The Highgate Ghost

by M.M. Gaidar

Cassandra Ayers embarks on a case of grave desecration at Highgate Cemetery allegedly haunted by a terrifying ghost; however, the most mysterious and frightening case she is challenged to solve lies in her own past and is related to her mother's death. Maybe now, after Cassandra sees her mother’s ghostly hand in her photo, she will be able to find the answers."The Highgate Ghost" starts the series of Gothic mystery novels "Cassandra's Shadows.""Clever nods to Poe, Christie, all with a dash of Austenesque sensibility." Carmen Radtke, Author (Goodreads)"A compelling, clear story about a female detective facing open graves, disturbed coffins and struggling with similar childhood trauma and having a different place in society while experiencing the constraints of it all." Annie Muynck, Author (Goodreads)"I loved this ghostly whodunit! So engaging from beginning to end and the cast of characters captivates quite apart from the storyline. Worth a read." June M Siman, Reader (Goodreads)

Genres: Mystery

207 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 21, 2019

About the author

Maryna Gaidar is a Canadian writer of Ukrainian origin and the author of the mystery series Cassandra’s Shadows. In 2017, she won her first publication in the competition Twisted 50. She has also been published in a compilation of short Christmas stories in Ukraine.

The genres that Maryna gravitates towards are period mystery novels, fantasy and sci-fi. Her most favoured authors are Remarque, Austen, Dyachenko and Nesbo. She enjoys coffee and loves cats.

The best way to acquire new experience and inspiration, in her opinion, is travelling. In fact, her series of mystery novels Cassandra’s Shadows was inspired by her visit to Highgate Cemetery in London, UK.

One of her dreams is to go on a trip around the world.

Reviews

[Lora Milton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is more Mystery than Horror. Cassandra is a supernatural debunking detective around the year 1900 when women weren't expected to do anything more than serve a husband. She is enlisted to find out who has been desecrating graves in Highgate Cemetery, where reports of a ghost have played a part in the mystery.

Secret societies, class systems and gender prejudice all come into a story that near the end was beginning to look like an episode of Scooby-doo. It could use a final line edit, which might explain why it was out of print at the time of reviewing. I'm just glad I already had a copy as it's an enjoyable story and having toured Highgate many years ago, a very interesting setting for a ghost story.

[Anastasiia Crossover · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a one massive blast of an action-packed, classy story where there won't be any marmalade and anticipated lines.
Watch the characters sneak into the canvas of the storytelling, as they burst and they roam pumping up the intensity of a reader's response, be it admiration, amusement, or disgust.
Every detail related to this mystery of crime is resplendent in it's authenticity, which means the author had done a bunch of a validated research.
This is one daring take on a detective where the author is equally bold, entertaining, and stylish.
The main character is the one who bends the social dogmas, always in control despite the endless pain.
The book for a true connoisseur.
Treat yourself to the adventure of a lifetime.

[Carmen Radtke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghostly sightings and desecrated graves bring a thoroughly liberated, rational Cassandra to investigate in Highgate Cemetery, but she suspects a more profane explanation...
This would be perfect for Halloween, but will also entertain on any other day with its clever nods to Poe, Christie, all with a dash of Austenesque sensibility. Four-and-a-half stars from me. I’m looking forward to the next adventure, when our heroine tries again to untangle the mysteries of her childhood.

[Annie Muynck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling, clear story about a female detective facing open graves, disturbed coffins and struggling with similar childhood trauma and having a different place in society while experiencing the constraints of it all. Thank you for the free book, I have enjoyed reading!

[June M Siman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely entertaining

I loved this ghostly whodoneit! So engaging from begining to end and the cast of characters captivates quite apart from the story line. Worth a read.

[Jeanine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing story.

[Cassie Hanmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. A perfect chilling read with a gothic atmosphere

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a ghost infiltrates Highgate Cemetery, detective Cassandra Ayers is called on the case. Not only is the ghost causing all the cemetery workers to quit, but graves are being opened and desecrated. It is up to Cassandra to find the commonalities in the deceased and to find out what truly is going on in the Cemetery. We are treated to pretty much the type of characters we would expect during the very end of the Victorian era. While they are staid and old-fashioned, Cassandra is forward thinking and a little shocking in her behaviours. This book is an absorbing, quick read, that is a great escape into another time. I wasn't too thrilled with the illustrations, though. I would highly recommend this book to those who like mysteries set in another era. I received this book as an Advance Readers Copy from Voracious Readers Only.

[Kay Cobbold · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thoroughly entertaining read. I enjoyed Cassandra’s investigation, immensely. She was so much like a female Sherlock Holmes and I was convinced, like her, that there wasn’t anything supernatural about the investigation. Gaidar plants clues throughout the story and the reader feels part of the process. The denouement of the story was well done and only the mystery of Cassandra’s mother’s ring was left fully unanswered, therefore the very ending of the story came as quite a surprise! I received a complimentary book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.

[Tanya Gudyma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Читала українською і хочу поділитися відгуком. Якісний атмосферний детектив епоха і локація якого мені дуже імпонує. Гарно прописані персонажі, які мають кожен свою історію і чимало загадок над якими читачу ще надлежить помізкувати. Після прочитання першої книги, ви точно захочете продовження і воно на радість всім є. Окремо варто сказати про мову авторки. Українською інколи просто хотілося виписувати цитати. Впевнена англійською ні на грам не гірше. Рекомендую, однозначно 5 зірочок.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to four

A few language anachronisms stood out and a few early descriptions were a bit goth girl trying too hard —and I say that as a former goth girl— but overall it was a fun and interesting mystery, with only a touch of supernatural. Read it more as a historic mystery. There are a lot of interesting sociological elements that I appreciated.

I received a free copy from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice quick read. I enjoyed it and will be reading others in the series.

[Rebecca Skelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. It’s like Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes combined. Brilliant atmosphere. A true joy to read.

[Robin Paolozzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and enjoyable read

I really enjoyed this book and will probably read the rest in the series. I really enjoyed the characters and storyline.

[Svitlana Suvorova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Чудова історія, прекрасно оформлена сильними порівняннями та метафорами. Читала українською якщо що.) любителям містичних детективів буде саме то.
Знайома не тільки з цією частиною, а і з усіма подальшими, які на цей момент є, і сюжет тут вартісний, бо детективні розслідування підіймають не тільки питання «хто вбивця?», а й деякі речі поскладніше (нехай буде міні-спойлер)))).
Дякую за працю!

[Dorris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This mystery is just right for the spooky season. I am an old lady who spent a great deal of time with some very elderly people in my youth. Those ladies were about Cassandra's age in 1900! They told me so many stories about how very different the world was back then. This book really conveys the sense of shadowy rooms lit with candles or gas light, high mortality (no antibiotics), dimly lit streets, etc. that my dear old ladies told me about. I shall be reading the rest of the books in this series.

However, I started to listen to the audio book and found the narrator's poor diction so irritating it distracted from the story! (I actually returned the audio book to my library and checked out the e-book instead!) Generally the audio books I have listened to have been narrated by professional readers. This narrator seems to have a stuffy nose and reads in a very choppy manner. The accent(?) she is using doesn't match the culture and dialect of the characters in the story. Perhaps this was an AI reading? Any way I will read more of this author's books, but I will save my money and definitely not purchase the audio books if recorded by Findaway Voices.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

October 1990, Cassandra meets with a gypsy to uncover what happened on a traumatic day from her childhood that her adult brain is struggling to remember. When she receives a vague and obvious response, Cassandra reveals her true intentions as a private detector who investigates the supernatural, something she doesn't believe in. This introduces Cassandra's character as her next case involves a supposedly haunted cemetery that she investigates, where she may be experiencing the paranormal. Alongside the case, Cassandra's outspoken character demonstrates the gender expectations in the 1900s and the break in societal norms she is completely against, makes for an intriguing read.


I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to VRO and author.

[Mc Chanster · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read!

I quite liked Cassandra and how her character was written. Set in a time when women are expected to depend solely on husbands and fathers, I loved that she was strong, independent and intelligent. Overall, I felt the novel was well-written. The mood was deliciously dark, and I actually enjoyed the twists and turns Gaidar put in throughout. Personally, I did feel things dragged a bit in the middle, but I still quite liked the book and would look forward to what come next for Cassandra the detective!

Thank you Voracious Readers and MM Gaidar for my copy! I received an ARC of this novel and am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful book. The main character was totally unlikable. Her attitude to everyone and everything was just miserable from day 1. Self centred, poor me and no one else has had problems except me. Will not be looking for anymore of this series or even the author if this is her style.

[Donnatony Jenkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book It wasn't at all what I was expecting the ending was brilliant I definitely recommend a read

[Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Читала українською (не можу знайти українську публікацію на goodreads, тому напишу тут).
Перша книга сподобалась - легка, проста, безкоштовна. Вона потрапила в мій настрій, коли я не могла читати нічого важкого і нічого улюбленого, стала поштовхом до нормального читання, в детективний жанр я не поринала давно. Може, скучила за ним. Перечитувати точно не буду, бо, насправді, незважаючи на середню оцінку від мене, у героїв та історію я не закохалася. Оцінка, напевно, більше відображає мої почуття під час читання - було легко і приємно, але не більше. Насправді, міркуючи про книгу вже сильно опісля прочитання, думаю, що вона б добре виглядала у вигляді фільму (потім я побачила, що авторка пише сценарії, і все встало на свої місця). Для ідеальної книги, у яку закохуєшся і до якої повертаєшся, мені не вистачає глибини і пропрацьованості персонажів.
Коли з'являється Валентин, ти одразу розумієш, що це майбутня любовна лінія. Але Валентин неймовірно скучний та банальний. Таких персонажів ми вже бачили мільярд разів.
Касандра для мене - набір окремих шматочків пазла. Часто вона поводить себе зовсім не так, як очікуєш від неї, від тієї неї, яку нам показали. Просто ніби це інша людина. Може в цьому і була ідея - показувати героїню багатогранною та поступово розкривати її, але для мене це виглядало як нелогічна поведінка.
Твіст зі зброєю всередині тростини я прочитала трошки з фейспалмом. Я не очікувала такого від жінки, яка кульгає всю книгу та яку нам показують врівноваженою та серйозною. Я би більше зрозуміла, якщо б вона приготувала для злодія якусь хитру продуману пастку або заздалегідь домовилася з поліцейськими, щоб вони зайшли у будинок у рішучий момент. До того ж, я не пам'ятаю чи було описано, як Касандра взагалі стала детективкою, та коли у попередніх своїх справах вона використовувала зброю.
Як підсумок, я би радила книгу людям, які не дуже багато читають і шукають щось для розваги. Бо, коли починаєш закопуватися, з'являються незрозумілості.