About A Mask with Two Ribbons: A Gothic Mystery at Blackthorne Manor:
First Place Winner – Gothic Fiction at the BookFest Book Awards
At the stroke of midnight, the manor doors slam shut—and one guest will not survive the night.
When Lord Reginald Blackthorne is found dead during his family’s annual masquerade, his face still hidden behind a velvet mask, the guests assume it was a tragic accident. But as a thunderstorm traps them inside Blackthorne Manor, whispers turn to suspicion.
The widow does not cry.
The heir hides something behind his smile.
And someone is watching from the portrait gallery.
As the storm rages, secrets seep through the stone walls—affairs, debts, betrayals, and the long shadow of an ancestral curse. With time running out, the truth must be uncovered. But in a house built on silence, even the walls remember.
A Mask with Two Ribbons is a chilling standalone gothic mystery, perfect for fans of Rebecca, The Thirteenth Tale, and The Haunting of Bly Manor. Atmospheric, lyrical, and haunting to the final page.
Reader Highlights:
A slow-burning mystery set in a crumbling English manor
Features a suspicious widow, masked motives, and a stormy night of reckoning
Ideal for lovers of gothic suspense, layered secrets, and elegant prose
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Author Bio:
Daniel Seamster writes gothic mysteries where truth hides in ledgers, footsteps echo in locked rooms, and silence speaks louder than confession. With a master’s degree in Cybersecurity and membership in Mensa, Daniel combines sharp insight with a love for slow-burn suspense and atmospheric detail. His debut novel, A Mask with Two Ribbons, has been praised for its lyrical prose, layered characters, and haunting sense of place.
By day, he solves complex problems; by night, he crafts stories where memory and mystery entwine. Daniel draws inspiration from forgotten books, cold fireplaces, and questions that don’t want answers. He lives with his wife, Rev. Beth Seamster, and their two children, Clara and Matthew—whose curiosity and laughter are constant reminders of what matters most.
Whether wandering cemeteries for research or writing by lamplight, Daniel believes the best mysteries aren’t solved—they’re remembered.