“A House of Ghosts” by W. C. Ryan
I knew nothing about A House of Ghosts or W.C. Ryan when I bought it. It was 100% a spur of the moment whim based on the cover. But boy, am I glad I did. Because while it’s not a book that’s going to change your life, it will nevertheless be an incredibly enjoyable read.
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.
I want to start off by saying I really enjoyed this book. And I want to do that because my first point sounds like I’m damning it with faint praise. Because that point is A House of Ghosts is a wonderfully comfortable read. It’s a detective/ghost story that’s a natural descendant of the style we recognise from the ’20s and ’30 that fill so many Sunday afternoon TV slots.
And I say “descendant” rather than “copy” very deliberately. It’s not a copy of those. Instead, it takes the atmosphere and beats and presents them with a far more modern feel. Yes, there are elements that feel a little cliche. We have the competent male detective with a secretive past. The spunky female love interest/sidekick. Every character has their own secret. We even have an old country house with secret passages. But cliche doesn’t necessarily mean bad, as long as they are handled well. And complaining about these points in a book of this genre would be like complaining your new jeans came with pockets.
I came into A House of Ghosts having recently finished a couple of books that had been rather hard going, and it felt wonderfully refreshing to dive into something so easy to get into. It engrossed me straight away, and it felt like the story zipped past as I got lost in the familiar yet new settings and characters. They may have all been archetypes, but there were each their own creations.
No, A House of Ghosts isn’t going to change anyone’s life. But it’s also not going to leave anyone dissatisfied. And I’ll be the first to pick up any continuing stories with the same detective.
A House of Ghosts is comfortable without ever being lazy. It may not be offering us anything out of the box, but what it does offer is fun, twisty, and in the end, just a wonderful read.
