Mist in the Willows by Lucy Linne is the first book in her new cozy paranormal mystery series, The Spirit Fleet Chronicles, and it delivers much more than a standard ghost story. Alongside the expected chills, the novel explores the very real emotional struggle of trying to return to civilian life after a life-altering experience overseas.

Jade has returned to London after being discharged from the British military due to severe PTSD. She is attempting to rebuild her life while coping with relentless nightmares that leave her chronically exhausted. Complicating matters further is a strained family dynamic and the pain of being separated from the woman she loves, Ami, who remains stuck in the desert awaiting permission to return home herself.

Forced to live with her grandfather aboard his houseboat on the Thames, Jade struggles to find her footing in civilian life. Soon, unsettling things begin to happen around her, starting with what she assumes are audible hallucinations and escalating into eerie apparitions watching her from the riverbank. Jade is left questioning whether these experiences are manifestations of her PTSD or something far more supernatural. With no one else she feels she can trust, she confides in her mother, buried in a local cemetery. But it quickly becomes clear that something else may be listening and that the mysterious figure wandering the graveyard, always accompanied by a creeping mist, is not merely a figment of her imagination.

This is Lucy Linne’s debut novel, and it is impressively well done. The story begins at a slower pace, and initially, I found myself frustrated by Jade’s conversations with her mother, serving as a method of exposition. However, as the narrative unfolds, it becomes increasingly compelling. Linne skillfully maintains the tension between psychological trauma and genuine paranormal activity, leaving the reader uncertain of the truth until the very end. The spectral figures in the graveyard, both benevolent and sinister, add an intriguing and atmospheric layer to the mystery.

Overall, Mist in the Willows is a thoughtful and engaging blend of cozy mystery, paranormal intrigue, and emotional realism. Lucy Linne shows a strong grasp of character and mood, and this opening installment leaves me eager to see where The Spirit Fleet Chronicles goes next.