Bloggin' 'bout Books: 09/16/21

2026 Literary Escapes Challenge

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- Washington, D.C.*

International:

Gothic-y Mystery a Compelling Read

8:20 PM

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

I'm perpetually behind on reviews and this one is a good example. I read The Daughters of Foxcote Manor (also called The Glass House) by Eve Chase way back in April. While I enjoyed it, I really can't remember much about it. So, I'm going to cheat and use the official blurb:

Outside a remote manor house in an idyllic wood, a baby girl is found.

The Harrington family takes her in and disbelief quickly turns to joy. They're grieving a terrible tragedy of their own and the beautiful baby fills them with hope, lighting up the house's dark, dusty corners. Desperate not to lose her to the authorities, they keep her secret, suspended in a blissful summer world where normal rules of behaviour - and the law - don't seem to apply.

But within days a body will lie dead in the grounds. And their dreams of a perfect family will shatter like glass.

Years later, the truth will need to be put back together again, piece by piece . . .

From the author of Black Rabbit Hall, The Glass House is a emotional, thrilling book about family secrets and belonging - and how we find ourselves when we are most lost.

Thank goodness for GoodReads, where I faithfully record my impressions of a book right after I read it. Here's what I said about this one:

The Daughters of Foxcote Manor ticks all my favorite reading boxes: Gothic vibes, family secrets, atmospheric setting, interesting characters, etc. It's an engrossing novel with a strong sense of place, well-developed characters, and a plot that kept me turning pages. I loved Rita, although I wasn't as enamored of Sylvie. Still, they're both relatable, sympathetic characters whose voices kept me engaged in the story. While I guessed some of the book's plot twists, there were others that surprised me. Overall, then, I found this novel to be a compelling, satisfying read.

(Readalikes: Reminds me of other novels by Eve Chase, including Black Rabbit Hall and The Wilding Sisters)

Grade: