Kitty Deverill is caught between two worlds. Born and raised in Ireland, she cherishes her home in West Cork, as Castle Deverill has been in the family for generations. However, she's both wealthy and Anglo-Irish, a fact that many in Ireland can't forget despite her family's largesse towards others. Her two best friends are Bridie Doyle and Jack O'Leary, both devout Irish Catholics. Unfortunately, tensions are rising and soon their relationships may be put to the test.

Santa Montefiore crafts the kind of book you want to just sink into, as her stories and settings draw you in. Her exquisite use of language makes you savor ever word and every image depicted. THE GIRL IN THE CASTLE takes place in the 1900s as we see the political atmosphere through the eyes of Kitty, starting at the age of nine. The vivid descriptions take us back to a time long past even as they make me long to visit Ireland again.

Santa Montefiore doesn't hesitate to show the full range of dangers that her characters face in such a tumultuous time. There is one scene in particular that infuriated me to the point I wanted to throw the book at the offending character. Instead, I kept reading and hoping for the character's comeuppance!

THE GIRL IN THE CASTLE is the first book in the Deverill Chronicles and wow, what an amazing start to the trilogy! Be forewarned, however, that the ending is leaves so many threads still unanswered. I can't wait to see how Santa Montefiore will address the dangling issues in the second book!