Thistlewood Manor: Omicidio Tra le Siepi

Eliza Montagu #1

by Fiona Grace

THISTLEWOOD OMICIDIO TRA LE SIEPI (UN THRILLER LEGGERO DI ELIZA MONTAGU — LIBRO 1) è il romanzo d’esordio di un’affascinante serie di gialli da caminetto, ambientati negli anni ’20, di Fiona Grace, l’autrice di successo de Assassinio in Villa , che ha ricevuto oltre 300 recensioni a cinque stelle!

Per secoli, Thistlewood Manor è stata la dimora della famiglia Montague, un faro per l’aristocrazia britannica nell’Inghilterra rurale. Ma è il 1928, e in questa nuova era di diritti delle donne, Eliza Montague, uno spirito libero di 27 anni, ha voltato le spalle alla sua famiglia per vivere una vita da artista a Londra.

Ma quando arriva un’inaspettata crisi di famiglia, Eliza non ha altra scelta che tornare a casa per far fronte alle richieste dei suoi genitori, aiutare suo padre e conoscere il Lord che sperano possa sposare.

Quando un cadavere viene ritrovato nel bel mezzo della riunione di famiglia, Eliza si rende subito conto che se non riuscirà a risolvere il mistero, le verrà addossata la responsabilità del delitto e potrà dire addio alle sue speranze di vivere una vita da donna libera.


Affascinanti e avvolgenti thriller storici che trasportano il lettore indietro nel tempo, i libri della serie THISTLEWOOD MANOR sono gialli allo stato ammalianti, suggestivi e impossibili da posare. Romanzi ricchi di scioccanti colpi di scena, svolte e un mistero arduo da risolvere, vi terranno incollati alle pagine fino a notte fonda, facendovi innamorare della sua indimenticabile eroina.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Historical, Cozy

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 6, 2022

About the author

Debut author Fiona Grace is author of the LACEY DOYLE COZY MYSTERY series which includes MURDER IN THE MANOR (Book #1), DEATH AND A DOG (Book #2) and CRIME IN THE CAFE (Book #3). Fiona would love to hear from you, so please visit www.fionagraceauthor.com to receive free ebooks, hear the latest news, and stay in touch.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb Historical Whodunit

This is a 4.5 🌟 read rounded ⬆️ to 5 🌟.

A new-to-me author and series, this quality murder mystery rises far above the standard "cozy" read. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.

[Alison Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad story

Too many grammatical errors and language which would not have been used at that time and by that class of people all of which makes the reader irritated and spoils what c would be a reasonable light read.

[Sandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very badly-written historical fiction. The dialogue uses 21st-century language. The foyer of an English manor house is NOT a “lobby”! The characters are silly and cartoonish. Many small details are repeated over and over and over and … — well, you get the idea (it’s unlikely that the reader would forget even the smallest detail in a murder mystery). I guessed who the culprit was halfway throuh the story. To top it off, the narration was nerve-wracking! I could go on — but I won’t.

[Stacia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't recommend this one. It is not well written, and could have used a tight edit by an editor familiar with mysteries and the period (late 1920s in Great Britain) when it was set.

My biggest peeve is that there were no characters that engaged my interest, including the protagonist. There were a number of characters for whom I felt active ill will, including the Inspector, the protagonist's family, the victim's family, some of the servants, and a random character from the protagonist's past who was meant to be the romantic interest.

Second biggest peeve: the mystery lingers only because the protagonist lies about what she knows (okay, mostly by omission, but still a downtick).

Third: I don't like to read about people, even fictional people, accepting being bullied in the name of "the good of the family", particularly when none of the bullies are willing to explain why they need to sacrifice their children.

Lastly, much of the plot rests on post-WWI conflict between classes, and the author comes across as not having done much research on how people actually behaved to one another across class lines, particularly on the country estates of the nobility. Knowledge of how the loss of a generation of male workers affected daily life, even 10 years after the war ended deserved some research, too. The book read as though the author watched a couple of British TV series and called it a day.

[Gracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! I think it was the perfect cozy mystery, and the story was just very slight and fluffy.
I liked the beginning setting, and the mc’s whole ideas of suffragists, and trying to move away from typical ideas about women.
I’m not really sure what Barnsey’s role in this was. Unless i missed something as my mind wandered towards the end maybe, but otherwise it felt like he was made out to be someone of utmost importance, and he actually just wasn’t.
I didn’t suspect Cedric would be the father to that maid’s baby though. I think it makes sense why she freaked out a bit after she found out it was Eliza she had confided in. I knew it weren’t her who had killed Lord Darlington.
I also thought it was Oliver who had killed her. God knows why, he just felt suspicious, and I thought maybe he had killed off competition, or was trying to help Eliza not get stuck in an arranged marriage.
I loved Scout. He was just so cute. And the french chef and head servant! i can’t remember their names, but favourite vibes.
I really enjoyed this, it just isn’t the most memorable mystery i’ve ever read!

[Lakea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. The use of modern speech/ slang made my head hurt. Eliza and her whole family seemed more annoying than anything, although it could’ve been the narrator portraying them that way.

I don’t think I’ll be continuing with the series. I find the Rhys Bowen / Janet Quin-Harkin’s “Her Royal Spyness” series more enjoyable.

[BRT · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure about this one yet. A decent country house murder set in 1920's England but the main character is rudely brash and excuses it because she's a suffragette and abhors the class system. While she rails against the class system and the way servants are treated, she lives in a posh apartment paid for by her rich father and makes assumptions about the servants, and refuses to listen to her explanations, that puts one at risk of her life. She does appear to make strides towards being less of a hypocrite towards the end but I'll have to read the next in the series to see if I want to keep on.

[Charlotte · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a book about at 20 something year old English aristocrat written by a 20 something year old American. It was bad. You know when the author tries to make their character soooo cool and you can tell and it fails? Well that was the case with this book. Everything about it is unrealistic, and she describes London in a way that only someone who's never been there would describe it, she uses a lot of American terms for characters that are meant to be Brits, and the whole thing is full of grammar mistakes.

[Amanda Weaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing amazing or deep and a predictable, but a pleasant listen.

[Elsbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The contrast between Eliza's life in London and her (former) life at Thistlewood Manor, where she grew up, is huge. I've read a lot of stories set among the British ton (mostly historical, set in the 19th century) and indeed, most of them think themselves above everyone else. This book is set in the 1920's and it is good to see that, slowly and not among everyone, that view starts to change. Of course even now, about 100 years later, there still are people who think themselves better than others who haven't had their kind of education or background or title. Sadly.
But it is good to read about someone like Eliza, who fights for equal rights for everyone. I like that.

Oh, and there is a murder mystery. A good one.
All in all, another wonderful story from Fiona Grace!
I received a copy and choose to review it.

[Ana Riva Palacio M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es el segundo libro que leo de Fiona Grace y me gustó mucho!

Me encanta que la protagonista sea una mujer fuerte y que piensa fuera de la caja; alguien que quiere valerse por si misma y dejar los estereotipos de mujer sumisa que es mantenida económicamente por un hombre y no puede pensar por si misma; prácticamente cómo un adorno o accesorio mas del hombre

La protagonista usa su ingenio y su rebeldía para poder atrapar al asesino y el final fue muy satisfactorio

Btw, me encanta su pequeño compañero, soy fan de los cozys con mascotas como personajes importantes de la trama que al mismo tiempo son como el Dr. Watson de su Sherlock Holmes

[Cathy Hine · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable whodunit to escape into.

[Ruth Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun delightful cozy mystery with a smart plucky heroine.

[Marilyn Boyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing read overall, but some linguistic inaccuracies were annoying. This was in need of better editing.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really into it. Saw it all coming. Found Eliza a bit annoying.

[Katelynn Ratliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute, easy to read whodunit.
Eliza was a great character to read in the perspective of. A pallet cleanser while still getting the chance to solve a murder mystery. The historical aspect adds a fun theme old chap!

[Tee Twist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thistlewood Manor: Murder at the Hedgerow by Fiona Grace is a murder mystery with a distinct taste of social justice, following headstrong heroine Eliza Montagu’s journey of literal and self-discovery set in a luxurious backdrop of early 20th Century England.
Fellow mystery enthusiasts, Downton Abbey devotees, and those looking for an easy read will find a cozy pastime in this book.

Just another murder mystery?
It’s undeniable that there are a lot of murder mystery novels out there, classics that kicked off the craze and modern-day reiterations alike. This instalment of the Eliza Montagu series also presents a string of clues and hints that come together at the end to reveal the true murderer. On the face of it, it is very similar to many other books of the same genre.

However, Eliza Montagu is no ordinary woman – she is, in fact, a bonafide 20th Century Suffragette rallying to secure the vote for women throughout England. She is courageous, outspoken, and determined to use her personal passion for art to further the cause. The juxtaposition between Eliza’s strong character and honorable goals with the societal expectations of the time adds a twist to what might be an otherwise familiar tale. At times, she could even be a younger Miss Marple just gaining her understanding of the world – though Agatha Christie’s understanding of the setting and ability to construct such a character is, of course, more developed.
It’s also satisfying to see Eliza go against her rigid upbringing and societal expectations to confront the rampant classism of the age, albeit in a sometimes obvious way. It certainly makes some of the discriminatory viewpoints aired by some of the characters less jarring. Openly arguing with wealthy upper-class businessmen may be glaring and a little unrealistic but it takes some real in-world guts to do it.

Overall, if Grace’s aim was to casually entertain the reader with a slightly twisting tale and vintage social justice vibes, this book absolutely fits the bill. If, however, you are a stickler for historical accuracy or looking for an intense mental workout, it might not be your thing.

A self-centred Suffragette?
Personally, I can totally appreciate the value of having a heroine who openly fights for equality, even in a historically restrictive setting. Eliza certainly isn’t afraid to confront sexist or classist views and that in itself could start important conversations or even just get the reader thinking about their own position in society. But Eliza is far from perfect. She is dripping with unfairly gained inherited wealth and privilege which often pours into her speech and actions without her meaning to. This translates into a certain self-centeredness which, while fitting for a main character, gets frustrating from time to time and tends to water down her overall message. Eliza seems to be blind to her own position in society at times, while being very eager to chastise others for the same limited ways of thinking. Some of the decisions she makes show that she hasn’t quite put her thoughts into her actions just yet – particularly jarring when the stakes are as drastic as life and death.

There is also something a little bit unbelievable about Eliza’s character and dialogue, particularly the language she uses which took me out of the story from time to time. Her brashness in confronting these prejudices and tendency to walk in and out of social classes, one minute attending formal dinners and the next hiding out in the servant quarters, is hard to imagine ever really taking place in real life at the time this story is set.

Some of these disappointments are alleviated by Eliza’s character arc. For all her faults, she is moldable and does learn. It is satisfying to see how, throughout the story, Eliza slowly realises the impact she has on everyone around her and how she hasn’t truly appreciated her own privileges. While not quite completely ‘getting it’, the difference in Eliza at the outset compared to the ending is stark.
I liked Eliza, and ultimately did want her to succeed, but even with her clear development, found it hard to truly care about her as a person. Equally unfortunately, Eliza is the most memorable character, with the rest of the cast feeling like exactly that – a cast of people formed to make a backdrop for Eliza to bounce off rather than distinct personalities in and of themselves.

A deja vu detective?
I won’t pretend to be a genius guesser who knew exactly how the mystery would end by the second page. The clues laid throughout the book are intriguing, and the red herrings throughout certainly keep you on your toes. But the ultimate ending is, in some ways, a little clichéd and predictable – the kind of dramatic elements you would expect in a vintage mystery like this. There were also some characters and elements which were introduced without any immediately apparent reason, such as Eliza’s shy Suffragette friend or the unfinished story around the dog, but this might be due to the fact that it is part of a series that I personally haven’t read. On the other hand, these rogue elements do add to the red herrings and the story is weaved together pretty well, which makes for a good bit of entertainment and a relatively engaging story. A murder mystery is hard to do extremely well but this is definitely a good stab at it (no pun intended.)

Round up and recommendations
For me, this book was a good distraction from the daily grind. It wasn’t innovative for me, didn’t change my life, and probably won’t walk with me for a long time as other books I’ve read in the past did and still do. But I liked seeing a character challenge age old problems in a somewhat unserious way and enjoyed following Eliza’s train of thought as she pieced the mystery together. And there is comfort in a story that is simply fun to read and keeps you from scrolling social media for a while, both as a reader and an aspiring writer myself. Overall, I would recommend this book to people who are really committed to murder mysteries or looking for a bit of an escape, without being too taxed mentally or having to wade through daunting and stuffy writing which needs a dictionary to decipher.

[Cidney · Rating 1 out of 5]

I quite like period dramas but this one seemed to be a bit off. It was set in the 1920s and did have a bit of a feel of that about it but it seemed to be running out of kilter, straying off into different eras which hadn't yet arrived. Eliza Montagu, 27, was a passionate suffragette, yet lived in a beautiful fancy apartment in London for free, and had an allowance and was free to paint but never sold any. She lived on money given to her by her father, Lord Montague. Now if she was really a suffragette she wouldn't be living rent free and off her titled father's money, these were women who were fed up of being discounted, treated and belittled and working for a pittance, these were the suffragette ladies. So a bit out of kilter there.

Eliza is summoned back home immediately, she hadn't been home since she had a row with her mother 3yrs previously. She arrives to find that Lord Darlington and his mother and brother were staying and that she was to be married to him. Her suffragette spirit immediately rose up. Unfortunatey he was murdered before bedtime, and Eliza was the police force's prime suspect as she had announced to everyone at dinner she would not marry him. Then we have Eliza behaving just as an entitled lady would, treating the police inspector with some contempt, behaving like a spoiled brat, pushing her family's title to the forefront to make the statement that they are titled and so coudn't possibly be murderers, and it was unthinkable that she could be the murderer, despite the fact that she had lied to the police inspector several times about her whereabouts and events between Lord Darlington and herself, which took place during the evening out of sight of the other people, and she was effectively saying "look at me, I'm from a titled family, you can't possibly think I had anything to do with his murder, stuff and nonsense, go away all of you". I really disliked Eliza Montagu. The only thing I liked about the book was Scout the dog.

[Kristen Pickering · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got nearly 70% of the way through this book before I just couldn't anymore, so please bear that in mind. Here's why:
- the characters were annoying. Eliza makes such a big deal about ignoring class distinction but only from her comfortable position of privilege. Her mother and great aunt were completely one-sided and one of the brothers exists only, it seems, to depict him as a raging alcoholic. That said, if any of these characters managed to develop a second layer to them in the last third of the book, I wouldn't have been around to read it.
- plot inconsistencies: an entire scene was written for Eliza to rescue a bloodhound which she apparently forgot later was a bloodhound when the dog tried for much too long to convince her himself. Also, she couldn't sleep in her own room because the murder had happened there, but apparently she got up and readied herself for the day in a completely different room of the house - with what?
- anachronisms: other readers spoke of the apparent lack of knowledge about British society in the 1920s, and while I'm no expert, I'm pretty certain there's no such thing as a "head valet" (a man would only have one), that titled aristocrats would not be engaged in business affairs (no matter how vague) , and the vegetable peeler not being patented until almost 20 years later, a chef - if peeling his own vegetables, would probably just be using a knife.

Moving on ...

[Julieann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first of a series involving Lady Eliza, daughter of Lord Montagu of Thistlewood Manor. She's a suffragette, in 1928 London, trying to be an artist (we aren't told if she's any good, just that she wants to paint). Her parents, especially her mother, want her to get married and behave like the other girls of her class.
She's ordered home where she finds she's being introduced to the man her mother wants her to marry, Lord Darlington. He seems like a real snob, a stuffed shirt and all-round idiot. Only, it seems he's not really all of this. Sadly we'll never know because he's the victim.
It's 1928 and both families - the Montagu's and the Darlington's - have serious financial difficulties. Neither knows that the other one is going broke fast and both hope to marry their child to a wealthy family.
It will be interesting to see if (a) the Montagu family recovers financially, (b) what happens with Eliza's artistic "career", (c) what - if anything - she does in the suffragette movement and (d) who will turn out to be her prospective love interest (you figure that one out yourself).
This is a very easy book to read, quick and follows the general formula for a "beach read", but it's fun and the main character along with the good sidekick characters (at least I hope they show up in the later books) is more than a one dimensional character.

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Eliza Montagu is having a smashing good time in London. Alas, her mother has insisted that she return to the family manor as a potential fiancee for the very wealthy Lord Darlington. Darlington, it transpires, is a bit of a cad leaving Eliza less than thrilled with her match. She is even less thrilled when the man winds up dead by poison and in her own bedroom no less. Eliza needs all her wits about her as she determines who killed her not-yet betrothed before she is arrested for his murder.

It took almost no time to fall into this story and live in it. While I wasn't fond of Eliza at first, she grew on me. I did adore her adopted puppy from the moment we both laid eyes on him. Eliza's immediate family were a good mix of the aristocracy of the time, the young people forging a life that deviated from the oppressive traditions pressed upon their parents. The time between the Wars was one of upheaval and author Fiona Grace nicely encapsulates this in her introductory novel to the series. That's not to say there weren't terrors - jarring ones at that - which caused a brief tut before a compulsive resumption of the story. This aside, the read was heaps of fun and filled with gentle unforced humour.

Gosh, I'm going to enjoy this series!

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women's rights-back in 1928 were really just beginning. Of course in Britain the older generation was not at all pleased-especially the upper classes. Eliza grew up in an upper class with all the privileges that brought. However she decided to break with tradition and moved to London to pursue a career as an artist. Her family was not at all pleased--thankfully her father paid for an apartment in a better section for her without her Mom knowing about it. Her Mom said if she left she could never come back----

Then a letter arrived from her Mother telling her she had to return-it was an emergency-but did not tell her what it was about. She should have known better----

Turns out the emergency was that she was to meet a certain gentleman and then marry him? It was kind of comical when they met at dinner that evening--She a modern woman--he a conservative of the old school--She finally agreed to talk to him-went to her room to meet him--and found him dead.

She was the prime suspect and knowing this she knew she would have to try and find the real murderer. Lots of twists and turns. You will be shocked when you find out who did it!!

[The United and the Irish States set me Wild · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for Scout and the amicable role he played, transforming himself from a character of little importance to the animal hero of this volume!
5 stars for Eliza- the beautiful character she is- a woman suffragette, kind, absolutely kind, who vouches for equality among the elite and the downtrodden. She is a respectable character and I all but immediately swooned over my drooling for her persona, oh i like her so much. Never has a mystery character struck me so at home, so humble and an absolute strength to the book.
I ravished mightily the fervent graces of the imagery, the secret garden and the hedge haze. I could picture it all, the thristlewood castle, the foyer, the servants quarters, the romance in the air, the delightful siblings- all so a reckoning force! Being thoroughly a no-fan on english titles, like lords and the like, Lady Darlington's despisable character only added to the drama in the book for she served no purpose greater than cursing in her lady-like fashion and coming inside of the house upon the revelation of Jacob's betrayal.
If I had a physical copy, i would almost kiss the back of the book to display British courtesy.

[Sophie Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book 1 in the Eliza Montagu cozy mystery series by Fiona Grace.

The book begins with a scene where Eliza is marching for women's rights in London. She is summoned back home to Thistlewood Manor where her parents are trying to set her up for marriage with Lord Darlington. Unfortunately, the would-be fiance' is murdered and the story centers around Eliza fighting being suspect number 1 while trying to find out who really did it. I thought I had it figured out pretty early on and I was right. Of course, Eliza didn't do it and she ends up returning home in London briefly before getting called back home. She must decide if she wants to continue pursuing her new career in the art world or return home the dutiful daughter.

I could not quite put my finger on why this book didn't grab me, but it didn't. Maybe it felt like too much was happening too fast and some loose ends were tied up too neatly. I've read other books by Fiona Grace and this one just didn't do it for me.

Maybe the series gets better. Hopefully, Eliza becomes more likeable, too. She seemed a bit bratty to me.

[Charlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young ladies must be married.

When a woman reached a certain age and her family was one of the landed gentry, it was necessary for marriage to become an unavoidable issue. Eliza had managed to avoid it by leaving her family and moving to London where she was finding her way as a feminist, marching as a suffragette. But she is called back to her home at Thistlewood Manor to meet a young man whom her parents have decided she should marry. He seems exactly the condescending, entitled type she would never choose, but she is saved from that decision when he is found murdered in her bedroom. And she is the one to find his body. The detective immediately makes her the prime suspect. Eliza must find the murderer to exonerate herself, but she must also figure out what is going on in her own family. Fortunately, she has the wit and wisdom to do so. A good beginning for a historical mystery series which leaves the reader with the hope that there might actually be a candidate for Eliza’s match.

[Adrienne Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different sort of mystery

If you like stories about strong-willed females moving ahead in a man's world, then this will be right up your alley. Eliza Montagu comes from a wealthy family but wants to be a part of something bigger an more important. Much to her family's disappointment and her mother's chagrin, Eliza moves to the city and becomes a leader in the suffragette movement. When her demanding mother sends a letter asking her to come home, Eliza realizes she must go. After much discussion and many introductions, we finally have a murder on our hands. After this, there are many twists to the plot and, of course, many suspects. Although the story started off very slowly, I found myself caught up in it all once we were at the mansion. I'm glad I stuck with it, as I wanted to solve the mystery. I do recommend this book, especially if you are the patient sort and can wait for the action to begin. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Anna Katharine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fans of the Golden Age of Detection are often lured by modern writers attempting to emulate the style and/or sensibilities of the era, and are often disappointed. Chalk this one up as another disappointment. Unlike Kerry Greenwood or Jacqueline Winspear, Grace seems to have done no research prior to constructing an insipid mystery packed with wildly anachronistic dialogue and details. The independent-woman-turned-amateur-sleuth has no endearing traits beyond her feminism, and shows up as an entitled know-it-all to flail about and make an already irritating narrative worse. This work is in the category of mass-produced, formulaic pulp cozies that send me running back to the Georgette Heyers and Dorothy L. Sayers of the world. Sigh. Can't recommend it.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thistlewood Manor

What a wonderful and charismatic mystery with a drop of murder to deal with. The array of characters are bold scheming and quite dramatic and complacent to their time. When men were led to believed they were the head of the family, but of course all women know differently. Yes men worked at making the funds most of the time, but women were used as monopoly as well and this is where the story begins drawing you into its page then enticing you further when an unexpected turn of events brings murder to a monopoly event while written into the dramatic plot that will have you captivated turning page after page with heightened anticipation up to and including the unexpected and climatic conclusion. Acquire " Thistlewood Manor " for hours of intriguing and enjoyable entertainment. Kat

[N · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m usually a fan of historical woman led murder mysteries but something about this one just annoyed me. Eliza touts equality but she does it from the pedestal of being part of the upper class. Her tantrums over class seem very simplistic and unrealistic. I’ve come to the conclusion that I do not like heroines that are rich and therefore really have no bases for their stances. I prefer the heroines who are either from the working class or have actually lost something such as status.

I also found the writing to be simplistic as well. This felt like a churn and burn cozy historical mysterious in which there was no planning involved at all. I’m grateful I did the audio version because if I had encountered the grammatical errors other readers mentioned this probably would have been a DNF.