Gothic feel mystery/romance

The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall by Rebecca Anderson     

⭐️⭐️⭐️

The main characters are somewhat strangely flat, given the substance of the storyline. 

I found it hard to relate to them.

Hyacinth Bell is a botanist who goes to a windswept mansion, Ashthorne Hall, on the moors of Cornwall alongside pounding ocean. She is being paid to look after Mr. Charles Whitbeck’s large collection of orchids whilst he’s in India, hunting for more.

Hyacinth is warned off by a whiskey sodden ruffian who’s assisting in the local gardening shop. 

At Ashthorne Hall Hyacinth finds a dour housekeeper, Mrs. Carter, who warns her to lock her bedroom door and not to wander the hallways at night.

She also meets the handsome estate’s caretaker, Lucas Harding, who is the housekeeper’s nephew.

But strange things happen in the night and Hyacinth is determined to find out what’s happening. Is there a ghost, pirates, something else?

What Hyacinth confronts is both shocking and heartbreaking. A scourge on innovation without care. But will she live to tell her tale?

This was I interesting but I wasn’t wholly engaged. 

A Shadow Mountain ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.