"In the Shadow of Croft Towers" by Abigail Wilson

Orphaned Sybil Delafield jumps at the opportunity for a position at the mysterious Croft Towers. She believes she was hired to act as companion to a dying woman, but a highway robbery and a hostile welcome from the Chalcroft family cause her to wonder if she was actually hired to help someone spy for France. Everyone seems to have something to hide, and Sybil must decide who to trust while also coming to terms with the truth about her own past.

I enjoy a good Gothic tale, and this one definitely hit the spot. I was hooked from the very beginning. There's an ominous feel to the story; secrets, storms, and spies abound (among other things that could well spoil the story for you). And as with any book of said genre, first impressions are not to be trusted. 

I'm not sure what it is about highwaymen that is so romantic (since I'm sure the reality of them was anything but), but it is hard to resist the dashing Mr. Sinclair. Sybil herself is a compelling heroine, and I enjoyed the first-person viewpoint.

While it wasn't hard to figure out the mystery of Sybil's family, I was thoroughly surprised by several other revelations in this complex tale. I didn't catch a single spiritual element to the story, but it was a clean read and highly enjoyable. I really enjoyed the author's voice, and I will gladly read whatever else she has to offer!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.