The Shroud
A Victorian Gothic Mystery
A fraudulent medium. A house full of buried secrets. And a murderer who won’t let go of either.
Madame Theda is a fraud. She talks to the dead for money and has never heard a single one of them speak.
Hired to investigate a haunting at the isolated Blackheath House, she sees her chance to become London's next great medium. Instead, she finds a house riddled with secret passages, a wing sealed off for decades, and servants who won't stay past dark.
A murder happens and Theda realises Blackheath's secrets are very much alive, and someone will kill to keep them buried.
The supernatural and the real start to blur. Her reputation is the least of what's at stake now. And the past she ran from isn't done with her yet.
Book one of the trilogy The Making of Madame Theda delivers atmospheric suspense and a gothic supernatural mystery for readers who love haunted-house stories such as Rebecca Netley’s The Whistling or Laura Purcell’s The Silent Companions.
Content Warnings: Emotional Abuse • Death • Abuse
Published: September 10, 2026
ISBN: 978-3-912936-01-8
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See all editions (2)Reader Reviews
4 ratings
McAlister S.
Summary: Spiritualism and mediums are rampant in London, Theda is just another in the crowd of fakes trying to survive. When she is hired by a solicitor to help a pregnant widow who feels haunted by an evil spirit she can’t say no. With the help of a paranormal scientist who would be happy to prove Theda is a fake they begin to investigate. Soon they realize it isn’t spirits at all but a person.
Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book! Theda is a lovable character, even though her own life has been filled with hardship she generally cares about people. This was a fun mystery that bordered on being a thriller. The ending was amazing and I cannot wait to read book two.
Taylor B.
I really enjoyed this book. It has everything you want in a spooky book. An old creepy house with lots of dark secrets. It starts as though it’s a haunted house book but once someone is murdered turns into more of a who done it type of book. Set in Victorian times where a fake psychic is sent to a supposed haunted house to help settle the spirits. However they find a lot more than spirits: secret tunnels and dark secrets. This was a great introduction and I can’t wait to continue reading this trilogy.
Jennifer M.
This is book one of the Making of Madame Theda trilogy. This is a gothic, supernatural mystery. Madame Theda is a fake medium who agrees to investigate a haunted house. You’re drawn right away into the mystery that the story unravels chapter by chapter. Amazing world building that is detailed and imaginable. Fascinating characters that are well developed and diverse. Detail well plotted storyline that keeps your attention throughout the book. This review is based on an early review copy I was sent by the publisher, but this didn't affect the content of my review that I am voluntarily providing.
Liz M.
Okay, I LOVED this one!
There is just something about
an old, creepy house full of secrets, strange servants, hidden passages, and a past that refuses to stay buried that completely pulls me in.
Theda was such an interesting character, especially knowing that she's been pretending to communicate with the dead and then finding herself in a house where the supernatural might actually be real. •• Watching everything start to blur between what's real and what isn't had me hooked.
Blackheath House was honestly a character all on its own. It felt unsettling from the beginning, and every little secret made me want to know what was really going on.
The atmosphere was creepy, mysterious, and perfectly gothic without feeling overdone.
And that ending?! Yeah... I NEED the next book.
Five stars from me! If you like gothic mysteries, haunted houses, secrets, and a little supernatural suspense mixed in, definitely add this one to your list!