Love all books based on historical facts add in mystery and terror and you have me from the start. When I read this book contained all three I had to request a copy. Nicky was a great character. I felt this author did a fantastic job. I don't understand any of the negative reviews. I loved the fact the author left unanswered questions. They added to the mystery and forced the reader think and fill in the blanks for themselves.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thanks you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

On the surface, this book has a lot to recommend it - an old house in the English countryside, a dead body, a secret room, an ancient mystery - but this one falls short of its intriguing promise. Hannah, the character around whom this story is built, is hard to like, and infuriating in her helpless and oh-poor-me attitude, despite being a PhD candidate. The writing is adequate, but the momentum of the story is slowed by the many long passages of historical, technical, and scientific information which read like text books instead flowing seamlessly into the narrative. Slow-moving and disappointing.

I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for my free copy of Ashton Hall in exchange for an unbiased review.
A modern American mother and child encounter a skeleton while visiting a family friend in a historic house in Cambridge. Investigations into the life and experiences that led to the skeleton reshape both of their lives.
I loved this book! That's not to say I didn't have bones to pick with some of the characters, but I wanted them to succeed not "not be on the next page" (except Kevin, he can leave). I deeply enjoyed the depth and characterizations involved in all the characters regardless of time period. I would have liked to see more of Rafe, Lizzie or Matthew... I definitely would have likes a chapter of Lizzie's reactions but I recognize it's not her story, it's Hannah's. I also love the hope that Hannah has (and needs) at the end. 5 stars

The book is set in Britain in the 1880's and centers around the main character, Hannah, and her neurodivergent son. They move from NY to Cambridge England for the summer to take care of her dying honorary uncle. There are many themes at play from the start including marriage, monogamy, family in general and neurodiversity. Before long, we are simultaneously plunged us into the 1850's when a skeleton in a walled off room is discovered. The book is rich in detail, without being drawn out, and I as a reader never felt bored. Plus, the mystery portion of the book keeps the reader engaged. I felt like the ending could have tied up the overall plot and story line better, but I recommend this book to anyone interested in this historical time period in Britain.

When her close family friend becomes ill, Hannah Larson and her son Nicky travel from New York City to England do take care of him. Little did Hannah know that being in England would change both her and her son's lives in more ways than one. Once Hannah and Nicky settle into Ashton Hall the home were Christopher resides, Nicky starts exploring the historic residence. He stumbles upon a the remains of a skeletal body. Not knowing how long this body has been in this particular room Hannah starts the process of finding out who, what, when and how this body got here.
Along the way Hannah discovers the story behind Ashton Hall. Who were the people who lived here, how did they all seem to disappear. While Hannah is on this quest to get answers as to who this women was and how long she has been in this room, she also finds out that the life with her husband who she loves is not the happily ever after that she envisioned. Plus the fact that Nicky has many challenges Hannah doesn't know what she will do. The only thing she does know is she must figure out what happened to this women.
I loved Hannah's character. The author showed how Hannah grew throughout the book. How she was determined to get on with her life with our without her husband. How she would figure out how to support Nicky and try to make his life as easy as possible. How she would take control of her life.
I loved the setting for the story the history behind Ashton Hall and the people attached to it. Isabella Cresham was the women Hannah would not let go of until she found out her true story. It was very compelling and interesting to read. Truly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher. I look forward to Ms. Belfers future books.

Though not the straight up historical mystery the description leads you to believe, it does offer up questions that will eventually be revealed. What kept me engrossed was the whole historical research that gradually led up to the mystery being solved. I enjoy books that deal with archeology and historical forensics techniques to explain the steps that lead to the discovery and solution of a possible historic crime. I was totally captivated when reading about the discoveries made in the Old Library. I hope Belfer includes some shots of the library registers that she researched. I was fascinated by this detail. For me personally, the present day trials and emotions of Hannah did not interest me. I enjoyed Nicky and Christopher’s stories. Overall, a good book to be picked up by those that enjoy a little intrigue to go with their history.

Ashton Hall was a captivating read filled with contemporary themes around adult relationships, marriage, family, and neurodiversity paired with a thrilling historical puzzle. I loved that the mysterious discovery was introduced within the first few chapters setting a great pace for the story. I found myself unable to put this down wanting to uncover the details behind the skeleton’s life chapter by chapter with the characters as they embarked on their own archeological research. The suspense was beautifully crafted throughout the entire book.

Belfer crafted a beautiful juxtaposition between Hannah in the present learning about Isabella from the past adding a layer of empathy to the character parallels. I really enjoyed the writing of this book surrounding the character development along with detailed descriptions bringing the English countryside and exquisite medieval manor to life.

It was clear that a considerable amount of time was dedicated to research in order to get the events, culture and lifestyle accurate surrounding The Reformation period. Reading the author’s note at the end, there were interesting facts woven throughout the story allowing the reader to learn a lot.

I was expecting a historical mystery about Ashton Hall and while there was a mystery about the skeleton in the manor and we did find out who it was and how she got there that was a smaller part of the narrative than I was hoping for. I didn't really expect to read about Hannah's life outside of the mystery and I was disappointed. Good book with great character development but, not what I thought it was about when I chose this.

I read Lauren Belfer’s City of Light when it was first published, and although it’s been almost twenty years since then, that book has stuck with me. When I saw this book show up on Net Galley, I knew I had to request it. Books like Ashton Hall are right up my alley - set in the British countryside with a mixture of history, art, and academia woven throughout the story. While I enjoyed the story, the best part of this novel is the characters. I appreciated how Hannah found herself through learning about a woman who lived during the Tudor era. I enjoyed this book, and now I feel compelled to reread City of Light.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ashton Hall, an intensely atmospheric Gothic mystery is a complex yet riveting page turner that will keep readers glued to the end. Writing in a new genre, Belfer deftly conveys realistic family and relationship troubles sprinkled amidst many surprising plot twists and eerie historical aspects. Author Lauren Belfer is hugely popular at my library and her many fans will surely enjoy this change of pace.

Ashton Hall grabbed me from the first page with its gothic atmosphere and deep character development. Throw in the history and historic preservation angle and I was hooked. I will absolutely be recommending this title to my library patrons!

Ashton Hall had a slow start for me, and then I got into it. When American Hannah's family friend is ill, she moves herself and her son to stay with the friend in an old historic manor in England. Her husband, who travels for work frequently, stays behind. Hannah and her son discover some history to the house, and Hannah spends a lot of time trying to solve the mystery of what they found. At the same time, she is dealing with issues in her marriage, a troubled and sometimes violent (but also lovable) son, and making new friends. I found the marriage part a little unrealistic, I don't want to give anything away, but her husband seemed to shift personalities really quickly. But other than that, I liked the characters, and almost wish there was more about Isabella, the mystery woman from centuries ago.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for allowing me to read and review this book.

This is a nice, solid, modern gothic novel complete with the trimmings: a body, a secret room, old letters, a dying relative with a secret.... plus some excellent additions: an autistic/neurodivergent child, a very good dog, a straight woman married to a man whom she's just discovered is bi and sleeping with his best friend. While the marriage subplot is the weakest and could easily have been jettisoned, the rest is strong and enjoyable. It's always handy to have a character who is or is almost a PhD so that you can include cool research things, like library ledgers from great houses in the 16th and 17th centuries and so on. I think book clubs will like this one for its array of discussion points, and it's also a great vacation read.

I liked the characters, especially Nicky, and I liked the idea of the rediscovered room. However, I didn't feel the book quite carried off its intent.

I love a good gothic mystery. This is an absorbing story about an American woman and her somewhat-special needs son who move to England to care for an eldery relative. The story splits its focus between the woman’s modern day problems and issues, and what I found to be its more interesting investigation into the discovery of a 1880s skeleton in the manor’s walls.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59575980-ashton-hall

Ashton Hall deftly mingles multiple themes in a thorough satisfying page-turning manner. I’m not sure which storyline I liked best, Hannah Larson’s fascinating research to solve the mystery of Isabella’s death, a mother/son plot that sensitively portrays the challenges of raising a neurologically atypical child, or the book's feminist underpinnings, which demonstrate how a woman who can become trapped in an untenable marriage when she lacks an independent means of support.

Lauren Belfer's writing is superb. Although it’s apparent that she did considerable research, as a reader I never felt swallowed by minutia, as you easily can in a historical novel. I expect this smart book to be devoured by smart readers.

Fans of English Gothic tales will enjoy Ashton Hall. A young American woman and her troubled 9-year old son travel to England to help care for a beloved dying uncle. In the process the young woman finds her voice, her courage, and her true home while helping to solve a 15th century mystery.

I love a good historical fiction book, especially one that has a mystery in the past that needs to be solved in the present. Susanna Kearsley is my go-to for that. Lauren Belfer has now made me want to go and read more of her works.

This book had me enthralled from the beginning. We have a murder mystery from the past and in the present Hannah is dealing with her own life situations. I rather liked the juxtaposition of the past and the present. While one didn't have much to do with the other, in the end I think it worked well together.

While I would have liked more after the end, the final, extra chapter definitely gave me some of the answers that I was seeking.

The book was a slow paced book, but it wasn't bad because it was engrossing. There were quite a few plot strands going on all at once, but it was interesting to see how they unfolded throughout the book. Nothing went as I expected it to.

Overall, this book was enjoyable!

Ashton Hall is the first book I have read by Lauren Belfer. I thought it was a really good historical with vivid details. Four and a half stars.

A VERY unique story - the title does not give it justice.
To be honest, I was expecting a haunted manor with a little intrigue and small mystery. Instead I was treated to a tapestry of themes and lives and I was completely immersed in the world of Great Britain in the 1800's.

Hannah and her neurodiverse son move from NY to Cambridge England for the summer to take care of her dying honorary uncle. There are many themes at play from the start including marriage, monogamy, family in general and neurodiversity. Before long, we are simultaneously plunged us into the 1850's when a skeleton in a walled off room is discovered.

As a ABD academic, Helen has many, many academic conversations with the archeologists, the locals and friends of friends in town. Via these conversations I learned MUCH about the Great Plague, language and Latin, aristocracy and life in the 1800s. None of it was boring, pedantic or out of place! It is truly a book that will make you smarter!

Helen also discusses much about the interactions between everyday Great Britains (especially as compared to Americans), the issues she faces as a parent of child who can be unruly in public, and her own personal questions about her family and lineage. There are so many great story lines, this book is just fantastic in terms of interest. This is truly not your run-of-the-mill mystery story.

My own complaint is that I did not feel that every story line was tied up as neatly as could be. What will happen in two years, for instance? I did love the real characters and the real women who did not simper and suffer quietly.

If you are interested in Great Britain, history in general, neurodiversity, family life, monogamy or just want a historical mystery, then #AshtonHall is for you!
#Randomhouse #Ballantine #NetGalley