The mysterious and atmospheric debut novel perfect for fans of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, Stacey Halls and Bridget Collins . . .

'I loved this fresh take on the gothic genre. Vivid, haunting, surprising' STACEY HALLS, bestselling author of The Familiars

'A full-blooded gothic mystery with bite, great characterisation and heaps of atmosphere' EMMA STONEX, bestselling author of The Lamplighters

'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, bestselling author of Pandora
_________

1852.

Margaret Lennox is offered a position as governess at Hartwood Hall. She quickly accepts, hoping this isolated country house will allow her to leave her past behind.

But Margaret soon starts to feel there's something odd about her new home, despite her growing fondness for her bright, affectionate pupil, Louis.

Strange figures move through the dark.
Tensions rise between the servants.
The east wing sits eerily abandoned . . .

Even stranger is the local gossip surrounding Mrs Eversham, Louis's widowed mother, who is deeply distrusted by the nearby village.

Margaret is certain that everyone has something to hide.

But as her own past threatens to catch up with her, she must learn to trust her instincts before it's too late . . .
_________

*LONGLISTED FOR THE HWA DEBUT CROWN AWARD*

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

'A creepy, captivating gothic mystery' WOMAN'S WEEKLY

'A quintessential manor-home mystery . . . Lumsden's debut reminds us never to trust first appearances. Mesmerizing' SARAH PENNER, bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary

'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

'Dark, twisty, gothic and full of surprises...a deliciously atmospheric page-turner' LIZ HYDER, author of The Gifts

'Lovers of Victorian literature will adore this compelling gothic mystery. An impressive debut' LOUISE HARE, author of This Lovely City

'Brilliantly creepy and utterly compelling' CAROLINE LEA

'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

About the Author

Katie Lumsden read Jane Eyre at the age of thirteen and never looked back. She spent her teenage years devouring nineteenth century literature, reading every Dickens, Bronte, Gaskell, Austen and Hardy novel she could find. She has a degree in English literature and history from the University of Durham and an MA in creative writing from Bath Spa University. Her short stories have been shortlisted for the London Short Story Prize and the Bridport Prize, and have been published in various literary magazines.
Katie's YouTube channel, Books and Things, has more than 28,000 subscribers. She lives in London and works as an editor.

Katie's debut novel, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, was shortlisted for the HWA Debut Crown Award.

Reviews
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, great characterisation and heaps of atmosphere -- Emma Stonex
A delicious Gothic mystery with an unexpected final twist * Heat *
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
A creepy, captivating gothic mystery * Woman's Weekly *
Smart, atmospheric, gripping and full of surprises, this is a Gothic spine-chiller by an absolutely modern writer -- Maggie Gee
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
An immersive, atmospheric novel and a true love letter to Gothic fiction * i *
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, the SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of PANDORA
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
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
Deeply immersive, atmospheric, and a true love letter to gothic fiction. An impressive, standout debut, sure to leave readers on the edge of their seats * Courier *
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
Dark, twisty, gothic and full of surprises ... a deliciously atmospheric page-turner -- Liz Hyder, author of THE GIFTS
A real blast...I really enjoyed this haunting, gothic tale -- DINAH JEFFERIES, bestselling author of the SUNDAY TIMES number one bestseller THE TEA-PLANTER'S WIFE



Book Information
ISBN 9780241556078
Author Katie Lumsden
Format Hardback
Page Count 400
Imprint Michael Joseph Ltd
Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 510g
Dimensions(mm) 223mm * 146mm * 37mm