The House At The End Of The Moor by Michelle Griep is an absolutely marvellous Christian historical adventure that I just could not put down. It was a thrilling read.
The novel is set on Dartmoor, in Lydford and Bath. I revelled in these locations as I know them all. Dartmoor prison is a foreboding place, rising up out of the moor – my Dad drove us past it when we stayed in Lydford Gorge in autumn 1980. I have visited Bath on many occasions over the years. My familiarity with the landscape helped to bring the novel alive.
There are the main themes of restoration and the presence of God. “I’d never have survived … without God.” Sometimes life is very bleak indeed but without God, it is even worse. When we know God, we can have a hope for the future.
Restoring the years the locusts have taken links with the theme of prodigals returning. Like the prodigal son, we may fear our welcome but there is much rejoicing.
It is never wise to believe we know what others are thinking or know why they act in a certain manner. The novel shows that actions and motivations of others may be misinterpreted.
We cannot earn God’s grace. It is a gift freely given. There is a character who is trying to earn their way to heaven, to atone for past actions. No one can ever work their way to heaven. We would never be ‘good enough’, instead we must accept the free gift of grace.
Treasures of this world shackle us. “Locked in the chains of status and wealth.” The love of money is the root of all evil. Money does not have to be a prison if we use it wisely and remember we are God’s stewards of our money. This figurative prison of our own making mirrors the actual Dartmoor prison.
Michelle Griep has created a marvellous set of characters that elicited various emotional responses from me. I loved the leading characters and ‘lived’ the novel through their eyes.
Michelle Griep is a new author to me but I shall certainly be seeking out more of her books.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

4.5 Stars

Don’t let the quiet title fool you. While The House at the End of Moor begins and ends on the Moors of England (and gives readers a feel for the danger surrounding Maggie’s home), there’s also a sense of danger and adventure as Maggie and Oliver head to bath to seek out the truth.

Michelle Griep’s writing shines in this Victorian era story filled with wrongful accusations, a hunt for an escaped prisoner, a constable out to serve justice, and greed. I enjoyed how Maggie and Oliver’s relationship grew from wariness of each other to trust, from strangers to friendship to more.

The jewels play a huge part as a plot device that keeps the story moving at a fast pace and even the secondary character elicit strong reactions. Yet beneath all of that is the theme of forgiveness, leaving justice in God’s hand, and family.


Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

4 Stars: 4/5 Star Rating
Combining my love of historical fiction with mystery, this book filled many hours with intrigue and pleasure. I thought it was very well-written. I really liked Maggie and Oliver. I didn't know that I was going to like Oliver so much when I began reading. I did think that the book could have been a little bit more exciting at times, but it was a nice read. I highly recommend it. I was a great one for me to read during the Covid-19 Pandemic Quarantine.
I received a digital ARC of this book from netgalley and Shiloh Run Press. All opinions expressed are my own.

This has been a lovely story that takes readers back to England in 1861. I loved how the author describes the time period which make it easy to visualize . Maggie is a recluse in her home and people know little about her. She is weary of everyone and has a trust issue. She has a secret that could destroy her if it gets out. I thought how sad it was for her to be in the home lonely and fearful. I don’t think I could sleep a wink in a place that was dreary and secluded. I found it very intriguing that she once was a very well know opera star. What made her run away from everything? Who is searching for her and what will happen if she is caught?
Oliver was easy to like because he is determined to prove his innocence in a crime that could put him in prison for a very long time. I liked his attitude of seeking the truth and never giving up. I won’t go into details of how Maggie and Oliver meet but I believe they have been brought together for a reason. Oliver does take a shining to Maggie but their relationship is slow to develop. I like that the author doesn’t throw them together with an immediate we are together forever type of story. It’s nice to see two characters slowly begin to open up and find someone they can relate to.
The story is filled with adventure as both characters have a mission to prove themselves innocent of their crime which brings surprises along the way. I loved the faith element in the book which gave it a feeling of hope. You will find forgiveness, redemption, trust and hope as the author whisks us away to a time where poverty was rampant and thieves abounded. I loved the ending and can’t wait to read another book from this very talented author.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Ok, this book was awesome! I am having trouble even putting into words how much I enjoyed this novel. The characters are so raw and real that I instantly connected with them. They face personal struggles of trusting God in uncertain times, forgiveness for past wrongs, and allowing God to dictate justice instead of taking revenge. The author does such a wonderful job of crafting sentences that contain such rich descriptions and I found myself completely immersed in the story after only a few pages. I think this author has a special gift for writing and I felt like I was transported to the boggy moors of the nineteenth century with ease. Her ability to describe scenes, landscapes, facial expressions, and emotions that characters are experiencing is truly remarkable. I loved learning about the various aspects of the historical time period. I also really enjoyed the surprising mysteries to the story and the different twist and turns. I will admit that I read the book in one day and did not accomplish anything else at home – laundry piled up, dishes sat dirty, and tasks went undone as I lost myself in the story. The author also did a great job of packing a lot in the novel; I felt like the story was deep and had plenty of time to develop the characters fully and still have an interesting and complex plot. I loved the way the romance had time to grow and deepen too. There honestly was not anything that I did not love about this story! I most highly recommend this novel!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Something about Michelle Griep’s writing always draws me into the story. The House At The End Of The Moor was no exception.

There were many facets to the story and I liked the way they were woven together to form a layered tale. I found the variety of villains added interesting dynamics, however some of the aspects associated with the villains seemed difficult to swallow and still find the story believable.

All in all I found the adventure to be fast paced and interesting, the connection between the main characters authentic and the redemption sufficient.

I received a free, unedited digital copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

The House at the End of the Moor by Michelle Griep

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes

Michelle Griep offers up a new Historical fiction story that includes a good mystery/suspense, some sharp wit and love from an unexpected place.

I’m so pleased to say that this latest story by Michelle Griep was a very good read. Her last few books have been hit or miss with me and I was sad to see it. But this story has all the excellent elements of her story telling that I loved when I first read Twelve Days at Bleakly Manor. It begins with a man named Oliver Ward who has been wrongly accused of a crime and placed in the dreaded Dartmoor Prison of England. Oliver has been imprisoned for almost nine months under the cruel hand of Constable Sebastian Barrow, a prison guard who sees his prisoners as misguided souls that need the truth of God beaten into them. His chance for escape comes when he and a fellow prisoner are sent out to do work under the guard of a less conscientious constable. Jarney, his fellow prisoner provides the necessary distraction since Jarney knows he won’t get far in his weakened, malnourished condition. Oliver seizes his opportunity, vowing to return for the man who has sacrificed greatly for him. But his getaway is not as clean as he hoped and the bullet graze in his arm will soon bring on a fever that leaves him lying out on the moor, praying for help as he blacks out. Maggie Lee has been residing in Morden Hall for almost nine months, hiding from her hideous stage manager and an overly interested member of the House of Commons determined to make her his mistress. Her vocal talents opened many doors into the homes of society but it has not been without its trials as well. Hiding in a forgotten area of the Moors has brought Maggie the first chance at peace in years and she is not eager to leave it anytime soon. But trouble comes in the crumpled form of an injured man whom she soon learns is an escaped convict. He vehemently claims to be wrongly accused and Maggie can’t help but start to believe him. When Oliver hides in her tea closet to avoid detection by Constable Barrow, an unexpected connection between he and Maggie is revealed. Maggie is in possession of the very jewels that Oliver was sent to prison for allegedly stealing! But Maggie had no idea that the “jewels” were anything but very good paste copies of rubies. As Oliver and Maggie each tell their stories of what happened nine months before, it becomes clear that they were both brought into a plot through no fault of their own. Determined to clear their names and take down the evil men responsible for their current problems, Oliver and Maggie set off towards Bath and redemption. Along the way, they will have to contend with the unrelenting Constable Barrow, Maggie’s conniving manager and even the elements before facing the one man who could bring them both down – Corbin Ambrose. Corbin Ambrose is the most powerful man in town due to his backroom dealings and tightly held secrets but he also has a need for an influx of money, thanks to his outrageous gambling habits. The foiled attempt at claiming insurance money for his wife’s stolen jewels has made Ambrose bitter and determined to recover them. Oliver and Maggie will have to tread quietly and carefully if they are to create a plan that will both entrap Ambrose and free them of suspicion. Help will come from unexpected sources and if they can stay alive, they just might have a chance at a better life together than they’ve ever had before now. I really enjoyed the entirety of this book. It moved at a good pace while still allowing everything to develop completely. The mystery and suspense were well done while not being overwhelming, and the relationship between the main characters was realistic. I loved the snappy conversations between Oliver and Maggie, especially at the beginning. And the scene where Oliver pretends to be an old lady was hilarious. I will certainly be recommending this book to others so they may enjoy it as well. I’m very glad to see that Ms. Griep has become much better in her writing with each book she has been recently releasing. Hopefully this trend will continue.

I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Barbour Publishing/Shiloh Run Press via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

I enjoyed this story. It was unique and well done. I wish I had gotten more from the characters and the love story. The focus of this book was on the forgiveness three people needed to work on for themselves and others. I was irritated that this story included the POV of one of the bad guys but at the end I was glad his story line was added. The end got a little bogged down for me, in the middle of all the action you had pages of internal dialogue! I just wanted the story conclusion and I got lots of words. Over all a good Christian redemption story that had a sweet romance. Not too preachy and with some nice twists and turns.

England 1861
Oliver was wrongly imprisoned, with a vicious guard. Badly beaten, he managed to escape and was found by a house at the end of the Moor by Maggie's maid. Thus starts an interwoven tale of wrongfulness, healing and forgiveness. Plus a love story and Christian lessons. Keeps you holding your breath to the end.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#NetGalley #TheHouseAtTheEndOfTheMoor

The House at the End of the Moor is a fabulous read. It is by far my favorite I have read by Michelle Griep to date. What I thought to be reading a chapter or two just before bed, turned into staying up half the night until I was finished. It was that good. It includes a lot that I love in a book: intrigue, faith, great characters, wonderful setting, history, mystery, suspense, action and romance. I just adored Maggie Lee right from the start and felt a connection to her.

I am giving The House at the End of the Moor a very well deserved five plus stars. I would have given it one hundred stars if I could. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy clean and inspirational historical fiction, with the lessons of hope and forgiveness. It is most definitely not one to be missed. I loved it!

I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

As a longtime fan of Michelle Griep, I do not say this lightly, this is my favorite book she has written so far. Michelle truly demonstrates her masterful ability to craft a story that is both evocative and enthralling. Maggie Lee and Oliver are both hiding from something and end up on the same path, intricately linked far more than they could have imagined. I enjoyed the supporting characters as well. Sebastian truly gives insight into how Scripture can be twisted to justify evil behaviors and has a gripping story arc all his own. I loved the description of Victorian England from the hauntingly beautiful moors, dark and dank Dartmoor Prison, and Bath (from the dual perspective of wealth and poverty). All told, a beautiful tale of standing up for justice, redemption, forgiveness that fans of historical fiction will not want to miss. I received a complimentary copy of this book and all opinions expressed are solely my own.

Michelle Griep is one of my favorite authors. I love the way she brings her characters to life. This book is so interesting and did not disappoint in any way. A secluded woman walking on the moor {actually she is hiding from those who wish her harm} stumbles upon a wounded man and takes him in and treats his wounds, not knowing he has escaped from Dartmoor prison. As she is posing as a widow, residing with her housekeeper and manservant, she is unsure that this was a wise decision. But what else could she do, she could not leave him to die of his wounds. She has no visitors nor desires any. She doesn’t go into the village to shop or visit, that is left to her servants so that she can remain a recluse. So she feels he will be safe until he is strong enough to leave and none will be wiser. As the story unfolds they find that their lives entwined and there is much danger for both of them. How everything comes together amid much danger and suspense makes for a most interesting book. Also there is romance in the midst of the turmoil and has a surprising ending. I loved and recommend this book, and can’t wait to read more of Michelle Griep’s wonderful, outstanding work!………..I want to thank Barbour Publishing, Inc and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of Michelle Griep’s, The House at the End of the Moor. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It is always hard for me to imagine how bad prisons were in the 1800’s and how bad they still can be today. I loved the characters in the story. I was a little surprised at how helpful Maggie was in the beginning when she found Oliver injured. I loved how this story proved that Oliver was innocent of the reason he was put in jail. I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

A story about forgiveness, mercy and reconciliation.

This story started out slow for me. Not sure why but didn’t really felt that connected to the characters in the beginning and it just took a while to grab my attention. But then the author’s way with words and the way the story developed grabbed my attention and I found myself wishing I had more time to read.

The intrigue around the missing jewels, the constant danger that Oliver and Maggie found themselves in and then bringing in Oliver’s dad all added to my enjoyment in this story. I appreciated how Oliver’s plans failed and he only received what he longed for after he completely surrender to God - we have to trust God and totally surrender to him to have peace, freedom and success.

Oliver and his father’s relationship was sad to see. So much lost years due to bad communication and misunderstandings.

Wow, did this author know how to write a villain (or villains because Groat was just as evil if not more) who I disliked from the start. Barrows were a dark character with a twisted sense of justice and righteousness. His POV scenes were creepy but also reminded me of how many people sometimes believe they do God’s work but only causes damage.

I enjoyed this novel and recommend it to fans of Historical fiction.

Sensitive readers might find some scenes a bit too much.

Another great story by a favorite author. I was hooked from the beginning and read the entire book in one sitting. (Ok, I was up until 3am reading!) The characters are realistic, flawed, yet wonderfully relatable and endearing especially as their past struggles are revealed. The past does not always stay the past and watching Oliver and Maggie deal with it is highly entertaining. With great, well-developed characters, a story line that is action-packed, strong spiritual truths, a lot of suspense and twists to the plot, romance and, voilá, The House at the End of the Moor is a book that lovers of historical fiction will not want to miss. I received a complimentary copy of the book and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions are my own.

There is interest as soon as I started reading. An escaped prisoner, a woman mysteriously living only with two servants. This was a terrific story. Filled with so much! Mystery, adventure, action, redemption, forgiveness, realization. Another great read from the author! I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All views stated here are my own!

I have read a book by this author before and really enjoyed it, this book is no exception. You really feel for the characters and their almost too good to be true kindness. One reclusive woman finds and nurses to health an escaped convict, all sorts of adventures come to pass. I would highly recommend this book.

The cover of this one gives me a mystery vibe. I'm a fan of Michelle Griep. My favorite book by her has been The Captive Heart. And I did enjoy her Bow Street Runners series. But I will say that her books sometimes trail into being more plot-driven instead of romance-driven. And while that isn't wrong or bad, my personal preference usually tends towards the relationship-driven. The House at the End of the Moor was one of these plot-driven books.

Maggie was an opera singer but fled her life in Bath after being propositioned and threatened with bodily harm to her father. She's found a new life of anonymity with only a maid and manservant.

Oliver was wrongly convicted of a crime and sentenced to prison. He's determined to escape and find justice by figuring out who did the crime he was accused of. When he's injured in his escape and Maggie's maid stumbles upon him not far from their home, Maggie takes him in to restore him to health. The two find out that they are linked by the real criminals. And they decide to travel to Bath to find out the truth and to clear Oliver's name.

Meanwhile, Oliver is being hunted by the constable/prison guard he escaped from. Sebastian comes off as evil but really his motivations are twisted and his understanding of God and His will is a bit skewed as well. Maggie is also being pursued by her former manager who wants his prize goose back.

Through the dangers of both being chased as well as rooting out the criminals responsible for committing a crime and bribing witnesses and a judge to have Oliver wrongly convicted, Oliver and Maggie learn what each other is made of. And of course, they begin to fall in love. As I said, the story is much more driven by the action of figuring out the real criminals as well as fleeing those chasing them than by their growing feelings for each other. I enjoyed both, but as my blog is about telling how a book made me feel, I think I would have enjoyed a bit more romance.

I particularly liked the side story of reconciliation. Oliver and his father have a strained relationship. Maggie and her father also had a strange relationship. Only one of the characters has an opportunity to make things better with their father, but I enjoyed this aspect of both characters' lives.

I didn't really have any complaints about The House at the End of the Moor. I read it quickly and was invested in the characters and their journeys. I liked the romance even though I could have enjoyed a little more between them. The House at the End of the Moor gets 4 Stars. Have you read The House at the End of the Moor? What did you think? Let me know!

This book had my attention from page one! There was a very unique aspect to this novel in that it was written in first person when Maggie "spoke", but switched out of first person with the other characters. It was the first time I'd read a book quite like that. When I've read novels that were only in first person, I've missed some of the details and thoughts from the other characters' perspectives. This had to best of both worlds in that sense. Maggie's character also loved the book Jane Eyre, which is a favorite of mine, so I was instantly drawn in. Maggie's story parallels Jane's in some ways, in that both encounter dark, mysterious men that have a past that haunts them. As Maggie and Oliver's worlds intertwine in unexpected ways, the intensity of the plot increases. The bad guys are well-written, evoking the creepy feelings along with my personal desire to see them brought to justice. Even that didn't end the way I anticipated. Michelle Griep also writes some great romantic tension, which I always appreciate.
I loved this line at the beginning of the novel as Maggie compares herself to her pet dog that she found on the Moors:
"I fancy we are a lot alike; Wounded but not overcome. Braver than anything life throws at us. But that's a lie."
Again, much like Jane Eyre, Maggie develops from someone who has been abused and left to fend for herself to a woman of courage and determination, even through the heartache. I love Michelle's books and this one did not disappoint!
**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in order to share my honest opinions, which I did.**

Michelle Griep creates another quality Christian story with intrigue, romance, and danger. I look forward to her next book!