For several years, Briarwych Church has remained locked and unused. Arriving to take up his new position, Father Lionel Loveford's first task is to open the great wooden door and get the church back into use. But something lurks in the shadows. A terrible tragedy once took place in Briarwych, and now the locals live in fear of a vengeful spirit that has sometimes been spotted looking out from the church's windows.
Although he doesn't believe in ghosts, Father Loveford soon discovers that the entire village of Blackwych lives in a perpetual state of guilt and terror. Does the ghost of Judith Prendergast really haunt the church and, if so, what does she want from the villagers? With the door now unlocked, does her spirit now roam the village? And can her anger really reach as far as the wartorn fields of mainland Europe?
The Haunting of Briarwych Church by Amy Cross is so much more than a mere ghost story. This novella is a mystery-thriller, revolving around a single decision by an entire village to turn their backs on a woman in need. Father Loveford appears to be in denial about everything around him, but his cynicism leads to his discovery of several tragic secrets, all tied together by the late Judith Prendergast.
Rather than lean heavily on the paranormal aspects of the story, Cross does a great job utilizing the wartime setting and the desperation of a community without hope. The conflicts of faith and reason highlight the horrors of human nature. Not once could I guess where the author would take this story. Definitely one of my favorite Amy Cross stories.
As always,
AstraDaemon
No comments:
Post a Comment