Synopsis:
Inheritance often comes with strings attached, but rarely are they as tangled as those hanging over High Hearth.
When Eudora Fellowes learns she’s the sole heir of her estranged great-aunt’s seaside manor, she believes it will be the peaceful escape she’s longed for. What awaits, however, is a dark legacy shrouded in half a century of secrets, and it doesn’t take long before Eudora realizes she’s not the only one to call High Hearth home.
Edition:
E-ARC
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of Inheriting Her Ghosts from the author in return for review consideration. I don’t know why I keep feeling the need to say it (nevertheless I shall), but this does not impact my review in any way. Nor does the fact that I like S.H. Cooper as a human being (we’re Twitter moots). All thoughts are mine, and mine alone, and they don’t have anything to do with anything other than the book I read.
My Thoughts:
Eudora Fellowes is known in her town for being “curious.” But she’s only curious in that she is a Victorian woman in her 30s who is unmarried, and seems to have no designs on becoming married, preferring instead the company of her two wolfhounds Black Shuck and Cerberus. Oh, and she sometimes wears pants and/or speaks her mind. In short, Eudora is wonderful. But oh, the shame of pants/single life/opinions!
Anyway, Eudora is notified that a great aunt, to whom she was not at all close, has died and left all her earthly belongings to Eudora. Those earthly belongings include High Hearth – Great-Aunt Emmeline’s seaside manor house. Eudora believes this out-of-the-way house will be just the ticket for her. Finally, she can have some peace and quiet away from the pitying judgement of her current neighbors. She can, you know, live her own damn life as she sees fit.
But like any good Gothic tale, something is wrong at High Hearth. First off, it seems like Emmeline might have been a bit of a hoarder. Okay, she definitely was. The house is full of random stuff. As she’s investigating the new place, Eudora discovers a locked door that her key doesn’t work on. What’s in there? Why does she sometimes hear noises coming from inside the room? Or shadows under the door? Soon the goings-on at High Hearth have ramped up in intensity that they shake Eudora to her very core.
But our Eudora is no wilting flower. And she’s not about to let a bunch of spooky-business or superstition keep her from living out the rest of her days at High Hearth. Even if the locals felt about Emmeline even more unkindly things than Eudora’s old neighbors felt about her. And even if they are just as wary of Eudora (to say the least) solely based on her relation to Emmeline. She’ll find a way to deal with the problem even if it’s all by herself.
“I would do well to remember who, at her core, Eudora Fellowes was.”
I love a good Gothic story. And I love that Inheriting Her Ghosts sort of turns them on their heads. Yes, it is definitively Gothic, but Eudora is definitely not your typical Gothic heroine. Inheriting Her Ghosts is a decidedly modern take on Gothic. There’s still the crumbly manor house full of spooky happenings. There’s still the palpable dread, the gaslighting, the dust and the corsetry, but there’s also an asexual, empowered, tough as hell MC. She’s nobody’s victim at any point. She knows exactly who she is and what she wants in life, and she’s not at all afraid to pursue it. And even when things happen that do make her afraid she doesn’t lean into the fear. No, not Eudora. She chastises herself gently for giving into it, and then she makes a point to calm herself and let her rational nature take over.
About the Author:
S.H. Cooper is a Florida based author who has penned short stories, novel(la)s, co-wrote the podcast, Calling Darkness, and is a regular contributor to the award winning anthology series, The NoSleep Podcast. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband, pets, and a cup of Earl Grey. (from the author’s Goodreads page)
Rating:
I felt as though the ending rushed a little bit, but regardless, it was definitely still incredibly satisfying. Inheriting Her Ghosts is definitely worth a read. You should definitely pick this one up as soon as it releases in July – it’s loads of fun! And again, Eudora is…the absolute best.
Inheriting Her Ghosts By S.H. Cooper Self-published (well, after that tweet the other day, we'll see...) Published: TBA, Summer 2021 Author's Website Author's Twitter Author's Facebook Author's Tumblr Author's Reddit Keep an eye on S.H. Cooper's website or socials for the release date!
