Description:

**Praise for *New York Times* bestseller* The Firebird*:** "Kearsley blends history, romance and a bit of the supernatural into a glittering, bewitching tale."―*Kirkus* **An Ancient Castle, a Tragic Love, and a Web of Secrets Begins to Unravel...** Emily Braden has stopped believing in fairy tales and happy endings. When her fascinating but unreliable cousin Harry invites her on a holiday to explore the legendary own of Chinon, and promptly disappears―well, that's Harry for you. As Emily makes the acquaintance of Chinon and its people, she begins to uncover dark secrets beneath the charm. Legend has it that during a thirteenth-century siege of the castle that looms over the city, Queen Isabelle, child bride of King John, hid a "treasure of great price." And in the last days of the German occupation during World War II, another Isabelle living in Chinon, a girl whose love for an enemy soldier went tragically awry. As the dangers of the past become disastrously real, Emily is drawn ever more deeply into a labyrinth of mystery as twisted as the streets and tunnels of the ancient town itself. "A mix of intrigue and adventure...in a style similar to that of Mary Stewart or Barbara Erskine, Kearsley does an excellent job evoking the atmosphere of Chinon with its brooding castle."―*The Winnipeg Free Press* "Kearsley's action-packed mystery-romance, set in a medieval French town, shows the same deft plotting that won Kearsley the Catherine Cookson prize for Mariana."―*Chatelaine* ** ### Review "A master of gothic romance, Kearsley (The Firebird, 2013, etc.) deftly plants clues, strews red herrings and toys with her reader's predictions. The journey is thrilling." - *** Kirkus*** "SPLENDOUR FALLS is a beautifully written tale that resonates with the reader long after the last page has been turned." - *** Fresh Fiction*** "Kearsley didn't disappoint me at all, and this is perfect for those who dream of visiting a castle in France, such as I do. The descriptive writing, the nuances of danger laced with guilty pleasure all come together in a thrilling way as we fall in love with the scenery." - *** Burton Book Review*** "I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this novel, this is exactly my type of book. I read it in no time and I loved how Kearsley described her setting." - *** The Book Musings*** "I enjoyed this book very much. It was different from my normal read and I felt like the attention to detail made all the difference in the world. Now, I want to go to Chinon, France and have my own adventure. Can't get a much better endorsement than that. " - *** Deb's Book Bag*** "A delightful, modern gothic mystery with a romance. It's evocative of the time and place and people and filled with fascinating characters who come to life off the page." - *** Dear Author*** "Susanna Kearsley has created a gothic romance worthy of Mary Stewart, sure to appeal to romance and mystery readers alike." - *** Shelf Awareness*** "Visions of sunlit ruins will enchant armchair travelers, and layers of ancient intrigue thrill history buffs; romantics will enjoy watching a cynic open her heart to love, and there's even a tinge of ghostly doings for fans of the gothic" - *** Florida Weekly*** ### From the Publisher "An intense and gripping novel."-*Winnipeg Free Press*