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Pre-order Katie Lumsden''s mysterious and atmospheric debut novel NOW, for fans of Charlotte Bronte''s Jane Eyre, Stacey Halls and Bridget Collinsbr>br> 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 at an isolated country house. br>br>Cut off from the village, 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 are the repeated trips away on business by Mrs Eversham, the child''s mother. br>br>Lonely, and unsure who to trust, Margaret soon 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 frightening truth behind the secrets of Hartwood Hall. br>br>The Secrets of Hartwood Hall is an authentic and atmospheric love letter to Victorian fiction.>
About the author
Katie Lumsden read Jane Eyre at the age of thirteen and never looked back. She spent her teenage years devouring nineteenth century literature, reading every Dickens, Brontë, Gaskell, Austen and Hardy novel she could find. She has a degree in English literature and history from the University of Durham and an MA in creative writing from Bath Spa University. Her short stories have been shortlisted for the London Short Story Prize and the Bridport Prize, and have been published in various literary magazines. Katie's Youtube channel, Books and Things, has more than 23,000 subscribers. She lives in London and works in publishing.
Summary
The mysterious and atmospheric debut novel perfect for fans of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, Stacey Halls and Bridget Collins . . .
'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
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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 . . .
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*LONGLISTED FOR THE HWA DEBUT CROWN AWARD*
'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
