The year is 1905, and famed psychologist William James, as part of the Society for Psychical Research, is about to embark on an investigation of a cottage on the island of Dorn. The “cottage” (a large house, really) on the North Atlantic island has been the site of several disappearances, including a young family of four and a geologist sent by the society to do some research there.
James takes with him three women and four men, a collection of scientists, sceptics, and believers. Madeline is a forensic pathologist who works with the Home Office, young widow Katherine was visited by an apparition as a child, and Mrs. Northrup was asked to keep a chronicle of the trip but later was revealed to have unique and exceptional skills that prove rather useful.
Of the men, Nicholas was also from the Society and had prepared by reading the previous interactions with the island. Nathaniel was the son of a famous medium, and Adam was an illusionist and famous debunker, known for putting on shows where he demonstrates how a charlatan could create the idea of the supernatural with tricks and special effects. Josiah is our narrator and an electrician with the Post Office, currently at work on wireless transmission, much like his former co-worker Marconi.
The team arrive on the island and begin their investigations the morning after they arrive. The first order of business on James’ agenda is to go through the house taking measurements of every room, every wall, to make sure that there are no secret passageways or extra rooms that could hide a prankster. But before they can even get started, some of the team find something in the cover, the body of a young boy. His clothes are anachronistic, or perhaps a costume, but there is no mistaking the marks around his neck.
And not only that, their ship is gone. The team is stranded on the island.
While they wait for someone to rescue them, James and his team continue to investigate. There are more oddities, but James and his team try to come up with rational explanations and not let their emotions take over. But there is no denying that there is a malevolent force on Dorn Island, whether corporeal or not, and the investigative team will have to be extra vigilant to make if off the island alive.
Author Erik Larson is well known for his non-fiction like The Devil in the White City, Dead Wake, and Thunderstruck, but he is a big fan of ghost stories. Believing that ghost stories are best when read aloud, when he decided to publish No One Goes Alone, he thought it should only be available as an audiobook. And let me tell you, it is chilling. Narrator Julian Rhind-Tutt offers a perfect performance, adding so much character to this story and even pulling off a very believable American accent for William James.
I loved listening to this story. It reminded me of other well known ghost stories (Turn of the Screw by James’ brother Henry came to mind often), but I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a ghost story so much. The story is taut and gripping, the characters all have unique personalities and agendas, and it’s smart and spooky at the same time. I particularly liked how Larson set this firmly in history, talking about Queen Victoria, Samuel Clemens, Sigmund Freud, and physicist Oliver Lodge, just to name a few. I could easily see this becoming a yearly listen for me, to bring on the spooky season. If you enjoy a good ghost story, you’ll want to build a bonfire and gather round to listen to No One Goes Alone.
A copy of the audio book for No One Goes Alone was provided by Penguin Random House Audio, with many thanks.
