Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen in this atmospheric Regency tale brimming with mystery, intrigue, and romance.

When Miss Rebecca Lane returns to her home village after a few years away, her brother begs for a favor: go to nearby Swanford Abbey and deliver his manuscript to an author staying there who could help him get published. Feeling responsible for her brother's desperate state, she reluctantly agrees.

The medieval monastery turned grand hotel is rumored to be haunted. Once there, Rebecca begins noticing strange things, including a figure in a hooded black gown gliding silently through the abbey's cloisters. For all its renovations and veneer of luxury, the ancient foundations seem to echo with whispers of the past--including her own. For there she encounters Sir Frederick--magistrate, widower, and former neighbor--who long ago broke her heart.

When the famous author is found murdered in the abbey, Sir Frederick begins questioning staff and guests and quickly discovers that several people held grudges against the man, including Miss Lane and her brother. Haunted by a painful betrayal in his past, Sir Frederick searches for answers but is torn between his growing feelings for Rebecca and his pursuit of the truth. For Miss Lane is clearly hiding something. . . .

My Review

Oh goodness was this a fun read! The back cover describes it as “Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen” and I’m not sure I could have come up with a more apt description if I tried. The characters were intriguing, and my mind was spinning throughout the entire read. I was skeptical of everyone while trying to weasel inside the author’s mind to figure out just “whodunnit”. I will share no details, as this read must be experienced by the individual reader and I don’t want to take anything away from that, but this was definitely one I would highly recommend!

*I received a copy of this book through Bethany House Publishers. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.