Genre: Historical Fiction / Gothic / Mystery
Release Date: February 28th, 2023
Pages: 352
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publisher’s Synopsis:
“A gripping and atmospheric debut that is at once a chilling gothic mystery and a love letter to Victorian fiction.
Nobody ever goes to Hartwood Hall. Folks say it’s cursed…
It’s 1852 and Margaret Lennox, a young widow, attempts to escape the shadows of her past by taking a position as governess to an only child, Louis, at an isolated country house in the west of England.
But Margaret soon starts to feel that something isn’t quite right. There are strange figures in the dark, tensions between servants, and an abandoned east wing. Even stranger is the local gossip surrounding Mrs. Eversham, Louis’s widowed mother, who is deeply distrusted in the village.
Lonely and unsure whom to trust, Margaret finds distraction in a forbidden relationship with the gardener, Paul. But as Margaret’s history threatens to catch up with her, it isn’t long before she learns the truth behind the secrets of Hartwood Hall.”
My Reivew:
This is a wonderful debut!
It’s rich with atmosphere and the setting is beautifully created.
I love the foreshadowing in the prologue that really sets the tone for the story.
I immediately fell in love with the protagonist, Margaret, and the family she becomes a part of.
There’s a pervasive, creeping strangeness surrounding all of the characters and events that kept me turning the pages to learn more.
And the surprises are epic. I never knew which way the story was going to go.
The writing and pacing had me locked in from start to finish.
It’s a tale rife with women empowerment and found family.
This is a gothic, historical mystery at its finest.
I’m so excited for this author, and to be a part of the early review crew. I hope she will bless us with another masterpiece like this one.
Everyone is going to love this book! Also, this cover perfectly fits the feelings that this story evokes in the reader.
Disclaimers:
Huge thank you to Netgalley and Dutton Books for gifting me an early copy of this amazing story! I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This post may contain affiliate links that I may earn a small commission from with no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support 🙂
Have you read this book? Planning to add it to your TBR?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
I love a good book discussion. 🙂
Leave a Reply