I can't say this was horrifying, but the author captured the gothic ambiance with little effort. It's refreshing to find a mystery where the lead character has a unique job. 
 I had a lot of fun with it. The intro was brilliant. the characters I grew to love. The ending had me guessing til near the very end. I am super impressed. Not expecting a lot from the sequel since a friend was a bit disappointed with it. Who knows I may adore it. Looking forward to seeing where the author takes us next, but I be wary.