The Poisoned House

Oct 05, 2012 karen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: why-yes-i-ya, october-is-spooky, distant-lands

i have got to stop reading mediocre books. this was my second in a row, and it is making me cranky.

i am trying to only read spooky books for october, and i thought this would be a good place to start. (it is also my first YA book in a month - did you miss me, YA publishing industry?)

but then i remembered: i don't find ghosts particularly spooky. and the ghost in this one is more of the casper the friendly helpful ghost variety rather than the "boo, i'm gonna getcha" kind. the people in this boo...more

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May 06, 2011 Wendy Darling rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: victorian, gothic, pn-ghosts, deliciously-creepy, mystery-traditional, read-2011, male-ya-author, ebook-egalley, 2011-favorites, middle-grade, historical-fiction, 2011-publication

A haunted house, a forbidding lady, a master who has gone mad, and a servant girl caught up in the middle of the whole mess. If this premise appeals to you, there's no doubt you'll delight in this book. I'm a big fan of Victorian fiction, and the author does a superb job of making the era come alive and keeping the language and decorum pretty true to the period.

Abigail Tamper is a 14-year-old servant at Greave Hall, where she's lived all of her life. Her mother died under mysterious circumstance...more

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May 03, 2012 iiLov3Yuhh!! rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to iiLov3Yuhh!! by: The teen section in the library.

Shelves: favz, library-bookz, supernatural, ghosts-stories

Ok so, this is my first review on ANY book actually. So, it might be rather long & unfinished as well, cause well, I like to write and sometimes my essays & notes come out to be a little TOO long. And this might be too. So, I'll just get started on my opinion on this AWESOME book!:

COVER: When I first saw the cover at the library, the thing that drew me in the most was the hand reaching out for help. And of course, the little block letters written underneath the title: A GHOST STORY. And...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Jolene Perry rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a very cool book.

I'll admit that it's not my normal genre, but the twists were fab. The problems were fab. All the red herrings were perfectly done so that I was pulled in one direction and then another, and I was SO scared for this girl.

LOVE the way the author did the ending on this one. A very cool way to get a unique happily ever after.

It's a story that I'd let my super-reader 9 year old read, but still wasn't boring for me.

Fun ghost story. VERY cool setting - like I really wanna vis...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Jessica Harrison rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, young-adult

via Cracking the Cover
If you’re in the mood for a moody ghost story, you need look no further than Michael Ford’s “The Poisoned House.”

Fifteen-year-old Abi is a scullery maid in Greave Hall, a manor house that’s seen its fair share of troubles through the years. Abi wants nothing more than to escape service, but it seems there is no way out.

Greave Hall is home to Lord Greave, a widower who is slowly losing his mind. A small staff looks after his needs under the tyrannical eye of Mrs. Cotton, Lor...more via Cracking the Cover
If you’re in the mood for a moody ghost story, you need look no further than Michael Ford’s “The Poisoned House.”

Fifteen-year-old Abi is a scullery maid in Greave Hall, a manor house that’s seen its fair share of troubles through the years. Abi wants nothing more than to escape service, but it seems there is no way out.

Greave Hall is home to Lord Greave, a widower who is slowly losing his mind. A small staff looks after his needs under the tyrannical eye of Mrs. Cotton, Lord Greave’s sister-in-law and housekeeper.

It seems Mrs. Cotton is out to make Abi’s life miserable, punishing her without mercy for no reason at all.

In addition to its unhappy residents, there’s something else about Greave Hall that’s just not right. Odd things keep happening, and Abi finds herself in trouble for torn up rooms and handprints on the windows. But it’s not Abi who’s behind the messes. Someone or something has returned from beyond the grave, and it won’t leave Greave Hall alone until a deep secret is uncovered.

Upon reading reviews of “The Poisoned House,” I had to wonder whether the reviewers read the same book as I did. It seemed their expectations where much more than my own. Then I realized they were coming to the book from a different place than I was — either reading it from an adult’s point of view or comparing it to the glut of paranormal reads (mostly romances) that have hit the market as of late.

“The Poisoned House” is a ghost story from another time. It’s a gripping Gothic novel that doesn’t need any of today’s popular “bells and whistles.” Suspense and surprise are the name of the game here.

This dark, atmospheric read captures the readers’ interest almost from the beginning. The tension between author Ford’s characters spills off the page, creating an air of tension around the reader as well.

One of the things that makes “The Poisoned House” so compelling is that Abigail Merchant was a real person. Ford’s book is an imagining of how events in her life could have come to pass.

“The Poisoned House” is a fast and easily accessible read — I finished it in one sitting. And though the publisher’s suggested age range is 13 and up, there is nothing offensive or too mature for younger readers. The writing, too, is such that it would not be difficult for more advanced middle readers, ages 11 and 12.(less)

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Jan 29, 2012 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Reviewed by Shannon at RexRobotReviews.com

The Poisoned House is set in 1856 in Victorian London at a large manor called Greave Hall. Abigail "Abi" Tamper, a 14 year old housemaid, was raised in Greave Hall by her mother who served as a nursemaid to master of the house's son. But her mother died a year ago and now Abi is at the mercy of the abusive housekeeper, Mrs. Cotton. To make matters worse, the widowed master of the house, Lord Greaves, is descending into madness and his son, Samuel, return...more

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Nov 24, 2011 Hylary Locsin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!

Fourteen-year-old Abigail “Abi” Tamper wants nothing more than to escape the hardship she lives through every day as a scullery maid in 1850s London. Orphaned after her mother’s death a year earlier, Abi suffers constant abuse from Mrs. Cotton, Greave Hall’s housekeeper and sister-in-law to Lord Greaves. Some of the small consolations in Abi’s life include Lizzy, her best friend and fellow sculler...more Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!

Fourteen-year-old Abigail “Abi” Tamper wants nothing more than to escape the hardship she lives through every day as a scullery maid in 1850s London. Orphaned after her mother’s death a year earlier, Abi suffers constant abuse from Mrs. Cotton, Greave Hall’s housekeeper and sister-in-law to Lord Greaves. Some of the small consolations in Abi’s life include Lizzy, her best friend and fellow scullery maid, Adam, the kind coal delivery boy, and Sammy, Lord Greave’s only son who has been like a brother to her for most of her life. Abi’s mundane existence is turned upside-down, however, when a ghostly presence begins to make itself known in the dark rooms of Greave Hall. Mysterious handprints, strange noises, and missing objects are just a few of the strange happenings that plague Abi and the rest of the staff. Abi is convinced that the ghost of her mother is haunting the mansion, trying to warn her that she is in danger. What secrets will Abi uncover as she tries to discover the truth about her mother’s death?

This fast-paced story makes for a quick read that manages to be enjoyable both as a historical fiction and horror novel. Despite its small size, The Poisoned House dives deeply into the hardships of life as a servant in 19th-century London, which is as important to the plot as the ghost story elements. Abi, an easily likable protagonist, is subjected to constant physical, mental and emotional abuse at the hands of Mrs. Cotton, the cruel and sadistic housekeeper. Mrs. Cotton’s antics are often difficult to read (from beating Abigail, to drowning kittens), but are, in all likelihood, an accurate portrayal of how the downtrodden would have taken advantage of any opportunity to demonstrate their power over the weak. The supernatural presence in Greave Hall serves as a way for Abi to not only discover the truth about her mother’s death, but to escape the toil of her everyday life. The conclusion of the novel is quite satisfying as both an end to a creepy ghost story and to Abi’s constant abuse. Overall, The Poisoned House is as easily enjoyable for both teen and adult history buffs or horror fans.

I have to admit that the cover of this novel was really what drew me in to reading it. As a huge fan of both historical fiction and ghost stories, however, I was just as pleased with what I found in the pages. Ford did a wonderful job of crafting a very succinct but enjoyable novel with a well thought out plot and characters. I also enjoyed the story being from the perspective of the servants, which isn’t as often the case in young adult historical fiction novels. I look forward to seeing what else Ford comes up with. (less)

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Nov 06, 2011 Jane rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

This was a really good historical fiction book with a mystery and a touch of the supernatural. I enjoyed this one very much. Fans of The Manor House from PBS will relate to the setting. The story begins as a scullery maid is running away from her place of work. She was raised up in this house when her mother, one year deceased, took a job herself as a nurse maid in the house. If you like stories when things go bump in the night and if you like to read about lineages, not to mention what life was...more

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Oct 19, 2011 Majanka rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: gothic-romance, ghosts, young-adult

Read the review on my website.

The Poisoned House is your typical gothic horror story with the haunted house, the archetypical gothic villains, the Lord of the house on the verge of madness and our own tagic heroine. Combine all these elements with Michael Ford’s excellent writing, and the result is an enjoyable, entertaining and sometimes even downright scary read, excellent for during a thunder storm or late at night bedtime-reading.

Abigail Tamper, or Abi as we get to call her, is the youngest...more Read the review on my website.

The Poisoned House is your typical gothic horror story with the haunted house, the archetypical gothic villains, the Lord of the house on the verge of madness and our own tagic heroine. Combine all these elements with Michael Ford’s excellent writing, and the result is an enjoyable, entertaining and sometimes even downright scary read, excellent for during a thunder storm or late at night bedtime-reading.

Abigail Tamper, or Abi as we get to call her, is the youngest servant working in Greave Hall, an impressing but cold and empty house. The tyrannical housekeeper, Mrs. Cotton, is always out to get her and punish her, mostly for crimes she hardly even committed. Every little mistake she makes is punished severely. In her despair, Abigail even tries to run away – which eventually costs her dearly, as she is returned to the manor. With the Lord of the house gradually falling into madness, the servants afraid of the abusive housekeeper, there is only one more thing needed to turn this novel into a true Victorian ghost story. A ghost.

We meet the ghost in the form of Abigail’s mother, who passed away just about a year ago. While at first, Abi feels both terrified and rejoiced over having her mother’s ghost around to watch over her, she soon realises there must be a reason why her mother is back. That’s when Abi realises that she might be in danger. And she might not be the only one.

Although the story is predictable (I could predict the ending by page 30 or so), it is very enjoyable, and it does offer a few nice surprises along the way. I did like Abi as a character. She is a typical young adult in the Victorian era: not all that confident with herself, willing to settle for the role she has in the world, and a reluctant hero. Like a lot of people in that era, she immediately jumps to the conclusion of ghosts when weird things start to happen, which is downright awesome and saves us a lot of time we would otherwise spend reading about the protagonists’s debates whether or not their house is haunted, like we find all too often in nowadays ghost literature. She is a relatable charachter, well-portrayed through-out this novel, and I felt very sympathetic towards her, especially when I got to know her a little better.

The character of Mrs. Cotton offers an excellent portrayal of the archetypical Victorian villain. She is cruel, mean, and deadly afraid of the ghosts that have come to haunt Greave Hall. She is cold, self-righteous and a pleasure to read about. The fact that she might not be the only villain in this story, only adds to the suspense. Talking about suspense, The Poisoned House really got this spot-on. From the first page I read I was wondering why a young girl like Abi would want to escape from the only safe home she has, and as I turned page after page, more and more mysteries began to unfold in front of me and I felt the undeniable urge to continue reading. Putting this book away is simply not an option.

If you’re a fan of gothic novels like Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, you will be delighted to read The Poisoned House, as it really follows in line with all the classics in the genre. It has all the elements to make an interesting and scary ghost story, and it does so in a most unique fashion. Aimed at young adults, it isn’t as frightening as it could have been, but it does make for a nice way to pass the time during a rainy afternoon or late at night. The mystery grows thicker with every page and for some, the revelation at the end, might be quite shocking. If you’re familiar with gothic novels, you might have it all figured out by then though, which isn’t always that pleasant (and which is the reason why I didn’t rate this book higher). On another note, the historical setting is anything but accurate, which often annoyed me. The characters don’t even speak the way they did in Victorian England…This might be because the novel was aimed at young adults and even younger children, but that doesn’t mean it’s not annoying for the somewhat older people under us who’d like to read things that are at least somewhat accurate.

The plot is, as I already said, decent, but it’s also predictable and not-all-that-surprising, especially when you’ve read gothic horror before. The ending is rushed, and I feel like they’re quite some loose ties the author should have wrapped up. It’s like he builds up the tension slowly, and keeps us all excited for more, and then ends it all in a page or ten. It isn’t all that believable and convincing either, which bothered me as well.

All in all, The Poisoned House is an entertaining read with interesting characters, some nice plot twists, and your typical Victorian haunted house setting. The atmosphere is gothic, creepy and tense. The suspense builds gradually, and keeps you turning page after page after page. The novel is aimed at teens, and that really shows. But all in all, if you’re a fan of the genre, or just love a nice ghost story, you shouldn’t leave this one out.(less)

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Sep 13, 2011 Tammy Dotts rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, supernatural, young-adult

London in the mid 1850s. A manor house governed by a stern housekeeper while the Lord of the house slowly goes mad. A soldier who loses a leg upon his return from the Crimean War. Secrets and strange bumps in the night. Clothes and furniture that move when no when watches. And at the center of it all, a 15-year-old scullery maid, unaware of the secrets that surround her.

Michael Ford’s The Poisoned House trots out nearly every trope found in a Gothic novel. The target young adult reader may be ne...more London in the mid 1850s. A manor house governed by a stern housekeeper while the Lord of the house slowly goes mad. A soldier who loses a leg upon his return from the Crimean War. Secrets and strange bumps in the night. Clothes and furniture that move when no when watches. And at the center of it all, a 15-year-old scullery maid, unaware of the secrets that surround her.

Michael Ford’s The Poisoned House trots out nearly every trope found in a Gothic novel. The target young adult reader may be new to the genre of haunted Victorian families and may not wince every time Mrs. Cotton, the housekeeper, threatens young Abigail Tamper, the book’s heroine. Older readers, however, will recognize the stereotyped characters and plot twists long before they occur. And if younger readers have been exposed to Algernon Blackwood or Henry James, they may wonder if Ford deserves a place among them.

The Poisoned House sticks to the Gothic formula without straying. This is both an asset and detriment for the book. The formula lays the groundwork for the story, and readers should have an easy time following along. The main plot twist carries enough foreshadowing on its shoulders that young readers can congratulate themselves for figuring it out ahead of the big reveal, even if the reveal depends on one character’s complete change in personality that may dumbfound older readers.

Abigail, or “Abi” as she is called by other characters, is an amalgam of every young Gothic heroine. She is plucky. She has hidden intelligence and taught herself to read from the books in her employer’s library (although she cops to having poor handwriting and her use of the word “pumps” to describe her footwear could throw older readers out of the story into a search for the words etymology). She enjoyed a special sibling-like relationship with the young master of the house (now the aforementioned war hero). She was the daughter of a servant and given special privileges while raised in the house she now serves.

Ford could have deviated from the formulaic road map now and then and elevated the story: Did the parlormaid have to become pregnant by her footman boyfriend; was it necessary for Mrs. Cotton to abuse her position as housekeeper and the lord’s sister-in-law so obviously; why did no one talk about the supernatural activities at the house?

It is when Ford turns his attention to the supernatural that the story takes hold of the reader. Are the strange events the result of a ghost or a human? A medium visits Mrs. Cotton and manages to convey a garbled message to Abi. A strange figure appears in a daguerreotype image.

Abi, however, is far too accepting of what she interprets as supernatural events. Even without a 21st-century cynicism, the scullery maid doesn’t question what is happening around her, even when events seem to tell her to mistrust everything she knew about the people with whom she’s spent her life.(less)

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Aug 03, 2011 Whatchyareading added it

Shelves: leiah, young-adult, historical

I mentioned in an earlier review that I really enjoy books set in England. When I was looking at titles on Netgalley and saw The Poisoned House by Michael Ford, it was not only set in London, but Victorian London AND it was a ghost story. Also, super creepy cover art. I had to request it.

The Poisoned House starts off very cleverly. Old diary-like pages were found in a locked drawer and donated to a library. They tell a fantastical tale, but the events were so long ago. Did they really happen as...more I mentioned in an earlier review that I really enjoy books set in England. When I was looking at titles on Netgalley and saw The Poisoned House by Michael Ford, it was not only set in London, but Victorian London AND it was a ghost story. Also, super creepy cover art. I had to request it.

The Poisoned House starts off very cleverly. Old diary-like pages were found in a locked drawer and donated to a library. They tell a fantastical tale, but the events were so long ago. Did they really happen as written? The reader is transported back to 1855 and meets the novel’s protagonist, Abigail Tamper. The first person narrative of the story allows for the reader to slip seamlessly into the past, and Mr. Ford does an excellent job of taking you back to a time where a fifteen-year-old girl with no social standing or family is able to solve the mystery that haunts Greave Hall.

Books set in Victorian England can be tricky as so much research on behavior and etiquette is involved. A story can become too bogged down in all the minutia and lose readers to boredom, but if you don’t adhere to the strict nature of that time period, you can lose readers due to inaccuracies. I felt like The Poisoned House was an excellent example of how to write a novel set in the Victorian era and have it be both fascinating with all the intricacies, as well as very relatable to readers who might not be familiar with how strict it truly was. Perfect blend for a YA ghost story.

Greave Hall is filled with secrets and overseeing all of it is one of the most awful characters I’ve read in quite awhile, Mrs. Cotton. As Housekeeper, she’s in charge of everything, and she truly is just despicable. The reason behind her extreme cruelty towards Abi is just one of the hardships the poor girl has to over come. I really liked Abi as a main character. She has faced so much over her short life, but still has this innate strength about her that makes her perfect to center a book around.

As The Poisoned House is a ghost story, there are “ghostly” things that happen, and there were several times I had to laugh at myself for just how scared I let myself get, but that’s also a sign of just how well Mr. Ford has crafted his novel. There are several seriously creepy moments that left my heart pounding. Fair warning if you’re easily rattled, but another aspect of the book that I throughly enjoyed is Abi’s resolve to solve the mystery, it was carried out so well. Abi uses her wits (okay, she gets some help from beyond the grave and from a great set of supporting characters that are part of her her “downstairs” life) and figures things out to a very satisfying conclusion.

The Poisoned House will be released in the US on September 1st. If the words “Victorian ghost story” intrigue you, I highly recommend picking up a copy and enjoying it on a dark and stormy night.

Reviewed at WhatchYAreading on July 25, 2011.(less)

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Jun 23, 2011 Karen morsecode rated it 4 of 5 stars

"The following papers were kindly donated to the Municipal Library by Anne Merchant, the current owner of 112 Park Avenue, the property formerly known as Greave Hall. [...] They appear to record several months in the year 1855 of the life of a teenage girl called Abigail Tamper, who lived and worked at that address. [...] Pages from the original can be viewed in situ at the discretion of the librarian" (7).

As an archivist I have to admit that I’m a sucker for this type of framing device (we’re a...more "The following papers were kindly donated to the Municipal Library by Anne Merchant, the current owner of 112 Park Avenue, the property formerly known as Greave Hall. [...] They appear to record several months in the year 1855 of the life of a teenage girl called Abigail Tamper, who lived and worked at that address. [...] Pages from the original can be viewed in situ at the discretion of the librarian" (7).

As an archivist I have to admit that I’m a sucker for this type of framing device (we’re all hoping that such juicy gems are hidden within the collections under our care). The story that follows is not written as a series of diary entries (which I would have loved), but rather a straightforward first-person account of what happens to the protagonist (and other residents of Greave Hall) during this period of time.

So much has changed in 15-year-old Abigail Tamper’s life in the past year. With the death of her mother (the family’s much-loved nursemaid), the absence of the young master (who’s off fighting in the Crimea), and the decline of the Lord Greave, Greave Hall has become Abi’s prison and housekeeper Mrs. Cotton her warden.

When strange things start happening at Greave Hall, Abi writes them off as pranks the other servants are playing on the dictatorial Mrs. Cotton. When a ghost possesses a medium brought in by Mrs. Cotton, Abi realizes that Greave Hall is haunted and that the ghost has a message for her.

I quite enjoyed The Poisoned House. The novel is set in the mid-19th century and crafted like a classic Victorian ghost story. The Poisoned House is a bit slow to start, but once the reader is acclimatized to the environment, the pace picks up and the story becomes more and more compelling. Abi is a likeable and plucky heroine. There's no real romance, which is a refreshing departure for readers who are tiring of love triangle-filled YA offerings.

I loved how the story ended. I refer to the framing (which I won’t detail on the off chance that doing so would spoil the book for someone) as well as to how things were resolved for the protagonist and secondary characters.

I should probably mention that there is one scene in the book that I found a bit upsetting (p.194, it was horrible and shocking, but I understand why it was included; n.b. you don't see the act being done, just the evidence). The violence perpetrated in that scene has nothing to do with the paranormal element of the story however, it stems from simple human cruelty.

Full review on my blog: http://morsiereads.blogspot.com/2011/06/poisoned-house.html (less)

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Jun 18, 2011 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-releases

I love books with footnotes and when The Poisoned House started with a ‘note’ from the curator telling how the following papers had been found in an attic, I was instantly intrigued. After an initial burst of action, the story slowed down a little to spend some time establishing the atmosphere not only of the eponymous House but also of the inhabitants. Abigail Tamper is dealing not only with the recent death of her mother but also the ill-tempered and vindictive housekeeper, insane Master of th...more

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Nov 17, 2010 Iffath added it

Shelves: uk-ya

The Poisoned House is other book I didn't think I'd enjoy very much, but once again, the awesome people at Bloomsbury have proved me wrong and opened my eyes to something new.

The story begins with a note from the Assistant Curator of Victorian Manuscripts; it notifies the reader that the following papers were found in a (lock) drawer of a bureau in the attic of a house that was previously known as Greave Hall. The papers appear to tell the story of Abigail Tamper, a teenage girl who was a servan...more

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Oct 24, 2011 Tif rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, ghost-story, cinderella-story, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 03, 2011 Holly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Reviewed for In-Interest

Abigale Tamper is surrounded be wealth, maids and luxury. However, none of that is for her. The year is 1855 and she is stuck in the unbearable role of scullery maid, under the control of Mrs. Cotton. Lord Greave, the master of the house, has fallen ill so he relies on Mrs. Cotton to resume the running of the house. Things are not right in Greave Hall and Abi believes that her recently deceased mother is tying to tell her something. Something that could free her from the...more Reviewed for In-Interest

Abigale Tamper is surrounded be wealth, maids and luxury. However, none of that is for her. The year is 1855 and she is stuck in the unbearable role of scullery maid, under the control of Mrs. Cotton. Lord Greave, the master of the house, has fallen ill so he relies on Mrs. Cotton to resume the running of the house. Things are not right in Greave Hall and Abi believes that her recently deceased mother is tying to tell her something. Something that could free her from the life of a scullery maid and lead her right into the path of a murderer...

The plot was quite simple, but by no means predictable. I don't know what I expected before reading this, but it certainly wasn't what I got. I am in two minds about the book. On one hand, it was interesting and I fell in love with the characters. On the other, it lacked excitement and some parts weren't necessary for the story at all. There was a certain air of creepiness to the book. Ghostly figures, mysterious footsteps and unexplainable occurrences, definitely managed to win this book over for me.

The author, Michael Ford, did an excellent job at pacing the mystery. I could not hep think of Cluedo, the board game, whilst reading this book. I was constantly thinking 'Miss Scarlet in the kitchen with the knife'. If you do not get that Cluedo reference, it's okay, I'm moving swiftly on. The book is like one big challenge, daring the reader to guess who could be behind Abi's mother's death. I'll just say this, it never crossed my mind.

The characters, minus Abi, all remain sightly enigmatic, which is great. We don't know much about anyone, we're only treated to little snippets of their past. Every character has their own different personalities that work really well together. What I found a bit difficult was the lack of imagery. I relied on my imagination to create a picture of each individuals, to have more aide would have been great. I have to say, there was never any lack of imagery when it came to anything else. The house, the occurrences and feelings were all so vivid.

This book is definitely worth the read. It's a mystery novel filled with romance, loss,betrayal and jealousy that will appeal to every YA fan. (less)

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Jun 01, 2011 Kristen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-suspense, young-adult

Abigail Tamper is a young lady who is a servant in a Lord's household and the year is 1855. She is terrorized by Mrs. Cotton, the housekeeper/sister-in-law to the master of the house. Lord Greave is somewhat of a recluse, waiting for his son Samuel to return from war. Just about the time the household hears Samuel will be returning, the activities of a ghost pick up. Abi soon learns that it's her mother's ghost haunting the house, trying to tell her something.

We have an interesting cast of char...more Abigail Tamper is a young lady who is a servant in a Lord's household and the year is 1855. She is terrorized by Mrs. Cotton, the housekeeper/sister-in-law to the master of the house. Lord Greave is somewhat of a recluse, waiting for his son Samuel to return from war. Just about the time the household hears Samuel will be returning, the activities of a ghost pick up. Abi soon learns that it's her mother's ghost haunting the house, trying to tell her something.

We have an interesting cast of characters (just listing the major ones here). Lizzy, the other young lady in the house is also terrorized by Mrs. Cotton, but she has a budding romance with one of Samuel's footman. Cook likes her gin and isn't unkind but she's not exactly an ally for Abi though either. Mr. Lock, the butler, seems the most kind of the staff but he also knows his place as staff and doesn't dare go against the wishes of Cotton. Lord Greave is described in the synopsis as "going mad" but even before we figure out what is really bothering him, I wouldn't say he's going mad. Depressed and extraordinarily sad or grieving (what, one must speculate at first), but not mad. We don't really see enough of him to get to know him. Finally, there's Samuel. He and Abi have some sort of bond. She call's him Sammy and he seems to have a soft spot for her. But, all is not as it seems.

The "prologue" or the introduction (or what ever that page is) explains that the books is a transcription of some pages that were found in Greave Manor. It was a nice set up - set the when and where well, Also gave the hint that what we would see would be really spooky. And the first chapter, where Abi tries to run away, but Cotton won't let her is one of the best chapters in the whole book. But the spookyiness isn't really lived up to. There are a number of incidents - hand prints, ripped scarves, a medium who speaks to Abi... but I was hoping for spookier.

The story was a good one. And it had the hint of scandal. But a few things are bothering me. Why was Mrs Cotton being haunted by Abi's mother? I am still not sure I follow that. Cotton thinks it might be her dead sister, but we learn early on that it's not the case. But we don't really get why. And, Since Cotton knows the truth about Abi, I don't understand why Cotton is so horrible to Abi. In a number of ways Cotton was so horrible that it was really easy to see that she was a misdirection and she wouldn't turn out to be the killer. Also, there were moments when the language - the dialogue - had hints of being right for the time period. And then there were chapters where the characters spoke differently. It wasn't an enormous difference, but the subtle inconsistencies in dialogue nagged at me throughout. The scene where Abi sees Adam in the park after... well... after the household is visited by the solicitors to discuss the disposition of the estate, is missing a purpose. I know in the obituary we get at the end it is sort of explained, but some better tie-in, so it didn't feel so out of place, would have been nice. Why would Abi's mom's ghost burn the book? Finally, the hints and red herrings were obvious enough that I managed to unravel the truth well before the characters did.

Criticisms aside, it was an enjoyable story and Abigail was a likable character. The relationship between Lizzie and Abi, and the turn that Lizzie's relationship with Henry takes, was one of the few things that wasn't expected and gave some good depth to Abi's emotions. I like the final reveal (even though I had already well before that guessed it) and what we learn happened to most of the characters. The story and action moved quick enough that I felt the urge to continue reading, even after bed time. It was a quick read and I would recommend this to those who like ghost stories.(less)

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Nov 24, 2011 Leslie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library-books, ya-series

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I'm not sure I'll get past the first chapter of this book. Whatever else follows it, what I've read so far indicates precious little knowledge of the period, or at least conflicts with what I've always understood of it. It's supposed to be from "actual documents" narrated by a scullery maid. A scullery maid would be able to write little more than her own name, if that - unless there is some good explanation later on for why she can write a full narrative in Standard English. Also, after running...more

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Nov 14, 2011 Danni rated it 4 of 5 stars

Aimlessly searching the bookstore once again, My eyes caught a glance of the cover of this book, but I thought nothing of it. THE POISONED HOUSE? How silly of a title it sounded. It was like the title was chosen just to cover up the fact that behind chilling cover, it was a terrible book within the pages. Now, don't get me wrong, I love horror. Actually, no. I ADORE horror. It's my favorite genre but this book didn't seem at all interesting. I like books that get my blood pumping and the adrenal...more Aimlessly searching the bookstore once again, My eyes caught a glance of the cover of this book, but I thought nothing of it. THE POISONED HOUSE? How silly of a title it sounded. It was like the title was chosen just to cover up the fact that behind chilling cover, it was a terrible book within the pages. Now, don't get me wrong, I love horror. Actually, no. I ADORE horror. It's my favorite genre but this book didn't seem at all interesting. I like books that get my blood pumping and the adrenaline racing through veins because, obviously, they're exciting. But this book didn't seem like it would be. I continued my search through the store when my mother finally said that enough was enough and that she had waited until her patience boiled over. Give me a break, Mom. I had only lingered for twenty minutes. But somehow, she pulled this book off the shelves and said "I'm going to go pay now." Before I stopped her I pondered the idea that if I didn't let her purchase the book, I'd just hold her up longer and anger her more. So I just let fate carry me through. While in the car, I opened the front cover, read the inside, wasn't impressed, but I figured I could give it a shot. Never judge a book by it's cover, or title for that matter, right? I opened the book to the beginning point. Page 1. After that, it all went downhill with my silly opinions. Shame on me for wrongfully judging this book. Reading this was like stepping on to a roller coaster with the track appearing as you near the end. You think one thing will happen and you're downright sure of it and then WHAM. Your jaw is dropping and hanging there while the others look at you and think, "What is her problem?"

Upon reading the front cover (Or the back page,) You learn that the book is about a 15 year old girl named Abigail Tamper. She works as a scullery maid in London around the 1850's. We also learn that the house she is working at is called Greave Hall which is a fancy house upon first glance, but underneath it's structure lies secrets that nobody could ever expect. The owner of this house, Nathanial Greave, is an older man who has pretty much gone off the deep end. He isn't totally crazy, but he's close. Abigail works in this house along with other servants and her best friend Lizzy. She is always watched however by a strict woman she calls Mrs. Cotton. She fears her more than anybody else in the house as she's the one who is constantly throwing chores at her. We also learn within the first few pages that Abi's mother has died within a year ago. How tragic.

After reading that in the book store, you automatically think "Well... This sounds really boring." Well, don't let this terrible summary trick you into believing that this book is awful. I thought it was well thought-out and I loved the twists that the author included in it. I was a little upset with the lack of ghosts scenes, but it definitely was a horror novel. I would've given this book a much better star rating, had it not been for one thing. It's over used. A haunted house, a creepy rude lady, and an unsuspecting plot twist. Yup. Sums about about any other horror novel I've read. But it was written really well in my opinion. So, if you have nothing else to read and are looking for a book that starts a little slow but accelerates at a well-paced rate, this is truly the book for you.
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Aug 23, 2011 TheBookSmugglers rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally Reviewed on The Book Smugglers: http://thebooksmugglers.com/2011/08/b...

Greave Hall is an imposing and wealthy estate, but as of late its master, Lord Greave, has become increasingly unstable. For a young scullery maid like Abigale Tamper, life at Greave Hall has become almost unbearable. After her mother passed away from cholera nearly a year earlier, Abi has become an orphan with few friends and even fewer options. With his son Samuel is fighting in the Crimea and his wife long dead...more Originally Reviewed on The Book Smugglers: http://thebooksmugglers.com/2011/08/b...

Greave Hall is an imposing and wealthy estate, but as of late its master, Lord Greave, has become increasingly unstable. For a young scullery maid like Abigale Tamper, life at Greave Hall has become almost unbearable. After her mother passed away from cholera nearly a year earlier, Abi has become an orphan with few friends and even fewer options. With his son Samuel is fighting in the Crimea and his wife long dead some twenty years earlier, Lord Greave retreats further from others each day, falling victim to depression and mental infirmary. And, while the master of the home is disengaged from life, his dead wife’s half-sister and estate housekeeper, Mrs. Cotten, takes increasing liberties with her role in the manor by wearing her sister’s fine clothes, throwing dinners with her friends, and in her cruelty towards the hall’s staff – especially Abi. When a few of the staff below stairs pretend to be ghostly apparitions to scare Mrs. Cotten, Abi is terrified when an actual ghost seems to be haunting the hall – noneother than Abi’s recently deceased mother. Abi’s mother’s spirit is not at rest, and she has something of dire importance to communicate to her orphaned daughter. Greave Hall holds many secrets, and Abi must unravel the mystery of her mother’s death and Lord Greave’s descent into madness, before it is too late.

Featuring a haunted manor and its mad master, a cruel housekeeper and an intrepid young heroine, The Poisoned House is an engaging Victorian mystery with a ghostly twist. As with the best period novels in haunted estates, atmosphere is integral to The Poisoned House and Mr. Ford imbues Greave Hall with the perfect air of creeping dread with forbidding spirits, ghostly handprints, creaking floorboards and the like. The mystery surrounding the Hall takes off when Abi learns that her mother may have been poisoned and not killed by cholera as she’d always believed – but who would want to kill her mother, the kind, gentle nursemaid? There’s also the ongoing tension and mystery as to why Mrs. Cotten, the estate housekeeper with a cruel streak, is so set on making Abi’s life miserable, with both emotional and physical abuse. While the villain in this piece might seem straightforward, there are a few layers to this mystery, which I greatly appreciated. Mr. Ford unravels the story of Greave Hall and the lives caught up in the tangle tantalizingly over the book, leading to an immensely satisfying conclusion – with more than a few twists along the way.

On the character front, Abi is our first person narrator set on communicating with her mother’s spirit and finding her murderer. Enterprising, brave, and determined, Abi is a fine heroine (if, at times, a bit dense), and it’s easy to slip into her narrative and sympathize with her plight as a scullery maid and an orphan with no options. There’s a bit of A Little Princess‘s Sarah Crewe to Abi and The Poisoned House, and shades of other gothic heroines like Jane Eyre and Emily St. Aubert. While Abi can confide in friend Lizzie, a fellow maid in Greave Hall (whom I also loved as a character), the other staff are, refreshingly, not all sunshine and happiness and coddling towards young Abi. The Hall’s Cook is a hard woman that likes her gin, and, like Master Greave’s butler, these characters are not bad people, but will do what they must to protect their positions of employment – even if that means keeping terrible secrets. As for those characters above stairs, Lord Greave is a tragic figure with whom readers can both sympathize, but also feel enraged towards (especially as the truth unfolds). There’s also his son, Samuel, who returns injured from the Crimean War. Like a brother to Abi, especially as her mother was also his nurse, Sam’s return marks a change in atmosphere at Greave Hall. Finally, there’s the villainous Mrs. Cotten, with her usurped finery and her untoward treatment of Abi. My only complaint with her character is that while we do eventually (somewhat) understand her motivations, I only wish we could have learned more about her character and why she has become so bitter and cruel.

With a few surprising twists, an impressive and fitting gothic atmosphere, and a sympathetic heroine, The Poisoned House is an engrossing, ghostly novel. Although the ending is a bit too pat for my tastes, I enjoyed this book and recommend the book to anyone looking for a good period mystery.

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Apr 15, 2011 Kara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: net-galley, young-adult, animals-die, ghosts, paranormal

Summary from Goodreads:

The year is 1856, and orphan Abigail Tamper lives below stairs in Greave Hall, a crumbling manor house in London. Lord Greave is plagued by madness, and with his son Samuel away fighting in the Crimea, the running of Greave Hall is left to Mrs Cotton, the tyrannical housekeeper. The only solace for the beleaguered staff is to frighten Mrs Cotton by pretending the house is haunted.

So when a real ghost makes an appearance - that of her beloved mother - no one is more surpri...more Summary from Goodreads:

The year is 1856, and orphan Abigail Tamper lives below stairs in Greave Hall, a crumbling manor house in London. Lord Greave is plagued by madness, and with his son Samuel away fighting in the Crimea, the running of Greave Hall is left to Mrs Cotton, the tyrannical housekeeper. The only solace for the beleaguered staff is to frighten Mrs Cotton by pretending the house is haunted.

So when a real ghost makes an appearance - that of her beloved mother - no one is more surprised than Abi. But the spirit has a revelation that threatens to destroy Abi’s already fragile existence: she was murdered, and by someone under their very own roof. With Samuel returned to England badly wounded, it’s up to Abi to nurse him back to health, while trying to discover the identity of the killer in their midst. As the chilling truth dawns, Abi’s world is turned upside down.

I got to sleep on this one before I did my review, and as such, I think I see it in a better light than I did before. It's not a great book, but neither is it horrible. It's certainly an enjoyable read, but it is a very simple one with an even simpler plot. It's basically just your run of the mill ghost story. The ghost is trying to save the people in the manor and show everyone that what they believed had happened is not really the truth.

There are a couple of villains, Mrs. Cotton this awful housekeeper who loves to abuse the main character Abigail. She's vile. And then there is another villain, which I cannot tell you without revealing the entire plot.

The setting was creepy enough but the story wasn't really scary at all. I believe it was written with kids and mind, but I don't know if I would let my kid read it. There's a particularly gruesome scene where Mrs. Cotton kills some household pets and I think that might disturb a kid. I think if your child is in middle school or above, then it wouldn't bother them. Any younger and I wouldn't recommend it. Also because of the abuse scenes. They don't go into tremendous detail, but it didn't stop them from disturbing me a little.

There just wasn't anything remarkable about the book. It was just good. Not great and not bad. I also didn't feel that the historical setting felt all that accurate. But that's just a little thing that I'm nitpicking at. If you like simple ghost stories (nothing will throw you for a loop here) then I think you might enjoy it. It was slightly boring and not all that exciting. But that's my personal preference. I love young adult books. This one just didn't do all that much for me. (less)

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Apr 28, 2012 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery, online-book-group, paranormal, outside-u-s-a, ya-fiction

Why I picked it up: My friend/coworker Christie recommended it to me, and then nominated it for our online historical fiction book group.

Fourteen-year-old Abi is a scullery maid in 1845. The housekeeper who rules the staff is not a nice woman and Abi doesn’t really want to stay where she is. But she is determined to stay when mysterious things start to happen around the house and Abi thinks it has something to do with her mother’s death a year before.

This book moves quickly, especially in the se...more

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Jan 21, 2012 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a gothic fairy tale, and while I enjoy both types of books, I don't necessarily feel blown away by a combination of the two. The setting is dark, if underdeveloped, and there are some significantly spooky moments. Abi (what is up with the spelling?) is a parlor maid who has a terrible fear of Mrs. Cotton, who runs the house. I never quite grasp what it is that is so terrible about Mrs. Cotton, however. She does boss everyone around and she fires the other maid Lizzy because she gives the...more

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Dec 12, 2011 Anna (Gatsby's Girl) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Abi Tamper has lived at Greave Hall her entire life, ever since her Father died and her Mother become the nanny for Lord Greaves' son Samuel. Her Mother died not that long ago, seemingly of cholera and Abi is an orphan at the mercy of Mrs. Cotton, Lord Greaves' cruel sister-in-law who is fast taking over the house as he descends into madness. The staff's only rebellion against her is to further her belief that the house is haunted with her dead sister, Lady Greaves', angry spirit. But then a sp...more

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Sep 14, 2011 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a mystery book I really enjoyed. Abi is a strong character despite the horrors she has had to endure when her mother died and she had to be under the instruction of Mrs. Cotton, the horrible head of the housekeeping staff. Mrs. Cotton has decided that Abi will bear the brunt of her anger and abuse physically and emotionally. As Abi failed in her attempt at escape, she is almost immediately besieged by another horror, this time in the form of a angry spirit. This spirit has targeted Abi a...more

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Aug 19, 2011 Book Twirps rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Fifteen-year-old Abigail is a servant in Greaves Hall. Her mother died of cholera just one year ago, leaving her an orphan. With nowhere to go, she is left to serve in the house she and her mother have lived in since she was born. Abi's life is miserable and she dreams of running away to escape the wrath of Mrs. Cotton, the head housekeeper, who, for some reason, insists on making Abi's life a living hell. When Samuel, the son of the lord of the house returns home, gravely injured after serving...more

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Aug 08, 2011 Lindsay (The Violet Hour) added it

Shelves: kindlereads, arc-review

The Poisoned House is an eery tale embellished on the real life documents of a girl in 1855 that were found in an attic. That was initially what caught my attention. I love stories set in this time period, and it proved to be a delightfully engrossing and entertaining read.

While the storyline isn't exactly what I'd call original, the execution was fantastic. Robert Ford built a world so vivid it was easy to picture each occurance, and understand each emotion of our leading girl, Abigail. Secrets...more

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Aug 15, 2011 Branwen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, thriller

I recieved this book from NetGalley in return for my honest review. Abigail is a young maid working in the Greave manor. Her life is pretty much maid miserable by the cruel housekeeper, Mrs. Cotton. Abi and the rest of the staff get back at her by exploiting her fear of ghosts, but soon there is a REAL ghost in the manor, and Abi believes it to be her mother, who passed away a year ago.

This book was enjoyable to read, lots of twists and turns, and the author was good at keeping me guessing who t...more

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Aug 02, 2011 emmegail rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, kindle-only

My Blog!

I was really looking forward to this ghost story. I’m really a sucker for books with this type of framing – it’s a true account, really!!, and we even found a diary! I love it! PS – the trailer is pretty awesome.

The story started out great with a lot of action with Abi trying to run away. We, the reader, didn’t know what or who she was running from or where she was going. I felt that after she is caught and brought back to Greave Hall, Abi’s sense of adventure and rebellion really took a...more

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Jul 23, 2011 ABookVacation rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a great novel, full of suspense, mystery, and betrayal, and I was hooked from the very beginning! Abi, a poor scullery maid, obtained my sympathy within moments of meeting her. She is kind, quiet, and alone, her mother having died the previous year from cholera, and with no one to defend her, Mrs. Cotton, the overbearing house keeper, repeatedly abuses young Abi.

In order to get back at Mrs. Cotton for all she’s ever done to the servants of the house, Abi and her friends attempt to scare...more

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