The Daughters Of Red Hill Hall: A gripping novel of family, secrets and murder

The Daughters Of Red Hill Hall: A gripping novel of family, secrets and murder
Kathleen McGurl

‘The Daughters of Red Hill Hall … all the intrigue, mystery, relationship drama and edge of your seat secret reveals any reader could want.’ – Books and BoardiesWhen Gemma discovers a pair of ancient duelling pistols encrusted with rubies in the basement of the local museum, she is immediately intrigued…On a fateful night in 1838 two sisters were found shot in the cellars of Red Hill Hall. And when Gemma begins to delve deeper into their history she begins to realise that the secrets of that night are darker than anyone had ever imagined.As the shocking events of the past begin to unravel, Gemma’s own life starts to fall apart. Loyalties are tested and suddenly it seems as if history is repeating itself, as Gemma learns that female friendships can be deadly…Perfect for fans of The Emerald Comb, The Pearl Locket, Rachel Hore and Kate Morton.What reviewers are saying about Kathleen McGurl’s The Daughters of Red Hill Hall‘Mystery, danger, intrigue and heart-pounding drama are deliciously interwoven’ – Julie (Goodreads)‘I devoured The Daughters of Red Hill Hall in two sittings…it showed off the many talents of Kathleen McGurl to perfection.’ – Emma Crowley on Shaz’s Book Blog‘This book grabbed me from its opening pages’ – Being Anne…‘a great summer read!’ – A Home in the Country‘if you like historical mysteries, murder and romance, this is a must read for you.’ – Violet Fields (NetGalley)‘This is the first of Kathleen McGurl's books that I have read but it certainly won't be the last’ – Karen O’Hare (Goodreads)‘For fans of Katherine Webb or Kate Riordan’ – Sheila’s Review (Goodreads)‘McGurl focuses on the relationships and emotional turmoil… As always a spirited read.’ – Cheryl M-M

When Gemma discovers a pair of ancient duelling pistols encrusted with rubies in the basement of the local museum, she is immediately intrigued…

On a fateful night in 1838, two sisters were found shot in the cellars of Red Hill Hall. And when Gemma delves deeper into their history, she begins to realise that the secrets of that night are darker than anyone had ever imagined.

As the shocking events of the past begin to unravel, Gemma’s own life starts to fall apart. Loyalties are tested and suddenly it seems as if history is repeating itself, as Gemma learns that female friendships can be deadly…

Perfect for fans of The Emerald Comb, The Pearl Locket, Rachel Hore and Kate Morton.

Praise for Kathleen McGurl (#ulink_eb05128c-1235-50ae-9ec3-40b6fdf07d2e)

‘There were twists and turns galore that had me gripping my Kindle to within an inch of its life…’

– Becca’s Books on The Pearl Locket

“…exciting, fast-paced and impossible to put down…”

– Books Reviews by Em on The Emerald Comb

“Two stories: one historical, the other contemporary, cleverly interwoven with conflict, mystery and passion…an absorbing read”

– Jane Hunt on The Emerald Comb

“Infuriatingly well-written…an intelligent and refreshingly different read”

– Read Reviewed on The Emerald Comb

“An edge of your seat read, that is a page turner and gripped me from page one”

– Comet Babe on The Emerald Comb

“…beautifully written and left you wanting more. More of everything.”

– Feed Me Into Books on The Emerald Comb

Also by Kathleen McGurl (#ulink_15c15271-4f4b-5b71-b26d-0a206bf600a4)

The Emerald Comb

The Pearl Locket

The Daughters of Red Hill Hall

Kathleen McGurl

www.CarinaUK.com (http://www.CarinaUK.com)

KATHLEEN McGURL

lives in Bournemouth with her husband and teenage son; her older son being away at university. She always wanted to write, and for many years was waiting until she had the time. Eventually she came to the bitter realisation that no one would pay her for a year off work to write a book, so she sat down and started to write one anyway. Since then she has written several books and sold dozens of short stories to women’s magazines. She works full time in the IT industry and when she’s not writing, she’s often out running, slowly. For more information or to get in touch, please visit kathleenmcgurl.com (http://kathleenmcgurl.com) or follow @kathmcgurl (http://www.twitter.com/kathmcgurl) on Twitter.

My thanks are due as always to my editor Victoria Oundjian and everyone else at Carina, for their advice, support, superb editing and wonderful cover designs.

Thanks also to my writing buddies – the other Carina authors, the Write Women and my friends in the Romantic Novelists Association. Writing is a lonely activity, and the online chats and occasional meet-ups are what keep me going.

My sons, once again, helped me out with this book. Fionn McGurl gave me valuable feedback as my beta-reader, and Connor McGurl acted as a sounding-board and helped me work out some tricky plot twists. My heartfelt thanks to both of them.

Thanks to Della Galton, whose writing classes I attended for many years. This novel grew from a prologue I wrote for one of her end-of-term competitions.

And finally, thanks to my husband Ignatius McGurl who was so enthusiastic about that prologue that it spurred me on to complete the entire novel.

For my husband Ignatius

This is the book you said I should write!

Contents

Cover (#udc29c7ab-b4f1-5d09-9a2c-e60fed96ff48)

Blurb (#ua272620c-679a-57f9-82a8-0d85f53b8c6b)

Praise (#ub8f715f8-34c8-581f-8970-ca3e3e4f9c0f)

Book List (#ucc9e41d0-0199-5920-adb7-dfa98e90281a)

Title Page (#u2d759d8f-7473-5ad0-ad70-9b39c49f1a86)

Author Bio (#uc6070c2e-bd4a-5da6-b6b7-b5b63238fddf)

Acknowledgements (#ua9983260-65b2-58cc-9183-f1c285ec511f)

Dedication (#u02eb66ad-66e3-565f-852f-89f7316204e6)

Prologue (#u998e1b71-5ef1-5d46-ad77-09da7770ca88)

Chapter 1 (#uf956c978-55a3-5fb9-8ecd-17cf35821f95)

Chapter 2 (#u13375700-6e6f-5e99-ab19-d043b17551cb)

Chapter 3 (#ubdac2d18-525c-5c8f-a380-2b5b4a245480)

Chapter 4 (#u8d7489fc-767e-56cb-96ab-5c372135453f)

Chapter 5 (#ub17e9a80-96f3-5657-908e-1bf57de44326)

Chapter 6 (#u93fc06ef-eb87-5d21-841b-f22042f72634)