The Sleeping Ghosts of Timerton Review: Spooky Mystery and Family Secret

 

Genre: Horror, Mystery, YA Fiction

Published: June 28, 2026 by The Book Guild

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Set in 1952, the Winston family are all back at Timerton Rectory for great-aunt Geraldine’s funeral and will reading. For widower Professor Winston and his two daughters Margaret and Clara, this place is full of hard memories. They’re still hurting from losing their mum and grandparents in the Blitz.

The girls are curious kids craving a bit of adventure, and things get interesting when they find out Geraldine had a twin sister who vanished without a trace years ago. Then weird things start happening, there’s a ghostly presence hanging around, and they get pulled into all kinds of old secrets. They dig up clues linking to mysteries that have been swept under the rug for generations.

First off, the setting is great, so dark and spooky; it really feels like Timerton is hiding something the whole time. I was hooked right from the start, wanting to know what really went on there.

The characters are really believable, especially Margaret and Clara. What's their through feel genuine, so the supernatural bits feel way more compelling instead of just being weird and scary. There’s some paranormal stuff here, but honestly this is way more of a mystery story than a ghost tale. It’s written in such a lovely gothic vibe, set just after WWII, and digs into all the messy stuff: grief, family, memories, and how the past sticks with you.

One small thing to note, I think it’s quite slow to get going. I did zone out a bit in the middle somewhere. But everything ties up perfectly at the end, and it’s totally worth reading.

If you love mysteries with a touch of supernatural and that spooky gothic feel, you should pick it up. It stays with you after you finish! 

Thank you to The Book Guild Ltd and NetGalley for providing me with the review copy.