Classic Gothic Romance

 

Whispers of Shadowbrook House
By Rebecca Anderson
Publisher:  Shadow Mountain
Publication date:  August 5, 2025
Print length:  272 pages
ISBN-13:  978-1639933884

 Publisher’s Blurb:

In the crumbling Shadowbrook House, governess Pearl Ellicott and heir Oliver Waverly unravel a haunting mystery while confronting their growing forbidden love.

London, 1880

Pearl Ellicott dreams of falling in love and having a family of her own. Until then, she is content working as a governess for young Maxwell, tending to his education and fragile health. Together, they explore the mansion’s empty rooms and secret passageways in search of the haunting violin music that seems to come from nowhere.

Oliver Waverly is young and independent, with plans to sell the run-down mansion once he inherits. But his strained relationship with his reclusive uncle, Arthur Ravenscroft, complicates matters when Ravenscroft refuses to relinquish Shadowbrook House without explanation.

As they spend more time together, Oliver slowly becomes enchanted by Pearl’s wit and love for Maxwell, and Pearl finds herself irresistibly drawn to Oliver’s passion and resolve. However, the social gap between the heir and the governess makes pursuing a relationship difficult.

Oliver must decide whether to follow his heart or adhere to his family’s expectations, while Pearl grapples with her fear that if Shadowbrook House is sold, she will lose her job, her found family, and her chance for long-lasting love. Will the lovers part ways or choose to be together despite the odds? The answer lies within the walls of Shadowbrook House and the echoes of its haunting past.

 My Thoughts:

This book kind of took me back to the late ‘70s, when we tweens and early teens were reading all the Victoria Holt gothic romances.

 Oliver and Pearl are almost immediately attracted to each other and, in fact, the kisses (and this book doesn’t go past kissing) come fairly early. They are from different stations in life, and it is more of an obstacle for Pearl than it is for Oliver. They also both have the emotional scars of their pasts, and this an even bigger issue.

 Oliver’s biggest problem is that he thinks he knows best. He has an idea of what he thinks should happen, and he’s reluctant to consider other views. Pearl is carrying the guilt of a family tragedy, and throws all her emotional and physical energy into caring for Maxwell.

 The writing is atmospheric, and the side characters are interesting. The house is neglected and spooky. There are some kind of questionable characters among the servants. Arthur is a classic reclusive old man—he reminds me of Archibald Craven in The Secret Garden or Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre.

 My favorite character might just be Madame Genevieve the medium who has arrived to talk to the house’s ghosts. She’s actually a fraud, but she’s a really, really good fraud. In today’s life, she’d be everyone’s favorite therapist, and is actually a kind and lovely character.

 Possible objectionable material:

Family estrangement. Past deaths of family members. Past emotional neglect of a child. The house is said to be haunted. Chronic illness. Kissing.

 Who might like this book:

Romance fans, especially those who like things a little bit spooky.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

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