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A cruel twist of fate
And Then There Were None meets The Inheritance Games, with a heavy dash of The Woman in Black, in this gloriously gothic YA mystery-thriller.
When eighteen-year-old Helena is sent to be a governess at Archfall Manor - a beautiful but crumbling manor house, perched at the edge of a causeway in the North Sea - she feels confident she will know how to deal with the esteemed but eccentric Cauldwell family who own it. But it quickly becomes clear that the Cauldwells are hiding more than Helena could ever have dreamed of.
A series of sinister events come to a head with a gruesome death - swiftly followed by another. Worse still, with the path back to the mainland cut off by a terrible storm, and no way to get help, suspicions and paranoia quickly run rampant.
But the Cauldwells aren't the only ones keeping secrets. Helena has some very important ones of her own - and soon she begins to wonder whether dark powers beyond her control might be forcing her to twist the fate of the family - and her own destiny - forever.
When eighteen-year-old Helena is sent to be a governess at Archfall Manor - a beautiful but crumbling manor house, perched at the edge of a causeway in the North Sea - she feels confident she will know how to deal with the esteemed but eccentric Cauldwell family who own it. But it quickly becomes clear that the Cauldwells are hiding more than Helena could ever have dreamed of.
A series of sinister events come to a head with a gruesome death - swiftly followed by another. Worse still, with the path back to the mainland cut off by a terrible storm, and no way to get help, suspicions and paranoia quickly run rampant.
But the Cauldwells aren't the only ones keeping secrets. Helena has some very important ones of her own - and soon she begins to wonder whether dark powers beyond her control might be forcing her to twist the fate of the family - and her own destiny - forever.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 18, 2024
44 people are currently reading
882 people want to read
About the author
H.F. Askwith
3 books52 followersH.F. Askwith is a British writer of dark fantastical fiction, and A Dark Inheritance is her first novel. She gained a Distinction in her Masters in Creative Writing, and in addition to her writing, H.F. Askwith has a love of puzzles, escape rooms and cyphers, which in turn has influenced her work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
March 22, 2024
I was hoping for so much more. I was drawn in by the premise and stayed for the descriptive gothic vibes. It seemed possible that the book was going to get good past the halfway mark, and there were moments of hope, but ultimately, nothing was executed well.
Underwritten characters, every chapter began with her mulling over the same thing (repetetive), very predictable "twists," lacklustre ending, underwritten romance (why include it at all?) And ultimately commits the biggest sin of all, it is boring. In a book with multiple murders and a mysterious house filled with secrets, you'd think it would be impossible to be bored.
I think this book could have the murders rewritten a little so they're less graphic, and this would be a very good gothic novel for junior fiction. I don't think it should fall under YA. I would really only recommend for a 12 or 13 year old, even so I think they might still be a little disappointed with it.
Underwritten characters, every chapter began with her mulling over the same thing (repetetive), very predictable "twists," lacklustre ending, underwritten romance (why include it at all?) And ultimately commits the biggest sin of all, it is boring. In a book with multiple murders and a mysterious house filled with secrets, you'd think it would be impossible to be bored.
I think this book could have the murders rewritten a little so they're less graphic, and this would be a very good gothic novel for junior fiction. I don't think it should fall under YA. I would really only recommend for a 12 or 13 year old, even so I think they might still be a little disappointed with it.
January 8, 2024
An enjoyable YA thriller set in the Scottish Highlands. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
June 23, 2024
*borrowed from Library*
I overall enjoyed the book and the plot. I thought that it was an interesting concept. I just personally found that I didn't connect really with many of the characters. There was just, for me, a little of the character missing from the characters.
I really did enjoy the book, and I always love a really great twist. This has one of the more interesting twists that I have read for a while.
Enjoyable, maybe more of a quick read.
I overall enjoyed the book and the plot. I thought that it was an interesting concept. I just personally found that I didn't connect really with many of the characters. There was just, for me, a little of the character missing from the characters.
I really did enjoy the book, and I always love a really great twist. This has one of the more interesting twists that I have read for a while.
Enjoyable, maybe more of a quick read.
March 18, 2024
A predictable plot with a lot lifted from Agatha Christie.
Quicker paced though then the last book, so that was good.
Quicker paced though then the last book, so that was good.
December 3, 2023
Helena has run out of options: her mother will imminently be carted off to debtor's prison, their sweetshop livelihood is being repossessed and her father has been missing under mysterious circumstances for years. Saving her fortunes, she is accepted as the new governess of the infamous, secluded Cauldwell family, noted for their inventions, but connected to her father's disappearance. However, soon after her arrival, the house's inhabitants are being picked off, and the house itself is speaking to Helena, calling her into its darkest corners.
Ah, the disappointing grounds of a thoroughly meh book.
This story should not have been mundane- people are dying, there are fantastical creations, low-level magic and many characters to learn about. But, the deaths are unexplored, the inventions are repetitive, the magic dilutes the atmosphere and the characters are surface-level. It had a great set-up, that built the necessity and motivation for Helena to change her circumstances. It offered hints of compelling mystery and a rootable relationship. Then, it uses the word 'invention' far too casually, mentions atmospheric details like the storm only when it suits the plot and crowbarred in a fleeting romance between every character of the right age.
Everything included in the story can be countered with the query of, 'why?' and a solid third of the book could have been removed as it's just the protagonist hypothesising reasons behind prior events and the upcoming possibilities. Also, a book cannot be described as similar to And Then There Were None and still have characters living by the end.
This is a forgettable historical mystery with a fantasy element. The Williams reference near the end is nice, though.
Ah, the disappointing grounds of a thoroughly meh book.
This story should not have been mundane- people are dying, there are fantastical creations, low-level magic and many characters to learn about. But, the deaths are unexplored, the inventions are repetitive, the magic dilutes the atmosphere and the characters are surface-level. It had a great set-up, that built the necessity and motivation for Helena to change her circumstances. It offered hints of compelling mystery and a rootable relationship. Then, it uses the word 'invention' far too casually, mentions atmospheric details like the storm only when it suits the plot and crowbarred in a fleeting romance between every character of the right age.
Everything included in the story can be countered with the query of, 'why?' and a solid third of the book could have been removed as it's just the protagonist hypothesising reasons behind prior events and the upcoming possibilities. Also, a book cannot be described as similar to And Then There Were None and still have characters living by the end.
This is a forgettable historical mystery with a fantasy element. The Williams reference near the end is nice, though.
July 7, 2024
I think I need to throw this book out the nearest window
January 8, 2024
Thank you to the publishers for providing an ARC of this book through NetGalley.
2024 52 Book Challenge - 1) A Locked Room Mystery
I requested this book because it was marketed as being similar to The Inheritance Games, a series which I absolutely adore. In some way, it is very similar to that series, with the young female main character joining the rich, inventive family as an outsider and solving a mystery. There were aspects that made it different, and I quite enjoyed it as a novel.
I think the main problem with the novel is that the twists and answers in the novel are incredibly apparent. Like, I guessed one from reading the blurb and I guessed the other at 10% so I was sat reading, waiting for the character to catch up.
That being said, I really enjoyed reading this book, and I have my fingers crossed for a sequel.
2024 52 Book Challenge - 1) A Locked Room Mystery
I requested this book because it was marketed as being similar to The Inheritance Games, a series which I absolutely adore. In some way, it is very similar to that series, with the young female main character joining the rich, inventive family as an outsider and solving a mystery. There were aspects that made it different, and I quite enjoyed it as a novel.
I think the main problem with the novel is that the twists and answers in the novel are incredibly apparent. Like, I guessed one from reading the blurb and I guessed the other at 10% so I was sat reading, waiting for the character to catch up.
That being said, I really enjoyed reading this book, and I have my fingers crossed for a sequel.
February 4, 2025
More 3.5 to 3.7.
I found the story interesting enough to want to continue reading it but the biggest problem with this book is that there is no character establishment. The plot moved very fast and the romance was very rushed. I'm unsure what purpose it served at all. I liked the ending and the writing wasn't bad. I'd recommend it if you're looking for a quick read and an eerie setting.
I found the story interesting enough to want to continue reading it but the biggest problem with this book is that there is no character establishment. The plot moved very fast and the romance was very rushed. I'm unsure what purpose it served at all. I liked the ending and the writing wasn't bad. I'd recommend it if you're looking for a quick read and an eerie setting.
February 13, 2024
A Cruel Twist of Fate is another gripping book by H F Askwith, who seems to have the uncanny ability to pull you in to a story gradually before dragging you full pelt to a breath-taking conclusion. The book has a gothic vibe - the windswept island cut off from the mainland; the whispering wind; the stately hierarchy and warring family and the (almost) orphan cut off from her past desperate to find the missing pieces to her life story.
The central character of Helena is equal parts feisty and timid, with her bravery ebbing and flowing like the storms around the island. A sense of foreboding is scintillatingly sprinkled throughout the prose as you follow Helena on her voyage of discovery, twisting and turning through the corridors of Archfall Manor meeting dead ends and never quite knowing who to trust.
An atmospheric mystery to be savoured or devoured in one sititng.
The central character of Helena is equal parts feisty and timid, with her bravery ebbing and flowing like the storms around the island. A sense of foreboding is scintillatingly sprinkled throughout the prose as you follow Helena on her voyage of discovery, twisting and turning through the corridors of Archfall Manor meeting dead ends and never quite knowing who to trust.
An atmospheric mystery to be savoured or devoured in one sititng.
December 24, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed H.F. Askwith's previous offering , A Dark Inheritance, so thought that I would enjoy this one too. I actually liked this even better, deliciously gothic with the odd touches of gruesome. A deeply immersive book, once I started to read it was difficult to stop. I think that I might have found a new favourite author.
January 27, 2024
2 stars
Very simplistic and shallow, with obvious plot twists and answers to the murder mystery and long, overbearing descriptions of the protagonist's choices and feelings. If it weren't for the romance subplot I would call this book middle grade rather than YA.
Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.
Very simplistic and shallow, with obvious plot twists and answers to the murder mystery and long, overbearing descriptions of the protagonist's choices and feelings. If it weren't for the romance subplot I would call this book middle grade rather than YA.
Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.
March 9, 2024
It was a good book and I really enjoyed it but the ending was so annoying it didn't even finish the story it's just them sitting in a court and then Mrs cauldwell walks in and that's it
October 26, 2024
Better review tomorrow but for now:
What a stupid ending lmfao
___________
The story only picked up around the middle of the book, the beginning was, again just badly written. It was boring, weird and seemed like those one direction fanfics where your mom sells you to the band. The middle section was somewhat intriguing to be honest but then at the end it felt like the author suddenly realized they had to wrap things up and just slapped on an ending. We don’t find out what happened to Nora or her mom, and it leaves way too many loose ends. I wanted some kind of closure, but instead, I was left feeling like I missed a chapter.
The romance was completely unnecessary and honestly felt like it was written by someone in middle school. There was zero chemistry between the characters, and it came off as awkward and forced. It added nothing to the plot and felt more like filler than anything else.
Another thing that bugged me was the total lack of a timeline. I couldn’t tell if the events were happening over a few days or several weeks, which made everything feel a tad bit confusing for me.
Overall, this book had a good premise, but it didn’t live up to what it could have been. It needed way more development and a less sloppy ending.
What a stupid ending lmfao
___________
The story only picked up around the middle of the book, the beginning was, again just badly written. It was boring, weird and seemed like those one direction fanfics where your mom sells you to the band. The middle section was somewhat intriguing to be honest but then at the end it felt like the author suddenly realized they had to wrap things up and just slapped on an ending. We don’t find out what happened to Nora or her mom, and it leaves way too many loose ends. I wanted some kind of closure, but instead, I was left feeling like I missed a chapter.
The romance was completely unnecessary and honestly felt like it was written by someone in middle school. There was zero chemistry between the characters, and it came off as awkward and forced. It added nothing to the plot and felt more like filler than anything else.
Another thing that bugged me was the total lack of a timeline. I couldn’t tell if the events were happening over a few days or several weeks, which made everything feel a tad bit confusing for me.
Overall, this book had a good premise, but it didn’t live up to what it could have been. It needed way more development and a less sloppy ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2024
The last third was so much better than the rest it's infuriating, because I cannot in good faith recommend this book when I felt the first two thirds were an endurance task.
I think it needed more fleshing out, it feels like the end was written first, being so tight and tieing up so many loose ends, but the beginning was so badly paced, and also just not well written.
Obviously the author loves the genre but just raced through a bunch of tropes.
I loved the characters, and wish she had fleshed them out more.
The main character being a bit too dumb and naive was annoying.
Frustrating.
I think it needed more fleshing out, it feels like the end was written first, being so tight and tieing up so many loose ends, but the beginning was so badly paced, and also just not well written.
Obviously the author loves the genre but just raced through a bunch of tropes.
I loved the characters, and wish she had fleshed them out more.
The main character being a bit too dumb and naive was annoying.
Frustrating.
September 9, 2025
I picked this up because I needed something fast and interesting. This book was at times predictable, but also enjoyable. It’s a YA mystery, and you can tell. The little magic aspect in the book is kinda different from other stories I have read.
I didn’t really connect with any of the characters, it felt a little flat to me and I didnt really care what happened to any of them.
The book left us with an open ending which i honestly hate because I don’t want to sit speculating after the book, but overall it was a enjoyable read.
I didn’t really connect with any of the characters, it felt a little flat to me and I didnt really care what happened to any of them.
The book left us with an open ending which i honestly hate because I don’t want to sit speculating after the book, but overall it was a enjoyable read.
February 26, 2024
This took a while for me to get into, and although the story was pretty good, the writing style didn’t sit comfortably with me. The voice of the main character was confused and it just wasn’t really for me. Enjoyed the gothic atmosphere though.
July 22, 2025
a fun gothic mystery but i figured out who did it as soon as the first murder happened lol
March 6, 2024
Really gory in some parts-loved it!
April 11, 2024
I liked some descriptive sentences throughout the book. Aspects of the plot were predictable or just not very exciting. Overall the book was meh
October 30, 2024
A solid premise that deserved stronger characterization and better pacing to really live up to its potential. The concept was just delicious. This family of inventors living in a manor off the mainland surrounded by the roaring sea, all having strange, suspicious lives.
The house as a living entity is a horror trope I will eat up every time and Askwith's writing was a great attempt at using personification to flesh out this monstrous manor that's alive with hunger and unfinished business. I'll eat that shit up every time. Yes ma'am!
The first half of the book was weak and I was fully expecting this to be a 1-2 star read, but I'm glad I stuck around. The plot found its footing, the characters became more rooted despite weak first impressions. The reveal was extremely obvious but the big plot twist got me. While the plot twist was good, the build up could've been so much better. That's again a fault with the story set up being weak. This could've been a longer book to tie up all the ends well. I think Askwith opened more doors than she could close because the ending was so rushed and haphazardly done that I feel wronged. Come ON.
Also, Helena just didn't even check up on her mama ONCE.
The house as a living entity is a horror trope I will eat up every time and Askwith's writing was a great attempt at using personification to flesh out this monstrous manor that's alive with hunger and unfinished business. I'll eat that shit up every time. Yes ma'am!
The first half of the book was weak and I was fully expecting this to be a 1-2 star read, but I'm glad I stuck around. The plot found its footing, the characters became more rooted despite weak first impressions. The reveal was extremely obvious but the big plot twist got me. While the plot twist was good, the build up could've been so much better. That's again a fault with the story set up being weak. This could've been a longer book to tie up all the ends well. I think Askwith opened more doors than she could close because the ending was so rushed and haphazardly done that I feel wronged. Come ON.
Also, Helena just didn't even check up on her mama ONCE.
January 10, 2024
"A Cruel Twist of Fate" is a ya gothic mystery-thriller written by H. F. Askwith.
I loved the premise of this book! A beautiful but crumbling mansion. An island lashed by the tides. A thin causeway, the only connection to the mainland, submerged for much of the day. A group of people trapped by a violent storm. Sinister events and brutal deaths that soon begin to haunt them. In short, "A Cruel Twist of Fate" had all the makings of winning me over! But unfortunately it didn't!
The setting is the element that I appreciated the most! Archfall Manor is really fascinating, vividly and efficiently described. An manor perched on an island lashed by the tides, often cut off from the mainland, according to the whims of the sea. A huge, sprawling mansion of labyrinthine corridors, empty or locked rooms, alcoves and secret passages, and a soaring central tower. A sinister and mysterious mansion, characterized by insidious creaks, flickering lights, ominous shadow play, treacherous drafts of air. And maybe something more.
The plot, full of potential, in my opinion lacks suspense, tension and uncertainty. Everything seemed to me extremely superficial, rushed and somewhat chaotic, as if the story did not know exactly where to point. The novel has several plot holes, numerous repetitions and convenient situations, to which is added a really predictable mystery. Too bad, because it could have turned out something incredible!
The characters conveyed nothing to me! I found them flat, shallow and without evolution. Even Helena, protagonist with her only first person pov, is vague and superficial. There is a romance component that I don't know, it seemed unnecessary and sloppy, with an instalove that made me huff and roll my eyes.
All in all, this is a book with an excellent premise and a fascinating setting, which unfortunately did not convince me in its development!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the premise of this book! A beautiful but crumbling mansion. An island lashed by the tides. A thin causeway, the only connection to the mainland, submerged for much of the day. A group of people trapped by a violent storm. Sinister events and brutal deaths that soon begin to haunt them. In short, "A Cruel Twist of Fate" had all the makings of winning me over! But unfortunately it didn't!
The setting is the element that I appreciated the most! Archfall Manor is really fascinating, vividly and efficiently described. An manor perched on an island lashed by the tides, often cut off from the mainland, according to the whims of the sea. A huge, sprawling mansion of labyrinthine corridors, empty or locked rooms, alcoves and secret passages, and a soaring central tower. A sinister and mysterious mansion, characterized by insidious creaks, flickering lights, ominous shadow play, treacherous drafts of air. And maybe something more.
The plot, full of potential, in my opinion lacks suspense, tension and uncertainty. Everything seemed to me extremely superficial, rushed and somewhat chaotic, as if the story did not know exactly where to point. The novel has several plot holes, numerous repetitions and convenient situations, to which is added a really predictable mystery. Too bad, because it could have turned out something incredible!
The characters conveyed nothing to me! I found them flat, shallow and without evolution. Even Helena, protagonist with her only first person pov, is vague and superficial. There is a romance component that I don't know, it seemed unnecessary and sloppy, with an instalove that made me huff and roll my eyes.
All in all, this is a book with an excellent premise and a fascinating setting, which unfortunately did not convince me in its development!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 17, 2023
This is a very comfortable take on YA gothic mystery. Locked room whodunnit on a tidal isle? Count me in.
The book benefits from being quite short, so you don’t have to wait very long before the answers to the mystery make themselves known. There are enough twists to keep it exciting (even though the identity of Helena’s father was so obvious in my opinion) but not too many that you get lost trying to follow them.
There’s a tiny bit of romance and fantasy sprinkled in that sets it apart from other YA gothic mysteries, but I do wish it was more fleshed out. This quote: “somebody must have devised a plan for it and calculated how to fit all the pieces together and then… found a way to make it work” from a character describing the featured inventions felt very “it just is, dear reader, please don’t ask” which was both amusing and annoying. Though may suit a YA audience (to which I am not the target.)
The book title also doesn’t reflect the ethos of the story imo - I think we’re all a bit tired of the samey book titles used to draw an audience. I miss the days of titles that accurately reflected the story.
If you enjoy slightly spooky, short mystery novels, you’ll have a good time with this one!
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I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
************************************************************
The following are some of my favourite series or books, all of which I rate 5* to give weight to my rating:
* The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
* The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski
* Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
* Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
* The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
The book benefits from being quite short, so you don’t have to wait very long before the answers to the mystery make themselves known. There are enough twists to keep it exciting (even though the identity of Helena’s father was so obvious in my opinion) but not too many that you get lost trying to follow them.
There’s a tiny bit of romance and fantasy sprinkled in that sets it apart from other YA gothic mysteries, but I do wish it was more fleshed out. This quote: “somebody must have devised a plan for it and calculated how to fit all the pieces together and then… found a way to make it work” from a character describing the featured inventions felt very “it just is, dear reader, please don’t ask” which was both amusing and annoying. Though may suit a YA audience (to which I am not the target.)
The book title also doesn’t reflect the ethos of the story imo - I think we’re all a bit tired of the samey book titles used to draw an audience. I miss the days of titles that accurately reflected the story.
If you enjoy slightly spooky, short mystery novels, you’ll have a good time with this one!
*******************************
I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
************************************************************
The following are some of my favourite series or books, all of which I rate 5* to give weight to my rating:
* The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
* The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski
* Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
* Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
* The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
February 6, 2024
2.5 Stars, rounded to 3.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin for my arc of this book.
The writing style of this is different to A Dark Inheritance. The overall tone of voice of Helena absolutely feels Victorian - some of the sentences have an almost archaic aspect to them. This took a few chapters for me to get used to, but I admit I did like it as it made the book feel more like it was set in it's respective time period.
From the opening fee chapters, the main character has flaws (borrowing money from her and her mam's shop pot so she can have acDEMIC lessons to improve her knowledge) and lying to get the governess position which didn't really seem to have any repercussions. The romance between two characters did feel out of place compared to the rest of the story.
The pacing of the book felt slightly off. It took to around 40% of the book for the murders to start happening and then it felt rushed to try to fit more murders and the resolution in the remaining 60% of the book. Despite this, this is definitely a book you could read in one sitting
I was able to guess the plot twists but that doesn't take away from the fact that I did enjoy the book.
The gothic aspects of a large manor house and secrets are done well, with a lot of time spent on the house. There was a very loose, soft magic aspect to the plot of the books which I would have loved to see explored more.
The ending of the book was quite an open ending and I am looking forward to see what H.F Askwith writes next and I hope whatever Askwith writes next has as pretty of a cover as this and A Dark Inheritance as they are some of my favourite covers.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin for my arc of this book.
The writing style of this is different to A Dark Inheritance. The overall tone of voice of Helena absolutely feels Victorian - some of the sentences have an almost archaic aspect to them. This took a few chapters for me to get used to, but I admit I did like it as it made the book feel more like it was set in it's respective time period.
From the opening fee chapters, the main character has flaws (borrowing money from her and her mam's shop pot so she can have acDEMIC lessons to improve her knowledge) and lying to get the governess position which didn't really seem to have any repercussions. The romance between two characters did feel out of place compared to the rest of the story.
The pacing of the book felt slightly off. It took to around 40% of the book for the murders to start happening and then it felt rushed to try to fit more murders and the resolution in the remaining 60% of the book. Despite this, this is definitely a book you could read in one sitting
I was able to guess the plot twists but that doesn't take away from the fact that I did enjoy the book.
The gothic aspects of a large manor house and secrets are done well, with a lot of time spent on the house. There was a very loose, soft magic aspect to the plot of the books which I would have loved to see explored more.
The ending of the book was quite an open ending and I am looking forward to see what H.F Askwith writes next and I hope whatever Askwith writes next has as pretty of a cover as this and A Dark Inheritance as they are some of my favourite covers.
February 6, 2024
Helena's family sweetshop is in trouble, her mother is about to go to debtors prison, so Helena goes to work as a governess for the mysterious Caudwell family both to escape and earn some money, but also to try and solve the mystery of what happened to her father years before. She goes under a false name and borrowed credentials, but soon finds much more than she bargained for when the head of the family is murdered.
It's quite Gothic, in that there are complex family mysteries, spooky goings on and unlikely coincidences, but also with some SF/fantasy elements - the explanation of what happened to Helena's father is definitely in that genre, while the explanations of how his connection to the Caudwells feels more Gothic. The mystery element is a little slow, and I think that's the main flaw of the book, from halfway through it really slows down, despite being set over a relatively short time period.
It's quite Gothic, in that there are complex family mysteries, spooky goings on and unlikely coincidences, but also with some SF/fantasy elements - the explanation of what happened to Helena's father is definitely in that genre, while the explanations of how his connection to the Caudwells feels more Gothic. The mystery element is a little slow, and I think that's the main flaw of the book, from halfway through it really slows down, despite being set over a relatively short time period.
February 6, 2025
The Book had great potential, it was thrilling and the slight romance side-plot was nice, but the ending seemed extremely rushed. It was unsatisfying and seemed like an incomplete, sudden stop.
May 9, 2025
It's giving wattpad.
June 15, 2025
2.5 stars.
This was just really mediocre.
The killer’s identity is very very obvious. I don’t know how I feel about the common trope that if the detective is a woman then so is the murderer because why can a woman never ruin a man’s life??
Helena also was a badly written character, we were told she was extremely intelligent, but we were shown that she had several huge blind spots that basically just made the book longer.
Helena was also annoying naive, Nora was right when she said that she didn’t have any other options. At that time, if your random male relative wanted you to marry then you’d have to. Nora did what she could to escape a terrible fate for herself and her mother. I feel that Helena should have understood that since she was literally there because her mom was in debtors prison after random men just came and took their shop from them.
I was also a little bit disappointed with the supernatural element. In my opinion, a good murder mystery has supernatural elements that are explained by real-life trickery (such as Agatha Christie’s ‘Hallowe'en Party’) and the supernatural elements were not explained enough or actually used to commit the murders. If the supernatural elements were linked to the murders more cohesively then it may have been better.
I think the romance was stale and it might have been more interesting to make Jasper the murderer, or even Jaspers mother. Nora was just so obvious, she was basically described as being Helena’s opposite, and the notion of ‘light and dark’ was mentioned enough times that it became very obvious that Nora was the dark and Helena was the light.
This may have been better as a shorter story, it felt like a lot of the book was just fleshing it out. For example, every paragraph had to end with a silly attempt of a cliffhanger that created suspense. If the book was shorter then Helena could have had less blind spots too which would have helped (it was so painfully obvious which character was her dad I felt almost embarrassed for her and she is fictional).
This was just really mediocre.
The killer’s identity is very very obvious. I don’t know how I feel about the common trope that if the detective is a woman then so is the murderer because why can a woman never ruin a man’s life??
Helena also was a badly written character, we were told she was extremely intelligent, but we were shown that she had several huge blind spots that basically just made the book longer.
Helena was also annoying naive, Nora was right when she said that she didn’t have any other options. At that time, if your random male relative wanted you to marry then you’d have to. Nora did what she could to escape a terrible fate for herself and her mother. I feel that Helena should have understood that since she was literally there because her mom was in debtors prison after random men just came and took their shop from them.
I was also a little bit disappointed with the supernatural element. In my opinion, a good murder mystery has supernatural elements that are explained by real-life trickery (such as Agatha Christie’s ‘Hallowe'en Party’) and the supernatural elements were not explained enough or actually used to commit the murders. If the supernatural elements were linked to the murders more cohesively then it may have been better.
I think the romance was stale and it might have been more interesting to make Jasper the murderer, or even Jaspers mother. Nora was just so obvious, she was basically described as being Helena’s opposite, and the notion of ‘light and dark’ was mentioned enough times that it became very obvious that Nora was the dark and Helena was the light.
This may have been better as a shorter story, it felt like a lot of the book was just fleshing it out. For example, every paragraph had to end with a silly attempt of a cliffhanger that created suspense. If the book was shorter then Helena could have had less blind spots too which would have helped (it was so painfully obvious which character was her dad I felt almost embarrassed for her and she is fictional).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2023
Having just read this author's debut novel, 'A Dark Inheritance' only the month before, which I saw flagged up on the New Writing North newsletter, I requested Askwith's second via Net Galley and the publishers, Penguin, kindly sent it to me.
I am an H.F. Askwith fan now I must admit.
Her first I enjoyed but did feel it was too long and repetitive in places, but this one, 'A Cruel Twist...' really gripped me and held me from the off. . I do love a Victorian set, Gothic style, twisty thriller be it Y.A. as in this case as it's aimed at 14-17 years, but adults can read and relish it - no problem.
From the blurb: -"When eighteen-year-old Helena is sent to be a governess at Archfall Manor - a beautiful but crumbling manor house, perched at the edge of a causeway in the North Sea - she feels confident she will know how to deal with the esteemed but eccentric Cauldwell family who own it. But it quickly becomes clear that the Cauldwells are hiding more than Helena could ever have dreamed of...."
Helena is a most likeable, inventive, feisty and intelligent heroine, whose steps we literally walk in around the isolated manor, and to the tower top where the mysterious, magical Arch is - here the story slithers into magical fantasy but still remains believable and that's important for me.
There are a number of deaths, historic, current and the body count keeps rising, and there is a hint of a budding romance with the caretaker's son, Jasper.
The action keeps moving, suspicion falls on pretty much everyone bar the cat, if there is one? The storm thunders on, the island is cut off, the staff and the family are at loggerheads, secrets leak literally from the walls of the manor house and the lying lips of some.. who can Helena believe and trust? Who will die before the storm is over?
One caveat- I did find the ending a trifle of a let down, and unsatisfactory- it didn't deliver the satisfaction or conclusion I wanted. Hence this is 4 stars.
I am an H.F. Askwith fan now I must admit.
Her first I enjoyed but did feel it was too long and repetitive in places, but this one, 'A Cruel Twist...' really gripped me and held me from the off. . I do love a Victorian set, Gothic style, twisty thriller be it Y.A. as in this case as it's aimed at 14-17 years, but adults can read and relish it - no problem.
From the blurb: -"When eighteen-year-old Helena is sent to be a governess at Archfall Manor - a beautiful but crumbling manor house, perched at the edge of a causeway in the North Sea - she feels confident she will know how to deal with the esteemed but eccentric Cauldwell family who own it. But it quickly becomes clear that the Cauldwells are hiding more than Helena could ever have dreamed of...."
Helena is a most likeable, inventive, feisty and intelligent heroine, whose steps we literally walk in around the isolated manor, and to the tower top where the mysterious, magical Arch is - here the story slithers into magical fantasy but still remains believable and that's important for me.
There are a number of deaths, historic, current and the body count keeps rising, and there is a hint of a budding romance with the caretaker's son, Jasper.
The action keeps moving, suspicion falls on pretty much everyone bar the cat, if there is one? The storm thunders on, the island is cut off, the staff and the family are at loggerheads, secrets leak literally from the walls of the manor house and the lying lips of some.. who can Helena believe and trust? Who will die before the storm is over?
One caveat- I did find the ending a trifle of a let down, and unsatisfactory- it didn't deliver the satisfaction or conclusion I wanted. Hence this is 4 stars.
February 5, 2024
A Cruel Twist of Fate focuses on Helena, a sweetmaker desperate to save her mother from debtor prison.
In a brazen attempt to restore her family’s fortunes, Helena deceptively applies to be a governess at Archfall Manor, the infamous home of the secretive Caudwell family.
The collection of inventors who live on the isolated isle have many a sinister rumour shrouding them and Helena, quickly becomes ensnared by them.
She works swiftly and secretly, trying to solve the mystery of her own father’s disappearance at the manor in her infancy.
However, as people start to get hurt, she must act quickly to discover the culprit. For her own and the entire household’s safety.
The Gothic mystery thriller has a good pacing and the remote setting is wonderfully sinister. Its beautifully descriptive writing adds to the uneasy feeling of the landscape and characters.
I particularly liked the way H. F. Askwith developed Helena as the protagonist. She is a vivacious and intelligent character who is relentless in her search for truth and justice.
The other mostly eccentric characters are difficult to read, progressing the story and its mystery fantastically. You’ll feel a step ahead, just to be pulled in another direction.
Although fascinating, I do wish the ending had been fleshed out a little more as I didn’t feel fully satisfied with the closure.
Overall, a fabulous read full of twists and turns with a well-developed female lead. It’s certainly worth a read in 2024.
*Thank you to NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book, all views are my own*
In a brazen attempt to restore her family’s fortunes, Helena deceptively applies to be a governess at Archfall Manor, the infamous home of the secretive Caudwell family.
The collection of inventors who live on the isolated isle have many a sinister rumour shrouding them and Helena, quickly becomes ensnared by them.
She works swiftly and secretly, trying to solve the mystery of her own father’s disappearance at the manor in her infancy.
However, as people start to get hurt, she must act quickly to discover the culprit. For her own and the entire household’s safety.
The Gothic mystery thriller has a good pacing and the remote setting is wonderfully sinister. Its beautifully descriptive writing adds to the uneasy feeling of the landscape and characters.
I particularly liked the way H. F. Askwith developed Helena as the protagonist. She is a vivacious and intelligent character who is relentless in her search for truth and justice.
The other mostly eccentric characters are difficult to read, progressing the story and its mystery fantastically. You’ll feel a step ahead, just to be pulled in another direction.
Although fascinating, I do wish the ending had been fleshed out a little more as I didn’t feel fully satisfied with the closure.
Overall, a fabulous read full of twists and turns with a well-developed female lead. It’s certainly worth a read in 2024.
Read the original A Cruel Twist of Fate by H. F. Askwith book review on The LDN Gal
*Thank you to NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book, all views are my own*
May 9, 2025
The keys on the cover drew me in. But then it was like they locked me out of a story with so much potential. This story is a gothic young adult mystery, set in the wettest of wettest locations on the North Sea in Scotland, Archfall Manor. I felt damp while I read this. The booked lacked excitement and an air of mystery which could have been played up so much more in its striking location. Its remoteness was striking, and its isolation set the mood of desperation.
Helena and her mother are so poor, that the only way to escape jail was to work as a governess for the wealthy Cauldwell family, who have connection to Helena: they were potentially involved in her father’s death. The Cauldwell family are nothing short of eccentric, and the magical realism in this book could have been quite extraordinary, but it seemed as though nothing was worth playing out for the reader. So much promise, yet no give. I wonder if that was in part about trying to cater for a younger audience, however I think the detail was necessary and it seemed a little patronising to leave it out.
It was hard to trust any character: even Helena was hard to rely upon as she fought wit her own demons in her work as the governess. Characters like Birdie, Jasper and Caroline were elusive and their characters seemed to rush through scenes without creating enough impact. If their unpredictability was harnessed a little more and fleshed out, I think this take would have sat better with me.
Helena and her mother are so poor, that the only way to escape jail was to work as a governess for the wealthy Cauldwell family, who have connection to Helena: they were potentially involved in her father’s death. The Cauldwell family are nothing short of eccentric, and the magical realism in this book could have been quite extraordinary, but it seemed as though nothing was worth playing out for the reader. So much promise, yet no give. I wonder if that was in part about trying to cater for a younger audience, however I think the detail was necessary and it seemed a little patronising to leave it out.
It was hard to trust any character: even Helena was hard to rely upon as she fought wit her own demons in her work as the governess. Characters like Birdie, Jasper and Caroline were elusive and their characters seemed to rush through scenes without creating enough impact. If their unpredictability was harnessed a little more and fleshed out, I think this take would have sat better with me.
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