About the Book:

Title: The Voice Upstairs 

Author: Laura E. Weymouth

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books 

Release Date: October 3, 2023

Pages: 320

Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal 

Synopsis:

In 1920s England, a working-class girl who can see spirits works with a lord’s son to solve mysterious deaths at the local manor home in this eerie historical mystery perfect for fans of The Haunting of Bly Manor and Downton Abbey.

Wilhelmina Price has a dubious reputation in the village of Thrush’s Green. Ever since her mother’s untimely death, she has been able to see a person’s spirit leaving their body days or hours before they die. Wil has never been able to prevent these deaths, so her unusual skill has made her an outsider to most except her lifelong friend, Edison, the youngest son of Lord Summerfield. But when a maid at the Summerfield’s estate dies in the same mysterious way as Wil’s own mother, Wil takes on a housemaid’s position to investigate whether these women might, in fact, have been murdered.

There is nothing Ed Summerfield values more than his friendship with Wil, which is why he’s desperate to disguise how hopelessly in love with her he’s become—and his belief that he may be haunted by the ghost of his older brother, Peter. Because if Wil, with her supernatural powers, can’t see the same evidence of hauntings that Ed does, he worries he may actually be losing his mind.

Together, Wil and Ed must dig deeper into the Summerfields’ hoard of secrets, though the truth won’t give itself up without a fight that could prove deadly to the both of them, as they face cunning adversaries among the living and the dead.

Review:

*I received an arc from the author for review. Thank you for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own*

Don’t sleep on this beautifully atmospheric, gothic mystery with ghosts, by Laura E. Weymouth! This book has been comped to The Haunting of Bly Manor and Downton Abbey, and I understand why with the manor home and the differences between the working class and the wealthy shown.  I don’t know why this book hasn’t been hyped up more, because I absolutely loved it! It’s the perfect read for spooky season. 

The story takes place in 1920’s England where a housemaid works with a lord’s son to solve a mystery at the stately manor home, The Grange. 

Wilhelmina “Wil” Price can see ghosts. Ever since her mom died, Wil has been able to see a person’s spirit leaving their body days or even hours before they die. To her dismay, she has never been able to stop these deaths, and her “gift” has made it difficult to have any friends. Her only friend is her childhood companion, Edison Summerfield, the son of Lord Summerfield. When a maid at the Summerfield Estate dies in the same way as her own mother, Wil takes on a job at the Grange to see if she can figure out if they may have been murdered. 

Ed Summerfield values his friendship with Wil more than anything, and he’s been trying to hide the fact that he’s in love with her. He’s also been hiding from her that he believes his older brother, Peter, has been haunting him. He’s worried that if Wil can’t see Peter with her supernatural powers, then he may actually be losing his sanity. 

Together, Wil and Ed must uncover the secrets of the Grange, discover the truth, and face adversaries among the living and the dead. 

I adore Wil and Ed and found myself very invested in them and I am thankful the book was told from both points of view. I was rooting for them throughout the story. The mystery was at the heart of the story, but I did enjoy the romance, not going to lie. 

Full of twists and turns, I found myself guessing until the very end. Run to your bookstore or local library and pick this one up, I highly recommend! 

About the Author: