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 is 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 on the grounds—and together they begin to unpack 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.

In The Ghost Woods by C. J. Cooke, the author has created a truly creepy gothic tale that weaves supernatural elements together with the very real history of the time wherein girls who became pregnant out of wedlock were thrown away and at the mercy of anyone who was willing to help them, even though the cost could be higher than they might be willing to pay. 

From the start of the book, one of the aspects I liked was the contrast between Pearl and Mabel, two girls from different times, both pregnant at Lichen Hall. The isolation and experiences of both are compelling, especially when the girls must deal with giving birth and when they deal with the loss of their child. That element adds to the thread of despair throughout the novel.

The supernatural elements are well thought out and creepy, the horror and the truth of what is happening at Lichen Hall a revelation best saved for reading the book but trust me when I say, you will love the fantastic ending and the gothic vibes the narrative uses as it explores the various possibilities for the truth of Lichen Hall and its legend. 

If you like supernatural horror with a creepy gothic feeling, this novel is for you. It expands on C.J. Cooke’s previous novels about motherhood, reflecting back on the experience in a different way than her previous novels. The novel is full of loss and horror but most especially, it explores the despair of giving up a child and the lack of choice or power. It is a powerful and emotional story.

Rating: 5 out of 5 mushrooms. 

Penguin RandomHouse

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