Set in Stone

Newbery's (Sisterland) absorbing, haunting mystery set in Victorian England explores the dark secrets found among the wealthy. Fourwinds, the beautiful and architecturally impressive estate belonging to the recently widowed Ernest Farrow, holds a disturbing secret. Samuel Godwin has been hired to give art lessons to Farrow's two teenage daughters, Juliana and Marianne. He resolves that at Fourwinds, ""I should find myself an artist."" Shortly after his arrival, 21-year-old Samuel meets newlywed Eliza Dearly, former governess at Fourwinds. Samuel's been led to believe that Eliza's young son, Tommy, was conceived by another former employee, Gideon Waring, the man responsible for the exquisite stone carvings found throughout the estate. However, since Mrs. Dearly's visit, Juliana seems more withdrawn. The disturbing truth unfolds in alternating chapters between Samuel and the new governess, Charlotte Agnew, who has a secret of her own about Mr. Farrow. The consequences of incest and premarital sex in this era bubble below the surface of the novel and erupt near its conclusion; these themes plus the adult narrators and the antiquated dialogue that mimics Victorian conversation make this more appropriate for sophisticated readers. The writing style, reminiscent of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, brims with atmospheric descriptions sure to delight seasoned book lovers, despite the disturbing plot twists. Ages 10-up.