The House of Echoes by Alexandra Walsh is a historical fiction novel with dual timelines—one following Anne Brandon, daughter of Charles Brandon (close friend to Henry VIII), and the other focusing on Caroline Harvey, a modern-day woman grappling with her place in life as the granddaughter of a famous author who has recently died.

Both women face betrayal, carry heavy secrets, and try to navigate lives where the men around them hold too much power. Naturally, this leads to plenty of lies and complications.


The Tudor timeline really worked for me. Anne’s life felt vividly drawn, and the historical details were immersive. I’ve read a lot of books about Henry VIII’s court, and there’s just something endlessly fascinating about how precarious life was under his rule. Anne’s perspective had a lot of emotional depth, and I found myself rooting for her.

Caroline, on the other hand, was a harder sell. You’d think it’d be easier to connect with someone from the modern era, but her storyline didn’t grab me the same way. It might be because Anne’s struggles felt more immediate and intense, but it left me less invested in the contemporary side of the story.

The central theme—how women across centuries have had to find their own ways to survive in male-dominated worlds—is clear and important. That said, while I appreciated the message, the story itself didn’t fully hook me. It’s a solid read, but I wasn’t glued to the pages.

Overall, I’d call this a three-star book: good for Tudor history fans but not a must-read for me.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Oh Alexandra you've done it again. From beginning to end I was hooked on the interwinning stories of Caroline and Anne Brandon (I have to admit I do love the Duke of Suffolk, he was naughty, mischevious and ambitious) and it comes across like this in this dazzling new book. Anne, I wanted to keep reading her as I got further and further into the books I was rooting for this woman of the one dangerous world of the Tudors. Its one of my favourite times in the British history and Alexandra just has a way of weaving this women into one that is betrayed but in the end will she get her happy ever after.

Caro - wow I didn't see that ending coming at all! I loved how it ended and her story of Gideon and Dexter Blake. A twist you might not see coming because I didn't.

I'm now firmly a fan and can't wait for the next book (and maybe we could get those Dexter Blake books from you, please).

This latest wonderful dual timeline novel by Alexandra Walsh gives us the story of Anne Brandon during the reign of Henry the 8th. Her Father is friends with the King and she's related through his marriage to the Kings sister. She feels safe and protected by this patronage until her father decides who her husband should be. Her marriage is not a happy one and her husband flaunts his affair to her. But she has allies, namely her first love Randall.
Present day and Caroline Harvey is grieving the loss of her Grandfather, the renowned author Dexter Blake. His final book in the Ether Sci-fi series is about to be released, along with the film. But someone is determined to reveal a few secrets and Caroline is at the mercy of a former love.
In this book Alexandra has given a voice to Anne Brandon, on behalf of all the women in the Tudor Reign, women who were at the mercy of the men who decided their fate.
Despite being years apart Anne and Caroline's stories were very similar and they had lots in common.
I loved this novel, its perfect for lovers of Historical fiction and dual timelines

This was an awesome story set between the years 1500 and the present day and the way the lives of Anne Brandon and Caroline Harvey were similar was brilliant and exciting to read, I will look out for further books written by this author

Who else could take the reader from the Tudor court to a spaceship in a galaxy far, far away, but mistress of the dual timeline, Alexandra Walsh? That isn’t to say the contemporary timeline in The House of Echoes is set in deep space, but it is inextricably linked to a series of best-selling science fiction books and films, written by Caroline Harvey’s reclusive grandfather, and for which she is the public face. But when Caroline returns to Pembrokeshire, so do old memories – and someone who wants to threaten everything she holds dear.

The historical timeline is set in the court of Henry VIII and is told from the point of view of Anne Brandon, a young noblewoman and daughter of Charles Brandon, the king’s best friend. It is such a pleasure to see well-researched real characters used, who step from the pages of the past with fascinating stories to tell. Weaving mainly fact with a generous sprinkling of fiction, Walsh brings their world alive in a compelling tale of love, treachery and revenge.

The two stories are bound by echoes aplenty, in both location and themes expertly portrayed, but for me Anne Brandon shone brightest from the page, making this wonderful book hard to put down.

This was another intriguing story from Alexandra Walsh. Based on Anne Brandon, who was at the court of Henry V111 and related to or knew many of the main characters in his turbulent reign, and who had domestic problems of her own. The 1500s weren’t a great time to be a woman. This is a book about lies, ambition, treachery and gender. The character at the centre of the present day timeline had secrets of her own, and this was very cleverly done. A book with strong female characters and a nice dose of history always works for me. Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to review this book.

Another excellent novel by this author, with a good story that I got into straight away and well drawn characters. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book which I highly recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction.

The House of Echoes by Alexandra Walsh

Loved the book as I enjoy dual timeline titles and the Tudor period so win win !

Set in 1530s and we are mainly following Anne Brandon daughter of Charles Brandon. She has a friend , Anne Boleyn,Henry V111 wife and she is not providing him with the son he so much craves.

In present day we are with Caroline Harvey grandfather is retired Dexter Blake and lives in his home in Pembrokeshire . Caroline inherits his home and research,shows that Anne Brandon also lived there whilst fleeing Henry's court. Why was this and what happened ?
I enjoyed both timelines equally and also the way they were linked , both the eras and the lives of Anne and Caroline.