghosts‘. I went into the book presuming that I’d get a standard haunted house style of story and what I actually got was something more. A wonderful blend of an atmospheric ghost story, a murder mystery and a suspenseful spy thriller all rolled into one.
As always this review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...
Blackwater is a fictional island located off the coast of Devon and Blackwater Abbey on the island is the setting for the story told in A House of Ghosts. Blackwater is an isolated and remote destination and Blackwater Abbey a mysterious and haunting setting that is brimming with history, is full of secrets and that thanks to the Highmount’s and their eclectic mix of guests an array of lies too. Due to a severe storm raging. With the wind howling, the sea churning and the waves crashing any travel from off the island is impossible and until the storm passes the guests are trapped at Blackwater.
Lord Highmount’s company (Highmount Industries) makes armaments and munitions for the war effort. Some of their secret weapons plans appear to have fallen into the hands of the enemy and there’s thought to be a spy at large leaking, passing on the information to the German’s. All of the guests have their own agenda for attending the party and some have fallen under suspicion of being the traitor. The house party is seen as the ideal opportunity to further investigate those individuals, gather information and unmask the spy.
The story is predominantly told from the alternating perspectives of Captain Robert Donovan and Kate Cartwright. Donovan is a hard man, a killer, damaged by the war, the things that he has seen and the things that he has done. Kate is resilient, determined and independent. Both are likeable and well-drawn characters. Donovan works for the Secret Intelligence Service and Kate is a codebreaker. Kate’s family are old friends of the Highmount’s and after initially turning down the invitation to the party. Kate accepts to aid in the investigation alongside Donovan who will be there undercover in the guise of Kate’s fiancé’s manservant. The chapters are short and they consistently move the story forward. Ryan writes in such a way that he vividly brings both his characters and his brooding, creepy and claustrophobic setting to life. Easily drawing you in, keeping you intrigued and maintaining a sense of tension throughout in a story that is darkly evocative.
The ending ties the story told in A House of Ghosts up rather nicely. But, should Ryan choose to revisit with his characters somewhere down the line then the door is left open for potential sequels. There’s also a slight dash of romance towards the end. Now, usually, romance has me running to the hills but, honestly, I didn’t mind it. As I mentioned, it’s only a smidgeon but it fits in with both the characters and the story. After the dark themes of grief, loss, trauma and the psychological impact on those who have been affected by the war (both those who have fought in it and the families who have lost loved ones to it) I felt that it was a nice way to end the book, a flickering candle flame, a light in the dark.
I have to be honest and say that A House of Ghosts wasn’t entirely what I was expecting. The title of the book isn’t a misnomer and Blackwater Abbey really is ‘a house of ghosts‘. I went into the book presuming that I’d get a standard haunted house style of story and what I actually got was something more. A wonderful blend of an atmospheric ghost story, a murder mystery and a suspenseful spy thriller all rolled into one.
As always this review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...
January 9, 2022
Not my cup of tea. When a house (or abbey) is full of ghosts, I rather expect the supernatural to figure strongly in the story. Instead, we have a scrying mirror that seems to be very explicit on its messages (not true to type, that), and a heroine who sees some pretty boring ghosts.
The ghosts stand around and look interested - follow people - and generally are just a back story so our heroine, Kate, might actually appear interesting. Unfortunately, Kate is not interesting. She has little to recommend herself. For someone who has seen ghosts all her life (unclear?) she easily becomes frightened at seances. Not something I would expect.
She also takes a rather passive role in the mystery and strangely there is never a scene where she saves herself or others (something readers of today would crave to see). As someone who is a codebreaker, none of her skills were used in this book. Described as genius, there is no indication of that either. She talks a lot with Donovan, tries on dresses, looks in the scrying mirror for dreadful hints of What Is To Come (duh-dah!), avoids talking with her fake and worthless fiancé, and has dull conversations with dad (apparently mom disappeared through 80% of the book as does the lady of the manor).
Let's talk about the hero - Donovan. For someone who went to the island with an elaborate cover story he dumps it quickly. He is also rather uninteresting and tropey. He wanders up and down and all around the secret tunnels finding people or objects like it is a video game where you need to collect the pieces to solve the mystery. There is a LOT of repetition in this book - tunnels are repeated, conversations also. You begin to feel you are trapped in a deja vu loop re-reading the same thing you did two chapters back.
Another thing that is truly irritating is that the chapter would build to something and then the scene would go blank. For example, Donovan on one of his video game treasure hunts meets some people and shows them a button. Scene goes black. Next chapter, Donovan considers what the people told him (but we aren't told what they said - that all happens off screen) and goes off to have a repetitive discussion with Kate, before returning to his tunnel quest.
This produces an exceedingly dull book in terms of action and this sequence is repeated in about half of the chapters or more. I could barely keep myself awake. Each chapter seems to have a secret passage and unrealistic happenings to the point you are waiting for the Gorilla (see Dark House Mysteries) to come through and make an appearance (don't worry - something as unbelievable happens at the end).
This story might appeal to those who like Golden Age mysteries, or who want a light romance (a burly voice, and a hip touching, fully clothed) between two dull people. For those seeking the gothic and creepy - trapped on an island due to a storm in an abbey house filled with spooky ghosts - take a hard pass.
The mystery itself is convoluted and ends in such a hilarious way you really DO want to turn on the tv and watch a Dark House Mystery.
Why I gave 3 stars is that the author has a beautiful way of writing at times (see highlights). If only the book had seen an editor who could have punched it up, it could have been truly spectacular. The core is there.
The ghosts stand around and look interested - follow people - and generally are just a back story so our heroine, Kate, might actually appear interesting. Unfortunately, Kate is not interesting. She has little to recommend herself. For someone who has seen ghosts all her life (unclear?) she easily becomes frightened at seances. Not something I would expect.
She also takes a rather passive role in the mystery and strangely there is never a scene where she saves herself or others (something readers of today would crave to see). As someone who is a codebreaker, none of her skills were used in this book. Described as genius, there is no indication of that either. She talks a lot with Donovan, tries on dresses, looks in the scrying mirror for dreadful hints of What Is To Come (duh-dah!), avoids talking with her fake and worthless fiancé, and has dull conversations with dad (apparently mom disappeared through 80% of the book as does the lady of the manor).
Let's talk about the hero - Donovan. For someone who went to the island with an elaborate cover story he dumps it quickly. He is also rather uninteresting and tropey. He wanders up and down and all around the secret tunnels finding people or objects like it is a video game where you need to collect the pieces to solve the mystery. There is a LOT of repetition in this book - tunnels are repeated, conversations also. You begin to feel you are trapped in a deja vu loop re-reading the same thing you did two chapters back.
Another thing that is truly irritating is that the chapter would build to something and then the scene would go blank. For example, Donovan on one of his video game treasure hunts meets some people and shows them a button. Scene goes black. Next chapter, Donovan considers what the people told him (but we aren't told what they said - that all happens off screen) and goes off to have a repetitive discussion with Kate, before returning to his tunnel quest.
This produces an exceedingly dull book in terms of action and this sequence is repeated in about half of the chapters or more. I could barely keep myself awake. Each chapter seems to have a secret passage and unrealistic happenings to the point you are waiting for the Gorilla (see Dark House Mysteries) to come through and make an appearance (don't worry - something as unbelievable happens at the end).
This story might appeal to those who like Golden Age mysteries, or who want a light romance (a burly voice, and a hip touching, fully clothed) between two dull people. For those seeking the gothic and creepy - trapped on an island due to a storm in an abbey house filled with spooky ghosts - take a hard pass.
The mystery itself is convoluted and ends in such a hilarious way you really DO want to turn on the tv and watch a Dark House Mystery.
Why I gave 3 stars is that the author has a beautiful way of writing at times (see highlights). If only the book had seen an editor who could have punched it up, it could have been truly spectacular. The core is there.
October 11, 2018
I'm struggling to believe I read to the end of this piece of tripe!!! Shockingly bad. It tries to be a cross between an Agatha Christie and a haunted house style story and nails neither. One critic had the nerve to describe it as unbearably scary. It wasn't, but it was utterly hysterical. Despite being allegedly a ghost story it felt more like a comedy. Long times since I laughed so much. It's a dreadfully bad read.
September 10, 2018
This is a superb haunted house chiller, its mood intensified by its setting during the First World War. Its location on an island cut off by a mid-winter storm is also very evocative. I loved every page. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
September 30, 2018
3.5 stars
RTC (soon)
RTC (soon)
September 21, 2018
Set in the winter of 1917, when the First World War is raging on and a sense of hopelessness and loss hangs over Britain, W. C. Ryan takes us to Blackwater Abbey, on an island just off the Devon coast.
Lord Highmount has arranged a spiritualist gathering with the purpose of connecting with his two sons, both believed to have died in the war. But that’s not the only reason for the gathering.
As a storm descends on the island, keeping all the guests trapped, secrets and lies start coming to light. Not to mention the resident ghosts who constantly roam the halls.
As for Kate Cartwright and Donovan, they’re there for a different reason. They have been given the task of protection and uncovering the truth behind knowledge and plans leaked to the Germans but of course, it’s not as straight forward as it seems.
Ghosts aren’t the only thing haunting Blackwater Abbey ...
This book has the sense of a classic murder mystery. It’s full of suspense and keeps you intrigued until the end. The main characters are likeable and the descriptions easily place you into the story.
I think it’s a very good read for this time of year, when Halloween is approaching and the weather is changing and getting darker and colder.
It’s a constant stream of suspicion and mystery, where everyone is a suspect and every situation brings about more questions than answers.
I also like that the ending had been left open with the opportunity of more Donovan and Kate. I’d definitely read more of their adventures together!
Lord Highmount has arranged a spiritualist gathering with the purpose of connecting with his two sons, both believed to have died in the war. But that’s not the only reason for the gathering.
As a storm descends on the island, keeping all the guests trapped, secrets and lies start coming to light. Not to mention the resident ghosts who constantly roam the halls.
As for Kate Cartwright and Donovan, they’re there for a different reason. They have been given the task of protection and uncovering the truth behind knowledge and plans leaked to the Germans but of course, it’s not as straight forward as it seems.
Ghosts aren’t the only thing haunting Blackwater Abbey ...
This book has the sense of a classic murder mystery. It’s full of suspense and keeps you intrigued until the end. The main characters are likeable and the descriptions easily place you into the story.
I think it’s a very good read for this time of year, when Halloween is approaching and the weather is changing and getting darker and colder.
It’s a constant stream of suspicion and mystery, where everyone is a suspect and every situation brings about more questions than answers.
I also like that the ending had been left open with the opportunity of more Donovan and Kate. I’d definitely read more of their adventures together!
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