by Lydia Carrington

Serafina and the Black Cloak set for nationwide release on July 14.

Asheville author Robert Beatty debuts his novel, Serafina and the Black Cloak, a spooky mystery-thriller from Disney Hyperion that takes place at the iconic Biltmore Estate.

The book tells the story of an intriguing and brave 12-year-old girl who lives secretly in the basement of the grand Biltmore mansion. It’s an idea that grew out of the author’s love of writing stories for his daughters. Although it was written for middle grade students, Serafina’s mix of historical fiction, fantasy and mystery makes it appealing to adult readers as well.

Biltmore House and its opulent furnishings, as well as the gardens and grounds of the estate, play a big role in the book. The story takes place in 1899, during the time of George Vanderbilt, and Beatty exhaustively researched the history of the house and visited the estate more than 50 times to ensure he was depicting accurately the 250-room chateau and its period in history.

“Never go into the forest, for there are many dangers there, and they will ensnare your soul.”

Serafina has never had a reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of Biltmore Estate. There’s plenty to explore in the shadowed corridors of her vast home, but she must take care to never be seen. None of the rich and fancy folk upstairs know that Serafina exists; she and her pa, the estate’s maintenance man, have secretly lived in the basement for as long as Serafina can remember.

But when children at the estate start disappearing, only Serafina knows who the culprit is: a terrifying man in a black cloak who stalks Biltmore’s corridors at night. Following her own harrowing escape, Serafina risks everything by joining forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, the young nephew of Biltmore’s owners. Braeden and Serafina must uncover the man in the black cloak’s true identity before all of the children vanish one by one.

Serafina’s hunt leads her into the very forest that she has been taught to fear. There she discovers a legacy of magic that is bound to her own identity. In order to save the children of Biltmore, Serafina must not only face her darkest enemy, but the secrets of her own past.

For more information on the author, visit www.robert-beatty.com

If You Go: Robert Beatty reading and booksigning for Serafina and the Black Cloak, Saturday, July 25 at 3 p.m. at Malaprops Bookstore/Cafe, 55 Haywood St., Asheville. (828) 254-6734, www.malaprops.com.