The Fortunes of Ashmore Castle: A captivating period drama for 2025 perfect for fans of Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age

Ashmore Castle #4

by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

Whispers in the servants' hall, scandals in the drawing room - at Ashmore Castle, everyone has something to hide...

England, 1904.

Christmas at Ashmore Castle should be a time of celebration - but scandal arrives with snow. The Earl's uncle returns from Italy with a beautiful young bride on his arm, sending shockwaves through the family and threatening Kitty's already fragile place as mistress of the house.

As Kitty wrestles with her marriage and a truth she can't yet reveal, her sister-in-law Rachel risks everything for a forbidden love. Meanwhile, Alice - the Earl's youngest sister - finds herself drawn into a dangerous romance with a man far beneath her station. Downstairs, the staff navigate rivalries, reappointments and suspicions that could ruin more than reputations.

As love and loyalty clash with ambition and duty, the foundations of Ashmore Castle begin to tremble. And with her future on the line, Kitty must summon all her strength - because at Ashmore, secrets don't stay buried for long...

The fourth book in the captivating Ashmore Castle series. Perfect for fans of sweeping period dramas like Downton Abbey, The Crown and Bridgerton.

Fans love the ASHMORE

'Like a comfy pair of slippers. Cynthia Harrod-Eagles never fails to excel...The saga continues and you are drawn into the upstairs downstairs world...so grab a cuppa, some chocolate biscuits and enjoy!' Reader Review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'I always read anything published by Cynthia! The history is always really well researched, the characters realistic and the story fascinating.' Reader Review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'I have read all 3 books and loved it.' Reader Review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'Well written story and a wonderful read!!' Reader Review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'A great series! Hope there's another instalment.' Reader Review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'If you are a Downton Abbey fan this is for you!' Reader Review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'Loved it. Excellent story. Fabulous characters all blended by a tantalising web. I want to read the next book. Can't wait.' Reader Review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Genres: Historical Fiction

499 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 11, 2025

About the author

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles (aka Emma Woodhouse, Elizabeth Bennett)

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles was born on 13 August 1948 in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, where was educated at Burlington School, a girls' charity school founded in 1699, and at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, where she studied English, history and philosophy.

She had a variety of jobs in the commercial world, starting as a junior cashier at Woolworth's and working her way down to Pensions Officer at the BBC.

She wrote her first novel while at university and in 1972 won the Young Writers' Award with The Waiting Game. The birth of the MORLAND DYNASTY series enabled Cynthia Harrod-Eagles to become a full-time writer in 1979. The series was originally intended to comprise twelve volumes, but it has proved so popular that it has now been extended to thirty-four.

In 1993 she won the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award with Emily, the third volume of her Kirov Saga, a trilogy set in nineteenth century Russia.

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful addition to the series. It's amazing how these books pick up exactly where the last one left off and continues smoothly. Makes it so easy to get back into the story.
There are a lot of characters in the book and at first it can be hard to keep track of them but they are so well drawn and fleshed out you soon work out who's who. A lot happens in the story and I mean a lot! As well as the day to day lives of the people there is quite a bit of history thrown in, which I always enjoy.
Giles and Kitty are the main characters but they don't dominate the story which makes for a great read.
Having read the series altogether this time, one thing is cemented for me, Giles is a self centered drip. It's a long time since I disliked a MMC so much. His brother, Richard, who was quite flighty and light weight in the beginning is evolving nicely and has fast become my favourite character. Looking forward to seeing where his story goes.
If you enjoy historical fiction with real events thrown in and indeed real people of the time, then this is for you. I'd highly recommend it and it's a must to start at the beginning.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot happened in this installment! But so many cliffhangers…Why do I do this to myself and start series that are still going?! 😂 I think my only grumble about the actual book itself was that we didn’t get as much of Kitty. I hope she gets a lovely garden still. That was definitely left very uncertain. Character-wise, I am still upset at Giles. He really hasn’t given Kitty a chance to be different from the girl he married but she has grown so much and become her own woman. His emotional detachment is frustrating. I feel for him with the weight of duty he carries but his means of escaping from that weight are harmful. It makes me nervous.

Cynthia H-E is so good at balancing the storylines of many characters. It reminds me of Dickens and Trollope. I especially love the development in Sebastian’s story. I can’t wait to see more of Angus, Truman, Alice, Ivor, and Bron. Besides Alice, we don’t know any of them well and they’re all quite fascinating characters.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cynthia Harrod Eagles books are my comfort zone. I always enjoy them but I think this latest was better than a few of the more recent ones - back to her original form. Whereas I felt she’d tired of the Morlands in her Dynasty series I sense she is re- energised by the families based around Ashmore Castle. The slow progress of time - 4 books have only coveted 3 years - makes for some interesting social history, less obvious than a war for example. So I’ve been fascinated by the developments in the milk industry, transport and medical advancements - all embryonic but with the benefit of hindsight the reader knows what will come.
The characters are all developing nicely with a balance of happy and sad events. I’m already looking forward to part 5.

[Ellen Elizabeth Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Love this seriesL hope there will be mote like this!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series - next book please!
As with CH-E’s other series, I’m totally invested in the characters and can’t wait for the next instalment.

[Nicki McCann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't normally write reviews, as for me, art is subjective, and reading is a very personal thing. This book frustrated me. I picked it up from the library expecting some nice historical fiction escapism. the characters were really well written and I wanted to know more about them, but it felt that the plot barely moved. I only discovered on finishing this book, that's its actually part of a series, but that isn't marked anywhere on the book. I now cannot go back to the earlier books, because I know what happens to the characters in the future. I feel the publishers ruined a potentially great series by being dishonest.

Publishers - if a book is part of a series, mark it on the book! You've lost potential sales by being so dishonest. I want to read a series from the start so I can get invested in the characters and their development, but you ruined that.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book and its continuing story of the family of Ashmore castle. Very easy to get into after where the last one left off with the various characters developing and showing more of their individual personalities. Not only the ‘higher ups’ but also the ‘downstairs’ staff and those working on the estate. I for one will be happy if there is yet another book in this saga. As well as being such well written characters there is a lot of history which gives so much more substance to the book.

[Rhona Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

This book follows on from previous book. We see that even more how unhappy the society marriages are in reality. Marrying for money, or an alliance or a name etc, yet no happiness. Thankfully today's society is not like that, although it still happens. But when you see it in the book, it all feels like the women have little to make them happy. All have unrequited love except Kitty. Anyway a very good read. Highly recommended.

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole series is just stellar, even better than the War At Home series. I found it in June 2024 and tore through the first three books, and had to wait 14 months for book four (worth it)...ate it up in 5 days and who knows how long it will be until the next book comes out (lolsob).

This book is as good a watching a period drama series, so highly recommended to anyone whose jam that is.

[Peggy Rau · Rating 5 out of 5]

hoping for Book5 to continue the stories of all the characters

Was easy to pick up where book 3 left off. The characters were strong and moving along with there stories. Hoping for Book5 to continue

[Terri Fraley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book but took me awhile to remember all the characters and what happened in the previous three books but probably because I had to wait so long since I read the third book. Now I will probably have to wait another year for the next one.

[D R Coles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

I have loved every one of Cynthia's book and I think i've read them all. I think that says it all.

[Kim Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this series. Usually I get bored with a series and never read all of the books, but not with this one. I love this. Can’t wait for the next one

[Judith Rainbow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been waiting to read this book for a while.
The only disappointment was that it finished on a 'cliff hanger'