The darkest secrets lie closest to home . . . Merrick Darling's life is better than most. As
the daughter of a powerful lord she wants for nothing - yet she will never inherit her
family's Manor. Her only options are a smart marriage or to live at the kindness of her
practical and regimented elder sister Essie. Until the day her father dies in mysterious
circumstances and Merrick is torn from her glamorous New London society life to Norland House
her family's mist-shrouded ancestral home. But the Manor has changed while Merrick has been
away. Once strong and capable Essie is withdrawn and frightened and with good reason. The
borders - their main defence against the toxic mist that has claimed much of their nation and
the deadly monsters that lurk within - have been failing for unknown reasons. When Essie goes
missing it's clear that Merrick needs help. But who can she trust when everyone seems to be
scheming and all she holds true feels like it's slipping out of her grasp?
