I can see how this book is a novelized adaptation of a play, as it read like a farcical melodrama you'd see at Gaslight Theater. Lots of faux-hauntings, a mysterious glowing eye, a Snidely Whiplash-type character, power outages in a spooky house, one could hear in one's mind the special effects crew off-stage raising the crescendo, banging the doors, rustling up the wind. I didn't care much for it. The characters were shallow (except Lady Cornelia - played by ancient Maggie Smith in my mind), her friend Lizzie who was prone to hysterics, and her niece Dale who never had a discerning thought and was constantly making stupid decisions - aargh!!! I started out giving this three stars, but, after reading this review :-) , dropped it to two stars. Doesn't come close to The Circular Staircase