Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐
Edwina “Edie” Nunn is surprised to discover that she has inherited an old castle on a remote Scottish island as the only living descendent of the Maundrell family. Now in her late forties, Edwina, recently widowed, has never known her biological family, having been left at an orphanage as a baby. Her teenage daughter, Neve, is excited at the prospect of inheriting a castle and Edwina is eager to know more about her real family. Neither of them could have been prepared for the ghostly inhabitants (not all of whom are particularly friendly), the deep-buried secrets of the island and the tragic history of the Maundrell family, most of which occurred on Samhain. Nor were they prepared for the mystery behind the Maundrell Red – a diamond that went missing decades ago and, as legend has it, is responsible for the tragedy that befell the family. With Samhain quickly approaching, and the eerie occurrences intensifying, Edie and Neve soon discover that evil lurks in various manifestations in and around the castle and there are forces at play that would keep them from discovering the truth.
With its atmospheric setting and intricate plotting, In the Lonely Hours by Shannon Morgan is a riveting read that combines elements of historical fiction, family drama, supernatural suspense and Gothic mystery. I loved the descriptions of the island, the haunted castle and Loch na Scáthanna, the Lake of Shadows. I appreciated how the author wove an element of folklore into the narrative. Presented in dual timelines (the 1960s where we meet the matriarch Elizabeth “Bitsie” Maundrell, who is pure evil, immediate family and the present-day wherein we follow Edie and Neve), the story initially unfolds at a relatively slow pace but picks up as the narrative progresses. I loved how the past was gradually revealed through old journals, local lore and ghostly visitations and thought the twists were well – executed. The novel touches upon themes of complicated mother-daughter relationships, dysfunctional family dynamics, mental health, neurodivergence, child abandonment, generational trauma, abuse and homophobia. Needless to say, some moments are dark and disturbing, but we also have moments of kindness, empathy and love. The bond between Lottie and Mungo was beautifully depicted and I particularly enjoyed how Neve connects with one other ghostly visitors after getting off to a bumpy start. I enjoyed following the mystery as it is slowly unraveled and was satisfied with the ending, but I did think that certain aspects of the present timeline could have been explored further. I’m not a fan of the horror genre and I was glad that the novel did not venture into territory that would have made it difficult for me to read.
This isn’t a genre I dabble in much, but having read and enjoyed the author’s previous novel, Her Little Flowers, I was eager to read her latest offering. Overall, I enjoyed this well-crafted novel and look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Many thanks to Kensington Books for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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