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A House of Ghosts

The perfect atmospheric golden age mystery to escape into

By (author) W. C. Ryan
Format: Hardback
Publisher: Zaffre, London, United Kingdom
Published: 4th Oct 2018
Dimensions: w 162mm h 240mm d 38mm
Weight: 613g
ISBN-10: 1785766511
ISBN-13: 9781785766510
Barcode No: 9781785766510
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Synopsis
A gripping mystery with a classic feel: And Then There Were None meets The Silent Companions Winter 1917. As the First World War enters its most brutal phase, back home in England, everyone is seeking answers to the darkness that has seeped into their lives. At Blackwater Abbey, on an island off the Devon coast, Lord Highmount has arranged a spiritualist gathering to contact his two sons who were lost in the conflict. But as his guests begin to arrive, it gradually becomes clear that each has something they would rather keep hidden. Then, when a storm descends on the island, the guests will find themselves trapped. Soon one of their number will die. For Blackwater Abbey is haunted in more ways than one . . . An unrelentingly gripping mystery packed with twists and turns, A House of Ghosts is the perfect chilling read this winter. 'Almost unbearably creepy and beautifully written' Liz Nugent, bestseller author of LYING IN WAIT 'A splendid tale of wartime skullduggery, featuring both kinds of spooks - perfect fireside reading' Mick Herron, CWA Gold Dagger Award Winning author of DEAD LIONS 'Hugely enjoyable, A House of Ghosts has the bones of a taut thriller wrapped up in the gorgeous romance of its ghostly island setting' Jane Casey 'Perfect for a dark and stormy evening: a truly creepy and ingenious ghost story and murder mystery with an irresistible setting' Ragnar Jonasson 'A thoroughly enjoyable novel that seemed to combine all my favourite things - history, crime, entertainingly spiky romance and an eerily evocative setting. An absolute treat' Elly Griffiths 'Spooks, spies, seances, things that go bump in the night - A House of Ghosts has it all. A tremendously enjoyable, ingeniously-plotted take on the haunted house mystery. Best read before dark!' Tammy Cohen 'An atmospheric, hugely entertaining mystery that offers all the pleasures of a classic ghost story - with an appealing dash of romance. William Ryan is a wonderful storyteller and A House of Ghosts will keep you up reading (and shivering) deep into the night' Antonia Hodgson

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What Reviewers Are Saying

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Sep 29th 2018, 17:01
Worth a read!
Excellent - 8 out of 10
If books could win awards for their covers then "A House of Ghosts" would win hands down, such beauty - black with gorgeous gold etching, just truly beautiful and worth every penny just to adorn your bookcase. I guarantee that this will be the main talking point from a lot of reviewers and rightly so.
The premise of the story is based on a World War One military espionage theme with elements of the supernatural. The tone of writing for the era of the book is spot on and I could quite clearly hear the voices of that time in my head as I read.
I liked the story in general but I would have liked either more on the ghosts rather then them just 'appearing' in the background or the plot completely without them since to be honest they didn't really feature enough to give the book it's name in my opinion. What surprised me was the ease with which all the characters seemed to be un-phased by these supernatural visions - had I seen just one of the many and varied apparitions I would have fainted on the spot! The inclusion of a 'magic mirror' didn't quite work for me and really needed you to suspend disbelief. The atmospheric description of the island and the house were eerily spooky and since the story was set during a raging storm this made the location even more sinister.
I thought the combination of Donovan and Kate was superb and it was good to see them understand each other's tactical thoughts and I'd love to see them develop their relationship further in a future book.
Very Agatha Christie in its creation this story was easy to follow with an uncomplicated plot that enabled me to read this in a couple of days. However, I wouldn't say it was gripping, I did still enjoy reading it though and can see it being more of a read for the older generation looking for a more genteel read.
The author W C Ryan is the pseudonym for the well established William Ryan and I would be happy to read more involving these characters again.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 (out of 5) for the beautiful cover.
Sep 27th 2018, 10:10
A cracker of a tale
Excellent - 9 out of 10
The first thing to mention about this book is the stunning cover. It looks so luxe and beautiful I could almost want it on my bookshelf just based on it's appearance.
Luckily there is also a cracker of a tale inside. It reminded me a little of Agatha Christie's Poirot but with a host of ghosts thrown in for good measure.
The tale is set on an island, in a large manor house that has been filled with toffs and a couple of psychics. Someone is a spy though and Donovan has been sent to unearth them. He has the feisty Kate Cartwright to help him out - a game gal who also has some second sight when it comes to spooky goings on.
In true Christie style he spends 48 hours collecting clues - of which you get a glimpse but where just enough is kept under wraps so that the whole plot unravels in the last couple of chapters.
It keeps you guessing until the end and I love the way that the book tells the story from the experiences of several different characters.
A thoroughly enjoyable read - ripe for an entire series. I look forward to more!
Newspapers & Magazines
If you are feeling brave, A House of Ghosts is one to read by candlelight with a large gin and tonic on standby. Almost unbearably creepy and beautifully written, the claustrophobic atmosphere will have you running into open fields as soon as dawn breaks. Bravo! * Liz Nugent * W. C. Ryan makes the familiar World War I country-house setting feel immediate, with a tough but principled hero and a rogue's gallery of villains of all classes and kinds. Hugely enjoyable, A House of Ghosts has the bones of a taut thriller wrapped up in the gorgeous romance of its ghostly island setting * Jane Casey * A truly creepy and ingenious ghost story and murder mystery with an irresistible setting. From the first page you know you are in the hands of an excellent writer * Ragnar Jonasson * A splendid tale of wartime skullduggery, featuring both kinds of spooks - perfect fireside reading * Mick Herron * A thoroughly enjoyable novel that seemed to combine all my favourite things - history, crime, entertainingly spiky romance and an eerily evocative setting. An absolute treat * Elly Griffiths * An atmospheric, hugely entertaining mystery that offers all the pleasures of a classic ghost story - with an appealing dash of romance. William Ryan is a wonderful storyteller and A House of Ghosts will keep you up reading (and shivering) deep into the night * Antonia Hodgson * Spooks, spies, seances, things that go bump in the night - A House of Ghosts has it all. A tremendously enjoyable, ingeniously-plotted take on the haunted house mystery. Best read before dark! * Tammy Cohen * The perfect Autumn read which people just won't be able to put down. Brilliant and utterly engaging * Netgalley * Shiver inducing beautifully written and immersive story - think Agatha Christie meets M.R. James but done in Mr Ryan's own indomitable style * Liz Loves Books * An elegantly constructed take on a historical spy novel, one that has just the right touch of the gothic * Shots Mag * A new twist to an old tale ... I hope that we will get to see what happens in their next adventure - the ending left some room for a sequel, which I would very happily read! * A Storm Of Pages * A stunning novel, a thoroughly absorbing read that combines a chilling ghost story ... As the evenings draw in, A House of Ghosts is the perfect read. It's so easy to lose yourself in it. It's beautifully written ... impossible to put down -- Kate Atherton * For Winter Nights * A captivating read . . . classic crime that lovers of Christie will lap up * My Weekly * An enjoyable ghostly whodunnit. * The Times * A multi-layered, gothic masterpiece . . . entertaining, thought-provoking and utterly captivating * Lancashire Evening Post * A captivating read ... classic crime that lovers of Christie will lap up * My Weekly * A classic murder mystery set in a haunted house - this stylish tale will be a perfect read for this winter * Sunday People * A haunting tale, beautifully told. Blackwater Abbey ranks with Satis House and Manderley as a great house of gothic fiction. * Erin Kelly * An intelligent, absorbing, exquisitely spooky mystery * Irish Times * Taut and poetic pose, engaging protagonists, a page-turning plot and an evocative setting - making for another atmospheric and thrilling read ... a spooky romantic read that will appeal to fans of historical fiction, crime, ghost and spy novels alike. * The Lady * Beautifully written and ingenious period piece combines history, crime and an entertainingly spiky romance, all in an eerily evocative setting ... tremendously enjoyable take on the haunted house mystery. * CrimeReview.co.uk * Read it if you loved Murder on the Orient Express * Best magazine * A deliciously dark read, perfect for autumn evenings by the fire * The Lady * Beautifully written and ingenious period piece combines history, crime and an entertainingly spiky romance, all in an eerily evocative setting. Spooks, spies, seances, things that go bump in the night - Ryan has it all in this tremendously enjoyable take on the haunted house mystery * Crime Review * A gripping mystery with a classic feel * Crime Readers' Association * Plenty of conventionally spooky fun to be had, but what gives this book real atmosphere is the well-rendered pathos of a country struggling to come to terms with the loss of a generation. * The Guardian * Wonderfully written and a jolly good read. * Sunday Independent * Spooks, spies and spectres are the order of the day in this rattling good read * Sunday Express * An essential honeymoon read! * Your Devon & Cornwall Wedding * The perfect mix of ghost story and historical mystery ... undeniably creepy, yet satisfying. * Woman's Own * Promises to be as atmospheric and unsettling as anything since the great spinechillers of MR James. * i paper * A well-researched, finely tuned yarn that is steeped in the lore of classical ghost stories -- Books of the Year * Irish News * A spy thriller and a murder mystery with elements of the supernatural and a highly affecting examination of how a generation came to terms with the heavy loss of life during the First World War. * Sunday Express, Books of the Year round-up 2018 * Reminiscent of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, A House of Ghosts is also a fun, befogged, country house mystery * Liz Nugent, Dead Good Books * An intelligent, absorbing, exquisitely spooky country house mystery * Irish Times * If you like Golden Age crime fiction, a new book with an old setting is the elegantly creepy A House of Ghosts by Irish writer WC Ryan, to be read by a roaring fire, possibly with a glass of hot port in hand * RTE *