House of Shadows by Darcy Coates

During the last two weeks I've been trying to read books I have downloaded ages ago and put aside when something newer came on the scene. It is a bad policy as the books just pile up then. A touch of magical, supernatural and ghosts involved. Not genres I usually read but this one was a good story. Sophie marries Mr. Argenton in straightened circumstances. Her father is faced with bankruptcy and Mr. Argenton has offered his help and also his offer of marriage to his daughter. The gentleman is an absolute stranger to Sophie who has led a sheltered life. On arriving at his home, many things strike Sophie as very unusual. His aunt Rose, with her dire warnings not to get too close to her husband, the girl Elise, the butler and even her husband himself who absents himself with no prior warnings leaving Sophie to fend for herself in this very strange house. The house Northwood is one of the primary features of this story and its very gothic, very atmospheric manner overshadows the entire story and the characters themselves become secondary to the house. The story was fast paced and I liked the fact that Sophie despite never having envisioned a life like this, quickly adapted and was determined to protect her husband (even though she knew very little about him). Sent by Poisoned Pen Press for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.