by Alexandra Monir
Delacorte Press, 2014. 295 pages. Young adult fiction.
After her parents died on her grandfather's ducal estate in England when she was a child, Imogene Rockford returned to live with family friends in New York City and never looked back. But now, at seventeen, Ginny learns that her grandfather and older cousin have both died, making her the new Duchess of Wickersham. Imogene returns to England to run the estate, only to discover that things aren't as she remembered at her grandfather's house. Now she must make sense of the ghostly whisperings that roam the corridors, the strange secrecy surrounding her cousin's death, and an ancient family legend before it is too late.
A fascinating mix of gothic novel (think Daphne DuMaurier's Rebecca), ghost story, and mystery with some magical elements, this book was a gripping read. And while it is definitely eerie and atmospheric, it never is actually scary. (Trust me - I have a low tolerance for scary.) Imogene is an interesting character, coming to grips with her new position in society while trying to understand her past in a way she couldn't when she was ten. You will have a hard time putting this book down.
JH
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