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The Spirit Engineer
Belfast, 1914. Two years after the sinking of the Titanic, high society has become obsessed with spiritualism in the form of seances that attempt to contact the spirits of loved ones lost at sea.
William is a man of science and a sceptic, but one night with everyone sat around the circle something happens that places doubt in his heart and a seed of obsession in his mind. Could the spirits truly be communicating with him or is this one of Kathleen’s parlour tricks gone too far?
This early 20th century gothic set in Northern Ireland contains all the mystery and intrigue one might expect from a Sarah Waters novel. Deftly plotted with echoes of The Woman in Black, readers will be thrilled to discover West’s chilling prose.
Based on the true story of William Jackson Crawford and famed medium Kathleen Goligher, and with a cast of characters that include Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini, The Spirit Engineer conjures a haunting tale that will keep readers guessing until the very end.
William is a man of science and a sceptic, but one night with everyone sat around the circle something happens that places doubt in his heart and a seed of obsession in his mind. Could the spirits truly be communicating with him or is this one of Kathleen’s parlour tricks gone too far?
This early 20th century gothic set in Northern Ireland contains all the mystery and intrigue one might expect from a Sarah Waters novel. Deftly plotted with echoes of The Woman in Black, readers will be thrilled to discover West’s chilling prose.
Based on the true story of William Jackson Crawford and famed medium Kathleen Goligher, and with a cast of characters that include Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini, The Spirit Engineer conjures a haunting tale that will keep readers guessing until the very end.
299 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 2021
156 people are currently reading
6679 people want to read
About the author
A.J. West
7 books211 followersA.J. West was a particularly shy boy at school, hiding away from other children with only his books for friends. Thus, he discovered the magic of ink on paper and fell in love with gothic tales of fear and fun, danger and mystery. A keen people-watcher and incorrigible eavesdropper, he grew up to study English Literature at university, before embarking on an award-winning career as a television and radio journalist. Later, he worked in the LGBTQ+ charity sector before leaving to pursue his writing career. He is married to Nicholas Robinson who gained fame as William Beech in BAFTA award winning Goodnight Mr Tom.
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January 13, 2022*Book received from NG*
Um, spoiler warning for a historical events that have happened and are recorded as having happened and exist in the public domain (e.g. on Wikipedia)
This is really just kind of … unpleasant. Not necessarily in a bad way, but I did find it hard to get through. Especially when I discovered it was based on a real person, whose history is semi-lost, given his suicide and his final role as the ultimate dupe. The Spirit Engineer is, of course, a fictionalisation—though one whose genre is as ambiguous as its characters.
We meet the protagonist, William Jackson Crawford, about to kill himself in Belfast. The book then takes us to the events preceding this: Crawford’s troubled family life, his burgeoning (though ill-remunerated) career, the death of his wife’s brother and his son, and finally his involvement Golighers, particularly the sixteen-year-old medium Kathleen Goligher. Crawford, apparently convinced by Kathleen’s command of various psychic phenomenon, begins a scientific investigation into her … um. Abilities? In the book, he ultimately realises how completely he has been defrauded, not just by the Golighers but by those in his life, as well as the depths of his own various traumas, and does a suicide. Although as far as I can tell his extant letters on the subject only re-affirm his convictions:
I’m honestly having trouble processing a lot of this, partly I think because the whole spiritualism thing is beyond gross, and sadly is not an exploitation of the vulnerable restricted to the Victorians. And, obviously, that’s not the fault of the book. But I did read it in a profound state of permanent flinch. In case, one of the strengths of The Spirit Engineer, as a careful fictionalisation, is that it can, perhaps, be more generous than reality perhaps allows. Not just to its terribly flawed, terribly damaged protagonist, but to the people around him who are, in their own ways, just as exploited as he is: by poverty, by gender, by sexuality, by age, by class, by their own losses. Kathleen, possibly, gets off more lightly than she deserves, given what she does, but it also feels like the right call, given the fact she’s a young woman from a lower class family with very few other prospects that weren’t sex work (there’s also some suggestion, as far as I can tell, from the details of Crawford’s ‘research’ that he might have sexually abused her—he was certainly very interested in ectoplasm from her vagina).
In any case, it’s just a sad-feeling book in many respects. But it’s also a masterclass in atmosphere, unreliable narration, limited perspective, deft characterisation, quiet horror and slow-building tension. There’s a weight of terrible inevitability to the final denouement, the revelations losing none of their power despite the fact they should have been obvious throughout.
I can’t say I enjoyed reading this—it is just too grim—but I admired it very, very much.
Um, spoiler warning for a historical events that have happened and are recorded as having happened and exist in the public domain (e.g. on Wikipedia)
This is really just kind of … unpleasant. Not necessarily in a bad way, but I did find it hard to get through. Especially when I discovered it was based on a real person, whose history is semi-lost, given his suicide and his final role as the ultimate dupe. The Spirit Engineer is, of course, a fictionalisation—though one whose genre is as ambiguous as its characters.
We meet the protagonist, William Jackson Crawford, about to kill himself in Belfast. The book then takes us to the events preceding this: Crawford’s troubled family life, his burgeoning (though ill-remunerated) career, the death of his wife’s brother and his son, and finally his involvement Golighers, particularly the sixteen-year-old medium Kathleen Goligher. Crawford, apparently convinced by Kathleen’s command of various psychic phenomenon, begins a scientific investigation into her … um. Abilities? In the book, he ultimately realises how completely he has been defrauded, not just by the Golighers but by those in his life, as well as the depths of his own various traumas, and does a suicide. Although as far as I can tell his extant letters on the subject only re-affirm his convictions:
“I have been struck down mentally. I was perfectly alright up to a few weeks ago… It is not the psychic work. I enjoyed it too well. I’m thankful to say that work will stand. It is too thoroughly done for any material loopholes to be left.”
I’m honestly having trouble processing a lot of this, partly I think because the whole spiritualism thing is beyond gross, and sadly is not an exploitation of the vulnerable restricted to the Victorians. And, obviously, that’s not the fault of the book. But I did read it in a profound state of permanent flinch. In case, one of the strengths of The Spirit Engineer, as a careful fictionalisation, is that it can, perhaps, be more generous than reality perhaps allows. Not just to its terribly flawed, terribly damaged protagonist, but to the people around him who are, in their own ways, just as exploited as he is: by poverty, by gender, by sexuality, by age, by class, by their own losses. Kathleen, possibly, gets off more lightly than she deserves, given what she does, but it also feels like the right call, given the fact she’s a young woman from a lower class family with very few other prospects that weren’t sex work (there’s also some suggestion, as far as I can tell, from the details of Crawford’s ‘research’ that he might have sexually abused her—he was certainly very interested in ectoplasm from her vagina).
In any case, it’s just a sad-feeling book in many respects. But it’s also a masterclass in atmosphere, unreliable narration, limited perspective, deft characterisation, quiet horror and slow-building tension. There’s a weight of terrible inevitability to the final denouement, the revelations losing none of their power despite the fact they should have been obvious throughout.
I can’t say I enjoyed reading this—it is just too grim—but I admired it very, very much.
October 31, 2021
While this is a historical fiction, it’s easy to read with a flowing, lyrical writing style that captures the essence of the time, but isn’t hard to follow. In the beginning, the narrative reflects a dry humor which is exacerbated by William’s curmudgeonly attitude. He seems like an old man with the way that he’s constantly searching for his pipe and how little he can relate to his children. If it were modern times, he would be the guy standing on his porch, shrieking at the neighbourhood children to “get off my lawn!” Then, it’s revealed that he’s thirty-four. I laughed out loud at that point, and while I realize that people aged a little faster back then, he is definitely an old soul.
This humour didn’t detract from the tension prevalent from the very first pages. There are quite a few surprising turns of events in the storyline, and I genuinely didn’t know what was going to happen. One thing that disappointed me slightly was the fact that Harry Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle, while mentioned on the back of the book, don’t show up until very far into the book. I understand that their names were likely a selling point for the novel, and eeeverything is about marketing these days (groan) but I couldn’t help but feel disappointed that they didn’t play a larger role in the plot. That in no way affects my rating or my review, because I understand that the author and his story has nothing to do with this. It’s just the publishers and their marketing of the book!
The entire book carries an air of mystery throughout, and at times the story is quite chilling. The reader never really knows what to believe. Are ghosts and the spiritual real, or just an elaborate hoax? At times, the book reads like a psychological thriller because of this.
While the story occasionally suffered from issues with pacing, particularly in the middle (there are a lot of characters to keep track of, and they're not quite distinct enough), the end makes up for this tenfold. There’s a fabulous twist that I didn’t see coming, even though there were clues throughout.
I recommend this book to those who like a historical thriller/mystery with paranormal themes and a chilling atmosphere.
*Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ebook to review*
This review appeared first on https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/
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July 27, 2021
I was nervous to read this, as I loved the sound of it so much, I thought there was no way it could fully live up to my expectations. But not only did it surpass them, its at the top of my books of the year. It goes from giving you chills, to checking over your shoulder, to heart palpitations, to choked up with tears, to full on spit your tea out laughing. All of the emotions!
The story of The Spirit Engineer is so fascinating and rich with gorgeous lines, but for me the strength are its characters, particularly William Jackson Crawford. I loved him from the first page. He made mistakes and went about some things in questionable ways, and I did find myself wanting to shake him and give him a bit of a talking to! But it was clear his intentions were always good, and it was all to seek approval and respect from his peers, and the love of his wife and family.
There are ghosts, there are plot twists, and there are some of the funniest one liners I have ever read. It's a perfect Halloween read. I can't wait to re read it during spooky season. And I'm so excited to read more from this talented debut author
The story of The Spirit Engineer is so fascinating and rich with gorgeous lines, but for me the strength are its characters, particularly William Jackson Crawford. I loved him from the first page. He made mistakes and went about some things in questionable ways, and I did find myself wanting to shake him and give him a bit of a talking to! But it was clear his intentions were always good, and it was all to seek approval and respect from his peers, and the love of his wife and family.
There are ghosts, there are plot twists, and there are some of the funniest one liners I have ever read. It's a perfect Halloween read. I can't wait to re read it during spooky season. And I'm so excited to read more from this talented debut author
October 31, 2022
Not only was this a great atmospheric read for Halloween, but a fascinating insight into the life of William Jackson Crawford.
William was a scientist working at the institute in Belfast, married with three children.
The novel opens in 1914 as his wife Elizabeth is still reeling from the death of her brother who was aboard the Titanic and like many at the time found comfort in spiritualism.
There's a real brilliant sense of the time period that this story is set around, the whole idea if there is life after death is such a fascinating one that is wonderfully challenged in the quest of seances being faked.
I love story's like this, a gripping interesting read that has led me to YouTube videos on William's real life.
Highly recommended.
William was a scientist working at the institute in Belfast, married with three children.
The novel opens in 1914 as his wife Elizabeth is still reeling from the death of her brother who was aboard the Titanic and like many at the time found comfort in spiritualism.
There's a real brilliant sense of the time period that this story is set around, the whole idea if there is life after death is such a fascinating one that is wonderfully challenged in the quest of seances being faked.
I love story's like this, a gripping interesting read that has led me to YouTube videos on William's real life.
Highly recommended.
November 27, 2021
The Spirit Engineer by A.J. West is a ghost story.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Duckworth Books and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Belfast, 1914. 34 year old William Jackson Crawford, father of 3, teacher, scientist and engineer. He is trying to complete his book on scientific calculations.
One night he follows his wife, who he suspects is having an affair. Instead, it seems she is trying to communicate with the dead. In particular, she is trying to contact her brother and her son.
William is a sceptic, but a scientist, and with some wealthy benefactors, is out to prove that medium Kathleen Goligher is a fake. He surprises himself.
My Opinions:
First, I will probably be in the minority on this one, but not every book is for every person. I am not a real fan of historical fiction, but I am a fan of ghosts and psychics and mediums, so I thought.....
This book is based on real people. The story we read here is based "around" those facts.
The book is about psychic phenomena, mediums, religion. It is about faith, and beliefs. It is also about grief, obsession and exploitation, and about ambition, lies and deception.
I really struggled with this novel. I hated the main character, and found it impossible to warm to him. He's a pompous ass, so full of himself. The book had a slow and boring start. Between that boring beginning and my intense dislike of William, I seriously considered giving up. I'm not even sure how I felt with the addition of Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (of whom I am a big fan). That felt wrong to me.
However, I really enjoyed the last 20% of the book, and I absolutely loved the ending!
(Oh, and I liked the cover)
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, author information and a favorite quotation from the book), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Duckworth Books and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Belfast, 1914. 34 year old William Jackson Crawford, father of 3, teacher, scientist and engineer. He is trying to complete his book on scientific calculations.
One night he follows his wife, who he suspects is having an affair. Instead, it seems she is trying to communicate with the dead. In particular, she is trying to contact her brother and her son.
William is a sceptic, but a scientist, and with some wealthy benefactors, is out to prove that medium Kathleen Goligher is a fake. He surprises himself.
My Opinions:
First, I will probably be in the minority on this one, but not every book is for every person. I am not a real fan of historical fiction, but I am a fan of ghosts and psychics and mediums, so I thought.....
This book is based on real people. The story we read here is based "around" those facts.
The book is about psychic phenomena, mediums, religion. It is about faith, and beliefs. It is also about grief, obsession and exploitation, and about ambition, lies and deception.
I really struggled with this novel. I hated the main character, and found it impossible to warm to him. He's a pompous ass, so full of himself. The book had a slow and boring start. Between that boring beginning and my intense dislike of William, I seriously considered giving up. I'm not even sure how I felt with the addition of Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (of whom I am a big fan). That felt wrong to me.
However, I really enjoyed the last 20% of the book, and I absolutely loved the ending!
(Oh, and I liked the cover)
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, author information and a favorite quotation from the book), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
July 21, 2021
Belfast, 1914.
Two years after the tragic and distressing sinking of the Titanic, high society is under the heady spell and grip of spiritualism and more people grow convinced that not only can they see their dearly departed loved ones, but they can communicate with them through the new and exciting séances which are proving to be all the rage!
William Crawford is a family man. A man of science and one who will not be duped by these people who claim the dead converse with them, heavens no it’s nothing more than pure fantasy and delusion which people with too much imagination use as a coping mechanism when they refuse to let go of those they have lost.
That is, until one day his wife is seen taking part to try and recover what she has lost and William may finally start to believe that maybe the veil between the living and the dead is more tangible if only he can figure out just how it all works so that he may lay claim to being The Spirit Engineer.
Obsession starts to take over Williams life as he becomes engrossed with experimentation on all that he does not understand ranging from tricks, to delusion, to even harming those around him all in the name of science and belief. Sure he may make a pretty penny from such endeavours but surely he’s worth people money, right?
But as William dives deeper into this world of the unknown, he must tread carefully for it won’t just be the dead that he disturbs when someone he was convinced had left this world years ago, may yet still be alive…
Truly haunting, thrilling, damning and gripping, this story will leave you up at night and perhaps you will start to believe too.
Two years after the tragic and distressing sinking of the Titanic, high society is under the heady spell and grip of spiritualism and more people grow convinced that not only can they see their dearly departed loved ones, but they can communicate with them through the new and exciting séances which are proving to be all the rage!
William Crawford is a family man. A man of science and one who will not be duped by these people who claim the dead converse with them, heavens no it’s nothing more than pure fantasy and delusion which people with too much imagination use as a coping mechanism when they refuse to let go of those they have lost.
That is, until one day his wife is seen taking part to try and recover what she has lost and William may finally start to believe that maybe the veil between the living and the dead is more tangible if only he can figure out just how it all works so that he may lay claim to being The Spirit Engineer.
Obsession starts to take over Williams life as he becomes engrossed with experimentation on all that he does not understand ranging from tricks, to delusion, to even harming those around him all in the name of science and belief. Sure he may make a pretty penny from such endeavours but surely he’s worth people money, right?
But as William dives deeper into this world of the unknown, he must tread carefully for it won’t just be the dead that he disturbs when someone he was convinced had left this world years ago, may yet still be alive…
Truly haunting, thrilling, damning and gripping, this story will leave you up at night and perhaps you will start to believe too.
September 9, 2021
Ten gazillion sparkling stars for the creepiest, most galvanizing and mind-blowing story I have ever read!
I am so dumbstruck after this, I cannot even form a logical sentence to express my feelings.
WHAT THE HELL WAS THIS?
Death is a beginning and this stunning novel has been the death of me. I was idly looking for a cozy book to read in the spooky season under autumn leaves but it turned out to be a strangely unforgettable gem. It hooked me from the first page and did not loosen its grip until the end and do not even let me get started on that jaw-dropping ending!
Ok, now that I vented off, I have to say I’m irrevocably in love with the author A.J.West and I solemnly swear that I will read anything and everything he writes, period. The story of The Spirit Engineer takes place in 1914 and it takes you to amazing places with significant real-life events of the period including Titanic and World War I. You even get a glimpse of two key figures in the story, which was such a pleasant surprise that I still couldn’t recover from the events of that chapter. The style and narration is so witty and charming that I do not remember when was the last time I laughed and felt chills at the same time. The unexpected twists and turns was too much for me, I stopped guessing the end after a while and just went with the flow.
Our protagonist William Jackson Crawford is a down-to-earth academician and scientist, who is struggling to keep her family afloat. His life takes a strange turn when he discovers his beloved wife is seeing a spiritual guide, who can conjure spirits and William makes it his life’s mission to prove the deceit but he starts to question his own scientific beliefs as unexplainable events take over his life. It’s impossible to predict what’s going to happen next with this unfathomable and brain-blowing novel and I recommend it to everyone, who loves bone-chilling spooky stories. JUST READ THIS BOOK ALREADY!
I am so dumbstruck after this, I cannot even form a logical sentence to express my feelings.
WHAT THE HELL WAS THIS?
Death is a beginning and this stunning novel has been the death of me. I was idly looking for a cozy book to read in the spooky season under autumn leaves but it turned out to be a strangely unforgettable gem. It hooked me from the first page and did not loosen its grip until the end and do not even let me get started on that jaw-dropping ending!
Ok, now that I vented off, I have to say I’m irrevocably in love with the author A.J.West and I solemnly swear that I will read anything and everything he writes, period. The story of The Spirit Engineer takes place in 1914 and it takes you to amazing places with significant real-life events of the period including Titanic and World War I. You even get a glimpse of two key figures in the story, which was such a pleasant surprise that I still couldn’t recover from the events of that chapter. The style and narration is so witty and charming that I do not remember when was the last time I laughed and felt chills at the same time. The unexpected twists and turns was too much for me, I stopped guessing the end after a while and just went with the flow.
Our protagonist William Jackson Crawford is a down-to-earth academician and scientist, who is struggling to keep her family afloat. His life takes a strange turn when he discovers his beloved wife is seeing a spiritual guide, who can conjure spirits and William makes it his life’s mission to prove the deceit but he starts to question his own scientific beliefs as unexplainable events take over his life. It’s impossible to predict what’s going to happen next with this unfathomable and brain-blowing novel and I recommend it to everyone, who loves bone-chilling spooky stories. JUST READ THIS BOOK ALREADY!
September 17, 2021
AAAAHHHHH I GOT AN ARC-
ALSO
Read that blurb and tell me you aren't interested. You can't.
REVIEW
Subjective rating:4/5
Writing:4/5
Plot:4/5
Characters:4/5
Themes:5/5
Content Warnings:death, betrayal, abuse (includes breaking fingers), nightmares
This book is haunting. In the best way.
Belfast, 1914. Two years after the sinking of the Titanic, high society has become obsessed with spiritualism in the form of seances that attempt to contact the spirits of loved ones lost at sea.
Historical horror/paranormal? Everyone, sign the f*ck up.
William Jackson Crawford, aka The Spirit Engineer, is one of the most complex characters you will read about. Especially in a genre like this. In the reader’s eye, he is sweet, smart, mad, stupid, lovely, disgusting. All of these fit him from point to point throughout the story. And this, my friends, is really storytelling.
The writing is beautiful, probably because of the elegant phrasing and dialogues. It has a flow that keeps the reader involved. It made me think back to The Great Gatsby.
The characters are peculiar, complex and mostly annoying. Their opinions and ways of doing things are fascinatingly original. I hated most of them in the best way. The author also captured the connections between historical context and events and the character voices. Social classes and different genders’ roles in the society were well done.
However, the book has flaws. The plot in the first half seemed to miss things. Some characters did not necessarily need to be there. They added nothing to the story, which felt like giving too much attention to the wall behind our characters. Yet, the author is still new and jus like everyone else -maybe even more than everyone else-, has the great potential of improving.
Overall, a fantastically written spooky story that will keep you at the edge of your seats.
ALSO
Read that blurb and tell me you aren't interested. You can't.
REVIEW
Subjective rating:4/5
Writing:4/5
Plot:4/5
Characters:4/5
Themes:5/5
Content Warnings:death, betrayal, abuse (includes breaking fingers), nightmares
This book is haunting. In the best way.
Belfast, 1914. Two years after the sinking of the Titanic, high society has become obsessed with spiritualism in the form of seances that attempt to contact the spirits of loved ones lost at sea.
Historical horror/paranormal? Everyone, sign the f*ck up.
William Jackson Crawford, aka The Spirit Engineer, is one of the most complex characters you will read about. Especially in a genre like this. In the reader’s eye, he is sweet, smart, mad, stupid, lovely, disgusting. All of these fit him from point to point throughout the story. And this, my friends, is really storytelling.
The writing is beautiful, probably because of the elegant phrasing and dialogues. It has a flow that keeps the reader involved. It made me think back to The Great Gatsby.
The characters are peculiar, complex and mostly annoying. Their opinions and ways of doing things are fascinatingly original. I hated most of them in the best way. The author also captured the connections between historical context and events and the character voices. Social classes and different genders’ roles in the society were well done.
However, the book has flaws. The plot in the first half seemed to miss things. Some characters did not necessarily need to be there. They added nothing to the story, which felt like giving too much attention to the wall behind our characters. Yet, the author is still new and jus like everyone else -maybe even more than everyone else-, has the great potential of improving.
Overall, a fantastically written spooky story that will keep you at the edge of your seats.
October 17, 2021
Absolutely brilliant! This is *the* book for Halloween. It’s an immersive, fascinating and truly creepy read. I was so sold on the cover that I didn’t even bother reading the synopsis and had no idea what to expect, let alone that it’s based on real events.
The characters are well drawn and believable, as the story is told from William’s perspective, we see the others through his eyes. As a man of science, William brings a healthy dose of scepticism to the growing fashion for seances. People are desperately attempting to contact their loved ones who died on the Titanic. Drawn in for financial reasons, William begins to approach these seances with his engineer’s precision and all the rigours of an ongoing scientific experiment. I didn't particularly like any of the characters, but that didn't in any way detract from my enjoyment of the book.
The plot is well paced and draws the reader in straight away; the book has a starting hook featuring an event towards the end of the story but then goes back to the beginning, so we learn the events which lead up to this juncture. West’s writing is wonderfully descriptive, and the historical setting is perfect, every detail feels accurate and genuine. It features real events and people (e.g., Houdini and Conan Doyle) which gives it a true authority and makes the spooky scenes even more believable and spine chilling. As the compulsion to pursue the truth and increasing paranoia reach fever pitch, I found I couldn’t put this book down.
I love that this is based on real events and people, especially as I’d not heard of William Jackson Crawford nor of Kathleen Goligher. Theirs is a fascinating and frightening cautionary tale, which stays with the reader long after the story is finished. Clearly very well research and an absolute triumph to read. Each section of the book is separated by a marvellous surreal etching.
The characters are well drawn and believable, as the story is told from William’s perspective, we see the others through his eyes. As a man of science, William brings a healthy dose of scepticism to the growing fashion for seances. People are desperately attempting to contact their loved ones who died on the Titanic. Drawn in for financial reasons, William begins to approach these seances with his engineer’s precision and all the rigours of an ongoing scientific experiment. I didn't particularly like any of the characters, but that didn't in any way detract from my enjoyment of the book.
The plot is well paced and draws the reader in straight away; the book has a starting hook featuring an event towards the end of the story but then goes back to the beginning, so we learn the events which lead up to this juncture. West’s writing is wonderfully descriptive, and the historical setting is perfect, every detail feels accurate and genuine. It features real events and people (e.g., Houdini and Conan Doyle) which gives it a true authority and makes the spooky scenes even more believable and spine chilling. As the compulsion to pursue the truth and increasing paranoia reach fever pitch, I found I couldn’t put this book down.
I love that this is based on real events and people, especially as I’d not heard of William Jackson Crawford nor of Kathleen Goligher. Theirs is a fascinating and frightening cautionary tale, which stays with the reader long after the story is finished. Clearly very well research and an absolute triumph to read. Each section of the book is separated by a marvellous surreal etching.
November 2, 2023
La perfetta lettura per questo periodo di Halloween, e questo inizio di autunno, è una storia ambientata nel 1914,epoca di cambiamenti nell'impero britannico. Il Titanic è affondato due anni prima, e il fatto ha generato la passione di alcuni per l'occultismo e lo spiritismo. Il professor Crawford, ha appena perso un figlio, la disperazione per questa tragedia porta lui e la moglie da una medium. William, ha forti dubbi sulle capacità della medium, ma non può negare che durante le sedute spiritiche si sentano voci provenire dall'oltretomba, che parlano di cose che nessuno ha mai saputo. William però è un professore e cerca di capire scientificamente quello che succede...
Ispirato a fatti realmente accaduti, nella vita della medium Kathleen Goligher, si nota da subito il lavoro di ricerca compiuto dall'autore. È un libro studiato, con un editing meraviglioso, corredato da disegni molto belli. La scrittura non risulta pesante e ne fa un libro godibile, che si legge volentieri.
Armatevi di coperta e tazza di tè o caffè (quello che più vi aggrada), divano o poltrona e mettetevi a leggere questo romanzo. Non ve ne pentirete.
Ispirato a fatti realmente accaduti, nella vita della medium Kathleen Goligher, si nota da subito il lavoro di ricerca compiuto dall'autore. È un libro studiato, con un editing meraviglioso, corredato da disegni molto belli. La scrittura non risulta pesante e ne fa un libro godibile, che si legge volentieri.
Armatevi di coperta e tazza di tè o caffè (quello che più vi aggrada), divano o poltrona e mettetevi a leggere questo romanzo. Non ve ne pentirete.
September 19, 2021
I was saying only yesterday how receiving proofs is one sure fire way of reading books I may never have come across. If I’m honest, ghosts- and spirits-type stories are not normally a genre I would levitate towards (see what I did there?!), but I can tell you that I am so PLEASED The Spirit Engineer found it’s way to me.
It tells the story of Professor Crawford, who is not a particularly likeable man (& forgive me for saying this, but I’m not in that camp that says you can’t enjoy a book with an unlikeable character - you most certainly can!). A man of engineering and science, he is sceptical about the world of spirits and seeks to prove its nonsense.
I don’t want to delve too much into what goes on because I don’t agree with giving plot away in reviews but it leads to what I can only describe as an uncomfortable set of circumstances, where greed and fame blind a man to the truth.
The Spirit Engineer is fabulously written, fast-paced & palpitation inducing, particularly in the latter third of the book. For me, the ending was so brilliantly & cleverly done, it overwhelmed me so much that it reduced me to tears. Absolutely outstanding!
Admittedly, I know nothing of the true story on which The Spirit Engineer is based but, my word, what a story it is. A perfect read for those spooky autumn nights!
It tells the story of Professor Crawford, who is not a particularly likeable man (& forgive me for saying this, but I’m not in that camp that says you can’t enjoy a book with an unlikeable character - you most certainly can!). A man of engineering and science, he is sceptical about the world of spirits and seeks to prove its nonsense.
I don’t want to delve too much into what goes on because I don’t agree with giving plot away in reviews but it leads to what I can only describe as an uncomfortable set of circumstances, where greed and fame blind a man to the truth.
The Spirit Engineer is fabulously written, fast-paced & palpitation inducing, particularly in the latter third of the book. For me, the ending was so brilliantly & cleverly done, it overwhelmed me so much that it reduced me to tears. Absolutely outstanding!
Admittedly, I know nothing of the true story on which The Spirit Engineer is based but, my word, what a story it is. A perfect read for those spooky autumn nights!
October 12, 2021
2 stars
Well, at least the prologue was good.
The Spirit Engineer really drew me in with an amazing premise. Inspired by true events, it tells the story of engineering professor William Jackson Crawford and his meteoric rise among the spiritualist community during World War I. Blending both historical fiction and the paranormal felt like a sure fire bet for someone like me.
Boy, was I wrong.
The Spirit Engineer's fantastic concept is wasted in a book that manages to drag interminably for the first half and then fast forward too aggressively in the second half. It skips over almost all of the events that would have really fleshed out this story. Instead, it skitters along in what is an incredibly surface level telling of an incredibly interesting dynamic. Even the big reveal at the end of the novel, which truly could have been such a thing of beauty, falls flat because the book is so uneven up until that point.
On top of that, the characterization is practically non-existent. The story reads merely as a sequence of events strung together by the presence of our main character. There is very little motivation to be had as West does not take the time to delve into the inner workings of Crawford's mind. The only thing that West actually makes clear about our protagonist is that he is a selfish and incredibly misogynistic man who does not care about anyone in his life. There is absolutely no reason for you to care about him and because none of the other characters are developed in any way, there is no one to anchor the reader in the story.
There is a good idea for a book in The Spirit Engineer. Unfortunately, I found that precious little about it landed for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Duckworth Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!
Well, at least the prologue was good.
The Spirit Engineer really drew me in with an amazing premise. Inspired by true events, it tells the story of engineering professor William Jackson Crawford and his meteoric rise among the spiritualist community during World War I. Blending both historical fiction and the paranormal felt like a sure fire bet for someone like me.
Boy, was I wrong.
The Spirit Engineer's fantastic concept is wasted in a book that manages to drag interminably for the first half and then fast forward too aggressively in the second half. It skips over almost all of the events that would have really fleshed out this story. Instead, it skitters along in what is an incredibly surface level telling of an incredibly interesting dynamic. Even the big reveal at the end of the novel, which truly could have been such a thing of beauty, falls flat because the book is so uneven up until that point.
On top of that, the characterization is practically non-existent. The story reads merely as a sequence of events strung together by the presence of our main character. There is very little motivation to be had as West does not take the time to delve into the inner workings of Crawford's mind. The only thing that West actually makes clear about our protagonist is that he is a selfish and incredibly misogynistic man who does not care about anyone in his life. There is absolutely no reason for you to care about him and because none of the other characters are developed in any way, there is no one to anchor the reader in the story.
There is a good idea for a book in The Spirit Engineer. Unfortunately, I found that precious little about it landed for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Duckworth Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!
July 30, 2023
Séance anyone? Séance + historical fiction = one of my favourite things, especially when there's a science meets spirituality element. In this novel, an engineer sets out to prove by scientific method the veracity of a spirit medium through whom he is able to hear the voices of his dead mother, son and brother-in-law. I thought I would love this book - but it was a bit of a rollercoaster of liked it, didn't like it, liked it again and it's growing on me...
I had significant doubts about the middle section of this novel - and found myself struggling to get through it, or even understand what exactly was being described or if I was reading it right (plasmic cantilevers!) - it was a bit too fantastical. There are hints and clues to pick up on earlier on in the novel but I wanted a bit more to keep me going through the middle. As always, everything goes down at the last hour! I found myself speeding up and unable to put the book down by the end.
I had missed that this was based on a true story and if you're going to read this I highly recommend taking a look at the author's website and the supplementary material there - including an interview with the living descendants of the engineer (Crawford) and the spirit medium (Goligher): https://ajwestauthor.com/
I had significant doubts about the middle section of this novel - and found myself struggling to get through it, or even understand what exactly was being described or if I was reading it right (plasmic cantilevers!) - it was a bit too fantastical. There are hints and clues to pick up on earlier on in the novel but I wanted a bit more to keep me going through the middle. As always, everything goes down at the last hour! I found myself speeding up and unable to put the book down by the end.
I had missed that this was based on a true story and if you're going to read this I highly recommend taking a look at the author's website and the supplementary material there - including an interview with the living descendants of the engineer (Crawford) and the spirit medium (Goligher): https://ajwestauthor.com/
September 26, 2022
Narratora nie da się lubić (typowy „człowiek epoki” 🙄), ale w dziwny sposób działa to na korzyść książki, zwłaszcza po rozwiązaniu (za które naciągam ocenę do 4 <3). Ciekawie poprowadzona historia, świetnie się zamknęła, dobra zabawa prawdziwą historią i faktami.
August 18, 2021
What a phenomenal novel. Immediately upon starting this, I was enveloped in the eery atmosphere of the house. With an almost tangible foreboding, we begin to meet the characters and learn that things are maybe not quite as they seem in this happy family dynamic. What surprised me was the humour. I didn’t expect William to be so witty, but within the first couple of chapters, I had laughed out loud at some of the one-liners. Part 1 sets up the spooky atmosphere perfectly, and there are multiple clues and mysteries unfolding from the very beginning.
As the story progressed it got increasingly more creepy, and I felt utterly transported into the seance scenes. This is a book that makes you feel as though you have read it with all 5 senses. Each of the characters were brilliantly developed, and I loved watching our morally grey main character become consumed by his obsession, and how his relationships were strained and tested as a consequence.
As the book went on, I found myself theorising what was coming, all of which turned out to be wrong. By the ending, I had no idea what I believed. Part of me was bracing myself for an ambiguous ending, but I needn’t have worried. The book was wrapped up in a way that truly made me want to throw it across the room, and I mean that in the best way possible.
This is the perfect book for October, and one I can already see myself revisiting time and time again, searching for clues within the pages that I missed the first time round. Truly genius.
Thank you to instabooktours, Duckworth and of course A.J. West for sending me a proof copy. I am beyond grateful for my place on the tour.
As the story progressed it got increasingly more creepy, and I felt utterly transported into the seance scenes. This is a book that makes you feel as though you have read it with all 5 senses. Each of the characters were brilliantly developed, and I loved watching our morally grey main character become consumed by his obsession, and how his relationships were strained and tested as a consequence.
As the book went on, I found myself theorising what was coming, all of which turned out to be wrong. By the ending, I had no idea what I believed. Part of me was bracing myself for an ambiguous ending, but I needn’t have worried. The book was wrapped up in a way that truly made me want to throw it across the room, and I mean that in the best way possible.
This is the perfect book for October, and one I can already see myself revisiting time and time again, searching for clues within the pages that I missed the first time round. Truly genius.
Thank you to instabooktours, Duckworth and of course A.J. West for sending me a proof copy. I am beyond grateful for my place on the tour.
October 18, 2024
2.5
Belfast, 1914. Sono passati due anni dal tragico affondamento del Titanic e il disastro ha scatenato un'ondata di interesse per l'occultismo e lo spiritismo, soprattutto nella crescente classe media. William Jackson Crawford, ingegnere e docente all'Istituto tecnico municipale, vive in condizioni economiche precarie ma è fiducioso nel futuro. Tuttavia, la sua vita viene sconvolta da una tragedia inaspettata: la perdita del suo unico figlio maschio. Questo evento porta prima sua moglie e poi lo stesso William a cercare conforto nel circolo spiritico di Kathleen Goligher, una giovane medium con poteri apparentemente straordinari. Come uomo di scienza, William fatica a conciliare il suo scetticismo razionale con ciò che sperimenta durante le sedute spiritiche. Voci dall'aldilà sembrano rivelare segreti inconfessabili e riportare alla luce traumi sepolti. Nonostante i suoi tentativi di spiegare tutto attraverso le leggi della meccanica, William non può immaginare che attorno a quel tavolo, la realtà è ben diversa da quella che appare. Così, mentre cerca di risolvere il mistero, si avvicina inesorabilmente a un destino che potrebbe essere fatale... o forse semplicemente l'ultimo esperimento di una mente razionale in conflitto con l'inspiegabile.
Ispirato alla storia vera di William Jackson Crawford e della medium Kathleen Goligher, La meccanica degli spiriti è un romanzo gotico che trasmette una riflessione profonda sulla repressione, la superstizione e la manipolazione psicologica in un'epoca dominata dalle conquiste scientifiche, in cui sembrava non esserci limite a ciò che poteva essere realizzato.
Devo ammettere che avevo aspettative altissime per questo romanzo e purtroppo non sono state rispettate del tutto. In realtà, già leggendo la trama si evince un importante analisi psicologica di questa tipologia di eventi, ma pensavo comunque che la parte legata all'occulto fosse più presente. Diciamo che per buona parte del romanzo ho trovato la narrazione piuttosto piatta, poco interessante e poco dinamica, mentre la parte finale e soprattutto il finale stesso mi hanno permesso di apprezzare maggiormente il romanzo, grazie anche al colpo di scena soltanto in parte prevedibile. Avrei voluto una diversa gestione dell'azione all'interno del romanzo, ma tutto sommato è stata una lettura piuttosto interessante.
Belfast, 1914. Sono passati due anni dal tragico affondamento del Titanic e il disastro ha scatenato un'ondata di interesse per l'occultismo e lo spiritismo, soprattutto nella crescente classe media. William Jackson Crawford, ingegnere e docente all'Istituto tecnico municipale, vive in condizioni economiche precarie ma è fiducioso nel futuro. Tuttavia, la sua vita viene sconvolta da una tragedia inaspettata: la perdita del suo unico figlio maschio. Questo evento porta prima sua moglie e poi lo stesso William a cercare conforto nel circolo spiritico di Kathleen Goligher, una giovane medium con poteri apparentemente straordinari. Come uomo di scienza, William fatica a conciliare il suo scetticismo razionale con ciò che sperimenta durante le sedute spiritiche. Voci dall'aldilà sembrano rivelare segreti inconfessabili e riportare alla luce traumi sepolti. Nonostante i suoi tentativi di spiegare tutto attraverso le leggi della meccanica, William non può immaginare che attorno a quel tavolo, la realtà è ben diversa da quella che appare. Così, mentre cerca di risolvere il mistero, si avvicina inesorabilmente a un destino che potrebbe essere fatale... o forse semplicemente l'ultimo esperimento di una mente razionale in conflitto con l'inspiegabile.
Ispirato alla storia vera di William Jackson Crawford e della medium Kathleen Goligher, La meccanica degli spiriti è un romanzo gotico che trasmette una riflessione profonda sulla repressione, la superstizione e la manipolazione psicologica in un'epoca dominata dalle conquiste scientifiche, in cui sembrava non esserci limite a ciò che poteva essere realizzato.
Devo ammettere che avevo aspettative altissime per questo romanzo e purtroppo non sono state rispettate del tutto. In realtà, già leggendo la trama si evince un importante analisi psicologica di questa tipologia di eventi, ma pensavo comunque che la parte legata all'occulto fosse più presente. Diciamo che per buona parte del romanzo ho trovato la narrazione piuttosto piatta, poco interessante e poco dinamica, mentre la parte finale e soprattutto il finale stesso mi hanno permesso di apprezzare maggiormente il romanzo, grazie anche al colpo di scena soltanto in parte prevedibile. Avrei voluto una diversa gestione dell'azione all'interno del romanzo, ma tutto sommato è stata una lettura piuttosto interessante.
November 22, 2023
Iniziamo subito con una notizia fondamentale che mi ha portato a ricercare informazioni su Internet per delle ore: William Jackson Crawford e la medium Kathleen Goligher sono realmente esistiti e A. J. West ne La meccanica degli spiriti li riporta in vita per creare un romanzo gotico, polveroso e buio proprio come piace a noi.
Ambientato nella Belfast del 1914, William Jackson Crawford è un ingegnere e professore con pochi soldi e afflitto da un lutto inaspettato: la morte dell’unico figlio maschio. Insieme alla moglie intraprenderanno un percorso di sedute spiritiche che lo accompagneranno nello studio delle stesse dando all’ignoto una formula matematica.
Questo libro è letteralmente un vortice che mi ha risucchiato nelle tenebre, mettendo in discussione qualsiasi mio principio matematico ed etico. “Come è possibile quello che sta dicendo? Come ha fatto? Pazzesco”. Queste sono state le mie esclamazioni durante la lettura tra un misto di scetticismo, incredulità e anche di credenze popolari (il tutto affiancato dalle mie ricerche su internet e dalle foto trovate).
Preciso che non è una biografia: A. J. West ha preso ispirazione dalla realtà per ricrearci sopra un romanzo. E l’ha fatto proprio bene.
Accendete le candele, questa lettura vi stregherà.
Puoi trovare questa e altre recensioni sul mio profilo Instagram “I libri di Dede” www.instagram.com/ilibrididede o sul mio blog/sito www.ilibrididede.it 📚
Se non vuoi perderti neanche una recensione c’è anche il canale telegram: https://t.me/ilibrididede
Mi è stata inviata una copia gratuita di questo libro da parte della casa editrice che ringrazio.
Ambientato nella Belfast del 1914, William Jackson Crawford è un ingegnere e professore con pochi soldi e afflitto da un lutto inaspettato: la morte dell’unico figlio maschio. Insieme alla moglie intraprenderanno un percorso di sedute spiritiche che lo accompagneranno nello studio delle stesse dando all’ignoto una formula matematica.
Questo libro è letteralmente un vortice che mi ha risucchiato nelle tenebre, mettendo in discussione qualsiasi mio principio matematico ed etico. “Come è possibile quello che sta dicendo? Come ha fatto? Pazzesco”. Queste sono state le mie esclamazioni durante la lettura tra un misto di scetticismo, incredulità e anche di credenze popolari (il tutto affiancato dalle mie ricerche su internet e dalle foto trovate).
Preciso che non è una biografia: A. J. West ha preso ispirazione dalla realtà per ricrearci sopra un romanzo. E l’ha fatto proprio bene.
Accendete le candele, questa lettura vi stregherà.
Puoi trovare questa e altre recensioni sul mio profilo Instagram “I libri di Dede” www.instagram.com/ilibrididede o sul mio blog/sito www.ilibrididede.it 📚
Se non vuoi perderti neanche una recensione c’è anche il canale telegram: https://t.me/ilibrididede
Mi è stata inviata una copia gratuita di questo libro da parte della casa editrice che ringrazio.
October 27, 2021
A Trip into the Spirit Mania
This is like nothing I have read before - a dance around the outskirts of the spirit revolution of the early 1900s - when parlour seances were all the rage, and charlatans duped the wanting-to-believers.
Professor William Crawford is a rational man. An engineer, he teaches at the local institute in Belfast, only just keeping his family financially afloat, and he awaits the success of his next book, to release them from the goodwill of the not very likeable Aunt Adelia, who dangles the financial carrot in front of the family she likes to keep as a pet project.
A tragic death sees Elizabeth Crawford seeking answers in the spirit world, and William Crawford sees himself drawn in as well. He is determined to prove the theatre of these seances and those who host them. But: he can’t. And goes on to tour as the reputed Spirit Engineer - a rational man who can communicate with the afterlife, with the help of his medium and an assortment of characters.
However, it all starts to unravel, leaving the reader not knowing what is real and what is not, those who believe, and those who only believe they believe, until the final part, in which (no spoilers) everything is explained, to great effect.
4.5 plasma trails out of 5. The era-specific writing is superb and really adds to the story. I also researched potassium cyanide to an extent that should anything happen to my husband, the local constabulary would be very interested in my search history. Recommended reading.
This is like nothing I have read before - a dance around the outskirts of the spirit revolution of the early 1900s - when parlour seances were all the rage, and charlatans duped the wanting-to-believers.
Professor William Crawford is a rational man. An engineer, he teaches at the local institute in Belfast, only just keeping his family financially afloat, and he awaits the success of his next book, to release them from the goodwill of the not very likeable Aunt Adelia, who dangles the financial carrot in front of the family she likes to keep as a pet project.
A tragic death sees Elizabeth Crawford seeking answers in the spirit world, and William Crawford sees himself drawn in as well. He is determined to prove the theatre of these seances and those who host them. But: he can’t. And goes on to tour as the reputed Spirit Engineer - a rational man who can communicate with the afterlife, with the help of his medium and an assortment of characters.
However, it all starts to unravel, leaving the reader not knowing what is real and what is not, those who believe, and those who only believe they believe, until the final part, in which (no spoilers) everything is explained, to great effect.
4.5 plasma trails out of 5. The era-specific writing is superb and really adds to the story. I also researched potassium cyanide to an extent that should anything happen to my husband, the local constabulary would be very interested in my search history. Recommended reading.
February 6, 2022
Okay, this one sideswiped me. A very gentle beginning, lovely cultural observations and family snapshots, builds steadily to an intense and quite personal crescendo. Can’t say too much without spoilers - but a lovely illustration of how some people just don’t *know* when they’re the villain, where the line lies between being one thing and being another… and this does that transition (more of a slide) really well. Plus some fabulous cameos :)
October 21, 2021
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Visit the locations in the novel The Spirit Engineer
AJ West has gone and taken one of my favourite subjects, actually two things to read about, and woven a fascinating and gloriously gothic tale.
I am nervous about but fascinated by how people used to believe in spiritualism and seances in years gone by. The other thing I love to read about is actual historical figures who believed, dabbled in or forwarded the cause. Conan Doyle for example believed that the Cottingley Fairies were real.
This book imagines what life would have been like for William Jackson Crawford who in 1914, became fascinated by the beliefs and work of the Goligher family. West is a scientist and also a sceptic but these two worlds collide in spectacular fashion. As a result, he is given the name of ‘The Spirit Engineer’
This is such a gothic infused and chillingly crafted work of art. I was entranced at the star and that never left me. Maybe there’s some hocus-pocus emanating from the book itself. No, the writing, the scene setting and the characters are good enough to do that on their own.
West has mixed fact with fiction and shrouded it all in a gothic veil of mystery. There are some disturbing subjects and ideas to come from this book. Of course, seances and dabbling in ‘ the other side’ are not going to be easy experiences. I just loved the way you are invited to belief or not, but to experience the world of those trying to understand it all.
I loved this. A gothic gem even though you do have to sleep with the lights on for a week afterwards.
Visit the locations in the novel The Spirit Engineer
AJ West has gone and taken one of my favourite subjects, actually two things to read about, and woven a fascinating and gloriously gothic tale.
I am nervous about but fascinated by how people used to believe in spiritualism and seances in years gone by. The other thing I love to read about is actual historical figures who believed, dabbled in or forwarded the cause. Conan Doyle for example believed that the Cottingley Fairies were real.
This book imagines what life would have been like for William Jackson Crawford who in 1914, became fascinated by the beliefs and work of the Goligher family. West is a scientist and also a sceptic but these two worlds collide in spectacular fashion. As a result, he is given the name of ‘The Spirit Engineer’
This is such a gothic infused and chillingly crafted work of art. I was entranced at the star and that never left me. Maybe there’s some hocus-pocus emanating from the book itself. No, the writing, the scene setting and the characters are good enough to do that on their own.
West has mixed fact with fiction and shrouded it all in a gothic veil of mystery. There are some disturbing subjects and ideas to come from this book. Of course, seances and dabbling in ‘ the other side’ are not going to be easy experiences. I just loved the way you are invited to belief or not, but to experience the world of those trying to understand it all.
I loved this. A gothic gem even though you do have to sleep with the lights on for a week afterwards.
August 28, 2021
The Spirit Engineer was a surprise for me in so many ways. It is a debut novel written with such confidence, and the level of research (and resulting historical accuracy) into the world of spiritualism in the early 1900’s, creates an unsettling atmosphere, which perfectly represents the struggle between the desperate need to believe in the paranormal phenomenon and the scientific and logical arguments which counteracted it.
The encounters between William and Lady Carter were hilarious – having this dark and dry sense of humour running throughout the book was unexpected but brilliant. It broke up some very intense scenes, ensuring that what could have been a heavy and dark storyline was lessened and made the characters more believable.
I love the fact that one book can make you want to laugh, cry and hide behind a cushion in one sitting. Split into four parts, the first three were interesting and well written, but the fourth part was something else! Knowing that the book was based on a true story, I deliberately avoided looking into the characters before reading it and the final scenes were so explosive and hard-hitting as the truth was revealed. I could barely bring myself to read on as it suddenly dawned on me the way in which the story was heading, while at the same time I was unable to put it down. An authentic, engrossing and emotional novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Duckworth Books for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The encounters between William and Lady Carter were hilarious – having this dark and dry sense of humour running throughout the book was unexpected but brilliant. It broke up some very intense scenes, ensuring that what could have been a heavy and dark storyline was lessened and made the characters more believable.
I love the fact that one book can make you want to laugh, cry and hide behind a cushion in one sitting. Split into four parts, the first three were interesting and well written, but the fourth part was something else! Knowing that the book was based on a true story, I deliberately avoided looking into the characters before reading it and the final scenes were so explosive and hard-hitting as the truth was revealed. I could barely bring myself to read on as it suddenly dawned on me the way in which the story was heading, while at the same time I was unable to put it down. An authentic, engrossing and emotional novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Duckworth Books for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 29, 2021
This couldn't be more perfect timing. The Spirit Engineer is the ideal Historical Fiction pick to be enjoyed over the Spooky Season.
Based on true events we follow the story of William Jackson Crawford and his investigation into the medium Kathleen Goligher, at a time when seances were becoming increasingly popular, and the world had became obsessed with contacting lost loved ones.
As we follow his tale, many will say that William is unlikeable, although I would argue he is simply misunderstood. He is clearly a man struggling with his own sense of self. He knows he is an intellect, but what of a man, of a husband, and of a father? In these things, to me, he feels lost. As he struggles to find answers to his own grief, and as his obsession grows, perhaps his science can no longer hold all the answers he needs.
This is a story of loss and grief, of war and science and séance; the ghosts of the dead and the ghosts of the living. This is a truly haunting and impressive debut.
If you can't tell already, I really enjoyed this one. Thank you so much to the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review. I couldn't recommend this book more.
5 chilling stars!
Based on true events we follow the story of William Jackson Crawford and his investigation into the medium Kathleen Goligher, at a time when seances were becoming increasingly popular, and the world had became obsessed with contacting lost loved ones.
As we follow his tale, many will say that William is unlikeable, although I would argue he is simply misunderstood. He is clearly a man struggling with his own sense of self. He knows he is an intellect, but what of a man, of a husband, and of a father? In these things, to me, he feels lost. As he struggles to find answers to his own grief, and as his obsession grows, perhaps his science can no longer hold all the answers he needs.
This is a story of loss and grief, of war and science and séance; the ghosts of the dead and the ghosts of the living. This is a truly haunting and impressive debut.
If you can't tell already, I really enjoyed this one. Thank you so much to the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review. I couldn't recommend this book more.
5 chilling stars!
November 7, 2021
This is a book full of mystery, paranormal occurrences and betrayal. It was an interesting concept and I didn't mind the writing however it definitely wasn't my favourite novel I've read lately. I liked the idea of having an engineer coming to terms with the existence of an afterlife and being haunted by people who died both in his past and his present. I really hated the ending though, I feel like it didn't add to the really interesting first three quarters of the novel. What exactly did having the main character essentially molest the woman he thought was a psychic for years add to the story in any way? I wish the author had just left it at William essentially having a split personality when he was awake vs when he was asleep as that would have been a really great twist by itself.
3/5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the author for this copy to review
3/5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the author for this copy to review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2021
A startlingly brilliant debut from AJ West. A Spirit Engineer is a wonderful tale - full of mystery, intriguing characters and also a surprising amount of humour.
William Crawford is such a complex man - clever, naive at times, obsessive and often not very likeable - he is certainly a character to stir up emotions. I loved how the writing was in the first person, and felt that this meant I experienced everything William did first hand.
The short chapters made the story zip along brilliantly and I loved it.
William Crawford is such a complex man - clever, naive at times, obsessive and often not very likeable - he is certainly a character to stir up emotions. I loved how the writing was in the first person, and felt that this meant I experienced everything William did first hand.
The short chapters made the story zip along brilliantly and I loved it.
August 16, 2021
It’s no secret that this book has been one of the most anticipated reads of the year. There has been a frenzy building around this book with some very clever marketing. Naturally this makes you excited to read it but also worried it’s just hype; I’m happy to report it most certainly is not hype - it’s beautiful.
Based on a true story we begin in Belfast post titanic demise where we meet Professor William Jackson Crawford, a man of science, his wife Elizabeth and their three children. Although a clever man the Crawford’s are not exactly the wealthiest family with financial sponsorship from Aunt Adelia (not an Aunt at all) poking her nose in and being the perfect snob - some brilliant exchanges between William and Adelia! What was interesting to learn was that a lot of people turned to seances post titanic with the huge loss of life. This was taboo and often thought to be going against god. Being a man of science William sets out to disprove ghosts and to debunk Mediums with experiments of his own making. What he discovers is the biggest surprise of all.
The writing style was fluid, sympathetic to the time period and well researched. The author managed to use humour appropriately without ruining an otherwise serious story. There was sadness, pity and tragedy to contend with. Clever writing providing clues throughout the book that all came together at the end beautifully. It was a perfect penny drop moment where everything became crystal clear and left you paused in your own head while you cast your thoughts back over the story to piece everything together - genius!
The author has documented his research and I would urge you to watch this along with the book, it’s fascinating to see the institute where William worked along with other pieces of evidence that appear in the book.
Anyone who follows me will know that more often than not I’m let down or deflated by an ending. Impatient and a need for closure to a story that I often don’t get…I am thrilled to say this ending took me by the hand, slapped me round the face several times only to give me a gentle kiss goodbye. An absolute dazzler of an ending.
Please pre-order this book. The author has created a masterpiece and one which I think will be talked about for a long time to come.
Based on a true story we begin in Belfast post titanic demise where we meet Professor William Jackson Crawford, a man of science, his wife Elizabeth and their three children. Although a clever man the Crawford’s are not exactly the wealthiest family with financial sponsorship from Aunt Adelia (not an Aunt at all) poking her nose in and being the perfect snob - some brilliant exchanges between William and Adelia! What was interesting to learn was that a lot of people turned to seances post titanic with the huge loss of life. This was taboo and often thought to be going against god. Being a man of science William sets out to disprove ghosts and to debunk Mediums with experiments of his own making. What he discovers is the biggest surprise of all.
The writing style was fluid, sympathetic to the time period and well researched. The author managed to use humour appropriately without ruining an otherwise serious story. There was sadness, pity and tragedy to contend with. Clever writing providing clues throughout the book that all came together at the end beautifully. It was a perfect penny drop moment where everything became crystal clear and left you paused in your own head while you cast your thoughts back over the story to piece everything together - genius!
The author has documented his research and I would urge you to watch this along with the book, it’s fascinating to see the institute where William worked along with other pieces of evidence that appear in the book.
Anyone who follows me will know that more often than not I’m let down or deflated by an ending. Impatient and a need for closure to a story that I often don’t get…I am thrilled to say this ending took me by the hand, slapped me round the face several times only to give me a gentle kiss goodbye. An absolute dazzler of an ending.
Please pre-order this book. The author has created a masterpiece and one which I think will be talked about for a long time to come.
January 14, 2024
Se solo i vivi fossero silenziosi come i morti.
3,75 - La storia è senza dubbio intrigante: all'indomani dell'affondamento del Titanic, dove ha perso il giovane cognato, e con l'avvicinarsi dello scoppio della Prima Guerra mondiale, il professor William Jackson Crawford insegna all'Istituto tecnico municipale e si destreggia tra il suo modesto stipendio e le esigenze di una famiglia piccolo borghese (moglie, tre bambini, almeno una cameriera fissa).
Pur essendo un ingegnere, ambizioso e fiero della sua attività di ricerca, il poveretto vede il proprio mondo andare in pezzi con la morte del figlio più piccolo.
Da lì è un attimo cercare rifugio non nella fede né nella scienza, ma nelle sedute spiritiche di una medium, che ha creato intorno a sé un vero e proprio clan (madre, sorella, marito, ecc.) che l'assiste.
Dapprima riluttante e via via sempre più entusiasta, l'ingegnere inizia a fare esperimenti per smentire le sconcertanti rivelazioni degli spiriti, poi per confermarle, scrive libri, partecipa a convegni, lega la propria vita e fama a questa presunta verità, sino all'entrata in scena di personaggi più critici e veramente esistiti come Conan Doyle e Houdini.
La potremmo definire come una parabola dalla ragione alla speranza avulsa dalla ragione, sino al punto di non ritorno.
Ammetto che mi è piaciuto, ma non del tutto.
Per quanto la struttura sia interessante e certamente carica di colpi di scena, carbura lentamente, con una prima parte lenta e con personaggi non così vivaci. Poi migliora.
Oltre a subire la cappa di tristezza costante, sono rimasta un po' perplessa di fronte a certe scelte narrative: Jackson Crawford è un personaggio vero, eppure è difficile cogliere il confine tra verità storica e integrazione di fantasia (la domanda che si pone il lettore è questa, insomma: andò davvero così?). Mi sono persino letta il blog dell’autore dove fornisce numerose informazioni, ma rimane vago su molti altri aspetti.
3,75 - La storia è senza dubbio intrigante: all'indomani dell'affondamento del Titanic, dove ha perso il giovane cognato, e con l'avvicinarsi dello scoppio della Prima Guerra mondiale, il professor William Jackson Crawford insegna all'Istituto tecnico municipale e si destreggia tra il suo modesto stipendio e le esigenze di una famiglia piccolo borghese (moglie, tre bambini, almeno una cameriera fissa).
Pur essendo un ingegnere, ambizioso e fiero della sua attività di ricerca, il poveretto vede il proprio mondo andare in pezzi con la morte del figlio più piccolo.
Da lì è un attimo cercare rifugio non nella fede né nella scienza, ma nelle sedute spiritiche di una medium, che ha creato intorno a sé un vero e proprio clan (madre, sorella, marito, ecc.) che l'assiste.
Dapprima riluttante e via via sempre più entusiasta, l'ingegnere inizia a fare esperimenti per smentire le sconcertanti rivelazioni degli spiriti, poi per confermarle, scrive libri, partecipa a convegni, lega la propria vita e fama a questa presunta verità, sino all'entrata in scena di personaggi più critici e veramente esistiti come Conan Doyle e Houdini.
La potremmo definire come una parabola dalla ragione alla speranza avulsa dalla ragione, sino al punto di non ritorno.
Ammetto che mi è piaciuto, ma non del tutto.
Per quanto la struttura sia interessante e certamente carica di colpi di scena, carbura lentamente, con una prima parte lenta e con personaggi non così vivaci. Poi migliora.
Oltre a subire la cappa di tristezza costante, sono rimasta un po' perplessa di fronte a certe scelte narrative: Jackson Crawford è un personaggio vero, eppure è difficile cogliere il confine tra verità storica e integrazione di fantasia (la domanda che si pone il lettore è questa, insomma: andò davvero così?). Mi sono persino letta il blog dell’autore dove fornisce numerose informazioni, ma rimane vago su molti altri aspetti.
October 7, 2021
🌟🌟ARC REVIEW🌟🌟
I received this book courtesy of NetGalley for a free and honest review.
I initially chose this book based on it description. In the description, Sir Author Conan Doyle is mentioned and I was instantly intrigued, although his role in the story is very small, I have been reading another book which talks about his fascination with the spirit world, and this book drew me in very quickly.
I started this book unsure of what to expect but was not disappointed at all! Set in 1914 Belfast, Ireland, two years after the sinking of the famed ship, the Titanic. Spiritualism has captivated the high society of the time. William Jackson Crawford, a man of science, an engineer, a skeptic. When he follows his wife one night suspecting her of an affair, he is transported into a world of voices and shadows, is it real or is it all just one big con?
After following his wife and discovering what she was up to, he is immersed into the world of spiritualism, even donning the name The Spirit Engineer, his name a marriage of his two sides. The once skeptic is determined to show others the proof he has of the spirit world being real. Can he prove his theories or will he discover more than he bargained for before all is said and done?
This book was beautifully written, immersive with vibrant descriptions that transport you directly to the 1900's. I even found some era appropriate music to stream while reading to complete my immersion. The story flows well and I found that I was dying to see what would happen next. I absolutely did not see the ending coming. I love a good twist ending! I cannot wait to see more from this author!
I received this book courtesy of NetGalley for a free and honest review.
I initially chose this book based on it description. In the description, Sir Author Conan Doyle is mentioned and I was instantly intrigued, although his role in the story is very small, I have been reading another book which talks about his fascination with the spirit world, and this book drew me in very quickly.
I started this book unsure of what to expect but was not disappointed at all! Set in 1914 Belfast, Ireland, two years after the sinking of the famed ship, the Titanic. Spiritualism has captivated the high society of the time. William Jackson Crawford, a man of science, an engineer, a skeptic. When he follows his wife one night suspecting her of an affair, he is transported into a world of voices and shadows, is it real or is it all just one big con?
After following his wife and discovering what she was up to, he is immersed into the world of spiritualism, even donning the name The Spirit Engineer, his name a marriage of his two sides. The once skeptic is determined to show others the proof he has of the spirit world being real. Can he prove his theories or will he discover more than he bargained for before all is said and done?
This book was beautifully written, immersive with vibrant descriptions that transport you directly to the 1900's. I even found some era appropriate music to stream while reading to complete my immersion. The story flows well and I found that I was dying to see what would happen next. I absolutely did not see the ending coming. I love a good twist ending! I cannot wait to see more from this author!
April 29, 2024
Impressive how the protagonist managed to be a dick on every single page
November 5, 2024
E quindi che cosa ha scoperto William? Che nessuno è più disonesto di sé stesso? Ho i brividi. Io sto letteralmente sulle montagne russe! Epilogo da lacrima
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