This is a cosy crime mystery set in Norfolk. I enjoyed the ghost story within this book. I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing. However it’s easy to read and enjoyable enough

A perfectly good historical novel, perhaps a wee bit more interesting because I believe it mixes fact with the fiction.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first time reading a book from the author but I am delighted to say I thoroughly enjoyed the story and I look forward to reading more books from the writer in the future!

Engaging, Atmospheric…
1950’s and Lady Ann Coke is brought home to Holkham Hall following a death in the family. More than that, Ann discovers a mystery upon her return. Nobody can account for the death of her beloved grandfather. Has there been foul play? Or even more sinister, ghostly goings on? Seeped in historical detail and with a deftly drawn cast this is an engaging, atmospheric mystery.

I think I liked this one better than the first one !
Both are standalone so if you have not read the first one of this author no worries !
I liked the fact that the story took place in two time period.
I also liked the settings better than the Murder on Mustique book wich took place on an Island. This one take place on a british estate.

Overall I really enjoyed the book and will continue to read Anne Glenconner's work.

Prior to reading this I had read a news article about the author and her fascinating life. Don´t know why but I’ve always enjoyed very much stories about British aristocracy, so when I learned A haunting at Holkham drew from some of the author’s real life experiences I was so excited. After reading it I must say that, although the writing was good, I didn’t find the actual plot that engaging.
 
After her grandfather’s sudden death, Anne thinks it is a bit suspicious, so she tries to get to the bottom of it and several other mysteries that will go back to the early 40s when she was a child living at Holkham with her grandad and a devious governess that might have been implicated in the current affairs.
 
I loved the blend of fact and fiction, especially in the past timeline, but at the same time this past timeline wasn’t that exciting. It was more a telling of her daily life with not much mystery around it. The governess character was absolutely despising and it was shocking to learn how that really happened to the author when she was a child.
 
In the present timeline (as present as 1950 can be), Anne enlists the help of one of her family’s tenants to investigate. I liked the pair they made, it was interesting to see the clash of ideas of the upper and lower classes.
 
With also a “ghost story” thrown in there, the story had certain gothic vibes at times that added a nice touch.
 
I’ve heard both Lady in waiting and Murder on Mustique are both really good, so despite A haunting at Holkham was not my favorite I’m still willing to give the author another chance.
 
Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fabulous read set in gorgeous surroundings. January 1950. Lady Anne Coke, daughter of the 5th Earl of Leicester, is in Scunthorpe on a business trip when she is called home after a sudden death in the family. She returns to Holkham Hall to discover a mystery: her beloved grandfather has been found dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs with a valuable piece of jewellery in his pocket. No one can find a cause of death, and some even suspect foul play from the ghost who supposedly haunts the house. But Anne's suspicions are aroused; she grew close to her grandfather when they lived together during the war and she is determined to discover the truth.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I found the mystery fascinating but what i really loved was the historical part and the memories of an era.
I hope I will be able to tell story as well as the author when I'm her age as she's a fascinating storyteller and the details and the story she tells are always interesting.
The mystery part is a bit light but the book was enjoyable and compelling.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A Haunting at Holkham by Anne Glenconner is a great post WWII historical mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I loved that this historical fiction/mystery incorporates biographical information from the Author’s own childhood, and takes those inspired moments, people, and memories and creates a narrative with: creative characters, fascinating locations/buildings/events, and wraps it all up into an engaging and entertaining story.

Here we follow a younger Anne while she is at Holkham Hall as she attempts to sleuth her way into a resolution into her grandfather’s questionable death (at least in her mind). Anne is determined to get to the bottom of several mysteries despite the obstacles of the Hall’s other inhabitants, her age, and obvious obstacles.

I really liked the balance of fact and fiction and the Author’s note at the end helped give perspective on what was reality vs inspiration for the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed her memoir, Lady in Waiting, so I am pleased to say that I also think she has a real talent as an author of fiction as well.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Hodder & Stoughton for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and Waterstones accounts upon publication.

I found this to be a fascinating read. It was set in 1943 and 1950 and the story was part fiction and partly the author’s own experiences. Anne is the main character and I enjoy reading about the time she spent with her grandfather, the Earl of Leicester. Some of Anne’s other experiences were not so pleasant, to put it mildly. There is a mystery to be solved and I didn’t realise who was the culprit until the end. It became a real page turner. This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I will certainly look for more books. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved ‘Lady In Waiting’ and enjoyed the authors last book set in Mustique,this book for me was also good although not as riveting as the first 2
Am guessing there is a lot of factual writing gone into this book which makes it more the interesting,loved the descriptions of Holkom,less so the ghost parts

7/10
4 Stars

A step back in real time and also style. A gentle murder mystery set around a real place mixing fact and fiction. The cruel governess on a mission helped by the old retainer. A bit of predictability. Well constructed and comfortable read

I love Anne Glenconner's writing style! And I loved the fact that this book is so very well balanced between fiction and biography. It's probably not my very favourite by this author (and I urge you to read also the others), but I would highly reccomend it for its unique style and plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review:

An enjoyable read about Anne trying to discover the truth surrounding her Grandfathers death, the resident ghost "Lady Mary" and her governess. I loved the vivid descriptions of Holkham Hall as I have visited on many an occasion. Many thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

I read this on the back of having read the author's memoir

Having really enjoyed that, I was pleased to be able to read this

Really enjoyed it

What an Epic read!

Anne’s grandfather is found dead at the bottom of the stairs...
Resident ghost, Lady Mary, is to be blamed...
Is there a connection between Miss Lavender Crane and fake family jewellery? And why has a certain local person not been seen for days?

Anne is determined to find out the truth behind her grandfathers death.

I live not far from Holkham, and after this epic read, I’d love to visit

Firstly my thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, what a let-down. I had been so looking forward to reading this third book by Anne Glenconner, having really enjoyed Lady in Waiting and Murder on Mustque, both of which were excellent. Reading about Anne as a young girl, and then later when she was on the verge of being presented at Court, may suit a younger audience who enjoy the thrills of ghosts and a wicked governess. It’s a welll-rounded story, largely based on fact, but lacks maturity in the telling.