CHARLOTTE MARKHAM AND THE HOUSE OF DARKLING, Michael Boccacino's debut novel, is a Victorian Gothic mystery that will appeal to fans of Daphne du Maurier and the like. Charlotte, a young widow, has come to work as governess to the two children of Mr. Darrow, who recently lost his wife. Charlotte knows of loss herself having said goodbye to her husband and both her parents. A man in black appeared as each of her loved ones died, and she dreams of the dead and the man in black every night. Charlotte isn't sure if the man in black is death, but she knows he relates somehow to death.

The tragic murder of the children''s nanny starts the plot rolling as it appears distinctly unnatural. Shortly after that on a walk through the woods with her charges, Charlotte sees the house of Darkling and meets Lily Darrow, her employer's dead wife in person. The children are glad to see their mother, but Lily warns they must never speak of her to their father.

Both fascinated and disgusted, Charlotte is nonetheless curious and seeks to find answers to her own questions about death in this environment. Her curiosity gets the better of her, and she returns with the children time and again even with the house's malevolence. Boccacino describes it in glorious detail complete with its candle people, books that can transport you to places, landscape paintings that are really doors and statues of emotions.

Boccacino has a deft hand with describing the House of Darkling's master as well along with his guests at a dinner party and the different courses that are served. My one quibble with this book is that I never felt drawn to any of the characters. They remained two-dimensional for me, and while I appreciated what they experienced, it never developed to the level where I totally empathized.

That said, Boccacino is a terrific talent and understands what a story needs to be a successful Victorian gothic. Other authors have tried unsuccessfully to write them, but this one is a gem. His vivid descriptions and intricate plotting balanced the lack of character development so it didn't take away from the book as much as it might have.