Castle Barebane

Strong and independent Valla Montgomery abandons her New York career to search for her half-brother in Joan Aiken’s gothic novel, Caste Barebane.To get away from her pretentious New York Fiance, Valla is only too pleased to have an excuse to travel to England. So when she discovers her half-brother and his wife have disappeared from their London home – leaving their young two children all alone – Valla rushes to their rescue.Between all the local clubs, music halls and lodging houses Valla has no luck, resolving to extend her search wherever it may take her. With her niece and nephew by her side Valla journeys to Scotland, ending up in a bleak castle perched on the edge of a cliff. In this Gothic setting the mystery surrounding her missing brother only gets darker, more sinister, and more terrifying . . .This unforgettable Gothic tale of love, loss, and human nature is brought to life byJoan Aiken’s vivid story-telling and gripping plot. If you love Virginia Andrews or Nicola Cornick, Joan Aiken should certainly be your next read.

Reviews of Castle Barebane

Joan Aiken writes superbly, with a force, a colour and strength of imagination that one encounters all too rarely today * London Daily Telegraph * A tightly-knit, exciting novel . . . an unusually well-told tale * Publisher's Weekly *