The Notebook meets The Haunting of Hill House in this split timeline queer twisted love story, set against the backdrop of a haunted English manor.
William Thorn had his life all planned out… until he discovered his long-term boyfriend Archie in bed with another man. Distraught, William kicks him out of their home, where tragedy strikes when Archie is killed instantly in a car accident.
Riddled with guilt, William is shocked to learn that he’s inherited a manor in the quaint village of Stonewall, left to him in Archie’s will. He leaves the city with plans to make a new start for himself, but is surprised by the rundown state of the manor, and the unwelcoming villagers who want him gone. His only ally is Edward, a seemingly friendly local with secrets of his own.
However, it’s not only the villagers who are adverse to his presence. A malevolent spirit roams the manor, one that seeks to drive William out for good. But when he uncovers the heartbreaking tale of two men in love in the 1920’s, William strives to find peace for the spirit, ending the haunting once and for all.
But what dark secrets lie hidden in the manor walls? And will William be able to put aside his own grief to save his new home…and his life?
An evocative tale from #1 bestselling author Ben Alderson, exploring grief, trauma and the bones of the past, The Haunting of William Thorn is the perfect read for fans of the gothic.
THE FACTS
📕Gothic mystery/romance
📘 dual timeline romance
📙 emotional, beautiful
📘 twists and turns and shocking reveals
THE GOOD BITS
One of the things I enjoy about Ben Alderson’s books is that the official blurb perfectly describes what happens within the confines of the pages and yet, I always have my mind blown by the reveals in the plot. How Ben manages to do that is beyond me!
“The Haunting of William Thorn” is the latest book by Ben and I believe it’s my favourite of his works thus far. William Thorn has a pretty great life until he discovers that his long-term partner has been having an affair. Overcome with anger, William kicks Archie out and as a result Archie is killed in an accident. The weight of his partner’s death comes crashing down on him and only intensifies when he realizes that Archie has left him the family manor.
William heads to the manor with mixed intentions. He’s struggling with grief, and his guilt is embedded in his soul. He vows to try and renovate the house…but his plans are short term, as he’s not sure if he even can continue in the world. The world he was living in has changed; his future is uncertain, and his heart shattered.
Then William begins to discover the story of the manor and its former residents. Some of those residents may even be lingering in a non-corporeal fashion. He’s not a believer in ghosts, but the manor is dark and run down … and William begins to get frightened. And there’s the local folks who seem abrasive, some downright hostile and they certainly don’t seem to want anyone setting up residence at the old manor house.
As William begins to learn about the manor, he uncovers a tale of two young men in love. The forbidden love of Teddy and Robert in the past is revealed though journal entries that William discovers as he settled into the manor. This is how the book becomes a dual-timeline story. The two young men had to hide their passion for one another…and then their lives were ended. Unusual circumstances lead to the death of both men and William becomes obsessed with trying to uncover what happened to them.
Soon William is joined by Edward. Edward claims to be a groundskeeper, but there’s much more to his story. Both men are carrying a great deal of their past with them and I’m not saying anything further on that! These two characters work together to uncover the history of the manor and answer the question of what really happened to Teddy and Robert in the past.
There are a few great things about this book. First of all, this is a gothic tale, and the Manor is very much a main character in the tale. Ben always demonstrates such skill with world-building, he really brings the manor to life. I have a vivid impression in my mind of what the manor looked like, the colours, the smells, the lighting… it’s all there in the beautiful descriptions.
Half the joy of Ben’s books is being lulled in by the way he writes beautiful moments that string together into an engaging plot. And then comes the Ben part of the book…the emotional switchback-roller-coaster ride of emotion that I love. There are always swerves in the story that I don’t see coming, and they always make sense! I often find myself in tears or taking many deep breaths…but I love it!
Grief is front and centre in this story. Ben explores the many facets of loss: the death of a partner, loss of future memories, loss of a planned life and loss of agency. I was touched by Willam’s grief and the way it’s portrayed so authentically
This book is not a simple, straight path from beginning to end. None of Ben’s books are simple. His stories are all rich and gratifying, every character is important, and no detail is superfluous. The Haunting of William Thorn is a luscious tale full of emotion.
THE LINKS
🖊 Author
I was given an arc of the Haunting of William Thorn by the publisher: Angry Robot Books in exchange for an honest review.
Kinzie Things 