The Solace of Sin — Catherine Cookson

As soon as she saw Shekinah Hall on the wild moorlands near Hexham, Constance Stapleton was attracted to it. With her marriage to Jim on the brink of collapse, Connie sensed that the move would initiate the separation from Jim she knew was inevitable.

Connie was told she must negotiate with Vincent O'Connor if she wanted to buy the house, although his abrupt manner took her by surprise. She was to discover that mystery was a way of life for Vincent and began to rely on him increasingly as she settled into her new routine. However, when shocking revelations about her husband came to light, she realised that her life at Shekinah could be under threat...