Welcome to Litsy!

I've seen this shelved as a children's book, but it really, really isn't, unless you're ok with exposing your kids to themes of sexual threat, murder and execution (I'd say no, personally). As an adult book, it is tense and gripping for the most part, and I was drawn into the story, which takes place in both the author's present ('60s), and the 1700s. Gorey was a good pick for illustrator, given his penchant for literary child endangerment. 4⭐

I remembered this little treasure was lying unread on a shelf. It's a first British edition, 1964, illustrated by Edward Gorey 😊
I'm about a third of the way through, and it's a wonderful melange of themes: a gothic mansion, a ghostly maiden, a found journal with a tale of hidden loot and cutthroat thieves, in a Jamaica Inn meets the opening of Treasure Island setting. I'm not sure what direction it's going in, but I'm enjoying the finding out!