The Girls and the Ghosts of The Old Manse Revisited: An Australian Fugue Novel by Ruth Skilbeck.

Read the beginning of the novel by clicking this Book2Look link. (This is an extract from the paperback but the content is the same).

Description:

When Roxanne and her family move into The Old Manse, a former 19th century manse in the countryside in Northern Ireland, a new chapter of exciting adventure and peril opens for the almost-thirteen year old budding writer. The Girls and the Ghosts of The Old Manse Revisited by Ruth Skilbeck will take readers on a journey with Roxy, her family, her new friend Margy, and girls from earlier times; over three years from the conflict of the early 1970s Troubles, at home and on road trips including a near fatal van crash in a Swedish blizzard ––(back cover).

Reviews:

“I have been so immersed in The Girls and the Ghosts of The Old Manse Revisited by Ruth Skilbeck. It is so vivid. I was transported and could really see what her protagonist, Roxanne/‘Roxy’ was going through. The parts that really stand out for me are when Roxy evaluates migrating to Australia, which I can relate to, and the van accident, I've never read anything like it before, it's so well written. But also how Roxy was impacted by that, and how back then people just brushed it off as almost nothing. What Roxy had to go through! Also, the characters, like Roxy's mum and her sister Lily, they really come to life, and it's an absolute joy to imagine them as well. Whatever happened to Margy? Did they stay in touch? And Elvis? That was so sad about the bombing in Ireland. But what a 'romance'. And all the historical connections to the story…amazing! Skilbeck is a great writer. It's a great read. I’m going to buy and read Sayonara Baby (the second book in the series, to find out what happens next). It sounds intriguing.” – VEE MALNAR, award-winning playwright. Edna Ryan Award for Creative Feminism in the Arts winner. Literary Manager, Short + Sweet International.

“With an intriguing premise, this novel brings Irish history vividly to life, told with an arresting voice through the eyes of a 15-year-old girl.”– ERINA REDDAN, author of novels Deep in the Forest and The Serpent’s Skin. Walkley Award winner.

This is the third novel in Ruth Skilbeck’s Australian Fugue series, each of which can be read as a standalone novel.

Read as a series, the novels proceed through recursion, going back in time, with The Girls and the Ghosts of The Old Manse Revisited also moving forward decades in its ending.

Edition: First Edition; Series Edition

ISBN: 9780645194128 Hardback (case bound ) 218 pages (Published 10 September 2025)

Publisher: Borderstream Books

Place of publication: Australia

Australia-wide deliveries. $47.99 RRP. $16.99 freight per item (premium tracked delivery) will be added to your order. For orders of more than one book to the same address please send an email to Borderstream Books to enquire if a lower rate may be negotiated.

Outside Australia deliveries please send an email for shipping costs and details of how to buy the book from Borderstream Books via bank deposit; alternatively ask your local bookshop if they can order it in for you.

Novel, cover design and image by Ruth Skilbeck Copyright ©2025