All the right elements are there - an isolated, large old house outside of a small village, a house the villagers whisper about, one that has been home to 'outsiders' who don't know the history of the house. What else? Women left alone in the house with the children while the husband is away for work. And....small glimpses of something? someone? on the steps, at the end of the hallway, in the garden by the pond...and who are the children talking to?
All of this and more is told in a now and then timeline - the current residents of the house - and the family before.
Orla is our protagonist in the present and Lydia is from four decades back. I always enjoy this style of storytelling. I can't help but read one more chapter 'til late in the night. Lydia's situation seems more dire to me. As readers, we're privy to those past events and can only hope Orla can see what's happening before....
"Orla invited herself in, and the house woke up." (I live in quite an old house and this gave me the shivers...)
The house is both a character and setting in A Good House for Children. Collins does a wonderful job of ramping up the danger with a slow burning, insidiously clever plot. Collins does a great job writing the two timelines and weaving them together. Also wound into the tale is a dissection of motherhood. And the ending is perfect.
A satisfying read and a really good debut! See for yourself - read an excerpt of A Good House for Children.
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