Craven Manor by Darcy Coates

"Mr. Daniel Kane, I would like to offer you the job of groundskeeper for Craven Manor, starting immediately. Follow Tilbrook Street until it forks at the dead oak. Turn right and travel on for two miles to reach the property. I look forward to your direct response. Bran" -  Craven Manor by Darcy Coates

Daniel Kane is a recently homeless young man alone in the world with the exception of his cousin Kyle who is renting him a room.  When Kyle takes on a second roommate Daniel is consigned to the couch.  

Its not a good living arrangement and then a mysterious letter arrives offering Daniel a steady job as a groundskeeper at Craven Manor.  The job seems too good to pass up until Daniel visits Craven Manor and discovers a 200 year old desolate mansion with dust and decay everywhere.  And who is this mysterious Bran?  Still, Daniel  is desperate.  He accepts the job, moves into the groundskeskeeper's cottage next to Craven Manor and the novel proceeds from there.

Craven Manor (2017) is the second novel I have read by Darcy Coates.  The first novel was The Haunting of Ashburn House which I loved.  Both novels center around a young person without a family and badly needing a place to stay.  And so the abandoned estates they arrive at (Ashburn House and Craven Manor) represent shelter and maybe a new start until our protagonists realize these mansions are haunted and there is a mystery to uncover.

The Haunting of Ashburn House remains my favorite but Craven Manor is a good read as well. Daniel Kane is one of the nicest characters I have encountered in a novel in a long time.  Despite the bad luck life has thrown him he feels empathy for others even at his own expense.  

Darcy Coates writes horror novels but not extreme horror and the good guys and gals have happy endings in her books if Ashburn House and Craven Manor are any indication.  I recommend people give Darcy Coates a try beginning with The Haunting Of Ashburn House.