Mistletoe

A grieving widow purchases Maitland Farm in Yorkshire to escape her memories and avoid the Christmas season after losing her husband and son. The isolated property needs extensive renovation, and her only neighbors are a concerned family on the adjacent farm who hint at the property's dark history. The protagonist discovers she has ancestral ties to the farm through her maiden name, Maitland. As she works on the house, she begins experiencing supernatural encounters that connect her to the Victorian-era past of the property and a tragic crime involving a child's murder. The novel blends modern-day narrative with elements of Victorian ghost stories, setting a winter tale against the backdrop of Yorkshire's rural landscape. The story explores themes of grief, isolation, and the ways in which past and present can intersect in unexpected ways.

Readers note this Victorian ghost story builds atmospheric tension but moves at a slow pace. Reviews indicate the detailed period setting and descriptions of winter in Yorkshire create an immersive backdrop. Readers praised: - Authentic Victorian-era details and dialogue - The creeping sense of unease - Strong descriptive writing of the landscape - The main character Leah's emotional journey Common criticisms: - Plot develops too slowly in first half - Some found the ending unsatisfying - Secondary characters lack depth - Repetitive internal monologues Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (300+ ratings) Amazon UK: 3.8/5 (100+ ratings) Amazon US: 3.7/5 (50+ ratings) One reader called it "perfect for dark winter nights but needed more happening in the middle section." Another noted it "captures the Victorian ghost story style but drags in places."

The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell Winter-set gothic tale in which a widow moves to a rural estate and discovers unsettling wooden figures that connect to historical murders.

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters A country doctor becomes entangled with a declining family in their decaying manor house where unexplained events connect to past tragedies.

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon A woman uncovers disturbing secrets about her rural farmhouse's history through an old diary detailing a mother's loss and supernatural experiences.

The Upstairs Room by Kate Murray-Browne A family moves into a Victorian house in London and faces escalating supernatural phenomena tied to the building's dark past.

House of Shadows by Helen Grant A restoration project at an isolated estate reveals connections between present-day hauntings and historical crimes from centuries past.

🏚️ Victorian-era Christmas ghost stories were a beloved tradition in England, with families gathering around the fire to share spooky tales on Christmas Eve. 🌲 The Yorkshire countryside, where the novel is set, has inspired countless gothic and supernatural works, including Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights and Susan Hill's The Woman in Black. 📚 Alison Littlewood has established herself as a master of rural horror, with her debut novel A Cold Season becoming a Richard and Judy Book Club pick in 2012. 🏰 Maitland Farm draws inspiration from real Yorkshire farmhouses, many of which date back to the 17th and 18th centuries and were built using local limestone and millstone grit. 🕯️ The practice of renovating old properties, central to the plot, experienced a boom in Victorian England due to the period's fascination with architectural revival and preservation.