In the summer of 1862, a group of young artists led by Edward Radcliffe arrives at Birchwood Manor on the banks of the Thames. Their retreat ends in tragedy when a woman is shot dead and another vanishes along with a priceless heirloom. Over one hundred and fifty years later, Elodie Winslow, an archivist in London, discovers a leather satchel containing a photograph of a striking woman and a sketchbook featuring a house she recognizes from her childhood. The narrative shifts between various decades, guided by the voice of a ghost who remains tied to the manor’s walls, revealing how the events of that Victorian summer altered the lives of everyone involved.
Readers of multi-generational mysteries and historical fiction choose this book to observe how secrets settle into the architecture of a single location over time. It appeals to those who enjoy intricate plotting where disparate timelines eventually intersect through physical artifacts and shared memories. The reader finishes the story with a clear understanding of how grief and artistic obsession can linger across centuries, and how the official historical record often obscures the truth of individual lives.
Balanced in tone; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2018
- Language
- EN
