Am getting behind with reviews as I have been so busy and my conscience is pricking me so before feet up for evening and Spiral on BBC4, here goes:
The Drowning Pool - Syd Moore
Widowed teacher Sarah Grey is trying to rebuild her life. She and her son Alfie have moved to a coastal town (Leigh on Sea which makes it local for me and adds interest) and she is slowly moving on when, after a drunken night out with friends, they get chatting about local history and legends and ghosts and, unwittingly, create a seance. Creepy things then start to happen as she is subjected to a scary series of hauntings and Sarah becomes convinced that the ghost is that of her namesake, a Witch shoe headless body was found in a bleak spot known locally as the Drowning Pool.
"At 3.30 am a huge clap of thunder crashed, I awoke once more with a start.....the air was filled with tension. A purple fork of lightning darted across the sky, the storm was getting closer. Lightning flashed once more, illuminating the bedroom....the figure of a woman stood by the door. It was her.
Frozen in light, I made out smooth alabaster skin, a bonnet keeping back unruly dark hair, young piercing green eyes, the line of the white dress that disappeared into nothing beyond the knee.
Her outstretched arm pointed at me"
Sarah feels the ghost is trying to tell her something and she starts to research the legend to find out its origins and then discovers that the headmaster at the school where she teaches, is also doing the same and has his own reasons for so doing. They join forces but then Sarah begins to wonder why Andrew is so interested....
Snappy, pacy, good clean narrative and humorous exchanges married up with a good story line and lots of spookiness. An excellent debut novel and a second one already on its way. I look forward to it.
Publication date 29 September - Amazon details here.
Ok one down, six to go......
Recent Comments