Midnight on the River Grey is a mesmerizingly beautiful story that combines regency era England with a plot that twists and turns, a romance reminiscent of an Austen or Bronte novel, and many elements woven throughout that heavily reminded me of Beauty and the Beast.

Right from the start, I enjoyed the character of Rebecca Hunter. Determined not to marry on account of the fact that she's convinced she's inherited her mother's severe mental illness, and never wants a husband to have to deal with such a fate like her father and herself were forced to, Rebecca plans to find a way to become self sufficient. However, life doesn't work out the way she's planned it to, and instead her and her aunt Jo are forced to move to the estate owned be her current guardian, a Mr. Browning.

Mr. Browning is surrounded by secrets, and is the person suspected of being responsible for her older brother's death a few months before. Rebecca's determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, and her quest will turn up information, secrets, and betrayals that she could never have prepared herself for.

However, her quest will also have her growing closer to Mr. Browning, and starting to doubt her earlier stances on love and marriage. How can she truly love someone that's whole life is shrouded in secrecy, and how can she ever expect anyone to love her back with just how bleak her future truly is.

From start to finish, Midnight on the River Grey is a page turner that kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters are all well developed and three dimensional, the romance was exactly what I was hoping for, the mystery kept twisting and turning all throughout and kept me guessing, the setting was captivating, the writing was atmospheric and detailed, and I loved that the romance stayed clean but still had the swoon worthy chemistry I've come to love in Christian romance novels.

With just how much I enjoyed this one, I was quite surprised to discover that this is only Abigail Wilson's second novel. Her writing comes across as seasoned and complex, and I honestly thought I was reading a book from someone who'd been in this career for years. I expect many great things from her in the future, and after how much I loved this one, I know I will for sure be looking forward to her future releases.

And I can't end this review without mentioning how much I loved the Beauty and the Beast undertones woven throughout. As someone who's a huge Disney fan, and a huge fan of retellings, I really enjoyed this addition. Rebecca comes to live in a huge house under the care of a new "beastly" guardian, there's a wing that's off limits, the library plays an important role, there's a Gaston character (Mr. Galpin), and Aunt Jo also heavily reminded me of Mrs. Potts.

I couldn't have enjoyed this beautiful story any more than I did, and it gets a perfect five star rating from me. If you're a fan of Gothic romance, historical fiction, retellings, or mysteries, than I highly recommend giving this one a chance.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to advance read this!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.

A well written gothic mystery /romance, with engaging characters. The denouement was a little rough, the forgiveness of the brother a little hard to fathom, but an enjoyable read.

This new-to-me author delivers a delightful Gothic tale complete with a big old house, having visions, inexplicable murders, and things going bump in the night. Our heroine was a bit self-righteous and stubborn, and I didn’t easily follow her path to falling in love, but Lewis and Aunt Jo were such well-crafted characters that it makes up for some of Rebecca’s flaws.

Having learned that a few characters here appear in the author’s first novel, as well as her next one, I look forward to reading them both!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

This new-to-me author swept me away with this wonderful suspense novel that reminded me a lot of Victoria Holt's Gothic suspense.

Rebecca Hunter's mother has died, and her father is already dead. Lewis Browning has been appointed her guardian, and she will be moving to Greybourne Hall. She is not thrilled to be living with Mr. Browning and her Aunt Jo as a chaperone because she is sure he is responsible for her brother's death. Set in a spooky, dark castle filled with ghostly sounds, Rebecca and her Aunt Jo sense more is going on than meets the eye as one mysterious happening after another occurs along with a second death.

Wilson's writing flows well and the action kept me riveted and turning pages. I loved Rebecca's strength and independence, Aunt Jo's comfort and caring, and Lewis' determination. Sophie, the English springer spaniel, was a delightful addition to the story. Even the castle had a role to play.

Combining gothic suspense with a slowly developing romance created a captivating read. I would like to have seen more of a Christian thread since this is noted as Christian Fiction.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

Talk about a plot twist!! Rebecca has gone to live with her guardian. Her brother has been killed and she wants to know what happened. Everyone thinks it’s her guardian Mr. Browning who committed the crime but the more she gets to know him her perception changes. At first I thought I had it figured out which I was totally wrong. This is definitely full of mystery and suspense and the who done it feeling. Only thing is I would have loved to have known Lewis‘ perspective.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Regency England, historical mystery, and romance written by Abigail Wilson, need I say more? This book is all you would expect. Abigail Wilson's debut book, In the Shadow of Croft Towers, displayed her talent for crafting a truly compelling mystery, and this second book shows that Wilson is definitely not a one-hit-wonder, but rather an up-and-coming author in this genre, one that will quickly build a large fan base.

Rebecca and her Aunt Jo were forced to leave their London townhouse to move into her guardian's estate following her brother's death. The problem, Rebecca is convinced that her guardian murdered her brother. The townspeople near his estate are equally convinced. While moving to Greybourne Hall was distasteful, maybe Rebecca could find the evidence she needs to find justice for her brother, and so the mystery begins.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Those opinions are that this is a well written, engaging story, and that it is well worth the time spent reading.

*I received a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. A huge thank you to the author and publisher!*

After reading the synopsis of this book, I was instantly intrigued. I love a good mystery, and that is something Midnight on the River Grey definitely has!


The thing I loved most about this book was the setting. It had such a gothic, dark vibe, without being too dark. It was a very atmospheric read!

I also loved Lewis Browning’s character. In my opinion, he was the most well-developed character in the entire novel. He was very well written and complex.

The actual premise of this novel was quite gripping. The mystery was very well done and the motive and villain was something I kept second guessing and trying to figure out until the very end! It is evident that the author put a lot of effort into creating this mystery novel.

That being said, I found myself struggling to stay connected and invested in the main character, Rebecca. I cannot explain why, exactly, I couldn’t connect with her, but there was just something about her that left me wanting a bit more.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. Midnight on the River Grey had me intrigued until the very end! I would recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a mystery and enjoys historical romance and Regency novels.

Such a fun book. Nice ambiance, great romance, fun mystery. I really enjoyed the story and thought it well written and compelling.

MIDNIGHT ON THE RIVER GREY by ABIGAIL WILSON is a well written romantic mystery suspense novel which will keep you guessing right to the end.
The story takes place in England in 1811 and starts with the death of Rebecca Hunter's mother in Scotland. Rebecca has been left by her father and brother, Jacob, to look after her mad mother.
Rebecca and her aunt Jo, with whom she is very close, are taken to Greybourne Hall to live with Rebecca's distant cousin, Lewis Browning, who is now her guardian. Rebecca, a very independant young lady who is not afraid to speak her mind, is determined to hate Lewis and Greybourne Hall, especially as she holds him responsible for her brother's death, and she is determined to find out the truth.
It is a really good read. I especially like the authenticity of the setting - the author has obviously done a great deal of research into life at that time.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. What a great book , I really enjoyed it. Highly recommend to everyone.

This is DNF book. I was drawn in by the description and the book cover. Felt like something that would interest me — I like historical, romances, and murder mystery of sorts.

For me, the dialogue caught me off guard and felt unnatural. Other reviews found this an enjoyable read something that caught them from the start. However, that didn’t happen to me and it felt like a chore to get through.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley — free to read in exchange for an honest review.

Intelligent, intriguing, regency mystery. A young woman is moved to her guardian's estate after the sudden death of her brother. She does not believe that his death was accidental and begins investigating on her own. As the mystery unfolds, the answers she seeks seem further away and she has to deal with her own uncertain future at the same time. Well written mystery with some romance thrown in as well.

I REALLY loved this book! I enjoyed this author's first book, but this one hooked me even more. The romance was steady and believable, and the mystery had enough twists and turns to easily keep me turning pages. And the both the voice and the gothic atmosphere of the story were just pitch perfect! Also, I appreciated the small tie-in with the author's first book. (Also, dare I hope we get Torrington's story down the road??) Highly recommend!

There's nothing that gives me delightful shivers down my spine more than a gothic Regency which includes old creaky mansions, mysterious midnight rides, enigmatic characters, and secrets. In her beautifully descriptive poetic prose, author Abigail Wilson pens a twisty novel that will keep you madly turning those pages to get at the truth. With engaging characters and just the right amount of romance, Midnight on the River Grey is one not to be missed!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.*

This story captivated me from the opening page. I love the period represented and the author’s use of imagery to portray the scenery. This was a new to me author, but she has definitely stepped into my list of authors I love.

This historical mystery/romance has everything I look for in this genre. The strong heroine who must overcome her 19th century restrictions. The atmospheric setting – this time a country manor with fog, forest, barking dogs and gunshots. And a hero who is not what he appears to be. Add an unexplained death, mysterious meetings between neighbors, midnight rides and missing bottles of wine and you have a tale to keep you imaging all sorts of possible outcomes, right up to the last bit of the story.

In most stories of this type, the protagonists are young and attractive, so of course, they are going to live happily ever after. I really enjoyed seeing the older woman, Aunt Jo who is Rebecca’s companion, get her HEA also! Having a sweet dog, Sophie, in the story doesn’t hurt my opinion either.

Midnight on the River Grey takes place in the same time period as Ms. Wilson’s first book, In the Shadow of Croft Towers. There is a teeny bit of overlap between the two novels – from an historical perspective. But they are completely standalone stories. It was just nice to see that bit of continuity.

Abigail Wilson has made her mark in my literary brain. After reading her first two books I am, undeniably, a fan.

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

Wilson is a new author to me but she definitely caught my notice. I love books set in Regency England and mysteries and this blended both beautifully. Reading of the entailment at the beginning reminded me of “Pride and Prejudice” but Lewis Browning is nothing like Mr. Collins. Mr. Browning is handsome, young, and very much in control. He’s also dangerous and goes out on mysterious rides at night. When Rebecca Hunter hears news of her brother’s death, she can’t help but wonder if Lewis Browning had anything to do with it.
Rebecca was an interesting character. She is a bit headstrong and determined to remain independent. I understood her desire to find out the truth but her recklessness at times had me whispering, “No, don’t do that!”
The mystery was well developed with multiple potential villains. There were twists along the way that added to the craziness. It was thoroughly enjoyable and I’d recommend it to mystery lovers.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

#Netgalley, #MidnightOnTheRiverGrey

Well, that kept me on the edge of my seat!

I can easily point out my favourite part of historical suspense novels, the prose! It’s lyrical and pulls you in easily. You get lost in the emotions, tension and scenes.

Abigail Wilson has delivered this to a T while also bringing authenticity. She’s certainly becoming a voice to keep an eye out for.

Rebecca Hunter is a mixture of light and darkness. She’s spunky, outspoken and confident. But deep down, she’s haunted, unsure and afraid of who she will become. And then, her brother dies and she’s left in the guardianship of his murderer, who claims it’s an accident.

Well, Lewis Browning is known as the Midnight Devil, is hated by the villagers, is adored by her neglectful father and hated by her beloved brother. He’s also vexing and maddening.

But Lewis Browning is also the only one who can provide the answers Rebecca needs to find peace and uncover the mystery of her brother’s death. The real danger will be when he ends up being the one to uncover the mysteries of Rebecca’s own heart.

The Romance was surprisingly my favourite part as I didn’t care for Mr Sinclair in the first book 🙈

Abigail Wilson takes her time revealing, taking us readers by surprise and making each chapter impossible to be the last. Full of twists and turns, I loved how historical the mystery turned out to be.

I’m so looking forward to her next release!

Murder, espionage, and secrets result in a fresh take on Regency fiction that will appeal not only to fans of authors like Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, and Julie Klassen, but to avid mystery readers, as well.

Wilson’s novels combine so many elements of fiction that I love. Regency settings that are reminiscent of Jane Austen, a first person narrative and characters that harken to the Brontës, and enough intrigue to keep the reader guessing until the end. I thoroughly enjoyed her debut, In the Shadow of Croft Towers, and was very much looking forward to her second novel. It did not disappoint.

I really like our heroine, Rebecca Hunter. While in the beginning she seemed a little cold, the further I read, the more I got to know her and found her to be likable. She was strong and smart and it was clear that she loved her brother. While in the beginning, she seems somewhat naïve, the further the story developed, the more mature she seemed and began thinking for herself. And while I wasn’t entirely sure of Lewis in the beginning, my opinion of him changed as the novel progressed and I began to like him more. Without giving any spoilers, I will say that I was utterly blown away by certain revelations, and to me, that is a sign of a good book.

I loved that this book was set in the fall/early winter. It perfectly lends that spooky feeling to an already spine chilling mystery and creates for a deliciously eerie reading experience.

Perfect for readers across the board, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good mystery. I can’t wait for more from this talented author!

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

Midnight on the River Grey is an exciting and clean story with a lot of mystery mixed in! A thrilling story with spies, murder, and romance throughout. I will enjoy reading this over and over!