Gildermog Hall

by LJ Lacey

When Toby Seton is sent to spend the Easter holidays of 1998 with his grandparents in the quiet village of Gildermog, he expects little more than homemade lunches, country lanes, and the occasional crossword puzzle. Instead, he stumbles upon the village’s most enduring legend: the decades-old disappearance of local teenager Harry Grouse, who stole a vintage biplane and vanished without a trace.

With the help of Melissa, a sharp-eyed girl from the local tea room, Toby begins to uncover fragments of the past. But the closer they get to the truth, the more the story stops feeling like a mystery… and starts feeling like someone’s life.

Warm, atmospheric, and quietly suspenseful, Gildermog Hall follows two young teens as they navigate friendship, courage, and the lingering echoes of a disappearance the village has never quite forgotten.

Content
Contains sensitive themes involving traumatic family experiences. Recommended for ages 12+

265 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 23, 2025

About the author

LJ Lacey is a British, self-published writer. He is fond of quiet mysteries and fascinated by how people make sense of the world around them.

When not writing, he can usually be found enjoying the privacy of family life with his wife and children in and around the Malvern Hills.

Reviews

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish.

If you enjoy cosy mysteries, this is such a treat. The story transports you to the English countryside, with all its charm, quirky characters, and a lovely nostalgic nod to the 1990s.

The writing is beautiful and immersive, and I really appreciated how thoughtfully it explores trauma. It feels honest and nuanced, acknowledging the complicated emotions involved—guilt, pain, and even moments of sympathy for the perpetrator. Most of all, it offers a sense of hope, reminding us that while difficult experiences can shape us, they don’t have to define who we are.

The book had me completely invested and the plot twists kept me guessing and turning the pages. It had a way of effortlessly pulling me in.

I thoroughly recommend reading this book, you'll feel warmer on the inside when you do.

[Ali Nembhard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book, really easy to read and the settings were described so perfectly you could picture exactly the kind of location this quiet town is! Would reccomend :)