The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

"Ancient walls that sing the distant hours"

Every so often you get a book for which you have no expectation. I ordered this book into my library queue on the suggestion of some list or another, just because. When it came, I thought; "Romance?" because of the castle on the cover. Romance and castles are a cinch- right? Oh, and there is romance. Pretty much the twarted kind. And, it's a whodunit, and a bit gothic, and a slice of Grimm's, and a dash of mother-daughter angst and reparation. Controlling fathers, controlling daughters, insanity, love, war, lies, secrets, bald truths. Beautiful days, creepy rooms, bad history. At times I wondered if I was reading a scary novel. I don't do scary. But, then, I never was scared, so...I guess not. What it is is full of wonderful twists, grand prose and wonderful abandon. I can't wait for my Eldest to read it. I think Middlest will like it too.
AS far as flags? I can recall no foul language, romance in place of sex and the violence is of individual sort and accidental kind. I do think it will take a more mature mind to enjoy the novel, so for older kids.
Loved it.