The Ordeal of the Haunted Room

Chronicles of St. Mary's

By: Jodi Taylor

Narrated by: Zara Ramm

Length: 2 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

A Christmas ghost story - Chronicles of St Mary's style! For fans of Doctor Who and Jasper Fforde...and A Christmas Carol.

Where better for the annual festive jump than the chance to experience a real Victorian Christmas?

On the longest night of 1895, a terrible storm rages above Harewood Hall. Max, Markham and an injured Peterson are welcomed in by the Harewood family but quickly realise that the gathering is far from celebratory. For tonight marks the Ordeal of the Haunted Room.

Every Harewood heir must endure one terrifying night alone in the Haunted Room before he can inherit the family seat. Legend says that ghosts will murder anyone who isn't the true heir. 

Francis Harewood's ordeal will begin at midnight and end at dawn, but it isn't long before everything goes horribly wrong....

©2020 Jodi Taylor (P)2020 Headline Publishing Group Ltd

Another winner!

Another annual Christmas time jump. Just to make it interesting, it's authorized this time! Max, Peterson, and Markham are in victorian Britain to document a typical victorian Christmas celebration... what could go wrong? Everything of course. Peterson injures his foot leading the team to seek a night's shelter at the local manor. Of course, they arrive on the eve of an archaic family ritual that has already claimed the life of the current Manor's master's father and now the current lord is next to face the ordeal. Skulduggery is afoot, as well as many, many, MANY, courses of tea and food.


A great deal of fun... think St. Mary's by way of Agatha Christie. Previous reading is not overly required, however a basic understanding of the St. Mary's series is helpful... and perhaps the short The Battersea Barricades would enhance your enjoyment.

A great Xmas Gift from Ms. Taylor and Ms. Ramm

As always the team of Taylor and Ramm deliver as perfect a story as you could ask for - combining humor with mystery, drama, and a touch of the supernatural. Ms. Taylor's writing almost never misses the mark, and Ms. Zamm is the best narrator I have had the pleasure of listening to. They both maintain a steady character development through all of the St. Mary's books and stories that make the individuals 'real' people as opposed to fictional and two-dimensional players.

Very satisfying!

Thank you Jodi Taylor and Zara Ramm.
The story was magnificent and I look forward to hearing more about the "arm".

What a great short story!!

I highly recommend this Audible book short story. 5 Stars!

Jodi Taylor has done a brilliant job with this short story. She included great details, builds good anticipation and a great conclusion!

The Ordeal of the Haunted Room is perfect as a stand-alone adventure, yet has included a nice little gem to tie into the primary Chronicles of St. Mary’s storyline. And it should be noted that Zara Ramm has once again performed exceptionally. (Zara’s narration from the beginning of the St. Mary’s Chronicles series is like the “voice” or “instrument” to Jodi’s enjoyable writing. They go together like hand and glove!)

We’re looking forward to the next short stories and books in this series!
Thank you Jodi!

A spooky addition to the St. Mary's Chronicles

I love Jodi Taylor's wit and her clever writing. This story features Maxwell, Peterson and the wonderful Markham. They are all unforgettable characters vividly penned by Jodi Taylor. They have traveled back over 100 years to England and accidentally end up in a large mansion where the young man is about to undergo the Ordeal. He must pass the ordeal in order to inherit the estate. This ordeal has been going on for generations. But a year ago, on Winters Solstice, the young man's father mysteriously died during the ordeal. Our St. Mary's gang are stranded in the mansion for the night and are eagerly anticipating watching the young man undergo the ordeal. Of course this will not go well. Excellent short addition to the Chronicles. The characters are so humorous, as usual. The narration by Zara Ramm is perfect. She brings life to the characters. Her emotions and pacing are spot on. I love to listen to her performances.

really liked the story

I really liked this story, I think the best of the traditional Markham/Max/ Peterson Christmas jumps...especially the ending

back on track

was doubtful of reading because Taylor has become such a downer. BUT truly enjoyed it.

absolutely fine!!!!!!

I absolutely love this series. Jodi Taylor has hatched the most intriguing characters. She also comes up with the best ideas for stories. However does she do it? Zara Ramm does the narrating so well I can't imagine anyone else doing it. Thank you both and keep on.

As always..LOVED IT!!!!

As always, absolutely loved the story and the performance. You cannot go wrong listening to this series or anything else by Jodi Taylor.

Excellent story as always!

Once again Jodi Taylor has written a captivating story. I was engaged by the characters and felt like I was truly living in the moment. Also Zara Ramm is a wonderful narrator.

A tip to understand the ending.

Listen or read The Battersea barricades to totally understand the ending. I listened to it after I finished this short story.

As ever, a complete joy

I can’t even begin to imagine a Christmas without a St Mary’s short story! The combined delights of Jodi’s glorious writing and Zara’s masterful reading make everything perfect, even in today’s rather strange world!

Another romp through time, causing.....

When I find another St. Mary's I know I am in for a treat. I was not disappointed. My favourite characters doing what they do best. Great fun, and an enjoyable couple of hours escapism. New Year's eve 2020 in T4 lockdown.

Pretty Awful , or did I just miss the point.

Struggled to finish this, just glad it was only 2hrs long. afraid it was rubbish.

As usual very entertaining.

A well known plot, played out by St Mary's charicatures with zeal and the usual compidence.

Wonderfully written and read

I've adored the St Mary's Chronicles. Always fun, always well thought out and such wonderful characters.

Charles Dickens meets Murder Mystery

It reminded me of a cross between a Charles Dickens story and an Agatha Christie Murder Mystery. I liked the ending.

Ultimately A Wonderful Yarn as Usual

Unusually for me, I found the start of this short story irritatingly slow going and sadly pondered that perhaps, finally, the author had run dry. (Sacrilege upon Sacrilege. Please forgive me, ma'am. )

Fortunately it picked up the pace, excitement and mystery ensued and it ended all too quickly.

Love this series

I love this series, the stories are great and interesting. It holds your attention all the way through.
I also like the way it has a light side and doesn't take everything so seriously.

Really enjoyed this story

Would be great as a play for a small theatre. Want to hear more from the author. Narrator was excellent.