|
Charlotte Tyler lives
with her brother and his daughter following the death of her
soldier fiancé. During the summer of 1819, the family
is invited to stay at the spooky old home of their relative
Amelia Denby. Lady Denby writes gothic novels, so it is fitting
that she lives in Lovegrove Priory. She has even gone as far
as to install a hermit in the grounds. When this mysterious
man is murdered, it is up to Charlotte and local magistrate
Colonel Hartley to investigate…
Ms Craddock wrote a series of gothic novels in the 80s and
is now back with another one. If you like Regency romances
and murder mysteries, this tale will be right up your dark
alley, set in a rambling old house with rumors of secret passages,
priest holes and even ghosts. It is told in Charlotte’s
own words, the intelligent but firmly on the shelf spinster
(all of twenty-eight), who is on the edge of the party and
sees all. She makes for a good narrator, making wry comments
about the histrionics of their hostess and keeping a cool
head for investigating. It is one of those stories that leaves
you wishing for another in the same series but which is exactly
the right length. More, please!
|
