The House of Echoes is a dual-timeline historical fiction story by Alexandra Walsh, featuring the Tudor era and present day.
Title: The House of Echoes
Author: Alexandra Walsh
First Published: January 30, 2025
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Genres: Historical Fiction
Acquired: from the publisher via Netgalley
*** Thank you to the publisher, Boldwood Books, for providing me with an ebook via Netgalley for review purposes. ***
Hampton Court Palace 1530s
Anne Brandon has always understood the power of a king’s patronage and, though the court of Henry VIII is a dangerous place for women, as the daughter of the king’s best friend, Anne feels safer than most. But Anne’s husband Lord Powis is tiring of her childlessness and when Henry VIII begins plotting to rid himself of a queen in his quest for an heir, suddenly Anne’s life is in danger. And as whispers of the name of her friend Anne Boleyn get ever louder, there is peril in every loose word, every forbidden conversation.
Pembrokshire Present Day
Caroline Harvey has spent years helping her grandfather, the reclusive bestselling novelist Dexter Blake, hide from his legions of fans in his home on the Pembrokshire coast. After his death, the vultures begin to circle Dexter’s fortune. When Caroline’s ownership of the house she has inherited is called into question, her research into its history reveals it was once owned by Anne Brandon who had sought refuge there. Intrigued, Caroline is determined to discover why Anne fled the court of Henry VIII.
Two women divided by centuries but joined by secrets and courage. And when a twist in their histories threatens them both with the same fate – losing the man they love – their revenge will be the same too. Because there’s no one mightier than a woman underestimated or more powerful than the need to save those they love.
Another spectacular dual-timeline story
Once upon a time, many years ago, I read as much Tudor-era historical fiction I could get my hands on. I read anything and everything – some were brilliant and others were…pretty bad, to be honest, but if it was set in the Tudor era, I generally gave it a chance.
Which is what led me to discover Alexandra Walsh’s books. Her dual-timeline stories are some of my favourite historical fiction books and her latest book, The House of Echoes, is no exception.
One of the things that Walsh does spectacularly well is develop two very distinct, but intertwined worlds. While it not be apparent right away how the timelines are linked, eventually the connection is made and it is usually quite well-planned and influential. The two stories can absolutely stand on their own as a full-fledged book, but having them interweave makes both even more interesting and adds layer to each character’s choices and predicaments. Each story is filled with immersive details, making them both come alive and it’s sometimes difficult to pull yourself out of the Tudor era and into the modern day (or vice versa).
If I’m being honest, I do love the story of Anne Brandon just a bit more than the modern-day story with Caroline. There’s so little known about Anne and Walsh does a wonderful job of bringing this obscure character from history to life and giving her a background, a voice, and a life of her own. You can see the difficult life that women in this time period lived – especially those that had minds of their own, had found love with a man they couldn’t have, and wanted more than just to be married off to a convenient suitor chosen by their more powerful fathers. It was probably a terrifying time to live in the royal court and the characters portray that sense of gameplay and fear well. To survive, and thrive, in such tumultuous times makes for a great read and I adored Anne as a character.
Anne and Caroline both shine
Another familiar aspect that runs through all of Walsh’s books are her strong, brilliant female characters. They don’t always make the right decisions, but they make the best decisions that they can in the situations they find themselves in, and that makes them all incredibly human and relatable.
I really loved the two main characters Anne and Caroline. They are worlds apart but also very similar and their circumstances remind us how people still react in the same basic human ways regardless of time. The surroundings may change, but our behaviours and reactions are still very basic.
Filled to the brim with a lush and detailed environment, the secondary characters are also well-developed and intriguing (there’s also a Canadian named Stephanie *ahem*) and the story-pacing zips along at a wonderful pace, keeping the reader turning pages as the mystery unravels before them with multiple twists and surprises. I loved every minute of it.
Quote from The House of Echoes
