The Shadow Key: A Novel By Susan Stokes-Chapman

In Plas Helyg, a spellbinding Gothic novel set in late-eighteenth-century rural Wales, bestselling author [Author] weaves a tale of mystery, danger, and forbidden truths. Dr. Henry Talbot, dismissed from his prestigious London hospital position, reluctantly accepts a cryptic offer to serve as a private physician for the enigmatic Lord Julian at his remote estate, Plas Helyg. Isolated and unable to communicate with the superstitious villagers, Henry is met with hostility and suspicion as he grapples with the estate's eerie atmosphere and the unexplained death of his predecessor.

As Henry delves into the peculiar circumstances surrounding his predecessor's demise, he finds himself in increasingly perilous situations, exacerbated by his contentious partnership with Linette, Lord Julian’s cousin. Linette, an unconventional and fiercely independent woman, has long been an outcast in the estate’s rigid society. She defies traditional expectations, refusing to wear women’s clothing and showing concern for the miners working in the dangerous conditions of Julian’s mines. Her own family life is shrouded in mystery and neglect, with her mother suffering from bizarre afflictions and her father long deceased.

Through their joint investigation, Linette and Henry uncover unsettling truths about the villagers and the dark secrets that bind the estate’s inhabitants. As they unravel the mysteries of Plas Helyg, they confront hidden dangers and dark magic that threaten their lives and entangle their fates in ways neither could have anticipated.

Plas Helyg is a gripping Gothic tale of intrigue, danger, and the search for truth in an isolated, enigmatic setting.