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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
So much happens but also nothing at all. Described as a gothic mystery - I’d argue that the mystery is lacking and the only gothic thing about this book is that there is no plot, just vibes. Now surprisingly, I’m not mad about it, I somehow still enjoyed the book and the characters, but I was expecting spooky old castle, dead bodies, sleuthing… and I got cheating closeted husband, neurodivergent children and struggling parents, open marriages, divorce proceedings, and other very contemporary troubles. I wasn’t a huge fan of one thing in particular - almost every adult character agreed that cheating on a spouse was permissible in most cases, and each of them attempted to justify it thoroughly. That was a little jarring to me. One explanation was that because the husband cheated with a man, it didn’t count. But he admitted that he was bisexual, that he was attracted to and in love with said man. Ummm okay so… yeah that’s cheating.
Meh, I finished it in 1 night and I don’t regret it but I also wouldn’t recommend.
Meh, I finished it in 1 night and I don’t regret it but I also wouldn’t recommend.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness
Moderate: Cancer, Death
Minor: Rape
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I loved City if Light. While I liked this book, and found the plot engaging, I didn’t love it.
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This book was so slow for me. 2.5 if I could, I thought I would be a bit more, with finding a skeleton and such, but it just dragged, and I soon got bored with it.
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I had high hopes for this as it was billed as a historical fiction / mystery. What I found was more contemporary women’s fiction with a nod towards the historical. It was light on dialogue, heavy on internal thoughts. The romantic relationship seemed forced and lacked chemistry. Aspects of the story required the reader to suspend disbelief (castles / manor houses were notorious for being drafty and damp which would make the conditions of the items found far less pristine).
What I did like: The religious history lesson (dissolution of the monasteries) and the focus women’s issues and the struggle / fall out faced when we lose ourselves in others and our roles.
As l've said in the past, no two people read the same book. What may or may not resonate with me may or may not resonate with you! Books are art, art is subjective and that is beautiful.
My Rating: 3 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ashton Hall sucked me in and kept me reading past my bedtime!
Hannah and her son Nicky have come to England to live with her honorary uncle, Christopher, as he is dying of cancer. Christopher has an apartment at Ashton Hall, a historic home which is open to the public. Several apartments are kept to be rented out so the home stays a home, while still offering tours of the public spaces and having a wonderful library and archive open for scholars.
Nicky has autism, ADHD, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, and Tourette's. He is a sweet and brilliant child, but also struggles with uncontrollable rage and cursing, among other deficits which makes life more difficult. Being curious, Nicky explores the Hall and finds a hidden passageway, which leads to a room with a skeleton.
The archaeologist assigned to the case is Matthew, and Hannah is attracted to him. Her marriage is going through a really rough spell, so this summer away from home is giving her time to figure out what is best for her future. She and Matthew become friends and investigators, trying to piece together the life of the person from the hidden room. They believe her name was Isabella, and that someone (maybe herself) walled her inside with her Catholic prayer book.
The story and the mystery were fascinating, and I loved her inclusion of neurodiverse children. She didn't candy-coat what it is like to live with someone with ODD and autism, but she also focused on the incredible strengths of neurodiverse children. Nicky and his friend Isabella excel at maths, puzzles, and other pursuits, even though they might struggle with appropriate emotional and social responses. Nicky's episodes of anger are really well written.
This is an excellent mystery. Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.
Hannah and her son Nicky have come to England to live with her honorary uncle, Christopher, as he is dying of cancer. Christopher has an apartment at Ashton Hall, a historic home which is open to the public. Several apartments are kept to be rented out so the home stays a home, while still offering tours of the public spaces and having a wonderful library and archive open for scholars.
Nicky has autism, ADHD, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, and Tourette's. He is a sweet and brilliant child, but also struggles with uncontrollable rage and cursing, among other deficits which makes life more difficult. Being curious, Nicky explores the Hall and finds a hidden passageway, which leads to a room with a skeleton.
The archaeologist assigned to the case is Matthew, and Hannah is attracted to him. Her marriage is going through a really rough spell, so this summer away from home is giving her time to figure out what is best for her future. She and Matthew become friends and investigators, trying to piece together the life of the person from the hidden room. They believe her name was Isabella, and that someone (maybe herself) walled her inside with her Catholic prayer book.
The story and the mystery were fascinating, and I loved her inclusion of neurodiverse children. She didn't candy-coat what it is like to live with someone with ODD and autism, but she also focused on the incredible strengths of neurodiverse children. Nicky and his friend Isabella excel at maths, puzzles, and other pursuits, even though they might struggle with appropriate emotional and social responses. Nicky's episodes of anger are really well written.
This is an excellent mystery. Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing – Ballantine for the ARC of this Book!
Hannah Larson and her 9 year old son Nicky take off from New York to Cambridge, England to care for her close uncle who has fallen ill. They stay at the historic manor house, Ashton Hall, with her uncle. Hannah always had a vision for her life, but her life wasn’t what she thought it would be – a son with mental health issues and a husband who has been keeping a secret. Nicky begins exploring the historic manor house and stumbles across a skeleton in a forgotten part of the house. A historic, archeologic investigation ensues. Working from clues found in the room where the skeleton lie, ledgers and other writings, Hannah begins to piece together the life and times of the woman who died in that room. Who exactly is that woman, what was she doing there in that room, and why was she left for dead?
A mystery wrapped in a historical discovery is the perfect combination of genres. The book is rich with history and well researched. It was equally engaging and educational (at least for someone like me who had no idea about the religious happenings in Cambridge, England in the 1500s). Sometimes I believe that in school, they teach you things that in youth you cannot appreciate. I reveled in the youth of Nicky and Janet and their excitement to learn new things. There is also a subplot of Hannah’s struggle with Nicky’s mental health. I connected with Hannah on this level as I have the same. While it isn’t quite to the extreme in the book, I empathized with the feelings and thoughts that occurred to Hannah. By the end of the book, I had tears in my eyes and streaming down my face both in sadness and in warmth.
Hannah Larson and her 9 year old son Nicky take off from New York to Cambridge, England to care for her close uncle who has fallen ill. They stay at the historic manor house, Ashton Hall, with her uncle. Hannah always had a vision for her life, but her life wasn’t what she thought it would be – a son with mental health issues and a husband who has been keeping a secret. Nicky begins exploring the historic manor house and stumbles across a skeleton in a forgotten part of the house. A historic, archeologic investigation ensues. Working from clues found in the room where the skeleton lie, ledgers and other writings, Hannah begins to piece together the life and times of the woman who died in that room. Who exactly is that woman, what was she doing there in that room, and why was she left for dead?
A mystery wrapped in a historical discovery is the perfect combination of genres. The book is rich with history and well researched. It was equally engaging and educational (at least for someone like me who had no idea about the religious happenings in Cambridge, England in the 1500s). Sometimes I believe that in school, they teach you things that in youth you cannot appreciate. I reveled in the youth of Nicky and Janet and their excitement to learn new things. There is also a subplot of Hannah’s struggle with Nicky’s mental health. I connected with Hannah on this level as I have the same. While it isn’t quite to the extreme in the book, I empathized with the feelings and thoughts that occurred to Hannah. By the end of the book, I had tears in my eyes and streaming down my face both in sadness and in warmth.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes