In 1870, Daisy Francois becomes the housemaid at Castle Moreau to escape the horrors of her life. The reclusive and eccentric owner of the castle is a Gothic authoress whose tales are as harrowing as the stories about the castle's history of missing women.
Cleo Clemmons is hired in present day by the grandson of an American aristocratic family to help his grandmother cull the collections she has hoarded within the walls of Castle Moreau. But what Cleo uncovers among the collections is a century-old mystery with clues traveling back to another young resident of Castle Moreau in 1801.
If you enjoy Gothic novels, Christian suspense, well-written dual-time stories, or novels with strong female characters, then The Vanishing at Castle Moreau is the perfect read. From beginning to end this story will captivate you. As you connect the dots, explore the dark corners of Castle Moreau with the girl, with Daisy, and with Cleo, and unfold the mystery hidden deep within this Wisconsin castle, you won't be able to stop reading. No matter the hour, you will need to continue, because the story is just so good.
While I certainly figured there was more to Castle Moreau than meets the eye, the thrilling conclusion of The Vanishing at Castle Moreau was unexpected and absolutely perfect. I look forward to reading more by Jamie Jo Wright. An amazing read!
Excerpt:
May 8, 1801
When I was a little girl, my father would often come to my bedside after my screams wakened him in the night. He would smooth back my damp ringlets, the mere feel of his callused and strong hand inspiring an instantaneous calm.
“What is it, little one?” he would ask me.
Every night, the same question. Every night, I would give the same answer.
“It is her again, Papa.”
“Her?” He would tilt his head, giving credence to my words and refraining from scolding or mockery.
“Yes.” I would nod, my head brushing the clean cotton of my pillowcase. “The woman with the crooked hand.”
“Crooked hand, hmm?” His query only increased my adamant insistence.
“Yes. She has a nub with two fingers.” A tear would often trail down my six-year-old cheek.
My father would smile with a soothing calm. “You are dreaming again, mon chéri.”
“No. She was here.” He must believe me!
“Shhh.” Another gentle stroke of his hand across my forehead. “She is the voice of the mistress of your dreams. We all have one, you know. Only yours needs extra-special care because she isn’t beautiful like the rest. She is the one who brings the nightmares, but she doesn’t mean to harm you. She is only doing her best with what she has been given, and what she has been given are her own horrors.”
“Her hand?” I would reply, even though we repeated this explanation many nights in a row.
“Yes,” my father would nod. “Her hand is a reflection of the ugliness in her stories. Stories she tells to you at night when all is quiet and your eyes are closed.”
“But they were open,” I would insist.
“No. You only think they were open.”
“I am afraid of the ghost, Papa,” I urge.
His eyes smile. “Oui. And yet there are no spirits to haunt you. Only the dream mistress. Shoo her away and she will flee. She is a mist. She is not real. See?” And he would wave his hand in the air. “Shoo, mistress. Away and be gone!”
We would survey the dark bedroom then, and, seeing nothing, my father would lean over and press his lips to my cheek. “Now sleep. I will send your mother’s dream mistress to you. Her imaginings are pleasant ones.”
“Thank you,” I would whisper.
Another kiss. The bed would rise a bit as he lifted his weight from the mattress. His nightshirt would hang around his shins, and he would pause at the doorway of my room where I slept. An only child, in a home filled with the fineries of a Frenchman’s success of trade. “Sleep, mon chéri.”
“Yes, Papa.”
The door would close.
My eyes would stay open.
I would stare at the woman with the crooked hand, who hovered in the shadows where the door had just closed. I would stare at her and know what my father never would.
She existed.
She was not a dream.
- Publisher : Bethany House Publishers (April 4, 2023)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 384 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0764238345
- ISBN-13 : 978-0764238345
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4 comments:
Woohoo! Great review! "An amazing read!" - That sums it up, right there! :-)
Thank you so much for reviewing!!!
I have not read this one, YET! Great review!!
Thanks Wall-to-wall books and Cindy. I appreciate your visit.
Jaime, you are so welcome. What a great book. Need to check out your others.
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