Palace of Shadows: A Gripping Gothic Thriller Review

Palace of Shadows by Ray Celestin: A Book Review by Carmilla Voiez

Introduction

In the murky depths of the city, where secrets linger, and shadows stretch, Ray Celestin’s “Palace of Shadows” invites readers on a gripping journey through a world steeped in mystery and intrigue. This captivating novel weaves together a tapestry of rich characters and a haunting plot that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. Join Carmilla Voiez as she reviews the intricacies of Celestin’s storytelling and explores the powerful themes that resonate within this dark and atmospheric tale.

Palace of Shadows by Ray Celestin: A Book Review by Carmilla Voiez

There is little doubt in my mind that Celestin’s novel, Palace of Shadows is inspired by the Winchester House – a strange and haunting residence which is now a museum. Instead of California, the monstruous palace of shadows sprawls across the Yorkshire moors and is haven or prison for the ghosts of the victims of war – those killed by the weapons Mrs Chesterfield’s company produced and sold.

The remote location allows Celestin to populate his cast with ignorant and superstitious locals – a staple of rural horror. These shadowy characters further isolate both past and present architects, leaving them at the mercy of the house and its occupants. Pagan rituals and celebrations reinforce this divide and reflect the beliefs of Mrs Chesterfield and her closest companions. Add to this the treacherous landscape with sinking mud and dark, singing caves, which ensure that escape is a suicidal impossibility.

Unexplained deaths and disappearances surround this labyrinthine mansion. It weaves its spell on the imaginations of both locals and people who have never seen it, including the protagonist, Samuel Etherstone, an artist whose nightmarish paintings, depicting impossible geometry, ensure his commission as the architect for the house’s final addition – a mausoleum for its dying owner.

Told in the first person and including journal entries by Chesterfield’s first architect and letters from her spiritual advisor, the compelling narrative spans fifty years. Each character adds new insight while obscuring the terrifying truth until the book’s climax.

Palace of Shadows is an exciting page turner that leaves us grappling with truth and subterfuge long after the story is complete. Reflecting the tone of outstanding novels such as “House of Leaves” and “The Elementals”, the Chesterfield mansion is a character in its own right and more fully realised than most of the human cast – malevolent antagonist, puppet master, mind-tormenting labyrinth, minotaur and architect. This is a plot-driven, atmospheric, and at times surreal, psychological horror set in the 19^th century. 

Palace of Shadows by Ray Celestin

From the brain behind the upcoming Amazon Prime series, Haven, starring Sophie Turner.

‘Chillingly gothic’ – The Guardian, Best Crime and Thrillers of the Year

Inspired by the haunting true story of the Winchester Mystery House, Palace of Shadows is a hair-raising gothic thriller from the prize-winning author of the City Blues Quartet, Ray Celestin.

1899. The desolate Smugglers’ Coast of North Yorkshire is a place that strikes fear into those who live nearby. Unexplained deaths, suicides, young girls gone missing on the nearby moors ­­— the locals say it’s the grand house that drives people mad.

Still, when Samuel Etherstone is contacted by its reclusive owner, Mrs Chesterfield, and commissioned to work on the property, he accepts the offer. For a penniless artist adrift in London, the opportunity is too tempting to ignore.

It is only on arrival at the Chesterfield house that he learns the sinister details of its architect’s disappearance. Meanwhile, the widowed Mrs Chesterfield, keeps adding wing upon wing, and no one will tell him the reason behind her chilling obsession. But as Samuel delves deeper into the mysteries that swirl about the house the nature of the project becomes terrifyingly clear . . .

‘Its jaw-dropping finale will leave readers reeling. An absolute triumph’ – Sunday Express

‘Darkly entertaining’ – Laura Shepherd-Robinson, bestselling author of The Square of Sevens

‘I could see elements of Wilkie Collins, Bram Stoker and even Lewis Carroll . . . Hugely entertaining’ – Andrew Taylor, bestselling author of The Shadows of London