Caffeinated Reviewer

I was excited to dive into C.J. Cooke’s newest novel, The Ghost Woods, and I was not disappointed. This dark, gothic horror fantasy takes us to Lichen Hall. A place shrouded in folklore about ghosts & witches. This remote home stands alone deep in the woods. Pearl Gorham arrives in 1965, to give birth to a child and the tale that unfolds held me captive.

A young woman sent to stay in a crumbling gothic manor will find haunting secrets creeping out of the surrounding dark woods in this new, chilling novel from the acclaimed author of The Lighthouse Witches.

In the midst of the woods stands a house called Lichen Hall.

This place is shrouded in folklore—old stories of ghosts, of witches, of a child who was not quite a child.

Now the woods are creeping closer, and something has been unleashed.

Pearl Gorham arrives in 1965, one of a string of young women sent to Lichen Hall to give birth. And she soon suspects the proprietors are hiding something.

Then she meets the mysterious mother and young boy who live in the grounds—and together they begin to unpick the secrets of this place.

As the truth comes to the surface and the darkness moves in, Pearl must rethink everything she knew—and risk what she holds most dear.

I have read three of Cooke’s novels now and enjoy the different settings and her prose. The Ghost Woods is a standalone gothic horror set in 1965. Pearl Graham finds herself in a familiar way and goes to Lichen Hall to deliver the baby. The home has boarded others in the same position.

Lichen Hall is set deep in the woods and is run by an older woman and her ailing husband. Pearl noticed strange things soon after she arrived. A young boy no one else seems to know about, strange mushrooms growing in the woods and in parts of the home itself, not to mention strange visitors in the parlor. The old woman’s refusal to call for help when a young girl struggles to deliver and a strange force in the woods all added to the atmospheric tale.

The story that unfolds is split between dual timelines. Both from the perspectives of pregnant young women who have come to Lichen Hall. Pearl’s POV set in 1965 and Mabel’s set in 1959. I found myself riveted as the suspenseful tale unfolded. It included twists and some dark and disturbing moments. The house and woods became characters themselves as I pulled the covers higher.

The paranormal aspects and old lors regarding the witch only added to the creep factor as we learned Mabel’s story and were present for Pearl’s harrowing experience. Cooke spins a tale that pushes your imagination and makes things feel very surreal.

If you love tales steeped in lore that also highlight the conditions young women found themselves in during these time periods set against darker threads, such as violence, manipulation, betrayal, and murder, you will definitely want to grab this one.

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About C.J. Cooke

C. J. Cooke is an award-winning poet and novelist published in twenty-three languages. She teaches creative writing at the University of Glasgow, where she also researches the impact of motherhood on women's writing and creative writing interventions for mental health.

Website

About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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