‘Romance and scandal abound in this compelling period drama . . . Recommended for all lovers of Regency historical fiction’ LAURA SHEPPERSON, author of The Heroines

‘Warm and witty, with a wonderful cast of quirky characters whose company I found irresistible’ JESSICA BULL, author of Miss Austen Investigates

—

A single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife . . .

But why would he choose her?

Summer 1841. It is marriage season in the county of Wickenshire, and Miss Amelia Ashpoint isn’t sure she can face yet another ball. But now that she has reached the grand age of three-and-twenty, time is (apparently) running out. Her father is anxious to secure her a husband and has set his sights on Mr Montgomery Hurst of Radcliffe Park.

Only, Mr Hurst has just announced his engagement to somebody else.

To the great consternation of Wickenshire, a community that thrives on gossip, the county’s most eligible bachelor is about to marry not only an unknown stranger – but a widow with three children, odd manners and no ancestry to speak of. Society is appalled and intrigued.

Meanwhile, Amelia Ashpoint has no interest in marriage at all. But in this town, it is clear that nobody’s business is their own. And while society has high expectations for Amelia, her heart is drawing her in a very different direction . . .

—

‘A glittering comedy with spiky wit, an eye for social critique, and (of course) a terrific sense of irony’ TOM MEAD, author of Death and the Conjuror and The Murder Wheel

‘Rich with scandal, romance and social mores . . . a total delight!’ ANITA FRANK, author of The Lost Ones and The Good Liars

‘A feast of clever wit and lovingly drawn characters, this is an absolute treat for fans of Jane Austen – or anyone looking for top-rate storytelling’ HESTER MUSSON

‘An absolute dream of a book. A compelling storyline that kept me gripped to the last page, and beyond. I think this book will establish her – deservedly – as one of our best historical fiction writers’ ANNE CORLETT

PRAISE FOR KATIE LUMSDEN

‘Vivid, haunting, surprising’ STACEY HALLS

‘A full-blooded gothic mystery with bite, great characterisation and heaps of atmosphere’ EMMA STONEX

‘With echoes of Jane Eyre but with a heart of its own . . . Suspenseful and beautifully crafted’ SUSAN STOKES-CHAPMAN

‘This book delivers HUGE Jane Eyre vibes, gothic and mysterious Victoriana. I LOVED it’ SOPHIE IRWIN

*SHORTLISTED FOR THE HWA DEBUT CROWN AWARD*

‘I loved this fresh take on the gothic genre. Vivid, haunting, surprising’ STACEY HALLS, author of Sunday Times bestsellers The Familiars, The Foundling and Mrs England

‘A full-blooded gothic mystery with bite’ Emma Stonex, author of The Lamplighters

————–

‘Nobody ever goes to Hartwood Hall . . .’

Margaret Lennox is recently widowed and in need of a position.
It must be far from the past that still haunts her.
She finds what appears to be the perfect engagement:
governess to a child in an isolated country house.

Yet from the first, Hartwood Hall is unwelcoming.

Why do the locals eye her employer,
widowed Mrs Evesham, with suspicion?
What is hidden in the abandoned East Wing?
Who are the strangers coming and going under darkness?

Hartwood Hall conceals mysteries, perhaps even danger.

But Margaret bears her own secret.
One she fears more than anything . . .

‘With echoes of Jane Eyre but with a heart of its own’ Susan Stokes-Chapman

‘A delicious Gothic mystery with an unexpected final twist’ Heat

‘I loved this fresh take on the gothic genre. Vivid, haunting, surprising’ STACEY HALLS, bestselling author of The Familiars

‘A full-blooded gothic mystery with bite, great characterisation and heaps of atmosphere’ EMMA STONEX, bestselling author of The Lamplighters

‘With echoes of Jane Eyre but with a heart of its own . . . A suspenseful and beautifully crafted novel filled with atmosphere, rich characters and plenty of layers to keep a reader hooked right to the end’ SUSAN STOKES-CHAPMAN, bestselling author of Pandora
_________

1852.

Margaret Lennox is offered a position as governess at Hartwood Hall. She quickly accepts, hoping this isolated country house will allow her to leave her past behind.

But Margaret soon starts to feel there’s something odd about her new home, despite her growing fondness for her bright, affectionate pupil, Louis.

Strange figures move through the dark.
Tensions rise between the servants.
The east wing sits eerily abandoned . . .

Even stranger is the local gossip surrounding Mrs Eversham, Louis’s widowed mother, who is deeply distrusted by the nearby village.

Margaret is certain that everyone has something to hide.

But as her own past threatens to catch up with her, she must learn to trust her instincts before it’s too late . . .
_________

‘An immersive, atmospheric novel and a true love letter to Gothic fiction’ i

‘A creepy, captivating gothic mystery’ WOMAN’S WEEKLY

‘A quintessential manor-home mystery . . . Lumsden’s debut reminds us never to trust first appearances. Mesmerizing’ SARAH PENNER, bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary

‘This book delivers HUGE Jane Eyre vibes, gothic and mysterious Victoriana. I LOVED it’ SOPHIE IRWIN, author of Sunday Times bestseller A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting

‘Dark, twisty, gothic and full of surprises…a deliciously atmospheric page-turner’ LIZ HYDER, author of The Gifts

‘Lovers of Victorian literature will adore this compelling gothic mystery. An impressive debut‘ LOUISE HARE, author of This Lovely City

‘Brilliantly creepy and utterly compelling‘ CAROLINE LEA

‘A brilliant love letter to classic Victorian fiction and a standout debut’ HAZEL GAYNOR

‘Smart, atmospheric, gripping and full of surprises, this is a Gothic spine-chiller by an absolutely modern writer’ MAGGIE GEE