Enjoyable plot, interesting characters, and a deep mystery. A great read for a rainy day. This author has written many books and I am excited to try out others! ( )

A classic Gothic romance, still a good read after all these years. In the 1840's, Perdita Van Dorn is an orphan, the adopted niece of ferryman Jacob Van Dorn. Across the Hudson River is the Red Castle, as huge mansion built a century ago by a slave trader. Legend says that any woman brought to the castle will be shamed. It is now occupied by the original owner's orphaned granddaughters, cousins Isobel and Eugenia, who are both subject to wild mood swings. All three girls are about the same age; Isobel and Perdita grow up as good friends. Eugenia is set to inherit the castle when she marries another cousin, Major Mark Harradine, a hero of the Mexican War. But she flies into a rage and refuses him, and he marries Perdita instead. She loves him unreservedly, but there are dark doings afoot and many secrets to uncover before the happy ending. ( )