The House with 46 Chimneys is an adventure story set against the background of the early days of the coronavirus lockdown.
Life changes dramatically for Kaleb, Jude and Sequoia when they move to live with their aunt in a rural corner of central Scotland. But then life is changing dramatically for everyone. It's the beginning of April 2020, the early days of the coronavirus lockdown. The roads are nearly empty of cars and the blue skies almost clear of aeroplanes.
Three local children they meet - in a socially distanced way - draw them into a two-century old family mystery involving the haunting of the nearby ruins of Dunmore Park, 'The House With 46 Chimneys'. As the book builds to its climax, the children are faced with a decision. Do they try to right a wrong that was done in 1828, a wrong that has had consequences ever since? Or is doing so simply too dangerous?
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Ruby Simmonds took a last look around the kitchen. CHAPTER ONE
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(@ArachnidPress, 7 November 2020, 129 pages, ebook, copy from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed)
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I thought this was a terrific read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I must admit I wasn't sure about reading a book that features coronavirus. I think fiction should be an escape from what's really happening so this concerned me a little. I wondered how the author would include coronavirus and what impact it would have on the book. I was pleasantly surprised by the way the author incorporates coronavirus; this virus is just a backdrop of the book which is an interesting combination of ghost story, haunted house tale and a mystery. Kaleb, Jude and Sequoia settle into life with their Aunt but miss their parents who need to work in important jobs. I liked the way the author drops in references to coronavirus, the lockdown and social distancing without being condescending or preachy and without interrupting the flow of the book. I had a great time reading this.