By the author of the New York Times-bestselling Labyrinth, a story of two lives touched by war and transformed by courage. read full description
reviews
Jan 17, 2011
Graham
rated it: 
An exquisite ghost story, well told, highly emotive, short and to the point. This one has a beautiful backdrop to it in southern France, a land of snow-clad mountains and icy forests. I'm not ashamed to admit it had me bawling at the end.
The various plot strands are neatly woven: the great sense of loss following the Great War; psychological grief; 14th century history; an atmospheric and subtle ghostly presence worthy of the best Victorian authors and even a little mystery here and More...
The various plot strands are neatly woven: the great sense of loss following the Great War; psychological grief; 14th century history; an atmospheric and subtle ghostly presence worthy of the best Victorian authors and even a little mystery here and More...
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Feb 04, 2012
Blair
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This was a thoroughly enjoyable little story with plenty of atmosphere and intrigue. I've only read one other book by Kate Mosse - the readable but somewhat heavy-handed Sepulchre - and The Winter Ghosts was far better. Like Sepulchre, it reads rather like a YA novel, and I wasn't at all surprised to learn it's an expanded version of a previously published short story. But the characters are likeable, the plot grips, and Freddie's meeting with the mysterious Fabrissa and his subsequent discoveri
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Nov 04, 2011
The Great War took much more than lives. It robbed a generation of friends, lovers and futures. In Freddie Watson's case, it took his beloved brother and, at times, his peace of mind. Unable to cope with his grief, Freddie has spent much of the time since in a sanatorium. In the winter of 1928, still seeking resolution, Freddie is travelling through the French Pyrenees - another region that has seen too much bloodshed over the years. During a snowstorm, his car spins off the mountain road. Shake
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Oct 08, 2011
LitAddictedBrit
rated it: 
On the face of it, this is a great ghost story - were it not sent in rural France, I would have said it had a rather gothic feel to it. A lone man roaming through the wilderness after a car crash in a blizzard, stumbles upon an eerily quiet village before finding a guest house and realising that everything is not as it seems...Had it been nothing more, it would be great. As it happens, it was even better!
At less than 250 pages, I expected either a quick-fire story or a character study. More...
At less than 250 pages, I expected either a quick-fire story or a character study. More...
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Aug 04, 2011
Sarah
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Freddie Watson, haunted by the death of his brother, is travelling through the south of France in the winter of 1928, when he crashes his car in the Pyrenees during a snowstorm. Alone and freezing, Freddie wanders through the mountain forest until he arrives in Nulle, a quiet village grieving its own losses.
During his stay in Nulle, Freddie meets a young woman by the name of Fabrissa, the two sharing their respective stories of loss over the course of an evening. The following morni More...
During his stay in Nulle, Freddie meets a young woman by the name of Fabrissa, the two sharing their respective stories of loss over the course of an evening. The following morni More...
May 01, 2011
Kathleen
rated it:
A number of contemporary authors have reminded us of the devastating human loss to Europeans as a result of World War I. When one considers the breadth of this loss and the absurdity of the battles in which they fought, it is a wonder that more family members and survivors were not paralyzed by the trauma of this war.
This novel traces the journey of Freddie Watson, a young man who loses his older brother in the war, who comes to understand his relationships with his parents, his particula More...
This novel traces the journey of Freddie Watson, a young man who loses his older brother in the war, who comes to understand his relationships with his parents, his particula More...
Feb 13, 2011
Felice
rated it:
It's 288 pages? What is this a short story? The Winter Ghosts is a stand alone novel, not part of the series that ties Labyrinth and Sepulchre.Is Kate Mosse mad at me?
The Winter Ghosts starts like a classic spook tale with the arrival of a stranger. In 1928 Freddie Watson enters a bookshop in Toulouse clutching a letter written in a dead language. He then tells the shocked bookseller his story. Watson had not been able to get past his adored brother's death during WWI. After ten yea More...
The Winter Ghosts starts like a classic spook tale with the arrival of a stranger. In 1928 Freddie Watson enters a bookshop in Toulouse clutching a letter written in a dead language. He then tells the shocked bookseller his story. Watson had not been able to get past his adored brother's death during WWI. After ten yea More...
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Mar 06, 2011
A difficult one to judge, especially as I inadvisably read this over a long period of time - I always feel it's much more conducive to keeping the atmosphere in a book of this genre if read over a shorter period of time. My first impressions were good; I have never read any Kate Mosse before but I found that she writes in a literary style, which I like. There were many literary devices, especially in the first part of the book that made me enjoy reading them. That's one of the best things about
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Feb 12, 2011
Amy
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The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse is the perfect read for a wintery afternoon. Still struggling with the loss of his brother in the Great War, the winter of 1928 finds Freddie Watson is travelling in the French Pyrenees. When his car goes off the road in a sudden snowstorm, Freddie makes his way to a small, nearly deserted town in the mountains. He arrives on the day of “La fete de Saint-Etienne,” where he meets the lovely Fabrissa, who has also suffered the effects of war. Freddie is immediate
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Dec 01, 2011
Heidi
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Set in in the years following WWI and framed by the majestic winter austerity of the French Pyrenees, The Winter Ghosts is a small, eerily beautiful tale about loss, mourning and redemption. Within its modest number of pages, which easily could (and possibly should) be read in one sitting on a cold winter's night, new life is breathed into fairy tale, history lesson, love story, ghost story and travelogue.
If you've read Mosse before, the setting and even some of the details will be More...
If you've read Mosse before, the setting and even some of the details will be More...
May 10, 2011
Kalika
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I love ghost stories so I picked up this book with great expectations. Its a story about a man who has lost his brother in the first world war and is still trying to cope with the loss and the subsequent nervous breakdown. As he travels through the south-west of France, trying to overcome his grief, a car break down forces him to take shelter in a small silent village nearby. His promise to attend the annual festivities at the village square later that evening lead to mysteries, romance and adve
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Mar 12, 2011
Linda
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Kate Mosse has taken the history of the Cathars, a persecuted religious sect in 14th century France, and made it her own. In her third novel, The Winter Ghosts<i/>, she departs from the archaeo-thriller genre to try her hand at a ghost story. Freddie Watson has lost ten years of his life to his grief over the death of his beloved brother in the Great War. Having recovered from a severe breakdown, he's mentally and physically fragile, and his physician recommends an extended holiday. Freddi
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Jan 21, 2011
JackieB
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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3 comments
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Dec 28, 2010
Marianne
rated it:
I really enjoyed this but admittedly it is a style of book that I love. Romance, war, ghosts, tragedy, history - blend them together and it's something I probably won't be able to resist.
The protagonist is likeable and sympathetic - Freddie is a young man who is still struggling to cope with his brother's death in the war and in his grief has stumbled through life in his shadow, ending up in an asylum due to his extreme grief and eventually deciding to travel to France. While there he More...
The protagonist is likeable and sympathetic - Freddie is a young man who is still struggling to cope with his brother's death in the war and in his grief has stumbled through life in his shadow, ending up in an asylum due to his extreme grief and eventually deciding to travel to France. While there he More...
Dec 06, 2011
Kathy
rated it:
"We are who we are because of those we choose to love and because of those who love us."
Freddie has been facing the ghosts of his past for years, in an out of the sanatorium, battling the darkness of his grief and pain. In an effort to forget, even for a short time, he sets out on a journey to visit friends in the French Pyrenees only to find himself stranded in a small, forgotten town after an accident leaves his car dangling over a cliff.
Freddie meets a beautif More...
Freddie has been facing the ghosts of his past for years, in an out of the sanatorium, battling the darkness of his grief and pain. In an effort to forget, even for a short time, he sets out on a journey to visit friends in the French Pyrenees only to find himself stranded in a small, forgotten town after an accident leaves his car dangling over a cliff.
Freddie meets a beautif More...
Jan 29, 2012
Dawn
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I received a copy of Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse as a "First Reads" giveaway. This book was a very interesting & lovely tale of a tragic part of history. I found it difficult to read in the beginning, but as the story progressed I found myself entranced. As in her book Labyrinth, there is so much description of detail that I had to reread sentences to complete the picture in my mind. This being said, it took me longer than it should have to read this book.
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Dec 12, 2009
Kirsty
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Freddie's older brother died in action in WW1. Years later, Freddie is still mourning his loss whilst travelling through France. When he crashes his car in the middle of nowhere and happens upon a small village, he meets Fabrissa, a young woman also in mourning. They share their stories and Freddie finds out there is more to this woman than he originally thought...
This was an absorbing read. I was pulled in from the beginning and found myself captivated throughout. I'm new to Mosse's More...
This was an absorbing read. I was pulled in from the beginning and found myself captivated throughout. I'm new to Mosse's More...
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Jan 29, 2011
Sarah
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Freddie is haunted by the memory of his brother George, who lost his life during World War I. After years of sadness and a brief stint in a sanitarium Freddie journey's around France. When a snow storm leaves him with a broken car and lost in the mountains he winds up in the village of Nulle, Freddie finds a girl with a similar past who leads him to a monumental historical discovery.
The Winter Ghosts is a quick read, which is good because it will distract you from the lack of story More...
The Winter Ghosts is a quick read, which is good because it will distract you from the lack of story More...
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Aug 11, 2011
Julia
rated it:
Kate Mosse conjurs up a compelling ghost story of a broken man Freddie who is searching for closure and peace after losing his brother in WW1, or the Great War as it is referred to. Freddy crashes his auto on a road trip through the Pyrenees. He looses himself in an ancient town nearby where mystery and intigue is part of the atmosphere. The main character is so sad and tired at first I did not know if I could get into the story, but as the mystery takes shape it had me turning the pages qui
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Jan 29, 2010
Lucyaliceann
rated it:
Similar in style and genre to Labyrinth and Sepulchre, The Winter Ghosts also winds together two narratives from different time periods. Once again, Mosse sets her story in Southern France, and, having visited the area after being inspired by Labyrinth, I can assure you that the descriptions of the setting are particularly evocative. The key difference between this and the other books by Mosse is the length. I can't deny I was pretty disappointed when I opened it and saw the large type and the t
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May 19, 2011
Ddelmoni
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As a historical fiction devotee, I was very excited to win Kate Mosse’s latest novel from LT. I read Labyrinth, the first in Mosse's Languedoc Trilogy, a few years ago. Though not great literature nor flawless, I really enjoyed Labyrinth. Mosse did an exceptional job with the history of medieval France and the Cathars. I bought the second in the trilogy, Sepulcher, which remained unread for no particular reason other than having 30+ TBRs. I was hoping The Winter Ghosts was the third in the trilo
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Jan 01, 2011
Laura
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jan 29, 2012
Karen
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Kate Mosse is back with a haunting ghost story from the French mountains. From the bestselling author of LABYRINTH and SEPULCHRE - a compelling story of ghosts and remembrance. Illustrated throughout by Brian Gallagher.
The Great War took much more than lives. It robbed a generation of friends, lovers and futures. In Freddie Watson's case, it took his beloved brother and, at times, his peace of mind. In the winter of 1928, still seeking resolution, Freddie is travelling through the Fr More...
The Great War took much more than lives. It robbed a generation of friends, lovers and futures. In Freddie Watson's case, it took his beloved brother and, at times, his peace of mind. In the winter of 1928, still seeking resolution, Freddie is travelling through the Fr More...
Aug 09, 2011
Emma
rated it:
Not as enjoyable as I'd hoped after hearing very good things about Kate Mosse. I think the build up the main part of the plot was good, I liked the characterisation, particularly of the residents of Nulle, the lady who takes Freddie into her guesthouse seeking a substitute for the son who never returned from war and the mechanic and his sons who assist Freddie in retrieving his wreck of a car after he looses the road during a snow storm in the Pyrenees. I also like the historical element of th
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Jan 17, 2012
Lindsay
rated it:
Ugh.
I picked up this book against my better judgement, because I really didn't enjoy "Labyrinth" by Mosse, but I figured that this was short, so why not?
It was not very good. There was a good idea buried in here somewhere, but the execution was flawed. The main character drove me crazy. I mean, I get he was mourning, and I have no problem with that aspect of his personality, but he just really irked me. He turned into a babbling idiot for no discernible reason, and More...
I picked up this book against my better judgement, because I really didn't enjoy "Labyrinth" by Mosse, but I figured that this was short, so why not?
It was not very good. There was a good idea buried in here somewhere, but the execution was flawed. The main character drove me crazy. I mean, I get he was mourning, and I have no problem with that aspect of his personality, but he just really irked me. He turned into a babbling idiot for no discernible reason, and More...
Jan 25, 2011
Marion
rated it:
The Winter Ghosts is incredibly readable. It has all the elements of a classic page turner. It is mysterious and to the point. Beautifully written, Mosse conjures up a stunning visual portrait of the Languedoc region of France, carefully evoking the sheer brilliant of the Pyrenees and the ghostly secrets hidden therein.
The novel also addresses the theme of male grief which, given social gender conventions, was often overlooked and shunned after the war. The historical content is inf More...
The novel also addresses the theme of male grief which, given social gender conventions, was often overlooked and shunned after the war. The historical content is inf More...
Jun 06, 2011
BoekenTrol
rated it:
This book was a pleasant surprise. Both because I did not remember that it was on its way to me as a book ring (BookCrossing) and because I had not yet read anything by this writer.
At first I had trouble with this book. Did not know exactly what to think of it, in my opinion was a bit slow and whiny. I doubted if I should continue to read, but decided to go on anyway.
Especially because it got more interesting after the accident, there came some momentum in the book; the book m More...
At first I had trouble with this book. Did not know exactly what to think of it, in my opinion was a bit slow and whiny. I doubted if I should continue to read, but decided to go on anyway.
Especially because it got more interesting after the accident, there came some momentum in the book; the book m More...
Feb 21, 2011
iubookgirl
rated it:
The Winter Ghosts opens with the main character, Freddie, arriving at a Toulouse bookseller hoping to have a letter translated. In response to the bookseller’s query of how he came to possess the letter, Freddie recounts his experience of being stranded in a small, remote village in the French Pyrenees and his encounter with the lovely Fabrissa several years before. He and Fabrissa shared their life stories, which were sad and eerily haunting. Freddie’s story is bookended by the end of his visit
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Mar 04, 2011
Kristen
rated it:
I enjoyed Labyrinth and Sepulchre so very much. When I learned that Kate Mosse had another book, it instantly went on my 'library list'.
Ho hum. I kinda feel like this was written just as a 'filler' in between other books. It's a stand alone book, but the quality of it is lacking compared to the other two. The imagery and 'scenery' is still wonderful, but the story itself... Early on, I knew what the big twist was. Generally I pick up on those things early in the game, but with the pr More...
Ho hum. I kinda feel like this was written just as a 'filler' in between other books. It's a stand alone book, but the quality of it is lacking compared to the other two. The imagery and 'scenery' is still wonderful, but the story itself... Early on, I knew what the big twist was. Generally I pick up on those things early in the game, but with the pr More...
Jan 27, 2011
Alana
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With The Winter Ghosts, Kate Mosse has crafted an eerie tale of wrongs from the past coming to light in an unearthly way... a concept at which she rather excels. Fans of Mosse and her books will be delighted to learn about her latest novel -- but they might feel a touch disappointed when they find that The Winter Ghosts is a much less substantial epic than Labyrinth and Sepulchre. Sure, it certainly counts as a novel in general terms, but in Mosse terms it feels almost like a novella. It has
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