The Winter Ghosts – Kate Mosse: A Brief Book Review

The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse (Orion, 2009)

When it comes to leading male characters in novels, be they jolly good chaps or despicable rotters, I do rather have a type: cultured, nice suit, access to stout walking boots. Pipe smoking is a plus. My favourite setting is interwar Europe: England and France are good bets, middle Europe or even Russia if I’m feeling exotic. For added house-points, you can throw in optionals: a bookshop or book related angle; a supernatural element, ghosts, occult goings-on, or some such; a strong sense of place manifest through beautiful description. If you have the essentials plus at least two of the optionals, I’ll even consider a doomed romance element. The Winter Ghosts has all the above. This doesn’t make it my favourite novel by any means, but it is certainly a superior page turner that I thoroughly enjoyed. Recommended for a quiet weekend, it is best enjoyed by the fire, tartan blanket over your knees and pipe to hand.