The Ghost It Was by Richard Hull

James Warrenton is one of those unpleasant old patriarchs who so often get murdered in books from the Golden Age of detective fiction. He's old, wealthy, a little deaf, and enjoys toying with those in his purview. They include his niece (and housekeeper), his four nephews, his sister, his servants, and the local priest. The happenings in this book are spurred by an article in The New Light, a smallish newspaper, about Mr. Warrenton buying a house that is supposed to be haunted. As Warrenton himself is interested in spiritualism, this might not seem like such an odd thing. But it does bring to town the only relative who has never asked for money, Gregory Spring-Benson, one of the nephews. Gregory is finding himself behind on his bills and would like to get a job as a newspaperman. Perhaps finding out the rest of the story behind his uncle's estate will at least get him some freelance money.
The bulk of the book was enjoyable but the ending was... meh. It felt a little flat though it was fairly clued.

Three stars
This book came out October 4
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley