This was my first experience reading a book by Abigail Wilson and I think I found a new favorite author! I could not put it down! I throughly enjoyed this book! I loved that it was a romance wrapped up in a mystery. It was compelling and sweet all in one. Charity Halliwell, a young women who has given up on love and marriage is trying desperately to escape a horror she experienced. So she returns to her childhood town to visit with family friends, and former love interest, for a year before she looks for a job as a governess. Piers Cavanagh faced deep humiliation five years prior, shortly after the woman he thought he loved, Charity, left abruptly. He returns to his childhood home, only to find her living there and that his rambunctious sister has disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Working together to discover where the sister could have gone, Piers and Charitiy rediscover their love for each other.

I LOVED this book! The story was incredibly clever and weaved in a way that kept me flipping pages past bedtime. The author created a great sense of creepy atmosphere and suspense. There were several twists and I was not able to anticipate the ending. It is heavy on the mystery and intrigue but the romance thread was strong and satisfying. The characters were very likable and relatable. Well done! If you are looking for a gothic romance, I highly recommend this book.

Earlier this year I found this author and instantly was hooked on her books. She mixes Regency with a gothic type mystery and a little romance as well. So, needless to say, I was super excited to read her newest novel.
This story, for me, started a bit slower, probably because through half of the book there isn’t a murder to solve but a disappearance. The second half of the book, especially closer to the end, had me entirely entranced in the mystery, though.
Charity is going to stay for a year at Loxby Manor, the home of her childhood friends and first love. Her arrival isn’t exactly what she expected and the first night there, her friend disappears. To make matters worse, Piers, the man who she loved but wrote her off 5 years ago, decided to return home as well. However, things aren’t quite as they appear, and everyone seems to have a secret or two they are hiding.
Definitely an entertaining read just expect for it to be a bit slower...in the romance, the mystery, and action but it does pick up as the story progresses.

I have never read an Abigail Wilson story...but now I will read all her writing! This story grasped me in the first paragraph. Charity's character is in pain, but she is still the strong girl she was in her childhood. Piers is just so honorable, living in scandal. I never write a review by spoiling the story and this story has so many twists and turns. Every character is interesting and I started suspecting each one in the nefarious activities near Loxby Manor.

This story is so well written that I couldn't put it down. It reminded me a bit of Miss Du Maurier's Rebecca...love, murder, lies, blackmail. Simply a spectacular tale that kept me guessing right till the end! I received a complimentary copy of this story by net galley, in exchange for an honest review. I honestly love this story.

Completely superfluous!
At first, I was a little skeptical as to the contents of the book, but after reading it, suffice to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. At first, it seemed a little slow and I barely wait to find out the action but by the time I got to the end of the first chapter, I had to know how the book ended.

The Vanishing at Loxby Manor definitely took me by surprise. Every bit of it seemed well thought out and a great lover of adventure would love this book. I long to read more from this author.

It begins with a vanishing. Author Abigail Wilson skillfully weaves a mystery of twists and turns that had me guessing until the very end. Both the hero and heroine carry scars of their past, afraid of what it means for their future and I love the delicate way their love conquers their fears. I enjoyed the pacing of this mystery and the lovely way Ms. Wilson develops the characters who uniquely enhance the plot making her a go-to favorite. It's the perfect combination of mystery, history, and the power of living in the beauty of new beginnings.

The plot was fairly suspenseful, but some of the dialogue felt jarringly modern. For that reason I found it difficult to believe in the characters, and it ended up being more the kind of book I would skim rather than savor.

I recieved a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
An absorbing novel, that hooks the reader from the first page, when the main female character has damaged her ankle. I like the way it moves on fast, and the characters being introduced effortlessly. I would recommend this book.

If Gothic novels are your thing, Abigail Wilson's new book, The Vanishing at Loxby Manor, is a perfect read. Charity Halliwell comes home after several years abroad to spend a year at the home of family friends. As she is just settling in, scandal for the daughter of her host errupts. Her friend Seline disappears, but the family can't decide if she's simply run off with the groom or if she's in danger. Charity is convinced there is trouble, and works with Piers, Seline's brother, to figure out where Seline has gone, and if she is in trouble. Unfortunately, every clue leads them further into secrets that someone is willing to go to great lengths to protect.

I loved this book! I enjoyed the romance aspect as well as the gothic mystery. It kept me reading past my bedtime several days in a row, to find out what would happen next.

I have enjoyed all of Abigail Wilson's books—and Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey became an instant favorite earlier this year—so I couldn't wait to get my hands on her next book. True to form, The Vanishing at Loxby Manor was wonderfully atmospheric with a mystery that kept me guessing and a swoony flair of gothic romance. There's a thread of past tragedy woven throughout the story that was poignant and touching...I appreciated how delicately and skillfully the author handled the topic. And of course, the romance was my favorite part!

Five years ago, Charity Halliwell left behind Loxby Manor, England, and her heart. Now she is back, no longer the young, innocent dreamer of the past. Plagued by a devastating secret, she hopes to find restoration. However, the years have changed more than just Charity. Darkness and danger lurk from every corner of the once dear place.

When her best friend, Seline, vanishes on the night of Charity’s arrival, she embarks on a search for the truth. Her only ally will be Seline’s brother, the man who broke her heart and society has cast out and labeled a coward. They, together, will be forced to confront the past if they hope to attain a future.

Abigail Wilson delivers another riveting tale of love and intrigue that has the reader’s heart melting and pounding simultaneously. The Vanishing at Loxby Manor carries its audience back to the early eighteen hundreds with gothic vibes, sprawling ruins, and duels.

I enjoyed watching Charity and Piers navigate the murky waters of rediscovering friendship and love. Mirroring reality, they often found it easier to forgive other’s shortcomings and flaws before their own.

I was so sure I knew the identity and motives of the culprit that I made a rookie, mystery-reader mistake. I twisted facts to fit my theory rather than let them shape it. Even when I questioned things about the real perpetrator, I not once suspected him/her, holding fast to my theory. Alas, it blinded me to the truth until he/she literally stepped out into the open.

If you enjoy second-chance romances and Regency novels with a gothic twist, then I recommend you pick up a copy of The Vanishing at Loxby Manor. While you are at it, if you haven’t yet, grab Wilson’s other books as well.

Potential triggers: Murder does occur, though off the page and not described in gruesome detail. The novel also deals with assault (again mostly off the page) and its effects on the victim.

'The Vanishing at Loxby Manor' is a story where nothing is as it seems as Charity Halliwell return to England after a 5 year stay with her parents in Ceylon. She goes to Loxby Manor, the home of her dear friends and former sweetheart. There are dark overtones running through the entire book, and I was taken in many different directions until the surprising conclusion. There is sweet romance and difficult secrets intertwined with family and political intrigue. This is my first book by Abigail Wilson but I will be looking for more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

My goodness this book was a ride. It started a bit slower than I liked, but once it took off it kept going. It was fraught with mystery and you almost miss the gradual romance. This story is a twisted web that takes time to unravel. Charity finds herself back in her familiar neighborhood after five years. She returns to visit her friends and former love, but everything has changed. What she comes back to is unfamiliar and draws her in. When her friend disappears, the clues don't ring true and it is up to her and her former beaux, Piers to sort what is real and what is a false trail. Even more important, why is this all happening. In the meantime scandal needs to be avoided.

Charity is a bright, perceptive heroine who is able to see through the tangled web in front of her and seeks to find the truth about her friends' disappearance.

Piers is a man of honor who is looking to protect his family.

These two are wonderfully flawed characters that bring this story to life. They mystery is robust and worthy of a read.

I received a complementary copy of this ebook and this is my honest review.

#netgalley #thevanishingatloxbymanor

Oh my goodness i love Abigail Wilsons books so much! This one did not disappoint! The romance, the suspence, the intrigue and the mystery all wove together to make this an incredible read!

The vanishing at Loxby Manor is definitely one of the best book of the year ! I enjoyed every page and read way past a decent hour; I was pleasantly surprised to read about complex personal conflicts, a good suspens, and the clever built in of the plot until it unravels. Everything fits into place : the descriptions, the language used, and the compplexity of the story. It is easy to read because it is aboslutely well sequenced. I'm going to read the first book of this great promising author, Abigail, and will recommend it to friends and family.
I received a copy from NetGalley, all opinions are mine.

Written in the first person, Abigail Wilson's "Vanishing at Loxby Manor" is an engrossing gothic Regency romance. After five years abroad in Ceylon, Charity Halliwell returns to Loxby Manor in England for a year-long visit.

In true gothic form, things are not what they seem. An exiled son of the estate and Charity's lost love, returns, leading to complicated feelings between the two. Piers Cavanagh has his own secrets. Indeed, everyone does, and some are quite sinister.

Literary license is taken with the ideals and actions of the "Gormorgon Society". As I'd never heard of it and the known purpose of the group is not completely understood, its members' actions here are compelling. The villain's identity, motivations and actions surprised me. This unpredictability is a good thing! 4+ stars

Wilson's prose is clear and descriptive; the book is clean. Generally I am not a fan of 1st person narration. However, in this instance it works well and enhances the gothic tone of the novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an ARC of this wonderful novel.

The Vanishing at Loxby Manor is a standalone book by AW. It is similar to her other books in the tone, setting and that it is a (slightly gothic) regency-era mystery.

Charity Halliwell comes to stay with the Cavanagh family at Loxby Manor while her parents are in America. She had grown up near Loxby until her family suddenly moved to Ceylon five years earlier. Charity is allowed to stay behind to spend time with the daughter of the house, Seline Cavanagh, however, Seline disappears on Charity’s first night home. As a result of Seline’s disappearance, Piers Cavanagh, Seline’s brother, returns to Loxby Manor after a five year absence to investigate her disappearance.

Charity is reluctant to see him because she has learned a difficult life lesson in Ceylon that has changed her from a carefree independent young woman, into a cautious and suspicious one. She has always loved Piers, and he has loved her, but painful events have caused them both to shield their hearts.

I loved Piers, because, like all AW’s heroes, he is warm, kind, intelligent, protective, and serious. I liked Charity too, but she is tooooo much of a thinker. Her worries are repetitive and there is too much inner dialogue.

I thought the mystery, though not very plausible, was a good one. It stretched out too much because over 70% of the book is conjecture about what could have happened to Seline. Except for two house calls to old friends, the entire action takes place either in Loxby Manor, or on the grounds of an old abbey next door.

I didn’t want to give up on this book, but I kept praying that something exciting would happen, and I wanted to be happy for Piers and Charity, but I couldn’t feel any chemistry between them. They started off tacitly agreeing that neither would ever marry (each for their own personal reasons) and put up a wall between themselves. Suddenly, however, they develop a romantic/love relationship. It was too sudden.

While I liked Piers and Charity, I did not like any of the other characters. I felt that they were unsympathetic, or were not developed enough for me to care about them.

Having written this, I would definitely read more AW books. (I have read them all so far). I think she is a good writer, but this novel lacked something both in plot and characterization.
#TheVanishingatLoxbyManor #NetGalley

I had a hard time rating this book.

As the title and cover suggest, it's a Gothic tale. There's a girl who returns to a grand manor where she was happy in the past, but nothing's the same now. Charity has high expectations when she arrives at Loxby Manor and is thrown for a loop when things turn out differently. In fact, something happens right away that forms the main mystery which keeps growing almost until the end.

Then we have Piers, who's been forced to return to his ancestral home despite his recent years in isolation and a scandal dragging behind him.

There are a lot of mysteries, intrigue, conspiracies, and even a tragedy. As they try to navigate through all this, Charity and Piers grow closer together and realize their feelings for each other.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

4.5 star

Great story very dark gothic. I only dropped half a star as it took me some time to get into it at the begining. The narrative built up gradually and though I thought Charity seemed a bit tentative at the start she manages to grow back into the person she was before her visit to Ceylon. I thought this was a very clever way of showing how one incident can effect a life. Piers was lightly drawn initially but fills out as the story progesses. I had an incliing of who the main protagonist might be, but all the characters were well crafted and I thoroughly recommend this work. This is the second book I've read by the author and I will certainly look out for more. I confess I'm normally one of those readers who sneak a look at the back page but the author has created the story such that there's no advantage to doing so and I suggest you read carefully and enjoy the tension.


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I absolutely love Abigail Wilson’s books and this one is no exception!

We briefly meet Charity Halliwell and Piers Cavanaugh then the story jumps ahead 5 years to when Charity returns the Loxby Manor, home of the Cavanaughs. Seline Cavanaugh disappears the night a Charity arrives and given the mystery surrounding the family and Loxby Manor, Charity knows things aren’t adding up.

The story really gets going when Piers returns home and he and Charity start investigating what happened to Seline and start to reconnect regarding their relationship. This was an engrossing story, with a secret society, whose members include members of both Piers and Charity’s families, with ties to the French being connected to what happened to Seline.

I couldn’t put this book down and I’d happily revisit these characters if this turns into a series.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.