Through the Mist
In this carefully researched and convincing novel, Ashford seamlessly weaves fact and fiction into a satisfying gothic read. In the aftermath of WWII, newlyweds Ellen and Tony Wylde move into Carreg Cottage, a picturesque Cornish farmhouse overlooking the sea. Although they arrive to inclement weather and businesses closed for Christmas, they are optimistic about their future together. Ellen is a successful toy designer; Tony is a less-successful artist who believes the cottage is the key to restoring a genius they both believe in. The Wyldes’ story is deftly interwoven with that of 17-year-old runaway Iris, who has come to Cornwall to seek the truth about her mother’s death a decade ago. Somewhat predictably, Ellen immediately encounters signs that everything is not as idyllic as it seems to be. Sigils and fetishes appear around the cottage. More distressingly, Tony is clearly hiding the fact that he has been to the cottage before. And the local artists’ behavior is suspicious even for a motley collection of freewheeling surrealists.
The suspense plot may feel straightforward to mystery-first readers, but any quibble over suspense is offset by Ashford’s meticulous research. She skillfully blends the historical facts about Aleister Crowley, the famed Satanist and “wickedest man alive,” with the real-life crime – and possible cover-up – that occurred while he was living in a nearly identical situation in Cornwall during WWII. A well-researched and highly recommended read.
