An engaging ghost story

⭑⭑⭑⭑  Apple Tree Yard was the last book written by Louise Doughty that I read. Though it was a pretty good read, Platform Seven was so much better! I really warmed to Lisa, the story of her life and her observations of the Peterborough Railway Station staff, too. Her reflections on the events that led to her death showed her to be a smart and capable woman who found herself in a bad situation. Her plight is one many women likely share, sadly. A sympathetic character, she tells her tale with a certain detachment that makes it feel more impactful than if she was highly emotional.

Though I thoroughly enjoyed her story, it was the supporting cast that she keeps an eye on that wins the prize here. PC Lockhart, Dalmar, Tom, 'Caleb' and even the girls working in the Pumpkin Cafe offer a slice of their private lives, without knowing it, adding more depth to this novel. The intrepid PC Lockhart proves a real star in ways he will never understand but mean the world to Lisa and the reader.

Platform Seven is a solid novel mixing part ghost story with equal parts gentle thriller and human drama. A winner from beginning to end, this is a great beach read.