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Christmas at Wheeldale Inn
Christmas Eve. A horse-drawn coach battles its way through a terrible snow storm, travelling the old Roman road that cuts across Wheeldale Moor. The carriage bears the miserable burden of Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox, a formerly well-to-do couple now fleeing London and the threat of debtor's jail, for Mr. Wilcox has been imprudent with the family fortune.
Not that Mrs. Wilcox cares much for money. She is still grieving a great loss, a loss that cannot be replaced with any number of riches.
As the weather worsens, the carriage is overturned, with deadly consequences. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox find themselves out in a freezing storm, lost, injured and penniless upon the moors. Salvation comes in the form of Wheeldale Inn: the highest public house in Yorkshire. An isolated sanctuary, yet a peculiar one. The Innkeeper seems welcoming enough, but oddities abound: a corpse, a silent son, a surfeit of victuals, and memories that come and go at a whim.
As the intrepid guests settle in, they realise all is definitely not as it seems at Wheeldale. Both husband and wife are forced to confront truths about themselves, their past, their present, and their future in the most terrifying of ways. Will Christmas Day be a happy one for the Wilcox family, or will Wheeldale disrupt their lives so completely there is no coming back?
Not that Mrs. Wilcox cares much for money. She is still grieving a great loss, a loss that cannot be replaced with any number of riches.
As the weather worsens, the carriage is overturned, with deadly consequences. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox find themselves out in a freezing storm, lost, injured and penniless upon the moors. Salvation comes in the form of Wheeldale Inn: the highest public house in Yorkshire. An isolated sanctuary, yet a peculiar one. The Innkeeper seems welcoming enough, but oddities abound: a corpse, a silent son, a surfeit of victuals, and memories that come and go at a whim.
As the intrepid guests settle in, they realise all is definitely not as it seems at Wheeldale. Both husband and wife are forced to confront truths about themselves, their past, their present, and their future in the most terrifying of ways. Will Christmas Day be a happy one for the Wilcox family, or will Wheeldale disrupt their lives so completely there is no coming back?
108 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 15, 2022
11 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Gemma Amor
43 books772 followersI'm a horror fiction author, podcaster, artist and voice actor from Bristol, in the U.K.
I write for the wildly popular NoSleep Podcast and various other horror fiction audio dramas. My traditionally published debut FULL IMMERSION is out from Angry Robot in September 2022.
Find me at @manylittlewords on Twitter and Insta.
Repped by Mark Falkin at Falkin Literary.
I write for the wildly popular NoSleep Podcast and various other horror fiction audio dramas. My traditionally published debut FULL IMMERSION is out from Angry Robot in September 2022.
Find me at @manylittlewords on Twitter and Insta.
Repped by Mark Falkin at Falkin Literary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
January 11, 2023
Don't be fooled by the title, it might sound like a cosy, Christmas romance. It's not. This is an eerie tale, with a stranded couple seeking shelter at a remote inn on the Yorkshire Moors, during a snowstorm. Gemma Amor has a knack of describing uncomfortable situations and people in dire circumstances. (Dear Laura being another great example.) She uses a lot of descriptive, run-on sentences, which work really well. Christmas might be over, but I still wanted something festive, this was dark and delicious. What a start to the year!
December 24, 2024
Check out my Interview with Gemma Amor at Grimdark Magazine.
My complete review is published at Before We Go Blog.
“A grudge against death is an ill grudge indeed.”
Christmas at Wheeldale Inn by Gemma Amor is the holiday horror I didn’t know I needed.
The novella opens during a Christmas Eve snowstorm in the moors of Victorian England. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox battle the harsh weather, traveling westward in a horse-drawn carriage, away from London and the threat of debtors’ prison.
Mr. Wilcox’s unscrupulous business dealings and lavish lifestyle have finally caught up with him. Meanwhile, Mrs. Wilcox grieves over a terrible loss, much worse than that of the family fortune.
The blizzard ultimately gets the best of the traveling Wilcoxes, forcing them to seek refuge in the Wheeldale Inn, where the friendly innkeeper and his silent son are mourning their own tragedy. The only other resident of the inn is a corpse, whose funeral and burial have been postponed indefinitely by the harsh winter conditions.
Confinement at the Wheeldale Inn forces the Wilcoxes to confront the troubled reality of their broken marriage and determine whether they face a future together. Meanwhile, their isolation and fevered mental states plunge them into conditions ripe for horror.
Christmas at Wheeldale Inn deals with several heavy themes, including domestic abuse, gaslighting, and overcoming grief. I am amazed by how much Gemma Amor packs into this slim volume and how she can ultimately find hope and autonomy amid a blizzard of despair and oppression.
Gemma Amor’s writing in Christmas at Wheeldale Inn is perfect, as always. Every word is precisely chosen, without anything superfluous. Amor’s prose captures the spirit of Victorian Era literature so beautifully that I felt compelled to read several passages aloud, just to hear the lovely cadence of her words.
Christmas at Wheeldale Inn is a modern-day Victorian classic. The most obvious comparison is to A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, who brought a didactic form of spookiness to the Christmas season. But Gemma Amor’s psychologically unsettling approach to Victorian supernatural fiction is more in line with The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, especially in walking the line between horror and insanity. Moreover, Gemma Amor’s melancholy tone and beautiful prose in Christmas at Wheeldale Inn evoke the best of Thomas Hardy, particularly Jude the Obscure.
Gemma Amor is a literary chameleon, adapting her writing style across sci-fi horror (Full Immersion), occultist epistolary body horror (The Once Yellow House), Daphne du Maurier-style Gothic fiction (The Folly), and even a Victorian Christmas tale (Christmas at Wheeldale Inn). In every case, Amor brings a level of authenticity and stylistic perfection that blows my mind. Regardless of the genre or subgenre of fiction, Gemma Amor is always able to probe great emotional depths while telling gut-wrenching stories.
Christmas at Wheeldale Inn makes the perfect holiday gift for the horror fan in your life. (And don’t forget to treat yourself to something special too!)
My complete review is published at Before We Go Blog.
“A grudge against death is an ill grudge indeed.”
Christmas at Wheeldale Inn by Gemma Amor is the holiday horror I didn’t know I needed.
The novella opens during a Christmas Eve snowstorm in the moors of Victorian England. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox battle the harsh weather, traveling westward in a horse-drawn carriage, away from London and the threat of debtors’ prison.
Mr. Wilcox’s unscrupulous business dealings and lavish lifestyle have finally caught up with him. Meanwhile, Mrs. Wilcox grieves over a terrible loss, much worse than that of the family fortune.
The blizzard ultimately gets the best of the traveling Wilcoxes, forcing them to seek refuge in the Wheeldale Inn, where the friendly innkeeper and his silent son are mourning their own tragedy. The only other resident of the inn is a corpse, whose funeral and burial have been postponed indefinitely by the harsh winter conditions.
Confinement at the Wheeldale Inn forces the Wilcoxes to confront the troubled reality of their broken marriage and determine whether they face a future together. Meanwhile, their isolation and fevered mental states plunge them into conditions ripe for horror.
Christmas at Wheeldale Inn deals with several heavy themes, including domestic abuse, gaslighting, and overcoming grief. I am amazed by how much Gemma Amor packs into this slim volume and how she can ultimately find hope and autonomy amid a blizzard of despair and oppression.
Gemma Amor’s writing in Christmas at Wheeldale Inn is perfect, as always. Every word is precisely chosen, without anything superfluous. Amor’s prose captures the spirit of Victorian Era literature so beautifully that I felt compelled to read several passages aloud, just to hear the lovely cadence of her words.
Christmas at Wheeldale Inn is a modern-day Victorian classic. The most obvious comparison is to A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, who brought a didactic form of spookiness to the Christmas season. But Gemma Amor’s psychologically unsettling approach to Victorian supernatural fiction is more in line with The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, especially in walking the line between horror and insanity. Moreover, Gemma Amor’s melancholy tone and beautiful prose in Christmas at Wheeldale Inn evoke the best of Thomas Hardy, particularly Jude the Obscure.
Gemma Amor is a literary chameleon, adapting her writing style across sci-fi horror (Full Immersion), occultist epistolary body horror (The Once Yellow House), Daphne du Maurier-style Gothic fiction (The Folly), and even a Victorian Christmas tale (Christmas at Wheeldale Inn). In every case, Amor brings a level of authenticity and stylistic perfection that blows my mind. Regardless of the genre or subgenre of fiction, Gemma Amor is always able to probe great emotional depths while telling gut-wrenching stories.
Christmas at Wheeldale Inn makes the perfect holiday gift for the horror fan in your life. (And don’t forget to treat yourself to something special too!)
December 23, 2023
I loved this! 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Christmas at Wheeldale Inn is an excellent Christmas plot with supernatural and gothic themes.
The characters of Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox were well written. I loved how the characters subtly change throughout the book and you become invested in both of them, the well being of one and the slow painful death of another. 🤷🏼♀️😂🤣
I was pleasantly surprised with how much I loved this Victorian Christmas tale along with the writing of Gemma Amor.
This is the first book that I’ve read by her and won’t be the last!
Christmas at Wheeldale Inn is an excellent Christmas plot with supernatural and gothic themes.
The characters of Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox were well written. I loved how the characters subtly change throughout the book and you become invested in both of them, the well being of one and the slow painful death of another. 🤷🏼♀️😂🤣
I was pleasantly surprised with how much I loved this Victorian Christmas tale along with the writing of Gemma Amor.
This is the first book that I’ve read by her and won’t be the last!
January 2, 2023
My first Gemma Amor book and I really liked it. The story revolves around a married couple who recently experienced some heavy trauma traveling by carriage through a snowstorm on Christmas Eve in 19th Century England, when it overturns at sets them out looking for shelter from the storm. They find the Wheeldale Inn waiting for them, and things that have been hidden beneath the surface start to be revealed. I don’t want to say too much—you really should just read it.
What really impressed me here was Amor’s writing ability and character work. This thing has Charles Dickens vibes all through it—the writing style, the personalities, the dialogue. It really does feel very Victorian (though I’m certainly no expert in the era), and I think it was quite an achievement to pull this off so well.
I definitely consider this a horror novella overall, but there’s more going on here for sure. It’s a look at marriages gone bad, abuse, trauma, grief, and the people who experience it. Very much recommend this, and I’m looking forward to reading more from her.
What really impressed me here was Amor’s writing ability and character work. This thing has Charles Dickens vibes all through it—the writing style, the personalities, the dialogue. It really does feel very Victorian (though I’m certainly no expert in the era), and I think it was quite an achievement to pull this off so well.
I definitely consider this a horror novella overall, but there’s more going on here for sure. It’s a look at marriages gone bad, abuse, trauma, grief, and the people who experience it. Very much recommend this, and I’m looking forward to reading more from her.
December 30, 2022
I don’t think Gemma Amor is capable of writing a bad story. She hasn’t failed me yet. What a superb little novella. This was an excellent Christmas read with top-notch writing, strong themes, a cozy setting, complex characters, and a few creepy surprises. Well done!
December 29, 2023
Fresh snow fell, erasing all evidence of her pain and injury, and it left the land unblemished, ready for new hurts to be layered on top like a fantastic, hopeless sort of sediment beneath the white powder of broken dreams.
I love a good Christmas horror story, and while my tastes for holiday frights usually leans more into the fantastical or blood-splattered sort, there's nothing like a classic gothic tale to creep into your bones and settle there on a winter night.
I've loved Gemma Amor's work ever since I was introduced to it by the NoSleep Podcast years ago, and I was so excited to receive a review copy of Christmas at Wheeldale Inn. This is an eerie historical novella of a couple who gets lost out on a desolate moor in a snowstorm on Christmas Eve and finds themselves at Wheeldale Inn, where they believe they've found salvation despite the somewhat unusual nature of the inn's occupants.
Wheeldale is a difficult read at times, as it features heavy themes of grief and domestic abuse in a marriage gone sour, but there's also an underlying element of magic in the way Mrs. Wilcox views the inn and its innkeeper that I was mesmerized by. I loved to hate Mr. Wilcox and found myself desperately flipping the pages in hopes of seeing him get his comeuppance, and while I won't spoil a thing for you, I'll say that I was both surprised and delighted by the final twist in this story.
If you want a cozy, quiet horror story to keep you company for the holidays, I highly recommend this one!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
✨ Content warnings for:
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November 30, 2023
4.5 stars
A nice, creepy Christmas novella in the style of something Charles Dickens would've written! Very readable and atmospheric. The writing on display here feels much more advanced than “Dear Laura.” More akin to what I experienced in “The Once Yellow House,” a new favorite horror book in general. Amor is fast becoming a new favorite horror author.
There is constant switching back and forth between the perspectives of the husband and the wife, and the switches are quick, typically within paragraphs. Usually this doesn’t work but Amor is able to not only accomplish it smoothly but also convince me that she fully understands both characters and how their minds work. (This is the second time I’ve seen her create an abusive relationship in a story and she’s frightfully good at it.) She also nails the portrayal of how a delicious meal with good company can magically make you feel like your entire life is changing for the better in that moment. I really liked the Christmas dinner scene, and (no spoilers), how the plot changed from festive to dreadful. There were several moments in this that had a sort of A24 feel. (You might be rolling your eyes at this but you know exactly what I'm talking about: A creeping, uncomfortable fear and a feeling that something is not right.)
Early on, there WERE a couple of unfortunate typos here and there that could’ve easily been corrected. (Specifically, multiple instances where “Mr. Wilcox” was used when it should’ve said “Mrs. Wilcox.”) That's a minor complaint, but this could've been so polished had those been fixed.
My only other gripe is that part of the story felt a tiny bit cliche at the end, but it’s also a sort of morality tale and utilizes certain tropes. So overall, I'll forgive it. Amor is good at writing in different styles within the horror genre and I fully intend to keep reading her work. This was a great little Christmas horror and I fully recommend it! Though I do caution that if you are in any way sensitive to abusive husbands or loss of a child in literature, this may be triggering.
TW: Child death, animal harm, misogyny
A nice, creepy Christmas novella in the style of something Charles Dickens would've written! Very readable and atmospheric. The writing on display here feels much more advanced than “Dear Laura.” More akin to what I experienced in “The Once Yellow House,” a new favorite horror book in general. Amor is fast becoming a new favorite horror author.
There is constant switching back and forth between the perspectives of the husband and the wife, and the switches are quick, typically within paragraphs. Usually this doesn’t work but Amor is able to not only accomplish it smoothly but also convince me that she fully understands both characters and how their minds work. (This is the second time I’ve seen her create an abusive relationship in a story and she’s frightfully good at it.) She also nails the portrayal of how a delicious meal with good company can magically make you feel like your entire life is changing for the better in that moment. I really liked the Christmas dinner scene, and (no spoilers), how the plot changed from festive to dreadful. There were several moments in this that had a sort of A24 feel. (You might be rolling your eyes at this but you know exactly what I'm talking about: A creeping, uncomfortable fear and a feeling that something is not right.)
Early on, there WERE a couple of unfortunate typos here and there that could’ve easily been corrected. (Specifically, multiple instances where “Mr. Wilcox” was used when it should’ve said “Mrs. Wilcox.”) That's a minor complaint, but this could've been so polished had those been fixed.
My only other gripe is that part of the story felt a tiny bit cliche at the end, but it’s also a sort of morality tale and utilizes certain tropes. So overall, I'll forgive it. Amor is good at writing in different styles within the horror genre and I fully intend to keep reading her work. This was a great little Christmas horror and I fully recommend it! Though I do caution that if you are in any way sensitive to abusive husbands or loss of a child in literature, this may be triggering.
TW: Child death, animal harm, misogyny
January 7, 2024
I received a copy of this novella from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Another wonderful, poetic dark tale from the brilliant mind of Gemma Amor. Her writing is so pleasing and easing to my mind and her stories hit me right in the heart every time. She has fast become not only one of my favourite authors publishing today but has such an inviting and careful voice in her works that each new book feels like visiting with an old friend.
This Christmas horror novella is bursting at the seems with atmosphere, tension, beauty and sorrow. It left me gutted and happy. This is an instant Christmas classic that I highly recommend if you want to spend a cold evening with a master story teller.
Thank you to Cemetery Gates Media for this.
Another wonderful, poetic dark tale from the brilliant mind of Gemma Amor. Her writing is so pleasing and easing to my mind and her stories hit me right in the heart every time. She has fast become not only one of my favourite authors publishing today but has such an inviting and careful voice in her works that each new book feels like visiting with an old friend.
This Christmas horror novella is bursting at the seems with atmosphere, tension, beauty and sorrow. It left me gutted and happy. This is an instant Christmas classic that I highly recommend if you want to spend a cold evening with a master story teller.
Thank you to Cemetery Gates Media for this.
December 18, 2023
Thanks so much to Cemetery Gates Media for a copy of this splendid, gothic Christmas story to review.
A married couple fleeing debtors in London choose an unfortunate time to take a carriage across the moors, the wife a hapless victim of society's rules and her husband's imprudence. When disaster strikes, the faint light of an inn's windows are visible in the distance...
Welcome to Wheeldale Inn, a structure of stone and wood that is so much more than that, offering guests rumination upon the non-monetary costs of their vices, or salvation in more ways than one.
I've read a bit of Gemma Amor's work before, but what struck me in this novella was her gift for crafting perfect metaphors. Human mortality becomes melting snow, gray hair and wrinkles the battle trophies of living, a chill from cold weather the sediment in one's soul. The prose may read a bit purple to others, but I found it both beautiful and highly readable, a full story born in these 118 pages. It was inspired by real aspects of Catherine Dickens' life, but this story could also read as an homage to Poe. There is something of the 'one's nagging conscience manifesting as the supernatural' that Poe was found of, shown artfully in this story as a righteous corpse who may or may not be resting peacefully in their coffin.
There's also a dark fairytale element at play, and I thoroughly enjoyed the intersection of all these influences. A quick read but a full story with gorgeous descriptive passages and scene-setting, and a fantastic conclusion. Five stars.
A married couple fleeing debtors in London choose an unfortunate time to take a carriage across the moors, the wife a hapless victim of society's rules and her husband's imprudence. When disaster strikes, the faint light of an inn's windows are visible in the distance...
Welcome to Wheeldale Inn, a structure of stone and wood that is so much more than that, offering guests rumination upon the non-monetary costs of their vices, or salvation in more ways than one.
I've read a bit of Gemma Amor's work before, but what struck me in this novella was her gift for crafting perfect metaphors. Human mortality becomes melting snow, gray hair and wrinkles the battle trophies of living, a chill from cold weather the sediment in one's soul. The prose may read a bit purple to others, but I found it both beautiful and highly readable, a full story born in these 118 pages. It was inspired by real aspects of Catherine Dickens' life, but this story could also read as an homage to Poe. There is something of the 'one's nagging conscience manifesting as the supernatural' that Poe was found of, shown artfully in this story as a righteous corpse who may or may not be resting peacefully in their coffin.
There's also a dark fairytale element at play, and I thoroughly enjoyed the intersection of all these influences. A quick read but a full story with gorgeous descriptive passages and scene-setting, and a fantastic conclusion. Five stars.
February 12, 2023
CHRISTMAS AT WHEELDALE INN is a perfectly crafted novella. Each word, each phrase, is deftly chosen to convey the author's intent. In a relatively brief framework, we are given the Stories of two families of three individuals each, their triumphs and tribulations, joys and griefs, and yes, there are plenty of both. The story delivers resignation, sorrow, joys, deep abiding love, grief, empowerment. Gemma Amor's delicate crafting of multiple character arcs is astounding, as is her ability to strum nearly all human emotions in a brief framework. This is a title to read again and again, and to study for writers.
December 25, 2022
Christmas at Wheeldale Inn by Gemma Amor is gothic horror tale about a woman in a loveless marriage that desperately needs a Christmas miracle.
Gemma Amor is such a talented writer that draws readers right into the lives of her characters! I would recommend that you pick this one up as you sit by a fire or nestle under a cozy blanket because the chill of this one will hit you in more ways than one!
Check out my full review here:
https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-...
Gemma Amor is such a talented writer that draws readers right into the lives of her characters! I would recommend that you pick this one up as you sit by a fire or nestle under a cozy blanket because the chill of this one will hit you in more ways than one!
Check out my full review here:
https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-...
November 28, 2023
Review originally on
JamReads
Christmas at Wheeldale Inn is a holiday themed Gothic horror novella, written by Gemma Amor. A novel that opens during a Christmas Inn snowstorm, with the carriage where Mr and Mrs Wilcox are travelling through the moors, trying to escape from London and their debtors.
Early enough into the novella, Amor shows clearly how the Wilcox marriage is broken, with Mr Wilcox just suffering the consequences of his lavish lifestyle; meanwhile, Mrs Wilcox is grieving for a much worse loss, taking all over her. When the blizzard finally hits hard enough, and the carriage is forced to stop, the Wilcox marriage seeks refuge in the Wheeldale Inn.
However, in the Wheeldale Inn, the innkeeper and his silent son are lamenting their own tragedy, being accompanied by a third resident, a corpse they have to postpone its burial, waiting a better weather. With these conditions, the Wilcox marriage has to pass the Christmas Eve, in a situation that will make them to confront the reality of their relationship and how their many problems are an obstacle for a future together. The isolation will be the last nail which leads to a really tense situation.
In this small novella, Amor uses the best elements of the Gothic horror while doing a thorough analysis into the psychology of our two main characters, slowly creating the perfect conditions for a climax that was announced from the start. Prose marvelously captures the gravity of the situation and the pressure created by the isolation in the minds of our troubled characters.
Christmas at Wheeldale Inn is an excellent Gothic horror novella, which is a perfect fit for these festive season; if you like classic horror with a character focus, you should totally pick this novella.
Christmas at Wheeldale Inn is a holiday themed Gothic horror novella, written by Gemma Amor. A novel that opens during a Christmas Inn snowstorm, with the carriage where Mr and Mrs Wilcox are travelling through the moors, trying to escape from London and their debtors.
Early enough into the novella, Amor shows clearly how the Wilcox marriage is broken, with Mr Wilcox just suffering the consequences of his lavish lifestyle; meanwhile, Mrs Wilcox is grieving for a much worse loss, taking all over her. When the blizzard finally hits hard enough, and the carriage is forced to stop, the Wilcox marriage seeks refuge in the Wheeldale Inn.
However, in the Wheeldale Inn, the innkeeper and his silent son are lamenting their own tragedy, being accompanied by a third resident, a corpse they have to postpone its burial, waiting a better weather. With these conditions, the Wilcox marriage has to pass the Christmas Eve, in a situation that will make them to confront the reality of their relationship and how their many problems are an obstacle for a future together. The isolation will be the last nail which leads to a really tense situation.
In this small novella, Amor uses the best elements of the Gothic horror while doing a thorough analysis into the psychology of our two main characters, slowly creating the perfect conditions for a climax that was announced from the start. Prose marvelously captures the gravity of the situation and the pressure created by the isolation in the minds of our troubled characters.
Christmas at Wheeldale Inn is an excellent Gothic horror novella, which is a perfect fit for these festive season; if you like classic horror with a character focus, you should totally pick this novella.
November 22, 2023
4,4/5✨
(In English below)
🧙♂️A la luz del fuego las historias crecen y aumentan su significado. Las sombras se alargan. Los sonidos más insignificantes se magnifican y somos más receptivos a los buenos y malos sentimientos.
También estamos más receptivos en determinados momentos del año. No soy persona que crea en temas de energías y demás, pero es cierto que hay fechas que cambian nuestro comportamiento y capacidad de procesar ciertas sensaciones y sentimientos.
Que me perdone Halloween pero ¿hay alguna época más propicia para una buena historia de terror que la Navidad?
🕯️Esa es la propuesta que Gemma Amor (nominada a los Bram Stoker Awards e inédita, esperemos que por poco tiempo en castellano) nos presenta con esta novella. Un relato largo donde una pareja está viajando en plenas fechas navideñas y como en toda buena historia de terror surgirán problemas para llegar a su destino. Para una mayor ambientación, la escritora sitúa la acción en la Inglaterra del siglo XIX. La historia avanza sobre unos terrenos con una atmósfera gótica y por momentos malsana que se va complicando a la par que la situación de los personajes.
El lenguaje de Gemma es una auténtica maravilla pero para un lector no nativo requiere un gran esfuerzo para llegar al fondo de lo que nos quiere transmitir la autora.
Particularmente me ha gustado y os recomiendo su lectura en estas fechas que se aproximan.
¿Qué os parece?¿Qué otras historias navideñas me recomendáis?
Agradecer a Cemetery Gates Media por hacerme llegar una copia avanzada de esta novela para su reseña.
(In English below)
*****************************REVIEW IN ENGLISH***********************************
🧙♂️In the light of the fire the stories grow and increase their meaning. The shadows lengthen. The smallest sounds are magnified and we are more receptive to good and bad feelings.
We are also more receptive at certain times of the year. I am not a person who believes in energy issues and so on, but it is true that there are dates that change our behavior and ability to process certain sensations and feelings.
Forgive me Halloween, but is there any time more conducive to a good horror story than Christmas?
🕯️That is the proposal that Gemma Amor (nominated for the Bram Stoker Awards and unpublished, hopefully for a short time in Spanish) presents us with this novel. A long story where a couple is traveling in the middle of Christmas and, as in any good horror story, problems will arise to reach their destination. For a greater setting, the writer places the action in 19th century England. The story advances on terrain with a gothic and at times unhealthy atmosphere that becomes complicated as the situation of the characters does.
Gemma's language is a true marvel but for a non-native reader it requires a great effort to get to the bottom of what the author wants to convey to us.
What do you think? What other Christmas stories do you recommend?
I recieved an advance review copy for free, thanks Cemetery Gates Media, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
(In English below)
🧙♂️A la luz del fuego las historias crecen y aumentan su significado. Las sombras se alargan. Los sonidos más insignificantes se magnifican y somos más receptivos a los buenos y malos sentimientos.
También estamos más receptivos en determinados momentos del año. No soy persona que crea en temas de energías y demás, pero es cierto que hay fechas que cambian nuestro comportamiento y capacidad de procesar ciertas sensaciones y sentimientos.
Que me perdone Halloween pero ¿hay alguna época más propicia para una buena historia de terror que la Navidad?
🕯️Esa es la propuesta que Gemma Amor (nominada a los Bram Stoker Awards e inédita, esperemos que por poco tiempo en castellano) nos presenta con esta novella. Un relato largo donde una pareja está viajando en plenas fechas navideñas y como en toda buena historia de terror surgirán problemas para llegar a su destino. Para una mayor ambientación, la escritora sitúa la acción en la Inglaterra del siglo XIX. La historia avanza sobre unos terrenos con una atmósfera gótica y por momentos malsana que se va complicando a la par que la situación de los personajes.
El lenguaje de Gemma es una auténtica maravilla pero para un lector no nativo requiere un gran esfuerzo para llegar al fondo de lo que nos quiere transmitir la autora.
Particularmente me ha gustado y os recomiendo su lectura en estas fechas que se aproximan.
¿Qué os parece?¿Qué otras historias navideñas me recomendáis?
Agradecer a Cemetery Gates Media por hacerme llegar una copia avanzada de esta novela para su reseña.
(In English below)
*****************************REVIEW IN ENGLISH***********************************
🧙♂️In the light of the fire the stories grow and increase their meaning. The shadows lengthen. The smallest sounds are magnified and we are more receptive to good and bad feelings.
We are also more receptive at certain times of the year. I am not a person who believes in energy issues and so on, but it is true that there are dates that change our behavior and ability to process certain sensations and feelings.
Forgive me Halloween, but is there any time more conducive to a good horror story than Christmas?
🕯️That is the proposal that Gemma Amor (nominated for the Bram Stoker Awards and unpublished, hopefully for a short time in Spanish) presents us with this novel. A long story where a couple is traveling in the middle of Christmas and, as in any good horror story, problems will arise to reach their destination. For a greater setting, the writer places the action in 19th century England. The story advances on terrain with a gothic and at times unhealthy atmosphere that becomes complicated as the situation of the characters does.
Gemma's language is a true marvel but for a non-native reader it requires a great effort to get to the bottom of what the author wants to convey to us.
What do you think? What other Christmas stories do you recommend?
I recieved an advance review copy for free, thanks Cemetery Gates Media, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 21, 2025
Outstanding tale of new beginnings. A cozy, yet dark cautionary Christmas tale. Highly recommend!
November 2, 2023
Feel the cold, feel the wind and the snow. Feel the fear and the isolation
November 20, 2023
Very well orchestrated and a story that leads us out into the snow to an Inn where you will be manipulated into believing a Christmas tale of beautiful horror. The Perfect Christmas Horror 🎄
Thank you, Cemetery Gates Media, for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Gemma Amor once again astounds me with her talent!
Thank you, Cemetery Gates Media, for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Gemma Amor once again astounds me with her talent!
December 25, 2022
I don’t think it’s possible to 1) have come across the book at a better time—it being my read the week of Christmas AND while I was stuck at home with Covid; or 2) be more in love with it. This was my first experience with Gemma Amor, and how totally immersive and engaging the book was was beyond impressive.
First, Amor's language and style make Wheeldale read like a classic, creepy piece of recovered Victoriana. The trappings of Dickens, Stoker, and Le Fanu are all there, with the punchiness dialed up to 11. The book has the tight, propellant plotting of a short story, which lends a lot to the overall tension and unease. This does WONDERS for a Gothic story, or any, in my humble opinion! I love a book that cuts to the chase.
We meet the main couple, Mr and Mrs Wilcox, at what we quickly learn is the lowest point in their lives. They're destitute, on the run, have no support system to fall back on; and their marriage, which has always been bad, has never been worse. Mr Wilcox is cruel, childish, incapable of taking responsibility, cowardly, and abusive; and Mrs Wilcox, overwhelmed by loss and a life of dealing with the embarrassment of him, is teetering on the edge. She's fueled by compounding rage, resentment, and hatred (to squeeze in an irresistible reference: her heart's an autoclave), and he's in that dangerous place where he has nothing left to lose but his WAFER THIN grip. I've never wanted to see two characters commit a violence more, or more quickly. The shambles of their life and relationship is the first haunting we get, and boy, does it pack a wallop!
It's not the last, though. This is a ghost story, after all, and one in the finest Dickensian tradition. I adored all the references and parallels to 'Christmas Carol', which were like frosty Easter eggs! Finding them was a treat that gave the story extra depth. I kept catching myself thinking: how does this inform the characters in THIS story? Needless to say, I've got a couple essay ideas brewing.
Like all the best ghost stories, the main haunting—that of Wheeldale by the Innkeeper's late wife—is multifaceted and cerebral. Her presence is looming and creepy from the start, but the audience isn’t immediately certain that she’s actually haunting the inn. The recent trauma and stress the Wilcox’s have experienced could easily be the cause of what they think they’re seeing and feeling; until, of course, it very obviously isn’t.
I love how the wife’s spirit acted on each of the couple differently, as well as how the Inn—itself a character, which I won’t go into very much here; as I said, I have a whole arsenal of notes and thoughts for write-ups on this book—seems to be an extension of her in this respect. The couple’s experiences with their hosts, ghosts, and surroundings are so perfectly tailored to their mental and emotional (arguably, even spiritual) state that it’s unreal! They couldn’t be having a more different time here, which is just as well, because they each get exactly what they need.
Two more things on the Innkeeper’s wife and family. First, the descriptions of her body were SO gorgeously gross. The horror of decay and, later, of her desiccated and maggoty reanimation, reminded me a lot of ‘Nothing But Blackened Teeth’ by Cassandra Khaw, another of my recent Gothic favorites. There’s something so delicious about reading loving and graphic details about rot and ruin, especially in prose as breathtaking as Amor’s.
Second, and it’s a small detail, but I love how the Innkeeper and his wife’s relationship acts as a foil for the Wilcox’s. The Wilcox’s relationship is even more horrible when put next to the memories of deep love, comfort, happiness, and devotion that existed between Wheeldale’s owners, and is a very nice touch.
To keep this from getting too much longer (I could go on for pages if I let myself), I’ll wrap this by saying that this story ties off beautifully. The hauntings played out exactly how I wanted, with the added bonus of certain things still taking me pleasantly by surprise, and the ending? So emotionally satisfying that I could and did cry.
I downloaded this on my e-reader because I wanted to read it immediately, but I plan on placing an order for a physical copy as well. I want to be able to hold it, annotate it manually, thumb through it, and keep it forever, as well as add it to my yearly reread roster. There’s so much meat on the bones of this story that I can’t wait to go back and pick at. It’s one of those stories that keeps giving, and I’m looking forward to many years of receiving!
First, Amor's language and style make Wheeldale read like a classic, creepy piece of recovered Victoriana. The trappings of Dickens, Stoker, and Le Fanu are all there, with the punchiness dialed up to 11. The book has the tight, propellant plotting of a short story, which lends a lot to the overall tension and unease. This does WONDERS for a Gothic story, or any, in my humble opinion! I love a book that cuts to the chase.
We meet the main couple, Mr and Mrs Wilcox, at what we quickly learn is the lowest point in their lives. They're destitute, on the run, have no support system to fall back on; and their marriage, which has always been bad, has never been worse. Mr Wilcox is cruel, childish, incapable of taking responsibility, cowardly, and abusive; and Mrs Wilcox, overwhelmed by loss and a life of dealing with the embarrassment of him, is teetering on the edge. She's fueled by compounding rage, resentment, and hatred (to squeeze in an irresistible reference: her heart's an autoclave), and he's in that dangerous place where he has nothing left to lose but his WAFER THIN grip. I've never wanted to see two characters commit a violence more, or more quickly. The shambles of their life and relationship is the first haunting we get, and boy, does it pack a wallop!
It's not the last, though. This is a ghost story, after all, and one in the finest Dickensian tradition. I adored all the references and parallels to 'Christmas Carol', which were like frosty Easter eggs! Finding them was a treat that gave the story extra depth. I kept catching myself thinking: how does this inform the characters in THIS story? Needless to say, I've got a couple essay ideas brewing.
Like all the best ghost stories, the main haunting—that of Wheeldale by the Innkeeper's late wife—is multifaceted and cerebral. Her presence is looming and creepy from the start, but the audience isn’t immediately certain that she’s actually haunting the inn. The recent trauma and stress the Wilcox’s have experienced could easily be the cause of what they think they’re seeing and feeling; until, of course, it very obviously isn’t.
I love how the wife’s spirit acted on each of the couple differently, as well as how the Inn—itself a character, which I won’t go into very much here; as I said, I have a whole arsenal of notes and thoughts for write-ups on this book—seems to be an extension of her in this respect. The couple’s experiences with their hosts, ghosts, and surroundings are so perfectly tailored to their mental and emotional (arguably, even spiritual) state that it’s unreal! They couldn’t be having a more different time here, which is just as well, because they each get exactly what they need.
Two more things on the Innkeeper’s wife and family. First, the descriptions of her body were SO gorgeously gross. The horror of decay and, later, of her desiccated and maggoty reanimation, reminded me a lot of ‘Nothing But Blackened Teeth’ by Cassandra Khaw, another of my recent Gothic favorites. There’s something so delicious about reading loving and graphic details about rot and ruin, especially in prose as breathtaking as Amor’s.
Second, and it’s a small detail, but I love how the Innkeeper and his wife’s relationship acts as a foil for the Wilcox’s. The Wilcox’s relationship is even more horrible when put next to the memories of deep love, comfort, happiness, and devotion that existed between Wheeldale’s owners, and is a very nice touch.
To keep this from getting too much longer (I could go on for pages if I let myself), I’ll wrap this by saying that this story ties off beautifully. The hauntings played out exactly how I wanted, with the added bonus of certain things still taking me pleasantly by surprise, and the ending? So emotionally satisfying that I could and did cry.
I downloaded this on my e-reader because I wanted to read it immediately, but I plan on placing an order for a physical copy as well. I want to be able to hold it, annotate it manually, thumb through it, and keep it forever, as well as add it to my yearly reread roster. There’s so much meat on the bones of this story that I can’t wait to go back and pick at. It’s one of those stories that keeps giving, and I’m looking forward to many years of receiving!
December 17, 2022
Ya know, this was the right book for the right moment. Here I am, stuck in bed with COVID, and looking for a Christmas horror story which can hold my attention and give me all the feels of the season.
Enter Mrs. Amor and the Wheeldale Inn.
With Dickensian vibes and Victorian principles, CHRISTMAS AT THE WHEELDALE INN is a holiday ghost story of love, loss, and new beginnings. It’s a stark chronicle of a bad marriage and what it takes to get to that realization. It’s the hope and clarity to know that even in your darkest hour, you are stronger than you think you are, you just need to look for it.
The Wilcoxes are traveling the English moors to escape Mr Wilcox’s poor decisions, all the while suffering a marriage turned sour and the death of their young son. He is a lout; she is trapped. Their coach has an accident and they find themselves, after trudging through the snow and wind, at the doorstep of the Wheeldale Inn on Christmas Eve.
Amor weaves a tale which is just the right length and right tone to be a perfect ghost story for a cold and festive Christmas Eve. Almost wish I’d waited until December 24th to read this one. It’s a story best appreciated on a cold and desolate night, surrounded by a warm blanket. Or stuck in bed with a bad cold, a cup of mulled wine on the nightstand. Wherever you choose to read it, you won’t be staying long. The Wheeldale Inn is only open for business for a short time.
5 out of 5 “just what the doctor ordered” stars
Enter Mrs. Amor and the Wheeldale Inn.
With Dickensian vibes and Victorian principles, CHRISTMAS AT THE WHEELDALE INN is a holiday ghost story of love, loss, and new beginnings. It’s a stark chronicle of a bad marriage and what it takes to get to that realization. It’s the hope and clarity to know that even in your darkest hour, you are stronger than you think you are, you just need to look for it.
The Wilcoxes are traveling the English moors to escape Mr Wilcox’s poor decisions, all the while suffering a marriage turned sour and the death of their young son. He is a lout; she is trapped. Their coach has an accident and they find themselves, after trudging through the snow and wind, at the doorstep of the Wheeldale Inn on Christmas Eve.
Amor weaves a tale which is just the right length and right tone to be a perfect ghost story for a cold and festive Christmas Eve. Almost wish I’d waited until December 24th to read this one. It’s a story best appreciated on a cold and desolate night, surrounded by a warm blanket. Or stuck in bed with a bad cold, a cup of mulled wine on the nightstand. Wherever you choose to read it, you won’t be staying long. The Wheeldale Inn is only open for business for a short time.
5 out of 5 “just what the doctor ordered” stars
December 19, 2022
Christmas at Wheeldale Inn is the perfect Victorian Christmas story with a dash of horror.
The novelette tells the story of a husband and a wife whose coach gets into an accident in the middle of nowhere, and they are forced to seek shelter in a conveniently placed Inn. The husband is a mean drunk and the wife finds herself stuck in a marriage she doesn't want to be in. Luckily for them, the innkeeper is a kind man who opens his doors for the pair. The only issue is that there is also a corpse at the Inn, and soon the husband finds himself haunted by her presence.
This Gemma Amor story is such a treat, and it's the perfect snowy holiday read. Especially for the Victorian-Era lover like me!
The novelette tells the story of a husband and a wife whose coach gets into an accident in the middle of nowhere, and they are forced to seek shelter in a conveniently placed Inn. The husband is a mean drunk and the wife finds herself stuck in a marriage she doesn't want to be in. Luckily for them, the innkeeper is a kind man who opens his doors for the pair. The only issue is that there is also a corpse at the Inn, and soon the husband finds himself haunted by her presence.
This Gemma Amor story is such a treat, and it's the perfect snowy holiday read. Especially for the Victorian-Era lover like me!
December 15, 2023
Christmas at Wheeldale Inn was a macabre feast tightly packed inside a small package. The length, much like elements of the story was truly deceiving, as it contains much more to be unearthed than meets the eye.
I was left chewing on the mystery long after I closed the pages. The meat of the story is full of flavor and the rest of this literary meal is sprinkled with delicious sides, filling the reader with much savory delight.
Clearly, I’m hungry as I prepare this recommendation, so ignore the cheese and focus on what I truly mean to serve up: this dark and tasty story must be devoured beside a festively lit tree or a warm crackling fire, as the ambiance must fit the glorious setting the brilliant Gemma Amor created.
Just read the book. Merry Ghastly Christmas. 👻✨🍷
I was left chewing on the mystery long after I closed the pages. The meat of the story is full of flavor and the rest of this literary meal is sprinkled with delicious sides, filling the reader with much savory delight.
Clearly, I’m hungry as I prepare this recommendation, so ignore the cheese and focus on what I truly mean to serve up: this dark and tasty story must be devoured beside a festively lit tree or a warm crackling fire, as the ambiance must fit the glorious setting the brilliant Gemma Amor created.
Just read the book. Merry Ghastly Christmas. 👻✨🍷
December 30, 2025
I'm not the hugest fan of short stories or even novellas, mainly because I feel they're incomplete, or lacking in detail and character. But this one definitely proves to be an exception! This little story was perfect as it was, using a classic ghost-story trope with only a handful of well-drawn characters and a single setting.
This is my first Gemma Amor read, and I was damn impressed with her writing chops! Very elegant, fitting for the time period in which she wrote. I'm definitely going to read more by this author, and am eager to see what her full length novels are like
This is my first Gemma Amor read, and I was damn impressed with her writing chops! Very elegant, fitting for the time period in which she wrote. I'm definitely going to read more by this author, and am eager to see what her full length novels are like
December 9, 2024
Everything from the setting & time period, to the quiet hauntings, to that finale was incredible.
I love a stranded snow storm story this time of year and placing it on Christmas Eve just made it.
I got a feeling of A Christmas Carol with this story and I was totally here for it. Look between the lines and you’ll truly see where this author was going with the story. Highly recommend!
I love a stranded snow storm story this time of year and placing it on Christmas Eve just made it.
I got a feeling of A Christmas Carol with this story and I was totally here for it. Look between the lines and you’ll truly see where this author was going with the story. Highly recommend!
December 31, 2024
Holy hell I love Gemma Amor! This book was so much fun! I loved the main character and the turns that her story took. I can't say too much about this book because I don't want to give it away, just that I loved the style, the verbage, the flow, the atmosphere, everything about this wonderful ghost story. Please give this one a try for a wonderful holiday treat!
December 18, 2022
Fantastic!
Christmas at Wheeldale Inn is a fantastic read during the holidays. It has the style and feel of old, classic literature, and at its core is a story of loss, grief, love and hate and regret. It’s beautiful and at times very creepy. I’ll be sure to revisit this one in Christmases to come.
Christmas at Wheeldale Inn is a fantastic read during the holidays. It has the style and feel of old, classic literature, and at its core is a story of loss, grief, love and hate and regret. It’s beautiful and at times very creepy. I’ll be sure to revisit this one in Christmases to come.
November 11, 2023
Christmas at Wheeldale Inn by Gemma Amor is an excellent eerie gothic Christmas novella.
Be careful what you do in life, don’t let karma come back and bite you in the ass… but then again… lessons might be learned!
I absolutely LOVED this story from beginning to the very surprising and excellent ending. I would highly recommend.
Thank you Cemetery Gates for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Be careful what you do in life, don’t let karma come back and bite you in the ass… but then again… lessons might be learned!
I absolutely LOVED this story from beginning to the very surprising and excellent ending. I would highly recommend.
Thank you Cemetery Gates for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 5, 2025
A fantastic Victorian Christmas ghost tale! An unhappily married couple, stranded on the moors after their carriage is upturned by a winter storm, seek shelter at the Wheeldale Inn.
December 21, 2024
QOTD: What's your favourite part about Christmas? Other than the excuse to read festive horror books, and my christmas puns of course.
We have a Gemma Amor double feature today! You can read my review of "Christmas at The Wheeldale Inn," and my bonus review of "Santa's Grotto," by heading to fanfiaddict.com, the link is in my bio and highlights!
"Elves on the shelves are wreaking havoc once again. Excessively joyous carollers are braving the cold. Everything is peppermint flavoured. Mariah Carey has defrosted. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas folks, and as I’ve been proving to you all December, there is no better way to enjoy the season than with hot chocolate and great horror. Less sleigh bells, more death knells, less deck the halls and more crumbling drywall… that’s all I got. Perfect for fans of Naben Ruthnum’s weird historical horror “Helpmeet,” Gemma Amor’s festive horror novella “Christmas at Wheeldale Inn,” is brimming with the misery and decay necessary to offset the relentless, saccharine joy of Christmas. Whilst not completely devoid of that holly-jolly spirit, Amor’s yuletide is one that is covered in mould and mildew, wrapped in damp, decomposing wrapping paper- this book is rotten, and just the kind of quick read I was looking for."
"Far from merry and bright, Gemma Amor’s “Santa’s Grotto,” reads like a festive, extreme, and further deranged, “Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.” Through the lens of a delightfully snarky and truly British narrative protagonist, who shares my own resigned misery in relation to being dragged around Santa’s grottos and Christmas lights, Amor delivers a commentary on responsibility and redemption. Needless to say that no punches are pulled when it comes to body horror. This little novella has evil elves, an animatronic donkey from the depths of hell, and needless to say, is the perfect excuse for you to take yourself off away from the in-laws for an hour and a half this Christmas."
We have a Gemma Amor double feature today! You can read my review of "Christmas at The Wheeldale Inn," and my bonus review of "Santa's Grotto," by heading to fanfiaddict.com, the link is in my bio and highlights!
"Elves on the shelves are wreaking havoc once again. Excessively joyous carollers are braving the cold. Everything is peppermint flavoured. Mariah Carey has defrosted. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas folks, and as I’ve been proving to you all December, there is no better way to enjoy the season than with hot chocolate and great horror. Less sleigh bells, more death knells, less deck the halls and more crumbling drywall… that’s all I got. Perfect for fans of Naben Ruthnum’s weird historical horror “Helpmeet,” Gemma Amor’s festive horror novella “Christmas at Wheeldale Inn,” is brimming with the misery and decay necessary to offset the relentless, saccharine joy of Christmas. Whilst not completely devoid of that holly-jolly spirit, Amor’s yuletide is one that is covered in mould and mildew, wrapped in damp, decomposing wrapping paper- this book is rotten, and just the kind of quick read I was looking for."
"Far from merry and bright, Gemma Amor’s “Santa’s Grotto,” reads like a festive, extreme, and further deranged, “Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.” Through the lens of a delightfully snarky and truly British narrative protagonist, who shares my own resigned misery in relation to being dragged around Santa’s grottos and Christmas lights, Amor delivers a commentary on responsibility and redemption. Needless to say that no punches are pulled when it comes to body horror. This little novella has evil elves, an animatronic donkey from the depths of hell, and needless to say, is the perfect excuse for you to take yourself off away from the in-laws for an hour and a half this Christmas."
January 2, 2024
A haunting story set in Victorian times, reminiscent of those ghostly tales they told around the fireplace at Christmas, Christmas at Wheeldale Inn was perfect to read at the holiday or winter time! Gemma is lush with descriptions and detail, making it a true gothic that comes alive on the page. With nods to classic literature such as Charles Dickens and Great Expectations or short stories of Edgar Allan Poe with a touch of Shirley Jackson, Gemma keeps us on our toes. Domestic horror as well, the completed endings of both protagonist travelers Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox were quite satisfactory. Gemma’s women characters are strong and independent and I love that. There is a twist, but to say more on this book would be to give it all away so instead I recommend reading it for yourself. If Christmas is done, or not what you celebrate, it’s still a fine read for a snowy day!
Thanks to Cemetery Gates Media for the copy! 📚
Thanks to Cemetery Gates Media for the copy! 📚
December 11, 2024
I am a Gemma Amor fan and I have read and reviewed White Pines and Six Rooms and I have Dear Laura on my tbr.
Amor comes at the horror genre from her own unique angle, whether it’s the haunted house in Six Rooms, or culty cosmic horror in White Pines. She adds her angst and terror and feminine rage in wholly engrossing ways.
Now is a PERFECT TIME to read her Christmas horror novel.
Mr and Mrs Wilcox are crossing the moors on a stormy Christmas Eve, in a dark and freezing coach thick with grief, shame and simmering rage.
When the coach hits a rut, tips and kills the coachman, the Wilcoxes stumble through the blizzard to the Wheeldale Inn. But this Inn is not what it seems and forces are at play to expose the trauma within the Wilcox marriage and hearts.
With a nod to Dickens’s A Christmas Carol and Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone, it is perfectly scary read for a December night
Amor comes at the horror genre from her own unique angle, whether it’s the haunted house in Six Rooms, or culty cosmic horror in White Pines. She adds her angst and terror and feminine rage in wholly engrossing ways.
Now is a PERFECT TIME to read her Christmas horror novel.
Mr and Mrs Wilcox are crossing the moors on a stormy Christmas Eve, in a dark and freezing coach thick with grief, shame and simmering rage.
When the coach hits a rut, tips and kills the coachman, the Wilcoxes stumble through the blizzard to the Wheeldale Inn. But this Inn is not what it seems and forces are at play to expose the trauma within the Wilcox marriage and hearts.
With a nod to Dickens’s A Christmas Carol and Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone, it is perfectly scary read for a December night
June 26, 2023
This is a fine example of a Christmas Gothic story. Set in Victorian times, the carriage of a woman and her mean husband breaks a wheel killing the driver and both horses. In the middle of a storm and just as she can't make it anymore their walk ends as they come upon an inn, but there is a mourning ribbon on the doorknob.
Very atmospheric. The inn becomes a part of the story with its welcoming vibes. The innkeeper quickly gets the relationship between these two and dislikes the man's temper right away. The characters are all life-like in the dialogue of the times and description. The pages turned quickly for me as I couldn't wait for how it ended. Which was perfect for a Christmas tale. Something a little different from Amor.
Very atmospheric. The inn becomes a part of the story with its welcoming vibes. The innkeeper quickly gets the relationship between these two and dislikes the man's temper right away. The characters are all life-like in the dialogue of the times and description. The pages turned quickly for me as I couldn't wait for how it ended. Which was perfect for a Christmas tale. Something a little different from Amor.
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