Regency gothic _______2.5

Twilight at Moorington Cross by Abigail Wilson 

This story started with an intriguing proposition. The premise behind this gothic romance set in 1815 was both unusual and fascinating. Located in a sanitarium in Kent, far from London, patients attend the hospital prepared to undergo experimental and alternative methods of healing to combat their various complaints. One such client is Mrs Amelia Pembroke, the widow of a solicitor whose private face was so much darker than his public one. Mr Cluett the owner of Cluett's Mesmeric Hospital practises various aspects of mesmerism. Cluett has been attempting to cure Amelia from “sleeping” sickness. She has been in the sanitarium for two years.

Mr. Cluett is very attached to her. We’re not sure why. Maybe because she’s the guinea pig for his research looking at the patient being able to self-mesmerise. 

Confusingly, Amelia is made aware that she will be the sole beneficiary in Cluett's will if she marries one of two men he determines. Once more men are attempting to order her life.

Cluett’s sudden death devolves into the possibility he might have been murdered. With his death Amelia is left trying to work out what to do, who to marry, and should she trust the solicitor sent from her husband’s firm to alter Cluett’s will just prior to his “accident.”

Truly I was all out of patience with Amelia by the time I reached near to the end. I really wanted to enjoy this but the drawn out, lack lustre resolution had me falling asleep. Yes, there’s an aura of suspense, but things sort of fell away.

I guess bullied and abused over years left Amelia unable to move forward quickly enough for me.

I so wanted to enjoy this Regency Gothic tale, but in the end I barely crossed the finish line.

A Thomas Nelson ARC via NetGalley