Its my stop on the tour to come out from hiding behind the sofa and tell you about this great gothic read.
This Halloween, don't be afraid, be terrified.
Detangling the Plot: On the remote Scottish island of Skelthsea, Elspeth Swansome takes on a position as a nanny.
Her charge, Mary, hasn't uttered a word since the sudden death of her twin, William - just days after their former nanny disappeared. But no one will speak of what happened to William.
Just as no one can explain the lullabies sung in empty corridors.
Nor the strange dolls that appear in abandoned rooms.
Nor the faint whistling that comes in the night . . .
As winter draws in, Elspeth finds herself increasingly trapped.
But is this house haunted by the ghosts of the past?
OR THE SECRETS OF THE LIVING . . . ?
Bobs and Books honest review: Ooh yes. The perfect Halloween read. Wonderfully gothic and gave me all the "Turn of the Screw" vibes.
Elspeth and Mary's relationship is superb and its great to see that blossom, sadly they get each other as loss and grief draws them together. Mary's mannerisms as she refuses to speak, actually tell a story themselves. Death lurks everywhere as a never forgetting back drop, even though the characters really don't want to discuss it.
What I found particularly striking about this read was how the use of sound is portrayed. Most lovers of this genre are familiar with creepy goings on, objects moving or changing etc. This has all that but also more. The sounds the characters could hear really came off the page for me, something I rarely find happens in books. Incredibly atmospheric with that addition.
Chilling, fascinating, surprising.
About the author:
Rebecca Netley grew up reading ghost stories and has always believed in ghosts, proven by her own supernatural experience. The Whistling was inspired by her travels to Scotland. She lives in Reading with her family. Follow her on twitter: @Rebecca_Netley
