Atmospheric and suspenseful, this modern day gothic mystery has it all: a centuries old castle, a ghostly presence, family secrets, mysterious deaths, local legends, and yes, even a little romance. The Gallagher family has owned Deeprath Castle in Ireland for centuries, but the current owner, Aiden, has decided to sign it over to the National Trust. A young woman, Carragh Ryan, has been hired to take inventory of the castle's massive library.

Aiden’s parents died under suspicious circumstances at the castle 20 years ago, leaving him and his sister in the care of his stern Aunt Nessa. The case has never been solved but the case has been reopened and is is currently being investigated by local police. Adding to the mystery of the castle, in the 1800’s the wife of a famous author died under mysterious circumstances at Deeprath. Local legend has it that the Darkling Bride who haunts the castle is behind the deaths. While cataloguing the libraries contents, Carragh finds clues that may be the key to solving the mysterious deaths. She and Aiden team up to uncover long buried secrets.

There was a lot going on with three story lines set in three different time periods, as well as a current police investigation. Unfortunately, it was just a bit too much. As a result, character development suffered a bit, and the requisite romance was lukewarm and unconvincing. Everything started to merge together and sometimes found it difficult to keep all the stories straight. I would have preferred if the book had focused on only one or two of the plot lines.
I would recommend this one for ardent fans of gothic mysteries!

*thanks to Netgalley, Ballantine Publishing, and Laura Anderson for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

I originally thought that The Darkling Bride was going to be a ghost story, something out of my comfort zone but so tantalizing that I was willing to try. Turns out it's a little bit about a ghostly legend and mostly about bizarre family events that only add to the legend.


There are three timelines and several points of view working in tandem to bring this incredible story to life. I love a good mystery and so happens I love one that involves uncovering family secrets. Carragh takes on a temporary job to archive the Gallagher family's library before the castle is put in a trust. Aidan, the current Viscount, has no desire to hold on to the castle where his parents were murdered. What few memories he has are too painful and since not everyone in his family is in agreement with his plans, their discord grows as time wears on. Carragh gets to be an unwilling witness to the family's drama but doesn't allow that to distract her from doing the work she was hired to do. She's also doing a bit of her own research into one of the family's most famous ancestors and her perseverance leads her to information that could help resolve not only the mystery of Aidan's parents' deaths but another one from a couple of generations back.


With so many characters and details involved Andersen has paced the story perfectly with concise chapters and just enough breadcrumbs to keep both the plotline and reader moving forward. The only problem I had was with real life constantly interrupting my reading bliss. The Darkling Bride fits a certain kind of mood and I was craving a mystery like this that would remove me to another setting and time period. I was mesmerized by the story and enjoyed the various characters even when they were at their most vulnerable. If I could make a wish, I'd love to see the detective, Sibéal in another story. Strong and skilled at her job, it would be fun to see her work another mystery but as I said, that's just my wishful thinking.


~ Bel

A mystery based around a 700 year old Irish castle where the secrets lie within the antiquated books of its library. A bibliophile/history buff/reader’s dream scenario.

This book has a lot going on in it, and I mean A LOT. Several different mysteries and timelines with elements of police procedural, gothic, historical fiction, murder mystery, supernatural, romance, and Irish geography, history, and folklore. Phew! But somehow the author managed to make a cohesive, flowing story while incorporating all these ideas together.

I had some minor issues with the flow of the book. While it was cohesive, the constant jumping from timeline to timeline and character to character was a bit jarring for me as a reader.

Still a very entertaining read, if gothic mysteries are your thing, I encourage you to try this one out!

Thank you to Netgalley, Laura Andersen, and Ballantine Books for a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

This was a highly enjoyable dark murder mystery. When I first requested this egalley, I was drawn in by the gothic style elements that were present and what bibliophile doesn't like a book that involves books? Especially one set in an irish, gothic, and historical library setting. We also got to enjoy a gothic style romance with a lot of dark mysterious paranormal elements including the descriptions of an Irish Castle library and the rest of the 200 year old castle's secret rooms. This was quite the magnificent tale and the all the characters(including the dead ones ( were enjoyable.The only issue I had with this book was the romance felt a bit off and little forced. Overall, I enjoyed this novel with fantastic characters, a great plot and a gorgeous setting! Highly recommended!
I want to thank NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I appreciate this opportunity and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

This book was very interesting and held my attention. I thought it was well written and easy to read. But to be honest I had a hard time caring about the characters, I do not think I would recommend this one to my book friends. I feel bad when I do not like something, but we are suppose to be honest.

As a teen, I didn’t have a lot of choice in the books I choose to read. There was no Young Adult or Teen genre. If you were a book lover, you went from juvenile choices to adult. My choices were mystery writers. As an avid reader herself, my mother handed me Mary Roberts Rinehart. Then I discovered Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, and Mary Stewart. I was in heaven. Guess what? I’m in heaven again! Laura Andersen has brought the haunting, misty vistas of the gothic tale into the 21st century. She blends the modern within her tale of The Darkling Bride.

Deeprath Castle, nestled close to the Wicklow Mountains, has been home to generations of Gallaghers. Caaragh Ryan is familiar with Deeprath’s dark history and she jumps at the chance to inventory the thousands of volumes of the castle’s library. She is hoping to figure out the mysterious events that led Evan Chase, a popular author of his time, to search out the haunting story of the Darkling Bride only to fall in love with the daughter of the castle. The sadness that evolved into the suicide of his wife and ended with his abandonment of Deeprath, leaving his infant son in the care of the boy’s grandfather, never to write again. Carragh wasn’t counting on the assistance of the current Viscount, the troubled but kind Aidan, helping her to understand his family and fill her with tales of his home and Ireland.

Andersen’s Darkling Bride is filled with all the elements that make a great Irish gothic tale. Possible ghosts, fairies, changelings, beautiful mysterious women and handsome troubled men. It has strong, formidable women who strongly believe in tradition and maintaining an equally strong façade. Her vivid descriptions of the Irish countryside make you grab a wrap when the winds blow and rain pounds the battlements. Caaragh is a strong young woman who embraces who she is but keeps her past to herself. Andersen concludes her story nicely and finishes off with a realistic feel. She is a contemporary author that can pickup the baton of those noted authors who have given us good gothic fiction.

Deeprath Castle holds many secrets, spanning more than 700 years of Irish history, including the sudden and mysterious death of Lady Jenny Gallagher in 1882 and the (again) sudden and mysterious deaths of Lord Cillian and Lady Lily Gallagher, the parents of current viscount Aidan, in 1992. When Carragh Ryan accepts a short-term job cataloging the contents of the Deeprath library, she can’t help but be drawn in.

Laura Andersen weaves the tales of generations of Gallaghers together as their individual mysteries unfold around the lingering myth of the Darkling Bride. Is she a protective ghost, or her story just a convenient shield for something much more real and sinister?

As Carragh goes about her business, she finds herself getting closer to the brooding and distant Aidan, caught between his duty to Deeprath and his desire to escape it. At the same time, she has to come to terms with her past as well.

The Darkling Bride is an engaging gothic mystery with an Irish twist. Fans of Daphne DeMaurier will not be disappointed (how could you, when the building has such an evocative name?). Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me access to the ARC.

With St. Patrick’s Day just a short time away and with my Irish DNA calling out to me, I chose to review The Darkling Bride by Laura Andersen because the setting is an old Irish castle which may or not be haunted. Deeprath Castle has served as the ancestral home of the Gallagher family for generations and has been the scene of the all the attendant joys and sorrows that one would expect in a venerable old home with one exception: Gallaghers have been murdered in Deeprath. Now the current Viscount Gallagher has decided to turn the castle over to a public trust. The focus on the library at Deeprath with its volumes of ancient books makes The Darkling Bride a booklover’s dream. It’s almost as if the library is one of the characters. Author Evan Chase came to Deeprath to use the library for research and marries Jenny Gallagher who dies tragically. He never wrote another book. Viscount Aidan Gallagher’s father Cillian was murdered in the library and his mother Lily who was fascinated with family history died mysteriously on the same day. Now Carragh Ryan has been hired to catalog the books prior to relinquishing the castle to the trust and almost immediately she attracts not only the attention of the lord of the manor but the family ghosts. The author cleverly weaves the stories of Jenny and Evan and Cillian and Lily into the present-day happenings at Deeprath to create an air of mystery and foreboding which includes disembodied voices, a painting with a life of its own, and grisly discoveries from the past.
I am going to recommend The Darkling Bride to those who enjoy historical novels with a touch of gothic darkness and to those who love a good mystery with lots of twists. If you need romance with your mysteries, you will find love gone right, love gone awry, and a promise of love to come. For those who prefer their romance novels not to be littered with “F” bombs or infused with graphic gratuitous sex, this is the book for you.

The Gallagher family is no stranger to death, murder, and ghostly visitors to their ancestral castle.  Deeprath Castle has been been inhabited by Gallagher's for 700 years.  As deep as their roots are, so are the secrets that lie within its walls.  When Carragh Ryan accepts a job there helping to catalog the books in it's library, she's fully aware of it's murderous past.  Deeprath's Viscount, Aidan has decided he no longer wants to own his family home.  The same home his parents were murdered in and comes back to Ireland to handle his affairs.  

When his parent's murder case is brought forward again, family drama, secrets, and deception begin to emerge.  Aiden struggles to remember key details.  Aiden's sister, Kyla has more important issues to deal with like her philandering husband, and elderly Aunt Nessa, who can't let go of her aristocracy spends her time trying to reign them all in.  However, once the police start digging, things begin to happen.  The castle which in some ways is very much alive, push Carragh and Aiden to begin a hunt of their own.  

The setting of this story is beautiful and I was enamored with the stories of Jenny Gallagher and the Darkling Bride.  Laura Andersen did their story justice by bringing them to the forefront.  Unfortunately, I felt like it took too much away from Carragh and Aiden.  The development of their characters suffered somewhere in the pages of the mystery itself.  I was craving more closure for them both and felt the ending for them was too abrupt. There are several different stories happening in The Darkling Bride, sometimes it was hard to keep it all straight.  While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I was at times frustrated by the pace.  In order to properly tell the story, the author needed to also tell three other stories, which in my opinion muddled the main plot.  

None of this takes away from the story, I was committed from the very beginning until the very last page.

* I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader’s Copy of this book *

I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw the description. A haunted castle? Irish folklore? A giant library? A dark and brooding viscount? Yes, please!

When Carragh Ryan interviews for a job inventorying an ancient family library, she has no idea what lies before her. From the snooty matriarch, Nessa, to the frosty heir, Aiden, and his bitter sister, Kyla, the Gallagher family seems anything but welcoming. Carragh determines to enjoy her time in the magnificent stained-glass window-lined library, get the job done, and get out. But the re-opening of the investigation into the murder of Aiden's parents two decades earlier stirs up family secrets and appears to provoke the Darkling Bride. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn of the legend of the Darkling Bride, the tragic tale of Jenny Gallagher and Evan Chase, and the details of the fateful summer leading up to Lily and Cillian Gallagher's deaths. When unexplained happenings begin occurring in the castle, and Carragh finds herself at the mercy of two spirits--one that seems to want to help her solve the mystery of what happened to Aiden's parents and one that seems to want her gone--Carragh determines to find the clues she is sure are hidden in the library. But as she gets closer to the truth, someone--or something--will stop at nothing to keep the truth from coming to light.

This book and I got off to a rocky start. After seeing so many good reviews for the author's Tudor series, the contemporary romance style of writing was not what I was expecting, nor were the characters. But the mystery of the Darkling Bride and the castle's murders soon had me hooked. Then I was thrown again by the numerous points of view that kept popping up and the fact that we had three timelines to keep track of. But I soon saw how these could all work together. But then I was thrown again by a plot twist. I got to the point where I wondered how much more the author was going to throw into this story and how it could possibly be satisfying beneath the weight of so many elements. But it worked . . . mostly.

I can't quite put my finger on why, but this book ended up being just ho-hum for me. This is the type of book that sounds amazing in theory but gets a little lost in its execution. I enjoyed the Irish setting and the folklore tales, and it's got a great Gothic vibe going on, but it was fairly predictable. I can't say that I felt like I really got to know any of the characters, and I also felt like Carragh getting chosen for the job in the first place was a coincidence, so it never really felt like she was fated to be there. A couple of questions related to the mystery weren't answered when everything wrapped up, and there really is no romance to speak of. Just a couple of stolen kisses that could likely be due to being in such close proximity for an extended time. There's a hint at the end that Carragh and Aiden might end up as something more, but I would have appreciated something more concrete.

Still, it is a very evocative tale with a nice combination of history, mystery, and spookiness, and I was flying through the final pages to see how everything would shake out. If you're a fan of Irish folklore and are looking for something a little different in historical mystery, The Darkling Bride should fit the bill.

3.75 stars

Deeprath Castle in the Wicklow Mountains near Glendalough has been in the Gallagher family since the 12th century. The current Viscount, Aidan, has decided to sign it over to the National Trust over everyone's protests. It holds bad memories for him as his parents were murdered there 23 years ago when he was 10 and this visit was the first time he has returned since then.

Young Carragh Ryan is hired to archive the extensive private library. An enigma herself, she is of Chinese descent adopted by Irish parents when she was 4. She is completely fascinated by the history as famed Gothic novelist, Evan Chase, came to the castle, married the daughter of that viscount, and never wrote again. His wife committed suicide in 1882 about three years after their marriage. He left his young son there and returned to England dying several years later.

The story revolves those three stories- Jenny and Evan in 1882, the time of the murder of Aidan's parents in 1992 and current times where they are trying to uncover the parents murderers. The castle is full of treasures, history and ghosts.

It was slow starting but once the story went along and the action picked up, it became much more interesting. I also liked all the history of the area and the story of St. Kevin. For those who like atmospheric novels, this is a good one.

Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Such a good read! The story was enthralling! I was wrapped up in the storyline and the characters. I definitely want to read more by this author!

*I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

This book is not generally my type of book, but wow did I love it.
Sure, it was a slow read for me, tending to drag at times, but the mystery had me hooked.

Look, this book is told in three different periods --around 1880 (Jenny & Evan), 1970s to 1992 (Lily & Cillian -- parents of Kyra and Aiden), and 2015 the present era. Now, at first this can be confusing, but once you understand the three times and the characters within them, it gets easier. In fact, I loved it. I loved seeing how things connected through the eras, either with the Darkling Bride or the deaths of Lily and Cillian.

I absolutely loved the characters as well. Each one is unique and flawed while also adding to the story in their own way. There are bad characters and good ones and even figuring out which one is the true villain is a challenge.
The atmospheric setting really sets the story too. Seriously, this is amazing writing, dropping me right into the story and keeping me interested, even when it feels like nothing is happening. Yeah, it are those moments when I would think "wow, this book is taking me a long time to read" but I never once wanted to stop reading it-- take a break maybe, but not stop forever. I ended up loving this book so much!

Now, the mystery... hmmm. I liked it throughout. I think it was slowly revealed fantastically. But, the antagonist... it was hard to full believe for me. The reasoning, I guess makes sense for who they are, but I don't know about for all the things that happened in the present. Truly, this is the only part I wasn't too thrilled on.

Do I recommend this? Yes. This is for people who don't need action or adventure. The story can be a slow-burn, so isn't for everyone, but if you want an atmospheric mystery which connects three different generations: this is the book for you :)

I've read most (or all?) of Andersen's Boleyn books and find her to be quite imaginative, and this book was no exception. It has a very, very strong gothic atmosphere in both time periods and was a much more approachable novel than older books of the genre. The plot between the two periods was very well woven. I could easily have given this 4 stars except I found the resolution too abrupt - as well as the romance. Just like Next Year in Havana that I just read, I found the modern romance to happen wayyyyyyy too quickly (we're talking days), and it was just unnecessary to the plot. I feel like women writing books about women (and presumably for women, if we're honest) think they have to add romance to make it enjoyable. Personally, I thought it took away from Carragh's interesting backstory and personal journey by turning her into a romantic heroine. Or maybe I'm being unfair and that's just a nod to all the old gothic novels.

But yes, aside from the conveniently-ever-after (another personal pet peeve) and the unnecessary romance, this was a wonderfully atmospheric and engrossing book and I'd definitely recommend it.

A castle, a family with complex dynamics, a touch of romance, some mystery - MAYBE a ghost or three....

Deeprath Castle is family castle of the Gallagher family and has been for the last 700 years. Aidan Gallagher comes back to the castle, reluctantly, to sell the castle and rid himself of the pain of his parents murder. In comes a young detective who want to get down to the facts about the murder.

This reminded me of Kate Morton. Storylines connect and weave in and out. It's a fabulous read for people who enjoy family dramas and historical fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The past catches up to the present, and odd clues in the house soon have Carragh wondering if there are unseen forces stalking the Gallagher family. As secrets emerge from the shadows and Carragh gets closer to answers—and to Aidan—could she be the Darkling Bride’s next victim?

A seven hundred year old family castle is home to intrigue, mystery, deceit and death. Three generations of one family will be forever lashed together in history when dark secrets are revealed and wicked machinations in the name of “family” expose what the human mind is capable of.
Carragh has been hired to catalog an ancient family library, but what she unwittingly discovers will forever change both the past and the future of the Gallagher family.

THE DARKLING BRIDE by Laura Andersen marries mystery and murder together with an atmosphere that brings the smell of old books and the grit of untold secrets to life. Gothic in its feel, dark and tense, Ms. Andersen delivers a fabulous mystery set in the haunting backdrop of an ancient castle in the Ireland. Perfect reading for a dark and stormy night! Proof that if the walls could talk, secrets will be told.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine!

Publisher: Ballantine Books (March 6, 2018)
Publication Date: March 6, 2018
Genre: Mystery | Thriller | Historical
Print Length: 369 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

3 moody Gothic stars

Once upon a time, many of us would have loved to live in an Irish castle with its ghosts, secret rooms, hidden passages, and a very long history. For the Gallagher family tracing back hundreds of years that was their life. They had lived in a castle, they had experienced its tragedies, they had and were becoming a part of its history. Many things had transpired over those years and if the walls of the castle Deeprath, oh, the stories they would tell.

Now, the castle is being turned over to the public trust and so an accounting must be made of it many holdings especially those contained within its enormous library. Carragh Ryan is hired to do the job. She meets the family, the handsome dashing current Viscount Aidan, his severe Aunt Nessa, his sister and brother in law. All of them are always at odds with one another and Carragh seems to be headed for some unforeseeable trouble.

For Aidan and his sister, Deeprath castle was a place of tragedy, a place where their parents brutally died, perhaps even killed by the ghost of the Darkling Bride who seems to be both a legend and possibly a reality. Tragically another woman, Jenny Gallagher also lost her life at Deeprath many years prior to the Aidan's parents and she too seemed to fall under the influence of the Darkling Bride. So the mystery of why and how these people died is the basis of this novel.

This story is atmospherically told, having many moments of mystery intertwined into the history of the castle. However, at times, the story seemed to meander a bit and be a bit too murky and long winded. In spite of that, it was a fun read for those who enjoy a mysterious castle, a family with secrets, and an historical look into the past.

Thanks you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this novel.

The past catches up to the present, and odd clues in the house soon have Carragh wondering if there are unseen forces stalking the Gallagher family. As secrets emerge from the shadows and Carragh gets closer to answers—and to Aidan—could she be the Darkling Bride’s next victim?

Love the premise! Historical fiction mixed with a spooky, gothic feel. I think fans of classic gothic stories will enjoy!

The Darkling Brife is a gothic ghost story that spans several hundred years, all in a mysterious castle hidden in the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland. Deeprath Castle has been in the Gallagher family for over seven hundred years, and is now being given up to a public trust. The family has brought in a young woman to catalogue their extravagant family library.

From the beginning this pulled me into the mystery of the castle and into the secretive families world. The rumors have always circulated about the castle and its happenings over the course of history, but when Carragh Ryan start her cataloguing, she learns she is in for more than she bargained for. The letters found hold secrets from long ago, but those secrets also play into the current things going on and make for one suspenseful and creepy tale of love and tragedy.

Aiden, who is one the last of the Gallagher family, has wanted nothing to do with the place, and has relunctly agreed to help Carragh. There is a connection between them, which I enjoyed, but the mystery of this castle alone was enthralling. I think it in itself was a character, the things it witnessed, the mysterious Darkling Bride herself, the secrets and truths it held was so fascinating. Anderson definitely wove a ghostly mystery set in a beautifully gothic and perfect setting. This is one author I will certainly be on the lookout for more from.

I really LOVE this book! I love gothic novels and this one did not disappoint. The author moves around through several time periods and at the end of one chapter you really want to know what will happen next and boom you are in a different time period next chapter. This drives me a little crazy, however, it keeps you reading. Even though that bugs me, most of my favorite authors do that and I have become accustomed to the practice. At the heart, there is a murder mystery that spans decades and draws together people who have connected pasts. I enjoyed the changes that Carragh and Aidan went through together and apart while staying at Deeprath Castle in the Wicklow mountains of Ireland. It keeps you guessing by throwing many choices at you to solve the murder. I loved Laura's voice in this book and will be looking for more books that she has written or will write in the future.