The Secrets of Hartwood Hall

A SheReads Favorite Historical Gothic Mystery

“Who doesn’t love a cursed manor house in the remote English countryside, especially one with an entire abandoned wing? I’m looking forward to diving into this modern gothic that also promises some Lady Chatterly’s Lover action (there is a handsome gardener!).”
—CrimeReads

“[A] captivating debut. . . . Assured prose propels this well-crafted tale of family, friendship, and the cost of personal freedom. Fans of the great Victorian novels, in particular Jane Eyre, will have fun.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Debut author Lumsden masterfully creates a believable atmosphere of the age, where science and logic are served side by side with the supernatural in everyday life.”
—Booklist

“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, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary

“The Secrets 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, author of The King of Inifinite Space and Jane Steele

“I loved this fresh take on the gothic genre. Vivid, haunting, surprising.” 
—Stacey Halls, author of The Familiars

“A full-blooded Gothic mystery with bite, great characterization and heaps of atmosphere. What a debut.” 
—Emma Stonex, author of The Lamplighters

“This book delivers HUGE Jane Eyre vibes, gothic and mysterious Victoriana. I LOVED it.”
—Sophie Irwin, author of A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting

“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, New York Times bestselling author

“The Secrets of Hartwood Hall is an easy book to read. It is fun to dive into the details of life in 1852.”
—Mystery and Suspense Magazine

“We have all the classic ingredients for a gothic and romantic mystery…. Full marks for the narrative drive and absorbing plot…a very capable and entertaining debut.”
—Historical Novel Society