I received this gorgeous book as an arc, and it’s one that will definitely be on order for a real copy! CJ Cooke/Carolyn Jess-Cooke has done it again! With an opening line of “I have a ghost in my knee” how couldn’t you have the need to sit there continuously page turning this page turner! I absolutely loved it and per all CJ Cooke/Carolyn Jess-Cooke]] books, I couldn’t put it down! Such an emotional unnerving rollercoaster!! I have read and loved the Lighthouse Witches and The Nesting by CJ Cooke/Carolyn Jess-Cooke]] as well. So, I will definitely be keeping my eyes out for anything else she writes 💗💗 💫💫💫💫💫

If I could only ever read one genre of fiction, it would be the gothic novel, which never seems to go out of style. So I was delighted when Harper Collins pre-selected me to review an ARC of The Ghost Woods, which is the latest gothic novel from C J Cooke, author of The Lighthouse Witches and The Nesting, both of which I enjoyed immensely.

Like her earlier novels, The Ghost Woods explores the connection between humans and the forces of the natural world around them. As a gothic novel, it weaves together natural studies, folklore and mythology, to create a story that is completely unique. All the keystone elements of a gothic novel are apparent - secrets, mysteries, otherworldly beings, incarceration, madness and so on - but they are brought together in a way that I have never read before, by the power of fungi and mushrooms!

The novel, set in the late 1950s and early 1960s, follows two young women, Mabel and Pearl, who are sent to the same home for unwed expectant mothers. Once there, they each live out their pregnancy before giving the baby up for adoption. This was an enforced punishment for young women and girls during that time and it was very common for women to be sent away in disgrace and forced to give up their child. It was thought that a woman of such loose morals as to allow herself to fall pregnant out of wedlock, was not fit to be a mother.

So Pearl and Mabel find themselves at Lichen Hall in the Scottish Borders, having their babies five or six years apart. At first the novel jumps back and forth between these two narratives, but things really start to get exciting when the two story lines merge into one and Pearl and Mabel meet. From then on, the novel really swings along at a great pace, as the two women try to solve the hidden mystery at the heart of Lichen Hall and seek to prove once and for all if the legend of Nicnevin, the witch who is said to live in the woods, is true or not.

Nicnevin the witch, is a very spooky aspect of Scottish folklore. She is hag goddess, similar to the Cailleach or Hecate. In some legends, Nicnevin is an ancient goddess, in others she is a fairy queen. Her name was often applied to women who were taken up on charges of witchcraft during the Scottish witch trials, so it became a by-word for a witch in Scotland, similar to Grimalkin. She is often said to be a malignant force, rather than a benevolent one and that is certainly the case in Cooke's rendition of her in The Ghost Woods.

In this novel, Nicnevin is an ever present threat, a malignant entity, waiting to prey on anyone who wanders into her woods, even creeping into the Hall at times. Here there are fairy rings of such magnitude they seem more like a huge trap, rather than a lovely natural phenomenon. There are lights in the woods at night, mushrooms that glow and fungi which is encroaching on the house itself. Nicnevin is all around the girls when they are at their most vulnerable, for how can they run from the threat when they are weighed down by their own great bulk of pregnancy?

It is an atmospheric read, at times revolting in its descriptions of how fungi work, at times sinister in the gathering threat of doom that hangs over the girls. As the house they entered for sanctuary during pregnancy becomes a threat, the girls have to work together to find a way to escape from the constant menace and the contamination that is all around them. Their only hope is a little boy with strange powers of foresight, but do his gifts come from a good place, or is he being used by Nicnevin herself?

The Ghost Woods is a fabulous book with a subtle Scottish slant. It made me feel very glad that I have never wanted babies and that I don't like mushrooms! It's a great one to read during the autumn, which is why it is being published in October, during fungi season. A word of warning though, this novel will probably put you off mushroom soup forever, and if you dare to go foraging in the woods after reading this, you're a braver person than I am!

I hope C J Cooke continues to write more gothic novels, because she certainly has a talent for this genre.

Blessed Be

Marie x

AD: This book was sent to me by the publisher for review purposes. It is released on 13th October 2022, but it is available for pre-order now.

The story is divided into two different timelines, each tells either about Mabel or Pearl

Mabel Haggith doesn’t know why she’s pregnant. She believes that she has more than one ghost inside of her body because they make her do odd things, like writing a note to a butcher: There’s a man in the car with a knife to my ma’s neck. He’ll kill her if you don’t give me everything in the till.

Pearl Gorham is a nurse. She is fired when she became unwed mother. She’s taken to mother and baby home at Lichen Hall. Lichen Hall is a 16th century manor owned by the Whitlock family. There are rumours spreading about the family, but Pearl doesn’t believe.

The chapters are divided between 1959 (Mabel Haggith) and 1965 (Pearl Gorham) until Pearl’s story meets that of Mabel’s.

Lichen Hall is supposed to be the best option for unwed mothers to born their babies, but the manor is isolated and very antique that the women don’t receive proper medical care. Mrs. Whitlock despises doctors and none of them, including her husband ever receives a proper medical care. The women struggle to survive, both physically and mentally. This magical realism gothic novel combines supernatural and the powerlessness of the women.

However, the author aims to raise awareness of how much of a struggles unwed mothers were in a land where abortion was not an option and anti-contraception pills were not allowed.

Why you should want to read this gothic novel:

- It gives you chill
- The story fits the rule “show it, don’t tell it”; It summons you into the situation. You may want to read it on daylight, but I bet you’ll feel challenged to read it at night also because the story will keep you hooked. All you want is reading it. Guaranteed!
- If you’re into LGBT, or okay with it, you may love this novel
- If you feel that you have never belonged in the mainstream or the status quo, or have simply felt at home in the strange

A disturbing, suspense filled, gothic novel, that sends chills up and down your spine! That is the best way to for me to describe the latest sensation from C.J. Cooke, 'The Ghost Woods'.
There are two timelines running in parallel in the novel which eventually converge - we start with the story of Mabel in 1959. As a young, pregnant and unmarried woman, Mabel is shamed and quite literally packed off to Lichen Hall by her family to have her child away in disgrace.
Six years later, in 1965 Pearl arrives at Lichen in a similar situation. Though Pearl at least is aware of how she became pregnant whereas Mabel believes her pregnancy to be the work of a ghostly manifestation. Leading the reading to expect that there are some twists and explanations to come in time.
Both young women struggle to settle into the world of the House, with Mr. Whitlock descending in dementia, Mrs, Whitlock displaying increasingly odd behaving, disappearing people, mysterious fires and then the stories ... stories of witches, fairies and murder.
The young women abandoned to life at Lichen soon realise that they must band together in order to survive this new and deeply strange world but as the number of oddities increases, they are unsure if the world around them remains safe and just what they must do to survive.
There is a true darkness and horror to this tale and that is aside from the ghostly aspect but rather it is related to the tragic and true history of the Magadalen laundries and how young pregnant, unmarried women have been treated through Ireland and the UK until recent years. This reality is more haunting that any ghostly aspect of the story. However, the author is careful to blend this darkness with the fantastical aspect of the story to create a tale that mingles legends and history to excellent effect.

A gothic novel that I couldn't put down and now, I've finished I can't stop thinking about. I'm sure when I revisit it on a reread I'll see more of the complex threads that run through it and enjoy it again with different eyes. It has depth, strong characters and a dark menacing atmosphere that lingers once the books closed.
Told in two time threads, Mabel and Pearl are both sent to Lichen Hall to give birth and then have their child adopted but its clear, there is a malevolent motivation at play but I didn't fully guess what it was.
Mr Whitlock is fascinated by fungi and facts about these are threaded throughout helping me to understand his obsession and add to the eeriness of the house.

C J Cooke has written another corker and cant wait to see what they write next.

Set in the early 60s we are firstly reminded of how girls ‘in trouble’ were cast out of society as fallen women; their babies taken from them; their lives ruined. In a home to which these girls are sent to have their babies, we meet the characters of this story and then, this book takes a whole new direction. It becomes very dark, chilling and with a hint of the supernatural. A true Gothic novel.
Once they’ve given birth, it seems they’re not allowed to leave. What is going on in this dark and scary place? What is the strange gift that makes a little boy’s skin glow? Will they get out alive or are they trapped, never to leave. Step into Lichen Hall, if you dare.

This was a gothic, haunting and atmospheric story that I couldn’t put down. It was gripping and engaging the whole way through with a level of suspense and unpredictability that added an extra layer to the storytelling. It was a chilling read that has stayed with me since I read it. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Really enjoyed this one from CJ Cooke - and what an imagination to write this! I would describe this as fantastical magical realism and if that's your bag- you will love it but others may struggle with the strange, often macabre world that we visit for the few hours it takes to read this book.
I was totally immersed in the separate but intertwined lives of Mabel and Pearl and it comes beautifully together at the end in a explosion of events.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this e advance review copy.

Thank you to the author, publishers HarperCollins and NetGalley UK for access to this as an advance reader’s ebook. This is an honest and voluntary review.

A perfectly spooky gothic horror/thriller shining an important light on the ways women’s autonomy and sexuality have been policed.

Set in 1959 and 1965 the story is based around a private home for unwed mothers. Lichen Hall appears to offer a haven for women to complete their pregnancy and arrange for an adoption. But, the rumours about witchcraft and revenge in the surrounding ghost woods cast as much of a shadow over the occupants of Lichen Hall as their status as outcasts from their families and society.

I love the way the story is told. We start with Mabel, who arrived at Lichen Hall in 1959 with her own feelings of ghosts in her body and struggling to believe that she is actually pregnant. Nervous, unworldly Mabel makes a stark contrast to Pearl who arrives six years later frustrated that she’s been forced out of her career as a nurse because she fell pregnant.

The switches between Mabel and Pearl’s stories are handled wonderfully, showing their opposite approaches to the challenges presented to them while also allowing a much more thorough exploration of the residents and inherent weirdness of Lichen Hall from their two different perspectives.

It’s a properly unsettling, spooky thriller exploring themes of equality and human rights which feel very modern despite being set around sixty years ago.

A great gothic horror! This book had me hooked from the very first page and kept me so until the very last. The setting was absolutely perfect for a gothic novel and the use of fungi as a theme was genius (I actually learnt a lot about fungi from this book!). Fungi is fascinating but abhorrent in many ways which makes it a great gothic theme, especially alongside themes of birth and death.

The one thing that I would say let this book down slightly (and the reason for 4 star instead of 5) was the fact that there were a few pages towards the end of the book that I felt contained gratuitously repulsive details. It would have been better, and more in keeping with the rest of the book, to tone these down considerably and rely on the reader’s imagination instead.

But all in all, a really good read that I’ll be happy to recommend!

Not going to lie it took me about a quarter of the book to get into it. Once I was hooked I just wanted to keep reading.

As a Glaswegian I found this almost humorous in places as I can picture the surroundings and places mentioned.

At first I was confused with the ‘Then’ and ‘Now’ but don’t let that get in the way because when the penny drops it all comes together beautifully.

I have to that there were many twists and turns that weren’t to my guesses of what was going to happen, I loved that.

All in all @cjcooke_author I enjoyed this book and I would love to see it made into a series or film!

Then: Dundee, May 1959, Mabel Haggith aged 17 visits the doctor with her mother, they say she’s pregnant but she doesn’t understand as she’s done nothing wrong. It must be the ghosts inside her as they make her do some strange things.
Now: Pearl Gorham, September 1965, aged 22 and a nurse. She’s heavily pregnant and being taken to a mother and baby home in the Scottish Borders which is a 16th Century Manor House called Lichen House and is owned by the Whitlock family. There are many rumours about the Whitlocks and certainly the ghost woods, trees with pale ghostly trunks that are on their property adds to the strangeness. Pearl is treading where Mabel treads before her and their stories become entangled and intertwined.

This is another clever, creative and different Gothic tale from CJ Cooke. In this one motherhood is the principal theme, specifically unmarried mothers and their treatment and lack of power at this time. It’s well documented that mother and baby homes in this era have terrible reputations, look no further than the Magdalene laundries.

However, of course, it’s not that simple as a fantastical, imaginative story emerges woven in with several aspects of nature which mingles with fables and legends especially those from Gaelic folklore. I really enjoy this element though obviously it requires some suspension of disbelief but with the evocative descriptions of the house and its surrounds and some thoughtful explanation the author pulls you in and you go with the flow.

At times it’s creepy and menacing as a suspenseful dark tale unfolds with even darker deeds which includes betrayal, murder, destruction, some cruelty, manipulation and violence. There is a big mystery that lies at the heart of Lichen Hall and the further the Pearl in particular digs, the more horrifying it becomes.

The characterisation is good throughout and the author gives us some to root for and cheer on especially in Mabel, her son Sylvan and Pearl.
The portrayal of Sylvan is fascinating but my lips are sealed on how!

Overall if you like a mixture of the factual and Gothic, the supernatural and fantasy then this one is for you.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins/HarperFiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Goodreads and Twitter - 23/7
Amazon and Waterstones- 13/10/22.

This is a chilling, unsettling story about Lichen Hall, an isolated, run-down home for unwed mothers. Mabel, in the past, and Pearl, in the present day of the story (1965), are two such women who have been sent there. The Whitfields, the family that owns Lichen Hall, are creepy. There are also rumors of supernatural doings in the surrounding woods. This is a suspenseful, gothic tale that had me glued to the page.

Having absolutely loved The Nesting and The Lighthouse Witches I couldn't wait to read this and I wasn't disappointed.

A dark twisty story told from the past and present until it entertwines and the story is told in the present. This had me reading pages as quickly as I could to understand what was going on.

Another brilliant read from CJ Cooke!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy.

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for this eARC of The Ghost Woods.

After previously reading The Lighthouse Witches by C J Cooke I have been keeping my eye for other novels by her.
So when I saw this I had to read it.

The Ghost Woods is a novel which sees Mabel (past) and Pearl (present) arrive at Lichin Hall - a home for unwed mothers to have their babies. Rumours of a witch in the ghost woods and no access to the outside world makes this novel feel slightly unnerving.
Things aren't what they seem and as the story unravel with the oddities that happen throughout their stay creates for a gripping read.

The Ghost Woods is a hauntingly enigmatic written novel, as soon as I started reading I was pulled in.
The chapters being written from Mabel's point of view and Pearl's drew me in and captured me as their stories both entwined.
I loved the characters, each one had a compelling past and a deep sorrow to them. The twists of this novel shocked and surprised me and continued until the end. I had no idea where this was taking me and any suspicions I had were clearly off the mark.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Ghost Woods, the suspense, the outcome, the ending were all in my opinion a fantastic read.

A mother’s tale ★★★☆☆

Pregnant and unmarried, bewildered and haunted Mabel is sent to Lichen Hall to have her baby and then give it up for adoption.

Lichen Hall is supposed to be better than the mother and baby homes. However, the house is isolated and antiquated and the women don’t have access to proper medical care. Even worse, something inhuman walks the woods at night. And there are stories of a witch and a terrible curse, and rumours about the Whitfields, the family who own the hall …

Seven years later, Pearl comes to the hall to have her baby. Mrs Whitfield refuses contact with the outside world, Mr Whitfield is wheelchair bound after a stroke, and their teenage grandson Wulfric has terrible rages. Then Pearl starts seeing a woman and child in the woods…

The author balances a sinister gothic tale and a pinch of the supernatural with the very real fears and powerlessness of the young women.

There were parts which reached too far into fantasy for my tastes but overall it is a creepy and moving novel with characters you can really root for.

A macabre and empathetic story of motherhood and folklore.

A dark and atmospheric read that was creepy at times. Well written with good pacing that increased as tension increased, it wewas twisty and unpredictable at times too. A real page turner

A chillingly atmospheric tale centring around Pearl, a woman sent to the mystical Lichen Hall in 1965. Wonderfully well paced and dazzlingly tense. I loved the writing style and found myself on the edge of my seat as the story unfolded. The perfect read for a dark Autumn evening...

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

(N.B. Error message 'Unable to find book with ISBN "9780008515928" on Goodreads.' appears when i try to post to Goodreads - therefore have posted separately and added link below)

Rounding up to three stars

For me, this lacked atmosphere.
There were times I thought it might get a little bit creepy, but never quite got there.
A very strange tale, that ambles along before exploding at the end.
A lot happens in the final parts of the book.
I personally found it a bit over the top.
Others will love it.