“It was said that Castle Moreau was a place that consumed the vulnerable.”

Every single time I pick up a book by Jaime Jo Wright, I am useless for anything else until I’ve finished it. Her writing style, her plot crafting, her characters … all of it just wraps me fully up in the story and refuses to let go. Kinda like Castle Moreau’s reputation, come to think of it.

“Women have been known to visit Castle Moreau…They do not return.”

Yep. That about sums up my experience reading the story, too. But in a less creepy sense lol. I went in and I didn’t come out… at least not until I’d savored the last word.

There are actually 3 timelines at play in The Vanishing at Castle Moreau – 1801, 1870, and present day – and they all fit seamlessly together while telling a deliciously gothic story of missing women, eccentric characters, and a mysterious Wisconsin castle. I loved the parallels between the 1870 timeline and the present day, particularly when it comes to the three main players in each era – the peculiar grandmother, the dashing grandson, and the new young assistant who is running from her own horrors.

Daisy (1870) and Cleo (present day) each hope that Castle Moreau will be the refuge they are seeking, the place where their secrets will be harbored and their monsters won’t find them. And while the castle does provide a surface-level haven from their most immediate concerns, it also raises more questions than it answers and tangles their secrets in with its own until it’s almost impossible to separate them. Ora (1870) and Virgie (present day) are unique grandmothers, to be sure. One is infamous for her gothic horror novels (and the personality to match), the other infamous in surname only but inexplicably bound to this castle. A castle she has filled to the brim with her hoarded ‘treasures’. And then there are the grandsons – Lincoln (1870) and Deacon (present day) who have battled their own demons and now must help Daisy and Cleo, respectively, vanquish theirs.

These characters – and Castle Moreau, too – are so wonderfully complex, and I was hanging on every word as Wright masterfully unpacks their layers, taking that knotted tangle of secrets and weaving it into a beautiful tapestry. A work of art in the form of a cloaked woman with a crooked hand – the one common character that unites all three timelines more than any of their other similarities. I have to admit that this Phantom Woman had me stumped for the majority of the book. One thing I know – and love – about Jaime Jo Wright’s books is how she incorporates the paranormal without compromising the truth of God’s Word. Everything in her stories that seems unexplainable will always eventually have an explanation. And yet… the same character spanning over 200 years?? What other explanation could there be? Needless to say, I could not wait to see where Wright took this plot thread, and I. loved. every. minute of it.

Bottom Line: The Vanishing at Castle Moreau is another deliciously atmospheric masterpiece from Jaime Jo Wright – in fact, I think it’s her best yet. (I have a sneaking suspicion that I say about that each one but it’s always true!) Three timelines, bumps in the night, doorknobs rattling, mysterious screams, women missing, a gothic horror novelist, a hoarding grandmother … and a phantom woman with a crooked hand that ties them all together. Wright takes all of these elements – along with expertly layered characters – and not only crafts a story that will keep you spellbound but also carefully explores the depths of grief, fear, and love while pointing readers to the One who is truly a Refuge. My words don’t do it justice – put this on your must-read list without delay!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

I REALLY enjoyed Jaime's last book. It was just the right amount of spook, horror, christianity and romance.

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau is a tale of ominous castles, mystery, family legacy, self worth and second chances.

I think Jaime has a talent for keeping her readers engaged with characters that have heartfelt emotion while also weaving them around darker themes that will have you at the edge of your seat. There are multiple time lines and two POVs. I always tend to lean more into the past so I enjoyed Daisy's timeline best but each woman has her own journey to unlocking the mysteries and rumors surrounding the castle.

While this is a gothic tale this also has themes of starting over, not living in the past, and reaching out to those in need. If I have any critiques it would simply be that I wanted MORE ROMANCE. I just loved Lincoln and Daisy so much that I need novella from all that unlocked potential together.

All in all I love Jaimes book and can't wait to see what spooky redemption story she will write next.

Jaime Jo Wright does it again! I've read several of her books now, and this one felt the heaviest to me topic-wise. This is a story that is going to stick with me for a long time.

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau is a dual timeline gothic fiction novel with a third timeline added through letters. The timelines were very distinct and I had no issues following the various plot threads!

In the present time, Cleo is hired by the grandson of an aristocratic family to assist an elderly woman with facing her hoarding and organizing Castle Moreau. In 1865, Daisy takes a position as a maid at Castle Moreau and her employer is a reclusive woman who writes harrowing tales that would scare even Edgar Allen Poe. In both timelines, rumors of a curse that leads women to go missing looms, and the eerie atmosphere at the dilapidated Wisconsin mansion do nothing to assuage the new residents' fears.

One thing I really love about Jaime's writing is that you get all the great elements of gothic fiction - creepy setting, atmospheric writing, great mood - but you also get a solid explanation for what's happening. There is no lazy "the ghost did it" like you see in Hollywood films. The plot is carefully unraveled to not show the reader too much too soon, and the mystery is at the forefront of the story.

There is also romance in both timelines, which I really enjoyed! It is slow burn but fit very well in the overarching plot. I love romance, but, as with most gothic fiction, it is not in the forefront of this story.

I tried to guess throughout the book what the ending was going to be, and I did predict certain twists by picking up on Jaime's breadcrumbs but other elements of the ending took me completely by surprise. I really enjoyed reading this, and I look forward to reading anything and everything that Jaime writes.

CW: domestic abuse, alcoholism

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright, published by Bethany House Publishers
This was a great read, the story is told present day by Cleo who answers an add for help at Castle Moreau. And in the past by Daisy who has also sought employment at Castle Moreau. There is a third recap that is added periodically throughout the novel from the 1800's that adds some history to the Castle and rhe women who have disappeared
The secrets of Castle Moreau slowly get uncovered as we read through these two characters experiences.
I loved this book, would definitely read more from this author. I loved how the story was written and characters introduced. Was a novel I didn't want to put down.

This book kept me glued to it all afternoon. I wasn’t even aware of time passing and read it in one day! Incredibly atmospheric and creepy. The author definitely knows how to set up the story and keep your attention the whole way through. You keep reading and won’t want to miss a single word.
There are several time frames here, they have similar stories,the women, but yet different.
The women live in Castle Moreau. There are dreadful rumors, mysterious events that they must try to figure out. They feel as though they are losing their sanity as they start to doubt themselves and what they know. What secrets will be uncovered within the dust and despair of Castle Monteau? I was totally captivated and could not put this down.

Pub Date: 4 Apr 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I just have to say this book is skillfully written and equally gothic, dark and unbelievable. It really tested my imagination and the characters are superbly presented. It has dual timelines from past to present but is easy to follow. It had me tantalized and I couldn't read it fast enough. The settings of the castle are so eerily described that I had chills on my arms. One of my favourite read's this year.

Jaime Jo Wright is known for her gothically-good split time novels in which nothing is really as it seems. She has exceeded my expectations with The Vanishing at Castle Moreau. A crumbling castle in rural Wisconsin is the setting for two storylines featuring the famous or infamous Moreau-Tremblay family. Women have gone missing for over a century and the inhabitants of the castle as well as the castle itself is blamed. The unfolding of the mystery takes place in both the historical and modern-day narratives. The two main characters, Daisy and Cleo, have shadowy pasts of their own, and I loved how Wright mixed their own personal horrors with those of the castle. It really is a twisty tale that kept me guessing and turning the pages as fast as I could. I usually favor one storyline over another in a split time novel, but in The Vanishing at Castle Moreau, I was equally engaged. I was cheering both heroines on in their quest to discover the truth and to find healing from the injustices done to them. While somewhat of a ghastly ghost story, this novel is filled with beauty and hope. The only negative I have with the book is its lack of epilogue. I really, really, really wanted to know the rest of the story for Cleo and Deacon. The novel is not a romance, but I wanted it to be. 😉 It’s probably best for me to imagine my rest of the story. There are some deep themes and issues addressed in the novel making it a perfect choice for a book club selection. So grab some friends and start the discussion.

Very Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: adults.

In this spectacular dual timeline novel, Jaime Jo Wright whisks you away with a spooky and thrilling novel that is most enjoyable. A castle in the middle of Wisconsin is at the forefront of this book, where women tend to vanish. The mood is very atmospheric with a late 1800’s eccentric gothic author and a young girl on the run. Present day Cleo is also affected by her own circumstances and takes a job at the castle on a whim. As the rumors fly about missing women, the story backtracks with the previous timeline that is seamlessly presented and gets us the thrilling conclusion that definitely took me by surprise. I devoured the novel the novel, trying hard to savor it, but I had a hard time putting it down. The author has definitely kept me quite entertained over the years!
I have read everything Ms. Wright has published and my favorite title is her Christy award winning, The House on Foster Hill. She has won numerous awards for her writing and I can highly recommend any of her novels!
I obtained an electronic copy of this book from a Net Galley and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

This may be one of my favorite books I’ve read this year.
A suspenseful mystery, working its way through different eras and characters. It was everything I wanted it to be. I will say though, it was hard to set down.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a spooky tale mixed with a gothic-esque setting and romance.

I binged it in less than 24 hours!!

The castle Moreau has been built in the early eighteen hundreds and the talk about women vanishing in there started roughly at the same time. This is a story with two parallel timelines and both heroines, Daisy in 1870 and Cleo in the present day, are curious and eager to solve the mystery. They are both suspicious and a little scared but at the same time drawn to the castle which despite its curse provides refuge from their own demons.

This is a compelling gothic novel with a unique storyline, fascinating mystery and a hint of a romance. There are some plot holes here and there, maybe some slightly weird or unrealistic details but I couldn’t put it down nevertheless. The ending was unexpected and more satisfying than I thought possible.

If mysteries of old castles are your thing don’t hesitate to pick it up!

Thank you NetGalley and Bethany House for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars (rounded up to 5 stars on here)

Thank you NetGalley and Bethany House for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
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This is my first book by Wright and it will definitely not be the last! This is such a captivating and suspenseful novel that takes the reader on a journey through time and the disappearance of multiple women at Castle Moreau. Write does such a wonderful job with her writing at capturing the historical elements and she does a great job with the character development throughout the book! You are just drawn into their lives and their struggles. The mystery at the heart of the novel is compelling, well-paced, and the supernatural elements add an extra layer of intrigue and suspense.

Overall, this book is so well written and enjoyable. If you are someone who enjoys suspense and supernatural aspects of books, this is one that you will definitely want to check out!
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This review will be posted to my Instagram blog (read_betweenthecovers) in the near future!

Women have been vanishing at Castle Moreau for over one hundred fifty years, never to be seen or heard from again. Obviously the same person could not be responsible for them all. Was it a generational curse that led to the Moreau-Tremblay family's involvement in these disappearances or was someone or something else lurking in the hidden passages of Castle Moreau?

As always Jaime Jo Wright takes us through a haunting tale, one that makes the hairs rise on the back of our necks, one that leads us near the supernatural, and ends at the foot of the throne of God. The Vanishing at Castle Moreau may not lead quite as far down that supernatural path as some of Wright's past books, but it does have its fair share of spookiness, and it does leave us with a significant message of God's strength to conquer fear and evil, and His desire to use us to care for one another.

I highly recommend this book as well as any among Wrights' oeuvre. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Vanishing at Castle Moreau from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Wright has the skill of scaring us with apparitions and creepy mysteries and then making it, in the end, all more real than we could have ever imagined. In the process of doing so in this novel, we explore fear, safety, abuse, secrets, and more.

I have read all of Wright's novels and I think this is the most complex one yet. There are actually three time periods, 1801, 1871, and present day. Two of them, 1871 and present day, are similar with an old woman, a young girl or woman and a man of the castle, so to speak. I kept a note by me while reading to keep the three time periods separate and understandable. It was interesting that the 1801 section had a first person point of view while the other two were third person.

One aspect of Wright's usual plot construction I felt was not as clear this time was the correlation in plot development between what was discovered in the present day and what was revealed in the historical parts. Nonetheless, I was intrigued with the book, wondering how Wright was going to make everything reasonable in the end. I am fascinated with Wright's imaginative writing and will be eagerly waiting for the next novel.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau is a Gothic novel told in three timelines. In present day, Cleo Clemmons agrees to do a big job for cash payment because she is on the run. She goes to Castle Moreau, an American castle in Wisconsin, to help a celebrity's grandmother declutter the items she has hoarded for many years. In 1870 Daisy Francois goes to work at Castle Moreau, but becomes concerned about all the rumors of women disappearing from the castle. There are also flashbacks to 1801 when a young girl is living a rather frightening life at the castle, haunted by a woman with a crooked hand.

I wanted to read this novel because I love the Gothic tradition of novels like Jane Eyre and Rebecca. I enjoy historical fiction and don't encounter a lot of new Gothic historical novels, so I was curious!

The author, Jaime Jo Wright, did a wonderful job with the atmospheric setting and mystery elements of this novel. This evocative description is a good example of the storytelling in this book:

"The castle cast its hypnotic pull over any passerby who happened along to find it, tucked deep in the woods in a place where no one would build a castle, let alone live in one. It served no purpose there. No strategy of war, no boast of wealth, no respite for a tired soul. Instead, it simply existed. Tugging. Coercing. Entrapping. Its two turrets mimicked bookends, and if removed, one would fear the entire castle would collapse like a row of standing volumes. Windows covered the façade above a stone archway, which drew her eyes to the heavy wooden door with its iron hinges, the bushes along the foundation, and the stone steps leading to the mouth of the edifice. Beyond it was a small orchard of apple trees, their tiny pink blossoms serving as a delicate backdrop for the magnificent property" (eBook location 38).

I found the present day storyline of Cleo, with the added mystery of why she was on the run, the most compelling in the book. She is cautious to make connections, but surprisingly finds herself drawn to Deacon, the grandson of the older woman she is helping. Deacon was one of my favorite characters in the novel.

The story takes several twists and turns, and I enjoyed the meandering road to the answer to the mystery of Castle Moreau. I recommend this unique and intriguing novel for fans of historical fiction, and especially for anyone who enjoys Gothic fiction.

“…fear was, and would always be, her closest companion.”

“Welcome to the Hotel California!You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave!” (The Eagles) I heard that song playing over and over in my mind as I read Jaime Jo Wright’s newest Gothic suspense book, The Vanishing at Castle Moreau. What an incredible book! I laughed a lot at Wright’s wicked sense of humor. I was tempted to count the numerous references she inserted to pop culture and literature. (A challenge?) A dual-timeline, the two, possibly three stories tied together well, contrasting and paralleling each other. 2 different young women, in different centuries, answer the call for caretaker to an elderly grandmother who is sequestered in Castle Moreau. For both, it is an escape. But soon, both Daisy and Cleo find there is no escaping the hold of Castle Moreau. Spooky, haunting, yet filled with rays of Hope from faith breaking through, Wright eventually brings her novel to a satisfying non-paranormal conclusion. You don’t want to miss this suspenseful novel with its amazing conclusion from Jaime Jo Wright and Bethany House.

I received a copy of the book from NetGalley. I also bought my own ecopy and pb copy for my keeper shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Are you mad? Will you become what you hate?”

“Beauty is found in walls of stone, beauty where love begins.”

“…the castle called with an addictive element. Beckoning. It reached into the deep places in one’s soul and began to expose them for what they were. Broken pieces. Pieces only God could heal, and only others could help rescue if they simply had kindness in their hearts.”

The simple truth was that genetics ran deep, generations didn’t escape the curses of those who came before, and sins were likely destined to repeat themselves.

Protect. Save. Run. Her mantra in life.

“…fear was, and would always be, her closest companion.”

“It is in the dark corners, in the places we avert our eyes from, where truth lingers. Truth is not palatable. In fact, most cannot manage the truth.”

Jaime Jo Wright is truly in a category all of her own. There is simply no one that I am aware of within the Christian fiction genre that tells stories quite like she does. Each time I pick up one of her books the only thing I expect... is the unexpected. Nothing is ever quite what it seems on the surface. It is difficult not to get drawn into this world of mystery and yes, creepiness. I'm not usually one that goes for a horror story, yet Jaime Jo Wright does it beautifully while keeping with great Christian messages.

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau is a dual-timeline novel that follows the lives of two women as they find themselves living in this mysterious castle with many legends and rumors surrounding it. Rumors of women going missing. Set in both the 1800s and the current day, both stories managed to draw me in and keep me captivated. Their stories mirrored each other in many ways so there were some moments where I had to wrap my mind around what was happening where, but overall, I found it very easy to follow. This book had everything I have come to expect from Jaime Jo Wright- mysteries, unexpected twists, and a strong faith message... and there was even a touch of romance too! I couldn't get enough.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau is an absorbing mystery that sucked me in from the first page. It follows two main timelines: Daisy François in 1870, and Cleo Clemmons in the present day. Both women are running from a troubled past, and both find refuge in their new employment at Castle Moreau… even with the dark rumors that abound about missing girls. The third timeline, in 1801, follows “The Girl,” a six-year-old whose mother is on her deathbed. At night, the girl often sees a woman with a crooked hand that no one else sees. A ghost? A figment of a young imagination? Her chapters are brief interludes between the two main narratives, but they build up the spooky atmosphere.

Between Daisy and Cleo’s timelines, the parallels are obvious. Both are newly employed at the Castle Moreau, working for a grandmother and grandson. Both have a murky history as victims of domestic abuse, and as scary as this castle is, it may be the best place for them to rebuild their own lives. And despite the rumor surrounding the Moreau-Tremblay family, both grandsons could prove to be good matches for the leading ladies.

Jaime Jo Wright does a wonderful job of building up the gothic aura throughout the book. Like Ora Moreau in the 1800s, with her tales of gothic horror, The Vanishing at Castle Moreau is suspenseful, spooky, and full of mystery. As the two timelines progress, the questions start to pile up. What happened to Hester May in 1870? And all the girls before her who went missing? Is Elsie safe? Then there was Anne Joplin in 1981: What happened to her all those years ago? Why is Cleo getting strange messages about that decades-old cold case? What are the Moreau-Tremblays hiding? Daisy and Cleo’s stories start to weave together, but it’s hard to determine how, separated by 150 years, both women are facing such similar mysteries about the same unsettling castle.

Cleo and Daisy both come from broken families and domestic abuse, yet their characters are quite different. While Daisy is naive, helpful, and curious, Cleo is secretive, prone to running, and barely holding herself together. Cleo is also an alcoholic, which adds a new and thoughtful layer to her chapters.

A bit of romance is always a welcome addition to any mystery, and The Vanishing at Castle Moreau shows both Cleo and Daisy finding love in a hopeless place. Cleo and Deaclan’s romance is particularly satisfying, with a natural build-up in their emotional connection and commitment to each other. Daisy and Lincoln have a lot of potential, too, but could have used more development; I’d like to have seen more scenes between them to make their tentative love story more believable.

One thing that made me smile as I read this novel, and particularly in Daisy’s conversations with Lincoln, were the numerous mentions of classic authors and literary works. The Brontës, Mary Shelley, and Edgar Allan Poe all come up several times, especially Jane Eyre and Frankenstein. Daisy has good taste in literature, even if she is too afraid to read Ora Moreau’s books! Cleo’s long-haired cat Murphy is another highlight here.

Most of the main characters in The Vanishing at Castle Moreau talk openly about being Christian, believing in God, and the significance of Bible verses and Scripture. As an atheist, I didn’t relate to these parts, but they also didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the novel. In my interpretation, faith isn’t central to the main plots, even if it is important to the characters.

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau has one subtle yet notable issue, which may have already been revised for the final version. In my advanced readers copy, I noticed that the math doesn’t add up in the family tree timeline. There is no way Virgie (probably born around 1940 or so) is the granddaughter of Ora (born in the 1790s). This would make her around the same age as Lincoln in 1870. At least two generations are missing in there! That said, I wouldn’t mind seeing a family tree for the Moreau-Tremblays.

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau is an atmospheric and unsettling novel, and the mystery and frequent cliffhangers make it a true page-turner. It brings up difficult themes—including domestic abuse, alcoholism, and generational trauma—but they’re dealt with delicately and, ultimately, from a place of strength. This powerful novel, of how stories can cloud the truth or be a salvation during difficult times, is a historical mystery worth reading this spring.

Right off the bat, the first chapter of this story is spooky. The Gothic nature of this book has a haunting vibe to it, with the classic element of spirits and mysteries. I had goosebumps while reading many of these chapters, but I am thankful that it never got into any very scary or occult territory. It was always tastefully done for me! The consistency of the spookiness and mystery throughout the novel kept me on my toes.

As for the romance, it was present in both Cleo's and Daisy's timelines. I wish both relationships would have been more developed, but I really enjoyed that they were clean and rooted in embracing each other's trials to walk through them together. No relationship is perfect, but two people willing to walk through the hard valleys with another without judgement is a beautiful thing to write about and normalize.

The ending, while slightly rushed, was satisfying and even brought tears to my eyes. I loved the warm and inspirational feelings some of the quotes gave me. It was twisty towards the end like a thriller ending and I did not expect that from the book. I was pleasantly surprised at how it all wrapped together. This book may be for you if you like:

Spooky Gothic settings
Dual timelines/POVs
Clean romances
Inspirational themes

Over all, this was a solid four star read for me. Jaime Jo Wright never fails to bring a book come to life with intrigue, suspense, AND Christian themes!

I love a good Gothic Fiction story. This story takes place in duel timelines, along with The Girl. This was a page turner and had so many creepy suspenseful elements to it - like the woman with the crooked hand. The ending was unexpected and so beautiful done. I wished it would have been a spookier ending 👻
If you haven’t tried one of Jaime’s books, I would highly recommending picking one up.

I cannot get enough Jaime Jo Wright books. As soon as I finish one, I wait impatiently anticipating and wondering what terrifying story she’ll come up with next. But these aren’t just scary stories. She always adds the message of faith in Christ and how He sees us as we are and loves us anyway.

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau’s description tells you everything you need to know about the plot since adding anything would spoil the book for you! I had to make myself quit reading because I didn’t want to be done with it too quickly! The dual-time element makes it really hard to stop reading. Wright knows how to keep you hanging and eager for more!

I absolutely loved the wide variety of characters. Some are quirky, others are timid and some are not what they seem. And they all have flaws and fears. Though their flaws and fears may not be ones we’ve ever faced, we can see ourselves in them, and if we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll admit we’re messed up people who need a Savior.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical, scary, inspirational fiction with amazing characters. I can’t wait for Wright’s next book!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.