09/18/2023

Bestseller Roberts (the Dragon Heart Legacy series) brings her talents to bear on a romantic ghost story—the first in the Lost Bride Trilogy—with more heartstring-tugs than scares. Boston graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is shocked to learn that a biological uncle she hadn’t known existed left her the family manor in coastal Maine. There’s a catch, however: the estate is “quite haunted,” and though many of the spirits are benevolent, one very much isn’t. Over the two centuries since the manor’s construction, seven new brides have died tragically in the house—and somehow linked to them all is Hester Dobbs, the first bride’s murderer. Along with her friends—including smoldering lawyer Trey—Sonya must piece together the full story and break the curse of the lost brides. While the plot mostly follows a standard haunted house template, Roberts’s strengths, as usual, are in the details: robust characters, vivid prose, settings familiar enough to be cozy but distinct enough to be memorable, and loyal dogs. It might not break fresh ground, but this will hit the spot for Roberts’s many fans. Agent: Amy Berkower, Writers House. (Nov.)

"Roberts takes all of the beloved elements of classic gothic romances, including a marvelously atmospheric old mansion as well as a spunky heroine starting over in life, then puts her own inventive spin on things... an incisively etched cast of characters and a spooktacular plot that will keep readers up long past their regular bedtimes." —Booklist (starred)

"Roberts is in fine form here. Her lush, ethereal world of ghosts and spirits is the perfect foil for Sonya’s down-to-earth, almost spartan manner... Exciting launch for Roberts’ new trilogy." —Kirkus Reviews (starred)

If the audiobook version of a page-turner is being glued to your speakers, then Brittany Pressley's narration of this slow-burn suspense will have listeners sitting in their cars long after they've parked in their driveways. Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish's life undergoes a complete revamp when she breaks off her engagement with her cheating fiancé. At the same time, she's forced to quit her job and go freelance, and she inherits a gothic mansion in Maine, where she becomes involved in a paranormal murder mystery. Pressley eases listeners through the chilling scares and tackles a minefield of accents that range from Louisiana to Boston to Maine. Pressley's talents will be needed as the Lost Bride trilogy continues. S.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

★ 2023-09-09
A woman inherits a haunted seaside mansion in Maine from a long-lost relative.

Sonya MacTavish isn’t having the best year. After finding her fiance in bed with another woman, she wonders why she ignored so many obvious red flags about him. Sonya eventually leaves the Boston graphic design firm where they both worked after months of harassment and gaslighting, but she’s determined to succeed despite these setbacks. One day a lawyer appears at her door, revealing that her late father, who was adopted as a newborn, had a twin brother he never knew about. This uncle left her a large, rambling mansion in a small coastal town in Maine, but his will stipulates that she must live in the house for three years in order to claim her inheritance. Sonya’s innate stubbornness and strong survival instinct come in handy after discovering the house is haunted by a bevy of ghosts, collectively known as the lost brides. In 1806, a woman was murdered inside the house on her wedding day by a jealous witch, creating a curse so powerful it has lasted generations. A total of seven women have been killed by the curse; their ghosts are a benevolent presence in the house, but the witch’s angry, vengeful ghost also inhabits the place and tries to scare Sonya away. While sleeping, Sonya experiences the memories of the murdered brides and realizes that the ghosts are providing her with clues she can use to finally break the curse. Roberts is in fine form here. Her lush, ethereal world of ghosts and spirits is the perfect foil for Sonya’s down-to-earth, almost spartan manner. Another Roberts hallmark is on display: her continuing thematic exploration of how an individual defeats evil—not by acting alone, but by forming a community and harnessing its members’ strength and power for the coming battle.

Exciting launch for Roberts’ new trilogy, which promises to explore the mystical power of women to do both good and evil.