Published by Lake Union Publishing ISBN 978-1477820469
Trade paperback, $14.95, 323 pages (Kindle $4.99)
I am a sucker for a good book based on a true story. Writers who can take an incident and spin off an imaginative story from it always impress me. The Book Club Beach Club recently read The Girl Who Came Home, based on a story of fourteen people from a small Irish village who were on the Titanic, and I just finished Elizabeth Hall's Miramont's Ghost, about a reported haunted castle in Manitou Springs, Colorado.
Young Adrienne lives in her grand-pere's castle in countryside of France, with her mother Genevieve. Her father is a diplomat who works in Paris and they rarely see him. Her aunt Marie is a malevolent presence, striking terror in the hearts of the servants, and her family as well.
Adrienne has the gift (or curse) of second sight. She can clearly see visions of things that will happen, but at the age of seven is too young to know not to speak of them in public. Her grandmother had the same gift, and the entire village shunned her. Adrienne's grand-pere fears the same will happen to Adrienne.
Lucie, Adrienne's governess, began writing Adrienne's visions in a journal, and the discovery of this journal has repercussions. Marie convinces Genevieve that it would be in Adrienne's best interests for her to accompany Marie to America to stay with Marie's son Julien, a parish priest who built a big castle for himself in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Marie's evil intentions become clear when she imprisons Adrienne in the castle.
Hall weaves an intriguing story, likened by many to the classic Rebecca, about a family with dangerous secrets, and a young woman who must use her wits and gift of visions to survive. I flew through this book, reading it in one day because I had to find out what happens to Adrienne.
The setting of late 19th century France was fascinating, and Hall's descriptive writing added greatly to the story. She set one scene at the Paris Opera House that was so beautiful, if I closed my eyes, I would swear I was there.
I loved how Hall took this true story of a priest's haunted castle and created this world. Giving Adrienne the gift of visions, the plucky governess, the evil aunt- all of these are combined to create an atmospheric suspenseful novel that is perfect for curling up with a cup of tea on a snowy day by the fire.
I also appreciated her Bibliography at the end, enabling the reader to find out more of the true story of Miramont.
rating 4.5 of 5
Thanks to TLC Tours for putting me on this tour. The rest of Elizabeth's stops are here:
Elizabeth Hall’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:
Monday, February 2nd: Read a LatteTuesday, February 3rd: BookchickdiWednesday, February 4th: Luxury ReadingThursday, February 5th: The Book Binder’s DaughterFriday, February 6th: No More Grumpy BooksellerMonday, February 9th: Life is StoryTuesday, February 10th: History from a Woman’s PerspectiveWednesday, February 11th: Sara’s Organized ChaosThursday, February 12th: Musings of a Bookish KittyFriday, February 13th: Book NerdMonday, February 16th: 100 Pages a DayTuesday, February 17th: Mary’s Cup of TeaWednesday, February 18th: Bibliophilia, PleaseThursday, February 19th: BiblioticaMonday, February 23rd: Reading RealityThursday, February 26th: Peeking Between the Pages
I love the mix of real history and imagination in books like this. And the comparison to Rebecca?! YES!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being a part of the tour!
This sounds like an entertaining read as long as. I have my lights on. :) I will definitely read this.Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
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