What do you think?
Rate this book
The Heir of Hawksclaw
When governess Medora Yates sets out for mysterious Hawksclaw House in the dying days of 1856, she has no idea what is in store. Hired to care for her employers’ young son, she arrives in Yorkshire to find the boy too sick to meet her or Gerard Redfern, the new tutor. While the child’s mother prattles endlessly about young Louis, the surly father is interested in little beyond the contents of a bottle. When Mr. Hawksclaw abruptly announces the next day that his son has died, Medora and Redfern know that there is far more to the matter than he is telling them.
Was the child a victim of foul play, perhaps even by one of his parents? Or is the story of his death a lie to conceal something else just as sinister? Medora and Redfern set out to discover the truth, but their task is a difficult one. The boy’s fragile, grieving mother is in no position to help them, and the servants are unwilling to help the newcomers, especially Mrs. Hawksclaw’s loyal maid, Constance, whose fate is entangled more closely with that of her employers than anyone knows. Along the way their investigation will unearth dark family secrets, past tragedy, and the true fate of the heir of Hawksclaw... which all culminate in an astonishing act of redemption.
Was the child a victim of foul play, perhaps even by one of his parents? Or is the story of his death a lie to conceal something else just as sinister? Medora and Redfern set out to discover the truth, but their task is a difficult one. The boy’s fragile, grieving mother is in no position to help them, and the servants are unwilling to help the newcomers, especially Mrs. Hawksclaw’s loyal maid, Constance, whose fate is entangled more closely with that of her employers than anyone knows. Along the way their investigation will unearth dark family secrets, past tragedy, and the true fate of the heir of Hawksclaw... which all culminate in an astonishing act of redemption.
- GenresGothicHistorical Fiction
ebook
Published February 28, 2016
12 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Amanda DeWees
39 books140 followersAmanda DeWees received her PhD in English from the University of Georgia and wrote her dissertation on 19th-century vampire literature—the perfect training, although she didn’t know it at the time, for writing Victorian gothic romance novels. Her books include With This Curse, winner of the 2015 Daphne du Maurier Award in historical mystery/suspense, and the Sybil Ingram Victorian Mysteries series.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 18, 2016
Amanda DeWees is a master at writing great gothic stories and this story will draw you into the mystery and secrets of Hawksclaw family. \
As soon as Miss. Yates, the new governess, arrives it is quite clear all is not as it should be. Miss. Yates is eager to meet her new ward but when she arrives, she is not permitted and two and she notices the family and staff acting strange and peculiar. When a death occurs a day after her arrival she begins to suspect something a foul is a foot.
You will be swept away in the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death. Ms. DeWees does a great job and building the suspense through out the story. Each page had me guessing at the truth behind the matter.
As soon as Miss. Yates, the new governess, arrives it is quite clear all is not as it should be. Miss. Yates is eager to meet her new ward but when she arrives, she is not permitted and two and she notices the family and staff acting strange and peculiar. When a death occurs a day after her arrival she begins to suspect something a foul is a foot.
You will be swept away in the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death. Ms. DeWees does a great job and building the suspense through out the story. Each page had me guessing at the truth behind the matter.
February 7, 2017
A delightful new Victorian Gothic mystery from one of the best writers in the genre today. This fast-paced novella captivated me from the very beginning and I read it over the course of a single evening. Many of the familiar tropes are here (the isolated mansion by the moors, the locked tower, the family secrets), but with new life breathed into them by a gifted author. Here’s hoping for more stories from Hawksclaw House and Amanda DeWees.
July 15, 2017
Torn between a 3 & 4 star review for this one. As I've mentioned in other reviews, I love Amanda DeWees stories - they are perfectly gothic, yet light historical reads. I love the balance she strikes of tension and romance, the light atmosphere of the time period, and the (sometimes) supernatural elements.
The Heir of Hawksclaw: A novella of Victorian gothic mystery is a novella following Miss Yates, the governess from Sea of Secrets. I loved getting to follow along with a familiar character, and it was very interesting getting to know more about Miss Yates, as she was really just a background character in Sea of Secrets. Also, I really liked the character of Mr. Redfern, though I felt he could have been more developed.
Conclusions are difficult to draw with a story this short - it's pretty amazing that the author was able to pull together a story as complex as it was in just 81 pages. But I did find it a bit lacking. I was able to predict the "twist" pretty much from the start, so I didn't experience as much anxiety to find out what would happen as I might have otherwise. Also, I felt like the conclusions Miss Yates and Mr. Redfern came to were pretty dramatic given the evidence presented. I guess I would have preferred there be more "clues" about what was going on to make the other possible explanations more realistic.
In the end, this was a great little read - perfect for falling into on a lazy Saturday morning. I'm still an avid Amanda DeWees fan! 3.5-4 stars
The Heir of Hawksclaw: A novella of Victorian gothic mystery is a novella following Miss Yates, the governess from Sea of Secrets. I loved getting to follow along with a familiar character, and it was very interesting getting to know more about Miss Yates, as she was really just a background character in Sea of Secrets. Also, I really liked the character of Mr. Redfern, though I felt he could have been more developed.
Conclusions are difficult to draw with a story this short - it's pretty amazing that the author was able to pull together a story as complex as it was in just 81 pages. But I did find it a bit lacking. I was able to predict the "twist" pretty much from the start, so I didn't experience as much anxiety to find out what would happen as I might have otherwise. Also, I felt like the conclusions Miss Yates and Mr. Redfern came to were pretty dramatic given the evidence presented. I guess I would have preferred there be more "clues" about what was going on to make the other possible explanations more realistic.
In the end, this was a great little read - perfect for falling into on a lazy Saturday morning. I'm still an avid Amanda DeWees fan! 3.5-4 stars
May 24, 2017
I liked this gothic tale. The setting was perfect. The huge dark grey forlorn manor, the heavy rain, the sea crashing on the sheer cliffs. The inside dark and gloomy, with the feeling of untold secrets. Then their is the young boy no one sees. Is he ill or in someway deformed? Why hire a tutor, and governess for a child no one sees. Their is no nurse, just a mother who speaks as if the child is much younger in age. The bridge is covered with a swelling river, and imaginations take over. I knew at once what the problem was, but it reminded me of a Jane Austen book , Northanger Abbey. Where another imagination saw things that , in fact were not the real story. I thought the two new arrivals did all they. Could to protect a child. and get to the bottom of the mystery . It was very entertaining, but predictable. Good gothic detail though.
January 26, 2017
Another winner by DeWees. I enjoyed this story that was intertwined peripherally with the characters from Sea of Secret. Creepy mystery subplot that I suspected early on but I still kept turning the pages because I wanted to see the clever ways DeWees would unfold her tale. She did not disappoint in the slightest. Another strong, self-reliant, and fascinating female lead.
April 4, 2021
A delightful short read
DeWees delights me yet again, this time with a book short enough that it was perfect for filling the gap until i could pick up library holds. The characters are amazingly developed for something that took so little space, and are deeply relatable in their flaws and foibles!
DeWees delights me yet again, this time with a book short enough that it was perfect for filling the gap until i could pick up library holds. The characters are amazingly developed for something that took so little space, and are deeply relatable in their flaws and foibles!
April 30, 2021
Kept me guessing
I love books that keep me guessing this novella was short but kept me on my toes of what was gonna happen next. Loved the characters and the storyline. The ending was the best part. I love this author she never disappoints me. Recommended for ppl that
Love romance and suspense
I love books that keep me guessing this novella was short but kept me on my toes of what was gonna happen next. Loved the characters and the storyline. The ending was the best part. I love this author she never disappoints me. Recommended for ppl that
Love romance and suspense
June 20, 2022
Tanto fumo niente arrosto... prova ad essere misterioso e gotico (in questo riesce) ma alla fine non conclude nulla, e l'ho finito pensando: beh tutto qua?
Capisco che sia una novella, ma anche in poche pagine si può creare suspence e mistero, concludendo però in modo più plateale o drammatico rispetto a questo.
Capisco che sia una novella, ma anche in poche pagine si può creare suspence e mistero, concludendo però in modo più plateale o drammatico rispetto a questo.
August 1, 2022
I found this a lame mystery, and Medora a pretty annoying person.
February 3, 2026
Intriguing gothic short story. I enjoyed it.
March 1, 2016
Full disclosure—there are certain kinds of stories that I'm going to like no matter what. (Cats, time travel, archery, or the Trojan War get an automatic pass, no questions asked.) I also have some pleasures that aren't guilty at all, and “The Heir of Hawksclaw” is one of those stories.
If you've read Amanda DeWees's debut novel, “Sea of Secrets” (and you really should), you've already met Medora Yates as a supporting character. I really enjoy seeing characters spin off into their own stories, and this is no exception. I'm also a big fan of the novella format as it gives plenty of space to develop character and build suspense, drawing me in even when I don't have time for a lengthier novel.
Arriving at the Hawksclaw estate in remote and foreboding Yorkshire to serve as governess to the young heir, Miss Yates is quickly plunged into intrigue. The tension mounts as secrets swirl, and the household staff seeks to cover up with more lies of their own. This leaves Miss Yates to form an alliance with the newly arrived tutor, Mr. Redfern, as they seek to protect their young charge and bring peace to the household. But not everything is as it seems...
While true to the Victorian period in tone and every detail, Miss Yates is independent and self-possessed as an educated woman who knows her own mind and won't hesitate to help. As her colleague and companion in crime solving, Mr. Redfern is charming, supportive, and a perfect platonic partner.
I would really like to see more from Yates (and Redfern) – surely there are other English peers that desperately need their assistance!
If you've read Amanda DeWees's debut novel, “Sea of Secrets” (and you really should), you've already met Medora Yates as a supporting character. I really enjoy seeing characters spin off into their own stories, and this is no exception. I'm also a big fan of the novella format as it gives plenty of space to develop character and build suspense, drawing me in even when I don't have time for a lengthier novel.
Arriving at the Hawksclaw estate in remote and foreboding Yorkshire to serve as governess to the young heir, Miss Yates is quickly plunged into intrigue. The tension mounts as secrets swirl, and the household staff seeks to cover up with more lies of their own. This leaves Miss Yates to form an alliance with the newly arrived tutor, Mr. Redfern, as they seek to protect their young charge and bring peace to the household. But not everything is as it seems...
While true to the Victorian period in tone and every detail, Miss Yates is independent and self-possessed as an educated woman who knows her own mind and won't hesitate to help. As her colleague and companion in crime solving, Mr. Redfern is charming, supportive, and a perfect platonic partner.
I would really like to see more from Yates (and Redfern) – surely there are other English peers that desperately need their assistance!
March 8, 2016
Yates and Redfern FTW
I had so much fun with this story, I want a whole series of Medora and Redfern mysteries. Of course, the Gothic atmosphere was excellent, with the weather playing along nicely. It's fun to get to revisit some of the side characters from her previous books and let them have their moment in the sun, and I really liked the new characters she introduced. I did think Medora might have been a little quick in her judgments of all the situations, but I suppose when you have to live in a stranger's house, it's probably safest to be on the presumptuous, cautious side.
Also, you can always tell a Dewees story by the lovely clothes. So sad the red dress got ruined.
I had so much fun with this story, I want a whole series of Medora and Redfern mysteries. Of course, the Gothic atmosphere was excellent, with the weather playing along nicely. It's fun to get to revisit some of the side characters from her previous books and let them have their moment in the sun, and I really liked the new characters she introduced. I did think Medora might have been a little quick in her judgments of all the situations, but I suppose when you have to live in a stranger's house, it's probably safest to be on the presumptuous, cautious side.
Also, you can always tell a Dewees story by the lovely clothes. So sad the red dress got ruined.
May 25, 2016
I enjoyed Amanda DeWees other novel, and thought I would give this short novella a go. I was an entertaining gothic novel. I did think the solution was obvious (sometimes in Gothics) and the heroine a bit too bumbling in her ideas and notions. This is not a traditional gothic- as in the governess shows up to a house that has both a mother and father (no romance with the head of the house). Mild Gothic- safe for tween/teen/adult.
March 1, 2016
Once again, Amanda DeWees has hit one out of the proverbial park.The Heir of Hawksclaw is the most suspenseful of her gothic romances. The mystery at the center of the story really kept me turning the pages. The characters are engaging, and the ending is very satisfying as well. I loved this novella!
September 4, 2016
Very interesting. A book that will "keep you on your toes".
Don't try to figure it all out, just read , enjoy and then find out in the end. I don't think you will be disappointed.
A quick read, when you have time.
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
Don't try to figure it all out, just read , enjoy and then find out in the end. I don't think you will be disappointed.
A quick read, when you have time.
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
June 8, 2016
Hokey, cute, Gothic-lite...very much like a Lifetime movie: everyone is happy in the end.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews