Introduction

An American woman and her son unearth the buried secrets and past lives of an English manor house in this masterful and riveting novel from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Belfer.

“Infused with the brooding, gothic atmosphere of Jane Eyre or Rebecca . . . a novel that must be savored, one page at a time.”—Melanie Benjamin, author of The Children’s Blizzard

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times

“How many lives can you imagine yourself living?”

So Hannah Larson wonders. When a close relative falls ill, Hannah and her young son, Nicky, decide to join him for the summer at Ashton Hall, a historic manor house outside Cambridge, England. Hannah gave up her academic career to raise her beloved child, who is neurodivergent and experiences the world differently from others, and she’s grateful to escape her life in New York City, where her marriage has been upended by a devastating betrayal.

Soon after their arrival, ever-curious Nicky discovers the skeletal remains of a woman in a forgotten, walled-off wing of the manor, and Hannah is pulled into an all-consuming quest for answers. Working from clues in centuries-old ledgers and the personal papers of the long-departed family, Hannah begins to re-create the Ashton Hall of the Elizabethan era in all its color and conflict. As the secrets of her own life begin to unravel, and the rewards and complications of being Nicky’s mother come into focus, Hannah realizes that Ashton Hall’s women before her had lives not so different from her own. She confronts what women throughout history have had to do to control their own destinies and protect their children.

Rich with passion, strength, and ferocity across the ages, Ashton Hall is a novel that reveals how the most profound hauntings are within ourselves.

Because of its many and varied themes – marriage, motherhood, neurodiversity, and the dependence and independence of women through centuries – ASHTON HALL is an ideal book club pick. The novel provides many opportunities for in-depth discussions of issues that affect all our lives.

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Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

On a Sunday morning in late June, I waited with my son at the side entrance of a stately home near Cambridge, England. We stood on a stone bridge that spanned what was once a moat, the water drained, a grassy pathway beckoning at the bottom, the moat’s walls overgrown with greenery. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

From the author:

Neurodivergence plays a large role in the story, through Nicky’s character. How did this character impact you? Why do you think the author decided to create Janet as a second neurodivergent character? The author has said that Nicky is the hero of the story. Do you agree?

Discuss Hannah’s relationship with Nicky. Did you learn anything from it? Did you identify with their relationship in any way?

In chapter 3, Mrs. Gardner asks: “How many lives can you imagine yourself living?” This question sticks in Hannah’s head throughout the rest of the book, prompting reflections on her “alternate” life that could have been. Do you ever reflect on the other ways your life could have gone? Do you find it compelling, or stress-inducing?

What do you think of Hannah’s often humorous observations of British behavior? If you’ve spent time in the U.K., do you think they have the ring of truth? 

Weblinks

»	Publisher's book info
»	Author's website
»	Book Club Kit
»	English recipes from The National Trust

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