Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Amid the terror of the Second World War, seventeen-year-old Eliza and her troubled little sister Rebecca have had their share of tragedy, having lost their mother to the Blitz and their father to suicide. Forced to leave London to work for the mysterious Mr. Brownwell at Abigale Hall, they soon learn that the worst is yet to come. The vicious housekeeper, Mrs. Pollard, seems hell-bent on keeping the ghostly secrets of the house away from the sisters and forbids them from entering the surrounding town--and from the rumors that circulate about Abigale Hall. When Eliza uncovers some blood-splattered books, ominous photographs, and portraits of a mysterious woman, she begins to unravel the mysteries of the house, but with Rebecca falling under Mrs. Pollard's spell, she must act quickly to save her sister, and herself, from certain doom.

Perfect for readers who hunger for the strange, Abigale Hall is an atmospheric debut novel where the threat of death looms just beyond the edge of every page. Lauren A. Forry has created a historical ghost story where the setting is as alive as the characters who inhabit it and a resonant family drama of trust, loyalty, and salvation.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

From the first paragraph of British author Forry's debut, readers know they have entered a splendid gothic novel, with dark shadows and a disturbing creep of horror. It then comes as an intriguing surprise that the book is set in the years following the end of WWII. London is a city still suffering the aftereffects of the war: food shortages, ration books, unemployment, and the collective memories of bombings and blackouts. Seventeen-year-old Eliza Haverford and her 12-year-old sister, Rebecca, have lost their parents and are now in the care of their sullen Aunt Bess, who's more than willing to ship the girls off to Wales to work as servants. They therefore find themselves escorted by dour Mr. Drewry to Thornecroft, an isolated and dilapidated manor house, whose grimy, shabby interior and labyrinthine layout provide the ideal setting for exaggerating fears and hiding appalling truths. Forry shows herself a master at seductive prose that keeps the reader turning pages, eager to discover the next shocking turn of events. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Booklist Review

WWII left many British children orphaned, and Eliza and Rebecca are not alone in being sent to live with relatives who don't want them. But when the girls are shipped off to live at Abigale Hall, a remote and creepy home in Wales, their situation goes from pitiful to horrifying. Eliza starts noticing terrible things from day one, including the evil housekeeper, Mrs. Pollard, who is intent on keeping the girls isolated and under her control. The compelling narration alternates Eliza, desperately trying to figure out why so many women associated with the manor have gone missing, and her London boyfriend, Peter, risking all to track down his beloved and bring her home. Forry lulls readers into thinking this is just a typical Gothic thriller until the increasing panic, merging story lines, and deadly secrets begin to precariously pile up, ultimately crashing down in a dark and very sinister collapse. Fans of the recent uptick in contemporary female-driven psychological suspense should be persuaded to try this historical setting.--Spratford, Becky Copyright 2017 Booklist