Gothic historical novel set on a remote Scottish island

31st October 2021

The Whistling by Rebecca Netley, a gothic historical novel set on a remote Scottish island.

The year is 1860. Elspeth has suffered considerable personal loss and death, and alights upon the job of nanny to young Mary, who lives with her aunt on the fictional island of Skelthsea. Theirs is a dour house – Iskar – with melancholy oozing from the very fabric of the building, its faded grandeur and endless corridors and rooms adding a gloomy atmosphere to the story.

Mary has lost both her mother and her twin brother, and therefore nanny and charge already have death and grieving in common. However, Mary is unwilling or unable to speak and is clearly a troubled child. Elspeth however rises to the challenge and soon finds a connection and empathy to bind them.

As Elspeth settles in, things begin to disconcert her. Things move and go missing, decorated stones appear – she disposes of them and then they reappear again – and the eerie atmosphere begins to get under her skin. Whistling sounds and ghostly rumblings all continue to unsettle her, as she builds the relationship with Mary. She observes the people around the house and beyond, many of whom seem to know more than they are prepared to divulge. Things are hinted at, secrets alluded to but not revealed; Elspeth is rattled by the ghostly goings-on.

This is an incredibly atmospheric read and the author does a fantastic job of conjuring up the remote island, where the boat from the mainland only calls irregularly. The seas pound, the wind whistles and the skies form a leaden backdrop outside. Inside the house, the musty and oppressive atmosphere feathers around the characters as they move through their days.

An excellent choice for anyone who liked Mexican Gothic and is looking for something suitable for the period around Halloween.

Tina for the TripFiction Team

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