The Secrets of Armstrong House

Armstrong House #2

by A. O'Connor

Present day – Kate and Nico Collins are filming a docudrama about life in their home Armstrong House in Ireland during its golden age at the turn of the century. When they discover a cover-up of a terrible crime involving Nico’s great-grandfather Lord Charles Armstrong, they set out to solve a mystery over a century old. 1888 – Arabella Tattinger arrives to attend a glittering ball at Armstrong House as the family’s younger son Harrison’s fiancée. Her head is turned by the glamorous aristocratic family, and most of all by the eldest son and heir, the exciting but dangerous Charles. A chain of events unfolds from that night which casts the family into years of a bitter feud. 1899 – When American heiress Victoria Van Hoeven marries into the family, she is determined bring peace at last to the Armstrongs. But everywhere dangers are circling and secrets are ready to emerge from the shadows. Not just from outside the house but from within their golden circle. Victoria is stepping into the firestorm. Kate and Nico press on in their efforts to uncover the truth – but are some secrets best kept hidden?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Mystery, Ebooks

498 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

A. O'Connor is the bestselling author of The House, The Secrets of Armstrong House, The Left Handed Marriage and The Footman. A graduate in History and English from the National University of Ireland Maynooth and Trinity College Dublin, the author has contributed to two collections of short stories in aid of Barnardos Charity and played a key role in A.M.D's Fighting Blindness campaign. The House has been translated into German and the Russian edition is due for publication in 2016.

Reviews

[Colleen Maclennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought this book was better than the first. Certainly some unsavoury characters which make for turmoil in this family. Historical component is interesting . There was class distinction in that time period. Present and past meet to solve an old mystery.

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

More Armstrong secrets revealed

The ending of this story left me very sad for the state of marriage with the importance of the family's reputation more important than the lives that were destroyed. Margaret Armstrong was ruthless. And Charles was so selfish. The only lovable character was Victoria.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable Read

After reading House, I wanted to read the next book in the series. This tells the story in two time periods about 100 years apart. This has great history about the landed gentry and what this family did to their tenants. This is family drama at its best.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

If u loved the house like I did, u will LOVE this. Roll on the next book. So exciting and wonderful characters who I feel I know. Please write faster A O'Connor :)

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent ,I could not put it down .

[Kymm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the second in the trilogy of the Armstrong House series and it didn't disappoint! Whereas the first book dealt with the overall history of the house and it's occupants, this one centered on Lord Charles and his wife Lady Arabella and their families and their reign in the house. I love how the author makes the characters seem so real and some you love, while others, well you just don't. Some of the actions Lord Charles takes in the name of running the house are outrageous, he's not a character I hold a soft spot in my heart for, to say the least. The premise is the current owners, in 2007, begin to make a documentary about the house and it's occupants and in doing so uncover a would be scandal that was covered up by the family and if it would have been found out at the time would have brought down the house of Armstrong. The new owners don't know whether to uncover this well held secret or blow the lid off the whole family history by sharing the secret. The book is a great family saga and how all the different members are affected by the choices made by the head of the family, Lord Charles. The book is full of twists and turns, many I never saw coming. I couldn't put the book down and looked forward to every page. This series has been a wonderful surprise for me. I'd never heard of the author or the books when I bought the series, but have since read a couple of his other books and haven't been disappointed in them either. I've already started the third and final book in this series and can already tell it's going to be another page turner!

[Anna Plishak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Друга книга з трилогії про ірландську родину Армстронгів, в якій сучасність тісно переплітається з минулим.
⠀
У наші дні актриса Кейт влаштувала зйомки документального фільму про замах на лорда Чарльза Армстронга у 1903 р. Паралельно автор оповідає історію самого Чарльза та його родини.
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Давно книги не викликали у мене таких шалених емоцій! Персонажі (Марґарет, Арабелла, Ґвінет, Ґаррісон, Вікторія) мене то люто дратували, то викликали співчуття. Чарльз постійно дратував. А ось симпатизували мені Лоренс та Джейк, які, попри величезні статки, не втратили людяності. Найулюбленішим персонажем стала бунтарка Емілі, яка робила помилки, але уміла їх визнавати та виправляти, не зважаючи на думку суспільства.
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У книзі дуже багато персонажів та подій - і при всьому цьому вона доволі спокійна і рівна. Втім фінал вельми неочікуваний і перевертає все з ніг на голову)

[Krisz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the third book I ordered from Poolbeg and wow - the first one was so bad, I had to give it 1*, the second one was okay, I gave it 3* and then comes this one... I wonder how I'll think of the 4th book I read from them? 7*? :D
So I'm very happy and satisfied. All along it was pretty clear what's gonna happen, and I was reading expecting how can AOC make this happen? (I didn't see the last twist coming, though, nice one!)
Also congratulations for the modern day chapters that intertwined with the past story and added nicely to it.
Well done, guys, thank you, I'm moving on to "The House"!

[Marilyn Buehler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, such a great book(s). Characters were believable and authentic. History was fascinating. I couldn't put the book down. In fact, I was glad for my kindle so I could quickly order the next 2 books and continue reading. A great book for those who love mystery and history. Books are emotional, authentic, entertaining, characters are alive and real. Without revealing anything, I was amazed at who actually shot Lord Charles, but won't reveal it here. Anyone getting a chance to read this author's books, should do so without delay.

[Patricia Busutil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this series!

When I picked up the first book in the series, I was wanting to read something total different than what I normally read, I am extremely happy that I did, the story takes you from present time to different times, centuries, of the people and the house, from the beginning on. It is hard for me to put the books down, I have devoured them. The writing is wonderful, flows well and knows how to really tell a story and leaves you wanting more!!

[Joan Clemente · Rating 5 out of 5]

I disliked Charles, felt badly for Arabella, thought Emily was a brat, and Harrison and James sympathetic characters. Victoria I cannot decide what I thought of her. Hugh was detestable. Lady Margaret Armstrong seemed a typical aristocratic snob for that era and Lord Lawrence seemed actually very likable overall. No particular thoughts regarding the minor characters Gwyneth and Daphne - saw them as fillers.

[Maisie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the series - gaps from book one are filled as the story unfolds to reveal secrets within the family. It alternates between the past and present keeping interest for the reader. More questions raised and a few gaps remain to be answered in the final book. Again cleverly written, enjoyable reading and tempting for the third book.

[Marie Shirley Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed it

While I am 6th generation Irish, our people were very poor and immigrated during the Irish Potatoe Famine. By the time I came around, Ireland was NEVER mentioned by any of the elders.

I'm now an "elder", thought it was time I found out about the real history of Ireland.

[Sonal Kumbhare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulously written. The first book was little slow but it kept me reading but this one entertained me. It didn't allowed me to drop it down while reading. With all the secrets going to be exposed one by one, and the writing style in 2 time period kept me reading. Awaiting to read the last one in series and expect it to be as awesome as the previous novels.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good

I was not as impressed with book two like I was with book one. I found Charles and Arabella to be a stagnate story. They only carry the book because so much back story involves them.

[Barbara "Cookie" Serfaty Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret of Armstrong House ( Armstrong House Series Book 2

More secrets ate reveal about the people who life in the Armstrong House. We lean how all was lost by Charles Armstrong. Kate marry the preset day Lord Armstrong. Great story.

[Donna Alspach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. I read the first book in the series and couln't wait to read the second book. Now I find there is a third book and I'm looking forward to reading it also. The writing is very good, characters well defined and the plots excellent.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harder to read when all I wanted to do was smack them up side the head!

It is tough to read a book when the characters are such prissy brats! But it's also a great writer who can get this response from me!

[Loretta Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing and entertaining story

The author has written very intriguing story about the Irish upperclass and the tenant farmers that took care of the land that provided the income required to finance lavish style lifestyle.

[Linda Guyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another O'Connor hit

Ah the beauty of pageantry of aristocracy! Also the presence of greed and selfishness make this another page turner! Love the writing style and mystery of A. O'Connor!!

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hidden history

Maybe fiction but I can imagine things like this happening. More interesting was the period when Ireland was a totally different place from today. When a few held so many in their grasp.

[Tiffany E-P · Rating 2 out of 5]

Modern portion of the story was not well developed and seemed unnecessary. It would have been the same book with just the historical part. All the characters seemed off except the mom. Dialogue stilted.

[Drue Wallach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the Irish history.

I loved reading about Ireland and the historical "big houses and estates of tthe late1800's. "The storyline kept me very interested but I found the writing less than first rate wth many grammatical errors which were never corrected by editing.

[Lori Bindner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging and dangerous

The story continues to flesh out old wounds and relationships while carrying pedigrees of the past into today's world. Engaging

[juanita w crockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great sequel

Waiting for the next book in the series. Pleased how well written these books are. Very much enjoyed them. Want to re-read them.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well what can I say just as great as the first one.

[Tammie Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read. Will definitely read the next installment in the series.

[Elissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only issue with this book is that there is not a third one in the series. I loved the way the timeline weaves in and out between the eras.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Armstrong house series book 2

This book is amazing could not put it down. Had you guessing all the way through the book. Really enjoyed it. Well do e A. O'Connor

[Kristin McCabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun cozy mystery

I thoroughly enjoyed this second book in the series. A quick read. Perfect for fans of Downton Abbey. Multi generation mystery story centered around an old house.