IF YOU'RE running out of present ideas, and you know someone who will appreciate a good book, then The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse, will make the perfect gift this Christmas.

The Winter Ghosts is a haunting and well-written tale that tells of grief-stricken Freddie, who is mourning the death of his brother George, who died in World War I. While trying to escape from his past, Freddie crashes his car in a snow storm and is forced to seek refuge in a strange French village. Here he meets many enchanting people, but none more so than the lovely Fabrissa, a lady with a dark secret that will change Freddie forever.

It is a tale well told, and a relatively quick read while snug by the fire. It can be enjoyed by anyone of any age and is an all-round good book. However, for anyone who has read either of her previous books, Labyrinth or Sepulchre, they might find, like myself, that something seemed to be missing. Although there was detail enough, there appeared to be those small details from the previous books missing that really brought the tale to life and made the characters likeable and unforgettable. While The Winter Ghosts is fast-paced, it almost flew by in a blur compared with her other books, that, while action-packed, enabled you to savour every page.

All in all it is worth reading, whether you are a long-time fan of Mosse or a first-timer in the world of ghosts, the occult and the supernatural. It is a clever plot and an interesting and somewhat sad story, that won’t be a disappointment on Christmas morning.