The Secret of Helmersbruk Manor: A Christmas Mystery by Eva Frantz & Elin Sandstrom

The Secret of Helmersbruk Manor: A Christmas Mystery called to me from my bookshelf today so I pushed everything else aside and spent a wonderful morning curled up with it. It completely drew me in. I love the darkness and mystery of Eva Frantz’s writing – carefully placed clues, shiver inducing sightings and layers of questions that allow the reader to really be a part of the story. Translated from Swedish by A. A. Prime, it is an engaging read with beautiful language and clarity. The Secret of Helmersbruk Manor: A Christmas Mystery has placed itself firmly as one of my favourite books of 2023.

A beautifully illustrated hardback, this is a book that feels special. Each of the 24 chapters begins with an intriguing black and white drawing that adds to the mystery. It’s a seasonal story that could be read a chapter a day in December but it will certainly be a challenge for readers to stop after just one chapter and wait until the next day to find out what happens next!

It’s December 1st, 1975. Twelve-year-old Flora Winter and her mother have gone to stay in the Gatekeeper’s Cottage at Helmersbruk Manor for a change of scenery. It’s their first Christmas since the death of Flora’s father and neither is quite sure how to handle it. As soon as they arrive, Flora wonders what her mother has gotten them into. It’s cold, dark and rainy – no sane person goes to the seaside in the middle of winter. The manor house itself is abandoned and dilapidated. The only welcome is from an unusual man named Fridolf and Egon, a strange boy who appears near the house.

With mum busy writing her next book, Flora is left on her own to explore the grounds. Picturing herself as the lady of the manor, she lets her imagination run wild. Rustling in the wind, flashes outside the window, the sudden appearance of little porcelain figures and a distant tinkling of music leave her feeling uneasy. There’s a definite magic about the manor – one that is unexplained and raises more questions with each page. Voices seem to know Flora. They appear in her dreams and invite her to explore further into the depth of the grounds, the labyrinth and the old summer house.

Flora is determined to find out the truth about the local legend of the von Hiems family, the magic spell on the manor house and the long lost treasure. What does a Christmas Eve tragedy 50 years ago have to do with Flora and her mother’s visit? Why are they able to open the gate to the grounds when other cannot? What is their connection to this strange place?

The Secret of Helmersbruk Manor: A Christmas Mystery is a gripping story of identity and family – of loss and being found again. The past defines the future as Flora’s determination unravels secrets left unsaid for far too long.

Fans of The Haunting of Aveline Jones will thoroughly enjoy The Secret of Helmersbruk Manor: A Christmas Mystery.

Thank you to Pushkin Children’s for a copy of this spine-tingling Christmas mystery!

Also by Eva Frantz – The Mystery of Raspberry Hill.

Follow these links to find out more or purchase on-line:

Bookshop:

Amazon:

Books by Kate Heap:

Disclosure: If you buy books using the links above, I may earn a commission from Bookshop.org whose fees support independent bookshops. As an Amazon Associate, Scope for Imagination earns from qualifying purchases.