Best-selling Victorian ghost story set in 1900 and modern-day.
A tale of family secrets and reincarnation.
After discovering a lost photo of a mysterious young woman, April is drawn into her family’s secret history. Through dreams, visions and an ancestor’s diary, she must unravel dark secrets and finally lay the ghosts to rest.
‘A story that pulls tight on your heartstrings and ensnares you with magical prose and lyrical beauty.’ ★★★★★
‘Amazingly written and incredibly heartfelt.’
★★★★★
‘A story of love, heartbreak and hope.’
★★★★★
‘Wonderful and heart-warming.’
★★★★★
NEW Audiobook is now available. Listen to the sample now… available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
I was lucky enough to have an ARC edition of the new release from Hester Fox, the Gothic beauty that is The Widow of Pale Harbour. Thank you NetGalley.com
The Widow of Pale Harbour was a much-anticipated read after having read Hester Fox’s debut novel, The Witch of Willow Hall, last year. It can be a little tricky to follow-up with an equally thrilling new release, but the author has pulled it off, again. Hester Fox is fast becoming a favourite author of modern Gothic fiction.
Giving the reader the perfect mix of impending drama and dark mystery all wrapped up in delicious Gothic prose; with captivating characters and atmospheric settings, the author pulls you straight into the story. I found myself easily drawn to Gabriel Stone; a character who is not all he seems, with a history and mystery of his own, that he’s hauling around much like a steamer trunk. His building relationship with the equally mysterious widow, Sophy Carver, had me screaming on occasions “will you just kiss her, already.” …but remember this is historical fiction, so I had to pull my emotions in and let the love story set its own pace with some decorum and beauty..
Along with the tale of building love, The Widow of Pale Harbour has a trail of murders and mysterious dealing all with the hint of Edgar Allan Poe about them. I loved this literary aspect of the book and found myself looking up Poe stories and poems in my own sleuth-like mystery solving.
I would describe this is a journey rather than a destination. The ending had me slightly wanting more twists, as I felt I had ‘figured it out’ but the journey is most certainly one lavished with an eerie historical atmosphere that every good modern Gothic novel needs, making this well worth the read and a solid 4 stars!
It’s always fun to do something a little different. An author interview is always nice to do, but when your book characters grab a little limelight, that is where the fun begins… So when USA Today Bestselling Romance Author, Jenny Foster met my Miss Lucinda Meredith from Mr Stoker & I, here’s what happened.
No, thank you. I know longer feel thirst nor hunger. However, please, if you wish, you go ahead. I am just happy to sit in your company.
Q: I hope you had some time to recover from your last adventure in “Mr Stoker & I”. Tell me, what is your favorite relaxing pastime?
When I was very young there was nothing that warmed my heart as feeling
the sun on my skin, the downy grass beneath my feet. My brother and I would
run, chase through the Abbey ruins. My heart has never been so relaxed as it
was way back then. Although now looking back I understand that may have been a foolish
folly. Now, here, with the sun rising up out of the sea, the peace that washes
over me, this is where I now find myself.
Q: Where did you grow up? Do you have fond memories of your childhood?
Blackthorn Manor. High up on the East Cliff of Whitby, against the vast never ending sky above Yorkshire. Jonathan is my fondest memory of my youth, my dear little brother. Of course, as we grew, once the naivety that surrounds childhood evaporated, so too did those reminiscences. Many years passed before I could think of my brother as that small, weak, child again; those later recollections of a new Jonathan still haunt me no matter how hard I try to forget.
Q: Whom or what do you really hate?
I have tried to hate, truly I have. A small niggling part of my mind
telling myself that I should, that there are so many to blame for all that
misery. But, alas, I no longer have it in me to think on it for too long. Perhaps
blame and hatred lie at my feet, for my mind has recalled the sight of that
night, the fear and terror on the faces of those I loved, and I wonder if I am
the only one left to truly hate.
Q: What is your biggest fear?
What could I possibly fear now? There is no one left to fear, although I
do, from time to time, when the moon is round and my senses are heightened, I
wonder. I wonder if he is still lingering somewhere, perhaps waiting for me.
Q: What makes you smile?
The bloated moon, when silver light filters through a patchy sky to mottle the cliffs with a dappled blanket. And then the sunrise, as its glow chases away the cobwebs of my memories casting new light of a new day onto my skin. Those are the moments I think and reflect of my dear Bram, for the memory of that Summer of 1890 is the only true smile I wear.
Q: I´d love to hear about your future plans. Is there anything you can reveal?
My future is much like my past, it is written just as if I put pen to paper. I will remain here perched up on the East Cliff overlooking the sea, within the shadow of Whitby Abbey. It is where I belong, despite the call of the Carpathian Mountains that shoot pain to my soul, for although I want to return their call I know it is a false want. As my want for him.
Intrigued? Left wanting more? Wait, there is more…. Watch this space for another character interview tomorrow.
Becky Wright ~ Gothic Writer 