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A Mandeville Mystery #4

The Mandeville Curse: An absolutely gripping historical mystery that will have you hooked

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I love, love, LOVE this series… I’m not ashamed to say I cried reading these books.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

1937. When her young protégé is killed in suspicious circumstances, celebrated photojournalist Hettie Turner is wracked with guilt. Desperate to escape her grief, she travels to the distant Hill House to help with an unusual request.

Arriving at the ancestral home of the Mandevilles, Hettie finds a family struggling to accept the passing of the head of the household, Sir Charles Mandeville. Hettie is enlisted to catalogue the eclectic collection of antiquities amassed by Sir Charles when he explored the world as a young man. Independent by nature, Hettie is surprised to find herself turning to the family’s groom, the handsome ex-soldier Rhys Lewis, for help.

The longer she stays at Hill House, the more it gets under Hettie’s skin. From the graceful sweep of the central staircase to the soft rustle of pages in the old library – Hettie becomes fascinated by the history of the Mandevilles. Sir Charles was secretive about parts of his collection but, ever the pragmatist, Hettie dismisses the legend that a cursed object is responsible for the many tragedies that have befallen the family.

But as Hettie delves deeper into her work, increasingly unsettling experiences occur around her, causing secrets formed in the frozen wilderness of Canada six decades earlier to unravel.

Could there really be a curse over this family? And if there is, can Hettie break the hold it has over Hill House and over her?

What readers are saying about this

Another engrossing story from this amazing authorsuch compulsive reading.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

An addictive series. A real page-turner of time travel, family secrets, and mystical events.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really didn’t want this story to end… An emotional rollercoaster of a read… the author captivated me heart and soul and I loved everything about it.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Took my breath away in a way I never thought was possible… filled my arms with copious amounts of goosebumps, whilst also pricking my eyes with unshed tears… It broke my heart, then it fixed it again.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A really powerful and heart-wrenching novel about love and self-sacrifice… It is beautifully written and for a few hours I got lost in its pages … Now it is ended and I feel bereft… a most beautiful and fabulous novel.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Stuck with me… one of those haunting stories, with flawed characters you love in situations that pull your heartstrings… I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes historical fiction, mystery, time travel, or just reading books so well-written they seem to sing off the page. Callie Langridge has real talent.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

380 pages, Paperback

Published December 18, 2024

254 people are currently reading
92 people want to read

About the author

Callie Langridge

8 books104 followers
Callie has a passion for history and the world and lives of those who came before us. Through her writing, she explores social history, complicated relationships, and how the extraordinary happens every day.

She can often be found roaming the halls of historic properties and has a particular fascination with venturing into the hidden parts of houses …

Callie lives in London along with an ever-growing collection of antique curiosities, more books than any person really needs, and a blanket waiting for a Jack Russell terrier to occupy soon!

Twitter: @CLangridgeWrite
Facebook: Callie Langridge facebook.com/CallieLangridgeAuthor/
Insta: Callie Langridge instagram.com/callielangridge/

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5 stars
277 (55%)
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142 (28%)
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57 (11%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
Profile Image for BONNIE SMITH.
432 reviews64 followers
November 10, 2024
This is the fourth installment of the Mandeville House series and I think my favorite. No need to read all the others to dig into this, but helpful to know that this house is unique and that time travel IS possible in this world.
I have loved that the house plays a big part in each book, and is a character of it's own. Mandeville helps those in need. Sometimes that need is love, and the storylines of all three are fantastic.

In this edition, our FMC is Hettie Turner. It's 1937 and her protege has died suspiciously so in her guilt and grief she flees to the Mandeville House as a distraction, she's been called on for an unusual task.

Hettie is my favorite of all the main characters in this series. She's determined and smart as a whip. As Hettie sets to the task of cataloging antiques collected by the head of house, she learns he recently passed, and something about the family dynamics if off.

I don't want to spoil the rest, but this is light enough to move through quickly, but emotional enough to have me cry a few tears, I highly recommend it. Since it is not set to release until January 2025, all the more reason to grab the first three is the series and start them ASAP.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Profile Image for Jessica Wilczynski.
461 reviews6 followers
January 9, 2025
4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of The Mandeville Curse.

A young photographer feels lost after the death of her friend. She is asked to come to The Mandeville estate to photograph the antiques of the late head of the house. She has not photographed anything since the death of her friend but the Mandeville family has been great friends of her family so she accepts the invitation. Once there odd things start happening and she feels like she is being watched. Hearing the sad events that have plagued the family over the years she worries that an evil force is at work.

This is the fourth book in the series and I do recommend reading the other books before this one because they are all tied together and it will give you a lot of background on the characters. This series is different than anything I have ever read and I have enjoyed all of the books. I enjoyed the writing style and the plots. I enjoyed how all of the stories were connected. I highly recommend the whole series!
1,593 reviews18 followers
November 15, 2024
Although part of a series, this works well as a standalone book. It is 1937, and Hetty is devastated after her young friend Saul is assaulted and killed. There is also a liaison that she is ashamed of. When she goes to a family friend's home to take photos, quite mysterious things start happening. We also find out the backstory of her grandfather and his friends. This is a story about finding yourself, helping others, healing and redemption. It comes together quite well in the end, and there is a very satisfying epilogue. The main characters Hetty and Rhys were believable and sensible. There was a bit of supernatural, but not enough to ruin the story. The historical background made for interesting reading. Thanks to NetGalley for a chance to read and review this book.
Profile Image for Rachel.
163 reviews
December 24, 2024
This was an ARC I received from NetGalley.
I have to say it took me longer than usual to read this. I felt like I trudged through the story, just waiting for something to happen. It was overly descriptive and wordy in my opinion. I don’t need a detailed description of how the mc put on her coat, how she buttoned it, then put on her gloves one by one before carefully wrapping her scarf around her neck. There was a lot more detail than that, but I paraphrased for you. I feel it was a neat story line, but getting to it just took entirely too long.
549 reviews10 followers
January 9, 2025
Callie has a knack of creating descriptive images that you can see through your minds eye.
I have loved The Mandeville series: especially as various times in history (policitcal and social) has been slightly mentioned. Callie cleverly manages to write across different eras and they bring the story together.
The value of lifetime friendships comes through the pages. This particularly comes through the various characters that have been incorporated in the books.
Hettie, what a strong female character, who knew what she wanted.
Hopefully the Mandeville series will continue.
Profile Image for Kezia Irene.
183 reviews83 followers
November 6, 2025
The story follows Hettie, a photographer visiting the quiet town of Mandeville to capture antiques in an old cottage with a mysterious past. While the idea was promising, the execution fell short. The pacing dragged because of long, unnecessary descriptions like folding cloths or moving kettles. These parts disrupted the flow and made me lose focus. The frequent use of past perfect tense with phrases like “she had done this” or “he had said that” felt repetitive, pulling me out of the story instead of drawing me in.

On top of that, the romance between Hettie and Rhys felt forced and lacked genuine chemistry. Their interactions didn’t come across as natural, making the romantic subplot feel like a checkbox rather than an integral part of the story. I think their relationship would have been more compelling if they had remained friends working together to uncover the cottage’s secrets, focusing on the mystery instead.
Profile Image for Cindy Spear.
602 reviews47 followers
December 1, 2024
This is another delightful atmospheric historical dual timeline mystery from Callie Langridge. A wonderful new addition to a great series!

As always, Ms Langridge’s descriptions are impeccable and her sense of drama well demonstrated. The Mandeville Curse is another finely executed tale. I was quickly drawn into the memorable locations and effortlessly transported back and forth between 1876 and 1937. I particularly enjoyed the Canadian scenes (my birth home!) and could picture the items and charms unique to the areas. And the romance!

The characterisation of Charles and Hettie were beautifully and carefully crafted. I enjoyed each of their journeys externally and internally. It is easy to see the reasons behind their actions and the consistency of their movements. Their dialogue reflected appropriately their needs, thoughts and dreams. In other words, these dynamic characters fit well in their story worlds. Research is thorough, antique items believably presented and utilised. I was captivated by the mystery and, as before, the unique aspect of Hill House, a character that never fails to impress and intrigue me with its mystical happenings and ability to help those in need. But as one character says to another: ‘…this house needed you as much as you needed it…”

There are many memorable phrases such as “People had to earn a place in other people’s lives” commented by photojournalist Hettie Turner. Stella the cat, though, is outside of the people rules and certainly stole her heart from the start and offered her companionship as a comforter in her new position at the ancestral home of the Mandevilles. Hettie like others, who visit the Hill House, are trying to escape and recover from (even if temporarily) a painful experience. Her parents send her here in hopes that being a visitor at this atmospheric mystical dwelling, will help her overcome the grief she experienced after the peculiar death of her young protégé.

The Mandeville household is also struggling to deal with the loss of world traveller Sir Charles Mandeville. Hettie’s new job is to catalogue the eclectic antiquities left behind by this intriguing man, but it opens a door on a rare and strange world. She learns much about the family’s history and the curse that surrounds them. But is there any truth to the legend? Well, there certainly are lots of strange happenings at the cottage that seem unexplainable which play havoc with her head. For Hettie normally is a person dictated by reason, not emotions but is challenged by the events. While the mystery deepens and the story progresses, she is exposed to unusual mystical incidents.

There is a wonderful colourful support cast in both timelines that keep the story moving with twists and turns! There are some reappearances from the previous books and a villain that keeps returning but Elliot’s words ring true: ‘Heroes often hide their good deeds. Only cowards shout about themselves.’ And Rhys is a protective, kind, handsome and compassionate true gentleman. He understands that women need time to explore and fulfill her destinies.

There are a couple of beautiful eternal romances at the heart of this story in both timelines. There are some stunning secrets, too! I really loved how everything exquisitely came together for the ending. A true triumph that left my heart bursting with positive emotions! The Mandeville Curse is a definite must read paranormal passionate mystery. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for a review copy.
Profile Image for Meg Pearson.
391 reviews9 followers
December 30, 2024
The Mandeville Curse is a captivating blend of mystery, history, and emotion set across dual timelines in 1876 and 1937. This is the fourth book in Callie Langridge’s Mandeville Mystery series, but it reads well as a standalone novel while offering added depth for those familiar with earlier entries.

The story follows Hettie Turner, a photojournalist grappling with guilt and grief after the untimely death of a young protégé. At the urging of her family, she accepts an assignment to catalog the antiques of Hill House, an ancestral home steeped in history and intrigue. As Hettie delves into her task, she uncovers long-buried secrets linked to Sir Charles Mandeville’s travels in North America in 1876, including a chilling curse said to haunt the family.

Langridge masterfully weaves the two timelines, drawing readers into the atmospheric settings of the Mandeville estate and the wild Canadian landscapes of Sir Charles’s explorations. The plot is rich with twists, eerie occurrences, and a touch of the supernatural, all balanced by the grounding presence of Hettie’s burgeoning romance with Rhys Lewis, a kind and enigmatic ex-soldier.

Hettie is a compelling protagonist—modern, independent, and relatable, even as she struggles with her past. Her resilience and determination to uncover the truth make her an inspiring figure. The side characters, including the steadfast Rhys and the ever-watchful Stella the cat, add charm and depth to the narrative.

The book’s pacing is steady, building suspense with each chapter while offering moments of reflection and emotional resonance. Langridge’s evocative descriptions of the Scottish Highlands and Hill House imbue the story with a gothic allure, while the mystery surrounding the curse keeps readers guessing until the very end.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of the series or a newcomer, The Mandeville Curse offers an engaging, atmospheric read with strong characters, a layered plot, and a satisfying conclusion. It’s a must-read for fans of historical mysteries and dual-timeline storytelling.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.
235 reviews
January 10, 2025
The Mandeville Curse is the 4th book in the magical Mandeville series.

It is 1937 and WWII is on the horizon. Hettie Turner is a young photographer who has been photographing the Oswald Mosley propaganda rallies. During one of the rallies her young protege is killed. Overwhelmed with guilt, Hettie retreats to her parents house, Then they receive word that Sir Charles Mandeville has passed away. Sir Charles was the best friend of Hettie’s grandfather and she spent many a childhood vacation at Hill House with the Mandeville family. A suggestion is made that Hettie go to Hill House and photograph Sir Charles’ extensive collection of antiquties. Once at Hill House, Hettie meets some of the staff and the young daughters of the house, the rest of the family is in London. Hettie starts to photograph the collection and strange incidents start to happen, she senses an otherwordly presence. There seems to be an all too human threat as well. Hettie must navigate her grief and find a way to move forward while helping a family that she has grown to love. The story in interspersed with chapters related to Sir Charles and Hettie’s granfather’s trip to America and Canada in 1876. This ties up the story in a satisfying way

This is the 4th book in the Mandeville series and though I love them all, my favorite is still the 1st one, I do recommend reading all the books in order as you get to know repeat characters and their place in the series. Bertie will always be a favorite

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, Storm Publishing and the author for the chance to read and review this ARC.
191 reviews4 followers
January 13, 2025
When I read the description of The Mandeville Curse - I was hooked but I hadn't read the first three- fortunately, they are on kindle unlimited so I dove in and I am so glad that I did! You don't have to have read the others to enjoy number 4 but trust me, they're worth it. Especially as you learn about why this is house is so...unique. I love when a non-sentient object becomes a character in a story and that's certainly the case for Hill House. The character (aka the house) gives you what you need - whatever that may be.

In the fourth book of the series, the protege of photojournalist Hettie Turner has died - and she's the main suspect. She flees to Hill House and undertakes the work of archiving the collection of the late patriarch of the Mandeville family. The longer she's there the more she's pulled into the family, the misfortunes, and the objects that may be behind what seems to be curses.

Hettie - our FMC - is absolutely brilliant. I love a whipsmart, fierce character, especially when it's a woman in a time period that it's not a given for a woman to be as strong and bold as she is. The supporting characters are well-written and fleshed out, adding to the atmosphere of the house. The romance was well done but most importantly the supernatural elements felt believable and didn't pull me out of my suspension of disbelief.

I laughed but I definitely cried a little bit - This is was a fast-paced, charming read, and I can't wait for another installment.

Thank you Net Galley and Storm Publishing for the ARC
Profile Image for Sarah.
400 reviews6 followers
January 13, 2025
This is the fourth book in the Mandeville family mysteries series and I am constantly delighted with each addition. The books are always a tad genre bending with some paranormal, some romance and some mystery or crime and it keeps you guessing well. I know there will be more as each book shares more enticing bits of the secret/origins/mystery but we still don't know everything yet. I'm always left hungry and a bit impatient for the next story and I appreciate that Callie Langridge takes her time to be well researched and thoroughly sure of what she is writing.

This story was a little slower to start than the rest and in the end I was left feeling that it hadn't been as romantic as the rest either. I do appreciate the characters being who they are, aren't exactly the huge romance type though. There were bits and pieces in Hettie's story that weren't entirely solved although maybe that, reflecting real life was the point of the book. It dealt with themes that were a lot more realistic to the times they were set (being pre WW2) and included a lot of sobering topics.

All in all, another seamlessly written book that focuses on different parts of the whole Mandeville family and Hill house. I'm sure I spotted reference to another babe in the making there as well which will ensure continuation of the line. A very enjoyable time spend in the company of characters old and new.

My big thanks to Netgalley, Storm publishing and Callie Langridge for an opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions given are my own.
Profile Image for Lynda.
2,214 reviews119 followers
December 24, 2024
I didn’t realise when I read it but this is the 4th book in the Mandeville Mystery series but this read well as a standalone. A dual timeline story following Charles Mandeville in 1836 when he travelled to USA and Canada with two friends. In 1937 photojournalist Hettie Turner has travelled to Hill House, where she spent many happy childhood visits, to catalogue Sir Charles Mandeville’s collection of antiquities following his death.

Briefly, the antiquities are held in a cottage in the grounds of the Hall and Hattie is working from there. The cottage has the reputation of being cursed and some strange things do seem to happen there. Nettie turns to the groundskeeper Rhys Lewis for help but it seems that other members of staff know more than they are sharing.

Hettie is rather an unusual character. Quite independent for a woman in the 1930’s but has also a rather insular personality, keeping her thoughts and feelings to herself. Her grief has been getting the better of her and this trip was arranged in the hope of helping her overcome her anxiety. The plot is a bit creepy at times and had me wondering if there were paranormal goings on! It’s a good plot line with some twists and turns to keep you on the ball. I loved Stella the cat, an unusual ally but often there when a comforting companion was needed. An entertaining mystery with a gothic vibe. Very enjoyable.
77 reviews2 followers
January 16, 2025
The first book in this series is intriguing but I’m pretty sure it was meant to be a standalone novel. From there on out the author has attempted to make a series but instead cooked up a burnt inedible mess. The stories shift from one to another with pieces that don’t quite tie up in each. This one doesn’t even explain what the Mandeville curse is.

The main character is sooo incredibly annoying. She spends the whole book explaining her horrific sense of style (she dresses in men’s clothes because she can) and how she loves to have sex. Men are like a piece of meat to her-just waiting to be devoured in her mind. That said the book doesn’t go into detail on any of this-just inferred. It’s gross. The romance in this book makes no sense as they barely talk to each other. The long drawn out descriptions are so annoying! I kept thinking things would mean something and they didn’t. If you want to know how the book ends just read the first couple and then last couple of chapters. You’ll get the whole book without spending your time reading the whole book.

The dialogue between characters is awkward and stilted. There’s barely a plot to the book til the last few chapters. The author spends too much time explaining her characters without having life happen to them. I was soo tired of all the descriptions of random places that didn’t further the story. Like I said before she showed promise with her first book but then the rest of them stink. This one being the stinkiest.
Profile Image for Candy.
1,165 reviews16 followers
November 9, 2024
I was invited to review this book by the publisher. This is the fourth installment in a series, but reading the others before this book is not necessary to understand the flow of the book. This book is set in 1937, and follows Hettie, a photojournalist who's understudy dies suspiciously. She goes to Hill House to get away from her sadness. Hill House is the family home of the Mandeville family, and Hettie is supposed to help catalog the antiques secured by the head of the household who has recently passed. As Hettie delves into her task, she also learns of a legend that a curse has struck the family due to a curse on one of the antiques. Stranger things then start to happen as Hettie gets deeper into her task.

This was a good atmospheric read, and I enjoyed the mystery surrounding the different artifacts and the hold on the house and family. It was a unique method to present the storyline. I especially loved the character of Hettie; she was a stronger, independent woman who was not afraid to pursue what she wanted, and I appreciated how the author depicted this character. This was an enjoyable read that I am interested to pursue the other books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Patricia Williams.
431 reviews14 followers
December 9, 2024
It was an absolute pleasure to be given the opportunity to return to Hill House and it's residents. The Manderville Curse is set in 1937 where the story revolves around Hettie a young and troubled photographer and 1876 when a young Charles Manderville is visiting Canada after university with his two good friends. This book is a little different from the previous three in that no one actually time travels. Hettie and Sir Charles' stories unravel in parallel eventually revealing their connections. Although it could be read as a stand alone I really feel the series needs to be read in order to get the best from it. It always takes a little time to fit everyone from the other books in their place in a different era but the author is extremely good at dropping little hints to help with this. I wasn't keen on the character of Hettie as she seemed a rather sullen character. She seems to wallow in self pity. Determined to punish herself for an incident that nobody else blames her for. The rest of the characters - apart from the outright villains - are usually very pleasant folk. On the whole a very enjoyable well researched read with mystery and intrigue a plenty.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own
113 reviews1 follower
January 9, 2025
After Hettie Turner’s young student is killed under suspicious circumstances, she receives an unusual request from her ancestral home, Hill House. Desperate to escape the grief she is feeling, she travels to the ancestral home of the Mandevilles, where the family is trying to deal with the death of Sir Charles Mandeville, the head of the household.
Hettie has been asked to use her photojournalist skills to catalog Sir Charle’s extensive antiques collection, which comprised a large part of his estate. Hettie soon finds herself seeking the help of the family’s groom, Rhys Lewis, a handsome ex-soldier who immediately has Hettie’s attention.
The house soon feels very different, not as she remembered it years ago. As she begins work on Sir Charles’s collection, she thinks back to all the tragedies that have occurred to family members over the years. Was there a curse over the Mandeville Estate? Was Sir Charles involved? Was it something in his collection?
Hettie soon experiences strange happenings around her as she continues her work in the cottage that was home to St. Charles. If there is a curse over the family, will she be able to break it as she dives deeper into St. Charles's collection?
118 reviews5 followers
December 28, 2024
An intense story about Hettie, a young woman photojournalist, who is struggling with the recent loss of a close friend and regrets about a past relationship. There is a touch of the supernatural which is eventually explained via "flashbacks" about her godfather's trip to North America.

I like and admire Hettie, and find her assignment of cataloging and photographing his collection at Mandeville interesting, as well as her interactions with the current staff of Hill House. The author has done a good job describing all her troubled thoughts about the past and present, however some of the descriptions go beyond what I consider proper in a "cozy mystery" - however they are quite essential to the unfolding of the plot.

For most of the book I was feeling sorry for Hettie, but admired her tenacity in attempting to overcome her distress. The cat was a surprising help to her, as were the special friends she makes at the hall.

I obtained an advance copy of this book via NetGalley and Storm publishing. Unfortunately, the copy they sent has an incredible number of errors in the text which were distracting. Hopefully all of them are caught before publication!
Profile Image for Mystica.
1,755 reviews32 followers
December 29, 2024
Hettie has been entrusted with cataloging the contents of an estate in the form of photographing the items. Photography is her forte and both her parents and the Hills family where the items are, feel this is the remedy to get Hettie out of her present state of mind - inertia, depression and overwhelming guilt over the cruel death of her protege.

Set in 1937 but going back to the time that Hettie’s own grandfather and Sir Charles were young men the story explains the close links between the families and the history of each person in the story. There is a lot to assimilate- the family dynamics, the loss of an inheritance, the resulting enmity and deaths that result and the danger for the present family members too in a way completely unthought of.

The romance between Rhys an ex soldier and now a groom at the estate, and Hettie is a slow build up and adds to the depth of this story. Hettie herself is a strong woman and is unusually modern and independent for the 1930s, most probably due to her slightly unconventional and modern upbringing.

The book is part of a series but does well as a stand alone.
822 reviews29 followers
January 9, 2025
The fourth book in this series, it features Hettie Turner, a photojournalist who has retreated into herself after the death of Saul, a 17 year old she had mentored, and whose death she felt responsible for. To try to help her through her problems, her family arrange for her to catalogue the collection of an old family friend, the late Sir Charles Mandeville.

I have really enjoyed this series so far. I like Hettie, a strong independent woman, who doesn’t bow to convention either in fashion or the way she leads her life, being direct and going for what she wants. The story is intriguing, set in the late 1930s, and also back to Sir Charles’ time as a young man exploring the world before he goes on to his career in the Army. Sometimes this can be a clunky way to write but this flows really well, in keeping with the previous books and the history of the Mandeville home and background. Although a standalone read, for me it’s better to have read the previous books, to work out how everyone is connected.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Profile Image for Anjana.
2,571 reviews60 followers
December 30, 2025
I’ve read a few books from this series, and haven’t read them all in order. The time slip aspect was present in the previous ones I read and I kept waiting for that to happen here. By the end of the book, I realised the dual timeline narrative was just that – a straightforward dual narrative.

I must admit to being tired of dual timelines, especially those that don’t add too much to the plot at hand. Unless one has a good enough connection with the previous characters in the series ( and I do not remember too much about the ones I do), the flashback addresses an older connection and that emotional connection will only make sense to others who know the people involved.

The current timeline( with its comparatively smaller flashback) is all about a woman battling her more basic urges including some guilt about her choices. The family enmity does play its standard role and I liked the book overall but it did not live up to the hype in my head.

I think general fans of historical fiction will appreciate this.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience of this and previous books in the series.
2,440 reviews29 followers
January 8, 2025
This is a dual timeline story, mainly set in 1937 but also in 1876. The main character is Hettie, she is unconventional in her dress and work and she prefers the simple things in life. Hettie is recovering from a traumatic event and is at Mandeville house to photograph artefacts to be identified by her academic parents. The house provides Hettie with the feeling of comfort and safety, and it’s a place that brings back happy, childhood memories. There are a good mix of characters and a possible romance. There is a paranormal element to the story and also some danger. The first part of the book was a little slow in pace and some descriptions were in just too much detail. However, I became really invested in the second part and things were all neatly tied together at the end. It was quite atmospheric and tense in parts. I hadn’t read any of the previous books but this didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this book. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Sam-TRN.
257 reviews
January 9, 2025
Thank you Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the e-ARC.

Welcome again to Hill House, the seat of the lovable and magical Mandeville family. This book 4 in the series and while reading these books as standalone books is alright; it really pays off to read them in order to connect with the family and its history.

The first book started in 1913 and now we are in 1936. The book starts with The Battle Of Cable Street, where Hettie losing her apprentice drives the plot forward.

Pertinent historical events in the background: pre WWII Europe, the rise of Oswald Mosley in England and the Third Reich in Germany; with the disappearance of the liberal artistic night scene.

I loved Hettie, she was different and a bit more masculine and unconventional in her appearance but didn’t give the “not like the other girls” ✨vibes✨. Her romance with Rhys was well developed and the mystery plot was engaging and well executed.

I really enjoy this series and I will continue reading it as long as Ms. Langridge keeps on going.
337 reviews5 followers
December 17, 2024
Thank you for allowing me to review this book. The story is told along 2 timelines, 1876 and 1937. Hettie a young woman is asked yo photograph the collection of antiquities and collections made by her Grandfather's friend Charles. She is an unusual character, who appears very forward for the times. She agrees to vomplete this work at Mandeville House, where she visited as a child with Henry, her grandfather. The earlier timeline tells the story from Charles account of his tour after university with Henry and Walter his friends. The story begins well, but I found that it developed to slowly for me.. The mysterious happening in the cottage are creepy, but not very interesting, until nearer the end when the explanation occurs. The ending moves the pace up again. Find I enjoy reading thus book? I'm not sure. Dome of the descriptions of the objects znd places were well written, but overall I felt let down.
293 reviews3 followers
January 10, 2025
3.5 ⭐️

This is the fourth book in the Mandeville series that I have read. This time it features Hatshepsut Turner, known as Hettie.
Hettie is a photojournalist, and a family friend of the Mandeville’s going way back through the generations.
After the demise of her friend and apprentice Saul, the Mandeville family ask Hettie to their home as a favour to do some photographic cataloging.
Will Hettie find the rest and peace she desperately needs there?

I enjoy reading the authors books very much, but this book to me seemed different from the others. There were some of the characters from previous books in it but the main characters from previous books weren’t and I missed them.
It was set in dual timelines as the books always are which appeals to me, especially the historical side.
The book can be read as a standalone.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.
Profile Image for Joan Jordan.
219 reviews4 followers
November 26, 2024
When a female photojournalist feels responsible for the murder of her young assistant, she abandons her camera and her work to return to her parents' home. When she is asked to visit the estate of her late grandfather's good friend in order to photograph and help catalog his extensive collection of worldwide oddities, she reluctantly picks up her camera again. Strange things happen in the cottage where the gentleman's collection is stored. Is there a curse, or can Hettie Turner discern who or what is behind all the mysterious happenings?

Though I have not read any of the other titles in this series, book 4 stands alone just fine. The book maintains a moderate pace with gradually building suspense -- just enough for a good bedtime read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Kerry Kennedy.
Author 16 books197 followers
November 29, 2024
Thank you to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the arc of this book
1937. When her young protégé is killed in suspicious circumstances, celebrated photojournalist Hettie Turner is wracked with guilt. Desperate to escape her grief, she travels to the distant Hill House to help with an unusual request.
She goes to catalogue the late Charles Mandeville's collection. Not long after strange things begin to happen.
First this book is exceptionally well written with an immense amount of knowledge and detail of artifacts, history and shows the extensive research carried out by the author. It's staggering and impressive.
The plot itself is well executed, slow pace which is fitting for the storey.
Immersive back story and character depth.
With an ending that had me thinking for a while and sort of tugged on my heart. Definitely not whay I was expecting albeit perfect.
Kerry Kennedy Author
Profile Image for Jane Hunt.
Author 3 books114 followers
January 11, 2025
Like the first book in this series, which I enjoyed, it combines social and political themes, historical mystery and supernatural twist. It has a dual timeline set in the late 1930s and late 19th century. Whilst there is a gothic ethos to this story, it focuses mainly on the grief and guilt of the Hettie, the female protagonist, the benevolent nature of the Hill house, the family home of the Mandeville family and the collection of objects collected by the recently deceased head of the household and the stories behind them. It is gently paced, compelling, and has complex and relatable characters. Full of emotion, it invests you in the characters and their stories. I like the setting, the detailed historical mystery and the unworldly ethos.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
814 reviews9 followers
January 14, 2025
This is the fourth book in the series and this is the first book I have read by this author but it can easily be read as a standalone book; however, I will be going back and catching up on the other books. Since her friends Saul's death Hetty has just been in a fog, but when an invitation comes to photograph the Mandeville family's antiques she can't pass up the opportunity. Hattie immediately begins to feel like she is being watched and odd things begin happening that she can't explain. Hattie is scared but determined to find out what it going on.
117 reviews
November 27, 2024
The book is set in the Mandeville property. It started in October 1936 and finished in 1944. Hettie is a photographer who lost a friend during one of Mosely's many fascist demonstrations. She was devasted by this and stopped taking pictures. Then, she is called to take photos of the late Sir Mandeville collection. During her time at the Mandeville property, she finds her way back to taking pictures. The story is mainly focused on describing places, people and so on.
Profile Image for Val.
678 reviews3 followers
December 4, 2024
In this entry to the series, Hettie is overcoming her grief from the death of a friend and protege. She agrees to go to Mandeville to catalogs the historical possessions of the late owner. Once she arrives at the home, she realizes that something is not as it should be. The author does an excellent job of character development and setting . Reader, be prepared to move between eras as the curse is discovered. Loved this strong female lead! Thanks to Net Galley for the arc.
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