The author has very well mastered the art of connecting a gothic novel with real social difficulties in the 20th century. Some of those, like gender equality or motherhood, might still be relevant today. One might wonder if those subjects are suitable in the Gothic genre. They certainly are, as The Ghost Woods are proof. C.J. Cooke does a deep dive into history to reflect what really happened without losing the main plot out of her sight. It is both haunting and thought-provoking. I still think about those women who had to endure such tragedies, or how they were treated. And for the haunting and thrilling aspect, I’m glad that some situations in the book are fictitious. Nevertheless, I keep thinking what if they were real. That’s the effect those books by C.J. Cooke always have on me; after the last page, I need some time to reflect on what I have read. To take a break from this genre, only to come back to it fully refreshed and ready for another beautifully crafted thriller.
