My Review of A House of Ghosts by W C Ryan

I loved A House of Ghosts by W C Ryan, it's imbued with a poignant sense of loss befitting its setting off the coast of England in 1917. As The Great War is decimating young male lives in France and ravaging families at home there's unsurprisingly an explosion in attempts to contact the dead with seances becoming a mainstream after dinner activity in even the highest echelons of society such as Lord and Lady Highmount at Blackwater Abbey. A House of Ghosts uses all this historical accuracy as a backdrop for a spectacular story that is both multi-faceted and nuanced with elements of a spy thriller, mystery, and romance with an overwhelming Gothic theme of events taking place on a haunted island that's cut off by a ferocious storm. The copious genre threads expertly used by Ryan create a realistic feel, yes, even with a haunted house, as even though the war undoubtedly dominated and defined lives people still fell in and out of love, people still acted in their own self interest and people were still murdered. 

Ryan's characters are well rounded with the two central protagonists, Donovan and Kate, hints of a modern Tommy and Tuppence but so so much more, deal with not just the case assigned in a Bond like way but also deal with their own pain both physical and emotional. Donovan represents those who have suffered and survived with a quiet dignity; Kate is happy to be more than she's perceived to be without seeking plaudits or honour. 

This is easily a 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟which I highly recommend. I hope there is a new adventure for Donovan and Kate adventure in the pipeline.

Thank you to Tracy Fenton and Zaffre Books for my gifted copy of this book.