House of Echoes
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- 7,49 €
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- 7,49 €
Publisher Description
A powerful classic from bestselling author Barbara Erskine.
When Joss, an adopted child, discovers that her real mother has left the beautiful family home, Belheddon Hall, to her, she is thrilled, until she discovers that the Hall is haunted by a presence which will not tolerate husbands or sons living in the house.
Joss Grant is eager to begin a new life when she inherits Belheddon Hall. She brings her husband, Luke, and their small son, Tom, to the dilapidated house, and sets about discovering her family roots.
But not long after they move in, Tom wakes screaming at night. Joss hears echoing voices and senses an invisible presence watching her from the shadows. Are they spirits from the past? As she learns, with mounting horror, of Belheddon’s tragic history, she realises that both her family and her own sanity are at the mercy of a violent and powerful energy that seems beyond anyone’s control.
Readers LOVE Barbara Erskine:
‘Atmospheric’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Enthralling’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Spellbinding’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Another fabulous read from the mistress of the genre’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Immensely and deeply immersive fiction’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I loved every minute’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘An exceptional writer of great books’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘You can rely on this author to keep you wanting more’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A joy to read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Captivating and engrossing’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reviews
'Her forte is mood, atmosphere and the toe-curling frisson.' Sunday Times
‘Readers of Barbara Erskine are held in thrall’
Woman’s Realm
‘Stephen King meeting Ruth Rendell’
Frank Delaney
'Barbara Erskine's storytelling talent is undeniable' The Times
About the author
A historian by training, Barbara Erskine is the author of thirteen bestselling novels that demonstrate her interest in both history and the supernatural, plus three collections of short stories. Her books have appeared in at least twenty-six languages. Her first novel, Lady of Hay, has sold over three million copies worldwide. She lives with her family in an ancient manor house near Colchester and in a cottage near Hay-on-Wye.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Supernatural chills and romantic sighs are Erskine's (Midnight Is a Lonely Place) stock in trade, but this outing finds her deficient in both categories. She concludes her latest romance-cum-spook story with a book review praising a first novel by protagonist Jocelyn "Joss" Grant for "leaving the reader clinging to the edge of his chair," but that's wishful thinking as far as this novel is concerned. Adopted as a baby, Joss tracks down her biological mother and learns she has inherited an ancient house in Essex. Ignoring the villagers' superstitious warnings, she moves into Belheddon Hall with her husband, Luke, and her two-year-old son, Tom. Unfortunately, the ensuing strange phenomena--roses left on pillows, and ghostly giggles--frighten Joss more than the reader. Then bruises appear on Tom's arms. Joss suspects ghosts, but Luke suspects Joss. Determined to discover the house's secrets, Joss researches her blighted family tree only to find that no male heir has ever inherited Belheddon. The problem, it turns out, stretches back to the 15th century, when a powerful witch, who lived in the house, cast a spell on King Edward IV that caused him to fall in love with her daughter, Katherine. Over 500 years later, the spell still binds an armor-clad King Edward, who spends eternity making love to all of Katherine's descendants (including Joss), while the bitter Katherine menaces the men of Belheddon. Just when Joss is on the verge of losing her sanity, a village psychic conveniently breaks the ancient curse with surprising ease, forcing an ending that is as illogical as it is happy. Literary Guild/Doubleday Book Club featured alternate.
