his was thoroughly unexpected! I usually don't particularly like historical novels, and throw romance in the mix--books that typically start with two people fighting and then ending up in bed together a few pages later-- forget it. This book was a page turner! So well written with such a captivating story I couldn't put it down.

I'm not a fan of all the graphic sex scenes however; I don't think they add a thing to the book and for that reason I'm only giving it 4 stars instead of the 5 I would have given it.

This is a new to me author, she didn't let me down.
Millie who comes from new money is having a party at her lavish manor. Rose Briar Hall, it was actually a wedding gift to her from her father.
Her husband Charles who at first seemed like a doting husband. Once Milly wakes up from not remembering what happened at the party, Charles changed. For a minute I thought it was all in Millie's head. Having the party, and her lavish house. When she woke up, everything was off. As in the heat, the atmosphere in the manor itself. The household help wasn't around anymore and they had very little employee's. The ones that were there, seemed like they were evil. I really thought she was insane. Then further in the book, things started to click. I really thought her old childhood friend David and Charles were in on it together. However, I was proved wrong.
It had drama like I like, it had a little bit of romance, it had mystery. I know in those times woman really didn't have much say. I just didn't like the part where the doctor wanted to talk to Millie's dad and husband about her health without her in the room. Then her dad saying "well if the Dr says you need to do this, there isn't much to do". I don't think I would have lasted that long in that era.
Great book, thank you for the ARC Kensington.

I really enjoyed the start of the story. The dark edge, the twists, and the anxiety-inducing pace of the story helped to create the mood. The ending was a bit abrupt, but it wraps things up well. I think there was quite a bit of drama and back-and-forth that the book really didn’t need. It was an okay read though.

The Gilded Age but with elements of The Knick (aka The greatest show of all time).

Millie is a heiress who has recently been married. She wakes up the morning after her housewarming party and finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. Well, she THINKS it's the morning after - she's actually been 'asleep' for several weeks. She's under investigation for the murder at her party and quickly finds that she's being drugged in order to supress the truth.

Quickly, Millie finds out that her wealth isn't hers, because of the time, it's all her husband's money now. Millie has to use her wits and outsmart the man that she thought she loved.

I love a gothic mystery. It is my favorite type of book and this book is quite good and fits in nicely with classics.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book

This had me on the edge of my seat the whole time!
Perfect for those who love Gothic vibes, this is your next read. It was easy to follow, high on tension, with a dash of romance.

Highly recommend!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

Secrets of Rose Briar hall by Kelsey James sounded like a compelling gothic mystery, but I was disappointed to find it more of romantic suspense. The tone was melodramatic and the plot felt contrived and unbelievable. Despite those flaws, the writing was solid, and I would give this author another chance.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this eARC! Secrets of Rose Briar Hall features the story of a young, wealthy newlywed couple in 1908. We meet Millie Turner, a headstrong and beautiful new wife to Charles Turner. We quickly learn that Millie and Charles' marriage and life are not quite what meets the eye and that Rose Briar Hall isn't just a picturesque mansion on the North Shore of Long Island. Millie awakes long after a lavish house party to discover that she may be in danger and may be alone in figuring out how to save herself from said danger. I appreciated the author's ability to reel me into Millie's mind and make me feel like I was at Rose Briar Hall myself. Secrets of Rose Briar Hall sheds light on the unfortunate reality women have faced in society throughout history. I will say I probably could've gone for about 100 more pages of this book, but understand the author's choices and know they chose what they thought was best for readers and the story! I appreciate James' ability to keep readers engaged and jump right into the action.

This enticing thriller was a very poetic writing style full of mystery and intrigue in the beginning and then through the middle it shifted course to more of a woman's self discovery journey as Millie fights for her survival.
Millie is married to Charles and wakes up to discover that her memory is gone in the wake of a disastrous party they hosted. As Millie tries to gain her memory even more secrets are uncovered that throw Millie towards an entirely new goal.

This story was very descriptive writing which normally I don't mind but it was a lot of telling us what was happening or had happened versus showing us which left a disconnect for me with the characters and their story line which is why I would put this more in the 3.5 range. I think this story was extremely well thought out and the flow of the plot was well done. There were several things that I found quite shocking and caught me by surprise but the overall story was fairly predictable and it ends up being more about rooting for Millie and her journey than the true mystery that you start out with. I didn't mind that at all because the author does a phenomenal job setting the scenes for certain things to occur.

Overall I would say this would be a great book for an introduction thriller reader who is also looking for a great "womens empowerment" theme.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC of this to read and review.

Secrets of Rose Briar Hall, by Kelsey James is a well written, fun quick read with a wonderful gothic setting, and great characters.

I was excited about this gothic mystery, Sadly, it became far more of a romance as the book unfolded. I rarely read romance books, and I wouldn't have requested this one had I known how big of a part it would play. It caused me to lose interest quite quickly. I did enjoy the overall setting. I couldn't quite buy Millie's decisions at times. Charles was well written. However, as a mystery, this missed the mark for me.

This was an excellent historical thriller that follows a strong female lead through the complexities of the top 1% in a time where women were not necessarily respected. The main character is a determined being who is willing to go against the societal norms of who she is supposed to be, to ensure she is more than just a wife in a corrupt marriage.

4.5 Stars

Secrets of Rose Briar Hall is a psychological thriller/mystery set in New York in 1908. Millie Turner and her husband, Charles, are just a year married and want to throw a party for New York’s elite, to show off their wealth and status at Rose Briar Hall. After all of Millie’s planning, the party is set to be a success, but things go horribly wrong and Millie wakes three weeks later, to a completely different life. Now she must find a way to regain her memory from the night of the party, solve a murder and fight to save her own life.

I thought the atmosphere of the early 1900s was a great setting for the book. Millie not only has to figure out what happened the night of the party, she also has to contend with the lack of rights women faced during this time period. James gives an intensity to Millie’s desperation through her writing. I felt Millie’s anger, frustration and fear while reading the book.

Millie does make some horrible decisions throughout the book, and I understand they are there to keep the story going, but sometimes I just wanted to yell at her! I enjoyed seeing her character grow from a naive socialite, to a more capable, independent woman.

Charles is very well written, and I thought the charming husband/villain worked great for the story. His charm and manipulation is hard for Millie to navigate, and I think James did a great job making the reader feel the same way about him.

I did not really get a gothic feel from the book. It was more of a psychological thriller/mystery for me, in a historical fiction setting.

I would definitely recommend Secrets of Rose Briar Hall to anyone who enjoys a twisty thriller/mystery. James does an excellent job merging the mystery with historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for this e-ARC!

This book started off well, with its suspense and mystery that made me want to continue reading and find out what is happening in Rose Briar Hall. The writing was good and atmospheric. However, I was not invested in the story and continued reading only for the sake of finishing it. It seems that gothic mysteries are not my cup of tea, so if they are yours, you might enjoy this one!

This book was super suspenseful and interesting! I loved the setting, the slightly gothic feeling, and all the secrets. It was very well done and I will be checking out more from this author!

I thought this was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I think it will find readers at our library, so we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

This is a quick fun read written by a talented author. I cannot wait for more from this writer. The main character is likable and while some of the other characters are not, the story still is a mystery that I enjoyed. Somewhat Gothic in nature. Reminded me of those I have read in the past and absolutely liked. Thanks Netgalley.

I loved James’s debut novel, The Woman in the Castello and couldn’t wait to read The Secrets of Rosebriar Hall. This mix of historical fiction set during the Gilded Age combines gothic mystery and psychological thriller with a touch of romance.

Excited to showcase their new Long island mansion, newlyweds Charles and Millie Turner are hosting a party for their friends. When Millie wakes up after the big dinner party, she cannot remember anything. She discovers that someone has been murdered and she’s a suspect. Her husband is concerned about her health, the staff won’t tell her anything and even her friends have deserted her.

The reader is carried along on Millie’s path to find the truth. Her husband becomes an expert liar and her once treasured home becomes her prison. Millie’s journey for the truth forces her to face how influenced she has been by her husband’s manipulations and opinions. The author’s writing draws you into Millie’s predicament. You feel her frustration and find yourself routing for her as the twists unfold.

A fast-paced read that’s hard to put down! Kelsey James has become one of my favorite authors for that special mix of gothic suspense and history. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the advanced readers' copy.

A twisty psychological mystery set in the Gilded Age of New York with murder, an eery setting, and a touch of romance. We begin the book waking up with Millie Turner after a dinner party had gone terribly wrong. A guest ended up dead. A guest that Millie did not particularly care for. But what truly happened that night among the crystal glasses and turtle soup?

I felt frustrated for Millie and kept turning the page to discover what was truly going on in her head and in her home. Her husband attempting to send her to a sanitarium, her parents lack of help in the matter, her maid’s betrayal and more. She could not trust nearly anyone, not even herself. Was she a murderess? We as readers also learn about society at the time, women’s rights and infidelity laws throughout the story.

I enjoyed my time in this book and would recommend to readers who love historical mystery and romance. Thank you to NetGalley and Kelsey James for providing me with my ARC ✨

Set in 1908, newlywed heiress Millie wakes up with no memory of what happened in the previous days, a husband worried about her health and friends who have deserted her. When everyone keeps her in ignorance she decides to find out what happened that night.
It is an atmospheric novel with a narrative that draws you right into the story and characters that touch you.
It manages to make you relate to Millie's dilemmas, you feel her helplessness, her anguish and finally her determination to get to the truth.
A historical mystery with a bit of romance that keeps you glued to your seat and unable to stop reading.

Fantastic psychological suspense for lovers of historical settings! Millie's Long Island mansion becomes a terrifying prison, cold and isolated. She can't trust her husband, the staff, or even her own memory. Often once a character escapes the scary house, everything's fine. Not so in this book. I really enjoyed that for Millie, leaving the house is no escape. In fact, the suspense keeps ratcheting up. One by one her friends and resources are chipped away. Society, her own parents' opinions, the medical establishment, and the legal system are all stacked against her. The courtroom drama twist was such a terrifying reversal!

Millie's journey is also compelling. Not only does she have to learn to save herself, as you'd expect; she also has to face how much her husband's manipulations have influenced her opinions and turned her more passive and also snobbier. It seems scarily realistic how hard it is for her to break free--he's such a good liar that she keeps doubting herself, which ups the suspense. I liked that she ends able to feel pity and even sympathy for some of her husband's other victims rather than seeing them as hated rivals.

We might be able to add it to the collection since the author is California born and raised, and our Braille and Talking Book Library has a wider collection scope so they should be able to acquire it as long as it's available in a suitable format. Really looking forward to this one coming out!