Arrival on Skelthsea Island

In 1860, Elspeth Swansome, haunted by personal loss, arrives on the remote Scottish island of Skelthsea to serve as nanny to Mary, a recently orphaned girl. The journey is bleak, the island windswept and insular, and her reception at Iskar House is chilly. The house itself is imposing, decaying, and filled with the echoes of tragedy. Elspeth is introduced to the household: the stern Miss Gillies, the kindly housekeeper Mrs Lenister, the sullen maid Greer, and most importantly, Mary, who has not spoken since her twin brother William's mysterious death. Elspeth's own grief for her lost family, especially her sister Clara, mirrors the sorrow that permeates Iskar. The stage is set for a gothic tale of isolation, secrets, and the supernatural, as Elspeth senses an unnatural silence and a lurking presence within the house.

The Silent Child

Mary, nine years old, is a pale, withdrawn child who clings to her battered doll, Bobbity, and refuses to speak. Elspeth learns from both Miss Gillies and Mrs Lenister that Mary's silence began with William's death, and that the previous nanny, Hettie, left abruptly before tragedy struck. Elspeth's attempts to connect with Mary are met with blank stares and a wall of silence, though she senses a flicker of hope in the child's eyes. The two begin tentative walks around the island, and Elspeth is struck by the beauty and remoteness of Skelthsea, as well as the villagers' wariness. The bond between Elspeth and Mary grows slowly, rooted in shared grief and the longing for comfort, but the house's oppressive atmosphere and Mary's muteness hint at deeper wounds.

Shadows in Iskar House

Elspeth explores Iskar House, discovering its neglected rooms, faded grandeur, and the locked wing that once belonged to William. She hears strange noises—whistling, footsteps, and the eerie hush of the upper floors. The staff are tight-lipped about William's death, and Greer's hostility is palpable. Elspeth finds unsettling drawings by Mary, featuring faceless figures and ominous symbols. The sense of being watched intensifies, especially at night, when Elspeth hears a lullaby hummed outside her door. The house's history, the villagers' superstitions, and the mysterious absence of William's belongings all contribute to a growing sense of dread. Elspeth's own memories of loss and guilt mingle with the supernatural, blurring the line between reality and haunting.

Unspoken Grief

Elspeth's empathy for Mary deepens as she recognizes the child's pain as a reflection of her own. Both are haunted by the deaths of siblings and the feeling of being left behind. Elspeth shares stories of her sister Clara, offering Mary a bangle as a token of trust. Small breakthroughs occur—Mary laughs, draws, and eventually weeps in Elspeth's arms. Yet, the silence remains, and nightmares plague Mary, who sleepwalks and mutters in an unintelligible language. The house's refusal to speak of William, and the villagers' hints of something "not right" at Iskar, reinforce the sense that grief here is not just personal but poisoned by secrets and fear.

Whispers and Warnings

Elspeth befriends Mrs Argylle, the minister's wife, and learns more about the island's history and the circumstances of William's death—a fall from the cliffs, possibly an accident, possibly not. The villagers whisper about witchcraft, pagan rituals at the stone circle (the Fiaclach), and the power of binding spells. Elspeth is warned by Ailsa, a local woman, that "all is not well at Iskar." The previous nanny, Hettie, is rumored to have had second sight and a reputation as a witch. The island's isolation, the villagers' fear, and the strange objects Elspeth finds—pebbles wrapped with hair, faceless dolls—suggest that the supernatural is not just a metaphor for grief but a real, malevolent force.

The Island's Secrets

Elspeth uncovers more about the relationships within Iskar: Greer's jealousy and possible involvement in dark practices, Miss Gillies' bitterness and scars (both physical and emotional), and the ambiguous legacy of Hettie. The locked rooms, the absence of William's things, and the staff's reluctance to speak all point to a cover-up. Elspeth's own shoes are moved at night, and she finds herself the target of subtle threats. The discovery of a desecrated grave and more binding pebbles intensifies her fear. The sense grows that Mary is not just a victim but may be entangled in the island's occult history, and that the house itself is complicit in keeping its secrets.

The Binding Pebbles

Elspeth learns from Ailsa about binding spells—pebbles wrapped with hair, meant to tether a person to love, illness, or death. She finds such pebbles in Mary's possession, and in the graveyard, suggesting that someone is using magic to harm or control. The widows' whistle, a bone instrument said to summon the dead, is found among William's things. Elspeth realizes that the supernatural is being actively invoked, not just passively endured. The dolls, too, are revealed as part of this magic—effigies meant to bind or curse. The line between psychological trauma and real haunting blurs, as Elspeth becomes convinced that the ghosts of Hettie and William have been called back by someone's will.

The Ghosts Return

The manifestations intensify: Elspeth sees apparitions, hears the widows' whistle, and is physically attacked by an unseen force. Mary is found sleepwalking, nearly drowned, and her nightmares worsen. The dolls and pebbles multiply, and Elspeth is pushed down a hill by what she believes is Hettie's ghost. The staff, especially Mrs Lenister, begin to admit their own experiences of haunting. The house is no longer just a place of grief but a battleground between the living and the dead. Elspeth's resolve to protect Mary hardens, even as she realizes that the danger is both supernatural and human.

Hettie's Fate Revealed

A storm washes up a body on the beach—Hettie, the missing nanny, dead for months. Her cameo brooch and red hair confirm her identity. The villagers speculate about her death, but Elspeth suspects foul play. Hettie's belongings, hidden at Gulls Cry, suggest she never left the island voluntarily. The revelation that Hettie was pregnant, likely by Paterson or another islander, adds a layer of motive. Elspeth realizes that Hettie's ghost is not just a restless spirit but a victim seeking justice. The discovery of her body intensifies the haunting, as the boundary between past and present, guilt and innocence, becomes ever more porous.

The Doll's House

Elspeth discovers a hidden doll's house in the attic, filled with effigies of the household—some with faces scraped away, others dressed to resemble the dead. The dolls are linked to the binding spells and the widows' whistle, tools for summoning and controlling spirits. Greer's childhood obsession with the doll's house, and her history of manipulating the Gillies sisters, comes to light. The dolls are both a symbol of lost innocence and a weapon of malice. Elspeth realizes that the magic at work is not just folklore but a living, dangerous force, and that the line between play and peril has been fatally crossed.

Greer's Confession

Greer, cornered by Elspeth's discoveries, confesses her role in the island's tragedies. Manipulated by Mrs Argylle and driven by her own resentments, Greer helped spread rumors of witchcraft, planted evidence, and participated in the rituals that summoned the ghosts. She admits to moving Elspeth's shoes, placing dolls and pebbles, and aiding in the cover-up of Hettie's murder. Greer's own childhood trauma—her mother's suicide, the cruelty of the Gillies sisters, and her longing for belonging—explain but do not excuse her actions. The confession is both a moment of catharsis and a warning: the true danger on Skelthsea is not just the supernatural, but the human capacity for cruelty and complicity.

The Truth About William

Through Mary's eventual confession, Elspeth learns that William witnessed Hettie's murder and was himself killed to ensure his silence. The rumors of his cruelty and witchcraft were fabrications, spread to justify his death and deflect suspicion. Mary's muteness was a desperate attempt at self-preservation, reinforced by threats from the real murderer. The revelation that the island's adults—especially Mrs Argylle—were willing to kill children to protect their secrets is a devastating indictment of the community. The ghosts are not just restless spirits but the embodiment of unresolved guilt and injustice.

The Circle of Stones

The stone circle, the Fiaclach, is the locus of the island's magic and violence. It is where animals were sacrificed, spells cast, and ultimately where Hettie and William's spirits are summoned and banished. The rituals performed there, both by the living and the dead, are acts of both desperation and control. The Fiaclach is a symbol of the island's ancient, pagan past, and its continued influence over the present. Elspeth's final confrontation with the supernatural takes place here, as she and Ailsa perform a ritual to send the ghosts back to their graves, using the widows' whistle and the dolls as conduits.

The Night of Terror

On the night of the full moon, Elspeth and Ailsa perform the banishing ritual at the Fiaclach. The ceremony is fraught with danger, as the spirits resist and the boundary between worlds thins. The dolls twitch, the whistle screams, and Elspeth is nearly overcome by the force of the haunting. The ritual succeeds, and the ghosts are laid to rest, but not without cost. The experience leaves Elspeth physically and emotionally drained, and the knowledge that the true evil was human, not spectral, lingers. The island is momentarily at peace, but the scars remain.

The Banishing Ritual

With the ghosts banished, Iskar House feels lighter, and Mary begins to heal. Elspeth and Mary share moments of genuine affection and hope. Yet, the sense of safety is fragile, as the truth about the murders still threatens to surface. Greer's role is ambiguous—she is both victim and perpetrator, complicit in evil but also capable of remorse. The island's collective guilt is unresolved, and the possibility of further violence remains. Elspeth contemplates escape, knowing that justice may never be served, and that the only way to protect Mary is to leave Skelthsea behind.

The Calm After Haunting

For a brief period, life at Iskar returns to a semblance of normalcy. Mary begins to speak, the household routines resume, and Elspeth dares to hope for a future free from fear. The villagers' suspicions subside, and the supernatural manifestations cease. Yet, the past cannot be fully buried, and Elspeth remains vigilant. The bond between Elspeth and Mary deepens, rooted in shared survival and love. The island's beauty is once again visible, but the memory of horror lingers beneath the surface.

The Final Betrayal

As Elspeth prepares to escape the island with Mary, aided by Bridget Argylle, she discovers too late that Bridget is the true murderer. Driven by jealousy and unrequited love for her husband, Bridget killed Hettie and William, and orchestrated the campaign of fear and deception. On the night of their escape, Bridget lures Elspeth and Mary onto a boat, intending to drown them and erase the last witnesses to her crimes. Mary's gift of second sight warns Elspeth, and a final confrontation ensues. Greer, in a moment of redemption, intervenes, and the widows' whistle is used one last time to summon Hettie's spirit, who drags Bridget to her doom.

Escape and Resolution

Elspeth and Mary survive the ordeal, rescued by Greer, who confesses her own complicity and expresses remorse. The ghosts are finally at rest, and the cycle of violence is broken. Elspeth chooses to remain on Skelthsea, finding purpose in caring for Mary and forging a new family from the ashes of loss. The island's secrets are buried, but the lessons endure: the dangers of silence, the corrosive power of guilt, and the possibility of redemption. The story ends with Elspeth and Mary watching the moonlit ridge, the ghosts gone, but the memory of love and loss forever imprinted on their hearts.

Characters

Elspeth Swansome

Elspeth is a young woman marked by profound loss—her parents, brother, and most recently her beloved sister Clara. Seeking escape and purpose, she becomes Mary's nanny on Skelthsea. Elspeth's empathy and resilience drive the narrative; she is both a detective and a protector, unraveling the island's mysteries while forging a deep bond with Mary. Her psychological journey is one from numbness and guilt to fierce love and agency. Elspeth's outsider status allows her to see what the islanders cannot or will not, but it also makes her vulnerable. Her development is shaped by her willingness to confront both supernatural and human evil, and her ultimate choice to stay and care for Mary is an act of redemption and self-forgiveness.

Mary

Mary is the emotional heart of the story—a silent, grief-stricken girl whose muteness is both a symptom of trauma and a shield against danger. Her twin brother's murder and the subsequent threats have left her isolated and fearful. Mary's bond with Elspeth is transformative, allowing her to express emotion, trust, and eventually speak. She possesses a supernatural gift—second sight or intuition—that makes her both vulnerable and powerful. Mary's journey is one of survival, from victim to survivor, and her eventual confession is an act of courage that breaks the cycle of silence and violence.

Miss Violet Gillies

Miss Gillies, Mary's aunt and mistress of Iskar, is a complex figure—physically scarred from a childhood accident, emotionally wounded by family betrayal and loss. She is both a victim and a perpetrator of the island's culture of silence, refusing to speak of William or confront the truth about Hettie. Her relationship with Mary is cold, shaped by resentment and disappointment. Miss Gillies' psychological rigidity and need for control make her complicit in the tragedies that unfold, yet she is also a product of her environment, shaped by the same traumas that afflict the other characters.

Greer

Greer is the sullen maid whose childhood was marked by poverty, cruelty, and the suicide of her mother. She is both a victim and a perpetrator, manipulated by Mrs Argylle and driven by her own longing for belonging and love. Greer's involvement in the rituals, her use of the dolls and pebbles, and her complicity in the cover-up of murder are acts of desperation as much as malice. Her confession to Elspeth is a moment of catharsis, revealing the psychological damage wrought by a lifetime of neglect and abuse. Greer's final act of rescue is a bid for redemption, though her future remains uncertain.

Hettie

Hettie, the previous nanny, is a spectral presence throughout the novel—rumored to be a witch, accused of corrupting William, and ultimately murdered. In life, she was kind to the children and possibly pregnant by Paterson or another islander. In death, she is both a vengeful ghost and a protector, summoned by the widows' whistle and the binding spells. Hettie's fate is a commentary on the dangers of scapegoating, misogyny, and the destructive power of rumor. Her spirit's final act is one of justice, not malice.

William

William, Mary's twin, is the story's most tragic figure—killed for witnessing Hettie's murder and posthumously accused of cruelty and witchcraft. His absence haunts the narrative, and his memory is manipulated to serve the interests of the guilty. William's innocence is only revealed through Mary's confession, and his ghost is both a symbol of unresolved injustice and a catalyst for the story's resolution.

Mrs Lenister

Mrs Lenister is the housekeeper, a stabilizing presence in Iskar. She is compassionate toward Elspeth and Mary, and her gradual admission of belief in the supernatural marks a turning point in the narrative. Mrs Lenister's knowledge of the household's history and her warnings about Greer are crucial, but her complicity in the culture of silence reflects the limitations of kindness in the face of systemic evil.

Bridget Argylle

Bridget, the minister's wife, is initially presented as Elspeth's friend and confidante. Her warmth and support mask a deep well of jealousy and resentment, particularly toward Hettie, who captured the affections of Bridget's husband. Bridget's role as the true murderer is a devastating twist, revealing the destructive power of envy and the capacity for evil beneath a veneer of respectability. Her manipulation of Greer and orchestration of the island's tragedies make her the story's ultimate antagonist.

Ailsa

Ailsa is the island's wise woman, knowledgeable about herbs, rituals, and the supernatural. She assists Elspeth in understanding the binding spells and performs the ritual to banish the ghosts. Ailsa's role is that of a guide, bridging the gap between folklore and reality. Her motives are ambiguous—she is both a helper and a keeper of secrets, embodying the island's ancient, pagan heritage.

Paterson

Paterson, the shopkeeper, is a minor but menacing figure—handsome, manipulative, and rumored to have fathered Hettie's child. His relationships with the women of the island, his disregard for boundaries, and his possible involvement in Hettie's fate make him a symbol of the dangers faced by vulnerable women in isolated communities.

Plot Devices

Gothic Setting and Atmosphere

The novel's setting is a classic gothic landscape: a decaying mansion on a remote, storm-lashed island, filled with locked rooms, secret passages, and a pervasive sense of dread. The house and island are not just backdrops but active participants in the story, shaping the characters' psychology and amplifying the supernatural. The isolation intensifies the characters' grief, fear, and paranoia, and the landscape itself becomes a metaphor for the buried secrets and unresolved traumas that drive the plot.

Supernatural Elements and Folklore

The supernatural is both literal and symbolic—ghosts haunt the house, but they are also manifestations of guilt, grief, and injustice. The use of binding pebbles, dolls, and the widows' whistle draws on Scottish folklore and pagan ritual, blurring the line between magic and psychology. These devices serve as both plot catalysts and symbols of the characters' attempts to control or escape their fates. The supernatural is ultimately revealed to be both real and a product of human malice.

Unreliable Narration and Psychological Suspense

The story is told through Elspeth's eyes, and her own trauma and grief make her an unreliable narrator. Her experiences of haunting, her doubts about her sanity, and her gradual uncovering of the truth create a sense of psychological suspense. The reader is kept in a state of uncertainty—are the ghosts real, or are they projections of trauma? This ambiguity is resolved only in the final chapters, when the supernatural and the human are revealed to be intertwined.

Foreshadowing and Symbolism

The novel is rich in foreshadowing: the movement of Elspeth's shoes, the recurring lullaby, the faceless dolls, and the binding pebbles all hint at the underlying mysteries. The stone circle, the locked rooms, and the recurring motif of water (drowning, the sea, the well) symbolize both danger and the possibility of cleansing or rebirth. The widows' whistle, in particular, is a powerful symbol of the desire to summon the past and the dangers of refusing to let go.

Twists and Revelations

The narrative structure is built around a series of revelations: the true nature of William's death, the identity of Hettie's murderer, the role of Greer and Bridget, and the reality of the supernatural. Each twist reconfigures the reader's understanding of the characters and their motives, culminating in the final betrayal and the climactic confrontation on the boat. The use of red herrings and shifting suspicions keeps the suspense high and the emotional stakes intense.

Analysis

Rebecca Netley's The Whistling is a masterful modern gothic that explores the corrosive effects of grief, guilt, and silence within a closed community. Through the lens of Elspeth's journey, the novel interrogates the dangers of repression—personal, familial, and societal—and the ways in which trauma, when unspoken, can fester into violence and haunting. The supernatural elements are both literal and psychological, serving as metaphors for the unresolved injustices and the longing for connection that drive the characters. The story's structure, with its gradual unveiling of secrets and shifting culpability, reflects the complexity of human motives and the ease with which innocence can be corrupted by fear and envy. Ultimately, The Whistling is a meditation on the necessity of truth-telling, the redemptive power of love, and the courage required to break cycles of harm. Its lessons are timeless: that the ghosts we fear are often of our own making, and that healing is possible only when we confront the darkness—both within and without.

Last updated: October 28, 2025