In 1976 Loo, her sister Bee and their siblings, plus their mum Cathy moved into Iron Sike Farm, as far as Loo knew her father Joe was working away and would join them someday.

Not long after they arrived at the farm strange occurrences began, things moved, voices were heard and the girls received injuries but they didn’t know where from. Sure that their house was haunted they let paranormal investigators investigate the goings-on, Simon, Michael, and Issy were there to talk to the children and observe the farm and to try and catch any paranormal activity on camera.

In the present day, Cathy has dementia and is living in a residential home. She has received a letter from the daughter of one of the investigators who had since died and she wanted to follow up on his investigation at the now derelict farm and wants to talk to Cathy about what went on all those years ago. Nina and her team Hal and Lewis are students. Nina had read her fathers books on the events and wants to find out if the place really was/is haunted.

Lucy (Loo) is called to the residential home after her mum wanders off, she discovers the new investigation at the farm but isn’t happy. She doesn’t want her mum brought into the story again so she agrees to visit the farm with the students and talk to them about what happened in 1976. Is the place haunted and if so by whom?

The Wayward Girls is a mild horror, paranormal book that revolves around an isolated farm. It is told in alternative chapters of Now and Then. The first 3/4 of the book is gripping and I was eager to find out what was happening and who could this possible poltergeist be and what did they want and would the farm still be haunted. The book captivated me and I found myself flying through it not wanting to put it down, I needed answers!

We then move on to the last 1/4 and this is where it felt like things were rushed. I got to the end and then had to re-read sections as all my questions hadn’t been answered, but alas I didn’t find many answers by going back over the chapters. Because it was written in a manner that felt rushed it became a little confusing too, and to be honest I closed the book still unsure if the farm was haunted or not. There was enough evidence produced for and against this idea.

If you are easily scared then this book will give you chills, but my advice is to take it slowly and absorb all the story.

About the Author

Amanda Mason was born and brought up in Whitby, North Yorks. She studied Theatre at Dartington College of Arts, where she began writing by devising and directing plays. After a few years of earning a very irregular living in lots of odd jobs, including performing in a comedy street magic act, she became a teacher and has worked in the UK, Italy, Spain, and Germany.

She now lives in York and has given up teaching for writing. Her short stories have been published in several anthologies. The Wayward Girls, her debut novel, was longlisted for the Deborah Rogers prize.

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