A story of second chances and secrets, this mysterious Regency romance will transport you to 19th-century England as one young lady reunites with her childhood love to find his missing sister. Her friend is missing. After five years abroad, Charity Halliwell finally returns to Loxby Manor, the home of dear friends–and her lost love. No longer a young girl, she is now haunted by a painful secret … haunted by a painful secret and the demise of her dreams. Instead of the healing and happiness she hopes to find, she encounters a darkness lurking in the shadows of the once-familiar house. When her friend, Seline, disappears the very night of her arrival, Charity is determined to uncover the truth.
Her only hope is the man who broke her heart.
Branded a coward, Piers Cavanaugh has lived the last five years as an outcast far from his family home. When his sister presumably elopes with a stable hand, Piers joins forces with an unlikely partner–the one woman he thought he’d never see again. Together they launch an investigation that leads to strange nightly meetings in the ruins of an old abbey and disturbing whispers of a secret organization. The more they learn, the more desperate the situation becomes.
The house seems determined to keep its secrets.
As they struggle to piece together the clues, Charity and Piers also endeavor to rebuild their friendship. One cryptic letter changed everything between them. To find happiness they will have to overcome the grief and shame keeping them apart. But first they must discover why Seline vanished and confront the growing fear that she may never return.
Settle in, because once you start The Vanishing at Loxby Manor, you won’t be able to put it down.
Praise for The Vanishing at Loxby Manor
“Vanishing at Loxby Manor cleverly combines Regency romance with Gothic intrigue, and the result is a suspenseful, thoroughly entertaining read. Charming and lovely.”–Tasha Alexander, New York Times bestselling author of In the Shadow of Vesuvius
“Like each of Wilson’s novels, The Vanishing at Loxby Manor drew me in from the start and didn’t let go. From the heartfelt characters to the twists that kept me guessing, I relished each turn of the page. Wilson is a master at historical mystery, and I cannot wait for her next story.”–Lindsay Harrel, author of The Joy of Falling
“Abigail Wilson’s latest Gothic romance hits the notes readers have come to expect from her talented pen: romance, shadows and intrigue and a brilliantly executed atmosphere. She is a master at her craft and a rare stand-out in a popular genre.”–Rachel McMillan, author of The London Restoration
“Weaving a shadow of mystery among the gilded countryside of Regency England, Wilson’s tale of love lost, buried shame, and secret societies is a delicious blend of romance and intrigue. Splash in gorgeous historical Regency details, and murder brewing around every stone, and readers will be burning through the pages until the riveting end.”–J’nell Ciesielski, author of The Socialite
“A gothic romance that is filled with great characters and a mystery that unfolds chapter by chapter. A perfect blend of mystery, family relationships, lost years, and star-crossed love. Be warned, you won’t be able to walk away from these characters.”–Cara Putman, award-winning author of Flight Risk
- Sweet but mysterious Regency Romance with Gothic tones
- A stand-alone novel
- Book length: approximately 90,000 words
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs
more
Abigail Wilson always crafts intriguing Regency books with equal parts romance and mystery. I adore all her novels and totally devoured The Vanishing at Loxby Manor.
This story has everything I love in a novel. An intelligent heroine, a wounded hero, and a mystery that throws them together. And I have to mention the gorgeous prose! With deliberate and precise word choice, this author sets the tone of each page, making me flip flip flip through the chapters. The plot twists and turns with an amazing finish that I didn’t see coming. Totally loved it. Loved it all!
**I received a copy from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Charity Halliwell is finally back in the village where she grew up and hopes to forget the events of the past five years. Loxby Manor holds a few of her dearest memories but is also the place of her deepest heartbreak. The reprieve she was expecting turns impossible once not only Piers Cavanagh, the reason for her broken heart, comes back after years living in seclusion, but Seline Cavanagh vanishes.
Abigail Wilson weaves a tale of family secrets and regrets that only thicken with the turn of each page. The pacing was perfect and the twists and turns kept me guessing. I especially enjoy how Wilson adds history to the plot, though how the story is influenced by a historical event is usually revealed only at the end. Part of me wonders if it were more explored, what she could do. Not a complaint, just a wondering 🙂
This is a Regency story with a complicated mystery to unravel along with renewing old friendships, estranged family relationship with undercurrents of secrets. Charity Halliwell grew up near the Cavanaugh family at their home, Loxby Manor, in the English countryside but has been in Ceylon with her family for five years. Her parents are now in Boston visiting her brother and she is going to be staying with the Cavanaugh family. Something happened to Charity in Ceylon that was traumatic and she didn’t want to travel to America. She can tell right away that something is strange at the manor upon her arrival when no one is around. She has a brief visit with Seline, her friend, but then she disappeared. Soon, the family is turned upside down trying to find out what has happened to Seline. There are lot of strange things going on with all of the family members. Mrs. Cavanaugh has emotional issues, Avery, the middle son, is hiding something, Mr. Cavanaugh is bedridden and blind from an accident with his horse, Piers, the oldest son, is living near Liverpool because of a scandal although he did return after Seline’s disappearance. Piers and Charity were close at one time but things are strained between them now. The two do decide to put their heads together to figure out what is going on with the others and Seline’s disappearance.
The atmosphere, setting, time period, and characters all make this story so rich and the mystery of everything going on is complicated and makes for a story that kept me engaged. I was quite surprised with how things turned out. Things are not always how they seem. Definitely recommend this story for a historical mystery with complicated relationships, light faith thread, and some romance.
I received a complimentary ARC from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson is a mysterious Regency romance that had me guessing until the end. I was drawn into the world of Loxby Manor and enjoyed my time in Regency England. The story is filled with intrigue, mystery, secret societies, interesting characters and what seems like a hopeless romance. Main characters Charity Halliwell and Piers Cavanagh are childhood friends who have not seen each other in many years, and their story seems bleak. The other characters are not exactly who they seem to be which makes for a gripping story.
I am a huge Abigail Wilson fan and really enjoy her well crafted books. The Vanishing at Loxby Manor reminded me of author Victoria Holt’s stories which are a great favorite of mine. I was thrilled for the opportunity to read The Vanishing at Loxby Manor and I highly recommend it.
I was given this book by the publisher and not required to write a favorable review.
The Vanishing at Loxby Manor was such a mysterious and captivating read! Suspense, intrigue and a plot that keeps you hooked until the final pages! Abigail Wilson has become one of my must read authors and her novels never disappoint! Her characters are layered and capture your interest immediately and her descriptive writing style evokes feelings of mystery and suspicion! I absolutely loved this book!
I really enjoyed Abigail Wilson’s previous books and looked forward to reading this one. The Vanishing at Loxby Manor has something of a gothic feel to it. The mystery starts right near the beginning and is weaved throughout the story. Wilson writes some fantastic historical mysteries!
There were lots of twists and turns and some things that kept me guessing about certain characters. I was sad about what happened to one of the characters. I felt like I had grown attached to them and hoped for a happy ending. But in a way it did seem fitting what happened to them.
The Vanishing at Loxby Manor was another excellent book by Wilson.
I have only read two Abigail Wilson novels. The two that I have read, The Vanishing at Loxby Manor and Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey, have both had a slightly gothic feel to them with a nice mystery that keeps you guessing. Ms. Wilson excels at giving you just enough information to keep you interested without giving you too much. I always like her main characters and the mystery is never what I am expecting. And bonus, this story is a second chance romance, one of my favorites!
In The Vanishing at Loxby Manor, I was completely surprised at how the mystery of the story unfolded. It was not what I was expecting at all. There was also a surprise near the end that I did not see coming, well actually two of them. I really liked Piers and Charity together, although I wish there had been a bit more romance throughout the story. I immediately liked Piers, but when we found out why he did something that made him sort of an outcast, I liked him even more!
This story is filled with mystery, intrigue, a gothic feel, and history, and it will keep you guessing all the way through until the very end! 4 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
After five years abroad, Charity Halliwell finally returns to Loxby Manor, the home of dear friends—and her lost love Piers. No longer a young girl, she is now haunted by a painful secret and the demise of her dreams. Instead of the healing and happiness she hopes to find, she encounters a darkness lurking in the shadows of the once-familiar house. When her friend, Seline, disappears the very night of her arrival, Charity is determined to uncover the truth. Her only hope is the man who broke her heart. Branded a coward, Piers Cavanaugh has lived the last five years as an outcast far from his family home. When his sister presumably elopes with Miles a stable hand, Piers joins forces with an unlikely partner the one woman he thought he’d never see again. Together they launch an investigation that leads to strange nightly meetings in the ruins of an old abbey and disturbing whispers of a secret organization. The more they learn, the more desperate the situation becomes.
The house seems determined to keep its secrets.
As they struggle to piece together the clues, Charity and Piers also endeavour to rebuild their friendship. One cryptic letter changed everything between them.
This is the second book I’ve read by the author & it’s another well written different Regency story, it’s dark & there’s secrets & a mystery to solve, frothy ballrooms it certainly isn’t. It took me sometime to get into the book but after a couple of chapters I was hooked & was trying to guess who the villain was, which I didn’t do & it came as a surprise. I liked both Piers & Charity but I didn’t love them, however I thoroughly enjoyed how they worked to overcome their distrust. I look forward to reading more books by the author
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
After five years abroad, Charity Halliwell finally returns to Loxby Manor, the home of dear friends—and her lost love. No longer a young girl, she is now haunted by a painful secret and the demise of her dreams. Instead of the healing and happiness she hopes to find, she encounters a darkness lurking in the shadows of the once-familiar house. When her friend, Seline, disappears the very night of her arrival, Charity is determined to uncover the truth.
Her only hope is the man who broke her heart.
Branded a coward, Piers Cavanaugh has lived the last five years as an outcast far from his family home. When his sister presumably elopes with a stable hand, Piers joins forces with an unlikely partner—the one woman he thought he’d never see again. Together they launch an investigation that leads to strange nightly meetings in the ruins of an old abbey and disturbing whispers of a secret organization. The more they learn, the more desperate the situation becomes.
The house seems determined to keep its secrets.
As they struggle to piece together the clues, Charity and Piers also endeavor to rebuild their friendship. One cryptic letter changed everything between them. To find happiness they will have to overcome the grief and shame keeping them apart. But first they must discover why Seline vanished and confront the growing fear that she may never return.
Charity returns to Loxby Manor for a year long visit with her friend Seline. Upon her arrival Seline is caught up in a scandal. Then she disappears in the middle of the night. Charity doesn’t believe that Seline eloped with a stable hand. Here the mystery starts. What happened to Seline. It seems everyone knows something. But nobody wants to talk. Piers, her love of five years ago, doesn’t hardly want to acknowledge her. This is a great mystery that isn’t revealed until the very end. I recommend this to all who enjoy a good mystery.
I was given this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.
A great, atmospheric and moody story filled with intrigue, murder, and a secret society! The backdrop of the dark and inhospitable Loxby Manor as well as the nearby ruins of Kinwich Abbey with its mysterious lights flickering at night adds to the suspenseful storyline.
Nothing is as Charity Halliwell remembers when she steps back in to Loxby Manor, home of her best friend, Seline Cavanagh, after five years away. A moody, dark atmosphere seems to prevail as she is banished to her guest room upon arrival. Seline briefly shows up that first evening, only to disappear into the night.
Where has Seline disappeared to? Who is behind her mysterious disappearance? Piers Cavanagh, the disgraced son of the family, arrives to try and sort through the mysterious comings and goings at Loxby Manor. As Piers and Charity try to unravel the mysterious disappearance of Seline, they find themselves exploring their past and trying to unravel the secret society of the Ancient Order of the Gormogons.
Read this twisty story to find out if Piers and Charity can uncover the mystery of Seline’s disappearance and who is behind the secret society. I didn’t see it coming until the end!
I highly recommend this engaging tale for readers of historical fiction, Regency fiction and Christian fiction.
This ARC copy was received from Netgalley and Thomas Nelson. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.
#TheVanishingAtLoxbyManor #NetGalley
Told from a Christian World View amidst dark and sinister circumstances, this book exudes an air of foreboding.
After five years away, Charity Halliwell returns to Loxby Manor, the estate of family friends. Strange things begin to happen, including the disappearance of her best friend, Seline, on the very night she arrives. She is warned by those close to her but whether for her protection or to prevent secrets from coming to light, is something she is determined to find out. She does not know who to trust. “It was as if I had wandered into a dreamland where all my childhood acquaintances had elevated themselves to villains of their own stories.”
With beautifully descriptive words, the author tells a tale of many secrets. Some begging to be set free, some best left buried. Piers Cavanagh, eldest son of Loxby Manor who has secrets of his own, pairs with Charity to uncover the truth about his missing sister. What they find is almost more than they can comprehend. But Piers and Charity are forced to confront their shared past. “I am not certain anyone can go back, not really. It is more about finding a way to go forward, to trust that God will take something bad that has happened and work it for good.”
Ms. Wilson is one of the best Gothic Regency authors of today.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
Wow! This book is beyond incredible! It is mysterious, romantic, keeps you on the edge of your seat, full of gothic elements, and has so many twists and turns you feel like you are on a roller coaster! Whenever I picked up “The Vanishing at Loxby Manor”, I was whisked back in time to the Regency Era, and went on quite an adventure with this story.
This is the second book I have read by Abigail Wilson, and oh how I love her books! She is one of my absolute must-read authors, as her storytelling is simply SPECTACULAR! She immerses the reader in the world of “The Vanishing of Loxby Manor” from the first page to the last, and you truly feel like you are there witnessing every moment occur, and trying to solve what happened along with the characters. Her writing style is incredibly vivid, and I can only imagine the amount of thought she must put into each single element. Her pacing is absolutely perfect, as the puzzle pieces of the mystery begin to reveal themselves right at the moment they push the plot forward.
Charity is such a strong, caring, intelligent, brave, and kind woman who wants to find out what truly happened that caused her friend to disappear. Piers is such a caring, strong, smart, warm-hearted man, and cares beyond deeply for those he loves, and always puts them first. When his sister goes missing, Piers and Charity must work together to find out what really happened to her. There is a lot I need to leave out of this review due to spoilers, so I won’t say too much other than…READ THIS BOOK!
If you enjoy historical mystery mixed in with historical fiction and historical romance, I highly recommend this book! I was hooked from the very first sentence, and did not want to put this book down! I tried to solve the mystery, and thought I had it (twice!), and, without spoiling anything, I was BEYOND SHOCKED!
Thank you so much to HFVBT and Thomas Nelson-Fiction for the ARC of this book, it is amazing! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Please Note: The author deals with some heavier topics in this book. I believe she handles them with great care and the upmost respect.
The Vanishing at Loxby Manor is another excellent Regency mystery from Abigail Wilson! With first person narration instantly pulling me into the story and adding to the suspense, I was delightfully surprised and guessing until the very end. Charity is a likable and complex heroine whose view of the world has been shaped by her past friendship with the Cavanaghs and her experiences abroad. As she navigates the mystery of her friend’s disappearance, a second chance at life — and romance! — unfolds.
The Regency era comes to life under Wilson’s command. I especially enjoyed the rural setting and requisite elements of the time: references to duels, a ball, strolls in the garden, drawing room banter, and midnight horseback rides. The compelling cast and exciting mystery propel the story into further layers of complexity as Charity must decide where to turn and who to trust next.
Along with the wonderfully executed second chance romance, themes of survival and hope anchor the story and main couple. I appreciate how this story acknowledges life as ever-changing with focus best fixed on the future instead of the shadows of the past. I recommend this book for anyone who likes their Regency or Austen with a hefty dose of mystery and suspense, or fans of inspirational romance and well done first person POV.
Thank you to HFVBT and the publisher for the review copy. This is my honest review.
This is only my second book I have read by Abigail Wilson but I think this one was my favorite. I loved how well written it was and I loved the mystery. I loved how we didn’t know who the villain was until close to the end of the book. It kept me engaged the whole time. I also liked that there was a little romance so we could hope for a somewhat happy ending. I really enjoyed this book.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
The Vanishing of Loxby Manor
Abigail Wilson
https://www.facebook.com/ACWilsonbooks/
Release Date 01/26/2021
Publisher Thomas Nelson
A story of second chances and secrets, this mysterious Regency romance will transport you to 19th-century England as one young lady reunites with her childhood love to find his missing sister.
Her friend is missing.
After five years abroad, Charity Halliwell finally returns to Loxby Manor, the home of dear friends—and her lost love. No longer a young girl, she is now haunted by a painful secret and the demise of her dreams. Instead of the healing and happiness she hopes to find, she encounters a darkness lurking in the shadows of the once-familiar house. When her friend, Seline, disappears the very night of her arrival, Charity is determined to uncover the truth.
Her only hope is the man who broke her heart.
Branded a coward, Piers Cavanaugh has lived the last five years as an outcast far from his family home. When his sister presumably elopes with a stable hand, Piers joins forces with an unlikely partner—the one woman he thought he’d never see again. Together they launch an investigation that leads to strange nightly meetings in the ruins of an old abbey and disturbing whispers of a secret organization. The more they learn, the more desperate the situation becomes.
The house seems determined to keep its secrets.
As they struggle to piece together the clues, Charity and Piers also endeavor to rebuild their friendship. One cryptic letter changed everything between them. To find happiness they will have to overcome the grief and shame keeping them apart. But first they must discover why Seline vanished and confront the growing fear that she may never return.
Settle in, because once you start The Vanishing at Loxby Manor, you won’t be able to put it down.
My first thought about this book was about its dark atmosphere, like in Jane Eyre with its shadows, lights in the night or small noises when everything was silent.
While it is narrated in the first person, the author goes to great lengths to convey the feelings and emotions of her characters.
Life has not been fair with them, both are no more the ones they were prior their time apart. They are scarred, holding tight on secrets and the shadows darkening their return home.
Charity left England with dreams and hopes, now back, they are all shattered and she only wishes for quiet and uneventful existence. But it seems it is not only her life has dealt some blows. From her childhood friends, none had been left unscathed. She now must acknowledge not everything is as she thought. Secrets and shadows are surrounding her, not only hers.
Piers her younger self love interest is too a changed man, he never really recovered from the scandal that made him run away. Yet in some day, he is still the young man who held her hands when in need and stil nourish her heart. If she is willing to open her soul to someone who had known pain too.
I understand her reservation at confiding her fears and pains, society was so unforgivable, yet when she understood the reason behind his own shame, she knew she had a true friend in him. Still she holds him at arms length.
All mixed with their investigation about Piers’ sister disappearance.
And while I had a nagging suspicion about who was the real schemer, I followed the flow of the words and let it lifts me.
The author offers an intense tale of healing, friendship and love as well as a twisted mystery.
As both heroes long to belong and be seen as worthy all the while they must unknit the complex network, decided to make sense of things.
4.25 stars
some sweet kisses
I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher Thomas Nelson, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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Arriving to visit her best friend Seline and her family, Charity doesn’t find Loxby Manor the refuge that she was hoping for. In the five years that Charity was gone, she has changed and Seline’s family has changed as well. The same night that Charity arrives, Seline disappears. Charity doesn’t believe that Seline eloped. While searching for her, the family keeps Seline’s disappearance a secret to avoid scandal. Piers’s arrival adds to the stress due to being Charity’s former secret beau and to his old scandal. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I love this book with its gothic tone as well as the main characters. The suspense in this book builds as Charity and Piers search for answers. I love how this book kept me guessing until the very end. I also love that both Charity and Piers were well developed characters that had to learn to deal with their pasts. I also like seeing how an incident in Ceylon continued to affect Charity, which is often shown in regency books. With this book, I have become a fan of the author. I look forward to her next book.
This was a fun read. I loved the mystery aspect to it- it kept me guessing the whole time. Every time I thought I knew who the “bad guy” was something would make me change my mind. Definitely an entertaining book. I did feel like a lot of the characters showed little to no emotion when bad things happened. I’m not sure how I would act if I stumbled across a murder scene but I doubt I would want to go play cards and gossip with my friends.
That aside- it was still a book worth reading.
The Vanishing at Loxby Manor combines Regency era England with some Gothic darkness to bring a mystery wrapped up in a second chance love story.
Charity Halliwell returns to her friends at Loxby Manor after five years abroad, while her parents travel to America to visit her brother. She arrives with a secret that has fundamentally changed her. All that she hopes for is to find a governess position, and to reconnect with her friend, Saline. On her first night there, Saline borrows her cloak and disappears into the night with promises to return within the hour. When she fails to return, Charity’s concern morphs into fear for her friend. How can she tell Saline’s family that she’s run away? Or did she?
Pierce Cavanaugh was branded a coward when assisting an injured friend made him miss a duel that he’d been called out for. While society and his mother had turned their backs on him, he continued to run the estate for his disabled father. He did his best to live honorably, but hearing that Charity had returned was enough to bring him home. His first – and only – love, Charity had been his best friend growing up. Can he keep his love for her under wraps as they work together to solve his sister’s disappearance?
This book was a slow starter, but its gradual build to the climax really works for the Gothic flavor of the story. Readers who enjoy Gothic mystery with a side of romance, will enjoy The Vanishing at Loxby Manor.
Abigail Wilson is an absolute master of her craft! She writes these Gothic Regency Mysteries that never disappoint! The Vanishing at Loxby Manor is exactly that. A fantastic, wonderfully paced, keep you guessing mystery. This book is the perfect length, it’s long enough to tell a well-rounded story and short enough to not bog you down with unnecessary details. I loved this story and cannot wait for Ms. Wilson’s next!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson is an enticing mystery of a missing person and a scandal that rocks a wealthy family. I really enjoy mysteries and historical romances, but not many people do justice to the combination genre. Most historical mysteries writer usually lean more toward the romance and the historical side, forgetting that they were supposed to include a mystery in the story too. But not Wilson. She does a wonderful job at crafting a plot that focuses on the mystery element and allows the history to shine through the background, setting, and the characters. While the 180 degree transformation of the characters is important to the plot, in Wilson’s novels, the characters did a 360 degree turned and returned to where they were when the story began. They had a little break in their relationship, but they came back and realized the importance of each other in their lives. While this didn’t make or break the romance, it does seem a little too predictable for me. As for the plot, it was nicely handled and well-developed. I enjoyed the mystery and kept flipping through the screens on my Kindle, wanting to know who did the crime and where the missing girl went. Overall, The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson will be on my forever shelf with her other three novels. I’m really curious on what she will compose next.
I received a complimentary copy of The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.