The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
It’s rare that I give a book 5 stars but this one ticked all the boxes for me, as a splendid example of a gothic ghost story. Molly and Kip, two siblings who have fled Ireland during the Great Famine, have lost their parents during the voyage to England, where they were hoping to have a better life. Desperate and on the verge of starvation, feisty and resourceful Molly has secured a position for herself and her younger brother as servants at the Windsor estate. Rather than being the blessing that Molly originally thought, as the children approach their destination, it becomes clear that there is something menacing about their new situation. When they arrive at the decrepit mansion, they discover that not only is the house in bad shape but there is something terribly off about the family. A strange tree and a terrifying night-time presence seem to rob the family of their energy and it eventually begins to affect Molly and Kip, as well. The children realize that they need to use all their cunning and strength to save themselves and the family, not only from the evil that surrounds the estate, but also what comes from within.
There are so many layers to this book. It reads like a Brothers Grimm fable and contains the bit of morality lesson that you come to expect in this kind of story. In this case, it’s a cautionary tale about greed and what a slippery slope it is. What begins as a small wish can quickly seduce you to make larger wishes and before you know it, you’re hooked and the consequences are devastating. This is also a wonderful story about the power of storytelling. Molly and Hester Kettle, a wonderful character that pops in and out of the story, each demonstrate how storytelling can change lives.
Auxier uses evocative language to create a vivid setting and dreadful situation that pulls you in from the very beginning. The characters are so fully developed that you feel something genuine for each of them, whether it’s good or bad. It’s also really effective how the tension and feeling of dread continue to build and build throughout the story until you find yourself gripping the book and racing through the words to find out what happens next.
This book is listed as a young adult novel but I feel that any adult would enjoy it, as well. If you enjoy stories such as Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury, the Turn of the Screw by Henry James or stories by Susan Hill or Washington Irving, this is your kind of book. The Night Gardener is a thoroughly atmospheric and creepy tale that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading it!