Wiremu’s not come halfway across the world to be stopped by a ghost.Summoned from New Zealand by his tyrannical grandfather, Wiremu arrives at isolated Scarhill House to discover scheming relatives, hostile servants, and a secretary on the verge of a nervous collapse. Little wonder: the house is inhabited by a poltergeist with an apparent grudge against Wiremu’s family.The poltergeist isn’t the … poltergeist isn’t the only ghost in Scarhill House. Wiremu shares his bedroom with an invisible presence. As the ghost grows increasingly familiar, Wiremu enlists the reluctant secretary Patrick’s help to uncover the secrets of Scarhill House. Can Wiremu and Patrick lay these ghosts to rest? Or will they be haunted for the rest of their lives by Scarhill’s ghosts?
more
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
~
The Haunted Bedchamber (Read by Candlelight #4) by Gillian St. Kevern
136 Pages
POV: 3rd person, one character
Wow! The Haunted Bedchamber is another resounding success, with a perfect blend of historical, paranormal and gothic mystery all rolled into one fantastic novel.
I’ve loved every book in the Read by Candlelight series so far, and I don’t see that changing any time in the future. Each book has its own magic, its own charm, and – for the first time ever! – each book *can* actually be read as a standalone. Though there are connecting characters and places, those are bonuses for those of us who want to read in order, throughout the entire series. But, to anyone new to the series, they can easily pick up book 4, be intrigued by the characters and then decide to go back and visit Pip and Cross’ story in book 1; or skip from book 2 to book 4. There is nothing stopping them from enjoying the series however they want, in whatever order they want.
Saying that, if you read the series in order, this one feels like it’s out of order but it’s really not. For me, it felt like it was in exactly the right place. Book 3 took us to a place where Pip was an old man, but it also introduced us to the idea of him being a paranormal enthusiast and paranormal hunter. That was important to tell us, before we ventured into this book, so that we could see how that fascination started and came to become an obsession. But also that he was the perfect person to help Wiremu deal with his ghostly problems.
I absolutely loved Wiremu, the New Zealander MC who is part of the Mauri people. I knew St. Kevern had skill and talent before reading this book, but I really fell in love with the authenticity of Wiremu’s character and his dedication to culture. I’m nowhere near close to understanding Mauri culture or the terms, but that didn’t matter. The terms used were so well used in the text that the context provided all the meaning I needed. And I appreciated that it wasn’t given as a lesson or with Wiremu having to endlessly explain himself. It was natural and flowed perfectly.
In the end…as with each book in the series…I loved everything about it. From the main characters, to the paranormal twist, to the return of Pip and Cross. I even liked the irascible old man Jarvis, for a while. His banter with Wiremu was brilliant. Wiremu was charming and different. Patrick was sweet and a little lost. I loved them all! The ghostly/invisible man aspect of the story was original and clever, but the big reveal of who and what the ghosts were was even better. I honestly didn’t see it coming.
Am I excited there is another book? Duh. Of course! I don’t read FF books much, but I’m already itching to get my hands on it, after reading the blurb. This series just does that to you. It makes you want to keep reading and keep exploring, because there are so many possibilities. I love seeing old characters return. And…I mean, Pip is in book 5, so of course I need to read it! It’s Pip! I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
~
Favourite Quotes
“He’s not a man, he’s a spider. Once you’re caught in his web, that’s it. You can’t leave.” He spoke with venom. “No one here can leave.”
“As his hand clutched the bare sheets, a thought occurred. Did he want to free the ghost – or keep him?”