The Forgotten Sister

British writer Cornick (The Woman in the Lake) incorporates elements of romance and paranormal genres into a fascinating if rote historical that centers on the 16th-century death of Amy Robsart, wife of Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester. In a prologue set in 1752, Cornick describes priests attempting to exorcise Amy’s ghost from Cumnor Hall, which results in the ghost escaping. Flash forward to the 2010 wedding of 18-year-old musician Dudley and his groupie-wife, Amelia, as seen through the eyes of Dudley’s best friend, Lizzie Kingdom, who possesses psychometric powers. Through alternating points of view, Cornick reconstructs the lonely married life of Amy Robsart, which eventually leads to her death in a fall from a flight of stairs, and the present-day death of Amelia, who dies the same way after 10 years of marriage. After being released from questioning by the police who suspected she might have some insight into Dudley’s possible role in Amelia’s death, Lizzie embarks on her own investigation into how Amelia died, guided by visions leading her through history and time to reveal frightening things about herself and the Robsart family. While the characters lack depth, the author does a good job with pacing and plot detail. Cornick’s rich mystery will serve readers well on a rainy day. (Nov.)