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Overview

The quaint English country town of Church Litton is the last place you would expect to find a ghost. The upright citizens would consider spectres to be intrusive and rude. Fortunately, Geoffrey only haunts his saintly wife, Celeste. Poor Celeste. In life she endured forty years of marriage with an increasingly boorish and conceited man. Celeste’s wide circle of friends wished positively medieval punishments on him. One keen gardener suggested innovative uses for secateurs. There had appeared nothing out of the ordinary on the night of the blood moon and lunar eclipse. The ladies, who made up the book group, met on the downs for a spectacle, undiluted by lights from the town. Dozens of other towns folks had climbed for the view and a party atmosphere had evolved. Scouts sold locally sourced hot dogs and quaffable fizz was consumed at pace. Church Litton is that sort of place. It tries not to be posh but sometimes fails. Only one thing was missing complained Celeste’s best friend as, in a rare and wonderful moment, everything came together and a lunar crown of fire dominated the firmanent. Celeste, the lady in question whose absence was regretted, had been tricked by Geoffrey, into staying in. Standing on rickety decking laid by one of her husband’s erstwhile friends, she sang softly to the moon, congratulating her on her red dress, hemmed by ermine clouds. Sighing, at the moment of full eclipse, she frivolously made a wish. “Oh, Queen of the zodiac. I do try, I really do. Grant me a wish. Let my husband be kind and learn respect and tolerance. I long to be cherished. Let him understand that it is so hard for me to love him, when he never seems to care a hoot for my feelings.” If his neighbour had not pointed out the dangers of badly patched nicks on his extension cable then Geoffrey might have purchased a new one or taken up a friendly offer of a loan. The voltage would have passed safely to the hedge trimmer. But Geoffrey always resented advice. It is after his funeral before Geoffrey makes his first phantom appearance to Celeste. It takes several days for the reality of the situation to sink in. Celeste believes she in in an unfinished dream; Geoffrey, that it is some sort of cock up and he merely needs to find whoever is responsible and get them to bloody well sort it out. Geoffrey’s constant paranormal presence is limited to his wife and Celeste can banish her husband to a sort of limbo but she considers it too cruel. She takes it on herself to find the best resolution for others as well as herself. This selflessness has led, in part, to her grown up children, with families of their own, depending on her. They are very disapproving of their mother’s modest plans for some delayed fun with gliding lessons topping a short bucket list. Geoffrey’s character has not changed. He remains dogmatic and self pitying and wallows in the injustices of his life and death. Celeste does kick off some traces but she is finding the burden of keeping her secret intolerable. However, omens and signs in the village have not gone unnoticed and a girlfriend of a grandson discovers the truth. Church Litton life goes on and Celeste and her friends remain at its centre. There are several concerns that are occupying the residents; not least plans to drain the boggy moorland that encompasses half Church Litton and saturating the allotments; a haven for many locals. And a criminal family is looking to buy into the tight knit community. Celeste and her friends individually, are formidable; together, they are indomitable. And Geoffrey’s ghost is potentially a secret weapon as an informer. Is it all to much for a small town to cope with? Ghosts, gangsters, golfers, mediums, aristocrats, navigators, priests and vegans are feuding. Resolution appears impossible. Please do not turn to the last page until you have finished the book.

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