Author: Elizabeth Blackwell
Narrator: Teri Clark Linden
Published: February 2017, Brilliance Audio / Lake Union Publishing
Length: 9 hours 48 minutes / 282 pages
Source: Audio - Personal copy via Audible / Print - Paperback via Publisher
The year is 1928. Kate Moore is looking for a way out of the poverty and violence of her childhood. When a chance encounter on a transatlantic ocean liner brings her face-to-face with the handsome heir to a Chicago fortune, she thinks she may have found her escape—as long as she can keep her past concealed.
After exchanging wedding vows, Kate quickly discovers that something isn’t quite right with her husband—or her new family. As Mrs. Matthew Lemont, she must contend with her husband’s disturbing past, his domineering mother, and his overly close sister. Isolated at Lakecrest, the sprawling, secluded Lemont estate, she searches desperately for clues to Matthew’s terrors, which she suspects stem from the mysterious disappearance of his aunt years before. As Kate stumbles deeper into a maze of family secrets, she begins to question everyone’s sanity—especially her own. But just how far will she go to break free of this family’s twisted past?
My thoughts: This is the first book I've read by Elizabeth Blackwell and I quite enjoyed it. I loved the gothic undertones throughout and thought the mystery was well-done! And that cover - isn't it such a beauty?
This book is filled with intriguing, twisted characters - and I loved that! Kate, in particular, was very interesting - she was quite mysterious in her own way. She was unique to say the least! She wasn't the typical softspoken, innocent, naive young woman we might expect from this type of book. Rather, she was impulsive and her ambitions led her to go after what she wanted. She definitely wasn't your typical damsel in distress - and leads to you want to be on her side! But, at the same time, I felt there were instances where she was hiding something.
This book has a little bit of everything: secrets, family drama, an evil mother-in-law, strange rituals, and a sprawling estate. As it all comes unraveling, bit by bit, you are kept on the edge of your seat, trying to guess how it will play out. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing and the atmosphere is used to it's advantage - it's moody and creepy, but not overly so. Trust is also an issue - who is actually telling the truth and who can be trusted?
I really enjoyed this gothic mystery and am looking forward to more books from this author!
Audio thoughts: This was a good audio book to listen to - I thought Teri Clark Linden did a good job narrating it. She was able to give all the characters unique voices and her pacing and tone were spot on. She added tension to her voice when needed.