Bryn Berry

Whistledon book description In 1970, Elspeth Fairweather returns to Wales from Istanbul having acted impulsively after witnessing the assassination of her diplomat husband. His funeral, conducted by family friend, Bishop Dominic Gregory, and the local rector, takes place in the village church in Whistledon on Wye. Simon Shorthouse, the middle-aged rector is becoming increasingly doubtful about the credibility of the Church's controlling stance.
His left-wing thoughts and Pagan daughter add to his problems. Simon is questioning his acceptance of this post in a church built from the proceeds of slavery and the rum trade. Elspeth is irritated by his lack of deference to the upper class. After the funeral, Elspeth is alarmed to glimpse an apparition gazing at her. Disturbed, she travels to Auchdair, her childhood home in Scotland. Her son, now Sir Angus, takes on the burden of running the family estate, and at the same time is determined to develop a racehorse training stable. Finding the spirit has followed her, she decides to return to Whistledon, where her presence disrupts the smooth running of Angus' new venture. As the story unfolds, Elspeth is pursued by an agent of the Foreign Office and is assisted by a young curate.