Hannah Larson and 9 year old Nick are spending time at Ashton Hall, one of England's historic homes, to help her uncle Christopher in his final illness.. When Nick, who registers on the autistic spectrum, uncovers a skeleton behind a brick wall while exploring. life gets interesting. When it is discovered that the remains are centuries old Hannah utilizes her training in historical art research to determine the woman's identity and background. Was she an anchoress or just a recluse? This well researched novel provides insight into life and issues of early Britain which this history buff savored. It made me reflect that modern women face many of the same challenges and choices that the early residents of Ashton Hall did.. The contemporary story line of Hannah and her struggle with the choice of the needs of her son and family over her personal fulfillment blended with the historical elements. The atmospheric prose made Ashton Hall come to life in my imagination and the well rounded individual characters held my interest. This multilayered novel was a slow burning yet evocative read. I had not read this author before but glad I discovered her..

I definitely expected a bit more murder mystery with this mystery! It left me wanting more. I found that throughout the pace stays the same and there isn’t much action or mystery to this book. It was a slow read for me, I wish it gave alot more. Overall great writing style I just want more adventure.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ashton Hall is the first book written by Lauren Belfer that I have had the pleasure to read. I look forward to reading her other works.
Hannah and her son, Nicky, move to England to help a sick relative. Plot twist, her uncle is headed to the US for treatment, and has planned for her to stay while he is gone. Nicky has some sort of unnamed disability and is violent at times (for those who currently have loved ones with some outbursts, note there is violence, attacks, and little headway in helping him besides Hannah keeping everything hush, hush so "he won't be taken away"). The castle they are staying in has secret passageways, as well as blocked rooms, where Nicky discovers bones of a deceased person. Who is it, why where they there, and what happened start off the storyline.
I did enjoy the story, there were lots of other varying plots happening, but it was easy to keep everything straight as to who was who/what was what.
Thanks to Random House/Ballantine Books, NetGalley & Ms Belfer for the chance to pre-read in exchange for an honest review.

If I can't be in England, at least I can read books based there and live a pretend life for a few days, right?

Ashton Hall brought quite a few learning experiences to me, which I love wholeheartedly. The descriptions of the Cambridge countryside were lovely and I have no arguments with the "atmospheric" tag given in the description as it was dead on. I can't entirely agree with the historical fiction tag, as this really was a modern day story of people trying to solve a mystery from the past. Tiny quibble, but an important one for me since it did put me off a bit at first, waiting for the trip back in time that never materialized. The only other thing that I didn't love was the number of storylines Belfer was trying to carry at once. By having so many important threads, she wasn't able to do justice to them all, and it fractured the story a bit. Still, it was worth the time, and an enjoyable read overall.

My thanks to Ballantine Books/Random House, the author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review

What an amazing story! I enjoyed reading a story with such a relatable main character. All the characters were very well done and seemed to jump off the page. I love the author’s choice to not gloss over the gross and ugly things. These were sometimes the most fascinating things to learn! I also enjoyed the way the author approached the subject of religion in this story. I managed to learn something new about my own faith’s history! I really appreciated the author’s choice to explore history, but set the story in the present. I feel that it really helped to make the story more relatable.

I love historical fiction and though it’s set in the present, Ashton Hall delved into the past as well. I appreciated the many layers to the story…from Hannah, to the health of her Uncle Christopher, to the challenges of her son (it’s never actually disclosed but it’s hinted that he is on the spectrum), to the mystery surrounding the skeleton and the history of Ashton Hall. While there’s a lot going on, it never felt like too much and was never difficult to follow along.

I devoured this book. And as I got closer and closer to the end I read more and more slowly, because I didn’t want it to end. I sympathized with Hannah, cheered her on, felt as if I knew her. The characters are all well developed and (mostly) likable.

If you like mysteries, or history, or reading about Cambridge, or just enjoy a well written book…be on the lookout for Ashton Hall June 7, 2022!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing, and especially to Lauren Belfer for writing the book.

I really wanted to like this book. It seemed like it would check all my boxes, but I felt like it went on forever and nothing much really happened.

*Thank you to Random House Ballantine, Lauren Belfer, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Previously published at https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/ashton-hall/

“Her reign is referred to as the Golden Age, but it was a flowering of culture against a backdrop of religious suppression, torture, disease, and waves of starvation.” –Matthew Varet Ashton Hall by Lauren Belfer.

This is my first novel by Lauren Belfer and she has written an exquisite book bringing multiple themes; history of the golden age of the 1500s, neurodiversity and a marriage falling apart, marrying ‌these topics seamlessly. There is an undertone of feminism, which depicts how a woman who can become trapped in a miserable marriage when she lacks an independent means of support, but also how feminism came to be almost five centuries ago.

Hannah Larson and her son, Nicky, have gone to Cambridge, England from New York City to care for her Uncle Christopher, who is dying of cancer. Nicky, nine years old, is neurodivergent, with terrifying fits of rage which Hannah endures. Christopher rents an apartment in a large estate of enormous proportions. While Hannah is using this time to work on her abandoned dissertation, Nicky explores the closed off part of the castle with crumbling stairs and abandoned rooms. There, he finds a skeleton behind a crumbling brick wall. They believe the woman to have died in the late 1500s by the objects in her room.

Clearly, Lauren Belfer did a ton of research to write Ashton Hall. Her novel not only delves into current issues such as infidelity and autism, she also dives right into the mystery of the female skeleton and the historical context of her life. Why was the woman in a bricked up room? How did she die? The process Hannah uses to determine these answers is through library journals and accounting statements going back to the 1600s and figuring out what it was like to be a woman so many centuries ago. A powerful theme running through both time frames is the choices women have made and the options it gave them over the centuries.

The way the author has weaved several storylines together is brilliant. Often, this is done to the detriment of the reader, who tries to make everything fit together. I loved the strong female sentiment throughout the book, and while Hannah’s choices were not always easy, she persisted. Each individual in this book does not fit into stereotypical roles, and it is so enjoyable to read. I can’t wait to read more of this author!

This book was the first I've read by this author, but it won't be the last! I was enticed by this story from the instant I opened the book and was not disappointed as it continued. There are several sub-plots successfully woven into the main story adding layers of intrigue. The author skillfully engages the reader, intellectually and emotionally. This story remains in my thoughts despite the fact that I completed reading it. The setting, the characters, the storyline, and the writing make this a compelling read. I heartily recommend this book.

“As I held the book within my hands, I realized that I, too, didn’t want my life to be wrapped in a ribbon and put on a shelf. I wanted each moment to feel like a beginning. To be a beginning.”

Lauren Belfer’s latest novel set in present day Cambridge, England is one of her very best works to date! American Hannah and her neurodivergent son Nicky find themselves called to a Tudor manor to assist an ailing relative. Ever curious Nicky stumbles upon the skeletal remains in a secret passageway and the archeological mystery begins - an effort to fill in the blanks as to who this person was, how she lived, and why she perished. They are joined by a team of archivists, anthropologists, historians and current day villagers, to solve the gothic 16th century mystery using remains, library registers, account ledgers and actual sketchbooks.

This was such an intriguing framework, but there is so much more! As she investigates and the occupants of Ashton Hall materialize, the centuries old characters begin to inform Hannah about her own present day challenges. Two female protagonists are bookends of lives spanning five centuries, and share triumphs and tragedies within the same walls and in the same gardens. The atmospheric character of Ashton Hall itself is masterfully written and brought me straight back to a magical time when I too was an American expat in the UK.

For those who appreciate genre bending writing, Ashton Hall packs a punch with its numerous themes. Especially for fans of Kay Morton, Diane Setterfield , Diana Gabaldon and (yes I’m going there) Daphne du Maurier

Many thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Will share on all platforms closer to publication!

Plot: 3.9
Characters: 3.9
Writing Style: 5
Cover: 4
Enjoyment: 3.8

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an Advanced copy of the eGalley. This is a contemporary novel about an American Mother Hannah and a Special Needs 9 year old son Nicky who are staying with an ailing Uncle in Cambridge, England.

Here is the link to my review:
https://wonderwomanbookrevew.wordpress.com/2022/05/22/ashton-hall/


Ashton Hall is the name of the Uncle's home in England. The backstory of Hannah was interesting. Her mother (age 4) was one of the children sent to England during the Second World War and wanted to become a scientist. She became a teacher at a girls' boarding school instead because the career options for women at that time was limited. Hannah had an unusual American upbringing. By the time she was five years old, she learned Latin and Greek when many American children do not start learning a foreign language until their teens.

Nicky is neurodiverse. Not only is he autistic but he also has Tourette's. The worst part is his tendency to violence when he becomes frustrated . I noticed an interesting similarity between Nicky and his father Kevin - the tendency to be two faced. His father betrayed his mother. Though his father was wonderful to Nicky and patient with him, I didn't like how Kevin treated Hannah. There were several scary scenes where Kevin would act evil one minute then the next minute act sympathetic.

Nicky discovered a forgotten part pf Ashton Hall. He found a skeleton of a woman and the staff at Ashton Hall hopes that it was not someone from their lifetime. Scientific tests show that the skeleton was from the Tudor times. Hannah starts researching and finds account ledgers and borrower's registers.

The ailing Uncle Christopher is a wonderful character. And the Professor of Archeology Matthew is also a wonderful character. It turns out that he has a daughter who is similar to Nicky. I liked the Staff. I liked most of the people in this story.

The book is a page turner. I was excited while reading. I almost DNF the last time Nicky had his violent episode. Sometimes I thought the mother Hannah was TSTL (too stupid to live). She never warned Alice the babysitter about Nicky's tendency to violence. The last violent incident could have been avoided if Hannah had removed the scissors before telling Nicky the bad news. Why was that in the story? That was really scary.

Trigger Warnings: Betrayal, Cruel Streak, Dual Personalities, Emotional Abuse, Lack of Emotional Control. Physical Violence, Weapons

It lost the plot. So it starts out strong, I was enjoying the characters and the plot was interesting. The mystery is mild which was fine. Right up until it seemed like the mystery took a major step back and became background noise. This book was listed as historical fiction and mystery/thriller. It's not any of that. It is a contemporary novel set in England at Ashton Hall. So the locale has history but it's not set in history.

All that being said, for a contemporary novel, it was okay. However, it was a bit scattered, too much happening at once and not well formulated. Since it wasn't actually a mystery, I'm not really sure what the plot was. There's family drama, that was a pretty big focus so maybe that's what we were supposed to focus on.

By choosing as the protagonist a scholar, Hannah Larson, whose neurodivergent son finds a centuries’ old locked-room puzzle in an English castle, Belfer has set us up for romance, intrigue, and an immersive dive into 16th-century domestic and religious England, intertwined with various domestic arrangements in present-day.

I particularly enjoyed the revelatory pace that sat us next to Hannah as she read thru ledgers, lists of books borrowed from the library, contents of the locked room, and the portfolio of sketches, and brought us with her as she untangled the historical significance of her exploration. An interesting, informative, and satisfying novel. Highly recommended.

I’m a fan of historical which is why I give it 3.5 stars and while I loved the historical component with the centuries old mansion with its secret corridors, and a discovery from the past—I had trouble connecting to the characters of the modern world.

I would still recommend this book especially if you are fascinated with medieval times and all that comes with it from religion, to libraries, record-keeping and so on.

Plus, the author even provides an Author’s Note at the end describing what inspired her to write the book which I found rather fascinating.

A perfect way to spend a rainy Saturday. A drafty old castle like home in England that is steeped in history. A very old skeleton discovered in a cut off passage. Drawings and ledgers to pour through to unravel the story of the skeleton lady. Modern day relationships that have to be slogged through.
I enjoyed all the history that was covered since Elizabethan Tudor times is a particular favorite era of mine.
The only part of the novel I didn’t like was the extent of Nick’s extremities. What would Hannah do when she couldn’t recover? Also the ending of skeletal lady was quite macabre.
If history, mystery, England, and old houses is appealing, this is the book for you.

I really enjoy history and learning about kind and queens of England, but this one just droned on forever..

A woman and her son stay with her ailing Uncle in England, basically waiting for him to die. The son finds a skeleton in a hidden room, where they eventually discover who she is and from when.

The story telling was good, along with the historical aspects of catholicism in Tudor england, but some of the behind the scenes character build up with uninteresting and frankly unnecessary. I expected more surprises and twists, but got nothing in return.

An old house, a mystery, and a historical researcher?

This story has a lot of dimension with respect to the over arching story, and then the more "superficial" story of the main character dealing with a sick relative and child that is high needs.

I had a hard time relating to the main character at first, but as I continued the story, Hannah grew on me especially when things that were only hinted at started to gain traction and more information came to light. The relationship she has with her son Nicky is a hard one, full of love even dealing with his eccentricities.

The mystery of the house, Ashton Hall intrigues me and makes my nerdy heart happy with all of the research that goes on in the actual book, and the obvious research that went INTO writing this book.

Highly recommend for those that like history and mysteries!

Hannah and her son Nicky leave America for England to care for an elderly family friend. Nicky comes upon the skeleton of a woman that no one recognizes from the home's history. Hannah is also dealing with the betrayal of her husband, and finds a different kind of family in England. Lots of interesting history along with a well written story.

I liked the cover of this book and the synopsis sounded interesting. It was well written and seemed well researched, but it also felt more slow-paced and "proper" than I would like. I would recommend this for anyone who enjoys historical fiction and this time in English history. Thanks to NetGalley or the ARC!

While this was a good book the description had me waiting for something more to happen. Hannah is the mother of Nicky, a child with various personality quirks. They travel to England to visit Christopher for the summer but once there they find that he is sick and leaving to get treatment back in the states. There is the discovery of the skeleton that brings several characters together and we begin to see Hannah try to figure out her role and what she wants after a discovery about her husband. It is a story worth reading, just not as mystical as I thought it would be. I loved the historical findings and the investigation into the identity of the skeleton. There is an unexpected twist at the end, but you'll have to read it yourself.