The Secrets of Crestwell Hall

What it’s about?

‘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…

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/crestwellhallsocial

What I think:

Alexandra Walsh has become an auto-read writer for me. I loved her Marquess House Saga and The Secrets of Crestwell Hall has similar themes and there is even a fleeting mention of Perita and Piper.

Isabella’s marriage has broken down and she moves into her aunt’s country estate with her daughter, Emily. The house is full of treasures and artifacts collected by her late uncle and Isabella has the task of sorting the trash from the treasure, restoring the estate and turning it into a viable business.

Isabella’s uncle has always believed the house has a connection to Sir Walter Raleigh and evidence would certainly help in their bid for survival.

The dual timeline reveals that Raleigh’s wife, Bess Throckmorton used Crestwell Hall as her base to avoid implication in treasonous plots including the infamous Gunpowder Plot. Bess’s diary reveals the efforts of a group of strong women to stop the plot that will destroy their security.

Walsh makes history come alive with complex and engaging female characters. While the men are at the forefront of political life, the women wield power in their own way through their familial connections and the fact that they are constantly underestimated. The webs of wives, sisters and cousins allow them to piece together the plots and conspiracies.

Isabella has modern day plots to uncover as well when her daughter ends up in a perilous position.

This is such a great read. Both timelines have strong, clever female leads that are trying to protect their families and futures. The parallels between their lives span the centuries and the tension builds as the danger increases. The past timeline is full of historical and atmospheric detail. The descriptions of Crestwell Hall both past and present are so vivid I honestly believed I might be able to visit the hall.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read and has cemented Alexandra Walsh’s position as one of my favourite writers.

About the author:

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.

Social Media Links
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Thank you to Alexandra Walsh and Boldwood Books For my gifted copy of The Secrets of Crestwell Hall and to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this fantastic blog tour.

Check out all the other stops on the tour: