First published 2020
A governess finds herself without work and nearly penniless when she receives an unexpected offer. A well-dressed gentleman requires someone to care for his child at their country estate called Copper Beeches. The salary seems generous, perhaps too generous for such straightforward duties. She accepts the position and travels to the isolated house, where she meets the man's wife and begins her new role. At first, everything appears normal. The family seems pleasant enough, and the work proves manageable. But small details begin to trouble her. Strange requests from her employers. Odd restrictions about certain parts of the house. Behaviors that make no sense. Her initial relief at finding employment transforms into growing unease. The peculiar incidents multiply, and her fear deepens. Unable to understand what is happening around her or why, she makes a crucial decision. She writes to Sherlock Holmes, hoping the famous detective can uncover the truth behind the increasingly alarming situation at Copper Beeches before something terrible happens.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, mystery, detective, 19th-century, gothic
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, mystery
Setting: Copper Beeches
Period: 19th-century
112 pages · Paperback · Sweet Cherry Publishing