Steeped in the atmospheric charm of classic historical fiction, The Heiress of Northanger Abbey weaves a captivating Jane Austen sequel that breathes new life into Catherine Morland’s world. Twenty-two years after her marriage to Henry Tilney, the imposing estate of Northanger Abbey passes to a new generation. When their spirited daughter Phoebe looks poised to inherit the grand estate, she inherits more than just wealth—she uncovers a web of long-buried secrets, hidden corridors, and a haunting legacy that refuses to stay buried. This spellbinding Gothic mystery masterfully balances Austen’s signature wit and social commentary with the spine-tingling suspense of a classic Regency thriller.
The story…
Gloucestershire, 1820: Catherine Tilney receives a letter that resurrects her darkest fears. Her daughter Phoebe has fallen under the influence of the unscrupulous Thorpe family—the very figures who once nearly destroyed Catherine’s happiness.
Determined to protect her child from dangerous fortune hunters, Catherine follows Phoebe to an isolated manor on Dartmoor. There, she finds a landscape of reckless passions, family secrets, and a dangerously charming aristocratic neighbor. It all feels eerily like the plot of the latest Gothic sensation, The Vampyre— but is Catherine once again letting her imagination run wild?
In this psychologically charged sequel to Jane Austen’s classic, award-winning historical novelist Nancy Bilyeau transforms Catherine’s youthful adventures into a mystery with the highest of stakes. The Heiress of Northanger Abbey is a story of mothers and daughters, deception and desire—and of a woman who must learn to trust her power of perception before it’s too late.
For Austen fans who adore a high-spirited Regency tale, savor a hint of the Gothic—and long to be transported to the mist-shrouded moors.
Available in ebook, paperback and hardcover from Admiral Road Books.
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Early Praise for The Heiress of Northanger Abbey
“Prepare to be captivated by this brilliant homage to the Gothic genre that will thrill Austen fans and lovers of historical fiction alike. Impossible to put down!”
—Syrie James, bestselling author of The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen and The Mysteries of Pendower Hall
“Nancy Bilyeau’s sequel employs prose reminiscent of Austen’s writing, with enough twists to keep the story interesting. Very enjoyable!”
—Janie Chang, USA Today bestselling author of The Fourth Princess: A Gothic Novel of Old Shanghai
“Twenty years after the events of Northanger Abbey, one of Jane Austen’s most gentle and warm-hearted heroines sets out to protect her daughter from the very real dangers of being an heiress. The result is a sparkling tribute to Gothic stories, replete with moors, ruined castles, vampyre stories and forbidden romance. Insightful and charming, this is a novel of which Miss Austen would surely approve.”
—Susan Breen, award-winning author of Merry
“The Heiress of Northanger Abbey is richly layered, deliciously Gothic, and brimming with psychological suspense.”
—Emilya Naymark, author of the award-nominated Sylvan crime novels
“Catherine Morland is older and wiser, but twenty years on, she’s still drawn to the Gothic. A thrilling sequel that honours the original but brings its own delicious drama. Familiar characters in a masterful new tale about the next generation of the Tilney family.”
—Kate Braithwaite, author of The Scandalous Life of Nancy Randolph
“A compelling version of the story years after Austen’s story closes… impossible to put down and highly recommended.”
—Michelle Cameron, author of Napoleon’s Mirage