It’s been far too long since I’ve read an excellent “ghost story,” thus after hearing the pre publication publicity I couldn’t wait to pick up THE WHITE DEVIL - once picked up it was impossible to put down. Justin Evans not only presents a wonderful “ghost,” but a neat murder mystery, a bit of romance, plus some coming-of-age angst.
Young Andrew Taylor had been living the good life filled with fun and girls - unfortunately for him also poor grades. His father took a very dim view of this and as a last resort packed him off to England’s Harrow School in the hope that attendance at a prestigious school would bridge “the gap between his ninetieth percentile SAT’s and his C grades would stand out less on his college application.”
For centuries Harrow has been a school home for the elite, including Lord Byron. It is not a place that welcomes a student in his final year, let alone an American. However, Andrew is fortunate in making one friend, Theo. Unfortunately, that friendship is to be short-lived....as is Theo. Andrew comes across his body with a horrific ghostly figure straddled atop it.
Theo’s death is deemed due to heart failure, nonetheless Andrew is ostracized and some suspect he had something to do with the death. Andrew’s dreams are troubled by visions of the strange figure he saw, yet he tells no one until finally confiding in his housemaster, Pier Fawkes, a well known poet who soon begins to experience strange sensations.
After some probing and the help of the school’s archivist Andrew and Fawkes believe the specter is John Harness who has been dead for some 200 years.
Justin Evans has given us a beautifully written Gothic thriller both intelligent and bone chilling.
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