Kelly's Attic

Ward14nevertroubleditselfmuchwithghoststories-untiladying manaskedastrangequestionaboutthedoctorwho'djustlefthis bedside.Thetroublewas,nodoctorhad. Atthetopofaspiralstaircase,behindadoornobodyhasquitethe reasontoopen,sitstheroomthestaffhavealwayscalledKelly'sAttic -named,sothestorygoes,forayoungdoctorwhoneverleftit. Whenasecondpatientreportsthesamewhitecoat,thesamedriftof cigarsmoke,thesameunsettlingcalm,nightnurseGaryFentonfinds himselfunabletoletitlie.Heisn'tamanwhobelievesinhauntings. Butsomethingonthatwardiskillingpeople,andsomebodywantsit tolooklikenothingatall. Setacrossthewards,corridorsandlongnightshiftsofanoldNHS infirmary,Kelly'sAtticfollowsGary,SisterD,andasmall,tightlyknit staffasgossiphardensintofear,fearintosuspicion,andsuspicion intoareckoningthatwillcostsomeofthemfarmorethanthey bargainedfor.Itisamystery,butnotthekindsolvedbyadetective- itissolved,slowlyandatrealhumancost,bythepeoplewhosimply refusetostopaskingquestions. Aghoststorythatisn'tquiteaghoststory.Amurdermysterywhere therealcrimeiswhateveryonechosenottosee.Kelly'sAtticisa quiet,unflinchingportraitofaninstitution,andthepeoplewhokept faithwithitlongafteritstoppedfullydeservingthem.

Ward14hasalwaysjokedaboutKelly'sAttic,thesealedroomatthe topofthespiralstair.Butassightingsturnintodeaths,andrumour hardensintorealfear,Garyfindshimselfpulledintoamysterythat hasnothingtodowithghostsandeverythingtodowiththepeoplehe trustsmost-anoverworkednursehidingadangeroussecret,a beloveddoctorwithanold-fashionedcharmnobodythinksto question,andaninstitutionmorewillingtoprotectitselfthantolook toocloselyatwhat'shappeningonitsownwards. Kelly'sAtticisaquiet,unflinchingmysteryaboutfear,loyalty,and whatahospitalchoosesnottosee-untilitcan'tlookawayany longer