THE SLANDERLEY CURSE

In this murder mystery, a man works at a Cornish estate connected to a curse.

When his father and two of his brothers are lost in a fishing accident, Kenal Gundry leaves his simple town for a life in domestic service in Edwardian England. And though his body is strong and his mind sharp, his religious values place him at odds with the decadence of the outside world. Soon, through the intervention of a mysterious stranger, Kenal finds employment in Cornwall at the Slanderley Estate—rumored to be plagued by a dangerous curse. While the tranquil, rolling hills and welcoming family belie these tales of terror, Kenal’s roommate, Mugwatch, is soon found dead on the grounds (“He lay like a fallen puppet, arms and legs oddly bent, his head lying with right ear on right shoulder. Worst of all, his eyes splayed open in astonishment”). As the curse comes to life around Kenal, victims soon pile up, as do secrets and suspects. From the hidden religious meetings of Lady Gladys to an American temptress named Thelma Grubb with an eye for lords and servants alike and a secret stairwell that leads Lord Leo right to his mistress’ cottage, there is no shortage of suspects and motives. As readers struggle to guess who amid the mayhem they can trust, Kenal himself becomes a suspect—leaving the audience to wonder if seeing is really believing. Beautifully written and impeccably researched, Stasz’s prequel will immerse readers in the social and political upheaval of Edwardian England, in which modernity and tradition collide. Against this backdrop, the author presents the story of a young man struggling to find his identity in a world that threatens his innocence and perhaps his sanity. Though frightening circumstances befall many characters in the tale, the book is not graphic. That said, serious adult themes are woven throughout. Tightly written and genuinely suspenseful, the story is certain to captivate fans of both manor fiction and cozy murder mysteries, many of whom will not foresee the villainy that Stasz unveils.

A twisty, gripping mystery that will keep readers guessing.