Review: The Letter from Briarton Park

Title: The Letter from Briarton Park

Author: Sarah E. Ladd

Publisher: 1st March 2022 by Thomas Nelson

Pages: 352 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction, regency, romance, mystery

My Rating: 4.5 cups

Synopsis:

In Regency England, one letter will alter a young woman’s fate when it summons her to Briarton Park—an ancient place that holds the secrets of her past and the keys to her future.

Cassandra Hale grew up knowing little about her parentage, and she had made peace with the fact that she never would. But Cassandra’s world shifts when a shocking deathbed confession reveals a two-year-old letter from Mr. Clark, the master of Briarton Park, with hints to her family’s identity. Stung by betrayal, she travels to the village of Anston only to learn Mr. Clark has since passed away.

James Warrington is a widower and the new master of Briarton Park, where he lives with his two young daughters, his sister, and his mother-in-law. When Cassandra appears at his doorstep with a letter from the previous owner and then proceeds to assist his family in an unexpected way, he is honor bound to help uncover the answers she seeks.

The more time Cassandra spends in Anston, the more she begins to suspect not everything—or everyone—is as they seem. As details emerge, the danger surrounding her intensifies. Using wit and intuition, she must navigate the treacherous landscapes between truth and rumor and between loyalty and deception if she is to uncover the realities of her past and find the place her heart can finally call home.

Sarah Ladd’s latest Regency romance, first in the new Houses of Yorkshire series, combines mystery and intrigue with the best of historical storytelling.

My Thoughts

What a wonderful surprise package The Letter from Briarton Park turned out to be! I loved it! I found myself quickly engrossed in the suspense and mystery with all the gothic feels of a Brontë book. Yes indeed, whether it be the boarding school beginnings or the journey to a manor home to be a governess with a seemingly aloof owner, this book captured all the feels of a great historical romance mystery. 

‘The school was the only family I ever knew, first as a student and then as a teacher.’

I was onboard with the lead character Cassandra’s efforts to learn more of her personal history and family. Traveling to a small English village with all the expected gossip, speculation over an inheritance and then mysterious murder made this pure classicism in its approach and execution. James provided the brooding and conflicted romantic interest and with a range of highly engaging secondary characters made this read complete. 

‘The simple words threatened to undo her. How she had yearned for someone to come alongside her. Support her. See her.’

To top it off of course, was it set in Yorkshire with the requisite large manor home -  secret passageways and all! Sarah provides her readers with a mystery that is both well plotted and presented. With classic themes of death and inheritances, families and greed, forbidden romances, murder and mystery, it felt like returning home to a comfort read yet there being enough twists and turns with surprises to keep the reader turning pages until the satisfying conclusion. 

‘The puzzle was not complete, but the pieces were there. They just had to solve it.’

If regency reads appeal to you, then I highly recommend The Letter from Briarton Park as I found it to be totally engaging with all the ingredients present for an atmospheric and engaging historical fiction read. 

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.