Book Review: Inheritance: The Lost Bride Trilogy by Nora Roberts

Inheritance by Nora Roberts

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Review also available on my site: https://roxannacross.com/2025/08/10/b...

Book One in this Roberts trilogy is available on Amazon in paperback, hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook formats, as well as at your local library through the Libby App. The audiobook, published on November 21, 2023, is narrated by Brittany Presley, with an author’s note delivered by Roberts, providing readers with insights into how she seamlessly blends centuries-old spine-chilling ghost stories with mystery vibes, a touch of fantasy, and contemporary romance, all set in a gothic mansion. This could be a perfect fit for fans of Gothic haunted houses, family curses and secrets, whodunits, low-steam romance, and dual-timeline paranormal fantasy.

Roberts opens the book in 1806, in Maine, introducing Astrid Poole, a bride overwhelmed with happiness as she sits in her gown, glowing in anticipation of her husband’s arrival. However, it’s not Colin who comes in the door. A striking woman in a black dress walks towards her, and before she can defend herself, the knife is plunged deep into her chest, and as she lies dying, the witch takes the gold band from her finger. Colin is here, and she promises to never leave him.

Readers and listeners are then transported to the present day to meet bride-to-be Sonya MacTavish, who is busy with wedding plans but decides to cancel her meeting with the florist to get home early and surprise her fiancé with a home-cooked meal and an evening in. The surprise turns out to be hers when she finds said fiancé in bed with her cousin. Both of them are booted out of her Boston home, and the wedding is called off immediately. Her best friend, Cleo, and her mother come over to offer support, pack up his things, and make sure every trace of him is erased from her home. What Sonya had not expected was his increasingly vindictive behavior in the workplace, which worsened over the weeks, forcing her to resign and start her freelance career in graphic design. Shortly after Sonya has dealt with one upheaval, she receives shocking news that her late father had a twin brother, Colin Poole, who recently passed away, and that she’s the heir to his mansion in Maine. There’s a condition: she must live there for at least three years to fully inherit the property.

Sonya decides to look at this as fresh start, packing up she heads to Maine and instantly falls in love with the Victorian house, as she adjust to her life in this massive mansion and odd occurrences such as cupboard doors opening and closings, bed being made and turned down, clothes being put away, music starting at random, oh Deuce, the lawyer said the house was haunted but she doesn’t believe in ghosts that’s just silly. As time goes on, she must concede and come to agree with Deuce and his son, Trey, that she’s not alone in that house. Sonya lives in a haunted house and is more than happy when her best friend, Cleo, agrees to move in, so they can deal with the nastier occurrences together. Most of the ghostly incidents can be categorized as helpful or pranks; however, some are downright mean and intended to scare Sonya out of the house. She knows those are from the woman in black, not one of the lost brides.

Trey and Sonya’s romance is underdeveloped; it appears Roberts just threw them together one night, sans clothes, and voilà. There is no tension, no pull of attraction, no spice, not even that slow burn progression, zero chemistry happening. Something is obviously missing to make this romance believable. As friends, neighbors, and colleagues, it worked. However, this sudden leap into a relationship makes it difficult for the audience to connect with the couple, as it comes out of nowhere. There’s more spark between Owen, Sonya’s cousin, and Cleo than there’s been between Trey and Sonya since the beginning of the book. It would be more believable if they were to hook up.

Overall, a good start to a Gothic ghost mystery with family secrets and curses; the romance is on shaky grounds and needs fleshing out, which hopefully Roberts will address in book 2. For Book One, it’s a 3-star read or listen.



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