Member Reviews
Amelia has uncontrollable sleeping spells. After her arranged husband discovers this, he sends her to a hospital, to hide her from the world. Here she finds solace and friendship with the other patients. It is an expansive home with just a few live-in patients. Cluett's Mesmeric Hospital was created to use hypnotism to heal all sorts of ailments. While Amelia hasn't seen a lot of progress, she loves those she lives with and has no desire to move on.
Ewan Hawkins is a solicitor who arrives at the Hospital to help Cluett update his will. Cluett believes he is dying and wants all his papers in order. One of the stipulations in the will is that Amelia get her pick of two men that she has 30 days to decide who to marry. Neither seems a good prospect and she has to choose soon. There's murder, mystery, love, hatred, deception, and so much more. I didn't guess the ending at all, so it was a great surprise! I enjoyed this read. It was easy, it was enjoyable, and it was clean. A great combination! I would allow my teens to read this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an ARC.
Twilight at Moorington Cross is a Gothic suspense set in the regency era. It was my first time reading a suspense regency novel and I found it interesting but not my cup of tea but if you like a spooky atmosphere, mystery with a dash of romance in a regency era and novels filled with twists and turns this book is for you. I admit that the beautiful cover made me want to read this book.
Twilight at Moorington Crossing has an interesting setting and premise, a regency medical facility for treating strange illnesses and a heroine with an unexplained sleeping condition. I usually enjoy Abigail Wilson’s books but this one wasn’t my favorite and I had a hard time connecting to the characters and staying engaged
Twilight at Moorington Cross by Abigail Wilson is a regency mystery at a medical clinic. Wilson's story reminds me of an old fashioned who-done-it mystery filled with an arranged marriage and plenty of mystery to solve who killed the dead body. With a creepy abandoned part of the house that no one is allowed to travel into. With characters that not everyone knows who these characters are and their importance to the murder, the mystery appears to be abounding across the pages of the story. As for Amelia, I wanted to know more about her illness. It does define who the heroine is, but there is never a resolution to her illness or a discovery of what the actual illness is. Apparently, Amelia has to live with this, whatever it is, for the rest of her life. Similarly, the idea of experimental medicine was not really flushed out. I wanted to understand more about this medicine. Has it ever worked? Was it made up for the novel? Left me wanting to know more. On the other hand, Ethan Hawkins, the hero, appeared to care about her feelings, but sometimes, I, personally, felt like he was no better than the other "arranged" suitors. Overall, Twilight at Moorington Cross by Abigail Wilson did capture my attention, but there was some things I felt was a little bit off. I have enjoyed all of her previous novels, so I really can't wait to dive into the next one.
I received a complimentary copy of Twilight at Moorington Cross by Abigail Wilson, but the opinions state are all my own.
Though perhaps not as spooky and atmospheric as her previous works, I feel that Abigail Wilson really upped her mystery and romance game in this book. The mystery was winding and weaving in every direction, and the romance was delicious. I enjoyed every page, though I do wish my copy had included authors notes to explain Amelia’s illness (epilepsy? narcolepsy?). I look forward to Wilson’s next Gothic creepfest.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This book has an interesting location, it takes place is a mesmerizing hospital. This is much different than other books I have read by this author. It took a bit longer to get pulled into the story. The characters were hiding many secrets, some more than others. The ending had many twists and turns.
'Twilight at Moorington Cross': 3⭐
(Unpaid Review: thank you to Netgalley, Abigail Wilson and the publishers for allowing me to read this eArc copy in exchange for a review.)
Well, a gothic regency era novel isn't something you see everyday and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised by it.
Revolving around death and illness, this book demonstrates potential for what could become a new genre, historical gothic, and I'm here for it!
I just would've liked to see these characters flourish more! However, a very nice read!
Very suspenseful mystery. This book revealed little clues along the way, but left me guessing until the very end. Well written and full of twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
This book is a regency mystery Moorington Cross is where patients go to try a therapy called mesmerism. The author does explain this method. I did enjoy this mystery
So, I’ve been on a bit of a historical kick lately… and continued it with Abigail Wilson’s upcoming novel!! And you guys, it’s soooooo good!!!!
A word of warning for the Regency romance lovers, she’s gone full suspense on this one! There is still plenty of romance - and do the sparks fly! - but she’s gone a bit more gothic, a little more Agatha Christie feel… maybe even a little more Bronte feel… (seems like a bit of a theme in Regency suspense at the moment… and you won’t find me complaining!!)
And I loved it!! But it doesn’t have that cozy feel of some her others. Rather than an English manor with secrets and spy undercurrents, this one is set in a mesmeric hospital and kicks off with a murder. The stakes stay high and you’re never quite sure just what is going on… Honestly, the plot line has twists and turns worthy of Agatha… it really does! I didn’t predict any of it!
It was also super interesting to have an MC that suffered from narcolepsy… i don’t think I’ve ever come across that before, and it definitely made for a unique story! Oh, and for those of you who’ve read her other books, she’s gone back to tying them together!! I was so excited to discover that the male MC in this one is Ewan Hawkins (Lord Torrington’s son with the deformed hand from Middlecrest Abbey)!!
It doesn’t come out until January, but pre-orders are already available, so keep your eye out!
Thank you so much to @tnzfiction and @netgalley for the ARC. I was only required to provide an honest review in return and as you can see, I loved it!!
It was great to read a story about people under unique situations. The author was able to hold the attention of the reader throughout. Some of the scenes felt a little rough but the story telling was a good pace.
Another spine-tingling regency mystery read by Abigail Wilson. Readers are kept turning the pages in this latest release as a tale of dark family secrets unravel in the most peculiar way.
Moorington Cross is where patients go as a last resort to try a therapy called mesmerism. I’d never heard of this, so naturally I looked it up. Abigail Wilson does an excellent job describing the methods and results (or lack thereof) that was a rage for a while in Europe. Factual figures are mentioned, highlighting their work in history.
Amelia Pembroke suffers from an incurable condition, which resembles epilepsy (though it isn’t clarified in the novel). She’s a long time patient at Moorington Cross and is surprised to discover she’s been named in the will of the current resident doctor. A murder and explicit stipulations in the will topple Amelia’s life, as well as those residing in the hospital.
This story is filled with fuzzy connections that will both surprise and shock readers. A chilling search through hidden passages and a murderer roaming free will keep readers on edge until everything is revealed.
An excellent, suspenseful read with a side of romance.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
While well written and a good regency mystery this book was not for me. Outside of Jane Austen it's safe to say I don't like books in the regency setting.
Abigail Wilson always impresses me and makes me enjoy books that aren’t my typical genre! And I think this one will be my new favorite of hers!
I will admit to some hesitancy at the beginning, with the whole mesmeric hospital angle and Amelia’s condition but it didn’t go to a weird place like I expected. And the whole of the story and mystery therein were captivating and there were many twists I never saw coming! I won’t go in to any more detail on that front because there were so many layers to the story and I don’t want to spoil anything!
My favorite part of the book though was the romance between Amelia and Ewan! From the very start they had a great rapport and I enjoyed their back and forth. And their connection was immediate despite them trying to keep their attraction to each other at bay. I was rooting for them to find a way to be together the whole time and loved every interaction between them.
I also loved the connection to Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey!
In short, this book was exceptional and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Can’t wait to see what else this author has in store for us!
This was such a fun read! The suspense was well paced and the mystery kept me guessing. The relationship development between Amelia and Ewan was so sweet and so well done.
Abigail Wilson has become a compulsory must-read author for me! I loooove the mood of her books, including this one...it's as mysterious and romantic as her others and as usual, the voice and writing are just spot-on. It took me a sec to place Mr. Hawkins as a character from a previous book, but as soon as I did, I loved that connection! (You don't have to have read the previous book...but it's a fun connection, if you have.) And I was super intrigued by the mesmeric hospital setting. An all-around perfect read for autumn...or anytime. :)
A murder has occurred at Moorington Cross, a sanitarium where patients are treated through the use of hypnotism. The suspense in this book was excruciating because the suspect can only be among a hand full of people. The mystery had so many twists and turns that I was glued to the book until I finished it.
I love the worlds that Abigail Wilson creates. She has uniquely realistic and likable characters and her heroes are swoon worthy, The setting, as in all of her books, is beautifully atmospheric and gothic.
Amelia, a patient at Moorington Cross, suffers from narcolepsy, and at times she even "freezes" (her muscles lock up and she can't move). I had never heard of such a thing before, but I Googled it, and it is an actual condition. This makes Amelia an outcast in the time she lives in. For some reason, her doctor writes her into his will, but she will only inherit if she marries one of two handpicked suitors. I initially struggled as to the seemingly random stipulations of the will, but as I kept reading, it all made sense.
Amelia soon faces a dilemma. She meets the attorney for Moorington Cross who is Ewan Hawkins from Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey, and whom I liked very much. And Amelia likes him too! Her suitors can't hold a candle to Ewan's charm, warmth and kindness. Like Amelia, he has a defect (a twisted hand) that hinders his acceptance in society. He and Amelia share the pain of being "outcasts" and thus share a special bond and understanding of each other's struggle. But, if Amelia chooses him, she will not get her inheritance.
Ewan helps Amelia unravel the mysteries of the will and the murder, thus it does have a happy ending.
One of the suitors, Mr. Montague, was very likable, and I hope AW has a book planned for him in the future.
This was a very enjoyable read!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#TwilightatMooringtonCross #NetGalley
There aren't many places to turn for good gothic romance these days and while Wilson's romances skew on the sweet side, they never disappoint and neither do her mysterious settings and plots.
This plot was a bit more complicated than her other books and the "mesmerism" stuff was a little, (as my daughter would say), "sus," but I was sucked in my Mr. Hawkins & Amelia. They are a couple you root for from the first chapter. For me, the mystery took a back seat to them falling in love and finding a way to be together.
If like a light read, spooky settings, historical romance, and a dash of murder -- I recommend reading this and any of Wilson's other gothics for a sweet treat!
This is the second book I have read by this author and I appreciate her flavor of Regency mystery.
I felt the story revolved around a mystery with quite a few twists and turns with one twist that I didn't see coming.
I really loved whenever Hawkins was on the page and I really wished there was more of him and more romance. I didn't find that I identified or connected with the heroine in this book so that dimmed my subjective enjoyment of this book.
I was kinda disappointed that though this book was published by a Christian fiction house, there is not one iota of a spiritual arc in this story. That I really love seeing and I missed it. But if you enjoy a clean Regency mystery you might like this.
I recieved a complementary copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally and all opinions are my own and honest in this review.
Imagine being given a grand inheritance worth millions of dollars. Imagine that same inheritance coming with a stipulation — a pretty big stipulation. You can have all the money and the grand estate if you are willing to marry a man you have never met within thirty days. Oh, I forgot…She at least gets to pick between two different men! She can choose between a rather boring and unattractive fellow, or the biggest cad in all of England!
Fortunately for Amelia Pembroke, she has a handsome solicitor to help her figure out which man is right for her! Hmmm….I might see where this is going.
There are many mysteries to be solved as this book is full of quirky characters, untimely death, and a clock running down. It’s set in Regency England and sticks pretty well to the character of the time.
This is certainly a light read. It’s mean to highlight the fun characters and the mysteries to be solved. I really isn’t a deep book, so pick this one up if you want something breezy and fun. I was given a copy to review and, as always, this is my honest opinion of the read! I hope you enjoy!