Entrancing and mystical, Kate Griffin’s Fyneshade is a dark, gothic historical thriller full of suspense. Sent away to work as a governess to Grace following the death of her grandmother, Marta becomes enthralled by the house and its inhabitants, leading to a secret life she leads at night led by her charge. Mystery surrounds the reasons why Grace’s brother Vaughan Pritchard is not permitted inside the home which leads Marta to channel a gift she’s been taught to guide her path.

As the plot develops, you get a sense of the threads which run through the story – much like the secret hidden tunnels within the walls of the house that Marta and Grace inhabit during the dark nights. A wealthy cast of characters, they manage to evoke a mix of emotions with each turn, and the house itself plays a big part in feeding into the emotional and supernatural elements. 

The first standalone novel from the author following her popular Kitty Peck series, Griffin also discloses that it serves as an unofficial prequel to Henry James’ The Turn Of The Screw. An atmospheric and enthralling read, perfect escapism and historical fiction at its best.