SET IN STONE by LINDA NEWBERY

Set in the beautiful countryside of Sussex we have Four Winds the home of Ernest Farrow - rich, respectable, cultured, recently widowed with two young daughters. Samuel Godwin is young, naive and an art teacher who is offered a very generous position as art tutor to the two young Miss Farrows.

Mrs Farrow has recently died and the girls are in the care of a very conscientious and caring governess in the form of Miss. Agnew.

That is the very bones of the story. But what bones they are and from this very basic beginning we have a great story. The secrets hidden within the family are unimaginable. Considering that the story is set in a puritan, conservative background makes it even more so. How everyone other than the immediate family is aware of the actual secret and how gradually does it come out to the horrifying knowledge of both Samuel and Miss. Agnew and the results of that form the crux of the story.

Imaginatively told, extremely descriptive,  the book written in a diary format moving from one character speaking to the next gives us a concise view of what is happening and of what has happened. We have elements of insanity, sexual licence and misconduct all set in a gorgeous Gothic background.

The book captured my interest and I finished it as quickly as I could. I liked the writing style of this author and will be looking for other books by her.