Lucy is having trouble settling on a profession but certainly never expected her explorations to lead her to the bewitching town of Esther Wren.It's when Lucy tries her hand at floral arrangements that a co-worker encourages her to apply to Ladywyck Lodge to train in floristry. Lucy's acceptance to the program prompts her move from New York City to the quaint town where her father buys her an enchanting—or enchanted—house. As soon as she moves in, things begin appearing. Some are good surprises, such as a typewriter and a cat. But when Lucy sees other people in the house and items start disappearing, she determines to get to the root of the problem. The combination of Lucy's naïve sleuthing and the small-town setting with its quirky, slightly sinister residents, all illustrated in retro-looking full-color portraits and paintings, firmly mark this as a cozy horror. The meandering pace picks up with a humorous turn of events, and a hint of romance is interjected when the mysterious, attractive Daniel, a teacher at Ladywyck, enters the picture. As Lucy traverses the town, she uncovers its history, studies some shady characters, and meets friends who help. By the time Lucy is done, she has discovered her path in life.Teens seeking a terror-free spine tingle are in for a treat. (Horror. 12-18)

Privileged Lucy Crisp is living in New York City with her restaurant critic father, -halfway through her second gap year, after her first failed to yield positive results.- After learning of the coveted Ladywyck Variety rose, which boasts an unusually long life, Lucy applies to attend the Floral Arts program at esteemed Ladywyck Lodge, a college four hours upstate known for its flowers and vegetables. Her father buys a former sea captain-s house in the town at a great price; it-s lovely and old, and seemingly perfect lodging for his daughter and potential roommates. But as strange and unexplained phenomena occur, Lucy rapidly discovers that the house has a storied past-furniture and other objects spontaneously appear-and she begins to uncover the magical, potentially menacing, truth about Ladywyck Lodge and the town in which it sits. Moody full-page and spot illustrations by Hill (Miss Moon: Wise Words from a Dog Governess) evoke a sense of uneasy glamour, and the text-s arch tone underlines its picturesque-turned-uncanny-valley vibe. Spine-tingling with a gentle message about belonging and creativity, Hill-s debut novel is a worthy diversion. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 12-up. (Apr.)