Review of The Widow of Rose House—Romance and Haunted Homes

Victorian romance and haunted houses—I’m always on the lookout for books that combine two of my favorite things like this, and have just found one that does so extraordinarily well! The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller is a delightful Gothic romance that came out back in 2019. It fit so perfectly in my wheelhouse, that I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more books by this author in the future.

Alva Webster has returned to New York to make a fresh start after rumors surrounding her scandalous behavior and her estranged husband’s untimely death thoroughly demolished her reputation abroad. Her plan is to live quietly and create a modest income for herself by writing books about interior design, and to that end she has purchased the crumbling old Liefdehuis in Hyde Park as a case study in restoring old houses. Unfortunately, work on the house has barely begun when the workmen all abandon their tools and flee, insisting that each man has had his own terrifying ghostly encounter. Pragmatic Alva doesn’t believe in ghosts, but if she wants to resume work on her project, she’ll have to convince the locals that Liefdehuis is ghost-free. For that, she’ll need to bring in an expert. Professor Samuel Moore is a certified genius and the son of a well-respected family of scientists. His interests vary widely, from the latest advances in electric lighting to the folklore—and the possible measurable reality—behind regional ghost stories. Equal parts charming and eccentric, Sam has been badgering Alva to let him study her haunting ever since they encountered each other by chance in the city. The last thing she needs right now is to get tangled up with another man after finally being freed from her abusive marriage—and even that freedom has come at a steep cost. But something about Sam’s guileless optimism and dedication to pursuing the truth makes Alva believe that if ghosts really do exist, perhaps he can exorcize them—and maybe also some of her demons while he’s at it.

This book hits upon a particular interest of mine in terms of setting. I love the nineteenth century in general, but lately I’ve become particularly fascinated with Gilded Age New York City and the surrounding region, including the Hudson Valley where America’s pseudo-aristocracy often built their grand estates. The Widow of Rose House fits perfectly into this niche, with its action bouncing between the glamorous hotels and restaurants of 1870s Manhattan and Alva’s architectural project in Hyde Park, New York. Thanks to hours spent listening to the wonderful Gilded Gentleman podcast, I caught many of the historical references to the major players of Gilded Age high society, from Delmonico’s restaurant to the much-admired Astor family. As exciting as the bustle of city life is, retreating up the river allows for a more Gothic sensibility to emerge. Nestled beside a snowy forest not far from the Hudson River, Liefdehuis is just isolated enough for ghosts to hold sway over the living and for terror to reign supreme. The story is well balanced between these two settings and both felt so fleshed out I could imagine myself there.

The attitude toward ghosts in this novel is especially well suited to this time and place. Just a few decades earlier, the Spiritualist movement kicked off a bit further upstate with the Fox sisters in Hydesville, New York. Led by self-professed mediums, this movement emphasized communicating with the spirits of the deceased through a variety of methods. At the same time, great strides were being made in science nearly day by day, with new technologies like electricity suddenly making the impossible possible. While today many might scoff at the idea of a serious scientist believing in ghosts, in this context it makes perfect sense that Sam would view spirits as just a realm of science that isn’t well understood yet. Fittingly, he uses his newly developed electrical devices to attempt to detect or communicate with the ghosts. In this way, Sam’s initial explorations of Liefdehuis quite resemble modern-day paranormal investigations, which continue to suppose that ghosts can interact with electromagnetic fields. As illuminating as these groundbreaking technologies can be, however, it is Alva’s human connection with the ghost that finally allows them to make peace with the spirit of Liefdehuis.

If you love your haunted house stories with heaping sides of historical context and playful romance, be sure to pick up The Widow of Rose House. You can find it on shelves now at your favorite local retailer, or order a copy online and support The Gothic Library in the process using this Bookshop.org affiliate link. If you’ve already read it, let me know your thoughts in the comments!