On reading the excerpt I'm already dying to know why Flora's children Thomas and Emily haven't appeared to have aged in 12 years. If it's true they haven't aged how has no one but Flora's long estranged friend, Beth, the only one to notice. Is there something sinister going on, or is it just a case of mistaken identity. I love the Gothic feel the first look has and hope there are some supernatural and suspenseful elements to the novel. Can't wait to read.