The Darkling Bride by Laura Andersen

 

Carragh Ryan can't believe her luck.  She has been hired to inventory the Gallagher library before the estate is donated to the government.  Her academic interest has been in the author who married a Gallagher heiress and after her death never wrote another word.  But there have always been rumors that he was working on a novel about The Darkling Bride, a fantasy figure associated with the castle.  Perhaps Carragh can discover the manuscript which would be a literary sensation.

The castle has stood empty for more than twenty years since the tragedy.  The owners of the castle had both been murdered one day, their children away at the time although the son, Aiden, found his father's dead body in the library.  Now that he is grown, he wants nothing to do with the place that stole away his parents.  Everyone is gathered for one last party and to determine if there are heirlooms they want before he turns it all over.

There is Aiden's big sister, who has been helping run the estate business, which he has stayed far away from.  She is in an unhappy marriage and has two children.  There is the elderly aunt who raised the children after the murders and who is determined to keep the castle in the family.  The housekeeper has been there since before the tragedy and has kept the place running and repaired.  

Carragh understands why Aiden doesn't want the castle and doesn't want to talk about the murders.  She also came from a family tragedy and was adopted at age four after her mother was killed in front of her.  A detective who is wants to make a name for herself is reopening the Gallagher case and is determined to find the culprit.  Aiden and Carragh are drawn to each other but is that wise?

Laura Andersen has written a suspenseful story that will keep the reader turning pages.  The romance between the two main characters, Carragh and Aiden, is a given and won't surprise anyone when it comes to fruition.  But the gothic atmosphere is compelling and the resolution of the family tragedy is interesting.  This book is recommended for mystery readers.