In the Shadow of Croft Towers is a debut novel by Abigail Wilson that takes readers back to 1813. Sybil Delafield is twenty-two years old and has accepted a position as companion to Mrs. Chalcroft at Croft Towers. Sybil is traveling by Royal Mail coach along with Mrs. Plume and her lady’s maid, Thompkins. Along the way, the coach is stopped by armed highwayman who go through everyone’s belonging. One of the men even takes Sybil’s recommendation letter to Mrs. Chalcroft. Upon arriving at Chalcroft Towers, Sybil is met by Mrs. Chalcroft’s various relatives who are less than welcoming. She is surprised to recognize Mrs. Chalcroft’s godson, Curtis Sinclair as one of the highwaymen who attacked the mail coach. Instead of outing Sinclair, Sybil decides to keep his secret and it is just the first of many. It seems that everyone in Croft Towers has something to hide including Sybil and one person is willing to kill to keep their skeletons under wraps.

In the Shadow of Croft Towers is a dark, mysterious novel. Sybil is an orphan who has been attending a London seminary courtesy of an anonymous benefactor. Unfortunately, the funding recently stopped. Sybil was lucky to get the position as Mrs. Chalcroft’s companion with the aid of her teacher, Mrs. Smith who is also a friend of Mrs. Chalcroft. Sybil recently received a letter and bracelet that gives her hope that she will find information about her parents at Croft Towers. Secrets abound at Croft Towers as Sybil soon discovers. Mrs. Chalcroft sends Sybil off on mysterious missions with letters, Sinclair disappears for hours and sometimes days, soldiers are scouring the countryside for the highwayman and spies for the French, Mrs. Chalcroft’s nieces and nephews each have their own agenda, and there is a hidden room in the overgrown garden. In the Shadow of Croft Towers is nicely written with gentle pacing. There are a variety of characters in the story. I would have liked the author to have taken the time to develop the characters further (more 2D than 3D). There are twists and turns that will have you quickly turning the pages to find out what happens next. In the Shadow of Croft Towers is a dark Regency story that contains mysteries, spies, murders, and romance.

In the Shadow of Croft Towers
by Abigail Wilson
Thomas Nelson--FICTION
Thomas Nelson
Christian , Historical Fiction
Pub Date 15 Jan 2019


I am reviewing a copy of In the Shadow of Croft Towers through Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley:


After Sybil Delafield’s coach to Croft Towers was robbed, robbed by highwaymen Sybil should have realized that her job as a companion to Mrs Chalcroft was no ordinary drive. After Sybil Delafield came to Croft Towers to work for old Mrs Chalcroft, the old lady sneaks into her room at night, compelling her to relay messages into town without letting the rest of the family know. It leaves Sybil Delafield to wonder exactly who she’s working for. She also cannot help but wonder what the messages say.




After fellow passengers of the robbed coach are later murdered, Sybil’s hunt for answers takes on greater urgency. There is only one person she can rely on that is Mr. Sinclair, Mrs Chalcroft‘s God’s Son, the problem is despite all his charm he too is living a double life. Sybil finds herself having to decide if Mr Sinclair is the one voice she can trust or not, or whether he is simply using her for his own advance.


Murderers, smugglers and spies on the loose, nothing and no one in Regency England are who or what they seem. Sybil must even question if she can trust what she knows about herself.


I give In the Shadow of Croft Towers five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Wow, this book was a pure pleasure to read! I tried to read it as slow as I could in order to savor each page. The storyline was perfect, filled with mystery, intrigue and romance. It’s been added to my Favorites list and will be read over and over again!

What a splendid debut novel. I love regency novels and I really enjoy first person point of view, so the two together, along with a heavy dose of mystery and intrigue, made for a compelling story. I didn’t want to put it down. Sybil, while tender and sweet, had a backbone of her own and saw it through to the end. I loved her quick thinking and perseverance. I look forward to more stories by this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Abigail Wilson is an author to watch. Her debut novel In the Shadows of Croft Towers grabbed my attention from the first page and held it to the last. Wilson’s Regency story is chock full of mystery and intriguing characters. Kept me guessing under the very end!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher via Just Read Tours and am not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions therein are solely my own.

This was a Gothic regency that was a bit much for me. I enjoyed most of it. The mystery I thought I had figured out and then got thrown completely off track and then figured some of it out. Lots of the end was a surprise to me tho and I liked that a lot. It was a fun story line and the characters were interesting. The part that could have been more developed was the romance. It was just there all the sudden. The mystery and the stupidity of the leading lady got a little old. It drug a little for me near the end and I just wanted it to get over with. For a first book the author shows promise.

This is a delightful debut novel from Ms. Abigail Wilson. The story has murder, suspense, evil, intrigue, thieves, and secrets galore; but it also has love, family, truth, honor, and integrity. The only thing I felt was missing, and it's a big one in Christian Fiction, was spiritual content. Although I feel that this book is very well written, held my attention, and I enjoyed it, I'm saddened by the fact that I believe there was no spiritual content. Yes, there was talk of right and wrong and being true to yourself. I was just missing that part of where our moral compass comes from.

Sybil Delafield is an orphaned young lady, who is sent to Croft Towers to work as a companion to the lady of the manor, Mrs. Chalcroft. She forms a bond with Mrs. Chalcroft, but is wary of everyone in the house because it's abundantly clear everyone is hiding something. She's a likeable character, who is strong, courageous, and determined to figure out her connection to the family.

Mr. Curtis Sinclair is a perfect hero. He is strong, mysterious, shadowy, and every bit the gentleman. You want to put your full trust in him, but you're just not sure he's deserving. It's fun to see each part of his character come to light.

All in all, I enjoyed this story and look forward to seeing what Ms. Wilson has next for us!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A positively delightful tale! I was hooked from the first page. Each chapter held me in suspense and never let me go. To be honest, I am loathe to leave the shadow of Croft Towers even now, after being transported back to my house in modern day, where I now sit in despair. I wish to go back immediately. The Towers are calling me.

"I hated secrets with a passion, for they were usually kept from me. However, within two days of my arrival to the Towers, I had become the unlikely bearer of three."

This is a debut novel? My mind is just stuck in a stutter. I can't get past the fact that this is only the first (of many, I can hope) from this author. I'm particularly pleased to know that a sequel is arriving in just a few short months! I hope to catch it and read it as soon as possible.

"It must have looked like a great production, the three of us descending the main staircase -- Mrs. Chalcroft in her elderly dignity; Hodge with his arrogant, butler airs; and me scared out of my wits."

I'm also impressed with the attention to detail in the historical aspects of the story. The setting, the characters, their clothing, and the places they visit... It's all described so perfectly for the time period. I can see it all in my mind's eye; it rather feels like a movie instead of a book. Oh! And the delightful vocabulary! That's another whole thing in itself... Overall, I just love the author's writing style.

"Everyone at the Towers had a secret. Every. Single. Person. And I could do nothing but claw my way through their web of lies."

Plus, there's even an actual sword fight, you guys. I still can't take it all in...

If you like historical fiction... or mysteries... Yes! This is for you!

What a wonderful debut! I need to clear some room on my bookshelves for a new author. It did not take long to draw me into the story filled with enough intrigue and romance to please this reader's heart. With an unexpected twist at the end, this story filled with highwaymen, spies, and family secrets will appeal to fans of Gothic romance. Wilson's original voice, attention to historical detail and vivid setting draw her reader's into a story that deserves to be placed on a keeper shelf. I look forward to reading more by this author.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through NetGalley and I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I took on In the Shadow of Croft Towers as a last-minute book to review after hearing the rave recommendations from others, especially those at Hope By the Book magazine. And I’m so glad I did!
This regency romance/mystery is unlike any other I’ve read. Filled with secrets and shadows so tangled, In the Shadow of Croft Towers presents a delicious mystery. Sybil’s story is told in first person point of view, which is a little-used viewpoint in historical fiction, but one I love. Sybil’s growth as a character, from fearful into the bold, adventurous person she truly is, felt believable. Her search for her true identity, while not spelled out as in some books, was really found as she exercised her courage in various situations. So that in the end, it really didn’t matter who her parents were, because she owned who she had been all the time.
The romance in this book is so good, with enough second-guessing from various characters to keep me from being completely certain of the hero, at least at the beginning. Mr. Sinclair, a shadowy and uncertain figure, was so much fun trying to figure out. Mrs. Chalcroft, for all her blustery ways, worked her way into my heart.
This book, this author, is excellent. I read the Kindle version of this book, but I’ll be finding myself a hard copy to take up permanent residence on my shelf, to be read again in the not-so-distant future.
Whether or not you’re a fan of the Regency era, this is not a book to pass up.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Set in England in the early 1800s, In the Shadow of Croft Towers has an overriding feel of darkness just waiting for a light to bore its way through. The light was brought by Sybil Delafield. An orphan who had been sponsored at a distinguished girls school, Sybil had come to Croft Towers not only to fill the role of companion to Mrs. Chalcroft, but also to find the answers to questions about her parentage and her connection to the people who resided there. She held those questions secret, but she was not alone in that, each resident of croft Towers was keeping secrets of their own, secrets covering sins of the past and secrets covering sins of the here and now. One among them was likely a traitor to England, and possibly a murderer, and one was most definitely a desperate highwayman, or was he?

If you are in the mood for intrigue with a side of romance, this book is just the one for you. It reminded me of reading Phyllis Whitney novels in my younger days. I give it five stars. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Being held up and robbed by highwaymen on the way to her position as companion to Mrs Chalcroft at Croft Towers was unexpected. Meeting the leader of said highwaymen in the drawing room at Croft Towers later that same day in the shape of Mr Sinclair, Mrs Chalcroft's godson, was still more so. But these are only the beginning of the surprises and secrets that Croft Towers holds...

Having come to Croft Towers in search of information about her unknown parents, Sybil has her own agenda in the house - but she never expected everyone else to be the same. Mrs Chalcroft is employing her to take letters secretly into the nearby town, but what do these letters hold? Mr Sinclair seems friendly, but why is he playing the highwayman? And what of the others in the mismatched family? The stakes start to rise as first one and then another of Sybil's companions in the coach in which she arrived is murdered - why have they been killed, and will she be next? And most importantly, who can she trust in this web of secrets?

An interesting story with good characters, and an intriguing mystery (or series of mysteries) interwoven. I enjoyed the book overall, with the various threads coming together neatly and in a very satisfying way by the end, and would hope to read more by the author. My one comment would be that it felt a bit 'dark' somehow, in a way that I can't really explain. That did detract slightly from my enjoyment of the book, but wouldn't stop me reading it again, or reading more by the author.

Characters: An intriguing bunch, some a lot more developed than others, but generally well managed.
Storyline: Kept me on my toes, and turning pages - mixed metaphors, but it really did keep me wanting to read more and often not anticipating the direction in which things headed.
Content and language: Clean, well written - no issues noted.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“And life itself is so confusing at times. People are not always as they first appear. Moments of our own journeys seem meaningless at one point, then later of great consequence. It is difficult to know if you are making the right decisions, no matter how hard you work to do so.”

Well, this was just lovely. It was such a wonderful find while I was browsing the Gothic Romance kindle section on Amazon where most of the books there now are about shapeshifting or mating. I guess some authors think that just being situated in a castle or having a paranormal event/being makes it a gothic.

In the Shadow of Croft Towers starts off with our heroine Sybil leaving the seminary to find the truth about her past. But once she gets to Croft Towers she gets tangled up in secrets, and every single person at there has a secret.

“You have a great many talents, far more than you realize. You could do much good in a world sadly in need of it.”

I loved the meeting of heroine and hero, it was very reminiscent of Watch The Wall My Darling. The book is classic gothic/gothic romances, which there is a dearth of and which I personally miss. I felt Sybil was a good heroine and she made the best decisions that a women in her time could/would make. The romance was slow and left you wanting more in a good way.

My first thought after reading the book was that I can't wait to read it again and more of Abigail Wilson's works.

Thank you NetGalley.

n the Shadow of Croft Towers is the debut novel from Abigail Wilson. You will meet Sybil Delafield on the opening pages of this tale. Sybil is fresh out of seminary and she is planning to fill a position as a lady's companion at Croft Towers. The only problem is Sybil's coach is robbed before she can even reach her destination!

When Sybil finally meets her new boss, Mrs. Chalcroft, she learns that her main responsibility is simply to deliver personal letters and to read for this elderly woman. As Sybil walks the halls of this damp and shadowy place, she does not know whom she can count on. Sybil soon finds herself in a position where she does not know whether to trust her boss’s nephew, Mr. Cantrell or her godson, Mr. Sinclair. To make the situation even more complicated, Sybil senses that the secrets to her past are contained within these walls!

This gothic tale, set in the early 1800s in the countryside of England, is full of unknowns and problems to be solved. Hold on as you walk with Sybil and watch her as she looks for the truth in this new world!

It was great to discover a new author, who can tell a very interesting and yet a clean tale!

I felt like I was reading Daphne du Maurier in this debut novel by Abigail Wilson. 'In the Shadow of Croft Towers' is mysterious, moody and intriguing. The characters are deep and engaging for their many flaws. It fell short of perfection to me as there were some items I would have liked to have better resolved which I won't address as they would be major spoilers. I will definitely look forward to reading more from this author in the future.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

If you are a fan of Julie Klassen, you will enjoy In The Shadow of Croft Towers, by Abigail Wilson. I was intrigued by the synopsis as I am always looking for new authors in historical fiction and the Regency time period. I was pleasantly surprised by this debut novel and I will definitely be reading more from Abigail Wilson in the future. In The Shadow Of Croft Towers was intriguing from the very first page, the characters were multi-dimensional and the mysterious plot-line kept me guessing from beginning to end. Although marketed as Christian Fiction there was not an overwhelming amount of faith-based content, it is a good, clean mystery/romance. I would definitely recommend this book and can see myself reading it again!

In The Shadow Of Croft Towers will be available for purchase from your local or online book retailer January 15, 2019.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and Net Galley for the free copy of In The Shadow of Croft Towers. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I enjoy discovering new authors. This is Abigail Wilson's debut novel and I certainly enjoyed it very much. When Miss Delafiekd comes to Croft Towers as a companion, she never expected to find a spy ring, murder, blackmail and loads of general mayhem. Written in first person POV, this is a tight Regency with a great plot and the characters well fleshed out. I finished it in one day. Recommended.

*My thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I enjoyed this book. It is a Regency mystery romance. In my opinion the mystery was better developed than the romance, but I enjoyed both aspects of the story. I felt like the writing style was reminiscent of other novels written around the time this book was based.

Sybil, uncertain of her parentage, and needing work, heads to Croft Towers to be a companion to a dying woman. When Sybil arrives under strange circumstances, she begins to realize Croft Towers in teeming with secrets and mystery. She does not know who to trust.

I was entertained by the story and the mystery. I thought I'd solved the mystery but was pleasantly surprised by a twist at the end.

The blurb In the Shadow of Croft Towers hints at a possible mystery and a possible romance. You get both. Which makes the historical/romance/mystery reader in me very happy. But really, there was so much more! Which makes this reader that likes to be surprised even happier!

What do I mean by ‘so much more’? Mainly, nothing is what it appears to be. And nobody is what he or she appears to be. Pretty much without exception. Even heroine Sybil hasn’t told the complete truth. This soap opera atmosphere starts gently, but intensifies as the story continues.

As a reader, I was able to guess at some of it. Some of it was a complete surprised. But I never realized the entire truth until it was revealed in the story. In the Shadow of Croft Towers quickly became one of those books that I could not put down.

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Sybil Delafield is a young woman who finds herself in a precarious situation. A lady’s companion with no family of her own, she is quickly thrust into a world of intrigue and murder. Who she should trust and how to proceed are at heart of this story, and I found I quite liked puzzling each one out.

The first half of the book flew by for me as I really enjoyed getting to know Sybil and her situation. However, the second half slowed down and the mysteries felt drawn out. I appreciated them once resolved but wish we had arrived at them quicker.

Overall I found this to be an entertaining read and look forward to future books by Abigail Wilson.

I received an e-arc of this book from a Thomas Nelson via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.