book cover of The Secrets of Hartwood Hall
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The Secrets of Hartwood Hall

(2023)
A novel by

 
 
Awards
2023 HWA Debut Crown Award (shortlist)

Discover the haunting new gothic historical mystery, perfect for fans of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, Stacey Halls and Bridget Collins

*SHORTLISTED FOR THE HWA DEBUT CROWN AWARD*

'I
loved this fresh take on the gothic genre. Vivid, haunting, surprising' Stacey Halls, author of Sunday Times bestsellers The Familiars, The Foundling and Mrs England


‘A full-blooded
gothic mystery with bite’ Emma Stonex, author of The Lamplighters

Dark, twisty, gothic and full of surprises ... a deliciously atmospheric page-turner’ Liz Hyder, author of The Gifts

‘Nobody ever goes to Hartwood Hall . . .’

1852. When Margaret Lennox, a young widow, is offered a position as governess at Hartwood Hall, she quickly accepts, hoping this isolated country house will allow her to leave the past behind.

But she soon feels there's something odd about Hartwood: strange figures in the dark, tensions between servants and a wing of the house no one uses.

Why do the locals eye her employer, widowed Mrs Evesham, with suspicion? What is hidden in the abandoned East Wing? Who are the strangers coming and going under darkness?

Hartwood Hall conceals mysteries, perhaps even danger.

Margaret is certain that everyone here has something to hide, and as her own past threatens to catch up with her, she must learn to trust her instincts before it's too late...

Praise for The Secrets of Hartwood Hall:

‘A delicious
Gothic mystery with an unexpected final twist’ Heat

‘With
echoes of Jane Eyre but with a heart of its own’ Susan Stokes-Chapman, Sunday Times bestselling author of Pandora

‘A
creepy, captivating gothic mystery’Woman's Weekly

‘An
immersive, atmospheric novel and a true love letter to Gothic fiction’ i

‘A
brilliantly creepy and utterly compelling read’ Caroline Lea, author of gothic thriller The Glass Woman

‘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



Genre: Historical Mystery

Praise for this book

"The Secret of Hartwood Hall is exactly the book you want on a cold, stormy night when the wind is sneaking in the cracks. A thoroughly impressive debut with fantastically timed surprises throughout." - Lyndsay Faye

"Incredibly rich prose in this absorbing, deeply atmospheric story of governess, Margaret Lennox. 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

"I loved this fresh take on the gothic genre. Vivid, haunting, surprising." - Stacey Halls

"Dark, twisty, gothic and full of surprises ... a deliciously atmospheric page-turner." - Liz Hyder

"This book delivers HUGE Jane Eyre vibes, gothic and mysterious Victoriana. I LOVED it." - Sophie Irwin

"A brilliantly creepy and utterly compelling read, which put me in mind of Laura Purcell, Stacey Halls and Michelle Paver: it's up there with the most wonderfully engrossing and twisty gothic historical fiction." - Caroline Lea

"In her atmospheric debut, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, Katie Lumsden enthralls us with a quintessential manor-home mystery. Fans of gothic literature will savor the peculiar characters, the abandoned corridors, the deceptions and twists behind every door... Ultimately a story about women and the haunting secrets they keep, Lumsden's debut reminds us never to trust first appearances. A mesmerizing debut!" - Sarah Penner

"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

"A full-blooded gothic mystery with bite, great characterisation and heaps of atmosphere." - Emma Stonex


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