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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
This is a beautifully written and researched historical fiction. I enjoyed it completely and, as is often the case with HF, learned a lot! The main character will go down as one of my favorites because she is a mom who fights tooth and nail for her neurodivergemt son, and I love seeing that represented in literature. I also loved learning about a time period, the 1500’s, which I know little about!
My only cautionary note, is that I saw this categorized as gothic and thriller, which it is not. There are some gothic elements and it has a wonderful mystery woven throughout the story, but it should not be categorized as a thriller.
My only cautionary note, is that I saw this categorized as gothic and thriller, which it is not. There are some gothic elements and it has a wonderful mystery woven throughout the story, but it should not be categorized as a thriller.
This wasn't entirely what I expected, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it and find myself still thinking about it at times. There were quite a few things I could relate to and understand from the main character's perspective, making it a much more intriguing and good story for me.
In this story, the mother, Hannah, and her son, Nicky, who's on the spectrum and having issues, end up visiting a family friend in England, who's in poor declining health. Hannah has recently found out about her husband having an affair that is still ongoing and hasn't stopped yet. She decides to finish her dissertation that she set aside years ago because of her son, Nicky, and having to do more with him and his special needs. They're staying in an old gothic-type manor called Ashton Hall and within the first few days, while Nicky is exploring, he finds the skeleton, which leads to the investigation of what happened to them and who they were, and how long ago they died. This introduces the handsome Matthew, to who she has an attraction and also has a daughter with special needs similar to her son, Nicky. This goes deep into the history of the manor and everything, which is fascinating to read. It also goes into Hannah realizing more about herself, who she was, who she is and wants to become, and about finding herself and realizing what she wants to do with her life. I love how Hannah has her defining and deciding moments in what to do with her husband who's cheating and what she wants for herself in life and her future.
This was a very thought-provoking and enlightening read. I would highly recommend it to those who enjoy gothic stories, mysteries, historical fiction, and the like. Thanks so much to Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books and NetGalley for letting me read and review this enjoyable read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
In this story, the mother, Hannah, and her son, Nicky, who's on the spectrum and having issues, end up visiting a family friend in England, who's in poor declining health. Hannah has recently found out about her husband having an affair that is still ongoing and hasn't stopped yet. She decides to finish her dissertation that she set aside years ago because of her son, Nicky, and having to do more with him and his special needs. They're staying in an old gothic-type manor called Ashton Hall and within the first few days, while Nicky is exploring, he finds the skeleton, which leads to the investigation of what happened to them and who they were, and how long ago they died. This introduces the handsome Matthew, to who she has an attraction and also has a daughter with special needs similar to her son, Nicky. This goes deep into the history of the manor and everything, which is fascinating to read. It also goes into Hannah realizing more about herself, who she was, who she is and wants to become, and about finding herself and realizing what she wants to do with her life. I love how Hannah has her defining and deciding moments in what to do with her husband who's cheating and what she wants for herself in life and her future.
This was a very thought-provoking and enlightening read. I would highly recommend it to those who enjoy gothic stories, mysteries, historical fiction, and the like. Thanks so much to Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books and NetGalley for letting me read and review this enjoyable read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was just OK for me. Having seen this novel marketed as a Gothic mystery with a brooding atmosphere a la Jane Eyre or Rebecca, I was expecting something different.
This is actually a family drama of sorts, or maybe a "woman discovering herself" drama, wrapped in a historical mystery sandwich. Sort of "Philippa Langley discovering the bones of Richard III", only less historically important!
American Hannah Larson decides to spend the summer at Ashton Hall in England, to look after her elderly, ill "honorary uncle" Christopher, taking with her, her 9 year old, neurodivergent son Nicky.
It's not a spoiler to say what's on the back of the book cover - in their first weeks at Ashton, Nicky discovers the bones of a woman in a hidden, windowless room of the hall; it's discovered the remains are those of a woman from the time of Queen Elizabeth I, and the woman likely died in the 1590s. But who was she, and why was she in the hidden room, and what happened to her? Hannah goes looking for answers, at the same time navigating problems in her marriage, a potential new romance, and the care of her son whose condition means he has occasional outbursts of rage in which he can injure himself or others. Thinking about the choices open to her as a woman with a neurodivergent child, Hannah finds herself comparing her position to that of women in Tudor times, and determined to find out what happened to the woman from the hidden room so that she isn't forgotten. Once an academic researcher, Hannah digs into Ashton Hall's old books and documents in her search for clues.
I enjoyed the detailed descriptions of Ashton Hall and its grounds, and the historical parts of the novel - alongside Hannah, we see accounts ledgers, offering insight into the activities and daily lives of a Tudor family from the minor gentry, and even library borrowing records! I found all that very interesting, as well as learning about how researchers handle old books and documents. There are sort-of flashbacks to the Ashton Hall of the 16th century, through Hannah's mind as she reflects on what that life would have been like - and I enjoyed those; I was intrigued by the mystery, but there's not enough of it.
I just wasn't very invested in Hannah's modern-day story, her son's struggles or her Horrible Husband, and some of the plot points that tie everything together seemed entirely too convenient. Overall it was fine, but I wouldn't re-read it.
This is actually a family drama of sorts, or maybe a "woman discovering herself" drama, wrapped in a historical mystery sandwich. Sort of "Philippa Langley discovering the bones of Richard III", only less historically important!
American Hannah Larson decides to spend the summer at Ashton Hall in England, to look after her elderly, ill "honorary uncle" Christopher, taking with her, her 9 year old, neurodivergent son Nicky.
It's not a spoiler to say what's on the back of the book cover - in their first weeks at Ashton, Nicky discovers the bones of a woman in a hidden, windowless room of the hall; it's discovered the remains are those of a woman from the time of Queen Elizabeth I, and the woman likely died in the 1590s. But who was she, and why was she in the hidden room, and what happened to her? Hannah goes looking for answers, at the same time navigating problems in her marriage, a potential new romance, and the care of her son whose condition means he has occasional outbursts of rage in which he can injure himself or others. Thinking about the choices open to her as a woman with a neurodivergent child, Hannah finds herself comparing her position to that of women in Tudor times, and determined to find out what happened to the woman from the hidden room so that she isn't forgotten. Once an academic researcher, Hannah digs into Ashton Hall's old books and documents in her search for clues.
I enjoyed the detailed descriptions of Ashton Hall and its grounds, and the historical parts of the novel - alongside Hannah, we see accounts ledgers, offering insight into the activities and daily lives of a Tudor family from the minor gentry, and even library borrowing records! I found all that very interesting, as well as learning about how researchers handle old books and documents. There are sort-of flashbacks to the Ashton Hall of the 16th century, through Hannah's mind as she reflects on what that life would have been like - and I enjoyed those; I was intrigued by the mystery, but there's not enough of it.
I just wasn't very invested in Hannah's modern-day story, her son's struggles or her Horrible Husband, and some of the plot points that tie everything together seemed entirely too convenient. Overall it was fine, but I wouldn't re-read it.
Such a timely book, and a good story to boot. There is enough history, personal story, contemporary issues and mystery all in a beautiful setting. This is a great summer read to tuck in a suitcase or keep on the porch. It gave me a lot to think about on many topics, from parenting to marriage to the definition of work to rich uncles who live in amazing places.
Reading this novel about motherhood and women's autonomy in the shadow of Roe falling was sobering. However, the writing was fabulous and I am still thinking about and missing these characters.
3 1/2. I wish it were more focused on the historical story and less on the present.
If you're not interested in a slow-moving, atmospheric read, I would not recommend. Depending on my mood, I could see this annoying me, but listening to it as an audiobook on my commute each day during a dreary spring was a breath of fresh air. Lots of scenes describing the British countryside and estates and Hannah's research into the mystery that unfolds.
Stars off this rating because of the awful scene with Hannah's husband being a domineering misogynistic asshole and the weird take by the author on monogamy only being required with people of the same gender?!
Stars off this rating because of the awful scene with Hannah's husband being a domineering misogynistic asshole and the weird take by the author on monogamy only being required with people of the same gender?!
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes