Firstly love the book cover! From the very first page of this book, I was stunned, mesmerised. Written with a ferocious passion that'll knock the wind out of you! Recommend this one !

I really enjoyed this book. It was different than anything else I've read recently. I couldn't put it down! I will keep an eye out for this author's future work!

The Secrets of Crestwell Hall is the spellbinding new timeslip novel from Alexandra Walsh.

In 1605, as wife to Sir Walter Raleigh, Bess Throckmorton is used to sinister scheming and cruel machinations. With her husband imprisoned in the Tower of London, Bess needs to protect herself and keep her family safe – which is far from being an easy task with Robert Cecil, the most powerful men in the country, determined to ruin her at all costs! Needing some time away, Bess retreats to her home Crestwell Hall and is shocked to her core when she hears of a plot to assassinate the king!

In the present day, Isabella Lacey and her daughter Emily are excited to be starting over at Crestwell Hall in Wiltshire. Isabella cannot wait to make her aunt’s home her own, however, during renovations she makes a shocking discovery: an ancient bible that once belonged to Bess Throckmorton that doubles as a secret diary. As Isabella becomes engrossed in Bess’s story, a new version of the Gunpowder Plot emerges – told by the wives of the men who had plotted to murder the king and their determination to stop this assassination.

When Emily’s life is placed in danger, Isabella begins to understand the fear that had consumed Bess centuries ago. As the past and the present begin to merge in the most unexpected of ways, will Bess and Isabella manage to protect their loved ones? Or are they both about to lose everything?

Alexandra Walsh’s The Secrets of Crestwell Hall is a beguiling, atmospheric and dramatic tale layered with intrigue, mystery, tension and suspense. Evocative and enthralling, this engrossing tale is brilliantly paced, immersive and packed with enough twists and turns to keep readers turning the pages late into the night.

A heart-pounding timeslip page-turner in the best-selling tradition of Barbara Erskine, Alexandra Walsh’s The Secrets of Crestwell Hall is not to be missed.

I discovered the author last year and so far all of her books have captivated me, so I picked this up blindly. First of all: it was worth it 😊. The novels that I have read by Walsh so far (including this one) are all “time slip” novels, so they take place on two different time levels, actually always here and now, and once in a historically interesting medieval or ancient era. We always have 2 tough heroines at every level, some of whom still have to find or realize themselves, but always ladies with grit and strength of character. In some way, the respective heroines are always connected to one another throughout the centuries. So, long story short, Ms. Walsh doesn't reinvent the wheel with her novels, but nonetheless each book is always unique. And always historically very well researched and really good and exciting to read. Here, in the historical time period of 1605, we have Bess Throckmorton, wife of the disgraced poet Sir Walter Raleigh, who was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Bess moves with her children to Crestwell Hall, a remote estate, far from the beaten path, and which no one knows about that it actually belongs to her. About 400 years later, Isabella, historian and event manager, also moves into Crestwell Hall with her daughter. The property now belongs to her aunt Thalia, who is trying to renovate the old box, coming to terms with its history and making money with it. After her divorce, Isabella finds a new place of residence and a new job here. Right from the start it becomes clear that Crestwell Hall has connections to Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot, and this is a first starting point for Isabella for research. And here I have to pause for a moment, while every child in England knows Guy Fawkes, in whose memory bonfires are lit on November 5th and Halloween-like parties take place, nobody here in Germany knows that. I first discovered “Guy Fawkes Day” when I was in England. So, the guy in question wanted to blow up half of London on November 5th 1605, but his plan was discovered shortly beforehand and Fawkes ended up in the torture chamber. The novel actually revolves around this plan, the Gunpowder Plot. Guy Fawkes didn't think this up alone, he was one of 13 “plotters” who were all members of the nobility and were related by marriage or blood and/or were close friends. And Bess Throckmorton was related to all of them. Ms. Walsh NOW tells the story from the perspective of the plotters' wives. How they got wind of this outrageous plan that could bring disaster to all the plotters and their families, and how they tried to stop their men. Historical facts are very cleverly interwoven with fiction, and I often thought to myself, hey, maybe that was the case? Could have been 😊. And while the story of Bess and her friends slowly develops, Isabella's story also develops, whose ex-husband is also hatching dubious plans for a coup in contemporary England... So, I once again found the novel super exciting, emotionally moving, with great, strong heroines and lots of action. It really had everything to captivate me. And along the way, I improved some knowledge of history. I can only recommend the book! Big cinema.

Blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources

http://ramblingmads.uk/2024/01/26/blog-tour-the-secrets-of-crestwell-hall-alexandra-walsh/

I liked the previous book by the author and this one didn’t disappoint either. I really liked the combination of the modern and historical storylines, they intertwined nicely and easily. I didn’t have the feeling that the combination was forced, it made sense and was very enjoyable. The characters are well described and I could identify with them. It was very interesting to read another part of the well known story, I like it very much that the women got bigger roles here. I was surprised about the family connections so that I even learned a something from this enjoyable read.
I recommend the book highly!

PRESENT DAY: Isabella has moved to Crestwell Hall with her daughter Emily where she will live with her Aunt. She can start again following her divorce and bring the stately home that once belonged to her uncle back to life.
1605: Bess Throckmorton's husband Sir Walter Raleigh, is imprisoned in the Tower of London. She goes to stay in 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.

As Isabella sets to work in Crestwell, she discovers a bible that once belonged to Bess and also served as her diary. The deeper Isabella delves, the more she uncovers and we learn of an alternative tale to the infamous Gun Powder Plot.

This was an excellent read. The amount of research the author has undertaken is awe-inspiring. What has transpired is a book about women and their strength and ability to support one another.

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

I have read and thoroughly enjoyed all of Alexandra’s books. If you love English history, particularly the Tudor/Stuart era, then this is most definitely the author for you. The Marquess House series was an extraordinary feat in reimagining aspects of Tudor history. This time, Alexandra tackles the infamous Gunpowder Plot of the 17th century which is also inclusive of a contemporary timeline.

‘We must persuade them away from the horror of this plot. They are good men who have become misguided. In the misery of the past years with the plague and the disappointments of King James’s Catholic policy, they’ve forgotten that their lives are happy and there are people who love them.’

In a nutshell Alexandra considers whether the wives of the conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 knew what was going on? Guy Fawkes is the name most associated with this event, however, Elizabeth (Bess) Throckmorton (wife of Sir Walter Raleigh who was being held in the Tower of London) is who Alexandra shines the spotlight on. There are plots swirling around her and Bess must look to protect those she loves from being implicated to rid England of its unpopular King. In the present day, Isabella discovers Bess’s diary and faces a mysterious modern day/contemporary danger herself. It proved fascinating reading but be warned, it is an intriguing and complex read. For those who love a good conspiracy theory look no further.

‘…breathing in the atmosphere, imagining she could hear snippets of conversations from centuries gone by as she perambulated through the rooms …. Bess is giving me an entirely new perspective on the Gunpowder Plot,’

The dual narrative once again works well as the author has really done her research in an attempt to make the whole plot appear plausible! Love it! On the flip side however, there are A LOT of details, names and places and you really had to be thinking straight with the large (and I mean large) assortment of characters (all real though - which is actually mind blowing when you think about it). However, sometimes it did read a little like a history text book of ‘who’s who’ from the period. The book is about history, mystery, and romance, with a twist on the famous Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

‘Do you think we women are deaf?’ she hissed, anger giving her courage. ‘Or that we are fools? We have known for months that the men of the family have been plotting a heinous crime and we have done our best to save you from yourselves.’













This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Isabella Lacey and her daughter, Emily, are beginning a new chapter with Isabella’s aunt in her home, Crestwell Hall. The home once belonged to Isabella’s Uncle Phillip who believed that the Hall had a connection with the famous Gunpowder Plot. During renovations of the Hall, and Phillip’s hoarding collections, Isabella discovers a bible that alleged belonged to Bess Throckmorton, or Lady Walter Raleigh. Bess’s bible is also her diary and shows a new version of the Plot as told by the women.

When Emily is suddenly in danger, Isabella feels a connection with Bess that transcends all of time. And how one woman could possibly save them all.

I loved this novel, not just for the plot, characters, and overall story, but the obvious in-depth research. However, the research didn’t just extend to the immediate characters. The author researched all of the members of the Gunpowder Plot, the royal family, architecture, Shakespeare and his literature, and other literature that was inspired by the Plot. It made me want to go out and find an autobiography of Elizabeth “Bess” Throckmorton, Walter Raleigh, the Plot, and so many other topics. There were many things that I did not know about.

Each character was a strong, compassionate female with such motivations to save their families as well as themselves. Never did any of the woman, Isabella, Thalia, Bess, or young Emily, make the reader feel like women were insignificant. Quite the opposite, the author wrote these characters giving the reader the feeling of taking on the world. Thalia, though, was by far my favorite character, and I would love the author to create a secondary story but with Thalia as the main character. I loved her storybook energy, and her resilience. I just really loved this novel overall.

Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.

How to start. WOW! I love this book and couldn't put it down. A dual-timeline story set in both 1605 and present day and all revolving around Crestwell Hall. There are secrets, tales, fear, danger and the story is tense, intriguing and very engaging. Two stories entwine, history past and present and the lives of two women and the Gunpowder Plot.

I found this book was a history lessen that I enjoyed reading and wanted to read. This is a book I immersed myself into and although it was a wee bit slow it built throughout and as the stories came together the reading became easier. With a lot of characters to keep straight and a lot of history to delve into, this was a book that I had to concentrate on but that didn't take away from the story itself.

I really enjoyed it and am so glad I read it.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

"The Secrets of Crestwell Hall" by Alexandra Walsh deserves every bit of its 5-star rating, offering a rich and gripping tale that seamlessly weaves historical intrigue with a modern-day mystery. Walsh's storytelling prowess shines through as she brings to life two timelines, skillfully connecting the past and present in a way that captivates readers from the very beginning.

Set in 1605, the narrative revolves around Bess Throckmorton, a woman well-versed in navigating the treacherous landscape of political plots and intrigues. With her husband Sir Walter Raleigh imprisoned and the looming threat of Robert Cecil, the most powerful man in the country, Bess takes refuge in Crestwell Hall. Unbeknownst to their husbands, the wives of the plotters band together to thwart a new conspiracy to murder the king, adding layers of suspense and complexity to the historical backdrop.

In the present day, Isabella Lacey and her daughter, Emily, provide a fresh perspective as they embark on a new life at Crestwell Hall. The discovery of an ancient Bible doubling as Bess Throckmorton's diary sets off a chain of events that unravels a hidden version of the Gunpowder Plot, narrated by the women involved. Walsh expertly entwines the two timelines, creating a seamless and engaging narrative that keeps readers hooked.

As the story unfolds, the parallels between Bess's struggles and Isabella's experiences add depth to the narrative, making the historical events feel remarkably relevant. The looming danger faced by Emily echoes the relentless fear felt by Bess centuries ago, creating a palpable connection between the characters across time.

The suspense builds steadily, reaching a crescendo as the fateful date of 5th November approaches. The wives' desperate pleas to their husbands add emotional weight to the narrative, creating a sense of urgency that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

Walsh's meticulous research is evident in the vivid historical details, bringing the past to life with authenticity. The dual timelines are expertly handled, and the characters are well-developed, making them relatable and endearing.

"The Secrets of Crestwell Hall" is a masterfully crafted novel that seamlessly blends history, mystery, and familial bonds. Alexandra Walsh's storytelling prowess and her ability to intertwine the past and present make this book a must-read for fans of historical fiction and mystery alike. The intricate plot, well-drawn characters, and the seamless transition between timelines make it a standout and highly deserving of its 5-star rating.

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.

I loved this book.
It was great to read about the Gunpowder Plot from a different viewpoint.
The timeline is split between late 1605 and modern times.
1605 is all based around Bess Throckmorton, wife of Sir Walter Raleigh who was in the Tower of London at the time of the plot. Present day is about Isabella Lacey and her daughter Emily who have just moved into Crestwell Hall to live with Isabella's aunt who in herited the hall from her late husband. They plan on doing a total refubishment, and opening some of the hall up to the public. Isabella discovers a journal, and is soon engrossed in the life of Bess.
She reads that Bess gathers the wives of the plotters to gain more information, and they hatch a plot of their own to try to save the lives of the their loved ones, the King and the general public.
This was a great read and one that I wholeheartedly recommend.

The Secrets of Crestwell Hall was an interesting dual-timeline story about a place called Crestwell Hall. On one timeline you have Bess Throckmorton the wife of Sir Walter Raleigh telling her tale and the other is Isabella Lacey telling hers. I found it interesting but a bit slow. The biggest problem I had was there were tons of characters and it was impossible to remember who was who. All in all, it was a good story about a mansion full of mysteries and history.

I couldn’t wait to dive in to this book as this is a period of history that fascinates me. Guy Fawkes was a Yorkshireman, after al, like me. He attended St Peter’s School in York, one of the oldest schools in the world, along with two of the other gunpowder plotters. This school is the alma mater of my uncle and to this date they do not burn a guy on Bonfire Night!

This book takes place over two timelines, present day and 1605, preceding the Gunpowder Plot. The main characters are Isabella in the present day who takes up residence in Crestwell Hall and is involved in investigating its history and Bess Raleigh in 1605, wife of the incarcerated Sir Walter Raleigh and owner of Crestwell Hall. Both women are strong characters who are perfect conduits to tell the story of the Hall’s link to the Gunpowder Plot.

What I loved about the author’s last book was the level of historical detail and this book is no different. The writing transports the reader right into the heart of Tudor England during the reign of James I where conflict between Catholic and Protestant faiths was rampant and people lived in fear of discovery for following their religious beliefs. Many were discontented with the way the King was reigning and rumours and plots were rife. People were keen to keep their families safe from taint and Bess is a prime example of this. Her family is extensive and, when she hears whispers that some may be involved in plots against the King, she has to take action to protect herself and her children. The stress and danger of the time rises palpably from the page and infuses the reader so this becomes an edge-of-your-seat read. This is particularly true of women who have little power and are viewed as lesser by the men, but who are often ones who hold the true answers to the problems.

In the modern day, Isabella is similarly eager to do best for her daughter after her divorce, despite it being difficult for her. She becomes fascinated by the history of the Hall and determined to uncover its secrets. Her own strength is called upon when she finds her family in a dangerous situation. Luckily, she is surrounded by her family and good friends who she knows she can trust and lean on when things are difficult.

Female friendship, resilience and ingenuity and the overriding themes of the book which play out across both timelines and are extremely well written. All of the women in this book have character, presence and power when they decide to take it for themselves, but are often belittled and underestimated by the men around them, usually to their detriment. If anyone is labouring under the illusion that feminism is a modern phenomenon, this book will disabuse them of the notion!

This book is really easy to read, the writer’s style approachable and engaging and will delight fans of historical fiction. I absolutely loved it, probably more than the last one, and have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who enjoys this genre.

My thanks to Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for the tour invitation and to the publisher Boldwood for the copy to review via Netgalley. The Secrets of Crestwell Hall is published in ebook, audio, hardback and paperback (24 January 2024).

Alexandra Walsh is a new author to me and after enjoying this book, one I shall be following. This is a dual timeline story, the historical part mainly set in 1605 together with a present day strand. I remember the rhyme and the story of the Gunpowder plot from childhood – Guy (Guido) Fawkes was discovered planning to blow up the Houses of Parliament, kill the King and hundreds of innocent Londoners. Guy however was not the instigator of the plot that involved 13 men – that was Robert Catesby, a Catholic cousin to Protestant Bess Throckmorton (Elizabeth, Lady Raleigh), wife of the imprisoned explorer Walter Raleigh. Instead of highlighting the plotters, the author has focused on their wives; how much did they know and what could they do to protect themselves and their families. Bess is the mainstay here with her discovery of the plot and her plan to foil it, potentially saving many innocent lives but involving the wives of the plotters in a daring and dangerous scheme.

In the present day, Isabella Lacey and her young daughter Emily following a tumultuous period in their lives, move to Crestwell Hall, an historic but rather dilapidated building filled with artefacts (and much rubbish!), inherited by her aunt Thalia, and which requires enormous amounts of restoration -and money. What they discover within the Hall has direct connections to Bess and the Gunpowder Plot and is the vehicle by which Bess’ story is revealed.

I enjoyed both timelines, especially the historical part which combined fact with fiction. This Bess was a remarkably strong woman and far more savvy and intuitive than might be expected of many women of the time when the pursuit of power and personal ambitions put many in danger and to be the subject of even the slightest suspicion could have brutal repercussions.

The writing style was so very readable and the transition between the two timelines seamless. The author’s note at the back makes clear how much detailed research was required and gives further information. I loved the historical retelling and even though I initially thought Isabella’s character was the weaker, I rather changed my opinion of her when during this topical contemporary plot, she was faced with a dramatic and dangerous situation. Supportive friendships, on which both women relied, are the backstop to this story and the light touch of romance was nicely done. The description of Crestwell Hall appeared so authentic that whilst reading I had to check if it was real.

Finally, I have to mention the detailed character listing at the beginning for both timelines. My initial thoughts were 😱 – so many names to remember (I have to confess I didn’t fully get to grips with all the minor historical characters), but these type of references are useful (even more so if you are reading a print version- rather than an ecopy as I was).

This is a dual timeline book, moving between the 17th century and the modern day. What both periods have in common is Crestwell Hall in Wiltshire, which was the home of Elizabeth (Bess) Throckmorton who was the wife of Sir Walter Raleigh.

In the modern day, the house belongs to the main character's aunt Thalia, and following a divorce Isabella moves into the house with her young daughter Emily. Together they plan to renovate the house and open it to the public. With help from the attractive but mysterious, Oliver, Isabella works at unearthing Bess' story.

We are all familiar with the story of the Gunpowder Plot, and the author retells the story from the perspective of the wives of the men involved. The author very skillfully provides the details of this period in history, and she has clearly researched her time period and the events extremely well. Much of Bess' story Isabella explains to those around her, but it never felt like an information dump. Instead, she related it in an engaging style, whilst then moving the narrative back to 1605. Ms. Walsh accomplished seamlessly.

It is a fabulous book which I was completely gripped by. Strong characterisation along with excellent research has combined into an extremely good book which I highly recommend.

In this fascinating dual perspective historical fiction novel, readers travel between the present day lives of Isabella, her daughter Emily, her aunt Thalia, and local stone mason Oliver and the seventeenth century life of Bess Throckmorton, wife of Sir Walter Raleigh, shortly before the Gunpowder Plot and the attempt to blow up Parliament. Readers explore Bess’s manor Crestwall Hall in both timelines and learn the secret conspiracy of women attempting to stop the more famous Powder plot. Set against the backdrop of two conspiracies in two different timelines, Alexandra Walsh brings the high stakes of the seventeenth century to life in amazing fashion. Her characters, several powerful women from different times, are incredibly dynamic, life-like, and multidimensional, and Walsh gives the wives of the Powder Plot conspirators a voice and a presence in this novel. Crestwell Hall is a charming, whimsical manor home, and its hidden secrets and many mysteries are incredibly detailed and revealed in an appropriate way. Walsh’s latest novel is an excellent example of dual timeline historical fiction, and the world she has brought to life has some incredibly high stakes to deal with. Readers may be familiar with the Gunpowder Plot, but they probably have not heard of it from this perspective!

This novel presented a compelling premise by focusing on the wives of the Gunpowder Plotters, inviting readers to empathize and ponder the challenges they faced. The author skillfully wove threads connecting modern-day radicalized extremists with their historic counterparts, adding depth to the narrative. I particularly enjoyed the portrayal of terrorists on a destructive path and their women striving to prevent death, ruin, and disgrace.

The book demonstrated impressive research, and I appreciated the author's note at the end clarifying the blend of fact and fiction. The vivid descriptions painted a clear picture of the setting, prompting me to even search for Crestwell Hall to determine its existence—an indication of the author's clever and plausible historical fiction writing.

However, the abundance of featured names, especially from the backstories of minor characters, created unnecessary confusion for me. It slowed down the pace and hindered my enjoyment of the story. While I admired the author's planning, I believed a more stringent edit could have improved this aspect. The list of characters at the start was challenging to reference on a Kindle, causing a bit of disappointment.

The modern-day treasure hunt in the secret rooms felt less convincing compared to the historical elements of the story. Despite these drawbacks, the book stands as an impressive achievement, recommended for those intrigued by Tudor and Stuart history.