Thistlewood Manor: A Fella’s Ruin

Eliza Montagu #8

by Fiona Grace

"Very entertaining. I highly recommend this book to the permanent library of any reader that appreciates a very well written mystery, with some twists and an intelligent plot. You will not be disappointed. Excellent way to spend a cold weekend!"--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (regarding Murder in the Manor)THISTLEWOOD A FELLA’S RUIN is Book #8 in a charming 1920s cozy mystery series by Fiona Grace, #1 bestselling author of Murder in the Manor, which has over 300 five star reviews!For centuries, Thistlewood Manor has stood as home to the Montagu family, a beacon to British aristocracy in rural England. But it’s 1928, and in this new age of women’s rights, Eliza Montagu, 27, a free spirit, has turned her back on her family to live an artist’s life in London.Yet after Eliza is summoned home, she decides to stay (for now) to help her father run the ailing family business. The presence of her childhood best friend, Oliver, also gives her a reason to stay, as she wonders if their unfulfilled romance might ever come to fruition.Love is in the air, and with wedding plans looming, Eliza imagines a whole new life ahead of her. But the wedding planning takes a nefarious twist when someone turns up dead—and Eliza seems to be the prime suspect.With all eyes on her, can she prove she’s innocent?A charming historical cozy mystery series that transports readers back in time, THISTLEWOOD MANOR is mystery at its spellbinding, atmospheric and impossible to put down. A page-turner packed with shocking twists, turns and a mystery that’s hard to solve, it will leave you reading late into the night, all while you fall in love with its unforgettable heroine.Future books in the series will soon be available!

Genres: Mystery, Historical Mystery, Cozy, Historical Fiction

196 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 19, 2023

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

[Bonnijean Marley · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book, Eliza and Oliver are working on restoring a nearby estate while also planning their wedding. Eliza's second cousin and former bullying classmate is also planning her wedding and does all in her power to sabotage Eliza's wedding plans. No surprise who becomes the victim. However, by book 8, Eliza has become a better investigator. She develops theories, but doesn't immediately accuse every suspect who appears in her theories.

The internal dialog is less intrusive and repetitive than in the early novels.

The subtitle has no connection to the actual book.

This audiobook was read by an AI named Amelia. The narration was disappointing. The reading was choppy in places. There was no vocal differentiation between characters. The vocal tone often did not suit the nature of dialog. The narrator even read the change of scene asterisks.

[KathleenWH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Enjoyable

Fiona Grace has given us another enjoyable volume, again with another
distracting subtitle, “A Fella’s Ruin,” that has absolutely nothing to do with the
story at hand.

Fiona finds herself overwhelmed with her new formal responsibilities in the
family business, she and Oliver are renovating the
manor they purchased, and, of course, they are planning for their wedding.

A murder occurs in the middle of all this (of course), and while the suspects are many, so are the alibis while the clues are few.

This is a quick read, much in keeping with the other Thistlewood books, and I
strongly recommend it.

[Cyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

After this many books in, I have been so annoyed with the way the book is written I think this is it for me with the series. I know there is another book after this but I just cannot continue. The characters have no personality and are quite pretentious. The author spent more time describing the food that was served and not as much time building up a good character development. Furthermore, there is severe editing issues. Lord and Lady Montagu have been reduced to just Mr and Mrs Montagu. And in the last book, Eliza became Olivia?!

Anyways, the book itself should have been much shorter.

[mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

read 10 chapter then last 5 perfect the mystery is secondary as she has developed this series, its convoluted and not in an Agatha Christie way! The characters are engaging but don't read it for the mystery. Alsp these last 2 do not show up in the series list on goodreads??

[robbie jean lister · Rating 4 out of 5]

About to start the last book in this series,,have really enjoyed being on this journey with this author,,,I just hope the next series I find will be as enjoyable as this one,,,

[Lex · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have had enough of these characters, and the lack of editing.