I enjoyed this book, even though it was off to a bit of a slow start. I hadn't realized that each book in the series featured new characters, so at first I was a tad confused about how everyone fit. However, once Emma arrived at Penford Hall it really picked up. The descriptions are so beautifully written and now I wish I could visit the grounds and gardens (Especially the ruins) of the Hall. The characters were interesting and I was excited to follow the daily living in an old home like this. I have to say, the mystery was pretty light - there wasn't a lot of typical "investigating". BUT there were many secrets to be discovered and when the largest one was revealed and laid out for Emma - wow I was blown away. What a creative piece of the story and at that point I could not put it down. I wish we saw more of Aunt Dimity in this one, though the casual mentions of her did add to her mystique. I'm a sucker for a happy ending, so I really enjoyed how this was put together and I can't wait to read more in this series.