The Heiress of Northanger Abbey

by Nancy Bilyeau

From the bestselling author of The Blue comes this sequel to Jane Austen’s beloved coming-of-age story with a Gothic twist.

“A thrilling mystery for everyone who wishes the Abbey really did have deep, gothic secrets–including some more dangerous than Catherine Morland ever dreamed!— Claudia Gray, NYT bestselling author of The Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney series.


Gloucestershire, 1820: Catherine Tilney is living a happily-ever-after twenty-two years later. But her busy life as a clergyman’s wife is shattered by a letter that resurrects her darkest fears. Her daughter Phoebe has fallen under the influence of the unscrupulous Thorpe family—the very figures who once nearly destroyed Catherine’s happiness.

Determined to protect her child from dangerous fortune hunters, Catherine follows Phoebe to an isolated manor on Dartmoor. There, she finds a landscape of reckless passions, family secrets, and a dangerously charming aristocratic neighbor. It all feels eerily like the plot of the latest Gothic sensation, The Vampyre — but is Catherine once again letting her imagination run wild?

The Heiress of Northanger Abbey is a story of mothers and daughters, deception and desire—and of a woman who must learn to trust her power of perception before it’s too late.

Genres: Gothic, Historical Fiction, Retellings, Mystery, Historical, British Literature

293 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 1, 2026

About the author

Nancy Bilyeau loves crafting immersive historical stories, whether it's Jazz Age New York City in "The Orchid Hour," the 18th-century Gothic manors, salons, and porcelain workshops in "The Versailles Formula," or Henry VIII's tumultuous England in "The Crown."

Her new novel is "The Heiress of Northanger Abbey," a sequel to the Jane Austen classic.

A magazine editor who has worked on the staffs of "Rolling Stone," "Good Housekeeping," and "Entertainment Weekly," Nancy draws on her journalism experience to research her books.

For her Genevieve Planche novels--"The Blue", "The Fugitive Colours", and "The Versailles Formula"--she also draws on her heritage to create a Huguenot heroine. Nancy is a descendant of Pierre Billiou, a French Huguenot who immigrated to what was then New Amsterdam (later New York City) in 1661. Pierre's stone house still stands and is the third oldest house in New York State.

Nancy lives with her family in upstate New York and enjoys reading, gardening, cooking, and touring historic houses in the Hudson Valley.

Visit Nancy's website at www.nancybilyeau.com

Reviews

[Sophia]

Twenty years after the ending of Jane Austen’s gentle satire about gothic novels, the characters of Northanger Abbey are once again plunged into adventure. After penning several well-crafted historical mysteries, Nancy Bilyeau has turned her talents to a Northanger Abbey sequel full of all the gothic deliciousness for which a reader could love.

My full review will post at The Quill Ink TBA.

[Nancy Bilyeau]

Over the length of my writing career, this is my first "retelling." I wrote 'The Heiress of Northanger Abbey' as part of a project on Kickstarter put together by Muse Publications. There were several writers involved. I was asked to pitch a classic Gothic text sequel or retelling, with other writers' selections ranging from Phantom of the Opera to Frankenstein and Dracula, and I landed on 'Northanger Abbey,' which is one of Jane Austen's wittiest novels and makes gentle fun of the protagonist, 17-year-old Catherine Morland, for being obsessed with Gothic fiction to the point that she has wild fantasies based on Gothic plots. Of course, an author's temptation might be to tell a story in which Catherine's Gothic fears prove real. But I wanted to do something different: Put Catherine in a situation where she has to use her perception and judgment to protect her 17-year-old daughter, who may or may not be at risk from ruthless fortune hunters. Perhaps her Gothic imagination will prove a hindrance--or could it be a help?

In addition to honoring Jane Austen's characters and telling a suspensful story with dimensional characters, I wanted to tell a historical novel very much set in 1820. The "action" of 'Northanger Abbey' is believed to have taken place in 1798. The world changed a great deal between 1798 and 1820, and I was interested in exploring that in my novel. The Regency finally ended that year, but the former Prince Regent, now George IV, began his reign under a cloud of public scorn and fury, and not only because of his treatment of his wife, Caroline of Brunswick. England was dominated by the Tory party, while in France and other parts of Western Europe, monarchs and conservative politicians seemed determined to hold onto power. Napoleon was dying on St. Helena. But the forces of revolution were not dead. The culture had been transformed by Lord Byron, Mary Shelley, J.M.W. Turner, Beethoven, and, of course, Jane Austen.

After the Kickstarter campaign, which focused on producing a set of beautiful books in a tête-bêche format, I received the rights back to my book. I decided to add a new chapter, make some tweaks, and write a long Author's Note. All in all, this was an unusual creative experience that culminated in a novel I am deeply proud of. I hope my readers will agree.

[Naori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This advance reader’s copy is courtesy of NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley and Independent Book Publisher for this advance reader’s copy of Nancy Bilyeau’s novel The Heiress of Northanger Abbey in exchange for an honest review. My words are my own.

Wow. This was Gothic with a capital G. I think Jane Austen would be rolling her eyes but absolutely titillated. With a thundering opening back at the alluring Northanger Abbey, Catherine is hosting her first formal dinner for the Tilney family, 20 years after she met her husband in Bath. Immediately we see the same heights of emotion racing through her character, as she chronicles the arduous nature of a host’s anxieties and travails. Abruptly, a letter arrives from Catherine’s own seventeen year old daughter, who is herself visiting Bath, and has fallen into the company of the once manipulative Thorpes. A frenzy of suspicion, foreboding and high stakes carriage riding ensues.

This was an absolute mastery of gothic tropes and signifiers. The endangered heiress, the mysterious dinner guest, the high strung woman (in this case with an accurate moral compass), the oddly behaving locals, the unnecessary trips to the moors, confusing chases after lost people in the night, the soothsaying village woman, revealing personal letters, secret liaisons and multiple multiple castles. It was honestly the reason PEOPLE (not women) have been fascinated with gothic novels for centuries. Even the way Bilyeau linguistically crafted the narrative showed her understanding of the style. She evoked so much emotion through punctuation. The over abundance of question marks and exclamation marks was not at all gaudy; phrased within Catherine’s internal narrative they really made transparent her processing of emotion - which is one of best part of Gothicism.

There is one scene that I thought was a pivotal moment of awakening for Catherine to the seething madness around. While walking through a ballroom, looking for her daughter with escalating anxiety, she notices the odors and leering glances of the other partygoers. She realizes that although everyone is costumed to perfection, they are all self-medicating to compensate for deficiencies or cover up ailments; everyone is either a victim in the waiting or a predator themselves. She sees the parallels between this false society and the Gothic novel “The Vampyre” that her daughter is reading. Suddenly, this masquerade is no longer entertaining but false, freaky and dangerous. Catherine observes:

“I took a closer look at the faces of the people I passed. Most of them were smiling, chatting, or laughing. But under those unblinking chandeliers, I also saw eyes that could be brightened by unquenchable fever or dulled by alcohol-laced cordial, or even laudanum doses. It was almost like they were a horde of reckless victims of a predator moving stealthy among them. A chill quickened up my spine” (110).

After this awakening Catherine is not just vibrating with fear for herself but also her daughter, which truly amplifies the book. Accompanying her endangered daughter to a castle on the moors she has a symbolic conversation on terror vs. horror with Isabela from Austen’s original book. Full of foreboding, Isabela asserts that terror is based in the real world while horror resides in the supernatural. Bilyeau writes, “terror elevates the soul while horror contracts it” (189). We can almost imagine the muscle of the writing. For those of us who find these genres as spaces to explore identities shut out of more traditional writing, this is an idea worth pondering.

This book is extraordinary for the simple fact that you know it is a gothic novel, it is a sequel to a gothic novel, the ingredients feel so obvious that it tricks your brain into thinking it couldn’t possibly surprise you; yet it is this blatant magicianship that allows Bilyeau to stay one step ahead of the learned reader and yes, create the unexpected. There is no denouncing it: it is stories like these, that hasten our senses and keep us enraptured, that are why people have been telling tales around campfires for millennia.

For all those who think themselves above the formulaic devices of the gothic genre, I dare you to read this book and not be entertained.

[She’s Stranger Than Fiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up from 3.5 to 4 stars.

As a Janeite, I looked upon this book with both excitement and trepidation. Sequels/prequels/companions to classic literature are challenging because the writer is coming off of a well-known work but still must add something fresh to the original. I wasn’t blown away by this book, but it is a fun read that starts out slow and picks up the pace toward the end. Austen’s Catherine is lively, credulous, imaginative, and naive, while Bilyeau’s Catherine is dull, impotent, and fanciful. She is humored and patronized by both husband and family, and I found her terribly annoying. I was really hoping for something more from this book but enjoyed it. As a lover of gothic literature, I loved how the book illustrates the difference between early gothic literature from the 18th century and the distinctions between terror and horror and later works like Shelley’s and Polidori’s with more psychological and existential elements. Anyhoo, I don’t love it, but I’m not mad at it. This book is an interesting read for Austen fans and could spark greater discussions around Northanger Abbey for book clubs.

This book is set to be released September 1, 2026. I would like to thank Nancy Bilyeau, Admiral Road, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this uncorrected proof.

[Timothy Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for meta-fiction. So when someone comes along with a sequel to Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey which, rather than satirizing the gothic novel, embraces it, validating all Catherine Morland’s forebidding fantasies—I’m all in.

(If you haven’t read the original, Wikipedia sums it up as a coming-of-age story and a satire of the Gothic novel, and that’s all you need to know going forward, except that it’s my second favorite Austen novel, with Emma leading by a nose.)

So: it takes an enormous amount of chutzpah to attempt a sequel to a Jane Austen novel. It takes skill to capture an echo of Austen’s strait-laced prose style while retaining one’s own authorial voice. And it takes an enormous amount of sensitivity, research, and sheer talent to pull it off convincingly.
Nancy Bilyeau is more than up to the task.

The main cast is the same, heroes and villains both—with one important addition: the heiress of the title, Phoebe, Catherine and Henry’s eldest daughter. While Catherine is still the protagonist, it’s Phoebe’s fate she--and we--are consumed by.
Oh, and there’s also a shadowy figure who may or may not be a vampire, but is definitely a bloodsucker. Don’t turn your back on him.

As the story opens, Phoebe is at Bath, “taking the waters” (read: mingling with society) as Catherine did all those years ago when she was a slip of a girl, and just as Catherine did, she has met Isabella Thorpe, the false friend and author of all her mother’s woes. Hearing of this, nothing will do but for Catherine to fly to Bath to protect her daughter from Isabella’s wiles.
But times change. Isabella seems no threat at all. She’s reformed, wants to bury the past, and Phoebe has become fast friends with Isabella’s daughter. All Catherine’s worries were unfounded, just as her down-to-earth husband Henry has predicted.
There’s even talk of Phoebe making a visit to the Thorpe home on the wild moors of Devonshire. Catherine has not has all her fears allayed, but Phoebe has a stubborn streak, and at last, despite her misgivings, Catherine gives in—as long as she can accompany her daughter on the trip.

And that, as they might have said in Regency days, is when the fewmets hit the windmill. Is Phoebe in danger from the Thorpes, or is it all Catherine’s fantasy? This is the hinge the story swings on.

A constant theme in Austen is the flowering of self-knowledge in her naïve young heroines. So how to deal with the over-imaginative tendencies of Catherine Tilney nee Morland as a forty-year-old wife and mother? Twenty-two years of marriage, two daughters, and the cares of a clergyman’s wife, the absolutely corseted requirements of society and especially great houses such as the Abbey, have sobered her, but she still wears her heart on her sleeve, and still has a galloping imagination that she has learned to keep a tight rein on. The child is mother to the woman.

Where the original Northanger Abbey plays on the edge of the Gothic, The Heiress of Northanger Abbey dives right in the deep end, replete with a crumbling estate vastly more haunted than the Abbey, and even features a putative vampire. If you’ve often wished, as I have, that Catherine’s dark forebodings in Austen’s novel might prove out, Bilyeau’s novel will be catnip for you. Call it Gothic wish fulfillment. Yet it’s firmly grounded in the realities of 18th century English society.

There’s a thin line between life and literature in Northanger Abbey, walking side by side, sometimes dissolving into one another, always subtly reminding the reader of its own artifice. The Heiress assays that same tightrope with daring and grace. “For an instant it felt like a cruel twist on a Gothic novel,” our heroine says at one point. Just so.

What some will be asking is this: can the book stand on its own, without ever having read a word of Jane Austen? Yes, as a modern romp through the gothic novel, full of finely chiseled characters and a plot threatening to burst its stays, I’d recommend it to any fan of the historical novel. The prose is as strait-laced as Austen’s own; the matter more daring. If it tempts you to dig into the original Northanger Abbey (it will), all the better.

[Gregory Van Den Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Heiress of Northhanger Abbey by Nancy Bilyeau was a Regency-era Gothic suspense novel. The book was a sequel to Jane Austen's1817 novel, Northhanger Abbey. This story began 22 years after Jane Austen's novel. The main character in both stories was Cathering Morland but not was Tilney because she was now married. The story was built around how her daughter Phobe Tilney was in line to inherit the Northhanger Abbey. However, Phoebe was being heavily influenced by the unscrupulous Thorpe family. The author's thesis was how a mature woman's intuition and imagination were powerful tools. They were powerful tools for uncovering truth rather than symptom of foolishnes and delusion.

Ms. Bilyeau's purpose in the writing the story was to challenge how classical literature portrayed women as silly frail creatures. She desired to paint a picture which portrayed women as strong and decisive. The author seemed determined to write a story centering on the psychological lif of a woman, Catherine Tilney. Ms. Bilyeau shifted the focus of the story from a mother-daughter relationship to a defiant and mature woman.

The writing style of the author shpaed the plot, character dynamics, and overall tone of the story. The writing shifted away from Austn's original satire of the time period to a genuine Gothic thriller.She embraced an atmospheric voice which treated the Gothic danger as genuine. The writing was a contrast to Ms. Austen's. While the writing style reflected a free indirect discourse, the author adopted a conventional historical thriller perspective. The story veered away from the ironic lens of Austen to an immersive prose style. This style priorotized plot velocity, emotional stakes, and historical atmosphere.

The central theme of the story was the ever evolving mother's instincts regarding her daughter and her power of perception. The story displaced Austen's story to one of psychological complexities. There were four major themes the throughout the story. The four core themes were:
1.Maternal Protection and Legacy
2.Perception vs. Reality
3. Greed, Deception, and Fortune Hunting
4.The Allure of the Gothic

These themes completely altered the tone, structural pacing, and the narrative of Ms. Austen's story. The themes transformed the story into an intense and urgent thriller departing from the original story. This increased reader engagement and emotional involvement. The plot was allowed to reach its climax and resolution only when Catherine allowed herself to trust her instincts and exposed the true villians.

The book should be read because the author delivered a story was a high stakes Gothic mystery. The author impecably researched her story. The story had been turned into a world of family secrets from Ms. Austen's satrical story. Ms. Bilyeau delivered an emotionally rich, deeply researched narrative. One can easily give this story a five star rating.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rated this 4.5 out of 5.

I'm a sucker for an Austen adaptation, and Bilyeau did not disappoint with this sequel to Northanger Abbey. Set approximately 20 years after the original novel, Catherine Moreland, now Tilney, is a mother of two daughters. Catherine feels happy in her life as the wife of the rector and is beloved in her community for her empathic insights. However, she dreads being called back to Northanger Abbey for Tilney family functions.

When Eleanor and her Viscount husband come to visit, but Fredrick Tilney and his wife are away in Bath, Catherine is forced to play hostess. This is a reintroduction to Catherine as a character. In many ways, it's a red herring because the reader is lulled into a sense that Catherine is living her happily ever after. This is quickly blown up by a letter from Catherine's eldest daughter telling her that she's met Isabella Thorpe's daughter. After being pushed into a panic and rudely dismissed by her family, she finally convinces Henry to take her to Bath.

The hijnx that ensues from there provides gothic flavors of the original novel. However, the open and naive spirit that Catherine encountered in the events of Northanger Abbey was not present in this book simply due to Catherine's own personal growth as a person. This made some of the events fall a little flat because the reader was constantly being reminded that Catherine no longer believed in stories, nor had the time to read them.

One area I do think Bilyeau stayed true to in the original novels was the exploration of women's roles in society. I thought that the exploration of Mary Shelley and Queen Caroline added layers to the characters, as Catherine and her daughter Phoebe have differing views on Shelley, highlighting generational divides, while they agree on Queen Caroline, showing universal struggles. Additionally, Catherine's struggles with not being informed or considered about choices made for her daughter were an interesting layer to add to the Tilney family dynamics.

I will say I find it interesting that this book is listed with a tag of "horror". I wouldn't say that this book has any horror elements. It holds to the gothic vibes of the original, with mystery elements as Catherine tries to figure out what is real and what is her own imagination.

Overall, if you love Jane Austen, this book will not disappoint.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Rape, Religious bigotry, Murder, War

[Margaret Lockhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

*The Heiress of Northanger Abbey* was an enjoyable blend of historical fiction, mystery, and Gothic atmosphere that kept me engaged from beginning to end. As someone who appreciates stories inspired by classic literature, I liked how the novel paid tribute to *Northanger Abbey* while still telling a story that felt fresh and original. It captured the charm of the historical setting while adding enough suspense to keep me turning the pages.

The heroine was easy to root for, and I enjoyed following her as she uncovered long-buried secrets and navigated a world shaped by family expectations, hidden motives, and unanswered questions. Her curiosity and determination made her a compelling character, and I appreciated watching her grow more confident as the story progressed.

One of my favorite aspects of the novel was its atmosphere. The old estate, the lingering mysteries, and the sense that every room seemed to hold another secret created exactly the kind of Gothic feel I was hoping for. The author's descriptions made it easy to picture the setting, and they added a richness that enhanced the overall reading experience.

The pacing was steady, gradually revealing new clues without giving everything away too quickly. I enjoyed piecing together the mystery alongside the characters, and although I guessed a few details before the final reveal, there were still enough surprises to keep me invested. I also appreciated that the historical elements felt well researched and blended naturally into the story.

If I had one small criticism, it would be that a few supporting characters could have been developed a little further, as I would have liked to understand their motivations in more depth. Even so, they each contributed to the mystery and the atmosphere in meaningful ways.

Overall, *The Heiress of Northanger Abbey* is a captivating historical mystery with memorable characters, an immersive Gothic setting, and a satisfying balance of suspense and emotion. It's a great choice for readers who enjoy atmospheric historical fiction, family secrets, and stories inspired by classic novels. I'd definitely be interested in reading more of Nancy Bilyeau's work.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an arc.

The Heiress of Northanger Abbey takes a minute to unfurl into a magnetizing story with compelling characters. The first third is a frantic rush of Catherine catastrophizing quickly, whipping around the readers and characters alike. To me, you really had to stay with the story and wait it out for it to get good and ultimately, it ended it being a pretty good unofficial sequel with serious meditations on the relationship between Catherine and Henry and Catherine's place in the Tilney family.

Catherine's introspectiveness was the strongest part of the story. Her ability to recharacterize events and look at them through new perspectives as she is offered new information, rose-tinted glasses breaking made me want to examine Northanger Abbey again through perhaps a more cynical lenses that this story suggests. And I like it! It's less fairy-tale, more realistic. Catherine is portrayed as naive but also correct at matters of the heart and someone's true character, if only someone listened to her.

There were things I didn't like about the book, though. I didn't like the frantic pacing of the first third of the book. Catherine rushed to action over what felt like nothing, and it felt ridiculous. I also didn't like how many book names were dropped. This book took the gothic genre more seriously, rather than the source material which parodied it, and referenced the material quite heavily which is a departure from Austen's allusion's to works. I think there were just too many references, oversaturating the work.

Overall, I do think that this book is entertaining. It confronts gender roles and expectations of the time period, takes the gothic genre more seriously, and examines the relationships Catherine has with other characters in the original novel critically, all of which I think aids the novel. I would round this up to a 3.5 if I could, because I do think it is a very well-written book.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun return to Northanger Abbey to meet an older and more mature Catherine. This book as a sequel to the amazing novel by Jane Austen allows to see how Catherine's life married to Henry Tillney has changed over time. Catherine has become more subdued and has settled in her roles as mother and wife. Now her seventeen year old daughter Phoebe has traveled with Henry's brother Frederick and his wife to Bath. However when Catherine finds out that the Thorpes (John and Isabella) have also returned she immediately worries about her daughter. Soon she has convinced Henry to go with her to Bath to protect their daughter only to also find out Frederick may be planning to leave Northanger to Phoebe making her a true heiress. Terrified for her daughter, Catherine must find a way to help her daughter carve out the future for herself while still protecting her from those Catherine fears may try to corrupt her. In doing so, Catherine may finally come to terms with her own past and help heal the wounds that are resurfacing for her.

I really enjoyed this story. To return to these characters that are so beloved and see how their lives may have changed over time was truly fun. I loved that Phoebe is the girl that Catherine always wished she could've been and that she raised her in such a way that she could stand up for what she wanted. I hope she was able to achieve the goals she set as the heiress to Northanger Abbey. I am a fan and was cheering her on as I read.

[Linda Ulleseit · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Heiress of Northanger Abbey is a gripping story of strong women managing love, marriage, and money. It is a sequel to Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, which I have never read. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the tale of Catherine (Morland) Tilney and her daughter, Phoebe. This novel is a testament to strong women overcoming their darkest fears. Catherine comes to question the strength of her marriage even as a one-time friend, Isabella Harrowden, returns to her life with dubious intent. Phoebe befriends Charlotte, Isabella’s daughter, who is part of her mother’s plot against the Tilneys. Phoebe Tilney is faced with the expectations of her mother as well as her aunt, who owns Northanger Abbey with her husband. Aunt Aurelia wants Phoebe to debut in London, marry well, and inherit the abbey. Phoebe initially wants nothing to do with her aunt’s plans. The novel follows Catherine and Phoebe, and Isabella and her daughter Charlotte, as they grow and change.
Each of the four women, Catherine, Phoebe, Isabella, and Charlotte, are unique and superbly developed as characters. The setting of the abbey and the moors lends itself well to Gothic plots. The Heiress of Northanger Abbey is a story that will take hold of your heart.
I received an early copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Heiress of Northanger Abbey is an absolute pleasure — a thoughtful, Gothic‑tinged continuation that feels both true to Austen’s spirit and confidently its own. Nancy Bilyeau picks up Catherine Tilney’s story twenty‑two years later and gives her a richer, more complex inner life while still preserving the charm, imagination, and earnestness that made her so beloved.

What really stands out is how seamlessly the novel blends Regency warmth with a darker, moodier edge. The Dartmoor setting is wonderfully evocative — all mist, moors, and secrets — and it creates the perfect backdrop for a story about mothers, daughters, and the shadows cast by old fears. Catherine’s determination to protect Phoebe gives the book emotional weight, while the Gothic flourishes add just the right amount of intrigue.

Bilyeau writes with affection for Austen’s world but isn’t afraid to push it into more psychologically charged territory. The result is a story that feels familiar yet fresh, comforting yet suspenseful.

A lovely, immersive read for Austen fans who enjoy a hint of the Gothic and a heroine learning to trust her own instincts.

With thanks to Nancy Bilyeau, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always liked the story of Northanger Abbey so was excited to read a sequel, set 22 years in the future. Catherine is now a mature wife and mother, approaching 40 years of age. She has two daughters, one the beautiful Phoebe who is a favourite of her brother-in-law Frederick and his wife Aurelia. They have gone to Bath for Frederick's health, when Catherine read one of Phoebe's letters saying the Thorpe family is in town. Remembering how they treated her, she is unsettled and wants to go there immediately. Henry agrees, but when they spend a couple of days there, it appears that John Thorpe and his sister, Isabella (now married to an MP) are not a danger to Phoebe. Charlotte, Isabella's daughter, invites Phoebe to visit them in their home in Dartmoor and Catherine reluctantly agrees, provided she also attends. This is where the true reasons behind Isabella's seeming friendship become clear.

This book has a very sinister and exciting ending. I thought of the Hound of the Baskervilles while reading this, as this area sounds so dreary and uncomfortable. Nicely done! Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy.

[Joe Purpura]

The Heiress of Northanger Abbey by Nancy Bilyeau is a beautifully crafted Gothic historical mystery that captures the elegance of the Regency era while bringing fresh suspense and emotional depth to a familiar literary world.

What I appreciated most is how Bilyeau expands Catherine Tilney’s journey beyond the original story, portraying her as a mother, a protector, and a woman forced to confront whether her fears are imagination or intuition. The combination of family secrets, eerie settings, romantic tension, and psychological suspense creates an atmosphere that keeps the reader engaged.

The novel succeeds in honoring the spirit of Jane Austen while creating its own identity through mystery and Gothic intrigue. The historical details feel carefully woven into the story, and the exploration of trust, perception, and relationships adds another layer beyond the suspense.

A compelling read for fans of historical fiction, Gothic mysteries, and Austen-inspired stories who enjoy richly developed characters, atmospheric settings, and secrets waiting to be uncovered.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this follow-up to Northanger Abbey where we see Catherine as a wife and mother. It is in a different style - less satire, and told in first person - but nonetheless a nice homage to Austen. It felt unlikely that some of the conflict would be repeated more than twenty years later, and I wish Henry had been more understanding at times. Overall, I really enjoyed reading it! Some of Catherine’s fears are justified, and she is a great mom who looks out for her daughters’ best interests. I also loved that the author clearly knows her Austen and her history. Fans of Northanger Abbey who don’t mind a true Gothic-style novel with some darker aspects will enjoy this sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Admiral Road Books for the free ARC! I post this review with my honest opinions.

Notes about content that might be upsetting to some readers: peril including murder; marital affairs mentioned; characters suffer health problems; implied infertility

[Walt · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE HEIRESS OF NORTHANGER ABBEY was admittedly a challenge for me at the outset, as I’ve never read Jane Austen’s NORTHANGER ABBEY or watched a film adaptation. However, after reading Bilyeau’s sequel, I am certain I will. The author’s conveyance of gothic satire was readily apparent, and the writing style resounded with what I know of Austen. In addition, as I read the novel, I kept thinking of how it reminded me of THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES (I love Sherlock Holmes) and was happy to find in the notes at the end that this was the author’s intent.

If you do what I did and read it without first reading Austen, you may find yourself as confused at the beginning as I was. At the same time, given how well Bilyeau writes, you may find yourself inspired to discover some contemporary works from Austen’s time period and anything that inspires one to explore reading is worth the highest rating.

Thank you to Nance Bilyeau, Admiral Road Books, and Netgalley for the advance copy.

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a sequel to Jane Austen’s “Northanger Abbey” where Catherine Tilney must protect her daughter Pheobe from the Thorpe family. It all starts when Catherine reads a letter that Phoebe sent her fanther, Henry, while she is in Bath, England with her aunt and uncle. Catherine finds that Isabella Thorpe is out to get back at her and Henry for a past offence. I am not going to tell you what happens so that I don’t spoil it for future readers of this gothic, Horror, Mystery, Historical Fiction novel.

It has been several years since I read a gothic novel so this was a good reintroduction to the genre. I found myself staying up late at night to see how Catherine would solve the problem with Isabella and keep Phoebe safe.

I want to thank Netgalley, Nancy Bilyeau (author), and Admiral Road books (Publisher) for this ARC e-book

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first glance, Jane Austen and gothic doesn't seem like a natural pairing, sort of like a fragrant cup of Earl Grey and a goblet of blood. But what Nancy Bilyeau does so brilliantly in The Heiress of Northanger Abbey is hone in on the darker, more predatory aspects of Austen's world. In one scene of this riveting sequel, a mother watches as her brilliant daughter draws all eyes at a dance. In her anxious mind, money hungry suitors and ambitious mothers take on the guise of vampires, looking to feed on her child's beauty and prospects. Bilyeau ratchets up the tension bit by bit, with a thrilling final act where the reveals come thick and fast and you're genuinely not sure: will everyone make it out alive? Clever, atmospheric, with exquisite period detail, The Heiress of Northanger Abbey has much to offer Austen and Gothic fans—as well as people who just love a good read.

[Kara Wiltrout · Rating 5 out of 5]

My largest complaint about this book is that it ends.

This is a great sequel, with creeping moors that bring Wuthering Heights to mind. Catherine is as imaginative and easily frightened as ever, but is she right to be? We go deep into her place in the Tilney family and how the offhand belittlement of someone who did not grow up so grand impacts how much her intuition and worries are trusted.

I liked the new generation the author created: Phoebe, Charlotte, and Sam. There's a good balance introducing tension in existing Northanger Abbey relationships without it being unbelievable for the characters.

I think any Austen fan would enjoy this. The only thing that took me out a bit was a few references to "females" where I would have expected "ladies" but maybe I have watched Bridgerton one too many times.

Thank you to Netgalley and Admiral Road for the early access!

[Holly Browning · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is incredibly difficult to take classical, beloved characters and add to the work of the author who created them, especially Austen. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Henry and Catherine Tilney, as they navigate middle age and life with two daughters. In The Heiress of Northanger Abbey, the author creates the perfect Gothic setting, right down to the dark mists on the moor, Catherine, battling her characteristic vivid imagination and part mother's intuition, must battle an old foe for her daughter's safety. Great pacing and kept me guessing. Enjoyed it very much! Highly recommend for Austen fans. #theheiressofnorthangerabbey #nancybilyeau #netgalley #goodreads

[Angiewagg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Heiress of Northanger Abbey is a story of mothers and daughters, deception and desire—and of a woman who must learn to trust her power of perception before it’s too late.
A sequel to a Jane Austin novel? Sign me up for all of it!
Nancy did not disappoint with this book.
The fact that she goes in head first in the Gothic scene.
Such an amazing story that you can not tell if it is part of the story or real life.
If you have not read the Jane Austin novel you will still love and understand this book!!!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Tawny Xu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The heiress of northanger abbey is a sequel to Jane Austen's northanger abbey which I admit I have read some time ago but I have difficulty recalling.
In any event, this story by Nancy Bilyeau is superbly written in settings that allow for the gothic to thrive.
Mixing the Gothic with regency-era times, this story develops around four well thought out and realized characters as they navigate marriage, love, relationships and society.
A well written and researched read, this story suits Jane Austen fans and those who enjoy both regency-historic stories with a splash of the gothic.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for a review.

[Hannelore Cheney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Admiral Road Books for the eARC.
This is a follow-up to the classic Northanger Abbey, featuring Catherine Rooney as a happily married mother who fears her daughter seems to be straying into the arms of the people who once nearly destroyed Catherine's happiness.
I liked the book, but I didn't feel it to be as Gothic as I was hoping. But it was a good psychological, historical
novel, well-written and I felt immersed in those times.

[Amanda Maryle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed how Nancy Bilyeau brings Northanger Abbey back to life while keeping its Gothic atmosphere. Catherine is now a mother, and her concerns about Phoebe, inheritance, family expectations, and unwanted attention add more emotional depth. The Regency setting and mystery were both well done. but overall, it’s a great choice for fans of Austen-inspired fiction, historical mysteries, and Gothic stories.

[Marie Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and watching the plot unfold. Unlike Austen’s original, this time we as readers don’t know if Catherine is imagining the dangerous plots, or if she is correct, and there are darker forces at work. It was a quick read, and not overly complicated.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully imagined sequel to Austen's Northanger Abbey, with characters true to the original and a gothic tale that extends the gripping storytelling two decades into the future. I loved it and recommend it wholeheartedly to any Janeite!

[Harlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️Lovely captivating story about a loving mother ensuring her daughter’s safety. The story had many mentions of “darkness” and referenced horror stories. Overall, it was suspenseful and easy to get into. I read it in like 2 days.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gothic retelling of an Austen book was done with great skill and made for an interesting reading experience. Nancy Bilyeau is one of my favorite authors.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like there would be a lot of pressure when creating a sequel from a beloved author such as Jane Austen, especially Northanger Abby, of which, arguably, her heroine was not as popular as some of her other works so you’re not only trying to satisfy fans of the original but also change minds and create new fans in a new generation. But I think this definitely delivered. The tone and diction used was very fitting for the time period as a piece of historical fiction, which I admire a lot, (you can see where the author even drew inspiration from Austen’s own style of writing!). I was so excited to see Henry and Catherine again and there is something so satisfying in seeing Austen characters in their motherhood era. The air of mystery was incredibly nostalgic to the original and I was completely invested in discovering the root of the antagonism. I would highly recommend to any Austen fan! Austen I’m sure would be proud.

[LuAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since Northanger Abbey is the only book by Jane Austen I truly like, I eagerly snatched the opportunity to read this book. The author’s imagining of the life of Catherine Tilney, née Morland, twenty-two years after the events of Northanger Abbey rings true as does the writing style, as far as I remember.

It’s heartening to see Catherine stand up for her intuition yet wonder if she’s following an overactive imagination still or if there’s justification for her suspicions. Watching events play out as we follow her and her daughter to the surreal setting of Dartmoor is a fun ride. I highly recommend this, especially to fans of Jane Austen, mysteries and realistic gothic novels.

Thanks to Netgallery for a free copy in exchange for an honest review