Black Rabbit Hall is a debut novel by journalist Eve Chase. Londoners Lorna, a school teacher, and her fiancé, Jon, a carpenter, are in Cornwall looking at wedding venues. They arrive at Pencraw Hall (or Black Rabbit Hall as known to the locals). Although the manor house and grounds are in a state of disrepair, Lorna is entranced and seems to feel a kinship to it. The elderly owner, Mrs. Alton, is somewhat mysterious, and lends a gothic air to the story. Lorna’s visit to Black Rabbit Hall turns into an extended visit on the pretense that she will help Mrs. Alton with promoting her estate as an event venue.
The story moves back and forth between 2010 and the late 1960s. The reader learns about the former family that lived there, in particular daughter Amber. As Lorna puts the puzzle pieces together, the reader is also doing that and wondering what’s the connection?
I enjoyed the setting and the development of characters. It was very entertaining and listening to the audio version was mesmerizing at times. Read-alike titles include Rebecca by Daphne du’Maurier and Lake House by Kate Morton.