WOW! I absolutely loved this book from start to finish, Leah had had a tragic time recently losing both her son in a terrible accident and then her husband. Leah purchases Maitland Farm, in a rush to get away from her past, although it was considered as a purchase when Josh was still alive.

As soon as Leah moves in eerie things start happening, she sees past residents of the farm, but they seem to be edging into her present life too, strange things start happening, Mistletoe popping up around the house for one. What secrets are hidden in Maitland Farm?

This was a spooky read and I was hooked, I honestly couldn’t put it down it was so captivating.

This is the first book I have read by Alison Littlewood but after reading this, it definitely won’t be the last. It was well written and absolutely brilliant!

My thanks to Quercus Books/Jo Fletcher Books for an eARC via NetGalley of Alison Littlewood’s ‘Mistletoe: A Ghost Story’ in exchange for an honest review.

I was very impressed by Alison Littlewood’s ‘The Hidden People’ so was very excited to be chosen to review her new novel and participate in her blog tour.

Leah Hamilton has recently lost both her husband and son in tragic circumstances. She is desperate to avoid Christmas and all the reminders of her loss. She has quickly purchased a rundown Yorkshire farmhouse. Her plan is to throw herself into its renovation and ignore the season.

When she and her late husband, Josh, had first thought about buying Maitland Farm they were certain it was ‘meant to be’ as Maitland was Leah’s maiden name and “her family had hailed from this very part of Yorkshire, that they’d been landowners who’d lost their birthright ...”

From her first day small unsettling incidents begin to occur and she then starts to have disturbing visions of the past that become increasingly vivid.

Even without the time-slipping ghosts, the combination of being alone in the farmhouse and the increasingly wintery weather closing in was so atmospheric. I much prefer this kind of subtle horror in the tradition of Shirley Jackson and M. R. James to the more explicit types. Naturally given the title mistletoe and its folklore also features.

This is the kind of novel that I feel would be an excellent choice for reading groups as there are so many aspects that invite discussion including responses to loss and bereavement.

I read it in a single sitting being so caught up in the story. A beautifully written Christmas themed novel that is perfect for readers who enjoy chilling tales with their mince pies.

4/5 stars - Review will be posted on Goodreads (linked below), my Blog (linked below), and on twitter @BookreviewsKb - All of these will be posted on the 10th October 2019 due to a blog tour.

Mistletoe by Alison Littlewood is a suspenseful winter read with the addition of perfectly entwined Gothic elements.

In Mistletoe we follow the main character, Leah, as she moves to a dilapidated and rundown farm, that was previously owned by her family (ancestors), following the death of her son and her husband. She moves there in the hope that she can renew, rebuild and refresh the farmhouse over Christmas and the New-Year while simultaneously using this project to move past the tragedy of her loss. However, upon moving in she starts to hear voices, see people and watch clips of what seems to be the past and finds herself entangled in a mystery that haunts her farmland. She manages to befriend a local family and hopes that they will help to shed light on the past occurrences of the farm, but they are incredibly reluctant to do so, and she ultimately ends up worrying for their son and tries to push them away. Instead she opts to handle the situation herself and finds it increasingly difficult as her house begins to slowly fill with mistletoe, her land slowly dies and the visions become more frequent. As she tries to sift through the mystery and the old items she finds on the farm (from creepy dolls to wrapped up mistletoe), she realises she may be closer to this than she originally thought.

Mistletoe is an interesting read, though it takes a lot of influence from traditional horror, it does bring a fresh perspective on them and I was definitely interested in the story. Littlewood is a master at creating suspense in this book, she cleverly combines the objects and the events to keep the reader in a constant state of curiosity and suspense by giving them just enough information that you think you know what is going to happen, only to surprise them with an unexpected. shocking and horrific event. Moreover, Littlewood did not shy away from using multiple horror and gothic elements that are seemingly irrelevant and unexpected initially, instead she masterfully combines and entwines them into the larger story until you realise how key each of them are.

Interestingly enough Littlewood's use of traditional horror elements (such as the use of a creepy doll, abandoned lonely house, and ghostly figures) does not feel like traditional horror at all. Instead it feels completely fresh and new, something I believe is difficult to find in horror-at least for me! This is because of how she uses them (skip the end of this paragraph if you want to avoid minor spoilers) as Littlewood clearly did her research and used a variety of Cultural references, beliefs and superstitions to use the full potential of these objects. For example, the initial discovery of the creepy doll initially appears to set up for it being possessed or alive- a common horror storyline- but this is not the case, instead it goes much deeper and much creepier as the doll itself is a burial doll. This already has creepy connotations and is key in setting up suspense and a much more in depth story. Furthermore, Littlewood's use of mistletoe in itself draws from several cultural sources ranging from Ancient Greece, with possible links with Norse mythology, to the Romans and to Victorian England- each of which have beliefs ranging from fertility, to murder/poison, to eternal love. I love symbolism and this was some of the most in-depth use of it I have seen - I thought it was amazing and it added wonderfully to the suspense in the book! This was extraordinarily unique.

(Spoiler Free from here onwards) Furthermore, I love gothic novels (which if you've seen my classic rec's then this will not surprise you) and Mistletoe does not disappoint in this regard. This book is the perfect winter Gothic read with ideas of isolation, horror, grief, and the landscape, and death all contributing to it. The scene (the farmland/farmhouse) is the perfect type of gothic setting with a vast, open land that is isolated, dilapidated and dying - all of which adds to the suspense of the story. The added impact of the winter setting and snowfall crates a drastic sense of obscurity, which adds to the horror, and also creates the sense of a beautiful haunting.

The characters of this story are interesting, well developed and easy to connect with, particularly Leah. Leah's character is complex, interesting and emotional. She is easy to connect with and feel for, and her grief is heart-breaking, particularly as you learn more about the deaths (this is not a massive part of the novel but rather is added in scenes where it will have the most effect and is done in a careful and clever way that adds to the reader's suspense and emotional connection to the characters). However, my only issue with the novel was the difficulty to feel the end impact of some of the built up suspense - which was unfortunately due to Leah's character. Leah appears to have a very accepting sort of demeanour about some elements of the hauntings which makes it difficult to actually feel scared for her, or in general- I know this is in part due to her grief and at times does make sense but there are times where it falls a little flat (this is only at minor times though). However, there are times where she destroys things to stop what is happening or rushes to see a noise/help someone and is in general despair- at times like these you definitely can feel the impact of the suspense that has been built, and IT DELIVERS, there are times where she destroys things to stop what is happening or rushes to see a noise/help someone - at times like these you definitely can feel the impact of the suspense that has been built, and it delivers. Moreover, there are times where Leah has had enough, or is determined to end what is happening on her own - this creates a wonderful sense of suspense that really delivers as she begins to face the demons of her farm.

The ending to Mistletoe was also clever and one I did not expect. Though a little convoluted it is definitely an unexpected and shocking ending where you question whether the book will end with the characters alive or dead! The novels resolution is interesting and satisfying, though it is left slightly open, it leaves you with the sense of wanting to know what happens even just a little in the future, you still want to follow the story even though the horror has seemingly come to its conclusion.

Littlewood very cleverly and creatively weaves the past and present together in this novel and uses multiple elements of traditional horror in refreshingly new ways. I enjoyed reading Mistletoe and plan to do so again on a cold wintery night to appreciate its full effect. Mistletoe is a wonderful tale of loss, grief, selfishness and life and I would definitely recommend adding this to you winter TBR pile!

Personally, I would say to read this on a winter’s night in order to enjoy the full effects of the story-a perfect read for by the fire! Maybe you too can enjoy some mistletoe (though perhaps more in the decorative or romantic sense).

*I received an advance digital copy from #netgalley @QuercusBooks @JoFletcherBook in exchange for an honest review*

Following the tragic death of her son and husband, Leah Hamilton buys and moves into a dilapidated Yorkshire farmhouse, her plan being to renovate and sell on the property as a way to work through her grief. Unfortunately, the ghosts of Maitland Farm seem to have other ideas, and soon she finds herself getting drawn into a tragic mystery of the past.

As you might expect pretty much the entire narrative is told through the eyes of Leah herself, and the author has really done an excellent job of bringing the character to life. Leah’s underpinning grief leads her down paths that would normally seem irrational but which in context make absolutely perfect sense. At first, she wonders if the ghostly goings-on are somehow connected to the ghosts of her son or husband. Even after it becomes clear there’s more sinister behind her mysterious visitors, she still clings desperately to the hope that she might somehow be able to call forth her son’s ghost. However, this same fixation also gives her strength to push through the fear that might otherwise cause her to abandon the haunted farmhouse once and for all.

The isolated setting of a run-down old farm gives the narrative something of a claustrophobic feel. Even though the protagonist is only a short walk from her nearest neighbours, and only a slightly longer walk from the nearby village, the reader is definitely left with the feeling that Leah is on her own, a helpless observer of the story unfolding around her despite her best efforts. Indeed, as the narrative enters its final act she even goes as far as pushing away those same welcoming neighbours, very much against their objections.

This is a remarkably well written modern ghost story, eschewing jump scares and slasher tropes in favour of the gentler, more traditional elements of a classic English ghost story. It’s the sort of story best read while snuggled into a big, comfy chair, wrapped in the fluffiest of blankets and enjoying the warmth of a roaring log fire on a cold winter night. Just remember to close the curtains tight before you settle in.

It's the first book I read by Ms Littlewood and it won't surely be the last because she's a very talented writer.
While I was reading I couldn't help picturing the building, the snow, and feeling what Leah was feeling.
It's an excellent horror but it's also a novel about grief and starting again to live.
Leah is a fleshed out and well thought character, a woman who's grieving and living in a past that it's not her own. She's living something that's out of her experience and she feels part of her story at the same time.
I think this novel feature all the elements of a good horror like the growing tensions, the ghosts, the references to long lost usage and it builds the tension in a way that nearly made me stop breathing at times.
I think that the ghosts are all interesting characters but some, like Martha and Ellis, are more realistic and strong, driven by their emotions and their desires.
Past and present are strongly bound in this story and this is one of the elements that makes it so enthralling.
It's also a Christmas story and even if it differs from the usual one there're elements of hope and renewal that are part of the festive season spirit.
It was an excellent and fascinating read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

For some time now, I have been dejected by the recent horror books. With lots of vanilla horror stories out there, it felt like the genre was dying. But this book gave me hope that classical horror would never die until there are writers like Alison Littlewood.
With the set up beautifully painted in M R James style, the story of Leah and her past was absolutely riveting. Besides the primary storyline of the book, Leah’s grief of losing her husband and son was given a proper showdown in the book.
Though I would admit that there was comparatively less of the hair rising spook factor, the sadness of the grieving woman added to it the desolation of the haunted farm, a creepy doll, superstitions about mistletoe; these are the elements that balanced the book.

This starts out pretty depressing. Leah has bought a house her husband wanted, but the husband and children are dead. The first chapter doesn't reveal how that happened, but focuses on Leah and her internal processing of her grief.

The writing in this one is poetic, just beautiful. The early plot progression reminds me of Stephen King. Mysterious voices, snowballs thrown by invisible entities, mysterious visions, etc. A strange toy found in the barn adds a creepy factor.

Leah meets her closest neighbours, a divorced woman and her son, as well as a brother, and starts to feel like she can make new friends now who don't remind her of her previous life. Only other things do keep reminding her. A child's shape on the wall, the sound of a boy's laughter. Is it the ghost of her lost son or the spirit of a child who was killed on the property generations ago?

To make things more disturbing, Leah starts having visions when she touches objects that have some connection to the past. Not her past, but that of the house itself. About halfway through we learn what happened to her family and the mistletoe begins to feature strongly. The orchard is dying, but the mistletoe somehow keeps creeping into the house.

Lots of ghostly happenings in this one. The time slips are well done and there's an unexpected twist near the end.

This is a story about a woman, Leah, who has sold up and moved to a rundown farm following the deaths of her husband and son. Leah knows a little about the property before purchasing, which it appears has a family connection from years ago.  But there is a deeper, darker history to Maitland Farm that Leah was not aware of.  Before long Leah begins to experience strange and disturbing occurrences and visions but at first she doesn't know if these are real or hallucinations brought on by grief, stress or exhaustion.
The story in this book is a decent one but I was expecting a little more of a creepy atmosphere, particularly with the main character being a grieving widow alone in an old and possibly haunted house in midwinter but, unfortunately, the only chills I got were from the abundant descriptions of the cold, snowy weather. A wintry tale with some interesting folklore and superstition about mistletoe, but not the creepy horror I was hoping for. 3.5*

Alison Littlewood creates the right atmosphere, building the tension up slowly as Leah looks to rebuild her life in a farm where she shares some family history. It keeps you on your toes too as Leah finds herself transported back into the past where events back then reverberate into the present.

Littlewood links the whole timeline of events to mistletoe and its appearance in folklore down the years. It is cleverly done and you do start to get into the characters quickly, aided by vivid descriptions of Christmas past.

Ghost stories are an oft maligned genre, however with 'Mistletoe' Alison Littlewood has written a classic ghostly tale, perfect for a winter's night read.

Alison Littlewood’s previous novels, particularly The Hidden People and The Crow Garden, show her mastery of what one could call “neo-Victorian” fiction. Besides successfully evoking the atmosphere of the era, these novels reference the popular genres of the time, particularly the “Gothic” and “sensation” novels of Wilkie Collins and others.

Littlewood’s latest book, Mistletoe, appears at first to be quite a different proposition – an atmospheric ghost story set over the Christmas period in modern-day, rural Yorkshire. Then again, the custom of telling ghost stories around the fire during the festive season is a long-established one. It hardly needs reminding that Dickens’ Christmas books – such as A Christmas Carol and The Chimes – are seasonal supernatural tales. Mistletoe taps into this rich tradition.

The initial chapters of the novel introduce us to young widow Leah Hamilton. Having just lost her husband and son, Leah feels she must honour a project her late husband had been planning – that of acquiring and converting a farm in remote, rural Yorkshire which might actually have belonged to Leah’s ancestors.

Leah wants to avoid the stress of a city Christmas: “the gaudy shop windows, the ever-repeating chirp of carols, the cheerfulness of her colleagues that faded when they saw her watching…” She rushes through the move from Manchester to Yorkshire, even though Maitland Farm still needs a lot of hard work for it to be made comfortably habitable. Leah arrives to a scene of picture-postcard (or should I say Christmas card?) prettiness: fields covered in snow and a sense of expectation “hidden in the spaces between snowflakes, almost visible through their flicker and dance”. Quite soon, however, Leah discovers that the house harbours dark secrets. Barely into the second chapter, she must face unexplained happenings such as snowballs thrown by invisible figures, disembodied voices, strange visions and upsetting discoveries.

In its first part, Mistletoe presents us with many typical “haunted house” tropes: the “naïve” city dweller who relocates to the country; the overeager estate agent; the pangs of ‘buyer’s guilt’; restless spirits awakened by new residents; neighbours who clearly know more about the house’s past than they are willing to let on.

Once the scene is set, however, the novel comes into its own and reveals some pleasant surprises. Firstly, although subtitled “A Ghost Story”, Mistletoe is more of a time-slip novel. As the barrier between past and present crumbles, Leah starts having increasingly detailed visions related to heinous deeds connected to the house. The book retains its supernatural bent, but the scenes set in the past take us into the realm of uncanny historical fiction at which Littlewood excels.

Another distinctive feature of the novel is that it weaves into its plot strong elements of folklore, particularly plant lore related to Christmas. The “mistletoe” of the title, of course, features heavily, but there are also references to holly and ivy, and other seasonal traditions such as wassailing. In other words, Christmas and its customs are not simply a convenient “frame” to the story but play a central role in the novel.

Because of its plot, Mistletoe is best savoured opposite a fireplace on a long winter’s night, preferably accompanied by hot punch and mince pies. However, its delightful brand of spookiness ensures that, like Dickens’ seasonal novels, it can be enjoyed all the year round.

(This review, together with a playlist of seasonal music, will be uploaded on endsoftheword.blogspot.com on publication date, as part of a blog tour for the novel)

My review will be live on my instagram profile on the 10th October 2019 due to a blog tour of this book that I have been a part of : http://www.instagram.com/all_books_great_and_small and on my amazon.co.uk account once the book has been released.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from netgalley.

This book is a perfect read for a chilly, cold, winter evening.
The characters are likeable and there are secrets to unfold within Leah's time at the house she buys after she looses her son and husband.
This book was more of a time slip thriller with a ghost story within it to me, but I really enjoyed it and wanted to know what would happen next.
The descriptive language used made the book come to life and gave the story a chilling edge to it.
I loved how the story progresses and unfolds in relation to the house and its ghosts.
A clever tale I really enjoyed. Perfect for a winter read.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

All Leah wanted was to escape the events that lead up to Christmas. She had just lost her husband and and son. Maitland Farm in Yorkshire is remote and isolated. It's been empty for years. Its run down and needs a lot of work done to make it habitable. No one has ever managed to stay there long. Leah lived in Manchester. She decides to buy the farm and rushes the sale through. The farm used to elong to her ancestors. Cut off by snow, strange things start to happen. She hears voices and children's laughter. She also sees shadowy type figures in the mirror. She even hears a snowball that's been thrown at the door.

This is the type of book I would like to read sitting I a big armchair beside the coal fire on a cold dark night. It's an atmospheric read. A book for either Christmas or Halloween. The book definitely has a creepy feel to it. Theres no way I would stay in an isolated house on my own. I will not look at mistletoe in the same way ever again either. Leah gets a glimpse of how former residents lived through Victorian times. There is also a murder to solve. There are a few twists in this well written ghost story. Must read for fans of eerie ghost stories.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Qurecus Books and the author Alison Littlewood for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Littlewood always writes such deliciously creepy, character driven mysteries. The touches of folk horror make it damn near perfect. This is an ideal winter read with engaging characters and a neat little mystery inside a ghost story.

*Thank you to the author and Netgalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

<b>2 stars</b>

I went into <i>Mistletoe</i> looking for a light, eerie ghost story, not expecting too much. I got a ghost story, but not a very interesting one at that. I didn't click with the author's style of writing, so I found it hard to connect with the characters or care about the storyline. If you're looking for the chill factor, you won't find it here. Overall not a bad book, but not one for me.

A winter ghost story that is set at Christmas. Yes a ghost story but with undertones of creepy and very unsettling. The type of book that makes you snuggle down lower and listen for any strange noises. An atmospheric read which in places gave me goosebumps and tapping my kindle faster and faster. A Halloween or Christmas read for anyone who likes to hear things go bump in the night. An easy four star read and recommended.
I would like to thank the author, Quercus Books and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

This is I think the fifth supernatural tale that I have read this year set in Yorkshire. With its remote rural isolated old farm houses and surprisingly still (imagined I'm sure) superstitious locals it makes an ideal location for things to occur that are not of this world. Here Alison Littlewood has produced a chilling tale that will be perfect for a cold winter's night. The story is set during a snowy run up to Christmas on a rather neglected and run down farmhouse surrounded by land that is no longer fertile. The description of the bleak midwinter setting is well done and is very atmospheric. Here we find the newly arrived Leah who following the tragic loss of her husband and son buys Maitland Farm which had previously way back belonged to her ancestors.

Consumed by grief but hoping to start a new life she soon experiences strange things which lead to visions of the farm's former 19th century occupants. Are these visions real or is she losing her mind? This is a book that veers away from pure horror (although violent deaths are narrated and there is use of that old horror standby the creepy doll) towards more fantasy and time travel. There is also a look at the ancient traditions that although associated with Christmas originated from the proceeding pagan festivals.

The subject title of the book plays a prominent part in the story and we see how this parasite has a menacing and threatening role to play. This is a story that links the past with the present and shows how sometimes it is necessary to confront and come to terms with the past in order to move on. It certainly can go along with Dickens and M.R. James onto that essential ghost stories at Christmas reading list.

Mistletoe is a beautifully told winter ghost story. Immediately Littlewood draws us in to Leah's new world of endless expanses of wintery farmland and village life. Together we join her as she tried to adjust to this new emptiness - both physically and mentally - as she is also facing the most horrifying loss imaginable. 

The haunting of the tale begins right away giving Leah no time to adjust - there is something very wrong with this farmhouse she has acquired and it's made all the worse with the realisation that this woman, fragile with grief, is all alone. That said, it's not long until she meets the first of three other significant (living) characters in the book and this acts as the catalyst for the haunting to kick it up a notch. 

Littlewood has handled the haunting in a fresh way, part residual haunt part time-slip, as Leah becomes more acquainted with her new home she is hurtled back in time to see what happened as it plays out right in front of her. Shaken yet not terrified by the happenings she is more curious to get to the bottom of the mystery of what exactly is rotten within the Maitland Farm. 

Leah is a sympathetic character from the outset, it's easy to feel her sense of being overwhelmed by her new life and the mystery she has been thrust into. We never learn too much about the other characters within the novel - just enough to keep them interesting. As Leah got to know them it was easy to latch onto them along with her, to want her to be their friend as much as she wanted, and needed, some friends. 

Littlewood handles the theme of grief and isolation particularly well. Leah's grief has had months to settle but it is no less potent and is frequently exacerbated by the events on the farm. It remains sympathetic, however, despite how the mystery itself unfolds. 

A particularly effective part of the novel is how ancient traditions of Christmas, or the pagan festivals that preceded it, have woven into our lives. The mistletoe itself, that seemingly innocuous plant, takes on an altogether more insidious and sinister part in the story. Littlewood goes into some detail about how this plant, now associated with lovers sharing sweet kisses, has a darker history which was a rich addition to the story.

Mistletoe is a perfect modern Christmas ghost story that never loses sight of the traditions of the season. As the nights get longer and the days become colder the book matches the mood perfectly for those weeks between Halloween and Christmas.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.

I loved the sound of this when I read the description. A ghost story set at Christmas is so my kind of thing. This book was unsettling and subtly creepy, the type that makes you want to draw your blanket tighter around you to keep out the cold (and anything that might lurk within it). There's a time-slip element which worked well, and a few twists along the way.

It's a very atmospheric book. I could feel a chill in the air as I read. The setting was very evocative, and the sense of isolation incredibly strong. I enjoyed Littlewood's writing and her descriptions of the wintery scenes.

If you like ghost stories and mysteries, I think you'll enjoy Mistletoe.

A Christmas ghost story for timeslip fans.

Following the loss of her son and husband, Leah Hamilton escapes to a remote Yorkshire farmstead. Cut off by snow strange things start to happen.

Littlewood sets up the premise in the first chapter, with the Who, What and Where (the How and Why come later). She also tantalises with the suspicion of the supernatural. The plot develops at an appropriate pace and all is wrapped up very neatly in the denouement.

The plant folklore was welcome and in keeping with the genre. In fact, mistletoe makes such a strong appearance, that it is a character in its own right.

I have two main issues with Mistletoe.

Firstly, bearing in mind the book’s title and subject matter, and the beautiful cover, it exhibits a disappointing lack of the most basic of research on the plant. Verbs such as ‘creeping’ and ‘twining’ to describe its growth, suggest the author is confusing mistletoe – which bifurcates to form clumps – with ivy. Mistletoe doesn’t have roots, but holdfasts/suckers and a haustorium. Ok, I get that ‘roots’ is more readily understood than ‘haustorium’ and that it can be used as an umbrella term. All of this I was prepared to overlook, but the phrase ‘mistletoe that was male and the female together’ is plain wrong. Mistletoe is dioecious, this means the male and the female are on separate plants.

The second issue concerns the portrayal of Leah’s grief over the loss of her son: ‘It had been months ago and yet it felt like yesterday’. A woman has lost her son, and yet the character believes her sorrow should have been wrapped up in a matter of months!

Sadly, Mistletoe lacks the spinetingling atmosphere promised in the book cover blurb.
If you are looking for a properly scary Christmas ghost story in the tradition of M R James, go elsewhere. Mistletoe will likely appeal to fans of The Timetraveler’s Wife (Audrey Niffenegger).

Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for the advance review copy.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story is about Leah who moves to a remote farmhouse which coincidentally belonged to one of her ancestors. She rushed through the sale to be able to move in before Christmas time. It seems an ideal project to distract her after the deaths of her son and husband. Leah doesn’t want Leah starts seeing strange things around the farm and realises something isn’t right.

I really enjoyed this story. It made me think a lot about the significance of mistletoe. This is the perfect book to snuggle down with in the winter. This is part ghost story part mystery. I enjoyed the authors writing style and will definitely be checking out her other books.