This was a perfect spooky short story/novella for Christmas time. A haunted book, a wartime curse - I really liked the unique premise. Great to curl up with on a cold winter night or to tell around a fire at Christmas in true Victorian fashion.

Eine düstere, aber wirklich spannende Novella, die man nicht mehr aus der Hand legen möchte! Die Autorin erschafft mit ihren Worten eine schaurige Atmosphäre und vermischt wirksam die Illusionen mit der Vergangenheit und der Handlung. Williamson thematisiert einen wichtigen Aspekt aus der Kriegszeit, der oft in Vergessenheit gerät. Definitiv empfehlenswert - man sollte nur aufpassen, wen man die Lektüre empfiehlt.

The Haunting Scent of Poppies is a classic British ghost story in the fashion of Susan Hill. It is genuinely spooky and suspenseful, and is the perfect length to serve as your Christmas ghost story next to the fire. It follows the tradition of a central MC with a tight cast of supporting characters. Bonus is a villain with a righteous motivation.

This book was a quick read that sucked me in all the way. This was creepy and chilling that made every bump in the night sound so much more creepy,,,, I really enjoyed this short story and the writing was very well done.

I really enjoyed this story, It gave me A Christmas Carol vibes with the nefarious moral character being haunted and trying to entice change. I like the twist in the story at the end I wasn't expecting it. It was beautifully written and the visual imagery was amazing. I could smell and see the effects of war and felt fully immersed. I wouldn't say it 9+ but a good novella for adults to get through. I would of happily had it as a longer book.

Not entirely what I was expecting when I got into this short story, as I am not typically a World War era fan. I do love a good ghost story though, so I was excited to hop into this one. The story is beautifully written, especially the ghost as he follows our main character around. The constant referral to mustard and poppy is such a distinct kind of description that I just all over enjoyed how detailed and descriptive it was. Charlie was interesting to be in the head of for 100 pages, and seeing him stay within the sphere of those he's stolen from felt like the set up for a comedy of errors. Charlie's end in this story was not entirely something I expected, as he was so close to being out of the woods with the ghost (so he thought) that I thought he would genuinely be rid of the ghost. I'm very happy it was not that predictable, and I very much enjoyed the direction it took.

The formatting for this particular version had the page number, title, and author's name throughout the file as if part of the story, but other than that everything was simply beautiful, from the writing to the cover.

The Haunting Scent of Poppies by Victoria Williamson is a short but gripping read that delves into the shadowy torment of a man haunted by his choices. The story is unsettling, capturing the relentless grip of his waking nightmares and sleepless despair. While the premise is compelling, I felt it didn’t fully deliver on its potential. It was an okay read for me, earning 3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Silver Thistle Press for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

'The Haunting Scent Of Poppies' might be short but there's a lot happening in it from the first page. World War I is over but for Charlie Briggs that doesn't matter, he never served and he's never over duty- a committed thief, Charlie has had to flee London temporarily after failing his last job. Settling in a small Hampshire town, Charlie just needs to be patient and wait for things to die down. However, when he comes across an extremely rare book desired by his dealer (and enough to set up for life) he can't resist stealing it. Bought by a loving mother for her son a day before the war, the book soon starts to cause strange emotions and sights in Charlie- including the scent of poppies. Soon enough Charlie realises he's being haunted and the only way to save himself is to stop his greed. This was a quick read but deeply atmospheric with a main character who genuinely is terrible. I loved the ghost story element and how it blended with historical fiction and the traumas of the era. I wish it had been more than just a novella!

incredibly quick read and a pretty good ghost story for that. wouldn't say it was awesome, adn needed more meat, but 3.5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Can a book be possessed? Can a book cause the deaths in war of every man in the family that owns it? And, if this is true, can the horrors of war and death be passed on to another man, a man who stole it for personal profit?

The book is a valuable edition of The Art of War. The thief is Charlie Briggs. The Haunting Scent of Poppies, a quick, unsettling read, lets you see through Charlie’s eyes. You won’t want to. And you most definitely wont want to look behind you in the dark. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Silver Thistle Press and Victoria Williamson for this ARC.

Such A captivating and harrowing read! This is what a ghost story should be about. Love the supernatural elements and historical fiction backstory. Def recommend!

A harrowing short story.
Labeled as a ghost story yet gave me an insight on what it is like to live having been in war.
The main character, I believe, showed the daily struggles most veterans have to deal with every day.
The Haunting Scent of Poppies was a great story. A quick read, perfect for reading any time between Halloween & Christmas! A ghost story that takes place at Christmas time.
I think the ending was a full circle moment, perfect.

"Remember me! Remember!"

This captivating novella had my undivided attention from the very first page. Let me just say, the MMC gets the karma he so dearly deserves.

Charlie Briggs, is a notorious thief, often relocating from town to town to elude law enforcement. In his last venture, he discovers a bookstore, with a rare French edition of The Art of War, worth more than enough to fill his wallet. After swiping the book, things take a grave turn for Charlie. He finds himself haunted by an unwanted presence and the horrors of war. The scent of mustard gas and poppies will follow him forever....

This novella was everything I crave in a ghost story! From the chilling supernatural to the historical fiction backstory. I cannot wait to explore more work by this author!

Thank you NetGalley and Silver Thistle Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

**Review posted on Goodreads and Amazon (pending review), will be posting on Instagram before the end of the year**

Horror is not my usual genre, but when I see a novel set during the First World War, I can't resist reading it. I'm glad I picked up this story - it's a well-written ghost tale rooted in the classics. I really liked how the terror of the Great War intertwined with the terror derived from speculative elements. The concept was executed very well, and although the plot is somewhat repetitive, it's emotionally engaging enough to draw you in.
I am a bit disappointed with the ending because, in my opinion, it leaves too many questions unanswered—it essentially suggests that the paranormal events just happened. We don't know why, we don't know why these things happened to this particular character, and we don't know where they came from. I understand that classic ghost novels, which aim to frighten, often don't provide clear answers, but here I expected at least some interpretive hint.
That said, I still recommend this quick and engaging read to fans of speculative literature with World War I themes, as well as to fans of classic ghost stories.

December is, without a doubt, the month for ghost stories and horror. While I adore October, there's something uniquely eerie about the cold and darkness of December that amplifies the thrill of a good scare. This novella was the ideal companion for a snowy December evening.

The story drew heavy inspiration from classic ghost tales of the 18th and 19th centuries, with vivid, haunting descriptions of Charlie's hallucinations. I couldn't stop reading and finished it in one sitting.

The shift in perspective towards the end was a bit abrupt, but otherwise, it was a brilliant novella and an excellent ghost story.

A special thank you to Silver Thistle Press and Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This haunting and emotive read is one that will horrify and intrigue a reader

Telling a story set during WW1, it is a descriptive and telling tale of a man who steals something that he wishes he didn't. His greed gets the better of him and the dead has a plan set out for the thief

It is superbly written and is chilling. It is a ghost story that is unsettling but addictive. I read in one sitting and felt sad and terrified in equal measures.

A clever book which i thought brilliant..

A horror novella of criminal Charlie right after the war, this story will haunt you. This book incorporates historical elements along with horror elements. I would read more from this author.

Wow! A short narrative that packs a haunting punch. I loved the exploration of post WWI historical fiction and magical realism. This is a title that I will need to ponder for a while. It might be a 2025 book club pick because it is so artfully written and thought provoking.

“The haunting scent of poppies” is a quick, spooky read perfect for Christmas time!
The writing makes you want to keep reading and does a great job of creating a creepy atmosphere.
My only complaint is that I thought the story got a bit repetitive towards the middle.

𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙞𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬!

3.5 stars

This is a quick, haunting novella, set in the aftermath of WWI. Light-fingered grifter Charlie Briggs hunkers down in a small town, waiting for the heat from his latest job to dissipate in London. But who is he to say no when opportunity presents itself in the form of a rare book?

This deals with guilt, and grief, and the gruesome realities of trench warfare.