Raven Heights Manor by Sharol Louise

Read from February 4th - 14th 2015.

Published December 17th 2014 by Five Star (ME)

Format   Hardcover - 244 pages

Review

What a foreboding place Raven Heights Manor is. The story is set in the late 18th century. Claire Temple is a 15 year old orphan. She comes to live with her uncle, Sir Rudyard at the manor in Cornwall, whom she has never met. Claire is lonely since her parents death nine years previous and has spent that time residing at school. She quickly becomes quite bonded with the housekeeper/Sir Rudyard's second cousin Mrs Dawson, who warns her not to walk on the cliff path, from which a girl, Zillah, recently fell to her death. The manor itself isn't very welcoming and her estranged uncle is not there to greet her as he does go abroad for a month or two at a a time. Claire eventually begins to enjoy the manor, all the rooms and the grounds. As Claire Explores the neighbourhood, she meets the brothers Roman and Vitus who are around her age, who educate her about the smugglers that hide their treasures in caves along the coast. She also befriends Alice, a young sight challenged girl who boards with Miss Bethany Coulter at her inn. Recently deceased Zillah and Alice were very close before Zillah's death. Eventually Alice confides in Claire about a note or a clue that Zillah had left behind which leads Claire to realise she will, indeed, explore the cliff path but at her peril. She soon realises that not all the people she has grown to know and like are all that they seem. Claire is extremely curious about the young woman’s unfortunate fate. She is determined to solve the string of puzzles and learn the secrets buried in Raven Heights. I really liked this book by Sharol Louise. It wasn't at all what I expected from the off. I enjoyed every characters portrayal and liked how the author has used the the whole place for the setting and takes you, the reader around each and every part. I felt like I had been sucked into the 18th century village myself. In my mind throughout the whole book, the scenery was dark, craggy, windy and forboding, just like the illustration on the front cover and I felt that darkness whilst reading it. I didn't find the story predictable at all and think it helped I hadn't read any other reviews before hand. This book is very wordy and descriptive but in an acceptable amount.I found it an easy comfy read which kept me entertained all the way through. A good clean mystery with young characters which isn't too taxing. 4 out of 5 stars given.