This novel takes some classic standbys of the Gothic novel and transforms them. If you like the Gothic mood, you’ll find it in this book. A mansion in Louisiana, an eccentric family, a charming hero who may be insane, and a glimpse of New Orleans during Mardi Gras. This novel also has something most of the Gothics of the 1970s were missing – sexual tension. What more could you want?

Down on her luck, Margaret Jaffrey puts aside her pride and moves to Delacroix Landing with her deceased husband’s family. She has a daughter, and she is concerned for her safety. Then, she finds out about Peter, her husband’s cousin, and wonders if this place is safe. Peter lives in the attic, under the watchful care of a doctor. They say Peter’s crazy – that he murdered his wife and burned down a house. He’s kept under lock and key, though he gets out now and then.

Though she feels trapped, Margaret settles into life at the mansion. She interacts with the family members – especially Peter. Whenever she sees her daughter with Peter, her protective instincts flare up. Still, she can’t help thinking about him, no matter what they say he did to his wife. She even starts to make excuses to visit Peter.

In true Gothic tradition, Margaret finds herself courted by two men – Peter and his cousin, Wendell. Though she’s not interested in Wendell, she fights her attraction to Peter. She doesn’t see much of a future in a relationship with a man who is locked in an attic. But locked doors aren’t enough to stop Peter, and even Delacroix Landing can’t conceal all the secrets of this family. The truth about the death of Peter’s wife can’t stay hidden forever.

One of Margaret’s best attributes is her strength. She is one of the few people strong enough to stand up to the matriarch, Getrude. A weaker character would have been wrong for this book. Although Margaret has come to this mansion only because she is out of choices, she doesn’t let anyone push her around. She’ll do what she can for her daughter.

Naturally, Peter is an enigmatic character, yet the reader gets to know him in the ways that matter. He is kind, charming, intelligent, and filled with a sense of justice. He struggles against his feelings for Margaret, knowing a relationship between them would be a mistake. Peter is also full of surprises. What do you expect of a hero who has a penchant for lighters? The dinner scenes where he interacts with his family are great. Anne Stuart handles the dual viewpoints with great care. Peter’s scenes are tricky because she can’t reveal too much, but she pulls it off. His secrets come to light slowly.

The plot never goes quite where you expect, although there were problems. I easily guessed the identity of the villain and was surprised that Peter himself never figured it out. Then there was that mysterious stranger in New Orleans that Margaret took too long to identify. Still, Anne Stuart rarely fails to surprise. I only wish this book had been longer. Many people think the Gothic is dead. If more people would write Gothics like this, the Gothic might come back to life.