The Ghost Woods by C.J. Cooke - Book Review

The Ghost Woods by C.J. Cooke

Genre: Historical Horror, Drama, Mystery 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Atmospheric 

In the middle of Ghost Woods in Scotland is Lichen Hall, a huge house with mysterious members, rooms, and incidents. It is a place where unwed girls go to give birth and hand over the child to adoptive parents. It is supposedly a better place than the ‘institutions’ that serve the same purpose. 

Mabel goes there in 1950 and Pearl in 1965, along with a good many other girls. Pearl notices strange happenings and events in and around the house. One day, she meets a mysterious young woman and a boy on the grounds. Together, they start to unravel the hidden secrets even as darkness threatens to swallow them whole. 

The story comes in the first-person POV of Mabel and Pearl in alternating timelines. 

My Thoughts:

• The story is divided into four parts: 

1. Part I: okayish and slow 
2. Part II: picks up pace and intriguing 
3. Parts III and IV: engaging and steady-paced 

• As you can see, the book is slow to start and even a little boring. But once the atmosphere sets in, it keeps you hooked. 
• I read The Lighthouse Witches by the author and know that she writes settings very well. The book lives up to the previous one in this aspect. It is atmospheric, gothic, and dark. It’s not spine-chilling but has enough to sustain the mood. 
• Folklore and science blend nicely, and there are enough social issues to add to the list. However, it doesn’t get preachy or OTT. 
• Various human emotions and dark sides merge seamlessly as the story progresses. It also requires a little suspension of belief to take a few things in stride. 
• The main characters are well-defined if not fully sketched. The side characters do what’s required of them. Though they aren’t explored, we get the essence of each character without trouble. 
• Mabel and Pearl’s voices are distinct enough. They blur a little toward the climax, but it’s still easy to keep track. 
• The author’s note at the end is detailed and provides insights into her idea and intent for the book. 
• The climax and ending are predictable (there are many hints). The climax isn’t as impactful as I wanted, but the detailed epilogue is more than satisfying.  

To summarize, The Ghost Woods is a dark and atmospheric tale that uses folklore and science to explore the dark human side. Be careful of the triggers. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Emma Pickard from HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheGhostWoods 

P.S: Don't you love the cover?