
The story opens on the bleak, gothic silhouette of Allworth Abbey, a centuries‑old monastic ruin tucked deep in a shadowed glen on England’s north‑west coast. Recent headlines have recounted a string of grisly murders that wiped out an entire noble family within a single year, leading to public trials and a chilling “Room of Horrors” display. Yet beneath those well‑known facts lies a darker, hidden narrative—one that the narrator has uncovered and now seeks to reveal.
Through a blend of atmospheric description and careful investigation, the tale follows a determined observer as she steps into the abbey’s oppressive corridors, confronting whispered legends and unsettling superstitions. The early chapters trace her first encounters with the lingering dread that haunts the stone walls, hinting at secret passages and long‑buried sins that could ensnare any innocent soul who dares to wander too far into its depths. The novel promises a suspenseful exploration of how truth, fear, and destiny intertwine within this haunted landscape.
Language
en
Duration
~12 hours (696K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: T. B. Peterson & Brothers, 1865.
Credits
Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)
Release date
2023-01-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1819–1899
A bestselling 19th-century American novelist, she wrote fast-paced serial fiction packed with mystery, family drama, disguises, and daring heroines. Her stories reached a huge readership in their day and helped make her one of the most popular authors of the era.
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