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Review
`Evocative and gripping, this thrilling ghost story set in Victorian London is unputdownable . . . A must-read'
--Bookfest
`An atmospheric scenario shot through with intrigue, lies, greed, mystery and the supernatural ensures that interest never flags . . . Presented in quality prose, this is a well crafted novel in the style . . . of Wilkie Collins and Susan Hill'
--School Librarian
--Bookfest
`An atmospheric scenario shot through with intrigue, lies, greed, mystery and the supernatural ensures that interest never flags . . . Presented in quality prose, this is a well crafted novel in the style . . . of Wilkie Collins and Susan Hill'
--School Librarian
Product Description
Abigail is a maidservant in Greave Hall, an elegant London household governed by the tyrannical housekeeper, Mrs Cotton. Whilst the widowed master slips slowly into madness, Mrs Cotton gradually usurps the position of gentlewoman of the house. She wears his dead wife's jewellery and clothes, entertains guests as though the house is her own and reserves her most despotic treatment for Abi. In the dead of night, Abi makes a desperate bid for freedom, but is soon captured and returned to Greave Hall. As Mrs Cotton's malice intensifies, a ghostly presence distracts Abi with clues to a deadly secret. And Abi now realises that she can trust no one in the house.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I had this book sent to me from Bloomsbury to review a week or so ago and I was immediately excited to read it. The cover intrigued me and the synopsis sounded right up my street so I moved it up to the top of my To Be Read pile and picked it up this weekend when it was rather miserable and rainy and I fancied a creepy historical fiction novel and I was very pleasantly surprised by this book.
Having never read anything by Michael Ford before I wasn't really sure what to expect with this but I loved it! Right from the start you can tell that Ford is an excellent story teller. You're immediately transported into 18th century London so much so that you can very nearly smell the stench of the streets of London wafting off the pages. The story starts when Abi an orphaned servant at the brooding and dark Greave Hall runs away. She's desperate to escape the crutches of sadistic housekeeper Mrs Cotton and her harsh lifestyle there. Soon after escaping, Abi is caught and brought back to Greave Hall and things start going from bad to worse. The widowed master of the house Lord Greave is slipping slowly into madness, leaving Mrs Cotton his dead wife's sister to take advantage of her position and adopt the role of Mistress of the house wearing her sisters jewellery and entertaining guests. As Mrs Cotton's malice intensifies odd things start happening around the house. It seems as though a ghostly presence is trying to get Abi to leave Greave Hall for good and reveal that the house and the people within it are hiding terrible secrets, ones that may cost Abi her very life.
I find that ghost stories can be very hit or miss. If you do it right it can be excellent if you do it wrong it can be disastrous and Michael Ford definitely gets it right with The Poisoned House. It reminded me very much of a sort of Rebecca for teens with a supernatural twist. It has all of the things that make Rebecca the wonderful classic that it is. The big brooding house, mystery, a malicious housekeeper, a grieving widower, suspense and death. I found myself turning the pages just as desperate to discover the secrets of the house as much as Abi. There's always something exciting going on that makes you keep reading and reading. Michael ford definitely has himself a new fan and I hope he writes more historical fiction in the future as he truly does excel at it. The only reason I couldn't quiet give this the full top marks is because for me the book was a tad short. I would have liked more time with the characters and for them to have been a little more developed. If you're looking for a suspenseful, gothic, quick read then your sure to love this. Thank you for sending it to me for review Bloomsbury it's now become one of my favourite books of the year! 4 stars.
Having never read anything by Michael Ford before I wasn't really sure what to expect with this but I loved it! Right from the start you can tell that Ford is an excellent story teller. You're immediately transported into 18th century London so much so that you can very nearly smell the stench of the streets of London wafting off the pages. The story starts when Abi an orphaned servant at the brooding and dark Greave Hall runs away. She's desperate to escape the crutches of sadistic housekeeper Mrs Cotton and her harsh lifestyle there. Soon after escaping, Abi is caught and brought back to Greave Hall and things start going from bad to worse. The widowed master of the house Lord Greave is slipping slowly into madness, leaving Mrs Cotton his dead wife's sister to take advantage of her position and adopt the role of Mistress of the house wearing her sisters jewellery and entertaining guests. As Mrs Cotton's malice intensifies odd things start happening around the house. It seems as though a ghostly presence is trying to get Abi to leave Greave Hall for good and reveal that the house and the people within it are hiding terrible secrets, ones that may cost Abi her very life.
I find that ghost stories can be very hit or miss. If you do it right it can be excellent if you do it wrong it can be disastrous and Michael Ford definitely gets it right with The Poisoned House. It reminded me very much of a sort of Rebecca for teens with a supernatural twist. It has all of the things that make Rebecca the wonderful classic that it is. The big brooding house, mystery, a malicious housekeeper, a grieving widower, suspense and death. I found myself turning the pages just as desperate to discover the secrets of the house as much as Abi. There's always something exciting going on that makes you keep reading and reading. Michael ford definitely has himself a new fan and I hope he writes more historical fiction in the future as he truly does excel at it. The only reason I couldn't quiet give this the full top marks is because for me the book was a tad short. I would have liked more time with the characters and for them to have been a little more developed. If you're looking for a suspenseful, gothic, quick read then your sure to love this. Thank you for sending it to me for review Bloomsbury it's now become one of my favourite books of the year! 4 stars.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
From the very first page I knew I was going to really enjoy this book. It starts with Abi running away from Greave Hall, only to be brought quickly back again. The descriptions of London late at night are extremely atmospheric, Abi's terror drew me in straight away and the tension as she returns is palpable. As we find out more about Abi's tragic background I started to really sympathise with her. This is a girl who has not only lost her Mother, but has been cast down into a position of slavery. Quite rightly, she's meek, vulnerable and frightened, but she also has a curious and questioning streak and a quiet courage that ensures she seeks the truth.
Mrs. Cotton is the archetypal gothic villain, a woman in a position of power she doesn't deserve or is entitled to, cruel, bitter and heartless. The ghostly presence is subtle and sinister, you're not really sure if it's friend or foe and there were some real jump out of your skin moments throughout the book. The Greave family are deliciously disturbed, just what you want in this kind of book. The Master is mostly just in the background wrapped up in secrecy and insanity. The dashing Samuel, son of the master, provides some lighter and tender moments when he arrives home injured from the Crimean war, as do the other servants who stick together in their fear and misery. The characters may have been a little clichéd at times, but let's' face it, they are exactly what we want from a book like this and Ford gets them pretty much spot on.
The Poisoned House has many secrets to reveal and while I predicted some of them, I was also proved wrong at times too. Right up until the big reveal at the end I would have said this book is fantastic. Unfortunately the ending was a bit of a let down. It felt very rushed; I was left with unanswered questions and wanted much more. This is a very short book at just 230 pages and I do feel at least another 50 could have been afforded to make it truly satisfying. Everything seemed to just fall in too neatly and there was very little explanation for the character's actions. After the fantastic character development, tense build up and red herrings the half hearted ending seemed contrived, which is truly a great shame.
I really did enjoy this book. It has a sympathetic main character, a thoroughly evil villain, dark family secrets and atmospheric setting...hell, there's even a crazy old medium and some ouija boards going on! I tore through the pages at an alarming pace, holding my breath for many of them. It's a good book, the easy style and compelling story would tempt even reluctant readers and without being too graphic I think this is one that would be suitable for anyone aged 11 up. Unfortunately the ending left me less than completely satisfied and stopped it being a great book, but I'd definitely check out Michael Ford's work again. *3.5 stars...the ending stops it being 4 or higher but I did enjoy it*
Mrs. Cotton is the archetypal gothic villain, a woman in a position of power she doesn't deserve or is entitled to, cruel, bitter and heartless. The ghostly presence is subtle and sinister, you're not really sure if it's friend or foe and there were some real jump out of your skin moments throughout the book. The Greave family are deliciously disturbed, just what you want in this kind of book. The Master is mostly just in the background wrapped up in secrecy and insanity. The dashing Samuel, son of the master, provides some lighter and tender moments when he arrives home injured from the Crimean war, as do the other servants who stick together in their fear and misery. The characters may have been a little clichéd at times, but let's' face it, they are exactly what we want from a book like this and Ford gets them pretty much spot on.
The Poisoned House has many secrets to reveal and while I predicted some of them, I was also proved wrong at times too. Right up until the big reveal at the end I would have said this book is fantastic. Unfortunately the ending was a bit of a let down. It felt very rushed; I was left with unanswered questions and wanted much more. This is a very short book at just 230 pages and I do feel at least another 50 could have been afforded to make it truly satisfying. Everything seemed to just fall in too neatly and there was very little explanation for the character's actions. After the fantastic character development, tense build up and red herrings the half hearted ending seemed contrived, which is truly a great shame.
I really did enjoy this book. It has a sympathetic main character, a thoroughly evil villain, dark family secrets and atmospheric setting...hell, there's even a crazy old medium and some ouija boards going on! I tore through the pages at an alarming pace, holding my breath for many of them. It's a good book, the easy style and compelling story would tempt even reluctant readers and without being too graphic I think this is one that would be suitable for anyone aged 11 up. Unfortunately the ending left me less than completely satisfied and stopped it being a great book, but I'd definitely check out Michael Ford's work again. *3.5 stars...the ending stops it being 4 or higher but I did enjoy it*
Format:Paperback
Abigale Tamper is surrounded be wealth, maids and luxury. However, none of that is for her. The year is 1855 and she is stuck in the unbearable role of scullery maid, under the control of Mrs. Cotton. Lord Greave, the master of the house, has fallen ill so he relies on Mrs. Cotton to resume the running of the house. Things are not right in Greave Hall and Abi believes that her recently deceased mother is tying to tell her something. Something that could free her from the life of a scullery maid and lead her right into the path of a murderer...
The plot was quite simple, but by no means predictable. I don't know what I expected before reading this, but it certainly wasn't what I got. I am in two minds about the book. On one hand, it was interesting and I fell in love with the characters. On the other, it lacked excitement and some parts weren't necessary for the story at all. There was a certain air of creepiness to the book. Ghostly figures, mysterious footsteps and unexplainable occurrences, definitely managed to win this book over for me.
The author, Michael Ford, did an excellent job at pacing the mystery. I could not hep think of Cluedo, the board game, whilst reading this book. I was constantly thinking 'Miss Scarlet in the kitchen with the knife'. If you do not get that Cluedo reference, it's okay, I'm moving swiftly on. The book is like one big challenge, daring the reader to guess who could be behind Abi's mother's death. I'll just say this, it never crossed my mind.
The characters, minus Abi, all remain sightly enigmatic, which is great. We don't know much about anyone, we're only treated to little snippets of their past. Every character has their own different personalities that work really well together. What I found a bit difficult was the lack of imagery. I relied on my imagination to create a picture of each individuals, to have more aide would have been great. I have to say, there was never any lack of imagery when it came to anything else. The house, the occurrences and feelings were all so vivid.
This book is definitely worth the read. It's a mystery novel filled with romance, loss,betrayal and jealousy that will appeal to every YA fan.
The plot was quite simple, but by no means predictable. I don't know what I expected before reading this, but it certainly wasn't what I got. I am in two minds about the book. On one hand, it was interesting and I fell in love with the characters. On the other, it lacked excitement and some parts weren't necessary for the story at all. There was a certain air of creepiness to the book. Ghostly figures, mysterious footsteps and unexplainable occurrences, definitely managed to win this book over for me.
The author, Michael Ford, did an excellent job at pacing the mystery. I could not hep think of Cluedo, the board game, whilst reading this book. I was constantly thinking 'Miss Scarlet in the kitchen with the knife'. If you do not get that Cluedo reference, it's okay, I'm moving swiftly on. The book is like one big challenge, daring the reader to guess who could be behind Abi's mother's death. I'll just say this, it never crossed my mind.
The characters, minus Abi, all remain sightly enigmatic, which is great. We don't know much about anyone, we're only treated to little snippets of their past. Every character has their own different personalities that work really well together. What I found a bit difficult was the lack of imagery. I relied on my imagination to create a picture of each individuals, to have more aide would have been great. I have to say, there was never any lack of imagery when it came to anything else. The house, the occurrences and feelings were all so vivid.
This book is definitely worth the read. It's a mystery novel filled with romance, loss,betrayal and jealousy that will appeal to every YA fan.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Couldn't move til I finished it!
I bought a copy of this book for my son, and started to read the first few pages, and was gripped! A great Victorian horror, which had me turning the pages all evening until I had... Read more
Published 21 months ago by GF
Spooky!!
The whole story revolves around Abi and her life at Greave Hall; we know from the very first page that she is desperate to leave as we watch her attempt at a midnight escape. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Dot
Courtesy of A Trillian Books
The Poisoned House has all the right elements for a Gothic Victorian ghost story - from the creepy house and a heroine with a tragic history to the cruel housekeeper and dashing... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Tasha
Dickensian Wonderment
Historical fiction is a tricky type of tale to bring to the adult audience let alone the Young Adult market. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Gareth Wilson - Falcata Times Blog
To be read by candlelight... if you dare!
Poor Abi is a servant working at the ill-fated Greave Hall. The book follows her desperate attempts to escape her situation. But with both parents dead, where can she run? Read more
Published 22 months ago by Lil
Brilliant
I am sensing a turn in tides in the world of books as Ghosts get there umph back! Michael Ford writes a gripping novel that is so simply written you breeze your way through every... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mrs. A. Riaz
Brilliant read!
I read this book in preparation for a Junior Book Group (ages 9 - 11 years) that I am hosting and I thought it was fantastic - not just a book for younger readers! Read more
Published 22 months ago by Amy
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