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A House of Ghosts
A House of Ghosts: A gripping murder mystery set in a haunted house | W. C. Ryan
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
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review
emtobiasz
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Pickpick

WWI, Britain, 1917. A house party on a remote island, a country grieving the loss of its sons, a seance, a spy in their midst. Oh, also the ghosts are real. I‘m not sure the book worked for me 100%, and like many stand-alone mysteries I had little attachment to the detectives, but I was happy to be along for the ride. Great for fans of Jacqueline Winspear and Charles Todd.

emtobiasz I will say, there‘s a bit of plot that revolves around whether gas masks are effective protection on the front. If that feels a little too close to current circumstances, be aware. 4y
48 likes1 comment
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emtobiasz
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Started listening to this #audiobook from #hoopla on one of my sister‘s coworker‘s suggestion. (Libraries run in the family here.) It has mixed reviews but I turned it on to walk the dog and, an hour and a half later, I‘m utterly absorbed in this story of WWI Britain, secret agents, spiritualism, and ghosts. It may become a mystery at some point, too...

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Took your suggestion and got this on Hoopla too! 👍 4y
46 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Areader2
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Pickpick

Set on a island off a coast in England in 1917 during the First World War. A wealthy Lord Highmount and his wife invite a group of people to Black water Abbey for a spiritualistic weekend to try and reach their two dead sons that died in the war. There are ghosts, secrets, espionage and many insights to the horror of the war. The narrator was English and I personally enjoyed it maybe not for everyone.

Crazeedi Hmmm, sounds rather interesting. 4y
24 likes1 comment
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RainyDayReading
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Mehso-so

I really wanted to love this but I feel meh. It took 170 pages for anything to happen, it wasn‘t nearly as creepy or ghostly as the synopsis suggested and the ghosts that were there didn‘t add anything. There were loose ends like bits of subplot the author meant to weave in but overall forgot to include the information needed for it to matter and the ending wrapped up so fast after such a slow build up the solution wasn‘t believable👇🏻

RainyDayReading I feel like this book tried to be a lot of things all at once and didn‘t really succeed at any of them. Even the main female character wasn‘t all that compelling though the budding relationship is cute. I enjoyed Donovan but that‘s about it. Everything else was...bland...and there‘s more than a few questions I have that were never answered and with the way the plot was set up they should have been answered. Sigh. 4y
MidnightBookGirl That makes me sad, because I would have picked this book to read solely on the cover. 16pts! 4y
RainyDayReading @MidnightBookGirl It made me sad too! The cover is what caught my interest initially but the contents didn‘t really live up to it. It wasn‘t bad, and for being a big book it reads super fast but I just didn‘t get the payout I wanted. 4y
16 likes4 comments
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PathfinderNicole
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Curled up on the couch with a book, a bowl of peppermint ice cream, and my dog with Elf playing on the tv ❤️💚🎄

mabell Sounds lovely! And I hope your son is having a good recovery. 4y
14 likes1 comment
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Mel
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Rainy weather, cozy blankets, and a mystery. Happy holidays! #currentlyreading

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DreesReads
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Mehso-so

Set on an isolated island in WWI England, Kate and Donovan are attending a seance weekend. Their assignment is to identify the German spy believed to be in attendance. The story was fine, but personally I prefer the kind of mystery where the author lays out all the clues and the reader can solve the mystery. This is not that kind of story, and I‘m note sure the sabotage was explained? Audio was fine. #audiobook #mystery #hoopladigital

JazzFeathers I was quite disappointed with this one too. I liked it a lot in the beginning, but halfway through, it started to crumble for me. 4y
DreesReads @JazzFeathers I know exactly when it crumbled for me, maybe the same place as for you! In the stables. But I don‘t want to spoil for anyone who might still read/listen! 4y
14 likes3 comments
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Jaimelire
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Pickpick

This story takes place during WWI in an Abbey on an island, cut off from the main land by a horrible winter storm. Ghosts, murder, secret passages and spies....this book has it all. Maybe a little overdone, but I really did enjoy it. So for it‘s entertainment value, I give it a thumbs up. On to the next one, here I come Stephen King!

28 likes2 stack adds
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S.Web
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Mehso-so

The supernatural element served no real purpose to the plot. Seems to me to only be a way for the author to distinguish his novel from all the other WWI novels hitting the market recently. Ignoring the ghosts, the mystery was... ok.

JazzFeathers I quite agree. I really liked it in the beginning, but then everything went... nowhere, really 😟 4y
6 likes1 comment
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Andrea4
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Mehso-so

A sort of whodunnit, classic remote house full of guests & mystery, strong connection to WWI, with seances & spiritualists.
I liked Kate & Donovan and the supernatural element but it didn't quite come off like I would have hoped. Maybe too much WWI trying to be connected for me? 🤔

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Tashreads
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Happy Halloween bookworms! 🎃👻🎃💀🎃 What is your favourite spooky read?

vivastory House of Leaves, Salem's Lot, Shining, Head Full of Ghosts, Poe 4y
54 likes1 comment
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JazzFeathers
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Mehso-so

Such a huge shame!
The book started out awesome. I loved the characters, who felt real and witty. I loved the setting, a haunting house on an island isolated by a storm. I loved the supernatural elementi connected to WWI.

But about halfway through the whole thing started to crumble. I'm still not sure what the mystery was about. The supernatural elementi was totally useless. Characters became cliched.

Such a disappointment 🙁

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Bummer. Sounds like a cool idea. 4y
33 likes1 comment
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JazzFeathers
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I'm quite exhausted this week. But this baby is expiring in three days and l need to know how it ends!

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sharread
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Pickpick

This was a fantastic read. I remembered hearing about secret agents eavesdropping on seance's and thought that was interesting. The book isn't a factual historical read, but it's a similar situation. I've attached an article about it, (no spoilers in it).

https://www.historyanswers.co.uk/people-politics/victoria-helen-duncan-and-brita...

20 likes1 stack add
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sharread
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This is a good one for a cold restless late night. 🎃👻

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JazzFeathers
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Only six day to finish this, then the #NetGalley files will expire. But shouldn't be too difficult. I'm loving it.

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Lel2403
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Pickpick

This is a mix of historical fiction, an Agatha Christie style whodunnit, spies and a supernatural tale of ghosts roaming the earth, all seamlessly put together due to the clever, atmospheric writing of W.C. Ryan. A haunted house story perfect for a Halloween read.

https://orlando-books.blog/2019/10/04/a-house-of-ghosts-by-w-c-ryan-book-review-...

erzascarletbookgasm I‘m waiting for my copy to arrive. 🙂 4y
Lel2403 @erzascarletbookgasm brilliant. I‘m sure you‘ll love it 😊 4y
68 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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JazzFeathers
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#WeekendsReads @rachelsbrittain

1. I'm trying to catch up on the #FellowshipOfTolkien #LOTRHistory buddy read. I've fallen so behind. And l've just started reading A House of Ghosts

2. I'm sorry, but when l read Tolkien, nothing compared. My favourite book in September was The Hobbit 😆

3. A House of Ghosts is actually a book l've highly anticipated. Together with another #NetGalley ARC l'm going to read, The Poppy Field

Libby1 I went to a book launch with the author for House of Ghosts. The author was lovely. I got the book that day and must read it soon. Are you enjoying it? 4y
JazzFeathers @Libby1 l'm only on chapter 2 and l'm already totally hooked! I'm following the author on social media and he does come across an a nice guy. 4y
Libby1 He really is. He does events for aspiring writers in Ireland, and my friend went to one of his workshops. Northern Ireland is such a small place so it‘s wonderful to get to author events here. 4y
27 likes3 comments
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LeahBergen
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#7Days7Covers #CoverCrush

Day # 1

Thanks for the tags @BarbaraBB and @CarolynM (I asked the latter for a tag! 😆😘😘).

Okay, @Melissa_J . Are you playing yet? 7 days, 7 book covers you love with no explanation. Tag someone new for each day of your posts. And go!

Tanisha_A That cover! 😍 5y
Cinfhen I‘m excited to see these next 7 days!!! Day one is lovely 5y
LeahBergen @Tanisha_A @Cinfhen I‘m hoping to get to this one in October! Did you start this tag, @Cinfhen ? 5y
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Cinfhen No, I was tagged by @jenniferw88 but I added the hashtags because I ♥️hashtags 😉 5y
veritysalter I really loved this book. 5y
LeahBergen @Cinfhen Well, who doesn‘t? 😆 5y
LeahBergen @veritysalter Oh, that‘s good to hear! 👍🏻 5y
Cathythoughts Nice cover 👍🏻. I see I have it stacked 5y
BarbaraBB The whole composition is gorgeous! 5y
batsy I have it stacked too and was very much drawn to the cover 😁 5y
erzascarletbookgasm I have stacked this too! Waiting for the paperback copy to purchase 😊 5y
Kalalalatja That is a stunning cover 😍 5y
Melissa_J Now I‘m going to have to peruse my shelves closely to find some lovely covers. The cover you‘ve picked is beautiful. 5y
Mdargusch I bet you have some gorgeous book covers to show us! This one is stunning! 5y
youneverarrived Gorgeous 🖤 5y
LeahBergen @Melissa_J I‘m sure you will have no problem! 😆 5y
102 likes3 stack adds17 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Mehso-so

Set during WWI, Kate Cartwright teams up with killer-for-hire, Donovan, to find out who is stealing classified documents.

Although there is a seance & ghosts do make an appearance, it was nowhere near as spooky as I expected. A slightly above average mystery. 3⭐️

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scripturient
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Down with the flu again - it‘s becoming a bit of an annoying habit - so I‘m self-medicating with lemonade and books. 🤧😷🥴

gradcat Yum—lemonade! But I‘m only sorry you‘re ill...get better soon! ❤️ 5y
JennyM Take care and feel better soon 5y
youneverarrived Feel better soon 💛 5y
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Suet624 Awww, I‘m sorry. 5y
AmyG Feel better. 5y
Lreads I hope you feel better soon. 💕 5y
Kshakal Feel better soon! 5y
LiteraryinLawrence Feel better!!! 5y
JessClark78 Hope you feel better soon.🌸 5y
Crazeedi Sending you healing thoughts! 😘 5y
tammysue Feel better!! 🤗 5y
cobwebmoth Hope you're feeling better soon! 5y
Sarah83 Great idea... I went home earlier today aswell. My head is aching. 5y
SelfishGiant Get well soon! Good recipe for self-medication. ;-) 5y
ephemeralwaltz Hope you're feeling better!! 5y
83 likes1 stack add15 comments
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MadCatRamble
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Pickpick

This was such a fun read - perfect for dark and stormy nights. While it wasn‘t as creepy as the blurbs implied, it was fast paced, tense and pleasantly dark. Plus, it featured one of the best creepy houses with secret passages I‘ve ever read. The sexy tension between Donovan and Kate didn‘t hurt either.

8 likes1 stack add
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Lizpixie
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Pickpick

Well, that was fabulous! A WWI ghost story, set in an island off the Devon coast in 1917, Lord Highmount, the owner Of Blackwater Abbey, has organised a spiritualist weekend to try & contact his two sons, dead in a conflict in which his armaments company has played a significant part. Unfortunately for him, it‘s not just the anger of the dead he needs to be worried about. Wonderfully gothic ghost story, I loved every minute.👻💣🧨🔮⚰️ #warishell

tpixie Fun!! 5y
Tamra Yay, can‘t wait! 5y
57 likes2 comments
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Lizpixie
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I‘m already 50pgs into Bk97 Of 2018, it‘s looking like a brilliant read so far. I have 8 more days to finish this plus 2 more to hit my goodreads challenge of this year. I aimed high(200)at the beginning but my eyes forced me to cut it in half. Still, with $2 put away for every book I finished, that‘s still $200 for new books in the Boxing Day Sales! This pic taken today at my grandsons “Santa‘s Birthday Party” he insisted on having.🎅🏻🎁

Miss_Kim Oooo putting away $2 is a great idea! Have fun spending that! 5y
Jerdencon I like that idea too ! 5y
CouronneDhiver Great photo! 5y
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Tamra Terrific idea and I really want to read this one! 5y
Reagan What a great idea and good job! You can do it!! 5y
Chrissyreadit Wow! Sounds like Boxing Day will be fun! What a great reading year! What were your top three books? 5y
Lizpixie @Miss_Kim I certainly will, I have a long list of 2019 releases I am salivating over. @Jerdencon I did the same last year but only $1 per book, still managed to save $180! Thought I‘d up the ante this year👍 @CouronneDhiver thank you lovely❤️ @Tamra I‘m on page 223 already & loving it👌 @Reagan-reads I think I‘ll just scrape in🏃🏻‍♀️ 5y
Lizpixie @Chrissyreadit Boxing Day Sales are awesome🙌 My top three books is hard to narrow down, I loved 5y
Chrissyreadit Ooh! 4 of those are already on my TBR! 5y
Nebklvr Woohoo! Good job! 5y
81 likes1 stack add15 comments
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Lizpixie
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#BookMail Pt1 I suppose I should talk about the book too hey😏. It‘s the winter of 1917 & at Blackwater Abbey, off the coast of Devon UK, Lord Highmount has organised a spiritualist gathering so he can contact the 2 sons he lost to WWI. But when a storm cuts off the island, every guest finds the secrets they‘ve been hiding are bubbling up, soon one is dead. Sometimes it‘s not just houses that are haunted. #itwasadarkandstormynight

TrishB I really enjoyed this one 👍🏻 5y
JazzFeathers This sounds so very charming. Ehhhhh... l think l'll be forced to hunt it down 😌 5y
62 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Lizpixie
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So, my Goldsboro Books order finally turned up. Over 2 months later. They‘re supposedly “replacements” but the thing is, at least 2 of those books were sold out limited editions. Things that make you go hmmmmm. I think my order got misplaced in their stockroom & they finally found it a week ago & sent it by air courier from London to Sydney. I‘m just happy to finally have them! If they didn‘t have unique editions I wouldn‘t be going back honestly.

Tamra Beautiful! 5y
51 likes1 comment
review
TrishB
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Pickpick

This was a great read, very Agatha like for the fans on here. Old haunted house, cut off island, stormy weather, First World War and a murder mystery, AND a lovely cover
Liked the characters, can see there is potential for further books with the two main characters.
Happy to have matched my Devon bookmark with a book set in Devon 😁

RaimeyGallant Is it paranormal? 5y
rockpools I am failing as a Devon person. (Never heard of this one!) Hope the return to work has been civilised. x 5y
TrishB @RaimeyGallant it has 👻 ghosts! 5y
See All 13 Comments
TrishB @RachelO it‘s quite new- I won it on Readers First. Was made up it was set in Devon. It‘s been ok - just very tiring! Hope you‘re doing ok💕 5y
RaimeyGallant Thanks! 5y
Melissa_J Hi Trish! Your package 📦 is on its way. It should be there in 1-3 weeks. It‘s going by air rather than by boat this time. 5y
TrishB @Melissa_J exciting 😁 thank you 5y
Cathythoughts Great review! Stacking 5y
LeahBergen Oh, good! 👍🏻 5y
batsy That does sound very intriguing! I've already stacked it, though. I think it must be because of you 😁 5y
Lizpixie That‘s awesome! I have this preordered from Goldsboro, so happy to hear it‘s good👍 5y
JazzFeathers You sold me! 😆 5y
TrishB @JazzFeathers 👍🏻 5y
114 likes7 stack adds13 comments
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TrishB
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#lunchtimeread
Making myself have a lunch break today....please also admire my lovely new lilac DMs which were a consolation return to work present (from myself!)
This book is great so far!

Cathythoughts Book sounds good ! As for The Docs !! Well they are gorg 💜💜💜 (edited) 5y
batsy Aaaaa lovely lilac Docs 💜 5y
SomedayAlmost Cute shoes! 5y
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Amabear I love those! 😍 5y
Leftcoastzen Absolutely adorable! 5y
Balibee146 Love em.... All your desk photos bring back old work memories.....just in car from mud, rain and freezing wind but I love it lol. Glad you are taking a lunch break x x 5y
Kalalalatja Perfect! 💜💜💜 5y
LeahBergen Oh, those Docs. 😍 I recently ordered this one - I hope it‘s good! 5y
TrishB @LeahBergen I‘m loving it - think you will 🤞🏻 real old school mystery/ghost story! 5y
TrishB @Balibee146 don‘t want the mud necessarily 😁 5y
TrishB @Kalalalatja thank you 😘 5y
Balibee146 @TrishB not on those DMs 👍😉 5y
TNbookworm 💜💜 5y
Reggie Nice!!! 5y
133 likes4 stack adds15 comments