With its engaging heroine, sinister castle, and shadowy intrigues, Murder in Thistlecross is a true gothic suspense novel, but not of the Victorian era as one might expect. Reade places the gothic elements seamlessly into contemporary Wales, essentially creating a new genre: the modern gothic mystery. One gets so happily immersed in the spooky mystery that the occasional appearance of a cellphone is a surprise as well as a reminder that what once was old has been made new again. I enjoyed the believability of a gothic mystery that seemed as if it could really happen today. I Also felt I had enjoyed a vacation in the beautiful Welsh countryside.

"The emerald hills and violet valleys of Wales seem the ideal place to start over after murder-and divorce-shattered Eilidh's life in the Scottish Highlands. But within the stone walls of an ancient castle, a family's dark, violent past threatens much more than her newfound tranquility...

For the past two years, Eilidh has called the quaint Welsh village of Thistlecross home, embracing her new life as estate manager of a restored fifteenth-century castle. But the long-anticipated arrival of her employer's three estranged sons and their wives transforms Gylfinog Castell from a welcoming haven to a place seething with dangerous secrets. When the escalating tensions culminate in murder, Eilidh must sift through a castle full of suspects both upstairs and downstairs. She can trust no one as she follows a twisting maze of greed and malice to ferret out a killer who's breaching every defense, preparing to make Eilidh the next to die."

Welsh castle and death!?! YES!

The murders are not a surprise; however, I did pick the wrong culprit. In the end, things are neatly wrapped up. I enjoyed the book. This was book 3 in the series. I did not read the first two books, and felt this worked well as a standalone.

Eilidh works as estate manager at the beautiful castle manor of Thistlecross. Annabel, the estate owner, has planned a holiday for her three estranged sons, inviting them home for the week, hoping to reconcile. Things are tense from the get-go. While the boys /say/ they forgive their mother for the abuse their father inflicted on them, their actions belay that. Things begin rough, and only get worse. The day after Annabel's sons arrived, her eldest, Andreas, is found drowned. A short while later Annabel herself succumbs to a mysterious illness. Has Thistlecross been cursed? Where will the carnage end? And will Eilidh manage to survive the maliciousness that's taken over the castle?

I rather enjoyed this little mystery. It started slow, but it kept me hooked. Unlike most mysteries like this, the MC isn't actively trying to solve the case(s). She, and the other staff- Maise, Brenda, Griff- are just trying to keep their heads down and get their jobs done. The police visit again and again, as the crimes pile up. An innocent lie, told as a prank, turns into something out of control, inadvertently adding to the death count. By this time, the police should just move in, so often have they been called. Despite all of the death at Thistlecross, there are bright spots. Sian, Andreas’s wife, delivers a healthy baby boy. And Eilidh allows her heart to open back up, falling in love with Griff, the estate’s groom. This budding relationship is nearly snuffed when Eilidh becomes the killer’s next target.

The conclusion of this story was a bit complicated. There were two entwined yet separate crimes with two culprits. Neither of them were who I expected. This just seems a terribly dysfunctional family. Learning why Annabel did the things she did when her children were growing up, that was heartbreaking. That they hated her for their perceptions was equally heartbreaking. I felt really bad for the castle staff, caught in the family squabbles.

There were a few things I was unclear on. Timelines were one thing that puzzled me. Large chunks of time seemed to pass quickly, making several days seem just the next day. Police procedures also puzzled me, though this is set in Wales, and I am not as familiar with UK procedures other than knowing they do differ from the US.

I loved that this story is set in Wales. It's the home of my ancestors. I appreciated that there was a pronunciation guide at the beginning. Though I was already familiar with some of the pronunciation, many are not familiar with the quirks of Cymry and Gaelic. I find it very frustrating when books with unusual names and phrases don't give a guide to pronouncing them. The main character's name is a great example. To look at Eilidh, the untrained brain might frizzle. 'Dh’ isn't something familiar. Would you guess it's pronounced 'Ay-lee’?

***Many thanks to Netgalley/Kensington, Silver Dagger Tours and the author for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a wonderful Gothic series set in Wales at a mysterious castle. The setting is written to perfection. Murder in Thistlecross is the 3rd book in Amy M Reade’s Malice series. This is my first book in the series and I look forward to reading the first two This book can be read as a stand alone.
Eilidh Stewart has been the estate manager of Annabel Baines’ Welsh castle, Thistlecross, for the past two years. One of her duties has been to help prepare for the arrival of Annabel’s three estranged sons. After their arrival, a series of murders occur, and Eilidh realizes that her life may be in danger. She is able to put suspects and clues together as she investigates and draws closer to danger in the mysterious castle. The writing is well crafted, the sleuth is done to perfection and the characters are all perfectly placed to the story. I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of Wales.

I received a copy from Net Galley and Kensington Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend this series.

Murder in Thistlecross by Amy Reade is A Malice Novel. Eilidh Stewart has been working for Annabel Baines as her estate manager and assistant for the last two years in the Welsh village of Thistlecross. There has been a flurry of preparations as Annabel gets ready for her three estranged sons to visit. Andreas and his pregnant wife, Sian are the first to arrive. Then they welcome Hugh and his wife Cadi who do not seem to be getting along. The last to arrive is Rhisiart who is the writer in the family. The tension can be palpably felt by everyone and matters are not helped by Brenda, the maid, who is acting oddly (clumsy, irritable). The family reunion takes a tragic turn when one of the family members turn up dead the next day. This is just the beginning of the misfortune to strike the household. Eilidh works to unravel the clues and discover who is behind these deadly deeds. Someone, though, does not appreciate her nosiness. What will they do to prevent Eilidh from ferreting out their identity?

Murder in Thistlecross was not quite what I expected after reading Amy Reade’s previous novels. While Murder in Thistlecross is part of A Malice Novel series, it can be read alone. Characters from the previous novels are present, but their backstory is included. I found the story easy to read with a gentle pace. The main character has been divorced two years and is ready to move forward with her life (i.e.—romantically speaking). Thus, enters Griff, the stable manager as a love interest for our heroine. Eilidh is referred to as an estate manager and assistant (in the beginning as an estate manager and later as personal assistant). She acted more like an assistant (a competent yet bland one). I wish that Eilidh had more of a presence (stronger personality, braver attitude). She does have a good heart and is loyal to her friends and employer. The mysteries have some interesting components, but they are not compelling (did not hold my attention). The mysteries can be solved long before the reveal. Eilidh is not as fortunate as I was in flushing out the culprit’s identity. I did not feel the suspense in the book, and the ending felt rushed (the author was nearing the end and needed to wrap up everything within the next few pages). My rating for Murder in Thistlecross is 3 out of 5 stars (it was okay). I wanted more substance and depth in Murder in Thistlecross. I do look forward to reading more of Amy Reade’s novels in the future and I recommend checking out her other novels.

Eilidh Stewart has been the estate manager of Annabel Baines’ Welsh castle, Thistlecross, for the past two years. One of her duties has been to help prepare for the arrival of Annabel’s three estranged sons, but Eilidh feels that Annabel seems more nervous than she should be. After their arrival, a series of murders occur, and Eilidh realizes that her life may be in danger, as well.

Murder in Thistlecross is the 3rd book in Amy M Reade’s Malice series. I received a copy from NetGalley and Kensington Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I have not read the previous books in the series. This book can easily be read as a standalone as the protagonist is only a minor character in the prior book.

The cover copy for this book – ” as she follows a twisting maze of greed and malice to ferret out a killer” - makes it sound like a typical murder mystery or whodunit. However, this book reminds me more of a gothic romance. Eilidh does not follow any clues or make any attempt at detection whatsoever. The murder is unmasked because he or she attacks Eilidh near the end of the book, although it is somewhat apparent who the culprit is through a process of elimination. I was expecting to read a murder mystery, not a gothic romance, so as I was reading, I was frustrated waiting for Eilidh to begin detecting.

I felt that there were quite a few inconsistencies or little things that didn’t make sense and those were very distracting to me. For instance, the family has been summoned to the dining room for dinner, and one of them knocks on the open door before entering. Another example is that when Eilidh and Griff go riding for the first time, Rhisiart follows them, and ruins their ride. The second time Eilidh and Griff go riding, they go to the fairy glen, a different place from where they rode before, and they have a good time. Later in the book, Eilidh and her cousin walk to the fairy glen, but their visit is ruined “just as Rhisiart had ruined ours when Griff and I had visited the fairy glen.” There are several other examples which I will not share due to spoilers, but I’m it is easy to get a general idea.

Ignoring the distractions, which was sometimes difficult to do, I thought the story flowed fairly well. It seemed to be pretty standard gothic romance fare; it reminded me somewhat of a modern-day Victoria Holt, although not as suspenseful. I doubt that I will read any additional books in this series.

I think someone who enjoys modern-day gothic romances might enjoy this book, assuming that they were not bothered by the inconsistencies that bothered me.

Amy Reade has been compared to Phyllis A. Whitney and Victoria Holt, two authors whose novels I loved when in high school. Eilidh moved to Wales to rebuild her life by working as the estate manager for a friend of her family, and this scenario, plus the isolated setting and brooding, lonely atmosphere, definitely evoke Whitney and Holt. But I wasn't as drawn into Thistlecross as I always was into Whitney's novels. The inclusion of discussion questions at the end indicate that the author and publisher think the book would make suitable book group material, and it might, especially given the twist ending. Like the gothics of old, Reade does provide a definitive, happy ending for our heroine, which is no surprise to anyone familiar with the genre. I did appreciate the true to real life history created for Eilidh--the depression after her marriage collapsed and after the murders are solved, but found other plot twists unrealistic--Griff suddenly has enough money to buy the horses and a farm after the events of the murders. But overall a reasonably good book, well-paced, with a very atmospheric setting.

After a difficult marriage, Eilidh is thrilled to be working as the estate manager for Annabel in a castle in Thistlecross. All that changes when Annabel's sons and two daughters-in-law arrive. Tensions rise immediately, and Eilidh is soon confronted by complicated relationships, family secrets, antagonism, and murder. With only her friend Sylvie as a trusted ally, Eilidh is unsure who else she can trust, and if she doesn't figure that out soon, her own life may be at stake. Though I thought it began somewhat slowly, I thoroughly enjoyed Murder in Thistlecross. I believe the beginning was crafted as it was to set the stage for a delightfully complicated mystery that was hard to put down and kept me guessing until the very end.

Murder in Thistlecross by Amy R. Reade
Malice #3

A castle manager
A guest gone missing
A murder then a few more
Who’s doing the killing and why?

Eilidh moved to Wales from Scotland about two years before this story begins and has been working as the estate manager for Annabel. Annabel’s sons are coming to visit and a happy family reunion is doubtful after the childhood they experienced on the estate. When Andreas goes missing the situation becomes iffy and becomes more so as the story unfolds.

Eilidh’s cousin comes to visit, two men put moves on Eilidh, drug dealing crops up, jealousy and hate are exposed and well…for so much going on it was still a rather sweet and tame story with a HEA for Eilidh with one of the men who showed interest in her. It was an okay read but did not have me on the edge of my seat. It had an “old time” feel to it with more telling than showing. There were one or two twists I did not see coming but otherwise the story was rather predictable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books – Lyrical Press – Underground. This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

The author does an excellent job setting the stage and developing a rich, gothic landscape that's perfect for a murder mystery..or two, Unfortunately the cast of characters are not as wonderful. Across the board they are petty, self-absorbed and generally unlikable.

Set in a beautiful Welsh castle, it was only a matter of time before the crumbling ruins would expose a killer in this excellent mystery.
The story begins with a pending reunion between the Mistress of the castle, Annabel, and her children and their partners. From the outset, it's clear that the meeting will be fractious. The family lived through years of horrendous abuse dished out by Annabel's first husband, father to the three boys. A great of animosity lives on, as the boys still resent Annabel for not protecting them. This meeting is her chance to put her side of the story to them, and maybe build a few bridges.
The story of the wealthy Tucker family runs along that of the estate manager, Eilidh, and the cook Maisie and her daughter Brenda. There is a delightful 'Downton Abbey' vibe when Annabel presses a floor button to summon the downstairs staff.
Eilidh is a woman I've met before in this series, and the author carefully intersperses details of her life from previous books without spoiling the current story. Her journey with Griff to the fairy glen is both sweet and atmospheric, sprinkling a little magic around after the dreadful events that continue to occur to the castle's inhabitants.
With plenty of Welsh influences, the story has a realistic feel, including the odd "iechyd da" thrown in for good measure.
The tale picks up pace - enormously so - towards the end, as the mysteries are resolved, revealing a well-developed suspense along with a very compassionate look at what drives someone to want to maim or kill another.
All in all, a cracking mystery blended with believable characters, a little romance, revenge and not to mention huge empathy for those who make mistakes for all the right reasons.
Long may Eilidh and her family & friends continue.

Murder at Thistlecross is set in a restored castle in Welsh village. The opening has all the wonderful charm of a Midsomer Murder episode combined with delicious characters of the sort you might find in a Victoria Clayton novel. I was instantly intrigued and transported in equal measure. Unfortunately the novel did not finish the way it began.
The protagonist, Eilidh seems the sort of person you’d love to have as a friend. She is kind, loyal and intelligent. However her character has very little agency– things happen to her, and despite her – which makes her a less than satisfying protagonist.
Regarding the murder, I will not give away any spoilers. I will simply say I found the “whodunit” reveal surprising, but most definitely and disappointingly NOT the inevitable ending I’d hoped for. When the murderer was revealed I did not exclaim, “Of course!” Instead I shook my head and questioned everything that came before. And also after.
Regarding Eilidh’s developing romance, I did root for that to happen. But much like the murder, I found it rushed, underdeveloped and not entirely believable.

This was a really quick read for me, I ended up finishing it in barely 2 sittings. There is a lot of build up and then 2 murders back to back, with a lot of character development. It's a light read and I guessed at the suspect as soon as all the family arrived, but it was fun seeing how the story played out. This would be a great book for reading curled up by the fire on a blistery day like today! Though all the talk of food MIGHT just make you hungry, LOL, so have some snacks handy!

I wanted to really like this book. I am a gothic suspense fan and love discovering new authors, having cut my teeth on the likes of Mary Stewart, Phyllis Whitney, and Victoria Holt. Unfortunately, there are few living authors who can pull off this genre with the style and sophistication of this trio.

The premise here is great: spooky castle in Wales, rich, nasty feuding family members, and our vulnerable young heroine, Eilidh, who is coming off a painful divorce. There's also a trio of murders, drug dealing, and even a birth--none of which makes for a particularly compelling read and which sort of come together in a rushed ending.

A pastime read if you have a few hours.

Full Disclosure--Net Gallery and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review

Eilidh has lived in Thistlecross for two years now, and is quite satisfied with her job as caretaker/estate manager for a 15th century Welsh castle. That all changes when the sons of the castle’s owner arrive with their wives. The once peaceful castle becomes the scene of bickering and brawls. Fists and accusations fly, so is it really any surprise when someone turns up dead? Eilidh will have to sort out the crime if she’s ever to get “her” castle and her peace of mind back. Atmospheric and intriguing