2018/63: The General Theory of Haunting -- Richard Easter

... once a door is opened, guests may arrive, invited or not. [p. 20]

Six people converge on isolated, little-known Marryman Hall for a New Year's party. Along with the butler, Boulder, they are snowed in. Strange things start to happen as they uncover the history of the Hall, a great white round edifice designed and built by Francis Marryman in the early nineteenth century. Why do all the visits recorded in the Visitors' Book happen in winter? Was that a face at the upstairs window? Why is there a portrait of Francis Marryman's dead wife Patience, but no portrait of the man himself?

Meanwhile, the guests' party spirit (not strong even at the beginning of the book) wears thin, and secrets seep through. Anne and Dan are mourning the death of their infant son, and barely speak; Paula refuses to acknowledge that her husband Ian has been changed by events earlier in the year; publisher and host Greg finds new ways of laughing off his sister Lucy's increasingly problematic alcoholism. As for Boulder ... well, Boulder has his own problems, but he doesn't feel the need to share them with the paying guests.

Another Kindle Unlimited whim, and a very readable novel, despite some proof-reading issues ('pouring over the plans'; 'Verve Clicquot'; the use of 'the Lord' throughout, rather than 'his Lordship' or 'Lord Marryman'). This is a character-driven story, and I'd have liked more dimension to all of the main characters, especially Greg. I very much liked the nineteenth-century parts of A General Theory of Haunting: Francis Marryman, in my opinion, has more personality and courage than any of the modern-day protagonists. And Francis, at least, is not affected by the wrecking-ball events of the novel's conclusion.

This is the first in a loose trilogy: I'll keep an eye out for the others, because I like the author's inventiveness.