Thank you to the publisher, Graydon House, Harlequin Books and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In the aftermath of World War I, Ivy Radcliffe unexpectedly inherits the title of Lady Hayworth, and with it a Yorkshire estate known as Blackwood Abbey. Having lost all her family, Ivy does not hesitate to move into the manor, though she is uncertain about what awaits her there. The abbey is a strange place with less than welcoming servants and unexplainable occurrences, but she is overjoyed to discover the vast library it houses and is irresistibly drawn to it despite sensing at times, a presence lingering amongst the shelves. Ivy soon learns that there are many rumors surrounding the abbey, its previous owners who all mysteriously died young and talk of ghosts and curses. But as odd events begin to turn sinister and Ivy finds herself losing memories of conversations and actions, she begins to suspect that the root of it all lies in the library, and a mysterious manuscript it is rumored to house. Time is running short however, and as her forgetful episodes start spanning days, Ivy must uncover the secrets of Blackwood Abbey before it is too late.

The combination of historical fiction and mystery is one I enjoy, and though the only thing really historical about this is when it is set, the synopsis made this book too interesting to pass up.

The beginning of this book was great, especially the prologue, set hundreds of years in the past, which created the mood and tone for this perfectly. The first couple of chapters drew me into the story immediately and even though most of the explanations came later in the book, it held my attention throughout.

The plot was very well structured and thought out and the concept of Blackwood Abbey and the forces surrounding it an intriguing concept. While the premise obviously hints at a bit of a gothic atmosphere, supernatural forces and so on, I wasn’t quite prepared for how central to the tale it would be, and personally, it wasn’t to my taste.

This book was quite well written. At just over 300 pages, it was an easy read and a fast paced one too, which kept me turning the pages late into the night – though perhaps reading it at night wasn’t such a good idea as the story became quite creepy at times.

On the downside, since everything is narrated from Ivy’s perspective, this quickly became a case of an unreliable narrator. When Ivy started forgetting things, as a reader, I had no idea what was going on and the bizarre behaviour of some of the characters made zero sense until much, much later. I don’t like unreliable narrators, so this greatly reduced my enjoyment of the book. Ivy’s memory loss was also used as a plot device to gloss over many events that would have added a lot to the storyline if properly fleshed out and portrayed but instead were reduced to being described in a few sentences from someone else. At the very least, there should have been one more POV.

The plot was certainly strong and it basically carried the whole story in my opinion, since there was next to no character development. Between the single POV, Ivy’s memory loss, and secondary characters who did not impress, there was really no time for it.

Ivy herself wasn’t a likeable character for me. Right from the beginning, she seemed reckless when she just made the decision to accept the legacy she was heir to without bothering to find out anything and brushed off the warnings from many people later to do what she wanted. Then later, she turned out to be incredibly naive, trusting people she just met and it was annoying that she kept ignoring all the warning signs.

Then there was the staff at the abbey who, while they turned out to be good later, were being near hostile initially and refusing to give Ivy any straight responses for no real reason at all. In fact they were pretty much deliberately misleading and uncooperative, supposedly trying to protect her – though why they couldn’t they have just sat Ivy down and explained things properly right at the beginning I don’t know.

The last handful of chapters were a little too rushed and seemed to be racing to wrap things up. I would have liked it if the ending was drawn out a little more since the reader was left to infer a lot from the sort-of-epilogue. Once again, several rather obvious questions were left unanswered, such as how did Ivy just continue on with her life without any repercussions of what happened and more.

Overall, this was a decent read, though probably not one I will re-read. If you’re in the mood for a quick read and an atmospheric one, I would recommend this!

4.5 stars: An extremely fun and engaging read! I read most of it in one stretch on Amtrak and couldn't put it down.

It starts out as a standard Gothic, with really nice Rebecca vibes. By the time the plot picks up and you realize it's more than your typical haunted house Gothic, I was completely sucked in. The period setting was perfect and I really loved how central trauma was to the plot, even after the climax.

I think it could have benefited from another 100-150 pages to really dig into the antagonists and the historical background, but it's definitely more approachable at this length, which is great because I'm going to recommend it to a ton of people.

I always feel bad writing short reviews for books I love, but I don't have any real complaints and I don't want to spoil anything! I highly recommend giving it a try. (Yes, I'm a little biased because I'm a librarian and historian and I really like horror, but I definitely don't think it's a niche read like some of my other favorites (cough Babel cough).)

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

I'm not always a fan of inserting a bit of speculative fiction into my books, but this was tense and captivating enough as a mystery that it really worked for me. Richly described and detailed.

Thank you to NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book!

To start, I should say that I don’t normally do well with spooky books, but this one hooked its claws and wouldn’t let go! I couldn’t put it down and devoured it in one day. A truly incredible, gripping, twisting & turning ride. I highly recommend!

While The Last Heir to Blackwood Library doesn't do anything new for its genre, it delivers exactly what I can imagine a reader would hope for given the premise: a gothic and mysterious haunted library. I ultimately found it a bit tedious.

Ivy Radcliffe is scraping by in London after World War I. Her father and brother died in the war and her mother succumbed to the Spanish flu. Miraculously, she is notified that she is the last surviving heir to Blackwood Abbey in Yorkshire. The only requirement is that she must move to the Abbey permanently. However, when she arrives at Blackwood, she finds herself faced with standoffish servants, a decaying house, but an unusually large and well-stocked library. She is thrilled about the library and sets about getting it properly cleaned and cataloged. Then her troubles truly begin.

In true Gothic style, Ivy contends with supernatural occurrences, cryptic warnings from the servants, a suitor who may be too good to be true, and an unnervingly quick deterioration of her health. She must use all her resources to save herself and her new home from the sinister plans of a secret society determined to gain the occult knowledge hidden in Blackwood's library for themselves.

The Last Heir of Blackwood Library is a paranormal gothic read that had me hooked from the 1st page.

The year is 1927, Ivy Radcliffe is struggling to support herself after the decimation of her family, Her father and brother were killed in the Great War and her mother died of Influenza. Ever since their loss Ivy has been eking out a living in London. Then she receives the solicitor’s letter, She is the last of the Hayworth’s and inherits the title, Blackwood Abbey, a mysterious library and some very weird servants. Ivy leaves London for Yorkshire and her unexpected inheritance. Once there she meets the housekeeper and butler , Mr. & Mrs. Hewitt, the maid Agnes and Ralph, the mysterious chauffeur, gardener and general handyman. When Ivy meets Sir Arthur Mabry, she thinks she may have found love as well as a a fellow bibliophile.. Sir Arthur tells Ivy that Blackwood Abbey has a famous library full or rare texts and manuscripts. Ivy with much resistance from the housekeeper Mrs Hewitt opens the library and starts to categorize it’s contents, Then the weirdness starts, Ivy starts to lose time and memories, she cannot remember conversations she has had, and she starts to experience supernatural occurences, There is the legend of a monk from the time of Henry VIII and the dissolution of the monasteries, including Blackwood Abbey. The monk had an evil reputation and is said to haunt the abbey, There is also another spirit, more benevolent in nature.

Strange happenings and a malevolent ghost that are trying to control the library cause issues for Ivy, There is the possibility of love and happiness if Ivy can defeat the evil that is controlling the Blackwood Library

I enjoyed the supernatural aspects of ths book. Ivy could be a bit annoying with her passive nature at times, but then when one realizes the hold the library has over the Hayworth family and it’s heirs her behavior is better understood,

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a solid addition to the genre of Gothic fantasy/romance, but there's nothing especially new about this story. I found it to be basically what I expected from the start, and those expectations were consistently met all the way through the story. Personally, I wish the main character had been a consistently stronger character (I thought she was pretty wishy-washy a few times and hated that for her, but that's just personal preference), and I really wish that the book/monk/nun element had been a bigger focus of the story, rather than serving as more of a backstory so that the romance could take center stage. But again, that's just preference. The story is well-written, and I thought the romance was enjoyable, particularly as I'm not a huge romance fan, so that's a big compliment coming from me.

Ivy Radcliffe suddenly finds herself becoming the new Lady Hayworth of Blackwood Abbey. She had never heard of the place but is eager to have a place to stay and not worry about her next meal. When she arrives at the Abbey, she's met with aloof staff, grand but worn surroundings and a feeling of unease. As she explores her new holdings, she discovers an extensive library and wants to share the contents with the town. However, strange things start happening and she finds herself losing time and memories as she struggles to feel like herself and deal with a sudden new fiancé. Overall a very atmospheric book with a hint of the supernatural, but the unreliability of Ivy and her quick judgements can be a bit frustrating. Readers who like detailed settings and unreliable narrators will like this one.

I had so many hopes for this book from the title to the cover and synopsis. The air of mystery about a library locked away, the owners of the house dying far too young, it seems like a recipe for a book right up my alley and yet the further and further I got into it, the more I kept waiting for something to happen. The pacing seemed off and even when I tried explaining the book to someone, they were intrigued by my description. However, the story had it’s moments of fun but it simply felt like it kept missing the mark. All of a sudden the main character would start forgetting whole conversations and days, all of a sudden the main character is married or engaged. I wanted so much more building to happen around various aspects of the story but I never got a great deal of satisfaction. Overall, I think we have a great premise to a book that still need a bit of flushing out.

Ivy is now an heiress with a title. She is the last of the Hayworth line and she is completely clueless. She had no idea about anybody in her family owning such an estate. But, who turns this down right!?!? She takes off to Yorkshire to see her new home. But, things are not as they seem. The staff is acting strangely and she is not exactly sure what to make of this strange estate.

I have been a fan of this author for years! She is always creepy and just a tad bit magical! This book has it all! I loved this weird abbey with its hidden secrets and ghosts! The library in this book transported me every time Ivy walked in there. I could just picture it along with the dusty smell.

Now, I did feel Ivy is a bit too manufactured. She is intelligent but she just doesn’t make wise decisions. But, this was just a minor annoyance, basically, because there is Ralph. Ralph is my favorite character in this whole book. He is a mystery himself. And I would love for Hester Fox to write a book just about him.

Need a dang good historical mystery with a strange manuscript and a few ghosts to keep you company…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Hester Fox has delivered again! Her books are comfort reads to me, an autobuy every time. In this new book, Hester builds the dread slow and steady, but never without engaging the reader on the journey. It's a quiet dread, built in an old Abbey in a remote English village between the World Wars. The setting feels like a slightly gothic Downton Abbey, but with a sinister force in the library. It's difficult to say too much without spoilers, but my favorite part (in addition to her deft hand at romantic subplots) is the effects of the books on the villagers that borrow them. Such a creative idea! You'll have to read it to find out what that is. ;)

The Last Heir to the Blackwood Library by Hester Fox is a gothic tale. The author created a rich environment with the foggy moors, a shabby manor house, grim domestics, objects moving on their own, cold spots, and an ominous library. The story begins in 1927 when Ivy Radcliffe inherits Blackwood Abbey and becomes Lady Hayworth. The spiritualist movement had a resurgence in the 1920s (people who lost loved ones during the war wanted to find a way to reach them). Ivy finds herself drawn to the manor’s extensive library. The housekeeper seems determined to keep Ivy away from it, but Ivy cannot resist the libraries allure. Ivy Radcliffe is an independent, stubborn woman who is also naïve. There are times when she will stand up to someone and others when she backs down (would you sleep in a bedroom where strange things have been happening so you would not inconvenience the staff). I loved the descriptions of the library. There were some intriguing books in it. There are two potential love interests for Ivy. Ivy finds the manor houses curt driver (also gardener, handyman, and stable boy) appealing as well as a charming local aristocrat. I could have done with less of this element and less repetition regarding the two men’s attributes. We also see how the Great War affected different people. The war continues to haunt soldiers and those who were left behind. The story does move at a slower pace. The pace improves toward the end as the story reaches it climax. The author is detail oriented which is good and bad. It creates a rich atmosphere, but it does slow down the story. The book does contain mild foul language and graphic violence (fair warning). I liked the paranormal component and the mystery. There was a surprise or two. I was left with a lingering question or two at the end. I am glad that I stuck with the story and finished it (after reading the prologue, I was tempted to put the book at the bottom of my TBR pile). The Last Heir to the Blackwood Library is a spooky story with an intriguing inheritance, dour domestics, an alluring library, an appealing aristocrat, a firm friend, a spooky presence, and a mad monk.

The Last Heir of Blackwood was a fast-paced gothic mystery that I read in a couple hours without putting it down. Ivy inherits an old abbey in 1927 Yorkshire, and soon after she arrives strange things start happening. Secrets and mysteries of the occult abound, and things are not what they seem. Ivy finds herself in great peril and must discover the key to her survival.

I enjoyed that it was a quick, entertaining read that kept me in suspense and gave me a dash of romance. The pacing was so swift that the plot and characterization don’t get deep development, but it’s perfect for a read-in-one-sitting adventure. I recommend it for fans of the gothic and dark magic.

Thank you to NetGalley and HTP books for the advance copy!

THE LAST HEIR OF BLACKWOOD LIBRARY by Hester Fox is an atmospheric, cozy, ghost story!

Ivy Radcliffe gets my dream of an inheritance of an English manor with a to-die-for library. But all is not as it seems and the staff are clearly hiding something. Ivy is content to lose herself in discovering the books in the library, even though it appears this is the source of everyone's angst. It doesn't take too long to realize that her days are getting fuzzy, and this comforting room takes on a sinister tone and almost feels like it has life of its own.

I had a really fun time following Ivy's delight in the inheritance and then the turn of events as the eerie events kept compiling. The strange behavior of the staff added a lot of questions and uncertainty. The POV of Ivy only was a great choice to keep me in her shoes, wondering what was missing in the blanks that she was experiencing.

This was a fun, light mystery that I was able to read quickly! A haunted library was a fantastic character! And this cover is gorgeous.

Thank you @netgalley and @graydonhousebooks for this digital ARC! The Last Heir to Blackwood Library will be available this Tuesday, April 4th!

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox follows Ivy Radcliffe after she inherits a mansion from a long-lost relative. Inside the mansion is a magnificent library with huge allure for Ivy. Despite cryptic warnings from existing staff at the mansion, Ivy throws herself into refurbishing and cataloguing the library.

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book -- the mystique and atmosphere of this foreboding mansion was intriguing. However, the pace thereafter was slow and by the time we got to some action, I felt disconnected from the story. The main character was making decisions that didn't make sense and didn't appear to take caution after particular instances that were definitely concerning. I realize that some of these decisions and actions have a reasoning behind them that the reader learns of later, but it still felt off to me. I also felt there were some plot inaccuracies but won't go into them here for fear of spoilers.

I did enjoy the backdrop of the post-World War I era in this book and how that affected many people in the book. I wish that were played up a bit more so that we could see those affects on the emotions, actions, etc, of those involved, but we were mostly just told that these things happened rather than feel them from the characters.

I loved the homage to books throughout the story and loved that a library was the center of the story.

Overall, if you enjoy gothic books with a historical setting and fantastical twist, I'd say give this one a try. I don't think this one was for me though!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinions!

When I picked up this book, I thought it was historical fiction. I was very confused and delighted when it turned out to be more than that. Ivy was an extremally likeable character, as were most of the supporting cast. There were some parts that seemed to move so fast for no reason, but I like that the reasons for it are revealed later on. This was a fun read!

This was kind of fun. I love a good spooky gothic mystery. Overall this wasn't quite my style, and the "magic" part of the book felt off and not too well explained. A fun read, but not really one I'd recommend.

This book was slightly too slow for me. i really liked the premise, and I liked how the book was disjointed to reflect the narrator's thoughts, but, it was just a bit too slow.

Hester Fox is so good at invoking atmospheric, creepy gothic vibes! The Last Heir to Blackwood Library is set in the UK post WWI. Ivy is a young woman living in London who has lost her family to the war and illness. But then she suddenly inherits a title and estate from a distant relative and her life changes. Formerly an abbey, she becomes guardian to a mysterious and probably haunted library. One that seems to give her headaches and make her struggle with her memory...

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Graydon House for this e-arc.*