A House Full Of Ghosts is pure perfection! It has several themes that I absolutely adore and some that strike at my heart. It covers a multitude of genre’s it is literary, historical with a slight occult theme also. It really is 100% worth your investment in the beautiful hardback edition.

The novel centres around several characters, mostly of the upper class and privileged of society. But as we know from history, this alone did not absolve you from the battle lines of The Great War. The novel is set in the winter of 1917 and you can fully appreciate the psychological impact of ww1 on several of the characters.

This struck very personal to me, as my great-grandfather fought in ww1 and came back having received a severe head injury. Eventually, he took his own life years later. I guess we will never truly know if it was the head injury, the psychological trauma of a mixture of both. But all I do know is he took his life via slitting his own throat and my grandfather was the one to find him at just 10yrs old. His death would leave a substantial impact on one of the greatest men, I’ve even known, my Grandad Alan.

Back to the novel itself, the central characters are Cpt Robert Donovan and Kate Cartwright. When they are summoned to Blackwater Abbey to take part in a séance to summon the dead of ww1. They have no idea, they’ll end up becoming amateur detectives themselves. The characterisation of these two is phenomenal and they work brilliantly together. What we are yet to discover, is that Kate has a gift of her own. . .

‘Any supposed contact with the dead is either the work of charlatans or some kind of group psychological disorder’ – Kate Cartwright

We learn more about each individual character present at Blackwater Abbey. Their ties to the estate and their loss of loved ones in ww1. Kate for example has lost her own brother and despite her reservations, she is desperate for some kind of communication or confirmation of his death.
‘The problem with corruption among the English upper classes wasn’t that it existed but thatg it

wasn’t dealth with firmly and publicly’ – C

Blackwater Abbey is located on Blackwater island as island rumoured to be full of ghosts and the perfect location for a weekend of spiritualism and séances. That is until the stormy weather cuts the group off from access and contact with the mainland. . .

‘In a house of ghosts, the living await, their certain fate’

Eventually we are introduced to the two eccentric characters, that have been acquired to carry out the seances. Madame Freda and Count Dmitri Orlov. The séance will require 12 people and equal numbers of men and women, which requires two unwilling servants to join their number.

‘Spirits from the other side, join us’ Count Orlov

For me personally, this novel has it all. A haunted island, superstition, wartime secrets and trauma. Kate and Donovan make the perfect crime solving pair and the novel strongly reminded me of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.
5* Genius

Set in wartime Britain on a remote island cut off from the main land by stormy weather, this has a bit of an ‘And Then There Were None’ vibe to it. The book follows an unusual house party, hosted by the wealthy Lord and Lady Highmount. The guests are a combination of the wealthy elite, dubious mediums and a couple of undercover agents thrown in for good measure. The Highmounts plan to hold a seance to attempt to contact their sons, and the son of their family friends, all lost in the war.

The book follows Donovan, and undercover officer posing as a valet, and Kate, a family friend of the Highmounts and also Donovan’s colleague.

The plot is full of twists, turns and secret passages, and some of the characters feel a bit like caricatures, but it all works together well and makes for an entertaining story. The ghostly element is almost an aside - the real villains of the piece are the people - but it adds an extra dimension. For all the pomp and showmanship of the spiritual mediums at the house party, the quiet Kate is the one who can actually see spirits, and the descriptions of these are woven in to great effect.

Spooky, twisty and fun.

**Spoilers everywhere**

Ultimately, I did enjoy this book, however I have many niggles with it but I think it is best to start with the enjoyable parts of the book.

The setting is fantastic, a house on a remote island isolated from the rest of England during a terrible storm, it is the perfect atmosphere for something sinister to happen. The house itself is brilliant as well, the hidden tunnels are perfect and plays so well into the era the book is set in.

Although I felt like the book got off to a slow start, once the main meat of the plot had started I found myself totally sucked in and loved the direction it took.

Sadly, I wasn't as found of the ending. There was so much potential there and so much build up that it felt like the last scene in the dining room was bit of a cop out. I also feel like Lady Fairmount could've explained a lot of what had happened with who the mysterious character.

For me though, the biggest disappoint is that this book was described as being for fans of The Silent Companions and the haunted house part was emphasised which is what really had me sold on this game as I thought it would have a lot more paranormal aspects than it did. To be completely honest the ghosts could've been completely missing from this book and I don't think it would make any difference, it is the same for the mirror, it was utilised once and then seemed to have forgotten about, as is the spooky stuff happening in the house like the weird things that happen to sound. It was very promising but was not continued on throughout the book.

The comparison to And Then There Were None though was very apt and I think fans of Agatha Christie will enjoy this as it's a very fun mystery read, it is just not what I was expecting. .

Thanks to netgally and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.
A delightful read and unusual story line. I enjoyed this intriguing and read it quite quickly. Well done to the author and thank you.

This book had such a hype and a gorgeous cover, I literally jumped on it to read. Sadly, I didn't find it too enjoyable.

The setting reminds of "And then there were none" however there is no chilling atmosphere or anything to give creeps. Set in Blackwater Abbey, an island in Devon during the Great War, A House of Ghosts is a mystery more than a murder novel.

The story is not very eventful. The characters gather together in the house, a few of them can see the ghosts. Kate and Donovan work for Secret Service and have a mission, the owners of the house, Highmounts, are hoping to contact with their missing during the war, presumed death sons, Kate's parents are also aristocrats and in the Abbey for the same aim. There is a traumatised soldier, private Simms and Dr Reid.Also the foreigners, Count Orlov, a Russian and Madame Feda, a medium.

This mix of characters start interacting but for a long time nothing really happens, the story drags. Then somethings happen (don't want to spoil) but it wasn't enough to impress, sadly.

I would categorise this as a cosy mystery rather than a scary/spooky read. Could have been shorter, also for me, the weapons business of Lord Highmount was too repetitive.

I was looking for a thrilling and haunting read to keep me company as the nights have been drawing in, and this book proved perfect for that. A historical novel, fulls of secrets, and tension and hauntingly creepy passages both in the book and in Blackwater Abbey. I felt the historical context of the book added to the creepy-ness factor and the description was brilliant. The only thing that did ot give this book 5 stars for me was it took me a couple of attempts to get into the story, i did start it and had to put it down, i just could not connect with the book on the first try, but after leaving it a bit and taking another dive into the text i really enjoyed it.

There is so much to love about this novel!

Let’s start with the cover. The saying may be ‘Never judge a book by its cover’ but in this case you can. I think this is possibly the most beautiful cover I have ever seen. Top marks to Bonnier Zaffre for this. There’s a real sense of Golden Age and that’s not just because it’s gold on black. The drawing is exquisite and you can actually feel the ridges as you run your fingers over it. This attention to detail continues inside with a map of the island. There’s also pictures for each narrator at the beginning of their chapters – a mirror for Kate Cartwright, a lamp for Donovan and a chandelier for Lord and Lady Highmount.

But does the story match up to the cover? Absolutely. This is a mixture of thriller, whodunit and ghost story. In fact, the ghosts are part and parcel of the house – it’s more their home than anyone else’s – and we see them through Kate’s eyes. She has great respect for them so they don’t appear too scary. Although there may be one or two who are a bit more menacing.

The setting of an island cut off from the mainland because of a snow storm helps to create a claustrophobic atmosphere. There’s a killer loose on the island and with the telephone wire cut, no one is coming to rescue the guests.

A haunted house on an isolated island needs a great collection of characters and William Ryan hasn’t failed in this department. There’s a great selection from Lords and Ladies as well as the servants. The main narrators are Kate Cartwright and Donovan. Kate knows the house well as she’s been there before and is familiar with the ghostly residents. Donovan is almost a shadowy figure as he’s a spook in another sense. Together, they have to find the killer.

The book is set in 1917 and as well as being a thriller/whodunit/ghost story, it also looks at the terrible effects of WW1. There are soldiers who tell their stories of the trenches and the tunnels, as well as the families who are suffering tremendous loss. And it’s this tragedy that weaves the story together with a gold thread, adding another level and creating depth.

All in all, this is exactly the kind of book you want to read as the weather turns cooler and the nights draw longer. So clear some time. Get a cuppa, some biscuits and a blanket. Snuggle down and read. You won’t regret it.

I’m afraid I really couldn’t get into this book after 14 chapters and I had to give up. There wasn’t anything hooking me by this point and I felt it was quite slow

This is a well written tale set in 1917 and includes spies, subterfuge, spiritualism and many secrets.

There's a lot going on and at times it's a confusing read. The setting, however, is really well described and I loved the graphics included within the book.

Overall, it's a decent whodunnit, I'd just have liked more chills.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bonnier Zaffre and the author for the opportunity to preview.

From the onset of this book I was hooked and pulled into the story with great gusto. The mysterious setting was perfect for the scenes played out and added to the thrill of the suspense and anticipation. I felt as if I was waiting for Sherlock Holmes to step through the door at any moment as this book gave a wonderful artistic nod to Conan Doyle in both style and affect in my opinion. The detailed writing ensured that this book had a page turning ability and made me feel as if I was right in the scenes along with the characters. The story unfolded in great logical detail and observation with attention given to the dramatic suspense allowing me to imagine my own thrilling soundtrack to add to the magic and excitement that this book created.
This is a clever and thrilling novel that will have you on the edge of your seat, I loved it from start to finish and couldn't put it down. A hauntingly fabulous read and a perfect Halloween treat.

I was attracted to this book because of the absolutely gorgeous cover and the title. I love, love, love stories about spooky old houses as well as traditional-style murder mysteries. I should probably have paid a bit more attention to the blurb because, while there is both a deliciously haunted house and a clever murder mystery, the story is set in 1917 and is also about spies, secret plans and traitors - which is not normally my thing at all. However, I absolutely loved it!

Donovan (the sole survivor of his regiment) and Kate (employed by the War Office to crack codes) are dispatched by 'C' to a house party at Blackwater Abbey on a remote island just off the Devon coast. Lady Highmount has invited her friends and two psychics to her house for a seance. She is hoping to make contact with her sons who are missing in action, believed dead. Her husband, Lord Highmount, is a man of working class origins who has made his fortune manufacturing weapons. Someone is selling plans of these to the Germans, and it's up to Donovan and Kate to find out who.

While there are plenty of (real) ghosts at Blackthorn Abbey, I think this book would suit readers of murder mysteries best. There are some truly chilling moments (the seance!), but perhaps not enough jump shocks for fans of ghost stories. There are, however, plenty of twists for vintage crime fans and a good puzzle to get their teeth into!

I adored the characters and their sparky dialogue. The action is shared equally between Donovan and Kate; she's a thoroughly modern heroine and not just there to make the hero look good. I really hope this is the first book in a new series, because I would love to read more!

Brilliant stuff! Thoroughly recommended!


Thank you to W.C. Ryan and Bonnier Zaffre for my copy of this book, which I requested from NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.

A very good read with lots of twists and turns. Atmospheric scenarios loaded with anticipation of scares to come! Definitely recommended.

If you like a country house murder mystery with the added ingredients of espionage and ghostly visitations, a combination of Agatha Christie and John Buchan then this could well be to your liking. Set just before the winter solstice of 1917 the story takes place at the eponymous creaking and groaning Blackwater Abbey which stands on a windswept isolated small island off the Devon coast. The war continues to decimate the youth of Europe seemingly without an end in sight and no one appears to be unaffected by it. The owner of the island Lord Highmount an arms manufacturer and his wife Lady Elizabeth are no exception and have recently lost their two sons on the Western Front.

It is against this background that the grief stricken parents arrange a gathering on the island of a group of visitors including mediums Madame Feda and Count Orlov with the hope of reuniting them with the spirits of their departed sons. But as the story unfolds it becomes apparent that there is another ulterior motive concerning unmasking the perpetrator of espionage who has recently supplied the enemy with certain details of Highmount's weaponry thereby threatening the country's ensuing war effort.

Also attending the gathering at the behest of the secret service are Kate Cartwright and Robert Donovan who will assist in tracking down and unmasking the spy. But this is more than a straight forward spy novel, for Blackwater Abbey is really haunted by ghosts and Kate possesses the ability to see them.

Ofcourse once all the guests have arrived the weather immediately deteriorates and the island becomes cutoff from the mainland until the storms subside. We are also aware from the opening pages that there is another uninvited guest who has made his way onto the island and will be living rough but who he is and what is his purpose will not be revealed until the conclusion of the story.

The plot itself moves along at a blisteringly pace which is helped by the short concise chapters which often end on a dramatic moment. The old house populated with a plethora of spirits and with its creaking floorboards and hidden tunnels becomes another character in the book. I also like how the author W.C. Ryan recreates the sense of loss, despair and melancholy that permeated all levels of society together with evoking the grim reality of war. If you are looking for a reasonably quick entertaining read then you may well find this of interest.

As the weather turns more towards autumn, so also turns my reading taste towards the more mysterious and darker side of my reading list. I requested this ARC based on the cover and the description, and it did not disappoint.

The setting for this novel feels very reminiscent of And Then There Were None (which is part of the tagline, but definitely deserved) – a remote island off the British coast where a gathering of friends and colourful folk gets cut off from the mainland by a winter storm, only to discover that there are more than ghosts present in the old Abbey – someone with murderous intent walks among them.

We follow a cast of characters, though we only get a few point of views. Kate Cartwright, friend of the Highmount family, is currently in the employ of the British government as a code-breaker. She is teamed up with Donovan, a man of dubious history whose skills become more apparent as things get grimmer on the island – and not just become of the paranormal activity. While the story inherently is a murder mystery set on an island – always a good start – this novel adds to a paranormal edge that is refreshing. I had expected it would play a more significant role in the unraveling of the mystery than it did, but was still a new twist to an old tale.

Kate Cartwright is an main character full of initiative, full of determination not to sit on her hands but be useful, be involved – and finds herself immensely enjoying the thrill of the mystery and the investigation. Despite having some paranormal ability herself (I am still very intrigued about the ‘incident’ that Kate refers to causing such embarrassment for her at Blackwater Abbey previously – I expected it to be elaborated on!), she rarely relies on this to help her, instead using her own intellect and curiosity to further the investigation. Her partnership with Donovan is based on mutual respect for their abilities, as well as their ideas and opinions, which is a pleasant deviation from the trope where the main characters go behind each others backs, or the male character insists the female characters stay safe and protected at all times. Instead throughout the book they decide on their next steps together, and the consequences of this they face together as well.

The mystery itself was engaging enough, though could have been more elaborate. There were some leaps of logic, but the interaction between the characters and suspects was interesting enough to make up for any holes or vague points in the narrative. I highly enjoyed Kate and Donovan’s teamwork and chemistry, and I hope that we will get to see what happens in their next adventure – the ending left some room for a sequel, which I would very happily read!

A House of Ghosts by W.C. Ryan

The winter solstice of 1917 is approaching and Lord Highmount has arranged a meeting of spiritualists and friends at his old and creaking house, Blackwater Abbey, located on a small island off the Devon coast. Lord Highmount and his wife Lady Elizabeth recently lost both of their sons in the war. The boys disappeared from their lives and they’re missed desperately. Lady Elizabeth believes that mediums Madame Feda and Count Orlov will unite her with their spirits. There are other visitors to the house, including a doctor who believes that his patient, a traumatised soldier, is in touch with the dead due to his own traumatic near-death experience. They have come to the right place.

And then there are Kate Cartwright and Robert Donovan. Kate and Donavon are at the house on a mission from Britain’s secret service. Lord Highmount is a successful industrialist contributing to the war effort. There are reasons to believe some of his plans have ended up on German desks and this ‘house party’ will provide the perfect opportunity to trap a spy. But there is far more to Kate than meets the eye.

A House of Ghosts is a stunning novel, a thoroughly absorbing read that combines a chilling ghost story – because it is indeed set within a house of ghosts – with a tale of war. The First World War overshadows everything in this novel. Almost everyone in the house has either lost someone to the war or has fought in it themselves and is recovering from its nightmare. It’s hardly surprising that the dead are restless.

Blackwater Abbey provides the perfect location, especially as it is cut off from the land by a mid winter storm. The house itself might be frightening but the outside is no less deadly. There is no escape for our small group of suspects when one of their number is found murdered. This classic murder mystery scenario, so well executed here, is reason enough to enjoy A House of Ghosts but it is enhanced by its melancholic mood, the result of war and loss, and by the very real chill of its ghosts for this is a house where the dead far outnumber the living.

Kate Cartwright and Donovan are the characters we grow closest to and they’re an enigmatic pair. I particularly enjoyed Kate’s attitude to the spiritual world around her, which contrasts so vividly to the attitude of Madame Feda. Kate is enduring her own loss. There is someone she too would like to contact. But all are distracted by the murderer stalking the house – is this person real?

As the evenings draw in, A House of Ghosts is the perfect read. It’s so easy to lose yourself in it. It’s beautifully written – as you’d expect from the author of The Constant Soldier – and richly evocative of its time and setting. It’s frightening in places but also, rather unexpectedly, I found it comforting and warm, despite the chill of its winter storm. It provides food for thought, particularly on the devastating harm of war, and is impossible to put down.

Other reviews
The Constant Soldier

A genuine classic whodunit, with a touch of ghostly goings on! It really has all the ingredients. An island cut off by a storm, murders, seances, a diminishing cast of possible murderers.
One to enjoy on a winter's evening.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this novel. Was it a ghost story? A thriller? A WWI novel? Well, it's really a mixture of all three,

By 1917, thousands of young men had died in the First World War, or had been reported missing. Many families desperate for closure turned to seances and spiritualists, even those who would never have countenanced such beliefs before the war. A House of Ghosts is riven with such losses, and chock-full of those happy to take advantage of grieving parents.

Lord Highmount has arranged a spiritualist gathering to contact his two sons who have been lost in the conflict, hosted at his country house, Blackwater Abbey, on an island off the Devon coast,

Kate Cartwright and the mysterious Donovan are sent (separately) by the Head of the Secret Intelligence Service to the island to join the house party. Their job is to try to unmask the spy who is passing top secret armament plans to the Germans. It's known that it must be one of Lord Highmount's guests - but which one? Then, a storm descends on the island, and the guests find themselves trapped. And one of them is subsequently murdered. But who did it? Was it the spy? Or are they the victim?

What is relatively unusual in this novel is how the ghosts are treated by the majority of the characters, which is in a very matter of fact way. I quite enjoyed the descriptions of Kate's 'special' gift, and how it impinges on her everyday life. I wouldn't describe this as bone-chilling, but there are some genuinely creepy moments in the dark!

I really enjoyed this novel; it feels as if the author has set this up to be a series which is good news, as I definitely want to see Kate and Donovan in action again!

This story is a wonderfully clever cross between a detective story and a ghost story. The ghosts are very real, one of the main characters can see them all the time but whether they do or don't have anything to do with the sinister goings on forms a central part of the mystery.
The tale, set in the middle of the Great War, follows two people, an ex soldier and a young lady who works in military intelligence, as they are sent by C - head of the fledgling secret service, to an isolated island where a séance is to be held. C is interested, amongst other things, in finding out which of the guests has leaked weapons blueprints to the enemy but there is more to his motive than a simple case of espionage. The other guests at the former abbey all seem to have some secret and these are gradually revealed as the story moves forward. As a storm sets in and prevents help coming from the mainland attacks start to occur culminating in murder.
There is an obvious comparison to Agatha Christie's 'And Then There Are None' with a somewhat motley collection of disparate people ending up trapped together on an island but there the similarity ends. One of the lead characters, Donovan, is acting as a detective and the motives and past histories of the characters are more up front than in Christie's work.
The supernatural element adds a lovely twist as we know that the ghosts, some of whom are known to the characters and others who are not, are watching proceedings with interest.
Chapters are told, predominantly in an alternating fashion, from the point of view of the two leading protagonists with occasional diversions to other members of the party.
This is an effective technique as it keeps the action moving swiftly and, as the writing has that 'just one more chapter' appeal about it, makes the book hard to put down.
The ending resolves all the main plot points but also, happily, seems to leave open the possibility of more stories featuring our intrepid duo of investigators.
I loved the book and I hope that the author will tell us more about the characters in a sequel (or two or three.)
Highly recommended - I wish I could give it six stars!

This novel is a mix of ghost story, mystery, with a touch of espionage and even a little romance. It is 1917 and WWI has been going on for three, long years. Almost every family in Britain has been touched by loss and this includes Kate Cartwright, whose brother was recently killed. Kate is working as a code-breaker, when she is asked by Captain Sir Mansfield Smith-Cumming (known as ‘C’ and Head of the Secret Intelligence Service) to take up the offer of a visit to Black Water Abbey, home of Lord and Lady Highmount, on Black Water Island; a remote island off the coast of Devon. She had, initially, refused the suggestion, even though her parents were visiting, as she was once engaged to Reginald Highmount, recently also killed in the war, along with his brother. The invitation had also included her fiancé, Rolleston Miller-White, but this relationship has also broken down.

As well as the awkward discomfort about her personal relationships, Kate is unwilling to attend the winter solstice at Black Water Abbey, knowing that the purpose for the visit includes two guests involved with spiritualism. Although Kate can, herself, see spirits, she has no sympathy with séances. However, when told that some Top Secret Plans have recently been taken from Lord Highmount, an arms manufacturer, and ended up in German hands, she knows she has no choice. Accompanying her, and Rolleston to the island, is Captain Donovan, masquerading as Miller-White’s ‘man,’ but really there as all of the guests now at the island were also present when the plans were stolen. Donovan and Kate need to join forces to keep Lord Highmount safe and protect sensitive documents.

All of the guests seem to have a motive for wishing Lord Highmount ill; many of which involve his production of weapons and the carnage wreaked by the war. The storm tossed island, with its assorted cast of possible suspects give a good sense of atmosphere. This is, in places, a little busy in terms of plot. There are secret passages, bad weather, an island cut off from outside help and more than a touch of mystery at every turn and that is not mentioning the stream of spirits that seem to surround Kate. I liked Kate and Donovan, though, and hope they return in further adventures, as I feel they have more to offer. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

As the dark autumn nights begin to draw in, WC Ryan gives us historical fiction in the form of a dark supernatural novel set on a isolated Blackwater Island, off the Devon coast. This takes place in the Winter of 1917 where a ferocious battle is taking place between Germany and Britain and its allies to win the war at any cost. In this story of the military intelligence services, there are concerns that key pieces of strategic knowledge are finding their way into German hands. Kate Cartwright is a woman with rather special talents and gifts working in the coding breaking section. She has lost her brother, Arthur, reported missing in action in the trenches in Europe and her fiance, Rolleson Miller-White has broken off their engagement, which fortunately she is not too upset about. Captain Robert Donovan has intimate knowledge of the horrors of trench warfare, but is now working in espionage routing out traitors.

Kate has been tasked to accept an invitation from family friends, the armaments manufacturer Lord Francis Highmount and his wife, Lady Elizabeth, to join a party of guests at their island planning spiritualist activities to contact the dead, specifically the sons they have lost to the war, Reginald and Algernon. She is to go undercover, taking her ex-fiance, Rolleson, pretending they are still together, and Donovan is to be Rolleson's valet. The weather is frightful, with heavy winter storms and snow blizzards, Blackwater Island and Abbey are cut off from the mainland. The Abbey is an atmospheric place exuding an army of ghosts from the past that can be felt by the present day inhabitants, some more than others. Two well known mediums have been invited, Count Dmitri Orlov and Madame Feda, to conduct the seances. A troubled soldier, a tunneler, Private Albert Simms, is under the medical care of Dr Reid. Kate has brought with her an old family heirloom, the FitzAubrey Glass Mirror, which yields its secrets only to the women in the family. Kate and Donovan find no-one is who they appear to be in this story of lies, deception, traitors and spies as danger in the form of murder, attacks and sabotage swirl around them as the worst of raging storms cuts them off from the outside world and help.

The supernatural elements are not key to the central focus of the novel but they do lend a tremendous amount of atmosphere to this almost Agatha Christie like tale of remote islands, aristocrats, an ancient haunted country house in the form of the Abbey, and, of course, a party of guests. There is plenty of tension and suspense as Kate and Donovan follow the leads to try and identify the perpetrators of the dark deeds that begin to take place in a creaking house full of ghosts and secrets. The war time losses, the need to hunt down traitors and get ahead of the Germans in the war are captured beautifully in this period piece. I found this a wonderfully entertaining read that is perfect for this time of the year. Many thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for an ARC.