Roger Ingleton, Minor
1891
The death of old Roger Ingleton at Maxfield Manor leaves behind more than an estate. It leaves a puzzle. Young Roger, the minor of the title, discovers that he may not be the only heir nor even the true heir. A sealed letter from his father hints at an estranged older brother, presumed dead but perhaps very much alive. Into this fractured family rides Frank Armstrong, the young man's tutor, concerned for his pupil's future in a household suddenly thick with secrets and grief. This is a novel about what happens when the ground shifts beneath you and you realize the family you've known was always partial, edited, a story someone else told. Reed writes with the careful realism of his era, layering mystery upon emotional revelation. The snow-bound manor, the closed rooms, the weight of the old squire's silence all contribute to a mounting tension. What young Roger uncovers about himself and his name is not merely a plot device but a genuine reckoning with identity and belonging. For readers who enjoy Victorian family mysteries, quiet gothic atmosphere, and stories about the search for truth within bloodlines.
