AILSA, WITH GHOSTS

When Ailsa bangs her head, Alex walks into her life, the charms of married life fade and dark thoughts cloud a once bright future.​

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Oxford, 2019. Ailsa's life is good. Husband Peter dotes on her and her career in finance is flourishing. Then she bangs her head and ghosts start appearing. Isambard Kingdom Brunel pops up at Paddington station as she takes the train home, She sees Robert Catesby in the grounds of Worcester College and Oscar Wilde arrives for dinner.

 

At first, she finds the ghosts more stimulating than regular folk. But her mood darkens as episodes from her own past resurface and the ‘visitations’ grow more disturbing. The ghosts, she realises, are trying to send her a message. Peter and their friends rally round. Meanwhile romance blossoms with Alex, a historian at Oriel College. As their friendship becomes more, she meets Alex’s student Zenab and has a vision of Zenab starting a future nuclear war that will kill millions.

 

With the ghosts crowding in, should Ailsa choose love or do a terrible thing for the good of all humankind?

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​Shortlisted, Retreat West First Chapter Competition

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“Cookson's plot is daring and shows tremendous potential”

Judge comment, The BookLife Prize