Publisher's Synopsis
A gripping, unsettling historical mystery with a classic feel, for fans of Agatha Christie
'Haunting and exquisitely written. Part intricate mystery and part ghost story. This book will stay with me for a long time' Anna Mazzola
'A beautifully taut and evocative thriller' Sarah Hilary
The drive leads past the gate house and through the trees towards the big house, visible through the winter-bared branches. Its windows stare down at Harkin and the sea beyond . . .
January 1921. Though the Great War is over, in Ireland a new, civil war is raging. The once-grand Kilcolgan House, a crumbling bastion shrouded in sea-mist, lies half empty and filled with ghosts - both real and imagined - the Prendevilles, the noble family within, co-existing only as the balance of their secrets is kept.
Then, when an IRA ambush goes terribly wrong, Maud Prendeville, eldest daughter of Lord Kilcolgan, is killed, leaving the family reeling. Yet the IRA column insist they left her alive, that someone else must have been responsible for her terrible fate. Captain Tom Harkin, an IRA intelligence officer and Maud's former fiancé, is sent to investigate, becoming an unwelcome guest in this strange, gloomy household.
Working undercover, Harkin must delve into the house's secrets - and discover where, in this fractured, embattled town, each family member's allegiances truly lie. But Harkin too is haunted by the ghosts of the past and by his terrible experiences on the battlefields. Can he find out the truth about Maud's death before the past - and his strange, unnerving surroundings - overwhelm him?
A haunting, atmospheric mystery set against the raw Irish landscape in a country divided, The Winter Guest is the perfect chilling read.
Praise for THE WINTER GUEST and W.C. Ryan
'Haunting, gripping . . . hugely evocative' Elodie Harper
'Works superbly on several levels. This is a most welcome winter guest indeed, to be greeted by the fire with drink in hand' Irish Times
'Superb . . . I could not put it down' Elizabeth Buchan
'Atmospheric and genuinely eerie, this is an ideal winter read' Sinead Crowley
'A terrifically atmospheric, gripping novel' Amanda Craig, The Golden Rule
'Haunting, beautifully crafted, and full of heart. Perfect reading for dark days' A.K. Benedict, author of The Christmas Murder Game
'Beautifully written, haunting and unmissable' Cass Green
'A haunting tale, beautifully told' Erin Kelly
'Almost unbearably creepy and beautifully written' Liz Nugent
'A splendid tale of wartime skullduggery, featuring both kinds of spooks - perfect fireside reading' Mick Herron
'Hugely enjoyable . . . a taut thriller wrapped up in the gorgeous romance of its ghostly setting' Jane Casey
'Perfect for a dark and stormy evening: a truly creepy and ingenious ghost story and murder mystery with an irresistible setting' Ragnar Jonasson
'A tremendously enjoyable, ingeniously-plotted take on the haunted house mystery. Best read before dark!' Tammy Cohen
'An atmospheric, hugely entertaining mystery. Ryan is a wonderful storyteller and will keep you up reading (and shivering) deep into the night' Antonia Hodgson
