Publication Date: November 1, 2022
Will Seeking Justice Lead to Her Own Demise?
A Gothic-Style Regency Romance from a Promising Young Author
Second daughter of a baron—and a little on the mischievous side—Ella Pemberton is no governess. But the pretense is a necessity if she ever wishes to get inside of Wyckhorn Manor and attain the truth. Exposing the man who killed her sister is all that matters.
Lord Sedgewick knows there’s blood on his hands. Lies have been conceived, then more lies, but the price of truth would be too great. All he has left now is his son—and his hatred. Yet as the charming governess invades his home, his safe cocoon of bitterness begins to tear away.
Could Ella, despite the lingering questions of his guilt, fall in love with such a man? Or is she falling prey to him—just as her dead sister?
Hannah Linder doesn’t hesitate in her debut novel, Beneath His Silence, to propel the reader into the middle of a gothic mystery fraught with intrigue, suspense, perils, and, yes, love. It is a fast-paced tale with twists and turns that leaves you guessing until the very end.
Ella Pemberton is determined to discover the truth behind what she suspects is her sister’s murder at the hands of the quiet and brooding Lord Henry Sedgewick. Lord Sedgewick harbors secrets, remorse, and guilt but also, surprisingly, faith in God and a doting father’s love for his young son, Peter.
Ella Pemberton becomes governess to Peter under the assumed name of Ella Woodhart to gather evidence. But when Ella moves into Wyckhorn Manor, she steps into the middle of a world difficult to understand with its oppressive silence and air of gloom.
Soon, Ella begins to question her long-held beliefs of Lord Sedgewick as she watches the love he bestows on his son, the kindness he shows his servants and tenants, and most alarmingly, the affectionate attention he begins to show her.
As Ella wanders the manor house at night, she discovers her murdered sister’s dusty room and, eventually, the dark mystery that has haunted Lord Sedgewick for years.
As the twists and turns of the tale lead into an ever-escalating saga of suspense, Ella discovers Lord Sedgewick is much more than she imagined and finds that she’s falling in love with him. Beneath his stoic silence, can he truly love her as well? Will the mysteries shrouding Wyckhorn Manor keep them apart or propel them closer together as they navigate a harrowing ordeal to save young Peter from the Manor’s curse?
Beneath His Silence is a gripping page-turner and one where you find yourself hoping for the best but second-guessing the outcome until the very end.
Beneath His Silence is a whirlwind of a read and difficult to put down once you are drawn into its depths. It is an engrossing, fast-paced Regency gothic tale with the mystery and allure of Jane Eyre or The Mysteries of Udolpho. As I finished the last page, I was anxious to discover the ending but sad it had come to a close. A delightful read with strong characters you root for, anguish with, and anxiously follow to discover if they successfully survive the curse haunting Wyckhorn Manor.
I eagerly look forward to the next of what will be many such exciting and engrossing stories from Ms. Linder 
Hannah Linder resides in the beautiful mountains of central West Virginia. Represented by Books & Such, she writes Regency romantic suspense novels. She is a double 2021 Selah Award winner, a 2022 Selah Award finalist, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Hannah is a Graphic Design Associates Degree graduate who specializes in professional book cover design. She designs for both traditional publishing houses and individual authors, including New York Times, USA Today, and international bestsellers. She is also a local photographer and a self-portrait photographer. When Hannah is not writing, she enjoys playing her instruments–piano, guitar, and ukulele–songwriting, painting still life, walking in the rain, and sitting on the front porch of her 1800s farmhouse.
