A Sudden Light by Garth Stein

A Sudden Light
Written by Garth Stein
Historical Fiction, Paranormal
Published October 1st 2014
400 Pages
In the summer of 1990, fourteen year old Trevor Riddell gets his first glimpse of Riddell House. Built from the spoils of a massive timber fortune, the legendary family mansion is constructed of giant, whole trees, and is set on a huge estate overlooking Puget Sound. Trevor’s bankrupt parents have begun a trial separation, and his father, Jones Riddell, has brought Trevor to Riddell House with a goal: to join forces with his sister, Serena, dispatch Grandpa Samuel, who is flickering in and out of dementia, to a graduated living facility, sell off the house and property for development into 'tract housing for millionaires,' divide up the profits, and live happily ever after.

But Trevor soon discovers there’s someone else living in Riddell House: A ghost with an agenda of his own. For while the land holds tremendous value, it is also burdened by the final wishes of the family patriarch, Elijah, who mandated it be allowed to return to untamed forestland as a penance for the millions of trees harvested over the decades by the Riddell Timber company. The ghost will not rest until Elijah’s wish is fulfilled, and Trevor’s willingness to face the past holds the key to his family’s future.
Fourteen year old Trevor's life seems to be falling apart. His parents have separated, he's lost his home, his family are bankrupt, his mother has gone back to England and now he's stuck with his father, staying at the sprawling but dilapidated Riddell House. Riddell House is said to be cursed, built by Elijah Riddell almost a century ago, the house has seen three generations of the Riddell family, births, deaths and now is on the verge of being torn down, subdivided and sold. If only they could convince Trevor's grandfather Samuel to sign the house over to his two children, Trevor's father and his newly acquired Aunt Serena.

But Grandpa Samuel is suffering from Alzheimers. He believes he can hear his late wife dancing in the ballroom of the sprawling mansion. Aunt Serena passes his delusion off as a sign of his degenerative disease, but Trevor hears her too. With generations of history inhabiting the house, Trevor starts to explore. Serena is aggressively pushing for her father to sign the papers, but while he still believes his wife haunts Riddell House, the power of attorney paperwork will remain unsigned.

But Trevor's grandmother isn't the only ghost to call Riddell House home. Ben was the son of Elijah who built the house, dying in tragic circumstances and reuniting with his one true love. Ben starts to leave a trail for Trevor to follow. Discovering journals, documents and reliving the Riddell family history through his dreams, Trevor begins to realise that Riddell House isn't at all what it seems and it may just take a fourteen year old boy to uncover it's secrets... And deception.

My Thoughts


A Sudden Light was a brilliant mystery, with a touch of sinister deception and the eerie paranormal. The storyline felt a little stagnant to begin, but soon unraveled a deliciously rich and enigmatic history of both the home, and the Riddell family. Trevor is an bright young boy who is well versed and intelligent. A reliable narrator, he will thoroughly entertain readers with his banter and cheeky attitude. Trevor is telling his story of the summer at Riddell House, twenty years after that one summer and although he is an adult in his thirties now, his story is still dynamic and vivid.

The secondary characters were all created with depth and distinction. Grandpa Samuel although sullen, is charming, likable and the epitome of Riddell House. I felt incredibly sorry for him, and although Serena claimed to care for him, she showed little empathy and took every opportunity to mock him. Throughout the storyline, Serena was cunning and deceptive, had an unhealthy obsession with her brother and used the strange attraction Trevor had towards her to her advantage. She appeared to be a manipulative sociopath, and is bound to strike a nerve with most readers. 

I adored the setting, the vivid descriptions of the house were incredible. From ghost Ben, who made a promise to his partner that the timber home will be returned to the forest, the mystery of Riddell House, the strained relationship between Trevor and his father and it also touches on degenerative disease and suspected mental illness. It was more than a story, it was a journey about one young man and a social conscious that leads to uncovering his family history.

It was simply beautifully written. There is something incredibly magical about author Garth Stein's style of writing. A natural storyteller, he's woven a haunting and sentimental tale with a touch of whimsy.

18 comments

  1. This book sounds beautiful Kelly! I'm so glad you enjoyed it so much. My first love used to be paranormal/ghost mysteries but I like that this one adds a nice familial touch. It makes it just that bit sentimental, right?! Thank you for the beautiful review--I love anything with a "touch of whimsy" ;) I'll have to pick this one up if I ever come across it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was just lovely Jess. Although it's slow to start, I'm so incredibly thankful I continued with it. The premise is simplistic, but there is something magical about how it's written. Creepy, beautiful and I absolutely adored it.

      Delete
  2. THAT COVER THOUGH.

    I probably need it based on cover alone. Like, maybe also the insides could be interesting. Eh. But who really cares? COVER LOVE. *ahem* Okay, I DO care about the insides of the book. And paranormal and mystery and sinister deception are totally my thing. *skips off to add it on goodreads*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know. It's cover love. And the paperback has that soft silky feel cover as well. You know the type, they show up fingerprints, but you can stroke the prettiness. Rub it against your face. There was something so incredibly simplistic yet beautiful about A Sudden Light. Even though Trevor is quite young, he's incredibly mature and thrown into an adult world. I think you'll really enjoy this one.

      Delete
  3. That cover is so beautiful my eyes heart. ON MY SHELF NOW PLEASE.

    I love it when the story is as beautiful as the packaging. I'm often lulled by pretty covers and the books are crap but THIS. Oh, this sounds gorgeous and eerie and mysterious <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I often find the same Allie. Those pretty covers lure me in, but this is definitely one that exceeds even how gorgeous that cover is. It's a deliciously slow burning story that I think will appeal to mature readers, rather than anyone looking for the generic young adult read. There's no romance, no ridiculous or overly exaggerated characters. It's whimsy and just lovely.

      Delete
  4. I need this just because of the cover.

    Sounds like a really interesting read, especially because I've not read very many paranormal books!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's the new kind of paranormal. the ghosts in this are pretty mild, but as the setting and characters are incredibly realistic, makes it a little more scary than your regular haunting. But the ghosts are more a side storyline, as the general storyline is more a coming of age about family, history and life lessons. So incredibly beautiful though.

      Delete
  5. Woah, haunting, whimsical with a touch of family ties, it sounds freaking amazing Kelly! I've never heard of this before but you've really intrigued me now. Great review lovely!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jeann. Lately I've been looking for books that are a little different from the generic young adult title, and this one is truly magical. It was simplistic, but drew me in and I was spellbound. It's a little creepy in places, but if you like historical contemporaries with a touch of paranormal, you'll love this one.

      Delete
  6. I picked up a copy of this back in the Spring. I haven't read it yet, though. It sounds like Ridell House became another cast that the author had incorporated in the book - which, I must admit is another draw for me.

    Great review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Couldn't have said it better myself Joy. It's almost the focal character, even though Trevor is the main protagonist. Each character's storyline ultimately surrounds the house, of events that happened at the house. I loved hearing about it's rich history. It's just different enough to be quirky, but so beautifully written. I can't wait to see what you think of it.

      Delete
  7. Oh I hadn't heard much about this book Kelly but you've totally convinced me to go give it a chance. I love that this one was haunting, and whimsical and it's totally making me want to go pick it up already! Lovely review :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Lily.

      I think you'll absolutely love this one, it's different but so incredibly beautiful. Definitely pick up a copy, I'll guarantee you won't be disappointed.

      Delete
  8. Oh, this sounds good. I'm not usually into books with a MC this young, but if it's done well, then I'll go for it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He's young, but clearly an old soul. He's actually the only child throughout the book, but with so many adult issues around him, it's really interesting to see an intelligent and logical teens take on the world around him. This one is perfect for mature young adult readers and adult readers. I absolutely adored it.

      Delete
  9. I LOVE this cover. I'm glad you enjoyed this one. I hadn't heard of it before, but it sounds good. I like that the narration is done years later.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too. I can't delve into why it's being told as a memoir, as it might give away too much, but it was just so incredibly magical. Grab a copy, this is one that won't disappoint.

      Delete

© Diva Booknerd. Design by Fearne.