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Secrets of the Castleton Manor Library #6
Second Edition Death
It's late March in Lighthouse Bay, and Castleton Manor is undergoing spring-cleaning. Librarian and archivist, Faith Newberry, envisions a little downtime while the manor is closed to guests. But her reverie is cut short when she is pressed into service for the organizers of the Gothic Studies Conference, who are meeting in a nearby seaside home. Though reluctant to leave her cozy cottage on the Castleton estate, Faith agrees, especially since her faithful cat, Watson, is invited along.
No sooner has Faith arrived at Wintersea than she realizes all is not as it seems at the creepy mansion. Her hostess, Gothic scholar Ava Winterbourne, is experiencing eerie phenomena: lost objects, somnambulism, and a constant feeling of being watched. Is she mad? Or is someone mad at her? Ava's husband, Winslow, seems loving and attentive, and yet Ava lives in the deep shadows of his first wife, Regina, who committed suicide. Faith finds herself getting caught up in Ava's delusions. But she can't help wondering if Ava truly is a dreaming damsel in distress - or if she's a dark, dangerous dame.
Meanwhile, Faith's boss, Wolfe Jaxon, is being haunted by a nightmare of his own. Years ago, his fiancée drowned when she fell overboard from Wolfe's yacht. Now someone's been possessed to blackmail him, claiming that Valentina's watery death was no freak accident. He needs Faith's help. But is he putting her in peril, too?
Solving the mysteries of Wintersea will take all of Faith's sleuthing skills, but fortunately she'll have the support of the members of the Candle House Book Club and her preternatural pet, Watson. Can she reveal the secrets...before the veil descends on another victim?
No sooner has Faith arrived at Wintersea than she realizes all is not as it seems at the creepy mansion. Her hostess, Gothic scholar Ava Winterbourne, is experiencing eerie phenomena: lost objects, somnambulism, and a constant feeling of being watched. Is she mad? Or is someone mad at her? Ava's husband, Winslow, seems loving and attentive, and yet Ava lives in the deep shadows of his first wife, Regina, who committed suicide. Faith finds herself getting caught up in Ava's delusions. But she can't help wondering if Ava truly is a dreaming damsel in distress - or if she's a dark, dangerous dame.
Meanwhile, Faith's boss, Wolfe Jaxon, is being haunted by a nightmare of his own. Years ago, his fiancée drowned when she fell overboard from Wolfe's yacht. Now someone's been possessed to blackmail him, claiming that Valentina's watery death was no freak accident. He needs Faith's help. But is he putting her in peril, too?
Solving the mysteries of Wintersea will take all of Faith's sleuthing skills, but fortunately she'll have the support of the members of the Candle House Book Club and her preternatural pet, Watson. Can she reveal the secrets...before the veil descends on another victim?
196 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2017
7 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Penney
96 books516 followersElizabeth Penney lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where she pens novels and tries to grow things. Elements that often appear in her novels include vintage summer cottages, past/present mysteries, and the arts. After spending early years in England and France, she grew up in Maine, settings that are reflected in her books.
Elizabeth is the author of the Apron Shop Series and Cambridge Bookshop Series from St. Martin's as well as over twenty novels, short stories, and hundreds of business articles. A former consultant and nonprofit executive, she holds a BS and an MBA. She's also written screenplays with her musician husband.
She loves walking in the woods, kayaking on quiet ponds, trying new recipes, and feeding family and friends.
Elizabeth is the author of the Apron Shop Series and Cambridge Bookshop Series from St. Martin's as well as over twenty novels, short stories, and hundreds of business articles. A former consultant and nonprofit executive, she holds a BS and an MBA. She's also written screenplays with her musician husband.
She loves walking in the woods, kayaking on quiet ponds, trying new recipes, and feeding family and friends.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 13, 2020
This is a cozy mystery, and this is the 3rd book in the Secrets of the Castleton Manor Library series. I have read the other 5 book in this series that came before this book, and I will keep reading this series. I listen to this book from an audiobook, and the narrator was good. I have to say thinking about the other five books in this series, I think this book is just ok. I wanted the mystery to be better and more time in the Castleton Manor Library because I love the Castleton Manor setting and all the characters that works in the Castleton Manor. I am so happy Watson Faith's cat is still a big part of this book. (*)
April 26, 2020
Castleton Manor is closed for a week due to deep cleaning and refurbishing. Faith ends up temporarily transferred to Wintersea to assist in the event planning for the upcoming Gothic Studies Conference. Of course, wherever Faith goes mystery and danger seem to follow.
Wintersea has a history..of murder and suicide in the tower located on the property. Were these accidental or is there something lurking behind these events?
Wolfe has a cameo in this one as he is being blackmailed and turns to Faith for her sleuthing skills. With all this going on, is anyone safe?
Love, love, love this series. I am enjoying the budding romance between Faith and Wolfe, and adore the friendship between the members of the Candle House Book Club. I will be sad when this series is over. Thank goodness there are quite a few books left to fall in love with.
Wintersea has a history..of murder and suicide in the tower located on the property. Were these accidental or is there something lurking behind these events?
Wolfe has a cameo in this one as he is being blackmailed and turns to Faith for her sleuthing skills. With all this going on, is anyone safe?
Love, love, love this series. I am enjoying the budding romance between Faith and Wolfe, and adore the friendship between the members of the Candle House Book Club. I will be sad when this series is over. Thank goodness there are quite a few books left to fall in love with.
October 3, 2018
Another great entry in the Annie's Attic, Castleton Manor series. Faith Newberry is an entirely likable protagonist and the supporting "cast" are richly drawn and interesting. Her feline companion, Watson, is sooooo cat, smart as a whip, and a hoot and a half. This entry had a double mystery going, and the author did a deft job of tying it all together, as well as giving us some insight to the rather mysterious, "lord of the manor", Wolfe Jaxon. Thoroughly enjoyable.
May 1, 2018
Not one but 2 mysteries await Castleton Manor Liberian, Faith Newbury and her cat side kick, Winston. Helping out with a conference at WinterSea involves Faith and Winston in an old murder, new murder and an possible one. Also her boss from Castleton Manor is being blackmailed over the death of his fiancé several years ago. How are they connected?
January 22, 2021
This is a nice cozy series about a librarian working at a private library on the estate of a wealthy man and his family.
What makes this series interesting is that there is there are several contributing authors. The writing is so well done that I cannot discern a difference in authorship.
If you enjoy this series, you'll be happy to know there are 24 books in the series.
What makes this series interesting is that there is there are several contributing authors. The writing is so well done that I cannot discern a difference in authorship.
If you enjoy this series, you'll be happy to know there are 24 books in the series.
August 17, 2025
This was an entertaining story. The inclusion of Watson the cat was especially fun.
June 16, 2021
These stories about Faith, her cat Watson, and the Castleton Manor are quick and entertaining reads. This book takes Faith and Watson out of their normal library at Castleton and puts them into a Gothic mansion where mystery soon surrounds them. As usual, there are a few times when we get to see life from Watson's viewpoint which I always find fun. I liked that there was a secondary mystery for Faith to get involved in that put her and Wolfe together. There's a romance beginning to brew there, but it is definitely a slow cooking one. Reading each book in this series is now like visiting old friends.
April 10, 2022
I enjoyed this book even more than some of the rest of this series. Doing a mystery at a different site was a good change of pace, as was having a conference for Gothic readers and writers. It was a good choice for this volume to have a different setting than Castleton Manor, because setting is such an important part of a Gothic novel. Oddly enough, a couple other reviewers didn't like that this mystery wasn't at Castleton Manor, but there have been plenty of mysteries there, and there are plenty of mysteries left in the series, so I enjoyed this one as it was.
The setting, Wintersea, was so well done that I even dreamt about it one night, and about the passageways into the guest rooms. Of course, Castleton Manor had secret passageways, too.
There was more suspense than most of the rest of this series.
The food sounded good, and I was glad that we had Brooke in this story, too. But, like most cozy mysteries, the people can't really eat that way all the time without health consequences. Sigh. Sometimes I wish they'd have a character that insisted on eating well.
I hadn't read most of the Gothic writers listed, but I have read the Bronte sisters' works, Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," and Daphene du Maurier's "Rebecca." Of those, I enjoyed "Frankenstein," and "Jane Eyre," but not "Wuthering Heights" or "Rebecca." I just wanted to tell the new second wife in "Rebecca" to wise up, that it was dangerous to protect a murderer. And Catherine and Heathcliff's romance was a sick one in "Wuthering Heights." "Jane Eyre," I loved from beginning to end, and "Frankenstein" was oddly touching and had something higher about it than I would've suspected from all the spoofs on it.
Of those Gothic stories I've read, this mystery was most like "Rebecca," in that it involved the death of a prior wife, but, unexpectedly enough, I enjoyed this mystery far more than "Rebecca."
There were five mysteries in "Second Edition Death" - Wolfe's blackmailer, Faith's stalker, Meg's attacker, Winslow's first wife's murder, and his grandmother's murder. I'm afraid I didn't solve any of them, and most of them did not leave enough clues for us to solve beforehand. I felt like I did solve a minor portion of it, but now I can't even remember what, it was so minor.
This held the second time that we've seen the cat, Watson, attack a "bad guy." The first time it happened, it seemed plausible to me, but this time, for it to happen again, seemed unlikely. Cats aren't all-knowing.
I'd add Faith's list of Gothic novels that I haven't read to this review in case I ever want to look them up and read them: "The Castle of Otranto," "The Mysteries of Udolpho," John Polidori's "The Vampyre," Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey," as well as authors Phyllis Whitney, Victoria Holt, and Barbara Michaels. I doubt I'd dwell in Gothic literature very long, but I might enjoy an occasional book. I'd probably pick "Northanger Abbey" first because I've enjoyed Austen's other works.
The setting, Wintersea, was so well done that I even dreamt about it one night, and about the passageways into the guest rooms. Of course, Castleton Manor had secret passageways, too.
There was more suspense than most of the rest of this series.
The food sounded good, and I was glad that we had Brooke in this story, too. But, like most cozy mysteries, the people can't really eat that way all the time without health consequences. Sigh. Sometimes I wish they'd have a character that insisted on eating well.
I hadn't read most of the Gothic writers listed, but I have read the Bronte sisters' works, Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," and Daphene du Maurier's "Rebecca." Of those, I enjoyed "Frankenstein," and "Jane Eyre," but not "Wuthering Heights" or "Rebecca." I just wanted to tell the new second wife in "Rebecca" to wise up, that it was dangerous to protect a murderer. And Catherine and Heathcliff's romance was a sick one in "Wuthering Heights." "Jane Eyre," I loved from beginning to end, and "Frankenstein" was oddly touching and had something higher about it than I would've suspected from all the spoofs on it.
Of those Gothic stories I've read, this mystery was most like "Rebecca," in that it involved the death of a prior wife, but, unexpectedly enough, I enjoyed this mystery far more than "Rebecca."
There were five mysteries in "Second Edition Death" - Wolfe's blackmailer, Faith's stalker, Meg's attacker, Winslow's first wife's murder, and his grandmother's murder. I'm afraid I didn't solve any of them, and most of them did not leave enough clues for us to solve beforehand. I felt like I did solve a minor portion of it, but now I can't even remember what, it was so minor.
This held the second time that we've seen the cat, Watson, attack a "bad guy." The first time it happened, it seemed plausible to me, but this time, for it to happen again, seemed unlikely. Cats aren't all-knowing.
I'd add Faith's list of Gothic novels that I haven't read to this review in case I ever want to look them up and read them: "The Castle of Otranto," "The Mysteries of Udolpho," John Polidori's "The Vampyre," Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey," as well as authors Phyllis Whitney, Victoria Holt, and Barbara Michaels. I doubt I'd dwell in Gothic literature very long, but I might enjoy an occasional book. I'd probably pick "Northanger Abbey" first because I've enjoyed Austen's other works.
May 22, 2018
My book is a beautiful hardcover book with a nice dust jacket and an attached ribbon bookmark.
I picked this book up at a used book sale and was very pleasantly surprised. There were several books in this series there marked $4 each but I only bought 2 of them. Now I wish I had bought them all.
The series has different authors. Faith Newberry, front and center, is the Librarian and Archivist for the Castleton Manor Library in Lighthouse Bay, Cape Cod. She lives in the gardener's cottage on the estate with her tuxedo cat Watson. Watson is a smart cat who nudges the story along. Since the Castleton Library is receiving an early spring cleaning, Faith is loaned out to assist the scholars at the Gothic Studies Conference in the nearby mansion of Wintersea. The hostess at Wintersea, Ava Winterbourse, has been experiencing creepy phenomenon. Her husband's first wife and his grandmother both fell to their deaths from the tower on the property. It is now off-limits but is someone trying to lure Ava into a similar death? This reads like a Daphne DuMaurier story. Creepy!
I picked this book up at a used book sale and was very pleasantly surprised. There were several books in this series there marked $4 each but I only bought 2 of them. Now I wish I had bought them all.
The series has different authors. Faith Newberry, front and center, is the Librarian and Archivist for the Castleton Manor Library in Lighthouse Bay, Cape Cod. She lives in the gardener's cottage on the estate with her tuxedo cat Watson. Watson is a smart cat who nudges the story along. Since the Castleton Library is receiving an early spring cleaning, Faith is loaned out to assist the scholars at the Gothic Studies Conference in the nearby mansion of Wintersea. The hostess at Wintersea, Ava Winterbourse, has been experiencing creepy phenomenon. Her husband's first wife and his grandmother both fell to their deaths from the tower on the property. It is now off-limits but is someone trying to lure Ava into a similar death? This reads like a Daphne DuMaurier story. Creepy!
December 26, 2021
I enjoy these Secrets of the Castleton books. They are fun and easy to read, which is good because I am behind on my challenge to read 20 books in 2021.
Two mysteries this time around. Faith is loaned out to the Wintersea mansion to help out the mistress work on her dissertation and help with the planning of the Gothic Study conference. Mysterious things are happening to Ava, lady of the house and there are those who think she is imagining everything. Then there is the blackmail note that Wolfe Jaxon got and has asked Faith for help.
The Wintersea mansion is mysterious in its self with all the hidden doors, hallways and tower that are dark, very Gothic.
Of course Watson is involved with the Wintersea mystery because he and his human are staying there for a week. Watson always manages to be at the right place at the right time. Faith is rescued not just once but twice by her cat.
The weather was perfect for the two mysteries, wind blowing hard, very cold, and strange sounds that would certainly put me on edge in an unfamiliar place.
Two mysteries this time around. Faith is loaned out to the Wintersea mansion to help out the mistress work on her dissertation and help with the planning of the Gothic Study conference. Mysterious things are happening to Ava, lady of the house and there are those who think she is imagining everything. Then there is the blackmail note that Wolfe Jaxon got and has asked Faith for help.
The Wintersea mansion is mysterious in its self with all the hidden doors, hallways and tower that are dark, very Gothic.
Of course Watson is involved with the Wintersea mystery because he and his human are staying there for a week. Watson always manages to be at the right place at the right time. Faith is rescued not just once but twice by her cat.
The weather was perfect for the two mysteries, wind blowing hard, very cold, and strange sounds that would certainly put me on edge in an unfamiliar place.
May 14, 2025
The Castleton Manor is closed for spring cleaning, but Faith gets no time off. She has been loaned to a friend of Wolfe Jaxon’s to help with a small group of writers, locating books from the library for their research. Faith and her faithful cat Watson are soon on the job. The mansion, where she is living for a week, is gothic at best and creepy at worst. A long ago murder and a more recent suicide just adds to its atmosphere. But strange things are still happening there, and Faith will have to solve the mystery before there is another death. This cozy mystery is entertaining and intriguing. A side story of blackmail adds to the interest. Watson, cat extraordinaire, just adds to the intrigue, coming up with clues that he gives to Faith. Faith and her friend Brooke are great characters, likable and just curious enough to get them into tight places where danger is. The interaction between characters is almost more entertaining than the actual mystery.
November 20, 2021
Another cute installment in the cozy mystery series. This is the first one I've listened to on audio and I'm not sure I enjoyed it as much as reading it physically. While listening on 1.75 speed (never thought I could do that) sure sped up the reading of it, I didn't love the voice of Faith, our main character. And I don't think it was because it was sped up so much. I think it was just the way the narrator portrayed her. Watson, her pet and fellow sleuth, who always help solve the mystery, is just as precious as always. I think he might be my favorite character. The romance between Faith and Jax needs to get going a little faster, it is just such a slow...slow...slow burn. Nothing has happened really and we are six books in. I own book eight, so I'll be reading at least the next two books in the series and we see after that. Decent read if you like cozy mysteries.
September 4, 2022
3.5 stars (rating shown may differ depending on whether site allows half star ratings. It was closer to the 3.5 than a 4 for me, so I will stick with a 3 or 3.5 rating.
I enjoyed the book and I enjoy reading the series, which a friend (CC) gifted me a number of books from. I have found them able to distract me during nervous times.
I wasn't quite sure what second edition had to do with the storyline, however. As always with this series, the solution to the mystery doesn't appear until the end, so most times, attempting to solve it before then is merely guessing.
I still like Watson.
I enjoyed the book and I enjoy reading the series, which a friend (CC) gifted me a number of books from. I have found them able to distract me during nervous times.
I wasn't quite sure what second edition had to do with the storyline, however. As always with this series, the solution to the mystery doesn't appear until the end, so most times, attempting to solve it before then is merely guessing.
I still like Watson.
November 20, 2022
This one wasn't my favorite. I didn't care for the change of scenery, but I did enjoy the extra bonding with Wolfe Jaxon. I didn't think Watson had a big enough part this time. As usual, I love the consistency of each book being the next month. I love Brooke and was very happy that she came to help out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2024
The was a good mystery - two mysteries in fact. There was a feeling of Rebecca in this story. A gothic story which isn't my favorite but it was still enjoyable with all of the usual characters. Mainly Faith, Watson, Brooke, and Wolfe. Most of it took place away from Castleton Manor which was ok but not my favorite. There wasn't nearly enough Watson in this one. On to the next book!
April 14, 2022
While quite enjoyable, especially with a new location for most of the story, the key clue to the mystery isn't revealed until the end. Any attempts to solve the mystery before then are pure guesswork.
August 15, 2023
The story plot is a good one as Faith and Brooke spend most of the time away from Castleton Manor. The characters are developed enough early on that anyone could be a murderer. The ending comes to fast. The story could have used a few more pages of wrap up. All in all, not a bad read.
December 23, 2017
This book was kind of a disappointment since I was able to identify the villains from almost the first chapter.
June 22, 2019
A Gothic house and an old suicide (or murder) frame the plot in this 6th entry in the series. A pleasant summer cozy mystery.
December 5, 2019
Loved it, Love all of them read this yesterday. Could not put it down.
October 15, 2020
I just love how the author’s will write from the Cat’s POV at time’s.
November 21, 2020
The two settings was very confusing to me. I'm a Castleton Manor fan, not a fan of road-tripping mystery. Onward to the next book.
July 11, 2023
This story took place mostly away from Castleton Manor but the mystery tied into it. Another great read. I enjoyed it very much.
May 10, 2024
Pretty solid mystery, but I didn't care for many of the characters in the story.
July 15, 2024
A really fun listen. Enjoyed this story.
September 12, 2024
Same soup but reheated.
February 12, 2025
Very good at copying the feel of Gothic novels with a good doze of that cozy mystery. Both mysteries kept me guessing right up to the end.
January 31, 2021
A fun, lighthearted cozy mystery. The main character is a librarian managing the extensive library at the Castleton Manor in Massachusetts who always finds herself in the middle of a mystery.
September 20, 2019
This was the first book I’ve read in the series so I was a little concerned what I was missing out on starting off with book 6. I liked the overall story line and characters enough to keep reading the series. Reading them out of order did not affect the enjoyment of the story!
May 16, 2025
"Secondary Edition Death (Secrets of the Castleton Manor Library #6)" by Elizabeth Penney has Faith visiting another manor house in town for the week. Winterbourne is the Gothic home of the next conference's coordinator. Faith gets asked to stay the week at the manor house and act as librarian for the planning committee for the Gothic Literature Conference. Also, the house may be haunted or the owner is going crazy. After two mysterious deaths in the house it could be either.
Not only is Faith pulled into investigating those previous deaths, Wolfe (her boss) is being blackmailed over the mysterious death of his fiancé several years ago. Oh, and a cook at Winterbourne is hospitalized after falling down stairs she's extremely familiar with. Or, was she?So much going on. There was one culprit, that I wasn't surprised by. I was a little surprised by how it all wrapped up in the end.
Not only is Faith pulled into investigating those previous deaths, Wolfe (her boss) is being blackmailed over the mysterious death of his fiancé several years ago. Oh, and a cook at Winterbourne is hospitalized after falling down stairs she's extremely familiar with. Or, was she?So much going on. There was one culprit, that I wasn't surprised by. I was a little surprised by how it all wrapped up in the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews