Winterbourne

by Elisabeth Wolf

On an island akin to Portpatrick (Scotland), Anne Adams, a librarian recovering from a car crash that killed her brother, steps on to the grounds of Winterbourne.

The island is owned by the largely absent Lucien Broussard, its only permanent inhabitants are the Coopers, an odd pairing of gruff brother and sister who live in a cottage by the jetty. Anne will live in the vast house alone. The library is magnificent, with priceless first editions, a librarian's dream. However Anne's early weeks in her new job are beset by obstacles - no internet, the house plunged into darkness every night when the generator is switched off, the swarming of moths in the library, and two near-fatal accidents. And then there are unexplained mysteries on the island such as the figure in the lighthouse, a freshly dug grave - and the unaccountable disappearance of the previous librarian who started the catalogue.

Broussard visits, he and Anne dine together, they discuss literature and she falls for his charm. And then she discovers a secret room off the library, full of horrendous banned books - and the diary of the missing librarian whose experiences at Winterbourne mirror her own in an uncanny way. She learns the dangerous and shocking truth about her employer and Anne finds herself alone and frightened, but with no way of escaping the island.

Genres: Gothic

Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 22, 2026

Reviews

[Know My Shelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review.

It’s not often I read books in the thriller/mystery/horror genre, but this time I’m glad I did. Due to national pride, if a book mentions anything Scottish, then I must read it. I wish Goodreads did fractions of stars so I should mention this is 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Rounded UP because the book is worth more than just 3 stars.

‘Winterbourne’ by Elisabeth Wolf focuses on Anne Adams, a librarian who has recently been through an extremely traumatic accident that resulted in the loss of her twin brother. Seeking space to grieve and recover, she applies for a job on a remote Scottish island, cataloguing the massive literary collection of the great Winterbourn House. The island is isolated, and with only the house’s two strange caretakers for company, Anne begins to notice something is… off. Footsteps with no source, random creaking and rustling: Anne gets the feeling she is not completely alone.

When she comes face to face with Winterbourn’s absent owner, Lucian Broussand, Anne is torn. She did not expect someone so charming. Lucian is charismatic and well spoken, his personality completely at odds with that of the house’s caretakers. However, Anne’s brief respite is ruined when the odd occurrences begin to escalate. She starts seeing an apparition around the island: a pale, frightened woman. But who could she be?

Deduction leads Anne to investigate her predecessor, Francis Sparrow, who left the position after only a brief stint on the island. There is a mystery here to be solved, and Anne Adams becomes the reluctant detective.

Anne feels very relatable and human as we watch her recover from her accident. Watching her struggle to cope with the death of her brother, the emotional isolation from her family—who blame her—and the physical isolation of Craigsea Rock is genuinely affecting. Poor Anne is really going through the wringer.

The Coopers come across as deeply strange. Robert Cooper is gruff and unfriendly, always the one sent after Anne when she is not where she’s supposed to be. Mrs Cooper appears a little… unstable, showing kindness to Anne one moment before turning standoffish the next. Lucian’s vibes are off from the start. He’s too nice, too normal; not the eccentric owner you’d expect of a remote, grand house with a sprawling library.

I found the pacing of the first half to be a little slow. It focuses heavily on Anne’s exploration of her new home, finding her feet (almost literally) after an accident that nearly killed her, while also discovering the island of Craigsea Rock. But once the mystery ramps up, it RAMPS UP.

The ending was good. There is a shocking twist in the final chapter that I did *not* see coming. I was genuinely shook. It left me staring at a blank wall, processing everything I’d learned and felt in the last fifty pages. That said, the ending does include a book trope I didn’t enjoy. It’s nothing bad and doesn’t change how I feel about the book, it just made me wrinkle my nose in distaste. Purely personal preference.

The conclusion wraps the story up nicely while also leaving the door open for a sequel, or at least another book in a similar vein.

Would I reread it? Yes, and soon. I need to analyse it more. Are moments in the book cast in a new light now that I know what I do?

Will I buy a physical copy? Yes

[Annette Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winterbourne by Elisabeth Wolf is a modern gothic novel that disturbed me more than I was expecting, especially given the cute and cosy vibes suggested by the charming cover.
When Anne lands a job cataloguing the contents of a private library in an old mansion house on a remote Scottish island it seems like the perfect escape from the grief and guilt that haunts her following the death of her brother in an accident where she was driving.
The isolation sounded ideal in theory but the practicalities of living in a hose with no internet and limited electricity soon start to grate, especially when strange and terrifying incidents make her question not only her safety but also her sanity. Meeting the owner of the house, the charming Lucien Broussard does little to assuage her fears, and when she uncovers a hidden room with books that should never be opened it seems like her fears are well founded.
I read this on a dark and stormy winter's night and it could not have been a more perfect atmosphere for this dark and disturbed tale with an ending that gave me chills. The book definitely veers further into horror territory than I would have expected but as someone who enjoys a good scary story from time to time I did not mind that at all, though I can see that it might deter some readers if they were not prepared.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[A Bookworm Crafts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winterbourne follows Anne Adams, a librarian seeking a fresh start after personal upheaval. When she accepts a job cataloguing the vast library of a remote Scottish island estate, she imagines quiet work surrounded by rare books and dramatic landscapes. Instead, Anne finds a a mansion that plunges into darkness each night, mysterious noises, and a secretive owner.

I loved how atmospheric this novel is. From the very first chapters, Wolf creates a windswept gothic landscape that feels deeply reminiscent of Jane Eyre and Rebecca, both of which are indeed referenced within the story. Anne makes for a compelling protagonist, and limiting the novel to her perspective heightens the claustrophobia and uncertainty. We only ever know as much as she does and her growing paranoia is contagious in the best gothic way.

The only part I struggled with was the twist ending. Without giving any spoilers, it takes the plot in an unexpected direction that, to me, moved away from the trends the book had established. Some readers may love the bold shift, but for me, it felt like stepping into a different genre entirely.

A recommended read for fans of Jane Eyre, Rebecca, and classic gothic fiction.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can’t go wrong with a gothic novel! The themes and tropes always work so well. Winterbourne is a great example of this. I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

We have a main character who is in a pretty desperate situation. She’s been in a terrible car accident that’s left her injured and caused the loss of her brother. Her family blame her but she’s reliant on them while she heals. She’s in a miserable situation and when a job comes up to catalogue a library in a manor on a remote island, she takes it.

Her respite is soon tainted by the odd occurrences in the house, the apparitions she sees, the menacing behaviour of certain inhabitants and the secrets and lies she is bombarded with as she tries to recover.

This was a great, atmospheric story. The setting is perfect for the haunting tale, with the extreme isolation ramping up the sense of danger. The character’s back story explains why she’s there and how limited her alternate options are. Her injury adds another layer of challenge, as does her pervasive guilt over her brother’s death. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, it was gripping, mysterious and unnerving.

[Hollie Mullins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gothic and tension was the name of the game and Winterbourne delivered! 😳 I thoroughly enjoyed this one and, once I settled in, I absorbed every page.
The characters are well shaped and you immediately understand who everyone is and what part they have to play (or so you think…) in this production. I loved the setting and the slow revealing of another inch of story and comprehension as a reader.
It’s a little slower in the middle but then you’re hit with waves of twists and almost literary jump scares until you finish. I struggled a bit with the end and how things were joined together, there are a few things I could have done without and the book would have remained excellent but I understand how Wolf has shaped and intended Winterbourne.

Think Rebecca, think The Haunting of Hill House, think mystery thriller on a cosy coastal outpoint 👀
Thank you Netgalley for this arc!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a gothic mystery set in a big mansion with lots of twists and mysteries unfolding, this could be the novel for you.
I thought the descriptions of the settings and landscape of the island were wonderful and felt myself getting sucked in wanting to find out more.
Unfortunately, the ending kind of ruined it for me. It's frustrating because I did enjoy all that it was leading up to until the end. Some readers might be okay with it, but I disliked the trope that cropped up.

Thanks Bonnier Books UK & NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.75