Review: In The Shadow of Croft Towers

Inthe Shadow of Croft Towers

by Abigail Wilson

About the Book

 From debut author Abigail Wilson comes a mysterious Regency tale of secrets and spies, love and treachery.

Orphaned Sybil Delafield jumps at the opportunity for a position at the mysterious Croft Towers. She believes she was hired to act as companion to a dying woman, but a highway robbery and a hostile welcome from the Chalcroft family cause her to wonder if she was actually hired to help someone spy for France.

An unsolved murder adds intrigue to this already secretive family, and Sybil recognizes Mrs. Chalcroft’s handsome grandson as one of the infamous highwaymen who robbed her. Sybil must determine if this man's charming smile and earnest eyes speak the truth or if he is simply using her like others in the house. Everyone seems to have something to hide, and Sybil must decide who to trust while also coming to terms with the truth about her own past. 

My Thoughts

Austen and Brontë meet in this sparkling debut, culminating in a thrilling Gothic mystery that Regency fans won’t want to miss.

With an atmosphere as mysterious as its plot, In the Shadow of Croft Towers transports readers to Regency England with a story of mistaken identity, espionage, and murder. The mystery slowly unfolds, taking many twists and turns over the course of the book. Just when you think you’ve figured everything out, another truth is revealed, another layer to the mystery is uncovered.

The characters are as layered as the mystery. I found Sybil to be a likeable heroine, and was hoping the best for her throughout the novel. I also loved Mrs. Chalcroft. Mr. Sinclair was a mysterious hero indeed, whom I wasn’t very sure about in the beginning. Yet by the end of the story, I found him to a be a good hero and was happy with the way things played out between him and Sybil.

There are influences of beloved authors like Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë, ensuring fans of these timeless authors will love this book, yet Wilson’s is a distinct voice all her own, making her an author I expect will be in demand for years to come.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Many thanks to Thomas Nelson for the complimentary copy of this thrilling novel.