This is a great book for Regency lovers who like a bit of mystery mixed in with romance. Phoebe has studied art under Miss Drake for two years and now has the opportunity to use her creative talents to complete a complicated ballroom renovation for her mentor. She is excited to test her talents, but then the unthinkable happens and Miss Drake is murdered. But before she passes, she passes on an important clue to Phoebe about the infamous Drake treasure. Miss Drake's nephew, Graham is in residence at the time, and he helps her to try and solve the mystery. But there are other, nefarious hunters of the treasure that these two must work against. Phoebe and Graham form an interesting bond that goes from tolerable acquaintances to friends, to a sweet romance. The story kept me captivated. The mystery of the murder and the hunt for treasure kept the intrigue and suspense going all the while cultivating a beautiful romance. The characters were interesting and well-developed and I enjoyed the interactions between them. This was a lovely story and I am glad to have had the opportunity to read it.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Wilson's books are starting to grow on me as I get use to her writing style. Regency with a touch of the gothic. I never thought I would ever combine the two or want to read something that combined the two genres. And then I discovered this author.

A time period mystery that has all the adventure, clues and murder you could ask for. I bit slow getting started but the plot got going and the characters were interesting enough until it got rolling. Definitely a mystery that keeps you thinking!

Within These Gilded Halls was an entertaining Regency from Abigail Wilson that blended a bit of mystery and adventure with a little romance. I liked that it continued, in a way, the storyline of a hero's daughter from one of her prior novels I adored: Masquerade at at Middlecrest Abbey (this is a standalone novel and not exactly a sequel, but it does take place in the same story world a few years later).

This story had a large cast and the whodunit thread had many possibilities. The adventure plot and final big reveal didn't quite draw me in as a reader as much as I'd hoped. I did like the romance thread (Lt. Burke was quietly strong and proved quite the hero), but sometimes I thought Phoebe, the heroine, made some choices that were discordant with her supposed motivations/maturity.



Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a review ecopy. I purchased a copy of the audiobook. This is my honest review

When I want an intriguing mystery regency tale, I know I can count on Abigail Wilson to deliver. Her writing continues to develop and mature, and this novel is an excellent representation of her talent. With prose that frequently reminds me of Austen, I can’t help but adore Within These Gilded Halls. Phoebe is a highly intelligent creative who is charged to solve an age-old mystery by her dear teacher and mentor. The problem is Graham, her teacher’s nephew, is not who Phoebe thought him to be. She is drawn to him and as they work together to solve the mystery, a true relationship builds. I love the creativity of Wilson’s writing as she weaves the intrigue and clues. I did not guess the outcome until the end (which makes for a great romantic tale for me). This is an excellent clean, intelligent, and sweet romantic mystery.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

Another captivating Regency romance from expert storyteller Abigail Wilson! This intriguing mystery centers around a murder investigation with a houseful of colorful suspects and a treasure hunt with numerous cryptic clues. The cleverly plotted story keeps you turning pages and guessing to the end. The characters are diverse and well-crafted. The vibrant, impulsive heroine Phoebe and the respectable, protective hero Graham made my list of favorite fictional couples. Their slow building romance is sweet and engaging as they both struggle to cope with hurtful romantic pasts. Ms. Wilson’s vivid descriptions and imagery alert all the senses as they immerse you in the action and setting whether it be in the gilded rooms of stately Avonthorpe Hall or on the perilous cliffs along the coast. Fans of history, mystery, and romance will definitely enjoy this read, and I highly recommend it. Note: Although there is carry over of some characters from previous books, this one can easily be read as a standalone.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you're looking for a story with some mystery, intrigue, murder, secrets, a hidden treasure, a sweet love story and more, this one fits that bill!

I've enjoyed the books I've read from this author and the way she weaves together a story of suspense and mystery. When the reveal was happening, I kept thinking back to all the clues that suddenly stood out. Read carefully because there are clues all around but if you become caught up in the story, you might miss some of them. But it was definitely an enjoyable story with characters that aren't all what they seem.

I'm looking forward to more books from this author. I really like how all of her books are stand alone novels but some of the characters crossover or have some sort of connection to other books. It was fun to see how they connected in this book. If you've read this author's previous books you'll have fun making the connection.

Content: Clean. Murder and mayhem and mystery and suspense. There is a love story but it is sweet and clean.

I received a copy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson--Fiction, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

Within These Gilded Halls by Abigail Wilson is a Regency mystery from Thomas Nelson.

When Phoebe Radcliff discovers her mentor has been killed, she embarks on a journey to not only find the killer, but to also find a hidden treasure. Within the halls of Avonthorpe, the clues are hard to find, but suspicious behavior is not.

I loved unraveling the clues alongside Phoebe and by the end, I think I suspected just about everyone at one time or another throughout the story. I especially enjoyed the romance and wished to see more interaction between her and Lt. Burke.

If you enjoy historical mysteries, then definitely give this one a read!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.

Phoebe Radcliff's quiet existence as a young painter trying to escape her past takes a turn when her tutor is murdered and asks Phoebe to complete a treasure hunt to find the hidden jewels before the murderer can get to them. With clues hundreds of years old and hidden all over the estate, Phoebe races against unknown foes in the present as well as the return of foes from the past.

This book confused me from the beginning. It felt like I was dropped into the story and was somehow supposed to know these characters and their relationships to each other already. I was also annoyed at how Phoebe "solved" many of the clues by overhearing the most random things. The romance was lackluster for me, probably because I never came to care for any of the characters individually, much less how they interacted with each other.

I will be the first to admit that treasure hunts are a trope that I really don't enjoy, and mysteries in general are hit and miss for me, but if these are your thing, you'll probably enjoy this book much more than I did. I normally love Abigail Wilson's books and will definitely read more in the future. If you are a fan of gothic Regency stories, don't let my lackluster review stop you from checking this one out.

I received my copy of the book from NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own.

I enjoyed the story but the beginning is quite meandering. Most of the action picked at the last third.

There's a lot going on, including a murder mystery, political intrigue and illegal dealings, a treasure hunt, and personal/family problems in the mix. There's also a slow romance between Phoebe and Graham. We only get Phoebe's POV and I would have liked to also read Graham's.

Overall, it kept me interested and reading to the see conclusion.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

DNF. Unfortunately this was just not the book for me. It seemed a bit tedious and I wanted to love it so bad but I found myself consistently picking up other books instead. I'll try this author again though!

Abigail Wilson never disappoints!! I love the way she sets up her mysteries and keeps you guessing until the end. I have yet to be able to figure out ‘whodunit’ in any of her books. I’m always shocked when the murderer is revealed and this time was no different.

Phoebe’s story was such a satisfying one! I love how it came full circle with a past love as well as her father, Lord Torrington (LOVED his story). The moments with her father truly warmed my heart. And her slow burn romance with the ever serious Lieutenant Burke was so swoony. The treasure hunt really forced these two opposites to see how well they complimented each. It took some time for trust to build between Phoebe and Graham resulting in some secrets being kept. Ultimately, honesty won out and I’m so glad that there wasn’t unnecessary third act drama because of it. Overall this was a very satisfying regency romance mystery!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for an advanced copy. My thoughts are my own.

I’m always happy to see and read and new book by Abigail Wilson. This is a new stand-alone that’s loosely connected to one of her previous books.

Phoebe Radcliff Is an artist whose patron is Miss Drake. They’re going to be restoring part of Avonthorpe Hall where there’s supposedly a hidden treasure. Those rumors appear to be true when Miss Drake is murdered and she mentions a valuable clue about that treasure. Graham Burke is the Avonthorpe heir and Phoebe and Graham team up while learning how to trust each other and find out what this treasure really is at the same time. But it soon becomes obvious they’re not the only people looking for that treasure.

I absolutely love Regency mysteries and Abigail Wilson’s book never, ever disappoint. We get a murder mystery, suspense, spies, and a lovely blossoming romance between Phoebe and Graham. I really liked Phoebe’s character, yes, she was a bit naive at times, but she was imperfect and realistic and I could completely sympathize with her.

I highly recommend this and if you haven’t read Abigail Wilson’s books yet, go and read all of them! Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Within These Gilded Halls by Abigail Wilson is a stand-alone novel. Famous painter Miss Drake dies of mysterious circumstances while working on a commission at Avonthorpe Hall leaving her mentee, Phoebe Radliff, to finish the work. Miss Drake also left Phoebe a clue to a treasure that was rumored to be hidden within the house. Phoebe teams up with the owner of the house, Lt. Graham Burke, as they work together to solve the murder and locate the treasure. Wilson creates a puzzling and complex mystery with a dash of romance that will leave readers satisfied and ready for her next book.

The world that author, Abigail built for this story is lovely. Although, I found myself struggling to form a connection with the characters. Therefore, I found it hard to stay focused on the story. In addition, that it does seem like it moves slowly with not a lot of action. Which I do agree with other readers that the story is the strongest at about the last third of the story. Sadly, I wished that it did not take this long to get to the action.

This book is simply not for me. Maybe I should have known, but this is Christian romance with a “feminist” heroine who is very sweet despite claiming to be a rebel. There’s some antiquarianism, which is cool, but it’s very basic. I honestly didn’t enjoy this.

Love Abigail Wilson’s books! She perfectly blends clean romance, mystery, political intrigue, and character growth with a faith-filled message, all in a Regency setting. It’s a slow burn romance with characters who go from enemies to friends to more. The plot revolves around a hidden treasure with intricate clues and a murder. There are plenty of suspects with various motivations and just when you think you’ve figured things out, another piece of the puzzle is added.

Phoebe Radcliff is talented, caring, and a bit impetuous. She’s made mistakes in her past which she readily regrets. She’s come to Avonthorpe Hall by invitation from her mentor Miss Drake to renovate the ballroom. Assisting her is her childhood friend Daniel. When Miss Drake’s nephew arrives with Egyptian artifacts, Phoebe is intrigued by him but quickly finds herself at odds with the stuffy Lt. Graham Burke. When Miss Drake is murdered and with her dying breath hints to a clue to a hidden treasure, Phoebe must decide whom to trust in a household of suspects. No one is as they seem and someone else seems to know about the treasure and will do anything to get it.

Told from Phoebe’s perspective, this book was the perfect mystery where each conversation and observation offers another clue. I loved the way Phoebe and Graham start off as enemies, then realize they really need each other and have a lot in common. Both have instances in the past where the people they trusted most let them down. As their romance grows, it’s fun to see the very proper Graham open up. I loved the scene where Phoebe assumes the worst only to find out he is having a sweet conversation with his dog. Their romance reminds me a bit of Pride and Prejudice.

The mystery was completely engaging. Though things started off a bit slow, the tension and suspense ratchet up especially towards the end. It’s a race against time where Phoebe and Graham are trying to find the treasure before anyone else and also solve the murder. Everyone at one point is a suspect with several people hiding behind a facade. Even those closest to Phoebe are suspects. It’s hard to know whom to trust. There’s also a complication from Phoebe’s past that threatens her tenuous relationship with Graham.

I also enjoyed the subtle messages of faith, trusting in God, and forgiveness especially of oneself woven into the story. It’s a must read for inspirational Regency mystery readers. Highly recommend! This book is a standalone, but those familiar with Ms. Wilson’s works will recognize characters from previous books. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.

First of all, wanted to let you know this is a sequel to “Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey” which I loved! You do not have to read it first but if you want to know what happens before go ahead and do that. The story makes sense as a standalone. Phoebe Radcliff comes to Mrs Drake’s home to complete the ballroom renovation. Soon Mrs Drake’s nephew, Lt. Graham Burke shows up with some Egyptian artifacts. Then Mrs Drake is murdered. Phoebe finds her first, and with her dying words she tells Phoebe the clue to finding the Drake treasure. She is instructed to trust no one. Lt. Burke finds out the clue to the treasure through the will. They try to follow the clues without letting the other one know what’s going on. However, quickly learn that they both know about the clues and decide to work together to find the treasure and the murderer.

Really enjoyed this story. Nice to see Phoebe grow from her past mistakes. Loved Phoebe and Lt Burke working together on finding the treasure and also falling in love. Overall really good story! Very clean! Definitely recommend! If you liked “Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey” you will like this!
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I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ecopy of this book which I received from netgalley . All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

This is my first book by Abigail and will not be the last. Wow, what a story, it grabs you from the first page to the last. We have a young Lady Phoebe who has taken a chance to paint with a famous artist,
Miss Drake. She is excited to be able to work with her and brings along her best friend from childhood.
Daniel is younger and has a lot to learn but is a painter also. Everything was going well even if Avonthorpe Hall has some odd people and strange things going on. Then Miss Drake is murdered and
tells Phoebe a family secret right before she dies. Lt Graham is Miss Drakes nephew and is one of the most handsome men Phoebe has ever seen. Unfortunately, he is stern, never smiles and Miss Drake was nervous around him. This book has so much going on, with the murder, spies, smuggling, so many secrets being kept from everyone. Lots of twists and turns to keep you on your toes.
As Phoebe and Graham go from rivals to friends to much more. This is not a romance story but a suspense who done it with romance added in. There is also creature who is so wonderful and loveable.
It will keep you up at night or reading all day long, be prepared for what you thing will happen to be wrong and something else to happen. I can't wait to read other of her books.
I received and ARC and would like to thank the author. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.
The only reason I didn't give the book five stars is every chapter starts with a sentence that is hard to read with the spelling wrong or the letters large and small with odd spaces, I just did not see why they were written that way. Very confusing.

This is a new to me author and I loved this book. It's well written historical fiction that has just the right amount of mystery, suspense and sweet romance to keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more of her works. Highly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson--FICTION via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.