The Ghosts of Merry Hall by Heather Davey

(Thank you Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

A chilling ghost story in which a mother and daughter move into a crumbling house haunted by the ghost of a girl who performed in Victorian freak shows, through which wind whistles eerily, floorboards creak ominously and things go bump in the night.

It's Laura Purcell's The Silent Companions meets Alice Hoffman's The Museum of Extraordinary Things.

In the present day, following the break-up of a controlling marriage, single mother Nell moves into the crumbling Victorian Merry Hall with her teenage daughter, Fern. She's determined to make a new life but the noises, moving objects, and strange smells in her new home make her increasingly unsettled.

In the 1840s, showman Abel Wenham seduces Dolly, a talented albino girl and makes her the star of his performing collection of 'freaks'. But after she becomes pregnant with his child, he discards her and imprisons her at Merry Hall, where her only solace is the company of fellow performers Ada the Bear Lady and the Jack the Posturer. They plan to escape with Dolly and her child and set up in business, but Wenham has other ideas.

When Fern admits she, too, is pregnant, it seems as though history may be about to repeat itself. But is Dolly, just one of the ghosts that haunt Merry Hall, reaching out across the centuries to protect her own child?

Told in alternating chapters across two timelines – one in the mid-19th century, one in the present day – this page-turning gothic chiller is ideal for those who love The Whistling by Rebecca Netley, The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell and The Wayward Girls by Amanda Mason.

My thoughts:

I love the book's cover - talk about holiday horror vibes, which are perfect for a spooky read during the fall season. And, of course, I love the sound of the story - a crumbling Victorian that has "creepy" emanating from the walls. Within the house we get two stories told in dual timelines - Dolly, a ghost who was forced to live at Merry Hall in the 1840s; and in the present day, Nell, recently divorced and trying to figure out her next steps, so that she can take care of herself and her teenaged daughter, Fern. This unlikely trio find themselves unraveling mysteries, battling an evil ghost, and searching for answers in the unlikeliest of places. All the while living in a haunted house. Talk about being ghosted! 

Suffice it to say, I really enjoyed spending time with Nell and Dolly. The Ghosts of Merry Hall is a fantastic ghost story! Atmospheric and entertaining, it makes for quite a thrilling read. I would happily recommend this book to anyone and everyone. You are going to enjoy this haunted house thriller to bits! Make sure to grab a copy!

Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!