Belladonna

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace  “Which is better? To live forever, or to live and love?”
Synopsis: Signa Farrow was orphaned as a baby and raised by a series of guardians more interested in her large inheritance than her well-being who all met an untimely end. Now 19 and not long away from gaining access to her fortune, she has been sent to her latest guardians - a recently bereaved uncle by marriage and his two children, one of whom appears to be dying from the same mysterious malady that took her mother. Here, Signa meets her deceased aunt's ghost who requests her help in stopping the poisoning and attempted murder of Signa's cousin. Since surviving the mass poisoning that killed her parents, Signa has been able to see and communicate with Death, and she enlists the help of him and the stablehand Sylas in the endeavour. 
“Your name is no curse, Little Bird. I just like the taste of it.”
My Thoughts:

• A great gothic atmosphere that made me want to don a red ballgown and creep around a manor house and secret garden literally flirting with death and attempting to solve a murder.
• The apparent love triangle between Signa, Sylas and Death wasn't overdone, Signa was attracted to and intrigued by both but wary of their motives. Without spoiling anything, it was resolved satisfactorily.
• This is the first of a series and so the central murder mystery is solved, there are some questions I still need answers to, most significantly:
  • Is there significance to Signa's aunts being two different colours beyond the resemblance to her late aunt?
  • Why were Signa's parents, all their guests and staff poisoned? By who? Is this still an open criminal case, because it seems like it should be a bigger deal!

“Do not change the parts of yourself that you like to make others comfortable. Do not try to mold yourself to fit the standards someone else has set for us.”