More books like Mary Downing Hahn or Betty Ren Wright please, but for adults?

[Ariadne]

I can’t think of a better way to describe the niche I’m looking for: gothic mystery, supernatural elements welcome but not a dealbreaker if the atmosphere is there. Buried secrets, historical death/disappearance, decaying grandeur, etc.

I use children’s authors as a reference because they rely more heavily on mystery and melancholia. Adult titles tend to veer harder into being horror, or thriller, or romance. I don’t mind the inclusion of any of those elements, but I’m most interested in unraveling an atmospheric puzzle. I much prefer The Haunting of Hill House (Shirley Jackson) to Hell House (Richard Matheson), if that makes sense!

Old family estates, victorian mansions, boarding schools, orphanages...all great settings. YA is fine, and I’m not picky about time period. Plot twists are great but satisfying is more important than shocking. Thank you in advance!

[Rainbowheart]

The Small Hand
The Woman in Black

[...cats?]

Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Wylding Hall by Elizabeth Hand
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Universal Harvester by John Darnielle

[Stephanie]

Two possible authors:
-Wendy Webb (ex. The Vanishing or The Tale of Halcyon Crane)

-Jaime Jo Wright (ex. The House on Foster Hill)

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Uncle Silas is a classic.