Dearest reader,there is one thing you should always remember;some houses are not haunted by those who have left this mortal realm, but it is those who still breathe that do much more damage. The year is 1878,June. The body of a missing boy is dredged up from the chilling tomb-like depths of the River Thames,all suspicion of his identity points to the beloved missing child of the widely admired and well-respected Liberal MP Ralph Gethin which shakes the community, forever ensconcing the family within a veil of secrecy and silence. Four months prior however,Harriet,a young maid newly employed at Finton Hall is fleeing the drudgery and embarrassment of a very unwanted engagement in her small village where she grew up, and she is soon enraptured and enchanted by such a grand dwelling, and also her glamourous,yet aloof mistress Clara Gethin, with her ethereal singing that can be heard emanating throughout the manor, bringing a little light and warmth to the hollow bones of the house itself. Yet Harriet must be careful as Clara is incredibly captivating,but also erratic in her emotions and actions,and she cannot help but notice that the much-lauded politician is strangely absent, and some of the apparently beautiful objects housed within hold a twisted, dark, and ugly secret that cannot help but unsettle Harriet upon closer inspection even when the owner insists there is nothing to fear… Harriet must work with her instincts as she sets out to discover the hidden secrets but when she unpicks at the biggest of knots,she may find herself in an inescapable web of her own making which will cost her more than she will realise, and Harriet may never recover from the consequences. Deftly plotted,gorgeously gothic which will keep your heart racing throughout, this debut is guaranteed to keep you guessing.

This is a wonderfully written story that weaves fictional characters into true historical events. I love the work of Stacey Halls and Laura Purcell and this book gave off similar vibes. Some of the subject matter is extremely harrowing (child trafficking, baby farming, murder, sexual assault, corruption and female oppression to name a few), so this book isn't for the faint hearted, but Harriet is a strong, loyal and pragmatic protagonist and the unfolding mystery keeps the reader guessing. The story is slow to start, but it is worth persevering. I recommend this book.

I was expecting a Gothic haunting tale when I started this book. And in the beginning it feels like it is heading that way with dark corners in libraries and emotionally distant mistresses. How ever the story develops beautifully into a Victorian thriller which explores the control and abuse by rich powerful men over their wives. It is very evocative of Victorian London and all its secrets. I really enjoyed this book with its Jack the ripper vibes . Perfect for readers of Stacy Halls . Many thanks to the publishers for sending me a copy to review

This story is a historical fiction based in England and I found it really gripping! The plot was brilliant but I really didn’t expect the story to take a turn like it did!! Excellent writing!! I shall look out for more from Hester Musson in the future! Harriet takes a maid’s job at a large house in the countryside. We find out that she takes it to escape her fiancé as she’s not keen to get married! She adores the house and the lady of the house especially. Clara Gethin is married to an MP and from the outside looking in, they both seem like lovely people. Harriet then becomes closer to Clara and the picture isn’t so rosey! Many thanks to 4thestatebooks for the chance to read this arc copy via Netgalley. #Netgalley, #4thestatebooks, #hestermusson.

What a wonderful debut novel. This book was utterly enthralling, bewitching and imaginative. A Victorian Gothic tale with atmosphere aplenty, explores the darkest crimes of sexual violence, murder and corruption. This story seen through the eyes of the lead character, Harriet, a young maid employed at Finton Hall, home to Clara and her husband Liberal MP Ralph Gethin, takes you on a page-turning journey of love, power, exploitation, tragedy, secrets and lies. This was a definite 5 star read for me. I can't wait to read more from Hester Musson. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publishers for this ARC.