Fairy Water by Victorian author Charlotte Riddell is a rather short novel that encompasses a quiet ghost story as well as the trials of a young widow. The narrator, Stafford Trevor, recounts how his elderly cousin marries a girl young enough to be his granddaughter. When the cousin dies he leaves his young widow and her children tied to the house called Fairy Water and makes it impossible for her to ever marry again. Stafford befriends the widow and vows to act as her and her children's protector.

Meanwhile he purchases a country house for himself called Crow Hall from a young friend, Valentine, and this home appears to be haunted. Valentine reports how his own father was driven mad by the ghostly apparition at Crow Hall. Stafford again vows to help him lay the ghost to rest. At first the two plot lines appeared to have no connection, but eventually they are tied together and Stafford has his hands full trying to help both Mary and Valentine.

While Fairy Water was an easy read, I took neither a liking nor a disliking to it. I love a good ghost story but this one was pretty mild. The best part of the book was the narrator, Stafford Trevor. His delivery was earnest, caring and at times quite humorous. ( )