Yes, My Darling Daughter

“A poignant ghost story . . . Leroy is an evocative writer who expertly conjures up the cloud of fear enveloping a mother struggling to reach her child.” —Muriel Dobbin, The Washington Times

“Leroys fourth novel is engrossing, almost chilling, and yet, a joyous story . . . For literary readers who like a touch of the otherworldly Rebecca in their reading.” —Diane Stresing, The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) “Yes, My Darling Daughter is a charming page-turner. It is Margaret Leroys fifth novel, and clearly the work of an accomplished writer—a haunting book and a tantalizing read.” —Lois d. Atwood, The Providence Journal “Fans of old-fashioned gothics will welcome this tale of love, betrayal and death from British author Leroy . . . Leroys prose lures readers into a disturbing murder mystery. Her characters are as realistic and intriguing as her locales in England and Ireland.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Every once in a blue moon, a masterful writer dives into gothic waters and emerges with a novel that--like Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, Minette Walters's The Breaker, and Donna Tartt's The Little Friend--simultaneously celebrates and transcends the tradition. Welcome Margaret Leroy to the clan.

What's the matter with Sylvie?

Such a pretty girl. Four years old; well loved by her young mother, Grace. But there's something . . . off about the child. Her deathly fear of water; night terrors; most of all, her fixation with a photo of an Irish seaside town called Coldharbour.

Sylvie, tell me about your picture. Why's it so special, sweetheart? My heart is racing, but I try to make my voice quite calm.

That's my seaside, Grace. Very matter-of-fact, as though this should be obvious. I lived there, Grace. Before.

Haunted and haunting, Yes, My Darling Daughter is a wonderfully original, deliciously suspenseful mystery, a haunting book and a tantalizing read (The Providence Journal).

An eerie story of a mother whos losing her four-year-old daughter, Sylvie, to a strange, otherworldly fixation, and their quest to discover together the long-ago crime thats haunting Sylvie.

Margaret Leroy was born in England and studied music at Oxford. She has worked as a music therapist, teacher, and psychiatric social worker. She is the author of four previous novels.

1. The storys characters all take different positions on the supernatural: Lavinia seems very open to it, while Karen and many others are deeply suspicious of any non-scientific explanation, and warn Grace against considering it. Did you find the premise of reincarnation convincing? Do you think its possible that cases of reincarnation, or similar supernatural events, occur in real life?

2. How did your ideas about what was wrong with Sylvie change as the story went on? At what point did you begin to believe that something supernatural was involved?

3. What role does Grace being a single mother play in the story? How does it affect the way shes treated by other people? Did the representation of Graces experience as a single mother seem accurate to you?

4. Several people suggest to Grace that she needs to set stricter boundaries for Sylvie, that shes enabling Sylvies behavior by forgiving her outbursts. Do you agree? How do you think Grace shouldve handled Sylvies behavior in the early stages?

5. When Lavinia asks Grace why she never presses Sylvie about calling her “mum,” Grace thinks, “I dont tell her the real reason. That Im scared of what might happen.” Are there other instances in the book where Grace hides from the truth? How does this dynamic affect her life—and Sylvies?

6. Why do you think Grace trusts Adam? What leads her to open up to his theories and let him examine Sylvie?

7. Sylvie refuses to tell anyone much about her past life until the end of the story. Do you think she was unwilling to tell, or unable to see beyond a few elements of what had happened to Jessica? What did you imagine was going on inside her mind before she and Grace came to Ireland?

8. Do you think Adam is right to press Sylvie so directly for the details of her past life? Is he right when he says to Grace, “You cant protect her.… Whatever happened, has happened,” (p. 238)? Or is he risking making things worse for her?

9. “Why do we do what we do?” Lavinia asks Grace when theyre discussing Adams motives (p. 167). “Is anyone really objective?” What does Lavinia mean? What are the motives underlying the different characters theories about Sylvie, and the ways they treat her and Grace?

10. Do you believe that some people are more attuned to spiritual forces in the world than others? What makes such people receptive? Do you think its more of a burden or a privilege?

11. Why do you think the author chose to write the story in the present tense? What effect does this have on our understanding of events—and on our understanding of Graces perspective?

12. Its unclear at the end of the story just how much Sylvie has been able to disconnect from her memories of what happened to Jessica. How do you imagine shell behave from now on? What do you think Grace and Sylvies relationship will be like once they return home?