Unquiet Spirits

by K.M. Peyton

Mad is devastated when she's forced to move with her mother from London to a bleak, rural wilderness - until she gets a job restoring the local manor house, Good Graces. There, among the ancient tapestries and furniture, she meets the heir, Simon.

But as Mad and Simon grow closer, Mad realises her arrival has awoken the restless spirits of the old house. One ghostly presence seems welcoming, but the other is furious - and they are both frighteningly powerful. Mad's relationship with Simon soon spirals out of control, as they are swept up in a tide of centuries-old emotion and rage.

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Kathleen Wendy Herald Peyton MBE, who wrote primarily as K. M. Peyton, was a British author of fiction for children and young adults

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

How could I expect anything less than brilliant from the wonderful K.M. Peyton? One of my favourite writers of all time (or my no1 favourite). This book was haunting, thoughtful and filled with Peyton's exquisite characterisation and description. The .5 knocked off the full five stars is only for the slow start and slightly confusing, abrupt ending.
But definitely one to recommend.
(Plus, Simon is another gorgeous Peyton love interest, in the vein of Jonathan Meredith)

[Louise Culmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Madeline and her mother leave London to go and live in a small village in the north of England. Madeline gets a job doing up the local Manor House that has fallen into disrepair (the morose owner, Temp,is too stingy to pay a professional). She becomes fascinated with the portrait of one of Temp’s distant ancestors, a boy called Simon who was, somewhat improbably, forced to marry a woman of thirty eight when he was sixteen (parents generally preferred young brides for their sons - they wanted heirs) Madeline’s room at the cottage where she lives is haunted by another Madeline, the spirit of Simon’s true love who died young. When Temp’s son, another Simon, turns up, he turns out to be just as handsome as his ancestor, and Madeline of course falls in love with him. But the manor is haunted by the ghost of the first Simon’s jealous wife, Agnes, who wants Simon to herself and does not wish Madeline well. I found this story rather unconvincing, I simply couldn’t take seriously the two rival ghosts (it reminded me rather of Blithe Spirit) And Temp was too grim to be believed, and Simon too perfect. The story did not grip me like most of K.M.Peyton’s books do.

[Libby Charlotte Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've had this book in my TBR for years. It's moved at least twice with me and I never got round to reading it.

Now, I love K.M. Peyton. My mum introduced me to so many of her books and I especially love Blind Beauty and Small/Greater Gains.

However, I felt this particular book lacked her usual flow and depth. It has a great storyline, one which I would thoroughly enjoy, but the actual delivery to me felt a little...off? I can't quite put my finger on it. Perhaps it's because it was quite a short read.

Simon was actually quite a flat character, the main character too and her friend added minimal value. The ending was extremely abrupt, and I was just left wanting more throughout. Just that little bit extra!

Not my favourite book of hers, but still worth a read as I love the overall storyline and what she wanted to deliver.

[Sedna Dragon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was spooky but not scary.

[Melissa W · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is one weird book.... lol but in a good way.
very good read