Member Reviews
An interesting read set in a captivating setting. I really enjoyed this book and thought the plot followed well and kept the story going. Would recommend to others.
Enjoyed reading - full of secrets and half truths. Excellent debut novel and I look forward to reading more by this author.
I've said it before and I'll say it again - there cannot be enough books featuring governesses employed at gothic isolated mansions, who suddenly find themselves dealing with things that are not easily explained.
This book features Mrs Margaret Lennox, recently widowed who takes up a position at the hall to tutor Louis. As her bond with him grows, her employment becomes threatened when one of her secrets is discovered.
Add into the mix an East Wing that is off-bounds, strange sightings and noises, blackmail and an illicit affair and you think you have everything you need to make this an intriguing book. Yet, to come are some unexpected twists and turns that made this a page-turning read and one I thoroughly enjoyed.
This is the kind of story where the building itself feels very much like a character and this book delivered on that. The haunting, ghostly, gothic feel of Hartwood Hall was prominent from the beginning. The garden was beautifully described and I couldn't help but think of The Secret Garden at this point. Atmospheric and mysterious, this book sweeps you away!
The twists and turns in this book were so cleverly done. I was gripped right from the beginning. Highly recommend
This was our May pick for the HF bookclub and an enjoyable read. The atmosphere at Hartwood Hall is built up from the very beginning and the descriptions of the house and garden were beautifully written. The garden in particular gave me Secret Garden vibes completely.
The character of Margaret was a slow burn for me - timid and unsure at first I really enjoyed seeing her grow and gain confidence in saying no. A clever reveal at the end was a nice twist.
I seem to have read several historical fiction books this year set in old houses from the point of view of a governess this year! However this, once again, had a different focus and twist in it that made it an enjoyable easy read.
There are nods to the Brontes and Mary Shelley in the books premise and setting; old estates isolated in nature guard dark secrets and Hartwood Hall is no exception.
The lead character Margaret Lennox finds herself freshly edited and in a position of requiring employment to survive, a posting with another widower Mrs Eversham seems perfect & societally acceptable. Upon arrival she learns about the strict rules of not entering the east wing, locking the doors and keeping a very close eye on her ward, Louis. Breaking her rules with a church visit, Margaret is largely besotted with looking after louis and is distraught when he is sick. But is everything as it seems, and who is watching them in the garden. Other subplots intertwine well to make this an enjoyable read. It has all the great elements of a good gothic historical fiction and would be a good read for anyone who likes that that genre.
This is so atmospheric and spooky. The characters are well developed. There is lots of tension. The story was resolved at the ending. I loved the setting of an old house. Well written. Amazing debut
https://lynns-books.com/2024/02/29/the-secrets-of-hartwood-hall-by-katie-lumsden/
3.5 of 5 stars (rounded to 4)
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Gothic Victorian Mystery, Modern Style
The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden is one of my backlist books from the first half of last year. I’m trying to read at least one book from my unread review books each month, two if I can manage it, so far so good.
This was a very easy read. I liked the writing style and it was easy to sink into.
As the story begins we meet Margaret Lennox, recently widowed she has found herself in dire straits necessitating a return to the governess lifestyle she practiced before marrying. Margaret is on her way to Hartwood Hall, set deep in the English countryside, where she will be responsible for her sole charge, Louis. Lost in the woods the coachman stops at a local village to seek directions and it becomes obvious that the locals have nothing to do with the Manor or it’s mistress which immediately gives you a sense of foreboding.
I won’t give away too much of the story. We learn early on that Margaret’s employer has few servants working at the Hall, she is somewhat suspicious and in fact very protective of Louis making it very clear that Margaret must accompany him fastidiously. On top of this, entry into one of the wings of the Hall is forbidden – well, in the interests of safety as it is in a state of disrepair. The rest of the staff are very close knit and there is an overall feeling of secrecy and close lippedness that eventually makes Margaret somewhat paranoid. The Hall is dark and poorly lit and there are strange noises at night which eventually lead Margaret into jumpiness and an overall feeling of fear of the house in general.
I liked Margaret but I didn’t get along with her totally. She bonded really well with Louis which was a nice element to the story and felt very protective of him. Margaret herself, still in mourning, is carrying a secret of her own that plays on her mind and makes her anxious. Eventually, her story unfolds and it makes it a little more easy to understand the choices she makes. She needs to work. She has no other income and her lack of references for the more recent years plus the fact that she has problems hearing in one of her ears, following a childhood accident, limits her choices a little. Eventually, almost because of her fear of the house Margarent finds solace in the arms of the gardener, a younger man who is very good natured but is also keeping things from Margaret.
Overall, I found this a very easy read. I really enjoyed the writing. There are clearly nods to classic gothic fiction although nothing that feels over referenced. More a general feeling of an enjoyable gothic set in a slightly creepy manor house with a mystery surrounding not just the owner but a few of it’s occupants. That being said, this story, whilst in some ways feeling reminiscent of Victorian novels has a more modern inclination. The characters sometimes resort to more uptodate dialogue and the ending definitely feels more contemporary. On top of that Margaret is a little more reckless with her reputation than you might expect from a story of this period – but, there are very few staff available who might witness her indiscretions – so, hidden silver linings.
My only issue with this book was the ending. In some respects it felt a little rushed, also maybe a little busy particularly in comparison to the rest of the story and ultimately a little disappointing – or perhaps bittersweet might be a fairer description. I think I found it difficult to swallow Margaret’s reasoning come the end but this didn’t stop my enjoyment of the story in general.
In conclusion, this was a compelling read, well written and very atmospheric. I shall definitely read more by this author.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
I received an NetGalley e-arc of this book ahead of the publication, but my copy was difficult to read so I didn't manage it. People have been gushing about it for months so I decided to purchase the audiobook and give it a try and I was not disappointed!
Knowing Katie through Booktube, I was worried that other Booktubers were hyping it by politeness a little, but no, this is an excellent historical fiction novel and great debut!
Katie weaves in class and gender issues of the eras together with some tropes from classic Victorian novels, keeping the voice fresh and modern. Her writing reminded me a lot of Daphne du Maurier.
We follow a governess arriving at a new house, Hartwood Hall, and a mystery quickly settles. I especially loved the second half of the novel as the pace quickens and the plot thickens. The twists at the end were especially great and made me love this book even more. A great recommend for lovers of Victorian novels, historical fiction and feminist literature.
This book was incredible. I couldn’t put it down, no matter how hard I tried! I loved the writing. It was beautiful and intoxicating and really pulled me into the story. The book was creepy and put me on the edge of my seat, but I couldn’t stop reading. I cared about the characters so much and really cared about what happened to them. I can’t wait to read more from the author in the future.
I do love a bit of gothic fiction.
The Secrets of Hartwood Hall is a great example of modern day gothic fiction done well. It uses all the best tropes and themes - creepy mansion, secrets, division between household staff and the owners and it is packaged in an extremely readable story.
Our heroine, Margaret Lennox, has been offered a place at Hartwood Hall to work as a governess and it is just what she needs. Recently widowed, Margaret is escaping her past and hoping to find a successful future, however, when the secrets hidden in Hartwood Hall start to plague her we see just how unsafe she actually is.
The Secrets of Hartwood Hall is a great read. It has mystery, intrigue, prejudice, small town mentality - all the things that heighten the tension in the story. It really is a page turner.
The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden is available now.
For more information regarding Katie Lumsden (@katiejlumsden) please visit her Twitter page.
For more information regarding Penguin (@MichaelJBooks) please visit their Twitter page.
I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.
A delightful historical fiction with some gothic edge. Such an atmospheric and engaging story! I am so very glad I picked up this read.
Ah this was a really good read! It is a gothic historical fiction and I found the writing is very atmospheric which was totally engaging! I was sooooo keen to find out what was going to happen next that I found it hard to stop reading! I am 100% going to pick up this authors next novel!
Brilliant historical fiction, moving, immersive and atmospheric. I would highly recommend to family and friends. I love author’s that can describe a scene and you are immediately there, you close your eyes and you picture the scene. This author does that for me.
My thanks to Penguin Random House Michael Joseph for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Secrets of Hartswood Hall’ by Katie Lumsden.
This debut Gothic novel owes a great deal to its author’s love of 19th Century literature, especially ‘Jane Eyre’.
It is set in 1852 Britain. Its lead and narrator, Margaret Lennox, is recently widowed though her husband has left no provision for her (the reason is slowly revealed in the story). Before her marriage she had worked as a governess and has now applied and been accepted for a position at Hartwood Hall in Somersetshire. Her new charge is ten-year-old Louis.
Margaret hopes that this isolated country house will allow her to leave her past behind. Yet she soon starts to feel there's something odd about Hartwood Hall. She has noticed the occasional strange figure roaming the house at night. Then there’s the out of bounds East Wing. As time passes Margaret becomes increasingly fond of her young charge even though one of the servants is making Margaret’s life miserable.
Margaret is also aware that Mrs Eversham, Louis's widowed mother, appears to be deeply distrusted by the inhabitants of the nearby village. It seems that everyone has something to hide.
As noted above this is a slow burn of a novel that takes its cue from the literature of the period. Margaret is very interested in literature herself and quite a few contemporary titles are mentioned in the text.
Katie Lumsden has a strong sense of period detail, including small things like using Somersetshire, which was the name for the county of Somerset during this time. Such attention to historic detail always impresses me.
Overall, ‘The Secrets of Hartswood Hall’ proved a satisfying and engaging read. After such a promising debut I will be looking forward to her future projects.
I was absolutely enthralled by The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden! With echoes of Jane Eyre but with a heart of its own, this suspenseful and beautifully crafted novel was filled with atmosphere, rich characters and plenty of layers to keep a reader hooked right to the end. I was entranced by the eerie setting of Hartwood Hall and the mysterious characters who inhabit it. The story of Margaret Lennox and her quest to uncover the secrets of the hall while also trying to escape her own past was captivating and captivating. Fans of Gothic fiction will be delighted by this immersive, atmospheric novel and true love letter to the genre. The Secrets of Hartwood Hall will keep you on the edge of your seat.
1852, Margaret Lennox newly widowed travels to Hartwood Hall to take up the position of governess to Louis Eversham and hoping to escape her past.
Cut off from the village, Margaret soon starts to feel there's something odd about her new home, despite her growing fondness for her bright, affectionate pupil, Louis. There are strange figures in the dark, tensions between servants and an abandoned east wing. Even stranger is the local gossip surrounding Mrs Eversham, Louis's widowed mother, who is deeply distrusted in the village.
Margaret finds distraction in a forbidden relationship with the gardener, Paul. But despite his efforts to reassure her, she is certain that everyone here has something to hide. And as Margaret's own past threatens to catch up with her, she must learn to trust her instincts before it's too late...
‘A bad start, perhaps, for a widow – but it was not as though I had ever been a good wife.’
I took to this book immediately, it is such a love letter to Victorian gothic fiction, you can tell the love the author has for this period of time. Often novels seem to exist in isolation from their period but this one takes account of the time and it has a fantastic Jane Eyre vibe. Having just read the latter, I noted lots of little nods to the novel and Victorian fiction in general, which is lovely to see.
‘Why do you like Frankenstein?’ I asked, when I had finished. He shrugged, suddenly shy. Then he said softly, ‘I like monsters.’
I couldn’t put this down as secrets held became unfurled. We get flashbacks to Margaret’s previous life and what happened to her husband. There is control in this novel, of Margaret by her husband, of Susan over Margaret, of Mrs Eversham over every little thing, there is a steady drip, drip of increasing tension and it is oh so addictive! I read and read not fathoming the secret and then…tick tock…the penny dropped…so good!
I really don’t want to give anything away but if you are a hisfic fan, love Jane Eyre and Victorian gothic, this is simply a must read - outstanding!
I absolutely loved this, big country house, a governess with a past, unexplained noises in the night with a few ghostly sightings in the grounds at night. It has a wonderful gothic creepiness with perfectly formed characters and I couldn't put it down. I thought I had it figured then realised I really didn't, excellent plotting. I could picture Margaret so clearly and felt what she experienced. Just loved, highly recommend.