The Literary Ghost Story is a noble tradition:

• The Turn of the Screw, by Henry James
• Canterville Ghost, by Oscar Wilde
• The Body Snatcher, by Robert Lewis Stevenson
• The Signal-Man, by Charles Dickens

The “Signal-Man” and Dickens play an important role John Boyne’s novel This House is Haunted.  It is a well-written “Victorian” ghost story featuring London fog, numerous literary references, and a mysterious country manor.

Before the arbitrary distinctions of genre vs. literary fiction, many great writers tried their hand at horror stories. A book like This House is Haunted, a rare combination of a good ghost story and a good writer, is to my mind a much better way to spend an evening than watching a movie of television show.

This House is Haunted Plot Summary:

Eliza Caine, a new governess, arrives at Gaudlin Hall on a stormy night. As she disembarks from the train, a mysterious force pushes her onto the tracks, only for her to be saved by a passing doctor.

At the hall, Eliza finds herself alone with the two children she’s been hired to care for, Isabella and Eustace. There’s no sign of their parents or any other adults. The children offer no explanation for this unusual situation.

That night, Eliza is plagued by a terrifying encounter in her room, solidifying her belief that something sinister is lurking within the walls of Gaudlin Hall. As she navigates the eerie house, she becomes increasingly aware of a malevolent presence that seems determined to harm her and the children.

Realizing the danger they’re in, Eliza sets out to uncover the dark secrets of Gaudlin Hall, hoping to confront the demons of its past and protect herself and the children from the sinister forces that threaten them.

Here is a link to the book on Amazon: