Speaking Volumes

Generally speaking, I really like gothic romantic mysteries.  You know the type:  a recently windowed/orphaned/long lost relative comes to a rural place where the residents are distant/a little odd/cold to her, but she has inherited this wonderful castle/Victorian house/cottage by the sea where mysterious things start to happen…
 
I recently listened to The Tale of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb, a novel marketed for book groups that was just this sort of thing.  It promised ghosts, kidnapping, murder, witches… in other words, it had it all.  And it did.  And I did like it.  But…
 
Unfortunately it suffered from the annoying "Why Don’t They Leave the House?” syndrome that plagues much of this genre.  While not as bad as Poltergeist, the quintessential example of this syndrome, it still held what for me are logical inconsistencies.
 
If you believe a ghost is doing bad things in your home on day 3 at 5 p. m. and again on day 5 at 3 a. m. and yet again on day 7 at 8 a. m., why is it a surprise to you on day 10?  Does it not strike you odd that your new beau who has lived in the secluded town for 35 years, does not recognize the name of your housekeeper?  And do you not find it odd that he doesn’t mention this?  If its sleeting, freezing and icky, is it not odd that Black-eyed Susan’s are growing on the front lawn?
 
I find it very frustrating.
 
Now, I’ve started thinking, can you write a believable or at least plausible story of this nature?  I don’t know, but I am tempted to try.
 
If you’ve read a good tale that does not suffer this Syndrome let me know!  Of course, you can also come check out Halcyon’s story at the library!