I have heard really good things about this author, and the synopsis sounded promising. However, I didn’t really care for the characters, especially Cleo. She was very unlikable. I also didn’t like the romance. The ending was very surprising, and was very beautiful! I recommend this for fans of Wendy Webb!

Castle Moreau is the place where young women disappear never to be seen again. In the present day, Cleo is hired to organize Castle Moreau as years of hoarding have turned the magnificent castle into shambles. When a cassette tape appears on the hood of her car with clues to one of the women who disappeared in the 1980s, Cleo seeks to unravel the mysteries of Castle Moreau. In the 1880s, Daisy takes a job as housemaid at Castle Moreau where a reclusive authoress and ghostly appearances from a woman with a crooked hand are part of the mystery. Why happened to these women and more importantly why did they disappear? Jaime Jo Wright is a master of dual timeline novels blending a spooky eeriness with redemption and hope.

Jaime Jo Wright is quickly becoming one of my favorites! I really enjoyed The Vanishing at Castle Moreau and suggested it to my crime podcast loving daughter…I really hope she reads it! I liked both dual time lines plus the one of “the girl”. The castle was a perfectly creepy setting.

I also listened to the audio version and feel like the narrator did a really great job!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

Publication date: 4 April 2023

My first impression of The Vanishing at Castle Moreau was, “This is creepy!” It reminded me of a Victorian gothic novel, slightly more sinister than Jane Eyre. At first. As I got into the novel, though, I was caught up in the centuries-long mystery revolving around this crumbling “castle” in Wisconsin and wasn’t so creeped out.

The story is told with split-time plots, one taking place in 1870 and one in the present day. The two plots were similar in many ways and I have to admit I got mixed up more than once.

I loved how the mystery was resolved, and I especially enjoyed the present-day characters. If you enjoy mysteries (even if you don’t typically enjoy gothic novels) I encourage you to give this one a chance. I think you’ll like it.

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau is written by Jaime Jo Wright. This author has penned a beautifully written, spooky, mystery filled, multiple timeline story. There’s something shady going on at Castle Moreau. Present day Cleo is hired to help clean and organize the castle. Cleo is holding onto some dark secrets and she figured she can fly under the radar. She soon finds out that the Castle holds deep dark secrets.

The year is 1870 and Daisy François runs from her guardians and takes a position as housemaid at a Wisconsin castle to escape the horrors of her past life. She is shocked to hear that she is the only household help to the mysterious mistress of the household. As women disappear from the area and the eerie circumstances seem to parallel a local legend, Daisy is thrust into a web that could ultimately steal her sanity, if not her life.

In early 1800's our final time period - we see a young girl who has lost her mother. Her father dismisses her recollection of a ghostly apparition. This hooded figure with a crooked hand, who tells her things no child should hear.

The author has woven these time periods together seamlessly. The story is spooky and so beautifully written.
I absolutely adore this author, and always enjoy her work.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

I wanted to really love this. I am a sucker for a haunted house setting. I liked the characters of Cleo and Daisy, but could not get past the redundancies. We were reminded over and over again "why am I doing this" and - for both characters - they think back to the people they left behind - Riley for Cleo and the Greenbergs for Daisy. But we never get more informatoin in each of these reminiscing. They're all the same, instead of a slow reveal of more depth. Likewise, Deacon's repetitive "don't mar the family name!" also got old for me. I will say, though I suspected the twist as it approached (but not too early in the book), I did like the twist.
I wouldn't recommend this book, but I would pick up another book by this author.

Wow!

This book will grab you and not let go! Highly recommend. I was looking for something with Gothic vibes... and this gave it to me.

Be aware that you will be jumping timelines.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

A haunting legend. An ominous curse. A search for a secret buried deep within the castle walls.

In 1870, orphaned Daisy François takes a position as housemaid at a Wisconsin castle to escape the horrors of her past life. There she finds a reclusive and eccentric Gothic authoress who hides tales more harrowing than the ones in her novels. As women disappear from the area and the eerie circumstances seem to parallel a local legend, Daisy is thrust into a web that could ultimately steal her sanity, if not her life.

In the present day, Cleo Clemmons is hired by the grandson of an American aristocratic family to help his grandmother face her hoarding in the dilapidated Castle Moreau. But when Cleo uncovers more than just the woman's stash of collectibles, a century-old mystery and the dust of the old castle's curse threaten to rise again . . . this time to leave no one alive to tell the sordid tale.

Oh, the mystery and suspense. It caught me early on and carried me through to the end. I am a big one on characters and Ms. Wright didn't disappoint me.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good suspenseful mystery.

Local women have been vanishing for generations in the vicinity of Castle Moreau, the small-town Wisconsin mansion of a successful nineteenth-century trapper. Cleo is unwittingly pulled into the dark history of the castle when she is employed by the reclusive Tremblay family to help clear decades of collected items from the premises. She becomes ensnared in the mansion's secrets as she hides her own from her celebrity employer, Deacon Tremblay.

This dual-timeline novel pulls you into menacing gothic halls for a gripping and suspenseful tale. The history of the family is revealed through glimpses into the lives of the trapper's daughter and a late nineteenth-century housemaid. I loved the eerie setting of the castle and the disturbing flashbacks to the time of a famous horror novelist ancestor. The tension is palpable as Cleo unravels the mystery of the missing local women.

Add this to your TBR for an atmospheric historical tale of suspense with romantic overtones and a thriller feel. Perfect for spooky season!

Wow. A thriller that really packs an emotional punch.

It's most definitely filled with a gothic vibe, and most definitely creepy at times. It's not what I expected at all, but it's exactly what it needs to be.

I really can't say more without spoiling some amazing surprises. All I can tell you is read this book. You'll be so glad you did.

So it took me awhile to figure this one out but as the author weaves a "dual-time tale of two women who must do all they can to seek the light amid the darkness shrouding Castle Moreau" I found it intriguing as to how so many could not catch onto the secret of the vanishing women from the Castle. There were times I thought I could hear spooky music play as I read this, sometimes wanting to look over my shoulder story. If you like a little spooky in your stories... read Jaime Jo Wright stories!

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright is a masterful work of historical Christian fiction. This author stands alone in her ability to write historical fiction with great authenticity and seamlessly swap time periods in a time slip novel. Her gothic style novel is terrifying at times, so don’t read at times when you might be the most spooked! Yet what I love most about her novels is what you will never find in secular gothic suspense— her focus on God is complete. While there may be illusions of ghosts or other worldly apparitions, you can trust this author to bring things right in the end and even to open your eyes to real world scenarios that are truly horrifying and in need of people to stand up for human rights. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau
by Jaime Jo Wright
Pub Date 04 Apr 2023
Bethany House, Bethany House Publishers
Christian | Historical Fiction | Romance


Netgalley and Bethany House Publishers have provided me with a copy of The Vanishing at Castle Moreau for review:



The Vanishing of Castle Moreau weaves a powerful tale that can leave you laughing at times and crying at others.


Daisy François, an orphan from Wisconsin, takes a position as housemaid at a Wisconsin castle in 1870 to escape the horrors of her past. There, she meets an eccentric Gothic authoress who conceals tales more harrowing than those in her books. As women disappear from the area and eerie circumstances parallel a local legend, Daisy is drawn into a web that may ultimately steal her sanity, if not her life.


A grandson of an American aristocratic family hires Cleo Clemmons to assist his grandmother with her hoarding in the dilapidated Castle Moreau. As Cleo uncovers more than just the woman's collection of collectibles, a century-old mystery and the dust of the old castle's curse threaten to rise again. This time no one will live to tell the tale.

Among the darkness surrounding Castle Moreau, award-winning author Jaime Jo Wright seamlessly weaves a tale of two women who must do everything they can to seek the light.


I give The Vanishing of Castle Moreau five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Probably my favorite of Wright's books.
Skeletons, missing women, a castle, a Beauty and the Beast type storyline mixed with the Secret Garden (think Colin Craven and the musical's song "I Heard Someone Crying"), a modern day high profile family, a phantom woman with a crooked hand, a famous gothic writer..so many fascinating mysterious people. This one has three timelines and multiple stories happening. I don't want to give much else away, but it's everything you'd want from a Jaime Jo Wright novel. Suspense, mystery, creepiness, and redemption.

Honestly, I struggled with this book. I just don’t think it was my cup of tea. I wasn’t connecting with the main characters and I was having a hard time finishing it. I gave up at about 40%. I did prefer the scenes that were coming from the past versus the one in the present. I felt like the FMC was unlikable and I had a really hard time understanding what the MMC even saw in her. I appreciated her struggles, and where she was coming from, but I needed a little bit more redeeming qualities and connection/chemistry between the two of them to make the romance believable.

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright is a well-crafted mystery novel that is both thrilling and thought-provoking. The book follows the story of two women from different timelines who are connected by a tragic event that occurred at Castle Moreau. With a surprising twist at the end and a focus on the themes of violence and abuse of women, this book is a must-read for fans of the mystery genre.

The author, Jaime Jo Wright, has created a cast of characters that are both complex and relatable. The two main protagonists, Daisy and Cleo, are from different timelines, and their stories are intertwined in a way that is both compelling and suspenseful. The supporting characters are also well-developed and add depth to the story.

The plot of the book is well-crafted, with plenty of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged until the very end. The pacing is also well-done, with a perfect balance of action, suspense, and character development. The author’s attention to detail in describing the settings of the book, particularly Castle Moreau, adds to the overall atmosphere of the story.

One of the standout features of the book is the surprising twist at the end. Without giving anything away, the twist is both shocking and unpredictable, and it will leave readers reeling. The author’s ability to pull off such a twist without it feeling contrived is a testament to her skill as a writer.

Another great aspect of the book is the use of three different narrators from three different timelines. This adds an extra layer of complexity to the story and keeps the reader engaged throughout the entire book. It also allows for a deeper exploration of the themes of violence and abuse of women, which are handled with sensitivity and nuance.

Overall, The Vanishing at Castle Moreau is a must-read for fans of the mystery genre. With well-developed characters, a well-crafted plot, and a surprising twist at the end, this book is sure to leave readers satisfied. Jaime Jo Wright has once again delivered a fantastic novel that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

I was pleasantly surprised by The Vanishing at Castle Moreau. The story is told in three different periods of time. All of them carry a mysterious vibe. Who is the woman who appears in the night? Why do women mysteriously disappear when they visit the castle? I wanted to know, so I continued reading. I was invested in the story and characters. The mystery is spooky and compelling.

I enjoyed Jamie Joe Wrights's writing style. I loved how she could go to the different time periods seamlessly. The story flows really well.

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own

Jamie's done it again! But am I surprised?

I love how Jamie weaves stories together and makes them feel paranormal but with always having an explanation at the end! I found myself trying to untangle the story as I went, but was wrong at the end (ha!).

I did find this particular set of MCs harder for me to handle as a reader. No fault of the authors, I just didn't connect with how they reacted and found themselves interacting with those in the story. It goes to show what a great job Jamie does to make her characters REAL! I may not have connected with them, but they felt so real and so vulnerable to me that actually strengthened the reading experience.

Yet another book I can recommend to anyone who enjoys a bit of a spooky but well written tome!

My ring: 4*

___
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this early copy. All opinions are my own.

Jaime Jo Wright is the queen of creepy suspense and this book was no exception! What a great layering of Gothic tradition and contemporary literature. I loved the way the stories of the three women intertwined. So good!

Jaime Jo weaves together another spooky story with her beautiful and immersive prose. I enjoyed both time periods equally, though the romance in the historical was my favorite.

I will say that this is the first book of hers that I wasn't guessing until the end. I had about 90% of it figured out before I was even halfway through the book. It didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story, but it didn't deliver the shock I'm used to from her.

The faith themes in the book were lighter than Premonitions at Wither Farm (which is my favorite of hers so far), but were still present. I love how she brings everything back to God and His Word.

**I received an ARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.