Description

In a novel of taut, atmospheric domestic suspense with an irresistible gothic twist from New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Ivy, a lavish Louisiana mansion is the setting for a yearly family reunion that takes a deadly turn.

In Louisiana, the name Benoit conjures a mix of curiosity and envy. For more than two centuries, Livia Benoit's ancestors have been powerful landowners, and the Willows--a massive mansion surrounded by vast acres of land and bayous--is the jewel of their empire. Their fortunes have dwindled, but the Benoits' influence remains. Even beyond the grave, Livia's grandfather exerts his will, requiring family members to gather at the Willows every summer to receive their trust fund share.

For Livia, returning to the place where her mother died by suicide is never easy. She would prefer not to leave her New Orleans real estate business to mingle with status-obsessed relatives. And this year, there's an extra layer of unease. It's not just the circus surrounding her cousin Celeste's new engagement, or her Aunt Delilah's open hostility. There are secrets swirling around the old mansion, hinted at by her aging Aunt Helene. Even Livia's childhood friend, deputy sheriff Bryce Swift, feels a curse hovering over the place.

As family tensions mount, so do mysterious threats to Livia. Maybe her mother's spirit is trying to warn her away--or maybe the danger is even darker. Because nothing about the Willows' history or the tangled Benoit legacy is quite what Livia has believed it to be, and this reunion may just be her last . . .