I've heard such wonderful things about Jaime Jo's writing. Between that and the cover of this book, I was hooked. A castle in Wisconsin and a mystery involving missing women? Sounds interesting, to say the least.
Unfortunately, it just wasn't for me. I was rather underwhelmed and a little bored. I don't always need to have a huge dose of romance, but I would like it to be satisfying if it's present - this was not. I wanted more romance, more intrigue, more of the spooky vibes this cover depicts.
Thank you to Bethany House and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

When I started reading this book I was not sure what to expect. The locals think the castle is haunted. They think people go there and die. That people just disappear through the castle never to be seen again. And not just any people, but only women.

When Cleo is hired by the grandson of the current owner and dweller of the castle to help his grandmother she's not sure what to think. She has her own demons. And she's living under a false name. Accepting cash and no questions asked.

When Cleo gets to the castle she's met by the resident and oh is she unique. The grandmother is really and truly something else. She's a hoarder and she's got a reason for it though you won't find that out til later. Her grandson wants someone to help her go through it all and get rid of things. He doesn't want people to know. He doesn't want the scrutiny and stigma that will befall his grandma and his family. But he definitely didn't know what was going to happen next.

This is a dual timeline novel and you'll go back to the 1860s to the current owners then which includes a writer of gothic novels. That time period is told through the eyes of Daisy the maid. Both discover secrets that they shouldn't and what comes next is going to keep you hooked!

Oh, should I say that Cleo finds a skeleton? Have you been hooked yet? Oh, and there is romance too! Grab this book and devour it as quickly as I did. You won't be sorry.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

Another great book by Jamie Jo Wright! I love how driven her stories are. I have to make sure I have plenty of time to read before I start them, since they are so hard to put down!

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright is a dual time about a "castle" in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Girls have gone missing in each generation and there is a mystery surrounding the disappearances.

In 1870 Daisy Francois, an orphan goes to Castle Moreau, owned by the Tremblays, to obtain a job as a housemaid. She is escaping her past life, hoping to better herself. There is Grand Mere(Ora) a gothic author. Her novels are pretty creepy and she is pretty creepy and demanding. There is Lincoln whom Daisy becomes close. There is no other staff in the castle except for Festus who is really creepy. So long story short, all the people in this remote "castle" are really creepy.

Girls have gone missing, never to be found and Daisy fears that her snooping has taken her to places in the castle that hold mysteries of their own that could put her at risk. Daisy has lots of questions and the only ones that can answer the question are not talking.

In the present day, Cleo Clemmons arrives at Castle Moreau, also escaping her past. A past that includes an alcoholic grandfather and a sister she abandoned. Feeling tremendous guilt she hopes to be able to recover. She is hired to help the grandson, Deacon a famous person, clean up the castle. Virgie, the grandmother, is a hoarder, upon first meeting her it seems that her hoarding is haphazard, but there is a method to her madness, literally, but the reader does not find out why until later in the book. Nope, no spoilers.

At first, you think that Castle Moreau is the typical Gothic haunted house, it appears that way in the 1870s when there are suspicions and rumors, missing girls, screams in abandoned rooms, etc.
In the present day, the castle is more of a dilapidated structure in need of assistance. The characters Daisy and Cleo are both flawed individuals, keen on redemption. The grandsons now on the other hand are handsome, a lot like a character in a Daphne du Maurier novel. The grandmothers, well are both a bit off in their own way, with lots of secrets and they are not very nice but there is a reason that they are not nice.

All of that put together makes this a story that is dark and creepy until you get to the end, then the reader understands the whole story. I really enjoyed it, of course, one of my favorite genres is a dual timeline. I love how Jaime Jo Wright tied up all the loose ends and make this a story that I could not put down.

I definitely give it 5 stars.

I did it! I read a ghost story!! And lived to tell the tale.

Women have been going missing at Castle Moreau for over a century. Many believe the castle is haunted by one, if not more, of these women.

Two women at two times in history - Daisy in the late 1800s and Cleo in present day - have arrived at the castle with personal ghosts of their own. Will they, too, become victims of the castle, or can they shine light into this dark place?

I do NOT usually read gothic horror (I think the only horror books I’ve read are classics) but this one surprised me - I actually really liked it! The perfectly flawed characters were so well developed, the author kept me guessing at every turn. And while it was a bit scary, it didn’t have a lot of gore, which I think helped.

Trigger warnings: domestic and gender-based violence, alcoholism.

This book was so good! It's the third book I've read by Jaime Jo Wright, and she has quickly become an instant buy author for me. The mystery and suspense kept me on the edge of my seat! Experiencing the story from multiple time lines is absolutely fascinating and so well done. The struggles that Wright's characters face always feel so relatable and Cleob and Deacon were so sweet! I enjoyed every minute that I spent reading this book, even the late night ones!

Thanks to Bethany House for the free book.
I am so impressed with Jaime Jo Wright's abilities to write two books a year and have them both be so excellent. It has been such a treat reading her work the past few years. What keeps me a reader is how creepy and intriguing her books start. This one is about Castle Moreau and the vanishing women. If someone gets inside, they also have to deal with some scary situations while trying to figure out exactly what's going on here. I liked the three timelines, I do wish there had been a bit more exploration in the current one. I felt like Daisy's was the best told story. But it was a satisfying story that moved at a pace that kept me engaged and wanting to read the book in one sitting. I can't wait to see what she comes up with in her fall book next.

Told through multi POV/timelines, The Vanishing at Castle Moreau was a thrilling, gothic mystery that kept me enthralled until the very end!

Built in the 1800s and shrouded in mystery, Castle Moreau was known by locals for the eerie tales of women disappearing in or around it. In two separate timelines, two women who are opposites yet similar in that they are running from their own haunted pasts, find themselves working inside the castle. Will they learn the castle's dark secrets or will they become the focal point in another story of a missing girl?

I loved the two timelines as well as the flashbacks to the castle's very beginning. The story was very intriguing and I loved reading through the similarities of the castle and its inhabitants throughout the years. The story itself was perplexing and kept me guessing until the very end. I never expected the ending and found it well thought out and very interesting.

Jaime jo Wright once again crafts a mystery in a spooky setting with twists and false clues to leave you guessing.
I always appreciate her tight writing style in spit time and the way she weaves them together.
This book is a great one to start with if you don't know how much creepy you can take. I found it not as scary as some of her other books.
They mystery was good and many layers to it. I was kinda expecting a different twist to come that didn't (that is usually what happens in her books for me).
I kinda guessed at what was going on and I was right.
The characters are well drawn and layered and I enjoyed it.
If you are looking for a mystery set in a gothic feel this may be one for you.
I recieved a complementary copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally. All thoughts and opinions are honest and completely my own.

I don't usually read 'creepy' books but always make an exception for novels by Jaime Jo Wright.

For centuries, Castle Moreau has been draped in mystery and suspicion. Why was a Gothic castle built in rural Michigan? What occurs within its walls? What role does it play in the disappearances of several young women?

While The Vanishing at Castle Moreau is told in three timelines, the stories in 1870 and present are predominant. Each include a mysterious grandmother, her handsome grandson, and a young woman seeking a new life while hiding her own secrets. The interplay between the plots is deftly written and kept me guessing until the final pages.

I was so eager to read this, but sometimes reluctant to pick it up because I often read before bed and wasn't sure the timing would be smart. In fact, one night I woke up due to an unexpected thunderstorm and immediately thought the sound was furniture mysteriously moving within Castle Moreau!

In addition to being skilled at infusing her plots with a growing sense of dread, Ms. Wright also includes societal issues. In this novel, one character has hoarding behavior and the plot hints at alcoholism and physical abuse. It also includes the famous person and ordinary person 'trope' that I've read in several novels.

I had one unanswered question at the end of this book, but all others were explained by the novel's conclusion. The author compares her plots to Scooby Doo stories where all of the mysterious activity is explained at the story's end.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for the review copy of this novel. Now I'm very excited for Ms. Wright's next book, The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater, that releases in October, the perfect season for her atmospheric plots.

Atmospheric and intriguing.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

This Gothic novel is written with a dual timeline. In 1870 Daisy arrived at Castle Moreau as a housemaid. In the present day Cleo was hired to help the Tremblays get control of the hoarding situation at Castle Moreau.

Castle Moreau is almost like a character in this novel. It hides secrets and reveals them in a way that gaslights the other characters. Moreover, there is an allure to Castle Moreau that makes people want to stay even when they want to escape.

The characters in the novel are well developed; there were just some plot points that lacked reality even for a Gothic thriller. This was also a quick read while on vacation.

This book follows Jaime’s flavor of haunting and a ghost. It reminds me so much of the old Nancy Drew books where there is a ghost in the attic but there is always an explanation. I felt like this book was a little long but I enjoyed the story. It takes place over two time frames and has lots of mystery and missing girls who seem to be eaten by the castle. Where do these girls vanish to?

I received an advance review copy for free am leaving this review voluntarily.

Wow! This is my first and won’t be my last book by this author. Creepy books aren’t my usual genre, yet I couldn’t help wanting to read this book. The synopsis intrigued me, and I am glad I read this one! The author is extremely talented om their ability to weave goth with inspiration. I found this story to be fascinating and I loved the connection between Daisy and Cleo. In 1870 Daisy was hired to work as a housemaid while modern day Cleo was hired to declutter and restore Castle Moreau. Both were looking for a new start when they landed at Castle Moreau.


The book is well written and the story lines flow seamlessly from one POV to another. The writing is creepy and adds depth to the story. Filled with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish. This book is so good, I didn’t want it to end. I highly recommend and will be reading more from this author!

Prepare to clear your schedule or risk ruining plans because once you dive into this novel, you won’t want to come up for air until the final word. A tale told from two different women in two very different times, we’re woven into a world known as Castle Moreau. It’s full of secrets, hidden omens, and indescribable moments that take your breath away.

Both Daisy and Cleo have dark pasts that nip at their heels when they arrive at Castle Moreau. Their journeys are each haunting in a unique way, yet similar at the base. Each character is vivid, drawn before our very eyes as they guide us through the story. While haunting, Jaime Jo Wright intricately places glimmers of hope, love, and redemption for an incredible of light and dark.

This novel pulls hard on your ability to trust that there is more than an outside view of something. It can appear dark and ominous while harboring a safe, serene quality underneath.

My favorite quote from the book: “La beauté existe là où commence l’amour” – Beauty exists where love begins.

Castle Moreau, built in the late 1700s in a wild bit of forested wilderness on the banks of the Mississippi River in the Midwest, has a dark reputation. Ever since its inception, women from the surrounding areas have just vanished. Gone missing, never to be seen again. One of the first was a farmer’s wife, her husband taciturn and violent. One of the most recent was a girl from a good family in the 1980s. The thick stone walls are surrounded by swirls of rumor and trepidation. It doesn’t help that the daughter of the builder was a renowned gothic author, famed for gory details of terror. The current scion, Deacon, is a wealthy playboy, famous around the country for his good looks and wild escapades.

Cleo knows this when she takes the job of helping Deacon’s grandmother (and only living family member) deal with her hoarding issues. But Cleo’s on the run from her past, from a grandfather much beloved, also monstrous, now dead, and a little sister whom, Cleo’s convinced, will only survive if Cleo is gone. This job offers payment under the table and no background check in return for secrecy–so desperate is Deacon to avoid media attention.

Cleo’s story echoes that of Daisy Francois from a century earlier. Daisy, orphaned and then adopted by an abusive family, has fled to the arms of the Castle, also leaving behind 2 younger girls. She takes a job as a housekeeper but finds a giant castle with 3 sole occupants–Ora, the daughter turned gothic novelist, who guards her mystery closely; Lincoln, her grandson, hidden in a study most of the time; and Festus, the odds job man. No one seems to expect her to clean. When Daisy finds an injured woman in the woods and brings her to the castle to heal, she begins to find out that the castle will do its utmost to guard its secrets.

The story moves back and forth between Daisy, Cleo, and Ora Moreau herself as a child, visited by a phantom woman with a crooked hand who tells her dark stories. It seems as if Castle Moreau indeed is a very dark place, and yet there always seem to be hints that the reality may not match the facade. Will Daisy or Cleo be able to figure things out before it’s too late, or will they join the ranks of the vanished women of Castle Moreau?

The Vanishing of Castle Moreau is a gripping read. I knew there was a twist coming, but I couldn’t figure it out. It’s well-plotted with lots of winding turns thoughout, and the characters are thoroughly likable. It’s a book with a message too (I’m not telling you it cuz that would be a spoiler, but you can see it coming), life-affirming and courageous. Highly recommended if you’re in the mood for something Gothic and entertaining.

Two women running from the turbulence of their own lives agree to work at a neglected castle deep in the Midwestern woods. Daisy arrives in the late 19th century to work for a Gothic authoress. Cleo arrives present day to help the elderly owner organize the endless stacks of materials she’s hoarded over the years. Locals tell both of them that after the first owner’s wife died a premature death, women have disappeared from the castle ever since.

Info-dump inner monologues make this one feel heavy, repetitious, and slow. The plot suffers from significant coincidence (Need a cassette tape player when someone drops a 40 year old tape on the hood of your car? No problem. There’s a vintage store down the street in this rural area of Wisconsin owned by someone who happens to be connected to the info on the tape.) The innuendo and melodrama wear thin as well.

I think the setting is interesting for starters, but the plot simply does not do it justice. When the issues outweigh the plot momentum, you have a non-starter.

Jaime Jo Wright's stories have become a must read for me as she is a master of the craft of creating riveting stories across multiple time periods with fascinating characters.

In this her latest story, Wright gives us two similar young ladies who answer an advertisement to become a housemaid at the mysterious Castle Moreau. Cleo Clemmons, in the present day, and Daisy Francois in the 1870s. They bear many similarities, both running from their own lives for differing reasons, and hoping to find anonymity at the Castle.

Wright, as she always does, weaves a wonderful story of mystery, suspense and hope across both timelines. In addition, the Castle brings a history of spookiness and unexplained repeated disappearances of young ladies across both centuries. It makes for a page-turning adventure as we so desperately hope the same fate doesn't befall our two lead characters while solving this two hundred year old mystery. The Castle has always been in the hands of a Moreau/Tremblay family member and the whispers within the local township continue to question the family's innocence in all these mysteries.

The Castle is a character in itself in some ways. It is spooky in the best Gothic-way and full of 'dark spaces for dark deeds' to be committed. Internal tunnels, hidden doors, strange noises at night, ghostly apparitions - this castle has it all. It's simply marvellous giving the reader plenty off chills keeping us on the edge of our seats as we turn the pages.

Once again, Wright explores the human condition in an empathetic, gentle way. Cleo and Daisy have suffered much in their short lives and they've questioned their lovability and worth. The supporting cast are tremendous: Deacon Tremblay, Lincoln Moreau and the ladies of the house in both centuries and Festus, the man-servant in Daisy's story all add a layer of complexity and intrigue with their individual situations.

The build up of suspense towards the end and the actual ending are breathtaking and wonderfully surprising in an uplifting way.

If you haven't introduced yourself to one of Jaime Jo Wright's stories, this is an excellent place to start.

I feel very blessed to have received an early ebook version of the story from Bethany House via NetGalley. This has had no bearing on my review.

This one took a hot second for me to figure out what was going on, but once I did I was hooked!! I am not normally a fan of books that freak me out, but this was was too intriguing for me and I had to know what was going to happen!!
This book follows the story of two women from different time periods. Daisy is a maid that has been hired by Madame Tremblay, a gothic Authoress who presides at Castle Moreau. Daisy is timid, shy, has a secret past, but desperately just wants to do her job and live her life. Her story takes place in the past, in the time era where maids were servants in Lady’s homes. Cleo’s story happens in more of a modern day era. She is also a woman running from her past, who has struggled alot and has major problems believing in herself and trusting in herself. Cleo has been hired by Deacon Tremblay (a rich handsome bachelor) to help go through things within the castle and organize the chaos hat his Grandmother Virgie has made within its walls. When Daisy and Cleo find themselves in situations that are unexplainable, living with odd people and handsome men (Lincoln and Deacon) that they want to trust, but can’t, they both have to find the courage to find out the truths that reside within the Castles Walls. Will they make it out alive? Or will they become one of the Vanishing women in the stories they have been told?

I absolutely loved this book! The shift between times was done beautifully and the story lines puzzled together painting a gorgeous chaotic puzzle that I was so happy had a resolution at the end. I wasn’t sure how it was going to happen, but it did and I was SO not expecting the outcome.

*I received a copy of this book as an ARC reviewer, but a positive review wasn’t required. All thoughts are solely what I personally thought of this beautiful book.❤️❤️❤️

Jaime Jo Wright does it again! I loved The Vanishing at Castle Moreau, and I'm convinced at this point that Jaime is incapable of writing a bad story. Give me all the Wright books. If I could give this one 1000 stars I would.