The Secrets of Crestwell Hall is another brilliant dual-timeline novel by Alexandra Walsh that brings together two women living centuries apart who are linked by a Tudor Mansion – Crestwell Hall.
Title: The Secrets of Crestwell Hall
Author: Alexandra Walsh
First Published: January 24, 2024
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Genres: Historical Fiction
Acquired: from the publisher and Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours
*** Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours and the publisher, Boldwood Books, for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. ***
‘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…
A new look at the Gunpowder Plot
As a longtime fan of Alexandra Walsh, I had high hopes for this new book. While I rarely read dual-timeline books, preferring single-timeline stories, I always love the way Walsh interweaves the past and the present into a beautiful and intriguing story.
The Secrets of Crestwell Hall has all the hallmarks of an Alexandra Walsh story – strong women, a secret twist to a well-known piece of history, and a modern journey of growth and discovery.
I was especially excited to find out that the story features Bess Throckmorton, Queen Elizabeth I’s former lady-in-waiting, and wife to Sir Walter Raleigh. She’s a figure from the Tudor era that I’ve always wanted to read more historical fiction about.
The link between the past and the present is Crestwell Hall, where in the past, Bess retreated to, and in the present, is inhabited by Thalia, Thalia’s niece Isabella, and Isabella’s young daughter, Emily. The discovery of Bess’ bible/diary is the link between the women that spans centuries.
As with her previous books, Walsh makes history come alive with vivid descriptions, strong emotions, and realistic friendships and relationships, especially between her women characters. And while I know I’m reading a fictional version of history, it is so well-written and researched that it never feels false. Her stories are intriguing and absorbing and Walsh has created another wonderful cast of characters that bring the story (and history) to life.
About the Author, Alexandra Walsh
Alexandra Walsh is the bestselling author of dual timeline historical mysteries, previously published by Sapere. Her books range from the fifteenth century to the Victorian era and are inspired by the hidden voices of women that have been lost over the centuries. Formerly a journalist, writing for national newspapers, magazines and TV, her first book for Boldwood will be published in Spring 2023.
You can connect with Alexandra Walsh online here:
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