Author: Elizabeth Hall
Genre: historical fiction, mystery
Series: N/A
Pages: 334
Published: February 1 2015
Source: TLC Book Tours for review
Rating: 3/5
Miramont Castle, built in 1897 and mysteriously abandoned three years later, is home to many secrets. Only one person knows the truth: Adrienne Beauvier, granddaughter of the Comte de Challembelles and cousin to the man who built the castle.
Clairvoyant from the time she could talk, Adrienne’s visions show her the secrets of those around her. When her visions begin to reveal dark mysteries of her own aristocratic French family, Adrienne is confronted by her formidable Aunt Marie, who is determined to keep the young woman silent at any cost. Marie wrenches Adrienne from her home in France and takes her to America, to Miramont Castle, where she keeps the girl isolated and imprisoned. Surrounded by eerie premonitions, Adrienne is locked in a life-or-death struggle to learn the truth and escape her torment.
Reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, this hauntingly atmospheric tale is inspired by historical research into the real-life Miramont Castle in Manitou Springs, Colorado.
Miramont's Ghost is a nice blend of a historical fiction novel with a somewhat mysterious/supernatural element. It has the dark allure and plot structure reminiscent of Rebecca but Hall crafts a capable and solid story that is rather hard to forget and ultimately, all her own. The loose addition of the supernatural --- Adrienne's visions, etc -- fits well within the frame of the story and also helps to create an added air of atmosphere to Miramont's Ghost.
The POVs of this book are distinct. Adrienne is easily identifiable and differentiated and by the end, the only real voice left in Miramont's Ghost. I wasn't a huge fan of the use of multiple narrators and thought that Adrienne carried the story best and most ably. It helps that Adrienne is the most developed character in the entire novel. She's pretty well-rounded and realistic (if a taaaaad too passive for my tastes), despite the situation she finds herself in. The other characters of the novel tend to be rather one-note, be they villainous or good-natured. I wanted to see more from the secondary cast; it would have strengthened the novel.
There's an even hand for the novel's progression and tension. The pacing moves along smoothly, even though it can feel a bit fast at times. As Adrienne grows and her story becomes ever more dark, it's easy to appreciate Hall's ability for crafting a creepy, unnatural atmosphere. It's a feeling that lingers, even after the close of the novel. The novel only becomes more interesting if you read the afterword and learn that it's a fictional tale based on real events and real people.
I love reading the epilogues and authors notes that give fascinating insight into a story like this. They make the book so much better in my opinion.
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