The Heiress of Northanger Abbey at Your Local Library: Step-by-Step Guide

My historical novel The Heiress of Northanger Abbey, published on Sept. 1, 2026, is getting a great response! I love the reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, and NetGalley. Such as this five star one:

"A beautifully atmospheric Gothic mystery with a powerful mother-daughter heart."

The Heiress of Northanger Abbey by Nancy Bilyeau

While early sales are wonderful, I also wanted to make sure libraries can order The Heiress of Northanger Abbey. It’s important to me that people can read it if they can’t afford to buy it. 

If you're wondering if libraries can carry The Heiress of Northanger Abbey, the answer is yes.

For reaching out to local libraries, I’ve included suggested approaches.

For a visit to your local branch:

Hi, I’m hoping you can acquire a copy of The Heiress of Northanger Abbey by Nancy Bilyeau for the library’s collection. It’s a new historical novel with a starred review from BlueInk Review. Libraries can order the physical book (paperback and hardcover) through the Ingram catalog, and the ebook is available on OverDrive, Hoopla, and cloudLibrary. Thank you so much for looking into it!

How to request it through an email or your library app:

1.)    Log into your library’s website or the Libby/OverDrive app.

2.)    Search for ‘The Heiress of Northanger Abbey.’

3.)    If it doesn’t show up, scroll to the bottom and look for “Didn’t find what you’re looking for?” or “Suggest a title.”

4.)    Click Recommend, or fill out the form with the ISBNs and details provided:

ISBN paperback: 979-8993563046

ISBN hardcover: 979-8993563039

ISBN digital: 979-8993563053

If you could take a few minutes to reach out to make sure people can read this novel at the library, it would mean the world to me. Let's make sure anyone who wants to, can read it.

The Heiress of Northanger Abbey Is On Sale

On September 1st, The Heiress of Northanger Abbey went on sale as an ebook, paperback, and hardcover, available in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

Set twenty-two years after Jane Austen’s classic, my novel features Catherine Tilney, who is horrified when her daughter Phoebe appears to fall prey to the Thorpe family that once made Catherine's life a misery. She must journey into the shadowy moorland, confront past enemies, and master real-world perils to save her daughter from disaster.

This novel is for Jane Austen fans who adore a high-spirited Regency tale, for readers who savor a hint of the Gothic—and for anyone who longs to be transported to the mist-shrouded moors.

To order The Heiress of Northanger Abbey, go to these retailers:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Bookshop.org
Apple
Kobo

"If you're looking for a cozier thriller, this 'sequel' to Jane Austen's last novel may be the perfect pick. It finds Northanger Abbey heroine Catherine Tilney trying to help her daughter avoid entanglements with the very family that nearly ruined her happiness—which takes them to an isolated manor beset with secrets (and maybe vampires?). You'll get a touch of that Austen spirit, with a Gothic mystery mixed in." -- Real Simple magazine, "Perfect for Fall Reading List"

"Bilyeau successfully builds upon Austen's themes by exploring motherhood, legacy and the lasting consequences of youthful misjudgments. The result is a sequel that honors its literary predecessor while offering enough of a fresh perspective to satisfy both Austen fans and historical mystery readers." -- Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize critic's report

"If you ever wondered how Catherine fared after Jane Austen's masterpiece of satire Northanger Abbey ended--wait no more! A high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse that puts both her life and her daughter's future on the line. This delicious Gothic tale, full of twists and turns, will keep you turning pages late into the night." -- Katherine Reay, author of The Berlin Letters and The English Masterpiece

"Nancy Bilyeau crafts an elegant story that pays due homage to both Austen and the Gothic novel, and gives the reader a fascinating view into some of Austen's most iconic characters. Don't let this one pass you by!" -- Vanessa Kelly, author of the Emma Knightley mysteries

"The Heiress of Northanger Abbey is a perfect fall read, filled with romantic plots, horrifying villains and a shockingly passionate but twisted plot that will leave the reader gasping. Go gothic this fall and enjoy every single page of it." -- Smart Bitches, Trashy Books review

Goodreads Giveaway of 'The Heiress of Northanger Abbey'

Goodreads is running a giveaway of my historical mystery, The Heiress of Northanger Abbey. Five signed paperbacks are being offered. To enter, go here.

Early reviews have been encouraging!

BlueInk Review gave it a star and said, "Nancy Bilyeau’s novel is a smart update and sequel to Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, set 22 years later. But Bilyeau doesn’t just attempt a stiff Regency pastiche; instead, she writes with a gorgeous, fluid voice that brings Jane Austen’s beloved characters back to life in a beautifully layered and thoroughly human way."

“Prepare to be captivated by this brilliant homage to the Gothic genre that will thrill Austen fans and lovers of historical fiction alike. Impossible to put down.”
—Syrie James, bestselling author of The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen and The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall

“Mysteries and dangers … very enjoyable!”
—Janie Chang, USA Today bestselling author of The Fourth Princess: A Gothic Novel of Old Shanghai

“Twenty years after the events of Northanger Abbey, one of Jane Austen’s most gentle and warm-hearted heroines sets out to protect her daughter from the very real dangers of being an heiress. The result is a sparkling tribute to Gothic stories, replete with moors, ruined castles, vampyre stories and forbidden romance. Insightful and charming, this is a novel of which Miss Austen would surely approve.”
—Susan Breen, award-winning author of Merry

“The Heiress of Northanger Abbey is richly layered, deliciously Gothic, and brimming with psychological suspense.”
—Emilya Naymark, author of the Sylvan mystery novels

“A compelling version of the story years after Austen’s own story closes….Impossible to put down and highly recommended.”
—Michelle Cameron, author of Napoleon’s Mirage  

Unveiling the Gothic Cover for My New Jane Austen Sequel

I'm excited to share the cover of The Heiress of Northanger Abbey. It's a Gothic historical mystery and a sequel to Jane Austen's classic. Twenty-two years later, Catherine Tilney must fight to protect her daughter from fortune hunters.

This novel is for Austen fans and anyone who adores a high-spirited Regency tale, savors a hint of the Gothic, and longs to be transported to the mist-shrouded moors.

The book officially goes on sale September 1st. Preorders are possible now--and the ebook is discounted to $4.99 before publication. (Paperback will be sold later.)

Amazon 

Barnes & Noble

Bookshop.org

Apple

I'm so grateful for the endorsements that have come in:

"Prepare to be captivated by this brilliant homage to the Gothic genre that will thrill Austen fans and lovers of historical fiction alike. Impossible to put down!"- Syrie James, bestselling author of The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen and The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall

"Nancy Bilyeau's sequel employs prose reminiscent of Austen's writing, with enough twists to keep the story interesting. Very enjoyable!" -Janie Chang, USA Today bestselling author of The Fourth Princess: A Gothic Novel of Old Shanghai

"Twenty years after the events of Northanger Abbey, one of Jane Austen's most gentle and warm-hearted heroines sets out to protect her daughter from the very real dangers of being an heiress. The result is a sparkling tribute to Gothic stories, replete with moors, ruined castles, vampyre stories and forbidden romance. Insightful and charming, this is a novel of which Miss Austen would surely approve." -Susan Breen, award-winning author of Merry

“The Heiress of Northanger Abbey is richly layered, deliciously Gothic, and brimming with psychological suspense.” —Emilya Naymark, author of the award-nominated Sylvan crime novels

"Catherine Morland is older and wiser, but twenty years on, she’s still drawn to the Gothic. A thrilling sequel that honours the original but brings its own delicious drama. Familiar characters in a masterful new tale about the next generation of the Tilney family."— Kate Braithwaite, author of The Scandalous Life of Nancy Randolph

“A compelling version of the story years after Austen’s story closes…impossible to put down and highly recommended.” —Michelle Cameron, author of Napoleon’s Mirage