I was able to get this ARC through NetGalley.

I really enjoyed and got sucked into the book, especially with the two separate timelines throughout the story. Getting to know bits and prefers of both Dolly’s story but also that of Fern and Nell.

While I did like reading about Dolly more. With being able to learn more about her life not only as a traveling performer but also learning of the terrors she went through at Merry Hall. Nell seemed to fall a bit flat for me, as she was so absorbed with herself that she paid no attention to Fern and was oblivious to the terror her daughter was going through.

Can Nell and Fern work through all the mysterious voices and shadows that are constantly lurking behind them? Will they be the newest victims to the evil going on at Merry Hall?

Altogether The Ghosts of Merry Hall was a wonderful, dark, atmospheric book. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, wanting to know what’s been terrorizing everyone who comes to stay at Merry Hall.

Sadly this was a DNF. The beginning didn't grab me, with both perspectives being very depressing as characters hit rock bottom before finding their way to the titular Hall. I found it hard to relate to anyone, becoming frustrated by the shifting POVs and time taken to get the story moving.

Apologies, but this was just too slow for me.

If you are looking for a creepy, haunted house then this may be the book for you. Told across two timelines, we follow the story of Dolly and Nell. I enjoyed the timeline split and I think it was done well. I definitely preferred Dolly’s story to Nell’s but I think that’s because I found all the characters in the present day irritating.
It started out really good and did give me the creeps, but by the end of it I think it just went a bit rogue. I know it’s a ghost story but some of it was a bit outlandish. I also feel it was really dragged out through the book to then be really rushed at the end, which didn’t fit with the rest of the book.
Overall, it started well and then kinda flopped. But still, it was creepy and atmospheric.

Sometimes you just need an old fashioned ghost story.

While it may feel at this stage that there isn’t any new ground to be covered in this exhaustive sub-genre, Heather Davey has found a way with the captivating novel The Ghosts of Merry Hall.

Our story is split into two timelines, one following a modern-day mother and daughter duo who are forced due to financial circumstances to take residence in the titular Merry Hall.

The alternative is where this story gets really interesting, as we effectively have the point of view of a spirit who may be inhabiting Merry Hall.

Slowly their stories converge, with the odd telegraphed scare, that is told with so much sincerity that you can excuse hitting the established beats.

The standout here is the character of Nell, a single mother desperately trying to make ends meet whilst also dealing with the fall-out of her marriage plus her teenage daughter Fern. Nell’s arc is so compelling that even when she something she shouldn’t have, she is so fleshed out that you can see her reasoning and support her journey.

Our spirit’s tale is also tinged with tragedy, as we follow Dolly, a Victorian girl who navigates the established roles of women in this time, plus a stark and harrowing example of an 1800s ‘me too’ case.

Davey has crafted an excellent story that will fit perfectly into your reading schedule, just as the leaves turn brown and the spirits of the dead come to warm themselves by the fireside.

I really enjoyed The Ghosts of Merry Hall!. It’s a moody, slow-burn ghost story with a strong sense of atmosphere. The dual timelines — one modern, one Victorian — are woven together in a way that keeps things interesting, and the historical storyline felt especially compelling and fresh.

There were moments where the pacing dragged a bit for me, and I didn’t always feel fully connected to the main characters, but overall, the eerie setting and the blend of real historical darkness with the supernatural made it a worthwhile read. Perfect for fans of gothic fiction with a side of mystery and melancholy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Copy

A dual timeline ghost story sees Nell and her teenage daughter Fern desperately looking for somewhere to live in the current day. They are offered the chance to housesit at Merry Hall - a house with a tragic past. In the 1800s Dolly tells the story of how she came to live at Merry Hall, and all that happened to her. The story cleverly interweaves the two time periods, with Dolly desperate to express herself to the two modern women.

The story is very spooky and very atmospheric, with some excellent descriptions. I definitely didn't like to read it at night, any sound was making me jump! I really liked Dolly and her heartwrenching story, and the relationship between Nell and Fern was sensitively explored, with teenage angst being a clear theme.

An interesting gothic horror, set in modern times but has a nice connection back the past of the Merry Hall. Enjoyable and well-written.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Ghosts of Merry Hall immediately drew me in with its premise of a Victorian house and the lingering presence of a ghost who was once a freak show performer.
The story unfolds across dual timelines—one of which I found more compelling than the other. Nell, one of the central characters, sometimes came across as a bit too naïve, which made her harder to connect with.
This isn’t a deeply chilling read, but rather a gently gothic tale with soft haunting vibes. Perfect for readers who enjoy atmospheric fiction with whispers of the supernatural, rather than full-on horror.

As someone who enjoys Victorian and turn of the century gothic horrors this was a really enjoyable read. I loved the gothic vibe, it’s very much a ghost story on the one hand and secret, creeping gothic horror on the other. I will say it managed to invoke my usual anger when freak shows are used - not because it was disrespectful but rather because it’s a reminder of how humans can treat each other but I digress. The writing itself was fantastic and really atmospheric, the characters are well crafted and believable both in the modern and victorian period too. If you enjoy gothic horror novels I would recommend this one.
As always thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

DNF at 25%.

I struggled with this one. I don’t know what it is about it that I don’t like. The writing was okay, the plot was okay but I just couldn’t vibe with it at all. I guess I just wanted it to be more spooky. I don’t know, may revisit this again.

Overall, I really enjoyed this ghost story. It was atmospheric, and I really loved Dolly's part of the story. On the other hand, I didn't enjoy the "present time" part of the book as much. The mother, Nell, just seemed oblivious to the issues around her, especially those of her daughter. Other than that, it was a solid read.

I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for a review.

I really wanted to love this book. I was looking forward to reading it to kick off spooky season. Unfortunately, it just didn’t hit for me.

I don’t have any huge criticisms. The concept was great. The writing was fine. There were some interesting and weird pieces of the plot. I was just really bored and not spooked at all. I don’t think the book itself was bad, it just wasn’t for me.

“The Ghosts of Merry Hall” is a novel that had a ton of potential. With dueling storylines, we get to see the lives of two women, each in different time periods, but living similar situations. I was equally intrigued to read Nelly’s story as I was Dolly’s, but it came to a point pretty pretty early on where the novel’s setup became dreadfully repetitive. Chapter after chapter became predictable, ending the same way, only to start the same in the next chapter. As I continued to read, I found myself figuring out exactly where the book was going to go, and to no surprise, ended exactly as I thought it would. At times, it was an atmospheric read, but ultimately wasn’t as spooky as I was hoping it would be. This would make a great novel for anyone wanting to get into horror without getting too scared, but this was a bit too easy for me to get through. Despite the odd setup, this novel is worth checking out!

An interesting and compelling gothic mystery story with a dual timeline format- the story was well written and had twists and turns towards the crux of the book.
However, the beginning was very slow and the pacing as well as the incessantly whiny, insecure personality of the 2025 mother Nell became quite grating as the story continued.
This genre is usually always a hit for me as a reader although due to the above reasons I felt it lacked in character depth (in terms of Nell) as well as the conclusion being somewhat disappointing and a bit flat as a whole.
Dolly the lady in the past whilst interesting and a great addition ghost wise to the story was the only redeeming character in the story other than the rebellious and often level headed Fern (the daughter of Nell in present day 2025). In terms of the atmosphere it was eerie and also added to the suspense of the story.
Thankyou to Net galley and Titan Books for an early arc of this book.

This book took me a while to get into but kept going and in the end enjoyed it, it was duel time line and had a twist to it. It’s the story of NellI and Fern who move into Merry Hall to house sit and of Dolly Dove who was one of the past occupants of the house. I will certainly look out for more books from this author..
My thanks as always to NetGalley and to Publisher Titan Books for the early read

I knew this house was cursed the second it offered affordable rent in the English countryside. That is not a thing. Either you’re paying five grand a month for exposed beams and bad plumbing or you’re in a haunted Victorian murder maze being slowly gaslit by the ghost of a betrayed showgirl. There is no in-between. Nell, queen of questionable choices, grabs her teenage daughter and moves into Merry Hall like it’s not already giving big “I buried three husbands and a priest in the walls” energy.

And look, the vibes are immaculate. This book has that damp, creaky, shadow-in-the-corner atmosphere that makes you feel like you also haven’t paid your heating bill in 173 years. There’s a smell. There’s a presence. There’s a deeply cursed past with way too much emotional baggage. It’s not just haunted. It’s emotionally haunted. Every mirror in this house holds a monologue.

We jump between two timelines: the now, where Nell and her prickly daughter Fern are trying to survive divorce, poverty, and each other. And 1847, where Dolly Dove is out here living through her origin story as a Victorian tragedy Barbie. She’s an albino performer with real talent, real dreams, and the emotional resilience of a soggy handkerchief, and I loved her for it. But then she falls for Abel Wenham, human smarm in a waistcoat, who collects “curiosities” and ruins lives like it’s a sport. Spoiler alert: men remain trash across all centuries.

As the timelines tangle and the house starts throwing full-blown temper tantrums, Nell slowly loses her grip, not just on reality but on Fern, who is fully in her “goth girl possessed by a Victorian ghost” era. And honestly? Good for her. At least she reacts like a normal teen when her closet starts bleeding and her mother’s pretending everything’s fine with a bottle of wine and a weirdly intense baking hobby.

Nell is a character you want to root for and slap in the same breath. She’s fragile, avoidant, and absolutely allergic to confrontation. But she’s also been through it, and the book knows that. Her arc isn’t about saving the day, it’s about facing the thing she’s been running from since chapter one. She doesn’t fight the ghosts so much as see them, and that hits harder than any exorcism. Still, I’d have liked one scene where she actually parents Fern and doesn’t just emotionally peace out like she’s ghosting her own child.

But Dolly? Dolly is everything. I would let this ghost punch me directly in the face. Her pain lingers, her story haunts, and her presence makes this book ache in the best way. She’s not just a specter. She’s a reminder. Of injustice. Of forgotten women. Of all the stories that were never allowed to end on their own terms. And when she starts reaching through time to shake the truth loose? Goosebumps. Full-body. Had to put the book down and scream into a decorative pillow.

Heather Davey writes with that perfect gothic whisper-scream. Everything’s a little off, a little too cold, a little too sad. And the horror creeps, slow and subtle, until suddenly you’re in the middle of it and you realize no one’s coming to save you because this isn’t that kind of ghost story. The house isn’t here to scare you. It’s here to remember you.

Four stars. Would absolutely recommend pairing with a thunderstorm, one flickering candle, and something red in a wine glass that may or may not be cursed.

Thank you Titan Books and NetGalley for the ARC, and for making me emotionally unstable over a Victorian ghost girl with trauma and a dream.

3 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2025/09/04/review-the-ghosts-of-merry-hall-by-heather-davey/
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Liked it not Loved It

The Ghosts of Merry Hall is a gothic ghost story with a split timeline, in the current day we have a woman, recently split from her partner and struggling to make ends meet with no job and a teenage daughter to care for. Back in the past, we have a young girl, taken under the wing of a well to do man, who has plans for her to become the star performer in his ‘curiosity’ show.

Nell and her daughter Fern are really struggling. They’re living in a tiny room, money is a problem and Nell really needs to find work. In a stroke of luck Nell manages to find a whole country house with very affordable rent, at the same time as acquiring a job waiting on. Of course, it’s not ideal but it’s affordable and the two will have their own space. Except they won’t, have their own space because Merry Hall has ghosts. Vengeful spirits in fact.

Jumping back to the past we have Dolly who is lovestruck by showman Abel Wenham, unfortunately Abel is not entirely the paragon of virtue that everyone believes him to be, he’s certainly not above seducing Dolly and making her believe she means everything to him whilst using her as the star of his show.


What I enjoyed about this.

The writing was good, it’s a very easy book to get along with, I love a dual timeline and anything with the description ‘gothic’ always grabs my attention with ease. On top of which I had no problem reading this with fairly indecent haste – however, I did have some issues which prevented this from becoming a book I loved.

Firstly, I didn’t really love Nell. I thought some of her decisions were questionable and sometimes her train of thought went off in the strangest directions. I did like Fern. She was a typical prickly teenager, she also made some terrible decisions but they came across as more believable under the circumstances.

Secondly, and this is probably what really held me back was I didn’t feel any fear, there were plenty of things going bump in the night and clearly the Hall was occupied by the deceased but it didn’t scare me, it didn’t give me the heebies or deliver the gothic atmosphere that I was really hoping for.

I think The Ghosts of Merry Hall has a lot going for it and I think it will definitely find it’s audience. And, I would be interested to see what the author comes up with next.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

My rating 3 of 5 stars

This was a really solid gothic horror that pleasantly leaned into its horror aspects. The sense of atmosphere was the best part of the book for me; it was very foreboding and ominous, especially with this creeping estate as a backdrop. The dual timelines allowed the book to include all the gothic tropes I love while also putting a modern mindset and spin on the story. I think this really worked to the book’s advantage, and I enjoyed getting to follow both Nell and Dolly.

Well-written, foreboding and entertaining
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Nell and her teenage daughter Fern are looking for any port in a storm following the breakdown of Nell’s marriage. Chance brings Nell to Merry Hall as a housesitter and build a new life for the two of them. In the past, Merry Hall is the site of Dolly Dove’s rise in society but also her fall from grace. As the events of the past begin to intrude on the present, Nell and Fern experience strange goings-on at the house and elsewhere, until mother and daughter begin to see the ghosts themselves, and the ghosts begin to affect the present. When the dead can threaten violence, what can the living do to defend themselves?

Well-written, with a real sense of foreboding, the characters are exactly as you expect them to be: the innocent remaining innocent to the end, the villain is the villain, the harried mother remains a harried mother, with perhaps Fern having the clearest arc of emotional development; but all is right in the end and the heroines live to fight another day. Some pat storytelling draws all the threads together through coincidence rather than through characters’ wills but this was an entertaining read for a bleak autumn afternoon.

Gothic horror is not my jam. However, I found the synopsis for this book intriguing. I’m glad I didn’t pass up the opportunity to read it. Two parts spooky one part touching and you got a really good mystery. If I have to do all over again, I would definitely read this one again. Maybe I do like Gothic horror after all.