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Manners and Monsters #5
Sixpence and Selkies
A heart as lonely as the ocean...
Hannah and Wycliff arrive at his ancestral estate in Dorset as tragedy strikes the coastal village. A young woman has lost her life to the tempestuous ocean, but only Hannah suspects the woman's death is anything but a horrible accident. As Hannah learns more about life in the closeknit community, she discovers two other women lost their lives to the sea. Or did they?
A rift grows between the young couple, as Wycliff refuses to believe another hand was responsible for the deaths. With her husband consumed by the needs of the long neglected estate, Hannah is left to her own devices and finds herself walking the same lonely path as the dead women.
Can Hannah and Wycliff heal the chasm in their relationship, or will Hannah succumb to the call of the ocean...?
Hannah and Wycliff arrive at his ancestral estate in Dorset as tragedy strikes the coastal village. A young woman has lost her life to the tempestuous ocean, but only Hannah suspects the woman's death is anything but a horrible accident. As Hannah learns more about life in the closeknit community, she discovers two other women lost their lives to the sea. Or did they?
A rift grows between the young couple, as Wycliff refuses to believe another hand was responsible for the deaths. With her husband consumed by the needs of the long neglected estate, Hannah is left to her own devices and finds herself walking the same lonely path as the dead women.
Can Hannah and Wycliff heal the chasm in their relationship, or will Hannah succumb to the call of the ocean...?
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 9, 2021
144 people are currently reading
498 people want to read
About the author
Tilly Wallace
36 books603 followersTilly writes whimsical historical fantasy books, set in a bygone time where magic is real. With a quirky and loveable cast, her books combine vintage magic and gentle humour. Through fierce friendships her characters discover that in an uncertain world, the most loyal family is the one you create.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
February 6, 2023
3.5 stars
Eager to try and show Hannah how he feels, Wycliff asks her to stay for a month at his ancestral home.
His broke down, saggy, ancestral home.
Secretly hoping this means he wants more from their marriage than just convenience, Hannah agrees. He does finally work up the courage to put the moves on his very willing wife. And the crowd goes wild as they finally get on with the sexytimes. <--fade to black, people! Give the couple their privacy for god's sake!
When they arrive at his seaside home, they discover that several young women have supposedly thrown themselves into the ocean in despair.
Is there a pattern to their deaths, and if so, does it involve the paranormal?
Of course it does!
Once again our couple solves the mystery and finds out about a new creature. <---I was really hoping for mermaids, though. Just saying.
Looking forward to reading more of these adventures soon.
Recommended for fans of the cozy mystery.
Eager to try and show Hannah how he feels, Wycliff asks her to stay for a month at his ancestral home.
His broke down, saggy, ancestral home.
Secretly hoping this means he wants more from their marriage than just convenience, Hannah agrees. He does finally work up the courage to put the moves on his very willing wife. And the crowd goes wild as they finally get on with the sexytimes. <--fade to black, people! Give the couple their privacy for god's sake!
When they arrive at his seaside home, they discover that several young women have supposedly thrown themselves into the ocean in despair.
Is there a pattern to their deaths, and if so, does it involve the paranormal?
Of course it does!
Once again our couple solves the mystery and finds out about a new creature. <---I was really hoping for mermaids, though. Just saying.
Looking forward to reading more of these adventures soon.
Recommended for fans of the cozy mystery.
July 5, 2021
'A heart as lonely as the ocean...
Hannah and Wycliff arrive at his ancestral estate in Dorset as tragedy strikes the coastal village. A young woman has lost her life to the tempestuous ocean, but only Hannah suspects the woman's death is anything but a horrible accident. As Hannah learns more about life in the closeknit community, she discovers two other women lost their lives to the sea. Or did they?
A rift grows between the young couple, as Wycliff refuses to believe another hand was responsible for the deaths. With her husband consumed by the needs of the long neglected estate, Hannah is left to her own devices and finds herself walking the same lonely path as the dead women.
Can Hannah and Wycliff heal the chasm in their relationship, or will Hannah succumb to the call of the ocean...?'
_________________________________
Sixpence and Selkies is the fifth book in Tilly Wallace's Manners and Monsters series, which is a historical mystery series set in a London in which supernatural and magical beings co-exist within society.
I love Tilly Wallace's writing style. It has the perfect blend of realistic and paranormal. This felt like a really important book in the series, as Hannah and Wycliff have gone to Mireworth, his ancestral home, and now they can learn to co-exist without the buffer of her parents and in their own home. There was a healthy sense of danger in this book, which will always make a book 10x better to me.
I feel like we got to learn a little bit more about Wycliff and the part of himself that he tries to keep hidden. I did get really annoyed with him during this book though. Hannah has been part of several investigations of the paranormal variety, both with her parents and with Wycliff. And she's not prone to being overly dramatic or fanciful, so if she feels like there is something suspicious and potentially sinister going on, don't dimiss ther concerns. Come on, Wycliff. But he turns it around in the end, but I wish the situation didn't have to go to such extremes before that happened.
I feel like Hannah really came into her own for this book. She's the Lady of the Manor and trying to make a good impression on the people who live there and rely on the estate. It may not have always been a comfortable experience for her, but she tried her hardest and did very well. Further she wasn't about to let Wycliff dismiss her worries about the 3 young woman that the community had lost. She knew something wasn't right and she wasn't about to let it go.
I'm looking to reading the next book in the series, Hessians and Hellhounds but dreading that it will be the last in the series. I guess all much good things must come to an end, but I'd be prefectly contect for it to keep going, which is why I am so happy to hear there should be a holiday novella.There's very few well-written series in this niche market of Gaslamp Fantasy so I'm sad to think that this series will be ending soon, but really looking forward to seeing how things will resolve.
Hannah and Wycliff arrive at his ancestral estate in Dorset as tragedy strikes the coastal village. A young woman has lost her life to the tempestuous ocean, but only Hannah suspects the woman's death is anything but a horrible accident. As Hannah learns more about life in the closeknit community, she discovers two other women lost their lives to the sea. Or did they?
A rift grows between the young couple, as Wycliff refuses to believe another hand was responsible for the deaths. With her husband consumed by the needs of the long neglected estate, Hannah is left to her own devices and finds herself walking the same lonely path as the dead women.
Can Hannah and Wycliff heal the chasm in their relationship, or will Hannah succumb to the call of the ocean...?'
_________________________________
Sixpence and Selkies is the fifth book in Tilly Wallace's Manners and Monsters series, which is a historical mystery series set in a London in which supernatural and magical beings co-exist within society.
I love Tilly Wallace's writing style. It has the perfect blend of realistic and paranormal. This felt like a really important book in the series, as Hannah and Wycliff have gone to Mireworth, his ancestral home, and now they can learn to co-exist without the buffer of her parents and in their own home. There was a healthy sense of danger in this book, which will always make a book 10x better to me.
I feel like we got to learn a little bit more about Wycliff and the part of himself that he tries to keep hidden. I did get really annoyed with him during this book though. Hannah has been part of several investigations of the paranormal variety, both with her parents and with Wycliff. And she's not prone to being overly dramatic or fanciful, so if she feels like there is something suspicious and potentially sinister going on, don't dimiss ther concerns. Come on, Wycliff. But he turns it around in the end, but I wish the situation didn't have to go to such extremes before that happened.
I feel like Hannah really came into her own for this book. She's the Lady of the Manor and trying to make a good impression on the people who live there and rely on the estate. It may not have always been a comfortable experience for her, but she tried her hardest and did very well. Further she wasn't about to let Wycliff dismiss her worries about the 3 young woman that the community had lost. She knew something wasn't right and she wasn't about to let it go.
I'm looking to reading the next book in the series, Hessians and Hellhounds but dreading that it will be the last in the series. I guess all much good things must come to an end, but I'd be prefectly contect for it to keep going, which is why I am so happy to hear there should be a holiday novella.There's very few well-written series in this niche market of Gaslamp Fantasy so I'm sad to think that this series will be ending soon, but really looking forward to seeing how things will resolve.
April 4, 2023
*** 3.44 ***
Very pleasant, just not as good as the previous ones 😊👍
Very pleasant, just not as good as the previous ones 😊👍
March 6, 2023
Hannah and Wycliff journey to Mireworth, his ancestral estate. On a walk to the village Hannah arrives just as they are carrying a drowned woman from the sea. It comes to Hannah's attention that this is the third drowning of a woman in the past year. Did they slip and fall into the ocean or were they murdered? Were they lured into the sea by a selkie?
"Your mother once told me to find a safe harbour, lest I be lost on this ocean I sail. I find it somewhat ironic that I first had to save my safe harbour from drowning.”
"Your mother once told me to find a safe harbour, lest I be lost on this ocean I sail. I find it somewhat ironic that I first had to save my safe harbour from drowning.”
October 13, 2023
RATINGS:-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 9, 2024
Sixpence and Selkies by Tilly Wallace is the fifth book in the Manners and Monsters series. Cosy, cute, but also funny and a bit dark in pieces, this is just my perfect balance for a light read.
The romance in these is such a super slow burn, that it doesn't even bother me. It's quite cute actually, and that from someone who usually despises romance!
There's another mystery, which I found quite predictable this time around, however I absolutely loved exploring a new setting, an old and new home, and how realistically that bit was handled. Mucking about with dirt and just repairing one bit after another, I was right there and rebooted every little glimpse we got off this poor house that needs a loving hand, and a lot of money.
The characters are loveable as always, and I especially enjoyed a tiny little appearance near the end.
This is just pure balm for the soul!
The romance in these is such a super slow burn, that it doesn't even bother me. It's quite cute actually, and that from someone who usually despises romance!
There's another mystery, which I found quite predictable this time around, however I absolutely loved exploring a new setting, an old and new home, and how realistically that bit was handled. Mucking about with dirt and just repairing one bit after another, I was right there and rebooted every little glimpse we got off this poor house that needs a loving hand, and a lot of money.
The characters are loveable as always, and I especially enjoyed a tiny little appearance near the end.
This is just pure balm for the soul!
March 22, 2025
Im so enjoying this series. One more book remains in the series but fortunately Ms Wallace has several other books to enjoy.
September 2, 2022
Hannah and Wycliffe travel to Wycliffe’s ancestral home where love and mystery awaits. Young women are dying in the ocean and Hannah suspects foul play. Wycliffe, busy with restoration of his dilapidated estate is initially not sure and spend more time away form Hannah, causing a rift in their relationship. Now it’s up to the couple to mend this rift, discover the mysteries of the estate and solve he murders.
January 13, 2022
I'll say it again, but if you love PNR in a regency setting, this is a great series to start with. There is some silliness, but it's not meant to take itself super serious. A disembodied hand like Thing a la Addams family? A character akin to Frankenstein's monster? Oh so civilized zombie nobility? A self composed hellhound? All these things are fairly different from each other, but yet they all work. In this novel, we are transported to Wycliff's home to start the repairs and Hannah is now settling in her new home. There is so much work to be done, it creates distance between the two of them, who weren't settled close to begin with. There is at least one more novel and a closing novella left in this series. I'm sad to see it end, but I'm glad that the author is ending it here instead of dragging it on too long.
April 29, 2024
Wow!!!I may have to add a new bookshelf, titled, 'forgo sleep'. This one was fantastic!! Wycliff has taken Hannah, to his ancestral home and becomes so emersed in the repairs and farm work, he's often away until nightfall. Hannah, being self-conscious to begin with, then is told the tale, of the one Wycliff was destined to marry before she died. It didn't help, this woman was very beautiful and when Hannah's introduced some people, assume her lovely, lady's maid is the new Lady Wycliff, because Hannah's plain. This one truly broke my heart, because we hear, Wycliff's thoughts that he's working so hard to make a happy home for Hannah & he longs to make her proud. In his eyes Hannah's goodness, radiates outside, making her beautiful to him. Then we have Hannah, who believes he's always away, because he's grown tired of her and she suffers this loneliness, that so many of us have felt. I wanted to yell, 'just talk to each other', but then, the time period this takes place, that would seem weak. People didn't speak of feelings and love.
I LOVED this story, so much that I purchased the book, so I have that and my kindle download. There are several life lessons in this one, that people today, could use to apply to their lives.
I LOVED this story, so much that I purchased the book, so I have that and my kindle download. There are several life lessons in this one, that people today, could use to apply to their lives.
October 15, 2021
This was a change in pace. Less Unnaturals and more of a detective novel. But wedded and bedded!
January 19, 2025
Love this series. Clever, fun and well written. Enjoyable and fun with dark themes. Loved this book. The character arcs have been great.
August 23, 2025
the two main characters are dorks. the marriage of convenienced so hard and are clearly obsessed with each other but each one is so oblivious to the other’s feelings
October 29, 2025
Listen friends. It is perfectly fine to be in love with someone before you meet your life partner/ spouse. I hate the romance trope of "I've never loved anyone like I've loved you and I never knew love until I met you". Also, Wycliff is the opposite of sexy. Every time he looked at Hannah "with heat in his eyes" I wanted to throw up. Plus, they spend half the book annoyingly speculating "does he/she love me" leading me to skim about 50% of this book. My last complaint is the killer. What exactly was the motivation?? It is never explained.
March 21, 2021
I was so thrilled to be an ARC reader and read this book ahead of official release date. Wycliff and Hannah are going to his dilapidated estate to see if they can make it a home. Both look forward to making it a home. It is here where Wycliff shows and acts on his love for Hannah. Remember what Ewan Shaw told him in the last book. Hannah in turn tries to figure out her place in his home and heart when she hears of three women being claimed by the ocean and drowned. As Wycliff works hard to rebuild his estate; Hannah starts to try and find out why these women drowned. Tales of melancholy and sadness are center to these drownings and as Hannah tries to understand why these women drowned; she too feels adrift.
But don't despair people, this couple continue to work towards their future, but naturally there are few obstacles. But in the midst of all the personal issues, Hannah discovers a hidden tower in his home and learns about the young Wycliff and a girl he might have loved. I really enjoyed this book, because it focused on these two characters. And I came to enjoy Barnes. Let's face it - learning to like a hand is challenging but some of the best moments revolve around him. So thank you Tilly for letting me read this ahead of time and I look forward to more adventures down the road.
But don't despair people, this couple continue to work towards their future, but naturally there are few obstacles. But in the midst of all the personal issues, Hannah discovers a hidden tower in his home and learns about the young Wycliff and a girl he might have loved. I really enjoyed this book, because it focused on these two characters. And I came to enjoy Barnes. Let's face it - learning to like a hand is challenging but some of the best moments revolve around him. So thank you Tilly for letting me read this ahead of time and I look forward to more adventures down the road.
February 28, 2025
I enjoyed the mystery surrounding the house but it wasn't as good as the other books in the series due to the fact that they finally consummated their marriage which was building up due to feeling changing in previous books but then it went very school like as in both questioned whether the other loved them over several chapters which got really annoying and almost whiny. I had to skip chapters as I couldn't read anymore of the does he/she really love me. The story finally sorted that out in the last 2 chapters but it really let the story down for me.
April 11, 2025
Dropping the series here. The world building kept me coming back as there were some fascinating plot threads dangled in each book, except none of those have actually been woven into the story and this is book four. There's only so long I can put up with insipid idiots refusing to communicate and making the most annoying assumptions, and not even my love for Frank and a certain disembodied hand can make that nonesense worth it. 2⭐️
July 6, 2025
I've really enjoyed this mashup of historical mystery and cozy fantasy/paranormal series. The mysteries are well written and there is quite a collection of interesting fantastical side characters in our found family.
In Sixpence and Selkies, Wycliff and Hanna head to Wycliff's ancestral estate to continue his work on reclaiming the land and revitalizing the rundown manor.
Unfortunately, the story pacing also "went to the country". Like driving behind a tractor on a one lane country road.
This installment was sloooooow. Hannah and Wycliff need to learn to communicate and being stuck with them in that space was torture. Hannah has expectations for their relationship that she barely knows how to communicate to herself let alone her husband and Wycliff, well... he's a man. They consummated their relationship and they sleep in the same bed at night so all is fabulous, right? So we had what seemed like endless scenes of Hannah being frustrated with her imagination of what life after sex with her husband would be vs that actual reality.
They mystery was also slow to jump off and never really caught my interest. Three deaths of young, otherwise healthy women, sparks Hannah's murder spidey senses. Being new to the village and in her role of Lady Wycliff, she is trying to navigate her new responsibilities and her curiosity about these deaths. With Wycliff busy working from sun up to sundown rebuilding, he is largely absent and Hannah spins in place a bit. Eventually we get to the climax, revelations are made and we end with Hannah and Wycliff hosting Sarephina and Hugh to their home. Sarephina is fresh from the Fae Court having traveled there seeking a resolution to their curse. On to the next (and final installment) to hopefully find all the answers!
In Sixpence and Selkies, Wycliff and Hanna head to Wycliff's ancestral estate to continue his work on reclaiming the land and revitalizing the rundown manor.
Unfortunately, the story pacing also "went to the country". Like driving behind a tractor on a one lane country road.
This installment was sloooooow. Hannah and Wycliff need to learn to communicate and being stuck with them in that space was torture. Hannah has expectations for their relationship that she barely knows how to communicate to herself let alone her husband and Wycliff, well... he's a man. They consummated their relationship and they sleep in the same bed at night so all is fabulous, right? So we had what seemed like endless scenes of Hannah being frustrated with her imagination of what life after sex with her husband would be vs that actual reality.
They mystery was also slow to jump off and never really caught my interest. Three deaths of young, otherwise healthy women, sparks Hannah's murder spidey senses. Being new to the village and in her role of Lady Wycliff, she is trying to navigate her new responsibilities and her curiosity about these deaths. With Wycliff busy working from sun up to sundown rebuilding, he is largely absent and Hannah spins in place a bit. Eventually we get to the climax, revelations are made and we end with Hannah and Wycliff hosting Sarephina and Hugh to their home. Sarephina is fresh from the Fae Court having traveled there seeking a resolution to their curse. On to the next (and final installment) to hopefully find all the answers!
May 5, 2021
Charming Regency Fantasy
There is a flourishing sub-genre of Fantasy/Mystery novels set in the Regency Period and Tilly Wallace's `Manners and Monsters' books are among the most enjoyable examples. The series has an engaging heroine in Hannah, the intelligent daughter of a pioneering doctor and a formidable Mage. Hannah's parents have encouraged her to make a marriage of convenience with Lord Wycliff, a bad tempered loner who works as an investigator for the Ministry of Unnaturals - the perfect start to a Gothic Romance, especially as each of them is hiding a dark secret. Wallace wisely lets the relationship between her prickly hero and shy heroine develop very slowly.
The main storyline of the series is rather grim. A wicked French spell has turned many English aristocrats into zombies who can only survive by eating `pickled cauliflower' (slices of human brains). One of the first victims was Hannah's mother, Lady Seraphina, who, though legally dead, is searching for a way of reversing the spell. `Sixpence and Selkies' takes a break from this storyline and is set in and around Mireworth, Wycliff's semi-derelict ancestral home on the Dorset coast, where Hannah finds herself investigating the mysterious drownings of three local women. In spite of the sadness of these deaths, this is a heartwarming story full of romance and humour. Its main flaw is that the murderer is very easy to spot. I can forgive that because I was more fascinated by the mysteries of Mireworth House which include a hidden tower and hints of Ancient Egyptian magic. I'm already looking forward to the next volume in the series.
There is a flourishing sub-genre of Fantasy/Mystery novels set in the Regency Period and Tilly Wallace's `Manners and Monsters' books are among the most enjoyable examples. The series has an engaging heroine in Hannah, the intelligent daughter of a pioneering doctor and a formidable Mage. Hannah's parents have encouraged her to make a marriage of convenience with Lord Wycliff, a bad tempered loner who works as an investigator for the Ministry of Unnaturals - the perfect start to a Gothic Romance, especially as each of them is hiding a dark secret. Wallace wisely lets the relationship between her prickly hero and shy heroine develop very slowly.
The main storyline of the series is rather grim. A wicked French spell has turned many English aristocrats into zombies who can only survive by eating `pickled cauliflower' (slices of human brains). One of the first victims was Hannah's mother, Lady Seraphina, who, though legally dead, is searching for a way of reversing the spell. `Sixpence and Selkies' takes a break from this storyline and is set in and around Mireworth, Wycliff's semi-derelict ancestral home on the Dorset coast, where Hannah finds herself investigating the mysterious drownings of three local women. In spite of the sadness of these deaths, this is a heartwarming story full of romance and humour. Its main flaw is that the murderer is very easy to spot. I can forgive that because I was more fascinated by the mysteries of Mireworth House which include a hidden tower and hints of Ancient Egyptian magic. I'm already looking forward to the next volume in the series.
April 14, 2021
Devoured this one in a day.
Looking to restore his ruined family home, Wycliff, along with his wife, Lady Hannah and their usual ramble - a stitched together man, a reanimated hand and Hannah's maid - Wycliff travels home. Nervous about the impression his family home would make on his new wife, a worry which fades fast when Hannah, in her usual way accepts what she sees, Wycliff throws himself into work, leaving Hannah alone.
The murder of three local women, one just after Wycliff and his wife arrive, intrigues Hannah and with nothing to do, beyond cleaning and attempting to restore the neglected house, Hannah investigates.
Sorting out the pieces which seem to be leading nowhere and with her husband away for hours at a time, Hannah turns to the help of the locals...and the village priest who quickly offers a shoulder.
The story was quick and clever and is quickly tying together all the little threads which will, hopefully, lead to all the answer when the final book in this series comes out later this year...
Oh, and Wycliff and Hannah...Melting the heart of a HellHound, while fighting the ever-present possibility that his wife's heart might stop at any second.
Love them.
Looking to restore his ruined family home, Wycliff, along with his wife, Lady Hannah and their usual ramble - a stitched together man, a reanimated hand and Hannah's maid - Wycliff travels home. Nervous about the impression his family home would make on his new wife, a worry which fades fast when Hannah, in her usual way accepts what she sees, Wycliff throws himself into work, leaving Hannah alone.
The murder of three local women, one just after Wycliff and his wife arrive, intrigues Hannah and with nothing to do, beyond cleaning and attempting to restore the neglected house, Hannah investigates.
Sorting out the pieces which seem to be leading nowhere and with her husband away for hours at a time, Hannah turns to the help of the locals...and the village priest who quickly offers a shoulder.
The story was quick and clever and is quickly tying together all the little threads which will, hopefully, lead to all the answer when the final book in this series comes out later this year...
Oh, and Wycliff and Hannah...Melting the heart of a HellHound, while fighting the ever-present possibility that his wife's heart might stop at any second.
Love them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2023
3.5 Stars
*Another solid addition to this Cozy Mystery series*
Sixpence and Selkies is the fifth installment in the Manners and Monsters series – a cozy paranormal historical mystery series with lovable characters.
Newlyweds Hannah and Wycliff to his crumbling, ancestral estate in Dorset. But their arrival coincides with yet another mysterious drowning of a village woman. Hannah feels compelled to investigate, but Wycliff thinks the drownings are just accidents leading to tension in their relationship. I just wanted a bit more from their relationship developments.
The mystery was interesting, but it felt like the rift between the main characters was just thrown in for the sake of it. I never felt any real tension or risk. This is certainly a cozy series with the stakes not being as high as they perhaps should be. Nevertheless, I like the characters and do enjoy this series as light in-between reads.
RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 4 Stars
Writing Style: 3 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 3 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 4 Stars
Level of Captivation: 4 Stars
Originality: 3 Stars
*Another solid addition to this Cozy Mystery series*
Sixpence and Selkies is the fifth installment in the Manners and Monsters series – a cozy paranormal historical mystery series with lovable characters.
“The only route she knew to a man’s heart was the direct one, assisted by rib crackers and a scalpel.”
Newlyweds Hannah and Wycliff to his crumbling, ancestral estate in Dorset. But their arrival coincides with yet another mysterious drowning of a village woman. Hannah feels compelled to investigate, but Wycliff thinks the drownings are just accidents leading to tension in their relationship. I just wanted a bit more from their relationship developments.
The mystery was interesting, but it felt like the rift between the main characters was just thrown in for the sake of it. I never felt any real tension or risk. This is certainly a cozy series with the stakes not being as high as they perhaps should be. Nevertheless, I like the characters and do enjoy this series as light in-between reads.
RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 4 Stars
Writing Style: 3 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 3 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 4 Stars
Level of Captivation: 4 Stars
Originality: 3 Stars
November 18, 2024
3.5
Goddamnit, Tilly. Did you really just do that to us?
Hannah and Wycliffe finally
My previous reviews have mostly focused on the main couple, but can I just say how adorable everything is with Lizzie (?) and Frank and Barnes? So adorable, and I was even glad at Hannah's interference, since it lead to good outcomes.
The mystery was a good one - several women drowned within a short timespan, and while much of the village believes they were either suicides or accidents, there are those who have their suspicions, including the ever curious Hannah.
As she grows into the role of Lady Wycliffe, she also investigates the mysterious deaths.
I will admit it's another one where I guessed the culprit long before Hannah seemed to cop on. In some ways, I think he's the worst one of the lot so far.
I did think about bumping this up to 4, because I loved parts close to the end, even if the first half was frustrating on the relationship front. But in comparison, it wasn't as good as books 3 & 4, so I'll round down to 3 for now.
Looking forward to the last of the series - but not looking forward to the series to end! I have started to adore these characters, even when I want to smack them!
Goddamnit, Tilly. Did you really just do that to us?
Hannah and Wycliffe finally
My previous reviews have mostly focused on the main couple, but can I just say how adorable everything is with Lizzie (?) and Frank and Barnes? So adorable, and I was even glad at Hannah's interference, since it lead to good outcomes.
The mystery was a good one - several women drowned within a short timespan, and while much of the village believes they were either suicides or accidents, there are those who have their suspicions, including the ever curious Hannah.
As she grows into the role of Lady Wycliffe, she also investigates the mysterious deaths.
I will admit it's another one where I guessed the culprit long before Hannah seemed to cop on. In some ways, I think he's the worst one of the lot so far.
I did think about bumping this up to 4, because I loved parts close to the end, even if the first half was frustrating on the relationship front. But in comparison, it wasn't as good as books 3 & 4, so I'll round down to 3 for now.
Looking forward to the last of the series - but not looking forward to the series to end! I have started to adore these characters, even when I want to smack them!
December 17, 2022
[Note: Read in August, review written in December - was skimming over previous instalments, but took too much time, so this will be based on what I remember (>_>)]
We're rewarded with our patience by our protags finally getting together - yay! Though not without some insecurity bumps along the way. To be fair, it's not difficult to be insecure when it's so new, they hardly see each other because Wycliff is always off super early in the morning, and there's this somewhat secretive ties between Wycliff and Lisbeth - nothing that communication can't fix up (and did).
The barking with laughter intensifies in this instalment, by the way >_<
This instalment was a bit more angsty than the others, but considering the subject matter(s) it was warranted. But happy days for Frank and Mary! They're really so cute.
The discovery of the bricked up part of the house was a mystery left hanging, which of course meant having to delve into the next (and last) instalment of the series. Oh boy.
We're rewarded with our patience by our protags finally getting together - yay! Though not without some insecurity bumps along the way. To be fair, it's not difficult to be insecure when it's so new, they hardly see each other because Wycliff is always off super early in the morning, and there's this somewhat secretive ties between Wycliff and Lisbeth - nothing that communication can't fix up (and did).
The barking with laughter intensifies in this instalment, by the way >_<
This instalment was a bit more angsty than the others, but considering the subject matter(s) it was warranted. But happy days for Frank and Mary! They're really so cute.
The discovery of the bricked up part of the house was a mystery left hanging, which of course meant having to delve into the next (and last) instalment of the series. Oh boy.
March 19, 2021
Tilly Wallace’s ‘Manners & Monsters’ series continues to be one of my favorites. With interesting, likable characters, unique world building, and clever plot structures, I continue to count down to each new release. I will be deeply sad to see this series end—not too soon, I hope!
If I could offer one critique of the latest in the series, which is really more of a personal preference than a negative, I felt Hannah veered away from her typically strong and capable characterization and spent much of the book worrying about how Wycliff felt about her. I hope to see her come back into her thus-far established internal strength and self efficacy.
I received an ARC of this book and am happy to provide an honest review.
If I could offer one critique of the latest in the series, which is really more of a personal preference than a negative, I felt Hannah veered away from her typically strong and capable characterization and spent much of the book worrying about how Wycliff felt about her. I hope to see her come back into her thus-far established internal strength and self efficacy.
I received an ARC of this book and am happy to provide an honest review.
April 4, 2021
I loved this new book! We get to see Wycliff's dilapidated ancestral home by the sea. Like Hannah and Wycliff's relationship, there's a lot of work to do before it's perfect.
We get the exciting next step for them as a married couple, and then two steps back as they have some troubles. But isn't that the way of all good love stories? There's enough angst for those with their hearts set on some problems, but it's a happy conclusion for those that want happiness too.
We get to see Hannah really step into her shoes as Lady Wycliff, solving problems and talking with the tenants of the nearby village. She puts her detective skills to work when they come across a funeral in session for one of the locals. Something seems off about her death, but what?
We get the exciting next step for them as a married couple, and then two steps back as they have some troubles. But isn't that the way of all good love stories? There's enough angst for those with their hearts set on some problems, but it's a happy conclusion for those that want happiness too.
We get to see Hannah really step into her shoes as Lady Wycliff, solving problems and talking with the tenants of the nearby village. She puts her detective skills to work when they come across a funeral in session for one of the locals. Something seems off about her death, but what?
November 20, 2023
A continuation of Hannah and Wycliff’s story, only this time we are at Wycliff’s ancestral home in Dorset to try and repair what has fallen in disrepair. But as Wycliff starts to focus on the house and the farm, Hannah is left to her own devices at the house and village. While in the village she learns of the recent drownings of three women and something starts to tug at her to investigate and figure out what, if anything, is going on.
This is such a good book and as always, Marian Hussey is a wonderful narrator. I’m exited to see what further adventures there will be in the future and if Hannah and Wycliff can figure out how to communicate with one another and make this rundown home their own.
This is such a good book and as always, Marian Hussey is a wonderful narrator. I’m exited to see what further adventures there will be in the future and if Hannah and Wycliff can figure out how to communicate with one another and make this rundown home their own.
February 1, 2022
Synopsis:
Girl main character (MC) involves herself in mysterious deaths all around fictional Regency London with the aid (reluctantly) given by man love interest (LI). Follow the budding love-hate relationship of MC and LI with undead upper-class ladies as backdrop... and how it almost falls-apart.
Best:
Countryside romance is my jam!
Bad:
Once again, I couldn't care less about the mystery. While the relationship narratives remain on solid-ground, the mysteries have started to 'rot'. No cloves can mask the smell.
Predictability:
Predictable.
Experience:
Light. Can be read in a coffee shop like a millennial.
Girl main character (MC) involves herself in mysterious deaths all around fictional Regency London with the aid (reluctantly) given by man love interest (LI). Follow the budding love-hate relationship of MC and LI with undead upper-class ladies as backdrop... and how it almost falls-apart.
Best:
Countryside romance is my jam!
Bad:
Once again, I couldn't care less about the mystery. While the relationship narratives remain on solid-ground, the mysteries have started to 'rot'. No cloves can mask the smell.
Predictability:
Predictable.
Experience:
Light. Can be read in a coffee shop like a millennial.
December 24, 2022
In Sixpence and Selkies, Hannah and Wycliff travel to his ancestral home, Mireworth, on the English coast. We meet his housekeeper who has known him since he was a child, and tenants and nearby villagers. Three local women have died recently within a short amount of time. Wycliff blames this on the cruelty of the sea, but Hannah sees something suspicious in it. An investigation ensues. I enjoyed the mystery and the broadening of Wycliff’s history. The best part for me, however, is the advancement of Hannah and Wycliff’s marriage. I really enjoy the two of them together. Marian Hussey did a great job. I really liked the local accents. On to the final novel of the series.
June 23, 2021
This is a cute series but I liked this installment less than the previous ones because the conflict here seems so forces and out of character. Hannah is such a sensible protagonist, which I like - there are enough overly dramatic heroines out there - so the "he loves me, he loves me not" here was kind of odd and didn't make much sense (considering the actions of the characters). Also I'd love to see the central conflict move along a bit more... but we're still no closer to see who cast the curse that caused the English aristocrats to turn into zombies than we were in the first book.
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