Minnie's Fiction Addiction

👀 First impressions:
The title Ghost Story immediately caught my attention, it promises something chilling, something that lingers in the shadows. Elisa Lodato sets her tale on a remote Scottish island, a perfect backdrop for unease and isolation. The premise of a writer haunted by past losses, both literal and metaphorical, had me curious from the start. I was ready for a novel that blurred the line between supernatural and psychological, and while it delivered in some respects, the execution didn’t always hold me.

✅ What I Liked:
Lodato’s writing is undeniably elegant. She excels at atmosphere, turning the island into more than just a setting, it feels alive, rugged, and weighted with history. Seren, the central character, is compelling in her grief and uncertainty. I appreciated the novel’s exploration of how memory and trauma can haunt us more persistently than any ghost. When the book leaned into that psychological element, it really shone.

❎ What I didn’t Like:
The novel sometimes felt weighed down by its own introspection. While Seren’s grief is rendered authentically, the story often lingers too long in her inner world at the expense of momentum. The supernatural aspects, which promised a chilling counterpoint, were underplayed and at times uneven, leaving the book more contemplative than haunting. Some of the supporting characters also felt thinly sketched, which weakened the impact of their roles in the unfolding drama. By the end, I wasn’t sure if the ambiguity of events was deliberate artistry or simply a lack of clarity.

📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
Readers who enjoy literary, slow-burn ghost stories with heavy psychological undercurrents will find value here. It’s less about jump scares and more about atmosphere, grief, and the way loss lingers in every corner of our lives. If you enjoy ghost stories that are really about the ghosts we carry inside, this will resonate.

💭 Final Thoughts:
Ghost Story is a moody and introspective novel that succeeds in creating atmosphere but falters in sustaining tension. At its best, it offers an elegant meditation on grief and memory, but at times the lack of narrative drive left me drifting. It’s thoughtful, occasionally moving, but not quite the haunting tale I’d hoped for.

🛍️ Where to buy
To buy your own copy click HERE

Final Rating ★★★ – Atmospheric but uneven