Jaime Jo Wright provides another suspenseful story with her latest novel The Vanishing at Castle Moreau.
Book Blurb
In 1865, orphaned Daisy Francois takes a position as housemaid at a midwestern Wisconsin castle and finds that the reclusive and eccentric Gothic authoress inside hides more than the harrowing tales in her novels. With women disappearing from the area and a legend that seems to parallel these eerie circumstances, Daisy is thrust into a web that may threaten to steal her sanity, if not her life.
In the present day, Cleo Clemmons is hired by the grandson of American aristocratic family the Tremblays to help his matriarchal grandmother face her hoarding in the dilapidated Castle Moreau. But when Cleo uncovers more than just the woman’s stashes of collectibles, a century-old mystery of disappearance, insanity, and the dust of the old castle’s curse threatens to rise again, and this time, leave no one alive to tell its sordid tale.
Fan-favorite Jaime Jo Wright draws readers into a seamlessly woven dual-time tale of suspense, mystery, romance, and redemption.
My Thoughts
Jaime Jo Wright is so good at writing gothic mysteries, and The Vanishing at Castle Moreau is no exception.
Wright manages to make both protagonists interesting. Daisy, who has run away from abusive guardians, captured my interest from the moment she stood in front of the old castle. And Wright immediately gives the castle an air of mystery that held throughout the novel.
Cleo was a great character, as well. Wright manages to tap into your sympathy with Cleo and her drive to protect her younger sister. But Cleo has secrets of her own, and uncovering those adds to the overall suspense of the novel.
With plenty of plot twists, Wright kept me on my toes throughout most of the story. The big reveal at the end almost had me gaping at my Kindle.
Both storylines had a nice romantic arc, although it is a bit subtle. As for spiritual elements, there’s plenty of food for thought about forgiveness, redemption, and God’s love.
Overall, The Vanishing at Castle Moreau is a spooky gothic tale you won’t be able to put down.
(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley for review. All opinions expressed are my own.)
To check the book out for yourself, click on the book cover to order it or purchase it from your local bookstore. And to keep up with Jaime Jo Wright’s new releases and other bookish news, you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. You can also check out her website.
