What do readers think of This House is Haunted by John Boyne? Write your own review.

I think this book is brilliant! It is a chilling ghost story for literary types, complete with a cameo by Charles Dickens.

Written in the Dickensian style by the inimitable John Boyne, this gothic tale opens on a cold and rainy night in London in October 1867 when Eliza Caine, age 21, and her father troop through the misty, fog-shrouded streets to hear a popular writer named Charles Dickens read one of his ghost stories to the gathered audience. The miserable autumn weather proves too much for Mr. Caine who soon dies, forcing Eliza to find employment and housing elsewhere. She moves to Norfolk where she will serve as a governess in Gaudlin Hall, one of the large English homes. Ah, but all is not as it seems—or should be. Eliza quickly realizes a malicious force is pursuing her, and when she finds out the fate of the previous five governesses who have served the family in the past year, she knows she is not imagining things. But WHY? Why is this evil happening? And will Eliza succumb to the same fate as so many of the other governesses?

Because the book is written in the style of a 19th century novel, it is by definition more slow-paced than modern day novels. Some might even call it plodding. But that's the whole point! The plot slowly unfolds as Eliza Caine gradually figures out what is going on in this house and why everyone who encounters her is so spooked by it—and by extension her.

Bonus: The ending — as in, the last word of the book — is pure genius. It's all goosebumps and shivers!