This is a Victorian romance, set in 1880s Sussex, England. Our heroine, Eustacia, marries into an aristocratic family living in the impressive yet gloomy mansion of the title. She soon begins to realize that all is not as it seems (is it ever?) with her dashing husband, his family or even her own past. Mysteries, and soon physical danger, begin to swirl around her.

I enjoyed this book. The characterizations were fine, within the expectations of the genre. The plot twists were interesting, usually neither telegraphed nor too abrupt. The plot's culmination is kind of rushed and the developments within the falling action, mercifully brief, can be forecast a mile away. Those are relatively small gripes, however. I'm certainly no expert on this genre, but for anyone who finds these old time romances (this one was written in 1972) to be fun to read from time to time, this one, while perhaps not at the very top of the craft, is at any rate good, relaxing fun. ( )

Lovely story of a young lady raised in scandalous circumstances in London, marrying into a wealthy family and coming home to the family seat. She loves her new husband, but there seems to be some underlying tensions concerning her husband's real character, and the real reason he married her. Interesting characters and quite reminiscent of Victoria Holt. ( )