I remember reading the blurb for this book when I first joined Netgalley and being really excited about reading it. It was disappointing, then, when I started reading it and found that it didn't live up to my expectations. Perhaps it's just a matter of personal preference about the style, and the fact that I'm a plot-driven reader, but I found the story pretty slow-going and the character interactions a little unrealistic. I couldn't bring myself to continue reading, so this is as far as I'm going to review it considering I didn't read the whole thing.

I love how the old style English is written. You get to see how religion plays such a majority in people’s lives at this time period. Good descriptions of geographical area at the time. A little mystery thrown in and the characters are written to act what the time period calls for. A pretty good read.

I knew I had to read this book when I saw the word, 'Gargoyle.' And identical murders happening 500 years apart? Sign me up!
Although the book wasn't quite what I was expecting, it was still an exciting and fun read.

The book moves back and forth between the past and the present, giving equal attention to both. I thought it was a very effective way to write the story, but I did find myself drawn much more to the story line of the past. I connected to the characters more and found them more complex, as well as found the plot more compelling. Margeaux Wood and Don, the main characters of the present, were fairly bland, and I didn't care much what happened to them.
However, no matter the past or the present, the chapters ended in the perfect place and I couldn't put the book down, but had to forge ahead into the next chapter.

If you are into historical fiction, you will undoubtedly be sucked in by this murder mystery. The characters weren't developed as well as they could have been, and the book itself isn't the best-written thing out there. But I still had a good time, was sucked into the mystery, and am giving it 4 out of 5 Stars.

I truly liked not only the premise of this book, but all the characters as well... be they good or evil. The protagonists are well-drawn, and the dialogue thought-provoking and credible. Yes, it's a bit whimsical, but that just adds to the overall enjoyment.. A great way to spend some weekend hours! Highly recommended.

Another entry in the already overcrowded field of historical mystery/romances that shift back and forth between two time periods. Unfortunately, this one is nothing special, despite the prevalence of gargoyles which was a new trope for me. The characters are unimaginative and slightly irritating, but what annoyed me the most was the author’s lack of awareness of how people actually spoke to one another in the 16th century.

The narrative was choppy, the dialog wooden. I’m sorry to say I did not finish this.

I could not finish this book. There was not a single thing to draw a reader in and attach them to the less character. It got to a point where it actually became very easy to relate to her detractors. I did not get very far into the book, but there are so many books I know will be good, it felt like wasting my time.

Set in two time periods we follow the story of Atwelle church in the east of England. In Tudor times we follow Father Regis who is a priest in a difficult period of history when Henry VIII is about to cause the scism between the English & Catholic churches. The church is not yet finished and may never be if Father Regis cannot find the funds. In the modern day Atwelle church is in need of some restoration. However strange things start happening, people go missing or are murdered.
Firstly a note about the Americanisms which are liberally sprinkled throughout this book. The American spelling I could just about handle but no British person is going to make reference to a "diaper". If you have British characters then need to think and talk in British ways so making the characters say American words which just would not happen in reality is a large flaw in my eyes. This type of thing should have been picked up by the editor and proof reader but obviously wasn't.
I struggled with this book. It started quite well although rather bitty as it catapulted between the two time periods. Some longer passages at the start to imbed the personalities would have been helpful. I never felt the book settled into a stride and I never felt relaxed about the abrupt time changes. Don't get me wrong, they were clearly marked in the book which was nice. I just found there was a lack of flow to the whole story.
This book seemed to have been written in a great hurry. The plot is quite lacking for around 85% of the book then the reader is flooded with information. This meant that the plot didn't build up as the book fed the reader titbits of clues and historical information. Everything happened so quickly at the end.
The characterisation was poor throughout this book. The characters are never allowed to develop. We know little about what makes them tick meaning that there is no way we could have reached the conclusion ourselves. The Tudor characters were slightly better & the best developed was Father Regis.
This is quite a poor book. I got little sense of in depth historical research. There are some moments of suspense in the dark church but these were not developed as well as they could have been. Unfortunately these were spasmodic moments as opposed to a gradual building throughout the book. The characters were poorly developed and the whole book was quite flat without coming alive as I read.
I received a free ciopy of this book via Netgalley.

Margeaux Wood is researching the Atwelle Church and Don Whitby is the one restoring it. They get talking about the history of the church and how it relates to King Henry and his argument with the Pope. While exploring the church Margeaux and Don discover some gargoyles in the inside of the roof. It seems that people are being murdered in the area in the same sequence as the gargoyles holding the heads.

At the same time we follow along as King Henry VIII’s is fighting the Pope over his divorce. We witness the balance we have has he decides what could happen with his breaking with the church. As we read about 1532, we learn that there are murders happening in the same sequence as the gargoyles too.

This was an interesting story. I don’t really know much about Henry VIII so I did enjoy learning about that. I think the mystery was well executed and I did not expect the killer at the end of the book so that was a plus. The story did start out a little slow but did pick up the pace. I just had a tough time with the dialog. It seemed rough, the interactions between the characters seems forced. I think this is what made the book tougher to read.

But I did like the story. It looks like this is Joel Gordonson’s second book so I do see things flowing better from here. I am interested in reading other books from Mr. Gordonson.

I received The Atwelle Confession from FSB Associates for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

As other reviewers have said, I came here via the 'gargoyle groupie' door. I do love gargoyles. I also love period mysteries and old/ancient churches. This book ticked a lot of boxes for me.
The book is written in alternating flashback chapters which are labeled, so the story isn't difficult to follow. It's a good thing, since the dialogue is -very- anachronistic and clunky in places. I found myself wincing occasionally after a particularly wooden bit of narrative. There were 'academic interactions' which bordered on being painful to read.

The 16th century bits of the story are well researched and I found no obvious problems with the historical timeline. It's worth noting that I am not a historian, just an interested amateur, so if there are anachronisms (outside the dialogue, yikes), please don't poke me with pointy sticks, thanks.

The characterizations are not in-depth or well developed. I never found myself connecting on any level with any of the characters. I wasn't engaged beyond wanting to find out why these murders which are separated by 500some years happened. The resolution of the mystery was mostly satisfying and without spoiling anything, I was amused that a lawyer came up with such a convoluted solution.

The book is a solid 3 stars and I enjoyed reading it. It would make a good summer airport/travel read.

This thriller is an entertaining, simple read. Something suitable for the summer or the commute.
But i found the characters a bit plain and underdeveloped, and the ending, which i suppose had intended to be surprising, quite dull. The motivations of the characters behind the ploy were a bit weird and unrealistic and not explained enough.
Still, a non-demanding, quick mystery read.

4 stars

Odd premise aside, this is a pretty good book.

The opening of the book is set in Atwelle, Norfolk in 1532. It is the twenty-third year in the reign of King Henry VIII. Two men are accused of having to do with something they shouldn’t have and are sentenced to confess publicly in front of crowds. The men say that that will be their ruin.

We then move forward to the present day. A vicar is murdered just after he posts a letter. The murder is committed by someone the vicar knew.

Margeaux Wood is an historian researcher. She is currently looking into the old Atwelle church and has some interesting questions about it and some problems. Don Whitby is an architect who is restoring the Atwelle church. They meet and begin to discuss the church and its interesting history. It was being built in 1532. A major concern of the Catholics being asked for money to build the church is the outcome of King Henry’s squabble with the Pope. Demanding a divorce while the Pope equivocates, it remains uncertain what Henry will do. If he breaks with the Church, what will happen to the Catholics who donated heavily to the building of the new church? They fear for their businesses, even for their very lives.

As Don and Margeaux begin to explore the inside of the roof of the old church, they notice strange carvings. They’re gargoyles! And they’re holding the on to the heads of various individuals. Margeaux also gets a visit from a police man wanting information about Don.

As they continue to examine the gargoyles, strange murders begin to occur in and around the church. People are being killed according to the gargoyles’ predictions! The reader knows that these same crimes were also committed in 1532, in the same manner. Margeaux and Dan suspect that the gargoyles have something to do with the whole situation, but who is going to believe this?

It all comes to an exciting and startling conclusion on All Hallow’s Eve…it was a dark and stormy night…I was surprised that the main “bad guy” covered their tracks so well. Mr. Gordonson did a masterful job in obscuring their identity.

This book is well written and the plotting is pretty good. There were some rather unbelievable twists in the plot, but when the denouement is concluded, it all makes more sense. There wasn’t much relationship conflict or background given on any of the major characters. This book is just straight story. While the book starts out rather slowly, the suspense picks up a little further into the novel and then builds nicely from there. I’m not sure I would call this a mystery, for it is almost a horror novel. I’ll look into Mr. Gordonson’s other books as well.

I want to thank NetGalley and SelectBooks for forwarding to me a copy of this interesting book for me to read and enjoy.

Excellent ! Enthralling , atmospheric and engaging
Review scheduled for publication date.