Ghostly Tale set in WALES

Submitted: 22nd March 2024

The Shadow Key – Susan Stokes-Chapman

Now, settle in for a very unique and compelling tale. Set in a fictional village in Wales, we spend time in the middle of nowhere and in the midst of whispery tales, folklore and myth.

Talk about atmospheric!

Map of locations in The Shadow Key

Ghostly Tale set in WALES

Map of locations in The Shadow Key

BOARDING PASS INFORMATION

Destination : WALES

Author guide: Susan Stokes Chapman

Genre: historical, gothic, ghostly

Food and drink to accompany: nothing, you’ll be holding your breath!

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A novel to transport you to WALES

Map of locations in The Shadow Key

What a beguiling read!

A doctor (Henry) from London finds himself banished from the city and his job and finds himself heading to deepest, darkest Wales. It could not be more of a contrast and for us, as readers, it’s a wonderful journey into the darkness!

Henry immediately finds resistance – he can’t speak the language and doesn’t understand the myths and magic of the local area. The sense of foreboding is strong from the start – the author creates a sense of doom and fear and its brilliantly done. The doctor feels isolated and claustrophobic unsurprisingly. When he finds out a doctor before him died in strange circumstances, I honestly shouted ‘ Get out now!’ at the book. Henry, sadly, did not hear me.

It’s the Welsh names and language that ramps this book to a higher level – we are in the village of Meirionydd at a house called Plas Helyg. The author has quite cleverly crafted her love of Wales, her respect for the culture and myths and has woven a rather fantastic story with all of that. She explains her penchant for Wales in her author note and that’s a lovely story in itself.

The cast of characters was small but perfectly formed – Linette and her mother gave me Miss Havisham vibes. When Henry comes to the village and starts ‘ snooping around’ then Linette’s world changes and not for the better.

I loved this creepy atmospheric read from the start. That cover too! Oh I would read this again and again. I didn’t want it to end.