The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian

 

Although they are both pilots, Chip Linton is no Sully Sullenberger.  When his plane developed issues, Sullenberger somehow managed to land it in the Hudson River with no loss of life.  When Chip's plane ran into a flight of geese, he tried to land in a nearby lake but the plane split in half and thirty-nine people died. Although Chip is still a young man, he will never fly again.

The family decides to move from their home in Pennsylvania and make a fresh start.  They choose a small village in New England.  Chip's wife, Emily, is a lawyer and they have twin girls, Hallie and Garnet, who are ten.  Chip is struggling to recover mentally after the wreck, his guilt debilitating.  They buy an old house and set to updating and restoring it.  

The village seems a bit standoffish but there are people who reach out.  Many of the women have an interest in horticulture and greenhouses are common.  The herbalists seem to have their own circle and that is the circle that reaches out to include the Linton family.  The women all seem intrigued and entranced by the twins and start to teach them how to grow plants and the uses that plants can have.  Meantime, Chip is starting to see hallucinations and soon doesn't trust himself to be around Emily and the girls.  Was this move a mistake?

Chris Bohjalian is an author who typically centers his novels around a social issue.  This novel is a departure and is more of a gothic novel with a creepy house, apparitions and a creepy circle of people whose intent is not clear.  There are supernatural elements and I'm not sure I liked that although it is well done.  This book is recommended for horror readers.