The Wyndcliffe: A Story of Suspense

Wyndcliffe #1

by Louise Lawrence

As she becomes increasingly involved with the spirit of a long-dead poet, a lonely young girl withdraws more and more from the real world.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy

183 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Elizabeth Holden, better known by her pen name Louise Lawrence, is an English science fiction author, acclaimed during the 1970s and 1980s.

Lawrence was born in Leatherhead, Surrey, England, in 1943. She became fascinated with Wales at a young age, and has set many of her novels there. She left school early on to become an assistant librarian. She married and had the first of her three children in 1963. Her departure from the library, she recalls, gave her the potential to turn toward writing: "Deprived of book-filled surroundings, I was bound to write my own."

Reviews

[Nilofer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's the synopsis from the author's website: "Anna is alone, and despite her fifteen years, she is still very much a child. Her elder sister Ruth, caught up in a world of parties, fashions and boyfriends, ignores her. And her brother Simon, to whom she is devoted, goes to London to study music. Listless and unhappy, Anna takes no pleasure in her family's new home, or in her surroundings. The Wyndcliffe, "a brooding ancient face of sheer stone, dour and grey," matches her mood. Then she encounters John Hollis, a young sympathetic poet. But he died in 1823......"

I read this as a young teen, 13 or 14, and found it really resonated with me. Something about the loneliness, and the friendship with John, the ghostly character she meets, and the ending was something that stayed with me for a long time. Brings back lovely memories when I think of this book, would recommend it for teens.

[Janet Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from the school library when I was about 13. It fascinated and haunted me, and then stayed with me over the years. With the advent of the internet, I managed to track down an old library copy from the US, and re-read it. It's a lovely story, perfect for adolescent girls. I can't be truly objective about it--when I read it now, I'm thirteen again. I can see that it's not the most original story in the world, but that really doesn't matter, because it's so gently and ably told.

The descriptions of the natural world are particularly evocative.

The 'ghost', John Hollis, is loosely based on Keats, and I started reading Keats' poetry as a direct result of this novel.

[Alex Ankarr · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like the idea of a YA/Brontë sister novel, with an entire bag of granulated sugar poured in, then you're gonna love this. Dear reader, I certainly did, as a teenager. READER, I FUCKING LOVED IT! To the point of obsession. You may have already garnered that impression.

OK, you bin warned, everybody knows what they're getting into here.

[Vanessa]

This was my favorite book when I was...in 7th or 8th grade, maybe?

[Dixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE this book and the sequel (Sing and Scatter Daisies). Never fails to leave me disturbed for days.

[Shadoshard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I'm not a teenager, but the goth runs strong in this book, and at the same time, it has that 70s flavor of writing that got me hooked on reading when I was younger. And the ghost is surprising with the best possible ending - at least for the main heroine, Anna. It doesn't overdo the drama, and the ending was very satisfying. It was a quick read of course but I could read it more than once without getting tedious so - definitely worth getting hit on the head when it dropped from the shelves at the old library sale.

[Carol Rigsbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read June 1, 2017. I just read this book for probably the 7th time although it's been awhile. I just love this book. It is one of my top three of all times!!

[Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for the first time as an adult and the imagery is absolutely beautiful. Masterful writing and compelling story.