The Haunted River: A Christmas Ghost Story

by Charlotte Riddell

"On a bright summer’s morning the water may be all very well, but on the dreary winter afternoons, in the gathering twilight, and through the long, long nights, it is terrible, in its mystery, its silence, and its strength...." Margaret Vernam and her sister Georgie need somewhere to live - somewhere quiet and inexpensive where Margaret can continue her career as an artist. The country town of Maytree seems ideal, especially when they discover the Mill House on the river just outside the town. Indeed, the house seems too good to be true and Magraret discovers that the locality is said to be haunted by the ghost of a suicide. Soon, she has to contend not only with the possibility that the stories of ghostly neighbours might have more than a grain of truth, but also with the unscrupulous actions of the house's London landlord. Soon, the sisters are caught between earthly misdemeanours and supernatural forces intent on revenge... Originally published as the Routledge Christmas Annual for 1877, this is an atmospheric ghost story from one of the Victorian era's most celebrated writers of supernatural tales.

112 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 13, 2019

About the author

See J.H. Riddell

Charlotte Riddell aka Mrs J.H. Riddell was a one of the most popular and influential writers of the Victorian period. The author of 56 books, novels and short stories, she was also part owner and editor of the St. James's Magazine, one of the most prestigious literary magazines of the 1860s.

Reviews

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 1 out of 5]

This novel was so full of atmosphere and genteel world-building that it completely forgot to scare anybody. Also, after so, so, SO many words, the ending came abruptly, in a distinctly unsympathetic manner. As a result, the narrator came across more as a careless person than an empath.
Didn’t like it at all.

[Zoe Surratt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is by far one of the most well-written supernatural novels I've had the privilege to read over and over again. It hooked me in on day 1 and has held my grip ever since I picked the novel off the library's bookshelf.