Nell is a newly single mother desperate to hold onto her teenage daughter, Fern, after the end of her toxic marriage. The two live in one rented room, tripping over one another and Nell’s pride. Refusing to ask for money from her ex-husband, Nell soon realizes that she’s not really cut out for regular employment or seemingly being a mother. Determined to prove her ex wrong, Nell agrees to housesit a Victorian mansion in her deceased mother’s hometown and takes a job at a local tavern. Of course, the decrepit house that no food service will deliver to turns out to be haunted. The ghost of an 1840’s performer, was seduced and destroyed by her former showman lover, haunts the halls and struggles to manifest to the new residents. Dolly, the ghost in question, tries to communicate with Fern, eventually trying to take over her body to have the deeds of the former lover exposed. Chaos ensues as the story of Dolly is interspersed with the drama of Nell and Fern’s day-to-day existence.
This book sounded like a perfect read for me, but I’m disappointed to say I found myself unable to embrace this book. Nell makes horrible decisions, never really including her teenage daughter in any of them (though it’s clear the girl should have been consulted for around 90% of them as basic parenting). The teenage daughter, Fern, seems to be one of the only rational characters in this book, with both of her parents sounding like toxic nightmares. I too would seek comfort in a local boy to try and get away from a clearly haunted house and a mother who selfishly focuses on proving a point rather than caring for her daughter. Please don’t get me started on a completely unnecessary pregnancy jump scare and the multiple avenues that are started down but not fleshed out to satisfaction. What The Ghosts of Merry Hall does do right is atmosphere. You get a solid haunted house narrative, a somewhat sympathetic ghost, a terrifying evil, and a town that seems fully aware that no one should be living in a house that long ago should have been condemned.
The Ghosts of Merry Hall by Heather Davey is now available from Titan Books.
