The Belladonna Maze is a family saga mixed with a ghost story. It is a dual timeline story following the Fitzmahon family at Hollowpark House in Ireland both in the 1800s and 2007. In the past, there are themes of the dominance of men over women, family expectations and issues of poverty and famine. In the modern day the family employs a nanny, Grace, whom they meet on holiday in Greece, to look after their young daughter Skye. Tragic events that happened in the past end up having a huge impact on the modern Fitzmahon family and Grace gets caught up in the secrets and lies, unearthing shocking information. There were unexpected twists and a few ghostly happenings, and I enjoyed the book. It kept me interested throughout but I did have a few issues with the plot. I didn't particularly warm to the characters who would have benefited from a bit more development, especially Deirdre and Grace. What was the origin of the idea that Hollowpark protects it's own, and some of the more supernatural elements of the story? What happened to Deirdre in later life? Why was there no further discussion about Grace's early life once she got to Hollowpark, when it had seemed important early on? Why was it so easy for Patrick to accept the outcome regarding Skye? .There were some threads of the plot that seemed to fizzle out and the ending was a little too tidy. On the whole though it was a good story, definitely readable and enjoyable, and the dual timeline aspect worked well, but for me there were elements that could have been better executed. Many thanks to the author, Netgalley and Head of Zeus for gifting me an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Hollowpark is an old country house in the West of Ireland. Like all old houses it has its secrets like what happened to the husband of the daughter of the house who mysteriously fell from a window, what happened to the young girl who went to a party there in the 1990s and was never seen again. Set in several different time periods, this is a mystery novel with some supernatural elements and also a romance.

This isn't a genre I would normally read. I tend to take a wide berth when it comes to the supernatural but I loved the name of the book and anything with a maze in it hooks me in, I'm glad I read this. It was very enjoyable and the characters were sympathetic and believable. The supernatural wasn't too overbearing. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

An interesting, mysterious, enjoyable read. Set in Ireland and covering different time periods , I settled into the story and loved the supernatural element and was eager to find out why the ghost continued to appear in the old mansion and maze. The house holds many secrets of distant and more recent crimes, the period of the potato famin is one of the biggest crimes in Irish history where little was done to help the people survive when they were weak from starvation. This only covers a small part of the book but has incredible repercussions.

A superb read, with echoes of Ireland that will resonate with anyone who has been there. The present and past exist seamlessly side by side in the atmospheric story centred around the family that live at Hollowpark. The usual ghost stories that surround an old mansion are going to be useful when tourists can come to stay. But there is more than a grain of truth to a story and the local amateur historian has his eye on the prize. But the house will look after its own and only give up what it wants to. An absorbing tale with a delightful end.

This book started off so well and I was really enjoying it. But, as I got into it I found it really lagged and I got very bored with it. This could have been a really good gothic story but it just didn’t get very far. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Thoroughly enjoyed this 4⭐️ The Belladonna Maze is every bit as deadly as it sounds. The book takes as many twists and turns as the maze but keeps you hooked until the end. Ghostly goings on at Hollowpark to keep you up all night! 👻

A fun and escapist story of family intrigue and ghostly apparitions with a little shot of romance thrown in for good measure. A little far-fetched certainly, but nonetheless an enjoyable, easy read.

My first read from this author and this style of book in a while. Following Childcare Nanny Grace who returns from Greece to to look after Skye in a old very large ancestral house in Ireland who many believe is haunted. Some strange comings and going’s and in part difficult to believe. However we’ll written and easy to follow. Thanks to Sinead and her publisher. Also to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

It took me a little while to get into the book but once I was pulled in, I was hooked!
I love the gothic elements and switching POVs between the present with Grace and the past, showing the history of Hollowpark Hall. I think the history/haunting aspects could’ve been more developed as it’s more of a family saga with some mystery and ghosts thrown in.

The pacing was good and had some excellent plot twists I didn’t see coming! I didn’t like the “romance” between Isla and Patrick-I think the book would’ve been much better without it. Less of the “love” story and more of the ghost story and Deirdre. Their ending is honestly what made me drop a half star rating. It’s cliche and doesn’t make sense given their characters, it felt like a forced “happily ever after.”

This will be perfect for the fall and I highly recommend everyone to read it during spooky season!

Rating: 4.5 but rounded down to 4


TW/CW: grief, death, infant death, starvation, miscarriage, domestic violence

I was expecting more of an historical book with a dual timeline from reading the book description but most of the book seems to cover Grace and her job as a nanny, living in the large stately home and becoming entwined in its secrets and ghosts. However, as a fan of historical fiction I much preferred the story of Deirdre which was covered early in the book and I much preferred that era, but that is my personal taste.
I would class this as a family saga with a little mystery and a couple of ghosts and was an enjoyable easy read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e- advance review copy.

I want to preface my review by saying three stars still means that it is a good enjoyable book! I only give this book three stars, because I personally didn’t absolutely fall in love with it.
So, let’s start with the positives. There are multiple storylines we follow throughout this book, which makes it so much more enjoyable that books that follow only one! You absolutely cannot go wrong with that in my honest opinion. I love the change of character and timeline, in this case! The plot was masterfully divided into the three timelines we follow, which cut of one timeline with another at just the right moment to keep you hooked. I screamed a couple of times when such a thing happened, because I desperately wanted to know what happened next. However, every time we were transported back to the right timeline where the thrilling scene took place, nothing was ever mentioned of it again. This frustrated me a little because my desire to know more about the moments before were not met. I was left wanting more thrill, instead of the lengthy monologues about such mundane things that didn’t interest me. I think part of why this book wasn’t a big winner for me was that I don’t like kids, I have no desire to read about other people’s relationships and there was just too little history for me (a complete history nerd).
I also loved Deirdre’s storyline and I wanted to read so much more from her perspective. I wanted something more to happen in her life and I really felt upset that her storyline didn’t have more depth, just because she deserved so much more in her life. I loved her cameo at the end though, and I will cherish the moments I did get in this book with her!
Then there’s the plot twist I definitely did not see coming. I don’t know if I found the twist strong or not, I really don’t. on the one hand I couldn’t have expected it to go that way at all, and that’s great, but Crowley explained a bit too much afterwards. I also generally don’t like it when the ‘villain’ explains everything when they haven’t been caught yet. Also, the lengthy explanation after when the main character, Grace, is tying up loose ends bored me a bit. I was constantly wondering if those things couldn’t have been better incorporated into the story.
And lastly, Graces ending didn’t seem to fit the character. I’m talking about her getting into that relationship. Everything throughout the entire book was in the interest of this child and Grace choosing this ending just didn’t seem to fit that? But, again, that’s a personal con I have with the plot.
All and all, if you like a quasi-ghost story with multiple timelines, but mostly focussed on everyday life, work, relationships, and Ireland, I would highly recommend this book. I liked the book, there’s nothing really wrong with it, it’s just personally not my go to!

I loved this book ,set in Ireland ,Hollowpark is a country mansion which has many secrets and also a wonderful maze. This story has a supernatural element to it which makes it even more interesting .The story is set in two time lines 1825 and 2007 ,very atmospheric, charming and mysterious an excellent read .Thank you to NetGalley fro my ARC.

What an awesome, amazing book. I defy anyone not to be utterly enthralled at the twists and turns this excellent book takes.
Highly recommended. You will not be disappointed!

This is a dual timeline book set in Ireland. It goes between 1840 and 2007 and features Grace, a nanny hired for the delightful little girl, Skye,who lives in the brooding house,which Patrick is trying to renovate so the family can take paying guests.
Add in a couple of ghosts and this story should have kept me riveted to the book, yet sadly it didn't. There were times that the story rambled along and was rather boring even though it was very well written. A couple of twists at the end, and again sadly I won't remember it in a couple of weeks.

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.

I’ve read and enjoyed other books in a similar vein - old house with secrets - so I was looking forward to this one.

This book started off well but then I’m sorry to say I lost interest a bit. Couldn’t really connect with the main character Grace at all and thought the circumstances and premise a bit unlikely. Maybe that’s because unlike Grace I would have been out there the instant I saw the ghost for the first time!

The timing in this book didn’t work for me either. The first part with Grace leaving her job in Greece to move to Hollowpark and see her first ghost happened so quickly and then then the rest of the book kind of just plodded along and the ending was a bit too neat and predictable for me.

I think this book could be quite popular and would make a fair summer read but sadly just not for me .

Grace loves her career, working her summers in holiday kids’ clubs in Greece and the rest of the year as a nanny in London. Just when she thinks it’s time to settle down more, a couple she meets in Greece offer her a permanent nanny job in County Roscommon.
Hollowpark Hall is a stately pile in need of much work. Patrick Fitzmahon with his wife and his mother have a dream to restore it, to start guided tours around it and more, but money is tight. Moving into Hollowpark and looking after Patrick and Isla’s little girl seems like a dream come true. But before long Grace needs to puts Hollowpark’s ghosts to rest, ghosts unsettled by unfair dealings in the past.
The Belladonna Maze is a rolling mystery/ghost story, alternating in the periods between 1825 and 2007, and a very enjoyable experience it is too. Well written and easily read, while not ground-breaking stuff, Sinead Crowley systemically presents the stories, an atmospheric backdrop and the answers to the unsolved mysteries.
Great holiday read potential.

I was absolutely fascinated by this book. I love how it flicked between different times / generations of the family to tell the story, and how the house protecting its own was such a theme. The slight paranormal aspect thrown in was great too! I found the characters super likeable, and definitely did not see that ending coming!!

Overall I'd say I enjoyed this book and would read more from this author but it didn't quite tick all my boxes. I liked the way it moved between timelines and until the halfway point I'd say it was really well paced and I was gripped. Then it stalled somewhat and the tone changed a bit. The house and estate were beautifully written and there were some very atmospheric passages. I liked the final twist but for me there were missed opportunities and I'd have liked a bit more of the ghost story and a bit less of the 'love' story.

This is a very accomplished read - effortlessly weaving past and present in two storylines well told. The gothic touches echo Northanger Abbey and Rebecca and a sense of otherworldliness is well drawn. As is to be expected, the modern storyline is snappy and feels familiar and true to life. This would be a great summer beach read which will leave the reader guessing to the end. One minor quibble is that the ending is a little too tidy, too quickly but having said that it is a satisfactory ending which ties up all loose ends

Thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for the ARC

This was a compelling read. It was atmospheric and held my interest throughout. I particularly liked the dual timeline aspect and found both parts to be engrossing.