A review by asourceoffiction
This House is Haunted by John Boyne

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is such a great period ghost story. It borrows elements from Dickens (in fact some of the exclamations and run-on sentences are incredibly Dickensian) and Jane Eyre, and fits right into that period. It's filled with delightful foreshadowing as Eliza commits her tale to paper, and it feels like classic Victorian fiction, albeit a little easier to follow.

I love the insistent fog (again like Dickens) that wraps the story in intrigue when it needs to. For Dickens fog was indicative of the filth pervading London at the time, and for Boyne it's pure atmosphere.

The ghost story itself is really clever in its simplicity, but it gives a tragic, sympathetic air and highlights an interesting conversation about complicity in domestic abuse of women and their role in society. But for me the scares seemed to lack that creeping sense of dread that I find really chilling. That is, until I read the very last chapter, which was truly spine-tingling and will definitely stay with me!
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