Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor

Dobson, author of 13 novels (Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana), has written in historical, suspense, and contemporary genres, and her newest blends all three in a tale that shifts from the 1950s, to the 1970s, and to the present. Dobson does a masterly job weaving the disparate tales: art restorer Heather Toulson must return to the English town she fled 25 years ago after Christopher Westcott broke her heart; Maggie Emerson hid a terrible tragedy, then did all she could to prevent it from happening again to her daughter; Libby Doyle, Maggie’s daughter, is an unusual and sensitive girl who is loved by Oliver Croft, the wealthy boy who lives next door in Ladenbrooke Manor; and Walter Doyle is the figure whose story is woven through generations of families and secrets. Dobson handles sensitive issues with tact, careful to avoid too much detail but remaining honest. Mysteries are solved, truths revealed, and loves rekindled in a book sure to draw new fans to Dobson’s already large base. Agent: Natasha Kern, Natasha Kern Literary Agency. (May)