Book Review: "The House of Seven Gables" by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Mystery, unexplained deaths and drama are all in this nineteenth century novel.  An elderly spinster living in a cursed house, awaits her brother's release from prison.  A young, pretty niece shows up to liven the atmosphere--bringing some lightness to this dark drama.  Of course, that leads to some romance, but the real story is much deeper--and that is what keeps the book going.  It does drag a bit in the middle, but once you get through that, it becomes very suspenseful.