THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER, “A captivating mystery: beautifully written, with a rich sense of place, a cast of memorable characters, and lots of deep, dark secrets.”—Kate Morton, New York Times bestselling author of The Clockmaker’s Daughter “Extraordinary…Absolutely her best yet.”—Lisa Jewell, New York Times bestselling author of The Family Upstairs Three generations. Three daughters. One … Times bestselling author of The Family Upstairs
Three generations. Three daughters. One house of secrets.
The truth can shatter everything . . .
When the Harrington family discovers an abandoned baby deep in the woods, they decide to keep her a secret and raise her as their own.
But within days a body is found in the grounds of their house and their perfect new family implodes.
Years later, Sylvie, seeking answers to nagging questions about her life, is drawn into the wild beautiful woods where nothing is quite what it seems.
Will she unearth the truth?
And dare she reveal it?
(Published in the UK as The Glass House)
“The Daughters of Foxcote Manor is not really about a murder, or a creepy house, but about families – the ones we’re born into, the ones we make and especially the ones we flee.”—The New York Times
One of the New York Times “Novels of Suspense and Isolation”
One of The Washington Posts’ Best New Audiobooks
One of Bustle’s Most Anticipated Books of Summer
One of PopSugar’s Best Books of July
One of New York Posts Best Books of the Week
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A little bit mystery, a little bit drama, The Daughters of Foxcote Manor by Eve Chase is an atmospheric and suspenseful story that kept me turning pages. It is told through 3 different viewpoints, 2 from the past and 1 in present time which at times could get a little confusing. However, once I caught on it was easier to keep up and it definitely held my attention very well. This is one of those books where it does you no good to be distracted, and since I was listening to the audio there were a couple of times I had to go back to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. I did love the audiobook, which is narrated by Katherine Press, but I would say that if you go that route you need to make sure you’re paying attention.
The Daughters of Foxcote Manor is my first-time reading Chase but it won’t be my last. I loved her storytelling skills and how intriguing and suspenseful this book was. There are quite a few revelations and I really enjoyed how complex the plot ended up being. This is a character-driven novel and it isn’t fast paced, but I never lost interest in what was going on, and the jumps in time helped with this. I also loved the gothic vibes and the way all the secrets are unraveled. Overall, this was a very enjoyable read and I can’t wait to read more from this author!
This is novel full of secrets. It has a dual timeline which flips from the 1970s back to present day and both narratives are linked, but it takes the course of the novel to work out all the connections, though Chase peppers the story with plenty of clues.
The 1970s plot involves the wealthy Harrington family and their tender-hearted nanny, Big Rita. It opens with them escaping London to stay in their country residence, Foxcote Manor, in the Forest of Dean. Rita, her engagement to butcher Fred broken off, has her own fears about being in the woods, but puts them aside to care for the Harrington children, Hera and Teddy. As well as having to keep an eye on the kids she must also watch out for Jeannie, their mother. Mrs Harrington has recently lost a baby in childbirth and is in a very fragile state, and Rita is desperate for her not to be sent back to the asylum. Meanwhile, the Harrington’s marriage floundering and Walter, the husband, wants Rita to report back to him what is going on and whether there are any visitors. Whilst there they are at Foxcote, 13-year-old Hera stumbles across a colossal secret hidden in the woods. Back in Primrose Hill, Hera saw something very distressing and Rita knows she needs to find a voice to express it because ‘if we keep the dark things shut up inside…they grow big. Like weeds. They smother all the flowers and block the sunlight’.
In the present day, Sylvie, a make-up artist, has just left her husband. Her daughter, Annie, is about to leave home to start University and Sylvie is fed up of not living the life she wants. Annie, not coping with the split, goes to stay with her grandmother in Devon, but a chain of peculiar events causes a dreadful accident which changes the course of everyone’s lives. Sylvie must uncover the secrets her mother has been hiding from her all these years, otherwise she will never be able to make a fresh start, but she also has to learn that whatever dreams she has for Annie, they aren’t hers to make.
I love the duality of the story and how woodland and terrariums form an integral bridge. Rita is such a wonderful, kind-hearted character with so much to give and I love how her relationship with Robbie unfolds. His acceptance and respect of the forest rubs its shine onto her, and he enables her to voice her fears in a way she couldn’t with Fred. The outdoor scenes of Foxcote have a stifling air about them, complete with a nosy housekeeper, a creepy man in the woods and a detestable rogue, Don Armstrong. Don is Walter’s best friend who turns up uninvited in his silver sports car, much to Jeannie’s delight but Rita’s dismay.
Memories whisper throughout the novel; housefires, a baby’s face, and a car crash. I like how delicately Chase describes the break-down of Sylvie’s marriage and the complicated layers of her concern and desire to micro-manage Annie. The descriptions of place are lovely with petals like ‘scattered Parma violets’, handguns in biscuit tins and buttercups growing overnight in a terrarium. This book explores the darker side of families, collective guilt, and how far a person will go to protect the ones they love. For me Hera sums up the entire premise of the book right here: ‘it suddenly feels possible that we’re not actually stuck being ourselves either. Or trapped in the families into which we were born like the plants in Big Rita’s terrarium, pressed against the glass. Families can form without blood ties. Good things can happen.’
The story starts at a gentle, absorbing pace, but, by the last third, my heart was racing as I sped through the pages, desperate to know how all the threads of this well-woven mystery would tie together. I will seek out other books by Eve Chase.
The Daughters of Foxcote Manor
By Eve Chase
This is an absolutely beautiful and breathtaking read from Eve Chase. This was an emotional and compelling read that I enjoyed reading.
The Daughters of Foxcote Manor follows the Harrington family as they discover an abandoned child in their country summer home. In this atmospheric and haunting mystery read, you will be enveloped in the deep story line, dual time period, full of family secrets you are bound to get lost in. I also love that the manor itself is a character in this story and definitely adds to the mysterious element of the story line. Do pick this up for a wonderful read – the build up alone is what kept my fingers turning those pages.
Eve Chase really wrote a phenomenal book that drew me in to the secrets, the drama, the mystery with a fantastic dual time line story and incredible characters. I highly recommend this read.
When family tales of a traumatic night come back around to affect a young woman’s present circumstances she takes it upon herself to find out what really happened in Eve Chase’s novel “The Daughter’s of Foxcote Manor”.
It was like a fairytale her mother always told at bedtime of how a babe was found magically in the forest and became her daughter. The sweet story though had much more to it! Now the babe is grown and looking for answers. Will those answers help her or make her aware of facts that will harm her? Is it really wise to go digging around in the “family graveyard”?
This tale was one that came to me and stole my heart. Chase created characters that displayed humanistic qualities many of us would want to hide and others that shined bright. The delivery of the story was a well planned script of utmost quality. One that had my thoughts bound up with the character’s life throughout my day!
A more better tale can not be found for readers looking to spend time with exceptional story telling!
Loved this book. Just when I thought I knew how the story would end it changed. Wonderful characters, I especially loved Rita. I got this book with once upon a book club and got some great gifts too.
The Daughters of Foxcote Manor by Eve Chase is Historical Mystery Split Time 1970 and 40 years later. This book is about a very complicated family with serious problems most brought on by themselves. A few of the characters’ poor and selfish decisions affect lives for generations. There is tragedy, sorrow, regret but also joy, forgiveness and love. I found myself reading some parts again just to clarify what had happened. Another enjoyable book by Eve Chase.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 4 Stars