Title: Mrs. Murray's Ghost (The Piccadilly Street Series Book 1)
Author: Emily-Jane Hills Orford
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Children’s Books
Book Blurb:
It's 1967 and Mary’s family has moved into a huge Victorian mansion. She loves her gigantic new house, especially her room. But then she begins to meet the house’s other residents. Mrs. Murray was murdered in Mary’s new house. At first she tries to scare the new residents away, but there seems to be a force connecting the ghost to Mary. Even the stranded Brownies, the little people who live between the walls, feel that connection. When Mary becomes deathly ill, the Brownies and the ghost team up to try to rescue her, only to encounter a witch and her evil dragons and minions. Time is running out. They must rescue Mary from a fever-induced dream world before she is trapped there forever.
My Review:
Mary and her family have moved to London, Ontario. New town. New school. New mansion complete with a rather active ghost, Mrs. Murray. Mary loves her new home, especially her gigantic bedroom which has a fireplace. At first, she thinks the ghost haunting her home is scary (she’s ten) but her fears ease when she meets the friendly little people called Brownies. There’s an eerie connection between the ghost and Mary, something no one can explain. It’s only when Mary contracts a deathly illness, do Mrs. Murray and the Brownies team up to battle an evil witch and her minions. The worse Mary gets, the further Mary travels in the other world. Can Mrs. Murray save her or will Mary be the next ghost to haunt the Victorian mansion?
What a fun, not too scary, ghost story! I love the setting of London, Ontario and the year is 1967. Rich in detail, the story unfolds at a gentle pace. The plot is fast enough to pump up the pulse but not so quick as you’ll miss any of the action. The background of the Victorian mansion, Mrs. Murray and the Brownies makes this more a historical adventure rather than a haunting. Solid world-building with an open-ended conclusion. I hope there’s more books in store for this great series.
If you’re in the mood for a friendly ghost story suitable for kids seven and up, pick up this book today!
Favorite Character/Quote: The Brownies. Anyone who is familiar with The Borrowers will be delighted by the Brownies. They not only add comedic dialogue to a suspenseful plot but also provide historical information to Mary and the reader.
My Rating: 5 stars
Buy it now:
Author Biography:
Emily-Jane Hills Orford is an award-winning author of several books, including Gerlinda (CFA 2016) which received an Honorable Mention in the 2016 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, To Be a Duke (CFA 2014) which was named Finalist and Silver Medallist in the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and received an Honorable Mention in the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. She writes about the extra-ordinary in life and her books, short stories, and articles are receiving considerable attention. For more information on the author, check out her website at: http://emilyjanebooks.ca
Social Media Links:
Facebook: facebook.com/realpeoplestories
Twitter: twitter.com/ejhomusic
Reviewed by: Mrs. N