The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright
Author: Jaime Jo Wright
Published: 2023
Genre: Christian Fiction, Mystery, Suspense
Synopsis From Goodreads:
In 1865, orphaned Daisy Francois takes a position as housemaid at a midwestern Wisconsin castle and finds that the reclusive and eccentric Gothic authoress inside hides more than the harrowing tales in her novels. With women disappearing from the area and a legend that seems to parallel these eerie circumstances, Daisy is thrust into a web that may threaten to steal her sanity, if not her life.
In the present day, Cleo Clemmons is hired by the grandson of American aristocratic family the Tremblays to help his matriarchal grandmother face her hoarding in the dilapidated Castle Moreau. But when Cleo uncovers more than just the woman’s stashes of collectibles, a century-old mystery of disappearance, insanity, and the dust of the old castle’s curse threatens to rise again, and this time, leave no one alive to tell its sordid tale.
Fan-favorite Jaime Jo Wright draws readers into a seamlessly woven dual-time tale of suspense, mystery, romance, and redemption.
My Take:
“Women have been known to visit Castle Moreau…They do not return.”
2024 Christy Award winner. If you enjoy creepy suspense/thrillers with Christian themes (who knew there were such things!), this is a must-read! A mysterious castle in Wisconsin, a gothic horror author, creepy woods, mysterious disappearances…what more could you ask for? I’m sure I will be reading this one over and over. The author expertly wove three timelines into one cohesive story that will draw you in and keep you there long past the final page. The characters are well-written and three-dimensional. Each one is so well-written that I felt like I was walking alongside them down creepy corridors at night or through the dense forest outside a castle where “women have been known to visit” but “never return”. I pictured myself in the castle and felt the gothic vibe that has clung to it since it was built. Door knobs rattle in the night, the presence of something wicked follows the characters. Nothing was too scary, but it definitely got my pulse jumping!
As the story progresses, we learn more about the characters and the castle, which only adds to the mystery. The supernatural vibe continues throughout each timeline, culminating in an ending that left me in awe. Like I said, this one is a must-read if you like Gothic mysteries!
Language:
There are a few swear words sprinkled in, but very few.
Sexual Content:
In the older timelines, life is rough for many of the characters. There are threats of sexual violence and being forced into prostitution. A married store clerk has “a wandering eye”. Nothing on page.
Drug/Alcohol Use:
Alcohol and drug abuse is prevalent throughout the story, mainly as a recognized vice that needs to be overcome…even by minors. A couple of main characters suffer from addiction.
Violence:
This novel has a lot of violence off-page (in the past). It is one of the major themes. The gothic horror author in the oldest timeline writes stories where women slaughter other women.
Plot/Storytelling:
A fast-paced gothic thriller with outstanding characters that will keep you reading until the last page. Three timelines woven in expert fashion. The story zips along, leaving you wondering how the author will pull it together at the end.