Having read a couple of Jenny’s books before I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read the new book.

This is another beautifully written book but so dark in places. Jenny really brought the island to life as an isolated (and scary at times) place.

A gripping story full of secrets and troubled people.

Books like this make me glad I’m parsimonious with my five star reviews, because Secrets of the Watch House is totally stunning. Wonderful characters, a gripping narrative, and a perfectly researched period piece. I can ask no more from a book, and it’s established Jenny Ashcroft as one of my favourite authors.

Violet Ellis accepts a job as secretary on a remote Cornish island, in part because she is a little in love with the owner, James. It’s a love she never expects to be reciprocated, but there is nothing to keep her in London and a new life beckons. Even before she arrives on the island she knows James’ late wife’s death just eighteen months before courted controversy, but she doesn’t understand its chilling legacy until she arrives on the island.

The cast of characters is brilliantly drawn, each one so rich in detail they appear on the page fully formed. But most of them have secrets too, and the unravelling of these makes the book impossible to put down, the final denouement leaving me breathless.

The skill that has gone into this book is phenomenal. As a reader, it’s seamless. As a writer I’d like to unpick it, so that one day I could maybe, just maybe, create something almost as good.

It’s all about Elizabeth.
Elizabeth likes the good life. Beautiful, funny Elizabeth can have any man she wants until she meets James. Her friends are getting married, having children and moving on to the next stage of their lives so Elizabeth decides to marry James with disastrous consequences. An interesting atmospheric story set on an island in Cornwall in 1932/34.

I really struggled to get into this book. The first few chapters didn't really draw me in. I'm so glad I stuck with it though because I actually really enjoyed it in the end.

This love story/mystery has strong shades of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, with its Cornish setting, rich widower, besotted ingenue Violet and a resentful housekeeper. But the plot takes an unexpected twist as Violet gradually discovers the truth about the first wife’s death. There’s plenty excitement to come in this tale, made all the more thrilling by its Gothic undertones - there’s even a lighthouse with a brooding keeper! - and the suggestion of a tragic ghost who haunts the island where it all takes place.
As it unfolds the plot becomes rather melodramatic, which is something I didn’t expect from this author. I also found Violet a bit wishy-washy. She wasn’t a character I could empathise with. I actually felt more in tune with the awful first wife Elizabeth, though I hope I wouldn’t behave like her.
Nevertheless an enjoyable read with lots of twists to keep you guessing.

1934
Violet Ellis is alone in the world after her father's notorious death.
When James Atherton offers her a position at his home on a remote Cornish island called, Aoife’s Bay she accepts.
James's wife died in mysterious circumstances and allegations are still being circulated.
Violet settles in and grows close to James but has the feeling that someone is watching and waiting and feels the hostility against her growing.
Who can she trust and who is behind it all?

"Secrets of the Watch House" is an amazingly addictive and convoluted thriller from Jenny Ashcroft. It is set in the 1930's on a fictitious rocky island off the tip of Cornwall where a millionaire has built his private retreat. Throughout the book, the stories of James and his first wife Elizabeth unfold, together with those of most of the island's inhabitants. Violet, James' new assistant/secretary is the catalyst to a lot of the most recent action.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this highly recommended book.

This is the first time reading this author and to be honest I struggled with this book and gave up as a little confused with the first 3 chapters. I came back to the book a few weeks later and am so pleased I did ! Just loved the way the book draws you in and the mystery of it keeps you going, Violet finds the place Aoife’s Bay beautiful and rugged but the island holds a mystery and she is determined to find the truth. Violet has to work through the feeling of being watched and the feelings of the locals.
Give it a go and you won’t be disappointed.
My thanks as always to NetGalley and to Publisher HQ and Author for the early read.

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. When I began to read the story I wasn't particularly interested and put it aside to read another book. However, I gave it a second chance & was soon drawn into the story of Violet as she travelled to a remote island off the Cornish coast. She had been employed as a secretary by James, a wealthy man who had known her father in the 1st World War. The staff in his house did not make Violet feel welcome. She quickly detected secrets about the mysterious death of James' wife Elizabeth.
Violet is a well written character and the island is very atmospheric. Not somewhere I could live. The Watch House, is the lighthouse, but who are the watchers? No spoilers here! The parts written in italics are a mystery until later in the book when all becomes clear. A good read if you like mysteries.

I really enjoyed the plot and characterisation in this story. It had echoes of Du Maurier’s ‘Rebecca’ about it with its young heroine, strong, older protagonist and the dead first wife. I have scored it down because some of the writing felt clunky, there were several occasions when I had to read and reread a particular sentence to make it make sense and a couple where I found it impossible to construct sense from it. They were minor complaints though and overall I really enjoyed the novel.

A compelling historical novel. Once into the story I found I was holding my breath until I finished it! Set on a mysterious island where many believed in eerie happenings.

A Cornish mix of love and mystery. Violet is invited by James Atherton, a wealthy widower, to become his secretary on an island off the Cornish coast. His previous wife had died in mysterious circumstances and the servants are very sniffy about Violet. Gradually the pair fall in love. The story reminded me of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. Atmospheric but often so confusing I had to re-read sections.

This author’s historical novels have become a firm favourite of mine so I was delighted to receive a review copy of her latest novel “Secrets of the Watch House”.
This novel was a slow burner- it took me a while to get to know all the characters and work out what the italic sections/ letters meant but once I got into it I found it a real page turner.
Violet has had a difficult life with a father who has been badly affected by World War 1 and who has committed a heinous act before his death.
When wealthy widower, James invites her to be his secretary on a remote Cornish island, Violet decides to accept to escape her awful life where she is spurned by many people.
However the shadow of Elizabeth, James’s first wife, hangs over the house and the servants are cold and unwelcoming. Shades of Du Maurier’s Rebecca perhaps.
The author also reveals Elizabeth’s thoughts and feelings and through a series of flashbacks the reader gets to know her and her rather difficult personality.
I don’t want to say too much more about the plot as it will spoil the book but suffice it to say I found it really hard to put the book down. It was a compelling read which included a love story as well as a mystery element.
I really liked Violet, she was brave and kind , despite her suffering and the way she had been treated, a quality James immediately saw in her.
I definitely recommend this as a five star read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

Foundcthis an interesting read akin to Daphne Du Mauriers Rebecca but I found it a difficult read. Plenty of plot twists but at times it struggled to hold my attention.

This was an interesting read and overall enjoyable. Great storytelling in an eerie setting which provided lots of atmosphere along the way. Lots of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing along the way. Recommended

The description drew me in but I'm afraid that I was disappointed and ended just thinking that it really was not for me. The start dragged on, young woman hoping for a better life, taking up a post to a widower as secretary on a remote island and big house, think really big house. Staff didn't like her, shades of the now deceased wife. lovely descriptions and scenery but too much a shadow of du Maurier's Rebecca. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

A brilliant story leading you through the journey of the island and how past events can warp view points

Brilliant storytelling, atmospheric setting, intriguing plot, together with mystery and romance all of which kept me hooked all the way up to the last page.
The characters are really brought to life by the author's wonderful descriptions - from Violet's prettiness, to the disfigurement of Mr. Hamilton and the striking change in Elizabeth's appearance.
The story centres around Violet who is invited to join wealthy Mr Atherton as his secretary at isolated Aoife's Bay in Cornwall. His wife who had not been liked, disappeared mysteriously from the island and then been found dead. Violet feels that she too is disliked by the staff, but enjoys the company of Mr Atherton. Along the way she tries to discover what has happened to Elizabeth his first wife.
There are many twists and turns, all of which added to the enjoyment of the novel.
Highly recommend. Thanks the NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Secrets of the Watch House, an interesting and curious title as Secrets of the Watch Tower might have been more accurate but that title would have stepped on too many religious toes. Set chiefly in Cornwall on a small, isolated island, named after a mythical young woman called Aofie of Irish descent, supposedly the first woman to set foot there and just for good measure; the name means beauty. Like every legend of a murdered beauty, she is cursed to walk the island for eternity waiting for her beau to rescue her. Well, that sets the scene and as sure as night follows day, it sketches out facets of the story ahead. It's rather a good love story but there are forces at play seeking to make everyone on the isle of Aofie very miserable with their lot in life. I read the Author's Note about the inspiration for the novel and it was the curious case of the Circleville Letters (two decades of poisonous pen letters blighting a community). However, the elephant in the room is the likeness to Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca. It's not identical, more of a deconstructed Rebecca but the similarity is there. Rebecca has never been out of print so perhaps the Secrets of the Watch House will be a winner too.
A lengthy novel, well written and never dull.

This was a spell binding story with so much heartache and mystery together with love set on an island which was so atmospheric adding to the mystery. I loved the characters and really felt for Violet. It was a real page turner as the story unfolded. Beautifully written with so much feeling and I love how the story unfolded.