This House is Haunted

Product Description
A striking homage to the classic nineteenth century ghost story, from the award-winning and bestselling writer John Boyne.      1867. Eliza Caine arrives in Norfolk to take up her position as governess at Gaudlin Hall on a dark and chilling night. As she makes her way across the station platform, a pair of invisible hands push her from behind into the path of an approaching train. She is only saved by the vigilance of a passing doctor.
     When she finally arrives, shaken, at the hall she is greeted by the two children in her care, Isabella and Eustace. There are no parents, no adults at all, and no one to represent her mysterious employer. The children offer no explanation. Later that night in her room, a second terrifying experience further reinforces the sense that something is very wrong.
     From the moment she rises the following morning, her every step seems dogged by a malign presence which lives within Gaudlin's walls. Eliza realises that if she and the children are to survive its violent attentions, she must first uncover the hall's long-buried secrets and confront the demons of its past...
From Booklist
Eliza Caine is orphaned at 21 when her father succumbs to the flu after he insisted on attending a reading by Charles Dickens in cold, wet weather. She is bereft and, like most heroines of the time, without resources. She has lost her home, and so she leaves her teaching job to take a position as governess to two children in Norfolk. The advertisement is somewhat irregular, but she summons her courage and travels to what should be her new life. But secrets and mysteries abound. There are no parents present, and no servants to speak of. No one will share any information, and terrible things keep happening. Isabella seems old beyond her years, while Eustace is sweet and lovable. Through dogged pursuit, Eliza ferrets out the horrific truth and survives the malevolence of the presence that haunts the house. As the fearful situation grows worse, Eliza finds a strength that is unexpected for her time and place. Does she solve the puzzle, and do she and the children survive? A perfect, shivery gothic tale. --Danise Hoover
About the Author
JOHN BOYNE was born in Ireland in 1971 and is the author of eight novels including the international bestsellers
Mutiny on the Bounty,
The Absolutist and
The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas which won two Irish Book Awards, topped the
New York Times bestseller list in the US and was made into a Miramax feature film. His novels are published in over 40 languages. He lives in Dublin. www.johnboyne.com
Review
   • "Great fun... Boyne keeps up a constant barrage of surprises and the pace is terrific." --
The Times (UK)


   • "An adventure that will delight Dickens fans and intrigue anyone who dares to follow her on her journey." --
The Daily Express (UK)


   • "This magnificently eerie novel... takes us on a skilful journey through fear, showing not only how fear is created, but how it might be overcome."
--The Guardian (UK)