Davenport House

Davenport House #1

by Marie Silk

Davenport House is the first book in a family saga following the wealthy Davenports and their servants in 1915 America.

Mary Davenport is a 22-year-old idealist who worries that the world in the Progressive Era is leaving her behind. She lives isolated in the Pennsylvania countryside with her affluent and secretive family. When her father dies suddenly, Mary becomes pained with grief and increasingly suspicious of those around her.

A humble servant girl has the chance of a lifetime to become a lady's companion. Costly dresses, exquisite rooms, and fine dinners are pleasant distractions from what is really happening in the house.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Historical, Romance, Amazon, Ebooks

188 pages, Paperback

Published March 31, 2016

About the author

Marie Silk is a #1 Amazon Best Selling author of clean historical novels. She lives with her family in the United States and travels the world as much as she can. Marie has enjoyed writing stories and plays since childhood. Her favorite books to read are supernatural, history, and psychology.

Reviews

[Kellyn Roth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I decided to give this book a chance a while back, but I just couldn't finish it. I got to 11% before I couldn't stand it anymore. Here's why:

1: the setting wasn't clarified. I thought we were in England ... and then I found out we were in the United States. What part of the United States, I'd yet to discover. It sounded very English, though.

2: the descriptions of the servants' clothing was inaccurate. And if we're in the Southern United States (are we? I haven't a clue), there probably wouldn't be all white servants. Even in 1915. At least, I think? Maybe I'm wrong.

3: sometimes the dialogue was a little too modern ... but there was nary a contraction in the entire book (or at least the first 11%). Believe me, people used contractions in 1915. They also were fairly consistent with their speech patterns. They didn't switch back and forth between contemporary USA and Shakespearian England with every sentence.

4: women suffrage was big in this era. However, it seems that everyone thinks women thinking is a new idea that few in the book have. Um, no ...

5: familiarity with servants. Nellie (this rich, upper class lady who is from the highest society ... in Yorkton, Philadelphia, and Lancaster, apparently) flirts with one of the servants and talks about him all the time! WHAT?!

6: and let's just randomly elevate a maid to lady's companion. 'Cause that's how it works. This is where I stopped reading.

Excuse me if I'm incorrect about any of that, but those were my reasons for not finishing the book.

~Kellyn Roth

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

DAVENPORT HOUSE where things are not as they seem and people are not who they seem. Marie Silk takes us back to the early twentieth century where a rather naïve young woman is about to discover the world is a darker place than she could have imagined and it all starts within the walls of her family’s wealthy estate. Death, deceit, and untold secrets will be uncovered, but not until Mary’s gentile world is rocked to its foundations and she finally learns to stand up for herself and doing the right thing.

Marie Silk has fashioned a fabulous mystery that never truly revealed itself until the end and let me tell you, I was intrigued! Although a pleasant read, there was no sense of high tension, no edge-of-your-seat action as we were often listeners to almost non-stop dialogue. I will say, Mary has potential to be a force to be reckoned with as her personal growth took place and she took off the pretty blinders of being a wealthy man’s daughter. She did not quite meet that potential, but maybe it will show up in later books in the series.

To her credit, Marie Silk does not fall into the need for bosom heaving, bodice dropping, skirt lifting scenes, making this a “mom-safe” read in case you want to share!

Series: Davenport House - Book 1
Publisher: Marie Silk Publishing; 1 edition (March 29, 2016)
Publication Date: March 29, 2016
Genre: Historical Fiction | Mystery
Print Length: 190 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger) · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I began reading this book, I felt as though I stepped a full century back in time. Not only that, but I could imagine this story occurring in 1915 being written in 1920. The author wrote in a beautiful Victorian style, adding enjoyment and realism to the story. It wouldn't have the same charm if written in present day voice. The descriptions are clear and colorful. I can picture Davenport House in my head, complete with beautifully furnished rooms, hundreds of books in the library, and secret passages built into many such homes of the period. The rules of etiquette followed are accurate for the period.

I really liked Mary, the main character. I also worried about her, but she proved to be strong and resourceful. I admired her courage in the face of anguish and adversity. My heart broke for her when she cried and I applauded her fairness and generosity. There was also a mystery of a murder committed. I thought I knew who did it and who the accomplices were, but I was partly wrong. There are a few different paths this story can take. I look forward to reading the other books in this saga and knowing how it turns out..

[Jane Jago · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thoroughly likeable novel, with a strong storyline.

The reason it didn't get to five stars for me was that I found myself liking the minor characters more than the major players.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is not difficult to imagine a different world – we’ve all been doing that since childhood, after all. It is significantly more difficult, however, to create it and to make it come alive in the minds of a reader. But what makes Silk stand above so many writers is that she has created a world populated with characters that walk the walk and, literally, talk the talk.

The amount of research that must have been undertaken for this novel is astounding – nothing feels contrived or stolen from a more modern era – this book is set in 1915 and everything in it harkens back to that time. The language, the dress, the manners, even the interactions between characters reflect a time of great social change, overturning the norms established by so many previous generations.

Mary Davenport is our heroine, and through her liberal eyes we witness these lofty changes, as well as the more mundane making and breaking of engagements, new friendships, old friendships, enmities, forgiveness – and a murder. Yes, when a murder in a story is mentioned towards the end of a book review, you KNOW it’s going to be an exciting read!

“Davenport House” was an extraordinary read, with strong characters and a lively storyline. But what stood out most for me was the exquisite use of language – the charming English of 1915 is used by the author, not only to orientate the reader, but to transport the reader back in time, seamlessly and comfortably. And yet, it doesn’t FEEL like reading English from another era – it feels more like reading the language as it was meant to be spoken all along.

Experience the enchantment and get yourself a copy!

[Graeme Rodaughan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a light, easy to digest, mostly entertaining read.

Perfect for a lazy afternoon curled up on a couch with your favourite beverage.

The story loses it's way and it's pace after the half way point, but picks up toward the end to provide a satisfying ending.

Mostly a mystery, with a whiff of romance. This is primarily a story about a naive young woman who has to learn to assert herself in a suddenly threatening world.

If 3.5 stars was a category - I would have given it that. I've rounded up to four, because I was surprised by how amusing I found the first half of the story to be.

Recommended for unabashed fans of light, sincere fiction.

[Carole P. Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Davenport is her father's favorite. Petted and indulged by him, she is beloved by everybody in the house except her mother and brother. She can't understand why her mother appears to resent her. Together the family lives a privileged lifestyle in their mansion Davenport house, surrounded by trusted servants and secrets.
Servants may seem to be invisible working to keep the great house running, however, they have a keen understanding of the dynamics of the family.
Tragedy strikes when Mary's father dies mysteriously making the upstairs life of the wealthy inhabitants collide with the downstairs servants, driving the family down a twisted path.
Simply written, Marie Silk draws a vivid picture of a different era, patiently recreating the glamor that hides a tarnished past. Mary may start the saga as a child, but ends it as a woman. An entertaining read that's easy to spot the heroes from the villains.

[TDCbookreviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a delicious twist of Gothic V.C. Andrews meets Danielle Steel's captivating way of being able to bring you into the historic timelines. I have always been a fan of historical fiction. I have never read anything from this author before and sometimes that can be a little scary because you never know what you are going "walk into". This starts off with Mary and her father being very close and she confides that she thinks her mother hates her. She is older than most girls that are already married and mother is upset that she is not married. What I liked about this book the most was that it was easy to get into, some books take a little time, not with this story. This book has everything I look for in a book, a little murder, twists, complex characters, and a little hint of romance. I really enjoyed how each main character you were able to see them and feel like you were actually in the story.

A Note to the Author: Please keep me in mind for the rest of this series, I would love to review them!
6/5 stars!

Blurb:
Davenport House is the first book in a family saga following the wealthy Davenports and their servants in 1915 America.

Mary Davenport is a 22-year-old idealist who worries that the world in the Progressive Era is leaving her behind. She lives isolated in the Pennsylvania countryside with her affluent and secretive family. When her father dies suddenly, Mary becomes pained with grief and increasingly suspicious of those around her.

A humble servant girl has the chance of a lifetime to become a lady's companion. Costly dresses, exquisite rooms, and fine dinners are pleasant distractions from what is really happening in the house.

[Bethany Swafford · Rating 2 out of 5]

A young woman realizes she is surrounded by mystery right before her father dies. Her mother and the family doctor insist it was by natural causes, but all is not as it seems in Davenport House.
Gothic. That is the only word I can think of to explain this particular novel. While reading, I had no idea what time period it was supposed to be set in (my initial thought was 1880ish, but of course that wasn't correct as it is set in 1915), or where it was set (I thought somewhere in Britain until about halfway through when Pennsylvania is mentioned).
The story has no finesse. We are told how someone feels and not shown. The changes in scenes are abrupt and jar the reader out of the story. The plot is predictable and hardly a mystery at all.
All in all, I have no interest in continuing the series.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a delightful read. The suspense and mystery of a wonderful gothic combined with characters of a more modern time. I loved that there were horses and automobiles at the same time. A period that reflected the growth of machinery. It had interesting and complex characters that told the story well. I loved the formality of the language and the class differentiation. My first Marie Silk book, but I certainly plan on visiting Davenport house again to see the people that are starting out a new phase of life.

Mary, Clara, and Abigail made up an impressive group of women along with Mary's dear friend Nellie. William, Ethan, the staff made the book fun as well. There are always deep rooted secrets hiding in a house like this.

[Penny Ayotte · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did I read the same book as everyone else? I honestly couldn't get past the 12% mark, it was kind of like reading a Dick and Jane book. Mary went to the barn. Mary gave him a book. Mary giggled to herself. Well you get the idea.

[Eldon Farrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this one has been on my kindle for a while now and I was delighted to finally get the chance to sink my teeth into a Amazon bestselling series. A relatively quick read, let's begin with what Marie Silk did well.

The mystery at the heart of this story did keep me guessing and was well set up at the outset. The character of Mary Davenport does take us on a coming of age journey and by the end of the book you can see just how much she has grown which adds a welcome dimension to the tale. Marie also excelled here at capturing a time in history. There was one line in particular towards the end of the story when William is telling Mary of the Great War that really drove home for me the era in which Marie is writing. A time of great upheaval that is portrayed well here and no doubt throughout the rest of the series.

What didn't really work for me was Marie's penchant for abrupt scene changes. Literally you're in one scene and the very next line you're in another. This led to a feeling of head hopping that distracted from the story. And I found the story itself dragged a little through the middle with numerous scenes that didn't further the mystery but seemed only to serve as visual renditions of the time period. Interesting, but if they don't advance the story they only serve to hold it back. And last, Marie tended toward an over usage of dialogue tags that I found interrupted the flow of the narrative.

These are of course minor issues that I've no doubt the talented Marie Silk has since corrected throughout the rest of her series. At any rate, for me this was a 3.5 star read.

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this book from Crazy for NA Books in exchange for an honest review
Actual Rating: 2.5 stars

I was pretty excited for this one. I love mysteries and enjoy historical stories so I thought a mash up would be fun. And this one was....the mystery was intriguing and the characters were fascinating to read about.

But the main part of the story was dialogue - with little insight as to why someone was making a decision. The chapters were clunky, changing perspective and voices mid-page with little to no warning. Twice I had to re-start a whole chapter because it had changed so many times I couldn't keep track of who was who. I would have loved more drawn out suspense and build up - Mary wandering quiet halls, overhearing conversations or just being alone in her grief. Even more sorting and internal struggle about what her father wanted to share. I was surprised when characters let certain things lie for days - Clara upset at her mother for misleading her, Clara suddenly being assigned cook (that was so confusing and felt unrealistic. Of course the maid is not a good head cook?!) just to name two.
But I thought the side story lines with Clara, Ethan, Abigail and Nellie were interesting and will probably find myself searching out book 2 at some point.

[Jennifer S. Alderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Davenport House is an enjoyable tale set in an early American household, with a mystery at its heart. This is my first foray into what I would call ‘romantic’ historical fiction. The author did a great job of creating the world within Davenport House and setting up a large cast of characters for future novels. I particularly liked the way she wove historical details, such as the rising popularity of automobiles and the difficulties of shopping for pretty much anything, into the novel. The story sometimes jumped a bit quickly from one scene to the next, but it made for easy and fun reading. I would be interested in reading the further adventures of the Davenport family.

I found this author at the Historical Fictionistas group here on Goodreads, which is why I joined in the first place – to find new authors and try out new genres!

[Ann Pratley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an adorable story of murder mystery and intrigue, intermingled with an indication of romances that might be formed in later books of the series. The author does an amazing job of description about the house, people and surrounds in the early 20th century.

This is a story without adult content and I would happily hand this to even a younger teenager. It is a story of the strength of friendships, the dismay that can come from social status prejudice, and the many ways family can test us. Awesome stuff!

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a beautiful cover so I was looking forward to reading this novel. But I had trouble getting into this book a bit because I didn't feel like the writing flowed as well as I would have wished due to the changing placement of dialogue tags ("the detective asked" / "asked the detective") . That is a personal issue though that might not bother someone else. 3.5 stars for solid world building, believable characters and a refreshing plot. + 0,5 for a fantastic cover.

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from Crazy for NA Books (via the author, Marie Silk )in exchange for an honest review.

Davenport House is a historical fiction story, taking place in the 1900's. The Davenport's are a wealthy family, living in a large home, with many servants. Secrets and lies are keeping everyone, especially Mary, from finding out the truth of her father's death. Told from varying viewpoints, the mystery surrounding Davenport House must be solved.

This was the first historical fiction book that I've read. So my main hang up was with the language. It was very proper, which for the era seems appropriate. The story had a very "Clue"-esque feel to it, which I liked. The viewpoints changed quite often, so we got to see a wide range of the story. Sometimes, however, I felt that the change in viewpoint was very abrupt, and that it took away from the story. This could be due to the fact that I read this on my kindle, and not in a paperback form. I enjoyed the plot of the book, although I did guess a few things, such as who Clara really was, and that Richard and her mother were in on the kill . I liked Mary's character. She is kind to her servants and really wants to see the best in people, even though they may be trying to screw her over. I liked Abigail and I would like to see what happens with her in the future. From the beginning, I was not a fan of Clara, but maybe that will change as the story continues. I did not like how she treated Ethan. She's just a poor character. Maybe that will change, now that she knows who she truly is. I liked Ethan and I really want to see what the future holds for him. He was so kind and sweet to Mary, Abigail, and Clara. I enjoyed the overall story and would actually like to read the second installment. Overall, I rated this book at a 3, but I feel like it's almost a 3.5 for me, story wise. I think if I had been accustomed to the language of historical fiction novels, it would have been a higher rating.

[Carrie Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Davenport House is a suspenseful thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I could not put it down once I started reading it. The struggles and emotions that the main character Mary faces are fully experienced by the reader as you travel through the heart-pounding events with her. All of the characters play important roles using their unique personalities to draw you in.

This book is not at all predictable. There are no slow moments in the plot. Just when you think there can't be anymore surprises, the author hits you with more! It is a who-dunnit mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end! I will definitely read the other books in the Davenport House series.

[Wendy Menninger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Such a unreal and immature writer. The characters made no sense in the way they acted in the story. It was easy to solve the mystery, because the story was so predictable.
Can't say much positively for this author.

[Beverly Laude · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree with some of the other reviewers: The feel of this story was more British than American and more 1880's than 1915. The attitudes and actions of the servants are what I have come to expect from earlier times than the setting of the story.

Also, I would have rather had a better flow to the story. Most of the book was "she said", "he said", "she replied", etc. This made for a read that was hard to follow. At times, I felt like I was reading a screenplay instead of a novel. There was very little action, just mostly dialogue. The character's motivations were unclear most of the time and they were pretty two dimensional. Maybe future books might explore more of their personalities, but I was left wanting more from them.

Mary could have been a great character, but she was pretty much a wimpy pampered girl through most of the book. I would have liked her to be more of a woman of that period instead of the damsel that she was. More gothic elements would have made this a better read also.

The idea of the book was good, but I hope that as the saga progresses, the author gives more action and less dialogue. The narrator did a good job with the material she had.

I was given a copy of this audiobook by the author and chose to review it.

[Quantum · Rating 4 out of 5]

You'll turn pages like you were on a sinking ship
If you're interested in this period of American history, when the automobile was growing in popularity and the suffragette movement gaining steam, you would find this young adult story quite engaging. The subtle irony in the unequal application of the morals of the day hid the potential for another layer of story, but alas we'll have to wait for another work in which the author can employ her full array of iron tools.

The mystery drives forward at a brisk pace, which compensates for a few plot holes and sometimes emotionally distant character voices. As such, you'll be turning pages as though you were on the Lusitania.

[Madeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Pretty good story.

There is a problem with the writer changing scenes without notice. You read a paragraph and the next paragraph is somewhere else, creating confusion; this happens throughout the entire story.

[Sage Nestler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Davenport House
Author: Marie Silk
Rating: 4/5
Purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Davenport-House...
Davenport house is a historical fiction filled with mystery and intrigue. The synopsis of the novel is as follows:
“The wealthy family upstairs and lowly servants downstairs have more in common than they ever imagined.
Emotions are running high in the midst of a family scandal at Davenport House, where social classes collide and discretion is the secret to survival.
Mary Davenport is a 22-year-old idealist who worries that the world in the Progressive Era is leaving her behind. She lives isolated in the Pennsylvania countryside with her affluent and secretive family. When her father dies suddenly, Mary becomes pained with grief and increasingly suspicious of those around her.
A humble servant girl has the chance of a lifetime to become a lady's companion. Costly dresses, exquisite rooms, and fine dinners are pleasant distractions from what is really happening in the house.”
I am quite a sucker for any historical fiction. I am a history buff and Marie Silk’s novel did not disappoint. The novel follows Mary, the daughter of the house who seems to be understood by only her father. Her mother and brother are constantly shaming her and making her feel as though she is as lowly as the servants. I felt for Mary through these challenges and when she discovers that her father has died. I will not reveal much about the circumstances of the death of Mary’s father, but I will say that her losing him left her in a bit of a Cinderella position.
I loved the mix of the wealthy with the servants in this novel. It reminded me of The Luxe Series by Anna Godberson in this way. Silk had a full understanding of the time period that she was writing about and her knowledge showed. I thoroughly enjoyed reading her novel because of the way it transported me back in time. It was also clear to me that Silk has a strong awareness of people and what hardships they go through. One of my favorite quotes from the book proves this:
“’You are like me, Mary. We can read and understand people like reading pages in a book. But we only wish to focus on the good pages. Sometimes it is important to see the bad pages for what they are. I have been fooled many times by skipping over the bad, and I have paid dearly for it. I hope you can forgive me and not the mistakes that I have.”
The only critique that I have about the novel is that it provided lengthy detail that was too much in some circumstances. I know that it is important to provide detailing in historical fiction, but sometimes it works best to have the reader fill in the blanks with their imagination.
Overall, I highly recommend this fast paced, beautifully worded novel by Marie Silk. The cover will lure you in and the writing will make you stay. It takes you on a beautiful journey to the past.

[Kymm · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's always hard to review a book when it follows another book that was absolutely fantastic, but I'll try to be objective on this one. Davenport House, by Marie Silk is the first in a series about a family who lives at Davenport House. There's something fishy going on in the house and who's responsible? Mary Davenport 22 years old is the daughter of a loving father who feels she's the more responsible of his two children, his son, Richard is a drunkard and gambler. Although she's younger than her brother, her father feels she'd be the better heir to the family fortune. Her mother on the other hand has little regard for Mary, but worships Richard. Prior to Mary's dad being able to share his future plans with Mary, he ends up dead. The family and the servants all become suspicious and the police are called. What happened? Was there a crime or was it an unseen illness? This starts the mystery of Davenport House. I enjoyed the book, I thought it was a little too short and could have gone more in depth than it did. The characters were easy to relate to and brought out strong emotions on both sides of the spectrum for me. I wasn't impressed with the dialogue though, it seemed amateurish and forced at times. However, with this said the ending did make me pick up the 2nd in the series as soon as I finished this one, so it must have intrigued me to some degree. I think this would be a good quick read for those who love a family saga. I believe there are 7 books in the series, whether I read them all only time will tell. I would recommend this to those people who share my interests in family sagas where the characters grow and evolve throughout the years. Happy Reading!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly Good Book!

This was actually my first time reading a book by Marie Silk and I had purchased this book a while back due to its high ratings. The plot was really interesting and throughout the novel you're trying to figure out who murdered Mr. Davenport. I had already figured out one suspect but then you get suspicious of more people being involved. Mary, the main character, is a kind hearted and determined person who won't give up on finding the truth. Ethan, one of the secondary characters was a kind and true friend to Mary, but also I felt bad on how he was being used by Clara. The ending was surprising when the truth was exposed and Mr. Davenport's own secrets are revealed as well. The next novel looks interesting and might read them later on.

[Sharonb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this on a plane home from holidays. It was a quick read, fairly predictable and the journey went quick. I notice it is part of a series but there wasn't enough in it to make me want to read the rest!

[Monica Hills · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am giving this book a very generous two stars only because I was able to finish it. First of all this book jumped all over the place. I never knew which paragraph was going to be about which character. Also the book was set in Pennsylvania but the feel was definitely England and a much earlier time period than the book was set. It was hard to connect to any of the characters because I was never sure who’s perspective I was reading about. Also the ending was highly predictable. I’m a huge reader of historical fiction but this book was very disappointing.

[R.P. Dahlke]

Did not finish

[Alexandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read about a 1/4 of the book before giving up. I could not get past the writing. It was just not a type of writing I enjoyed and it seemed forced and maybe a little choppy. The first 1/4 was also boring, so nothing to grab my attention.

[Beverly Locker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Davenport House was an enjoyable historical mystery ... a good quick read. A few editing errors caused me to re-read sentences for clarification.