SOLVED. ghost story, skeleton in priest hole [s]

[[deleted user]]

young woman (described as looking like tess of the durbevilles) moves into old cottage. At stately home like house of nearest neighbours is overwhelmed by a terrifying, desperately sad presence. Neighbours are rather thick skinned and manage to ignore ghost most of time. Ghost latches on to our heroine and eventually reaches out to her in her own cottage which it later transpires is linked to the neighbours house by a subterranean passage. Ghost is laid to rest after the remains of a civil war soldier are found walled up in a priest hole.
Can anyone help?

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Is this an adult story, YA or childrens? And when did you read this?

[[deleted user]]

This is an adults story, I read it in the 80s - I think it was set around the time of the 1st gulf war

[``Laurie]

I was thinking it sounded like an Anya Seton or Mary Stewart novel but the Gulf War would be too late a setting for them. However you would probably enjoy their novels if this type of setting appeals to you.

[[deleted user]]

Laurie wrote: "I was thinking it sounded like an Anya Seton or Mary Stewart novel but the Gulf War would be too late a setting for them. However you would probably enjoy their novels if this type of setting appe..."

thanks - i'll give them a whirl

[Kris]

If the story was older, Ambrose Bierce comes to mind.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

This can't be your book as it doesn't involve a ghost, but The King's General by Daphne du Maurier is set during the English Civil War (you don't say which civil war you are referring to, English, American, or other...) and there is a subterranean passage linking the main manor house to a cottage on the property...and a dead body walled up...I don't want to give anything more away.

[[deleted user]]

Lobstergirl wrote: "This can't be your book as it doesn't involve a ghost, but The King's General by Daphne du Maurier is set during the English Civil War (you don't say which civil war you are referring to, English, ..."

Thanks - sounds interesting - have never read that.

It was the English civil war

[``Laurie]

Norah Lofts also wrote many books of this type but I can't think of a particular title. Also Jane Aiken Hodge.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks Laurie,

I had a quick trawl through these two authors books on amazon - and couldn't find the one I'm looking for - I don't know if they wrote books set in the 80s.

[Donna]

Hi Lee,

I have also been looking for this book. I believe I have now found it.

Holy Terror by Josephine Boyle

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Holy Terror is the click for Donna's suggestion.

[[deleted user]]

Donna wrote: "Hi Lee,

I have also been looking for this book. I believe I have now found it.

Holy Terror by Josephine Boyle"
Thankyou so much Donna! - I'd almost given up. Just ordered a copy- Thanks again

[[deleted user]]

Ann aka Iftcan wrote: "Holy Terror is the click for Donna's suggestion."

Thanks Ann - thats definitely the one

[Scarlett]

That is so strange, i have read this book as a library book 20 years ago, and was searching for it just now...
looking for words like ghost, priest hole, book..

And there was your question, and now i know the title, thank you.