The Secrets of Hartwood Hall

A Novel

By: Katie Lumsden

Narrated by: Olivia Vinall

Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

A gripping and atmospheric debut that is at once a chilling gothic mystery and a love letter to Victorian fiction.

Nobody ever goes to Hartwood Hall. Folks say it’s cursed…

It’s 1852 and Margaret Lennox, a young widow, attempts to escape the shadows of her past by taking a position as governess to an only child, Louis, at an isolated country house in the west of England.

But Margaret soon starts to feel that something isn’t quite right. 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.

Lonely and unsure whom to trust, Margaret finds distraction in a forbidden relationship with the gardener, Paul. But as Margaret’s history threatens to catch up with her, it isn’t long before she learns the truth behind the secrets of Hartwood Hall.

©2023 Katie Lumsden (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

A SheReads Favorite Historical Gothic Mystery

"Who doesn’t love a cursed manor house in the remote English countryside, especially one with an entire abandoned wing? I’m looking forward to diving into this modern gothic that also promises some Lady Chatterly’s Lover action (there is a handsome gardener!)." —CrimeReads

"[A] captivating debut. . . . Assured prose propels this well-crafted tale of family, friendship, and the cost of personal freedom. Fans of the great Victorian novels, in particular Jane Eyre, will have fun." —Publishers Weekly

“Debut author Lumsden masterfully creates a believable atmosphere of the age, where science and logic are served side by side with the supernatural in everyday life.” —Booklist

Compelling story

The narrator did a great job and the story kept me interested. Not outstanding but definitely a good listen! Unusual twist at the end.

Great mystery, great characters

I was worried when the story has a sick boy and the author loves Dombey. But that would have been a twist too far. The mystery was well worked out and I got hooked. Just one flaw: whist is not a two person game.

What a tray that was?!

I am following the writer on YouTube and I love her videos. Exactly as I loved this book! The characters were consistent and with depth, the story had several picks and the narrator was only adding to the overall experience. I was waiting for this book for more than I year and now I want more!!!

I loved this book, like i loved Jane Eyre!

I loved the story of Jane Eyre and I wanted this story to be in the same vein as it.
I was not disappointed! I really loved this book. I listened to it in 3 days, which means that whenever i had any downtime whatsoever, it played. I'm kind of sad now that its over. If you like Victorian-spooky-governess-love stories then this is the book for you.

Disappointing ending

I agree with the other reviews that express the total letdown of the ending, as well as the character change in Margaret. Suddenly she’s an independent feminist ? It didn’t fit with the first 2/3 of the story. Excellent narration.

Wonderfully written!

The narrator did an excellent job of bringing each character to life. Allowing the listener to get lost into a world you can almost smell, taste and feel. I loved the twists and turns and was never bored. Can’t wait for Katie’s second book after such a great debut.

Excellent new historical fiction!

This was a great new novel of historical fiction. You can tell the author has a great love for Victorian fiction and culture. The secrets are compelling and even though one was kind of obvious- there were plenty more that were genuinely surprising.

Just what I needed!

This was a wonderful listen, the narrator did an excellent job, and the story flowed seamlessly. It will not scare someone or keep them up at night, but it creates a great mood/ambience. This is one I can listen to more than once.

the love

I loved everything about the story. i especially enjoyed the suspense that kept me listening for hours.

Creepy and atmospheric!

I really enjoyed this historical novel from the Victorian period. It felt, to me, like a love letter to ‘Jane Eyre’ and other Victorian classics. Many secrets, slowly revealed throughout, will have you listening well into the night. The narration was absolutely brilliant and I’m already looking forward to the author’s next novel! Give this one a try; you won’t be sorry!