Description
Eliza Ellis has stayed hidden in Balfour Forest for as long as she can remember. Perhaps her only friends are the trees, or her little dog, or her story-telling father called Captain. But at least she is safe from the cruel world outside, a world Captain has warned her against and protected her from.
That is, until a handsome stranger named Felton Northwood invades her quiet forest and steals her away. Why does he tell such lies? Why does he insist that her name is Miss Eliza Gillingham, daughter of a viscount, who disappeared fourteen years ago after the murder of her own mother? A murder Eliza is said to have witnessed.
When Felton returns Eliza to Monbury Manor and reunites her with a man who is told to be her father, all she remembers are the strange nightmares that have plagued her since childhood. Why have they suddenly grown worse? Are the answers hidden inside her own mind?
As danger mounts and lethal attempts are made on her life, Eliza and Felton must work together to uncover the identity of a killer who has stayed silent for fourteen years. When she finally uncovers the horrendous memories trapped in her mind, will divulging the truth cost her the man she loves—and both of their lives?
Review
Eerie and full of chills, The Girl from the Hidden Forest is Gothic Regency writing at its best. There were more twists and turns to the plot than the pathway to Eliza's hidden forest home. One minute you think one individual is the killer, but in the next chapter, someone else looks mighty suspicious...and then soon enough, that first suspect, well, they look guilty all over again! Hannah Linder has done an adept job at keeping the reader guessing until the final few pages. This is an excellent mystery bracketed by a slow-burn romance. Loved every word and will definitely be checking out more books by this author!
Thank you NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for a copy of this ARC for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
