Roos Beckman has been assisting her mother with séances ever since she was young, pulling strings and making noises to set the scene. But there came a day when the fabrications were no longer needed because, below the house's floorboards, Roos met her spirit companion. Dead for centuries and now bound to her with blood, Roos is no longer along alone, she's safe, for she has Ruth. 

Years pass and after a séance attended by Agnes Knoop, a young widow, Roos is invited to live with Agnes at the manor left to her after her husband's death. Although the building is decaying and crumbling, and also home to Mr. Knoop's ailing sister, Roos finds she does not regret her decision. She's no longer starving and exhausted, Ruth remains by her side, and Agnes is now part of her life.  

But out there, alone in that manor, something goes wrong. Someone dies and Roos is caught and put on trial for murder. Presumed by most to be mentally unstable or lying, she is forced to meet with Dr. Montague, a psychologist, to recount the events of the past months. The novel is interspersed with these interview transcripts, giving an interesting feel to the story by showing Dr. Montague's thoughts and by hinting at events that have not yet been shared. 

A wonderfully unsettling novel, My Darling Dreadful Thing is a tale of just how far people will go for those they love.