tamaranth | 2025/200: Unaccustomed Spirits

2025/200: Unaccustomed Spirits — Elizabeth Pewsey

‘That’s no guitar, ignorant and misguided girl,’ said Sylvester. ‘That’s a lute. Strange tuning; it must be one of these authentic renderings.’
‘I can’t hear anything,’ said Adele.
‘Of course, the house is haunted,’ said Lily in matter-of-fact tones ...[loc. 578]

Comfort reread, which also fulfils my "reread beginning with 'U'" challenge. This is a very Christmassy romantic comedy, set in haunted Haphazard House, in Pewsey's imaginary northern county of Eyotshire. Familiar characters from the Mountjoy series (famous cellist Sylvester, his witchy housekeeper Lily, Val's son Thomas) appear, along with protagonist Cleo, her dastardly cousin Henry who wants to demolish the house but needs someone to housesit over Christmas, and Henry's Gothic housekeeper Mrs Grigson.

Not to mention Lambert and Giles, the ghosts of the house, who (between eavesdropping on phone conversations and watching Star Trek) provide a running commmentary on Cleo, her friends and her dull fiance Perry. Giles is the lutenist, banished by Queen Elizabeth for ogling one of her favourites; Lambert the Roundhead, granted the house and the title after harrying the original occupants.

There's some excitement in Cleo's trip to Hungary to rescue Prue, whose husband has fallen foul of the Party; there is amusement as dressmaker Adele and ghost-hunter Will negotiate a relationship; and there is unexpected romance, and Sylvester being awesome. Still a delight!