For me, this is more of a classic mystery novel with a few supernatural elements including a character who can see spirits along with two mediums and a few seances. I liked this mix of mystery and ghost story and it is perfect for readers who like their spooky books not too scary. The setting was really effective, with the characters stranded on an island, a bit like And Then There Were None, but with not such a high body count throughout the book. A great one for this month of spooky books, but it’s also set at Christmas time with snowy weather so could be perfect all winter long too. One I highly recommend!

I loved the sound of this book and the cover looks amazing, so was excited to start reading.  It got off to a good start.  Lovely map inside and I liked the touch of the drawings at the beginning of each chapter. It was a Great setting.  Reminded me more of the film Gosford Park than the novel And Then There Were None, especially the part when all the 'servants' arrive and are shown to their rooms.  I did struggle at first with the introduction of characters.  The novel refers to them very early on using both their first and surnames but not necessarily together which I found confusing when you are trying to place new characters.  
I got very intrigued with the mention of secret missions, fortune telling mirrors, ghosts and aliases (though yet more names!) and continued reading.  However it then started to not quiet live up to what I had hoped.  It talked a lot about ghosts and yes they were there, Kate and The Count could see them but I didnt find them particularly spooky.  The story of the gas masks seemed to go on for a very long time too, and I was hoping that it was maybe a bit of a red herring.....
Therefore when it came to the end I was hoping there would be a dramatic twist, but alas there wasn't.  I did like the story but felt that it could have been more spooky and had a few unseen twists and turns.  Therefore I give it a 3 out of 5.  But remember this is just my opinion.  Give it a try, you may disagree.
Thank you to Netgalley, as I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

With the evenings drawing in, the lure of the ghost story becomes irresistible. A House of Ghosts seems to fit the bill, with its promises of restless spirits and murder most foul. 

On a remote island off the Devon coast, brooding Blackwater Abbey is the setting for a seance, ostensibly so the resident Lord Highmount may commune with his two sons lost in the Great War. It is winter 1917, and the ghosts of that conflict shadow the living daily, both figuratively and literally. Add to the mix a sprawling yet exquisitely drawn cast of characters, a dash of murder and a dose of espionage and the stage is set for a chilling tale to curl up with, roaring fire optional.

W.C. Ryan has captured the grief and loss of the the First World War to great effect, and knotty questions of class and hierarchy are raised. The tale is, however, far more of a slow burning mystery than an out and out chiller - the ghosts are aplenty, but their presence is more a constant hum of discomfort than jumps and thrills horror. The result, then, is an elegant if occasionally slow story, a cross between Downton Abbey and Neil Spring's excellent The Ghost Hunters. There is the occasional drift into cliche, but that's an occupational hazard when it comes to tales with a ghostly bent; crashing storms, candlelight, crumbling old house, they're all here. But it's a formula for a reason - it works. 

An enjoyable, intelligent mystery, this will make those long autumn evenings far more enjoyable.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was expecting a spooky ghost story from this book as the cover promises, but I was let down. 
It's a normal crime book, which takes place in a remote house. And there are ghosts, but they didn't have much to do with the story.
It took a lot of effort to understand who is who at the beginning of the book, as the writer used names, surnames alternating. It was very confusing.
It says there's a crime, but crime didn't happen until 70% of the book. And the whole thing together with the wrap up was a bit silly. I got bored as well in the middle, was hard to continue.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for granting a copy in exchange for an honest review

Loved this book!

Initially I felt a bit anxious as it felt VERY similar to the beginning of certain Agatha Christie novels, particularly And Then There Were None and Murder on the Orient Express.  In fact the similarities to ATTWN were so marked at first in plot, character and tone that I genuinely feared I would already know the ending!

Luckily I was wrong and by the second and third chapters the author had really got into their own flow.  The style and setup may have been an homage to the late great Christie (whose work I thoroughly enjoy), but the plot turned out to be unique and cleverly constructed.

I particularly enjoyed the way in which the ghostly element of the plot was integrated and useful at points, but did not take over and ended up as more of a world-building feature than anything.  There is lots of scope for more novels set in this world which resembles our own in all ways, except the general acceptance of spirits and people who can see/communicate with them.

Many of the characters tended towards the stereotypical, again very similar to the classic Christie set up:  the doctor, the medium, the clerk, the heiress and so on.  The two main ‘investigatory’ characters of Kate and Donovan became more rounded as the story progressed however, and I thoroughly admired their stiff upper-lip attitude in the face of danger and drama alike!

Definitely a great read for Christie fans who like a bit of supernatural on the side.  I have my fingers crossed that Ryan is working on his next ‘Kate and Donovan’ mystery right now, as I’m very keen to find out more about her mysterious episodes and his secretive past…

 

‘So perhaps the question is: who in the house doesn’t have a reason for murdering Lord Highmount?’
‘Well,’ she said smiling, ‘I didn’t do it.  And nor did you.  At least, I hope not.  And my parents are unlikely suspects – they are very fond of both Highmounts.  As for the servants, they seem content enough.  Everyone else, though – you make a good point.’
‘You forgot Vickers being a Bolshevik.  Not that I think that amounts to a motivation for murder, not until the revolution comes to pass, at least; and he is a pacifist, more or less.’  Donovan shook his head.  ‘Is this how people like the Highmounts normally arrange their entertainments?  By inviting everyone who might want to kill them to stay for the weekend?’
Kate laughed.  ‘It is probably more common than you might think,’ she said.

– W. C. Ryan, A House of Ghosts

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

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

I  found this story too much like an Agatha Christie who I never really enjoyed.  A group of people stranded on an island, a house with ghosts, and a lot of the guests having grudges against each other and then a murder, read just like other books of this genre, nothing really new enough to hold my attention.  Even the relationship between Kate and Donovan was a bit boring, although their banter kept the atmosphere a bit lighter than it should have been. Not really very creepy or scary despite the ghosts, I struggled to finish it.
.

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.

Part haunted house, part murder mystery, A House of Ghosts is a terrific thriller. Set in Blackthorn Abbey 1917 where a seance is being held, there are plenty of twists and turns as our two main protagonists, Kate and Donovan, try to get to the bottom of the mystery.

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.