A haunting legend. An ominous curse. A search for a
secret buried deep within the castle walls.
In 1870, orphaned Daisy François takes a position as housemaid at a
Wisconsin castle to escape the horrors of her past life. There she finds a
reclusive and eccentric Gothic authoress who hides tales more harrowing than
the ones in her novels. As women disappear from the area and the eerie
circumstances seem to parallel a local legend, Daisy is thrust into a web that
could ultimately steal her sanity, if not her life.
In the present day, Cleo Clemmons is hired by the grandson of an American
aristocratic family to help his grandmother face her hoarding in the
dilapidated Castle Moreau. But when Cleo uncovers more than just the woman's
stash of collectibles, a century-old mystery and the dust of the old castle's
curse threaten to rise again . . . this time to leave no one alive to tell the
sordid tale.
Award-winning author Jaime Jo Wright seamlessly weaves a dual-time tale of two
women who must do all they can to seek the light amid the darkness shrouding
Castle Moreau.
My Thoughts:
An old castle built in Wisconsin by a French trapper for his wife hides many secrets and collects more as time moves on. Castle Moreau had quite a gothic vibe going on as many women through the years have disappeared in it or around it. But why? Is the castle cursed or is it hiding something else?
This was a marvelous nail-biting, keep reading through the night with all the lights on story. I had a hard time doing anything else while this remained unfinished and yet I wanted to savor it, not rush. This is a dual timeline, 1865 and present times. The characters in each are similar. The castle is the same, and so is the family name. A grandmother and a grandson are what is left in each. I found those similarities interesting. Both grandmothers were protecting the castle and its secrets, and the grandsons were protecting their grandmothers. Then along comes two women who are running from their own tragic pasts, both hired to help with the castle. That in itself was mysterious. I enjoyed the similar timelines.
There was a smaller and third timeline as well. This was told by a young girl of six, the daughter of the castle builder. And her story, wow. Let me tell you, the first chapter of this book I started late one night, got to the end of it and quickly closed it. It was the scariest beginning chapter I have ever read. I needed to wait till daylight to continue.
This was a riveting and fun read with mystery abounding through the years and an even more mysterious romance thread throughout. I was hooked and I can't wait for more from the pen of Author Wright.
I was provided a copy of this novel by Bethany House Publishers through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
About the Author:
Jaime Jo Wright (www.jaimewrightbooks.com) is the author of eight novels, including Christy Award and Daphne du Maurier Award-winner The House on Foster Hill and Carol Award winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. She's also the Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling author of two novellas. Jaime lives in Wisconsin with her cat named Foo; her husband, Cap'n Hook; and their two mini-adults, Peter Pan and CoCo.
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