The Puzzle Wood had all the makings of a great gothic mystery: a remote estate surrounded by ancient woods, a recently widowed heroine, and secrets lurking in the shadows. I really enjoyed how the story started to unfold.
The setting, especially the Black Mountains and the folklore surrounding the forest, created a compelling backdrop, and while the Puzzle Wood itself didn’t play as large a role as I’d anticipated, its presence was sill felt. The contrast between Catherine’s personal investigation and the broader issues surrounding the mining community was a bit unexpected, but in a way, it worked. There were times when the plot felt a bit slow, but I didn’t mind it too much, I think I just missed a bit more payoff from the atmosphere.
The book isn't a full-on supernatural thriller but there is a creeping sense of unease that builds through the story makes for a largely compelling enough read. All in all, It's not quite the spine-chilling gothic novel I expected, but I still found myself enjoying the writing style, so I'll still look for Rosie Andrews' writing.

Dark and atmospheric, this immerses you in a chilling mystery as deep and dense as the surrounding woods. The narrative weaves a web of deceit, with each character shrouded in secrecy and the unsettling darkness that pervades both the house and the forest. As the core of the family’s hidden troubles come to light, the enigmatic connection between their secrets and the sinister happenings in the trees becomes increasingly clear.

This unsettling tale unfolds with a twisty, gothic charm, leaving you with more questions as you uncover the dark truths lurking beneath the surface. An engaging and haunting read that captivates with its eerie, immersive atmosphere.

3.5/5

I enjoyed Rosie Andrew's first book The Leviathan but, certainly in ARC form, I wanted much more here. An enjoyable read, but too many questions left unanswered.

Puzzle Wood is an ancient woodland in the Welsh Marches around Monmouthshire/Herefordshire in the foothills of the Black Mountains. Local folklore abounds and the woodland is thought to harbour something ancient and dark which the local villagers revere. However Sir Rowland who owns the woods as well as the historic Locksley Abbey has other ideas and opened a coal mine under the area in order to amass a fortune.

Catherine, the newly arrived governess, has an interest in discovering what happened to her predecessor as well as having an affinity with the woodland. An unseen mistress of the house, a wilful and wild daughter, local mining community, a pack of mastiffs and a doctor recently returned from Batavia round out the cast.

Being Welsh and familiar with the area, I was interested to see the inclusion of many references to the Chartist movement and the Newport Rising. Maybe because of this Welsh connection, I found it to be a worthwhile read.

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own unbiased opinion.

Rosie Andrews’ debut novel, The Leviathan, left me with mixed, but generally positive, feelings – I loved the setting and atmosphere, but was less interested in the fantasy/horror elements that began to dominate in the second half. I was curious to see whether her new novel, The Puzzle Wood, would be more to my taste.

The novel begins in 1852 with the recently widowed Catherine Symonds applying for the position of governess at Locksley Abbey in Herefordshire. Catherine doesn’t really need the work – her husband was a wealthy man – but she has another reason for her application: her sister, Emily, was the previous governess at Locksley Abbey and has been found dead in the woods nearby, believed to have taken her own life. Catherine is not satisfied with this explanation and in order to investigate her sister’s death, she needs to find a way to insert herself into the household without anyone guessing her connection with Emily.

Once at Locksley Abbey, Catherine meets her new employer, Sir Rowland, and her young charge, his daughter Georgie. The more she learns about the family and their history, the more she becomes convinced that there’s more to her sister’s death than has so far been revealed. Meanwhile, there’s another newcomer – Arthur Sidstone, a doctor who has recently returned to the area after working abroad. Arthur’s grandfather, who is interested in the history of the forests surrounding Locksley, has grown concerned by reports that Sir Rowland is planning to sell off the land for development. Arthur has come to ask him to reconsider, but ends up becoming much more closely involved in the affairs of Locksley Abbey than he had bargained for.

Set in the Black Mountains of Herefordshire close to the England-Wales border, on a remote estate surrounded by ancient woods steeped in folklore, with a plot incorporating family secrets and mysterious deaths, The Puzzle Wood promised to be a great, atmospheric Gothic novel. However, it didn’t have as much atmosphere as I expected and the Puzzle Wood itself played a surprisingly small part in the story. Instead, a lot of time is spent on another storyline revolving around the productivity of the mine on Sir Rowland’s land and the working conditions of the miners employed there, as well as Arthur Sidstone’s backstory and his involvement with the Chartist movement. I found these two threads quite interesting but they didn’t really blend together very well with Catherine’s story. The spooky/supernatural elements grow stronger towards the end, although certainly not as strong as in The Leviathan and I think readers who pick up this book hoping for something similar could be disappointed.

I seem to have read a few other novels recently with similar plots involving young women working as governesses or servants in lonely Victorian mansions. Maybe if I hadn’t read so many of this kind of book I would have found The Puzzle Wood more captivating as I do like Rosie Andrews’ writing. I’m not sure if I’ll try more of her books, but depending on the setting and subject I could be tempted.

The story of a governess in peril in a spooky house, with the mistress hidden away in one wing, would have had to have something special to overcome the hackneyed storyline. Sadly I found nothing unique in this. And the attempt to tie it in in some way with the history of the Chartists simply didn't work. I didn't find Catherine convincing as a character, and the language felt clunkily anachronistic in places. I started skimming around 20% and finally gave up at around 35%.

Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more - at least been able to finish it - if the ARC hadn't been quite so badly formatted and unedited. We may get these books for free, but it takes hours of our precious time to read and review them, and publicize them on our blogs or social media outlets. It would be more respectful of the work we do voluntarily because of our love of books if publishers would ensure that the ARCs they put out are in a good enough condition that they don't destroy all pleasure in the act of reading.

I blame my dislike of the book on the ARC; it was like reading an early draft. I was interested in the mystery behind Catherine's sister's death, but the backstory to the Puzzle Wood dragged on and on. Then there is Arthur's POV, which also had too much backstory; same goes for the miners not-exactly-POV.

I skimmed from about 20% on, because I wanted to find out what happened to Emily. In the end I wasn't quite certain I believe the explanations and the sisters' family story.

When Catherine arrives at Locksley Abbey to take up the post of governess she is hiding several secrets, not least that the previous governess was her long lost sister. The Abbey is the ancestral home of a not so wealthy landowner and mine proprietor, her charge is his troubled daughter. As time goes on Catherine realises that something sinister is happening and it's to do with the woods and also her past.
I grew to rather enjoy this story despite it's slightly supernatural tones. I think this was mainly because of the character of Arthur and his haunting secrets around a Chartist uprising. In the end it was pretty gripping and I enjoyed it.

The Puzzle Wood by Rosie Andrews is written much like th ebranches of the trees at thecentre of the story. Strong roots and reaching out, entwining, creating a full canopy of literature

This was a book I had to go back to and concentrate on, but worth the effort as there is an intricate layer of complexity that I found utterly engaging.

The core storyline is that Catherine gets employed at the Abbey to be a governess so that she can investigate the death of her sister, however, stepping foot in the abbey again illicits hazy memories of her past and the loss of her sister.

I embrace the intricacy of the storyline and it certainly keppt me interested. A simple tenet but executed artfully

Thank you to Netgalley, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) | Raven Books
and Rosie Andrews for this engaging ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

This novel appealed to me as I love historical mysteries. The idea of someone investigating her sisters death was intriguing but didn't quite live up to my expectations. The atmosphere was mysterious and had a gothic feel but didn't quite deliver this in full. It was quite slow paced and a little confusing as it jumped about and seemed disjointed. It did have a few twist and turns and a surprising ending but didn't hold my interest due to the slow pace.

Catherine Symonds learns that her younger sister Emily committed suicide in the woods behind Locksley Abby where she worked as a nanny for Sir Rowland. But Catherine thought her sister dead for years. So she decides to apply under a false name to become the next nanny. Once she gets near Locksley, she hears rumours of dangers in the 'Puzzle wood'. Arthur Sidstone also returns home to his grandfather, who is a doctor, and Sir Rowland asks him to intercede with the miners who are experiencing difficulties.

The puzzle wood is Rosie Andrews' second book after her debut The leviathan. I quite enjoyed that novel, even with the paranormal aspects. The puzzle word sounded more like a gothic novel with a mysterious murder, rumours of ghosts in the forest and the lady of the house hiding herself at the attic.

But the book is rather chaotic. You don't really get a connection with Catherine searching for the truth around her sister. And it all takes a very long time. Meanwhile, Arthur is also telling his story. He also has a past (that was told rather messy) and then there's the storyline around the miners. The book lacks focus and it all moves very slowly. Until the last 20%, then everything moves forward. But the ending couldn't convince me.

I still don't get what happened to Emily and Catherine in their childhood, and the motivations of both the adults at that time and two girls afterwards when they are grownups. So I found this a difficult book to read and of her two novels I certainly prefer The Leviathan. I don't know if I will pick up another book by Andrews.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m a fan of the author’s novel The Leviathan so was really looking forward to reading The Puzzle Wood. I enjoyed this book but not as much as I expected. This book has two story threads which I enjoyed and you really need to keep reading to see how the two stories connect. The first thread is Catherine who takes over as governess from her dead sister because she wants to find out the truth about her death. The second thread is the local miners who are not happy the mine is falling behind production and the Puzzle Wood of the title which may or may not be destroyed and is a place of rumours and sinister secrets. I liked the atmosphere of fear and suspicion created in the book. However, I felt the Welsh folklore than runs through the story could have been developed more. I like the plot twists which did take me by surprise. I’d recommend this.

Another great book by Rosie Andrews, if you enjoyed The Leviathan then this won't disappoint.

Full review to be posted on The History Belles at a later date.

This is a slower-paced historical fiction that revolves around the death of a young woman. Emily was a governess and her death appears to be simple to explain, however, her sister Cathrine thinks there is more to it than that. Taking the opportunity to become a governess to her late sisters' charge, Catherine is able to piece things together.

Catherine can join the household due to being once married and now a widow. She keeps this information to herself so she can gently discover more. Against this the story also has another thread, this is one of the nearby mine. Workers are disgruntled and the mine is not producing enough. There are rumours that the local wood, Puzzle Wood is to be destroyed, this wood is an area full of mystery, rumour and superstition.

I enjoyed this story as the author blends the story of Catherine and that of the miners and also the sparse staff who live in the main house. Another thread lurks in here as well, memories and some sort of turmoil, quite what that threw me initially. I liked Catherine and her charge, and some of the other characters, I can't say I warmed to any of them though.

The author does a good job of seeding suspicion and doubt and creating an atmosphere of eeriness with mysterious tones. Plenty is going on but it seems very erratic as the author flits between her different threads. At times it took me a minute to work out where or when I was.

I will say I enjoyed this, especially as things started to come together, then suddenly it went from a slower-paced mystery to a frenetic race to the end when things were answered. A first time reading this author and I will pick up more of her books as I did enjoy the mystery. Happy to recommend.

Rosie Andrews invites readers on a chilling journey into the heart of mystery and folklore with her latest novel. Set against the backdrop of a remote estate nestled in the shadow of the Black Mountains, this atmospheric tale weaves together secrets, myths and the follies of man.

While the premise is undeniably intriguing, Andrews's execution may leave some readers wanting more. The Welsh folklore that permeates the story feels somewhat underdeveloped, serving more as background noise than a fully integrated aspect of the narrative. However, where the novel truly shines is in its characters. Catherine, with her complex motivations and inner turmoil, is a compelling protagonist, while the charming yet mysterious young doctor adds depth and intrigue to the story.

Despite its occasional flaws, the novel delivers a satisfying twist at the end that will leave readers reeling. Andrews plays with expectations and delivers a conclusion that is both surprising and satisfying. It's a testament to her skill as a storyteller that she is able to keep readers guessing until the very last page.

Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

In a historical fiction setting, the present-day plot had some draw, but the complicated connection to the main character's sister's strange death in the woods seemed wierd. Trying to combine stories, memories, and killings didn't work out well, and I had a hard time seeing how the past was connected to what was happening.

The book seemed disjointed, whilst the premise offered a gothic style tale I feel it didn't ever produce that.

However I didn't see any of the plot twists coming, so that's a good thing

Both Mysterious and ominous, I absolutely loved The Puzzle Wood!

Catherine finds out that her estranged sister has passed away, but the story surrounding her death doesn't quite add up. Catherine takes it upon herself to investigate the matter and goes undercover at Locksley Abbey by filling the position of governess.

I the book to have quite a slow start, but all the information was important to the main story. Once The Puzzle Wood got going I was gripped, I loved all the twists and turns.

I highly recommend The Puzzle Wood. Wonderfully written by Rosie Andrews with characters that you'll either love or hate.

Catherine Symonds applies to work as a governess at Locksley Abbey in order to learn the circumstances of the death of the previous governess, whom she believes to be her sister. At the same time a doctor, Arthur Sidstone returns to the area after time away, working in Batavia. Their two stories meet and mix in this strange place on the edge of England but not really Wales.
This is a story that had a huge potential and with a interesting strap line and I was excited to read it, sadly I found the execution was less promising. The back story of Catherine is important but drawn out, whilst Arthur's backstory seemed very long winded, and largely unnecessary.
The plot twists in the story were good, and I certainly didn't guess the direction the plot was going to take, but I wasn't invested enough in the characters to feel satisfied by it.
I'm sure some people will love this book. The setting is atmospheric and there is a sense of otherworldliness with an echo of ghosts. Sadly for me the execution left something to be desired.
With thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for an arc copy in return for an honest review.

A beautifully written, atmospheric thriller full of gothic unease. I loved the central characters of Catherine and Arthur, their different motivations kept me engaged, and there were so many twists and turns that I was constantly wrong footed and eager to find out what was going on. I hadn’t guessed at all, and the resolution was shocking and satisfying. I love a book with a hint of ghosts and magic, and this had the perfect amount. Arthur’s last chapter, especially, was beautiful and very affecting. A delicious, richly woven story.

I did enjoy this book. Granted, the subject of a governess in a large forbidding house of family secrets and a recluse wife will not set the world alight. But, all the same, this is a properly crafted Gothic storyline with twists and a fairly high bodycount. True, it gets a bit manic and convoluted towards the end, but nonetheless, the Welsh folklore, the miners’ plight and the unsettling nature of the grand house itself make for a great goosepimply read.