The Secrets of Crestwell Hall by Alexandra Walsh

I know it's still quite early in the year , but this is my favourite book of the year so far , and I expect it to remain so. Loved , loved , loved it.
A dual timeline tell the story of Bess Throckmorton set in 1605 and also present day.
The story as it went along brought some historical moments , and people alive.
Also enjoyed how the author brought the two timelines together by Creswell Hall.

The 1605 is the period of time when Bess Throckmorton, married to Walter Raleigh has fled to her house, Crestwell House. It takes her away from being in direct fire of Robert Cecil’s attempts to have her husband and herself executed in some way or other. It’s a stressful time and how it is written really comes across well. As we go between the two periods, it flows well and ties up nicely.
The present time involves a woman called Isabella and her day Emily, as they settle in this huge house with their Aunty Thalia and the groundsman called Oliver. He just happens to be a bit of a hunk and extremely helpful…..!!
A fantastic dual time historical story that surrounds the gunpowder plot and how the women who were indirectly involved, lived their lives alongside the present time living in the same house as Bess. I found the snippets of history mixed in with fiction really interesting and the trinkets that Isabella and her aunt found in the house too. The characters were compelling, but my heroine had to be Bess!! She was amazing!! This will be a great read that you will enjoy.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books for the chance to read this arc copy via Netgalley.
#Netgalley, #bookandttonic, #purplemermaid25.

A fascinating tale telling the life story of Lady Elizabeth Raleigh, wife of Sir Walter Raleigh and known as Bess Throckmorton in this wonderful dual timeline novel, set in 1605 and present day.
The two stories intermingle seamlessly and both timelines kept me enthralled. The writing and storylines bring history alive and gives the insight of the turmoil and anguish the women felt as they attempt to foil the Gunpowder Plot.
In the present day it was interesting to read the story of the renovation of Crestwell Hall and the amazing finds.
All in all a perfect dual timeline novel to lose a few hours in.

Interesting dual timeline story from present day back to 1605 just prior to the Guy Fawkes gunpowder plot in England. In the present day, Isabella and her family are cleaning out and renovating a very old house and they find many artifacts about the 13 men involved in the plot to overthrow the king in 1605, including letters written by the wives and families who tried to stop them.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher. I really enjoyed this book after reading mostly thrillers. I loved the characters and the storyline. Great read

The Secrets of Crestwell Hall will have you turning the pages quickly as you get lost in the story of Bess Throckmorton and the Gunpowder Plot which is famous in its own rite.

The time is 1605 and political intrigue and unrest are running high.

Present day Isabella has moved with her daughter Emily to Crestwell Hall to help her aunt bring order to the chaos of the house.

When I was with Bess, I was anxious to get back to Isabella to see what she has unearthed and how the two stories will come together.

I don't want to say too much as its a journey the reader will embellish on their own.

Alexandra Walsh has done an excellent job of bringing history to light and I felt I was right there in the Tower of London or at Crestwell Hall discovering old artifacts that will give up the secrets of the Hall.

Highly recommend The Secrets of Crestwell Hall. My only regret is I didnt read it sooner.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a captivating read.

This book is a dual timeline story switching back and forth between Isabella in the present day and Bess Throckmorton in 1605. It was a well researched and interesting look into the Gunpowder plot from a different perspective.

Alexandra Walsh does an excellent job building the story and making the historical figures come to life on the page. I loved Isabella's discovery of the bibles that belonged to Bess and how they helped decipher her secrets.

I definitely enjoyed the 1605 timeline more. It seemed to me that some of the present-day storyline was unnecessary, especially the inclusion of Isabella's ex-husband Keith.

Thank you, Netgalley, and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another interesting and well written book from Alexandra Walsh. I love these dual time-line books and this one dealt with an era of history that I enjoy reading about. I do hope she soon writes another one. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Fascinating! An incredibly well researched story, that switches between Bess Throckmorton and Walter Raleigh’s 1605 world, and the present day at Crestwell Hall.

Alexandra Walsh has created a cast of likeable and believable characters in Issy, Emily, Thalia and Oliver.

I enjoyed reading their discovery of Bess’ old bibles and how they deciphered the information held within, to reveal the story of the gunpowder plot, from the women’s perspectives.

Keith was highly irritating and I felt his inclusion brought very little to the story.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Alexandra Walsh and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This is a dual timeline book, and it works well. The present day story of Crestwell Hall and its restoration, along with the stories of the main characters made for interesting reading. The past, centred on Bess Throckmorton and the Gunpowder plot was also entertaining. Initially I found the many characters a lot to handle, and there is a list of characters provided at the start, and would be very useful reading it as a real book. Reading it as an book made this feature less accessible.. But as the story unfolds, the bravery and cleverness of Bess shines through. The unravelling of the secrets of the past was very enjoyable. The ending had me spellbound and the parallels cleverly done. This is the second book I have read by this writer, and eagerly await her next book. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC to read and review.

From the moment I read the title and the outline this book was sold to me. I love anything based on history. Best is well known as the woman who lost the favouritism of Queen Elizabeth I. I loved reading what happened to her and her husband, Sir Walter next as she worked to stop probably one of the most famous plots in British history: Gunpowder Plot. Bess has a heart of gold, a woman who is desperate to do right and stop what would have been a massive, now a days, terrorist attack.

Then there is Isabella: a single mum who has the most horrid ex husband who is a absolute jerk. I love Isabella and the storyline of her maybe finding love with Owen and how quickly she became dedicated to Crestwell Hall. Another woman with a heart of gold who just wants to make her new home the best place possible.

This is my first Alexandra Walsh book and it won't be my last. From the moment I opened the first page I just couldn't put down this well written book. The attention to details, how the book flows between the past and the present makes it an unstoppable and a must read on those TBR lists.

I love everything that Alexandra Walsh has done.
This one is in a similar vein to the Marquess House series.
The story sweeps seamlessly between the gunpowder plot in the 17th century and the present day.
Brilliant 10 out of 10

For me, this is Alexandra Walsh’s best book yet, with strong echoes between the historical and present day timelines. The history is impeccably researched, bringing an entirely new angle to The Gunpowder Plot, and how it might have played out for the women behind the scenes.
In 1605, Bess Throckmorton, wife of Sir Walter Raleigh, must protect her family from the traitorous intentions of her Catholic cousins. Her own husband languishes in the Tower of London, yet enemies at court would still seek to implicate him. Somehow Bess, through the plotters’ wives, must either make the men see sense, or stop them.
In the present day newly divorced Isabella and her daughter Emily come to live at Crestwell Hall, a beautiful Jacobean manor house in Wiltshire with rumoured connections to the Gunpowder Plotters. Isabella needs to find out whether they are true to secure the Hall’s, and her family’s, future. While in the background a terrifying modern day threat to democracy lurks.

“Remember, remember the 5th of November…”

These were the words that came to mind as I started reading. They are part of John Milton’s poem alluding to the events mentioned in this book.

I was initially drawn to this book because I saw that it focussed on an intriguing part of history and was set during two of my favourite periods, the Tudor and Stuart era. However, it was the depth of research and stellar prose that held my attention.

This dual timeline brings together two women, centuries apart, who are linked by a Tudor mansion in Wiltshire, Crestwell Hall, and spotlights women supporting each other in a time of crisis.

Elizabeth “Bess” Throckmorton Raleigh, Queen Elizabeth I’s former lady-in-waiting, is retreating to her secret estate in Wiltshire to thwart the wrath of Robert Cecil, Queen Elizabeth’s advisor. Leaving her husband imprisoned in the Tower of London was not ideal, but Bess realizes the value of distance and the support of her female friends.

In the present day, Isabella Lacey and her 10-year-old daughter, Emily, have arrived at her Aunt Thalia’s home, Crestwell Hall, partly due to a generous offer to end their homelessness after a divorce but more importantly, to help Aunt Thalia with renovations. Believing the house has an important historical past, wanting to turn it into a future viable business concern, and wanting to honor the legacy of her Great Uncle Philip, Isabella and her aunt begin the process of restoration. They find something that links the house to the Gun Powder Plot of 1605.

A keen Tudor and Stuart-era enthusiast, I didn’t think I could learn much more about this incident, but I was completely wrong. I eagerly noted the differences between gargoyles and grotesques, the recusancy laws, the inspiration behind Ben Jonson’s Sejannus, His Fall and Shakespeare’s Measure For Measure, why King James was such a disappointment and what use priest holes and voussoirs held for the Tudors! My highlighter was pulling double duty.

Walsh makes the period real on the page. Her love of research and her career have certainly contributed to this absorbing and compelling read. I appreciate that she highlighted the shadows where many women throughout history have hidden behind their husband’s misdeeds and, in this case, become lost in the notoriety of the Gunpowder Plot. I also appreciated women’s friendships and the value of confidentes showcased throughout history.

The discovery of an important book was the highlight of this read and was well framed and supported by themes involving the tie of blood, the bond of family and the imminent danger that forces people together in their reliance on safety.

Never underestimate the power of a woman scorned nor what a group of women working together can achieve!

I was gifted this copy by Boldwood Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

What a good book! I could hardly put it down.
I loooove secrets. It's what kept me turning the pages, especially the history of the different Bibles that Isabella found. Imagine! That'd be cool to find!
Crestwell Hall is an amazing home in itself. I love the history behind it.
I enjoyed meeting Isabella's friends. They seem like a great group of ladies.
I don't trust Keith a whole lot. Seems kind of sneaky to me.
I loved Bess's story the most. She seemed like a great person to know.
And a smart woman too.
There's a little bit of everything that this new to me author has included to make an awesome adventure/rollercoaster ride! I didn't want this story to end.
The cover and title of this book grabbed me and from the first page I was totally invested.
What an awesome read! So glad I picked this up.
I highly recommend 5 stars for some excellent research and writing.
I'll be thinking about these characters for a long time to come.
My thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books publishing for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.