I think this is supposed to be a twist on the 1977 Enfield 'poltergeist' mystery, but far too long and muddled in the telling. I was intrigued at first, at least to find out the story behind 'Tib', the spirit haunting Iron Sike Farm, but the constant back and forth between 1977 and the present day and the less than captivating cast of characters started sending me to sleep rather than scaring me silly.

Like the Enfield haunting, the story centres around two teenage girls, Bee and Loo (everyone has annoying nicknames) in the long hot summer of 1976, who attract the attention of a local reporter and then a psychic investigator when they claim their rented farmhouse is possessed by a destructive spirit. Knocking in the walls, slamming doors, moving furniture and showers of marbles and stones seem to back up the girls' story, not least when the youngest girl Loo starts talking in the ghost's voice, but is the problem supernatural or closer to home?

The problem is that there are too many characters and we don't really get to spend enough time with any of them before the story flips back to someone else. Cathy, Bee and Loo. Michael, Simon and Issy. Nina, Hal and - I can't even remember the other modern day investigator's name! The atmosphere at Iron Sike Farm, especially with the claustrophobic heat of the summer, is great, and Bee especially is a fascinating character - but just when the plot is thickening, the reader is turfed out of 'Then' and thrown back into 'Now', where Nina - apart from the revelation of her tie to the past - is far less engrossing.

I also think this could have been told in far fewer pages. The final chapters are a tedious ping pong match back and forth between haunting and hysteria - did the girls make everything up or were they really in danger - or both? There are a couple of dramatic scenes in and amongst, but the tension is lost by trying to draw out the final revelation.

I know everyone seems to be raving about this debut novel - a 'near perfect ghost story'? - but the I found the 1992 BBC spoof of the Enfield haunting far scarier! ( )

https://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2019/11/2019123-wayward-girls-amanda-mason.html ( )

Just when I thought paranormal stories couldn't get any better, how wrong I was.
Ingeniously split between two time lines this gives a refreshing feel to this novel.

From the moment I read the very first paragraph, I knew that Amanda Mason had me hook, line and sinker, writing with such intensity that undisputedly draws you in. Although set between the 'then' and 'now', the story is easy to follow and intertwines seamlessly.
The characters are completely believable and strong, all having their own roll to play, and the relationship between the sisters is fascinating, yet disturbing.
There are plenty of twists and turns in the storyline to keep you guessing right to the end.
I absolutely loved Amanda's debut novel and I didn't want it to end. I am hoping that there is a sequel in the making as there are few things left untold.
If you were captivated by the Enfield haunting, then you will love this. Utterly compelling.
I think I have just found my new favourite author. Thank you for giving me the chance to read The Wayward Girls ( )

A reported poltergeist haunting of two teenage girls, Lucia (Loo) and Bianca (Bee) from a bohemian family is the subject of an investigation by members of a paranormal society in 1976. The haunting consists of strange knocking sounds, showers of marbles appearing from nowhere, mysterious bruises appearing on the girls, and objects being moved around. Now, in the present, a second investigation takes place and previously hidden secrets come to light.

The narrative moves between what happened in 1976 and the present day, both mainly from the perspective of Loo, the younger of the two girls from the original haunting. The author conveys the feeling of suffocation and unease (the hot summer, the isolation of the farm, the mysterious sudden disappearance of the girls' father, Joe, and the burgeoning sexuality of Bee awakened by the presence of young investigator, Simon) very well. It was very atmospheric but not as chilling as I had hoped, plus I had an inkling about the conclusion and was a little disappointed to be proved right. This meant I vacillated between 3 and 4 stars, before finally settling on 4 as I did enjoy reading it.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Bonnier Books UK / Zaffre, for the opportunity to read an ARC. ( )

1976, Loo and her sister Bee have come to live at Iron Sike Farm with their parents, Cathy and Joe and their siblings. They are living a simpler way of life, being home schooled and things seem fine. Things however change when they start to hear a knocking and things go bump in the night. Now in the present Lucy ( Loo ) goes back to the farm where three students want to investigate what went on at the farm.

May contain mild spoilers.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. I found myself flying through the pages as I really wanted to know what was going to happen next. The book goes back and forth between the past and present, and explores what went on at the farm.

The ghostly events that the girls, Loo and Bee experienced for me was very similar to the real events of The Enfield Haunting. Both were centred around the girls and in their bedrooms with poltergeist activity. The girls experience is creepy at times especially when Tib comes into the story.

What had my interested was questions that needed answering. Where was Joe, are the girls faking the hauntings, who is Tib, and what did happen to Bee. All this does come to light at the end but I felt perhaps a little rushed. I think I would have liked a bit more about Tib explored.

Overall I really liked this book. It's a story to keep to read when the nights are shorter and would be perfect reading at Halloween. The story is not all bumps in the night but also a family mystery.

Thank you to the publisher and @readersfirst for the opportunity to read the book ( )