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A Bonfire Surprise in Stickleback Hollow: A British Historical Cozy Mystery
Lady Sarah was looking forward to her first Cricket experience, especially since is not all about bat, there’s also the bonfire ball. But her attention is drawn elsewhere when her household staff are threatened. Foiled in the field, the kidnappers are certain to try again. Lady Sarah is determined to discover why her staff are being targeted; but not everyone is who they seem. With little to go on, the peeress must put her wits to the test and save her friends. Can Lady Sarah stop the kidnappings before it’s too late or is she doomed to lose her staff before stumps?
123 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 15, 2017
36 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Woolley
122 books54 followersC.S. Woolley (Caroline Sarah Woolley) was born in Macclesfield, Cheshire and raised in the nearby town of Wilmslow. From an early age she discovered she had a flair and passion for writing. This was fuelled by winning local poetry and short story competitions during her years at Mottram St. Andrews Primary School.
During high school, she continued to write and found her time split between acting, writing and her studies. At 14 she began writing novels. University did nothing to change her love of writing. C.S. spent a year reading Law at Manchester Metropolitan University before changing her mind and moving to read English at Hull University. After graduating she moved to Nottingham where she now lives and stays for the cricket at Trent Bridge.
In 2010, C.S published her first novel, Nicolette Mace – The Raven Siren: The Kevin Metis Saga. Since 2010 she has published books in five series – The Chronicles of Celadmore, The Mysteries of Stickleback Hollow, The Children of Ribe, The Children of Snotingas and Nicolette Mace: The Raven Siren.
More recently C.S has taken part in charity projects that include producing content for charity books such as Standing by the Watchtower: Volume 1. C.S has also acted in several plays and films including Weekend (2011).
Hobbies: horse riding, including show jumping and cross country, Formula 1, tennis, free climbing, singing, boxing, dancing, playing guitar, cricket and is also an avid PC and console gamer.
Favourite movies: The Muppet Christmas Carol, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Chisum.
Favourite books: Sharpe’s Prey, Silverthorn and the Three Musketeers.
Favourite bands: Thin Lizzy, the Darkness and McBusted.
For more information please visit:
http://www.mightierthanthesworduk.com
During high school, she continued to write and found her time split between acting, writing and her studies. At 14 she began writing novels. University did nothing to change her love of writing. C.S. spent a year reading Law at Manchester Metropolitan University before changing her mind and moving to read English at Hull University. After graduating she moved to Nottingham where she now lives and stays for the cricket at Trent Bridge.
In 2010, C.S published her first novel, Nicolette Mace – The Raven Siren: The Kevin Metis Saga. Since 2010 she has published books in five series – The Chronicles of Celadmore, The Mysteries of Stickleback Hollow, The Children of Ribe, The Children of Snotingas and Nicolette Mace: The Raven Siren.
More recently C.S has taken part in charity projects that include producing content for charity books such as Standing by the Watchtower: Volume 1. C.S has also acted in several plays and films including Weekend (2011).
Hobbies: horse riding, including show jumping and cross country, Formula 1, tennis, free climbing, singing, boxing, dancing, playing guitar, cricket and is also an avid PC and console gamer.
Favourite movies: The Muppet Christmas Carol, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Chisum.
Favourite books: Sharpe’s Prey, Silverthorn and the Three Musketeers.
Favourite bands: Thin Lizzy, the Darkness and McBusted.
For more information please visit:
http://www.mightierthanthesworduk.com
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 31, 2025
So many new people descending on Stickleback Hollow for the cricket tournament makes it a lot harder to keep an eye on the ladies and make sure that they are safe. But there is no stopping cricket fever and it also boosts everybody's spirits when such an important event is being hosted - so pluses and minuses!
The excitement continues as the books progress - this series can be totally addictive!
The excitement continues as the books progress - this series can be totally addictive!
September 26, 2025
This sixth book in the Stickleback Hollow series was a Victorian historical cozy mystery that was an interesting, plot driven story with hidden identity, family secrets, attempted kidnapping, an illegitimate adult child, and other twists that were engaging. I enjoyed how the main characters are emotionally moving forward. I recommend reading!
September 30, 2025
So many of these could have been combined into one novel instead of so many novellas.
Still finding typos and with grammatical errors or poor word usage.
Still finding typos and with grammatical errors or poor word usage.
reviewed
January 5, 2026This is book 6 of The Mysteries of Stickleback Hollow. Here’s my review of book 5.
Genre: Historical cozy mystery
Tropes: Hidden identity, family secrets
Setting: Victorian England (March 1839)
Writing style: Multiple POV, third person, past tense
Tone: Fairly even
Character- or plot-driven: Plot-driven
Romance: Yes
Clean level: One kiss, zero description.
* 2 references to sexual intercourse (there is none in the book); primary villain is married with many lovers
Sensitive aspect: A grown illigitimate child
The intrigue and excitement is back on track after the last book seeming to have no connection to the overarching plot of the series. At the same time, a cricket match at the center of the plot takes up much of the book, and if you have no understanding of how the game or scoring works or just don’t have any interest in the game, that does drag the plot along quite a bit. If you like the author are a cricket lover, however, you may gain extra enjoyment from all the detail. The book ends on a cliffhanger.
We learn another fact about Sarah’s parents’ involvement with “John Smith.”
____________________________________
I’m not sure why she’s ignoring the fact that there would be a scandal even if people knew who Alex was. Intercourse out of wedlock was considered immoral regardless of the participants’ stations.
This is unhealthy to say the least. It’s a good thing she never mistreats him.
As I pointed out in my review of the previous book, they’ve already introduced intercourse into their relationship, so he has not held himself to that at all.
This is sad.
Favorite Quotations:
• “Maybe tonight is not the best time to think about all of this. You’ve had a long day, and you need sleep,” Mr Hunter said gently. “I don’t think I can sleep after today,” Sarah said drowsily. “If it helps, I can explain the value of a good forward defensive stroke to you for at least an hour.”
• At being included in the starting eleven, Thomas had been strutting around with an air of superiority which had led to his brother confiding to Sarah that Thomas was two comments away from Edward’s fist connecting with his stomach.
(I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am gratefully—voluntarily—leaving a review.)
Genre: Historical cozy mystery
Tropes: Hidden identity, family secrets
Setting: Victorian England (March 1839)
Writing style: Multiple POV, third person, past tense
Tone: Fairly even
Character- or plot-driven: Plot-driven
Romance: Yes
Clean level: One kiss, zero description.
* 2 references to sexual intercourse (there is none in the book); primary villain is married with many lovers
Sensitive aspect: A grown illigitimate child
The intrigue and excitement is back on track after the last book seeming to have no connection to the overarching plot of the series. At the same time, a cricket match at the center of the plot takes up much of the book, and if you have no understanding of how the game or scoring works or just don’t have any interest in the game, that does drag the plot along quite a bit. If you like the author are a cricket lover, however, you may gain extra enjoyment from all the detail. The book ends on a cliffhanger.
We learn another fact about Sarah’s parents’ involvement with “John Smith.”
____________________________________
“Until the brigadier has recognised Mr Hunter as his son publically, any relationship between the two of you will be a scandal. If it comes to light that you and Mr Hunter have explored the carnal side of nature together[…]”
I’m not sure why she’s ignoring the fact that there would be a scandal even if people knew who Alex was. Intercourse out of wedlock was considered immoral regardless of the participants’ stations.
Since their first adventure together in Chester, Alex had not only understood but surrendered to being a fool for Sarah, regardless of how she treated him.
This is unhealthy to say the least. It’s a good thing she never mistreats him.
“I have an idea or two about that,” Mr Hunter replied as he came to sit beside Sarah. “I have told you many times that I would do nothing to disgrace you and I hold to that.”
As I pointed out in my review of the previous book, they’ve already introduced intercourse into their relationship, so he has not held himself to that at all.
It was clear to anyone with half a brain that Mr Hunter was well regarded by most in the area, even if he liked to think that he was still little more than an outsider in the community.
This is sad.
Favorite Quotations:
• “Maybe tonight is not the best time to think about all of this. You’ve had a long day, and you need sleep,” Mr Hunter said gently. “I don’t think I can sleep after today,” Sarah said drowsily. “If it helps, I can explain the value of a good forward defensive stroke to you for at least an hour.”
• At being included in the starting eleven, Thomas had been strutting around with an air of superiority which had led to his brother confiding to Sarah that Thomas was two comments away from Edward’s fist connecting with his stomach.
(I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am gratefully—voluntarily—leaving a review.)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews