Set in 1867, the story follows Eliza Caine, a young woman who accepts a governess position at Gaudlin Hall in Norfolk after her father’s death. Upon arrival, she discovers the estate is managed solely by two children, Eustace and Isabella, without any visible adult supervision. Eliza immediately encounters a malevolent physical presence that attempts to harm her, including a force that tries to push her under a moving train and another that attempts to drown her. She realizes the previous governesses fled or died, and she must uncover the history of the house to survive the spirit’s escalating violence.
Readers of Victorian gothic fiction and traditional ghost stories appreciate this book for its atmosphere and adherence to nineteenth-century literary tropes. It attracts those interested in the isolation of the English countryside and the specific tensions of domestic service. The reader walks away with a clear understanding of how past trauma manifests as haunting and how a rational protagonist navigates a supernatural environment. The book provides a technical study of the classic haunted house structure while adhering to the pacing of a historical thriller.
Escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2013
- Language
- EN
