Owl Manor - Abigail: Book 2 of the Owl Manor Trilogy

by Zita Harrison

14 years ago, Owl Manor trembled with echoes of madness, mysterious deaths and marauding owls.

In 1870, Abigail fled the horror of Owl Manor with her fiancé, Peter. But she carried with her the terrible notion that she is unworthy of love, instilled by her reluctant mother. If her own mother could not love her, how would anyone else?

She trusts no one and keeps herself buried in a crypt of churning emotions, away from the world. Deep inside, her soul screams at the thought of dying alone and unloved.

Now she is back. Abandoned at the altar, and with nowhere to go, she returns to Owl Manor. Thus begin the nightmares of violent rage and destruction, ghostly images.

What really happened 14 years ago?

Enter Victor, the complete opposite of Peter, yet frighteningly familiar at times.

And the owls circle the sky once again.

Inspired by authors such as Edgar Allan Poe (The Raven), Daphne du Maurier (Jamaica Inn), Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Shadow of the Wind), Owl Manor - Abigail is the second in the Owl Manor trilogy of Gothic suspense novels, and follows Owl Manor - the Dawning.

348 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 13, 2020

About the author

I have found nothing out there that compares to the thrill of creating and experiencing Art. Art in every form: writing, painting, music, theater; all in the end expressions of life. The joys, the agonies, the frustrations. However abstract, transcendental, bizarre, Art draws from life; a vision, a thought, an epiphany sparked by what is going on around us. It challenges boundaries, explores new ideas and new ways to communicate them, and, finally, has the power to reach and connect with people of all different cultures and beliefs.

To share two of my favorite quotes on the topic: about Art, Pablo Picasso once said: "A work of art must make a man react, feel strongly, start creating too, if only in his imagination. He must be seized by the throat and shaken up; he has to be made aware of the world he's living in and for that he must first be jolted out of it." Thank you, Maestro. That says it all.

And my favorite quote about writing is one from Carl Sagan: "Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic." YES!!

All my life I have been passionate about both Writing and Art and am now happily writing, and creating Art in the form of both Graphic Design as well as personal Art.

I designed the covers for all my novels which inspired me to offer cover design to writers at a very reasonable price, since I'm trying to get my name out there! In my career as a Graphic Designer I have designed posters, CD covers, brochures, and many other things which have equipped me with the skills necessary to do book covers. Visit my COVER DESIGNS page and my OTHER DESIGNS pages to see samples of my work! I am working on a PRICING and SPECIAL OFFERS page and hope to have it up soon!

Reviews

[Rainz ❤️rainnbooks❤️(on a break) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to the author Zita Harrison for an ARC copy. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.

Abigail Moore has always seemed cold, unfeeling and remote, her emotions carefully hidden around an unbreachable wall. 3 years of courtship,Peter falters on his wedding day and Abigail returns back to Owl manor, a place shrouded in mystery. Surrounded by owls everywhere, the manor house has never felt welcome to Abigail but it is her last refuge. A year later Owl Manor is converted to a long-term boarding house and visitors have begun to trickle in but the rest and quiet that is expected is soon shattered as the owls begin their menace behaving unnaturally and deaths follow after.

Is it one of the guests that is disturbing the owls or is there something more sinister in play? Why would each guest choose to remain in a place that gives anyone the heebie-jeebies? What secrets are hidden in this house of haunting apparitions?

Zita Harrison’s Owl Manor-Abigail is a harrowing and terrifying horror thriller with gothic overtones. Exceedingly well-written, the author creates the perfect atmosphere for the spooky and sinister thrills. The owls provide the most spine-tingling effect as the author brings the images in brilliant clarity to the reader. The 3-way romance, the ghostly possessions, the woods, everything adds to the intimidating effects in the story.

I did like the character of the closed-up Abigail who has no clue how to let go and live her life without fear but it is Patty with her ever practical approach that I absolutely loved. Each of the guests add the necessary drama to this brilliantly plotted gothic thriller.

Highly recommended for all fans of gothic suspense!

This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/; Amazon India, Goodreads, and Twitter.

[Escape Into Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked Owl Manor: The Dawning. So, picking up Owl Manor—Abigail was easy for me. And I am glad that I did because this book was just as fantastic as the first book.

Owl Manor—Abigail starts 14 years after the events of Owl Manor—The Dawning. Abigail, raised by the remaining staff at Owl Manor, is now a young lady. Living in New York City, she is engaged to Peter, an up-and-coming lawyer. But, when Peter gets cold feet and leaves Abigail at the altar, she returns to Denver and Owl Manor. After opening a long-term boarding house at the manor, Abigail is introduced to an exciting group of people. Victor, a boarder, has caught Abigail’s eye. But there is something very unsettling and something familiar about Victor. Abigail doesn’t have time to dwell on that because the owls have returned and, with them, murder. Who has riled the owls up, and what is that person’s connection to the house? Will Abigail, her staff, and her boarders survive a murderer in their midst?

Owl Manor—Abigail is the second book in the Owl Manor trilogy. While you don’t need to read book 1 to understand what is going on in this book, I do highly recommend reading it. The backstories of Abigail, Patty, and the house are quickly explained, but reading book one will give you some insight into what is going on in this book.

I felt terrible for Abigail in this book. Her mother’s neglect turned Abigail into a person who was afraid to open herself up. I was internally cursing Eva for what she did to that poor girl. I did think that Abigail was a little rude during the book. There were several scenes where she berated servants and her boarders for talking about ghosts. But there was a reason behind her doing it: Abigail didn’t want that gossip attached to her boardinghouse. She was trying to run a respectable business, and that gossip would turn people away. When Abigail started getting involved with Victor, I was happy. I felt that she could finally be happy. The author decimated that idea in the next chapter—all I could do after that was read and see where and how her story would end.

I thought Victor was an interesting character to read. I understood why he wanted to keep his identity a secret at first. He was trying to figure out who Abigail was and why she ended up with Rafe’s money and house. I think his feelings for Abigail were true in the beginning. But, as the book went on, his slow slide into madness was genuinely riveting. The author weaved his story around Rafe’s so that they became the same, and I loved it!!

The love triangle between Peter, Abigail, and Victor was interesting. I wasn’t a big fan of Peter when he showed up. The guy left Abigail at the altar and stewed for months afterward, trying to figure out his feelings. I was 100% team Victor until one of the servants overheard some interesting information at the local pub. At that point, I was content to sit back and see how the author would unfold this triangle. And I wasn’t disappointed!!

The storyline about the manor, what happened before, and how it was connected to the murders was amazingly written. That storyline was one of the main reasons why I couldn’t put the book down. I couldn’t figure out who the murderer was. I thought it was someone else until that person was killed. And when the author revealed who it was, I couldn’t believe it.

The horror angle of the book was well written. This book kept me up at night (after I finished it). I kept thinking about Owl Manor and how evil it was. I couldn’t understand why Abigail didn’t take the advice in the end. I know I would have.

There is a paranormal element to the book that is amazing. The author took your typical haunted house/possession and made it her own. The parallels between the first book were uncanny, and hearing Rafe asking for Eva (through Victor) was chilling. And it got even more chilling as the book went on.

I wasn’t surprised at the end of Owl Manor—Abigail. But I was surprised at who survived and how a specific person met his end. The way the author ended the book, I knew there was going to be a book 3, and I was very excited to read it.

I would recommend Owl Manor—Abigail to anyone over 16. There is violence, mild language, and no sexual situations (other than some kissing).

[Nico Genes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gruesome mystery drama.

This is the second book in the Owl Manor Trilogy. While I haven't read the first one in the series, I think it didn’t bother me, as there was enough information to understand the past events.

A long time ago, Abigail Moore left the Owl Manor and probably, at the time, didn’t plan on returning. She tried to have a life in New York, but her past was ruining her future. Abigail grew up without the love of her mother. That made her incapable of being able to feel love herself. Her childhood was an unusual one, and she seemed to lack empathy and emotions. “The absence of emotion was my method of survival.”
Peter left Abby at the altar. Probably his fears were bigger than his feelings for her. “I’m not sure that you will ever be able to love me the way… the way I need you to.” Following this event and the fact that she inherited the Owl Manor, she decided to come back and planned to convert the manor into a long-term (one-week minimum stay) holiday lodging. The scenery was lovely, and the place offered a quiet stay.

The manor, placed in the mountains of Colorado, was about an hour away from Denver. The guests started showing up, and then mysterious events begin to happen - with flocks of owls, fierce storms, ghosts, and murders.

My favorite character was Patty, the loyal housekeeper that was strong when Abby couldn’t, and the one that seemed to find a way to Abby’s heart and be the buffer between her and the rest of the servants and guests. All the characters, guests including, were well described and placed wisely in the story. My first concern was regarding their decision to stay at the manor after the first murder took place, but somehow, I managed to get the rationale behind it.

I didn’t like Abigail. She was mean and cold and acted strange most of the time. However, I perceived the story as a means for Abby to transform. After lots of tragic events, the transformation took place, and one would think that the Owl Manor and Abby would finally witness peaceful, loving times. Maybe that is so, but we shall find out in the third installment planned in the series, which I look forward to.

[Cathleen Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abigail Moore left Owl Manor years ago, thinking she would never return. She’d moved to go to college and get married, to leave her painful past behind. But she’s haunted by a legacy of neglect, of being an unloved child. The pain is so intense that she can only let people in for small moments before she locks then out again. After three years, her fiancé is no longer willing to wait. He leaves her at the altar, and she can think of no other plan than to return home.

But things are different now. Her mother, and her mother’s lover, are both dead. The house is hers. There’s no reason why it can’t be turned into something that will pay the bills. Denver has become popular for people looking for fresh air, solitude, or simply the incomparable mountain scenery.

And the plan seems to work. The house fills with guests, the new chef prepares fantastic meals, and everyone seems reasonably content. But old tragedies cast long shadows, and fragments of the past seem to be coming to life everywhere. The owls are active again, and they’d been quiet for years. And then the unthinkable happens—a guest is murdered. Memories of her mother’s untimely death stir in Abigail, and she realizes that what she fears most is being alone. Not only would that leave her without love forever, but it could also get her killed.

But after living her entire life behind walls she erected to shield herself, she doesn’t know how to reach out to anyone…

***

I know I’m supposed to throw more syllables at it, but seriously, this is a good read. You know the kind. The ones where you stay up reading until three and tell yourself it’ll be no big deal tomorrow. And this book is worth reading just for the descriptions alone. I swear, at one point I considered taking notes. The author is that good at making the scene come alive.

So if you like character-driven murder mysteries, with added ghosts, I’d recommend giving this one a try.

[Peter Martuneac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abigail never thought she’d return to Owl Manor and the dark memories she left behind there. But with her prospects of a happy marriage and life in New York suddenly dashed, she sees no other option but to return to her childhood home and figure out what she’s going to do with herself. Unfortunately, she’s not the only one who has plans for her...

Set in the 1860’s, this one read like a classic ‘whooooo dunnit’ (pun 10000% intended). The characters are all wonderfully done and vividly portrayed, each with separate, distinct personalities. It was easy to keep track of who was who. I wasn’t sure at first about the author’s choice to use 1st person narration with Abigail and a 3rd person narration with all the others, but after a few chapters it stopped bugging me.

The quality of the writing itself is also very good. Typo-free and containing some really poetic sentences. The descriptions of Owl Manor and the surrounding countryside were fantastic and I had no trouble whatsoever seeing the imagery.

Oh and the main character’s name is Abigail/Abby. I’m predisposed to look fondly on any character named Abby purely because of how much I adore the Abby in my own books I’ve written. So yeah, go Abigail!

There weren’t a lot of negatives in this book for me, however what they lack in quantity they unfortunately made up for in severity. The plot did not advance with subtlety, and that’s a problem for a horror mystery. The book straight-up tells you who the doer of evil deeds is about halfway through, so the tension plummeted from there. Fortunately it isn’t a long book so getting through the second half didn’t take long, but I didn’t have to “get through” the first half like it was a chore.

I also felt like the author asked for bit too much suspension of belief. I’m generally forgiving in this regard, but when Abigail’s guests remained in Owl Manor after the first, second, and even THIRD evil deed...I don’t know, I just wasn’t buying it.

I should say that the author does give some rationale for these characters’ decisions, and in the moment I bought it (again, I’m very forgiving about suspending belief), but once I finished the book I thought back to this and thought, “I just don’t think that’s believable.”

Those are the only negatives I can come up with though. They were big negatives for me, but thankfully the only ones. Overall this was entertaining to read with good dialogue, wonderful characters, and vivid imagery! 3-stars and a thumb’s up!

[Martin Talks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Owl Manor is a dark, gothic tale set in a spooky old house on a mountainside swept by high winds, snow and drama.

The story revolves around the arrival of Abigail to take up her ownership and the running of Owl Manor. It has a murky past that has never left the house, like the mist that surrounds it. Abigail too is withdrawn and cold, having just been jilted at the altar. Very soon guests arrive, each with their own agenda and that is the catalyst for change. Then murders follow. It becomes clear who the murderer is. Or does it? The tale darkens and, like all good gothic tales, the house is cut off and the occupants have to deal with the growing menace of the situation on their own.

The book is very much in the style of the classic gothic tales, full of eery descriptions and unsettling scenes. From the start the owls watch over proceedings and you wonder if they are good or evil omens, guardians or aggressors. They are clearly more than just birds. The action builds slowly, as does the tension and it ends dramatically. Perhaps I would have liked more twists to the tale and a faster pace, but it is true to itself and its classic gothic origins.

[Carolyn St-Denis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Owl Manor-Abigail, is the second of the Owl Manor trilogy by Zita Harrison.
After being left at the altar, Abigail returns to the Manor to run a bread and breakfast. It isn’t long before the guests pile in, each with their own agenda and motive for being there.
Much to her dismay, Abigail feels pulled towards her guest Victor and the feeling becomes mutual. Will Abigail have the courage to let herself be loved? Is there something more sinister to this infatuation?
Then the owls return and one of the guests turns up murdered in her room. But who could be capable of such a thing?
Set in snowy, isolated hilltops, the description of the landscape makes me want to hug a warm cup of tea. Part murder mystery, part love story, Owl Manor-Abigail is a creepy, haunting read. I would highly recommend.

[E.A. Wicklund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Owl Manor - Abigail is the tale of a young woman, scarred by the indifference of her mother. Untrusting of intimate relationships, she is coarse and cold to most people around her. At the beginning of the book, we learn that Peter loved her anyway and they were meant to be wed. Developing cold feet at the last moment, Peter abandons her at the wedding, making the untrusting Abigail only worse.

Abigail travels to Owl Manor where she grew up. The place has a sordid history where the master was beset upon by huge swarms of owls any time he tried to leave. Long dead by this point, strange presences and unaccountable shadows lurk in the dim hallways. Some of the staff believe the master's spirit still lurks.

Along comes Victor to stay in Owl Manor after its conversion to a glum resort. He has designs on the resort and he has a plan. But even after meeting the prickly Abigail, his plans change.

This is a book that harkens back to the Victorian thrillers where the language itself brings an unmistakable ambience to the read. Harrison lovingly describes small details like the fireplaces and the sculpted owls that populate the sinister edifice. There are a number of characters and many of them get a chapter devoted to their POV. We see a slowly growing evilness perpetuating through the place and how it affects nearly everyone dwelling within. It's a slowly building wave of darkness reaching its peak at the end of the book.

I have to say, the action builds a tad slowly for my taste, only really reaching a peak towards the end. But as a Victorian-style thriller, I would say it's constructed in a manner characteristic of the type. For what it is, it is very well done. Harrison has a terrific grasp of writing and knows how to create emotions and physical sensations with well-crafted language. This is one of those books that's enjoyable just because of the way it's written.

This is a shining example of a romantic thriller/horror story.

[Jonathan Sobe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Owl Manor – Abigail is an alluring, well-written and confident piece of gothic entertainment. Set in Colorado in the 1900s, it tells the story of Abigail, an emotionally reserved young woman who runs an extended stay hotel in the mountains. One by one, unique and interesting guests arrive, each with their own reason for visiting the hotel. Soon after, Owl Manor blossoms into a tale of mystery, romance and murder against the backdrop of both Abigail and the house’s dark history.

While I found Owl Manor’s spookiness fun, it never actually came close to raising the hairs on the back of my neck. While some genuine fright would have been welcome, I’m not holding it against this novel when it has other key things going for it. For one, this book is the second in a trilogy and although I have not read the first installment, I found this book’s references to the events of the first sufficient to get me caught up. The book also plays with perspective by presenting Abby’s chapters in the first person and all the other characters in third. This can easily come across as an unnecessary gimmick, but in the case of the initially cold and distant Abigail, it provides clever insight into who she really is. Also working in the books favor are the quick and punchy chapters which make it easily to continue reading “just one more.”

Certainly, the book’s strongest asset is its confident and beautiful prose, especially when used to describe the snowy Colorado setting. Mood and setting go a long way in gothic stories, and Harrison definitely delivers the goods.

All in all, Owl Manor takes readers on an enjoyable, seductive, well-paced and well-written journey to the mysterious mountains of Colorado, complete with interesting characters, period romance and supernatural mysteries galore.

[Balroop Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Owl Manor – Abigail: Book 2 of the Owl Manor Trilogy by Zita Harrison is as engrossing as book 1, even better than the first one, as it doesn’t have any superfluous characters or unnecessary descriptions to hamper the flow of the story, which moves at a breathtaking pace. The book focuses on Abigail Moore, who grew up within the dark and mysterious atmosphere of Owl Manor and feels the connection though she had left it behind to embrace a better life in New York. Ironically, she has to return due to unavoidable circumstances and gets trapped once again in the eerie happenings associated with the manor and its owls. The story gets murkier with each page, is absolutely unpredictable and keeps you hooked till the last page.

Harrison is a master-crafter of characters, as they evolve slowly but show a stunning development. A cold and indifferent Abigail lives within self-created walls of being “unloved” has been brilliantly portrayed in contrast to one of the guests who brings some charm to the manor with her vivacious personality. The way Abigail learns to handle her personality in the midst of her guests is remarkable. Victor remains memorable for his temperament and plays a key role in healing the unseen scars of Abby, pulling her out of her cocoon but would she respond to his overtures? You would have to read to find out.

I loved the setting of this book – snowy mountains, crazy windstorms and dark forest, full of owls that are more than watchdogs. It is essential to read book – 1 of the series to enjoy the depth of story telling style of Zita. I would recommend both the books though this one could be called a stand-alone book.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Owl Manor - Abigail by Zita Harrison is the second book in the Owl Manor Trilogy. While I haven't read the first book, this didn't matter, as the events of the first book referred to sufficiently to understand the background and motivations of the characters. Abigail Moore was a child when her mother arrived at Owl Manor & the horrific events resulting in the death of her mother and the owner of the manor, Raf Bradstone, occurred. After being jilted at the altar and having inherited the Owl Manor from the former butler of Bradstone, Abigail decides to return to Owl Manor and convert it into a long-term holiday lodging. The manor is not far from Denver, in the majestic Colorado mountains. Mysterious events begin to happen - with the flocks of owls, fierce storms, ghostly sightings and then one by one guests are murdered.

Even though I'm not a fan of horror, this gothic tale set in late 19th century, with shades of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, is well told. The setting is palpable - both the dark mysterious Owl Manor and the magnificent mountains, the main characters are well drawn, and there is a gradual build-up of suspense and a thrilling finale. I particularly liked the unfurling or thawing of Abigail's character as she struggles her fears and the need to find trust and love, and with her loyal and generous housekeeper, Patti.

[Thomas Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Owl Manor - Abigail: Book 2 of the Owl Manor Trilogy is a gothic novel in the fine tradition of Rebecca and The Turn of the Screw, with elements of an English Country House mystery. Set in the 1870s, It is the story of Abigail, a flawed woman jilted at the altar who decides to return to her ancestral home Owl Manor in the wilds of Colorado to live out a loveless existence. She converts the rambling hulk into a guest lodge to take advantage of the burgeoning tourism industry in nearby Denver, and soon a group of interesting characters gather as guests of the manor. The author does a good job at evoking a haunted setting, so it’s no great surprise when the murders begin.
The characters are well drawn and complex enough to remain interesting throughout this longish book. Unfortunately, the weakest character is Abigail; her selfish and self-pitying demeanor gets old after a while, although it does provide a vehicle for other characters, especially Patty, the major domo, to shine. The pace is somewhat slow as befits a gothic, but the book is about a third too long and editing for length would improve it. The identity of the murderer is revealed about two thirds of the way in, which is probably unavoidable because the number of suspects diminishes as the number of victims increases. The ending is predictable, leaving one hoping for more.
All in all, Owl Manor – Abigail will provide a diverting read for fans of gothic mysteries with dark and spooky settings and supernatural elements.

[Joshua Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zita Harrison plunges us into a macabre mystery drama with Owl Manor-Abigail! After fleeing the horrors of Owl Manor, Abigail must return years later with no where else to turn. But when mysterious happenings and ghostly presences begin to reemerge, she must trust in an unexpected ally to figure out the manor’s sinister secrets before it’s too late. I loved the creepy setting of Owl Manor, and Harrison’s characters Abigail and Victor are intriguing with their depth and mysterious pasts! This is an all around fascinating read, bringing back the creepy gothic feel of the days of Poe and Shelley. If you love horror/suspense with a classic feel, definitely take a stroll in the chilled halls of Owl Manor!

[William Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Owl Manor - Abigail: Book 2 of the Owl Manor Trilogy by Zita Harrison is a dark murder mystery story. The story follows Abigail Moore, a character who practices lack of empathy and emotion as coping mechanisms. Here, she returns to a foreboding manor, aptly named for all the owls nesting in its nooks and crannies.

Abigail turns the manor into a boarding house, but as guests begin to arrive, mystery, murder and possibly ghosts abound.

The novel is well written, haunting right from the start. Abigail is a strong, tragic character, though not as likeable as her Housekeeper and perhaps only friend, Patty. The numerous descriptions of owls are deftly used to add to the feelings of dread and terror. Atmospheric and intriguing, I enjoyed the read.

[Florian Armas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Owl Manor is a dark place, its stories taking the reader back to a time when life was harder, and mysteries seemed to love company. There are owls there, no surprise, and they seem to trigger many things, one darker than another. The language is descriptive, and the place feels like a well painted fresco.
Abigail is a young woman with a strange past. At times, the author tries a bit too hard to make her unconventional and tougher in appearance, yet she is an interesting character.
The writing is dark; it’s a Gothic novel after all, with a start that builds slowly. It captures your attention after a while, and makes you want to know the end of the story.

[A. Claire Everward · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite a roller coaster. The story is built in a way that makes you feel a part of it. You simply can’t stop reading but you do need to remind yourself to breath once in a while. The building of the characters is incredible. So is the story. You can actually see it in your mind and experience a boost of all the emotions that come together. I wish I could explain the atmosphere. While writing this I find myself trying to take a deep breath and simply stopping in the middle trying to think of the right way to describe the story. I think the best thing I can say is - -read the book. The author is talented. It’s not easy to give me the chills and she managed to do just that.

[Tahira Tahsin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woah! This book was definitely a good read for a dark academic like me!
Abigail Moore’s dark,gothic and mysterious character made me fall in love with her.The Owl Manor is a spooky place and always surrounded by owls which later transforms into a boarding house. A series of unnatural death occur (spoiler alert)
The sinister and spooky-ness of this book will keep you hooked. After reading this book I read the first one.
Indeed this series is a good choice for dark academics. Because it’s full of gothic,horror thrills

I was expecting a few more pages,otherwise it would’ve been a 5🌟

[Tara Jacobi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t be surprised if you sat down to read at 7 PM and the next time you look at the clock it’s 1 AM. It happens with this one! Gripping page turner. Highly recommended!

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abigail returns to Owl Manor as it is the only home she knows, after being left at the altar. The haunted place had been quiet for years so there was some peace for those who lived there. After Abigail returns and a few other strangers, things begin to go downhill. What is revealed eventually makes everyone question if the house is just evil. This second book was a great carry over from The Dawning. I love books that contain all the elements of a gothic novel. This one was very well written and the reader finds themself invested in the happenings of the characters as well as the story.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those who read Owl Manor: The Dawning will be keen to know how the story progresses in this sequel, given the explosive ending to that book. And returning readers will not be disappointed - the sequel does not feel shoe-horned or rushed, as many sequels do, and familiar characters from that first book are joined by new characters in a way that feels like an organic continuation of that story.

The sequel to Owl Manor: The Dawning, Owl Manor - Abigail: Book 2 of the Owl Manor Trilogy strikes a very different note when it first starts, however - roughly the first half of the book has the feel of what can only be described as a dark Regency romance. Owl Manor itself, which felt like a key character in the first book, almost fades into the background and is simply a backdrop to a study in manners and mores of the time in which this book is set. Several new characters arrive at Owl Manor and their interactions form the bulk of the first part of the book.

And perhaps this is the only aspect of the book I was disappointed with: where each of the characters in the first book was keenly drawn with a clear voice and their own motivations, these new characters feel roughly sketched and two-dimensional. I sometimes found myself flipping back to a previous section to remind myself who a specific character was or what they had revealed about themselves upon their arrival at the Manor. I put this down to the sheer number of characters involved, and how much scene-setting the author wanted to accomplish before getting to the meat of the story. This is a shame, because when the bodies start to pile up I didn't feel anything apart from surprise at how quickly these characters were being despatched.

It is then, however, that the author returns to the gothic roots in which her first entry into this series was steeped - suddenly the dark Regency romance becomes a gothic horror as snow blankets the house, the police refuse to take a hand, a murderer stalks the halls, and the owls and the ghosts return.

I have to admit to being relieved at the turn in tone midway through the book, as the author so successfully draws the claustrophobic atmosphere and the cloying darkness around the reader like a heavy blanket by a dwindling fire in a dark room. This is what I enjoyed so much about the first book, and this is what I came into the second book hungrily seeking, greedily turning page after page in the hopes of finding... Our heroine is trapped, alone and seemingly unloved, blinded by her own childhood scars and the weight she carries in heart from twin rejections by her mother and her lover. The change in her circumstances is sudden, insidiously and cleverly planned, and she is such a product of her time that escape seems hopeless and a doomed ending inevitable. Those around her struggle to extricate her from her plight, and the reader is reminded that during this time something as simple as a locked door and an aggressive manner could prevent the bravest of souls from acting.

Themes of female powerlessness and subservience, and the literal and figurative ghosts of the past, tie this book to the first but these themes are less prominent in this sophomore entry. Also featuring less in this book are the historical insights the author included in the first, such as the plight of miners, and the abject poverty of those unlucky in the gold rush. Where the first book did so much world building, in this book the world is, like Owl Manor itself, simply a backdrop to the tragic story that unfolds for these characters.

Summary

A satisfying second foray into this world, this return to Owl Manor will surprise returning readers who think they know what to expect. Fans of Wuthering Heights will feel right at home, as will anyone who enjoys a good ghost story.

[Lynda Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent this book for free, on condition that I write an honest review of this book. This is the second of a trilogy of stories, centred around the happenings of a remote mansion, Owl Manor, so-called for owls that have been known to go on the attack.

The time is the mid-nineteenth century, with a young new owner of the property returned to run it - Abigail. After having been jilted at the alter by her long-time suitor, Peter, it is axiomatic that an unmarried heiress must needs make her living from what remains her portion in life.

And this inheritance is quite a portion. The sun never shines on Owl Manor. It is as as gothically full of Madness and murder and buried secrets as any Afficionado of a good traditional gothic should be. Damaged by her mother's inability to openly share live and the death of her father, Abigail has closed off emotionally, not particularly nice to anyone.

Abigail opens the Manor as a hotel, though reserving the rights to vet her clientele. And in due course, the clients arrive - not all of them inclined to maintain a professional distance from what is clearly a troubled young woman. Abigail gets more and more irritated. One is a writer, intrigued by the possibility of there being hauntings. Others are attracted by the sublime countryside of valleys and mountains. And one other has an agenda even closer to home, wishing to make a claim of his own for the property. And then the murders start........

Who will step in to save Abigail from her current predicament, and from the ghosts of her past?

The ingredients for a good traditional gothic are all here: there is terror, the sublime of Nature, descriptions of excellent food, with an added, sly pinch of post-modern referentialism: the writer looking for the next 'Monk' Lewis tale. Finally too, there is romance.

Not enough of the mystery of the property seem as cleared up on this edition as could have been hoped - for example, what really happened to some of the past characters, why the os behave as they do - perhaps that is the trouble with any novel that is not entirely a standalone. For those who like this kind of thing, this novel, however, should prove to be excellent entertainment - with the promised more to come.

[Vicki L Timmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mysterious murders, malovent apparitions, evil intentions, dark romance....
I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this book to read and review.

The story begins in the fall of 1873 in the mountains of Colorado, and focuses on Abigail, the daughter of Eva, introduced in the first book of the Owl Manor Trilogy. Abigail, a troubled young woman abandoned at the altar, decides to return to Colorado and to Owl Manor, which she recently inherited. She lived at Owl Manor as a child, with her mother and her mother’s lover, the rich and violent madman Rafe Bradstone, until the mysterious, horrific deaths of the two lovers at the manor. Though she is still filled with fear from past happenings at the manor, she feels she has nowhere else to go is afraid of facing the unknown elsewhere. Enter Victor, a distant relative to Bradstone, who believes that he should have inherited the Manor, not someone completely unrelated to the family. He moves into the manor on false pretenses and the horrors, and possible romance, begin anew.

Although not of a genre I would normally read, I thoroughly enjoyed this story as it drew me in and enveloped me into the dark, mysterious, foreboding world inhabited by Abigail. The author does a great job of building suspense while entwining a mysterious who (or what) is behind the murders and mysterious happenings going on.

Angry owls, mysterious murders, malevolent apparitions, frigid snowstorms, evil intentions, with a bit of dark romance… what could be better?

I really enjoyed the descriptive, evocative pace of the book. There is just enough information on each of the characters to get a sense of who they are, and to start questioning their motives and intentions for being at Owl Manor. I enjoy a book where I cannot figure out exactly what, or why, (kind of a ‘who done it?’ book) but I still can follow along and want to learn more. This book did a great job of hooking me in! I highly recommend this book and will definitely seek out other works from this author, and other books in this genre, in the future.

[books_with_sass · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the second installment of the Owl Manor trilogy, we follow Abigail from New York where she's just been jilted at the altar by Peter Bamford back to Denver. Having never felt like she was loved by anyone, especially her mother Eva, she finds it hard to truly open herself up to Peter, and his patience with her runs out. Not having anywhere else to go, she heads home to Owl Manor, where she is now the mistress of the manor after inheriting it from Gilbert.

With this large empty manor, Abigail decides to take in long-term boarders who are looking for seclusion and nature. Elwood King, a writer, hears the gossip in town about the happenings at Owl Manor, so he heads up there to find inspiration for a story. Victor Highmore has come to explore the region for a possible move and business venture. Alan Shaw, a teacher on sabbatical, is looking to hike and get back to nature. Elderly Clarence Beechworth needs rest, relaxation, and fresh air while recovering from illness. Lavinia Thompson and Harriet Cooper show up together, looking to vacation and check out the sights. When the boarders start being murdered, everyone is concerned that they may be next. Who would do these things? Abigail interviewed them all before approving their stays, but are they all being honest about why they're there and who they are?

Told from numerous points of view, the characters are all well-developed and show what's happening from the servants to the boarders to Abigail so you get a full picture of the goings-on at the manor. The writing is fast paced and the story moves along nicely. A Gothic novel filled with creepy-ness and paranormal happenings, it will give you all the spooky feels.

All in all, a really good second novel in this historical trilogy. If you enjoy historical, Gothic novels with superstition and paranormal occurrences, then this series is for you.

[Krista Danielson · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Abigail is left at the alter by finance Peter in 1870, she flees New York for her childhood home, Owl Manor, in the mountains of Colorado. But these aren't hospitable slopes--Owl Manor is cursed. Abigail reopens Owl Manor as a hotel and guests arrive, intrigued by rumors of ghosts. When guests start to die mysteriously--and the namesake owls begin congregating and acting odd--Abigail must face the ghosts of the manor, and her own inner ghosts.

Harrison writes with delightful descriptions. I could imagine the characters and the scenes, and was transported to this chilly setting. Her humor appears in unexpected places (like when Elwood peeks out from under the covers). The owls -- those remarkable creatures! -- return as sinister forces (or are they?). I found myself turning page after page, rooting for Abigail (and the owls).

While some of the characters could be developed a little more complexly, Harrison gives each their own voice and personality. When one goes "missing", I found myself attached and distraught. (You'll have to read the book to find out who and how!) Abigail grows, and we learn more about her mother, who also experiences an unexpected (and lovely) character arc. The historical details add another level of accuracy; Harrison clearly did research on life in the 1870s, and crafts a world that reflects such. I could visualize how the men and women dressed, the bar in Denver, Owl Manor itself, and life in the Wild West.

Harrison's love of Gothic literature shines. She fuses Gothic romance with the Wild West with a love of culinary arts--I almost want to stay at Owl Manor for the feasts. I enjoyed this mystery and hope you do, too!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abigail Moore left Owl Manor with her fiancé, Peter. On the day she was to marry Peter, he didn’t show.. Abigail decides to go back to Owl Manor as she has decided that is the only way she can survive and make a living. She will renovate Owl Manor to an inn for long staying paying “guests.” It will make it easier as then she will not have to be bother with constant turnover of her rooms. The staff of Owl Manor when Abigail shows up without warning. As guests are approved after being interviewed by Abigail, she wonders if she has done the right thing making Owl Manor an inn. The owls have come back with their menacing attacks on the guests. Have the owls returned because a guest? Will Abigail discover the secrets of Owl Manor? She has nightmares of violent rage, destruction and ghostly appearances. Will Abigail find that she is worthy of love?

The author has written an excellent horror novel with gothic overtones. The atmosphere that the author has written is perfect for spooky and mysterious thrills. I enjoyed Abigail not knowing how to live life without fear. As there are no recaps of the first book, I would recommend reading the first one so it can be understood of how Abigail’s childhood has affected her to being the woman she is in this book.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Steven Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abigail had endured a loveless upbringing at Owl Manor (isolated in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains) but finally escaped to school in New York. When she cannot move past her own inability to love Peter, she is jilted at the altar. She has no choice but to return to Owl Manor and try to make a go of running it as an inn. The Manor holds many secrets beyond a tortured childhood: the violent deaths her mother and her lover, the owls that attacked him every time he set foot outside the manor, a presence that seems to haunt every dark corner. Her first guests are a fascinating group who start turning up murdered in their rooms.
Abigail is Book 2 of the Owl Manor Trilogy, and stands alone as a thrilling gothic horror. The characters are first-rate and nuanced, and the suspense winds up the reader until a final climax that is very satisfying. I couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed the development of Abigail as she finds a way to shed her cold, unfeeling self and develop into a caring woman capable of finding and returning love.
The only negatives were extremely minor: the author glosses over how Abigail could inherit the manor without being the owner’s daughter, and there are too many uses of flames in hearths making threatening/foreboding gestures. But, these did not derail my enjoyment of the story in the least. Recommended!

[James George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

Owl Manor-Abigail is a magnificent tale of love and suspense set in 19th century Colorado. As book two of a trilogy, it stands very well on its own, but I suspect I would have enjoyed it even more if I had read the first installment.

The book is beautifully written and beautifully formatted. I thought the shifting first person/third person perspective worked very well. The prose is frequently superb - the descriptions of the old manor and the Colorado mountains were lyrical and engaging. Where the book truly excels, however, is the depiction of Abigail's misanthropy and emotional repression. The feelings conveyed are so gripping and so riveting that one has to wonder if the author herself has ever succumbed to feelings like this, and knows of what she writes.

If I had to complain (and I always do), I tend to like my novels a little shorter, and sometimes, in an effort to depict the formality of rigid 19th century decorum, some of the dialogue tends to be slightly wooden. These are minor complaints, however. Zita Harrison has really done something tremendous here, and I enthusiastically applaud her accomplishment.

[P.L. Tavormina · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s great to return to the manor--especially in spooky October.

This great installment is similar in mood but dissimilar in key ways to other installments. We have murders, and owls, and women in drafty old rooms. In this case, Abigail—a cold woman who had been left at the altar—tries to make a new life for herself as a businesswoman, by turning Owl Manor into a boarding house. But over the months in those haunted halls, she changes—grows enchanted by one of the boarders, who seems likewise enchanted. The owls know what is going on!

When Abigail’s ex-fiance (who jilted her) gets word of the murders, he makes his way out to ensure Abigail is safe. With seances and possession underway, it’s anyone’s guess.

Gothic vibes on every page, well drawn characters, intrigue and suspense. Abigail’s return to the manor raises the specters of the past “Something malignant had taken up residence in the manor since the owls came. Or did the owls come because they sensed it?” Yes, that’s it, with all the foreboding you might imagine.

Zita Harrison has mastered gothic horror. If she writes another for this series, I’ll gobble it up.

[William Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zita Harrison blends mystery, horror and romance in this, the second novel of her Owl Manor trilogy. I hadn’t read the previous novel in the series, but it didn’t matter, because this book stands alone. Though it opens a bit slowly, the story gathers momentum when protagonist Abigail returns to Owl Manor, her childhood home, to be embroiled in a series of ghastly incidents parallel to those that took the lives of her unmarried master-servant parents when she was young. After Abigail converts the large home to a boarding house, ghosts of those who died in the mansion earlier terrorize the staff. Then someone, or something, begins murdering her boarders. As the goings-on at Owl Manor rise into full view, the author ups her ante with developments that are complex, involving and scary. Meanwhile, two eligible bachelors compete for Abigail’s hand, one evil, the other pure of heart--and the love story arising from the triangle is unusual and moving. Highly recommended for those who like their horror and romance smoothly combined.

[Bethany Salway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Owl manor is a charming cross between a murder mystery and a ghost story. Neither of those genres are my usual cup of tea, but they were done so nicely here, I have no regrets about reading this book.

I found the main character fascinating from the start. While not exactly likable (at first), she was real enough to root for, and had an interesting progression.

The novel lived up to its gothic pretensions. The writing is atmospheric, the owls are creepy, and the late 19th century setting is perfect. Although the owls are perhaps overemphasized, given their relatively small role in the story. For me, the story lagged a bit in the middle, but it picked up towards the end, and wrapped up exactly the way I wanted it to.

I was told part two stood on its own, and that turned out to be completely right. Whatever happened in book one (I haven't read it) became a usefully compelling backstory, but this book contains a different tale with different characters and its own coherent plot.