Book review for The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse, an historical fiction novel set in the French Pyrenees.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full disclosure for further information.
Synopsis
Ten years after the end of the Great War, Freddie Watson is still cannot get over his elder brother’s death. On his doctor’s recommendation, he’s driving around France, going where his nose leads him. Now, he’s in the French Pyrenees.
After crashing his car during a snowstorm, Freddie makes his way to a small, isolated village called Nulle. That evening, he attends la fete de Saint-Etienne at the town hall. There, he meets Fabrissa, a beautiful young woman who vanishes at dawn.
Looking for Fabrissa occupies Freddie’s every thought as he recovers from a fever and organises car repairs. Following his instincts, he uncovers a cave in the hill above Nulle and, with it, the village’s secret history.
Review
The Winter Ghosts was not what I was expecting. From the blurb on the back of the book, I thought Freddie would meet Fabrissa early on and spend most of the book solving the 700-year-old mystery. However, Freddie doesn’t meet Fabrissa until half-way through the book, and uncovers the mystery fairly quickly afterwards.
The descriptions of the countryside that Freddie travels through were so richly detailed, I felt like I was there. The French Pyrenees sounded so mysterious and intriguing. It contributed greatly to the overall atmosphere and made the landscape its own character.
The writing was poetic but clear and evocative. It really helped to build the atmosphere. The whole book had a cold and eerie feeling about it, with a quiet build-up of suspense and a touch of creepiness. I enjoyed the painfully honest, introspective tone it had.
I loved how brilliantly The Winter Ghosts depicts Freddie’s grief and suffering, and his mental struggles. It was so poignant. Something about the writing conveyed the essence of Freddie’s motivation and inability to move on. I could feel the weight of his grief and how broken he was.
The room was on the first floor, overlooking the street, with a pleasant enough outlook. A large window with freshly painted shutters, a single bed with heavy counterpane, a washstand and an armchair. Plain, clean, anonymous. The sheets were cold to the touch. We suited one another, the room and I.
Freddie was a deeply engaging, likeable character that I could sympathise with. His sadness was just so consuming, I really pitied him. However, I think this would have become a bit annoying if the book had been any longer. As it was, he was realistic and likeable, and I could really root for him and his success.
While the beginning of The Winter Ghosts was rather tedious, the ending was satisfying. Much of it had a dreamlike quality, and I found the story somewhat haunting.
Conclusion
Have you read The Winter Ghosts? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.
If you haven’t, you can buy it at the following stores:
