Review: The Secrets of Crestwell Hall

Title: The Secrets of Crestwell Hall

Author: Alexandra Walsh

Publisher: 24th January 2024 by Boldwood Books

Pages: 386 pages

Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction | Women's Fiction

Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

‘A king adorns the throne… He has no subtlety, no grace but he does not deserve to die in the way that has been planned and this is why we shall stop them, our men, our kin and save us all.’

1605

Bess Throckmorton is well used to cunning plots and intrigues. With her husband Sir Walter Raleigh imprisoned in the Tower of London, and she and her family in a constant battle to outwit Robert Cecil, the most powerful man in the country who is determined to ruin her, Bess decides to retreat to her beloved home, Crestwell Hall. But there she is shocked to hear talk of a new plot to murder the king. So, unbeknownst to their menfolk, the wives of the plotters begin to work together to try to stop the impending disaster.

Present Day

Isabella Lacey and her daughter, Emily, are excited to be starting a new life at her aunt’s home, Crestwell Hall in Wiltshire. During renovations, Isabella discovers an ancient bible that once belonged to Bess Throckmorton, and to her astonishment finds that it doubled as a diary. As Isabella reads Bess’s story, a new version of the Gunpowder Plot begins to emerge - told by the women.

When Emily’s life is suddenly in terrible danger, Isabella understands the relentless fear felt by Bess, hundreds of years ago. And as the fateful date of 5th November draws ever closer, Bess and the plotters’ wives beg their husbands to stop before a chain of events is set into action that can only end one way…

My Thoughts

I have read and thoroughly enjoyed all of Alexandra’s books. If you love English history, particularly the Tudor/Stuart era, then this is most definitely the author for you. The Marquess House series was an extraordinary feat in reimagining aspects of Tudor history. This time, Alexandra tackles the infamous Gunpowder Plot of the 17th century which is also inclusive of a contemporary timeline.

‘We must persuade them away from the horror of this plot. They are good men who have become misguided. In the misery of the past years with the plague and the disappointments of King James’s Catholic policy, they’ve forgotten that their lives are happy and there are people who love them.’

In a nutshell Alexandra considers whether the wives of the conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 knew what was going on? Guy Fawkes is the name most associated with this event, however, Elizabeth (Bess) Throckmorton (wife of Sir Walter Raleigh who was being held in the Tower of London) is who Alexandra shines the spotlight on.  There are plots swirling around her and Bess must look to protect those she loves from being implicated to rid England of its unpopular King. In the present day, Isabella discovers Bess’s diary and faces a mysterious modern day/contemporary danger herself. It proved fascinating reading but be warned, it is an intriguing and complex read. For those who love a good conspiracy theory look no further.

‘…breathing in the atmosphere, imagining she could hear snippets of conversations from centuries gone by as she perambulated through the rooms …. Bess is giving me an entirely new perspective on the Gunpowder Plot,’

The dual narrative once again works well as the author has really done her research in an attempt to make the whole plot appear plausible! Love it! On the flip side however, there are A LOT of details, names and places and you really had to be thinking straight with the large (and I mean large) assortment of characters (all real though - which is actually mind blowing when you think about it). However, sometimes it did read a little like a history text book of ‘who’s who’ from the period. The book is about history, mystery, and romance, with a twist on the famous Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

‘Do you think we women are deaf?’ she hissed, anger giving her courage. ‘Or that we are fools? We have known for months that the men of the family have been plotting a heinous crime and we have done our best to save you from yourselves.’

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.

 

Review: The Jane Seymour Conspiracy

Title: The Jane Seymour Conspiracy

Author: Alexandra Walsh

Publisher: 20th July 2022 by Sapere Books

Pages: 400 pages

Genre: historical fiction, Tudor

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

Marquess House is under threat…

London, 1527

Nineteen-year-old Jane Seymour arrives at court to take her place with Queen Katherine of Aragon. Discovering a court already beginning to divide into factions between Katherine and Jane’s second cousin, Anne Boleyn, Jane finds herself caught between the old world and the new. Determined to have a son, the king appears to be prepared to take whatever steps he deems necessary to secure the Tudor dynasty.

When King Henry VIII finally succeeds in his pursuit of Anne, Jane witnesses the slow unravelling of his interest in the new queen as she, too, fails in her task to deliver a son. Having watched both Katherine and Anne fall from grace, Jane has no ambition for the throne, but when the king begins seeking her out, Jane realises the decision may be out of her hands…

Pembrokeshire, 2020

When a set of papers called The Pentagram Manuscript makes its way to Perdita and Piper at Marquess House, they find they have a new mystery to unravel. The manuscript is the tale of five women on a quest to find true love, written while Anne Boleyn was queen. As Perdita begins to unravel the text, she discovers a code that leads to a whole new outlook on Henry’s relationship with Jane Seymour.

But before they have a chance to reveal all, the twins find themselves under threat from a different source. Their second cousin, Xavier Connors, is determined to wrest Marquess House from them. As Marquess House must be passed down through the female line, and Perdita and Piper do not have children, Xavier sees his twin daughter as being next in line. And when Piper is nearly driven off the road, they realise he will stop at nothing to get what he wants…

What really happened to Henry VIII’s Tudor queens? Why was history rewritten?

Will Piper and Perdita be able to unravel all of the secrets before it’s too late…?

My Thoughts

I have read and enjoyed all the books in this series -The Marquess House - it was meant to be a trilogy, however, Alexandra states that Jane’s story kept arising and I am so glad she put pen to paper for this one. It was a breath of fresh air to see the demure Jane portrayed with strength and spunk! If you love English history, particularly the Tudor period, then this is most definitely the series for you. I believe it is essential that you read all the books in sequence for both the historical events and present day character development to make sense. Both narratives - past and present - in all books thus far are engaging and entertaining. 

As with Alexandra’s previous books, this instalment 'The Jane Seymour Conspiracy' is a massively researched undertaking that is structured and planned to perfection. The historical premise of an alternate narrative to this Tudor period is so well written that it appears entirely plausible. This is linked wonderfully well with the present day and the theory that there are movements to suppress undiscovered truths. As in dual time narratives, it requires a solid link between the two stories to work and I believe Alexandra weaves the two together well. If you love a good conspiracy theory then this series has them by the dozen.

‘Throughout her life, Jane had been schooled to understand her destiny was not her own to choose, that her husband would be selected for her and she would live a life decreed by the men around her. Yet, here was a group of women asking her to become involved in political intrigue. It was a heady feeling and the idea tingled with danger.’

The last book went a little off track for me, so I am happy to report that this instalment was right up there with the original book one. These are long reads and the amount of information can become overwhelming at times. I loved reading about Catherine Howard (book 1) and Elizabeth Tudor (book 2) . I did not warm to Arbella Stuart (book 3) but Jane Seymour’s story (book 4) is wonderful. You simply must suspend your rational thinking and just enjoy the ‘what ifs’ proposed - it’s fun pursuing a mystery. The current day story still offers its own mystery, overlooking the information dumps by the lead characters and their interacting dialogue often basic and robotic at times.

“… check the manuscript and discover what really happened to Jane Seymour. There is something strange here and my heart tells me there was no happy ending for anyone this time.”

Jane Seymour (third wife of Henry VIII) is such an interesting character to study. As Alexandra herself writes: “Often passed over for the more dramatic queens of Henry VIII, to me her depiction as the demure, shy wife has never tallied with the description of her behaviour - flirting with the king, accepting gifts, preparing her marriage chest while Anne was in the Tower of London, attempting to persuade Henry to return to Catholicism and trying to bring his two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, back into Henry’s lives. These are the actions of a woman who knows how to survive and has a strong streak of determination, not an inexperienced wallflower.”

“Jane is there,” Perdita had said, “but she’s in the shadows and we need to bring her forward into the light.”

Overall, I really enjoyed this series. It proved fascinating reading but be warned it is an intriguing yet complex read. For those who love a good conspiracy theory related to the Tudors you simply must read the books of the The Marquess House series. This book will truly make you reconsider the current accepted historical facts and warm your heart that in this male dominated world, female solidarity likely existed. 

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.

Review: The Music Makers - Timeshift Victorian Mysteries

Title: The Music Makers - Timeshift Victorian Mysteries Book 2

Author: Alexandra Walsh

Publisher: 9th November 2021 by Sapere Books

Pages: 432 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction, mystery

My Rating: 3 crowns

Synopsis:

Do you have the power to change your fate…?

Pembrokeshire, Wales, 2020

Serious illness has forced Eleanor Wilder to leave her life in London, close her antique shop, and return to the family farm in Pembrokeshire. Her instinct is to hide from the world but when her parents bring her to a family reunion at the nearby house, Cliffside, she is transfixed by a set of old family photographs.

One of the images is of a woman in theatrical dress, labelled ‘Esme Blood’ – a name that is familiar to Eleanor through a set of Victorian tarot cards and diaries that she found through her shop. Certain the name is unusual enough not to be a coincidence, Eleanor begins to research the life of this intriguing woman.

London, England, 1875

Born to a teenage mother who couldn’t cope, Esme Blood is adopted by the ebullient Cornelius and Rosie Hardy into a touring theatrical troupe, along with her friend Aaron. When Aaron’s grandparents return to claim him, Esme is devastated and the two promise they will find each other.

Outgrowing her adopted lifestyle, Esme decides to set out to seek her fortune, and she relies on a deck of Tarot cards to direct her. But fate can be a cruel mistress, and before long Esme finds herself trapped in a loveless marriage.

Did Esme find happiness? Was she ever reunited with Aaron?

And will researching her family history bring healing to Eleanor…?

My Thoughts

“We are the music makers, We are the dreamers of dreams,”

I am a fan of Alexandra’s The Marquess House trilogy which I found to be a wonderful dual timeline narrative. I was therefore eager to try something from her new series on Victorian mysteries. This book is the second in the series, however, you don’t need to have read the first book as this works as a standalone.

“A message across time” she said, her eyes gleaming with excitement.”

There is much to enjoy in this story. The historical story is more interesting with fascinating insights into tarot card readings and the Victorian theatre (fantastic research here). The link to the modern day timeline through Eleanor’s collection of theatrical artifacts was well done. I did find, however, that the storyline’s were somewhat implausible at times and there were many characters being added in throughout both timelines that it was a struggle to keep up with them all. 

“You have been my heart, my soul, but you are draining me, and I need to be free before our love destroys me.”

This is another solid book by Alexandra Walsh. I loved the links to her previous books, touching on characters from Marquess House. I do recommend you sample some of her writing.

‘To enable us to exist to the limit of our abilities we have to learn what makes our hearts beat, to be ourselves and to live truthfully within our own skin.’

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.

Review: The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy

Title: The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy - The Marquess House Trilogy Book 3

Author: Alexandra Walsh

Publisher: 25th May 2020 by Sapere Books

Pages: 500 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction, mystery

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

The final instalment in the timeshift conspiracy series that you don’t want to miss! Perfect for fans of Dan Brown, Philippa Gregory, Kate Mosse and Tom Harper.

Get ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about British royal history…

Derbyshire, England, 1603

Elizabeth I is dead and the Tudor reign is over. As the men in power decide to pass the throne to the Scottish King James, one woman debates changing the course of history.

Two Tudor heirs have been covered up for decades and with a foreign king threatening the stability of England it could be time to bring the truth to the fore.

But there are reasons the Tudor children were put into hiding and exposing them would put not only their lives in danger, but the lives of many others as well…

Marquess House, Pembrokeshire, 2019

Dr Perdita Rivers and her sister Piper have returned to their ancestral home. But the ancient walls still contain riddles which the twins need to solve.

Perdita and Piper have already discovered earth-shattering secrets which will change the course of English history forever. But they are missing one vital piece of the puzzle.

Two Tudor rings have led them to cover-ups at the Tudor court, but now they must track down a missing silver locket to slot the final parts of the mystery together.

And just when it seems they could be ready to expose the centuries-old conspiracy, old enemies resurface to put their very lives at risk…

THE ARBELLA STUART CONSPIRACY is the final book in the Marquess House trilogy, a dual timeline conspiracy thriller with an ingenious twist on a well-known period of Tudor and Stuart history.

THE MARQUESS HOUSE TRILOGY SERIES

BOOK ONE: The Catherine Howard Conspiracy

BOOK TWO: The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy

BOOK THREE: The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy

My Thoughts

I read and thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in this series. If you love English history, particularly the Tudor/Stuart era, then this is most definitely the series for you. It is essential that you read all the books and in sequence for both the historical events and present day character development to make sense. Both narratives - past and present - in all three books are good. 

As with Alexandra’s previous two books, this instalment 'The Arbella Stuart Conspiracy' is a massively researched undertaking that is structured and planned to perfection. The historical premise of an alternate narrative to this Tudor period is so well written that it appears entirely plausible. This is linked wonderfully well with the present day and the theory that there are movements to suppress these undiscovered truths. As in dual time narratives it requires a solid link between the two stories to work and I believe Alexandra weaves the two well together once more. If you love a good conspiracy theory then this series has them by the dozen.

Unfortunately, I was not as enraptured with this final instalment as the previous two. Burnout? Maybe. They are long reads and the amount of information in this one became overwhelming at times. It definitely needed a glossary/chart/family tree (or three!) as the number of names and family connections just got lost in the vast amounts of information (if you are not diligent enough to go and research the connections). Whilst I loved reading about Catherine Howard (book 1) and Elizabeth Tudor (book 2) I really did not warm to Arbella Stuart. She was always angry and ‘snapping’ at people! The current day's tale still held a good mystery, but the information dumps by the lead characters were too much. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this series. It proved fascinating reading but be warned it is an intriguing yet complex read. I feel that it slid downhill from book one but still maintained a high level of attraction particularly for those who love a good conspiracy theory related to the Tudors. 

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review:The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy - The Marquess House Trilogy #2

Title: The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy - The Marquess House Trilogy #2

Author: Alexandra Walsh

Publisher: 1st June 2019 by Sapere Books

Pages: 475 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction, mystery

My Rating: 4.5 cups

Synopsis:

A timeshift conspiracy thriller that will shock you to your core! Perfect for fans of Dan Brown, Philippa Gregory, Kate Mosse and Tom Harper. 

Was Elizabeth I really the last Tudor princess…? 

Nonsuch Palace, England, 1586 

Elizabeth I has been queen for 28 years. She has survived hundreds of plots against her but now she faces the revelation of a secret she thought would remain hidden forever… 

Elizabeth is not the last of the Tudor line — there are two more legitimate heirs to her crown. 

Her sworn enemy, Philip II, King of Spain, has discovered the secret and thinks he can control the missing princess as his puppet queen. 

Can Elizabeth maintain control over her throne? And what happened to the lost Tudor heirs? 

Castle Jerusalem, Andorra, 2018 

Dr Perdita Rivers and her twin sister Piper are safely hidden in Andorra. 

Despite their narrow escape from those pursuing them, Perdita is determined to continue her grandmother’s legacy by uncovering her ground-breaking research into the English royal bloodline. 

But she soon realises that nothing about the Tudor era was as it seemed. And now the national identity of Great Britain must be called into question. 

With their enemies still tracking them and the lives of those they love in deadly risk, Perdita and Piper must succeed in exposing the secrets of history or there is no hope of them escaping alive... 

THE ELIZABETH TUDOR CONSPIRACY is the second book in the Marquess House trilogy, a dual timeline conspiracy thriller with an ingenious twist on a well-known period of Tudor history.

My Thoughts

I loved the first book in this trilogy, The Catherine Howard Conspiracy (HERE), so it was with great anticipation that I embarked on the second book. It did not disappoint. If you enjoyed the first, this book follows a similar style with chapters in the past and present with a mystery that continues to unravel. However, you most definitely need to have read book one before reading this latest instalment. 

‘Would a woman be capable of reigning for so long without a man to guide her while creating a prosperous country and resolving so many of its political issues? Elizabeth worried most men of her era because she was strong, politically astute, clever and educated to a higher standard than most of her privy council’

Returning to this clever scenario set up by the author, I still thoroughly embraced and enjoyed the whole twist on the accepted thinking of the Tudor lineage. The dual narrative once again works well as the author has really done her research in an attempt to make the whole plot appear plausible! Love it! On the flip side however, I did not find this book to read at quite the same pace of the first but found it still to be a rollicking good tale. Also, for the Elizabethan chapters, you really had to be thinking straight with the large (and I mean large) assortment of characters (all real though - which is actually mind blowing when you think about it). However, sometimes it did read a little like a history text book of ‘who’s who’ and you had to look past the rather large information dumps. Similar to the first, you really have to suspend your logical thinking and just go with it, for given the combination of fact and fiction, it really makes you wonder just what could have been. 

On the contemporary side of things, the story surrounding the MI1 Elite conspiracy is fun with all the characters returning from the first book and some loose ends tied up. It really is a wonderful trilogy and I can’t wait to read the final instalment. The author’s note at the end helps to explain exactly where her thinking was coming from and how she tried to substantiate her claims. If you are a Tudor fan, you simply cannot pass up this opportunity to read a most effective and plausible version of events. It is Tudor history at its best. 

‘Contrary doesn’t even begin to cover it but if you filter in all that we’ve discovered, these strange decisions begin to make more sense.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Catherine Howard Conspiracy

Title: The Catherine Howard Conspiracy

Author: Alexandra Walsh

Publisher: 28th March 2019 by Sapere Books

Pages: 464 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction, mystery

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

What secrets were covered up at the court of Henry VIII …?

Whitehall Palace, England, 1539

When Catherine Howard arrives at the court of King Henry VIII to be a maid of honour in the household of the new queen, Anne of Cleves, she has no idea of the fate that awaits her.

Catching the king’s fancy, she finds herself caught up in her uncle’s ambition to get a Howard heir to the throne.

Terrified by the ageing king after the fate that befell her cousin, Anne Boleyn, Catherine begins to fear for her life…

Pembrokeshire, Wales, 2018

Dr Perdita Rivers receives news of the death of her estranged grandmother, renowned Tudor historian Mary Fitzroy.

Mary inexplicably cut all contact with Perdita and her twin sister, Piper, but she has left them Marquess House, her vast estate in Pembrokeshire.

Perdita sets out to unravel their grandmother’s motives for abandoning them, and is drawn into the mystery of an ancient document in the archives of Marquess House, a collection of letters and diaries claiming the records of Catherine Howard’s execution were falsified…

What truths are hiding in Marquess House? What really happened to Catherine Howard?

And how was Perdita’s grandmother connected to it all?

THE CATHERINE HOWARD CONSPIRACY is the first book in the Marquess House trilogy, a dual timeline conspiracy thriller with an ingenious twist on a well-known period of Tudor history.

My Thoughts

Yes, I am a huge historical fiction fan, with the cherry on top being anything Tudor! So I was fairly confident I would find something in this book ... and I did. The Catherine Howard Conspiracy is first in a trilogy, ‘The Marquess House’ and combines a dual narrative with a mystery/thriller component. What we have here is a truly intriguing piece of literature that, similar to Laura Anderson’s The Boleyn Trilogy, offers a sensible spin on what could have been. Love it!

“How we view ourselves as a nation comes from the way we regard our collective history. But what if it were wrong? What if the version of history we have all been taught, that academics have studied for centuries, is in fact nothing more than a huge fabrication? That we have all been duped into believing lies, and that it’s all been done with the collusion of successive governments.”

What I found most impressive here is the extensive research Alexandra Walsh has undertaken. Although a work of fiction, it reads like an accurate recount of King Henry VIII court except a new creatively inspired twist on the well known tale of his wives. I was also impressed with how the two narratives worked so well together, creating a seamless jigsaw puzzle to be put together by the end. For history buffs, you will LOVE what Walsh has done here and how she has used historical facts to support new and exciting interpretations. You will ponder and reflect on how events may have transpired given situations and characters of Henry’s court in the 1540s. I should have probably scored this as a 4.5* given the far fetched conspiracy of the modern day and with the ending being a little fantastical, but I was prepared to suspend disbelief as it’s such a rollicking good tale!

‘Suddenly, she realised the true helplessness of her situation. Although her betrothment to the king had elevated her status at the court, to her family and, most particularly, her uncle who was the head of the Howards, she remained a puppet to be used in order to help him achieve his own plans and ambitions.’

Catherine Howard is probably the weakest and most flighty wife of the six wives, but here, Walsh gives her a real voice and takes the commonly accepted facts, twisting them in an absolute refreshing way to provide an utterly sympathetic tale of what might have been. This is not an easy path, rather, a complex and well thought out thriller produced with a plot that will keep you going right to the very end. Take your Tudor knowledge and turn it on its head! How fascinating! I can’t allude to much without giving away the turn of events, but suffice to say I fully embrace this new version of Catherine Howard and find it to be supported with some realistic fiction.

‘What had captured her imagination was the possibility that there was a different version of events leading up to Catherine’s death. One that suggested she had not been the spoilt, promiscuous child so many biographies hypothesised but, rather like her cousin Anne Boleyn, was the innocent victim of her scheming and powerful male relatives.’

Although the first in a trilogy, this story does reach some satisfying conclusions, whilst providing me with enough incentive to want to continue the journey for the follow up. I can only congratulate the author on her creativity and unique way of weaving historical facts with well thought out fiction. The research and imagination blend perfectly for a most thrilling read. Highly recommend for historical fiction fans.

“But if that’s the case and Catherine Howard wasn’t executed,” said Perdita, “where did she go and what happened to her?”  

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.