A weekend house party will have surprising consequences for all participants!

A House of Ghosts is a delicious read. I loved every moment of immersing myself in this wonderfully atmospheric, ghostly tale of espionage, betrayal and, quite surprisingly, romance.

What W. C Ryan has managed to do in A House of Ghosts is to write with complete authenticity for the era, especially through the direct speech, within the traditional unifying parameters of time, place and action and yet craft a narrative that is completely enthralling to a modern reader. I thought this skill was astounding. I loved the manner with which humour provides dramatic relief and the way W.C. Ryan presents the most unusual elements with an almost casual tone so that they are believable to even the most sceptical reader. Kate’s private thoughts in particular add an extra dimension that is so satisfying. The themes explored such as grief, spiritualism, patriotism, PTSD and revenge mean that there is something for every reader here. The short chapters make the book race along and each has an ending that simply refuses to allow the reader to stop. So many surprises await discovery that it’s exciting and surprising too.

The setting is just perfect for the narrative, especially when coupled with the pathetic fallacy of the weather so that much of the novel feels quite visual. I think A House of Ghosts would make the most amazing film. Blackwater Abbey’s passages and cellars, the lighthouse and the storm all create a creepiness that draws on readers’ knowledge of other traditions to intensify the mystery of the story.

In amongst the fast pace and captivating setting are vivid and compelling characters. Kate’s feistiness is so engaging and I can’t wait to read more about her and Donovan in any future books. With A House of Ghosts I truly felt as if I were watching the people first hand and observing them rather than reading about them.

I found W.C. Ryan’s A House of Ghosts thoroughly entertaining and engaging as well as elegantly written. I thought it was brilliant and cannot recommend it highly enough.

Firstly, and to my absolute delight, this book opened to reveal none other than a map! I am a HUGE fan of maps in books so knew instantly that I was on to a winner!  There are also a small number of pen drawings in the opening pages and at the beginning of each chapter; each so lovely and detailed.  My particular favourite was that of the lighthouse.

Whilst this wasn’t quite the “haunted house” story I was expecting; I was enthralled by this creepy, suspenseful and fabulously atmospheric, mystery novel.  More of a spy thriller than a ghost story, I was gripped by its twists and turns, and it kept me guessing throughout.

With a wonderful cast of characters; each uniquely fascinating in themselves, this book has a delicious “old school” mystery feel to it.  Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie books and others of that ilk.

A House of Ghosts is an entertaining and fast paced story, which really is the perfect autumnal, fire-side read.

There’s something about the onset of autumn, the damp, grey mists and the chill in the air, which lends itself to ghost stories and The House of Ghosts is just the sort of book which should be read on a cold, dark evening, snuggled up on the sofa with a fire roaring. However, although I have the sofa, I’m missing the fire and read most of this engrossing tale during daylight hours. Thankfully W.C. Ryan provided the atmosphere as he transported me to the bleakly remote island and the mysterious Blackwater Abbey where most of the action takes place.
I don't think it would be unfair to describe A House of Ghosts as a homage to And Then There Were None with its assembled cast of house guests all stuck on an isolated island as a murderer hides amongst them with any number of suspects. However, I was also reminded of another of Agatha Christie's novels, The Secret Adversary as Donovan and Kate's relationship sparkles with a similar witty repartee and chemistry to that between Tommy and Tuppence, ensuring the novel has a light-hearted touch throughout despite the chilling and often emotional subject matter. The narrative is mostly divided between their perspectives with the occasional scene shown from the point of view of other characters and they are both interesting and deeply engaging protagonists with pasts that invite curiosity.
The book is set during World War One, a time when, quite understandably, there was a growing interest in the spiritual world and the mediums who claimed to be able to converse with loved ones. This also meant a rise in charlatans who preyed on the bereaved - of whom there were many, of course - and so it's fascinating to see Kate's doubts about the two mediums present at Blackwater Abbey, given that she can definitely see the many ghosts gathered there. I loved that she is rather sceptical despite her own abilities, of which she seems to endure rather than consider them a gift.
Most of those present are suffering grief and loss as the shadow of war rips families apart and leaves those left behind tormented by guilt and their memories. Those who have seen active service are still haunted by their experiences and the sense of claustrophobia which pervades the book is a starkly poignant reminder of the horrifying conditions they faced in the tunnels under the trenches. Donovan is a particularly enigmatic figure; his nightmares and reluctance to enter dark, cramped spaces are an indication of the horrors he has faced, yet as an Irishman, he isn't weighed down by the patriotic desire to do his duty and his involvement with the mysterious C and his role as a spy is especially intriguing.
This is a book of many layers - an atmospheric ghost story, a compelling spy thriller, a puzzling murder mystery and a touching exploration of the human cost of war, both in terms of the anguish of bereavement and the terror of what we now recognise as PTSD. The superb characterisation is matched by the evocative, often chilling sense of place, exquisite rendering of the time period and the intricate plotting, which all meant I couldn't put A House of Ghosts down. The ending suggests there may be more adventures to come for Donovan and Kate, I certainly hope so, for this hugely appealing pairing offers much promise for an addictive series of books. In the meantime, I thoroughly recommend A House of Ghosts as a brilliantly spine-tingling story packed with suspense and emotion. I loved it!

A House of Ghosts is a bit historical novel, a bit spy-story, and a bit ghost story. I don’t know how, but the author managed to mix perfectly these three different genres and create a page-turner! The year is 1917 and people are dying all around Europe. In the meantime, in a small island off the coast of Devon, a few people reunite at Blackwater Abbey for a séance to recall their loved ones who died in the trenches. We read about parents grieving over the loss of their sons and sisters who hope to hear the voices of the brothers they lost. However, if this is a spiritualistic gathering, why is an undercover secret agent taking part to the meeting?

One of my favourite novels by Agatha Christie is And Then There Were None and that’s what A House of Ghosts reminds me. The suspenseful and gloomy atmosphere, the fact that no one can leave the island, murders, suspicion, and secrets… all of this reminded me of the novels of the Queen of Crime. The author adds séances, ghosts, and espionage making the story unique and hard to put down.

A House of Ghosts is not just mystery and crime, there is also a human side. With First World War still going strong on the continent, we read about the families left behind who don’t know if they will ever see again their loved ones and we read about the soldiers fighting for their lives and their country, trying to survive, and how the war still affects them once they go home. This side of the story is quite informative and thought-provoking, at times moving.

I truly enjoyed A House of Ghosts. I loved the captivating story and the engaging and sometimes colorful characters. Actually, I am hoping there will be more novels featuring the two protagonists, Evie and Donovan, as they go around the world as secret agents… I would definitely read more of their stories. Highly recommend it!

A House Of Ghosts is set during WW1 in 1917.

Kate Cartwright and Captain Donovan are called to ‘C’s office at the Secret Intelligence Service. They do not know each other, but they are both sent to Blackwater Abbey, an offer Kate had previously declined.

Lord and Lady Highmount are playing host to a gathering, a seance, to try to contact their sons, lost at war. However, ‘C’ suspects someone at the gathering is passing military secrets to the enemy…..so Kate and Donovan are tasked with finding out who.


Now, Kate herself can see spirits and there are plenty roaming Blackwater. Are the seances real ? Or is there a charlatan at work? As Kate and Donovan grow closer, the danger increases…will they find the culprit before anyone is hurt?

This is a mix of historical fiction, an Agatha Christie style whodunnit 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.

Thank you to the publishers, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this for free This is my honest, unbiased review.

A House of Ghosts is exactly that…Blackwater Abbey has many spitits roaming its halls and one or two of the guests during the course of events in the book can see them. However (important info incoming) the ghosts are not malevolent spirits intent on destroying the characters in the tale, they are passive characters. Do not pick up A House of Ghosts and expect it to be the next Amytiville Horror – it’s not that type of read.

What A House of Ghosts can offer is (I felt) closer to an espionage adventure or a puzzle in a old stately home set during the latter period of The Great War.

There are some supernatural elements to the tale, a seance to contact Lord Highmount’s sons who died in the conflict. A mirror which reflects more than the viewer but there are also undercover agents working for British security and a houseguest with murder and menace on their mind.

The characters residing at Blackwater Abbey seem to have secrets they are to keep. The house is remote and cut-off from help as a storm rages outside. The finger of suspicion points at different people throught the book and the author keeps the mystery element twisting nicely through the chapters.

I have worked my way through a few stories this year with unlikeable lead characters and they haven’t been to my liking. I found I enjoyed A House of Ghosts much more I as I became engaged with the events in Blackwater Abbey and wanted to read more about the characters in the book. More importantly I wanted to keep reading as I enjoyed the world W.C. Ryan was spinning for me. I much prefer when a story entertains rather than has to be endured.

Not the ghost story I had anticipated from the title but a great period mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed.

This is the perfect book to read at this time of year now the nights are drawing in, I will admit I had been saving this one and I read it wrapped up in my quilt in bed with a warm drink and I loved it!

I loved the author’s style of writing and I thought it really suited the story. The characters were well developed and fitted the era perfectly.

The author had a brilliant way of bringing everything to life and at times I really did feel as though I was transported back in time. I love historical fiction and this was a thoroughly enjoyable read with a few twists!

It is 4 stars from me for this one, I thought the plot was great, the characters were well developed and that cover is just fantastic - it really suits the tone of the book - highly recommended!!

I’ve wanted to read A House of Ghosts ever since I heard William Ryan talking about it at Iceland Noir last year, so now that the paperback is being released in October, I have my opportunity.

William Ryan writes with delicious precision, creating a fabulous atmosphere that is both redolent of the era of Agatha Christie and clearly of the WW1 spy era. This is a book for winter nights; one to read while you are wrapped up all warm and toasty with a stiff drink beside you, because William Ryan’s writing makes his ghostly apparitions transmit their chilling ways from the pages of the book until the cold seeps into your soul.

Our protagonists are Kate Cartwright, a plucky and spirited young woman diverted from her rather boring intelligence work to provide cover for agent Donovan when they travel to Blackwater Abbey, home of a major munitions manufacturer, Lord Highmount. Kate’s parents will be there, and she has reluctantly agreed to travel as the betrothed of her ex-fiancé in order that Donovan can travel as his manservant.

Of course there is a spark between Kate and Donovan which grows as the pair face danger and death together and this creates a pleasing undercurrent to this murder mystery and espionage story.

Blackwater Abbey is on a small island off the Devon coast. The pretext for the weekend is that there will be at least one séance to try to establish what has happened to Lord and Lady Highmouth’s sons, both of whom are missing in action. To aid in this, there are two spiritualists, Count Orlov and Madame Feda. What neither of them knows is that Kate Cartwright has been seeing ghosts since she was young; something she shares with no-one, though her mother is well aware. Against the background of a dark and turbulent storm, Kate and Donovan will have to put all their wits together to solve the mystery of who the murderer is and why.

What makes this book chilling and indeed haunting is not the ghosts who swirl around the ancient house though; rather it is the knowledge of how many young men are dying on the front and why they are dying. Ryan’s writing is beautifully descriptive and his narrative arc sets out just how these boys (which is what many of them were) died for reasons other than being slain by the enemy.

The calculations of the War Office, the commercial considerations, and the way in which those in control were subject to malign influences and outright corruption all play into a sad story of tragic loss of life, alongside a good espionage story.

Verdict: Ryan has penned an intelligent, fast paced adventure story with a dash of romance and a gallant hero in war torn Britain. I enjoyed his two protagonists who are never patronised and I’d happily read another book with these two characters.

I saw William Ryan at the Spirits in the Material World panel at Newcastle Noir 2019 and was riveted by his conversation and his amazing Irish accent. As I'm partial to a bit of supernatural spookiness I promptly added him to my 'must read' list, so when I saw that A House of Ghosts was being published, I was chomping at the bit to read it. I read it over the course of 24 hours and could quite easily have read it in one sitting if I didn't have to eat or sleep.

Firstly, I have to mention the eye-catching and mesmerising cover of A House of Ghosts. The screen doesn't do it justice as the gold foiling on the paperback catches the light and kept tempting me to touch it, which I couldn't help myself doing. Book strokers of the world unite! When I could finally tear my eyes away from the cover, I was delighted to find a map in the front of the book. I'm a bit of map geek so I love things like this; it really helps to set the scene, although it's not necessary to keep referring to it throughout the book.

With the first world war raging across Europe, many young men were destined never to return home. Officially 'missing in action', families would never know when or how many of their loved ones died. Lord Highmount sent two sons off to war and neither returned so he arranges a seance in the hope that one or both of his sons will make contact. With a variety of psychics and mediums called to attend, you have to wonder if any of them are genuine or are they up to their famous tricks of manipulating the grief-stricken? Two guests are on a secret mission to find out.

This haunting gothic tale has all the hallmarks of a marvellous whodunnit by Agatha Christie with the dark brooding setting of a Daphne du Maurier novel. I loved the dynamic between the two main characters of Kate and Donovan and I was very intrigued by what I liked to refer to as Kate's magic mirror. At the heart of the story is the harrowing effect of war, both on those who experienced it at the front line and those left behind at home. I can't even begin to imagine what it must have been like for so many young men to never return home, often wiping out the youths from whole families and villages. I recall my Grandad saying that he was only one of two young men who returned to their village in Wales at the end of World War II, then he promptly upped sticks and moved to the North East leaving only one young man in the village - I bet he was popular with the ladies!

I really enjoyed A House of Ghosts, it has so many threads running through it to keep me intrigued and they all tie up nicely at the end. It has all the makings of a classic novel and one that will definitely go on the 'to read again' list; I'm already planning to chill my bones with another visit to Blackwater Abbey on a dark winter's night in the not too distant future.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

I remember seeing some buzz around this book when the hardback was released last year and thinking at the time that this sounded like my kind of read, so when I received an email from Tracy organising a blog tour I knew this was one I would want to be a part of.

This is definitely one of those books where I recommend curling up on the sofa or in your favourite reading chair, infant of a fire if possible and letting the book take you to the dark blustering island and the cold walls of Blackwater Abbey.

Kate Cartwright is the heroine of our story with a unique ability that she can see ghosts. She is recruited by the secret service to accompany the mysterious soldier Donovan to the abbey where the owners, the Highmounts, have rounded up various individuals to participate in a seance with the hope that they will be able to contact the spirits of their deceased sons from the war.

This book isn’t entirely what I was expecting. I was expecting more supernatural and ghostly elements and what I found myself reading was more like a historical espionage. I still throughly enjoyed the plot, and there was still enough of an air of mystery to keep me intrigued, it’s just not necessarily what I thought I was going to be reading when I started.

This book kind of covers a mixture of many genres and surprisingly there is even a romance element entwined. I personally would have liked to have had more made about the supernatural side of things but having said that I did find this a nice easy read to pass some time and would definitely read more from this author.

A nice English country house mystery, in the manner of Agatha Christie. Set during the Great War, with spies, secret passages, things that go bump in the night, on an island during a storm and at the winter solstice.

Wonderful - loved it.

I read an advance review copy from Netgalley. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

Oh my! The cover and the Agatha Christie kind of a blurb along with the presence of ghosts in the title caught my eye immediately, and I knew I had to get my hands on this sweet number.

The setting was of the World War I in the winter of year 1917 where people were invited to the remote Abbey on an isolated Blackwater Island by Sir Francis and his wife. A seance was to be held to contact their sons via the mediums.

The many guests had their own agenda with secrets and lies hidden deep within them. Kate and Donovan, the narrators, were the most endearing of the lot, who started their own investigation when things happened and Lord Francis was in danger.

My first book by author W. C. Ryan, it was the atmosphere that gripped me when I started reading. The stormy weather and the electricity going off added to the eeriness which brought out my goosebumps. The house had ghosts, but they were largely just spectators (my personal opinion, they should have been used to give me a good scare!!)

The book was a slow burn which initially laid down the foundation of the characters and creepy aura that this Abbey had. I looked at the characters with a suspicious eye as I was sure that everyone was up to no-good. The book gathered up pace from the mid half and kept me engrossed in it, wanting to know the mysteries hidden.

The steep slope of the finale, the elements of mystery and horror interspersed into it, and intelligent main characters made this a fun read.

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 but 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 for the beautiful cover.

Agatha Christie with a horror twist. Lots to love here, genuinely chilling and will keep you guessing although you may THINK you've figured it out early on.

A rollicking read of a book. Great fun, and you can tell the author had fun with it too. I love William Ryan's books, and was delighted to read something slightly different by him.

Set during World War I A House of Ghosts is set on a small island, just off the coast of Devon. A group has gathered there intending to commune with spirits of those lost in the trenches. But there are also more earthly reasons for some of them to be there too, that could put even more lives at risk.

The premise of this is great, the cover beautiful but the execution not quite right. Whilst it is quite creepy and very atmospheric too much is revealed too soon. It would have better for the reader to be in the dark regarding whether or not ghosts are really around or not. But the cards are laid early on and for me that made it a bit dull. This isn't a bad book by any means, in fact it's quite good. But it could have been brilliant.

I was drawn in by the cover of this book and was not disappointed. Gripping, twisty-turny, creepy. Very enjoyable dark wintry read.

Loved the cover! The book itself, not quite as much mainly because it couldn’t seem to decide what it was. Supernatural? Espionage? Romance? Not enough of the first, too much of the second and the third only just touched on. The house on the island was interesting, so would have liked that to have been gone into in much more depth than it was. This novel had the makings of being really creepy but wasn’t and I felt it could’ve been reduced by a quarter as it was too long and repetitive.

A House of Ghosts is one of those stories that is perfect for curling up in front of the fire with. Set on an island in the midst of winter in 1917, it is atmospheric and creepy (but not too scary). We first meet Kate Cartwright and Captain Robert Donovan when they are both summoned by the Head of the Secret Intelligence Service (by a man known as C) to undertake a mission in espionage at Blackwood Abbey off of the coast of Devon. Kate is known to the family as her parents are friends of the owner Lord Highmount, and with her (ex)-fiance Rolleson Miller-White, parents and Donovan (who is in role as a valet to Miller-White) head off for the island for a seance session in which Lord Highmount hopes to be able to contact his two sons who have been killed in France. Kate's parents hope too to have some contact with their son Arthur, who is missing in action.

The weather, as you can imagine, is frightful and soon the islanders are cut off from the mainland. Alongside those mentioned above, other members of the party include Madame Feda and Count Dimitri Orlov who both claim to be able to see and speak to the dead. Little do they know that Kate also possesses the ability to see ghosts, and she is soon astounded by how many spirits are still gathered at Blackwater Abbey. However, are the famed spiritualists all they claim to be? The party also consists of Doctor Reid and his patient Private Albert Simms who is suffering from the effects of trench warfare.

Some plans have been stolen from the Highmounts who are responsible for manufacturing armaments to send to the front line, and it would appear that there is a person in the house who is prepared to kill to get their revenge, but who is it and can Kate and Donovan find out before their lives too are in danger? I thought this was a nice ghosts story and that it worked well. It's been billed as a modern day Agatha Christie, and if you love her novels as I do, you won't be too disappointed by reading this I'm sure!

Set against the backdrop of World War I, a group of people convene at Blackwater Abbey, off the Devon coast, for a spiritual gathering. Only things aren’t what they seem, and they soon find themselves trapped on the island when murder strikes. Ryan creates the perfect mix of espionage, mystery, supernatural and that little dash of romance. I’m practically begging for this to be turned into a series. I want to go on more adventures with Donovan and Miss Cartwright.