The Daughters of Foxcote Manor (Wheeler Publishing Large Print Hardcover)

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Sylvie Broom (present day) – is a forty-six year old make-up artist who has recently moved out of the family home after tiring of her husband’s many infidelities. Sylvie is the mother of nineteen year old Annie – a girl who is struggling with the separation of her parents. Fourteen months ago, Rita had never been to London. But she'd dreamed of it longingly, the Rita she might be there, far away from Torquay, everything that had happened. And the metropolitan family-just like the Darlings in Peter Pan-who'd embrace her as their own. They'd live in a tall warm house that didn't have a coin-gobbling electricity meter, like Nan's bungalow did. She'd get a bedroom of her own, with a desk and a shelf, perhaps a view of the churning, thrilling city. And the mother she worked for would be . . . well, perfect. Someone delicate and kind and soft. Cultured. With tiny earlobes and fluttery birdlike hands. Like her own mother, whom Rita hazily remembered. Everything she'd lost in the accident. And that a bit of her kept searching for. The following is an exclusive excerpt from The Daughters of Foxcote Manor , by Eve Chase. The Harrington family has experienced enough sorrow by the time their London mansion catches fire. Relocating to Foxcote Manor in the country seems like a perfect plan to recuperate, but then a baby is found in the woods. And so is a body. I watched Steve decapitate a prawn with his fingers, humming under his breath. His face-the angular dark brows, the childhood BMX scar on his chin-was so familiar it was as if I couldn't see him. "What have I done now?" he said, not looking up at me. Working as a nanny for the wealthy Harrington family, Rita Murphy is anxious about being secluded in England's beautiful yet ominous Forest of Dean for the summer. She should be.

Another sweltering month in Charlotte, another boatload of mysteries past and present for overworked, overstressed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. Forget about solving all these crimes; the signal triumph here is (spoiler) the heroine’s survival.

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I say, "Good-bye," under my breath. I've been moving boxes out of the house into my tiny apartment for the last month, tentatively, while Steve's at work. Now it's done, I feel elated. But my heart aches. I can't shut it as easily as the front door. So many memories remain in that house, stored like sunlight in a jar: Annie's ascending height marks penciled on the bathroom wall; the baby-pink rose we planted to mark the grave of Lettuce, Annie's rabbit; folders of tear sheets, editorial magazine work I did when starting out, well over twenty years ago, happy to be cool rather than properly paid. I've no storage space now. No garden, either. And way too many bills to settle on my own. The forest looks like it'll eat them alive, thinks Rita. The light's gone a weird green and branches are thrashing against the car's windows. She tightens her grip on the steering wheel. The lane narrows further. Wondering if she's missed the turning to the house or if it's around the next corner, she takes a bend too fast, then slams her foot on the brake. Sylvie’s mother has recently suffered a tragic fall and is now comatose in hospital. Extremely close to her mother, this event has put Sylvie’s world in a tailspin. Whilst going through her mother’s things, she discovers an old manila folder labeled “Summer 1971”. Another voice from the past filled out the story, speaking of things that Sylvie didn’t see or know.

I was able to keep faith for most of th In this one, we have the very tall nanny, Big Rita, who is caring for children in a troubled family, first in London and then at the country house. The Harringtons have two children and a third is about to be born. Rita is loving taking the children to London museums and field trips to the Thames, but two tragedies force the family to relocate to the country house, Foxcote Manor. The children -- Hera and Teddy – love tramping around in the forest around Foxcote, but Rita worries something terrible will happen to them out there, and she’s not too fond of forests herself. She does love terrariums however! The characters are very well created and many are very likeable especially Rita and Robbie who Rita meets when she lives at Foxcote in 1971. Robbie is a lovely kind man who helps Rita to heal and cast off a trauma from childhood. Rita is the lynch pin at Foxcote and throughthe book as none of the Harrington family function well without her and nor do her immediate family. The Forest provides a wonderfully atmospheric setting as it is also pivotal to the story which is shown in the clever use of descriptive language that makes it come alive. The Forest is part of the body and soul of Robbie and Sylvie and I find that fascinating. Sylvie's and Annie’s story are also really interesting and I enjoyed how their stories fit well into past events at Foxcote. Underneath” by Anne Goodwin – Book Review #NovNov23 #novella @inspiredquill #Underneath#BookReview November 22, 2023 The house, when they finally reach it, is welcoming — bright and blooming and lovely. Nina seems kind, though she does tell Emily, after installing her in a small, charming guest cottage, “I’d like to make the family house a no-go zone.” How, then, will Emily be able to care for 6-year-old Aurelia, which was to be one of her duties? “Yes, well, we can discuss all of that,” Nina says vaguely.Gothic mystery The Daughters of Foxcote Manorby Eve Chase alternates between the past and the present to tell a story of mothers and daughters that’s as chilling as it is moving.” — PopSugar In the present, Sylvie Broom is making much needed changes in her life. Unfortunately eighteen year old Annie is not exactly pleased with her mum’s choices. Just as she is trying to settle into her new routine, Sylvie is devastated when her mum is seriously injured in an accident. At the same time, changes in Annie’s situation lead to an exploration of their family’s past. After years of avoiding delving into her history, Sylvie finally decides it is time to look into the secrets her mum has been very reluctant to reveal. But is she prepared for the revelations awaiting her? Exploring family dynamics by using alternatingtimelines, Chase captivates readers, especially fans of Kate Morton,with eloquent prose and sympathetic characters.” — Booklist The ending is a little sappy and got me a little teary-eyed. Overall, this was both a dark and heartwarming read. This was my first book by Eve Chase and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future. Gothic mystery The Daughters of Foxcote Manor by Eve Chase alternates between the past and the present to tell a story of mothers and daughters that's as chilling as it is moving."

Note: This book was also published under the title: “ The Glass House”. (In my personal opinion, “The Glass House” title and the cover are a much truer ‘fit’ for this novel – but hey, they didn’t ask me. LOL) I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from the publisher G.P. Putnam’s Sons/ Penguin Random House, at my request, via Edelweiss. This review is my way of saying thanks for a great read. Loyal, kind, and adored by my four children. Brilliant with the baby. Not so good on laundry or cooking. Very nervous driver. Would hire her again in a heartbeat.” I just love Eve Chase’s lyrical writing and evocative sense of place. The Glass Houseis her best yet, a glorious tangle of family secrets, set deep in the woods of Foxcote Manor. A treat - Louise Candlish, author Our House At first there was nothing to indicate what would tie the stories together, but hints and facts were dropped in a way that was quite perfectly judged, until I knew and understood everything. The Daughters of Foxcote Manor is a fascinating mystery/family drama about a foundling, the family who takes her in, and the nanny who knows all of their secrets.The second, less obvious beneficial development came when Rita received a piece of daintily presented cake from the Harrington daughter, the immediately dropped it all over the expensive looking carpet… Big Rita goes to work for the Harrington family one summer in 1970. All I can say is that this is a toxic atmosphere. A family that doesn't bond but has many secrets and the children being psychologically damaged by unhappy adults. On the day of the job interview, three things happened, all of which worked together in favor of Rita landing the job. First, Mrs. Jeannie Harrington read her reference letter aloud as the candidate sat, as demurely as possible, on the soft across from her, the children listening intently to mother’s spoken proclamation: Well, let’s get this bloody awful thing over with, shall we?” Jeannie whispers grimly. Rita nods and grapples with the gearshift. Forcing a smile for the children, Jeannie says in a loud, bright voice, “Well, hello, Foxcote! This is exciting. Come on, Big Rita. Drive in.”

This wonderfully evocative mystery chronicles the relationships among three mothers and their daughters and the secrets they’ve buried.” — Minneapolis Star Tribune I adored The Glass House by Eve Chase. Sublime writing, secrets, lovable characters I didn’t want to leave, and a ripping twisting plot that kept me guessing. An absolute jewel of a book.” Dinah Jeffries author The Missing Sister And there’s a lot of time to be had, the days at Foxcote loose and baggy, bookended between the din of the dawn chorus and the sunset whorl of the bats…” Years later, Sylvie was making plans to leave her husband. They were calling it a trial separation, but she knew that they had drifted apart and that it was time for a permanent change. How Chase ties these two stories together is brilliant. There are so many threads from the past that weave into the present - in ways I hadn't seen coming.Eve Chase is a supremo of this genre….An intricately woven novel of suspense and secrets.’ Red Magazine I have to remain in London, what with the business, so you must make notes on my wife’s state of mind.” Walter smoothed his rapidly retreating hair. “Keep me informed of her moods. Appetite. Quality of mothering. I’ll expect your absolute discretion, of course. My wife mustn’t find out.” Chase parcels out her clues slowly, without a hint of showiness. In the end, ‘The Daughters of Foxcote Manor’ is not really about a murder, or a creepy house, but about families — the ones we’re born into, the ones we make and especially the ones we flee.” New YorkTimes I’ve read and enjoyed Eve Chase’s two previous novels, so it was with some excitement that I requested a copy of this, her third book. Once again, she features an old house and a dual time-line narrative, both elements that I enjoy.