Daniel Ingyang | Reporter
The Haunting of Jessop Rise, by Danny Weston, is a mysterious horror novel for teenagers, set in the 1850s. The book is about William, a 14-year-old boy, who after living in a workhouse since his father’s death, is invited to live with his rich and enigmatic uncle in a mansion in Wales. Since his father had fallen out with the family years ago, it mystifies William that his uncle, Mr Seth Jessop, would be so kind as to take William under his wing. On his way there, William meets a lady on the road who seems like a ghost, as when her head is illuminated by a lantern, under her hood is like a pit of darkness. Even though he asks her some questions as to whether he is going the right way, she does not answer, and William puts her down to his imagination, as he has been on the road for days. But when William reaches Jessop Rise, the house where his uncle stays, more mysteries arise, and William begins to suspect that Mr Seth Jessop isn’t really the good guy he makes himself out to be…
William meets Toby, Mr Jessop’s stepson, and Mr Jessop puts William to work as Toby’s valet. Toby was the son of Mr Jessop’s wife, Audrina Ransome. Audrina had just disappeared, and although the Welsh townsfolk had made up lots of horrific reasons for her disappearance, Toby clings firmly to the belief that his mother is still alive and even lashes out sometimes when people speak of rumoured monsters that could have taken her. William also become firm friends with the other two servants at the Rise, Idris and Rhiannon. Idris takes care of the horses and the stables, and since he is rather strange and unpredictable, Mr Jessop and Toby think of him as more like a horse than a human. Idris is nice and friendly in his own way, and when William wants help investigating some strange goings-on, Idris doesn’t hesitate in taking out a horse to help them, despite the risk of being beaten with a riding crop by Mr Jessop. Rhiannon is a housemaid, and she very much believes in the rumours circling the nearby town, for instance the Gwrach y Rhibyn, a monster like creature who swoops down and takes people’s souls. Rhiannon is talkative and helpful, and helps William settle in well. Mrs Craddock is the one in charge of the servants, and keeps the house running smoothly despite the fact that she doesn’t have enough staff. Soon she realises that something is amiss, but she tries to keep everything going anyway. The tension builds until the end of the story, where Mr Jessop realises that William has uncovered all his dirty secrets. He then tries to do to William what he has done to everyone who posed a threat to him, his reputation, or his money – kill him. William escapes, but is hunted down again. Soon Mr Jessop stands over him with his sword raised. But then something happens…
