Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The House of Light and Shadows follows two sisters who have lost their way over the years but when Emma, one of the sisters, ends up in the hospital, Kate drops everything to go help with Emma's two children. Upon arrival Kate finds their life to be much different than she had imagined and finds herself sleeping a short drive away from an eerie old mansion her sister now owns. Upon learning about some of the mansions previous owners the mystery begins when she can feel something or someone lurking in the shadows. Trying to cope with two teenagers, a lingering relationship with her sister and new mysteries about the mansion popping up at every corner, Kate must piece everything together before everything does her in.

I really enjoyed this historical mystery and loved learning about both timelines in this novel! Without giving too much away I loved how the past shaped the future of the house and how everything revolving around the house at the end made perfect sense. If you love a mystery with multiple suspicious characters and just a hint of the supernatural, this book is definitely for you!

The House of Light and Shadows by Lauren Westwood is a gothic thriller that promised more than it delivered. Told mostly through the viewpoint of Kate Goodman with introductory chapters, by the ghost haunting Rookswood, I found the book to be simple and readable. What brought the rating down for me was the lack of coherent characterization. Kate's character arc seemed to swing back and forth based on what Westwood wanted to do in trying to establish parallels between the two sisters in each timeline. The big reveal of the fallout cause for Kate and her sister Emma was easy to see coming, but Kate's reaction during the current timeline didn't make sense. Westwood having Kate act like the blame was all hers was just a weird choice and it threw me completely out of the story.

My other issue was that this was a ghost story. It lacked atmosphere and I found it hard to get engaged in the spooky scenes. There was no air of menace or fear and it was like ho hum, there's a ghost. The side characters felt like cardboard cutouts and even Kate's romances lacked heat.

Overall, I was just not impressed with The House of Light and Shadows.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the arc for review purposes.

Emma and Kate are sisters, who have been estranged for the past 15 years. However, when Kate learns that Emma is in hospital and her two children are alone, and likely to come to the attention of Social Services, she rushes off to the small cottage in the grounds of Rookswood House where they live. Izzy and Max are initially quite hostile to their absent aunt, and are very good at quarrels and mischief ,more than Kate anticipates, but family comes first, she thinks through gritted teeth.
Rookswood House was the Victorian residence of the Havelock family. Ada and Camile were sisters, who also suffered a falling out. Their father was a photographer, who experimented with new scientific ways to produce unusual photographs, using themes of the occult, and, later on, photos, strictly of the “ under the counter” variety.
Rookswood House has character, but not one that Estate Agents would happily admit to, it is a house full of ghosts, sadness and deep longings. The house is now under threat from modern developers, but Ada, has her story to tell and she is on a quest to find out what happened to Camile. Ada impacts upon the present day in many unusual and helpful ways, her escapades help to lift the level of unease and tension for all those close to the many secrets hidden within the house.
I loved the strong willed characters of Ada and Kate, they combine their energy to bring about a well deserved happy conclusion.
This novel uses both historical facts and fiction, there is a great deal of smoke and mirrors before this mystery adds up to make a wonderful , slightly scary read.
I rated this a five star read. My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers, Boldwood Books for my ARC, freely given in exchange for my honest review. I will leave copies to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication.

Kate Goodman is on her way to the most important meeting of her life, a partnership interview, when she receives an unexpected phone call which turns her life upside down. Her estranged sister, Emma, is in hospital and Kate is named as next of kin for Emma’s children – Izzy and Max.

Emma and her children live in a cottage in the grounds of a beautiful but decaying house, reputedly haunted, which Emma owns. The last owner of the house was Adaline Haverlock, a noted Victorian photographer, who sadly became estranged from her sister Camile. Ada’s spirit can’t rest until she finds out what happened to Camile and she senses in Kate a person who could help her.

Told from two points of view (Kate and Ada) this is an engaging story about two pairs of sisters trying to overcome what drove them apart. Thoroughly enjoyable and I’d certainly look for other books by this author.

A great story of a woman who restarts life and decided to restore an old house, which is full of secrets. The mystery is great. I loved it!

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this eCopy to review

The House of Light and Shadows follows Kate, who finds herself in a rather unsettling situation. After her estranged sister is injured, Kate steps in to care for her niece and nephew at their eerie old house, Rookswood House. From the moment she arrives, the atmosphere is thick with mystery and suspense. One of the most gripping moments is when Kate captures what appears to be a ghost in a photograph. This incident sets off a chain of events that leads her to uncover the dark secrets of the house and the two enigmatic sisters who lived there over a century ago.

What I loved most about this book is how it seamlessly blends historical mystery with elements of the supernatural. The Victorian photography adds a chilling layer to the narrative, making the reader question what is real and what is an illusion. As Kate delves deeper into the house's past, she faces numerous challenges, including a potential developer eyeing the property, her niece being threatened by an unseen force, and the possibility of new love on the horizon.

Westwood's writing is atmospheric and captivating, drawing me into the world of Rookswood House. The characters are well-developed, and the plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat. If you enjoy historical mysteries with a touch of romance and the supernatural, this book is a must-read

I didn’t like this as much as Lauren Westwood’s last novel. A strange Gothic story about a dilapidated historic house, a ghost and estranged sisters, it certainly captures the attention. It was a bit creepy for me but I liked the themes of family, love and forgiveness.

The story revolves around Ada, a ghost stuck in the historic Rookwood House, and Kate and Emma who live in the present century. Who is Ada, and what does she want? Kate, a young lawyer, who rushes to the country to look after her estranged sister’s children, forms a connection with Ada. The handsome headmaster of the children’s school seems to be the only one who understands this, but what about Charlie, the good-looking builder? Kate is also attracted to him.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The setting of a run down haunted house was atmospheric and mysterious.

The family dynamics between the sisters (in the modern and historical time periods) provided parallel storylines.

Background information about historical photography techniques was interesting.

Overall I found this book to be quite predictable but nevertheless enjoyable.

I did notice an occasional word or phrase which made me suspect the author was not British which I found a bit distracting.

I honestly don't know what rating to give this book. Everything felt too predictable and I understand that the author was trying to put her own spin to the story. It just felt like the author was trying too much. I enjoyed it but I wouldn't give it more than a 3 star. Some of the concepts were borrowed from other books which I didn't like either.

Thank you to the publisher and author for sending me this book.

If you like historical and paranormal mysteries with dual POV's, then this book is for you!
The House of Light and Shadows was an easy and engaging read that captured my attention straight away. The pacing is on point and the historical references to Victorian special effects photography were interesting and insightful.
Theres a good range of characters with some unexpected twists and turns and I'll be honest and admit that the ending had me in tears.
The only negative thing I have to say is that I wanted more of Adaline and Camile's story!
Overall, it's a great little read which is centred around family and forgiveness.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read an eARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Genre: Historical mystery
Upcoming release date: February 18, 2025
Goodreads rating: 4.03
My rating: 5

Book cover of House of light and shadows by Lauren Westwood. Image shows a mansion during nighttime
The House of Light and Shadows by Lauren Westwood follows Kate, a NY attorney, who is called upon to go care for her niece and nephew while her estranged sister recovers from an injury. Upon arrival in their small town, she discovers that the circumstances of her sister’s injury are mysterious—possibly ghostly. She soon meets a few townspeople who, in my opinion, feel a little bit suspicious from the start.

The story takes place in a dual timeline. We follow Ada and her sister Camile in the late 1800s, as well as Kate and Emma in modern day. Both sets of sisters struggle with a rift that pulled them apart, and both are trying to mend this rift. This connects the two timelines.

The book starts off strong… I was quickly drawn into the story and found that Westwood set the atmosphere of the old haunted Victorian-era house very well. This house—Rookswood House—quickly felt like a character in itself to me.

The story flowed at a good pace and a few twists and turns kept the mystery interesting. I quite enjoyed how the book delved into the art of Victorian-era photography… l learned quite a few historical facts about this art.

This book is part mystery, part ghost story, part family drama… with a bit of romance. I found that it did the mystery-ghost-drama portions very well but the romance, in my opinion, distracted a bit from the story. But for those who enjoy a dash of romance, this will bring the right mix to the book.

Fair warning that there are a few macabre moments to the story but overall, I quite enjoyed this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read an eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

While caring for her estranged teenage niece and nephew, Kate explores the ramshackle old house on the property, and photographs what appears to be a ghost. Intrigued, she investigates the home’s history and the two mysterious Victorian sisters who used to live there. But as Kate uncovers disturbing secrets, she realizes a sinister presence threatens her family and her future.

This story is engrossing and complex, with hints of gothic horror. The creepiness is more atmospheric than psychological.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Sisters Emma and Kate haven’t spoken for 15 years but when Kate is called upon suddenly to help with Emma’s children , Kate comes face to face with the imposing Rookswood House and “The weird sisters” Adaline and Camile.

My thoughts- I loved this book so much, the characters were all amazing , the settings were so vividly written that I could easily picture the places in my mind. The plot kept me guessing and I audibly screamed in places when the plot took a twist, I would highly recommend this book to everyone I know and I look forward to reading more from this author, thank your the advance copy

The House of Light and Shadows blends historical mystery with gothic elements, weaving a compelling story about family, secrets, and the eerie past of Rookswood House. While the atmospheric setting and historical photography details are intriguing, some readers may find the characters a bit flat and the mystery not as tightly woven as hoped, leaving the overall experience enjoyable but not unforgettable.

Let us go together, forever always.
Two sisters.
In light, in shadows.
Two sisters.
Let us go together in love...

Katherine (Kate) Goodman is one interview from the law partnership she has fought so hard for when a phone call from the headmaster of the school her estranged sister's children go to upends her life. She's soon deep in the English countryside dealing with family secrets, traumatised teens and a century old mansion with a spooky past and several recent 'accidents'.

The house of light and shadows speaks of many things. It tells a ghost story. It tells a romance story. It tells a story of a century old house and the people who once lived there. But above all else, it speaks about sisters and the deeply woven, complex, messy and above all enduring bonds they share.

The narrative masterfully switches between the past and the present as we read about the deep but damaged bonds between Kate and Emma in the present and Ada and Camile in the past.

Skilled writing, likeable characters and fascinating vignettes from real history adds to the experience. I loved reading about the fascinating and macabre history of Victorian 'photoshop' trends like post-mortem photography and spirit photography.

I wanted to love this book but I think I'm more of a character reader and I found most of the characters to not be very dimensional. A decent mystery, just didn't end up being my fave.

In January I read my very first Advance Reader Copy (ARC), and my first book by @lwestwoodwriter. It was absolutely a case of judging a book by its cover; the image and blurb drew me in but it was the writing that kept me reading.

From the very first chapter, I was absolutely hooked. The book is narrated from the point of view of two of the main characters. While I'm not usually the biggest fan of split POV stories, I felt like it really worked in this instance. It highlighted the parallels and similarities, but without causing confusion or unnecessary complications.

The plot is a great mix of family drama, mystery, paranormal and romance without being too cheesy or feeling forced.

I absolutely raced through this novel and promptly added the rest of Lauren's books to my TBR! I would happily recommend this to anyone who enjoys a bit of mystery with a splash of romance and can't wait to read the other books in the series. Definitely 5 stars from me!

Thank you to #Netgalley for a free ARC ebook of #TheHouseofLightandShadows.

I want to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me an ARC digital copy of The House of Light and Shadows by Lauren Westwood in exchange for an honest review.

Lauren Westwood is a brilliant writer. She manages to weave two different time periods together flawlessly. Both with the underlying issue of sisters who have a falling out and an ache to be reunited. The book had many twists and turns that kept me guessing. The characters evolved as the story unfolds and I could easily feel the different emotions the characters were feeling. This was a creative story with an old house in the center of it. There were moments when the story gave you chills but was not overly scary or haunting.

Similar to the book The Orchids of Ashford Hall by Rebecca Anderson. If you like books with old houses, ghosts, romance and mystery you will love this book.

Thank you @netgalley for providing the gifted ARC. This book will be Published on 18 2025.

The House of Light and Shadows by Lauren Westwood is a profound historical mystery blended with gothic horror elements with a dash of romance, also this book delves into lost and found theme in the settings of family mystery.

When Kate goes to look after her estranged sister’s children in their creepy old house, she takes a photo of what seems to be a ghost. Frightened yet intrigued, Kate undertakes to uncover the secrets of the house and the two mysterious sisters who lived there over a hundred years before.

But like the illusions of light and shadow in the sisters’ strange and disturbing Victorian post-mortem photography, Kate discovers that all is not what it seems. Someone – or something – has their own plans for Rookswood House – and for Kate.

With a potential developer circling around, her teenage niece in danger from an unseen force, and new love on the horizon, Kate must unravel the secrets and lies of her own and Rookswood’s past before she loses everything she holds dear.

Let me tell you a vital point about this book, this gripping story is a delicate dance between horror, epiphany and historical event that staged in a mysterious old house named Rookswood. This book also explores the headless Photoshop trend from the Victorian Era, early 19th century was buzzing in this fun photoshop fashion, Oscar Gustave Rejlander, Father of Art Photography, and the author masterfully used this theme in her gothic horror environment.

This book is highly atmospheric, will make you engrossed immediately in a perfectly blended story line which is an interesting amalgamation of history, horror, sisterhood, it reminds us historical mysteries by Eve Chase, Rachel Burton and Harriet Evans, you'll love Lauren Westwood.

With beautifully articulated characters and well crafted mystery this book is a page turner.

Rating 5/5⭐

The House of Light and Shadows by Lauren Westwood

I want to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

In this well-written mystery thriller, we follow Kate, whose life turns upside down after she receives a phone call. She steps into an unexpected situation where she grapples with family, love, and a bit of horror.

I decided to read this book purely on a gut feeling, which, after finishing it, turned out to be a great decision. Lauren is a fantastic author; she writes in a way that makes it easy for readers to follow the story, and she ties the entire book together in a satisfying way. I both laughed and got emotional while reading it.

I highly recommend this book, which is why it gets a 4.5/5. This is a book I could read again.