The Vanishing at Loxby Manor is another stellar gothic-inspired Regency by Abigail Wilson. This author has quickly surged onto my must-read list. Her books keep getting better and better!
The story tells of Charity Halliwell who, after a five-year absence, is seeking a safe-haven in the halls and fields she used to frequent in her youth--Loxby Manor. The manor is home to some of her dearest friends, and after suffering a traumatic experience while away, she longs for familiarity and simplicity. But Loxby Manor is in turmoil from the minute she arrives. The home and its occupants are shrouded in secrets, mystery, and life-threatening danger. Will Charity find the courage to seek the truth before it’s too late?
I devoured this book. I could not put it down! I loved the mystery--the eerie visits to the ruins of the abbey, the faceless statue, the history of the secret society. It was all perfectly crafted to create a heightened and frightening atmosphere from the first time we see the light outside Charity’s window. All the goosebumps!
I’m a lover of second chance romance, and Charity and Piers’s story did not disappoint. Pier’s gentle nature is a perfect complement to Charity’s broken heart. I adored them together. Somewhere between Piers calling Charity Captain Halliwell and Charity working up the courage to tell PIers about her time away--I fell in love with them both. Sigh. They are the kind of characters you miss when you turn the last page.
If you enjoy Regency romance, and if you also like to indulge in a good mystery to unravel, then The Vanishing at Loxby Manor is the perfect book for you. Fans of Michelle Griep and Sarah E. Ladd will want to try this story.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

This one will keep you guessing. I had no idea until the very end who was behind the disappearance of Seline. Which kept the book very engaging until the end.

Piers and Charity’s relationship undergoes a lot of ups and downs as they navigate where they are now and their past. Again, that kept things interesting.

I found all the characters well developed with their own unique traits and personalities. Overall, an very good read from Abigail. If you enjoy historical romance with mystery you will enjoy this book.

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

The Vanishing of Loxby Manor, by Abigail Wilson, is a mystery with questions around every corner. This tale takes place in England in the early 1800s. Charity Halliwell returns home after years away. She is planning on spending some time with her childhood friend, Seline Cavanaugh, and Charity soon discovers that Saline is as flighty as she remembered. Seline has acted inappropriately with the family stable hand and her mother feels the family reputation will be ruined. The situation gets even worse when Seline disappears the very evening that Charity arrives!

Charity soon teams up with Piers Cavanaugh, the elder son in the Cavanaugh family, in an attempt to discover where Seline could be. As Piers and Charity were formerly friends, it is interesting to see how this friendship is revived with all the time they spend together as they search!

This tale is full of unknowns and many dark moments before you are finally able to put the pieces of this mystery together and discover what really happened to Seline!

The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson. Thomas Nelson Fiction, 2021.

This gothic-flavoured regency-period historical-romance-mystery is another great story from Abigail Wilson. Charity, Piers, his sister and Charity’s best friend Selene, and friends enjoyed an idyllic childhood on their Kent estates. Then after Charity and Piers fell in love, before they were old enough to do much about it, Charity moved to Ceylon with her family. Piers writes to sever their relationship. Charity suffers a violent attack. Piers becomes engaged, then the engagement is severed. When her parents decide to visit Boston, her mother arranges for Charity to make an extended visit to Selene at Loxby Manor. Charity welcomes this, understanding Piers will not be there.

This book is shadowy. The hero and heroine are easy to like, their characters well-developed and consistent. The same is not true of the setting or the supporting characters, especially Piers’ family. We never quite know what any of them will do, or if any are what they seem to be. Although there appears to be a rift between Piers and his odd and fretful mother, he seems fond of and loyal to his bedridden father, blinded in a stable accident. His father’s bedroom accumulates dust and cobwebs that no one bothers to clean. Charity has her maid with her, but I don’t recall reading her name. Charity lends her black cloak to Selene, who vanishes. No one appears to go to the village or to London. There are puzzling nighttime lights at the ruined cloister. When the old friends come together for an evening at Loxby Manor, they all appear glad to see Charity, despite strange undercurrents.

The book is well written with lots of action. As they team up to find Selene, readers will root for Piers and Charity to be more than friends.

I must admit, I did not recognize the author’s name when just a chapter in, I thought “this is really good”. And it was not until the near the end that I stopped to take another look at the author’s name and realized that I read, enjoyed and reviewed what might have been Wilson’s first book, In the Shadow of Croft Towers, several years ago.

If I could, I would give this book 4 ½ stars.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of The Vanishing at Loxby Manor from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #TheVanishingatLoxbyManor #NetGalley

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. I realize this may be an odd thing to say, but I think my favorite part of the book is the title. It's a cozy mystery, which isn't generally my cup of tea. The mystery was certainly intriguing, and the romance between Piers and Charity was believable, but I never connected emotionally.

I'm not heartless. Of course, I wanted Piers and Charity to find their way back to one another, and naturally, I hoped for a happy ending to the mystery, but I wasn't as devastated as I think I should have been by unpleasant events, which leads me to wonder if the author could have engaged my feelings a bit more.

Descriptions of the scenes were vivid and made me feel I was there. I could feel the chill in the air, smell the mist over the moors. I always had the sense I knew exactly what things looked like and how they felt. The plot was very well thought out and the pacing was perfect. And to be sure, a book doesn't have to make you cry to be good. In fact, most cozy mysteries are not particularly emotionally engaging. But the heroine's emotions were so overwrought, maybe because of the Gothic aspects of the setting, I felt as if this one should. So I was disappointed when it didn't.

When Charity Halliwell returns to Loxby Manor to visit friends after several years away, she joins forces with her childhood love to find his sister, who vanishes the very night Charity arrives. As the mystery unfolds, we see romance, secret societies, ancient ruins, and dashing heroes that culminate in a clean romantic suspense novel that will keep you riveted until the very last page! This was the first book I have read by Abigail Wilson, and I am now determined to read every single book she writes. This story had it all---romance, mystery, suspense, a riveting plot, and Christian values. This tale was unpredictable, with several plot twists that I absolutely did not see coming. To me, this is the mark of well-written mystery. I loved the second-chance romance for Charity and her childhood love, which progressed well throughout the book and ended with a sweet happily ever after. In this story, the heroine is recovering from a traumatic attack that happened a few years earlier, and she learns lessons regarding her courage, value, and worth no matter what was done to her, which is wonderful. I am glad the author tackled this subject in a tasteful yet truthful way that will touch the hearts of so many who read it. I absolutely recommend this book to those searching for a clean romantic suspense story with heartfelt themes and a riveting plot, and I cannot wait to read more from Abigail Wilson in the future!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes. My thoughts are my own!

The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes

Abigail Wilson offers readers a Gothic mystery with lots of intrigue, wonderfully crafted characters and a romance that returns when all else seems lost.

This story could quite possibly be my favorite of the year. I sat down to read it and COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!! It grabbed hold of my imagination and heart and did not let go, even after I finished the last page. I went immediately and told two people they needed to pre-order it right now so they didn’t miss this incredible story. It begins with a prologue set five years before the main story in which Charity Haliwell is sitting with a twisted ankle at the base of a tree on the Loxby estate and has just been discovered by her secret love, Piers Cavanaugh. He agrees to help her to the house and keep her secret that she set out without a proper chaperone. Seeing trouble in his eyes, Charity accepts his help but wonders at what he’s holding back. Fast forward five years and Charity is returning to the estate grounds after living on the island of Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka). The romance between her and Piers was broken not long after she injured her ankle with a painfully short letter with little explanation. But she has returned to stay with the Cavanaughs for a year while her family goes to America to visit her brother. Not sure of her welcome or what she will find, Charity arrives at Loxby Manor to a quiet house that seems to have none of the family present. She is shown to her room and told a tray will be sent for dinner. Her cousin, Seline, comes to her room soon after with a sweet welcome but a troubling air surrounds her. When she suddenly requests to borrow a cloak and swears Charity to secrecy, Charity has no choice but to agree, despite her sense of foreboding. When Seline makes no reappearance at the manor by midnight, however, Charity must tell someone of her fears. Mrs. Cavanaugh takes Charities words with suspicion and anger and insists on sending for her son Avery to sort things out. A note from “Seline” is found indicating she has run off with a stable hand to be married. But there is too much that is odd about this situation and Charity refuses to accept it as truth. Piers has returned to the manor as well after five years in isolation and she shares all she knows with him, hoping she will convince him to look further into what happened. As Piers and Charity begin investigating Seline’s disappearance, they turn up more questions than answers. Everyone seems to have secrets they don’t want to share and no one is admitting who saw Seline last. With strange happenings all around and mysterious lights at the ruins of the nearby abbey, the danger for everyone seems to be increasing. But what can be so important to keep people from telling the truth? And where is Seline and the stable hand, Miles Lacy? If Piers and Charity are to have any hope for a future together, they will have to solve these mysteries and let go of the past once and for all. Oh my goodness, this chillingly tense story was such a fabulous read! I loved every page of it and was so engaged in it, I ignored the passing time and missed a meal, haha! It’s rare you find such a book that speaks to you so much and I wasn’t about set it aside until I finished it. I loved the gripping tension that was woven through all the pages. There was no piece of information given until absolutely necessary and it was frustratingly well done. I also loved the heartbreaking romance between Piers and Charity. Nothing had happened as they hoped and yet, they still hoped for a chance at love. This passage from Charity’s view at the dance with Piers made my heart happy – “Though the waltz had been introduced at Almack’s last year, I had yet to perform the steps in company…….The subtle change brought a rush of warmth to my cheeks. I’d heard the various debates about the waltz – the degree of personal familiarity that rendered it liable to abuse – but I hadn’t understood the arguments. Not really. Not until that moment. Not until I met his eyes.” Neither of them felt worthy of accepting love but each would realize that their brokenness only gave them character and strength to help others. To say that I cheered when they finally got together is an understatement. And when Piers said, ” Love is you and me deciding to stand at each other’s side to face whatever comes,” I did a happy dance for them. I will most certainly be recommending this book to others with high praise and excitement. It has so many wonderful things about it that anyone would enjoy reading it and I do hope they will. I plan to purchase my own copy very soon so I can re-read it multiple times.

I received this temporary, complimentary E-book from Thomas Nelson fiction via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

This delightfully gothic offering from Abigail Wilson takes the reader on a winding journey to find a missing friend, sister, daughter. Seline Cavanagh appears to have run off with a stable hand, shortly after they were discovered in a somewhat compromising situation. Seline's friend, Charity, isn't convinced, though - regardless of what that troubling note said. Things just do not add up. To muddy the waters, Piers Cavanagh appears after a long absence. Piers, the gentleman who crushed Charity's heart years ago. How to make sense of it all?

I found this story to be both riveting and haunting. Intrigue! Secret Societies! Scandal! Love! It has it all. Abigail Wilson, you have a talent; thank you for sharing it with the world. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Vanishing at Loxby Manor is the fourth book by Abigail Wilson and the fourth one I've read of hers. I guess you could say I am a fan of hers lol. If you enjoy Gothic Romance, you can't go wrong reading her book. Looking forward to more by her!

The Vanishing at Loxby Manor was an enjoyable audiobook to listen to. I found the narrator did a great job and I was immediately engulfed in the mystery. The story was quite suspenseful but I would have liked a bit more action.

This book has everything for the thriller reader. When Chaorty returns home after being away for a few years, a friend mysteriously disappears. This leads her on a quest for answers but every one has a secret and she must decide who to trust. This is fast paced and written beautifully.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This is my first book by this author, and I am so pleased to have been accepted to read and review it. This is a classic Gothic romance set in the year 1816, in a small village in Kent. This book is filled with memorable characters and a Manor filled with mysterious circumstances.

It has been five years since Charity Halliwell has last been at Loxby Manor, she has come to spend a year with the Cavanaughs while her parents are in America with her brother, Arthur. She grew up in a neighbouring property and spent her childhood playing with the children of the Manor, Seline, Avery and Piers Cavanaugh. Piers was her first love and Seline her best friend. So much has changed since she was there and the night she arrives, Seline goes missing. While Charity and Piers try to keep their distance from each other and yet solve the mystery of Seline’s disappearance, they grow closer but are they ever to be together or have the five years apart made the chasm between them too far to broach. As we follow Charity’s footsteps as she tries to find her friend, she realizes she may have put herself in danger and that the threat may be closer than she realized.

This was a lovely book to read, I loved the feel of it and in keeping with classic Gothic romance it was pretty perfect. I will definitely be looking for more books from this author.

The Vanishing at Loxby Manor is the standalone by Abigail Wilson, it is historical fiction with a gothic twist creating much mystery from the first page. As soon as I saw the beautiful cover I wanted to read the book, it reminds me so much of one of my favourite places Whitby Abbey made famous by Bram Stoker.

Set in 1816 England, Charity Halliwell returns to Loxby Manor, the home of her childhood friend Seline and her brother Piers Cavanagh, who also happens to be Charitys only love, When her friend disappears on the first night Charity arrives she sets her mind on finding her and uncovering the secrets of Loxby Manor and it inhabitance. It is definitely a who done it type book, filled with mystery, suspense and kept me hooked throughout. The authors attention to details is amazing. I haven't actually read anything but her before but will definitely look out for other books she writes.

I chose the audio version of the book, the narrator did a great job but it was just a bit slow for me, I think I would have enjoyed it even more had I read the book version instead. I am quite a fast reader and found some of the narration dragged in places.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan via Netgalley for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for my personal opinion.

My rating scale
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Absolutely loved it! Gave me a warm fuzzy feeling or made me cry. And took me on an emotional rollercoaster.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Really liked it. Will read more by the author and other books in the series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - It was just okay, didn’t move me, but don’t feel like I wasted me time reading it either.
⭐️⭐️ - Didn’t like this book and probably won’t read other in the series.
⭐️ - I did not care for this book at all and feel like I wasted my time reading it

The Vanishing at Loxby Manor. By Abigail Wilson. 2021. Thomas Nelson (ARC eBook).

Charity Halliwell returns to Loxby Manor as a family guest so that she may visit her friend Seline Cavanagh. But not all seems right with those at Loxby; with family dysfunction, rumors and strange nightly activities at the nearby abbey ruins, no one seems to be able to account for Seline’s last movements before she disappeared. Charity and Seline’s brother, botanist and Society outcast, Piers, work together to investigate Seline’s vanishing. Charity and Piers had strong feelings for each other five years ago and now that they are together again, their feelings begin to rekindle. As a secret society churns the intrigue and tragedy, The Vanishing at Loxby Manor has a nice mix of Gothic, mystery, grit and slow-burn romance. It is well-written and I look forward to reading more by Wilson.

The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson is a mysterious Regency romance that had me guessing until the end. I was drawn into the world of Loxby Manor and enjoyed my time in Regency England. The story is filled with intrigue, mystery, secret societies, interesting characters and what seems like a hopeless romance. Main characters Charity Halliwell and Piers Cavanagh are childhood friends who have not seen each other in many years, and their story seems bleak. The other characters are not exactly who they seem to be which makes for a gripping story.

I am a huge Abigail Wilson fan and really enjoyed her well crafted books. The Vanishing at Loxby Manor reminded me of author Victoria Holt’s stories which are a great favorite of mine. I was thrilled for the opportunity to read The Vanishing at Loxby Manor and I highly recommend it.

I was given this book by the publisher and not required to write a favorable review.

I am always a sucker for a gothic romance, and while I guess this book is as much of a gothic mystery, there is enough of a romance here to give me what I was looking for.

As the story begins, Charity is visiting the best friend of her youth. Her parents are taking a trip to America and she decides it is the perfect opportunity to find solace after a near-rape left her shaken to her core. As soon as she arrives, however, she discovers Seline is embroiled in a potential scandal, and before she can even blink, her friend disappears. That would be stressful enough, but Selina's brother, Piers is there too. He was the man she thought she would marry before her parents moved her away. And before he sent a letter ending their relationship.

Things are quite fraught at Loxby house. Piers is an outcast from society after he failed to show up for a duel. Seline's mother and other brother are acting strange. The young men Charity once counted as friends are acting squirrely too. And as everything unfolds, she must come to terms with what happened in her past, deal with her feelings for Piers, and solve the mystery of Selina's disappearance.

Let me say that, overall, I liked the book. The best part was the push and pull with Piers. Their unresolved relationship loomed large over every scene they had together. There's not a lot that's physical, but there is lots of longing and angst which is right in my lane.

The mystery... wasn't quite as much a hit for me. All the stuff about secret societies and the politics behind it lost me a bit. But I can tell you the Big Bad was a twist I didn't see coming until we were right on top of it. So that was cool.

The stuff about Charity's assault didn't hit perfectly for me. The way she reflected on it felt...off... sometimes.

But I kept turning the page to see what would happen with Piers. And at the end of the day, the romance was what I was there for. And I walked away satisfied.

This was my first book by this author and I would try her again.

With plenty of red herrings, unreliable, suspicious people sharing cryptic tales, I was left wondering what was really happening and who to believe. Masterfully told, The Vanishing at Loxby Manor includes spine tingling Gothic elements of old buildings falling into disrepair, women in distress, bumps in the night, omens, and an ominous mystery. Combining all of these things with a romantic element was just what was needed to make this a five star book for me.

When I read a mystery, I love to be able to see if I can solve it with the clues that have been given. Ms.Wilson gave just enough breadcrumbs to lead me down a path, only to have me stop and retrace my (mental) steps time and again. I was thoroughly engaged in the story and was delighted to have solved it, even if it was just right before all was revealed. If you like Gothic mysteries, I highly recommend reading this.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Admittedly, it took me a little bit to get into this book, but I’m so glad I stuck with it because it was fantastic. It’s a bit of a slower slow burn, but totally worth the patience. This story is so complex and deals with a very sensitive issue beautifully. I really loved how Charity and Piers helped each other to heal and find their way back to each other. The mystery throughout the story was great and the ending so unexpected. Another win from Abigail Wilson!!

The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson is a haunting regency romance filled with abbey ruins, dark halls, and old friends. Charity Halliwell simply wants to return to the happier times of her youth, but her visit to Loxby Manor launches her into a mystery that could cost her life.

Chairty is a brave, caring woman. Five years – and some awful circumstances – changed her, but did they not make her bitter, only careful. But the disappearance of her friend, seeing the man she once loved, and being unwelcome in the house where she thought she’d find healing, leaves Charity unsettled. Nevertheless, she faces them straight on, no matter the heartache involved.

The Vanishing at Loxby Manor is a gripping story with a mystery as haunting and winding as the dark paths around the old abbey that lay within sight of Loxby Manor. Some of the circumstances are difficult to read about, but the author keeps the hardest parts off screen (though there could be a trigger warning here). I admired how Charity faces her future and how she changes as she seeks to unravel the mystery of her missing friend.

I tend to be picky about my regency romance and The Vanishing at Loxby Manor is just the type I enjoy. A twisting mystery, wonderful characters, with a haunting tone. It’ll grip a reader until the end.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from JustRead Publicity Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.

This book weaves Regency romance, mystery, and suspense into a captivating tale that I found hard to put down. I liked the characters and found Charity to be strong and independent. The plot was cleverly crafted and kept me engaged. This is now an audiobook and I would love to listen to it I look forward to more of this authors work.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.