The Last Heir to Blackwood Library

For this atmospheric historical fantasy, Fox (A Lullaby for Witches) blends the paranormal, light romance, and faintly gothic sensibilities. In 1927 London, orphan Ivy Radcliffe, daughter of an American socialite and a British scholar, is shocked to be named the heir of a Yorkshire estate, Blackwood Abbey, a grand, albeit dilapidated, manor complete with an aloof staff and the library of Ivy’s dreams. Books have always been her passion, and the library provides a welcome refuge from her new circumstances – including a very insistent suitor, Sir Arthur Mabry, who shares her literary love, though is perhaps a bit more interested in her library than he is the woman who owns it. Indeed, the library guards a secret, and Ivy soon finds herself forgetting conversations and losing time, a fact that becomes especially apparent around broodingly handsome chauffeur, Ralph. Immersive historical detail and a gripping, intricate plot combine to plunge readers headlong into a rags-to-riches tale laced with betrayal and intrigue. This is a treat for bibliophiles. Agent: Jane Dystel, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Apr.)