A review by jarrahpenguin
The Old Nurse's Story: A Ghost Story for Christmas by Elizabeth Gaskell

3.0

A classic Elizabeth Gaskell ghost story that's perfect for a Christmas read. When the 18-year-old nurse Hester and her charge Miss Rosamond arrive at Furnivall Manor they find that their new, grand home, comes with some spooky secrets. Hester finds herself wondering who plays the great, broken organ in the hall every time it storms, and what supernatural being or force is endangering her beloved charge. The story takes a bit of time to build up, with the beginning really focused on lengthy descriptions of the house, but the climax is effective. The ultimate reveal is pretty dramatic, although I was a bit confused about the old lord's involvement in the family drama. This particular Haunted Bookshelf edition contains some nice, stark black-and-white drawings by Seth, but also a few typos and an ongoing confusion over whether the kitchen servant's name is Bessy or Bossy (I did find this issue in another edition too, so it may have been a faithful reproduction of the original).