Sometimes you just need an old fashioned ghost story.
While it may feel at this stage that there isn’t any new ground to be covered in this exhaustive sub-genre, Heather Davey has found a way with the captivating novel The Ghosts of Merry Hall.
Our story is split into two timelines, one following a modern-day mother and daughter duo who are forced due to financial circumstances to take residence in the titular Merry Hall.
The alternative is where this story gets really interesting, as we effectively have the point of view of a spirit who may be inhabiting Merry Hall.
Slowly their stories converge, with the odd telegraphed scare, that is told with so much sincerity that you can excuse hitting the established beats.
The standout here is the character of Nell, a single mother desperately trying to make ends meet whilst also dealing with the fall-out of her marriage plus her teenage daughter Fern. Nell’s arc is so compelling that even when she something she shouldn’t have, she is so fleshed out that you can see her reasoning and support her journey.
Our spirit’s tale is also tinged with tragedy, as we follow Dolly, a Victorian girl who navigates the established roles of women in this time, plus a stark and harrowing example of an 1800s ‘me too’ case.
Davey has crafted an excellent story that will fit perfectly into your reading schedule, just as the leaves turn brown and the spirits of the dead come to warm themselves by the fireside.
The Ghosts of Merry Hall by Heather Davey is available now in various formats from Titan Books.
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