The second book in the “Timeshift Victorian Mysteries” is about Eleanor and Esme, but can be read as a standalone.
Eleanor recently moved back home to Pembrokeshire after an illness. She has a keen interest in Victorian theatre and costumes. Esme might be a direct ancestor of hers. Esme lived in Victorian times and left her diaries, which Eleanor nor uses to find out more about how the two women are connected to each other.

I liked the connection to Victorian theatre and to tarot and fortune telling and appreciate all the research that went into it.

There were, unfortunately, too many characters and coincidentally fortuitous relationships; it felt contrived. Just like the mysteries seemed to be mere helpmeets to support the romance stories. I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy the romance, but with the focus of the series being in mysteries I was hoping for more mystery.

An enjoyable read, well written and entertaining. Hadn't read this author before but would consider reading again.

The Music Makers is the second Victorian timeshift mystery by Alexandra Walsh. Released 8th Nov 2021 by Sapere Books, it's 352 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The first book in the series, The Wind Chime, is also currently available on KU.

This is an engaging and well written dual timeline story with tie-ins to the first book in the series. It's self contained, so it works well as a standalone, and it's not necessary to have read the first book to keep up with the plotting or characters here. The main protagonists are young women, one living in Victorian London, and the other in Wales in the current day. The former was a diarist and reader of tarot, and who is connected to the modern day by her photos and theatre playbills.

The author is quite adept at the necessary background research for historical fiction and setting and the characterizations feel organic and natural. The dialogue in the Victorian timeline was a trifle anachronistic and modern in feel, but it didn't yank me out of my suspension of disbelief or cause me to stumble. There were a number of twists which I didn't see coming and the climax and denouement were surprisingly satisfying.

For anyone who loves to go to jumble sales, antiques malls, and estate auctions, this book is full of the thrill of the chase and the letdowns which occur during treasure hunts from yesteryear. The author's powers of description are put to very good use on the many antiques, costumes, pieces of jewelry, and bric-a-brac contained in the story.

Four stars. It's a diverting read. For fans of the author's oeuvre, there are cameo appearances and tie-ins to her other books.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Pembrokeshire, 2020

Eleanor Wilder has been forced to return to her parents’ home in Wales after a devastating illness has made it difficult for her to carry on with the life she was used to. A set of old family photos has given her a new lease of life, however, especially a photo of someone called Esme Blood, a name Eleanor is already familiar with. She soon embarks on a research project to find out all she can about this intriguing woman.

London, 1875

Esme Blood lives with her adoptive parents, Cornelius and Rosie Hardy, spending her time performing as part of a theatrical troupe. When her close friend Aaron leaves, Esme feels that one day they will reunite and will be able to live as man and wife. Fate has the habit of dealing a cruel hand, however, and soon Esmefinds herself in a loveless marriage, one that threatens the safety of those around her.

I have really enjoyed Alexandra Walsh’s previous books and this one, The Music Makers, is the second in her Victorian timeshift series. Although it is the second book, it is very much a standalone as it features a brand new story and different characters from the previous book, The Wind Chime. I do like how the author weaves in characters from previous books in little cameo appearances however, a sort of Easter Egg for those of us who have read the previous book and also the Marquess House series.

Both time frames are very readable and, although I had great sympathy for Eleanor and willed her to get what she wanted by the end of the book, it was the story of Esme Blood that was the standout plot for me. Esme was a wonderful character and I loved how her strength carried her through some quite dangerous situations. Alexandra Walsh’s superb writing meant that I could visualise the various aspects of Esme’s life from her life on stage to her marriage and beyond. I enjoyed the connections made between the two time frames and could totally understand Eleanor’s need to find out more about this mysterious woman from her past.

Alexandra Walsh has become one of the authors whose books I look forward to reading and I am eagerly anticipating the next in the Marquess House series, The Jane Seymour Conspiracy.

Serious illness has forced Eleanor Wilder to leave her life in London, close her antique shop, and return to the family farm in Pembrokeshire. Her instinct is to hide from the world but when her parents bring her to a family reunion at the nearby house, Cliffside, she is transfixed by a set of old family photographs.
Told over two timelines this one kept me up well past my bedtime, I could not put it down.

I requested this book as I liked the sound of it and I love a good dual timeline, historical fiction with a bit of a twist. And this didn't disappoint. Travelling between time from Pembrokeshire, Wales, 2020 to London, 1875 it takes you on a journey in time through the diaries of Esme Blood.

It is like ready someone's life, the ups and downs, loves and losses. I am a over of theatre so I liked this aspect of the book and the tarot cards add a bit of interest to the story. Eleanor's story was also interesting in that she is following a hunch and wants to learn more.

A great book, well written and interesting, it draws you in to another world and you just want to keep reading so you can learn more about both the main characters in this book.

I will now have to go back and read the authors previous books.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected to.

A dual timeline book, set in London 2020 and 1870's, it explores the lives of Esme and Eleanor and their connections across time. It has an interesting difference to most historical fiction books in the reoccurring theme of tarot cards. Absolutely loved it and would highly recommend it.

A very cool idea for a book! Very well written and a cool universe to dive into!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

I wasn't a fan of the previous book as I found it confusing. This one was entertaining and the plot worked keeping me entertained and hooked.
Good world building and character development, solid mystery.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Music Makers is a dual timeline novel set between Eleanor in present-day London and Esme ln 1865 London during the victorian era. The Music Makers is a mystery full of family lies and secrets that will keep you captivated till the last page. Historical fiction fans will love this book. Thanks to author Alexandra Walsh, Sapere Books, and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

Set in 2020 and the Victorian Era.

Eleanor in 2020 suffered from an illness and during her recovery is forced to give up her Vintage shop and return to her parents home in Pembrokeshire.

She starts working on her family tree and finds some memorabilia from the Victorian age relating to an ancestor Esmeralda Blood.

A lovely story and easily read, you could picture,the young Esme with Lynette singing and dancing on the Victorian stage and the troubles the followed Esme.

I have enjoyed Alexandra Walsh’s previous books and was pleased to see this on NetGalley. The Music Makers is unrelated to The Marquess House books, although Piper and Perdita play a small part in the narrative. This was an enjoyable read that I would recommend.

I enjoyed this been book. It's a fun premise and I found myself drawn into Esme's search. Cleverly written.

This book is super good (yes, that’s a technical term 😁).

The Music Makers is another one that spans two different timelines, one recent, one in the late 1800s. And it tells the stories of two women, one from each period, whose lives are, of course, intertwined. Seems like this is an on-going premise with my recent reads, but it’s one I really enjoy.

I’m calling this a 5-star read because it’s such a sweet story. It’s innocent, well-told, and will simply warm your heart when you read it. Kinda like a Hallmark Christmas movie, but better. I recommend it and I plan to add some more Alexandra Walsh to my TBR pile.

“We are the music makers, We are the dreamers of dreams,”

I am a fan of Alexandra’s The Marquess House trilogy which I found to be a wonderful dual timeline narrative. I was therefore eager to try something from her new series on Victorian mysteries. This book is the second in the series, however, you don’t need to have read the first book as this works as a standalone.

“A message across time” she said, her eyes gleaming with excitement.”

There is much to enjoy in this story. The historical story is more interesting with fascinating insights into tarot card readings and the Victorian theatre (fantastic research here). The link to the modern day timeline through Eleanor’s collection of theatrical artifacts was well done. I did find, however, that the storyline’s were somewhat implausible at times and there were many characters being added in throughout both timelines that it was a struggle to keep up with them all.

“You have been my heart, my soul, but you are draining me, and I need to be free before our love destroys me.”

This is another solid book by Alexandra Walsh. I loved the links to her previous books, touching on characters from Marquess House. I do recommend you sample some of her writing.

‘To enable us to exist to the limit of our abilities we have to learn what makes our hearts beat, to be ourselves and to live truthfully within our own skin.’

I enjoyed this dual timeline book and as others have also commented, the Victorian timeline with Esme is far more interesting. Quite slow paced but engaging enough.

A dual time line fascinates me and most readers. This one was particularly evocative. 1875 London Victorian and
we have young women who are not timid nor retiring but who want to make a stand for themselves. Esme Blood and Lynette are young women with theatre in their blood but they now want to spread their wings and see what the wider world holds. They step out into a newer, more sophisticated one than the one they left behind and are successful in their fields.

Fast forward to 2020 Wales - Eleanor has been diagnosed with an auto immune illness which has had her hospitalized for
a long time. She is now recovering albeit slowly and is building up her business as an online one. She specialises in the
theatre - clothes, memorablia and particularly programs. She is very good at her job and when she comes upon a set of
programs she is drawn to them almost magnetically as if they are telling her something.

Eleanor is also well versed in Tarot card reading and all her readings point her in a direction which she is careful to follow.
The similarities between the cards and stories she unearths from 1875 show that there are links between Esme and herself even though they are centuries apart.

The story was beautifully descriptive of all the characters involved - especially the 1875 ones and in 2020 the main characters of the story. Family details and how the story is evolving are also minute and very well explained. It is a real page turner and one book which is hard to put by for a later read.

Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres so I was delighted to be approved to read The Music Makers by Alexandra Walsh. This book follows two women: Eleanor Wilder in the present and Esme Blood, a young Victorian woman. Their two lives become interwoven when Eleanor discovers some tarot cards and diaries that once belonged to Esme. She reads how Esme, was first abandoned by her young mother, before finding a happy home in a theatrical family. However as Esme grows up, long-buried secrets and passions begin to emerge to threaten her happiness.

I enjoyed this story, although for some reason I never felt particularly emotionally connected to the two heroines. I think this is a danger of dual timelines, however, as your sympathies are divided. I liked following their stories, however, and seeing how they faced their various challenges. This is a particularly female-centric story, in which the men are either villains or take quite a background role even when they're the love interests. I'd definitely read more of Walsh's books in the future, and see whether it was just the theatrical setting (I am not much of a performer!) that held this one back for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this review voluntarily.
This book starts with Eleanor moving back to her parents' farm but the reason for the move is not made clear until the middle of chapter 2. The first 3 chapters include lengthy descriptions of everything which I did not enjoy, the author seemed to use double the amount of words necessary to convey a meaning. Setting the scene for the story involved an early introduction of so many characters that I quickly lost interest in the book and did not progress beyond chapter 3. I'm sure some readers will enjoy it but the narrative style is not for me.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. Though a little slow to start for me, I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.