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The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall
Heatherhurst Hall
Cumberland, England
1892
American heiress Kit Morgan is heartbroken at the wedding of her dearest school-friend. At her lowest moment, she is rescued from her agonies by the mysterious and alluring Alexandra Cranbrook, sister of a visiting English baronet. Alexandra is beautiful, charming, and effortlessly beguiling. Kit cannot help but fall in love with her.
When Sir Vivian Cranbrook proposes marriage, it seems natural for Kit to accept—if only to live with the woman she desperately loves.
But the Cranbrook’s ancestral home of Heatherhurst Hall is not all it seems. The attic is forbidden. Strange scratching noises echo from within the walls. Wraiths stalk the corridors by night. And worst of all, Alexandra’s love has turned to scorn.
Still, Kit is determined to earn her happily-ever-after and save the Cranbrooks from the horrors of Heatherhurst Hall.
If only she could know Alexandra loved her in return.
~
The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall is a Gothic romance rife with horror and heartache, wherein an American heiress makes an ill-advised marriage to bring herself closer the woman who’s stolen her heart.
Cumberland, England
1892
American heiress Kit Morgan is heartbroken at the wedding of her dearest school-friend. At her lowest moment, she is rescued from her agonies by the mysterious and alluring Alexandra Cranbrook, sister of a visiting English baronet. Alexandra is beautiful, charming, and effortlessly beguiling. Kit cannot help but fall in love with her.
When Sir Vivian Cranbrook proposes marriage, it seems natural for Kit to accept—if only to live with the woman she desperately loves.
But the Cranbrook’s ancestral home of Heatherhurst Hall is not all it seems. The attic is forbidden. Strange scratching noises echo from within the walls. Wraiths stalk the corridors by night. And worst of all, Alexandra’s love has turned to scorn.
Still, Kit is determined to earn her happily-ever-after and save the Cranbrooks from the horrors of Heatherhurst Hall.
If only she could know Alexandra loved her in return.
~
The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall is a Gothic romance rife with horror and heartache, wherein an American heiress makes an ill-advised marriage to bring herself closer the woman who’s stolen her heart.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
12 people are currently reading
713 people want to read
About the author
Sebastian Nothwell
8 books362 followersSebastian Nothwell writes queer romance. When he is not writing, he is counting down the minutes until he is permitted to return to writing. He is absolutely not a ghost and definitely did not die in 1895.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
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October 4, 2023A big old sapphic Gothic novel with isolated house from which women run in dresses, weird English family, servant with hook for hand, bloodstains, ghosts, Uncle Tom Cobleigh and all. It's good fun. I found Kit rather lachrymose and ineffectual for a lot of the book (and the premise of 'I have no idea why the woman I love is being cold and unfriendly to me! In other news, I just married her brother' is perhaps taking naivety a little too far). But she picks up nicely towards the end, and Alexandra is a chilly, guilt-ridden delight throughout.
The premise is bonkers, but it's a Gothic novel so it would be very disappointing if it was sensible. The world needs more bonkers sapphic Gothic novels. Could have used an edit for consistency issues, but held my attention very happily.
The premise is bonkers, but it's a Gothic novel so it would be very disappointing if it was sensible. The world needs more bonkers sapphic Gothic novels. Could have used an edit for consistency issues, but held my attention very happily.
October 29, 2023
This was soo much fun to read. Gothic atmosphere, lesbian romance, and the sum of late 19th century lesbian coded literature. It also reminded me of parts of 1940 movie “Rebecca,” elements of 1944 “Gaslight,” and the old dark house mystery movies genre, like 1932 James Whale's movie “The Old Dark House.” And the ending was bat guano crazy, and I loved the ride.
October 23, 2021
Read on Scribd. A truly gothic and suspenseful story with so many twists and turns, that keep your heart racing and your mind wandering! And a sapphic romance full of pining.
I would absolutely recommend this to people for a Halloween read of historical, paranormal and horror elements. It very much reminded me of the dark atmosphere of Brontë's Jane Eyre, with the tone and strange elements it brings.
It starts out fairly light, and then goes darker as we reach Heatherhurst Hall, it does get a tiny bit bogged down in the middle with a bit of head angsting and internal monologuing, however it was truly creepy and intriguing and kept me reading along in anticipation.
Trying to figure out exactly what is going on, and why the characters are acting the way they are, and trying to figure the mysteries is all part of the charm and spook! So if you're into Brontësque and gothic style creep, I would absolutely recommend this read!
I would absolutely recommend this to people for a Halloween read of historical, paranormal and horror elements. It very much reminded me of the dark atmosphere of Brontë's Jane Eyre, with the tone and strange elements it brings.
It starts out fairly light, and then goes darker as we reach Heatherhurst Hall, it does get a tiny bit bogged down in the middle with a bit of head angsting and internal monologuing, however it was truly creepy and intriguing and kept me reading along in anticipation.
Trying to figure out exactly what is going on, and why the characters are acting the way they are, and trying to figure the mysteries is all part of the charm and spook! So if you're into Brontësque and gothic style creep, I would absolutely recommend this read!
November 5, 2020
If I read a ghost story, basically it needs to fulfill one promise: Is it haunting? And the answer to that question here is a resounding "Yes". It's so much so that I couldn't help thinking, "Finally!" because so many ghost stories I've read in lesfic fall flat.
"The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall" is nothing if not atmospheric. Sebastian Nothwell sets up the contrast between the vitality seen in Kit's homeland in Rhode Island, meeting Alexandra Cranbrook and the development of their friendship, to the lonely and cold isolation she greets when she's transported to Heatherhurst Hall in England.
The book does a great job of character building and having us fall for what seemingly is a sweet love story between Kit and Alexandra then dashes that all to hell, turning to a more dark and twisted tale.
The narrative is a brilliant slow build of tension that ramps up into a complete cacophony.
What was interesting, too, was the way the author brought Kit's nautical family history to life in descriptive passages, marrying it with the landlocked Heatherhurst Hall. There's definitely some romantic, nearly poetic lines written here.
I really enjoyed the ride the author took us on. The climax and resolution were completely unexpected which I liked. I do feel the last bit was over the top dramatic and I saw an inconsistency here and there but, overall, the book was very well done and a lot of fun.
Recommend.
"The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall" is nothing if not atmospheric. Sebastian Nothwell sets up the contrast between the vitality seen in Kit's homeland in Rhode Island, meeting Alexandra Cranbrook and the development of their friendship, to the lonely and cold isolation she greets when she's transported to Heatherhurst Hall in England.
The book does a great job of character building and having us fall for what seemingly is a sweet love story between Kit and Alexandra then dashes that all to hell, turning to a more dark and twisted tale.
The narrative is a brilliant slow build of tension that ramps up into a complete cacophony.
What was interesting, too, was the way the author brought Kit's nautical family history to life in descriptive passages, marrying it with the landlocked Heatherhurst Hall. There's definitely some romantic, nearly poetic lines written here.
I really enjoyed the ride the author took us on. The climax and resolution were completely unexpected which I liked. I do feel the last bit was over the top dramatic and I saw an inconsistency here and there but, overall, the book was very well done and a lot of fun.
Recommend.
September 15, 2019
After a couple of m/m novels Sebastian Nothwell tries a female coupling with The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall and I think he did a good job. Set in 1892 it’s all you want in a Gothic Horror including a haunted ancestral stone pile on an isolated Cumberland moor. Heatherhurst Hall is very much a character in the book as it is lovingly described in all its derelict splendor.
“The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall is a Gothic romance rife with horror and heartache, wherein an American heiress makes an ill-advised marriage to bring herself closer the woman who’s stolen her heart.”
I was captivated by Nothwell’s compelling writing from the start. Our heroines, the pragmatic American Catherine ‘Kit’ Morgan and the beguiling British aristocrat Alexandra Cranbrook are delightful. I thought the middle part, where Kit is rattling around in the big old mansion trying to find proof she was not going insane a bit too drawn out. But the end… the end is crazier than a shithouse rat! OMG! You have to read it is all I can say.
f/f it’s as explicit as the genre allows
Themes: unnatural desires, the awkward kid in school, maybe I will be straight if I get married, nouveaux riche, lured to England under false pretenses, ignored by the new husband, ‘gaslighting’, forbidden attic, isolation, impoverished nobility, what’s in the attic?
4 Stars
“The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall is a Gothic romance rife with horror and heartache, wherein an American heiress makes an ill-advised marriage to bring herself closer the woman who’s stolen her heart.”
I was captivated by Nothwell’s compelling writing from the start. Our heroines, the pragmatic American Catherine ‘Kit’ Morgan and the beguiling British aristocrat Alexandra Cranbrook are delightful. I thought the middle part, where Kit is rattling around in the big old mansion trying to find proof she was not going insane a bit too drawn out. But the end… the end is crazier than a shithouse rat! OMG! You have to read it is all I can say.
f/f it’s as explicit as the genre allows
Themes: unnatural desires, the awkward kid in school, maybe I will be straight if I get married, nouveaux riche, lured to England under false pretenses, ignored by the new husband, ‘gaslighting’, forbidden attic, isolation, impoverished nobility, what’s in the attic?
4 Stars
May 9, 2025
absolutely perfect until the 92% mark, then it turned into the dumbest thing I've ever read (affectionately)
September 21, 2024
It felt really good to read a gothic story and know that it was going to actually, really be gay and not just tease me with homoeroticism. The writing style melded deliciously with the setting and the characters, and I felt like I was reading an old gothic horror classic. Mystery felt like it had a satisfying conclusion and I found myself putting together the puzzle pieces only moments before the characters did. It felt like I could see parts of the finale in my head like a movie. Love these disaster lesbians, would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys hauntings and halls and also lesbians.
July 12, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
First, it may be expeditious to state that The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall has strong parallels to the 2015 del Torro film Crimson Peak. Both feature an American heiress who marries a member of the British Peerage; said nobleman has a sister; these siblings keep secrets from the American; there is a strong thread of horror; and the period is roughly the same (late 1890s). That said, Nothwell’s story does more than merely recast the love interests as two women. The family’s secrets and the nature of the haunting are markedly different, and the book concludes with what I consider an appropriately “gothic horror” kind of happy end.
I found the overall aesthetics of the writing, characterization of our heroes, and the weaving of the different plot elements entirely compelling. Indeed, it was hard to put the book down. I thoroughly enjoyed Kit, with her charming pragmatism and uncanny ability to take even the most crushing emotional blows in stride. She is depicted as sort of being the awkward one out from childhood through the events in the story, being picked on at finishing school for being nouveau riche and being rather taller and less feminine than her peers.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
First, it may be expeditious to state that The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall has strong parallels to the 2015 del Torro film Crimson Peak. Both feature an American heiress who marries a member of the British Peerage; said nobleman has a sister; these siblings keep secrets from the American; there is a strong thread of horror; and the period is roughly the same (late 1890s). That said, Nothwell’s story does more than merely recast the love interests as two women. The family’s secrets and the nature of the haunting are markedly different, and the book concludes with what I consider an appropriately “gothic horror” kind of happy end.
I found the overall aesthetics of the writing, characterization of our heroes, and the weaving of the different plot elements entirely compelling. Indeed, it was hard to put the book down. I thoroughly enjoyed Kit, with her charming pragmatism and uncanny ability to take even the most crushing emotional blows in stride. She is depicted as sort of being the awkward one out from childhood through the events in the story, being picked on at finishing school for being nouveau riche and being rather taller and less feminine than her peers.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
March 20, 2021
Omg, super charming! I'd pitch this as Mexican Gothic meets The Haunting of Bly Manor with a sapphic romance.
Honestly, this was a super delightful read. Kit is a loveable heroine; awkward, meek, but kind and intensely heartbroken. When she bursts into tears at her ex-girlfriend's wedding, she's saved by Sir Vivian, a kind English baron visiting town. Along with him, she befriends Vivian's sister Alexandra... and quickly falls in love. However, soon the siblings have to return to England, and Kit is heartbroken. Until Vivian proposes, that is, and she accepts, thinking that it will allow her to stay close to Alexandra.
Thus, she and Vivian head to England where she will become Lady Cranbook. But now Alexandra hates her, her own husband is distant, and there is something very, very wrong going on in this house...
This is very much standard Gothic flair with a wholesome queer twist. In fact, I expected this to be a romance novel foremost. Instead, I'd say it's a Gothic mystery with romance. Newlywed heroine in a spooky, unfamiliar house; ghosts and strange noises; is she going insane or not? You know the drill.
Don't expect a slow-burn romance. It's more of instalove with mysterious reasons that force them apart and then eventual resolution and HEA. I'm removing a star for that bit; really could've done without the sheer lack of communication and Idiot Ball (Kit, darling, if you're conversing with someone and physically touching them, they aren't a damn ghost). However, it was a fun read that got me out of my slump.
Highly recommended if you want a gay historical romance with spookiness!
Honestly, this was a super delightful read. Kit is a loveable heroine; awkward, meek, but kind and intensely heartbroken. When she bursts into tears at her ex-girlfriend's wedding, she's saved by Sir Vivian, a kind English baron visiting town. Along with him, she befriends Vivian's sister Alexandra... and quickly falls in love. However, soon the siblings have to return to England, and Kit is heartbroken. Until Vivian proposes, that is, and she accepts, thinking that it will allow her to stay close to Alexandra.
Thus, she and Vivian head to England where she will become Lady Cranbook. But now Alexandra hates her, her own husband is distant, and there is something very, very wrong going on in this house...
This is very much standard Gothic flair with a wholesome queer twist. In fact, I expected this to be a romance novel foremost. Instead, I'd say it's a Gothic mystery with romance. Newlywed heroine in a spooky, unfamiliar house; ghosts and strange noises; is she going insane or not? You know the drill.
Don't expect a slow-burn romance. It's more of instalove with mysterious reasons that force them apart and then eventual resolution and HEA. I'm removing a star for that bit; really could've done without the sheer lack of communication and Idiot Ball (Kit, darling, if you're conversing with someone and physically touching them, they aren't a damn ghost). However, it was a fun read that got me out of my slump.
Highly recommended if you want a gay historical romance with spookiness!
May 18, 2025
CW: gaslighting, stalking, homophobia, blood, medical content, gore, fire/fire injury, injury detail, death of a parent, bullying, (minor) suicide
The pacing was quite awkward and agree with others about the absolutely . But the atmosphere was excellently done and there were some very good scares.
My favorite part was definitely Kit and Alexandra's thoughts on sapphic-coded classic literature.
The pacing was quite awkward and agree with others about the absolutely . But the atmosphere was excellently done and there were some very good scares.
My favorite part was definitely Kit and Alexandra's thoughts on sapphic-coded classic literature.
July 13, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up. All in all this is a fun read. If you like entertainingly OTT gothic horror, this is your book. You've got your spooky mansion on the moor, ghostly apparitions, forbidden attics, the works. I had a really good time reading the book.
Having said that - it did deserve more observant beta readers who should have applied the occasional loving slap to the back of the author's head because for all that it's fun, it's also rather sloppily written. There are some continuity issues, some aspects that didn't make a lot of sense and the conclusion... let's say, my suspension-of-disbelief-bridge was creaking mightily. But, yeah, well, there's a grand finale, all is well that ends well and the girl gets the girl. I'm content.
Having said that - it did deserve more observant beta readers who should have applied the occasional loving slap to the back of the author's head because for all that it's fun, it's also rather sloppily written. There are some continuity issues, some aspects that didn't make a lot of sense and the conclusion... let's say, my suspension-of-disbelief-bridge was creaking mightily. But, yeah, well, there's a grand finale, all is well that ends well and the girl gets the girl. I'm content.
July 17, 2021
hi this was awesome, i loved it and i'm definitely going to read it again (even if just to read kit's first "ghost" encounter again knowing what i know now because like. )
i've so many thoughts!! about alexandra's dramatic gay self and the way she casts herself deliberately as the villain or the monster when kit photographs her but in her secret fantasies she's the damsel princess waiting for kit's golden knight to rescue her!! also like. did vivian legit think there was an actual rat king in the walls.
kit was so relatable too, i loved her so much. AND, i mean, i know it's mentioned the blurb but actually reading kit superimposing alexandra's face over sir vivian's and accepting his proposal like THAT was perfect.
also this totally felt like someone watched crimson peak (2015) and thought this would be better with less incest and more gay and then fucking delivered.
i've so many thoughts!! about alexandra's dramatic gay self and the way she casts herself deliberately as the villain or the monster when kit photographs her but in her secret fantasies she's the damsel princess waiting for kit's golden knight to rescue her!! also like. did vivian legit think there was an actual rat king in the walls.
kit was so relatable too, i loved her so much. AND, i mean, i know it's mentioned the blurb but actually reading kit superimposing alexandra's face over sir vivian's and accepting his proposal like THAT was perfect.
also this totally felt like someone watched crimson peak (2015) and thought this would be better with less incest and more gay and then fucking delivered.
July 10, 2019
Very well written with a storyline that will grab you immediately and compelling you to read on! It is a very exciting read and spooky. I loved the characters and was intrigued to find out what happened next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 18, 2024
Agree with the KJ review of "to be fair, it would be disappointing if a novel this Gothic was sensible". I had a good time! Will save the rest for book club.
October 3, 2024
The potential was there and I had a fine time reading it, but it could have been better executed.
May 19, 2024
SLAY!!!! i love a little sapphic gothic horror romance! obsessed with the characters kit and alexandra! loved the twist at the end and it was super fun to read
October 26, 2022
3.5/5. Very solid premise of sapphic gothic horror which immediately drew me in. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the story, and the thought of a sturdy, practical American lass seeing all of the ridiculous British gothic-ness and going "but.. couldn't we just fix it?" was pretty hilarious.
However, I had a few problems with the pacing, especially concerning the "romance" aspect of this story.
The ending was also a bit bananas, but not in a way that felt too out of genre for a gothic tale. Overall a good Halloween read, even if I disliked the romance.
However, I had a few problems with the pacing, especially concerning the "romance" aspect of this story.
The ending was also a bit bananas, but not in a way that felt too out of genre for a gothic tale. Overall a good Halloween read, even if I disliked the romance.
April 21, 2024
Crimson Weak
June 24, 2022
4 stars. This was so much fun. I don’t read a lot of Gothic novels but I do tend to enjoy them when I do pick them up and this was one of them. I really liked the writing and the plot. It was genuinely spooky and a lot of the intense moments really worked for me. I thought the main character, Kit, was great. She’s very likable. The romance between her and Alexandra was sweet and helped balance out the darker tone of the novel. I was engrossed in this and found it to be super entertaining. I would definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a Gothic sapphic romance with paranormal aspects.
April 21, 2024
well that was a journey. 2.5.
January 15, 2020
Good fun. Dark and spooky with veins of silly, selfconscious melodrama in the timeless tradition of Hammer Horror. This is straight-up, unapologetically Crimson Peak with less squick, plus lesbians, and it does it well.
July 4, 2019
This was a good book. Kept me hooked from beginning to end. It’s well written with great characters. One of those books that you can’t put down once started. I recommend reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 30, 2019
The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall is a very intense spooky story. The characters blend so well with the story-line.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 10, 2020
Listen
Spooky
Gay
More spooky
More gay
What more could you ask for? I mean, really.
I really enjoyed this read.
Spooky
Gay
More spooky
More gay
What more could you ask for? I mean, really.
I really enjoyed this read.
August 15, 2024
A very medium time. More horror and more lesbian required.
April 3, 2023
If I learned one thing from this book, it's that even Victorian era straights were not ok. Love my fellow disaster queers tho.
June 15, 2023
This is like Crimson Peak minus all the red goop
July 18, 2024
4.5! the final reveal threw me off a bit but I really enjoyed the writing and the characterization otherwise
October 17, 2025
A very interesting and atmospheric haunting. I loved how practical Kit was and trying to tease out all the little clues. I will admit, I laughed at the absurdity of the source, but it was a very tense climax.
Also, the line "You're a monster." "Then come and slay me." goes hard.
Also, the line "You're a monster." "Then come and slay me." goes hard.
October 7, 2019
This is basically a lesbian fixit fic for Crimson Peak. The atmosphere is fantastic, and I enjoyed seeing this slightly lighter take on the siblings from the movie. Much of the plot is lifted directly, and the rest is referenced.
The heroine is the biggest departure. I enjoyed the contrast between how she saw herself (too big, gawky) and how the sister saw her (an amazon, would like to climb like a tree, etc.).
The only minor downside was that it's so obvious this is a rewritten Crimson Peak that the book sometimes suffers in comparison. It feels a bit defanged and fluffy when it should feel chilling and gothic. The "dark secrets" weren't quite dark enough to justify the level of bad communication and pointless secret hiding going on. I wished the sex had been kinkier instead of sort of hinting at it and shying away.
Overall, it's a fun book. If gothic novel + canon f/f sounds good to you, you'll probably enjoy it.
The heroine is the biggest departure. I enjoyed the contrast between how she saw herself (too big, gawky) and how the sister saw her (an amazon, would like to climb like a tree, etc.).
The only minor downside was that it's so obvious this is a rewritten Crimson Peak that the book sometimes suffers in comparison. It feels a bit defanged and fluffy when it should feel chilling and gothic. The "dark secrets" weren't quite dark enough to justify the level of bad communication and pointless secret hiding going on. I wished the sex had been kinkier instead of sort of hinting at it and shying away.
Overall, it's a fun book. If gothic novel + canon f/f sounds good to you, you'll probably enjoy it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews