The Folly

Amor (Dear Laura) elicits maximum chills in this Cornwall-set gothic thriller. Middle-aged Morgan has succeeded in freeing her father, Owen, after he was wrongly convicted of killing Morgan’s mother six years ago. With money tight, due in part to the legal costs of exonerating Owen, Morgan decides to sell the family home and arranges for Owen to take a job as caretaker for an aging folly on the Cornish coast. In exchange for room and board for Morgan and himself, Owen is tasked with maintaining the building’s structure and guarding it against trespassers, including those drawn to the property because of its history: several years ago, romance writer Jessica Harbourne jumped off the roof to her death, just as a character in one of her novels had done. Before Owen and Morgan can get settled, Morgan begins experiencing disturbing visions that shed new light on her mother’s demise and suggest the woman’s spirit may have taken control of another person’s body. Amor’s slow-burn buildup to a feast of satisfying reveals will keep readers turning pages long into the night. This moody ghost story enchants. Agent: Marl Falkin, Falkin Literary. (Dec.)