Zoe Somerville: The Marsh House

This is an excellent tale being a very smart combination o0f thriller and ghost and guilt story. The setting, as with her first novel, is the remarkably vividly evoked Norfolk coast and the weatyher in all its manifestations is a centrally important part of the story – and Somerville is a remarkably fine writer in this aspect of her work.

Several aspects – both setting and some characters – are strongly and positively redolent of Graham Swift’s Waterland, set in a not wholly dissimilar ‘alien’ environment. The character of Janey is particularly vivid and fine. It also recalled, but again in a very positive way, the world of the Woman in Black with its vivid atmospherics. Then recent history setting is also very well done, as it was in her first novel, as I recall.

The plot is vividly unfurled and the use of three narrators is very effective and dramatic. The ambiguity of exactly who the third one (the italicized one) is very expertly done.

A great read and I am already anticipating the next one.