Publishers Weekly
10/25/2021
The spirit of a vengeful witch haunts a young woman in this captivating paranormal fantasy from Fox (The Orphan of Cemetery Hill). Everything changes for Augusta Podos when she lands her dream job as collections manager at Harlowe House, a historical property in Tynemouth, England, that belonged to a wealthy seafaring family in the 19th century. But from the moment she steps inside, she gets the eerie feeling that someone is watching her. Despite this uneasy sensation, she’s excited to create an exhibit around 19th-century women in Tynemouth—and she’s particularly interested in learning more about Margaret Harlowe, a mysterious, forgotten member of the family. But as she probes Margaret’s history, she begins to hallucinate Margaret’s tortured past as a witch. Augusta realizes it’s Margaret who’s been watching all along and now she’s forced to relive Margaret’s bone-chilling memories. To avoid becoming a pawn in the witch’s sinister game, Augusta must discover how to lay Margaret’s spirit to rest. Fox balances Augusta and Margaret’s stories with an expert hand, giving both characters depth. With unexpected twists aplenty, this is sure to keep fans of paranormal fantasies turning the pages. It’s a multilayered, haunting tale. Agent: Jane Dystel, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
"Weaves a spell of darkness that’s mysterious and magical, and binds it with a knot of deathless love."—New York Times bestselling author Susanna Kearsley
"With expert pacing, Hester Fox peels back the layers of a mystery involving modern-day museum curator Augusta Podos and 19th century doomed witch Margaret Harlowe in this exquisite page-turner. An atmospheric and heartbreaking tale of loss, dark magic and the power of love, this brilliant book will stay with you long after the last page."—Constance Sayers, author of The Ladies of the Secret Circus
"A spine-tingling blend of paranormal and historical fiction that feels gothic, gloomy, and perfect for winter."—BuzzFeed Books
"With unexpected twists aplenty, this is sure to keep fans of paranormal fantasies turning the pages. It’s a multilayered, haunting tale."—Publishers Weekly
“Fox deftly navigates the overlapping borders of romance and the paranormal.”—Kirkus
"Engrossing."—LibraryJournal
"A haunting story full of long-buried secrets...Fans of Louisa Morgan and Susanna Kearsley will want to pick this up."—ShelfAwareness
"Both timelines are compelling and readers will enjoy this blend of paranormal, gothic horror, romance, and historical fiction."—Booklist
Library Journal
01/01/2022
Fox's dual-narrative novel explores the agency (and lack thereof) of two women separated by 150 years but connected in ways they don't know. In 1870s Tynemouth, MA, Margaret Harlowe is the only daughter of the wealthy Harlowe family. Frustrated with the limitations put upon her, she takes up herb and magic lore. She provides medical services to the women of Tynemouth, who come to her in secret for help but gossip about her being a witch when she encounters them in public. Margaret's loneliness ends when the son of a local shopkeeper, Jake, begins to keep company with her. Though Margaret doesn't realize it, that relationship will lead to tragedy. In the present, Augusta Poole takes a job as a curator at the Harlowe House, now a museum, in Tynemouth. She's thrilled to leave a dead-end job and to be working in her field. Her excitement grows when she finds what seems like a lost member of the Harlowe family, Margaret. As she delves into Margaret's life and eventual disappearance, Augusta begins to experience inexplicable events and finds her link with Margaret is stronger than she knows. VERDICT The premise and gothic undertones of this latest from Fox (The Orphan of Cemetery Hill) make this an engrossing, if somewhat unevenly plotted read.—Jane Jorgenson
Kirkus Reviews
2021-11-30
A young historian strives to uncover the story of another woman’s tragic life centuries before.
Augusta is stuck in a rut in Salem, Massachusetts. Neither her job nor her boyfriend brings her fulfillment or joy, and her relationship with her mother has been strained since her father’s death several years before. Then she comes across a job listing for a collections manager at the historical Harlowe House. Something about the house calls her in, particularly the portrait of Margaret Harlowe, who lived there as a young woman but about whom little is known. Fox intersperses chapters about Augusta with chapters narrated by Margaret, a vibrant and self-assured young woman with an innate understanding of plants and herbs. Margaret eventually earns a reputation as someone unnatural and dangerous; at the same time, she falls desperately in love with a local man and becomes pregnant. In the present, Augusta begins to have visions of the house from an earlier time; though she tries to convince herself they are brought on by skipping breakfast—or her attraction to co-worker Leo—it’s apparent that something, or someone, is bringing Augusta under its spell. Is it the house, or is it a spirit attached to the house? And if it's Margaret, is she calling out for Augusta to understand and tell her story—or is there something darker at work? The split narrative adds complexity and interest, though in some ways Margaret, a much more interesting figure, overshadows the more timid Augusta. Though Fox offers a parallel between the two—Margaret’s confidence as her powers grow, Augusta’s gradual reclaiming of her own power to make decisions and changes in her life—there’s something a little too predictable about Augusta’s story. The plot twist toward the end is relatively satisfying, however.
Fox deftly navigates the overlapping borders of romance and the paranormal.
