The first in a series of Beth Harper books, Masquerade is a supernatural thriller set in a remote North Yorkshire village. Following a whirlwind re-location for a live-in job at the local inn, Beth quickly realises the whole village is thoroughly haunted, the people here fearful and cowed.
As a spiritual medium, her attention is drawn to Scarsdale Hall nearby, the enormous stately home dominating what is undoubtedly a wild and beautiful landscape. Built of black stone with majestic turrets, it seems to drain the energy from the land. There is, she feels, something malevolent about it, as if time has stopped. With the help of her spirit guides and the gift of astral travel, she will soon face the most daunting task of her life. Why is she being shown images of expressionless children gripping the bars of fairground wheels, forever going around and around? And why are the lines of women and children walking to Scarsdale Hall each day, silent and grim-faced?
Barely a word is spoken here. There is no joy, no life… Past and present are as entangled as a box of ribbons, her task being to unravel the darkly disturbing truth laid down centuries before. But are the embedded secrets too horrific for those involved to ever admit, even to themselves? As the enormity of the task unfolds and Beth is pitched against one of the most powerful families on earth, she considers this may be too much for her. Ultimately, however, this is her journey, too. And she will be pushed to the limit of her abilities. Besides, as her spirit guide, Billy, says, ‘They’re still doing it…’Author note: this is not occult horror as such, but a supernatural mystery based on the very real experiences of a spiritual medium.
Review:
Second book I have read by this author and definitely not the last and what a way to hook me into a new series. I need more and now. So many questions unanswered!
So Beth is a medium/psychic and has all good abilities to help spirits move on and cleanse dark spirits away – all abilities she has learned off since early childhood. With the help of her spiritual guide Billy and the spirit of her grandmother Grace, she deals with situations normal people wouldn’t walk to walk into.
But this situation she is thrown into might actually be too much for her. Beth arrives in a quaint Yorkshire village to be the new cook in the local pub. Straight off she notices the heavy atmosphere, spirits trapped in all rooms and staff that seems to live in a trance, avoiding questions at all cost. And there is the mysteries Mantel family running the whole area. Beth has to face evil, deciphering a barrage of visions and people’s memories before it’s too late.
This book drove me mad. I think I was confused all the way through about 80% of this book and still some questioned lay unanswered. But I like that, knowing this is a first book in a new series, so I have some more to look forward to. Thoroughly enjoyed this and got a little spooked too, so perfect for October time.
Thank you to TBConFB for access to this fab book.
Rating: 5/5
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