The Owl Service

It begins with Alison hearing a scratching sound in the roof above her bedroom. Gwyn thinks it’s mice but when he knocks on the roof, it knocks back. When Gwyn goes into the roof to investigate, he discovers an old set of plates with a beautiful owl pattern. As soon as the plates are revealed, strange things start happening; the pattern on the plates disappears and reappears, they start flying around spontaneously, and a centuries-old painting of a woman is exposed when wall cladding falls off inside the house. Alison, Gwyn and Roger are somehow part of the strange circumstances surrounding the owl plates and must challenge superstition and disbelief to discover the source of the mystery.

Set in Wales, this is an adaptation of the story of the mythical Welsh woman Blodeuwedd, who was created from flowers for a man who was cursed to have no human wife. When she chooses another man, it sets off a terrible chain of events. In Garner’s reimagining, the valley where the story is set is where these events actually happened – and are resonating centuries later. Garner has an incredible sense of place, describing the evocative and moody Welsh landscape as if it’s another character in the book. But what is most remarkable about the writing is his incredible use of dialogue to convey character and plot. I have never read a novelist who can use dialogue more efficiently. It is a delight to read.

It’s been 50 years since this magical novel was published in the UK and won both the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Fiction Prize. This is a remarkable classic suitable for ages 12+ (or younger, for strong readers).

Angela Crocombe