Dovecombe
A Novel
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Pub Date 5 Jan 2027 | Archive Date 31 Dec 2026
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Description
Arson, obsession, and unrequited love lie at the center of this twisted Gothic mystery set in a crumbling English manor.
Intense, repressed Dorrie is secretly in love with vivid, self-assured Alys. When Dorrie’s abusive marriage implodes, the two women flee to Alys’s remote family home, Dovecombe Manor. But instead of a haven, Dorrie finds a ruin sunk deep in eerie woodland, held in limbo by a decade-old unsolved arson, and haunted by a historic curse. Locals say that the oak trees surrounding the house are sentient, malignant, and bent on vengeance against the family for an ancient wrong. As soon as the women arrive, it’s clear there’s something about the house that disturbs Alys—something she’s hiding from Dorrie.
When the investigation into the fire that nearly destroyed Dovecombe is reopened and suspicions focus on Alys, Dorrie’s sanity begins to crumble. Determined to protect the woman she loves, Dorrie sets out to solve the mystery of what happened on the night of the fire and save Alys from Dovecombe’s dark grip. Her quest pulls her into the tangled history of its secretive occupants—from housekeeper Bonnie, who harbors a deep resentment for the family she serves, to the brooding groundskeeper who’s always watching Alys, and Aly’s ruthless mother, Caroline, who will stop at nothing to restore Dovecombe and her family to their former grandeur. But in this bleak, wild landscape stalked by violence, pulsing with malice and dread, the most dangerous thing of all might be Dorrie.
Written in an evocative literary style, rich in atmosphere and sensory details, Dovecombe is a modern gothic for readers of Daphne du Maurier and Sarah Waters.
About the Author:
Alex Clark is a former stonemason and archaeologist who lives in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Dovecombe is her first novel.
Advance Praise
"Dovecombe is a feast of a book. Excellently plotted and psychologically rich, it’s at once a tantalizing Gothic mystery, a haunting love story, and a deeply moving tale of refuge and restoration. Alex Clark is a talent to watch, and this is a stunning debut." -Emma Stonex, author of The Sunshine Man and The Lamplighters
"I was transfixed by the eerie atmosphere of Dovecombe, a marvelous Gothic mystery brimming with family secrets, cursed property, class tension, and the dangers of illicit desire. Fans of Sarah Waters and Carmen Maria Machado will love this suspenseful debut with psychological depth." -Leigh Stein, best-selling author of If You're Seeing This, It's Meant for You
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781324124214 |
| PRICE | $28.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 272 |
Available on NetGalley
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Buy on Bookshop.org Buy on WaterstonesAverage rating from 15 members
Featured Reviews
Rudi M, Educator
Oh, I LOVED the dark, twisted gothic energy of this one. Give me a crumbling manor buried in the woods, a sapphic obsession, family secrets, an old fire, and trees that may or may not be out for revenge, and I am absolutely going to keep reading. 😂🌳
Dovecombe Manor feels like its own character—decaying, secretive, and deeply unsettling. I loved the way the tension slowly builds around Dorrie and Alys, especially as Dorrie becomes more determined to uncover what really happened at the manor. But the deeper she gets, the more you start questioning what she is willing to do for the woman she loves.
This had the kind of gothic atmosphere I LIVE for. There’s something wonderfully creepy about the woods, the ruined house, the family history, and that constant feeling that something is watching. And as a sapphic reader, I especially loved the complicated, messy obsession at the heart of the story.
Dark, eerie, psychologically twisted, and beautifully gothic. This is exactly the kind of book I want to read when I’m in the mood to disappear into a creepy old house and make terrible decisions. 😂
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!
Reviewer 1334686
I thoroughly enjoyed Dovecombe! Alex Clarke's gothic atmosphere immediately drew me in. The suspense hooked me, and I ended up reading it in one sitting.
I especially appreciated the writing style and the plot. An unsettling mood and tension set the tone. I loved the ambiguity about what was truly happening or had happened. I was having flashbacks to Jane Eyre and Grace Poole. Who can you trust?! This element heightened the Gothic allure for me. The eerie setting, suspense, and fascinating characters made it a very compelling read.
I recommend this book to others. It will keep you guessing. Thanks to WW NOrton and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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