The Ghost Women blends mystery, history, and the supernatural into an atmospheric story set at a secluded art academy with a dark past. When a student at St. Luke’s Institute of the Arts is found hanging in the woods, his body posed exactly like the Hanged Man tarot card. Detective Lola Germany is called to investigate. As more deaths follow, each eerily staged to resemble a different tarot card, Lola begins uncovering the school’s unsettling history: a former monastery tied to witch trials, secret societies, and centuries-old power struggles. With the help of a group of students who call themselves witches, Lola finds herself navigating a mystery where the past refuses to stay buried.
I really wanted to love this one and in many ways, I did. There were so many elements here that I’m naturally drawn to: the mysterious art academy setting, the secret school atmosphere, and the tarot card symbolism threaded through the murders. The historical elements surrounding the “ghost women” were particularly compelling, and I loved how their legacy quietly shaped the story. The idea of women holding subtle but powerful influence across centuries was one of the most interesting parts of the book.
I also really enjoyed Detective Lola Germany as our lead. She felt grounded and thoughtful, which worked well against the increasingly strange and layered mystery. The story is told through multiple POVs with small flashbacks woven throughout, which helped build out both the characters and the history of St. Luke’s. The atmosphere was one of the strongest aspects of the book. It had this slightly fever-dreamy, hazy quality without fully tipping into surrealism. The art references, the tarot imagery, and the eerie forest setting all helped create a really immersive mood.
That said, despite enjoying many of the individual elements, I felt like the story was missing something that would have made it truly stand out. The writing itself was strong and the atmosphere was effective, but by the time I reached the ending I felt a little underwhelmed. I can’t quite pinpoint what was lacking, maybe a bit more tension or a sharper payoff, but the overall impact didn’t quite match the promise of the premise.
Still, there’s a lot here that worked for me, and I’d definitely be interested in reading another book by Jennifer Murphy. The concept, atmosphere, and themes were all intriguing, even if the story didn’t fully come together for me in the end.
AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP |★★★
The Ghost Women is out now. Huge thank you to Dutton Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
