Expiation

Edward Frederic Benson (1867-1940) was an English novelist, biographer, memoirist, archaeologist, and short story writer, best known for his evocative and beautifully narrated ghost stories.

Expiation is a real gem of a ghost story. Two old friends rent a lonely house in an idyllic but remote part of Cornwall. But within a short time of their arrival, they become aware of a mystery about the house.

Why does the vicar behave so oddly when they enquire about a recent grave with the same family name as the owner of the house they have rented? Why does the housekeeper insist on the narrator's changing rooms suddenly? Why does the telephone keep ringing...even though it was disconnected more than a year ago?