Book Review: Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase

Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons!

  On a trip with friends to Washington Depot in Connecticut (yes, Stars Hollow from the Gilmore Girls), I was enchanted by a local store, named the Hickory Stick Book Shop. There I discovered a fun selection of books and gifts. It was their Recommendations Wall,  featuring a few books that I had enjoyed over the past year, that caught my full attention. One book that I had loved was recommended by a bookseller. She was there that day and went on to help me find some very promising new novels, including this one. I could never have imagined the fun I would have with this book.

  Black Rabbit Hall is author Eve Chase's debut novel. It is published by Putnam Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. In this dark tale of family drama, we are introduced to Lorna Dunaway and her fiancee, Jon. The couple have been looking at places to have their upcoming wedding and so far have had no luck. There is one more location on Lorna's list of possibilities: Pencraw Hall in Cornwall, England. She remembers fondly her visits there as a child with her mother, and feels that it would be ideal for their nuptials. In the past Pencraw Hall was also known as Black Rabbit Hall by the locals. Lorna is introduced to the current owner Caroline Alton and her assistant, Dill. Curious about the estate, Lorna begins to delve into its past. Soon she  realizes that she may have more of a connection to the sprawling estate than she realizes.

  Meanwhile in the late 1960s; death, secrets, and betrayal seep slowly into the lives of the Alton clan. Teenager Amber Alton knows that her family is on a slow decline and does what she can to hold them together. With the flash of lightning and a terrible accident, her mother, Nancy, is taken from her and her father is set to remarry shortly after. The arrival of Caroline Shawcross and her son, Lucian, drive a deeper wedge between Amber and Toby. The Alton children do not like their soon-to-be step-mother, suspicious of her intentions. As the decades collide with Lorna's investigation into Black Rabbit Hall, a secret buried deep is revealed. A secret that will devastate one family and let another rise from the ashes.

  Black Rabbit Hall was family suspense at its best. It was filled with complex and realistic characters that wove an intricate tapestry of lies and deceit. Page after page I was immersed in the life of the Alton clan. Through triumph and tragedy I was pulled into Eve Chase's excellent world building. Spanning over thirty years, Black Rabbit Hall succeeded in keeping me up late at night reading. The structure of this book was handled very well. Chase was able to insert clues throughout both decades of Black Rabitt Hall's history. And she even threw in some "red herrings" for good measure. Once the secrets were laid bare in the finale, I was extremely satisfied with the close of this novel.

  I read Black Rabbit Hall with the audio narration by voice actresses Natalie Buscombe (handling Amber's story), Kate Scarfe (reading Lorna's story), and Cassandra Campbell (reading Nancy's Alton's part). All three were excellent in their presentation of the narrative. Chase's words were carefully executed by each narrator, which added depth to her words. I will seek out more books read by this trio, because I know they will make each read come alive. 

  Black Rabbit Hall joins my list of five star reads this year. Its captivating tale had me hooked and I slowly read this book to keep me in this world longer. I look forward to more Eve Chase novels in the future. She has become a new favorite author of mine. The perfect beach read.

  Have fun reading this week. Let me know in the comments below what you are reading this week.

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